North-South Gas Interconnections in Central Eastern and Southeastern Europe (Hungary-Slovenia-Italy Interconnection)
May 2023
The PCI will establish a bi-directional interconnection between Slovenian and Hungarian gas transmission systems and, with that, a connection of the national gas markets. It will improve possibilities for diversification of gas sources (LNG sources from the Adriatic region and any other sources), which are available in Slovenia and enable access to gas storages in Hungary for Slovenian users. The security of supply (N-1 criteria) will be improved for the existing Slovenian gas system as well as for the Hungarian gas market to a certain extent. Phase I (planned to be commissioned on 1…
Sale of a 29.253% Shareholding in Štore Steel d.o.o., Štore, Slovenia
April 2023
The seller is UNIOR d.d. Štore Steel’s revenues increased from EUR 145 million last year to EUR 190 million, while EBITDA increased from EUR 12.5 million to EUR 18 million and net profit from EUR 5.9 million to EUR 10.5 million. Currently, the company is in the middle of the largest investment in its history of EUR 24 million in a new secondary metallurgy centre. The investment will enable the company to produce a cleaner, high-strength steel as well as stainless and some tool steel. In addition to this investment, in the spring, the company is planning a new line for upgraded steel,…
Sale of BETI d.d.
April 2023
The Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC) is selling the leading European manufacturer of special dyed and technical yarns, Beti d.d.
The subject of the sales process is at least 86,7% of Beti’s equity and a majority of Beti’s financial liabilities which will be sold as a package. The equity stake is in 100% ownership of Mr. Viktor Kozjan and the claims by BAMC.
In 2020, Beti had a net loss of EUR 53 000, which is the first net loss after 2013. The company's net sales revenues amounted to EUR 7.5 million (21 percent lower than in 2019).
Reportedly, Beti felt the corona crisis…
Adria Flood and Drought Risk Mitigation System
March 2023
Establishment of a platform for efficient risk management of Adriatic Sea and related Drainage Adriatic River Basins for secure water supply and food production with emphasis on efficient risk management related to flood/drought, transport and seismic hazards.
To assure water supply and food production security in the region which is very exposed to climate change (Mediterranean) next activities are foreseen:
Establishment of a common system for hydrological monitoring in Adria River Basins with spatial database of existing infrastructure, which provides and assures secure water…
Sale of Livar
March 2023
The owners of Livar, one of the largest Slovenian foundries and the producer of ductile cast iron and mechanical processing, are considering its sale. Livar generated sales revenues of EUR 67 million last year, which represents a 22% growth compared to 2021. In addition to higher product prices, the reorganisation of the sales portfolio and the increase in the share of higher value-added machined castings contributed to this sales growth, Livar explained. Cash flow from operating activities, one of the company's key indicators of how much funds companies have left to repay loans,…
OTP Group Successfully Completes the Acquisition of the Slovenian Nova KBM Group
February 2023
OTP Group announced that it has successfully completed the acquisition of Nova KBM Group from its previous owners – financial funds managed by Apollo Global Management and EBRD – after obtaining all required approvals from the relevant regulatory authorities.
OTP was advised by Selih & partnerji. The cross-practice team was led by partners Natasa Pipan Nahtigal, Mia Kalas, Jera Majzelj, and Spela Remec, covering M&A, competition, and banking regulatory aspects.
The acquisition, the most significant in the history of the OTP Group and one of the largest in Slovenia in…
Novartis Considering Sale or Separation of Sandoz Business
August 2022
In October 2021, Novartis launched a strategic review of the Sandoz division, an important part of which is the Slovenian Lek as a development center.
As Novartis said in the press release, the review will explore all options, ranging from retaining the business to separation, in order to determine how to best maximize value for the shareholders. They will take the time to decide by the end of 2022.
Sandoz is one of the largest generics entities in the world and Novartis’ leading business unit for the development of biosimilar products. It accounts for about 18% of the overall…
Possible Regional Connections of the Energy Exchange
August 2022
The Slovenian energy exchange BSP Southpool is considering connecting with foreign energy exchanges and creating a regional exchange.
It has been reported that serious negotiations are underway to connect with the Serbian SEEPEX energy exchange.
BSP has 33 members – Slovenian and foreign companies engaged in the sale of electricity.
The energy exchange allows members to trade day-ahead and intraday, on clearing and long-term auctions. It issues the Slovenian Electric Stock Exchange Index (SIPX), which reports the hourly index of electricity on the electricity exchange market in…
Potential Sale of Share in Cinkarna Celje
August 2022
It is expected that the Slovenian Bank Assets Management Company will soon attempt to sell their almost 13 % share in CINKARNA, Metalursko-kemicna Industrija Celje, d.d., a titanium dioxide pigment manufacturer and one of the largest chemical-processing companies in Slovenia.
Cinkarna was included in the list of companies for privatisation as early as 2013, and several attempts to sell the share have been made since – the last one about a year ago.
In September 2021, the estimated net profit for 2021 was EUR 27.1 million.
For 2022, Cinkarna plans EUR 204 million in sales revenue.…
Sale of MARIBORSKA LIVARNA MARIBOR d.d.
August 2022
The Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC) is selling a 100% equity stake together with its claims (EUR 9 million) towards the company MARIBORSKA LIVARNA MARIBOR d.d. (MLM).
MLM is a manufacturer of different tools and mechanical-treated aluminum die-castings designed for the automotive, electrical, and machine industry.
In 2020, the company had 398 employees and generated EUR 30.5 million in revenues (a quarter less than in 2019) and a net loss of EUR 2 million (a loss of EUR 600 thousand a year earlier).
Six bidders were allegedly invited to the second round, including funds and…
Water Bottling Company Costella for Sale
June 2022
The Swiss company Agrokor, which is in liquidation, is selling the Costella natural mineral water bottling company along with its water bottling plant near the town of Kostel in southern Slovenia.
The company’s most asset is the concession for water extraction of 250 million liters of water per year from the primeval forest. The concession is valid until 2035 and can be extended.
For the company to be able to extract so much water, additional investment in production would be required.
The company currently employs only eight employees and extracts 12 million liters a year. In 2020,…
Sale of Several Tourism Facilities
May 2022
Sava Turizem
Sava Turizem d.d. and its umbrella brand Sava Hotels & Resorts is the largest Slovenian tourism company in Slovenia that operates 7 destinations:
Sava Hotels Bled
Terme 3000 – Moravske Toplice
Terme Ptuj
Zdravilišče Radenci
Hoteli Bernardin Portorož
Salinera Resort Strunjan
San Simon Resort Izola(under management)
The largest owners of the Sava Group are the financial fund York Global Finance Offshore, which had a 43.23% share at the end of 2020, followed by the state-run fund KAD with 28.05% and the state’s capital assets manager Slovenian…
