Vattenfall, which is owned by the Swedish state, announced the sale plan in April this year.
The utility had sought a buyer for its vast German lignite assets after protests in Sweden and Germany convinced the government in Stockholm to shed the highly polluting activities, and move Vattenfall's power generation towards renewables.
Green groups criticised the sale, as it won't end the lignite activities in Germany, but only move the assets to another – and potentially less ecologically responsible – owner.
