Borealis Infrastructure, the infrastructure investment arm of the OMERS pension plan, has entered into an agreement to sell its 33% stake in Express Pipeline System to Spectra Energy Corp for gross proceeds of approximately USD 430 million.
Express Pipeline is a 2,763-kilometre crude oil pipeline system running from Hardisty, Alberta to Wood River, Illinois. It transports Alberta crude through to the Rockies and Alberta and U.S. crude further onto Wood River, a major Midwest oil refining hub. An affiliate of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., a leading pipeline transportation and energy storage company, operates Express Pipeline.
Spectra Energy is acquiring 100% of Express Pipeline from its current shareholders being affiliates of Borealis, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and Kinder Morgan.
"Express Pipeline was one of our first significant capital investments and has been an excellent asset for Borealis since 2003. It is a great example of our focus on creating long-term value for OMERS," said Michael Rolland, president and CEO of Borealis. "We are happy to be selling to an established U.S. and Canadian operator like Spectra and excited about the potential to redeploy our capital in large-scale, global infrastructure assets."
The transaction is subject to standard consents and regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2013.
Borealis worked with financial advisors Morgn Stanley and CIBC World Markets and legal advisors Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Torys LLP.
