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Phillips 66 purchases remaining stakes in US refineries from Cenovus at $1.4 billion

Phillips 66, a U.S.-based refiner, announced on Tuesday that it would acquire the remaining 50% of WRB Refining shares from Cenovus for $1.4 billion. This will give it complete ownership of two major U.S. refining plants.

WRB includes Wood River Refinery in Illinois, and Borger Refinery in Texas. These refineries have a combined capacity of 495,000 barrels a day (bpd) for crude oil.

The refineries, which would add approximately 250,000 bpd of net refining to Phillips 66’s capacity, can process both heavy and medium sour as well as sweet crudes and produce a large percentage of transportation fuels.

Phillips 66 is focusing on its refinery business after a protracted proxy battle with activist Elliott Investment Management.

Elliott advocated exploring the sale or spin-off of midstream and other divestments in order to focus on refining. Phillips 66 has sold its 65% stake of a German-Austrian fuel retail company earlier this year.

Mark Lashier, CEO of Phillips 66, said: "By acquiring the Wood River and Borger refining plants in full ownership we strengthen our integrated business. We are also expanding our position within a region that we lead."

The Canadian oil and natural gas producer also reported that some of its U.S. refining plants were underperforming. Cenovus says the WRB deal will simplify downstream operations and focus its attention on assets related to heavy oil operations.

The companies anticipate the transaction closing between the third and fourth quarters. Cenovus will have plants in Lloydminster and Lima with a total capacity of 472800 bpd.

Cenovus announced that it would use proceeds from the sale to reduce its net debt, and increase shareholder returns through increased share repurchases. Reporting by Vallari Shrivastava, Bengaluru. Editing by Tasim Zaid.

(source: Reuters)