On Wedneday 19, Air-France KLM Group, Europe's largest airline, withdrew from negotiations to buy the state-owned company Czech Airlines (CSA). The front page of Hospodářské Noviny leads with the headline "CSA: failed deal." The report in the daily points out that Czech authorities have already turned down offers from Aeroflot and the Odien investment group. As result, there is only one remaining potential buyer, the consortium formed by Unimex and Travel Service. The duo may be able to gain control of the 91.5% of CSA's capital without having to bid against the competition. In an editorial, the business daily emphasizes that "from the outset this privatization has been an attempt to sell a company that is relatively unattractive" in a period of financial crisis.
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