According to the Czech MFDnes newspaper, the Czech Cabinet should today discuss the privatization of Ceska pojistovna (CP), the leading Czech insurance company. The state and Komercni banka are jointly selling their 30% and 10% stakes in CP. The paper reports that the PPF financial group, which already holds a 52% stake in CP, is bidding CZK 3,800 per CP share (vs. yesterday’s CZK 2,330 per-share market price), which is an improvement on its previous offer, and which values KB’s 10% stake at CZK 1.3 bil. (this amounts to CZK 34 per KB share). We estimate that the value of the stake in KB’s books could be CZK 0.9 bil. as of June 2001 (CZK 23 per KB share), implying a potential CZK 0.4 bil. profit from the sale of the stake (CZK 11 per KB share). This estimate is based on the assumption that the stake was valued at market, given that it is in the portfolio of “securities available for sale”, and on the market price of Ceska pojistovna of CZK 2,550 per share at the end of June.
The negotiations between PPF and the state are ongoing, though; i.e., one should not expect any firm Cabinet decision today. Nonetheless, the news of a mutually acceptable deal shaping up, and the prospect of KB selling the stake at an improved price and at a profit is positive for KB stock.
(Ondrej Datka)