KKR-backed group leads bidding for US$20b Deutsche Telekom arm: sources

A consortium backed by KKR & Co is emerging as the frontrunner to buy a stake in Deutsche Telekom's sprawling wireless tower portfolio, people with knowledge of the matter said.

KKR has made an offer in conjunction with Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and Stonepeak, the people said. Their bid is seen as more attractive than a rival proposal from Brookfield Asset Management and Spain's Cellnex Telecom, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.

Deutsche Telekom plans to formally choose a winner as soon as this week, according to the people. The unit could be valued at around US$20 billion in any deal, the people said.

While negotiations are at an advanced stage, no final decisions have been made and the talks could still fall apart, the people said. Deutsche Telekom could still decide to retain the asset or other bidders could emerge, the people said.

Vodafone Group's listed infrastructure arm Vantage Towers was also among suitors studying the business earlier, Bloomberg News has reported.

Representatives for Brookfield, Cellnex, GIP and KKR declined to comment. A spokesperson for Deutsche Telekom didn't immediately respond to requests for comment outside regular European business hours, while queries sent to Stonepeak weren't immediately answered during a US holiday.

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A spokesperson for Vodafone said the company is exploring its own options to achieve the objectives set out for its tower business in May, referring to statements by Vodafone chief executive officer Nick Read on the carrier's hunt for value-creating deals.

The sale of stake in Deutsche Telekom's tower business could be one of the largest infrastructure deals in Europe this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. KKR, GIP and Stonepeak jointly made a binding offer for a controlling stake in the unit, Bloomberg News reported last month.

Institutional investors are drawn to wireless towers because of their ability to generate steady, long-term returns. KKR raised US$17 billion for its latest global infrastructure fund earlier this year, while GIP is targeting US$25 billion for what would be the world's biggest pool of capital dedicated to infrastructure investments. BLOOMBERG