The chairman of Turkish freight shipping company UN Ro-Ro has warned against a takeover of the firm by US buyout house Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in an early sign of hostility to the asset class in the European Union accession state.

Saffet Ulusoy told Istanbul-based daily newspaper Milliyet a recommended €910m ($1.3bn) takeover by the buyout house could pose a threat to national security during times of war. Ulusoy added that the Turkish military also opposes the sale.