Posts, Telecommunications And Data Communications : Germany

At the beginning of 1 995, after more than 500 years, the postal services in Germany were released from state control. At this time, in conjunction with the Postal Reform II, the Posts and Telecommunications Reorganization Act entered into force. This Act forms the basis for the largest privatization undertaking in the history of the Federal Republic. As stock corporations, the “three sisters” Deutsche Telekom AC, Deutsche Post AG and Deutsche Postbank AG are better equipped to compete in the international arena.

In the case of Deutsche Telekom AG, the Federation’s original 100-percent share has already been reduced. Through Deutsche Telekom AG’s first public stock offering in 1996, its share capital was increased to about DM13.6 billion; the Federation’s holding in the corporation thus dropped to just under 74 percent. The partial privatization of Deutsche Postbank AG is scheduled for 1997, and Deutsche Post AG plans to have its shares traded on the stock market around the year 2000.