Ljubljana/Kranj, 22 March (STA) - The Austrian BKS Bank continues to play a significant role in the consolidation of the brokerage industry in Slovenia. Its latest acquisition, announced Thursday by the BKS and the brokerage Gorenjska borznoposredniška družba (GBP), makes it the second largest brokerage in the country.
In line with the deal agreed with GBP, BKS will take over the brokerage business including 9,000 clients of the Kranj-based brokerage.
While GBP is to define the future scope its remaining operations at its next shareholder meeting, BKS's move underlines its key role in the consolation of the sector in the country.
The bank, which has subsidiaries in Ljubljana, Maribor, Celje, Slovenj Gradec and Domžale, has also taken over the brokerage business of the liquidated Factor banka and of Perspektiva. The latest deal makes it the no. 2 brokerage in the country after Alta.
BKS, seated in Klagenfurt but also present in Croatia and Slovakia, has been active in Slovenia since 2004. It describes Slovenia as its most important foreign market.