BG Group is to sell its majority stake in Brazilian gas distributor Comgs for around 1.7 billion dollars.
The natural gas producer has signed a binding agreement with Brazilian firm Cosan S.A. Indstria e Comrcio for the sale of the group's entire 60.1% holding in Comgs.
BG Group Chief Executive, Sir Frank Chapman, said that when completed, the deal would release capital of around $2.8bn and reduce debt on the company's balance sheet by around $1.1bn.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
"Along with other planned divestments, [this] represents significant progress towards our two-year goal to release $5bn of capital from BG Group's balance sheet," he said.
The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is likely to complete by the end of 2012.
BG Group and Cosan have also agreed, when the sale is complete, to co-operate on evaluating and developing gas supply options in Brazil.
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
MoneyWeek is written by a team of experienced and award-winning journalists, plus expert columnists. As well as daily digital news and features, MoneyWeek also publishes a weekly magazine, covering investing and personal finance. From share tips, pensions, gold to practical investment tips - we provide a round-up to help you make money and keep it.
-
How cancelling unused direct debits could boost your pension by £37,000A new year refresh of your spending could save you money and help boost your pension pot.
-
NS&I cuts interest rates on 8 savings accountsNS&I will now offer less attractive interest rates for customers wishing to lock their savings away to grow for one, two, three or five years.
