Kabel Deutschland has ditched its appeal against the German Federal Cartel Office blocking of its acquisition of smaller cable operator Tele Columbus.

Reports say Kabel Deutschland took the decision because it does not want to be involved in a lengthy legal dispute following its acquisition by Vodafone.

The acquisition of Tele Columbus was blocked earlier this year by the Bundeskartellamt on the grounds that it would have an adverse effect on competition. The Cartel Office ruled that KDG’s proposed €618 million takeover of Tele Columbus could only be approved if it sold off 60 per cent of its networks in eastern Germany, something the cable operator found unacceptable.

Kabel Deutschland filed a complaint in March challenging the decision, which was passed to the Supreme Administrative Court of Düsseldorf.

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