Rumors about Verbund's interest in investing in Sorgenia push Cir stock up (+1,6%)

Cir benefits from the Austrian attention for Sorgenia and rises on the Stock Exchange by 1,6%. Verbund, the minority shareholder (45%) of De Benedetti in the energy company, would be ready to increase its share by taking over the 52% held by Cir. Il Sole 24 Ore reports it, specifying that the holding company denies any intention to sell the shares, but admits that the issue has already been addressed by the two partners in recent weeks without starting any official negotiations. The move by the Austrians is part of a broader plan to verify the state of foreign holdings which would have led on the one hand to reaffirm Italy's importance and on the other to the decision to sell the 46% stake in the French group Poweo. In recent times, the energy company led by Massimo Orlandi has been at the center of a series of rumors about the interest of some large groups (Gaz De France and the Russians of Inter Rao) in entering the Italian market.