Seven potential buyers interested in "Prosveta" – deadline expired for purchase of tender documentation

Unofficially, seven publishers are interested in takeover of Belgrade-based publishing company "Prosveta". The deadline for purchase of tender documentation expired on January 19th, while the bids for takeover can be submitted prior to February 12th.

In addition to well-known candidates - "Media Ltd." (IPS), "Euro-Giunti" and "Stilos group" - the documentation has also been bought by “Zepter Book” and a Polish publishing company whose owners are the people from Serbia. Another two publishing companies from Serbia, one of which is probably “Nolit”, have submitted the bids.

The analysis of the submitted bids will start on February 13th and it will be followed by ranking of the bidders. The whole process will last for about 3 months, which means that “Prosveta” is going to get the new owner in May.

People from the Privatization Agency say that they have done everything that the Law allows them to do to maximally protect both "Prosveta" and bookstore "Geca Kon". By the way, the people from the Agency explained that the tender terms could not be changed because the deadline for purchase of tender documentation had expired.

The property of "Prosveta" has been estimated at 11m EUR. The future owner of 70% of capital will get the building in Čika Ljubina Street, bookstore "Geca Kon" at 949 square meters, business premises in Cara Dušana Street (518 square meters), in Dobračina Street (95 square meters) and in Makenzijeva Street (27 square meters), as well as a bookstore on Kopaonik mountain (46 square meters). The future owner will be free to rent bookstores "Danilo Kiš" on Terazije, "Ivo Andrić" at Zeleni Venac, "Branislav Nušić" in Kosovska Street and "Gligorije Đerić" in Gospodar Jovanova Street. The city of Belgrade is currently using 264 square meters of “Prosveta’s” property (theater "Boško Buha"), and it is likely that the future owner will get some of aforementioned bookstores in return.