The Russian steelmaker Mechel has confirmed to SteelOrbis that it is interested in acquiring a state-owned stake in Croatia's second largest steelmaker Zeljezara Split d.d. Kastel Sucurac (Split) and has already submitted a bid to the Croatian Privatization Fund.
Explaining the Russian company's interest in Split, Mechel's spokesperson Mr. Alexey Sotskov stated, "Interest in this asset is connected with our desire to strengthen the company's positions in the Eastern European market for steel rebar. Steel rebar is the one of the basic products of Mechel's metallurgical segment. This asset [Split] is logically in line with our strategy of the development of the steel business of our company".
So far six companies have expressed their interest in this Croatian asset, including Poland-based Zlomrex, US-based Commercial Metals Company (CMC), British Stemcor, German Max Aicher, Italian Beltrame and Russian Mechel.