Slovenian asset management and investment firm Cset has acquired a 9.44% voting stake in Slatinska Banka, according to a notification to the Zagreb Stock Exchange. The acquisition, valued at €1.14 million, involved a block transaction conducted on May 22, purchasing 84,759 shares at €13.50 each.
Based in Ljubljana, Cset has been actively expanding its footprint in the region, including recent ventures into Croatia. The company’s founder, Inspire Investments, is a firm specialising in alternative investment funds. Dinko Novoselec, a co-owner of Inspire Investments, joined the company in 2019 after leaving his position as the head of Croatia’s largest mandatory pension fund, AZ Fund.
Inspire Investments saw a significant shift in its ownership structure when Novoselec acquired a stake, leading to the departure of the company’s founder, Matko Bolanča.
This latest transaction has sparked speculation regarding Cset’s future plans for Slatinska Banka. It remains unclear whether Cset intends to pursue a full takeover of the bank or is content with holding a minority stake and participating in its management.
As Cset continues to grow its presence in the region, the financial community will be closely watching its next moves with Slatinska Banka and other potential investments in the Croatian market.