The Competition Council wants to know the source of the money for the possible acquisition of Telekom Mobile by Quantum Projects, controlled by Adrian Tomsche, owner of media group Clever Media. “It is important where the money comes from. If the money comes from a market player, obviously the analysis changes. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done, but it’s a different analysis, Bohdan Chiritsoyu, president of the Competition Council, said on Tuesday.

The president of the antimonopoly authority made these clarifications when asked about certain fears in the telecommunications market about the connection of the group of investors led by Adrian Tomsche and RCS&RDS/Digi and the possible easy access that the telecommunications group led by Zoltan Tezari could get to Telekom assets Mobile, without having to buy it.

Bohdan Chiritsoyu said that the sharing of assets between telecommunications companies is not a cause for concern, since in order not to raise prices, the sharing of networks between telecommunication operators was allowed.

Chiritsou: It is important where the money comes from! Not all of our questions were answered

On the other hand, he admitted that the purpose of the investigation is to find out whether there is money and where it came from.

• “Romania is one of the countries that has 4 players in the mobile phone market. If possible, we would prefer it to stay 4. So we have to look at what is the business plan, what is the ability of the investor to ensure the work of Telecom, which is not doing very well, it is not a prosperous company.
• If someone comes and wants to keep her alive, does she have that ability? And above all, does he have the money to buy it and keep it going until the company stabilizes?
• And then it matters where the money comes from. I’m not just looking at someone who comes in and says they’re buying. Because it can be the property of x, which is of y, which belongs to I don’t know who. I need to find out who the ultimate beneficiary is.
• If the money comes from somewhere, it means that the ultimate beneficiary is not the person standing in front of me, but the person giving the money.
• If the money comes from a market player, obviously the analysis changes. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done, but it’s a different analysis because it means the funder is buying, and then I look at whether or not it makes sense to approve the purchase made by the funder. “, Chiritsoi said.

The antitrust authority is still reviewing the transaction, he said.

• “We are still in analysis. We expect to complete it in a few months. Not all of our questions were answered.
• In parallel, the analysis of national security is also ongoing. Let’s see what the various institutions that are part of this commission think,” said the president of the Competition Council.

When asked which questions he had yet to receive answers to, Chiritou said he asked for details about the business plan, management, existence and source of money, but stressed that he barely made those requests.

The agreement is also analyzed from the point of view of national security

Documentation for the acquisition of Telekom Mobile Romania by Quantum Projects, controlled by Adrian Tomša, owner of media group Clever Media, was submitted to the Competition Council last November.

At the time, the body’s president, Bohdan Chiritsou, told HotNews.ro that the transaction would also be analyzed from the point of view of state security, and a decision would likely be made early next year.

• “It should be taken into account that this is a strategic field, and as a result, the Commission for the Inspection of Investments will make an analysis from the point of view of security,” said Bohdan Chiritsoyu, president of the Competition Council. HotNews.ro.

Greek group OTE announced on Tuesday at the Athens Stock Exchange that it has negotiated and signed a memorandum with Quantum Projects Group, controlled by Adrian Tomsi, owner of media group Clever Media, for the full sale of Telekom Mobile Romania.

In a statement published on the stock market, OTE said that in recent years it has continuously tried to improve the performance of Telekom Mobile Romania (TKRM), exploring strategic options to ensure its long-term growth.

• “In this context, OTE has been negotiating with Quantum Projects Group, controlled by Adrian Tomsha, owner of media group Clever Media, regarding the latter’s interest in acquiring TKRM.
• The parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate this process and have submitted it for approval to the competent authorities in Romania.” it is stated in the message of OTE.

Clever Group is one of the most important players on the Romanian media market, with a complete portfolio of 11 television channels (Profit News, Prima TV, Prima Sport 1, 2 and 3, Prima News, Prima Comedy, Agro TV, Medika TV, Cinemaraton and Cinemaest), 7 sites (profit.ro, primatv.ro, primanews.ro, primasport.ro, agro-tv.ro, lookmedica.ro, servuscluj.ro) and the PrimaPlay platform.

The majority shareholder of Telekom Romania Mobile is the Greek group OTE, which, in turn, is owned by the German group Deutsche Telekom by 46%.