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Erste Group Acquires Majority in Erste Plavi by Purchasing Triglav’s Stake

Ingo Bleier, glavni direktor za korporativne klijente i tržišta Erste Groupa
Ingo Bleier, glavni direktor za korporativne klijente i tržišta Erste Groupa / Image by: foto

Erste Group has agreed with Zavarovalnica Triglav to purchase Triglav’s 5.4% stake in Erste Plavi, which manages mandatory and voluntary pension funds, Erste Group announced. The acquisition still requires approval from the regulatory authority, after which Erste Group will become the majority shareholder of this Croatian pension fund management company and will fully consolidate it with a total stake of 50.6%.

– Given the key role that pension funds play in ensuring the financial well-being of citizens, we welcome Erste Group’s decision to expand its influence in this segment in Croatia. This strategic investment reflects our shared vision and commitment to ensuring long-term stability and growth for our clients. We are pleased with Erste Plavi’s achievements over the past twenty years, including returns that have significantly increased the pension savings of its members. I am confident that Erste Plavi will remain focused on innovation and development and will continue to provide exceptional financial products and services, commented Christoph Schoefboeck, CEO of Erste Bank Croatia.

Erste Plavi will be integrated into the digital platform George

Ingo Bleier, Chief Executive Officer for Corporate Clients and Markets at Erste Group, announced that pension funds will be integrated into the broader offering that Erste provides on the digital platform George.

– As demographic changes and economic transitions reshape future retirement trends across Central and Eastern Europe, the second and third pension pillars are becoming increasingly important for ensuring financial independence in retirement. Therefore, we are committed to exploring new opportunities in the pension fund business in the region and providing reliable solutions for our clients. This includes integrating pension funds into our financial health offering and showcasing them on our digital platform George, as well as strengthening our institutional and corporate offerings, stated Bleier.

The company Erste Plavi was established in 2001, since when it has gathered over 550,000 members and 11 pension fund products in mandatory and voluntary pension savings. As they proudly stated in the announcement, the pension funds of Erste Plavi are among the top three in the market based on results in their investment categories.

Erste Group’s majority stake in Erste Plavi includes both direct and indirect stakes in the shares of the Croatian subsidiary of Erste Bank, as well as the group-related Steiermärkische Bank und Sparkassen AG. The increase in stake reflects Erste Group’s strategic goals in strengthening pension offerings across the region through the financial health access program.

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