Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has said he believes the privatisation of Telekom Srbija can be completed in 2015.
Speaking to reporters in Serbia, Vucic said the government will seek to appoint an adviser ahead of launching a public tender…
Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has said he believes the privatisation of Telekom Srbija can be completed in 2015.
Speaking to reporters in Serbia, Vucic said the government will seek to appoint an adviser ahead of launching a public tender process, local publication Blic reported.
He said the incumbent telco should attract a higher price than when the government of Mirko Cvetkovic tried to sell it in 2011 as Serbia, which is working toward entering the European Union, is in a better position now and undertaking reforms.
Cvetkovic’s government rejected a €1.1bn bid from Telekom Austria early that year as too low. About seven months later, in December, it agreed to buy back Greek telco OTE’s 20% stake in Telekom Srbija for €380m.
In June 2013, Blic cited sources as saying the state would aim to raise €2bn from the sale of the entire company.
The World Bank’s scheduled assessment of the Serbian business climate next year should provide greater clarity for the process, Vucic reportedly noted.
The privatisation council and Telekom Srbija management will determine the conditions of the tender process, according to recent local media reports.
The Serbian government has a 58.11% direct stake in Telekom Srbija while the company’s management has a 20% holding. Further stakeholders include Serbian citizens and current and former employees.
