July 23 (SeeNews) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is interested in acquiring a stake in Slovenian energy group Petrol [LJE:PETG] from Slovak-Czech J&T financial group, which controls 12.8% of the company, local media reported.
EBRD has been negotiating the purchase of J&T's stake in Petrol for some time, as the Slovak-Czech group is determined to withdraw from the Slovenian company, news portal Siol.net reported on Monday.
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Apart from the EBRD, a number of international energy giants are also eyeing Petrol, Siol.net noted, citing unofficial sources.
However, the lender is seen as the most serious candidate having last year purchased Petrol bonds worth over 8 million euro ($9.3 million). According to media reports, the EBRD is offering to pay 315 euro per share for the Petrol stake, which J&T considers too low.
Approached for a statement, Mario Selecky project manager at J&T told Siol.net that the company does not want to confirm nor comment on the claims that it is negotiating with the EBRD.
Slovenia's government holds a 33.9% stake in Petrol via its holding company, bad bank, insurer Triglav and pension fund management company Kapitalska Druzba.
($=0.8561 euro)
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