AIK Bank gets permit by ECB for Gorenjska Banka takeover

The European Central Bank (ECB) has reached the decision approving the acquisition of shares of the Kranj-based Gorenjska Banka by AIK Bank, owned by businessman Miodrag Kostic.

Based on this decision, AIK Bank can acquire up to 100% of the assets and voting rights in Gorenjska Banka.

By purchasing the shares of Gorenjska Banka, AIK Bank intends to keep strengthening its business influence and expanding its operations and client and partner pool outside Serbia, i.e. to the EU market. Activities such as this do not only result in expanding the cooperation of AIK Bank with the local and EU market in the field of banking operations, but in creating conditions for the expansion of operations to other industries, thereby strengthening the economic competitiveness of the entire region, AIK Bank reported on Wednesday, February 22, 2017.

AIK Bank bought 13.9% shares of Gorenjska Banka in January 2016 and became its second biggest owner after Sava Osiguranje, which holds 37.7% of the assets.

The Central Bank of Slovenia ordered Sava Osiguranje to sell its stake in Gorenjska Banka in 2016, as “they don't have the financial strength to provide Gorenjska Banka with the support it needs”. Sava Osiguranje reported in late January that they had reached an agreement with several other owners of Gorenjska to sell their shares, which, combined, exceed 50% of the ownership in this Slovenian bank.

AIK Bank has been recognized as a strong, stable and reliable financial institution in the entire region, considering that the European Business Council acknowledged it to be the best regional institution at its International Socrates Award Ceremony.

The prestigious British economics magazine International Banker awarded AIK Bank as the best commercial bank in Serbia and the best bank in providing client services in East Europe at its 2015 and 2016 Banking Awards.

AIK Banka a.d. Beograd

GORENJSKA BANKA d.d. Kranj

European Central Bank Germany - Evropska Centralna Banka

SAVA NEŽIVOTNO OSIGURANJE a.d.o. Beograd

European Central Bank

ECB

Miodrag Kostic

Sava Osiguranje

Central Bank of Slovenia

European Business Council

International Socrates Award Ceremony

International Banker