Ćulibrk on Mimović's NIS Offer: 'Impossible for Someone with Billions to Be Unknown'

Serbian journalist Milan Ćulibrk, editor of the weekly Radar, has cast serious doubt on the credibility of Ranko Mimović's alleged €2 billion offer to acquire NIS, the Serbian oil industry. Ćulibrk, speaking on N1 Serbia, described the offer as "impossible," highlighting Mimović's documented history of involvement with at least nine companies in Serbia, most of which are reportedly blocked, bankrupt, or liquidated. Ćulibrk pointedly questioned how someone claiming to have billions could struggle to pay even minor debts in Serbia. He drew parallels to a similar high-profile but ultimately failed bid by a Mimović company to acquire Podravka in 2010, which also led to controversy and legal issues. The situation is further complicated by allegations of potential connections between Mimović and the current Serbian government, a claim Ćulibrk neither confirms nor denies but deems "possible" given the circumstances. From a Serbian perspective, this saga raises serious questions about transparency in major economic deals and the vetting of potential investors. The media's focus on Mimović's past and alleged government ties, rather than solely on the NIS transaction itself, reflects a deep-seated skepticism towards such large-scale offers that lack clear financial backing and verifiable business credentials. Ćulibrk's analysis suggests this might be a case of 'shell' companies being used for opaque transactions, a tactic that has surfaced in other investigations.

“

It is impossible to have two billion, and for no one to know about the man.