RPT-Penta anticipates Czech watchdog nod for Aero buy

(Repeats story published late on Wednesday)

PRAGUE, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Investment group Penta said on Wednesday it will submit its planned purchase of military jet maker Aero Vodochody to Czech anti-trust authorities by the end of the week.

The Czech government approved the sale of its 99.97 percent stake in Aero Vodochody to Oakfield, a unit of Penta, for 2.91 billion crowns ($132.9 million) in October.

"We will submit an opinion request (to the anti-trust authority) by the end of this week," Penta spokeswoman Jana Studnickova told Reuters.

"We are ready to transfer the money right after the decision of the Anti-Monopoly Office. We do not expect a negative verdict," Studnickova added.

The anti-trust body has 30 working days to deliver its decision, beginning the day it receives Penta's request for approval of the deal.

Aero makes sub-sonic L-159 military jets and civilian airplane parts, but it has struggled to find customers for its jets. It also owns an airstrip near Prague which could potentially become a commercial airport.

The prospect of turning the airstrip into Prague's second full airport attracted a lot of interest during the bidding process,, although Penta has not said it will make such a move.

((Reporting by Martin Santa, Editing by Sue Thomas; martin.santa@reuters.com; RM: martin.santa.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420 224 190 477)) ($1=21.89 Czech Crown)

Keywords: MANUFACTURING CZECH AERO