Those interested in buying the Szczecin sugar plant had time for providing the bid bond until 25 March. However, the bank account of Krajowa Spółka Cukrowa (the perpetual usufructuary, the owner is the State Treasury) received no payment. The starting price for the real property was PLN 44 million. The bid bond was PLN 4.4. million. Though the bid bond was not provided, KSC believes that the sugar factory will soon have a new owner.

“The company has attracted great interest from large, serious and reputable companies operating in a variety of industries. The bidders wanted to know the details about the tender and the real property itself. Interest in the attractive offer of KSC S.A. grew especially in the last days before the expiry of the deadline for providing the bid bond entitling to join the tender. The reason why none of the bidders provided the PLN 4.4. million bid bond could be the short time to raise the money,” says Aleksandra Paulska, spokesperson of KSC, who added that the company may sell the sugar factory outside a tender process.

“KSC S.A. is in talks with entities interested in the purchase. Chances are high that the talks will end in a success and the parties will sign a satisfactory agreement still this year,” says the spokesperson of KSC.

Attractive offer

What is the real property that KSC wants to sell? It comprises three neighbouring real properties located in the western part of Szczecin. The area is dense and has the shape of a trapezium whose sides are formed by a railway track and Cukrowa Street, Południowa Street and Poznan motorway. The immediate neighbourhood includes, among other things, the Szczecin Gumieńce railway station. In total, the area covers over 30 hectares. Approximately three hectares is a green area with grass and small trees. The area of the factory itself, which stopped production of sugar in 2003, is ten hectares. The former sugar factory is a high-density red brick housing. Some of the buildings are under the care of a heritage conservator. They may be used for a variety of purposes, e.g. transformed into fashionable loft apartments.

“The area adjacent to the factory of approximately eighteen hectares is perfect for a technopark, production, warehouses or a major parking lot, as well as conference and shopping centres. The latter would fit in with other neighbouring buildings. Shopping centres: Auchan, Makro Cash and Carry as well as the Silver hotel with a new indoor go-karting track are located nearby,” says Aleksandra Paulska.

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