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Stonepeak to acquire Teekay LNG

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LNG Industry,


Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and Stonepeak, a leading alternative investment firm specialising in infrastructure and real assets, announced that they have entered into an agreement and plan of merger.

Under the merger agreement, investment vehicles managed by Stonepeak will acquire (a) all the issued and outstanding common units representing limited partner units in Teekay LNG, including approximately 36.0 million common units owned by Teekay Corporation, and (b) 100% of Teekay’s ownership in Teekay LNG’s general partner, Teekay GP L.L.C., which includes an economic ownership interest equivalent to approximately 1.6 million Teekay LNG common units, for US$17.00 per common unit or common unit equivalent in cash, representing an enterprise value of US$6.2 billion, including consolidated and proportionate joint venture net debt, and US$1.5 billion in common unit equity value. The US$17.00 per unit acquisition price represents a premium of 8.3% to the closing price of Teekay LNG’s common units on 1 October 2021 and premiums of 12.3% and 17.5% to the volume-weighted average price of Teekay LNG’s common units over the last 60 and 180 days, respectively.

The transaction is the result of a review by Teekay GP’s Board of Directors of strategic alternatives available to Teekay LNG. The Conflicts Committee of Teekay GP, comprised of independent directors and advised by its own independent legal and financial advisors, determined that the transaction was advisable and in the best interests of Teekay LNG and its unitholders unaffiliated with Teekay and unanimously approved the Transaction. In considering its recommendation, the Conflicts Committee of Teekay GP was advised by Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. Subsequently, acting upon the recommendation of the Conflicts Committee, the Board of Directors of Teekay GP unanimously approved the Transaction and recommended that all Teekay LNG’s common unitholders vote in favour of the merger agreement on the terms presented.

“This is a transformative transaction for Teekay LNG that will enable existing unitholders to realise an attractive valuation and immediate liquidity on closing,” commented Mark Kremin, President and CEO of Teekay Gas Group Ltd. “Under Stonepeak’s ownership, we expect Teekay LNG to have improved access to competitively priced capital for both fleet renewal and potential future growth in the next phase of our development, which has not been available through the public equity capital markets for many years. We are excited to partner with Stonepeak and look forward to continuing to build our leading market positions, while maintaining our strong focus on operational excellence. We believe that the combination of our existing management and operations teams with Stonepeak, which has a long track record for investing in energy infrastructure, will provide substantial benefits to our customers, employees, joint venture partners, and capital providers in the future.”

“Stonepeak has long recognised the growing global demand for LNG and importance of natural gas as a bridge fuel, particularly as the world continues to shift toward cleaner sources of energy,” said James Wyper, Senior Managing Director at Stonepeak. “Through this transaction, we have an exciting opportunity to invest in a critical energy transition infrastructure business in the form of Teekay LNG’s high-quality, modern fleet of vessels and stable long-term customer contracts. We are particularly excited to partner with Teekay LNG’s best-in-class management team to bring cheaper, cleaner, more reliable energy supply to all parts of the world, especially in Asia where we have been active investors in the ongoing shift to cleaner fuels and renewables.”

“Since the initial public offering in 2005, Teekay has built Teekay LNG into the world’s third largest independent LNG carrier owner and operator, with one of the biggest and most diversified portfolios of long-term contracts with leading players in the LNG industry,” commented Kenneth Hvid, Teekay’s President and CEO. “We believe this transaction represents a unique opportunity to monetise our position in Teekay LNG while realising an attractive return on investment for Teekay and for Teekay LNG common unitholders. This transaction also provides Teekay with greater financial flexibility to leverage its existing operating franchise and industry-leading capabilities to pursue attractive investment opportunities in both the shipping sector and potentially in new and adjacent markets, which we expect to be dynamic as the world pushes for greater energy diversification.”

The transaction has been approved by the Board of Directors of Teekay GP and Teekay, including the unanimous approval of the Conflicts Committee of Teekay GP, and is targeted to close by the end of 2021. The transaction remains subject to approval by a majority of Teekay LNG’s common unitholders at a special meeting to be held in connection with the Transaction, and the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary closing conditions. Teekay, which currently owns approximately 41% of Teekay LNG’s outstanding common units, has entered into a voting and support agreement to vote in favour of the merger.

As part of the transaction, Teekay will transfer to Teekay LNG the ownership of the management services companies that currently deliver the operations for Teekay LNG and certain of its joint ventures under existing management services contracts.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as financial advisor and Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP and Perkins Coie LLP are serving as legal advisors to Teekay LNG. Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. is serving as financial advisor and Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP is serving as legal advisor to the Conflicts Committee of Teekay GP. DNB Markets is serving as financial advisor and Simpson Thacher is serving as legal advisor to Stonepeak.

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/05102021/stonepeak-to-acquire-teekay-lng/

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