PanARMENIAN.Net
Returns of Tender on Buying ArmenTel Shares to Be Drawn after June 20
10.06.2006 13:19 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian largest telecommunication conglomerations –
System Joint Stock Financial Corporation, Rostelecom and Vympelcom –
this week made a start in a tender on buying Armenia’s largest
operator of cellular and fixed telephone communication
ArmenTel. Companies from 5 countries will compete with them, most
serious of these being considered Kuwaiti MTC and Etisalat from Arab
Emirates. Experts believe Russian companies have a serious chance to
win the international tender, the Kommersant newspaper writes.
Reception of applications from companies wishing to take part in the
auction on buying ArmenTel finished this week. According to the
Kommersant, preliminary claims on buying ArmenTel were made by System
Joint Stock Financial Corporation, Rostelecom and Vympelcom, MTC
Kuwait operator, Sil Group Armenian Concern in partnership with
aforementioned investor, Belgacom Belgian operator, PanTel Hungarian
operator, Etisalat operator from Arab Emirates. Altimo company was
reported to take part in the tender, however Altimo Vice-President
Kirill Babayev rejected this reports.
The current owner of 90% share holding of ArmenTel – the OTE Greek
company – has announced its intention to sell its stocks in early
April 2006. The operator serves 595 subscribers (i.e. all owners of
fixed telephones in the country). The Armenian Government holds 10% of
ArmenTel shares. The transaction of the company in 2005 made 110
million euros. OTE differences on running the business was a reason
for the OTE to wish to part with Armenian assets. The Republic’s
authorities were against increased tariffs and conversation payment
for minute. E.g. President Kocharian commissioned the Minister of
Transport and Communication to cancel the payment per minute for
telephone conversations since September 1.
June 17 based on the applications received the OTE will shortlist
companies for the next round of the tender. Then the participants will
submit final applications. The returns of the tender will be drawn
July 20. The large number of claimants indicates that the cost of the
assets may rise. In the opinion of Russian expert Yelena Bazhenova,
Russian companies may offer $450 million for the Armenian operator.
Just Russian telecommunication companies in the opinion of specialists
are favorites of the auction. «ArmenTel is attractive, as until
lately it was monopolist at the local cellular market, while no one,
except it, can provide fixed telephone communication services in
Armenia,» said iKS-Consulting Senior Consultant Oksana Pankratova.
Russian companies have more chances to win the tender, as they have
more contacts, ties with Armenian authorities, and it is very
important for working in the country, as the Armenian Government
strictly control the telecommunication market, Yelena Bazhenova
believes. `It is worth noting that the OTE announced the tender just
after consultations with the Armenian Government,’ the Kommersant
writes.