Privatization fund TAIPED has set a July 16 deadline for binding bids concerning the sale of a 65 percent stake in gas company DEPA Infrastructure.

This sale represents Greece’s only energy-sector privatization proceeding as planned, based on the fund’s updated Asset Development Plan.

A total of six bidding formations have qualified for the privatization’s second round. They are: EP INVESTMENT ADVISORS; FIRST STATE INVESTMENTS (European Diversified Infrastructure Fund II); ITALGAS SpA; KKR (KKR Global Infrastructure Investors III L.P.); MACQUARIE (MEIF 6 DI HOLDINGS); SINO-CEE FUND & SHANGHAI DAZHONG PUBLIC UTILITIES (GROUP) Co., Ltd.

On the contrary, TAIPED has decided to delay bids for the sale of gas supplier DEPA Commercial until the third quarter of this year as a result of the company’s ongoing legal dispute with ELFE (Hellenic Fertilizers and Chemicals).

DEPA Commercial has challenged an Athens Court of First Instance verdict that ordered the company to return 61 million euros to ELFE for alleged overcharging between 2010 and 2015. The appeal has been deferred for September and may be jointly heard with a separate case involving the two companies over a similar amount of unpaid receivables that is allegedly owed by the fertilizer and chemicals producer to DEPA.

The DEPA Commercial sale, offering the Greek State’s 65 percent stake of the company, has attracted all the country’s major energy players as well as foreign companies.

Seven bidders are participating: C.G. GAS LIMITED (Copelouzos group); MET HOLDING AG; SHELL GAS B.V.; GEK TERNA; ELPE & EDISON INTERNATIONAL HOLDING N.V.; Motor Oil Hellas & PPC; and Mytilineos.