Austrians and Germans eyeing Polish steel mills
Austrian steel group Voest Alpine Stahl (VAS) has officially confirmed
filing a privatization bid for the four steel mills Sendzimira, Katowice,
Florian and Cedler. VAS would not disclose whether it is interested in
buying all four mills together, as the Treasury plans to sell them, or
only some of them. According to unofficial information, however, the
Austrian bid meets Treasury expectations and regards all the mills. This
of course only if the ailing Huta Katowice manages to find funds it needs
for its current operations and stays afloat. Meanwhile, German steel group
Thyssen Krupp Stahl is reportedly also interested in the mills. Thyssen
Krupp spokesman Detmar Stamm said that the company is already in talks
with the government, but would not disclose any details. According to
preliminary estimates, the steel mills need some zl.3 billion in
investments. (Puls Biznesu, p.3) T.J.
