Carlyle hires Goldman Sachs to bid for Lukoil assets
Two sources familiar with the matter said that Carlyle, the U.S.-based private equity firm, has hired Goldman Sachs for its bid to acquire Lukoil's assets. The race for the Russian oil company's foreign portfolio is heating up.
Carlyle and?U.S. Sources have confirmed that Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Abu Dhabi conglomerate IHC as well as Saudi Arabia's Midad Energy are interested in buying Lukoil assets.
Carlyle and Goldman Sachs both declined to comment.
Lukoil wants to sell off its foreign assets after the United States crippled their operations in October with new sanctions aimed at pressing Russia to end its conflict in Ukraine.
Lukoil has until January 17 to complete talks with the U.S. Treasury.
Assets valued at approximately $22 billion include oilfields and refineries, as well as thousands of fuel stations around the world.
Carlyle, one of the largest private equity, alternative asset management, and financial services firms in the world, has $474 billion worth of assets under management. This includes $20 billion for oil, gas and renewables, as well as infrastructure.
The U.S. Treasury blocked Gunvor and U.S. Bank Xtellus Partners from purchasing Lukoil's assets. This highlights the geopolitical obstacles involved in a possible acquisition. (Reporting Dmitry Zhdannikov, Additional reporting by Anousha Saoui, Editing by Joe Bavier).
(source: Reuters)
