OREANDA-NEWS. September 18, 2013. Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) today announced it is moving forward with plans to repurchase USD1 billion of the Company's common stock pursuant to its outstanding share repurchase authorization.

Unrelated to the share repurchase, the Company also announced an intent to sell its interest in Block 32 offshore Angola for approximately USD 590 million and the acquisition of approximately 4,800 net acres in the core of its south Texas Eagle Ford position for approximately USD 97 million, including carried interest of approximately USD 23 million.

The USD 1 billion in share repurchases will be completed in two phases. The initial phase of \\$500 million in common stock repurchases is substantially complete. The second USD 500 million phase is anticipated to be completed after closing the previously announced sale of its 10 percent working interest in Block 31 offshore Angola. That transaction, with a total value of approximately USD 1.5 billion, excluding any purchase price adjustments, is anticipated to close in the fourth quarter of 2013, with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2013.

Marathon Oil has reached an agreement in principle to sell its 10 percent working interest in the Production Sharing Contract and Joint Operating Agreement in Block 32 offshore Angola to Sonangol E.P. The transaction has a total value of approximately USD 590 million, excluding any purchase price adjustments. Pending execution of definitive agreements and government approval, the transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013, with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2013.

"The share repurchases underscore our commitment to financial discipline and creating long-term value for our shareholders," said Lee M. Tillman, Marathon Oil president and CEO. "With the anticipated sale of our interest in Angola Block 32, we have now completed or agreed to divestitures totaling approximately USD 3.5 billion, surpassing the USD 3 billion upper end of our stated three-year target. We continue to evaluate our portfolio for high-grading opportunities and expect that process to remain evergreen and integral to our forward business plans."

Following the USD 1 billion of share repurchases, Marathon Oil will have approximately USD 800 million remaining on the board authorized share repurchase program. The program may be changed based upon the Company's financial condition or changes in market conditions and is subject to termination prior to completion. The program's authorization does not include specific price targets or timetables.