Croatian court drops bankruptcy proceedings against 3. Maj shipyard

On September 25, 3. Maj submitted with the court evidence that its account is no longer blocked over unpaid debt, the court said in a statement on Wednesday.

The court's decision comes after the government stepped in to help troubled 3 Maj avoid bankruptcy and restart production.

In particular, the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) approved earlier this month a 150 million kuna ($22.2 million/20.3 million euro) life-saving loan to 3. Maj, supported by a government guarantee.

A condition for the loan approval was that all 3. Maj creditors, including the state, should agree to postpone until September 1, 2021 the repayment of debt owed to them by the shipyard.

3 Maj is part of troubled shipbuilding group Uljanik. The group includes another major shipyard in Croatia, Uljanik Shipyard, along with smaller subsidiaries.

In May, a Croatian court launched bankruptcy proceedings against Uljanik Shipyard on a request by the country's financial agency, citing the shipyard's overdue debt. Subsequently, the court also launched bankruptcy proceedings against the Uljanik Group.

(1 euro = 7.4054 kuna)