Agrokor allowed to take over Mercator if it sells 21 stores in Serbia

The Council of Serbia’s Commission for the Protection of Competition said Thursday it had granted a conditional clearance to the plans of Croatian privately-held concern Agrokor to take over Slovenian retailer Mercator.

One of the conditions that the buyer has to meet is partial disposal of stores operated in Serbia under its Idea brand as well as stores operated by the local unit of the Slovenian company, Mercator-S, the Serbian antitrust authority said in a statement.

This condition refers to 21 stores in 15 cities/municipalities in Serbia, covering a total surface area of about 20,000 square meters.