The paper cites "reliable information" in reporting that one of the prospective bidders is Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG, the logistic company operating three container terminals in Germany's biggest port and providing a number of hinterland port services.

According to the paper, another potential bidder for recapitalisation of SŽ-Tovorni promet is Czech logistic giant EP Holding, the biggest power supplier for the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The paper also names Polish railway operator (PKP) and Russian RZD among the bidders.

Meanwhile, Austria's ÖBB, which had been tipped as one of the likeliest strategic partners and has already signed a letter of intent with Slovenske železnice (SŽ), has set conditions unacceptable to the Slovenian rail operator.

The paper does not have reliable information about how much the selected strategic partner would invest in SŽ-Tovorni promet.

Slovenske železnice boss Dušan Mes would not comment on the information, except for saying that "four powerful European logistics companies are interested in acquiring a 49% stake in Tovorni promet".

The strategic partner is to enable SŽ-Tovorni promet expansion mainly to Italy, Austria, Croatia and in the Balkans, the company's strategic goal by 2020.

Dnevnik data shows that SŽ generated a group net profit of EUR 26m on EUR 463m in group sales revenue in 2016, with SŽ-Tovorni promet contributing EUR 0.5m and EUR 185m, respectively.