Gibson Energy rejects multi-billion dollar acquisition by 'foreign entity'

Calgary-based Gibson Energy has confirmed it received an unsolicited acquisition proposal from overseas but that it isnot interested in selling.

It follows a story published in the Financial Post Wednesdayreporting that directors rejected a $2.8-billion takeover from a Singapore-based private equity firm.

In a statement released Thursday, the midstream oil and gas company confirmed it received what it calls "anon-binding, highly conditional proposal for discussion, from an unknown, unidentifiable foreign entity whose principals insisted on anonymity."

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The company is in the process of selling its industrial propane business but insists it's not looking to be acquired and is focused on executing on plans to simplify its business.

"Gibson's Board of Directors seriously considered the proposal and retained independent legal and financial advisors to assist it in careful deliberations of the merits of the proposal and the opportunity potentially represented by it, having regard to the best interests of the Company and its stakeholders," said James M. Estey, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

"Based on that advice and other input, the Board unanimously concluded that the proposal represented inadequate value to shareholders and was not in the Company's best interests to pursue," says Estey.

"The Board reached this conclusion as to the proposal's merits, without regard to the extreme conditionality of the proposal and inability to identify the proponent. This determination was privately conveyed to the interested party."

Gibsons operations in North America include the storage, blending, processing, transportation, marketing and distribution of crude oil, liquids and refined products.

The Company also provides oilfield waste and water management services and is the second largest industrial propane distribution company in Canada.

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