Process of privatization of NLB Banka completed

Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SDH) successfully completed the privatisation process of Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB). After the first phase of the privatisation process was successfully completed in November 2018 by the listing of the shares of Nova Ljubljanska Banka on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange and on the London Stock Exchange, the placement to institutional investors has now been successfully completed by way of an accelerated bookbuild of the remaining 10% of the Republic of Slovenia's stake in the NLB's share capital minus 1 share.

SDH, acting on behalf of the Republic of Slovenia, has successfully completed the accelerated bookbuild process of an aggregate of Shares and GDRs representing 1,999,999 NLB shares, at a price of EUR 54.75 per share and EUR 10.95 per GDR. SSH has raised the gross proceeds from the sale in the amount of EUR 109,5 million.

By way of this transaction, international institutional investors of good quality have entered the ownership structure of NLB, giving the bank a good basis for ensuring its competitiveness and its further development in the future, SDH said.

With the said Sale, some of the commitments given by the Republic of Slovenia to the European Commission (EC) upon the approval of the state aid given in 2013 have ceased to apply.

– We will finally be able to start operating using our full potential in Slovenia and Southeast Europe and meet challenges on an equal footing with the competition. NLB will finally be able to restart leasing and factoring operations, to invest in digitization, development of new channels and user experience at the highest level, without limitations. When the prohibition of mergers and acquisitions expires in early 2020, NLB, as a regional expert, will be able to work even more actively on finding an opportunity to strengthen its position as a systemic player in all the markets we operate in – Blaz Brodnjak, the chairman of the Management Board of NLB, said on this occasion.

Nova Ljubljanska banka d.d. Ljubljana

Slovenski državni holding Ljubljana

EUROPEAN COMMISSION Bruxelles

NLB

NLB Banka

Blaž Brodnjak

Slovenian Sovereign Holding

SDH

European Commission

privatization of NLB Banka

NLB Banka shares