Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský on a Buying Spree

Daniel Křetínský, the Czech billionaire, has gone on an acquisition run in France recently, with 3 new investments this year alone. The supermarket group Casino recently reached a settlement to stave off insolvency, granting Kretinsky’s consortium majority ownership of its shares. He holds investments in France (at least five), Britain (three) and Germany (one).

His net worth stands at $6.9 billion, according to CEOWORLD magazine, and his investment vehicle VESA Equity Investment has a portfolio valued at more than 3 billion euros ($3.15 billion).

Kretinsky, aged 47, who was originally a lawyer in an investment bank, has created one of the biggest energy firms in Europe, Energetický a průmyslový holding, a.s. (EPH), and is now expanding into the retail, media, and other sectors.

Here is a rundown of some investments made by entities owned by Kretinsky and his close associate, Patrik Tkac:

EPH: Kretinsky holds 50%+1 of the shares in a conglomerate that includes more than 70 energy-related businesses, with total revenue of 37 billion euros in 2022. The collective has a combined installed capacity of 14 gigawatts. It has significant or substantial ownership or investment in lignite, gas, renewable, and nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic, U.K., Slovakia, Italy, and other countries. The group also contains Eustream, a Slovak gas transit pipe operator, gas storage firms, freight carriers, and commodity merchants.

Casino Guichard Perrachon SA: On 5 October, the French retailer announced they had come to an agreement with their main creditors, headed by Kretinsky, to prevent bankruptcy and finalise the July accord. This pact stipulated the injection of 1.2 billion euros and a 6.1 billion euro debt cut. Under the July understanding, Kretinsky and his consortium will possess a share of 50.4% to 53% of Casino stocks.

Fnac Darty: Kretinsky’s VESA Equity also became the largest shareholder of French retailer Fnac Darty, crossing a 25% threshold in March, according to French markets regulator AMF.

Foot Locker: Kretinsky’s VESA Equity owns 12.3 percent of voting rights in the U.S. sportswear and footwear retailer.

Metro: Kretinsky holds 40.6 percent of German retail group Metro’s voting rights, being the controlling shareholder of the group.

Sainsbury’s: VESA Equity also has a 9.99% stake in the British supermarket group.

Editis: In June, France’s Vivendi, headed up by billionaire Vincent Bollore, signed off on a deal to hand its publishing company, Editis, over to International Media Invest (IMI).

CMI Média, Elle, Marianne: Kretinsky also owns several French titles via Czech Media Invest (CMI), such as Elle and the news magazine Marianne; CMI France, CMI Média as well as 49% in the French company Le Nouveau Monde, who in turn is an indirect shareholding in Société Éditrice du Monde S.A. (publisher of the daily newspaper Le Monde) and Le Nouvel Observateur du Monde S.A. (publisher of the weekly L’Obs). CMI publishes four daily newspapers, a number of magazines, and has an extensive digital and radio presence in the Czech Republic.

TF1: VESA Equity holds 5 percent of French TV company TF1.

PostNL: In November 2022, a regulatory filing indicated that Křetínský had obtained a 31.4% interest in the Dutch mail/package delivery enterprise through VESA Equity.

International Distributions Services (IDS): VESA Equity owns the largest portion of International Distributions Services, the company behind the British Royal Mail, with a 26.15 percent share.

West Ham United F.C.: Daniel Kretinsky’s 1890s Holdings has a 27 percent stake in the West Ham United soccer club, as per the club’s webpage, which is in addition to his possession of the leading Czech team, Sparta Prague.

AC Sparta Prague: Since 2004, Křetínský has been chairman of football club AC Sparta Prague, and he is believed to be its 40% shareholder.

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