July 24 (Reuters) - Maroc Telecom IAM.CS , Morocco's largest telecom operator, said on Wednesday its net profit attributable to shareholders rose 12.6 percent in the first half of 2013 to 3.5 billion dirhams ($412 million).

Vivendi SA VIV.PA said on Tuesday it had entered into exclusive talks to sell its 53 percent stake in Maroc Telecom to Abu Dhabi-based Etisalat ETEL.AD for 4.2 billion euros ($5.54 billion) in cash ID:nL6N0FT06I .

Maroc Telecom said it has maintained its financial goals, thanks to the rapid growth of its African subsidiaries and the 2012 restructuring plan, despite the 8.1 percent drop in revenue in Morocco, its domestic market and its main source of income.

The company said it has succeeded in maintaining its target for an operating margin (EBITDA) at approximately 56 percent. On a comparable basis, the operating margin was 56 percent during the first half of 2013, against 39 percent in the same period in 2012.

Last year, the company launched a restructuring plan which has reduced its workforce by 14 percent or 1,404 of its staff.

Sales revenue fell 4.6 percent as revenue in Morocco, its main market, dropped 8.1 percent, although its customer base continued to grow, by 12.5 percent, to 35 million customers.

Revenue at Maroc Telecom's subsidiaries grew 9.9 percent in Gabon, 10.3 percent in Mali, 6.5 percent in Burkina Faso and 10.5 percent in Mauritania.

Shares in Maroc Telecom have dropped around 7 percent on the Casablanca Stock Exchange to 92 dirhams and more than 8 percent in Paris to 8.2 euros following Vivendi's announcement on Tuesday, as Etisalat's offer values Maroc Telecom at 92.6 Moroccan dirhams per share.

(Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)

((Aziz.ElYaakoubi@thomsonreuters.com))

Keywords: MAROCTELECOM RESULTS/