Centrica plc (Centrica) today announced that it is to increase its shareholding in Belgian generation and supply company SPE SA (SPE) to a controlling 51 per cent. Centrica has exercised its pre-emption right over the 25.5 per cent interest in SPE currently held by GDF International SAS (GdF) through an acquisition of GdF's 50 per cent stake in the 50/50 joint venture, Segebel SA. This will be added to Centrica's existing 25.5 per cent interest. GdF was obliged to dispose of its stake in SPE as part of the anti-trust remedies imposed by the European Commission as a condition of its approval of GdF's merger with Suez.
On completion, which is expected to take place in September 2008, Centrica will pay €515 million in cash for GdF's 25.5 per cent stake in SPE. In addition, deferred consideration of up to €105 million will be payable based on the final terms and the timing of approval of the "Pax Electrica 2" agreements under which SPE will acquire additional power offtake from Belgian nuclear power plants.
SPE's proforma earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation is approximately €240 million per annum when adjusted for a full year effect of both tranches of Pax Electrica 2.
SPE is the second largest power generation company in Belgium with around 1.6 GW of principally gas-fired production capacity and around 400 MW of capacity secured under long term procurement contracts. SPE has a customer base of around 1.5 million energy accounts and a retail market share of nearly 20%. For the year ended 31 December 2007, SPE's profit before tax was €39 million. As at 31 December 2007, SPE had gross assets of €1.8 billion.
Sam Laidlaw, Chief Executive of Centrica, said:
"Today's transaction is a logical next step in building on our existing stake in SPE; it delivers us a valuable controlling stake in the second largest power generation and energy retailing company in Belgium, which has one of the most dynamic energy markets in Europe.
Our 51 per cent stake in SPE increases the opportunities for Centrica in Europe and the Pax Electrica 2 agreements further enhance the value of this stake by making SPE increasingly competitive in the Belgian marketplace."