PARIS, April 8 (Reuters) - EDF on Friday offered to buy out the minority shareholders in its alternative energy unit as the French state run utility sought to lessen its dependence on nuclear power.
EDF is offering the holders of 50 percent of EDF Energies Nouvelles 40 euros per share, a roughly 10 percent premium over its closing price on Thursday of 36.64 euros.
EDF also said that it will do a share buyback worth between 300 million and 1 billion euros, enabling it to "optimise liquidity" and prevent shareholder dilution caused by the transaction.
It also predicted that the deal would have an immediate positive impact on EDF's net income of more than 2 percent.