The highest privatization bid (by Enel/Iberdrola) for CEZ and six regional distributors amounted to CZK 135 bn. Reportedly. EdF (submitted its bid after a deadline) and International Power (which teamed up with E.ON, and British Power) were excluded by the privatization committee, Enel/Iberdrola remained as the highest bidder, but later in the day halted its talks with the committee. None of the bids (their non-financial part) did not completely fulfill the privatization requirements, and the bids are well below required minimum of CZK 200 bn.
The highest bid (by Rotch Energy of the UK) for the government’s 63% stake in Unipetrol amounted to CZK 14.5 bn.
Import and export prices declined 2.1% and 1.3%, respectively, m-o-m, in October. The biggest decreases in the import prices occurred in mineral fuels (by 10.4%). Terms of trade, y-o-y, improved again and reached 104.5 (103.8 in September). The favorable influence of the development of terms of trade on trade balance in October amounted to CZK 6.4 bn in October.
The central government debt increased by CZK 8.1 bn to CZK 295.7 bn in the third quarter 2001. The debt increase was fueled by auctions of government bonds. Their amount raised to CZK 136 bn from CZK 128 bn.
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