Liberty Ostrava has found a new owner

Liberty Ostrava, which applied for a moratorium in autumn 2023 and filed for insolvency in June 2024, is set to get a new owner. The creditors' committee and secured creditors have approved the offer submitted by the consortium of SPV NH Ostrava and SPV NH Koksovna. The companies, owned by Martin Pecina, will acquire the main plant and coking facility for CZK 3.01 billion. Assets not essential to the plant's operations — such as certain real estate and receivables — will be sold separately. No other buyer expressed interest in acquiring the steelworks.

The company historically produced steel for the construction, engineering, and petrochemical industries. Currently, it operates three facilities that run under tolling agreements — materials are supplied and funded by third-party firms, which pay the plant for processing. The straightening and rolling mills in plants 15 and 16 are financed by Vítkovice Machinery Trade, part of the CE Industrie group. The rolling mill in plant 14 is financed by the Polish company Donquixote. Together, the facilities provide approximately 2,500 jobs.

The transaction is subject to approval by the insolvency court and the Office for the Protection of Competition. The transfer of ownership could be finalized in the autumn of this year.