Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky stepped closer to taking over debt-laden French retailer Casino (CASP.PA) on Monday after rival bidders dropped out of the race.
Kretinsky, 47, a former investment bank lawyer who built one of Europe's largest energy groups, Energeticky a Prumyslovy Holding (EPH), has been diversifying into retail, media and other areas for investments.
His net worth stands at $9.7 billion, according to Forbes.
Kretinsky's investment vehicle VESA Equity Investment has a portfolio valued at more than 3 billion euros ($3.37 billion), according to its website.
Here is a summary of some investments by firms controlled by Kretinsky and his long-term business partner, Patrik Tkac:
EPH
The group, in which Kretinsky holds 50%+1 share, comprises more than 70 energy-related companies and reported combined revenue of 37 billion euros in 2022. EPH controls a total installed capacity of 14 gigawatts (GW), according to the company's website.
It has controlling or large stakes in lignite, gas, renewable and nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Slovakia, Italy and elsewhere.
The group also includes Slovak gas transit pipeline operator Eustream, gas storage firms, cargo and commodity trading businesses.
RETAIL
* Casino (CASP.PA)
Kretinsky is now the only bidder for debt-laden retailer Casino, after rival 3F Holding Group pulled out of the race on July 16. In an interview with the Financial Times published on the same day, Kretinsky said he had submitted a revised offer.
Along with Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere’s Fimalac, he would inject 1.2 billion euros in equity to take a 53% stake in Casino, he said, adding that the bidders would also convert 4.9 billion euros of debt into equity.
* Fnac Darty (FNAC.PA)
Kretinsky's investment vehicle VESA Equity Investment has also become the largest shareholder of French retailer Fnac Darty, crossing a 25% threshold in March, according to French markets regulator AMF.
* Foot Locker (FL.N)
Kretinsky's VESA owns 12.3% voting rights in the U.S. sportswear and footwear retailer.
* Metro (B4B.DE)
Kretinsky holds 40.6% of German retail group Metro's voting rights, being the controlling shareholder of the group, according to Refinitiv data.
* Sainsbury's
VESA Equity Investment also built a 9.99% stake in the British supermarket group, Refinitiv data said.
MEDIA
* Editis
France's Vivendi (VIV.PA), controlled by billionaire Vincent Bollore, agreed in June to sell its publishing business Editis to International Media Invest (IMI), a subsidiary of Kretinsky's Czech Media Invest (CMI).
CMI publishes four daily newspapers, a number of magazines, and has an extensive digital and radio presence in the Czech Republic.
* Elle, Marianne
The Czech investor owns via CMI several French titles such as Elle and news magazine Marianne, according to the CMI website.
* Le Monde
Kretinsky has held a minority stake in French newspaper Le Monde since 2018, Reuters reported.
* TF1
Kretinsky's Vesa holds 5% in French TV company TF1, according to Refinitiv data.
OTHER
* Atos (ATOS.PA)
French newspaper Le Monde reported in March that French technology consultancy Atos was in talks with Kretinsky about the possible sale of its Tech Foundations business.
* DoDo
Logistics firm DoDo, which provides fast delivery services to customers in e-commerce, retail and food delivery, said in May 2022 that Kretinsky would inject 60 million euros ($63.16 million) into the group over two years to support its international expansion.
* PostNL (PTNL.AS)
Daniel Kretinsky has accumulated a 31.4% stake in the Dutch mail and packages delivery through his investment arm VESA Equity, a regulatory filing showed in November.
* International Distributions Services (IDSI.L)
Kretinsky's VESA is the biggest shareholder in International Distributions Services, the parent of Britain's Royal Mail, holding a 26.15% stake, according to Refinitiv data.
* West Ham
Daniel Kretinsky's 1890s Holdings group holds a 27% stake in English Premier League soccer club West Ham United, according to the club's website, adding to his ownership of the leading Czech team Sparta Prague.
($1 = 0.8899 euros)
