Kirkland Advises EPGC on Acquisition of Haniel's Stake in METRO AG

Kirkland & Ellis advised EP Global Commerce GmbH (EPGC) on the acquisition of a substantial holding in METRO AG from Haniel Finance Deutschland GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH (Haniel). Haniel agreed with EPGC on the acquisition of 7.3 percent and a call option regarding up to 15.2 percent of METRO AG's ordinary shares. The transaction values at 977 million Euro at Friday's closing price. The purchase price was not disclosed. The transaction is still subject to approval by the Haniel supervisory board and clearance by the antitrust authorities.

Since the division of METRO Group into METRO AG and CECONOMY AG, METRO AG has concentrated on the areas of wholesale, food distribution and retail. This is mainly done by the sales divisions METRO/MAKRO Cash & Carry with 760 wholesale markets in 25 countries and Real with more than 280 hypermarkets throughout Germany.

Haniel is a German family equity company founded in 1756 and headquartered in Duisburg-Ruhrort, Germany. Haniel has accompanied METRO AG for more than 50 years, the last decade as its largest single shareholder.

The Czech entrepreneurs Daniel Kretínský and Patrik Tkác are the indirect owners of EPGC. Kretínský is a shareholder, chairman and CEO of Energetický a prumyslový holding, a.s. (EPH), a leading energy and infrastructure group in Europe with more than 50 participations in international groups. Tkác is co-owner of the J&T group, an international financial and private banking service provider and investor group based in Slovakia. Both shareholders were co-shareholders of EPH for many years and still hold joint participations in media and e-commerce companies in several European countries.

Kirkland & Ellis advised EPGC with the following team:

Munich: Benjamin Leyendecker (Private Equity/Corporate), Achim Herfs (Corporate, both lead), Wolfgang Nardi (Finance), Anna Schwander (Capital Markets); Associates: Christoph Jerger, Greta-Josefin Harnisch (both Private Equity/Corporate), Alexander Längsfeld (Finance), Isabel Ruttloff (Capital Markets), Daniel Hiemer (Tax)