Austrian investment firm Erste Asset Management has completed a cross-border merger with its Czech subsidiary REICO investiční společnost, effective 1 October 2026 following registration in the Austrian commercial register. The merger received regulatory approval from supervisory authorities in both Austria and the Czech Republic. REICO ceases to exist as a separate legal entity, with all assets, liabilities, rights and obligations transferring to Erste Asset Management.
The merger has no impact on fund investors. Existing investments, legal status and rights associated with the funds remain unchanged, and investors are not required to take any action. The investment funds themselves are not being merged, wound up or otherwise altered. Only the legal entity responsible for managing and administering them changes.
"The main aim of the merger is to unify the operational model of investment management companies within Erste Group," said Martin Řezáč, director of the Erste Asset Management Czech branch. "This model is the standard in all other countries where Erste Group operates."
"The scope and quality of services for our clients will not change. On the contrary, real estate market expertise across the region will be strengthened, which will bring more effective management of the existing real estate funds, and this will continue to take place in the Czech Republic," said Dušan Sýkora, director of the real estate division at Erste Asset Management.
Fund management and administration will continue through Erste Asset Management's existing Czech branch, with employees formerly working at REICO remaining in their roles. Česká spořitelna remains the depositary for all affected funds, and fund documents including statutes, investor information and annual reports will continue to be available in Czech free of charge. Current unit values will be published on the Czech branch website at www.erste-am.cz and on the Česká spořitelna distributor site.
The merger follows the transfer of REICO's ownership from Česká spořitelna to Erste Asset Management on 20 December 2024, when Erste Asset Management became the sole shareholder. The cross-border merger represents a further step in consolidating asset management operations under Erste Asset Management across the Erste Group.
