The federal government is about to take over the gas importer

Berlin, Dusseldorf The Düsseldorf company Uniper needs more government help than previously known. In a mandatory announcement, the company announced on Wednesday afternoon that, together with the German federal government, it was examining, among other things, a direct capital increase that “would lead to the federal government taking a significant majority stake in Uniper”.

An increase in the share to more than 90 percent is being considered, government and financial circles confirmed to the Handelsblatt. An equity injection of more than eight billion euros is under discussion, said a person familiar with the process. Since this would take place at a nominal share value of EUR 1.70, the federal government’s stake in Uniper would increase to just that 90 percent. The federal government would then make the remaining shareholders an offer for the remaining share, also for EUR 1.70 per share.

“Since it is unclear whether more support will be needed in the future, nationalization makes the most sense,” a person familiar with the matter told Handelsblatt.