No energy firms contacted in Velkommen customer sale

Not a single energy company was invited to bid on the 30,000 customers from the troubled Velkommen group, a joint survey by Politiken and DR Nyheder has found.

Reconstructor Flemming Jensen, the lawyer overseeing the sale, has said he approached actors in the energy sector and that the deal with Energidrift A/S for 16.7 million kroner was the only serious option. The transfer, set for Saturday unless halted today, covers 30,265 electricity customers, 12,169 IT security customers, 6,162 mobile customers, 2,749 gas customers, and 1,047 production customers.

All 23 energy firms that responded to the survey, including major players like Andel, NRGi, Ewii, and OK, said they had not been contacted by Jensen. Strømlinet’s Marco Thomsen said the company was surprised not to have been approached. SEF’s Lars Foged called the process puzzling.

Legal experts question whether Jensen fulfilled his duty to secure the highest possible price. Troels Michael Lilja, a professor of corporate law at the University of Southern Denmark, said the reconstructor must ensure the best deal for creditors. Jens Paulsen, a partner at law firm Hortendahl, added that failing to canvass the market broadly could create problems later, though the law does not specify how many firms must be contacted.

The four Velkommen companies—Velkommen A/S, Vedvarende A/S, Nettopower ApS, and b.energy gas ApS—entered reconstruction earlier this month after prolonged criticism for withholding high prepayments from customers. They are expected to file for bankruptcy on Tuesday regardless of the sale.