Ljubljana, 13 February (STA) - The Serbian bank AIK formally published a takeover bid for Gorenjska Banka on Wednesday. The offer shows AIK Banka already owns 77.7% of Gorenjska Banka stock, significantly more than the 33.3% it said it had just a week ago.
The offer indicates AIK Banka has successfully acquired 37.6% of Gorenjska Banka that it had already agreed to buy from the indebted conglomerate Sava, plus additional stock from small shareholders.
AIK Banka is offering EUR 298 per share in the takeover bid, valuing the outstanding stock at EUR 25.8m. The offer is valid until 13 March.
The remaining stakes are held by a variety of small shareholders including national telco Telekom Slovenije and the brokerage GB.
The formal takeover bid marks the final stage of a long battle for control of Gorenjska Banka mounted by the owner of AIK Banka, Serbian millionaire Miodrag Kostić.
AIK Banka published the first takeover attempt in December 2017 but clearance from the central bank was not forthcoming. It eventually got the go-ahead but because it had failed to satisfy all formal requirements it got a one-year ban on a new takeover bid.