Arcor agreed to sell a one billion euro ($881 million) stake in a new rail telecommunications network to Deutsche Bahn, clearing the way for an initial share sale by Arcor.
A British stockbroker and investment bank, the Cazenove Group, postponed plans for an initial share sale because of poor "market and business conditions".
Alcoa and BHP Billiton merged their metals distribution businesses in November 2001 to create Integris and had announced plans in August 2003 for an initial share offering of the unit.
The firm just announced plans for an initial share flotation in the US, which many analysts believe could be the largest ever for an internet firm.
Cable was criticised for describing the initial share price reaction – when it surged 38% on the first day – as "froth" and declaring the shares would take months to find their true level.
BBC Radio Leeds understands a Yorkshire-based consortium tabled a bid for an 51% initial share with a view to a phased buy-out.
Still, the consensus is that shares in a newly offered company will tick up by 10-15%.Local banks appear to share the confidence, extending margin loans for up to 90% of the initial share price.
Virgin Blue, which took 18 months to gain 15percentt of local air traffic, plans to use Patrick's partnership to help its initial share sale, planned for as early as the final quarter of 2002, said Brett Godfrey, Virgin's chief executive.
China already dominates the Asian market for initial public share offerings, thanks to listings of its giant state-owned enterprises.
Google's planned public offering a "Dutch auction", where any investor can bid for the company's initial shares over the Internet has Wall Street guessing just what value the public market will place on the precious brand name.
