EBRD eyes Dunav osiguranje as well

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is interested in taking part in the privatization of Telekom Srbija, Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade, and the Dunav osiguranje insurance company.

EBRD Country Manager for Serbia Matteo Patrone underlined that the Bank's activities would depend on the path chosen by the Serbian government.

- Telekom needs money for capital investment, and we are ready to consider providing either a capital injection or a loan - Patrone told a press conference that was also attended by EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti.

Patrone said that the EBRD was ready to co-invest together with other strategic investors, to participate in the acquisition of shares in that company, to finance the acquisition of a stake by some another company or, if necessary, to provide capital.

When asked to comment on Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic's announcement that the EBRD was interested in taking part in the privatization of the Electric Power Company of Serbia (EPS), he said that it might be, but not in the near future, while the privatization of three aforementioned companies can be done in a short time.

- EPS, EMS, Srbijagas, Serbian Railways and other public and public utility companies represent an another group of companies that require thorough reorganization before starting the search for strategic investors - said Patrone.

He stressed that the role of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development was to continue to provide support to these companies through capital injections or loans.