Headlines
Equinor keeps options open for Orsted stake
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on September 10, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Quick Summary
Equinor is exploring options for its 10% stake in Orsted, focusing on the value of offshore wind projects, but no merger plans are in place.
Equinor keeps options open for Orsted stake
OSLO (Reuters) -Equinor believes in offshore wind farm developer Orsted's core business but is not at a stage where the two will merge their renewables businesses, the Norwegian group's board chair said on Wednesday.
Oil group Equinor holds a 10% stake in Orsted and has said it will take part in the Danish group's emergency rights issue designed to fund U.S. projects thrown into uncertainty by President Donald Trump's opposition to wind farms.
"We are convinced that there is a robust value case here, and that's what we're looking for," Equinor Chair Jon Erik Reinhardsen said on the sidelines of an energy conference in Oslo.
"We have open minds in terms of what it leads to," he said when asked if the Equinor may raise its stake in Orsted.
Some analysts have said Equinor would be open to spinning off its own renewables unit and merge it with Orsted.
"It might be one of many options, but again, we are not at that stage at the moment, that we are sitting and ranking options," Reinhardsen said.
Orsted's shares traded up 2.9% at 1208 GMT.
(Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis, writing by Anna Ringstrom and Stine Jacobsen, editing by Terje Solsvik)
Key Takeaways
- •Equinor holds a 10% stake in Orsted.
- •Equinor is open to exploring options with Orsted.
- •No immediate plans for a renewables merger.
- •Orsted's shares rose by 2.9% following the news.
- •Equinor supports Orsted's emergency rights issue.
Frequently Asked Questions about Equinor keeps options open for Orsted stake
1What is Equinor's current stake in Orsted?
Equinor holds a 10% stake in Orsted and plans to participate in the Danish group's emergency rights issue.
2Is Equinor considering a merger with Orsted?
Equinor is not at a stage where a merger of their renewables businesses is being considered, although they are open to various options.
3What did Equinor's Chair say about the value case for Orsted?
Equinor Chair Jon Erik Reinhardsen expressed confidence in Orsted's core business, stating there is a robust value case.
4How did the market react to Orsted's shares?
Orsted's shares traded up by 2.9% at 1208 GMT, indicating a positive market response.
5What are some potential options for Equinor regarding Orsted?
Equinor may consider various options, including possibly raising its stake or spinning off its renewables unit to merge with Orsted, but they are not actively ranking these options at this time.
