Canadian Natural Resources Ltd (CNQ)

[Timothy Smith]

Reuters reports Canadian Natural (NYSE:CNQ) is exploring options for its royalty assets, and has held talks with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, and PrairieSky Royalty.

Cenovous Energy struck a C$3.3B deal to unload its royalty lands to Ontario Teachers' earlier this year. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported last month ConocoPhillips was near a ~$1B deal to sell Western Canadian assets to Canadian Natural and other buyers. Canadian had $16B in debt at the end of June.