Energetický a prumyslový holding, a.s. (EPH), controlled by billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, has expressed interest in purchasing German power supplier Uniper SE (ETR:UN01), Reuters reported on Monday. The German company has also attracted as potential buyers US fund fund Brookfield, Norway's Equinor and Abu Dhabi's TAQA, the news agency said, citing unnamed sources. The German government, which holds 99.12% of Uniper, is assessing all options to lower its stake, a spokesperson from the finance ministry told Reuters.

Uniper was bailed out by the German state in 2022. The energy firm, which was active mainly in gas distribution at that time, went into dire straits because of the discontinued deliveries of Russian gas to Europe in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian military conflict. Uniper's nationalisation was part of a package of measures, worth up to EUR 34.5 billion (USD 35.6 billion), aimed at recapitalising the company.

The European Commission approved the package on condition that Germany should reduce its shareholding to 25% or less by the end of 2028.