MADRID, 17 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) has provisionally and with immediate effect suspended the listing of Naturgy "while relevant information about the aforementioned entity is disseminated."

At the time of the suspension, the energy company's shares rose 1.3%, to 21.80 euros per share.

Naturgy shares rose almost 3.4% yesterday on the stock market after CriteriaCaixa confirmed that it is holding "preliminary" conversations with a potential investment group that is in contact with some of the energy company's key shareholders and interested "in reaching a potential agreement of partners" with the investment vehicle of La Caixa.

Specifically, the titles of the first gas company and third largest electricity company in Spain were the best value of the Ibex 35 in the stock market session on Tuesday, registering a rise of 3.36% at the end of the day, up to 21.52 euros, its highest closing price since late February.

Naturgy shares, which soared by more than 8% at some points yesterday, lost strength throughout the session, although they ended up recording their best trading day since October 14, 2022.

More than 87% of the energy company's capital is in the hands of its significant shareholders, including Criteria, which has 26.7%, three foreign investment funds - CVC, with 20.7%; GIP -in the process of being absorbed by the giant BlackRock-, with 20.6%; and IFM, with 15% - and the Algerian state company Sonatrach (4.1%).

In a statement to the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV), Criteria explained yesterday that the conversations with an investment group "are in a preliminary stage", so the final result cannot be predicted.

The investment arm of La Caixa assured that it is not part of the negotiations with the rest of Naturgy's shareholders and that if an agreement is reached, it will be publicly communicated.