"Hidroelectrica" and "Nuclearelectrica" to increase their share capital by 10%

The Ministry of the Economy will increase the share capital of "Hidroelectrica" and "Nuclearelectrica" by 10%, in a public offering, the Ministry announced yesterday. The institution did not mention the date of the offerings for the two energy companies.

The Ministry of the Economy also announced that the offer to sell 9.84% of "OMV Petrom" (SNP) will be resumed in the first part of 2012, after the secondary public offering failed this month, due to the fact that the subscriptions did not reach the level of 80%, needed for closing the offering.

Mihai Chişu, broker at "IFB Finwest", considers that a secondary offering at "OMV Petrom" in 2012, could be successful if the criteria and recommendations of the intermediation syndicate were followed in 2012. The economic environment will also be important, specifically if market sentiment will improve and Romania will be perceived as less risky, he said.

The Minister of the Economy yesterday said that he intends to sell 15% of the shares of "Transelectrica" and "Trans-gaz", in a secondary public offering, by the end of the year.

Also, "Romgaz" will be listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, through the sale of a block of 15% of its share capital.

Mihai Chişu also said that the privatization of these companies would also mean increased transparency, the existence of better control, which would lead to greater profits.

As for the impact that the failure of the secondary offering of "OMV Petrom" might have on those of "Transelectrica" şi "Transgaz", Mihai Chişu said that it might indeed affect them negatively. However, if the two offerings proved interesting to investors, they will be successful.

The officials of the Ministry of the Economy yesterday spoke to the representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the European Commission, on the current stage of the measures mentioned in the Letters of Intent, the status of the creation of the two large energy companies, as well as the plans for the privatization/restructuring, liquidation of the companies which the ministry has in its portfolio.

"After a series of analyses, the conclusion was that the measures that the Ministry of the Economy committed to implement for the eight companies of the ministry"s portfolio which were being monitored in 2011, and the officials of the IMF praised the Ministry"s progress. Thus, following the analysis of the forecasted 6-month results, the companies in question achieved the required results", the press release of the Ministry says.

The Ministry of the Economy has announced that by October it would perform a study on the creation of the two energy companies, which was decided through Government Ordinance no. 56/20.01.2010 and Government Ordinance no. 357/14.04.2010, which was blocked following lawsuits by the Proprietatea Fund and several unions and individuals.

"This analysis will clarify the legal status of the company and will make a final decision on the matter", the press release states.

Also, the Ministry has agreed with the IMF to reorganize the energy industry into two other energy companies, which would not include "Hidroelectrica" and "Nuclearelectrica".