DÜSSELDORF (dpa-AFX) - The nationalized energy group Uniper will at least theoretically be able to pay a dividend again from 2024. A virtual extraordinary general meeting on Friday approved the necessary capital measures, such as a capital reduction. Shares are also to be pooled: 20 old Uniper shares will become one new share.

The restructuring of equity will fully offset the billion-euro balance sheet loss established at the end of 2022 by the end of 2023. This will restore the company's ability to pay dividends, the company announced.

"In this way, we are creating an option for the German government to sell its Uniper shares again in the future," said CEO Michael D. Lewis. Restoring the company's ability to pay dividends should make it more attractive for future investors.

The energy group, which was almost completely nationalized in the wake of the gas crisis, is to be privatized again. The EU had obliged Germany to reduce its stake in Uniper to 25 percent plus one share by the end of 2028.

The measures serve to put Uniper back on a clean balance sheet after the "rollercoaster of the last two years", said Lewis. "We are back on a sound footing and can now look to the future."

Uniper is Germany's largest gas trader and gas storage operator. With the exception of district heating, the company does not supply private customers. According to a forecast from October 24, the company expects a net profit of four to five billion euros for the current year.

When Russia reduced and finally stopped gas supplies last year, Uniper got into difficulties due to the high costs of procuring replacements. The German government then put together a stabilization package worth billions of euros, of which Uniper received 13.5 billion euros. Since then, the federal government has held a good 99 percent of the shares./tob/DP/ngu