Page 25 - bne IntelliNews monthly magazine May 2024

bne May 2024 Companies & Markets I 25
including a state subsidy worth €6mn,” DennikN wrote, adding that “AirCar has to date cost just one-twelfth of this amount”.
Klein and Anton Zajac, who is a co-owner of the most valued Slovak company Eset and shareholder in DennikN, remain the shareholders of AirCar.
“A contract with a Chinese partner is exceptionally good for us,” Klein was quoted as saying.
DennikN wrote the new partner is Chinese entrepreneur Zhu ShouChen, who collaborates with the chemistry conglomerate BASF and is already active in the Slovak industry after he bought a licence for the production of small Slovak aircraft by Senec-based company Shark.Aero founded by Vladimir Pekar.
Another shareholder linked to Chinese aircraft production in Slovakia is Eduard Sebo, who rose through the notorious Harvard funds during the 1990s privatisation era in Slovakia. Sebo is active in the Slovak wine, milk and health industries and has developed a wine business in China, too.
DennikN wrote that according to Klein, the AirCar production will be based in Nitra in western Slovakia, and part will also take
AirCar is a sports car that transforms into a light aircraft at the click of a button. / www.klein-vision.com
place in the US. The Chinese investor wants to begin producing several tens of pieces and gradually move to hundreds.
AirCar already has a plane certificate and is now working on obtaining a car certificate. The price of the four-seat AirCar should be €0.5mn.
Klein flew the AirCar from Nitra to Bratislava and was featured in the car show Grand Tour, previously Top Gear, and in
a popular video by YouTuber Mr Beast.
Banca Transilvania launches Romania's first neobank
bne IntelliNews
Romania’s leading financial group Banca Transilvania launched Salt Bank, the first neobank on the local market, on April 4.
Salt Bank – salt means leap or jump in Romanian – was created on the foundations of Idea Bank, which was taken over by Banca Transilvania, according to Ziarul Financiar. However, the ties with the financial group that fully owns it were not visible at Salt Bank’s launch.
"By launching Salt, not only are we bringing the first 100% Romanian neobank to the Romanian market, but we are also proposing a unique perspective that combines technology and finance,” said Gabriela Nistor, director of Salt Bank, who previously worked in Banca Transilvania and was appointed to the management of Idea Bank after the takeover.
Targeting individuals with Romanian citizenship, the bank has a strong focus on technology and regulatory compliance at the same time. The bank is considering the option to offer services to authorised natural persons and then possibly to micro-companies as well.
Salt Bank promises more affordable and profitable banking. Under a campaign that lasts until October 1, the current accounts will bring a 3% interest if payments over RON1,000 (€200) are made each month from that account.
The bank also offers a multicurrency card with transactions in 17 currencies worldwide.
As a marketing tool, the bank gave future customers the chance to become “founders” and, over time, shareholders of the bank in the eventuality of a stock exchange listing, by setting up accounts in the pre-launch period.
In less than three weeks, more than 80,000 people joined the waiting list to become Salt founders.
“The bank also offers a multicurrency card with transactions in 17 currencies worldwide”
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