There is no need to introduce bankruptcy in the company "Vektra Boka" and the state, if it does not happen today, will receive a total of 7 million euros, of which 1,3 million euros will be paid to the workers for contributions by Wednesday.
This is what the owner of "Ellena group" told "Vijesti" Danilo Matijašević, who claims that the Commercial Court will today make a decision on the introduction of bankruptcy in "Vektra Bok".
Former worker and trade unionist Vojin Miljanic ”Vijesti” submitted a statement of 120 workers of "Vektra Boka", in which they request the president of the Commercial Court Mladen Grdinić and judges Nemanja Popović not to make a decision on the introduction of bankruptcy, because this will destroy their lives and the future of Herceg Novi.
At the beginning of April, the company "Ellena group" from Herceg Novi became the owner of 33 percent of the shares in "Vektra Boka", which it paid four cents each, or 350 thousand euros for the total package of shares.
The rest is owned by the former company Dragan Brković "Vektra Montenegro", which has been in bankruptcy since the beginning of 2021. Since 2021, the Tax Administration has been trying to introduce bankruptcy in "Vektra Bok" for violating the reorganization plan, and in September they submitted an amendment to the proposal according to which the debt increased from one million to around five million euros.
At the end of May, the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) blocked the trading of "Vektra Boka" shares, as part of the investigation they are conducting against Brković and his sons. Boris i Bojana, including Milić Popović.
However, Matijašević claims that the burden has now been lifted from the actions, which was also confirmed in a letter from the Central Depository Agency, which "Vijesti" had access to.
They cancel the debt in 2025
He states that with the payment of 1,3 million euros, they would settle the taxes and contributions of the workers in the amount of 900.000 euros, and "many would connect the length of service and realize the right to a pension".
"Then by the New Year, I will also pay 600.000 euros for net salaries to current and former employees, but this will not include the former Board of Directors and Brkovići, because I will not pay for those who have criminal charges," Matijašević pointed out.
Brković has not been at the head of "Vektra Boka" since mid-June, when a new Board of Directors was appointed at the company's Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting, in which Radovan Samardzic, Vladimir Covic i Matijašević. Dragan and Bojan Brković, as well as board member Milić Popović, were then unanimously dismissed.
Matijašević also emphasized that he will submit a request for interest write-off, and that he will pay the debt, that is, that in January he will pay all obligations - 2,9 million to the Tax Administration and 1,9 million to the Municipality of Herceg Novi.
He said that he believes that the state will certainly collect the debt, that there is no reason not to wait a day or two, and that he wants payments and the eventual re-opening of the Hotel "Plaža", with about 300 beds.
"The state gets 7.000.000 euros if bankruptcy is not introduced today. I don't know whose interest it is in not solving this issue, everything will be paid by Wednesday, and the debts in January. The president of the association of former workers "Vektra Boke" also obstructed the prosecutor's office. Đorđe Rajak and asked for the introduction of bankruptcy, and I have already filed two criminal charges against him," Matijašević pointed out.
Rajak and part of the workers have been protesting for a long time and asking the prosecutor's office to make a decision on the temporary or permanent confiscation of the property of the former Hotel Tourism Company (HTP) "Boka", and block all actions and transactions with its property. He claims that the workers were forgotten in the entire process and that they were not paid, that the investments promised for "Vektra Boku" were not honored, and that they are now working on selling the assets of this company - for only one million euros.
Former worker and trade unionist Vojin Miljanić told "Vijesta" that Rajak's actions were the influence of a third party in this process. He also emphasized that he will demand that Rajaka be prosecuted by the SDT, in order to determine for whom and whose interest he is working for. He pointed out that the 120 workers he represents are putting pressure on not introducing bankruptcy because the issue of "Vektra Boke" is also national.
"When bankruptcy is introduced, the process will be prolonged and the company's assets will be sold for years due to tenders and appraisals. It will sell out in five years for five to 10.000.000 euros. We are also looking at the state interest because we want to valorize the hotel of this company. "Every reasonable person wants Matijašević to pay the workers by the end of the year," he pointed out.
The state gets 7.000.000 euros if bankruptcy is not introduced today. I don't know whose interest it is in not solving this issue, everything will be paid by Wednesday, and the debts in January...
Miljanić also submitted a worker's statement, in which it is written that every step towards bankruptcy is one step away from realizing the basic rights of workers, to work experience, pension and stability. That's why they appeal to the authorities to react urgently, to not introduce bankruptcy because it will destroy their lives and the future of Herceg Novi.
"We demand and ask the President of the Commercial Court (Mladen Grdinić) and the judge (Nemanja Popović) not to make a decision to introduce bankruptcy, and at the same time we want to know the former and current employees of 'Boka', Herceg Novi and Montenegro, that Rajak is in Thursday or Friday he was in the Commercial Court and demanded the introduction of bankruptcy. Today, instead of seeing the fruits of our labor, we are on the brink of existence, while the threat of bankruptcy hangs over us like a dark cloud, which threatens to wipe out everything we have worked for," the announcement states.
Miljanić submitted to "Vijesta" a large number of certificates in which the workers emphasize that they agree that the sale of the "Igalo" hotel will be used to pay the tax claim of the Tax Administration, which would be used to settle the arrears of pension contributions to the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, workers' claims from the reorganization plan , that is, the unpaid part of the third and fourth installments, as well as salaries from November 2021 to March 2023.
Hotels, restaurants, lots...
HTP "Boka" was privatized in December 2007 by the company "Vektra Montenegro" of Dragan Brković, which as the first-ranked bidder received a state package of 59,4 percent of shares for 22 million euros, with an obligation to invest 50 million euros in the next three years.
Before that, Brković and his other company "Vektra investments" bought a share of 33 percent of shares from Hungarian companies.
Brković changed the name of the company to "Vektra Boka".
He then announced the construction of 200 square meters of new hotel capacity and an investment of 360 million.
After that, there were years of big problems for the company, a large part of the property was pledged for loans, while there were no planned investments. The owner justified himself by disputes with the municipality and the state due to urban plans. A large part of the property of "Boka" has been sold off or seized in the meantime.
The company "Ellena group" owns 33 percent of the shares, and the rest is owned by Dragan Brković's former company "Vektra Montenegro", which has been in bankruptcy since the beginning of 2021.
Since the introduction of the reorganization under the measures of the Commercial Court, there have been frequent protests by company employees who believe that the reorganization plan is not respected and that the money from the sale of assets does not go to them, but is taken by the owners of the company for disputed loans, which is why they have submitted several reports to the prosecutor's office.
Bankruptcy in the company was introduced for the first time in June 2015, at the request of Crnogorska kommercielja banka, but it was later replaced by a reorganization plan under the measures of the Commercial Court. Now a new request for the introduction of classic bankruptcy is current.
Before privatization, HTP "Boka" had four hotels, several restaurants, business premises and land in several locations in Herceg Novi.
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