OSLO, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Norway's $790 billion sovereignwealth fund, the world's largest, will vote in favour of themerger of energy companies Royal Dutch Shell and BG, it said on Wednesday.
"Norges Bank Investment Management considers that thetransaction accelerates value for BG Group PLC shareholders andis in the best long-term interest of Royal Dutch Shell PLCshareholders," the fund said in two statements to shareholders.
A spokeswoman for the fund said the price of the transactionwas fair overall.
"In an environment of low oil price, we believe thecompanies will stand stronger together," she said.
The fund is Shell's fifth-biggest investor with a stake of2.46 percent and BG's second-biggest investor with a stake of3.73 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data. (Reporting by Camilla Knudsen, editing by Gwladys Fouche)