MADRID, July 22 (Reuters) - French telecom operator

Orange has offered to buy the 50% it does not own in

its Spanish unit MasOrange for 4 billion euros ($4.68 billion),

Spanish news website El Confidencial reported on Tuesday, citing

unidentified sources.

The offer for the stake that is jointly owned by private

equity funds KKR, Cinven and Providence is not binding,

El Confidencial said.

Orange's fully owned Spanish unit last year merged with

rival MasMovil, which was owned by the three funds.

Orange, MasOrange, KKR and Providence declined to comment,

while a spokesperson for Cinven did not immediately respond to a

request for comment.

($1 = 0.8548 euros)

(Reporting by Inti Landauro)