International interest in Bijela

Canadian billionaire Peter Munk and the Moscow-based bank Avangard are the most serious potential buyers for the Adriatic shipbuilding yard Bijela according to the president of the board of directors of the yard, Stanko Zlokovic.

Munk, who bough Tivat?s Arsenal last week, stayed in Bijela showing interest for the capacities and possibilities of the repairing of ships. In addition to the existing activities in Bijela, Munk has indicated that he wouldcarry out repairs of yachts, which is compatible with his plans to build in Tivat an exclusive marina for mega yachts.

The announcement of the new tender for the sale of the major part of the shares in the yard is expected to be made in the next couple of months. The previous tender was closed at the end of June last year because there were no interested parties.

Bank Avangard already has a financially stake in several Russian shipbuilding companies and plans to add a number of European shipbuilding yards to their portfolio. Last year they offered 25 to 30 million euros for a share in the Croatian shipbuilding yard “Viktor Lenac” in Rijeka.