Al Tamimi & Company advise on $15.5 Billion Aramco Gas Pipelines Deal

Al Tamimi & Company, the leading law firm in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has advised BlackRock Global Energy & Power Infrastructure Fund III (“BlackRock”) as lead member of a consortium on the purchase of an equity stake in Aramco Gas Pipelines Company for $15.5 billion.

The transaction marks one of the world’s largest energy infrastructure deals, where Aramco will hold a 51% majority stake in Aramco Gas Pipeline Company and sell a 49% stake to investors led by BlackRock. As part of the transaction, the newly-formed subsidiary, Aramco Gas Pipelines Company, will lease usage rights in Saudi Aramco’s gas pipelines network and lease them back to Aramco for a 20-year period.

Commenting, Samer Qudah, Managing Partner at Al Tamimi & Company said:

“Saudi Arabia is a key market for the firm and we have dedicated time and resources to build a strong presence and house the right capabilities in the Kingdom. Working on a transaction of this magnitude highlights our in-country expertise and experience, and this played a vital role in advising BlackRock to successfully acquire an equity stake in Aramco Gas Pipelines Company.

Commenting on the law firm’s role in the transaction Grahame Nelson, the Head of Al Tamimi & Company’s Al Khobar office said:

“The team is proud to have been part of this landmark deal. We worked closely with BlackRock’s lead Legal Advisor Slaughter & May to get this deal over the line.

“We provided advice on a wide range of Saudi legal and regulatory issues including Corporate and Competition Law, regulatory, banking and security, and tax. In addition, Al Tamimi & Company provided Saudi Law review and related drafting of the transaction documents.”

The deal, is part of Saudi Arabia’s drive to sell assets and use the money to fund new industries, from artificial intelligence to electric vehicles, while also increasing output of both oil and gas.