The Management Board of CERP made a unanimous decision to accept the offer from Iskra shipyard from Šibenik, owned by Slovenian Iskra, for the purchase of the shipyard 3. maj Rijeka 1905, reported on Monday Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Tomislav Ćorić.
Ćorić, who is also the president of the Management Board of the Center for Restructuring and Sale (CERP), stated that the offer valued at 6.7 million euros is fully in line with the tender, emphasizing that Iskra shipyard undertakes the obligation to maintain shipbuilding activities in the area of 3. maj.
Ćorić after the meeting of the Management Board of CERP stated that the new owner is aware that investments are needed for “full activation of production.” “As far as I understand, they are ready for that, so I believe that it will happen in the upcoming period,” said Ćorić.
He added that the development of Iskra shipyard’s activities in the Šibenik area has been very successful from 2020 to today, so there is no reason not to believe that the same will happen at the location in Rijeka.
Ćorić: Legally everything is clear
When asked by journalists whether the legal situation is “completely clear” regarding the disposal of ownership shares, Ćorić said that the very fact of today’s decision speaks to that and that he does not believe “that there has been any anomaly in any way.”
“Regarding the decisions of the Management Board of CERP, today we made a decision (…) that the amount in question be directed to the company in bankruptcy 3. maj Rijeka, based on an agreement between them and the Republic of Croatia,” Ćorić stated, reiterating that in the entire transaction “legally everything is clear.”
Let us recall, in mid-January, a court settlement was reached whereby the state, after taking ownership of the subsidiary 3. maj Rijeka 1905 last year, committed to pay the bankrupt shipyard 3. maj around 6.6 million euros, and it is expected that the received money will fully pay the former workers of 3. maj, around 300 of them.
In the bankruptcy of the “old” 3. maj, which was opened last May, it was decided that the business would not continue, and the shipbuilding activity at the same location was continued by 3. maj Rijeka 1905, while CERP received a binding offer for the purchase of 3. maj Rijeka 1905 from the Šibenik Iskra shipyard in November last year.
The starting price for all three shares, a 100% share in the share capital, was 6.6 million euros, and the total nominal value was around 10.3 million euros, with the condition of maintaining shipbuilding activities.
Apology for tax payment notices to those who are not taxpayers
Minister Ćorić also responded to several journalistic questions “off topic,” including cases of certain citizens who received payment notices for property tax for residential properties in which they live.
He said he was aware of this and that there was obviously a mistake, primarily in the merging of databases, and that the mistake would be corrected.
Along with the apology, he assured citizens that they need not worry because those who live in their properties are not taxpayers of this tax, so they do not have to pay the notices but should just contact the Tax Administration and “clearly indicate what it is about.”
When asked about citizens who have already paid, the minister said he does not believe anyone has already paid this obligation, given that it happened this morning. “I am sure that our citizens act rationally and economically with their money and that all those who know they should not be taxpayers of such a tax have not done so,” Ćorić believes.
Ćorić believes in de-escalation of conflicts in the Middle East
When asked by a journalist how the latest escalation in the Middle East could affect Croatia, including in terms of energy prices and inflation, Ćorić said that Iran announced during the day that it would not block the Strait of Hormuz, which is immensely important from the perspective of global oil supply.
He also stated that further escalation of the conflict is not in anyone’s interest and that he hopes the situation calms down as soon as possible. On the other hand, a strong rise in oil prices, if it were to occur, would reflect on the entire global, European, and then Croatian economy. “This cannot be avoided, so that is not a scenario we want to pursue. Once again, I believe that there will be de-escalation in the coming days,” concluded Ćorić.
