All in the basket

Komstar consolidates the assets of Komstar-Ots completed the purchase of regional operators of the Stream-TV group, providing cable and broadcasting services and broadband Internet access in 40 cities of Russia. The total amount of transactions amounted to 6.75 billion rubles, which is approximately $ 187 million. Now the structure of regional assets includes the Komstar-Otos and Stream-TV branch. In total, these are more than 30 branches, as well as about 80 subsidiaries and dependent companies, including the company Stream-TV group.

As the head of Komstar-Ots, Sergei Prudantsev, said at a meeting today, in the first half of 2009, a business restructuring will be carried out. Within its framework, a subsidiary of Komstar -Regions will be created with branches in the macro -regions of Russia on the principle of “one federal district - one branch”. By the end of this year, the regional subsidiaries of Komstar-Ots and the Stream-TV group will be attached to it. After the completion of the reorganization of Komstar-Regions, it is planned to be attached to Komstar-Ots.

In addition, until 2011, Komstar-Ots plans to carry out selective modernization of about 90% of Stream-TV networks using FTTB technology (Fiber to the Building), combine networks and create a single infrastructure to provide television services of telephony, Internet and TV.

Also, as Sergei Prudantsev told reporters, in April the company plans to start the commercial use of the WIMAX network, which is now at the testing stage.

According to Prodantsev, 14% of its own shares Komstar-Ots plans to be sent to M&A transactions. At the same time, the president of the company did not specify what assets can be discussed.

03/03/2009 / Dmitry Ivanov