Pembina Pipeline Corporation (TSX:PPL)(NYSE:PBA) ("Pembina" or the "Company") and Veresen Inc. (TSX:VSN) ("Veresen") are pleased to announce they have entered into an arrangement agreement to create one of the largest energy infrastructure companies in Canada with a pro-forma enterprise value of approximately $33 billion (the "Transaction").
Overview of the Combination - Highlights:
The combined company will feature an asset base supported by long-life, economic hydrocarbon reserves concentrated in some of the most prolific resource plays in North America. The diversified portfolio will include crude oil, liquids and natural gas pipelines, terminal, storage and midstream operations, gas gathering and processing facilities as well as fractionation facilities. The combined company expects to drive significant shareholder value through the following benefits of the Transaction:
- The combined asset base is highly integrated across the value chain and extends the geographical reach of the combined company while enhancing its customer service offering.
- The combined company will benefit from diversification across basins and products, as well as customers and currency.
- The cash flows of the combined entity will be over 85 percent fee-for-service weighted, ensuring the maintenance of a strong balance sheet.
- The Transaction creates an organization of meaningful scale able to pursue larger growth projects.
"This Transaction is highly strategic for Pembina and Veresen alike, providing clear visibility to creating long-term value for our respective shareholders," said Mr. Randy Findlay, Pembina's Chair of the Board of Directors. "It represents an ideal opportunity to continue building on our respective low-risk, long-term, fee-for-service business models while growing and substantially diversifying our respective asset bases. The combined platform offers compelling customer service offering enhancements, as well as integration and investment potential, exceeding what we could do individually. Combined, these factors give us confidence to increase our dividend by 5.9 percent upon close of the Transaction."
"The creation of an integrated business across the energy infrastructure value chain results in a combined entity that is greater than the sum of its parts," added Mr. Stephen Mulherin, Veresen's Chairman of the Board of Directors. "The combined scale and financial strength, along with a proven track record of safe, on-time and on-budget project delivery, gives us confidence that the collective growth program currently under construction of approximately $6 billion will translate into meaningful value for shareholders. Furthermore, we believe combining these two organizations augments our ability to compete for future investment opportunities and execute on a larger, more complex suite of opportunities than each company on a standalone basis."
About Pembina
Calgary-based Pembina is a leading transportation and midstream service provider that has been serving North America's energy industry for over 60 years. Pembina owns and operates an integrated system of pipelines that transport various products derived from natural gas and hydrocarbon liquids produced primarily in western Canada. The Company also owns and operates gas gathering and processing facilities and an oil and natural gas liquids infrastructure and logistics business. Pembina's integrated assets and commercial operations along the majority of the hydrocarbon value chain allow it to offer a full spectrum of midstream and marketing services to the energy sector. Pembina is committed to working with its community and aboriginal neighbours, while providing value for investors in a safe, environmentally responsible manner. This balanced approach to operating ensures the trust Pembina builds among all of its stakeholders is sustainable over the long term. Pembina's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under, respectively. Pembina's preferred shares also trade on the Toronto stock exchange.
About Veresen
Veresen is a publicly-traded dividend paying corporation based in Calgary, Alberta that owns and operates energy infrastructure assets across North America. Veresen is engaged in three principal businesses: a pipeline transportation business comprised of interests in the Alliance Pipeline, the Ruby Pipeline and the Alberta Ethane Gathering System; a midstream business which includes a partnership interest in Veresen Midstream Limited Partnership, which owns assets in western Canada, and an ownership interest in Aux Sable, which owns a world-class natural gas liquids (NGL) extraction facility near Chicago, and other natural gas and NGL processing energy infrastructure; Veresen is also developing Jordan Cove LNG, a 7.8 million tonne per annum natural gas liquefaction facility proposed to be constructed in Coos Bay, Oregon, and the associated Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline. In the normal course of business, Veresen regularly evaluates and pursues acquisition and development opportunities.