The soap opera of the Suez buyout project enters a crucial phase on Wednesday.
Engie, which expects an improved offer from Veolia, remains determined to sell its stake in Suez.
The group is in fact waiting for an inflow of money to refocus on its main businesses, renewable energies and infrastructure.
It's time for major maneuvers in the Suez file.
Wednesday should be crucial for the outcome of this highly sensitive industrial soap opera, which has agitated economic and political circles for several weeks.
Engie, which owns 29.9% of the capital of Suez, must play the arbitrators during its board of directors, Wednesday afternoon.
The energy group is waiting for an improved offer from Veolia to say whether or not it accepts the buyback of its shares in Suez.
But Engie is indeed determined to sell its stake in Suez.
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Refocus on its main businesses
The offer presented at the end of August to Engie by the water and waste giant Veolia expires on Wednesday.
But Engie's strategy is to refocus on its main businesses - renewable energies and infrastructure, such as gas storage.
To strengthen itself in these professions, Engie needs money.
The group therefore decided this summer to part with everything that is not essential in its eyes, such as waste and water management, Suez's core business.
A sale that can pay off big
Engie, which was born from the merger between Gaz de France and Suez environnement, had in a certain way inherited this stake in Suez.
A participation can pay off big: around 4 billion euros.
The energy group was offered 2.9 billion euros by Veolia to sell 29.9% of the capital, but it expects an improved offer.
To her, this single sale should represent half of the planned asset disposals.
Engie, who is in a hurry to settle this issue, wants to put its activities in working order before appointing a new boss or a new boss within a few days.
It will then be up to this general manager to apply the refocusing of the group.