The Zbrojovka Brno area for sale, auction at the end of January

Brno - The premises of the bankrupt company Zbrojovka Brno are going up for auction with a starting price of 351.687 million korunas. The final price for the production, storage, and administrative buildings on the 22.5-hectare site could exceed the current record of 466 million korunas, making it the highest in the Czech Republic, said Josef Machů from the auction company Prokonzulta today to ČTK. The auction is planned for January 31.
    Zbrojovka Brno has not produced anything since this summer and currently has only a few administrative workers. The company went into bankruptcy in 2003. A total of 72 creditors have submitted claims amounting to 465 million korunas. In addition to the premises, machines and weapons are also being auctioned off, with their value in the range of tens of millions of korunas.
    The Zbrojovka complex consists of several dozen buildings, some of which are currently being rented out by the bankruptcy administrator. For example, to the company Brno Rifles from the group around the Uherský Brod company Česká Zbrojovka. Recently, it purchased some machines and started weapon production with 29 workers. In the past, the Brno city council showed interest in the Zbrojovka land near the city center. They considered revitalization and conversion into an industrial zone.
    The oldest building, which served as an administrative office, dates back to 1870. Most of the structures were built in the first half of the 20th century. The condition of the buildings generally corresponds to their age, and only necessary repairs related to maintenance have been carried out, stated the auction company.
    Several companies have so far shared the smaller auctions of Zbrojovka. Prokonzulta is in charge of the main auction, which also organized the sale of the company's assets. The final yield from this auction, exceeding 465 million, is currently a record in the Czech Republic. However, Prokonzulta estimates that the record will be broken. "Now we are awaiting viewings with interested parties and providing them with various information as they gradually respond to the advertisements in the press and online," added Jaroslav Hradil from the management of the auction company.
    Additionally, a court hearing with the former bankruptcy estate administrator Ilona Strmisková will take place the day before the auction. She faces charges of attempting to sell weapons from the bankruptcy below market value. Together with appraiser Pavel Ryšavý, she allegedly caused the company damage of 186,000 korunas. She faces up to eight years in prison for this. The administrator herself has filed several criminal complaints. According to her, the former owners deprived the company of up to half a billion korunas.