The investigation results from an anonymous tip-off concerning the privatisation, which was concluded in 2012.


On 5 December of 2011, the Urbanos group reached an outline deal with TAP to buy 50.1% of Groundforce. The privatisation was given the green light by Portugal's Competition Authority the following month, and by the European Commission competition officials in June of 2012.


TAP itself is in the process of being privatised, under plans drawn up by the right-of-centre government that was recently re-appointed after the 4 October general election, but which is expected to fall to a rejection motion within the next few days.


All three of the left-of-centre parties that are currently working on an accord for an alternative government opposed the sale of TAP and have pledged to roll it back.