Cesky Telecom: The Danish TDC expressed serious interest in the privatization of the state's 51% stake in Cesky Telecom at a meeting with IT Minister V. Mlynar on Friday (Czech Press Agency). Note that a consortium of TDC and Deutsche Bank offered EUR 1.82bn for a 51% stake in 2002, but the sale was canceled since minority shareholder TelSource (holding a tag-along agreement with the government) did not agree on a buyout price. Recall also that the privatization tender should start next year and should be completed in 2005. The Cabinet wants to sell the stake to a strategic investor (or a consortium led by a strategic investor). The price will be the major criterion. The French Orange and the British Vodafone reportedly expressed an interest in Eurotel, Cesky Telecom's 100%-owned mobile subsidiary, Reuters reported on Friday.
Jitka Oppitzová