At the entrance of the Fnac des Halles store in Paris, March 23, 2023. STEPHANE MOUCHMOUCHE/HANS LUCAS VIA AFP
Enrique Martinez, director general of the Fnac Darty retail group, considered it "a nice [55th] birthday present." Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky announced on Monday, January 26, that he wanted to increase his stake in the French retailer, which specializes in cultural products, home appliances and electronics. Kretinsky, who is currently the main shareholder, is launching a public takeover bid (OPA) for all the shares he does not already own. His investment fund Vesa Equity Investment, a subsidiary of EP Group, currently holds 28.5% of the capital and voting rights in Fnac Darty.
This operation offers "a liquidity opportunity to shareholders who wish to take it, at a price of €36 per share, representing a 19% premium over the last closing market price before the offer was announced," the Fnac Darty group said in a press release on Monday. The group also stated that its board of directors, which will issue an opinion after consulting with experts, has for the time being "unanimously welcomed the proposed transaction." Fnac Darty shares ended Monday's trading session up 17.02%, at €35.40.
