Jelmoli sues Delek consortium over property deal

ZURICH, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Switzerland's Jelmoli JEL.S has filed a case in a Zurich court against the buyers of its real estate portfolio for breach of contract after they refused to close the transaction, its chief executive said on Monday.

Jelmoli and a consortium of purchasers, led by Israel's Delek Real Estate (DLKR.TA), had agreed the deal worth 3.4 billion Swiss francs ($3.03 billion) in July 2007.

But in September, the consortium approached Jelmoli to renegotiate the price, citing changed conditions in the credit market, and subsequently withdrew from the deal after Jelmoli turned down the buyer's request.

"We are asking for the completion of the purchase agreement and also the payment of the agreed purchase price, and additionally compensation and interest of eight percent per year," Jelmoli CEO Harald Pinger told Reuters.

"We filed the legal case today at the trade board in Zurich against Blenheim Properties, Delek Global Real Estate, Delek Belrom International as well as a Swiss special purpose vehicle," Pinger said.

(Reporting by Oliver Hirt, writing by Sam Cage)