ZAGREB, Jan 30 (Hina) - Speaking about offers submitted for the privatisation of the Suncani Hvar hotel company, a Croatian official said on Wednesday Kompas had offered more money than Terme Catez for a five-year period but that
Terme was a "stronger" company which offered a better overall price.
ZAGREB, Jan 30 (Hina) - Speaking about offers submitted for the
privatisation of the Suncani Hvar hotel company, a Croatian
official said on Wednesday Kompas had offered more money than Terme
Catez for a five-year period but that Terme was a "stronger" company
which offered a better overall price. #L#
Terme offered EUR45 million while Kompas offered 50 million,
Croatian Privatisation Fund vice president Kresimir Starcevic told
state television.
He cautioned, however, that neither the price nor the investment
were the most important elements in choosing the best offer.
The credit rating was crucial, the buyer's financial strength and
ability to guarantee that it will do what it promised, Starcevic
said after attending a meeting of the ruling coalition together
with Tourism Minister Pave Zupan-Ruskovic.
He said that according to the minister the difference lay in the
fact that Terme would open the Croatian hotel chain to a higher
number of European and world markets while Kompas was a tour
operator which would mostly be oriented towards the Slovene
market.
Speaking about of the possible fallout from the "Suncani Hvar case"
in light of criticism in Croatia to sell to the Slovenes, Starcevic
said the government could invalidate its decision to accept the
Terme offer.
"I would be sorry (if that happened) because it would badly reflect
on our future privatisation and serious investors."
(hina) ha