Medco Energi in talks to buy controlling stake in Senoko: sources

Medco Energi Internasional is in exclusive talks to buy a controlling stake in Senoko Energy, according to people with knowledge of the matter, in a deal that could value the Singapore-based power firm at as much as US$1 billion.

The exclusivity arrangement for talks over a 70 per cent stake in Senoko will expire at the end of the month, said the people, asking not to be named as the process is private. Deliberations are ongoing and there is no certainty that Jakarta-based energy producer Medco will proceed with any deal, the people said.

Senoko declined to comment, while a representative for Medco said the company often explores new potential targets, without elaborating further.

The majority shareholders of Senoko were considering selling their stakes in the Singaporean electricity retailer at a valuation of as much as US$3 billion, Bloomberg news reported in February. That valuation has since come off substantially because of a worsening outlook, the people said.

Earlier this month, Sembcorp Industries bought 30 per cent of Senoko from Engie Global Developments for an undisclosed sum, according to a stock exchange filing.

Japan’s Marubeni and French utility Engie are part of a consortium which, in 2008, bought Senoko from Singapore’s Temasek for S$3.65 billion. The group also included Kansai Electric Power, Kyushu Electric Power and Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and it took up S$323 million of net debt at the time.

The sale of Senoko in 2008 was part of Temasek’s plan to divest all of its wholly owned power generation companies in the country. BLOOMBERG