The British operator BT - BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS announced the sale, for GBP 2.14 billion, of its telephone directories YELL (turnover of GBP 778 million at the end of the financial year end March) to a consortium equally held by the American HICKS, MUSE, TATE AND FURST and the British APAX PARTNERS. The transaction also includes TALKING PAGES, telephone directory operating 24 hours a day and the information website YELL.COM. This operation is part of it restructuring programme aimed at reducing its debt by some GBP 28 billion.