Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PODGORICA63
2009-03-16 19:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Podgorica
Cable title:
MONTENEGRO'S LARGEST EXPORTER CONTINUES TO FLOUNDER
how-toVZCZCXRO0886 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHPOD #0063/01 0751908 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 161908Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1209 RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 1297
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PODGORICA 000063
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPRV ENRG EINV ECON MW
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO'S LARGEST EXPORTER CONTINUES TO FLOUNDER
REF: 08 PODGORICA 267; PODGORICA 17
PODGORICA 00000063 001.2 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PODGORICA 000063
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPRV ENRG EINV ECON MW
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO'S LARGEST EXPORTER CONTINUES TO FLOUNDER
REF: 08 PODGORICA 267; PODGORICA 17
PODGORICA 00000063 001.2 OF 002
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Podgorica's aluminum plant, KAP, has been
struggling since at least mid-2008 to survive the impact of
ongoing economic crisis. The low trading price of aluminum and
expensive production inputs, particularly electricity, have
resulted in daily losses of up to 200,000 Euros. KAP management
is looking to the GoM for support during the crisis, but a
possible agreement between the GoM and the plant's Russian
owners has stalled over the latter's refusal to drop an
international lawsuit against Montenegro for failure to disclose
KAP's financial situation at the time of purchase. Since KAP is
Montenegro's largest employer, with over 4,000 employees, and
accounts for 14 percent of its GDP, the government is struggling
to delay any hard decisions until after the March 29 elections.
END SUMMARY.
KAP's Rapid Decline
--------------
2. (SBU) Russian aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska's Central
European Aluminum Company (CEAC) bought KAP three years ago, and
although the plant initially turned a profit, things quickly
went south as the global economic crisis began to hit (reftels).
KAP posted a loss of about 30 million Euros (roughly USD 39.6
million) in the first eight months of 2008, and had an
increasingly difficult time keeping up with even basic payments
(to input suppliers among others). Things have gotten so bad
that the Electric Power Company of Montenegro (EPCG) has
threatened to cut off the plant's power (although EPCG appears
to have backed down for now, likely at the request of the GoM,
which is EPCG's majority owner). Experts believe that with the
steady decrease in world aluminum prices, it will be difficult
for KAP to maintain its current production level (an output
level of around 50 percent of capacity or 60 thousand tons of
aluminum).
Too Big to Fail?
--------------
3. (SBU) The company's failure, however, would have enormous
consequences for the Montenegrin economy. KAP is the country's
largest employer, with over 4,000 employees (including those at
the bauxite mines in Niksic),and its fortunes are tied to
dozens of other large companies in the country, include the
state-owned Port and Railway Corporations. Further, KAP
accounted for over 50 percent of Montenegro's exports in 2008
and 14 percent of its overall GDP. The plant's collapse would
therefore deprive the GoM of substantial tax and payroll
revenues and other fees. In addition, its closure would cause
the GoM to incur the heavy cost - both monetary and political -
of supporting thousands of newly unemployed citizens.
Seeking a Lifeline
--------------
4. (SBU) On March 2, Deputy PM and Minister of Finance Igor
Luksic, Minister for Economic Development Branimir Gvozdenovic,
and CEAC officials began negotiations with representatives of 17
banks in Vienna in order to obtain a loan for KAP. Though the
GoM maintains publicly that an agreement could be imminent, the
Austrian banks have not yet announced any decision. In fact,
many of our independent interlocutors are sceptical that help
from outside sources will materialize.
Only Point of Agreement: Let's Sue!
--------------
5. (SBU) A complicating factor in GoM-CEAC efforts to find a
solution is the fact that the CEAC brought a 330 million euro
suit against Montenegro in the International Arbitration Court
in Frankfurt in early 2008, accusing the GoM of failing to fully
disclose the plant's financial condition at the time of
PODGORICA 00000063 002.2 OF 002
purchase. The GoM claims that the contract was concluded only
after months of negotiations, but several sources have told us
that they believe CEAC's case is solid. In recent months the
GoM has responded by threatening a lawsuit of its own, claiming
that CEAC did not live up to its obligations under the
privatization agreement, although it has yet to act.
A New Proposal
--------------
6. (SBU) On March 11, Branko Vujovic, Director of the Agency for
Economic Restructuring and Foreign Investments, publicly
outlined a new KAP rescue proposal. According to Vujovic, the
GoM is prepared to prolong the deadline for KAP's payment of
taxes and contributions, and to provide guarantees for a 20
million Euro loan. Vujovic did not say where this loan would
come from, but our sources tell us that local bank CBK's parent
bank, the Hungarian bank OTP, has agreed to provide the credit.
7. (SBU) In return, Vujovic said the GoM would require KAP to
maintain its current level of production, prepare a
restructuring program, and continue regular payment of salaries.
The GoM also asked that the plant's owners pledge the assets
from KAP's companies -- all of the processing section and 66
percent of the bauxite mine -- as a guarantee on the loan, and
that CEAC drop its lawsuit against the GoM. Vujovic said the GoM
would suspend its litigation against CEAC in return.
8. (SBU) However, CEAC promptly rejected the GoM's proposal,
saying that it was not prepared to drop its arbitration case.
According to CEAC, an offer of short-term assistance at such a
high price was unacceptable. Nevertheless, the Government and
CEAC have agreed to continue negotiations and to define both
short- and mid- term solutions to the problems facing KAP.
Comment
--------------
9. (SBU) Negotiations on an assistance package for KAP have been
ongoing for months, with the GoM intent on delaying any
difficult decisions until after the March 29 parliamentary
election and creating the impression for voters that a solution
is imminent. However, a loan from the Austrian banks is a
long-shot, and the possible GoM-CEAC agreement appears to have
fallen victim to CEAC's unwillingness to give up its lawsuit.
If KAP does not get a loan quickly, its management claim, it
will be forced to begin bankruptcy proceedings in mid-April --
conveniently after the election. Clearly no solution is in
sight, and the situation is growing increasingly untenable. The
question now is how long KAP can survive after March 29. If (or
when) KAP does go under, the Montenegrin economy is likely to
face a more serious crisis.
MOORE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPRV ENRG EINV ECON MW
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO'S LARGEST EXPORTER CONTINUES TO FLOUNDER
REF: 08 PODGORICA 267; PODGORICA 17
PODGORICA 00000063 001.2 OF 002
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Podgorica's aluminum plant, KAP, has been
struggling since at least mid-2008 to survive the impact of
ongoing economic crisis. The low trading price of aluminum and
expensive production inputs, particularly electricity, have
resulted in daily losses of up to 200,000 Euros. KAP management
is looking to the GoM for support during the crisis, but a
possible agreement between the GoM and the plant's Russian
owners has stalled over the latter's refusal to drop an
international lawsuit against Montenegro for failure to disclose
KAP's financial situation at the time of purchase. Since KAP is
Montenegro's largest employer, with over 4,000 employees, and
accounts for 14 percent of its GDP, the government is struggling
to delay any hard decisions until after the March 29 elections.
END SUMMARY.
KAP's Rapid Decline
--------------
2. (SBU) Russian aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska's Central
European Aluminum Company (CEAC) bought KAP three years ago, and
although the plant initially turned a profit, things quickly
went south as the global economic crisis began to hit (reftels).
KAP posted a loss of about 30 million Euros (roughly USD 39.6
million) in the first eight months of 2008, and had an
increasingly difficult time keeping up with even basic payments
(to input suppliers among others). Things have gotten so bad
that the Electric Power Company of Montenegro (EPCG) has
threatened to cut off the plant's power (although EPCG appears
to have backed down for now, likely at the request of the GoM,
which is EPCG's majority owner). Experts believe that with the
steady decrease in world aluminum prices, it will be difficult
for KAP to maintain its current production level (an output
level of around 50 percent of capacity or 60 thousand tons of
aluminum).
Too Big to Fail?
--------------
3. (SBU) The company's failure, however, would have enormous
consequences for the Montenegrin economy. KAP is the country's
largest employer, with over 4,000 employees (including those at
the bauxite mines in Niksic),and its fortunes are tied to
dozens of other large companies in the country, include the
state-owned Port and Railway Corporations. Further, KAP
accounted for over 50 percent of Montenegro's exports in 2008
and 14 percent of its overall GDP. The plant's collapse would
therefore deprive the GoM of substantial tax and payroll
revenues and other fees. In addition, its closure would cause
the GoM to incur the heavy cost - both monetary and political -
of supporting thousands of newly unemployed citizens.
Seeking a Lifeline
--------------
4. (SBU) On March 2, Deputy PM and Minister of Finance Igor
Luksic, Minister for Economic Development Branimir Gvozdenovic,
and CEAC officials began negotiations with representatives of 17
banks in Vienna in order to obtain a loan for KAP. Though the
GoM maintains publicly that an agreement could be imminent, the
Austrian banks have not yet announced any decision. In fact,
many of our independent interlocutors are sceptical that help
from outside sources will materialize.
Only Point of Agreement: Let's Sue!
--------------
5. (SBU) A complicating factor in GoM-CEAC efforts to find a
solution is the fact that the CEAC brought a 330 million euro
suit against Montenegro in the International Arbitration Court
in Frankfurt in early 2008, accusing the GoM of failing to fully
disclose the plant's financial condition at the time of
PODGORICA 00000063 002.2 OF 002
purchase. The GoM claims that the contract was concluded only
after months of negotiations, but several sources have told us
that they believe CEAC's case is solid. In recent months the
GoM has responded by threatening a lawsuit of its own, claiming
that CEAC did not live up to its obligations under the
privatization agreement, although it has yet to act.
A New Proposal
--------------
6. (SBU) On March 11, Branko Vujovic, Director of the Agency for
Economic Restructuring and Foreign Investments, publicly
outlined a new KAP rescue proposal. According to Vujovic, the
GoM is prepared to prolong the deadline for KAP's payment of
taxes and contributions, and to provide guarantees for a 20
million Euro loan. Vujovic did not say where this loan would
come from, but our sources tell us that local bank CBK's parent
bank, the Hungarian bank OTP, has agreed to provide the credit.
7. (SBU) In return, Vujovic said the GoM would require KAP to
maintain its current level of production, prepare a
restructuring program, and continue regular payment of salaries.
The GoM also asked that the plant's owners pledge the assets
from KAP's companies -- all of the processing section and 66
percent of the bauxite mine -- as a guarantee on the loan, and
that CEAC drop its lawsuit against the GoM. Vujovic said the GoM
would suspend its litigation against CEAC in return.
8. (SBU) However, CEAC promptly rejected the GoM's proposal,
saying that it was not prepared to drop its arbitration case.
According to CEAC, an offer of short-term assistance at such a
high price was unacceptable. Nevertheless, the Government and
CEAC have agreed to continue negotiations and to define both
short- and mid- term solutions to the problems facing KAP.
Comment
--------------
9. (SBU) Negotiations on an assistance package for KAP have been
ongoing for months, with the GoM intent on delaying any
difficult decisions until after the March 29 parliamentary
election and creating the impression for voters that a solution
is imminent. However, a loan from the Austrian banks is a
long-shot, and the possible GoM-CEAC agreement appears to have
fallen victim to CEAC's unwillingness to give up its lawsuit.
If KAP does not get a loan quickly, its management claim, it
will be forced to begin bankruptcy proceedings in mid-April --
conveniently after the election. Clearly no solution is in
sight, and the situation is growing increasingly untenable. The
question now is how long KAP can survive after March 29. If (or
when) KAP does go under, the Montenegrin economy is likely to
face a more serious crisis.
MOORE