The main goal is to wrap up bankruptcy proceedings and give the shipyard a chance to use its market potential, Polancec said after a meeting in Zagreb on Wednesday.
Today's meeting, which focused on the bankruptcy plan which was drawn up by the Pula-based "Uljanik" shipyard and the Croatian Finance Ministry, was attended by representatives of the ministries of finance and the economy, Uljanik CEO Karlo Radolovic, representatives of the "Ingra" company, and of the Swiss "Mack" company (which employs some of the former "Viktor Lenac" workers).
Polancec described the meeting as very good, adding that its purpose was to collect information on the shipyard's prospects, on the current stage of bankruptcy proceedings and ways to find a solution for the company.
Polancec would not provide any more details, saying only that the matter would first be discussed with the shipyard's creditors - IFC and DEG.
If the two creditors accept the bankruptcy plan, we will define ways of financing and a possible ownership structure, Polancec said, adding that he was optimistic and believed that Viktor Lenac could be reorganised into a maintenance and repair shipyard.
Polancec said that the meeting was not attended by union representatives but that there was no reason for them not to attend future meetings.
Viktor Lenac has been in bankruptcy for two years and several offers have been made for its takeover so far.
IFC and DEG claim some 120 million kuna (EUR 16.21 million) from the shipyard and have launched proceedings at the Rijeka Commercial Court to seize the company's property.
The Croatian Finance Ministry and the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development claim more than one billion kuna from the shipyard.
The bankruptcy plan, drawn up by the Uljanik shipyard and the Finance Ministry, is based on Uljanik's investment offer amounting to some USD 10 million, of which 6.5 million would cover the creditors' claims.
If the offer is accepted, the government is expected to grant guarantees amounting to USD 10 million, so that the state and Uljanik would become the main partners in the first step in taking over the shipyard.