General Electric Co Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Immelt was in Paris on Wednesday in an effort to speed up talks to buy Vivendi SA's stake in NBC Universal, the Wall Street Journal reported.

GE is negotiating to buy Vivendi's 20 percent stake in NBC Universal, with the aim of then selling a controlling interest in the media company to Comcast, sources have said.

The Wall Street Journal on its website said that Immelt's conversations with Vivendi Chief Executive Jean-Bernard Levy could result in a deal on Wednesday or in the days ahead.

Among the issues that GE and Vivendi have been trying to work out is the valuation of NBC Universal. The newspaper said the difference between the two sides is now less than $500 million.

GE could not be reached for comment. Vivendi declined to comment.

(Reporting by Paul Thomasch; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)

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