March 14 (SeeNews) - Croatian oil and gas group INA [ZSE:INA] said on Tuesday that it, together with its top shareholder, Hungarian oil company MOL, is a step closer towards acquisition of Slovenia's second-largest fuel retailer, OMV Slovenija.
"INA and MOL in 2021 signed a deal to take over OMV’s share of 92.25 % in OMV Slovenija. Since the transaction requires an approval for merger, MOL group now is selling 39 of its filling stations in Slovenia to make possible the takeover, " INA said in a press release.
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On March 9, MOL signed an agreement with British-Dutch oil and gas company Shell for the sale of 39 filling stations in Slovenia, some of which belong to the Slovenian unit of MOL and some to OMV Slovenija, INA said. This is one of the key issues to be resolved in order to obtain a positive opinion from the European Commission for MOL's previously announced takeover of OMV Slovenija, it added.
OMV Slovenija operates а network of 120 filling stations in Slovenia. The transaction also includes the wholesale business of the takeover target.
INA owns 7.75% interest in OMV Slovenija. Under the deal with MOL, the Croatian company will increase its stake in the Slovenian one to 33%.
INA's shares last traded on Monday on the Zagreb bourse, closing 0.45% lower at 446 euro ($478).
($ = 0.932 euro)
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