The deal could stand at more than EUR1 billion, the largest in the last 12 to 13 years. The last such deal was closed in 2008.
Only three deals in Romania’s history – the takeover of 65% in BCR by Austria’s Erste, the acquisition by Vodafone of 79% in MobiFon-Connex and the acquisition of 75% in Rompetrol by KazMunayGas stood at more than EUR1 billion.
Czech-held CEZ has been looking to sell the operations in Romania and other countries for a year now, planning to focus on its home market.
The group arrived in Romania in 2005, when it took over electricity distributor Electrica Oltenia SA. CEZ is the main electricity supplier in SW Romania and also a supplier of natural gas, serving more than 1.4 million industrial and household consumers.
CEZ also owns the largest on-shore wind farm in Europe, which is located in Romania, in Dobrogea – Fantanele, Cogealac and Gradina, a EUR1.1 billion investment.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)