PTK bidders given until end of month to submit offers

Kosovo’s government has authorised a further extension of the deadline for submitting bids for a 75% stake in incumbent Post and Telecommunications Kosovo (PTK), Telecompaper writes without giving its source. As previously noted by CommsUpdate, bids were originally due in December 2012, though that deadline was pushed back until 15 January after the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) agreed to offer support to bidders: prequalified bidders now have until 31 January to submit their offers. Five companies have been qualified to participate in the sale: Turkcell, Portugal Telecom (in partnership with Albright Capital Management), British Telecom Poland (in partnership with Columbia Capital and ACP Axos Capital), M1 International Limited and Avicena Capital (in partnership with Sofrecom). However unconfirmed reports earlier this month suggested that Albright Capital Management had withdrawn from the running.