FRANKFURT, August 1, 2008 (AFP) - The German industrial group Siemens announced on Friday another divestment in its telecoms activities, saying it would sell 80 percent of its SHC unit, which makes cordless phones, to Arques Industries.

The amount of the transaction was not provided, but the deal was to be finalised by October 1, a statement said.

SEC, which Siemens described as the European leader in cordless telephones, employs 2,100 people and posted 2007 sales of 792 million euros (1.23 billion dollars).

It no longer belongs to Siemens core activities of energy, industry and medical technologies, the group said.

Arques Industries is a specialist in the purchase of industrial holdings, which it then turns around.

It will have the right to use the Siemens brand for another two years.

The German industrial group is being shaken up by chairman Peter Loescher, who was brought in a year ago to steer the company out of a corruption scandal that broke in 2006.

Earlier this week, Siemens said it had sold its SEN division, which provided telecommunications services to businesses, to The Gores Group, an investment fund.