(Reuters) -Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky has been on a buying spree in France and Britain, where he is working on improving an offer for the owner of Britain's Royal Mail (LON:IDSI).
He has at least six investments in France, three in Britain and one in Germany.
Kretinsky, 47, a former investment bank lawyer who built one of Europe's largest energy groups, Energeticky a Prumyslovy Holding (EPH), has been diversifying into retail, media and other areas.
His net worth stands at $9.7 billion, according to Forbes.
Kretinsky's investment vehicle VESA Equity Investment has a portfolio valued at more than 3 billion euros ($3.15 billion), according to its website.
Here is a summary of some investments by firms controlled by Kretinsky and his long-term business partner, Patrik Tkac:
EPH
The group, in which Kretinsky holds 50%+1 share, comprises more than 70 energy-related companies and reported combined revenue of 37 billion euros in 2022. EPH controls a total installed capacity of 14 gigawatts, according to the company's website.
It has controlling or large stakes in lignite, gas, renewable and nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic, Britain, Slovakia, Italy and elsewhere.
The group also includes Slovak gas transit pipeline operator Eustream, gas storage firms, cargo and commodity trading businesses.
POSTAL SERVICES
* International Distributions Services
Kretinsky is working on improving an offer for International Distributions Services, the parent of Britain's Royal Mail, according to a source with knowledge of the plans on April 17, after his investment vehicle said it had made a non-binding bid this month which was rejected.
VESA Equity is the biggest shareholder in International Distributions Services, holding a 27% stake, according to LSEG data.
* PostNL
Kretinsky has accumulated a 31.4% stake in the Dutch mail and package delivery group through VESA Equity, a regulatory filing showed in November 2022.
* Quadient
Kretinsky invested 1 billion Czech crowns ($42.22 million) in November to buy a stake in the French mailroom equipment company. His vehicle VESA owns 10% of the voting rights, according to its website.
RETAIL
* Casino
Kretinsky's Casino buyout consortium said in February that the Paris Commerce court had approved its plan to bail out the debt-laden French retailer under an accelerated protection procedure.
The French retailer said on Oct. 5 it had sealed a deal to avert bankruptcy through a debt restructuring agreed with its main creditors, led by Kretinsky. This finalised a July agreement in principle that called for 1.2 billion euros of new money to be injected into Casino and a reduction of its debt by 6.1 billion euros. A consortium led by Kretinsky will end up with 50.4% to 53% of Casino shares, based on the July agreement.
* Fnac Darty
Kretinsky's VESA Equity also became the largest shareholder of French retailer Fnac Darty, crossing a 25% threshold in March, according to French markets regulator AMF. VESA owns 29% of Fnac Darty's voting rights, according to the investment vehicle's website.
* Foot Locker (NYSE:FL)
Kretinsky's VESA Equity owns 12.3% voting rights in the U.S. sportswear and footwear retailer.
* Metro
Kretinsky holds 49.99% of the German retail group's voting rights, German weekly "Lebensmittelzeitung" reported in March, and is the controlling shareholder of the group.
* Sainsbury's
VESA Equity also has a 9.99% stake in the British supermarket group, LSEG data said.
MEDIA
* Editis
France's Vivendi (EPA:VIV), controlled by billionaire Vincent Bollore, agreed in June to sell its publishing business Editis to International Media Invest (IMI (LON:IMI)), a subsidiary of Kretinsky's Czech Media Invest (CMI).
CMI publishes four daily newspapers, a number of magazines, and has an extensive digital and radio presence in the Czech Republic.
Vivendi said in November it would receive a total of 653 million euros after finalising the sale.
* Elle, Marianne
Kretinsky also owns several French titles via CMI, such as Elle and news magazine Marianne, according to the CMI website.
* TF1
VESA Equity holds 5% in French TV company TF1, according to LSEG data.
OTHER
* Atos
Kretinsky is in renewed talks to buy Atos' loss-making Tech Foundations branch, Bloomberg reported in February, a day after talks over a 2 billion-euro deal had collapsed. The deal would also give Kretinsky a 7.5% stake in Atos' remaining business, to be renamed Eviden.
* DoDo
Logistics firm DoDo, which provides fast delivery services to customers in e-commerce, retail and food delivery, said in May 2022 Kretinsky would inject 60 million euros ($63.16 million) into the group over two years to support its international expansion.
* Thyssenkrupp (ETR:TKAG)
German newspaper Handelsblatt reported in September Thyssenkrupp was in talks to sell 50% of its steel division to Kretinsky.
The conglomerate's CEO said in January that weakening steel markets were complicating the talks.
* West Ham
Kretinsky's 1890s Holdings group has a 27% stake in English Premier League soccer club West Ham United, according to the club's website, adding to his ownership of the leading Czech team, Sparta Prague.
($1 = 0.9520 euros)
($1 = 23.6830 Czech crowns)