Orange is pursuing the sale of a minority stake in the business that operates its data centres in France, and the move is tied to its funding needs for planned artificial intelligence investments.
The process has drawn several bidders. Morrison, the New Zealand-based infrastructure asset manager, is reportedly preferred over Vauban Infrastructure Partners and Macquarie.
Capital for AI spending
The proposed transaction would give Orange another route to finance its artificial intelligence plans without selling the French data centre business outright. That is the practical read of the structure: a minority stake sale keeps the asset in the group while releasing cash.
Bidders in the frame
Morrison is the named frontrunner in the process. Vauban Infrastructure Partners and Macquarie are also in the bid set, but the claim list only supports that Morrison is reportedly favoured among the candidates.
Read for infrastructure investors
This is a minority-stake process, not a full disposal, so the asset remains under Orange’s control if it closes as described. For bidders, the signal is that Orange is looking to monetise part of the French data centre operation while preserving strategic exposure to the business.