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The Romanian state owns 45.99% of the shares of Telekom Romania Communications (formerly Romtelecom), being the majority stake of the Greek group OTE. OTE’s main shareholder is the German group Deutsche Telekom, which owns 40% of the shares of the Greek group.
The Greeks agreed to sell the fixed operations in Romania to the French group Orange, but the Romanian state also has an important word to say in the transaction.
- “As I have told you on other occasions, managing the state’s participation in Telekom Romania was one of my priorities. The intention of the OTE Group to sell its majority stake in Telekom Romania is obvious, being a strategic decision taken at the group level. I assure you that the negotiations have advanced a lot and in a positive direction for the Romanian state, at no time did we raise the issue of the alienation of the minority stake in Telekom Romania, I assure you that we have made consistent efforts and the state will remain in the future. “Also, I have a very important word to say. I am very confident in the success of our approach, but I cannot comment on this at this time.” Lucian Bode, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communications, told HotNews.ro on Thursday.
The Romanian state has signed an agreement in principle with Orange for the takeover of Telekom’s fixed operations and will have 20% of the shares of the future entity: sources
In August of this year, HotNews.ro wrote exclusively The fact that Orange, the largest local mobile communications operator, signed an agreement in principle with the Romanian state, represented by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, to take over the fixed operations of Telekom Romania, the Romanian state will own the 20 % of the shares of the newly created entity, according to government sources close to the process.
A Memorandum on the signing of this agreement in principle was presented at a government meeting in August, according to sources at HotNews.ro.
The agreement in principle signed this summer between Orange and the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure and Communications aims strictly at the shares of the Greek group OTE in the former Romtelecom, not at the state stake in the former Cosmote.
According to sources at HotNews.ro, mobile operations at Telekom Romania (formerly Cosmote) could later be acquired by DIGI / RCS & RDS.
The issue was also recently discussed during Prime Minister Ludovic Orban’s visit to Paris, HotNews.ro sources say.
- In September this year, Orange requested clarification from ANCOM if it can transfer resources from Telekom Romania’s numbering: sources
- Orange officials have asked the Communications Regulatory Authority (ANCOM) if and when Telekom’s numbering resources can be transferred. They have been told by ANCOM representatives that this is possible after signing the contract and the European Commission approves the transaction. It is clear that the two companies want to carry out the transaction, but at that meeting no signed document was presented “, Sources close to the trial told HotNews.ro on Thursday.
The publication Profit.ro also wrote on Thursday about the clarifications requested by Orange in ANCOM.
orange, leader of the mobile communications market in Romania, is interested in taking over the fixed communications infrastructure of the former Romtelecom, to be a complete provider of fixed-mobile services, as it has become Vodafone after taking over UPC Romania.
On the other hand, RCS and RDS, the largest local fixed communications operator, needs to develop its mobile telephony and mobile internet, an aspect that could be partially solved with the acquisition of the former Cosmote.
- Shareholders of Telekom Romania group companies: which shares are for sale
Telekom Romania is made up of companies Telekom Romania Communications (formerly Romtelecom – fixed communications operator) Y Telekom Romania Mobile Communications (formerly Cosmote – mobile communications operator).
Telekom Romania Communications (formerly Romtelecom)
It is owned by the Greek group OTE (54.01% of the shares) and the Romanian State (45.99% of the shares). OTE’s main shareholder is the German group Deutsche Telekom, which owns 40% of the shares of the Greek group.
Telekom Romania Mobile Communications (formerly Cosmote) is owned by Cosmote Mobile Communications (69.99999874% of the shares), Telekom Romania Communications (30%) and individual shareholders (0.00000126%).
- DT / OTE would have agreed last year to sell Telekom Romania’s fixed operations to Orange: sources
HotNews.ro wrote exclusively in September of last year. that the Deutsche Telekom / OTE group had agreed to sell to Orange the shares of Telekom Romania (not just Romtelecom), but that the consent of the Romanian state is also needed that he would have the right of first refusal, according to sources close to the trial.
The then Minister of Communications, Alexandru Petrescu, proposed on July 22, 2019 to Prime Minister Dăncilă create and coordinate an inter-ministerial group that includes representatives of the Ministries of Communications, Justice, Finance, Competition Council, SRI and SIE, and on Wednesday, September 25, a first meeting was convened in this regard.
The Minister of Communications, Alexandru Petrescu, sent on July 22, 2019 a proposal to the Government on the establishment of a inter-ministerial working group, under the direct coordination of Prime Minister Dăncilă, with the aim of analyzing and assisting in the advanced process of sale by Deutsche Telekom / OTE of the package of shares held by Romanian companies, a transaction that would be of interest strategic for the Romanian State, sources close to the process specified for HotNews.ro.
In january of this year, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Lucian Bode, said in an interview with HotNews.ro that there were discussions about a possible sale of DT / OTE shares to Telekom Romania, and that the Romanian state, a minority shareholder, is currently analyzing with be very careful what happens.
“A possible transaction is of strategic interest to Romania. At the moment we are carefully analyzing what is happening in the market and we are working to calibrate our position based on the latest developments.”
In relation to the representatives of OTE, the Romanian state has taken measures to protect their interests in the event of a transaction, including from the perspective of national security and the inclusion in the Shareholders Agreement of a right of first refusal in the event of a transaction . A possible transaction will respect both the interests of the Romanian state and the regulations on the free market. “, Minister Lucian Bode told HotNews.ro at the time.
In february this year, the president of the Competition Council, Bogdan Chirițoiu, stated that Telekom wants to leave the Romanian market.
Two big things are happening this year in the telecommunications industry: one of the big four operators wants to exit the market and the second is the tender for the new frequencies for 5G services, said on Tuesday Bogdan Chirițoiu, president of the Competition Council. . “I would also like the telecom market to be as competitive as it is now, but some things are happening and we will have to work hard in the next period to keep things just as competitive. On the side of taking over operations from Telekom, if it gets there, Brussels is also involved and we and ANCOM will work with European officials, ”Chirițoiu specified.
