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☆ French retailer Casino finalises rescue deal led by Czech tycoon
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Dominique Vidalon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A logo of French retailer Casino is pictured outside a Casino supermarket in Nantes, France, May 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - French supermarket group Casino (CASP.PA) said on Thursday that it had finalised a deal to avert bankruptcy through a debt restructuring agreed with its main creditors, led by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. Casino was brought to the verge of default after years of debt-fuelled acquisitions and recent losses in market share to rival supermarket operators. It said the binding debt deal was reached with the consortium led by Kretinsky's company EPGC alongside Casino's biggest creditor Attestor, its second-biggest shareholder Fimalac and the retailer's secured creditors. "Casino has reached a major milestone in its financial restructuring process by obtaining the agreement of its main creditors on a financial restructuring plan," Casino CEO and controlling shareholder Jean-Charles Naouri said in a statement.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Daniel Kretinsky, Jean, Charles Naouri, Naouri, Dominique Vidalon, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Casino's, Fimalac, Thomson Locations: Nantes, France, Czech

☆ Casino shares suspended, news on debt deal expected soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Dominique Vidalon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A logo of French retailer Casino is pictured outside a Casino supermarket in Nantes, France, May 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Shares in French retailer Casino (CASP.PA) were suspended on Wednesday pending a statement, boosting speculation a final debt restructuring deal with creditors led by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky to avert bankruptcy could be imminent. The deal, which massively dilutes shareholders, would bring an end to the 30-year reign of Casino CEO and controlling shareholder Jean-Charles Naouri, 74, who controls Casino via his listed holding company Rallye. On Sept. 29, Casino extended the deadline to Oct. 3, fuelling expectations an announcement was to come this week. The consortium led by Kretinsky would end up owning between 50.4% and 53% of Casino shares.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Daniel Kretinsky, Jean, Charles Naouri, Kretinsky, Dominique Vidalon, Tassilo Hummel, Mark Potter, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Casino, Casino's, Thomson Locations: Nantes, France, Czech, France's

SummaryCompanies Casino cut supermarket food prices by 10% on averagePARIS, July 27 (Reuters) - Cash-strapped retailer Casino (CASP.PA) swung to a loss of 233 million euros ($258.5 million) for the first half as falling sales and price cuts at its hypermarkets and supermarkets dented its core French business. The French retailer's group operating loss came after a profit of 166 million euros in the first half of 2022, with its operations in France posting a loss of 299 million euros. Consolidated group net sales fell 1.2% like for like in the second quarter to 5.5 billion euros, with retail sales in France down 4.2%. "We don't intend to go further," Lubek said when asked about possible further price cuts. Group net debt at end June-2023 was 6.1 billion euros against 6.0 billion at end June-2022.

Persons: Daniel Kretinsky, Jean, Charles Naouri, David Lubek, Lubek, France's, Dominique Vidalon, Kim Coghill Organizations: Casino, Finance, Consolidated, Thomson Locations: PARIS, French, France, Lincoln

☆ Factbox: Corporate debt woes are on the rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Size of debt: 14 billion pounds ($18.33 billion). The firm said earlier in July shareholders would provide 750 million pounds, but warned it would need an extra 2.5 billion pounds between 2025-2030. Size of debt: 6.4 billion euros ($7.19 billion) in net debt. What's at stake: Casino faces 3 billion euros of debt repayments in the next two years, with rating agencies Moody's and Standard & Poor's warning a default is likely. Deadlines to watch: Casino aims to secure an agreement with creditors by July 27.

Persons: Toby Melville, What's, Jean, Charles Naouri, Casino, Daniel Kretinsky, Kretinsky, Chiara Elisei, Dhara, Christina Fincher Organizations: Thames, REUTERS, Water, Casino, SBB, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, LONDON, Sweden, France, England, Czech, Brookfield, Spain, Barcelona

It leaves Kretinsky, who submitted a revised offer over the weekend proposing the equity injection, as the only bidder. The cash injection plan would lead to a 4.7 billion-euro reduction in overall debt, Casino said. Casino is saddled with net debt of 6.4 billion euros and is teetering on the brink of default. The board meeting followed a separate meeting between Casino's creditors and CIRI - France's finance ministry body that helps distressed companies and their creditors draw up restructuring plans. Kretinsky and Ladreit de Lacharriere would control the investment vehicle behind the 1.2 billion-euro equity injection, a source said.

Persons: Daniel Kretinsky, Kretinsky's, Xavier Niel, Jean, Charles Naouri, Kretinsky, Niel, Matthieu Pigasse, Moez, Alexandre Zouari, Casino, Marc Ladreit de, Ladreit, Mathieu Rosemain, Mike Harrison, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Casino, 3F, Attestor, French, Monde, Fnac, Metro, Forbes, Thomson Locations: Czech, PARIS, French, Paris, Casino, Britain, France, Germany

The group will study this expression of interest and keep the market informed," Casino said in a statement on Wednesday. And the holding company through which Naouri controls Casino is also heavily indebted. Niel, Pigasse and Zouari said they would invest 200 million to 300 million euros themselves, with the rest coming from unspecified partners, including Casino creditors. The trio's proposal comes after Kretinsky, Casino's second-largest shareholder, offered in April to take control of the group through a 1.1 billion euro capital increase. A Casino spokesperson declined to comment beyond its statement on Wednesday or on behalf of Naouri.

Persons: Jean, Charles Naouri, Xavier Niel, Daniel Kretinsky, Casino, Kretinsky, Niel, Matthieu Pigasse, Moez, Alexandre Zouari, Clement Genelot, Garnier, Pigasse, Zouari, Casino's, Mathieu Rosemain, Chiara Elisei, Laura Lenkiewicz, Sudip Kar, Silvia Aloisi, Mark Potter, Alexander Smith Organizations: Casino, Monoprix, BNP, Credit Agricole, Carrefour, Reuters, France's, Naouri, Thomson Locations: PARIS, Czech, Natixis, Casino

The investors, who hold some Casino bonds maturing in 2026 and 2027, are seeking to move quickly before details of the tie-up are agreed, the sources added. Other debt being left out of the joint venture could have lower prospects to recover its full value. Casino does not require consent from bondholders to potentially push their holdings into the joint venture, according to two sources. Unrestricted status would allow the joint venture to potentially list on a stock exchange and receive capital from a third party. Casino and Teract said in a joint statement in March that discussions have already started with potential investors about providing the additional capital.

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