By Francesca Landini
MILAN, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Italian energy group Eni ENI.MI is in talks with several funds over the potential sale of a minority stake in its renewable and retail business Plenitude, two sources with knowledge of the matter said on Friday.
The possible sale would be another step in Eni's strategy of tapping specialised investors to help fund the group's energy transition. In March, Eni completed the sale of 7.6% in Plenitude to Energy Infrastructure Partners.
The sources told Reuters talks between Eni and investors interested in the low-carbon business were based on a valuation for Plenitude of more than 10 billion euros ($11.08 billion), which is the value at which EIP entered the share capital of the unit earlier this year.
One of the sources said that U.S. asset management firm Apollo Capital Management, Norway's private equity fund HitecVision and London-based private equity firm Trilantic Europe were among the investors interested in the potential acquisition of a stake of around 10% in Plenitude.
Eni declined to comment.
Apollo, HitecVision and Trilantic were immediately available for comment.
Plenitude generates power from renewables, sells electricity, gas and energy services to households and businesses, and is developing a of charging points for electric vehicles. It targets earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of 1 billion euros this year, up from 0.9 billion euros in 2023.
Under its so-called satellite strategy, Eni is creating separate units focusing on specific businesses, such as renewable energy and biofuels, and is clinching partnerships with investors interested in supporting their growth.
In July, the state-controlled group announced exclusive talks with U.S. investment company KKR over the sale of up to 25% of its biofuel business Enilive.
($1 = 0.9023 euros)
(Reporting by Francesca Landini. Editing by Jane Merriman)
((francesca.landini@thomsonreuters.com; +39 02 66129437; Reuters Messaging: reutersitaly.thomsonreuters@reuters.))