Prishtina, 17 August 2012 – The Government Privatization Committee for PTK, in its meeting held on 17 August 2012, adopted the list of prequalified companies for participating in the bid to purchase 75% of PTK shares.

The application evaluation process for applying companies was conducted by a professional committee comprising senior professionals from all ministries represented in the GPC.

Also, the transaction advisor confirmed through a special evaluation report the conclusions of the said report issued by the evaluation committee appointed by GPC.

Based on GPC’s decision, companies that have fulfilled legal, financial and technical criteria set in the call for prequalification, which will subsequently be invited to participate in the tender for the purchase of 75% of PTK shares are:

•Albright Capital Management LLC, in cooperation with Portugal Telecom
•Columbia Capital, in consortium with ACP Axos Capital Gmbh, in cooperation with British Telecom – Poland (owned by British Telecom)
•M1 International Limited 
•Turkcell
•Twelve HORNBEAMS, in consortium with Avicenna Capital LLC, in cooperation with Sofrecom (part of France Telecom). 
 
Criteria envisaged in the call for prequalification provided for the prequalification of telecom operators and investment funds that have entered into cooperation agreements with telecom operators, or have earlier invested in large telecom operators.

Prequalified companies and consortia provide for strong competition in the remainder of the process for privatization of 75% of PTK shares. Participation of these companies from around the globe in PTK privatization clearly demonstrates the attractiveness of the company and the telecommunication market of the Republic of Kosovo.

In the following days, GPC will conduct other steps required for opening the tender procedure for the sale of PTK shares, in which all prequalified companies will be invited to participate. 
 
The tender is expected to be opened in September, whereas it will remain open for around two months. GPC considers to have very successfully concluded the prequalification phase.

The profile of companies

– Albright Capital Management (ACM), in cooperation with Portugal Telecom

Albright Capital Management LLC was founded in 2003.

As if 2007, this company has raised investments of over $600 million. The company manages assets of over $700 million. The company manages various investment funds in many countries in the world.

In the race for PTK privatization has entered in cooperation with the Portuguese Telecom. Portuguese Telecom, operates in several countries of the world, and has annual revenues of nearly €4 billion.

– Twelve Hornbeams, UK (Innova Capital) and Avicienna Capital, UK, in cooperation with Sofrecom (part of France Telecom)

Twelve Hornbeams is founded by Innova Capital.
In the last 17 years, Innova Capital has invested in several highly important telecom operators, including, among others, GTS Central Europe, Energis Polska, Voxtel (Orange Moldova), Mobitel, etc. and has invested around €500 million in various countries of South East Europe, and manages assets with a value of €900 million in this region. 

Avicienna Capital is a private direct investment firm with offices in London and Istanbul. Established in 2003, Avicenna has invested in various strategic sectors in Asia and Europe.
Avicenna is seeking to expand its investment portfolio in telecommunications and energy.

The two companies have entered the race to privatize PTK in cooperation with Sofrecom, which is part of France Telecom.

– Columbia Capital, USA and Axos Capital, in cooperation with British Telecom Poland (part of British Telecom)

Columbia Capital is an investment fund with a focus in information technology, telecommunication, internet, media, etc. Established in 1989, it as invested in these sectors in 130 companies worldwide. It currently manages over $2.5 billion.
Axos Capital Partners is a joint investment company of leading international technology and telecom investors representing $4bn of private equity.
Columbia Capital and Axos Capital have entered the race to purchase PTK in cooperation with British Telecom. 

– M1 Group, Lebanon

M1 Group is an investment group, with experience in investments in various areas, such as telecommunication, aviation, energy, construction, etc. Established in 1960, it started investments in the telecom market in 1980, and the largest telecommunication company it has invested was Investcom.

– Turkcell, Turkey

Turkcell is the largest mobile telephone operator in Turkey. It provides telephone and internet services through its global communication network. The Company also provides other services in the area of telephony and internet. It operates in nine countries worldwide, with 65 million consumers. It reported revenues of $4 billion last year.