TELECOMS: BELGACOM INTERESTED IN ACQUIRING NEUF CEGETEL.

Belgium's former telecommunications monopoly Belgacom is interested in acquiring French operator Neuf Cegetel, according to an interview with Chairman Didier Bellens published in Belgian dailies De Tijd and La Libre Belgique on January 19. Following the acquisition of Belgian network integration operator Telindus, "it is clear that if opportunities arise we would also be keen to invest abroad", Mr Bellens told La Libre Belgique. Mr Bellens, former Chairman of the RTL Group, claims to have "two well identified targets: either a mobile operator in a country where the market is still growing, or a broadband operator in a neighbouring country".

Neuf Cegetel "is precisely the kind of opportunity that interests us. Particularly as we already hold a 5% stake in Neuf Cegetel and enjoy a good relationship with the group". Nevertheless, he acknowledged that other shareholders - the Louis Dreyfus and SFR groups each hold 28% - "are apparently keen to retain their stakes at least until the group's stock market floatation, which may come about this year or next".

A broadband operator and Internet access provider, Neuf Cegetel was created in August through the merger of Neuf Telecom and Cegetel. On December 31, Belgacom had liquidities amounting to euro 500 million, "which means that the following the Telindus deal, the...