Shortly after receiving a range of second-round and non-binding bids to take a controlling stake in Telekom Slovenije, the Slovenian government announced it was halting the sale of all state-owned businesses, according to Finance News.

A spokeswoman for Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH), which is handling the privatisations, said: “SSH believe that all of the sales processes will be successfully finished, however according to yesterday’s government decision there is the possibility that the timelines of sales processes could be extend [sic].”

The original deadline for final bids for the Slovenian incumbent, in which the government owns 63 per cent, was 8 August.

According to the report, privatisation of all companies – including Telekom Slovenije – is to be out on hold until a new cabinet is formed after parliamentary elections on 13 July.

Deutsche Telekom, MTS – the biggest mobile operator in Russia – and Turkcell are among the second-round bidders.

So too are numerous financial funds. The highest provisional bids, reports Finance News, came from Bain Capital and Providence Equity Partners at €150-160 per share (although the Slovenian government is said to have a target price of €200 per share.)

Deutsche Telekom reportedly offered €140.

Other financial funds throwing their hats into the ring are Apollo Global Management, Cinven, CVC Capital Partners, PPF Group and Apax.