TPG: Interested In Stake In Oesterreichische Post

Dutch postal service and logistics company TPG NV is interested in taking a stake in Austria’s Oesterreichische Post, TPG spokesman Tanno Massar told Dow Jones Newswires Monday. The Austrian Privatization Agency has reportedly said it is looking for a strategic partner for the state postal service, possibly selling a 25% stake. According to German newspaper Handelsblatt Monday, Deutsche Post AG has emerged as the frontrunner, ahead of TPG, to buy the 25% stake. Massar said TPG generally looks at opportunities in countries where the state is considering privatizing national postal companies. However, TPG aims to gain a majority stake in such companies in the longer term. He said Oesterreichische Post would become less interesting for TPG if a maximum of 25% of the company would only be sold in the long run. A decision still has to be made by the Austrian government on the postal company’s privatization.