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Chile approves sale of electricity distributor to China's State Grid

The National Economic Prosecutor's Office (FNE), which regulates and enforces competition regulations in Chile, has approved the sale of Chilquinta Energía by Sempra Energy to State Grid International Development (SGID). In addition, the competition regulator has also accepted the acquisition and the merger of the companies Eletrans, Eletrans II and Eletrans III by Chilquinta Energía.

In October 2019, Sempra Energy entered into an agreement with SGID – a fully-owned subsidiary of the Chinese power transmission company State Grid Corporation of China – to sell its equity interests in its Chilean activities. The sale includes Sempra's 100% stake in Chilquinta Energía for US$2.23bn in cash, its 100% interest in Tecnored and its 50% stake in Eletrans. In addition, Chilquinta Energía has signed an agreement to acquire the 50% held by Sociedad Austral de Electricidad in Eletrans, which will enable Sempra Energy to transfer 100% of Eletrans to SGID.

Chilquinta Energía is the third-largest distributor of electricity in Chile, providing electricity to approximately 2 million consumers in the regions of Valparaíso and Maule in central Chile. In addition, Chilquinta Energía also develops and operates power transmission lines in Chile. Tecnored provides electric construction and infrastructure services to Chilquinta Energía and third parties, while Eletrans owns, builds, operates and maintains power transmission facilities. SGID currently has investments in the Philippines, Brazil, Portugal, Australia, Hong Kong, Italy and Greece and the transaction will enable the group to enter the Chilean market.