Its chairman Jože Stegne has unofficially announced that a buyer has been found and that the bank would get between EUR 3m and EUR 4m.

Delavska hranilnica, the largest of three union-controlled savings banks in Slovenia, has held the full stake in the operator of Maribor airport since last June, while it bought a 57%stake in November 2014.

"We will make profit on Aerodrom. A contract has been signed to sell Aerodrom," Stegne told Planet TV in an interview this week, while failing to provide any details.

The daily Večer also reported today that Delavska hranilnica had signed a contract for the sale of Aerodrom Maribor with an undisclosed buyer.

Stegne had reportedly agreed with the buyer not to reveal its identity yet. He said that it was a strategic investor which would develop the airport.

Aerodrom Maribor director Ladimir Brolih meanwhile told the STA today that he knew nothing about the sale and that he could not comment on it.

According to Delavska hranilnica chief supervisor Ivan Sotošek, the name of the buyer will be known by the end of the week, when the transaction is expected to be completed.

The business daily Finance believes that the bank is selling the airport operator to collect money before a shareholders's meeting on 29 June, which is expected to vote on a capital injection.

In the banks's annual report for 2015, the investment in Aerodrom Maribor is valued at EUR 2.7m.