Daniel Křetínský

In October 2025, Ofcom fined Royal Mail £21 million for failing to meet its 2024–2025 delivery targets. The regulator subsequently opened another investigation into performance in 2025–2026, a period covering much of EP Group's first months of control, while Royal Mail announced an investment plan to improve service.

State of the evidence

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Less than two years after the takeover, Casino had to revisit its financial position because of substantial debt, including approximately €1.4 billion falling due in 2027. Creditors considered a debt conversion that could alter control. The board ultimately supported, subject to reservations, a solution proposed by Křetínský, and discussions progressed in 2026.

State of the evidence

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Attribution

Directly implicated

In July 2026, Royal Mail notified increases in certain wholesale prices due to take effect in October. Following a referral by the Mail Competition Forum, Ofcom agreed to examine the dispute and suspended the increases concerned during the proceedings.

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NGOs accused EPH and structures linked to Křetínský of presenting a faster exit from coal than would actually occur by transferring fossil fuel assets to sister companies. Greenpeace also questioned the financial robustness of the structure responsible for future rehabilitation costs at LEAG's Lusatian lignite mines, estimated at several billion euros.

EP Group's bid for International Distribution Services/Royal Mail triggered renewed debate over sovereignty and national security, particularly because of Křetínský's energy holdings and exposure to Central European infrastructure carrying Russian gas. The UK government ultimately approved the deal following negotiations over safeguards covering headquarters, taxation, the universal service, the brand and other commitments.

State of the evidence

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The consortium led by Křetínský took control of Casino following a major debt restructuring. The group then sold several hundred stores and prepared a plan that could eliminate up to 3 267 jobs under certain scenarios, before implementation on a smaller scale. The episode fuelled industrial relations conflict and criticism of the human cost of the turnaround.

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Direct responsibility

The proposed sale of Atos's Tech Foundations activities to Křetínský's EPEI vehicle prompted political concerns in France over sensitive assets linked in particular to defence, nuclear technology and digital sovereignty. Parliamentarians demanded safeguards, and the state indicated that it was monitoring strategic assets. Negotiations with Křetínský ultimately ended in February 2024 without agreement.

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Directly implicated

CMI France's plan to sell Marianne to businessman Pierre-Édouard Stérin prompted strong opposition from the editorial team, concerned about his ideological profile and guarantees of independence. A strike was called and the sale process was suspended.

State of the evidence

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The UK government used the National Security and Investment Act to review Vesa Equity Investment's proposal to increase its stake in Royal Mail's parent company above 25%. On 31 October 2022, it announced that no further action would be taken.

State of the evidence

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Directly implicated

In 2012, Křetínský, owner of Sparta Prague, gave Czech football officials information presented as serious evidence of a system of match and referee manipulation. The episode became known as the "bag affair", although police later stated that the bag itself contained no physical evidence. In 2020, Seznam Zprávy published recordings in which Miroslav Pelta claimed that the episode had also served as an intimidation tactic towards referees and Plzeň.

State of the evidence

Alleged

Attribution

Directly implicated

EP Global Commerce, controlled by Křetínský and Patrik Tkáč, launched several takeover approaches to Metro AG. In 2019, an initial offer failed to reach the desired threshold. In 2020, Metro's management and supervisory boards recommended that shareholders reject another offer they regarded as substantially undervalued, amid share prices weakened by the pandemic.

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Directly implicated

Křetínský's acquisition of 49% of Matthieu Pigasse's company, which indirectly held a stake in Groupe Le Monde, triggered a governance crisis. The independence group and editorial teams demanded a mechanism enabling them to oppose a change of control. In September 2019, the requested approval right was signed.

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Directly implicated

Following Czech Media Invest's expansion, several press investigations described a more conservative shift at certain publications and questioned coverage of climate change, migration and Křetínský's business interests. The debate concerned the risk that media concentration in the hands of an energy industry investor could affect editorial policy.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

In March 2012, the European Commission imposed a total fine of €2.5 million on Energetický a průmyslový holding (EPH) and EP Investment Advisors for obstructing a 2009 antitrust inspection, particularly because an email account had not been blocked and incoming messages had been redirected. The General Court of the European Union dismissed the appeal in 2014.

State of the evidence

Documented