Statoil Exits Two NCS Assets

Statoil ASA farms down in Aasta Hansteen, Asterix and Polarled and exits two assets on the NCS for a consideration of $1.3 billion, including contingent payment.

Through this transaction Statoil (STO) monetises on the Aasta Hansteen field development project, while retaining the operatorship and a 51 % equity share. In addition Statoil exits the non-core Vega and Gjøa fields. The transaction includes a farm down in four exploration licenses in the Vøring area. The buyer is Wintershall, a Germany-based energy company and a well-established player on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).


“We realise significant value, created through successful asset development. The transaction increases our flexibility to further strengthen our portfolio,” said Arne Sigve Nylund, president for Development and Production Norway in Statoil.

The transaction consists of a cash consideration of $1.25 billion and a $50 million consideration contingent on Aasta Hansteen milestones. The accounting gain from the transaction is expected to be between $0.7-0.9 billion and will be adjusted for activity between the effective date January 1 2014 and the closing date.

The transaction releases around $1.8 billion of capital expenditure for the period from the effective date until end of 2020. Statoil’s production from the divested Gjøa and Vega assets in the first half of 2014 is 22.000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The transaction includes a transfer of operatorship of the sub-sea field Vega. The transaction will not involve transfer of personnel.

“We have a strong portfolio of projects. This transaction focuses our NCS portfolio and further improves our capacity to invest in core areas,” Nylund said.

Statoil will invest around $20 billion annually in the period 2014-2016. This includes NCS project Gudrun which started up April this year, while Valemon will come on stream towards the end of year. In addition projects like Aasta Hansteen and Gina Krogh are in the execution phase, while Johan Sverdrup and Johan Castberg are under planning.  The exploration activity remains high with 50 exploration wells planned globally for 2014.

Statoil and Wintershall have signed an extended agreement to continue cooperating on EOR efforts and exploration.

The effective date for the transaction is January 1. Closing is expected around year end 2014, pending government approval.

Strategic portfolio management    
In recent years Statoil has undertaken a series of transactions to position Statoil as a well-capitalised, technology focused upstream company. Active portfolio management continues to realise substantial value that is channeled to further strengthening the company’s growth potential. Total proceeds of around $20 billion have been realised through divestments by Statoil since 2010, including this transaction.

Recent portfolio optimisation activity includes divestments internationally as well as on the NCS. Last year Statoil divested their holdings in two West of Shetlands fields, Rosebank and Schiehallion. The same transaction also included shares in Gullfaks and Gudrun.

Lambert Energy Advisory was financial advisor to Statoil on this transaction.