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Apollo signs $1 billion deal with BP for Trans Adriatic Gas Pipeline

The companies announced on Monday that Apollo Global Management had signed a deal worth $1 billion with British energy giant BP in order to finance its stakes in the Trans Adriatic Natural Gas Pipeline.

The U.S. asset management company will become a noncontrolling shareholder of BP's unit, which holds a 20% stake Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG.

The other shareholders with 20% each are Azerbaijani state energy company SOCAR and Italian Snam. Fluxys, based in Belgium, is also a shareholder.

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline operates a natural-gas transportation infrastructure between the Greek border and Turkey, as well as Southern Italy.

Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG, the last 880 kilometres of the Southern Gas Corridor Pipeline System, stretches 3,500 kilometres from the Caspian to Europe. The pipeline transports natural gases from the BP operated Shah Deniz field in Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea sector to European markets such as Greece and Italy.

As part of BP's financial discipline, the proceeds of this deal will contribute to the $2-3 billion target for BP in 2024 of divestment proceeds and other proceeds.

Leslie Mapondera said, "We're pleased to partner up with BP in an agreement that provides our investors with long term exposure to an industry leading infrastructure asset, with a stable and predictable cash flow profile. This will allow BP to achieve its objectives to retain control and execute on its capital-efficiency strategy."

BP's share price rose 0.5%, to 406.10p at 0830 GMT.

The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter, and BP will continue to control the unit after the deal has been closed.

BP and Apollo also plan to explore additional investment opportunities. These include potential collaboration in gas and low carbon energy assets as well as infrastructure. The companies announced this in a joint statement. (Reporting and editing by Disha Mishra in Bengaluru, and Arunima Kumar in New York; Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Rashmi Aich at Eileen Soreng's office)

(source: Reuters)