Biz-Buy-Sell Conference Held in Zagreb: Acquiring an Established Small Business Can Be a Good Entrepreneurial Opportunity

Organized by CEPOR, the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE), and the Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP), a conference dedicated to the buying and selling of small businesses in Croatia was held, gathering key stakeholders in the small and medium-sized enterprises sector.

Mirela Alpeza, director of CEPOR and full professor at the Faculty of Economics in Osijek, emphasized the importance of building an ecosystem for business transfer to ensure the sustainability of business activities and jobs.

– Part of the entrepreneurs who started businesses in the 1990s and are retiring have no interested family successors, and their established businesses can represent a good opportunity for those just entering entrepreneurship or existing entrepreneurs who want to grow. Acquiring an established business can provide resources that would otherwise be difficult to access or would require a longer time period. In some sectors, the market is ‘fragmented’ and growth can only be achieved by connecting and consolidating businesses. Market consolidation in many sectors will enable a more competitive Croatian economy in the international market – said Alpeza.

Vanja Cico, senior investment manager from Finance in Motion, the manager of EFSE, also highlighted the importance of the support that EFSE provides.

– In line with the Fund’s mission, EFSE has been actively supporting CEPOR for ten years, which has significantly contributed to raising awareness and building an ecosystem for business transfer in Croatia. Through expert advisory assistance and connecting sellers and buyers, we encourage a timely and informed business transfer process, maintaining and strengthening micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises that are a vital generator of economic growth – added Cico.

Irena Weber, the CEO of the Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP), reflected on the importance of growth through acquisitions.

– The topic of consolidation and growth through acquisitions is becoming increasingly relevant in Croatia, especially among HUP members. In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in activities related to mergers and acquisitions (M&A), suggesting that the market is becoming more mature and dynamic. HUP, along with CEPOR, can be a key player in accelerating this process in the future, helping entrepreneurs better adapt to the challenges of the modern market and seize growth opportunities – said Weber.

The conference concluded with the presentation of concrete opportunities for acquiring small businesses in the market, which generated great interest among participants. Partners in organizing the conference included Erste Bank, HAMAG BICRO, Forvis Mazars, and Algebra University.