ZAGREB, Sept 2 (Hina) - A representative of Germany's Deutsche Telekom (DT), interested in purchasing shares in Croatia's telecommunications company Hrvatske Telekomunikacije (HT), on Thursday presented his company's offer to
high-ranking officials of the Croatian government and the HT. DT is not interested in the resale of stockholders' shares, but is looking for long-term partners, DT Management member Joachim Kroeske said in Zagreb. DT can offer Croatia long-standing experience in telecommunications network-building, a high number of services, and a ten-year experience in privatisation processes, Kroeske said. Asked whether it was correct that in its previous, non-binding offer, DT demanded control over HT, Kroeske answered in the affirmative, and explained that "DT must have some sort of influence" to execute business plans. There is however no question that HT will remain a C
ZAGREB, Sept 2 (Hina) - A representative of Germany's Deutsche
Telekom (DT), interested in purchasing shares in Croatia's
telecommunications company Hrvatske Telekomunikacije (HT), on
Thursday presented his company's offer to high-ranking officials
of the Croatian government and the HT.
DT is not interested in the resale of stockholders' shares, but is
looking for long-term partners, DT Management member Joachim
Kroeske said in Zagreb.
DT can offer Croatia long-standing experience in
telecommunications network-building, a high number of services,
and a ten-year experience in privatisation processes, Kroeske
said.
Asked whether it was correct that in its previous, non-binding
offer, DT demanded control over HT, Kroeske answered in the
affirmative, and explained that "DT must have some sort of
influence" to execute business plans.
There is however no question that HT will remain a Croatian company
and this is not disputable, he added.
Kroeske said that even though the other competitor for the
privatisation of Croatia's HT, Swedish-Norwegian concern Telia-
Telenor, "is a very good company," he believes DT's advantage lies
in its size, experience, and applicable knowledge in privatisation
processes.
Croatian Finance Minister Borislav Skegro said the government was
very satisfied that two renowned world companies were the final
competitors for the purchase of HT shares.
He confirmed that both DT and Telia-Telenor in non-binding offers
demanded the purchase of 35 percent of HT shares, adding he saw "no
reason why that request shouldn't be granted."
Skegro said it is necessary to find a way to keep HT as a Croatian
company in which the strategic investor will simultaneously have
enough influence to "sleep peacefully."
(hina) ha jn