3 Firms Bidding for Sprint Unit

Thomas H. Lee Partners, Spectrum Equity Investors and R.H. Donnelley Corp. are the remaining bidders for Sprint Corp.’s telephone-book business, people familiar with the situation said.

The companies have offered $1.75 billion to $2 billion for the business, and the winning bidder may be announced as early as next week, the people said.

Sprint’s shares Friday slipped 40 cents to close at $11.60 on the NYSE. They have fallen 42% this year.

Sprint PCS, which tracks the mobile-phone operations, fell 9 cents to $3.96.