KPN chairman unsure over future as independent telco, Base will not be sold
The Dutch telco KPN’s future as an independent telco is uncertain, Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad wrote, citing KPN's Chairman Eelco Blok who said this in an interview with the paper.
He said in five years’ time, the European telecom market will be different from today and does not know if KPN will be an independent part of that market then.
The report noted European telecom companies are relatively cheap targets for large foreign parties such as America Movil. Also parties like Telefonica, Vodafone and Liberty Global are looking for acquisitions in Europe.
As America Movil canceled its offer for KPN in October 2013, the company is allowed to make a new offer as from April. Blok, however, said he does not expect America Movil will have another go at KPN now, as it has reduced its holding in KPN from 29.8% to 27.1%, recently. There is also no indication of an offer by another party, the report noted.
KPN will hold on to its Belgian Base mobile phone operator, that was up for sale earlier, the report added.
Source NRC Handelsblad