CriteriaCaixa Ends Talks With Taqa Amid Possible Naturgy Bid

By Adria Calatayud

Naturgy Energy Group's biggest investor, CriteriaCaixa, said it ended talks for a cooperation agreement with Abu Dhabi energy company Taqa, which in April said it was looking at a possible Naturgy takeover.

CriteriaCaixa--a big shareholder in some of Spain's largest companies--said late Monday that the talks with Taqa ended without reaching an agreement.

Naturgy and Taqa--which is formally known as Abu Dhabi National Energy--didn't respond to requests for comment from Dow Jones Newswires.

Taqa in April said it was in talks with Naturgy shareholders CVC and Global Infrastructure Partners to buy their stakes in the company and launch a possible takeover and in discussions with CriteriaCaixa regarding a possible cooperation pact over Naturgy.

CVC has a 20.4% stake in Naturgy and GIP has a 20% stake, while CriteriaCaixa holds 26.7%, according to Spain's stock-market regulator.

CriteriaCaixa--a holding company managing the business assets of La Caixa Foundation, which controls Spanish lender CaixaBank--said it would continue to explore alternatives to secure Naturgy's targets and reiterated its commitment as a long-term investor in the company.

Write to Adria Calatayud at adria.calatayud@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 11, 2024 03:56 ET (07:56 GMT)

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