The parliament imposed a moratorium on privatization of the plant because of the strategic importance of the plant to the economy and security of Ukraine. The Prydniprovia consortium, which is close to the Interpipe corporation controlled by former President Leonid Kuchma's son-in-law Viktor Pinchuk acquired a 25% stake in the Nikopol ferro-alloy plant on in May 2003 and another 25% stake plus 1 share in August 2003. A court declared the sale illegal in 2005. The government directed the State Property Fund in January to prepare a fresh competition for a controlling stake in the plant. Meanwhile, the SPF's Chairwoman Valentyna Semeniuk warned on February 8 that preparation for the competition could only start after transfer of the stake acquired by the Prydniprovia consortium to the State Property Fund.