Negotiations are reportedly underway regarding a potential acquisition of Addiko Bank AG, an Austrian financial institution with operations across Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro. Sources cited by Bloomberg Adria indicate that key shareholders and prospective buyers are revisiting the possibility of acquiring the bank after prior attempts did not yield successful outcomes.
Central to the discussions is Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB), which may be looking to revive its acquisition strategy, potentially in partnership with regional investors who hold significant stakes in Addiko Bank. In earlier efforts to take over the bank, NLB proposed offers that included premiums above the market price of Addiko’s shares; however, these proposals did not achieve the necessary acceptance from shareholders for a compulsory acquisition.
The current proposal suggests that NLB aims to acquire Addiko Bank’s core operations outside Slovenia, engaging with major stakeholders such as Serbian investor Davor Macura, whose Alta Group possesses a substantial voting interest in the bank. Should the acquisition proceed successfully, NLB could manage Addiko’s operations in Serbia and Montenegro while preserving other business segments, allowing it to re-enter markets it has been absent from for several decades.
While representatives from the involved parties have refrained from commenting on these market speculations, the renewed interest surrounding Addiko Bank’s future has already impacted investor behavior. The bank’s share price has experienced increased trading activity as market participants evaluate the potential ramifications of a new takeover attempt.
