CEZ A.S.

M&A Activity • Nov 25, 2022

CEZ finally takes over SKODA JS, a major Czech company, primarilyoperating in nuclear servicing and engineering

Yesterday, the CEZ Energy Group became the 100% owner of SKODA JS, atraditional Czech company operating in the field of nuclear energy. Withthe purchase, CEZ solved the problem of its major supplier, whichseveral years ago became part of the Russian engineering group OMZ,controlled by Gazprombank. This put the company at risk of sanctions,which had a potential impact on securing key supplies for the CEZGroup's nuclear power plants. The agreement was concluded in June thisyear with the shares temporarily held by WOOD _amp; Company pending theantitrust authorities' transaction approval .

The transaction was approved by four antitrust authorities in the CzechRepublic, Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine.

"Skoda JS is our key supplier and by gaining control of this company wehave significantly strengthened our energy security. The antitrustproceedings were not easy, especially in view of the state of war inUkraine. We are pleased that we have successfully completed thetransaction,_quot; said Bohdan Zronek, Director of the CEZ Nuclear PowerDivision.

Skoda JS is an original Czech company and supplier of key components ofnuclear parts for a number of power plants with domestic employees andunique domestic know-how, with which CEZ has been cooperating for a longtime, especially in the field of nuclear fuel and primary circuitmaintenance of nuclear power plants. Together with Skoda JS (including100% shares in company Middle Estates, s.r.o.), CEZ will also acquirefurther shares in the scientific research facility UJV Rez, which _#352;kodaJS currently owns. The CEZ Group's UJV Rez shareholding will thereforeincrease from 52.46% to 69.85%.

CEZ implemented this complex transaction in cooperation with WOOD _amp;Company, a major financial and investment group with a leading positionon the Central European market, which held the shares until theantitrust authorities' transaction approval. This procedure ensured thatsanctions ceased to threaten Skoda JS as soon as the agreement wassigned, rather than after the antitrust authorities had given the CEZGroup approval to take full control, as would normally be the case.

SKODA JS a.s. is one of Europe's leading engineering and manufacturingcompanies with experience in the construction and servicing of nuclearpower plants. The original company was founded in 1859, and the historyof today's SKODA JS begins in 1956. Since then it has been working inthe field continuously. Over the course of its existence, the companyhas supplied complete industrial plants, equipment and services fornuclear power plants, research reactors and storage facilities for spentnuclear fuel in Central and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, France,Germany, USA, Austria, Finland, Belgium, China, Armenia and other

CEZ, a. s. Company Id. 45274649

countries. SKODA JS a.s. has manufactured and delivered 21 complete VVER440 and three VVER 1000

nuclear reactors. Since the 1990s, it has also focused on Westernmarkets and technologies. It cooperates

with global leaders in the field. Engineering, production and servicingcurrently equally contribute to the

company's revenues, with exports accounting for approximately half ofthe company's turnover. The

company achieves annual sales of around CZK 3.5-4 billion. Nearly halfof its sales are in equipment and

service export. It employs over 1,000 highly-qualified professionals.

WOOD _amp; Company is a major financial and investment group with a leadingposition on the Central

European market. The group focuses on providing transaction consultancy,corporate finance consultancy,

securities trading and asset management services. Founded in 1991, thecompany has offices in seven

European cities, including its headquarters in Prague and an experiencedinvestment banking department

in Bratislava.