Page 27 - bne_newspaper_April_20_2018

Weekly Lists
April 20, 2018 www.intellinews.com I Page 27
bne:TMT
KKR's United Group
to invest €293mn in Serbia within next five years
United Group, a leading multi-play operator in Southeast Europe, majority owned by US private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), plans to invest €293mn in Serbia within the next five years, KKR’s representatives announced on April 17 during a meeting with Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade.
United Group has been majority owned by funds advised by leading global investment firm KKR since 2014 and backed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as a minority shareholder since 2004. United Group controls Serbian largest cable provider Serbia Broadband (SBB).
“Since KKR’s acquisition of United Group in 2014, we have already invested €264mn in Serbia. KKR’s commitment of an additional €293mn over the next five years is a vote of confidence in Serbia’s potential,” said Johannes Huth, head of KKR’s operations in EMEA.
Iran recorded non-black market mobile phone imports numbering 3.2mn handsets in the last Persian year (ended March 20), marking a 112% y/y gain, Tasnim News Agency reported on April 16.
The sudden spike in imports was down to the Rouhani administra- tion’s push to shut down the wholesale black market for mobile phones. Since earlier this year, the country’s telecommunications ombudsman, the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), has barred unregistered mobile phones from the telecom network, rendering useless thousands of premium handsets such as Apple iPhones. There are reports that the scheme has caused difficulties for tourists and visiting business delegations.
Russia's second largest bank VTB is in talks to acquire 40% in Russia's largest system integrator and fifth largest IT company Technoserv for an undisclosed amount, Vedomosti daily reported on April 11 citing the application of VTB to the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) watchdog.
The company is owned by Alexei Ananyev, who along with his brother Dmitri Ananyev, owned Promsvyazbank (PSB) bailed by
the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) in 2017, as well as Vozrozhdenie Bank and a number of other assets across multiple industries. The brothers have been forced to unload some of their assets to meet their obligations to the bank and the CBR.
Iran's black market phone disconnection drive pushes up legal mobile imports
VTB to acquire 40% in IT major Technoserv from Ananyev bros