KPN shares sell off after takeover falls apart

AMSTERDAM (AP) Shares in Dutch telecoms company Royal KPN NV are falling after Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim followed through on a threat to walk away from a takeover bid.

In early Amsterdam trading Thursday, KPN shares were down 8.8 percent to 2.22 euros ($3.01), well below the 2.40-euro per-share offer promised by Slim's America Movil. But the sell-off was not the bloodbath some investors had feared: shares were well below 2 euros when Slim began his approach in July.

The KPN Foundation, an independent body that oversees the company's interests, had branded Slim's offer of 7.2 billion euros ($9.8 billion) for the 70 percent stake he didn't already own as hostile. It blocked it by issuing new shares and told him to negotiate.

Movil said Wednesday KPN's management demanded a higher bid as a prerequisite to talks.

At a press conference Thursday, KPN CEO Eelco Blok confirmed that, saying Movil was trying to "buy a front-row seat for a dime."

KPN's shares have lost more than 70 percent of their value since Blok took the top job at the Netherland's largest telecommunications company in 2011. Customers with smartphones have been ditching KPN for cheaper Internet-based communications services such as WhatsApp and Skype.

KPN responded by hiking its prices for mobile Internet access, but was still forced to issue new shares this year to shore up its balance sheet. This month it also sold its German division, E-Plus, for around $11.4 billion, to Telefonica SA of Spain.

Blok had initially agreed to sell E-Plus for around $10.4 billion, but later negotiated a better deal under pressure from Movil.

"We have plenty of money because of the E-Plus sale, and for the moment we will continue independently," Blok said Thursday.

KPN is due to report third quarter earnings on Wednesday.

"KPN shareholders were better off with the Movil offer and they are now stuck with a company that's not worth more than around 2 euros per share," said Theodoor Gilissen analyst Jos Versteeg in a note.

He predicted Slim will eventually re-bid for KPN, possibly after buying additional shares below the 2.40 offer price.