10-12-03 EWE, the western German energy provider, has increased its stake in VNG, the eastern German distance heating company, to nearly 48 % by acquiring a 32.11 % holding from E.ON, Germany's largest energy group. The eastern German company is expected to lose its independence now that EWE controls a major stake in the company.
Wolfgang Clement, Germany's economy minister, however, had intended to guarantee VNG's independence as an eastern German gas provider. E.ON has to part with its stake in VNG as part of the conditions imposed for its acquisition of Ruhrgas, the German gas group.

Wintershall, the gas subsidiary of German chemicals giant BASF, and Russian group Gazprom had also bid for E.ON's stake in VNG.
Gazprom and the French group Gaz de France both hold stakes in VNG, but their influence on the latter will be diminished by EWE's acquisition of the shares held by E.ON.