OBI, which recently acquired Baumax’s Slovak and Czech networks, plans to rebrand the DIY stores in Slovakia by November. The Austrian chain has put all its merchandise on sale as it prepares to exit the Slovak market, writes aktuality.sk. OBI is still waiting for final approval by the European Commission. Baumax originally only wanted to offload its loss-making stores in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia and Turkey and concentrate on the Slovak, Czech and Austrian markets, but it was forced to change its strategy. OBI, which has a different assortment than its main competitors, Hornbach and Bauhaus, is taking over all 14 Baumax stores in Slovakia.
