LONDON/AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – European private equity fund EQT is holding preliminary talks with KPN NV KPN.AS over a possible takeover bid that could value the largest Dutch telecommunications company at about $13 billion, a source with knowledge of the matter said.
EQT has approached both KPN’s management and the Dutch government in recent weeks to discuss a possible deal, the source said.
The buyout fund, founded in Sweden in 1994 and led by Chief Executive Christian Sinding, is working with JPMorgan JPM.N on a possible deal, the source said, but negotiations are still at an early stage and no deal is certain.
KPN’s top investor America Movil AMXL.MX, which owns 16% of the Dutch firm, has not been informed of the discussions, which were first reported by Bloomberg, the source added.
EQT and KPN declined to comment while America Movil was not immediately available.