Marubeni Corporation (“Marubeni”), together with Toho Gas Co., Ltd. (“Toho Gas”), have reached an agreement with Galp Energia, SGPS, S.A. (“Galp”), a major Portuguese energy company, to acquire a 22.5% stake of its wholly owned gas distribution company, Galp Gás Natural Distribuição, S.A. (“GGND”) (“Transaction”), through a JV set up by Marubeni and Toho Gas in which each will hold a 50% stake.

 

GGND is the largest gas distribution company in Portugal with approximately 70% market share. GGND distributes gas to 1.05 million households, including the capital of Lisbon. The Transaction marks the largest equity participation by a Japanese company in the European gas distribution market, and the first in the Portugal gas distribution sector.

 

Marubeni owns and operates a gas pipeline and gas distribution business in Australia, and is looking to explore further growth in the European market following this Transaction. Marubeni first entered the Portuguese power generation market in 2013 and has power generation assets with a total capacity of 3,000MW, accounting for approximately 20% of total domestic power production. In 2014, Marubeni expanded its presence by investing in the country’s largest water company, AGS - Administração e Gestão de Sistemas de Salubridade, providing water and sewerage services to approximately 10% of the domestic population. Combined with these acquisitions, the Transaction will form Marubeni’s integrated participation in the Portuguese infrastructure sector.

 

Through its participation in GGND, Marubeni is looking to develop the infrastructure sector in Portugal by utilizing knowledge acquired from its business operations in Portugal and other countries and to expand its presence to other European regions.

 

<Galp Energia, SGPS, S.A.>

Location : Lisbon, Portugal

Business : Oil and Gas Exploration & Production, Refining and Marketing, 

                Gas and Power Business

Area of Business : Portugal, Brazil, Angola and Mozambique

 

<Galp Gás Natural Distribuição, S.A.>

Location : Lisbon, Portugal

Business : Gas distribution business

Regulated Assets : €1,148 Mil

Connections : 1.05 million households

Length of Pipeline : 12,500 km

Volume Distributed : 1.4bcm p.a.