Gloomy outlook for the automotive sector
As many as 70% of automotive firms in Slovakia reported higher sales last year; 47% of them were in double-digits. Their outlook for this year is gloomier than last year, though, according to a survey by PwC, a consultancy. Only 20% of companies expect double-digit growth this year, half of last year’s number. Some 48% plan major investments in the coming 3-5 years into automation and technologies, while 34% plan cost and productivity control with current technologies. Only 1
Panasonic is investing in Trstená into accessories for electric car batteries
Japanese firm Panasonic Industrial Devices is investing €70m in its plant in Trstená into the production of accessories for electric car batteries, said Economy Minister Peter Žiga (Smer). The company declined to comment. The new production will provide 450 jobs. Construction of a new production hall was launched in April 2018 and the date of production launch has not been announced as yet. Panasonic employs 1,000 in Trstená and 650 in its other plant in Stará Ľubovňa. (HN/1)
Panasonic investuje v Trstenej do výroby príslušenstva do elektrobatérií pre autá
Japonská firma Panasonic Industrial Devices investuje vo svojom závode v Trstenej 70 mil. € do výroby príslušenstva do elektrobatérií pre automobily, informoval minister hospodárstva Peter Žiga (Smer). Firma to odmietla komentovať. Nová výroba postupne zamestná 450 ľudí. Výstavba novej haly sa začala v apríli 2018, termín spustenia výroby zatiaľ nebol oznámený. Panasonic zamestnáva v Trstenej 1.000 ľudí a v Starej Ľubovni ďalších 650. (HN/1)
Vyhliadky automobilového sektora sa zhoršujú
Až 70% dodávateľov automobilového priemyslu na Slovensku vykázalo vlani rast tržieb, 47% z nich dvojciferný. Ich odhad rastu tržieb na tento rok je ale nižší oproti vlaňajšku, ukázal prieskum poradenskej spoločnosti PwC. Dvojciferný rast očakáva 20% firiem, vlani dvojnásobok. Asi 48% plánuje v horizonte 3-5 rokov významné investície do technológií a digitalizácie a 34% plánuje kontrolu nákladov a produktivity so súčasnou technológiou. Zmenu produktového portfólia plánuje 14%.
Arca Capital is consolidating the staffing agency market
Arca Capital (Rastislav Velič) is consolidating the staffing agency market. Its Manuvia group, which was formed by merging the McRoy Group, Wincott People, Xawax, Edymax and Express People agencies, had €150m consolidated sales last year and offers 16,000 workers to the automotive, electronics, and logistics sectors. This year, it plans a €220m turnover and €10m EBITDA. It has spent several tens of millions on the acquisitions so far and is considering further acquisitions in
Government wants to buy a 49% stake in the energy distributor VSE
The government wants to buy a 49% stake in the energy distributor VSE if the current owner, innogy of Germany, plans to sell it, says Economy Minister Peter Žiga (Smer). The state has a preemptive right to buy the stake for the market price. It should be clear by the end of this year whether innogy is going to offload the stake. Its preferred buyer is E.ON, another German company that controls ZSE in Slovakia. If the next government does not include Smer, it will most likely
Vláda chce kúpiť 49% podiel vo VSE
Vláda by chcela kúpiť 49% podiel v energetickom distribútorovi VSE, ak ho bude nemecká firma innogy predávať, hovorí minister hospodárstva Peter Žiga (Smer). Štát má na tento podiel predkupné právo za trhovú cenu. Do konca t.r. by malo byť známe, či sa ho bude chcieť innogy zbaviť. Jej preferovaným kupcom je iná nemecká firma E.ON, ktorá na Slovensku kontroluje distribútora ZSE. Ak bude budúca vláda bez Smeru, bude mať pravdepodobne ku kúpe VSE opačný postoj. (HN/1)
Konsolidácia trhu personálnych agentúr
Skupina Arca Capital (Rastislav Velič) sa snaží skonsolidovať trh personálnych agentúr. Jej skupina Manuvia vznikla spojením agentúr McRoy Group, Wincott People, Xawax, Edymax a Express People, vlani mala konsolidovaný obrat 150 mil. € a ponúka 16.000 pracovníkov najmä pre automobilový priemysel, elektrotechniku a logistiku. Tento rok plánuje obrat 220 mil. € a EBITDA 10 mil. €. Doteraz do akvizícií investovala niekoľko desiatok miliónov eur, zvažuje ďalšie akvizície na slove
Revolt in Smer
Several Smer party cells in Eastern Slovakia have called for the resignation of Robert Fico and Robert Kaliňák, and declared their support for Peter Pellegrini. “We wish not to be linked to the individual failures of top party officials,“ they say. This is the very first open criticism by party cells in Smer’s 20-year history, and it follows Smer’s first loss in party elections since 2004. Fico has made sure his position in the party leadership is very strong, while Pellegrin
Slovakia lowly 53rd in World Competitiveness Yearbook
Slovakia improved two places, to a still lowly 53rd out of 63 countries covered in the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook produced by the Swiss Institute for Management Development. The ranking is topped by Singapore, Hong Kong and USA. Of V4 countries, the Czech Republic (33rd) is the most competitive, followed by Poland (38th) and Hungary (47th). Back in 2007-09 Slovakia ranked 30th. (sme.sk)