Transport company Lasta's flock will fly the state's nest

Privatization can't happen until existing problems within the company have been solved

The state will start looking for a buyer for Serbia's oldest and biggest transport company Lasta (Serbian word for "swallow") in April next year, although privatization was expected to be realized this year.

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The reason for the delay in the privatization is that it is necessary to allow additional time to solve existing and unresolved problems, which include workforce optimization.

The state plans to sell 77 percent of its stake in the company, while the rest belongs to small shareholders.

Within the joint stock company Lasta there are several subsidiaries: Lasta Beograd, Lastra Lazarevac, Lasta Banja Luka, Lasta Montenegro.

Lasta's value is limited to a maximum of 23 million euros.

Over the past five years, 310 former social and state-owned companies have gone bankrupt following the Privatization Law, while 62 have been privatized.

According to the records of competent authorities, 35,500 employees from 354 companies received severance pay. The Ministry of Economy, which has taken over the activities of the Privatization Agency, is left with 84 companies with close to 30,000 employees to privatize.

(Telegraf Biznis/Vecernje Novosti)