The United States (U.S.) company Regulus Global, which is a co-owner of Pretis and Binas, wants majority ownership in these defense industry companies.
It should be mentioned that Regulus acquired a stake in these firms in April last year, and today it holds 41.5 percent of Pretis shares and 25.6 percent of Binas shares.
In recent months, the U.S. company has announced an investment cycle in Bosnian and Herzegovinian (BiH) enterprises. However, the Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH (FBiH), Nermin Niksic, now reveals that they have also requested to take over the companies.
Furthermore, it should be recalled that the FBiH owns 51 percent of the majority of companies in the defense industry, while the remaining shares are freely traded on the market.
Regulations do not allow it
“Investors are emerging who are also owners of part of the 49 percent outside the FBiH Government. Representatives of the U.S. company Regulus visited me, and they are interested in investing. They have shares in Pretis and Binas. However, our regulations do not allow them to be majority owners, and that is exactly what they are asking for,” explained Niksic.
He added that they were clearly told that the FBiH Government is interested in continuing to invest in and develop the defense industry.
“We are waiting for their response and will see in which direction the talks will continue. I am confident that the defense industry will become stronger. Binas and BNT are already recording huge growth in production and sales. Also, the company Zrak has been saved and now cooperates with BNT,” emphasized Niksic.
Start gunpowder production
Niksic also commented on the recent crisis at the company Igman, when production was halted due to a delay in gunpowder exports from Serbia. Although the crisis has now ended, Niksic announced that alternative supply sources will be sought and that a gunpowder plant will be built.
“We have committed to expanding the defense industry in the FBiH. We must not depend on a single supplier. There are companies in the Czech Republic and Turkey that also produce gunpowder, and we will make contracts with them. We intend to build our own gunpowder plant if we succeed in these plans and secure the necessary funds. We have already found the location. Also, we plan to build another defense industry facility in Cazin,” said Niksic.
