Yesterday, the government asked its advisors CSFB/CS to approach potential bidders to monitor preliminary interest in the privatization of the state's 51% stake in Cesky Telecom. The Ministry of Finance said that the Government is considering three ways of privatizatizing the company: (i) selling the whole 51% stake to a tender winner, (ii) floating the full 51% stake on capital markets and (iii) a combination of the above two methods. According to previous comments from government officials, it appears that the government would favour selling the 51% stake to a tender winner. CSFB/CS should make its recommendation regarding the optimal privatization form to the privatization committee in October while the Ministry of Finance expects the government to decide on the privatization form in the same month, at the latest.
Tomáš Gatěk