Engie Denies EDP Renovaveis Takeover Plan -- Update
June 26 2018 - 5:32AM
Dow Jones News
By Nathan Allen and Alberto Delclaux
Engie SA (ENGI.FR) said Tuesday that it isn't currently
preparing a takeover bid for Portuguese renewable-energy company
EDP Renovaveis S/A (EDPR.LB), following speculation about a
potential deal.
Engie said it hasn't taken any decision in relation to EDP
Renovaveis and wasn't preparing an offer. But Engie said it is
"constantly assessing investment opportunities," after Bloomberg
reported Monday that the French energy company was considering a
bid for all or part of EDPR, which is 82.60% owned by EDP-Energias
de Portugal SA (EDP.LB), or EDP.
EDPR's parent company EDP is itself the subject of a takeover
bid by its largest shareholder, China Three Gorges, or CTG, which
has also proposed to take over the remaining shares in EDPR not
owned by EDP. However, potential regulatory hurdles mean CTG may
have to dispose of certain assets to win approval for its EDP
takeover.
In its report, Bloomberg said some European utilities were
showing interest in EDPR, and expect CTG to sell assets to get
approval for its EDP deal. Engie is most interested in EDP
Renovaveis's U.S. portfolio, but is also considering a full
takeover bid, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources.
Bryan Garnier analyst Pierre-Antoine Chazal, however, said it is
more likely that Engie will team up with CTG to buy certain assets
rather than launch a full bid for EDPR. Mr. Chazal points out that
a full takeover of EDPR would complicate Engie's financial
situation, adding that the company is mainly interested in the U.S.
assets, a move that would make sense.
"The company does intend to increase its renewable footprint in
the country with the U.S. only representing a rather marginal share
of the group's overall earnings," says Mr. Chazal.
At 0840 GMT shares in EDP Renovaveis were up 3.2%, having
earlier risen as much as 7.5%.
Write to Nathan Allen at nathan.allen@dowjones.com and Alberto
Delclaux at alberto.delclaux@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 26, 2018 05:17 ET (09:17 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2018 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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