Ljubljana, 04 October (STA) - Spa operator Terme Čatež, a part of the DZS group, has sold its 100% stake in Marina Portorož. The value of the deal, which is to be finalised in early 2019, has not been disclosed, but unofficial sources put it at 21.6 million euro.
The new owners are Adventura Holding, a Slovenian group owned by Darko Klarič, and Glen, which is owned by the managers of wood processing company Lesnina led by Bojan Papič.
The two companies have set up a special firm to buy one of the leading tourist companies on the Slovenian coast, each holding a 50% stake, Adventura said on Thursday.
Adventura, noting it was entering its fourth strategic investment, said it would largely fund the purchase with own funds.
Before the deal is completed, Marina Portorož will offload assets which are not subject to the transaction, according to Adventura.
One of the obstacles to the sale are unresolved relations among Marina Portorož and the Piran municipality regarding the ownership of Sonce Park.
Following lengthy negotiations, the two sides signed an agreement on Wednesday under which the municipality became the owner of all land in the park.
While Adventura and Glen fully support the agreement, they said the concession fee for the marine had risen almost four-fold, to 180,000 euro, as a result.
Adventura plans to make Marina Portorož the leader in marina management within the group, which owns a company managing a marina on the Croatian island of Krk with 350 berths.
Adventura director Aleš Škerlak said they were aware of the need to work with the support of the local community to further develop and take care of the environment.
Marina Portorož has been planning to build a spa resort there.
Together with asset manager York, Adventura Holding has recently taken over electronic goods trader Big Bang, consolidated its position in bus transport by bringing four bus companies under the roof of Nomago, and added travel agent STA Potovanja to its portfolio.
For the DZS group, the sale of the marine is part of a divesting drive
According to a report in the newspaper Finance, Žusterna Hotel and a golf course would also be sold as part of a five-year financial restructuring agreement the group has reached with creditors, whereas newsprint distributor Delo Prodaja would be liquidated.