Kuwait Petroleum had early talks with investors like BlackRock (BLK), KKR (KKR), EIG Partners, and Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) over the potential sale of a $7 billion stake in its crude oil pipelines, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

The sources told Reuters that the transaction will comprise about $1.5 billion in equity and debt financing for the remainder, with Kuwait Petroleum approaching banks to join HSBC (HSBC) in debt underwriting.

According to two sources, the stake sale could be launched by the end of February. Interested parties include China Silk Road Fund, China Merchants Capital, I Squared Capital, and Macquarie Infrastructure Partners, the sources added.

Kuwait Petroleum, KKR, BlackRock, EIG Partners, and Brookfield Asset Management did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' requests for comments.

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