Favorite party for the resumption of Casino, the French of Tunisian origin, Moez-Alexandre Zouari is out of the race. There is now only the duo Daniel Kretinsky-Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière.
The Casino board of directors decided. The Niel-Pigasse-Zouari trio, having abandoned the race, the green light was given to the Kretinsky-Lacharrière project and everything suggests that the dice are thrown.
“On the unanimous recommendation of its ad hoc committee bringing together almost all independent administrators, the board of directors has decided to continue negotiations with EP Global Commerce (one of Daniel Kretinsky’s investment vehicles), Fimalac (Holding by Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière) and the British fund atstor,” said the Stéphanois distributor on Monday evening.
Last challenge to take up for Daniel Kretinsky: arriving at an agreement with creditors by July 27, at the latest. Daniel Kretinsky’s offer, who joined forces for this operation to Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière crushes the competition. Financially, their file is solid: reduction in casino debt and injection of 1.2 billion euros in money.
The plan, which will be controlled by Philippe Palazzi (ex -metro), future managing director of Casino is also reassuring. To put the group back on the path of growth from 2028, the Czech billionaire, whose fortune is estimated at 8.6 billion euros, is not chilly to get their hands on the wallet and promises to invest in total 2.4 billion euros.
If the discussions succeed, the consortium (Kretinsky-Lacharrière and the Attestor fund) would then hold 53% of the distribution group.
This plan will then be subject to the approval of the shareholders at a general meeting “at the latest on September 30”, for a realization at the end of 2023.
Ramzi
