Daniel Kretinsky and Patrik Tkac’s VESA Equity Investment increased its stake in French retailer Casino. They now own 6.88 percent of the company and 5.17 percent of the voting rights, according to the French market surveillance authority AMF.
VESA Equity bought the shares on the market on 27 February, Reuters reports.
Casino is one of the leading retailers in the French market. It has 12,000 stores worldwide, mainly in France but also in Latin America. Net sales for the year 2018 reached EUR 36.6 billion, and the group employs around 220,000 people worldwide.
Tkac and Kretinsky have long been investing in retail, wholesale, and e-commerce companies. Through EP Global Commerce, it holds 29.99 percent of German Metro and co-owns about 40 percent of the Mall Group.
Kretinsky and Tkac tried to take over the German Metro company but failed. There was speculation on Tuesday that the American food distributor Sysco is interested in Metro. But two leading Metro shareholders, Meridian Foundation and Beisheim, denied this today.
Křetínský is also the majority owner and chairman of the board of the Energy and Industrial Holding (EPH). It invests in other sectors through Czech Media Invest, EP Global Commerce, Mall Group, or EP Industries. He is also chairman of the Board of AC Sparta Praha football.
Tkáč is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of J&T International, Chairman of the Board of Directors of J&T Bank. He is also a significant shareholder of J&T Private Equity Group, EP Global Commerce, Czech Media Invest and Mall Group.