Public Power Corporation S.A. (ATSE:PPC) signed an agreement to acquire DSGi South-East Europe A.E.V.E. from Currys plc (LSE:CURY) for an enterprise value of ?200 million on November 2, 2023. The consideration corresponds the value on a debt free, cash free basis and excluding IFRS 16 lease liabilities. Under the terms of consideration, the enterprise value of ?200 million (£175 million), adjusted to include lease liabilities of ?97 million (£85 million) as at 29 April 2023, implies a multiple of 6x adjusted EBITDA1 of ?49 million (£43 million) and 14x adjusted EBIT[1]of ?21 million (£18 million). Net cash proceeds of the disposal are expected to be approximately £156 million (?179 million) at completion, after taking into account transaction and separation costs, intercompany balances and cash in the business. The Consideration is payable in full and in cash on the date of Completion. Following the agreed terms, the Currys board of directors ("Board") believes the proposed Disposal has strong strategic rationale and represents an attractive outcome for the Company's shareholders ("Shareholders"). Following Completion, the Continuing Group intends to pursue its strategy of delivering value for all stakeholders centred around its four strategic priorities: (i) Capable & Committed Colleagues; (ii) Easy to Shop; (iii) Customers for Life; and (iv) Grow Profits. Management's objective remains to achieve at least a 3% adjusted EBIT margin with a solid balance sheet that enables healthy returns to shareholders. Following Completion, the Continuing Group will consist of the Company's UK and Ireland and Nordics business segments. Kotsovoloas has It has 95 stores, in Greece and Cyprus, of which 27 are megastores. PPC intends to finance the acquisition through own funds.

The closing of the transaction is subject to certain conditions precedent, customary for these kinds of transactions, including the approval of shareholders at the General Meeting of Currys plc and obtaining a merger clearance approval from the European Commission or the Hellenic Competition Commission, obtaining a Foreign Subsidies Regulation clearance following a filing from the Purchaser before the European Commission or an ex officio investigation by the European Commission, obtaining third party consents to the Disposal from counterparties to certain contracts to which Kotsovolos is a party. The Disposal was unanimously agreed by the Board to be in the best interests of Shareholders. The transaction is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2024. The Board expects to update Shareholders on this strategic progress when it announces the Company's interim results in December 2023. In the short term, the Board intends to use the proceeds to reduce net debt and then at the appropriate time, following peak trading, enter discussions with pension trustees regarding the potential to reduce the pension fund's accounting net deficit and required future contributions. Reducing indebtedness may also provide, at the appropriate time, the Group with greater flexibility to invest to grow the business, after which Currys will also explore the potential to return any surplus capital to Shareholders. This will initially involve using proceeds to reduce net debt, and then at the appropriate time entering into discussions with the pension trustees regarding the funding for the pension scheme. As on March 5, 2024, Hellenic Competition Commission approved the deal. As on March 8, 2024, the transaction is expected to complete in first half of April.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Business Solutions S.A. (PwC) is acting as financial advisor and Vizas - Katrinakis and Associates Law Firm as legal advisor to PPC in connection with the acquisition. Andrew Seaton and Robert Farrington of Citigroup Global Markets Limited ("Citi") is acting as sponsor and sole financial advisor to Currys on the Disposal. Natasha Good and Tom Godwin of Freshfields advised Currys.