"We are acquainted with the forthcoming tender for the acquisition of Pivovarna Lasko's stake in Mercator and we are considering our possible involvement. Interest has been shown by the biggest international investors," the Croatian retail and food concern said in a press release on Friday after the Slovenian press reported about Agrokor's intentions.
Agrokor believes that "Mercator and Konzum (Agrokor's chain of shops) together can be a success story not only for Slovenia and Croatia but for the entire region, and that their merger would result in the most successful retail company in the region."
The Croatian concern said that it had always behaved in a friendly and transparent way towards Mercator, as evidenced by last year's bid for the purchase of Mercator shares.
Agrokor vows that Mercator will continue operating under its brand name and as an independent company in the event of its acquisition by the Zagreb-based concern.
The Slovenian Dnevnik newspaper reported on Friday that Agrokor, owned by Ivica Todoric, was secretly preparing a hostile takeover of Mercator.
According to Dnevnik, Agrokor is preparing a response to the brewery's announcement for the collection of offers for the purchase of 23.3 percent of the Mercator stock. The tender expires on 9 March.
According to the press, Agrokor intends to acquire at least a 50-percent interest in Mercator and the financial support would be secured by the Italian UniCredit bank, together with Zagrebacka Banka, a member of UniCredit.