Early Warning System

Countries

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Montenegro
Serbia

Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.

Financial Institutions

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

International, regional and national development finance institutions. Many of these banks have a public interest mission, such as poverty reduction.

Project Status

Approved

Stage of the project cycle. Stages vary by development bank and can include: pending, approval, implementation, and closed or completed.

Bank Risk Rating

Environmental and social categorization assessed by the development bank as a measure of the planned project’s environmental and social impacts. A higher risk rating may require more due diligence to limit or avoid harm to people and the environment. For example, "A" or "B" are risk categories where "A" represents the highest amount of risk. Results will include projects that specifically recorded a rating, all other projects are marked ‘U’ for "Undisclosed."

Voting Date

Nov 28, 2023

Date when project documentation and funding is reviewed by the Board for consideration and approval. Some development banks will state a "board date" or "decision date." When funding approval is obtained, the legal documents are accepted and signed, the implementation phase begins.

Borrower

Borrower not available at the time of disclosure.

A public entity (government or state-owned) provided with funds or financial support to manage and/or implement a project.

Sectors

Communications

The service or industry focus of the investment. A project can have several sectors.

Investment Type(s)

Equity

The categories of the bank investment: loan, grant, guarantee, technical assistance, advisory services, equity and fund.

Investment Amount (USD)

Not Disclosed

Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.

Bank Documents

Primary Source

Original disclosure @ EBRD website

Updated in EWS Mar 9, 2024

Disclosed by Bank Nov 17, 2023

Contribute Information
Can you contribute information about this project?
Contact the EWS Team

Project Description

If provided by the financial institution, the Early Warning System Team writes a short summary describing the purported development objective of the project and project components. Review the complete project documentation for a detailed description.

According to the Bank’s website, EBRD is considering a minority equity investment alongside a consortium of investors in the acquisition of 100% of a newly established tower company ("TowerCo"), with the purpose of consolidating a mobile tower portfolio to be carved out from Telekom Srbija in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina. The completion of the acquisition will be subject to receiving necessary regulatory approvals.

The Project supports the independent TowerCo business model and passive infrastructure sharing in the region, while contributing positively to the development of the mobile markets in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

Early Warning System Project Analysis

For a project with severe or irreversible impacts to local community and natural resources, the Early Warning System Team may conduct a thorough analysis regarding its potential impacts to human and environmental rights.

Categorised B (ESP 2019) with Low-Medium risk. Environmental & Social (E&S) issues associated with the equity investment for the acquisition of TowerCo by the Bank as part of a consortium of investors, are limited and can be addressed through standard mitigation measures. Environmental and social due diligence (ESDD) of TowerCo is led by the lead investor and conducted through the services of an external environmental and social consultant, the scope of which includes requirements from EBRD's Environmental and Social Policies. The project has been assessed in regards to issues related to labour issues, management of contractors, occupational and community health and safety risks, stakeholder engagement, land acquisition, and future TowerCo institutional capacity to implement the PRs.

Investment Description

Here you can find a list of individual development financial institutions that finance the project.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

EBRD is considering a minority equity investment alongside a consortium of investors in the acquisition of 100% of a newly established tower company ("TowerCo"). The completion of the acquisition will be subject to receiving necessary regulatory approvals.

Contact Information

This section aims to support the local communities and local CSO to get to know which stakeholders are involved in a project with their roles and responsibilities. If available, there may be a complaint office for the respective bank which operates independently to receive and determine violations in policy and practice. Independent Accountability Mechanisms receive and respond to complaints. Most Independent Accountability Mechanisms offer two functions for addressing complaints: dispute resolution and compliance review.

No contacts available at the time of disclosure.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can request information by emailing: accessinfo@ebrd.com or by using this electronic form: https://www.ebrd.com/eform/information-request

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF EBRD

The Project Complaint Mechanism (PCM) is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the PCM, it may assess compliance with EBRD's own policies and procedures to prevent harm to the environment or communities or it may assist you in resolving the problem that led to the complaint through a dialogue with those implementing the project. Additionally, the PCM has the authority to recommend a project be suspended in the event that harm is imminent.

You can contact the PCM at: pcm@ebrd.com or you can submit a complaint online using an online form at: http://www.ebrd.com/eform/pcm/complaint_form?language=en

You can learn more about the PCM and how to file a complaint at: http://www.ebrd.com/work-with-us/project-finance/project-complaint-mechanism.html