The potential investor of the insolvent KVV Liepājas metalurgs is given two weeks to consider purchasing the company, says Latvian Economy Minister Arvils Ašeradens.
He admits that talks with the potential investor are not over; the investor wants to secure the most beneficial conditions in business negotiations. Latvian government is also highly interested in getting back the money it has invested in saving the company, even though it is clear that it will be impossible to recover the entire amount.
“The government won’t get all of its money back. A specific amount will be voiced once an agreement has been reached,” said the minister.
According to him, the government will wait for the potential investor’s decision for two more weeks. During this time the investor will have to submit guarantees and transfer finances to accounts of KVV Liepājas metalurgs’ creditors. If this is not done in two weeks, the government will consider selling the company in separate parts.
The minister also said that several potential investors had expressed an interest in purchasing KVV Liepājas metalurgs.
“The investor in question is the only one with whom active talks are underway. Still, other investors have expressed an interest in KVV Liepājas metalurgs as well. However, we have yet to commence active talks with them,” added Ašeradens.
When asked about possibilities for development of KVV Liepājas metalurgs territory if the government decided to sell the company in separate parts, the minister said that it was possible to establish an industrial park there.
“It is possible to develop an industrial park there, considering excellent infrastructure. This would provide an opportunity to develop a new industrial zone in Liepaja,” said Ašeradens.
In November 2017 Ašeradens said that KVV Liepājas metalurgs’ potential investor voiced an interest in testing the company’s furnace. It was initially planned for the investor to end the test on December 19, 2017. Once results arrived, the investor would announce the decision – to buy or not to buy the company. However, KVV Liepājas metalurgs administrator Guntars Koris’ representative Dzintars Hmieļevskis admitted on December 19, 2017 that the potential buyer declined the previously voiced request to test the furnace.
AS K-1 Liepaja Metallurgical Plant was registered in Latvia at the end of September 2017. According to unofficial information from LETA, it is a legal person founded to take over ownership of KVV Liepājas metalurgs property. The aforementioned company increased its capital from EUR 35,000 to EUR 7.54 million in October 2017. The sole board member of K-1 Liepaja Metallurgical Plant is the citizen of Israel Igors Šamiss.
He was one of the two main contenders to be sold the property of Liepājas metalurgs three years ago. In the end, however, the company was sold to Ukrainian KVV Group. Luxembourg-based United Group owned by Russian-born millionaire Šamiss purchased Liepājas metalurgs main production plant for EUR 120 million. KVV Group offered EUR 107 million.
KVV Liepājas metalurgs was declared insolvent in September 2016. (BNN/Ukrainian metal)