By Arno Schuetze and Pamela Barbaglia
FRANKFURT/LONDON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile Netherlands division has drawn interest fromprivate equity groups Apax and CVC, which are putting thefinishing touches to their rival bids, sources familiar with thematter told Reuters.
The unit, which lags competitors KPN and Vodafone in the market, could be valued at up to 3 billion eurosand is being sold in an auction process led by Credit Suisse,the sources said.
The bidders have been asked to submit indicative offers byNovember 16.
Other investment firms, including U.S. buyout funds BainCapital and Providence, are also expected to enter the race, thesources said.
It remains to be seen whether any telecom or cable companieswill emerge as bidders, but some of the sources said Frenchentrepreneur Xavier Niel's telecoms group Iliad andcable group Liberty Global could be interested in theasset.
Liberty is already present in the Netherlands as cableprovider Ziggo, and is awaiting approval to buy a mobileoperator in Belgium as it bets more on all-inclusive bundles ofservices.
Spokesmen at Deutsche Telekom, Liberty Global, and theprivate equity funds declined to comment. Iliad could notimmediately be reached for comment. (Additional reporting by Harro ten Wolde in Frankfurt and LeilaAbboud in Paris; Editing by Karolin Schaps)
Vodafone (VOD)
