Marathon Petroleum Corp to Divest Minnesota and North Dakota Refineries & MPLX LP to Divest Related Midstream Assets

Source
Original press release as distributed by PR Newswire, shown unedited.
Published

FINDLAY, Ohio, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: MPC) and MPLX LP (NYSE: MPLX) today jointly announced they have entered into a definitive agreement to divest the St. Paul Park, Minnesota, and Mandan, North Dakota, refineries, inclusive of related midstream assets, to CVR Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CVI). Total purchase price is $4.2 billion, plus inventory value and subject to purchase price adjustments. MPC will receive $3.45 billion for the refining assets, excluding inventory value, and MPLX will receive $750 million for the related midstream assets.

"Ensuring the long-term competitive position of our portfolio is a strategic commitment," said Maryann Mannen, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of MPC and MPLX. "This divestiture of quality assets in Minnesota and North Dakota advances our strategic priorities of maximizing value creation and meeting our return thresholds. We intend to reinvest this capital primarily in the Gulf Coast and to support MPLX's growth in the Permian and Marcellus basins."

The St. Paul Park refinery has a crude oil capacity of 105 thousand barrels per calendar day (bpcd), and the Mandan refinery has a crude oil capacity of 72 thousand bpcd. Following the transaction, MPC will continue to operate one of the nation's largest refining systems, with an aggregate crude oil refining capacity of approximately 2.8 million bpcd.

MPLX's midstream assets supporting each refinery's operations include interest in a crude oil pipeline, storage capacity, and three terminals. The sale of the midstream assets represents a 9x multiple on forecast 2027 EBITDA.

The transaction is expected to close at the end of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

This transaction was unanimously approved by the board of directors of MPC. The board of directors of MPLX's general partner also unanimously approved the transaction following special approval by its independent conflicts committee. MPC was advised by Goldman Sachs & Co LLC as to financial matters, Moelis & Company as to strategic matters and Jones Day as to legal matters. RBC Capital Markets, LLC acted as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP acted as legal advisor to the conflicts committee of MPLX.

About Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is a leading, integrated, downstream and midstream energy company headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. The company operates the nation's largest refining system. MPC's marketing system includes branded locations across the United States, including Marathon brand retail outlets. MPC also owns the general partner and majority limited partner interest in MPLX LP, a midstream company that owns and operates gathering, processing, and fractionation assets, as well as crude oil and light product transportation and logistics infrastructure. More information is available at www.marathonpetroleum.com.

About MPLX LP
MPLX is a diversified, large-cap master limited partnership that owns and operates midstream energy infrastructure and logistics assets and provides fuels distribution services. MPLX's assets include a network of crude oil and refined product pipelines; an inland marine business; light-product terminals; storage caverns; refinery tanks, docks, loading racks, and associated piping; and crude and light-product marine terminals. The company also owns crude oil and natural gas gathering systems and pipelines as well as natural gas and NGL processing and fractionation facilities in key U.S. supply basins. More information is available at www.mplx.com.

Investor Relations Contact: (419) 421-2071
Brian Worthington, Vice President, Investor Relations
Alyx Teschel, Director, Investor Relations
Isaac Feeney, Director, Investor Relations

Media Contact: (419) 421-3577
Jamal Kheiry, Communications Director

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding MPC and MPLX. These forward-looking statements may relate to, among other things, MPC's and MPLX's expectations, estimates and projections concerning its business and operations, financial priorities, strategic plans and initiatives and capital allocation priorities. You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as "advance," "anticipate," "believe," "commitment," "confidence," "continue," "could," "design," "drive," "endeavor," "estimate," "expect," "focus," "forecast," "goal," "guidance," "intend," "may," "objective," "opportunity," "outlook," "plan," "policy," "position," "potential," "predict," "priority," "progress," "project," "prospective," "pursue," "seek," "should," "strategy," "strive," "support," "target," "trends," "will," "would" or other similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. MPC and MPLX caution that these statements are based on management's current knowledge and expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the control of MPC or MPLX, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from the statements made herein. Factors that could cause MPC's and MPLX's actual results to differ materially from those implied in the forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: MPC's and MPLX's ability to consummate the announced divestiture within the expected timeframe, if at all, including as a result of not obtaining required regulatory approvals or satisfying the other conditions to the closing; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the definitive agreement relating to the announced divestiture; MPC's and MPLX's ability to fully realize the expected benefits of the announced divestiture; the adequacy of capital resources and liquidity, including the availability of capital resources to execute on strategic priorities; and the factors set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" and "Disclosures Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in MPC's and MPLX's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, and in other filings with the SEC.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the applicable communication and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except to the extent required by applicable law.

Copies of MPC's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings are available on the SEC's website, MPC's website at https://www.marathonpetroleum.com/Investors/ or by contacting MPC's Investor Relations office.

Copies of MPLX's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings are available on the SEC's website, MPLX's website at http://ir.mplx.com or by contacting MPLX's Investor Relations office.

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AlphAI analysis

ByAlphAI AI DeskAI-generated

Written by AlphAI from the release above, not by the issuer or PR Newswire. Informational, not investment advice.

Decision brief

The 30-second read

$MPCNeutralHigh
01

Why it matters

The $4.2 bn transaction is the first public disclosure of the deal, representing a material shift in refining capacity and cash allocation for all three parties.

02

Market read

First‑report M&A deal of $4.2 bn in the energy sector; likely to move the three stocks and affect sector dynamics.

03

What to watch

Potential regulatory delays under the Hart‑Scott‑Rodino process could postpone closing and affect timing.

Relevance 9/10Novelty 9/10Timing: today

Background

Marathon Petroleum and its midstream affiliate MPLX are reshaping their asset portfolio, focusing on Gulf Coast growth.

Company-level read

Ticker impact

$MPCNeutralHigh confidence
Context

Marathon Petroleum announced a $3.45 billion divestiture of its Minnesota and North Dakota refineries.

Expected impact

likely modest downside as investors price in the loss of refining throughput

Evidence & confidence

Large‑cap asset sale of $3.45 bn is material; market typically reacts with short‑term pressure while assessing long‑term capital allocation.

$MPLXNeutralHigh confidence
Context

MPLX LP will receive $750 million for related midstream assets tied to the divested refineries.

Expected impact

potential slight upside as the transaction values the assets at a 9x EBITDA multiple

Evidence & confidence

Cash infusion and focus on Permian/Marcellus growth are viewed positively, offsetting the loss of asset base.

$CVIBullishHigh confidence
Context

CVR Energy is the buyer of the refineries and related midstream assets for $4.2 billion total.

Expected impact

likely supportive pressure as the market values the strategic expansion

Evidence & confidence

A $4.2 bn acquisition is sizable for CVR Energy and signals growth, which can be positively received.

Market effects

U.S. refining and midstream sectors may see reallocation of capacity and cash flows.

Midwest refining capacity declines, while Gulf Coast assets may see increased investment.

Large‑cap energy M&A influences broader energy market sentiment and commodity pricing.

Counterpoint

The divestiture could signal underlying weakness in the Midwest refining business, suggesting further asset sales.

Key entities

  • Marathon Petroleum Corp.

    Seller of Minnesota and North Dakota refineries.

  • MPLX LP

    Seller of related midstream assets.

  • CVR Energy Inc.

    Buyer of the refineries and midstream assets.