Dutch TPG considers bid for stake in Belgian De Post

TPG NV is considering the opportunities to make a possible bid for a stake in Belgian postal company De Post/La Poste, a spokesman of TPG said on January 25, 2005.

Bids for a stake in the Belgian company are to be filed until the end of February 2005 at the latest, Belgian media sources said, based on statements of De Post’s chief executive officer (CEO), Johnny Thijs.

TPG is also in the race for a 25 pct stake in Post Danmark, for which the company has made an official bid. The Danish government expects to select an exclusive party at the beginning of February 2005. According to TPG spokesman, the company had enough financial space for both bids. The spokesman did not say when TPG would take a decision on a possible bid for a stake in De Post. The Belgian government wants to retain a majority stake in De Post, while the investor can help in the further automation of the postal activities in Belgium, Thijs said.

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