Agrokor owner and president Ivica Todoric replied to Mercator CEO Ziga Debeljak who earlier in the day suggested holding talks on Agrokor and Mercator focusing on their core activities, with Agrokor retaining its lead position in agriculture and the food industry and Mercator remaining the strongest or second-strongest consumer goods seller in seven Southeast European countries.
The counteroffer from the leading Slovenian store chain came after reports that Agrokor was interested in acquiring 23.4 per cent of Mercator's stock, currently owned by the Pivovarna Lasko brewery.
Bids for the purchase of Pivovarna Lasko's stock in Mercator may be submitted by March 9. Agrokor has said recently it is considering the possibility of buying the stock.
The Slovenian agency for the securities market has launched a procedure to monitor changes in the prices of the Mercator stock following their rise and called on Agrokor to clearly state whether it intended to give its offer for the purchase of Mercator's shares.