In addition, the ministry relaxed the selection criteria in terms of bidder turnover.
Thus, the officials eliminated the criterion whereby all companies in a bidding association needed to have turnovers of at least EUR10 million over the past three years. A new criterion was implemented, saying any association needs to have a total turnover of EUR40 million over the past three years, regardless of the individual turnovers of its associates.
The initial bidding deadline was December 23.
The changes were made, according to the ministry, following feedback received from potential bidders.
The Government will appoint private managers at nine state-owned companies by the end of 2011, with six more enterprises to follow suit next year, according to the country’s letter of intent to a EUR3.5 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund.
The first nine companies which will be run by outside managers are postal services provider Posta Romana, airline Tarom, hydropower generator Hidrolectrica, chemical plant Oltchim (OLT.RO), railway companies CFR Marfa and Electrificare CFR, mining company Societatea Nationala a Lignitului Oltenia, military defense contractor Romarm and energy supplier Electrica Furnizare.
Next year, the Government will appoint managers from the private sector for CFR, CFR Calatori, Nuclearelectrica, Transgaz, Transelectrica și Romgaz.