The Competition Protection Agency of Montenegro has issued a decision approving BH Telecom’s acquisition of control over Telemach Montenegro in an expedited procedure.
This decision, made on April 25, grants BH Telecom permission to acquire full control of Telemach Montenegro, headquartered in Podgorica, based on a letter of intent signed on January 23 of this year.
The decision mandates that BH Telecom submit the acquisition agreement to the Competition Protection Agency within 15 days of its conclusion. The document also confirms that BH Telecom paid a fee of 15,000 EUR for the issuance of the decision. Additionally, a separate decision will be made regarding the request for protective measures on data.
It is worth noting that the intention to acquire Telemach by BH Telecom was announced earlier this year when United Group decided to sell its operations in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This decision is part of United Group’s broader strategy to withdraw from markets outside the European Union and focus on operations within the EU.
With the purchase of Telemach Montenegro, BH Telecom would enter the TV content distribution, internet, and fixed-line telephony markets in Montenegro, which are the areas in which it operates.
Unlike in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Telemach is the market leader, in Montenegro, the company holds the third spot in terms of market share.
Regarding the acquisition of Telemach in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Competition Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina has officially announced the receipt of the concentration filing from BH Telecom and Telemach. An eight-day period has been set for interested parties to submit their objections to the acquisition. This means the process is entering a new phase, and a final decision is expected soon.
