nuclear-news

EDF’s minority shareholders want French govt to be forced to buy them out.

EDF staff investors demands France buys out minorities in nuclear dispute  

Staff shareholder group says state abuses majority

* Minorities say EDF used as government policy tool

* EAS fears Hinkley Point will crimp future dividends (Adds detail on dividend, EDF no comment)

Reuters By Geert De Clercq  PARIS, April 19 An EDF employee shareholders group has asked the AMF market regulator to force the French state to buy out the utility’s minority shareholders, in a dispute over its plans to build nuclear plants in Britain.

In a letter to the AMF, seen by Reuters on Tuesday, EDF Actionnariat Salarie (EAS) asks the market regulator to consider requiring the state to launch a so-called public withdrawal bid.

EAS alleges that the government is abusing its position as a majority shareholder by forcing EDF to go ahead with building nuclear plants in Britain, which EAS says is too risky for EDF and will prevent it from paying dividends in coming years……..

HINKLEY POINT CONSEQUENCES

EAS argues that in pushing EDF’s 18 billion pound (22.8 billion euros) project to build two reactors at Hinkley Point, in Britain, the government defends the interests of the country’s nuclear industry rather than those of EDF, at the expense of its minority shareholders…….

Hinkley Point is crucial for the survival of reactor builder Areva and France’s many smaller nuclear companies, in an industry that employs about 200,000 people. With three quarters of its power generated by nuclear, France needs no more reactors, and export prospects are limited after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

“While the state only owns 85 percent of EDF’s capital, it behaves as if it is the sole proprietor and uses the company as a lever for its industrial policy,” EAS said.

It also said the UK project will prevent EDF from paying a dividend for at least seven years……..

On Wednesday, the government will discuss EDF’s finances ahead of an EDF board meeting on Friday. Sources close to the company said the board will review financing options but will not decide on Hinkley Point. (1 euro = 0.7906 pounds) (Editing by Alexander Smith)  http://www.reuters.com/article/edf-nuclear-shareholders-idUSL5N17M5CN

April 20, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | France, politics