The concern on Sunday reported that its chain of shops Konzum would terminate an agreement on business cooperation with Dukat on 26 March, after the former owner Luka Rajic sold his 91.49 percent share in Dukat to the French Lactalis company.
Agrokor said that the reason for terminating the cooperation agreement lay with the conduct of Dukat's new owner, and accused the French company of behaving unprofessionally and disparagingly towards the market on which it was arriving. Agrokor explained that Lactalis had not yet contacted Dukat's major partners after its acquisition of Croatia's leading dairy company.
The Croatian Competition Agency, however, holds that Agrokor's announced move, only due to the change in Dukat's ownership structure, is radical and inappropriate.
If Agrokor, i.e., Konzum does not change its decision as soon as possible or if it fails to present to the Agency concrete, objective and convincing reasons for the termination of the business cooperation, the Agency will have to launch proceedings against Agrokor.
In such a case, the proceedings will be taken as Agrokor's conduct would be inadmissible in light of the fact that it may represent abuse of its leading position on the market, the Agency reported.
Dukat on Monday expressed regret at the announcement of Agrokor's decision to sever business cooperation.
Dukat stated that it hoped the two sides would succeed in finding a satisfactory solution for both sides and for consumers.
This company reported that it was still not allowed to give any more comments on the acquisition agreement between Luka Rajic and Lactalis.
On 22 March, Dukat officially reported about the agreement on the sale of 91.5 percent of the stock to the French company that is specialised in dairy products.
The agreement binds Lactalis to continue with the development of Dukat and with its major activities in dairy production as well as to retain all the present workers on the payroll.
Later on Monday, Agrokor reported that it was confident that it would prove that it had had all the reasons to cancel the business cooperation with Dukat due to the unfair and unprofessional conduct of its new owners.
This is not our whim but our legitimate response to the unfair conduct of the other side, Agrokor stated.