The Australian newspaper reports that Telecom could vend its trans-Tasman subsidiary, as soon as August, if it takes on one of the numerous offers for the business.

Quoting AAPT sources that it didn't recognize, the newspaper today accounted a group of private equity firms along with TPG Telecom Ltd. had got in touch with Telecom NZ with plans to purchase AAPT.

Those proposals have so far, been snubbed.

Sources inside AAPT said that some private equity Companies have directly talked to the Telco's administration to chat about its sale, but had been turned back to New Zealand where Goldman Sachs JBWere is counseling the Telecom NZ board on a planned evaluation.

Private equity organizations, together with TPG Capital and Quadrangle Group, are considered to be two such companies, who have filed applications to Telecom NZ.

However, an opponent internet service provider, TPG Telecom, extremely powerful following its $373m buyout of comprehensive internet capacity supplier, Pipe Networks prior this year, is also coming up as a suitor.

Telecom got an interest in AAPT in 1999, and progressed to complete possession in 2000 with an overall investment of around $NZ3 billion.

There is no official sale procedure for AAPT, but Telecom NZ elucidated its aims when Chief Executive, Paul Reynolds depicted the Australian subsidiary as non-core to its normal business and said that he would mull over any serious proffers for it.