Billionaire Kretinsky Seeks to Take Metro Private Again (1)

Billionaire Daniel Kretinsky wants to take German wholesaler Metro AG private again, more than five years after an initial attempt failed.

Kretinsky’s EP Global Commerce, which holds nearly half of Metro’s voting rights, agreed to acquire all shares for €5.33 each ahead of a delisting, Metro said Wednesday. That values Metro at almost €2 billion ($2.1 billion) and represents a premium of 37% to yesterday’s closing price.

Metro shares rose as much as 39% on Thursday in Frankfurt, but remain down 15% for the past 12 months.

The Czech dealmaker already attempted such a move in 2019, but failed ...