Nine companies delivered offers for Zelezara

(Photo: zelsd.rs)

Nine companies delivered offers for privatization of Zelezara Smederevo where delivery deadline expired January 5, Blic reported.

Offers were delivered by: Russian "Krasni oktobar", Russian "United Machinery Corporation", "United Group SA" from Luxemburg , Polish "Re Allozs SP Zoo", British "North London Trade Centre Limited", Dutch "Esmark Europe B.V." SAD, Swiss "Prominvest AG", "Rafflesia Trading Pvt. Ltd" from Bangladesh and Swiss "Steel Metal One Holding AG".

Blic reports that finding a strategic partner for Smederevo-based Zelezara in the final round got all the elements of "true saving mission", not only for the plant but for Serbia as well which the Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, confirmed as well.

Delivered offers of the interested companies for the acquisition of 80% stake at Smederevo-based Zelezara is Friday, January 9 and the Prime Minister has already said two offers are valid and that Serbia would like to see American Esmark as a partner.

Founder and owner of this company, James Bouchard, said that, if they win the tender, they wil invest USD 400 m into Serbian steel plant and that there will be no lay-offs, Blic reports.

GM at Zelezara, Bojan Bojkovic, said the sale of the company will save 5000 jobs and that there will be room to hire 17.000 people more.