June 26, 2020 - The largest Croatian retail chain and distributor of auto parts has expressed interest in taking over one of the leading Slovenian retailers of auto parts and tires, which is a key step in expanding to the Western market.

The Slovenian Competition Protection Agency (AVK) gave a positive opinion on the admissibility of market concentration resulting from the acquisition of ownership of the Croatian company Tokić d.o.o. over the Slovenian company Bartog d.o.o. The concentration is in accordance with the rules of the competition, AVK states in the opinion published on the official website of the Agency, and there are no objections to it. The merger of Bartog will continue once the AVK decision becomes final.

With capital integration with Bartog, Tokić is fulfilling a plan to strengthen its presence on the Slovenian market, with the aim that one of the leading Slovenian retail chains of tires and car parts continues to operate under the existing brand.

Bartog (based in Trebnje) has been operating on the Slovenian market for more than 30 years with an excellent credit rating. It employs more than 250 employees and operates in 37 locations.

Tokić, which marks 30 years of doing business this year, is a leading Croatian company in the field of automotive parts salesmanship with more than 110 branches throughout Croatia and represents more than 230 of the world's most famous cars, vans and trucks brands. The company governs the most modern logistics and distribution center in this part of Europe worth 12 million euros. The company continuously invests in the development of its own knowledge in the field of car mechanics and electricity. Tokić is also strongly involved in international business processes, which was confirmed by their inclusion in the elite group Future Shapers, according to the expert management of the international program ELITE, organized by the London Stock Exchange. The prestigious Future Shapers award was won by the Croatian company with innovatively designed business processes and the highest world business standards. Tokić thus became the first Croatian winner of this award. In the past two years, the company Tokić generated significantly higher revenues and increased the number of employees by 45 percent.