France Telecom is expected to launch its long-awaited EUR 15 billion rights issue today [March 24], The Financial Times wrote citing French financial daily Les Echos. Directors of the deeply-indebted telecom operator will meet in Paris and watch the opening of the markets before deciding whether to launch the fund-raising on Monday, it said. France Telecom declined to comment. Francis Mer, finance minister, who oversees the French government's controlling stake in France Telecom, approved the issue after the Treasury said there was a window of opportunity in the markets.
