Luka Ploce, the main concessionaire active in the port of Ploce (Croatia) succeeded in securing new private capital in the amount of around EUR 23 million. As a result of this recapitalization, the Croatian Government’s share in the concessionaire fell from almost 62% to 19.98%.

This transaction was part of the long-term transformation of the port sector supported by the Worldbank under which the state receives cost recovery fees for its investment in infrastructure, while the private sector operates the port terminals under concession and carries out investments in equipment.

Luka Ploce CEO Ivan Pavlovic expressed his pleasure with the confidence shown by the strong investors interest in the company's shares. The funds obtained from this capital increase guarantee the fulfilment of our ambitious investment plan through which we will invest a total of more than a billion Kuna into the expansion and modernization of our capacity. This will enable us to become the most modern and the most profitable port in the region," Pavlovic concluded.

In the past years, MTBS has been the advisor for various projects executed in the port of Ploce. In 2010, MTBS was hired by Luka Ploce for the negotiation of the new long-term concession agreement between Luka Ploce and the Port of Ploce Authority, which was considered as one of the key milestones in the process towards the successful recapitalisation of the company. In 2005/2006, MTBS was part of a consortium that advised the Port of Ploce Authority and Luka Ploce (LP) in formulating a long-term strategy to enhance private sector participation in the port of Ploce, under the supervision of the Worldbank and EBRD.