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☆ Royal Mail owner agrees to ₤3.6 billion takeover by Czech billionaire Kretinsky
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Royal Mail's parent company International Distributions Services said on Wednesday it had agreed to a 3.57 billion pound ($4.55 billion) formal takeover offer by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. The offer valued IDS, which owns Royal Mail and international parcels network GLS, at 370 pence per share. Royal Mail has been trying to transform itself into a parcel-led business as letter volumes declined sharply over the years. Kretinsky has said that private investment in Royal Mail was crucial given its challenging situation with poor service delivery, slow transformation and increasing competition. Any takeover bid for Royal Mail would be subject to "normal" national security scrutiny but it would not be opposed in principle, Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt said earlier.

Persons: Daniel Kretinsky, Keith Williams, Kretinsky, Jeremy Hunt, Jonathan Reynolds Organizations: International, Services, Royal Mail, Service, Government, IDS, Labour, VESA Equity Locations: Czech, London

☆ Royal Mail owner IDS set to agree $4.4 bln Kretinsky takeover bid
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

IDS owns UK's Royal Mail, which is loss making, and international parcels network GLS. Royal Mail was privatised in 2013 in one of Britain's biggest state sell-offs in decades. It is expected the commitment to offer these contractual undertakings to the British government would be reflected in the cooperation agreement between the parties if a firm offer is made, it added. EP Group now has until May 29 to make a formal offer or walk away. EP is a 100% shareholder in VESA Equity investment which owns Kretinsky's IDS stake of nearly 28%.

Persons: Daniel Kretinsky, Keith Williams Organizations: International, Services, IDS, Royal Mail, UK's, Royal, National Security and Investment, Reuters, Equity Locations: Czech, London, Britain, British

The logo of Atos is seen on a company building in Nantes, France, March 11, 2022. It is also in advanced negotiations with Kretinsky's EP Equity Investment (EPEI) vehicle to "modify and simplify" some terms of its proposed 2 billion euro ($2.11 billion) sale of Tech Foundations, the group said. AlphaValue analyst Helene Coumes attributed the drop to "the endless uncertainty on the deal on Tech Foundations, the financing issues and how the change of some terms of the agreement will be favorable for the minority shareholders". The Tech Foundations deal would also see Kretinsky take a 7.5% stake in the group's cybersecurity unit Eviden, which is what would be left of Atos. Reporting by Diana Mandiá; Editing by Kirsten Donovan, Robert Birsel and Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Daniel Kretinsky, Helene Coumes, Atos, Diana Mandiá, Kirsten Donovan, Robert Birsel, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, Tech Foundations, Kretinsky's, Equity Investment, Tech, Thomson Locations: Nantes, France, Czech, Atos

The logo of Atos is pictured at the Eurosatory international defence and security exhibition in Villepinte, near Paris, France June 13, 2022. Mustier, credited with restoring UniCredit's capital strength, will be tasked to revive investors' trust after a governance crisis and a series of setbacks pummelled Atos' shares, now trading at near record lows. Atos shares jumped by more than 20% in early Paris trading but reversed course in the morning. The planned sale of Atos's loss-making legacy IT operations, dubbed Tech Foundations, to Kretinsky is opposed by some minority shareholders and several French politicians. Atos on Monday reiterated the plan to sell Tech Foundations to Kretinsky under the terms announced in August, although it signalled some of the financial terms could change.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Bertrand Meunier, Kretinsky, Jean, Pierre Mustier, Daniel Kretinksy, Atos, Mustier, pummelled Atos, Kretinsky's, Mathieu Rosemain, Pierre John Felcenloben, Christian Schmollinger, Navaratnam, Louise Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Tech Foundations, Tech, Atos, Kretinsky, Thomson Locations: Villepinte, Paris, France, Czech, Kretinsky, Eviden, French, Atos

☆ 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

☆ Xavier Niel buys Czech investor Kretinsky's stake in Le Monde
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Xavier Niel, founder of French broadband Internet provider Iliad, arrives for a hearing on the concentration of media ownership in the country, at the French Senate in Paris, France, February 18, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies NJJ Presse SASU FollowPARIS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - NJJ Presse, a holding of French telecoms maverick Xavier Niel, has purchased Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's stake in daily Le Monde and committed to transferring this and its existing stake to a fund defending press freedom, it said on Saturday. Finance tycoon Matthieu Pigasse, who had sold part of his stake in Le Monde to Kretinsky, will also put his shares in the fund, NJJ said. The Financial Times had reported shortly before that an agreement was close on a buyout of the shares of the Czech energy magnate, a transaction worth around 50 million euros. ($1 = 0.9388 euros)Reporting by Gilles Guillaume and Sybille de La Hamaide; Editing by Alexandra HudsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Xavier Niel, Sarah Meyssonnier, Daniel Kretinsky's, NJJ, Matthieu Pigasse, Gilles Guillaume, Sybille de La, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: French, REUTERS, Le Monde, NJJ Presse, NJJ, Fund, Reuters . Finance, Financial Times, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, NJJ, Czech, Le, NJJ Presse

Atos also said on Tuesday that it plans a 900 million-euro share sale to further shore up its balance sheet. The company said 180 million euros of the shares in the capital raise would be reserved for EPEI, giving it a 7.5% stake in Eviden. The sale of the remaining 720 million euros of new shares will be underwritten by BNP Paribas and JP Morgan, the company said. The expected sale would bring in 100 million euros in cash and cut 1.9 billion euros worth of liabilities from the tech company's balance sheet, Atos said. The sale gives an enterprise value of 2 billion euros to the sold division, which generated 4.5 billion euros of core revenue last year and employs 52,000 people.

Persons: Daniel Kretinsky, Atos, JP Morgan, Nathalie Senechault, Paul Saleh, Mathieu Rosemain, Sudip Kar, Edmund Klamann, Sharon Singleton Organizations: PARIS, Casino, Tech Foundations, Equity Investment, BNP, Thomson Locations: Czech, Europe, France, Eviden

The talks, announced with Kretinsky's EP Equity Investment (EPEI) vehicle, come on top of a 900 million-euro share-sale plan, aimed at further shoring up Atos' balance sheet, the company said. The expected sale would bring in 100 million euros in cash and cut 1.9 billion euros worth of liabilities from the tech company's balance sheet, Atos said. It gives an enterprise value of 2 billion euros to the sold division, named Tech Foundations. Tech Foundations, whose activities generated 4.5 billion euros of revenue last year, offers infrastructure management services. Following the sale of the tech unit, Atos will still rename as Eviden.

Persons: Daniel Kretinsky, Atos, Nathalie Senechault, Paul Saleh, Mathieu Rosemain, Sudip Kar, Edmund Klamann, Sharon Singleton Organizations: PARIS, Kretinsky's, Equity Investment, Tech Foundations, Tech, Casino, Thomson Locations: Czech, Paris, French, France

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

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

☆ Kretinsky to install former Metro and Lactalis exec at Casino if offer succeeds, Les Echos reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, July 9 (Reuters) - Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky and his partners are prepared to hire former Metro (B4B.DE) and Lactalis executive Philippe Palazzi as the new boss of French supermarket chain Casino (CASP.PA), should their refinancing offer for the debt-laden company succeed, Les Echos reported on Sunday. Kretinsky could not immediately be reached for comment outside working hours. Kretinsky's offer is valid until Monday. It faces a rivalling offer led by telecoms maverick Xavier Niel, investment banker Matthieu Pigasse and businessman Moez-Alexandre Zouari, which Casino said had also been extended to the same day. Reporting by Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daniel Kretinsky, Philippe Palazzi, Les Echos, Kretinsky, Palazzi, Xavier Niel, Matthieu Pigasse, Moez, Alexandre Zouari, Tassilo Hummel, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Metro, LinkedIn, Thomson Locations: Czech

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

☆ UK will not take action over Czech mogul's plan to raise Royal Mail stake
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 31 (Reuters) - Britain is no longer intervening in Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's plan to increase his stake in Royal Mail parent International Distributions Services (IDSI.L), sending the company's shares up more than 7% on Monday. In August, Royal Mail said it had been notified by then business minister Kwasi Kwarteng that he was exercising powers to look into proposals by Kretinsky's vehicle, Vesa Equity Investment, under the National Security and Investment Act. The Royal Mail review came days after the government decided not to take action over billionaire Patrick Drahi's stake in telecoms firm BT (BT.L). Vesa, Royal Mail's biggest shareholder which is ultimately controlled by Kretinsky and his business partner Patrik Tkac, in August said it had voluntarily contacted the government to inform them of its intention to increase its stake in Royal Mail, which is currently just over 22%. "Vesa Equity Investment welcomes the decision ... and reiterate our commitment to continuing long term investment presence in the U.K., including our partnership with Royal Mail," a spokesperson said.

☆ Royal Mail's largest labour union rejects new conditional pay offer
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Ajose Koilparambil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) last week agreed to engage in talks through arbitration to resolve the months-long pay dispute and on Sunday the CWU withdrew its planned strike action in Britain in the next two weeks. Royal Mail's latest offer includes a 7% salary increase over two years, plus a lump sum payment of 2% of pay this year, but was subject to CWU agreeing to several changes including to Sunday working, start times and flexible working. The CWU, which represents more than 115,000 postal workers at Royal Mail, rejected the offer and said it would vote to take further strike action. "It (the offer) includes more unacceptable changes and a derisory 7% two-year pay offer that is well below projected inflation for both years," the CWU said in a statement. Reporting by Aby Jose Koilparambil in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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