Delo’s entrepreneurial stars on a transition that will lead us to climate neutrality

 

 

Before the evening announcement, a seminar hub was held, and Luka Flere, a member of the Management Board of Generali Investments, addressed the audience about the important role that the financial sector plays in sustainability.

 

 

He called on all individuals, consumers, investors, entrepreneurs, managers, as well as decision-makers, “to start cooperating, to act together, to move from words about sustainable growth to action”. In his address, he emphasized that we must integrate sustainable principles into the investment process and that the goal of sustainable investment (the so-called ESG) is to create a competitive company while influencing society (S), the environment (E), and corporate criteria through management (G). Companies will have to integrate ESG standards into their operations and also disclose indicators. Companies have still a room for improvement in this area—in the calculation of indicators and transparent publication. However, all parts of the state, companies, financial institutions, and individuals must be involved—because the intersection of all interest groups means the quality of life on this planet. He added that the state must regulate this area systemically with appropriate incentives and laws, and the company will then have to implement the rules and change business processes.

In the future, investors can expect to see labels on financial products, as well as on in-store products, from which it will be possible to deduce whether and which sustainability aspect a financial company pursues with them.

He concluded that the asset management company has tasks to integrate into the investment process a criterion by which the company that would bear the greatest risks associated with sustainability can be excluded from the portfolio. Such examples could be, for example, an oil company that has an oil spill, corruption in a pharmaceutical company, money laundering.

 

 

Generali Growth Equity Fund closes the acquisition of a stake in Diverto d.o.o., Zagreb

 

 

Headquartered in Zagreb, Diverto was established in 2007 as a Comprehensive Information Security Provider. Since starting out as a pioneer in this field, it has grown to become one of the leaders within the region.

The company protects clients against security threats that can cause data breaches, financial loss and damaged credibility and is solely focused on information security. It offers a range of information security services, from consultancy to managed services. Its service portfolio consists of governance, risk & compliance, assessments and tests, education and training, incident response, defence services and Security Operations Centre (SOC). The company is the holder of one of the widest range of industry relevant certificates in the region.

The Generali Growth Equity Fund’s equity investment in Diverto will help the company continue its development activities in Cyber Security Solutions and expansion into the wider region.

Generali Growth Equity Fund is a special investment fund managed by Generali Investments, Slovenia’s oldest management company with subsidiaries in Croatia and North Macedonia. Generali Growth Equity Fund invests in ambitious small and medium-sized companies, offering support for growth financing, capacity expansion, sales network building and new product development as well as the acquisition of competitors and management of succession matters.

 

The Generali Growth Equity Fund investment in Diverto d.o.o., is co-financed by the European Investment Fund and the SID Bank. Generali Growth Equity Fund was founded in 2019 as part of the Slovene Equity Growth Investment Programme (SEGIP), which was launched upon the initiative of the SID Bank in cooperation with the European Investment Fund (EIF). It offers equity and quasi-equity financing to Slovenian SMEs and mid-cap companies. The SID Bank committed to contributing EUR 50 million of its own funds to this programme (without state guarantee), and the EIF has provided an additional EUR 50 million under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (with EFSI guarantee). By mobilising additional funding from other private investors through the SEGIP programme, overall investments for Slovenian companies could exceed EUR 150 million, which is 3-times the contribution of the SID Bank.

 

Generali First Selection and Generali Bond receive the highest Morningstar overall rating of 5 stars

 

Generali Investments has consistently been known for its professionalism and excellence in managing investor assets. Three of our funds received a maximum of 5 or 4 stars, ranking among the top 10% of funds in each category (in the case of 5 Morningstar stars) or the next 22.5% of funds (in the case of 4 Morningstar stars). On 31 December 2020, Morningstar assigned 5 and/or 4 stars to the following funds:

Generali First Selection, 5 stars in the Flexible Allocation – Global category
Generali Bond, 5 stars in the EUR Diversified Bond category
Generali Vitality, 4 stars in the Global Large-Cap Blend Equity category

 

 

Morningstar, an independent and highly acclaimed rating agency based in the US, has been rating funds across the world since 1985. Funds are rated according to their risk-adjusted returns, also taking account of their investment policies and expenses. Funds are ranked within their respective categories, with ratings recalculated each month. The highest rating is 5 stars. The top 10% of funds in each category receive five stars, the next 22.5% four stars, the middle 35% three stars, the next 22.5% two stars, and the bottom 10% receive one star Funds are rated for ten-, five-, and three-year periods, and these ratings are combined to produce an overall rating. How the overall rating is calculated: for funds with at least three years and less than five years performance history, their three-year star ratings will be the same as their overall star ratings. For funds with at least five-year and less than ten-year records, their five-year histories will count for 60% of their overall rating and their three-year rating will count for 40% of the overall rating. For funds with at least 10 years of performance, the overall rating will be weighted as 20% for the three-year rating, 30% for the five-year rating, and 50% for the 10-year rating.

 

Copyright © 2020 Morningstar Deutschland GmbH. All rights reserved. Information in this publication: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete, or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

 

Generali Growth Equity Fund has acquired a share in the company Paradajz, d.o.o., Turnišče

 

 

The company Paradajz d.o.o. is a leader of growing high-quality tomatoes as its core product in indoor facilities, using cutting-edge and environmentally friendly technology – with high value-added, highly qualified human resources, top-notch consultants, and other possibilities offered by Pomurje, one of the most promising regions for specialised agricultural production in Slovenia.

The company is best known for its premium tomato brand, LUŠT. It boasts extensive know-how on integrated production of vegetables in indoor facilities heated by geothermal energy in Slovenia. LUŠT tomatoes are grown in the company’s greenhouses in the Prekmurje village of Renkovci, spreading over 90,000 m2 (9 ha) of glass-covered areas. Next to the greenhouses are a geothermal well and lagoons collecting rainwater used for plant watering. Integrated production of tomatoes is especially important in North-Eastern Slovenia, which has an excellent geographic position in strategic terms. LUŠT tomatoes are always freshly delivered to grocery shelves, which is reflected in their nutrient content, appearance and taste.
The equity investment of Generali Growth Equity Fund in Paradajz, d.o.o. will help the company further develop and expand its integrated tomato production in Slovenia, and develop distribution channels to deliver fresh produce from the greenhouses to final consumers within the shortest time possible. This supports the company’s vision of becoming the leading supplier and producer of vegetables for the largest food retailers in the Slovenian market and an important supplier for food retailers in countries bordering Slovenia.

Generali Growth Equity Fund is a special investment fund managed by Generali Investments, Slovenia’s oldest management company with subsidiaries in Croatia and North Macedonia. Generali Growth Equity Fund invests in ambitious small and medium-sized companies, offering support for growth financing, capacity expansion, sales network building and new product development as well as the acquisition of competitors and management of succession matters.

 

The Generali Growth Equity Fund investment in Paradajz, podjetje za proizvodnjo, trgovino, storitve in distribucijo, d.o.o., is co-financed by the European Investment Fund and the SID Bank. Generali Growth Equity Fund was founded in 2019 as part of the Slovene Equity Growth Investment Programme (SEGIP), which was launched upon the initiative of the SID Bank in cooperation with the European Investment Fund (EIF). It offers equity and quasi-equity financing to Slovenian SMEs and mid-cap companies. The SID Bank committed to contributing EUR 50 million of its own funds to this programme (without state guarantee), and the EIF has provided an additional EUR 50 million under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (with EFSI guarantee). By mobilising additional funding from other private investors through the SEGIP programme, overall investments for Slovenian companies could exceed EUR 150 million, which is 3-times the contribution of the SID Bank.

 

 

Generali Growth Equity Fund has raised EUR 65 million commitments within less than a year

Generali Growth Equity Fund has attracted commitments from a diverse range of investors feeling confident about the Fund’s mission, including major Slovenian and international institutional investors—especially pension and insurance companies—and individuals ranking among qualified professional investors. Generali Growth Equity Fund, a private equity fund, invests in small and medium-sized companies with strong growth potential, offering them support for growth financing, capacity expansion, sales network building and new product development as well as the acquisition of competitors and management of succession matters. Its investment portfolio currently consists of three investee companies, all of which demonstrate a sustainability focus, a high level of technological development, keeping up with the latest trends and an extraordinary growth potential.

 

Luka Podlogar, the President of the Management Board of Generali Investments, says: “We are very pleased to see investors recognising the growth potential and the relevance of the private equity fund industry for SMEs. This is especially true in these insecure times where a stable ownership structure can sustain and support companies in their smooth business development. Despite having great ideas and ambitious teams, many businesses are unable to use their full potential during such challenging times as witnessed today, due to a lack of stable financing. The current state aid schemes and banking solutions are either inappropriate or offer insufficient support for such companies. We are happy to have the backing of our investors and to be able to successfully develop the private equity fund industry in Slovenia, contributing to appropriate financing and an environment favourable for the development and growth of the generator of the Slovenian economy – i.e. small and medium enterprises.”

 

Simon Mastnak, Director of Private Equity, comments: “We are grateful for the strong support provided by our investors, especially in the present unique market environment. Generali Growth Equity Fund was established to help Slovenian business stars on their way to growing into global winners, and the current market situation clearly shows what an invaluable role we are playing. As a responsible co-investor, we wish to work with—which we are already doing—ambitious entrepreneurs desiring to bring their success stories to a higher level. The Fund has successfully completed its first half-year having three high-potential companies in the portfolio, and we are excited about the next chapter.”

 

Generali Growth Equity Fund is a special investment fund managed by Generali Investments, Slovenia’s oldest management company with subsidiaries in Croatia and North Macedonia. At the end of the first half-year of 2020, Generali Investments managed over EUR 1.1 billion of assets (in UCITS funds, alternative investments funds and discretionary mandates) raised from 51,000 private and institutional investors.

 

Generali Growth Equity Fund was founded in 2019 as part of the Slovene Equity Growth Investment Programme (SEGIP), which was launched upon the initiative of the SID Bank in cooperation with the European Investment Fund (EIF). It offers equity and quasi-equity financing to Slovenian SMEs and mid-cap companies. The SID Bank committed to contributing EUR 50 million of its own funds to this programme (without state guarantee), and the EIF has provided an additional EUR 50 million under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (with EFSI guarantee). By mobilising additional funding from other private investors through the SEGIP programme, overall investments for Slovenian companies could exceed EUR 150 million, which is 3-times the contribution of the SID Bank.

Generali Investments consolidates its position in North Macedonia

 

With the completion of the merger with DRUŠTVO ZA UPRAVUVANJE CO INVESTICIONI FONDOVI ILIRIKA FUND MENAĐMENT AD SKOPJE, abbreviated name ILIRIKA FM AD SKOPJE, Generali Investments AD Skopje will increase its market share in asset management in North Macedonia to 26%. The transaction is subject to relevant regulatory and competition approval.

Established in 2008, Generali Investments AD Skopje manages four investment funds with EUR 31.3 million of assets of approximately 2000 investors under management. Upon the merge with ILIRIKA FM AD SKOPJE, the company will take over three Ilirika investment funds and discretionary mandates, with 1900 investors, increasing its total assets under management to EUR 46 million of 3900 investors.

Luka Podlogar, President of the Management Board of Generali Investments AD Skopje, says: “Generali Investments remains firmly anchored in North Macedonia’s market, and with this acquisition strengthens its position as a top asset manager in the region. Under the umbrella of Generali Investments, the doors are opening for further local and international growth and expansion of the product and service offering for investors.”

Laze Kamčev, CEO, of Generali Investments AD Skopje, commented: “We combine our excellent asset management performance and best knowledge of the local market with global strength. For all our clients, our goal is to offer innovative, well-managed products backed by the knowledge, resources and power of the large Generali Group.”

THE GENERALI GROUP
Generali is one of the largest global insurance and asset management providers. Established in 1831, it is present in 50 countries in the world, with a total premium income of more than EUR 69.7 billion in 2019. With nearly 72,000 employees serving 61 million customers, the Group has a leading position in Europe and a growing presence in Asia and Latin America. Generali’s ambition is to be the “Life-time Partner” to its customers, offering innovative and personalized solutions thanks to an unmatched distribution network. In Austria, Central and Eastern Europe and Russia the Group operates through its Austria, CEE & Russia Regional Office (Prague) in 13 countries being one of the top three insurers in the Region.
Generali Investments has EUR 630 billion in assets under management globally, and EUR 23 billion in assets under management in the CEE countries, which makes it one of the largest asset management companies in the CEE region.

 

 

Generali Investments with the Best Asset Manager of the Decade

 

Each year, the Moje finance magazine proclaims the best mutual and pension funds and the best asset manager. At this year’s annual event held as a video conference, the Best Asset Manager of the Decade was selected for the first time – a title that went to Primož Cencelj, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager at Generali Investments.

Primož Cencelj, who manages two bond funds, Generali Bond and Generali Corporate Bonds, and a money market fund, Generali MM, won the title of the Best Fund Manager in 2014, at the age of only 29. He later won this prestigious title two more times, in 2016 and 2018. This year, he missed it by a hair’s breadth, finishing second. His bond fund won five stars and three silhouettes for the best managed funds in Slovenia for all the three relevant periods (3, 5 and 10 years). With its long-standing experience in the Slovenian and regional capital markets, and excellent international connections, the asset management team of Generali Investments won the Best Fund Manager title a record six times in the decade, in 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

At this year’s event, stars were also assigned to funds for 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year periods, representing the highest recognition in the mutual fund industry and expressing unparalleled excellence in fund management.

This year’s top awards – five stars – went to the following funds:
– For 3-year, 5-year and 10-year periods in the European Corporate and Aggregate Bond category: Generali Bond
– For a 10-year period in the Equity Information Technology category: Generali Technology

In the category of the Best Asset Manager of the five-year period 2015–2019, Primož Cencelj won second place, and also became the Best Asset Manager of the Decade – from 2010 to 2019. In the same category, David Zorman of Generali Investments came fourth.

Upon receiving the Moje Finance award for the Best Asset Manager of the Decade from Andrej Šircelj, the Minister of Finance, Primož Cencelj, CFA, said: “I am grateful to my wife for all her support, and to my current and former colleagues and bosses. I wish the next decade to be a period of inflows into mutual funds. And I wish Slovenians to recognise the investment opportunities presented by this industry.”

Luka Podlogar, the President of the Management Board of Generali Investments, stressed: “I am proud of our team, and – frankly speaking – not surprised that we won the Best Asset Manager of the Decade award. Winning numerous national and international awards in the past, we have repeatedly proven that we work with a top team characterised by a winning mindset.”

 

Growth Equity Fund in the process of acquiring a share in the company LIT Tranzit d.o.o., Trzin

LIT Tranzit d.o.o. is a global high-tech company with its headquarters in Trzin, Slovenia, and a development centre in Maribor. This innovative business develops and integrates intelligent public transport and mobility solutions. Its products are used in more than 25,000 buses around the globe, directly benefitting more than 5 billion passengers annually on all continents. Its solutions are implemented in cities with the most advanced public transport systems in the world, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Nagoya and Tel Aviv. LIT Tranzit solutions come in four clusters:

  • a cloud platform for public transport operations management;
  • fare and revenue management solutions for cities and public transport operators;
  • computation and distribution of passenger information and
  • general mobility solutions.

The company’s biggest competitive advantage is a vertically integrated system with accurate and reliable algorithms predicting arrivals in public transport.

 

The Generali Growth Equity Fund’s equity investment in Lit Transit will help the company continue its research and development activities in today’s mobility challenges and environment protection through high-tech software solutions that are an essential contribution to sustainable development.

Generali Growth Equity Fund is a special investment fund managed by Generali Investments, Slovenia’s oldest management company with subsidiaries in Croatia and North Macedonia. Generali Growth Equity Fund invests in ambitious small and medium-sized companies, offering support for growth financing, capacity expansion, sales network building and new product development as well as the acquisition of competitors and management of succession matters.


The Generali Growth Equity Fund investment in LIT TRANZIT, programske rešitve, d.o.o., is co-financed by the European Investment Fund and the SID Bank. Generali Growth Equity Fund was founded in 2019 as part of the Slovene Equity Growth Investment Programme (SEGIP), which was launched upon the initiative of the SID Bank in cooperation with the European Investment Fund (EIF). It offers equity and quasi-equity financing to Slovenian SMEs and mid-cap companies. The SID Bank committed to contributing EUR 50 million of its own funds to this programme (without state guarantee), and the EIF has provided an additional EUR 50 million under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (with EFSI guarantee). By mobilising additional funding from other private investors through the SEGIP programme, overall investments for Slovenian companies could exceed EUR 150 million, which is 3-times the contribution of the SID Bank.

 

 

Generali Growth Equity Fund in the process of acquiring a share in the company Panorganix d.o.o., Ljutomer

 

 

Panorganix d.o.o., a modern agricultural production business, is a pioneer of selling “living” products, that is products with their roots still in the ground and packaged in special biodegradable packaging, representing “a step forward in organic production”. The company’s production processes follow contemporary nutrition trends. The existing range is being constantly expanded with new products, using the latest agricultural production technology that includes the protection of a clean environment.

The Generali Growth Equity Fund’s equity investment in Panorganix will help the company further develop its innovative, high-tech methods of growing the highest quality fruit and vegetables, delivering them to customers full of freshness, flavour and rich in nutritional value. It will also help the business spread its sustainable agriculture, using cutting-edge technology and innovative, nature and environment friendly methods, to the broader region.

Generali Growth Equity Fund is a special investment fund managed by Generali Investments, Slovenia’s oldest management company managing EUR 1,025 million of assets together with its subsidiaries in Croatia and North Macedonia. Generali Growth Equity Fund invests in ambitious small and medium-sized companies, offering support for growth financing, capacity expansion, sales network building and new product development as well as the acquisition of competitors and management of succession matters.

The Generali Growth Equity Fund investment in Panorganix is co-financed by the European Investment Fund and the SID Bank. Generali Growth Equity Fund was founded in 2019 as part of the Slovene Equity Growth Investment Programme (SEGIP), which was launched upon the initiative of the SID Bank in cooperation with the European Investment Fund (EIF). It offers equity and quasi-equity financing to Slovenian SMEs and mid-cap companies. The SID Bank committed to contributing EUR 50 million of its own funds to this programme (without state guarantee), and the EIF has provided an additional EUR 50 million under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (with EFSI guarantee). By mobilising additional funding from other private investors through the SEGIP programme, overall investments for Slovenian companies could exceed EUR 150 million, which is 3-times the contribution of the SID Bank.

 

Generali First Selection and Generali Bond with a maximum Overall Rating 5 Morningstar stars

 

 

Generali Investments is maintaining professionalism and excellence in managing the assets of its investors. Three of our funds received a maximum of 5 or 4 stars, which means they rank among the top 10% of funds in each category (in the case of 5 Morningstar stars) or the next 22.5% of funds (in the case of 4 Morningstar stars). On 31 December 2019, the holders of 5 or 4 Morningstar stars are:

 

Generali First Selection, 5 stars in the Flexible Allocation – Global category
Generali Bond, 5 stars in the EUR Diversified Bond category
Generali Vitality, 4 stars in the Global Large-Cap Blend Equity category

 

Morningstar, an independent and highly acclaimed rating agency based in the US, has been rating funds across the world since 1985. Morningstar rates funds from one to five stars based on how well they have performed (after adjusting for risk) in comparison to similar funds. Within each Morningstar Category, the top 10% of funds receive five stars, the next 22.5% four stars, the middle 35% three stars, the next 22.5% two stars, and the bottom 10% receive one star. Funds are rated for up to three time periods –three-, five-, and 10 years –and these ratings are combined to produce an overall rating. Funds with less than three years of history are not rated. Ratings are objective, based entirely on a mathematical evaluation of past performance. They are a useful tool for identifying funds worthy of further research, but should not be considered buy or sell recommendations.

 

 

© 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete, or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.