Czech businessman Křetínský close to taking over British Royal Mail
The sale of the British mail company Royal Mail to the EP Group of Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský is close to completion, and could be confirmed within the next two weeks, the BBC has reported. Křetínský's advisors met with union representatives this week. According to some sources, union members still have concerns about Křetínský, but the union representatives nevertheless described the meetings as constructive, writes the BBC.
Křetínský's offer values the company Royal Mail at £3.6 billion (almost 110 billion CZK). The management of the company International Distribution Services (IDS), which owns Royal Mail, accepted the offer in May and recommended that its shareholders approve it. Royal Mail can trace its history back to 1516, and currently employs more than 150,000 people. Křetínský has previously stated that he has the "utmost respect" for its history and tradition.