ORLEN Unipetrol and representatives of prominent figures in Litvínov hockey have successfully completed the process of transferring shares in the club HC VERVA Litvínov. The new majority owner of the club is Hokej Litvínov a.s., owned by Litvínov hockey legends Jiří Šlégr and Robert Kysela, which acquired 70.95% of the club’s shares from ORLEN Unipetrol for the symbolic amount. Other shareholders, the City of Litvínov and the Sports association HC Litvínov, retained their ownership stakes of 22.14% and 6.91%, respectively. ORLEN Unipetrol remains the most significant supporter of Litvínov hockey in its role as the general partner.
The completion of the transfer of ORLEN Unipetrol’s ownership stake in HC VERVA Litvínov, a.s., to Hokej Litvínov a.s. marks the culmination of a several-month process that began in the spring of last year, when ORLEN Unipetrol announced its intention to exit the club’s ownership structure. During the negotiations, both parties agreed to finalize the transfer after the end of the current season.
“We are handing over the club with a balanced financial statement into the hands of individuals who have a strong connection to Litvínov and its hockey tradition, and a clear vision for its future direction. I would like to thank the current Board of Directors for their professional management of the club in recent years, and all employees for their work. My thanks also go to the other shareholders and business partners for their long-term cooperation, and to all the fans for the incredible support of the club,” said Mariusz Wnuk, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of ORLEN Unipetrol.
Even after the change in the ownership structure, ORLEN Unipetrol remains the club’s most significant supporter. Over the next three years, it will act as the general partner of HC VERVA Litvínov, providing total financial support of CZK 120 million. “We are not leaving the club; rather, we remain part of it, albeit in a different role that is more suitable and efficient for both sides. I wish the new majority owner and the other shareholders every success, and I wish the entire club and its fans all the best in the upcoming season,” added Mariusz Wnuk.
On behalf of the club’s new majority owners, Jiří Šlégr stated: “We are extremely pleased that the transfer has been successfully completed. Both parties had sufficient time to discuss everything, and the entire process was conducted in a fair and professional manner. We appreciate the approach taken by ORLEN Unipetrol, which decided to place the club in our hands while continuing to support it with a level of funding that is above standard for the Extraliga. We can now fully focus on the next phase of our work. We are facing organizational changes within the club, discussions with existing and potential partners, and above all, the creation of conditions for proper preparation of all teams for the upcoming season. We look forward to working with the other shareholders and partners and believe that together we will be successful. We invite everyone who wishes to contribute to the further development of this legendary club to join us. I would especially like to thank all the fans, artists, and others who joined the Litvínov nezhasne! rescue campaign.”
Following the transfer of shares, the ownership stakes of the other shareholders remain unchanged. The City of Litvínov continues to hold a 22.14% stake in the club, while the sports association HC Litvínov owns 6.91% of the shares. The successful completion of the transaction has created a foundation for establishing a new form of cooperation among all involved parties, united by a shared interest in the club’s stable and long-term development.
“For the city, it is crucial that the handover of the club has been successfully completed and that its stable future has been secured. We welcome the involvement of individuals with a deep connection to Litvínov hockey in the ownership role and we are ready to continue supporting it across all age categories,” said Kamila Bláhová, Mayor of the City of Litvínov.
Kamil Havelka, Chairman of the Sports association HC Litvínov, is also preparing for the new cooperation: “We perceive the completion of the transfer as an important step toward preserving top-tier hockey in Litvínov. As representatives of youth hockey, we want to actively cooperate with the new owners in connecting professional and youth hockey and in the systematic development of talent.”
The completion of this transaction represents an important milestone not only for the club itself, but also for the entire region, where hockey has long held a strong position. All parties involved declare a shared interest in the long-term prosperity of HC VERVA Litvínov and in strengthening its significance within Czech hockey as well as the local community.
The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on oil processing and the production, distribution, and sale of fuels and petrochemical products, particularly plastics and fertilizers. It is a major player in all these areas on the Czech and Central European markets. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group includes refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo in Pardubice, Spolana in Neratovice, REMAQ in Otrokovice, research center in Brno and the engineering design company ORLEN Projekt. ORLEN Unipetrol also owns the ORLEN network of petrol stations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. ORLEN Unipetrol is one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic in terms of turnover. It employs over 3,300 people. ORLEN Unipetrol is also a socially responsible company, particularly in the areas of sustainable development, education, local communities, and the environment. A testament to the high quality of employee care is the prestigious international Top Employer certification, which the Group received in 2023, 2024 and 2025, along with several national awards. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became part of the ORLEN Group, the largest energy company in Central Europe.
Contact: Pavel Kaidl,
spokesperson, telephone: +420 736 502 520, e-mail: pavel.kaidl@orlenunipetrol.cz