Gibson Energy's Biggest Shareholder Calls for Strategic Review

 

London-based M&G, which owns 19.4 percent of Gibson's outstanding shares, released an open letter laying out its views of the company and the steps it could take to maximize value, including being sold.

 

Gibson Energy, which provides storage and transportation services to energy companies across North America, has been hard hit by the prolonged slump in global crude prices. Its share price has slumped more than 55 percent since late 2014.

 

Monday's letter, signed by M&G's Global Dividend Fund manager Stuart Rhodes, said the fund had been trying to apply "significant pressure" on Gibson's management for over two years to spur change but it was disappointed by the pace of progress.

 

"It is clear to us when we communicate with industry analysts, the company's competitive peer group and other investors that there is confusion around the long term strategy for the company," Rhodes wrote.

 

Gibson Energy should focus on its terminals in the Alberta storage hubs of Edmonton and Hardisty, and sell off its 19,000 barrel per day Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, refinery and all parts of its trucking business not associated with core assets, the letter said.

 

M&G said it also wants Gibson Energy to make significant progress in reducing its cost structure before commencing a strategic review process with the help of an independent investment bank.

 

"We believe that a streamlined and focused company based around core strategic assets would be an attractive asset to a wide variety of potential suitors," the letter said.

 

"If the market is not going to give the company the appropriate valuation we think it deserves, then we are confident the value can be realized by a sale process."

 

Gibson Energy responded to the letter with a statement saying new chief executive Steve Spaulding had taken decisive steps since being appointed in June and was in the process of reviewing the business portfolio, with a focus on cutting costs and possibly selling assets.

 

Gibson "has maintained an open and constructive dialogue with M&G over the past several years, as we do with all shareholders," said Chairman James Estey.

 

This month Gibson Energy said it will sell its U.S. environmental business to concentrate on infrastructure operations, a move welcomed by M&G.


(Reporting by Nia Williams; Editing by David Gregorio)