All six bidders for Unipetrol may be reportedly short-listed

According to the MFDnes daily, the privatization advisor (the consortium of McKinsey&Company, West LB and EEIP) reportedly intends to recommend all six bidders to be short-listed; the privatization committee should decide on the short-list this week. The newspaper also disclosed a full list of indicative bids, but without clarifying whether these are only for equity or also for Unipetrol's CZK 4bn debt.

                                  Offered price (CZK bn)          

KazMunaiGas                            9-16                                    

Royal Dutch/Shell                     11-13                                    

Tatneft                                9-11                                   

PKN Orlen/ConocoPhillips               9-10                                   

Penta                                    10                                        

MOL                                     7-9                                    

 

Separately, Russian Gazprom would like to make a late entry in the Unipetrol privatization, Reuters reported on Friday. However, it is unlikely to be allowed to join the tender as a lead bidder, but may be able to team up with other short-listed bidders.

While the Cabinet expected privatization to be completed by the end of March 2004, some investors reportedly require more time for due diligence. (Reuters)

Jan Hájek