For those of you who would like to know more about The Children’s Investment Fund, and would be tolerant of a little “side trip” that does not directly involve trains, there is an excellent article in the April 12 issue of the Economist magazine outlining how TCI is pulling the same stunt with One of Japan’s largest electricity wholesalers, “J-Power”.
TCI want’s to double it’s present stake in the formerly state owned electricity wholesaler, which has Japanese officials concerned that they might attempt to put profit ahead of long term planning and investment.
Not surprisingly, TCI has called upon J Power to pay higher dividends while at the same time taking on more debt. (yikes!!) Last month TCI released a 127 page plan calling for J Power to improve it’s performance by selling power direct to large users, and to eschew minority stakes in it’s own ventures abroad, for majority control and shedding it’s cross-shareholdings.
Japanese officials are (IMO) rightly concerned, J-Power now owns the main power grid linking the big four islands, no telling what an entity such as TCI might try to pull off if given majority control.