EP Global Commerce GmbH
EPGC increases shareholding in METRO AG to 29.99%
DGAP-News: EP Global Commerce GmbH
/ Key word(s): Investment
EPGC increases shareholding in METRO AG to 29.99%
Grünwald, 31 October 2019 – Today, EP Global Commerce GmbH (EPGC) exercised a call option to acquire 44,950,974 ordinary shares in METRO AG from Haniel. Upon closing of this transaction scheduled for 6 November 2019, EPGC will hold 29.99% of the ordinary shares in METRO AG. Accordingly, EPGC will become the largest shareholder in METRO AG. EPGC previously held 17.52%. The increase underlines the commitment of EPGC to METRO AG as a responsible strategic investor. EPGC will also seek appropriate representation on the Supervisory Board of METRO AG. EPGC retains a call option to acquire further ordinary shares from Haniel. About EP Global Commerce EP Global Commerce (EPGC) is an acquisition group of companies controlled by Daniel Křetínský, with current shareholding of 53%, who is acting in concert with other shareholder Patrik Tkáč, who currently holds shareholding of 47% of EPGC. It was founded in April 2016 and is headquartered in Prague. Two subsidiaries, EP Global Commerce GmbH and EP Global Commerce II GmbH, were founded for the acquisition of the METRO shares formerly owned by Haniel and CECONOMY. EP Global Commerce II GmbH was merged onto EP Global Commerce GmbH in August 2019. Daniel Křetínský was born in Brno, Czech Republic, on 9 July 1975. He studied at Masaryk University’s Faculty of Law which he graduated as Doctor of Law, and also holds a bachelor’s degree in political science. In 1999, he joined J&T investment group as a lawyer, shortly thereafter became responsible for corporate investments and was promoted to the position of partner in 2003. In 2009, through J&T together with PPF, he was involved in the founding of Energetický a průmyslový holding a.s. (EPH), nowadays a leading Central European energy and infrastructure group based in the Czech Republic and has been serving as its CEO and chairman. He subsequently acquired the shares in EPH and is its majority and controlling shareholder. Besides serving on several boards of companies affiliated with EPH, he also holds investments and positions at companies unaffiliated to EPH, including Czech Media Invest, Mall Group or EP Industries. He is also a Chairman of the Board of Directors of AC Sparta Praha fotbal. Patrik Tkáč was born in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, on 3 June 1973. He studied at the Faculty of National Economy at the University of Economics in Bratislava where he earned his master’s degree. Patrik Tkáč is a co-founder and a co-owner of the J&T group of companies, an international financial and private banking services provider and investment group with a focus on the markets of Central and Eastern Europe. In 1996, he became Member of the Board of Directors at J&T Finance Group, a.s.. Two years later, he was named Chairman of the Board of J&T Banka, a.s. and holds this function until today. He is also the Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Czech News Center and serves on several boards of companies affiliated with the J&T Group such as Nadace J&T (Foundation), J&T IB and Capital Markets or PBI.
Press Contacts: Gauly Advisors Dr. Frank Herkenhoff
31.10.2019 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP – a service of EQS Group AG. |