The Croatian Government and Samobor-based DIV company have finally signed a privatisation contract for the Brodosplit Shipyard. The decision to accept DIV’s offer came after the the European Commission gave the green light, on 21 February, to the restructuring plan and privatisation contract for the Shipyard.
As Croatiantimes reports, DIV took over the shipyard for only 1 Croatian kuna (approx 0.17 US Dollar), but accepted its debts and obligations.
The restructuring plan submitted by DIV was accepted by both the Croatian Competition Authority and the Commission in February 2011. A first amendment to the restructuring plan was accepted by the Commission on 16 August 2012. On 31 January 2013, Croatia submitted a second amendment to the restructuring plan and the privatisation contract for the Brodosplit Group. This amendment concerned a modest increase in the total costs for the restructuring of Brodosplit, and a proportional increase in the total amount of restructuring aid.
Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said that this was a step forward in efforts to boost the Croatian shipbuilding sector’s competitiveness.
[mappress] World Maritime News Staff, March 8, 2013