Turkish bid for IUV

Desa Deri Sanayi of Istanbul are in the process of bidding for a share in Slovenia's premier pig skin tannery, IUV (Industrija Usnja Vrhnika). In 2003, partly state-owned IUV sold 3.5 million sq m of pigskin in 40 countries. They have a workforce of 900 and operate their own-name retail stores in Slovenia. IUV's turnover dropped to $35 million from about $50 million and they have been scouting for private capital. After recent elections, Slovenia's new government still plans to partially privatise the tannery. This century-old tannery has been providing Desa with about 20% of all their pig suede for garments and the two are also working on a breakthrough project to develop washable pig skins. The deal has not yet been finalised. However, Desa see tactical potential in IUV and a means of strengthening and diversifying their business, increasing their own turnover by about 50%.