By Ilan Brat
MADRID--Spanish oil major Repsol SA (REP.MC) said Wednesday that
it was studying whether to buy some assets to incorporate into its
oil exploration and production division, including from Canadian
oil and gas company Talisman Energy Inc.
The company is considering various possible transactions, but
has taken no decision on whether to buy anything from Talisman,
Repsol said in a statement sent to Spain's market supervisor.
Also Wednesday, Talisman said that it had been "approached by
Repsol with regards to various transactions."
Last year, Repsol's management said that it had begun shopping
for oil assets in developed countries as a way to expand its
portfolio into more politically stable areas.
This spring, Repsol reaped more than $6 billion by selling
shares in its former Argentine unit, YPF SA, and the bonds it
received from Argentina in compensation for the country's 2012
nationalization of YPF.
Repsol's management has said it would look to invest the
proceeds possibly in North American assets that could yield
substantial growth prospects for the company.
Write to Ilan Brat at ilan.brat@wsj.com