Eni signs agreement for KKR to increase its stake in Enilive

Eni announced Feb. 18 that it and global investment firm KKR have signed an agreement under which KKR will increase its stake in Enilive through an additional purchase of Enilive’s shares from Eni.

The purchase will correspond to 5 percent of Enilive’s share capital and will be funded through an additional investment of 587.5-million euros (USD$613.6 million).

Overall, the investment will give KKR a 30 percent stake in Enilive’s share capital, optimizing Eni’s capital structure while maintaining Eni’s control and consolidation of Enilive. 

The transaction is in line with the agreement signed between KKR and Eni last October for KKR’s acquisition of a 25 percent stake in Enilive’s share capital, which is expected to close by next month.

It is based on the same post-money valuation of 11.75-billion euros (USD$12.27 billion) of equity value for 100 percent of Enilive’s share capital. 

KKR’s further investment, backed by leading international co-investors, including large international pension funds among others, underscores market recognition and the solidity of Enilive’s business model, which is committed to offering integrated services and progressively decarbonized products to its consumers in the sustainable mobility sector.

Furthermore, the transaction highlights the validity of Eni’s satellite strategy, effectively attracting capital for specific business segments, enabling their independent growth and providing visibility into their fair market value. 

The closing of the acquisition of the additional 5 percent stake is subject to regulatory approvals of the competent authorities. 

“KKR’s additional investment confirms the attractiveness of Enilive to the market,” said Francesco Gattei, Eni’s chief transition and financial officer.

“Enilive is a solid and growing company, with an important financial partner, and it will play a crucial role in reducing emissions generated by the end use of our products, which is a key aspect of our path to net zero by 2050,” Gattei added.

“In line with our strategy, we will continue enhancing our best energy-transition businesses, enabling them to create value on their own, increase their market value, open up new opportunities in the capital market, make them attractive to important future industrial and financial partners and grow their business rapidly in support of our decarbonization path,” Gattei said.