* Haniel raises 2 bln euros from Celesio sale

* Looking outside retail sector at unlisted firms

* No plan to cut Metro stake

(Adds details)

DUISBURG, Germany, April 7 (Reuters) - German family-owned investment group Haniel FHANI.UL has a budget of 1.3 billion euros ($1.78 billion) for acquisitions and is looking primarily outside the retail sector and at unlisted companies, Chief Executive Stephan Gemkow said on Monday.

Gemkow, who was speaking to journalists after Haniel published its annual report, declined to give details on what companies might be in focus or when takeovers might be possible, saying Haniel was under no time pressure.

Haniel received about 2 billion euros following the sale of its stake in German drugs distributor Celesio CLSGn.DE to U.S. drugs distributor McKesson MCK.N . ID:nL5N0KX4AN

Haniel has been shedding assets to offset a massive 2012 write-down on its holding in German retailer Metro MEOG.DE and reduce debt which stood at 1.6 billion euros at the end of 2013.

Gemkow said Haniel, Metro's biggest shareholder, did not plan to reduce its holding in Europe's fourth-biggest retailer after cutting its stake to about 30 percent from 34.2 percent in late 2012, saying it sees potential for appreciation.

Haniel denied a report in January that it was pushing for a breakup of the Metro group to raise funds, including the sale or listing of Kaufhof department stores, Real hypermarkets and Media-Saturn consumer electronics chain. ID:nL6N0MH33S ($1 = 0.7303 Euros)

(Reporting by Matthias Inverardi; Writing by Emma Thomasson; Editing by Erica Billingham)

((+49 30 2888 5081)(Reuters Messaging: emma.thomasson.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: HANIEL METRO/