A Dow Jones Newswire report yesterday confirmed earlier reports that the Cesky Telecom privatization is to be launched within a few days. DJN’s source said that the sale may be launched by the end of the week, that potential bidders will be asked to express interest before the holiday season begins, and that Eurotel talks do not represent an obstacle for the tender to be launched. DJN also reported later in the day that, according to its source, Western telcos -- including Vivendi, France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom - have expressed “lively interest” in the Cesky Telecom sale. These companies neither denied nor confirmed their interest when asked by DJN. All these names have been mentioned in the past as potentially interested in CT. Neither of the DJN reports prevented Cesky Telecom stock from losing ground yesterday.
(Ondrej Datka)