Finance
Cez Plans Partial Sale of Non-Production Assets, Report Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 23, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 23, 2026
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Czech utility CEZ is reportedly preparing to spin off its non‑production assets—such as electricity and gas distribution and trading—and sell up to 49% of the new unit to potentially fund a share buyback, aligning with the government's goal of full control over power generation assets.
Czech Utility CEZ Eyes Partial Sale of Non-Production Assets, Report Finds
CEZ Considers Spinning Off and Selling Non-Production Assets
Overview of the Reported Plan
PRAGUE, April 23 (Reuters) - Czech power utility CEZ is preparing to spin off non-production assets such as electricity, gas distribution and trading, and sell up to 49% of the unit to investors, news website irozhlas.cz reported on Thursday.
Official Responses and Share Performance
CEZ and Industry Minister Karel Havlicek declined to comment on the report, which cited unidentified sources as saying the move could raise funds for a share buyback that would give the state full control over the company's power generation assets.
CEZ shares were up 1.3% at 0926 GMT.
Government Ownership and Strategic Goals
The government owns about 70% of CEZ, which has a market capitalisation of around $31 billion. The current government has said it wants full control of the firm, or at least its electricity generation business.
Government Statements and Timeline
Havlicek told reporters on the sidelines of a conference on Thursday that this remained the government's goal within its term running until 2029. The government has said any buyout of minority shareholders would be funded from CEZ's own resources.
Next Steps and Potential Outcomes
Annual General Meeting and Discussion
Prime Minister Andrej Babis said initial steps would be taken at CEZ's annual general meeting, which the company called for June 1 on Wednesday.
Irozhlas.cz said the spinoff plan was due to be discussed at the meeting.
Leadership and Investment Options
Possible IPO or Direct Sale
The new unit, which would be led by CEZ Deputy Chairman Pavel Cyrani, could be floated in an initial public offering or offered directly to investors such as international infrastructure funds, the report said.
(Reporting by Jan Lopatka. Additional reporting by Alicja Surdy in Gdansk. Editing by Mark Potter)
Key Takeaways
- •CEZ aims to hive off its non‑production operations into a separate unit and potentially sell up to 49% to investors to raise capital for a share buyback of generation assets. (globalbankingandfinance.com)
- •The Czech government, which holds around 70% of CEZ, is pursuing full control of the company’s electricity generation assets and plans initial steps via the June 1 annual general meeting. (swedenherald.com)
- •CEZ delivered strong financial results in 2025—EBITDA of CZK 137 billion—but faces pressures from softer electricity prices, spotlighting the importance of structural moves like the proposed spin‑off and buyback. (za.investing.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about CEZ plans partial sale of non-production assets, report says
1What assets does CEZ plan to sell?
CEZ is preparing to sell up to 49% of its non-production assets, such as electricity, gas distribution, and trading units.
2Why is CEZ considering this asset sale?
The sale is intended to raise funds for a share buyback, enabling the government to gain full control over CEZ's power generation assets.
3How much of CEZ does the government currently own?
The Czech government owns about 70% of CEZ.
4When will CEZ discuss the spinoff plan?
The spinoff plan is expected to be discussed at CEZ's annual general meeting on June 1.
5Who may lead the new CEZ unit?
CEZ Deputy Chairman Pavel Cyrani is expected to lead the new unit if the spinoff takes place.
