21. 08. 2014

Matic: B92 ownership structure changed with RRA approval

"What the Commission is examining now is whether, in addition to our application - which was approved by the RRA - our shareholder, the Astonko company, should also have filed an application for concentration with the Commission for Protection of Competition," Matic said in a press release, adding that, according to its understanding of the law on protection of competition, the B92 - which is not a party in the proceedings - believes that such an obligation never existed and expects that the commission will establish the same.

The Commission for Protection of Competition started an inquiry into the sale of radio and television broadcaster B92, which was purchased by Astonko Holdings Ltd. through its subsidiary in Belgrade that bears the same name.

In a statement on Wednesday, Matic could not comment the commission's conclusion.

He told Tanjug that the commission should do its job.

In the conclusion on initiating the proceedings, the commission said that capital increases were conducted within B92 from 2006 to 2009 by issuing new shares, with the most significant occurring in October 2010, resulting in Astonko taking 85 percent of B92.

The change in ownership was not reported to the commission or examined, which is a legal obligation, the commission stated.