PARIS -(Dow Jones)- French water and waste utility Veolia Environnement SA (VIE.FR) got an offer for its 50% stake in its transportation unit Transdev Veolia from a potential buyer it declined to identify and is currently negotiating, the company's press office said Friday.

Veolia and the potential buyer are discussing the amount, the structure of the operation and the future corporate governance of the company, which is also 50% owned by French state-owned financial institution Caisse des Depots et Consignations, the press office said.

Newspaper Les Echos reported the buyer interested in Transdev stake is investment fund Cube Infrastructure, which is managed by French bank Natixis SA (KN.FR).

Veolia shares were up 5.8% at EUR11.03 as of 0757 GMT as the company reported first quarter sales before market opening. The CAC-40 index was down 0.9%.

-By Inti Landauro, Dow Jones Newswires; +33 1 4017 1740; inti.landauro@dowjones.com