The bus transport company “Strela” has acquired a controlling stake in the transportation firm “Lasta”, increasing its ownership from 16.77% to 83%. The shares were sold by several former shareholders, including the Shareholders’ Fund, the Republic of Serbia, the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, the National Employment Service, the Health Insurance Fund, and the Municipality of Inđija, according to Forbes.
After these transactions, only the Municipality of Stara Pazova retains a minor stake of 0.38%, with the rest owned by individual citizens. “Strela” announced plans to continue buying shares on the Belgrade Stock Exchange at the offer price of 665 dinars per share.
Miroslav Nikolić is the sole owner of both the Obrenovac-based and the Uba-based “Strela.” The Obrenovac “Strela” owns 77% of “Lasta,” and with the recent purchase, now controls 83%. This consolidation effectively channels much of the suburban transport revenue in Belgrade into one company.
Previously, “Lasta” and “Strela” operated as a consortium. However, in December 2024, the Belgrade Assembly proposed terminating the contract with the consortium after an inspection revealed that “Lasta” had approximately twenty fewer buses than contractually required.
In recent years, “Lasta” operated at a loss on city routes and received subsidies from the city budget.
