Telecommunications privatizations raising between
US$ 1 billion and US$ 2 billion, 1984-1996

International Telecommunications Union


Country Privatized
company
Amount
raised
(US$ million)
Year Stake
sold
(%)
Note (US$)
Argentina Telecom Argentina 1,779 1990, 1992 100 Private sale in 1990 of 60% to a consortium including STET (Italy, 30%), France Telecom (30%), JP Morgan (USA, 10%), Compania naviera perez Companc (30%). The sale raised 539 million. 30% sold to the public in February 1992, raising 1,240 million. 10% went to the company's employees.
Argentina Telefonica Argentina 1,499 1990, 1991 100 Private sale in 1990 of 60% to COINTEL: consortium consisting of Telefonica de Espana (30%), Citicorp (USA, 57%) and Techint (Italy, 10%). The sale raised 631 million. 30% sold to public in 1991, raising some 868 million, 10% went to the company's employees.
Australia Optus (formerly AUSSAT) 1,200 1991 100 AUSSAT, domestic satellite operator was sold to Optus Communications (24.5% Bell South, 24.5% Cable &Wireless, 51% Optus Proprietary, and Australian consortium). The price included a general carrier licence.
Czech Republic SPT Telecom 1,450 1994, 1995 49 In 1994, 30% of the company was released to the general public, through vouchers, given away for free. Private sale of 27% to Swiss Telecom and Netherlands PTT in 1995 through a capital increase. Investors paid 1.32 billion in cash and committed to privide know-how services worth 130 million. After the capital increase, the government owns 51%.
Hungary MATAV 1,727 1993, 1996 67.2 30.2% sold in 1993 for 875 million and 37% in February 1996 for 852 million to the Magyarcom consortium (Ameritech/Deutsche Telecom).
Indonesia PT Indosat 1,119 1994 35 10% of the capital was offered on Jakarta and Surabaya Stock Exchanges raising 316 million, 25% on the New York Stock Exchange in the form of American Depositary Shares (ADS) raising 873 million: the government maintained 65%.
Indonesia PT Telcom 1,590 1995 19 12.5% sold on the domestic market, raising some 1,040 million, 6.5% constituted the international tranche, raising some 540 million.
Malaysia Telecom Malaysia 1,287 1990, 1993 22.6 14.9% was sold in Septermber 1990 raising 870 million. The second public offering took place in 1993.
Portugal Portugal Telecom 1,925 1995, 1996 49 In 1995, the sale of 28% raised some 977 million. In June 1996, the sale of 21% raised some 948 million through a domestic and international offering. 12.7 million shares out of 37.35 million shares were reserved for employees and small investors. The government owns 51% of the company.
Spain Telefonica de Espana 1,579 1992, 1993, 1995 13.5 The state reduced its stake insignificantly from 33.69% to 33.63% in 1992, then to 31.86% in 1993 and then to 20.16% in 1995. The transactions raised respectively 7 million, 146 million and 1,426 million.