Germany's finance ministry kicks off Uniper sale, newspaper reports - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
Finance

Germany's finance ministry kicks off Uniper sale, newspaper reports

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on May 18, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: May 18, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google

Germany Initiates Uniper Sale to Reduce Government Stake by Year-End

Government Plans and Process for Uniper Stake Reduction

Background of Uniper Nationalisation

BERLIN, May 19 (Reuters) - Germany's finance ministry kicked off a sales process for bailed-out energy firm Uniper on Tuesday to reduce the government's stake to 25% plus one share by the end of the year, according to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

Privatisation Timeline and Interested Parties

Interested parties have until June 12 to contact the finance ministry, the newspaper reported, citing its privatisation plan.

Potential Sale or Listing

Two people familiar with the matter told Reuters last month the process, which will likely result in a sale or listing of the company, could be started via an official tender note before the summer.

Government Oversight and Response

Uniper was nationalised by the government during the 2022 European energy crisis. The finance ministry oversees Berlin's 99.12% stake in the company.

Ministry's Statement

The ministry did not respond to an emailed request for comment outside of business hours.

(Reporting by Rachel More; Editing by Chris Reese)

Key Takeaways

  • The German government, currently owning approximately 99.12% of Uniper following its 2022 bailout, plans to reduce its stake to 25% plus one share by end‑2028 under EU conditions (de.wikipedia.org).
  • A sales process has been launched with interested parties invited to contact the finance ministry by June 12 to prepare for either a sale or stock market listing (uniper.energy).
  • Uniper was nationalised during the 2022 energy crisis via capital injection and acquisition of Fortum’s shares to safeguard Germany’s energy security (bundesfinanzministerium.de).

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Germany selling its stake in Uniper?
Germany's finance ministry is selling its stake to reduce government ownership in Uniper to 25% plus one share by the end of the year.
What is the deadline for interested parties to contact Germany's finance ministry?
Interested parties must contact the finance ministry by June 12, according to the privatisation plan.
How much of Uniper does the German government currently own?
The finance ministry oversees Berlin's 99.12% stake in Uniper.
Why was Uniper nationalised?
Uniper was nationalised during the 2022 European energy crisis.
How will the sale process for Uniper likely proceed?
The process could be started via an official tender note before the summer and may result in a sale or listing.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Finance

Explore more articles in the Finance category