Centrica PLC (CNA.LN) plans to disrupt a deal between French state-owned companies Gaz de France (020848.FR) and Electricite de France SA (1024251.FR) in order to win control of Belgium's second-largest gas and electricity supplier SPE, The Guardian reports Tuesday.
Officials said Monday that Centrica, the owner of British Gas, would exercise its preemption rights to match the offer made by EDF for the 25.5% stake held by GDF in Liege-based SPE. Centrica already owns 25.5% of SPE.
The move is a significant element in Centrica's drive to expand its presence in mainland Europe, where it owns businesses in Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, the U.K. daily says.