Ljubljana, 24 May (STA) - China's Hisense, which published its intent to take over Gorenje two weeks ago, has so far acquired 27.74% of the Slovenian household appliance producer, according to Wednesday's stock register data.
The business newspaper Finance reported on Thursday that Dutch company Home Products Europe, which is owned by Philip Sluiter and was Gorenje's fifth largest owner before Hisense's arrival, had sold its 5% stake.
Sluiter had often criticised the Franjo Bobinac-led management, and demanded an extraordinary shareholders' meeting to replace two Gorenje supervisors, but the shareholders rejected his proposal in January.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has recently sold its entire 11.8% stake, while Croatian businessman Kristijan Floričić has lowered his.
Gorenje confirmed in a press release posted on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange website today the IFC and some other shareholders had sold their shares.
Hisense acquired 22.56% on Tuesday and notified Gorenje today, the Velenje-based company said.
Hisense Luxembourg Holding has 1,154,977 shares or 4.73% of all voting rights and Hisense Luxembourg Home Appliance Holding owns 4,354,300 shares or 17.83% of all voting rights.
Its plan is to acquire more than 50% of the stock, offering 12 euro per share as part of the acquisition.
Before Hisense entered Gorenje, Gorenje's single biggest owner was the state-owned KAD fund (16.37%), followed by the IFC and Japan's Panasonic (10.74%).
KAD cannot sell its stake, because Gorenje is classified in the national state asset management strategy as an important investment.