Naturgy Energy Group SA

Spanish utility Naturgy on Thursday reported a 19% drop in 2020 core earnings on lower demand for gas and electricity as a result of the coronavirus outbreak and a less favourable international gas market.

The Spanish government will analyze thoroughly whether to authorise the 5.06 billion euro ($6.12 billion) bid made by Australian-run fund IFM for a minority stake in Naturgy, Economy Minister Nadia Calvino said on Thursday.

Investment fund IFM Global Infrastructure Fund offered on Tuesday to buy a 22.7% stake in Spain's Naturgy for 5.06 billion euros ($6.13 billion), sending the power group's shares soaring 16% to lead gainers on Madrid's bourse.

Spanish power company Naturgy plans to invest up to $1.8 billion in the United States after making its first push into the U.S. market with a deal to buy a solar energy developer, the company said on Friday.

Naturgy is nearing a deal to buy U.S. solar firm Candela Renewables, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, marking the Spanish group's first ever deal in the United States, one of the markets where it wants to focus its expansion strategy in the next five years.

Spanish utility Naturgy and gas system operator Enagas are joining forces to build a plant capable of making 9,000 tonnes a year of clean hydrogen, a fuel that policymakers hope can help slash carbon emissions from industry.

Spanish power company Naturgy <NTGY.MC> said on Friday it had agreed to sell 96% of its Chilean utility Compania General de Electricidad <CGE.SN> to China's State Grid International Development for 2.57 billion euros ($3.04 billion).

Spanish utility Naturgy <NTGY.MC> is taking advantage of slumping gas prices to renegotiate supply contracts, it said on Wednesday, after the crippling effect of the coronavirus crisis on demand sent its first-quarter net profit plunging 42%.

A deal struck between Spanish gas firm Naturgy Energy Group , Italy's Eni and the Egyptian government to resolve a series of disputes over a shuttered gas plant in northern Egypt has fallen through, Naturgy said on Thursday.

A deal struck between Spanish gas firm Naturgy, Italy's ENI and the Egyptian government to resolve a series of disputes over a shuttered gas plant in northern Egypt has fallen through, Naturgy said on Thursday.

* NATURGY SAYS HAS APPROVED THIRD INTERIM DIVIDEND OF GROSS 0.593 EUROS PER SHARE PAYABLE ON 25 MARCH 2020

* SAID ON SUNDAY AFTER REVIEW OF THE MEASURES ADOPTED BY THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT ON MARCH 14 AND DUE TO THE PROGRESS OF THE COVID-19 INFECTION, THE BOARD HAD DECIDED TO CALL OFF THE ANNUAL GENERAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 17

Italy's Eni and Spain's Naturgy have reached an agreement with Egypt to resolve a series of disputes over the Damietta gas liquefaction plant in northern Egypt, paving the way for the facility to restart by June, the companies said on Thursday.

Spain's Naturgy Energy Group SA <NTGY.MC> and Algeria's Sonatrach have agreed to buy Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala's 42.09% stake in the Medgaz pipeline, which carries natural gas from Algeria to Spain, Naturgy said Tuesday.

Naturgy <NTGY.MC> will temporarily suspend around 300 employees in Spain while it awaits the outcome of a regulatory proposal to limit the amount of income it can earn from investments in transporting and distributing gas, the utility said on Thursday.

Spanish gas company Naturgy <NTGY.MC> reported a 7% rise in core earnings for the first half of the year on Wednesday, supported by the strength of its gas network business in Spain and abroad.

Spain's Naturgy Energy Group reported higher annual core profit and sales on Wednesday but a heavy annual net loss after a 4.9 billion euro ($5.6 billion) writedown on assets including coal and nuclear plants last June.