Finance
Uniper to pay first dividend in four years as government exit nears
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 11, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 11, 2026
Quick Summary
Uniper will distribute its first dividend since 2021—€0.72 per share for 2025—signaling renewed financial stability ahead of a planned government exit via stock-market re-privatization.
Uniper to pay first dividend in four years as government exit nears
Uniper’s Financial Recovery and Government Exit Plans
By Christoph Steitz and Tom Käckenhoff
Dividend Announcement and Financial Performance
DUESSELDORF, March 11 (Reuters) - State-owned utility Uniper will pay a dividend for the first time in four years, it said on Wednesday, as the group prepares for a return to the stock exchange in an expected ownership exit by the government.
Dividend Details
The company, which was bailed out by the German government during Europe's energy crisis in 2022, proposed a dividend of 0.72 euros ($0.84) per share for 2025, translating to a payout of 300 million euros. Uniper last paid a dividend for the year 2021.
CEO Statement on Financial Stability
"The possibility of again paying dividends is a sign of Uniper's financial stability and a key component of its capital market viability," CEO Michael Lewis said.
Profit Forecasts
Uniper also forecast adjusted core profit of 1 billion euros to 1.3 billion euros for 2026, compared with 1.1 billion euros in 2025. Adjusted net income is expected at 350 million euros to 600 million euros in 2026, compared with 544 million euros last year.
Government Ownership and Exit Strategy
Berlin’s Nationalisation and Dividend Restrictions
BERLIN MUST EXIT UNIPER BY END-2028
As part of its nationalisation, which resulted in Berlin holding a 99.12% ownership stake, Uniper lost its ability to pay dividends but won back that right at the end of last year as part of its efforts to reprivatise.
EU Requirements and Sale Plans
The government is currently pursuing plans to either list or sell its stake, which EU requirements dictate must be lowered to 25% plus one share by the end of 2028.
Dividend’s Role in Re-IPO Path
Uniper on Wednesday said its dividend was key to "a potential re-IPO path", with finance chief Christian Barr saying any decisions on the nature of the sale and timing rested with the German government.
Future Investments and Strategic Plans
Investment in Hydrogen-Ready Power Plants
Through 2030, Uniper plans to invest around 5 billion euros, with more than half earmarked for Germany where the company intends to build around 2 gigawatts of hydrogen-ready gas-fired power plants.
($1 = 0.8595 euros)
(Reporting by Christoph Steitz and Tom Kaeckenhoff; Editing by Linda Pasquini and Joe Bavier)
Key Takeaways
- •Uniper proposes a €0.72 dividend per share for 2025, its first in four years, following government approval and financial stabilization via a 2022 bailout. (en.wikipedia.org)
- •The company forecasts adjusted core profit of €1.0–1.3 billion and net income of €350–600 million for 2026, down from €1.1 billion core profit and €544 million net income in 2025. (uniper.energy)
- •Uniper has fulfilled its €2.6 billion repayment obligation to the German state, cleared conditions for dividend payments, and is preparing for a partial re-privatization via stock-market listing. (investing.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Uniper to pay first dividend in four years as government exit nears
1Why is Uniper paying a dividend for the first time in four years?
Uniper is paying a dividend to signal its financial stability as it prepares for a potential government ownership exit.
2How much is Uniper's proposed dividend for 2025?
Uniper proposed a dividend of 0.72 euros ($0.84) per share for 2025.
3When did Uniper last pay a dividend?
Uniper last paid a dividend for the year 2021.
4What is the significance of the government's potential exit from Uniper?
The government's potential exit and return to the stock exchange marks Uniper's progress in recovery after its 2022 bailout.
