EWE and EWE-Verband have agreed on the transfer of 26% of EWE AG’s shares to Ardian, a French private investment house and infrastructure investor. Once the transaction has been completed, the partners will work together to accelerate EWE’s growth, investing particularly in the strategic areas of renewable energy, telecommunications and networks.
EWE and EWE-Verband had been gradually acquiring shares back from former partner EnBW since autumn 2015 with plans to find a new investor. The closing of the transaction is subject to the approval of the German Federal Cartel Office, which is expected in the first quarter of 2020. The companies are not disclosing the financial details of the transaction. Once the transaction has been completed, the following companies will hold a stake in EWE: EWE-Verband, with 74% (59% Weser-Ems-Energiebeteiligungen, 15% Energieverband Elbe-Weser Beteiligungsholding) and Ardian with 26%.