Austrians cannot buy State-owned part of Mobtel 063 in negotiations, only on public tender

Vice chancellor of Austria, Hubert Gorbah, confirmed that BK Trade had been bought, and added that the negotiations with the representatives of Government of Serbia on sale of State-owned part of Mobtel were underway. Austrian businessman Martin Schlaf announced that the negotiations on procurement of BK Trade had lasted for eight months and that they would receive 2 million users with the procurement of Mobtel.

Vice chancellor and the Minister of Infrastructure and Economy of Austria, Gorbah, reminded that he had led official State delegation of Austria to Belgrade in order to meet with the Prime Minister of the Government of Serbia Vojislav Koštunica, vice president Miroljub Labus and ministries Ilić and Parivodić.

The representative of Mobilkom Austria group, Boris Nemšić, reminded that that company had been interested in entrance to Serbia's market for three years. Nemšić said that the aim of the Schlaf group and Mobilkom was to gain the property over entire Mobtel in the near future.

Minister of International Economic Relations, Milan Parivodić, said that the Government had been surprised with the quotes that Šlaf had been negotiating on the procurement of BK Trade for about eight months, and not for one hour with the Government. According to his words, the conversation was open and Austrian party was informed on the right to more important procurement owned by the stockholders of Mobtel, as well as on legal issues. It was pointed out to unclear ownership structure. He added that the Government Commission found out that 58% of Mobtel was owned by the State and that it would be sold on the tender, in accordance with the Law on Public Procurements.

Martin Schlaf said that his group would not offer set amount for procurement of State-owned share. He thinks that the international experts should estimate the value of Mobtel and make that the base of the negotiations.

Schlaf said that his group had bought between 42 and 51 % of the company. In case Serbian Government decides to sell its share on the tender, Schlaf says that it will most probably use the right to more important procurement or give it up to Mobilkom. He could not state the data on the price of BK Trade. He pointed out that entire company BK Trade had been taken over, not only its share in Mobtel and that Schlaf group had decided to use that method because the agreement by Government of Serbia had not been needed. Schlaf said that neither University of BK nor BK TV station had been bought. He added that he would bring the team of experts next week to design the development business plan of Mobtel. It will be also talked about new personnel solutions on the head positions in the company.