Finland's Fortum makes $9.5B hostile bid for German utility
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Finnish energy group Fortum is offering to buy all the shares in German utility Uniper in an 8.05 billion-euro ($9.5 billion) deal that aims to boost Fortum's gas, hydroelectric and nuclear assets.
Fortum is offering to buy the 46.65 percent stake that Germany's E.ON holds and the rest of the shares for 22 euros each. It said Wednesday that the two power groups would complement each other and that it aims to be a "reliable and stable" shareholder.
Uniper's management says it sees Fortum's bid as hostile and doubts the companies fit strategically.
Under German takeover rules, Fortum is compelled to bid for all of Uniper's shares once it takes on a stake of over 30 percent.
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