The European Commission (EC) flagged concerns KKR may have provided incorrect or misleading information during its investigation into a deal for Telecom Italia’s (TIM) fixed network assets led by the company in 2024.

In a Statement of Objections document, the regulator cited concerns about responses submitted by the investment company on wholesale access agreements.

The EC explained following a probe into the issue sparked by complaints from operators it holds the preliminary view KKR “at least negligently, submitted incorrect and/or misleading information on the terms of its existing long-term agreements”.

Its accusation centres on a claim terms in existing contracts would continue to apply post-acquisition, since they could only be changed in agreement with third-party operators.  

This policy being in place, it believed, would ensure “KKR will not be able to deteriorate the conditions for wholesale access or terminate such access”, the regulator added.

EC asserted information on this issue was key in its assessment of the proposed deal at the time.

However, following the buyout the regulator received complaints from third-party operators claiming the wholesale provider, FiberCop, had increased the price.

EC EVP for clean, just and competitive transition Teresa Ribera said: “Effective merger control depends on companies providing the commission with correct information.”

She continued: “KKR appears to have provided incorrect or misleading information about whether it would keep its existing long-term access agreements under the same terms unless mutually agreed otherwise with the third-party operators. Our evidence suggests that, after the merger, KKR may have raised prices for existing wholesale broadband customers, in some cases significantly.”

A KKR spokesperson told Mobile World Live it “strongly disagrees with the European Commission’s preliminary assessment. We stand by the accuracy of the information provided during the commission’s 2024 review”.

“We will vigorously challenge these preliminary allegations in our response to the Statement of Objections, while continuing to engage constructively with the commission. The Statement of Objections is not a final finding of infringement, and the commission’s existing clearance of the transaction remains valid.”

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Telecom Italia appointed new enterprise and technology chiefs effective today (19 October), with both executives being replaced set to depart the company at the end of the year.

The operator’s new chief enterprise and innovative solutions officer is Mirko Mischiatti. He replaces Elio Schiavo, who held the role for more than four years.

Mischiatti joins from Poste Italiane, which has a controlling stake in the operator after a shareholder buyout offer executed earlier this year. He held various positions at the postal service provider, most recently as head of the digital, technology and operations.

Telecom Italia’s new CTO is Claudio Ongaro, who was previously chief strategy, business development and wholebuy officer at the operator.

He takes over from Leonardo de Carvalho Capdeville, who spent just over two years heading the operator’s technology office and spent a decade in the equivalent role at its operation in Brazil.

Ongaro’s former responsibilities have been handed to Telecom Italia’s CEO Pietro Labriola on an interim basis.

In a short statement on the moves, the operator noted the two departing employees were leaving voluntarily to “pursue new professional challenges”, adding the company “expresses its gratitude” for “their significant professional and managerial contributions”.

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