Berlin Smiles On Gazprom's E.ON Ruhrgas Stake Acquisition

摘要

BMI View: At a time when many European countries are keen to reduce their dependence on Russian gas, BMI believes an enhanced partnership with Gazprom could beneft both E.ON and Germany through improved access to Russia's upstream and potentially preferential gas prices. Russian gas-export monopoly Gazprom is looking to buy a stake in German utility E.ON, and is particularly interested in the company's gas subsidiary E.ON Ruhrgas, Gazprom's Alexey Miller told German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung on June 7. Such an acquisition would give Gazprom a foothold in Germany's gas distribution network, which has long been in the company's strategic interest. If the deal goes ahead it will face close scrutiny by the Bundeskartellamt, Germany's competition authority. However, the reaction from the German government to the news has so far been positive, and has pointed particularly to the economic benefts that the deal could provide for Germany.