Investment group PPF, owned by the richest man in the Czech Republic Petr Kellner, will sell its 40% stake in EPH directly to the energy group it helped build into a major central European player, the companies said on Thursday. Under the deal, EPH will cancel the shares it buys from PPF, boosting the stakes of the remaining shareholders, EPH and PPF said in a joint statement. EPH Chairman Daniel Křetínský’s stake will rise to 37% from 20%, while Patrik Tkáč will also hold a 37% share.