Finmeccanica energy unit says right time for IPO

MILAN, July 8 (Reuters) - Buoyant energy markets have provided Finmeccanica's (SIFI.MI) unit Ansaldo Energia with its best moment yet for a long-planned public offering, the division's CEO said on Tuesday.

The Italian defence and aerospace group last month said it would likely sell about 60 percent of the unit to help fund its purchase of U.S. defence firm DRS Technologies Inc. DRS.N.

Industry sources have said the unit is worth between 1.3 and 1.4 billion euros. The company has previously suggested it could launch an offering in the second half of this year.

"Ansaldo Energia's IPO was part of Finmeccanica's strategic plan last year which was halted because of unstable markets," Giuseppe Zampini, CEO of Ansaldo Energia, told reporters at an energy conference. "At this time, however, the energy market is doing really well and so this is undoubtedly the right moment."

Ansaldo Energia produces thermoelectric power plants and offers products and services to the power generation market. (Reporting by Benedetta Dalla Rovere; Editing by Paul Bolding)