News roundup - Thursday, 25 January, until 3pm

Pharma group Krka posts record-high sales for 2023

NOVO MESTO - Pharma group Krka recorded 5% higher sales revenue last year compared to the year before, at EUR 1.81 billion, which is a new record, preliminary unaudited results show. Net profit was down 14% on 2022 due to foreign exchange losses, and amounted to an estimated EUR 311.2 million. "Despite inflation pressures, our operating profit (EBIT) was the highest to date according to estimates, totalling EUR 397.6 million, which is up 4% year-over-year," CEO Jože Colarič told the press. Sales are expected to stand at EUR 1.85 billion and net profit at over EUR 310 million in 2024.

Gen's net profit up nine-fold last year despite revenue dropping 29%

LJUBLJANA - The energy group Gen generated EUR 2.97 billion in revenue last year, a drop of 28.9% over 2022, but net profit increased substantially, reaching EUR 204.5 million, compared to EUR 23.6 million in 2022. Above all, the results were affected by relatively high electricity prices at the start of last year, director general Dejan Paravan told the press. High water levels had a positive impact on Gen's operations, enabling an increase of 70% in hydro power compared to 2022. The group generated 3,433 GWh of electricity last year, which accounted for 28% of Slovenia's consumption.

Tourist figures in Slovenia record high last year

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded some 6.2 million tourist arrivals and 16.1 million tourist nights in 2023, which is up by 5.5% and 3.5% year-on-year, respectively, and a new record, the Statistics Office said. Tourist nights were up 2% compared to 2019, the previous record year. Slovenians generated some 4.6 million nights or 28% of the total figure and foreign guests 11.5 million or 72%. While Slovenian guests generated 17% fewer nights than the year before, foreign visitors generated 15% more. Compared to 2019, tourist nights generated by Slovenians were up 4% and by foreigners by 2%.

Chief defendant in Kavač Clan case to be tried in absentia

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana District Court has decided that the chief defendant in the trial against the Slovenian cell of Kavač Clan, a Montenegrin drug trafficking cartel, who had been declared unfit to stand trial because of a hunger strike, will be tried in absentia. Making the decision on Wednesday, the court said that when Klemen Kadivec recovers he will again be able to attend hearings. Both the defence and prosecution opposed this, media report. Kadivec went on hunger strike on 16 December to protest against the solitary confinement in detention, in which he has been since May 2023 for security reasons.