The Slovenian Restitution Fund (SOD) issued a tender for financial advisory services, and received four responses. Lazard was selected as the most promising candidate. It is one of the leading international consulting company based in the U.S. It was founded in 1848 in New Orleans. The company also offered financial advice in the restructuring and acquisition of the Hungarian bank MKB UnionBank, recapitalization of the Austrian bank BAWAG PSK and others.