Telekom Slovenije has stopped the sale of its Kosovan subsidiary Ipko Telecommunications and said that it will remain part of the company.
Although the Slovenian incumbent has given no reason for its decision, b92 reports, quoting Slovenia’s Pop TV and STA, say that the “key problem” was one the Bulgarian bidder, who was not preferred by the Slovenian government or US, as his victory in the tender could have a major impact on geopolitical relations in the region.
It adds that the three bidders for Ikpo were Albania Telekom Invest, which is said to be owned by Bulgarian tycoon Spas Rusev, who has close links to Russia; the Southern Europe Stock Fund; and one of Kosovo’s richest executives, whose name not published. The bids ranged from €120 – 140 million, with at least two of the bidders already paying €6 million.
Ipko was founded in 2017 and Telekom Slovenije has been its sole owner since 2018, when it acquired the remaining 7% of the company still held by minority shareholders.
