(Repetition for title typo)
Trading in the Casino CASP.PA share was suspended on Monday at the company’s request and pending a press release, stock exchange operator Euronext said.
In serious financial difficulties, Casino is currently in safeguard procedure in order to implement a restructuring of its heavy debt.
The retail group, which is to be taken over next year by a new management team led by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, has issued two profit warnings in recent months due to the worsening situation in its hypermarkets.
Last month, Casino confirmed having received preliminary expressions of interest in the acquisition of stores in the hypermarket and supermarket perimeter, without however specifying the buyers or the number of stores that the company plans to sell.
Auchan and Intermarché have made a joint offer for all the stores Casino is seeking to sell to raise cash, while Leclerc and German discounter Lidl are also among potential bidders, sources said.
Potential buyers had to transform their indicative offers or expressions of interest into firm offers from December 8 and several of them did so, a source close to the matter indicated last week.
Casino shares have fallen by more than 91% this year and are trading at a historic low, at 0.7830 euros.
(Written by Blandine Hénault, edited by Kate Entringer)