BRATISLAVA, August 23, (WEBNOVINY) — State monopoly Russian Railways is considering buying a controlling stake in the Slovak state-run railway freight company Zeleznicna Spolocnost Cargo Slovakia, Russian Railways Vice President Salman Babayev told journalists on Tuesday, as Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported this on its Internet website.
Babayev also said that Russian Railways would cover its 2011 investment program deficit by borrowing, if an auction to sell its 75 percent minus two shares in Freight One is postponed from September due to changes in Russian Railway’s board of directors. Babayev further stated that Russian Railways had a bid for Poland’s rail cargo unit PKP Cargo, Europe’s No. 2 rail freight carrier.
The Slovak Transport Ministry is looking for a consultant through a tender to secure the entry of a strategic partner in the state-run railway freight company ZSSK Cargo. The estimated cost of the consulting services represents EUR 2 million ex-VAT. The future strategic partner is to acquire a minimum of sixty-six percent in Cargo by June 2012.
SITA
