EWE and EnBW request new deadline

Oldenburg, Germany, 26 February 2009. EWE AG and EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG have requested that the German Federal Cartel Office push back its decision about whether or not to allow EnBW to acquire a stake in EWE. Both companies needed more time to assess the consequences of the Cartel Office permitting the acquisition. They requested that the deadline be extended to 15 June 2009.

"We're on the right track with the Cartel Office and are full of confidence that nothing will obstruct the merger," explained EWE spokesman Daniel Waschow. "However, in light of the scope and importance of the merger, we simply need more time."

The Cartel Office is currently set to announce its decision on 9 March. Over recent weeks, however, talks with the Cartel Office have indicated that the complex nature of the case meant that this date would not be met, clarified Waschow further. For this reason EWE and EnBW jointly decided to request the deadline extension.

EnBW is looking to acquire a 26 per cent stake in EWE. EWE's shareholders had agreed to EnBW's acquisition in July 2008.