PARIS—France’s government is offering to pay 9.7 billion euros ($9.85 billion) to take full control of EDF, in a buyout deal that gives it a free hand to run Europe’s biggest nuclear power operator as it grapples with a continent-wide energy crisis.
The finance ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that the government would offer EDF’s minority shareholders 12 euros per share, a 53 percent premium to the closing price on July 5, the day before the government announced its intention to fully nationalize the debt-laden group.
EDF shares, which resumed trading on Tuesday after a one-week suspension pending details of the government buyout plan, had jumped 15 percent to 11.80 euros by 8:36 a.m. GMT….