TELECOM EGYPT MAY SELL its 45% stake in Vodafone Egypt in an effort to raise funds for its new 4G operations, “two analysts who have been briefed by the company” told Bloomberg’s Tamim Elyan and Michael Scaturro. Vodafone would not be happy with the move, they write, quoting New Street Research analyst James Ratzer as saying VFE “likes having Telecom Egypt as a partner because it gives them a tie to the government … They are likely to want to recreate this situation.” The operator is weighing whether to go for an IPO of the USD 1.7 bn stake, transfer it “elsewhere in the government” or find a private buyer, the sources added. Vodafone’s best-case scenarios are an IPO or a partner with strong government ties, but will have limited long-term growth either way with TE’s entry into the wireless market. “A private buyer would want control, so Vodafone might have to decide whether to buy the stake or sell out and exit the country,” according to Bloomberg. Both operators declined to comment.