Edinburgh-based international oil and gas company Cairn Energy said on Thursday it will pay a special dividend of 32p per share amounting to $250m as it received approvals for the previously announced sale of its Senegal assets.

In a stock exchange statement, Cairn Energy said: “Cairn is pleased to announce that all Government and third-party approvals required under the sale and purchase agreement in relation to the sale of all of its interests in Senegal to Woodside have been received and completion is expected to take place prior to the end of the year.

“Under the terms of the agreement, cash received by Cairn at completion is expected to be approximately US$525 million, comprising the US$300m acquisition consideration and a US$225 million reimbursement of expenditure incurred on the sale assets since 1 January 2020.

“A further payment of up to US$100 million will be payable to Cairn if certain conditions are met relating to the date of first production from the Sangomar development and the prevailing oil price at that time.”

On the dividend, Cairn said: “Following completion of this sale, Cairn will pay a special dividend of 32 pence per eligible ordinary share amounting to a return of approximately US$250m or £188m to shareholders and complete a consolidation of Cairn’s ordinary share capital.

“The special dividend is expected to be paid on 25 January 2021 to those on the register on 8 January 2021.”