This list of privatizations provides links to notable and/or major privatizations.
Argentina
- Aerolíneas Argentina (1990) – former national carrier; renationalized in 2009.
- Agua y Energía Eléctrica (1992–95) – national electricity production company; partitioned and sold.
- Buenos Aires Underground (1994) – given under concession but still owned by the State.
- Empresa Nacional de Correos y Telégrafos (ENCoTel, 1997) – given under concession as Correo Argentino. Re-nationalized in 2003.
- ENTel (national telecommunications company, 1990) – partitioned and sold to France Télécom and to Spanish Telefónica.
- Fábrica Militar de Aviones (FMA, 1995) – sold to Lockheed Martin.
- Ferrocarriles Argentinos (1991–95) – railway lines all over the country (partially re-nationalized).
- Gas del Estado (1992) – national gas company partitioned and sold, among others, to the Spanish Gas Natural company Naturgy.
- Obras Sanitarias de la Nación (water company, 1992–93) - given under concession to the French conglomerate Suez, which operated it under the name Aguas Argentinas; re-nationalized in 2006 as Aguas y Saneamientos Argentinos (AySA).
- Segba (1992) - partitioned and given under concession to Edesur, Edenor and Edelap.
- Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales (YPF, 1991–92) – national oil-company sold to the Spanish Repsol. The Argentinian government in 2004 set up a new state oil company (Enarsa) from scratch, which proved of no use. In 2012, the Argentine Government expropriated 51% of the shares of YPF owned by Repsol.
Austria
1980s
- OMV (1987, 1989, 1994, 1996; government retains 31.5%)
1990s
- Simmering-Graz-Pauker (1992–93)
- VOEST-Alpine Eisenbahntechnik (1992–94)
- Austria Mikro Systeme International (1993–94)
- A.S.A. Abfall Service AG (1993)
- VA Technologie (1994, 2003, 2005)
- AT&S (1994)
- Böhler-Uddeholm (1995, 1996, 2003)
- Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment (1995)
- Schoeller-Bleckmann Edelstahlrohr GesmbH (1995)
- Bernhard Steinel Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH (1995)
- VA Stahl AG (1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005)
- Weiler Werkzeugmaschinen (1995)
- GIWOG-Wohnbaugruppe (1996)
- Vamed AG (1996; government retained 13% until 2024)
- VA Bergtechnik (1996)
- AMAG Austria Metall AG (1996)
- Salinen Austria (1997)
- Mobilkom Austria (1997)
- Wiener Boerse (1999)[1]
- Bank Austria (1997–98)
- Austria Tabak (1997, 1999, 2001)
- Telekom Austria (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006; government retains 28.42%)
2010s
- Funkhaus Wien [de] (2016)[2]
Bahrain
- Bahrain Telecommunications Co. (Q1 2005, $800 million)
Egypt
- The Shebin spinning and weaving factory in Menoufia in the Nile Delta was on strike against/locked out by its new non-Egyptian owners in the wake of the 2011 revolution. Workers and maybe the military now in control of the state were favoring re-nationalization, according to one report. "[L] iberal economic policy is tarred with [the old regime's] corruption," said Michael Wahid Hanna, in Cairo for the U.S.-based Century Foundation.[5] Indorama, the new Indonesian/Thai[6] owner of Shebin,[7] was not quoted in the report. Looking further back to 2000, "well considered public spinners" Shebin El Kom and STIA, were then considered to have a "redundant labor problem ... [but] would otherwise be attractive privatization buying or leasing opportunities for private investors."[8] In 2011, STIA, also known as El Nasr Wool & Selected Textiles, of Alexandria, remained "one of the largest public sector textiles companies."[9]
Greece
- DESFA – On 20 December 2018, a consortium formed by Snam (60%), Enagás (20%) and Fluxys (20%) completed the acquisition of a 66% stake in DESFA for an amount of €535 million.
- Hellenic Petroleum – Starting from the 1990s, the Greek Government gradually sold its shares in the company, and currently owns only 35.5% of the shares.
- Hellenic Vehicle Industry (ELVO) – In December 2020, 79% of the shares were acquired by an Israeli consortium formed by Plasan and SK Group. The Hellenic state continues to retains 21% of the shares.
- Olympic Airways – at first, then Olympic Airlines; the Hellenic State attempted to privatise the ailing airlines five times, more or less, from 2004 onwards. The company was folded and re-created in 2009, and privatized in 2012, under the supervision of the EU and IMF, as it was part of the debt-restructuring process of 2012.
- OPAP (Lottery and Betting Monopoly) – privatization completed in 2013, when the last remaining government-owned stock was sold[15]
- OTE (Οργανισμός Τηλεπικοινωνιών Ελλάδος / Hellenic Telecommunications Company) – became partly privatised in the 1990s, when its only shareholder at the time, the Hellenic State, reduced its share of the company to 36%. Since May 2018, Deutsche Telekom owns 45% of the shares, and the Hellenic State has retained 5%.
- Piraeus Port Authority – In April 2016, HRADF sold 51% of Piraeus Port Authority to the COSCO Group.
- Public Power Corporation – In 2001, PPC carried out a share flotation on the Athens Stock Exchange and consequently was no longer wholly owned by the government, although it was still controlled by it with a 51.12% stake until 2021. The company was privatised in November 2021, when the Greek government decreased its shareholding to 34.12% and transferred it to the Greek sovereign wealth fund, the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations (HCAP).
- Thessaloniki Port Authority – In March 2018, an international consortium acquired 67% of the shares, with the Hellenic State retaining 7.27%.
- TrainOSE – It was acquired in September 2017 by the Italian railway company, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane.
Indonesia
- Aneka Gas Industri (partially sold to Messer Group and PT Tira Austenite in 1996, fully sold to Samator Gas in 2004)
- Indosat (sold to Temasek Holdings in 2002–2003)
Iraq
- (planned) most industries except oil, at the behest of the United States-sponsored government
Mexico
1,150 public companies, including banks, railroads, the telephone company, mines, roads, TV stations, ports, airports, airlines, sugar mills, and retirement funds.
Netherlands
- PTT, the mail and telecom company
Portugal
- ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (Portuguese airports)
- CIMPOR
- CTT – Portuguese post
- EDP – Energia de Portugal
- Fidelidade – the insurance part of the CGD public bank
- Galp Energia – national petroleum company
- Portugal Telecom – national telecommunications company
- REN – Rede Eléctrica Nacional
- TAP – airline
Qatar
- Qatargas (now QatarEnergy LNG) – liquefied natural gas company (Q1 2005, 50% for $600 million)
Saudi Arabia
- Al-Bilad Bank (2008, 50%)
- Bank Al-Inma (2008, 70%)
- Government Hotels (2005, 100% of King Abdullah International Convention Centre in Jeddah and Ritz Carlton in Riyadh)
- Maaden (2008, 50%)
- National Commercial Bank (2014, 25%)
- Riyad Bank (2008, 58%)
- SABIC (1984, 30%)
- Saudi Arabian Airlines (2006, split into 10 business units, 5 of which were privatized)
- Saudi Electric Company (2000, 26%)
- Saudi Ports (1997, 27 management contracts were given out to various ports around the Kingdom)
- Saudi Real Estate Company (2003, 50%)
- Saudi Telecom Company (2002, 30%)
South Africa
- Iscor – Now known as ArcelorMittal South Africa, the company was privatised in 1989.
- Telkom – Gradually privatised starting with the IPO in 2003. The government currently holds 39%, and is planning on selling its entire stake.
Sweden
Planned privatisations
[30]
Turkey
(Listing Scope >US $10 M.)[31]
1980s
- Ankara Çimento
- Ansan-Meda
- Balikesi̇r Çimento
- Pinarhi̇sar Çimento
- Söke Çimento
1990s
- Adiyaman Çimento
- Anadolubank
- Aşkale Çimento
- Bartin Çimento
- Bozüyük Seramik
- Çİnkur
- Çorum Çimento
- Denİzbank
- Denİzlİ Çimento
- Elaziğ Çimento
- Erganİ Çimento
- Etİbank
- Fİlyos
- Gazİantep Çimento
- Güneş Sigorta Spor Kulübü
- Havaş
- Ipragaz
- İskenderun Çimento
- Kars Çimento
- Konya Krom Man.A.Ş.
- Kümaş
- Kurtalan Çimento
- Ladİk Çimento
- Lalapaşa Çimento
- Metaş
- Petlas
- Ray Sigorta
- Şanliurfa Çimento
- Sİvas Çimento
- Sümerbank
- Trabzon Çimento
- Türk Kablo
- Tofaş S.K.
- Van Çimento Sanayii
- Yarimca Porselen T.A.Ş.
2000s
- Adapazarı Sugar Fac.
- Asİl Çelİk
- Ataköy Hotel
- Ataköy Marina
- Ataköy Tourism
- Başak Insurance
- Başak Retirement Fund
- Bet Kütahya Şeker
- Bursagaz
- Çayelİ Bakir İşl.A.Ş.
- Cyprus Turkish Airlines
- Denİz Naklİyati T.A.Ş.
- Esgaz
- Eti Aluminium
- Etİ Bakir
- Etİ Elektrometalurji
- Etİ Gümüş A.Ş.
- Etİ Krom A.Ş.
- Güven Sİgorta
- Dİv-Han
- Taksan
- Türk Telekom
United Arab Emirates
- Damas Jewelry (November 2004, 55% of the company for $224 million)
United Kingdom
1980s
- Amersham International (1982)
- Associated British Ports (1983, 1984)
- British Aerospace (1981, 1985)
- British Airports Authority (1987)
- British Airways (1987)
- British Airways Helicopters (1986)
- British Gas (1986)
- British Leyland
- British Rail Engineering Limited (1989)
- British Shipbuilders (1985–1989, shipbuilder companies sold individually)
- British Steel (1988)
- British Telecom (1984, 1991, 1993)
- British Transport Hotels (1983)
- Britoil (1982, 1985)
- Cable and Wireless (1981, 1983, 1985)
- Council houses (1980–present, over two million sold to their tenants) – see main article Right to buy scheme
- Enterprise Oil (1984)
- Fairey (1980)
- Ferranti (1982)
- Harland and Wolff (1989)
- Inmos (1984)
- Johnson Matthey Bankers (1986)
- Municipal bus companies (1988–present, bus companies sold individually) – see main article Bus deregulation in Great Britain
- National Bus Company (1986–1988, bus companies sold individually)
- National Express (1988)
- National Freight Corporation (1982)
- Passenger transport executive bus companies (1988–1994, bus companies sold individually)
- Rolls-Royce (1987)
- Royal Ordnance (1987)
- Sealink (1984)
- Short Brothers (1989)
- Travellers Fare (1988)
- Trustee Savings Bank (1985)
- Vale of Rheidol Railway (1989)
- Water companies – see main article Water privatisation in England and Wales
1990s
- AEA Technology (1996)
- Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (1997)
- Belfast International Airport (1994)
- Birmingham Airport (1993 – 51%)
- Bournemouth Airport (1995)
- Bristol Airport (1997, 2001)
- British Coal (1994)
- British Energy (1996, 2007, 2009)
- British Rail – see main article Privatisation of British Rail
- British Technology Group (1992)
- Building Research Establishment (1997)
- Cardiff Airport (1995)
- Central Electricity Generating Board
- Chessington Computer Centre (1996)
- Dairy Crest (1996)
- East Midlands Airport (1993)
- Export Credits Guarantee Department (1991, short term credit business)
- Girobank (1990)
- Humberside Airport (1999 – 82%)
- Kingston Communications (1999, 2007)
- Laboratory of the Government Chemist (1996)
- Liverpool Airport (1990, 2001)
- London Buses (1994, bus companies sold individually) – see main article Privatisation of London bus services
- London Luton Airport (1997)
- London Southend Airport (1993)
- Mersey Docks and Harbour Company (1998)
- Military houses (1996)
- National Engineering Laboratory (1995)
- National Savings Bank (1999, back office functions contracted out)
- National Transcommunications Limited (1990)
- Natural Resources Institute (1996)
- Northern Ireland Electricity (1993)
- Property Services Agency (1994)
- Regional electricity companies
- Royal Dockyards
- Scottish Bus Group (1991, bus companies sold individually)
- Scottish Hydro-Electric (1991)
- Scottish Power (1991)
- Severn Bridge (1992)
- The Stationery Office (1996)
- Student Loans (1998, 1999, 2013, mortgage–style loans)
- Transport Research Laboratory (1996)
- Trust Ports
2010s
- BBC Audiobooks (2010, 2014)
- BBC Magazines (2011)
- Behavioural Insights Team (2014, 2021)
- Bio Products Laboratory (2013, 2016)
- British Waterways (2012)
- Constructionline (2015)
- Defence Support Group (2015)
- Dr Foster Intelligence (2015)
- East Coast Trains (2015)
- Eurostar International Limited (2015 – 40%)
- Fire Service College (2013)
- Food and Environment Research Agency (2015 – 75%)
- Government Pipelines and Storage System (2015)
- High Speed 1 (2010; sale of concession to operate for 30 years)
- Lloyds Banking Group (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
- Manchester Airports Group (2013 – 35%)
- Marchwood Military Port (2016; sale of concession to operate for 35 years)
- NEC Group (2015)
- Network Rail (2019, commercial property business)
- Northern Rock (2012)
- Northern Rock (Asset Management) (2016)
- Remploy (2012, 2013, 2015, factory businesses sold individually)
- Royal Bank of Scotland Group (2015, 2018)
- Royal Mail (2013, 2015)
- Student Loans (2017, 2018, income–contingent loans)
- The Tote (2011)
- UK Green Investment Bank (2017)
- Working Links (2016)
2020s
Privatisations by share offer, 1981–91 From Nigel Lawson, The View from No. 11 (Bantam, 1992).
Date | Company | % of equity initially sold | Proceeds £m |
Feb 1981 | British Aerospace | 51.6 | 150 |
Oct 1981 | Cable & Wireless | 50 | 224 |
Feb 1982 | Amersham International | 100 | 71 |
Nov 1982 | Britoil | 51 | 549 |
Feb 1983 | Associated British Ports | 51.5 | 22 |
June 1984 | Enterprise Oil | 100 | 392 |
July 1984 | Jaguar | 99 | 294 |
Nov 1984 | British Telecom | 50.2 | 3,916 |
Dec 1986 | British Gas | 97 | 5,434 |
Feb 1987 | British Airways | 100 | 900 |
May 1987 | Rolls-Royce | 100 | 1,363 |
July 1987 | British Airports Authority | 100 | 1,281 |
Dec 1988 | British Steel | 100 | 2,500 |
Dec 1989 | Regional Water Companies | 100 | 5,110 |
Dec 1990 | Electricity Distribution Companies | 100 | 5,092 |
Mar 1991 | National Power and PowerGen | 60 | 2,230 |
May 1991 | Scottish Power and Scottish Hydro Electric | 100 | 2,880 |
STIA Home, company website. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
Munkhammar, J. "Försäljning av statliga bolag under tre decennier", Timbro, 2007, "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2008.{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)