Weekly Review of Slovenian Business & Economy from 19 to 25 January

Ljubljana, 27 February - In a week packed with companies reporting 2004 results, the government came out with two surprise moves. News came out that state-owned mobile operator Mobitel is in talks about a potential purchase of its smaller rival Vega, which could save the state billions of tolars from a looming competition lawsuit by Vega owner Western Wireless International. The government said it is in favour of any solution that would save taxpayers the costs of the lawsuit. Meanwhile, the state-owned Restitution Fund (SOD) halted the privatisation of insurer Zavarovalnica Triglav due to two wildly different valuations of assets. A third valuation seems likely, to determine the privatisation value of what is the country's largest insurer.