The energy group EPH, owned by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, announced on Wednesday that it would acquire a majority stake in Slovakia’s largest electricity producer, Slovenske elektrarne (SE). EPH will acquire 50% of the capital of the company Slovak Power Holding (SPH), which controls two thirds of SE, from the Italian Enel. The remaining 50% had already been acquired in 2016.
The amount disbursed amounts to 150 million euros, according to EPH which has undertaken to cover the loans granted by Enel to SE for a value of 970 million euros and unpaid interest amounting to 158 million euros . “After the settlement of the transaction, Enel will no longer have any financial claims against Slovak Power Holding and Slovenske elektrarne”indicated EPH. SE, also 34% owned by the Slovak state, produced 21.66 terawatt hours of electricity in 2023, mainly in its two nuclear power plants, Jaslovske Bohunice and Mochovce.
The EPH group, ranked among the ten largest European electricity companies in terms of installed capacity, is present in nine European countries, including Great Britain, France and Germany. Daniel Kretinsky’s interests go well beyond the energy sector since he holds stakes in the French supermarket group Casino, Elle magazine, the publishing house Editis and the Premier League club West Ham United. On Monday, the British government announced that it had given the green light to EPH to take over the parent company of Royal Mail.
