Iasi-based company Omega is Communications at the end of last year bought Tehnoton, a TV-sets making company. The management changed the company's profile and proceeded to make stoves, washing machines, electrical transformers and coils. In one of the plant's halls there is a "spy" stove, reading "The Competition!".
In December 2000, following a public offer launched by the Finance Ministry, Omega is Communications bought the main stake in Iasi-based company Tehnoton, former producer of electronic equipment, radio and TV-sets.
Originally, Tehnoton privatisation was supposed to take place through a Dutch bid, with an initial price per share of 1,500 lei, which was to shed a certain amount everyday.
As the only bidder was Omega, the price maintained at 1,500 lei/share. Omega acquired 8.6 million shares, that is 55.499 percent in stock, for which it paid over 13 billion lei. At the end of last year, Tehnoton posted losses and debts of dozens of billion lei, against turnover of 60 billion lei.
"We want to change Tehnoton image. For 15 years, no investments have been made in this plant and ever since 1987 no windows have been washed," Omega owner Maricel Popa maintains.
Before privatisation, the company management changed the factory's scope, switching to the production of stoves, washing machines, electrical transformers and coils.
As for stoves, Popa claims that Tehnoton holds a 15-20% market share, but the target stands at 40%. According to Popa, the current Tehnoton stove will undergo radical changes, as for the last five years it has been brought no improvements. In 2-3 months at most, Tehnoton will start making stainless stoves.
The company's main competitors are SAMUS Satu Mare and Metalica Oradea. For now, Tehnoton stoves are delivered only on the domestic market, but the company will also attempt to operate exports.
"It is customary in state-owned companies for people to steal everything. This is what happened with Tehnoton, where for instance an oscilloscope worth 300 million lei was sold for only 400,000 lei.
Some of the company managers closed questionable transactions. Meanwhile, they got sick and, ever since we took over the plant, we have not seen them, as they are on a medical leave. This is what happens in state-run companies, where nobody cares," says Tehnoton owner.
As for the 600 employees, Popa says: "People must become aware that a job also involves work. Tehnoton will have different sectors, with their own financial results.
Consequently, people will compete for positions and the hard-working ones will have a salary 2-3 times higher than the rest of our staff," Popa claims.
