EDF plans to acquire between 51 % and 75 % of the capital of ‘New NP’ which houses the Areva Group’s nuclear reactors business, including construction of EDF’s new-build project, Hinkley Point C in Somerset.The decision clears one potential barrier to completion of the plant.

The Commission concluded that the proposed takeover is unlikely to cause competition issues. As regards the market for the design and construction of new reactors, the Commission has concluded that EDF and New NP would not be in a position to push out their competitors because of the different market characteristics and the number of suppliers and also the number of nuclear plants not operated by EDF.

The transaction was notified to the Commission on 18 April 2017.

The transaction is part of the ongoing restructuring plan to restore Areva’s competitiveness, which includes sale of the Areva Group’s nuclear plant industrial activities to EDF. The EC had already cleared France’s proposal to grant aid to Areva in the form of a capital injection of €4.5 billion.