Goldman Sachs has reached an agreement to sell its Spanish energy business Redexis to a consortium formed by First State and CPPIB for 2 billion euros. Corporate transactions in Spain’s gas sector have been in focus over the last few months, benefiting Gas Natural’s share price.
The Colombian government has finally decided to liquidate the electricity distributor Electricaribe, controlled by Gas Natural Fenosa. The company was intervened by the government last November, as a temporary preventitive measure.
On Tuesday, the Colombian government ordered an intervention in Electricaribe because there was a risk the company could discontinue its services. Electricaribe is an electricity distributor with 2.5 million clients on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast. Gas Natural owns 85%, while the remaining stake is in state hands.
Repsol and La Caixa, via Criteria, have closed the sale of 20% of Gas Natural Fenosa to the US fund Global Infraestructure Partners (GIP) for €3.803 billion. GIP will now become one of the core shareholders of the energy multinational.
In recent times, hardly anything ever happens in the Spanish stock market. There are practically no IPOs or shareholder squabbles to attract investors’ attention. So when there is even a slight movement, like the possible sale of 20% of Gas Natural by majority shareholders Repsol and La Caixa, it shakes the market up more than normal.
Julius Baer Research | US natural gas prices surged more than 5% yesterday in part driven by slowing production and warm weather forecasts suggesting increased power demand. The official monthly statistics released yesterday showed a sequential decline of natural gas production in March, confirming the view among analysts that the shale oil drilling downturn will weigh on associated natural gas supplies.
Spain’s three biggest utility companies, Iberdrola, Endesa and Gas Natural, earned 30% less in 2015, recording a combined profit of € 5.0009,6 billion in 2015, 29.6% less than a year earlier.
MADRID | By Jaime Santisteban | Almirall, Campofrío and Sacyr are the most recommended values in the Spanish market, according the market consensus. Repsol turned down the offer to renew its two seats in the YPF ‘s board on Tuesday, and fixed its eyes in Norway instead. Also, unemployment in Spain reportedly dropped by 111,565 people in April. “Although this means a turning point in the Spanish economic recovery, the country remains in the deep well,” The Corner senior analyst Fernando G. Urbaneja explains.
MADRID | By Jaime Santisteban | Repsol could sell its 30% participation in Gas Natural before the summer. 20 % of it would go for sovereign wealth funds (yet unidentified) and 10 % through quick placement of shares. RENTA 4 believes the company will monetize the operation if other worthy investment opportunities are identified. SABADELL finds the move logical within negotiations with La Caixa (which controlls 1/3 of Repsol’s capital). ACF highlights that Gas Natural shares are turning out very profitable in dividend for Repsol (4.5%), making this sale not that attractive for that firm.