BlackRock, Brookfield, EIG among bidders for Aramco gas pipelines

BlackRock Inc., Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and EIG are among investment firms that made final bids for a stake in Saudi Aramco’s natural-gas pipeline network that could fetch more than $15 billion, people familiar with the matter said.

Italian energy infrastructure operator Snam SpA, China’s state-backed Silk Road Fund Co. and Saudi government-controlled Hassana Investment Co. also made offers for the asset, the people said.

Bidders are now discussing teaming up to form a consortium, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information.

Saudi state oil giant Aramco could inform suitors on the outcome of their bids as soon as this month, according to the people.

A group of investors led by Washington-based EIG agreed to invest $12.4 billion in Aramco’s oil pipelines in June, in one of the largest infrastructure transactions this year.