In June, private freight railway operator Grup Feroviar Roman (GFR) won an auction to take over 51% of CFR Marfa, offering EUR202 million. The government decision allowing CFR Marfa’s privatization established the sale must be completed by mid-October.
Competition Council president Bogdan Chiritoiu said Thursday the antitrust body would send a request for additional information to GFR to clear the deal as soon as possible.
Chiritoiu told Mediafax Sunday the representatives of the committee demanded information regarding the completion of the antitrust body’s analysis.
“An ordinary analysis lasts at most 45 days, while more complex investigations may last up to five months,” he said.
GFR told Mediafax Thursday it transferred 90.4 million lei (about EUR20 million) in an escrow account opened at lender Banca Transilvania for CFR Marfa. The sum represents 10% of the price it offered for the railway operator.
GFR owner Gruia Stoica signed the privatization contract on September 2. The completion of the sale procedure was conditional on transferring the EUR20 million into the escrow account within 30 days from signing the contract.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said earlier Thursday procedures to privatize CFR Marfa would be suspended if the auction winner failed to transfer EUR20 million in the escrow account by Friday. (EUR1=RON4.4306)