At the recent general meeting of TALUM B, d.d., the management responded extremely worryingly to the reasonable questions and constructive proposals of the VZMD President, Mr. Kristjan Verbič, who therefore immediately addressed the written questions to the President of the Management Board, Marko Drobnič, Management Board members Daniel Lačen and Zlatko Čuš, as well as the President of the Supervisory Board, Jurij Klančnik (the management of TALUM, d.d., as the only investment of the authorized company TALUM B. The Slovene company TALUM is a modern production company and globally one of the most efficient producers of primary aluminum and aluminum alloys. The company is one of the largest exporters in Slovenia and the largest consumer of electrical energy in the country.

As part of the civil society "Share SUPPORT", VZMD represents 4.23% of all shares, i.e. 79 minority shareholders of TALUM B, who want either an appropriate yield or to sell the shares which do not yield dividends. Namely, the authorized company with 524 (or 603) shareholders has not been paying out dividends in quite some time, and the transactions with its share (on the SI ENTER market) are extremely rare, which shows in the price and inability to sell.

Considering the above, Mr. Verbič addressed several relevant questions to the management board at this year's general meeting, as well as offered several constructive proposals, especially regarding the actions the company could take to receive dividends from its main and only investment in the shares of TALUM, d.d., and pay them out to its shareholders. He specifically highlighted the fact that TALUM B - as one of the four shareholders of TALUM (beside the state-owned companies ELES, d.o.o., the systems operator of Slovenia's electric power transmission network, Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SDH), d.d., and Kapitalska družba (KAD), d.d.) - should have taken initiative and presented their own proposals or at least posed questions to the management board, particularly the crucial ones regarding the manner and conditions for the purchase of electrical energy, related contracts and arrangements, etc.

The questions visibly upset the General Manager, Teodor Dečman, who offered excuses that he had only recently been appointed and that he hadn't yet attended a general meeting of TALUM d.d. The Supervisory Board member Matevž Mohorko answered the explicit question that the Supervisory Board has not opened questions either regarding the purchase of electrical energy as a key factor for the possibility of paying out dividends of TALUM B, whose supervisor they are. Additionally, he stated that in the future, he also does not see the point of such questions, which of course poses serious questions about the role and responsibility of the members of the Supervisory Board and the entire management board of TALUM B.

VZMD therefore expect thorough explanations as to why TALUM is facing such tough business conditions, why it has not paid out dividends to its shareholders and what are the reasons for the situation that are preventing the pay out of the dividends. Considering the public announcements about shutting down part of the production due to the high costs of electrical energy, VZMD also requested explanations as to how TALUM is buying electrical energy, at what prices and from whom, whether they are still buying it directly from the producers, whether they are buying it based on long-term or short-term contracts, and to what extent. They also requested an explanation as to how the company responded to the tougher business conditions and whether shutting down the production will cause increased lay-offs.

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As the world tour of the international business-investor programs of the VZMD was coming to an end, the VZMD.tv team prepared a VIDEO: https://youtu.be/3EZ8Kh9PmgY featuring one of the first protests of the striking US actors and screenwriters in New York, addressed by the VZMD President, Mr. Kristjan Verbič, who also passed on the official support of the Actors Guild of Slovenia. Since then, the protests have escalated and intensified, even leading to the postponement of Emmy Awards, the most prestigious award in the US and international television industry.

Dear friends, colleagues, and business partners!

The VZMD associates and I would like to thank you for the numerous concerned calls and letters, your support and willingness to help in the wake of the natural disaster that has so severely struck the great majority of the Slovenian population and a sizable portion of our homeland, its infrastructure, the economy, the agriculture, and the supply of basic commodities. The unprecedented flooding left in its wake a terrible disaster and enormous damage that will be impossible to repair and remedy swiftly.

Of course, any and all help is welcome, which is why our Association – with its strong international presence and activity – decided to make its own contribution and communicate the information of some of the well-established humanitarian and aid organizations to everyone who have already expressed strong willingness to help and to those who might and want to make a contribution in order to aid with the efforts to normalize the situation in our dearest Slovenia as soon as possible.

With kind regards and best wishes,

Kristjan Verbič, VZMD President

Last week, the PanSlovenian Shareholders' and Stakeholders' Association (VZMD) successfully concluded the world tour of its international business-investor programs: Invest to Slovenia – investo.si and International Investors` Network – investo.international, during which VZMD President Kristjan Verbič travelled around the globe for two months to visit Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Singapore, Brussels, Helsinki, Seoul and New York.

As part of his recent visit to New York, preceded by a visit to Los Angeles, VZMD President Kristjan Verbič addressed (VIDEO:  www.facebook.com/vzmd.si/videos/598723519122361/) the American actors and screenwriters that are members of the professional associations SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of TV & Radio Artists) and WGA (Writers Guild of America), where he was met with outstanding approval and applause.

Last week, New York hosted the WORLD LAW CONGRESS, which Mr. Kristjan Verbič attended as the only speaker from Slovenia. At the "ANTI-CORRUPTION: LINKS TO ORGANIZED CRIME" panel (VIDEO: https://fb.watch/lZYztbV8-Y/), he spoke about the problem of systemic corruption and the different understanding of it at the global level, and touched on the related conceptual difference between east and west. He proposed that at their crossroads in Slovenia, the "International Anti-Corruption Court" be established, about which there have already been quite a few discussions in the international community. 

This October, the Vienna Stock Exchange will host the meeting of the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users (BETTER FINANCE), and alongside it an international investor conference organized in cooperation with the Austrian Investor Association (IVA). In that respect, the VZMD would like to invite all interested business entities, projects, and partners of the international business-investor programs Invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and International Investors' Network (investo.international) to participate, including in the panels under preparation.

Yesterday, the grand opening of KOREA IMPORT FAIR - KIF 2023 took place in Seoul. The keynote speakers were Korean Minister for Trade, Mr. Dukgeun Ahn, Vice-President of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Ms. Tanja Fajon, as well as the President of the Korea Importers Association, Mr. Byung-kwan Kim (on the photo with Mr. Verbič). The high-profile event was attended by numerous representatives of companies and institutions as well as almost the entire diplomatic corps.

The economic delegation consisting of the representatives of ten companies and institutions arrived to Seoul, South Korea, this Tuesday. The delegation is accompanying the Vice-President of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Ms. Tanja Fajon, and the Minister of the Economy, Tourism and Sport, Mr. Matjaž Han, on the occasion of their official visit to South Korea. Actively participating in the delegation, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS), Public Agency SPIRIT Slovenia, both Ministries and the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Seoul, is the VZMD President, Mr. Kristjan Verbič, who – after visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Singapore, as well as spending a working week in Brussels and Helsinki - is continuing this year's Asian tour of the business-investor programs of the VZMD: Invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and International Investors' Network (investo.international).

Next month, the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York City will host the World Law Congress organized by the World Jurist Association (VIDEO: https://youtu.be/5_9_oGlDi_4). The event will be actively attended by Mr. Kristjan Verbič, the sole representative from Slovenia, in his role as the VZMD President. To Mr. Verbič, being listed as one of the speakers on the panel 'ANTI-CORRUPTION: LINKS TO ORGANIZED CRIME' is a great honor and serves as a recognition of countless efforts, both domestic and international, and the prominent and active role of the VZMD.