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Tesco Proposes Czech, Slovak Exit in €1.7bn Sale

Tesco has proposed selling its Czech Republic and Slovakia businesses to Ahold Delhaize at an enterprise value of €1.7bn, plans to return most of the cash through a buyback, and is still weighing options for Hungary.

Tesco (LSE: TSCO) has proposed selling its Czech Republic and Slovakia businesses to Ahold Delhaize at a total enterprise value of €1.7bn (£1.5bn). The retailer set out the plan in a stock exchange statement today.

TSCO.LSE

The perimeter covers every store and office in both countries, plus distribution centres in Kralupy, Presov and Beckov. Together the two markets produced sales of £2.9bn and most of the £115m adjusted operating profit Tesco reported for Central Europe in the prior year’s 52-week period.

The enterprise value is quoted cash and debt free. On a pre-IFRS 16 basis, meaning before the lease accounting standard is applied, it is €1.2bn (£1.0bn). Tesco expects net cash proceeds of the same size, €1.2bn (£1.0bn), before tax and other transaction costs.

For shareholders, timing is key. Completion needs antitrust and other regulatory approvals, which Tesco expects in the second half of 2027. After completion, it plans to return the majority of the net proceeds through an incremental share buyback.

Tesco expects the deal to be broadly neutral to earnings per share and to its Group Net Debt/EBITDA ratio once the buyback is complete.

Chief executive Ken Murphy said the sale would simplify the Group, sharpen its focus on the UK and Ireland, and support investment in its “food-first retail ecosystem”. He said he was proud of what has been achieved over the past 30 years and delighted that Ahold Delhaize intends to invest in both markets.

Ahold Delhaize is an international food retailer with 17 local brands and 77 million weekly customers across the US, Europe and Indonesia.

The sale follows about £0.5bn of proceeds Tesco has released since 2021 from non-core Central European property, including several large shopping malls. Hungary is not part of the proposed sale, and Tesco is reviewing all options for that business. Tesco continues to own and operate Hungary.

Until the transaction completes, the Czech and Slovak operations remain part of Tesco.

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