Although the company made no official announcement regarding the call for expression of interest, media have been reporting that a Croatian company Osimpex from Osijek was interested in buying Peko.

Dnevnik reports today that the other company interested in the footwear manufacturer was US-based financial fund Blue Rose Trust Fund.

Meanwhile, a Norwegian financial fund which the media have also been mentioning as a potential buyer has not made an offer, according to Dnevnik.

Osimpex said on Monday that the company was willing to secure the much needed capital for a modernisation of Peko's production, market approach and entrance to new markets. Osimpex's aim is to enable Peko's development, increase its production and sales and strengthen its trade mark, the company said.

Apart from Osimpex, dealing with production and wholesale of products and semi-products, the Blue Rose Trust Fund, based in a US tax haven and owned by a US citizen of Serbian descent Dušan David Mladen, is reportedly also interested in providing fresh capital to the company.

The state-owned SOD fund, which took over the sales procedure of Peko from the State Assets Management Agency (AUKN), which has been abolished in the meantime, has been tight-lipped about the offers.

Meanwhile, due diligence is already under way at the footwear manufacturer to pave the way for binding offers.

The sale is being rushed to provide a much needed EUR 2m in working capital for the struggling company.