VW receives preliminary bids for diesel engine unit Everllence at around $9.4 billion, sources say

By Andres Gonzalez, Alexander Hübner and Christina Amann

LONDON/MUNICH/BERLIN Feb 27 (Reuters) - Volkswagen has received bids valuing its diesel engine division Everllence at around 8 billion euros ($9.44 billion) including debt, according to three people familiar with the discussions, above what some analysts had estimated.

The disposal would rank among the largest carve‑outs by a European company this year, underscoring how major corporates are accelerating efforts to streamline their portfolios. The shift is creating a steady pipeline of non‑core but high‑quality assets for buyout funds to acquire, which are eager to deploy capital amid a rebound in dealmaking.

Private equity firms including Brookfield, CVC, Blackstone are among those that have submitted bids for the unit that produces shipping engines and heat pumps, as these investors seek industrial businesses unlikely to face disruption from artificial intelligence, the two sources said. Japanese diesel engine manufacturer Yanmar also submitted a bid, according to a fourth person. Porsche SE, Volkswagen's biggest shareholder, is considering investing in Everllence, the FT previously reported. The four people spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter is private. One of the sources said binding offers are expected in the next six weeks.

Volkswagen asked parties to submit bids in mid-February and notified recently some of them that they were advancing to the second round, two of the sources said.

Volkswagen declined to comment and has said previously the company was reviewing strategic options for the business. Porsche SE, the holding firm of the Porsche and Piech families declined to comment. Yanmar declined to comment. Blackstone, CVC and Brookfield declined to comment.

($1 = 0.8473 euros)