MILAN, June 23 (Reuters) - Italian energy group Eni

has sold a 20% stake in its retail and renewables

business Plenitude to U.S. alternative investment manager Ares

Management Corp ( ARES ) for about 2 billion euros ($2.3

billion), it said on Monday.

The transaction is part of the Italian group's long-term

strategy to find partners to jointly develop its businesses and

follows the sale of a 10% stake in Plenitude to Swiss investment

fund Energy Infrastructure Partners.

"Plenitude is an established leader in energy transition,

with a differentiated business model and an outstanding track

record," said Stefano Questa, co-head of European Alternative

Credit at Ares.

Plenitude operates in more than 15 countries and combines

more than 4 gigawatts of renewable energy production with a

power and gas retail business. It has more than 10 million

customers and manages a network of 21,500 charging points for

electric vehicles.

Mediobanca acted as Eni's financial adviser on the deal,

which values Plenitude at more than 12 billion euros including

debt.

($1 = 0.8693 euros)

(Reporting by Francesca Landini

Editing by David Goodman

)