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Kretinsky Launches Friendly €36-a-Share Bid to Take Control of Fnac Darty

The move seeks majority control to counter governance worries linked to JD.com's indirect stake via Ceconomy.

Overview

  • EP Group’s offer values Fnac Darty at over €1 billion with a 24% to 26% premium to recent volume‑weighted averages, implying nearly €230 million to reach a 50% stake.
  • Fnac Darty’s board unanimously welcomed the proposal, which targets a majority holding without a delisting and is slated for AMF filing before the end of the first quarter of 2026.
  • Shares jumped at the Paris open, rising by nearly 19% in early trading and trading around €35.25 shortly after the announcement.
  • The bid follows Bercy’s conditions on JD.com’s pending acquisition of Ceconomy, which would give JD.com an indirect holding in Fnac Darty and limits its ability to increase influence.
  • Alongside the bid, Fnac Darty began a sale process for Nature & Découvertes and reported preliminary 2025 revenue of €10.3 billion with a weaker fourth quarter in France.