Enel SpA (ENEL.MI), Italy's biggest utility by revenue, said Monday it isn't interested in bidding for Dutch energy company Essent, denying a report earlier in the day.
"We aren't interested," said an Enel spokesman.
Essent may be sold off if a merger with Dutch peer Nuon doesn't take place soon, Dutch newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad reported Monday.
Het Financieele Dagblad added that Essent is already having exploratory talks with Enel, Danish firm Dong A/S, the U.K.'s Centrica PLC (CNA.LN) and French company Suez (SZE.FR).
Essent's shareholders, all Dutch municipalities and provinces, value the company at around EUR10.4 billion, the newspaper said.