ROME (Dow Jones)--Enel SpA (EN) expects to be able to conclude the sale of power assets to Germany's E.ON AG (EOA.XE) in the first half of next year as the two companies continue negotiations, the Italian utility's Chairman Piero Gnudi said Thursday.
"They aren't very simple negotiations," Gnudi told reporters in Rome. He gave an upbeat tone, adding: "Usually in such circumstances an agreement is reached."
E.ON agreed to withdraw its bid for Endesa SA (ELE.MC) earlier in the year, paving the way for Enel and Acciona SA's (ANA.MC) joint takeover of the Spanish utility. As part of the agreement, Enel and Acciona agreed to sell power assets to E.ON.