Aramco and an international investor consortium, including EIG and Mubadala, announced Friday the successful closing of the share sale and purchase agreement, in which the consortium has acquired a 49 percent stake in Aramco Oil Pipelines Company, a subsidiary of Aramco, for $12.4 billion.
The consortium consists of a broad cross-section of investors from North America, Asia, and the Middle East, Aramco said in a statement.
This long-term investment by the consortium underscores the compelling investment opportunity presented by Aramco’s globally significant pipeline assets, the company’s robust long-term outlook and the attractiveness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to institutional investors, said the statement.
As part of the transaction, first announced in April 2021, Aramco Oil Pipelines Company and Aramco entered into a 25-year lease and leaseback agreement for Aramco’s stabilized crude oil pipelines network.
Aramco Oil Pipelines Company will receive a tariff payable by Aramco for stabilized crude oil flows, backed by minimum volume commitments.
Aramco continues to hold a 51 percent majority stake in Aramco Oil Pipelines Company and retains full ownership and operational control of its stabilized crude oil pipeline network.
The transaction does not impose any restrictions on Aramco’s actual crude oil production volumes, which are subject to production decisions made by the Kingdom.
“The interest we have received from investors shows strong confidence in our operations and the long-term outlook for our business,” said Aramco President & CEO Amin H Nasser.
“It is a significant milestone that reflects the value of our assets and paves the way forward for our portfolio optimization strategy. We plan to continue to explore opportunities to capitalize on our industry-leading capabilities and attract the right type of investment to Saudi Arabia.”
Aramco Senior Vice President of Corporate Development Abdulaziz Al Gudaimi, said: “The interest we received for this deal is evidence of continued confidence in our company from institutional investors and sets a new benchmark for infrastructure transactions globally.
“This transaction utilizes our world-class pipeline infrastructure to create additional value for our shareholders, reinforcing our company’s resilience and ability to adapt in a rapidly changing business environment.”
For his part, EIG’s Chairman & CEO Robert Blair Thomas said: “We believe this is the marquee infrastructure transaction globally and we are pleased to see that so many leading international investors agree with us.”
