German Uniper attracts Czech Křetínský’s EPH, employee resistance expected

Berlin, September 23 (CTK correspondent) - Energy and Industrial Holding (EPH), owned by billionaire Daniel Křetínský, has submitted a non-binding offer to acquire energy company Uniper. German website Handelsblatt reported, citing its sources. According to the website, the offer concerns the entire group and EPH is the sole bidder. The website also wrote that employee resistance can be expected. CTK is seeking EPH’s response.

In 2022, Uniper faced an existential crisis due to the disruption of Russian gas supplies to Germany in connection with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. For this reason, the company, the German government and its majority shareholder, Finnish company Fortum, agreed in the autumn of that year to nationalise Uniper. The stabilisation package cost the German government 13.5 billion euros (now CZK 329 billion). The German government holds a 99.12 percent stake in the company.