Ljubljana, Nov 13 - Slovenia is not likely to buy a share in Mercator , the country's largest food retailer, whose shareholders will put on sale a majority stake, the expected new economy minister said on Wednesday.
"I see no reason for Slovenia to buy Mercator back at a higher price than it sold it for three years ago," Matej Lahovnik told reporters on the sidelines of an economic conference.
The incoming centre-left Prime Minister Borut Pahor proposed Lahovnik as the new economy minister on Tuesday. Parliament is expected to confirm Pahor's appointment at the end of the next week.
Several large shareholders have announced plans to sell a total of some 65.5 percent of Mercator in offers in the next few months. Mercator is Slovenia's fifth largest listed firm with market capitalisation of 741 million euros ($935.4 million).
Mercator employees' trade union last week called on the government to intervene and prevent possible job cuts. The management said it would prefer if Mercator remained independent instead of being taken over by a large international rival.
Serbia's Delta Holding said last week it would be interested in buying a share of Mercator.
Local media reports have said Britain's Tesco , France's Carrefour and Croatia's Agrokor might also be interested, while Germany's Rewe told Reuters last week it was not looking into buying Mercator.
Mercator shares were off 4.62 percent on Wednesday at 188 euros, while the blue-chip SBI index lost 1.27 percent. ($1=.7921 euros)