The government expands up to 2023 the shielding of Spanish companies before the landing of foreign investors

The Government has expanded until December 31, 2022, the Shield to Strategic Companies, the popularly known as Shield 'Antiopas', through a Royal Decree approved by the Council of Ministers that includes the extension of other measures to respond to The pandemic.

"The expansion of the validity of this measure aims to protect security, health and public order, as well as guarantee the legal security of economic operators," says the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation in a statement.

With this measure, the Government must authorize foreign investment in traded strategic companies in which it is intended to exceed 10% of capital, as well as those not listed on which the investment exceeds 500 million euros.

This extension arrives after a public acquisition offer (OPA) of the KKR Fund to Telecom Italia desatarious rumors about a similar movement of Telefónica and in a context in which the Recovery of the IBEX 35 after the pandemic is less than that of the rest of the European bags.

By virtue of the aforementioned 'shield', the Government has given its authorization prior to operations such as the purchase of Euskaltel by Masmobile or the OPA of IFM to Naturgy, whose authorization was conditioned.

Likewise, the funds for recapitalization of companies managed by the State Society of Industrial Participations (SEPI) and COFIDES will be in force until June 30, 2022.

In parallel to the approval of the Extension, the State Society of Industrial Participations (SEPI) has approved and the Council of Ministers has authorized this rescues on Tuesday, the Airtificial Group, Serhs Group and Reinosa Forgings & Castings for 95 million euros in its set.

The Executive has also expanded until July 31, 2022 the Line of Aval of the Official Credit (ICO) for autonomous and companies that have guaranteed, until November 18, 1.13 million operations and deployed guarantees for 101,945 million of euros, which has allowed mobilizing investments for 133,975 million euros in financing to companies.

According to the Government, it is one of the most commonly used aid lines of the European Union, since it has also mobilized almost 2,000 million euros of investment in the alternative fixed income market (Marf).