PARIS/ROME (Dow Jones) -- French power group Electricite de France SA (EDF.FR) has requested an extraordinary board meeting of Edison SpA (EDN.MI) for Monday in its latest effort to revive a long-sought plan to seize control of the Italian utility, people familiar with the situation said.

The meeting has been set up at the request of EDF's representative within Edison's board, one of the people said, noting that the discussion could focus on Edison's finances. Board members could also discuss a potential plan to increase the group's capital.

EDF has been trying for more than two years to take strategic control of Edison, which would strengthen the French company's hold in Italy and bolster its natural gas exposure. But EDF's efforts have met repeated problems in Italy, most recently when Italian securities regulator Consob said the price offered by the French company was too low.

For now, Monday's agenda is set to focus strictly on the regulator's ruling on EDF's share price offer, another person familiar with the matter said. But the meeting could also consider other topics.

Milan-based Edison, which has been badly hit by costly gas contracts, had a net debt of EUR3.88 billion at the end of 2011, slightly higher than a year earlier. Wednesday, Edison's market capitalization was around EUR4.54 billion.

EDF representatives are also to meet with the Italian regulator Consob on Friday, during a "technical meeting" to get details about the regulator's arguments and calculations, one of the people said.

No one at the Consob was immediately available to comment.

A preliminary deal, announced in December, would see EDF increase its stake in Edison from 50% to 80.7% at a cost of around EUR700 million, and would grant Delmi, a company controlled by Italian utility A2A SpA (A2A.MI), 70% of Edipower SpA, which owns nine power plants in Italy. Edison owns 50% of Edipower.

EDF's efforts met political resistance from the former government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The current government of Premier Mario Monti didn't object to the Edison deal between EDF and Italian shareholders. Italian regulator Consob has been set up as an independent agency. It isn't clear whether EDF's latest potential move would win Consob backing absent a higher premium.

Last week, EDF said it is seeking alternative ways to "secure" the future of Edison after Consob said the EUR0.84-a-share price offered for a planned bid for additional shares in Edison was too low.

EDF has previously made confirmation by Consob of the EUR0.84-a-share price an undisputable condition for the deal to be sealed.

Even though analysts initially believed EDF could increase the price, some of them have turned more skeptical of such a tactic and believe a capital increase could be the solution for the French group.

"EDF maintains its strict position of a maximum price of EUR0.84 per Edison share," Natixis analyst Philippe Ourpatian said, adding EDF's statement last week on the matter was "very clear." He rates EDF at neutral.

A capital increase would allow EDF to increase its shareholding position as other shareholders such as A2A SpA (A2A.MI) and Iren SpA (IRE.MI) through Delmi and Carlo Tassara might not have the means to inject additional cash into Edison, Ourpatian noted, adding that this would also lower Edison's ultimate valuation.

The situation is "a test of EDF's capital discipline," said Credit Suisse analyst Michel Debs. "While Edison has a clear strategic value to EDF as it plays into its long-term strategy of diversifying away from nuclear and building up a gas platform, any cash paid for minorities would have to be backed by clear value-creation targets and a well-defined strategy."

At 1341 GMT, shares in EDF were trading 1.7% higher to EUR16.80 while the CAC-40 benchmark index was up 1.4%. Edison shares were down 1.0% at EUR0.84, while Italy's benchmark FTSE Mib was up 2.5%.

- By Geraldine Amiel and Liam Moloney, Dow Jones Newswires; +33 1 40171767; geraldine.amiel@dowjones.com, liam.moloney@dowjones.com;

Iren (BIT:IRE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024 Click Here for more Iren Charts.
Iren (BIT:IRE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024 Click Here for more Iren Charts.