Talisman Energy sells Colombian pipeline stake for US$ 595 million

Talisman Energy Inc. has announced that two of its affiliates have reached agreement to sell their approximately 12% equity interest in the Ocensa Pipeline in Colombia to an investment group led by Advent International for a total cash consideration of approximately US$ 595 million.

"In March, I set a US$ 2 - 3 billion, 18 month disposition target for Talisman," said Hal Kvisle, President and Chief Executive Officer of Talisman Energy. "In November, we announced the sale of the majority of out Montney position for CDN$ 1.5 billion, which when combined with some small Canadian assets and our equity interest in the Ocensa Pipeline, brings our sale proceeds to approximately US$ 2.2 billion."

"We will use these to reduce debt and strengthen our balance sheet, and will continue to progress additional opportunities to unlock value. These transactions provide strong momentum going into 2014, where we will continue to focus on our two core regions, our four strategic priorities, and on creating sustainable shareholder value."

As part of the transaction:

• Two Talisman affiliates will sell their approximately 12% equity interest in the Ocensa Pipeline for approximately US$ 595 million.
• Other Talisman affiliates retain crude transportation rights for approximately 63 000 bpd. Talisman will use these rights to transport proprietary crude, and will generate third party revenues from surplus capacity.

The dispositions announced by Talisman are part of a larger Talisman led sales process involving Total Colombia Pipeline and CEPSA, which will result in the investment group led by Advent International acquiring an aggregate approximately 22% shareholding in the Ocensa Pipeline.

Through this transaction, we have unlocked net value from our portfolio and retained our crude transportation rights” said Hal Kvisle, President and Chief Executive Officer of Talisman Energy. “This enables us to maintain our competitive advantage by transporting oil from our own operations and generating third party revenue from any surplus capacity.”

BMO Capital Markets and Credit Suisse Securities acted as joint advisors to Talisman.

Adapted from press release by Hannah Priestley-Eaton

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/11122013/talisman_energy_sells_colombian_pipeline_stake_for_us_595_million/