Final bids for a 57% stake in Benin Telecom are due by 25 November.
France Telecom and Maroc Telecom (advised by BNP Paribas) are expected to place bids, a source close to the transaction said.
Libya’s Lap Green Networks and Sudatel, which have also been…
Final bids for a 57% stake in Benin Telecom are due by 25 November.
France Telecom and Maroc Telecom (advised by BNP Paribas) are expected to place bids, a source close to the transaction said.
Libya’s Lap Green Networks and Sudatel, which have also been shortlisted, may also submit final offers, the source added.
The idea is that the winning operator will hold 51% of the telecoms incumbent and team up with local private partners who will hold 6%.
The source said that Benin Telecom’s debt stands at about E75m after the state took over E200m of the operator’s debt.
The government still seems to be keen on finalising the deal before the end of the year, but the coming elections in March may interfere with the process, the source said.
Tunisie Telecom and Detecon were also initially shortlisted but they seem to have withdrawn from the process.
Linkstone Capital is advising the government on the sale.
Benin has a highly competitive mobile market, with five operators battling for the custom of 8.4 million inhabitants. Of these, Benin Telecom’s Libercom has the fewest subscribers, while Globacom and MTN dominate the market.
