Dutch operator KPN and Belgium's Proximus are among the potential takeover targets for Orange, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal. Orange is weighing multiple acquisition targets in France and in Europe, to build scale and to avoid becoming a target itself, according to the report. As reported previously, it's also looking at Bouygues Telecom and Telecom Italia as possible takeover candidates.
However, the search for takeovers is still preliminary, and no deal is imminent. Orange wants to "swallow rather than be swallowed," said one person close to the company.
