EP Global Commerce GmbH (EPGC) acquires today METRO AG shares as agreed with Haniel
4. 10. 2018
Today, 7.3 per cent of the ordinary shares of METRO AG were transferred from Haniel Finance Deutschland GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH (Haniel), to EPGC, a company wholly owned by Daniel Kretínský and Patrik Tkáč, after antitrust approval was granted by the German antitrust authority to transfer up to 22.5 per cent to EPGC. The agreement with Haniel, signed on 24 August 2018, includes a call option allowing EPGC to acquire up to 15.2 per cent of the issued ordinary shares of METRO AG. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
“We are very excited to become a strategic shareholder of METRO AG. METRO is a strong brand and established player that operates in a very dynamic market environment. We believe in the company’s potential and we now focus on whether we can have a positive impact on the company and are able to support its future development in the right way,” said Daniel Křetínský.
Recently, EP Global Commerce II GmbH, the sister company of EPGC, signed an agreement with CECONOMY AG to acquire approximately 3.6 per cent METRO ordinary shares and an option scheme, which allows the additional purchase of approximately 5.4 per cent METRO ordinary shares. In total, Daniel Křetínský and Patrik Tkáč currently hold circa 10.9 per cent and have options to acquire in aggregate less than 30 per cent or up to 31.5 per cent in METRO shares.