Total Direct Énergie, formerly Direct Énergie, is a French international electric utility company, which operates in the fields of electricity generation and distribution, natural gas, and renewable energy. Founded in France in 2003 as an alternative to the historic monopoly Électricité de France, it is present in Belgium through the subsidiary Poweo.

Total Direct Énergie
Company typeSociété Anonyme
Subsidiary of Total S.A.
IndustryElectric utility
FoundedMarch 2003; 21 years ago (2003-03)
Headquarters,
Key people
Xavier Caïtucoli (CEO)
ProductsNatural gas distribution, electricity generation and distribution, wind power
RevenueIncrease1.966 billion (2017)[1]
€51.9 million (2017)[2]
Total equity€2.020 billion (2016)
OwnerTotalEnergies (100%)[3]
Number of employees
416 (2016)
Websitetotal.direct-energie.com

Activities

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The group produces electricity and serves 2.1 millions consumers[4] in France and Belgium, both in retail and company-oriented market.[5] It handles 800 MW of electricity production capacity, mainly gas power stations.[6]

History

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Founded in 2003, Direct Énergie made no profit in serving the corporate market nor the household market during its first years of existence. In 2008 is founded Neoen, a subsidiary dedicated to build and operate renewable power stations.[7]

The group bought 46% of its competitor Poweo [fr] in 2011,[8] before merging the following year.[9]

In April 2018, the French energy major Total S.A. announced their bid to purchase 74% of Direct Énergie capital from their main stockholders, for 1.4 billion euros.[10] On 6 July 2018 Total S.A. acquired 73.04% stake in the share capital of Direct Énergie. In September of that year, Total S.A. announced the acquisition of 95% of the shares and voting rights in the company, and that they would be beginning squeeze-out procedures to acquire the remaining shares. Following its acquisition by Total S.A., it withdrew from the Paris Stock Exchange Euronext Paris, with the suspension of trading on 19 September 2018 and its delisting on 27 September.[11]

In December 2022, the NGOs Friends of the Earth, Survie and four Ugandan NGOs sent the oil group Total to court and accused it of violating the law on the duty of vigilance of large French companies in terms of human rights and environment.[1].

Sponsoring

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Direct Énergie was a partner of the Olympique de Marseille from 2008 to 2010.[12] The company has been the main sponsor of a French pro cycling team since 2016.[13]

References

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  1. ^ https://total.direct-energie.com/fileadmin/Digital/Groupe/PDF/Rapport_annuels/2017/en/Annual_financial_report_2017.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ https://total.direct-energie.com/fileadmin/Digital/Groupe/PDF/Rapport_annuels/2017/en/Annual_financial_report_2017.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  3. ^ "Results of the Public Tender Offer of Total on Direct Energie". Total S.A. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  4. ^ Geert De Clercq, Benjamin Mallet, and Richard Balmforth (January 17, 2017). "Direct Energie targets 4 mln clients in France by 2020". reuters.com. Retrieved 6 August 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Document de référence 2016" (PDF). groupe.direct-energie.com (in French). 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Pourquoi Direct Energie investit dans les renouvelables". challenges.fr (in French). 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  7. ^ Frédéric De Monicault (6 February 2015). "Neoen déploie ses éoliennes en Australie". lefigaro.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  8. ^ Jean-Michel Bezat (1 October 2011). "Direct Energie prend le contrôle de Poweo". Le Monde.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Poweo Direct Energie : naissance du 3ème opérateur d'énergie français". Challenges.fr (in French). 12 July 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  10. ^ Nabil Wakim (2018-04-18). "Total va acheter Direct Energie et espère bousculer le marché de l'électricité". Le Monde.fr (in French). Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  11. ^ "Euronext". euronext.com. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  12. ^ "OM / Direct Énergie : Le bilan de 2 ans de partenariat". om.net (in French). 12 May 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  13. ^ "Europcar devient Direct Énergie". lequipe.fr (in French). 15 September 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
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