American energy investor EIG has been shortlisted as a possible buyer of Saudi Aramco’s gas pipelines, Reuters reported, quoting people familiar with the matter. The sale is estimated to exceed $17 billion and is likely to be concluded before the end of the year, the sources added. Two of the sources noted that private equity firms such as Apollo could also emerge as potential buyers.
Aramco is selling a significant minority stake in its gas pipelines, similar to previous transactions by regional peer ADNOC. According to the sources, Aramco has approached potential buyers which were involved in ADNOC’s deal, including Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), Brookfield, European gas infrastructure owner and operator SNAM, and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC. GIP has confirmed it would not bid for Aramco’s assets.
