Getting involved in Mercatone Uno?

The British Kingfisher Group has expressed an interest in the Italian furniture retailer Mercatone Uno, according to a report in the Italian financial daily Milano Finanza. The report indicates that the French furniture retail chain Conforama, which is part of the internationally active Steinhoff Group and already has 15 stores in Italy, is also interested in the company.
Mercatone Uno has around 80 stores in Italy. In January the company submitted a composition application and agreed a freeze on its debts with the creditor banks as provided by a new regulation under Italian law.