"30% stake in Telekom already sold to Austrians"

Although there is still no official announcement from the government on the sale of Telekom Srbija, there is speculation that the company has already been sold. According to this, Telekom Austria will pay EUR 840 to buy a 30 percent stake in Serbia's state-owned telecommunications company. "30% stake in Telekom already sold to Austrians" B92's reporters tried unsuccessfully to verify this information late on Sunday with officials of a working group set up to supervise the sale. Former Telecommunications Minister Jasna Matic - who after a government reshuffle earlier this year now holds the office of state secretary for digital agenda - took part in a B92 TV talk show last night to say that she was not informed that such a deal had been reached. However, she added that the sale of 30 percent of Telekom for EUR 840mn seemed "relatively likely". The government originally set the minimal price for the sale at EUR 1.4mn, and according to Matic, intended to sell "a 50 percent stake". The Austrians were the sole bidder in the tender and failed to offer that figure. They were subsequently given two deadlines to improve their offer. Previously, media in Belgrade speculated that one of Serbia's most profitable companies would be sold by allowing Telekom Austria to buy 31 percent. Greek OTE, owned by Deutsche Telekom, already owns 20 percent of Telekom Srbija. According to these reports, the Germans would then hand over those shares to the Austrians, allowing them to become majority owners of Telekom Srbija, and in return take over their Vip Mobile company- Telekom Austria's cell phone operator in Serbia.

"30% stake in Telekom already sold to Austrians"

B92's reporters tried unsuccessfully to verify this information late on Sunday with officials of a working group set up to supervise the sale.

Former Telecommunications Minister Jasna Matić - who after a government reshuffle earlier this year now holds the office of state secretary for digital agenda - took part in a B92 TV talk show last night to say that she was not informed that such a deal had been reached.

However, she added that the sale of 30 percent of Telekom for EUR 840mn seemed "relatively likely".

The government originally set the minimal price for the sale at EUR 1.4mn, and according to Matić, intended to sell "a 50 percent stake".

The Austrians were the sole bidder in the tender and failed to offer that figure. They were subsequently given two deadlines to improve their offer.

Previously, media in Belgrade speculated that one of Serbia's most profitable companies would be sold by allowing Telekom Austria to buy 31 percent. Greek OTE, owned by Deutsche Telekom, already owns 20 percent of Telekom Srbija.

According to these reports, the Germans would then hand over those shares to the Austrians, allowing them to become majority owners of Telekom Srbija, and in return take over their Vip Mobile company- Telekom Austria's cell phone operator in Serbia.