Is International Power on the shopping list of GDF Suez
French utility giant GDF Suez is said to be in talks with leading UK power provider International Power in what could turn out to be a very difficult situation for the UK government. While no formal bid has been forthcoming as yet it is believed that the French authorities, who hold a 35% stake in the giant French utility company, have given the go-ahead for a bid for International Power. But how will the UK government react to this?
Over the last few weeks Lord Mandelson has been more prominent on the international scene suggesting that UK companies need to be protected from overseas predators. The situation regarding GDF Suez and International Power is one which could seriously backfire on the UK government because GDF Suez is effectively protected by the French authorities but no such protection is available for International Power.
As we saw in the gas market just last week, the UK government has lost control of UK utility companies and we are now at the beck and call of foreign giants who do not perhaps have the best interests of the UK at heart. While the stock market is likely to mark International Power shares higher in early trading tomorrow, and investors will be looking for confirmation of a bid for the company, this saga could turn into a stick of political dynamite!
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