photo: EP Logistic International/ https://www.facebook.com/EPLogisticsInternational/photos/a.859703644388074/1234687480223020//Ep Cargo train
In Slovenia, a strategic partnership between the Prague-based European energy, infrastructure and logistics group EP Holding and the Slovenian Railways division SŽ-Tovorni promet began earlier this month.
The conclusion of the partnership has already been approved by the Supervisory Board of the Slovenian State Railways Slovenian Railways (SŽ). The company EP holding, which belongs to the Czech entrepreneur Daniel Křetínský, thus acquired a 49 % share in the national Slovenian carrier. Most of the company thus remains state-owned, as required by Slovenian legislation.
SŽ-Tovorni Promet needed a strategic partner to increase its competitiveness on the market. Thanks to the new partnership, the Slovenian company expects an acceleration of investments in the modernization of the vehicle fleet and the possibility of expanding its offer to the environment of other foreign markets.
Other companies that are part of the Daniel Křetínský holding include, for example, EP Cargo, which has a railway operator's license in the Czech Republic and transports material for power plants and industrial sites in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. Another part of the holding is the LokoTrain locomotive and train driver rental.
The contract should be finally signed in the coming months. The approval of the overlooking state structure of Slovenski Državni Holding is awaited. An estimate of the price of the entire transaction, which should be between 60-100 million euros, also appeared in the media.
The search for a strategic partner for SŽ-Tovorni promet was a long-term operation that began sometime in 2017. The goal of the Slovenian company with the EP holding is to create a leading logistics company in Southeast Europe. A modernized company should be competitive not only in Slovenia, but also in Croatia, Austria or Italy. It also wants to focus on Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and the Balkan countries in general. The financial goal is to double current profits by five years.