Kretinsky could not immediately be reached for comment outside working hours. Palazzi did not immediately respond to a message sent via LinkedIn.

Casino's management and court-appointed mediators have set a July 27 deadline to enter an agreement in principle on the terms of the financial restructuring.

Kretinsky's offer is valid until Monday. It faces a rivalling offer led by telecoms maverick Xavier Niel, investment banker Matthieu Pigasse and businessman Moez-Alexandre Zouari, which Casino said had also been extended to the same day.

(Reporting by Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)