However, the procedure cannot threaten the finalization of the sale of Žito. The Competition Protection office informs that the takeover is not in conflict with market rules.

The Republic of Croatia and Croatia's pension funds have a 66% stake in Podravka. The company issued 1,7 million new shares in July. That was around three months after the signing of the purchasing agreement for a 51% stake in Žito with the Slovenian Sovereign Holding.

In accordance to European legislation, state aid bends market competition rules and is not allowed, warns Polona Domadenik, Ph.D., from the Ljubljana Faculty of Economics. But the takeover of Žito is currently not under threat, as it takes a very long time for judgments to be passed at a European level.

Simeona Rogelj, Radio Slovenija;
translated by K. J.