State oil major Rosneft has finalized a deal to buy 50 percent of Russian peer TNK-BP from the AAR consortium for $28 billion, sealing the country’s largest takeover.
AAR and Rosneft said Wednesday that the deal should be completed in the first half of 2013 pending approvals from Russian and European regulators.
AAR chief executive Stan Polovets said the consortium, representing Len Blavatnik, Mikhail Fridman, German Khan and Viktor Vekselberg, will receive $28 billion cash. There had been reports the tycoons might get some Rosneft shares.
“I can confirm that it is $28 billion in cash at closing,” Polovets said.
Rosneft is also acquiring the other half of TNK-BP, Russia’s third-largest crude producer, from BP for cash and stock in a deal worth $27 billion that will make the British company a major shareholder in Rosneft.
Rosneft is now confronted with the task of combining the operations of two major producers while also implementing a raft of exploration deals concluded earlier with BP rivals.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.