• EnBW reaffirms its commitment to the transmission grid
• Südwest Konsortium emphasizes regional focus and long-term financial partnership to support energy transition
• TransnetBW: "Jointly transforming the energy system to be climate-neutral"
EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG is selling a 24.95 percent minority stake in its subsidiary, the transmission system operator TransnetBW, to Südwest Konsortium Holding GmbH. The consortium is led by SV SparkassenVersicherung and consists of more than 30 banks, insurance companies and corporations from Baden-Württemberg.
The sale was conducted in a multi-stage bidding process with clearly defined criteria in compliance with state aid law. In addition to the economic value of the purchase price and the volume of the financing commitment, the reliability of the future partner was a key factor for EnBW. Closing of the transaction is subject to the approval of the relevant antitrust authorities, which is expected during the third quarter. The parties have agreed not to disclose financial details.
With the transaction now signed, EnBW has completed a major part of the partial sale process announced in February 2022. KfW has an option to acquire a second minority stake, likewise of 24.95 percent, which it can exercise in the coming weeks on the market terms established in the sale process. In any event, EnBW will remain the majority shareholder of TransnetBW.
Growing investment needs for transmission grid expansion
According to a study by EY and BDEW, one of the largest investments in the energy transition is grid expansion. To achieve the German government's climate targets by 2030, implementing the energy transition will require around €600 billion in investment. According to the results of a progress report on the energy transition published in mid-February, €126 billion of this will be accounted for by new power lines and power line modernization alone. Considerable investment is already being made in the expansion of Germany's transmission grids. The Grid Development Plan 2035 (2021) identifies around €10 billion in investment needed for TransnetBW alone, primarily for the major projects SuedLink and Ultranet. The future shareholders will meet TransnetBW's financing needs in proportion to their holding.
Statements by the parties:
EnBW CFO Thomas Kusterer: "We are delighted to have found in Südwest Konsortium a reliable partner for TransnetBW with a long-term focus whose offer fully meets all of our predefined criteria. At the same time, this provides EnBW with additional funds for growth investments to accelerate the implementation of the energy transition and to further expand our overall portfolio."
Dirk Güsewell, COO System Critical Infrastructure at EnBW and Supervisory Board Chairman at TransnetBW: "TransnetBW's network is of outstanding importance for security of supply and the success of the energy transition in the southwest of Germany. EnBW has taken responsibility for the transmission grid from the very beginning of the sale process. This is part of our basic philosophy as a reliable and sustainable infrastructure partner for the state, municipalities and our customers."
Peter Schneider, President of the Savings Bank Association of Baden-Württemberg, for Südwest Konsortium: "I see this as a historic decision on the part of EnBW. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has brought home to all of us the importance of secure energy supplies. A key part of this is the electricity transmission grid. The Baden-Württemberg investor consortium led by SV SparkassenVersicherung enables us to make the necessary investment from within the region. For the allied savings banks forming Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe Baden-Württemberg, this is part of our public mandate. As the region's largest banking institution serving more than half of the Baden-Württemberg population, we are committed to the partnership with EnBW for the long term."
Dr. Andreas Jahn, CEO, SV SparkassenVersicherung, for Südwest Konsortium: "We are delighted to have submitted the winning offer. All members of our investor group regard themselves as long-term financial partners of TransnetBW who aim through their investment to make a significant contribution to the improvement of Germany's energy infrastructure and the success of the energy transition. As a sustainability-focused investment, the acquisition of the stake in TransnetBW is a perfect fit with the investment strategy of Südwest Konsortium's member institutions."
Dr. Werner Götz, Chairman of the Executive Board, TransnetBW: "As the transmission system operator, we secure the electricity supply for millions of people in Baden-Württemberg. And we are creating the infrastructure for a successful energy transition, in particular by expanding the electricity grids. I look forward to a trusting partnership with Südwest Konsortium, working together on the climate-neutral transformation of the energy system and on securing the future of our common home region."
