Five potential investors have submitted non-binding
offers to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) for the
privatization of natural gas distributor DEPA/DESFA Group.
The international
tender procedure started on
February
29, 2012
. The invitation for non-binding offers was sent to
fourteen potential investors who were pre-selected during the first phase. The
deadline for the submission of the offers expired on
5 November, 2012
.
The following
companies responded to the invitation to submit in writing their offers:
·
Gazprom,
·
Negusneft,
·
Socar,
·
the joint venture of M & M
GasCo-Mytilineos-Motor Oil, and
·
PPF with GEK Terna, which submitted a joint bid.
HRADF’s financial
advisors will examine the five submissions and, within the next few days, they
will send their recommendations to the HRADF Board of Directors, indicating
which candidates meet the selection criteria for the next phase of the tender
(binding submission phase).
HRADF’s CEO Yannis
Emiris commented on the conclusion of the non-binding tender phase: "We
are pleased by the response of the investment community, which has demonstrated
its trust in the country and in the prospects of DEPA, despite the difficult
economic situation. The number and entity of the submissions received is also a
proof of investors’ confidence in our tendering procedures."