Austrian OMV is still interested in INA, should it receive an invitation to participate in the privatization, stated OMV spokesperson Thomas Huemer in response to a query about OMV’s interest in the Croatian oil company, as reported by the public relations agency working for OMV in Croatia.
Huemer declined to comment on the offer from Hungarian MOL. The statement from the OMV spokesperson was also reported by the Austrian news agency APA, and in response to its inquiry, he said that OMV is interested in Croatian INA only in the case of a "transparent privatization process." The Austrian company is not interested in shares owned by minority shareholders, APA reports. The agency also notes that Croatian minority shareholders, dissatisfied with the MOL’s offer of 2,800 kuna per share, have called on OMV to submit its offer for INA. Furthermore, the Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency (Hanfa) approved yesterday the Hungarian MOL’s announcement of a voluntary public offer for the acquisition of INA at a price of 2,800 kuna per share. According to the provisions of the Takeover Act, MOL is obliged to publish the takeover offer within 7 days from the date of receipt of the Hanfa decision approving the publication of the offer. The takeover offer lasts for 28 days from the date of later publication, and, in accordance with the law, a competing offer from a third party can be published no later than 10 days before the expiration of the 28-day period of the first offer. (H)
