Speaking for the paper's Saturday supplement, Bobinac said he was happy that Gorenje had gotten a respected strategic owner, which saw in Gorenje its platform for Europe.
The Velenje-based company is quick to react to the challenges on the global market, which encouraged the acquirer to offer a price double of the market price, he said, adding that Hisense would not have come to Slovenia if it did not see growth potential in Gorenje.
According to Bobinac, what is important is that Gorenje has great plans about growth as part of Hisense. "We have already announced the construction of a new television plant. We will strongly increase the production of dishwashers and cooking devices."
Velenje thus remains an important production location, while the company will also expand the production of refrigerators and freezers in Serbia's Valjevo, as the Hisense group is "looking to produce some large refrigerators in Europe instead of in China."
Bobinac said that he had personally proposed that the management board be expanded by six representatives of the new owner, "because the Chinese colleagues can contribute their specific know-how and take responsibility at the highest management level".
He announced that the legal status of the company would probably be changed. "The future management of the company will be simplified and efficient in any case, which will be good for growth and employment."
Bobinac believes that Gorenje has a nice opportunity to optimise its production in Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Serbia. "Under the strategic owner, all three locations could be developed," he said, adding that there were no fears that Gorenje could withdraw from Slovenia in the short run.
The delisting of Gorenje from the Ljubljana and Warsaw stock exchanges will not affect the company's capital soundness, as it will be provided by the owner within the Hisense group, while Gorenje will have to continue to create growth, profit and cash flow independently, he added.
