TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

U.S.-Led Group Takes Near-Majority Stake in Belgacom: A consortium headed by Ameritech Corp. won a nearly 50% stake in the Belgian state-owned telephone company Belgacom. The deal is the latest international move for the Chicago-based regional phone company, which has telecommunications interests from New Zealand to China and Hungary. Announcing the Cabinet decision, Belgian telecommunications minister Elio di Rupo said the $2.5-billion bid from the U.S.-Singapore-Danish group beat a rival offer for the 49.9% stake from a Dutch-Swiss consortium. Ameritech said the deal is Belgium’s largest single investment by an American company, as well as the largest commercial transaction. The Ameritech offer had been chosen unanimously by the state privatization commission and by Belgacom itself.