“We want to be the first band with real influence in Spain”
General manager Caixa criteriareverse lever La Caixa Foundation, Angel Simonasserts that their calling is “to be the first group with real influence in Spain” and that the industrial structure considers them its standard.
In an interview published this Sunday by the newspaper Vanguardthe first grant he awarded after taking office is a reminder that the group’s industrial assets “go back a long time.” The great promoter and promoter of this business strategy has always been Isidro Fein. Also Ricardo Fornesa. “These two from La Caixa laid the foundations of what is today called Criteria Caixa.”
Among the measures planned in its strategic plan are 100 company planto which they want to allocate 4000 million and which consists of investments in 100 small and medium-sized companies with an established product and that want to grow.
“We hope,” he explains, “to have a clear impact on business and industrial structure, to promote it and have a real impact on people. This complements the work of the La Caixa Foundation, which owns 100% of Criteria, through its social action“
Angel Simon explained that “having an impact” means for them “to be a reference point for growth through good manufacturing practices.” And when someone wants to grow, to innovate, to have good social practices, to care about sustainable development… he knows that one of his potential shareholders is CriteriaCaixa.
As for your profit forecast He estimates that this year it will be “at least 30% higher than last year, about 860 million.” Approximately more than 1.2 billion.
Regarding the purpose of the reorganization of share capital NaturgyThe CEO of CriteriaCaixa admits that it is difficult to find shareholders to replace the current funds they want to sell, and insists that it is a complex issue, but he has “no doubt” that they will find a solution.
Confirms that CriteriaCaixa is a “historical” shareholder Telephone and wants to maintain this position without leaving “any doubt”, while Talgo “It doesn’t fit” their priorities, so they are open to exploring suggestions from a knowledgeable industrialist, even though “no one” has offered them anything yet.
Regarding his participation in KaishaBank (31.2%) claim that they are “comfortable”. There is adequate governance, which means that the bank operates with absolute independence from the Criteria and the Fund, as set out in ECB“, so his perspective is to support himself, “neither rise nor fall.”
Simon explains 9.4% ACS from Florentino Perez because “it occupies a decisive position in North American market (Turner), as in Australian (Chimic) and in European (German Hochtief). Spain’s income does not reach 10%. It is internationalized and its construction area is technology related. Also to raw materials.
About the possible return of headquarters to Catalonia explains: “We have the headquarters of Criteria and the Foundation in Palma; but the operational headquarters, as you see, is here in Barcelona.
“We are also based in Madrid with another operations center. We have a multipolar perspective. Spain is diverse and our CaixaForums help us, scattered in many cities in Spain, to have observatories that are equally or even more important,” concludes Angel Simon.