United Bakeries: denies offer for sale

Prague / CZ. (div) United Bakeries, the largest baking goods maker in the Czech Republic, is reportedly up for sales – according to a local radio station. The station said the company´s owners, brothers Marko and Jaroslav Michael Pariks, are looking to get three billion CZK from the sale. The company operates 16 bakeries in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which are up for sale (or not …). However, the company plans to retain its loss-making operations in Hungary for now. The report said interested suitors could include Italy´s Barilla Holding, Austria´s Ankerbrot AG or the investment group Penta. All of whom have shown interest in United Bakeries in the past (that´s right, but …). The bakery group was established by the merger of Czech groups Delta Pekarny and Odkolek, and also owns subsidiaries Delta Pekarne in Slovakia and Interback Csoport in Hungary. In the meantime United Bakeries has denied the local reports that it is for sale – insisting that it is instead seeking a strategic partner to build on its market leading position in Central Europe.