Germany prepares for possible nationalization of Gazprom Germania – article

BERLIN, Aug 28 (Reuters) – The German government has created a holding company to carry out a possible nationalization of Gazprom Germania, the energy company abandoned by Russia’s Gazprom (GAZP.MM) in April, Welt am Sonntag reported on Sunday.

Germany’s energy regulator said in April it would run the company – a trading, storage and transmission company – in the interests of Germany and Europe. Read more

Under the name Securing Energy for Europe Holding GmbH (SEEHG), the holding company is responsible for the company’s investments, the newspaper reported, citing a government document.

Two lawyers from the law firm CMS Hasche Sigle are the managing directors, he added.

CMS Hasche Sigle declined to comment on the report, citing confidentiality obligations.

Germany’s economy ministry said it was aware of the holding company and that its establishment was a precautionary measure for any restructuring measures.

“It is a purely preventive institution that currently only exists as a shell of company law,” a ministry spokesperson told Welt am Sonntag.

Reporting by Riham Alkousaa; Editing by Christina Fincher

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Alycia R. Lindley