Denver – The Broe Group and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (“CPPIB”) announced that a new affiliate owned by the two companies has signed an agreement with Encana Corporation to buy all of Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.’s oil and gas assets in the DJ Basin in northern Colorado. The $900 million transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions, is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2015.
“At nearly $1 billion in total value, this is a milestone transaction for The Broe Group and represents the kind of investment we are actively seeking,” said Claude Pumilia, COO & CFO of The Broe Group. “We are pleased to be partners with CPPIB to acquire an asset with significant proved reserves, strong production, and attractive well performance and returns. The combination of the management expertise of The Broe Group with the financial strength of CPPIB will drive the success of this new venture.”
Located in northeast Colorado, Encana’s DJ Basin assets include more than 1,600 wells and 51,000 net acres. During the first half of 2015, the assets produced an average of 52 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and 14,800 barrels per day of crude oil and natural gas liquids.
“The DJ Basin is one of the leading oil and natural gas plays in North America and Encana’s assets and operations have long been regarded as top-tier by industry standards,” said Avik Dey, Managing Director, Head of Natural Resources, CPPIB. “This investment offers attractive economics and aligns well with our strategy for the energy sector. We look forward to working with our partner to create value and grow the business.”
Upon closing, the new enterprise will operate as a standalone, independent business governed by its own board of directors. The management team is currently being assembled by The Broe Group and is expected to be in place before the end of the year.
The Broe Group was advised by Credit Suisse and Vinson & Elkins.
About The Broe Group
The Broe Group, based in Denver, Colorado, is a diversified privately-owned enterprise with a multi-billion asset base. The Broe Group and its affiliates employ more than 1,000 people directly and provide employment for countless others through its Great Western Industrial Park in Northern Colorado. The Broe Group and its affiliates own and/or manage commercial real estate and other businesses across North America. Its transportation affiliate, OmniTRAX, Inc., is a leading transportation services firm with railroad, port and terminal operations, and is the 2nd largest operator of short-line railroads in the U.S. Its energy affiliate, Great Western Oil & Gas Company, is a top 10 driller in Colorado and among the top 100 drillers in the U.S. The Broe Group has multiple other investment affiliates, including Three Leaf Ventures, which is focused on innovative healthcare technology start-ups. For more information, see www.broe.com.
About Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) is a professional investment management organization that invests the funds not needed by the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to pay current benefits on behalf of 18 million contributors and beneficiaries. In order to build a diversified portfolio of CPP assets, CPPIB invests in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure and fixed income instruments. Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, New York City and São Paulo, CPPIB is governed and managed independently of the Canada Pension Plan and at arm’s length from governments. At June 30, 2015 the CPP Fund totaled C$268.6 billion. For more information about CPPIB, please visit www.cppib.com.
About Encana Corporation
Encana is a leading North American energy producer that is focused on developing its strong portfolio of resource plays, held directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries, producing natural gas, oil and natural gas liquids. By partnering with employees, community organizations and other businesses, Encana contributes to the strength and sustainability of the communities where it operates. Encana common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ECA.
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