Spanish holding vehicle Criteria Caixa, S.A. is in discussions with an investor group that has been talking to some of Spanish energy provider Naturgy Energy Group, S.A.'s (BME:NTGY) core shareholders over a possible partnership agreement, Criteria said on April 16, 2024. Earlier, newspaper Cinco Dias cited unidentified market sources as saying that Abu Dhabi's TAQA Arabia S.A.E. (CASE:TAQA) was in discussion with Naturgy's three largest shareholders, including Criteria, over a possible takeover. Criteria said it was not part of the talks between the third party and other Naturgy shareholders, and could not provide any information in this respect.

The discussions with an investor, which it did not identify, were at "a preliminary stage and it is not possible to predict the outcome," it said. According to Cinco Dias, the negotiations, involving TAQA, Criteria and private equity investment funds CVC Capital Partners Limited and Global Infrastructure Management, LLC, started over a month ago with the knowledge of the Spanish government. Criteria, which is the main shareholder in lender CaixaBank, S.A. (BME:CABK), owns a 26.7% stake in Naturgy.

GIP and CVC each own around 20%. Naturgy declined to comment. TAQA did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

CVC declined to comment and GIP had no immediately response. If the newspaper report is correct, TAQA would have to launch a full takeover bid for the whole company, as Spanish legislation requires a mandatory tender offer when a buyer wants to acquire more than 30% of any publicly traded company.