Engie has announced that it is entering into exclusive negotiations with the construction group Bouygues for the sale of Equans, the entity bringing together the technical services activities of the energy giant, valued at 7.1 billion euros.
Read alsoRecovery of Equans: the home stretch
"Bouygues is committed not to implement any forced departure plan in France and in Europe for a period of 5 years from the completion of the transaction, and to the net creation of 10,000 jobs over 5 years"
, specifies Engie in a press release published overnight from Friday to Saturday.
Equans generates an annual turnover of more than 12 billion euros and employs 74,000 people worldwide, including 27,000 in France.
Three competitors were still in the running.
In addition to Bouygues, the Eiffage construction group had submitted a binding offer.
The American fund Bain Capital, allied to the French financier Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière, founder of the diversified holding company Fimalac, had also made an offer.
Read alsoThe sale of Equans by Engie turns into a rat race
"Bouygues' offer was the best in terms of all the criteria adopted by Engie, including financially,"
said the French energy giant.
"It values 100% of Equans at 7.1 billion euros in enterprise value and will reduce Engie's economic net debt by 7 billion euros
," he added.
The finalization of the sale is expected in the second half of 2022,
"once the information-consultation process of the representative bodies of Engie's personnel has been completed and subject to obtaining authorizations from the regulatory authorities"
, adds the press release. .
