Belgium open to postal ties to Scandinavian group

BRUSSELS, May 31 (Reuters) - Belgium is open to the idea of its postal service becoming part of the new joint Danish-Swedish mail group, a minister told Belgian business daily De Tijd in a story published on Saturday.

"The cultures of the three groups fit each other," Inge Vervotte, minister in charge of public companies told the newspaper.

Sweden and Denmark agreed in April to merge the two countries' post offices, creating a company with annual revenues of about $7.5 billion that will eventually be listed.

Sweden will own 58.23 percent of the capital. The letter of intent was also signed by private equity firm CVC Capital Partners which owns a minority stake in Post Danmark, the Danish post office.

The move has led to speculation about what might happen to Belgium's postal service, in which the Belgian state has 50 percent and one share. Post Danmark and CVC have the remaining stake of just under 50 percent.

Vervotte was open to the idea of Belgium's La Poste/De Post, and its 37,000 workers, becoming part of the new Scandinavian group.

"You can never rule out something like that. But I want to keep a majority interest," she said, adding she did not see a merger taking place immediately.

Belgium has similarly said it wishes to retain control over former telecom monopoly Belgacom (BCOM.BR: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), but might be ready to lower its stake if Belgacom found a merger partner.

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; editing by Christopher Johnson)