January 23 (SeeNews) - Croatia's government expects at least two strategic partnership offers for troubled shipbuilding group Uljanik by Friday, economy minister Darko Horvat said on Wednesday.
Uljanik has extended until January 24 the deadline by which potential investors can conduct an in-depth analysis of the state of the company.
"Friday will be the day when we will receive at least two offers," Horvat said, as quoted in a statement by the government. "We will give the management a chance to open and analyse them on Saturday, and on Monday, at 11 o'clock, the management will present them to the economy ministry."
He added that a meeting with the trade unions and management is scheduled for Tuesday at the economy ministry.
The economy minister also said that the new owner will not be known on Monday, as he expects a very complicated process of selecting a strategic investor.
The Uljanik Group is made up of two major shipyards -- Uljanik and 3. Maj, along with smaller subsidiaries. The group has been in financial trouble for some time due to the adverse effects of the global financial crisis on the shipbuilding sector in general which has led to a drop in orders for new vessels.