Uniper to be reprivatized via IPO if possible
Federal government plans to sell its stake in the energy company
Berlin - The German government wants to sell its stake in the energy company Uniper. This was announced by Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) on Tuesday in Berlin. The aim is to privatize the company again through an IPO (Initial Public Offering) on the stock exchange. However, this will only be possible if the market conditions are right, Lindner emphasized. The federal government had acquired a 30 percent stake in Uniper in September 2022 to prevent the collapse of the company.
The state entry was initially limited to around six months. However, the government extended its commitment to Uniper several times. The background to this is the energy crisis, which has put a heavy strain on the company. Uniper had to buy gas at high prices on the world market to fulfill its supply contracts. This led to billions in losses. The state aid prevented the company from going bankrupt.
The federal government is now planning a gradual exit from Uniper. According to Lindner, the state's stake could be reduced to below 25 percent as early as this year. This would give the government more leeway to maneuver in terms of privatization. However, the final decision on the sale of the shares will depend on the market situation, Lindner said
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