BERLIN, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Deutsche Telekom is
well placed to drive European industry consolidation, CEO Tim
Hoettges said on Thursday, thanks to strategic execution that
has lifted its market value above that of its peers.
Hoettges said the group's market capitalisation had grown to
72 billion euros ($85 billion) on his seven-year-old watch,
outgrowing European peers Vodafone, Telefonica
and Orange.
"We have created a currency (in the form of our shares) that
protects us against possible takeovers, and a currency that we
can also put to work," added Hoettges.
($1 = 0.8450 euros)
(Reporting by Douglas Busvine
Editing by Michelle Martin)