EEMEA market round-up: Turkey

Flushed with the success of its 2005 activities, with more than $20 billion raised through privatizations for the Turkish treasury, the country’s privatization administration wants to reattempt the sale of tobacco firm Tekel. The government’s latest attempt to sell the firm was just last year, but no bids were received. This was blamed on an increase in tax on tobacco products. It also tried, but failed, to sell the company in 2003. Other entities slated for privatization this year include Halkbank, petrochemicals firm Petkim and Turkish Airlines.