Government takes both options on board for Cesky sale

After revealing earlier this week that it would either sell its 51% stake in Cesky Telecom to a single strategic investor or float the holding, the Czech government has said it will in fact exercise both options. It plans to call on investors to submit bids for a tender expected to go ahead on 31 March 2005, but will also begin ground work for a capital market sale of the stake should the tender fail.