Telekom Austria AG (WBAG:TKA) has dropped out of the race for Telemach sirokopasovne komunikacije d.o.o. (SBB/Telemach), claims Vienna-based economic daily Wirtschaftsblatt. The paper, citing multiple unnamed sources, said that Telekom Austria has not passed the first stage, as it had submitted the lowest bid of all. In the race for SBB/Telemach, only four interested bidders remain, and they are mainly private funds.

SBB/Telemach is worth an estimated €700 million-€800 million. Telekom Slovenije d.d. (LJSE:TLSG) is being mentioned as a possible new target for Telekom Austria, claims the newspaper, noting that the parliament of Slovenia approved its privatization in late June 2013, but that a specific date has not yet been set.