(Reuters) - Orange is considering "all opportunities" for its online banking arm following a report by French paper Les Echos on Wednesday that said France's biggest telecoms company was planning to sell Orange Bank.
"In a very highly competitive environment in the banking market, Orange is considering all opportunities to develop Orange Bank's activities and support its growth," a spokesperson for the group told Reuters.
Orange was willing to give up control of its loss-making subsidiary, according to media reports last year, with BNP Paribas (EPA:BNPP) seen at the time as the leading candidate among French lenders.
Citing sources, Les Echos said the telecom operator had mandated investment bank Lazard to launch a new sale or alliance scenario, which Orange declined to confirm.