United States .- (Emp.) IFM believes that it can support and open doors to naturalization in markets such as Australia and the United States.

He confirms that he is “very hopeful and excited” to carry on the operation.

Madrid, 21 (Europa Press)

The Australian fund IFM believes that if a reference to Naturgey moves forward to become a shareholder, it is due to its position as a global fund with assets around the world, support for energy in Australia and the two markets And may be in the form of an open door. United States.

During his participation in the ‘Foreign Direct Investment in the Spanish Energy Sector’ conference organized by FII organized by Jime Siles, vice president of IFM Investors and head of the fund in Spain, the matter may “synergize” Natzer’s stake in those markets Entering where both already exist, such as Australia, where the fund originated, or the United States, where it recently acquired 85% of renewable developer Swift Current Energy.

Naturge has created Australia, where it will expand its installed capacity to 700 MW (MW) and to the United States, where it has landed with a portfolio of 8 GW (GW) projects in solar power, with 5 GW in procurement and storage . , Two strategic markets for international development in renewables.

He added, “The Nativity management team will always be able to trust them, support them and even open doors and bring them ideas to form ‘ad hoc’ partnerships in specific projects.”

In addition, he said that the fund would support Naturgee with its ability to “continuously raise capital”, which “gives financial muscle to companies that allow them to invest in large investment projects for many years, without specific obligations at the level of sales.” Allows to withstand “. Of assets nor pressure from a shareholder who asks for dividends and profitability “in the short term”.

He also outlined IFM’s vocation, which seeks to acquire up to 22.69% of Naturgy’s capital for some 5,000 companies, permanently “long-term” in companies where it invests, as it There is an “open fund” that seeks to “maximize the value of companies in absolute terms.”

The team taken by Francois of France is “very”

In the specific case of Naturgy, he stressed that this is a company IFM had long been pursuing due to its presence in the field of energy, and its management team also attracted “a lot”, with its president Francisco. Heads to Renis with whom he had already known since the time of Ebertis.

Thus, the Australian Pensioners Fund believes that, in the current context of the energy transition, naturalization is going to be “a relevant player”. “It was a confluence, so it seemed like a good moment, also driven by good investment in Spain,” he said, adding that IFM was “very hopeful and excited” that the operation would move forward.

Similarly, Siles confirmed that IFM, which has invested more than 3,000 million in Spain since 2018, is committed to “assets of a regulated nature” to companies such as Aquia as they are most anticipated “, And right now it is very interested in energy transformation, “focusing on the companies that are in it and whose technologies allow them to be leaders”.

He said, “We are above all a stable shareholder. Usually we invest in companies to stay for decades and I believe that in the context of the energy transition, there is a need for a shareholder who has a medium And have a long-term vision. ” Is the relation.

Spain is the framework for a “clear and solid” boundary

In this sense, he considered that Spain has a framework for the current government-defined energy transition that is “clear and concrete”, so IFM sees that “the right time to make a long-term investment of size” is like Naturiz. “We also see it as an opportunity to accelerate and be part of that energy transition,” he said.

IFM submitted its voluntary and partial public offering last February for the acquisition of 22.69% of the share capital of the Spanish company Naturgy, with a minimum approval level of 17%.

It is pending to obtain the approval of the Council of Ministers of Operations due to the preservation regulations approved last year, which allow the executive company to veto the purchase by more than 10% of a foreign company of a Spanish company in the strategic sector.