Bercy puts his hey to EDF. The electrician who announced, last week, the sale of the company examines that it has to the American giant Mara, will finally have to wait.
According to AFP, the French Ministry of the Economy asked EDF to ” reopen »The file for the sale of its technological nugget specializing in supercomputers. “” It is as if we suspended the procedure with Mara time to re -examine “Said the ministry, adding that the file remained in the hands of EDF, held by the State 100 %, and the State Participation Agency (APE).
An announcement that is surprising since EDF formalized on August 11 the signing of an agreement providing for the acquisition by theAmerican company, specialized in technologies related to digital assets, 64 % exam. A contract which must bring 168 million euros to the electrician. CThis transfer is also part of a particular context for EDF. The group seeks to be More selective in its investments at a time when the group needs to generate financial means to support the new nuclear program.
Wave of criticism
Bercy intervenes after several public figures deplored this sale. This was notably the case of a former Minister of the Economy. “” Are we going to sell off the sovereign tech nuggets that grow up in France? A apostrophe Antoine Armand on Sunday on the X Antoine Armand network.
On the state side, doubts are also felt. “” Exion operates activities that are not strategic or sovereign such as EDF or a defense company, but carries technologies that can be extremely important in the future and for which one could have an interest in keeping a part of sovereignty or a complete sovereignty “The Ministry told AFP.
Above all, ” The investment agreement in the Exion subsidiary between Mara and EDF Pulse Ventures is subject to several precedent conditions, including the control of foreign investments in France (IEF) “Soberly reacted EDF on Friday. As a reminder, L‘IEF applies if the investor is foreign, that the operation concerns a significant takeover or participation, and that the activity referred to in a sensitive sector.
Three scenarios
What will happen now? Bercy explains that there are now three scenarios: either EDF decides not to give in examination, or he is looking for another European investor, or the sale in Mara continues. In the latter case, a procedure for controlling foreign investments (IEF) would be triggered by the treasury, a potential blocking of which should be motivated.
One thing is certain, the appetite of Americans for French nuggets is only increasing. SElon the latest annual study of the ADAN, the association which represents Crypto companies, in 2024 the United States represented 55 % of funding funders greater than 100 million euros in European companies.