Miroslav Miskovic to be involved in saving Agrokor in Serbia?

The Russians want Miroslav Miskovic to save Ivica Todoric's business in Serbia. This information has been confirmed to Novosti by several sources from one of the biggest countries in the world, but also by the Western investment funds which have taken over a part of the ruined Croatian businessman's debts.

According to Novosti's findings, there is currently no one interested in purchasing the operations of Agrokor's companies in the region. Excessive debts repel investors, and the creditors have therefore decided to first restore Todoric's operations and make them profitable. One option is to introduce professional management. Miskovic stands out as a candidate thanks to his experience in commerce.

It hardly needs reminding that the owner of Delta Holding has created an enormous trade empire and that he has become the leading player in Serbia through his Maxi and Tempo chains, as well as one of the leaders in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Albania. His operation were crowned by the sale of the said chains to Belgium's Delhaize for EUR 932 million.

Miskovic thereby presents himself as the solution, since both Russians and Americans believe that his managerial team is the only one capable of making the operations of Mercator S, IDEA and Roda profitable in Serbia. Although Miskovic used to refuse discussing Agrokor's problems due to his great friendship with Ivica Todoric, the situation has now changed dramatically.

Even though Delta has declined to comment on the matter, Novosti unofficially learns that Miskovic is very glad to receive an invitation to return to big business when it comes to commerce. According to the information we've gathered, Miskovic is very close to accepting the challenge and it's not realistic that he will buy out Todoric's business following the restoration.

The only obstacle to Miskovic's entering Mercator S, which manages IDEA and Roda in Serbia, are his bad relations with the current state authorities. Nevertheless, the Novosti sources estimate that the importance of saving Agrokor's operations in Serbia, which amount to 1% of the GDP, is the reason for these relations to thaw.

At the time of the sale of Maxi to the Belgian chain Delhaize in 2011, Miskovic was in great debt. The then Delta Maxi group owed as much as EUR 300 million, and the debt was taken over by the purchaser.

Fortenova grupa d.d.

Delta Holding d.o.o. Beograd

Delhaize Serbia d.o.o. Beograd

TEMPO Hipermarketi

IDEA d.o.o. Beograd

Mercator-S d.o.o Beograd

Agrokor

Agrokor financial operations

Ivica Todoric

Delta Holding

Miroslav Miskovic

Agrokor debts

Agrokor creditors

Agrokor professional management

Maxi

Tempo

Delhaize

Mercator S

IDEA

Delta Maxi Group