At the thematic session of the Parliamentary Committee for Economy on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Martina Dalić and the Government’s extraordinary commissioner Ante Ramljak submitted a report on the operations of Agrokor. The progress of the settlement process and the overall restructuring process of the group, the current phase of the settlement, consulting contracts, and the large financial compensation of advisors were just some of the topics discussed.
The session of the Parliamentary Committee for Economy was open to representatives who are not members of the Committee, allowing them to ask questions to Minister Dalić and extraordinary commissioner Ramljak.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Economy Darinko Kosor asked Ramljak about the current phase of the settlement, inquired about the status of consulting contracts, and asked Ramljak if he considers himself responsible for the current situation in Agrokor.
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The extraordinary administration of Agrokor has taken the position that the decision on the creditors’ settlement will not be made by the temporary Creditors’ Council, but by the permanent Creditors’ Council, and for this to be possible, it is necessary to extend the deadline for concluding the settlement until July 10 of this year.
– Given that everything you read creates considerable confusion among those who are not up to date with the settlement process. Information is constantly leaking that does not reflect the actual state. Since December 20, we have presented the structure of the settlement to the creditors’ council, and negotiations with all creditors regarding the structure and details of the settlement have been ongoing from then until today. We are in daily contact with each of them. I want the discussions to continue and for a settlement to be reached, said Ramljak.
He added that he is confident that creditors intend to reach a settlement before April 10, but that this will not be possible because it is a court procedure and deadlines set by the Commercial Court must be followed.
– Since these are long deadlines that we must respect, due to the hearing, a settlement will not be possible until April 10, and for that reason, we spoke with the judge to extend the deadline until July 10, said Ramljak, continuing that there is no problem among the creditors because, as he says, they are ready for the settlement to be reached as soon as possible.
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– We have the contours of the settlement, and it is clear to everyone that none of the creditors wants to send this company into bankruptcy, but I repeat, due to legal deadlines, it is wiser, and to minimize potential legal shortcomings, to wait for the voting of the creditors’ council.
‘We are still negotiating with suppliers and that is normal’
Regarding suppliers, they rejected the agreement at the first presentation of the first structure of the settlement, but I never thought they would accept everything at first; some requests will be accommodated, and some will not. Overall, cooperation with suppliers is at the highest level, and I have no problems with anyone, stated Ramljak, who was answering questions about consulting contracts.
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– Regarding consulting contracts, from today’s perspective, you can consider that I made a mistake. If I were in your place, I would consider that I made a mistake, but you sent me to a nuclear power plant and said save it, Ante. I regret it from today’s perspective. If I had more time to look for consultants – I would certainly have done it more wisely. In that situation, I made a million mistakes, and I admit that, said Ramljak.
