THE IRISH government has taken the first steps towards the relaunch of its privatisation programme by issuing an open invitation to international investment banks to advise on the flotation of national telephone operator Telecom Eireann. Competition for the mandate has become intense with US firms vying with their European counterparts and some attempting to form links with local and foreign brokers in Dublin, including Davy, NCB, Goodbody and ABN Amro.
May 29, 1998