As expected, the Cabinet has allowed all five bidders into the second round of the tender for the state’s 51% stake in CT and to perform due diligence starting next week. The bidders include Swisscom, Telefonica, Belgacom, the financial institutions Blackstone/CVC/Providence and the domestic PPF/J&T with Inway. According to National Property Fund (NPF) chairman Jan Juchelka, in order for the financial groups to perform due diligence and to file a final bid, they must team up with a recognized telecoms operator. Finance Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said that preparations for sale of the state’s stake in CT via capital markets will continue in parallel. Note that the final bids are due on March 29. Source: CTK