Business news from Ukraine

METINVEST IS CONSIDERED AS MOST LIKELY BUYER OF POLAND’S HUTA CZESTOCHOWA STEEL MILL

ISD Polska, the structure of Industrial Union of Donbas (ISD), has said it considers Metinvest Group as the most acceptable and promising option for the bankrupt Huta Czestochowa still mill in Poland.
ISD Polska Board Chairman Konstanty Litwinow by telephone from Poland on Friday told the Interfax-Ukraine that Metinvest is the most optimal potential investor involved in new proposals in the bankruptcy lawsuit of the Polish metal enterprise.
Litvinov did not specify new circumstances and requirements for potential investors of the steel mill, but noted that Metinvest has long been interested.
“They have long been interested in the enterprise. They visited us, did due diligence, so they have a complete picture of the situation,” he said.
Litwinow said for Metinvest the acquisition of the Polish steel mill is a logical continuation of the chain for the production of metallurgical products, which can be sold on the European market.
“Previously, there was a chain with the Alchevsk Steel Works (currently located in Russia-occupied Donbas). But there were no mining enterprises in the chain, and the coke and chemical division was insufficient. But Metinvest has all this. Therefore, gaining control over this the plant is logical and is the completion of the full metallurgical cycle for the supply of products to the EU,” Litwinow said.
He did not specify whether additional negotiations on this topic were held with Metinvest, but said relevant information was sent to potential investors.
Litvinov said a court decision is expected next week regarding investor Huta Czestochowa, which will mainly determine further actions.
Litvinov said earlier that a potential buyers of Huta Częstochowa is Chinese company Sunningwell International Polska, which offered the company 240 million zlotys (about $60 million). At the same time, there are several more companies that are also interested in the steel mill.
As reported, the ISD signed a purchase agreement for the Huta Czestochowa steel mill in early July 2005.
ISD, founded in 1995, is an integrated holding company that holds shares in metal and mining companies. It incorporates Alchevsk Steel Works, Dzerzhynsky Dniprovsky Steel Works, Dunaferr and ISD-Huta Czestochowa.

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