La Caisse and GE Energy Financial Services acquire Southern Star Central Corporation

La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) has partnered with GE Energy Financial Services to jointly acquire Southern Star Central Corporation from Morgan Stanley Infrastructure.

The company has full ownership of Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline Inc. (SSCGP), which operates a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-regulated natural gas pipeline system in the United States.

Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

SSCGP is a well-established company. Founded in 1904, it owns and operates a natural gas transmission and storage network. The pipeline network extends over more than 9,300 kilometers across eight states, serving mainly the Kansas and Missouri markets.

Macky Tall, Senior Vice-President, Infrastructure at CDPQ, stated:

“For La Caisse, this is a high-quality asset that is strategically well-located. The integration of its infrastructure in the local distribution companies makes SSCGP a leading company in its market. We are very pleased to join forces with GE Energy Financial Services, a strategic, quality partner with in-depth knowledge of this sector and of the company. The investment is fully aligned with our infrastructure investment strategy, because it will generate for la Caisse and its clients, stable and predictable returns over the long term.”

We have recently reported about several gas deals globally:

• BP sells its stake in Central Area Transmission System (CATS) - UK
• Galp Energia and Morgan Stanley sell Madrileña Red de Gas - Spain
• First Reserve and Blackrock acquires 45% stake in Los Ramones II Projects - Mexico
• EQT Infrastructure sells Swedegas to Enagas and Fluxys - Sweden
• The Carlyle Group acquires Romanian business of Sterling Resources - Romania
• Howard Energy Partners acquires Pennsylvania natural gas assets - USA