Delhaize announces takeover bid for 4.4-percent stake in Pekabeta

Belgium`s Delhaize Group, which controls Maxi market chain, has announced a takeover bid for the remaining 4.4-percent stake in Belgrade-based Pekabeta, offering to buy it at the price of RSD 8,500 per share.

The takeover bid will be open between 23 December 2011 and 12 January 2012. Taking into account the size of the stake held by Delhaize, it is almost for certain that the expiration of the bid will be followed by compulsory purchase of shares.

Delhaize Group announced its first takeover bid for a stake in Pekabeta in summer 2011 and then acquired 23.3 percent of shares in Pekabeta at the price of RSD 7,220 per share, including the package of shares owned by the Share Fund.

Pekabeta is part of the Maxi group. It registered a RSD 4.8 billion business revenue and the net profit of RSD 468.4 million last year. At the price of RSD 8,500 per share, the market capitalization of this market chain amounts to RSD 3.85 billion (EUR 37.4 million).