According to the paper, it is unclear whether Panasonic, which holds almost 11% in Gorenje, would keep its stake after it decided against increasing it following a due diligence last year.

In addition, the US International Financial Corporation, part of the World Bank group, announced years ago that it would withdraw from Gorenje at some point.

This potentially puts around 23% of Gorenje up for grabs, Delo quotes Rajko Stankovič, the head of the MDS association of small shareholders. He believes that the state could take the opportunity to increase its stake in the household appliance maker.

According to Delo's information, KAD, which owns around 16% in Gorenje, already asked the ministry and the government whether it should buy a stake in the company that is classified in the government's state assets management strategy as an important investment.

If KAD gets the green light, it would increase its stake to at least 25% plus one share. The Finance Ministry has not revealed its answer, Delo added.

In a similar move, the state raised its stake in tourism holding Sava through a transfer of claims from the Bank Asset Management Company (BAMC) to Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH).