Netherlands sells approximately 9% of its TNT Stake

Newsagencies reported that the Netherlands’ government isselling about half of its remaining stake in Europe’s second-biggest express-package delivery

company, TNT NV. With reference to the dutch ministry of finances Bloomberg reports thatthe dutch state raised 900 million euros with the sale. Thestate will retain a 10 percent stake which it plans to keep until the postal marketin the Netherlands is fully liberalised. In September 2004, when the government last sold TNTshares (cutting its stake to 19 percent), the company had bought back around a third of theshares. This time TNT did not participate in the stake sale, sources reports with reference to acompany spokeswoman.  To prevent fundamental changes in the company structure the governmentretains its “golden share”, which gives it special rights regarding these changes.