Shell to Acquire Singaporean LNG firm Pavilion Energy from Temasek

Dredger Vox Maxima is anchored in the waters as workers clean up an oil slick at Siloso Beach in Sentosa, Singapore June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Edgar Su
Dredger Vox Maxima is anchored in the waters as workers clean up an oil slick at Siloso Beach in Sentosa, Singapore June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Edgar Su
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Shell to Acquire Singaporean LNG firm Pavilion Energy from Temasek

Dredger Vox Maxima is anchored in the waters as workers clean up an oil slick at Siloso Beach in Sentosa, Singapore June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Edgar Su
Dredger Vox Maxima is anchored in the waters as workers clean up an oil slick at Siloso Beach in Sentosa, Singapore June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Edgar Su

Shell has agreed to buy Singaporean liquefied natural gas (LNG) company Pavilion Energy from global investment company Temasek in a move the oil major said will strengthen its leadership position in LNG, according to statements on Tuesday.
The announcement confirmed a Reuters' report last Thursday saying Singapore's Temasek was finalizing the Pavilion Energy sale to Shell in the coming days in a deal worth hundreds of millions of US dollars.
Shell and Temasek did not disclose financial details of the sale in their statements.
The deal will provide Shell, already the world's top LNG trader, with access to gas markets in Europe and Singapore as it aggressively expands its LNG footprint after raking in billions in profits last year.
It includes Pavilion Energy's 6.5 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG supply contracts from suppliers such as Chevron, BP and QatarEnergy sourced from US liquefaction facilities such as the Corpus Christi Liquefaction, Freeport LNG and Cameron LNG.
Pavilion's long-term regasification capacity of approximately 2 mtpa at UK's Isle Grain LNG terminal, its regasification access in Singapore and Spain, and its LNG bunkering business in Singapore, the world's largest ship refuelling port, are also included in the deal, Shell said.
Zoë Yujnovich, Shell's integrated gas and upstream director, said that the purchase will bring material volumes and additional flexibility to its global portfolio.
Shell said the acquisition will be absorbed within its cash capital expenditure guidance, which remains unchanged.
"The deal is in excess of the internal rate of return hurdle rate for Shell's integrated gas business, delivering on its 15-25% growth ambition for purchased volumes, relative to 2022," Shell said in its statement.
Shell planned to expand its LNG business by 20% to 30% by 2030, compared with 2022, and this deal is expected to help deliver these targets, it added.
Shell expects global demand for LNG to rise by more than 50% by 2040 as coal-to-gas switching gathers pace in China, South Asian and Southeast Asian countries.
The deal came just over a decade after Temasek established Pavilion Energy to address the growing demand for energy in Asia and support the energy transition.
"We believe Shell is well positioned to grow Pavilion Energy's business and strengthen its global LNG hub in Singapore," Juliet Teo, Temasek's head of portfolio development group and head of Singapore market, said in its statement.
Temasek will retain its wholly owned unit Gas Supply Pte Ltd (GSPL), which imports piped natural gas from South Sumatra in Indonesia, Temasek's statement showed.
Pavilion Energy's pipeline gas contracts with customers in the power sector are also not part of the transaction and will be novated to GSPL, prior to completion, according to both statements.
Moreover, Pavilion Energy's 20% interest in Blocks 1 and 4 in Tanzania will not be included in the deal.
The transaction is expected to complete by first quarter of next year, subject to regulatory approvals, according to both statements.
Pavilion will continue to operate as a separate and independent business until the transaction is completed, according to a Temasek spokesperson.



Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
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Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)

Telecommunications companies listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) achieved a 12.46 percent growth in their net profits, which reached SAR 4.07 billion ($1.09 billion) during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.62 billion ($965 million) during the same period last year.

They also recorded a 4.76 percent growth in revenues during the same quarter, after achieving sales worth more than SAR 26.18 billion ($7 billion), compared to SAR 24.99 billion ($6.66 billion) in the same quarter of 2023.

The growth in the revenues and net profitability is the result of several factors, including the increase in sales volume and revenues, especially in the business sector and fifth generation services, as well as the decrease in operating expenses and the focus on improving operational efficiency, controlling costs, and moving towards investment in infrastructure.

The sector comprises four companies, three of which conclude their fiscal year in December: Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily, and Zain Saudi Arabia. The fiscal year of Etihad Atheeb Telecommunications Company (GO) ends on March 31.

According to its financial results announced on Tadawul, Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily) achieved a 33 percent growth rate of profits, bringing its profits to SAR 661 million by the end of the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 497 million during the same period in 2023. The company also achieved a 4.59 percent growth in revenues to reach SAR 4.47 billion, compared to SAR 4.27 billion in the same quarter of last year.

The Saudi Telecom Company achieved the highest net profits among the sector’s companies, at about SAR 3.304 billion in the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.008 billion in the same quarter of 2023. The company registered a growth of 4.52 percent in revenues.

On the other hand, the revenues of the Saudi Mobile Telecommunications Company (Zain Saudi Arabia) increased by about 6.69 percent, as it recorded SAR 2.55 billion during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 2.39 billion in the same period last year.

Commenting on the quarterly results of the sector’s companies, and the varying net profits, the head of asset management at Rassanah Capital, Thamer Al-Saeed, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi Telecom Company remains the sector leader in terms of customer base expansion.

He also noted the continued efforts of Mobily and Zain to offer many diverse products and other services.

Financial advisor at the Arab Trader Mohammed Al-Maymouni said the financial results of telecom sector companies have maintained a steady growth, up to 12 percent, adding that Mobily witnessed strong progress compared to the rest of the companies, despite the great competition which affected its revenues.

He added that Zain was moving at a good pace and its revenues have improved during the second quarter of 2024. However, its profits were affected by an increase in the financing cost by SAR 26.5 million riyals and a rise in interest, while net income declined significantly compared to the previous year, during which the company made exceptional returns.