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'No Cairn deal before meeting ONGC concerns'
TIMES NEWS NETWORK, Feb 9, 2011, 03.22am IST
NEW DELHI: A PMO knock on its knuckles notwithstanding, the oil ministry is unlikely to clear the $9.6 billion Cairn-Vedanta deal in haste to avoid future CAG accusation of causing loss to state-run explorer ONGC, government officials said.
An indication to this effect came from oil minister S Jaipal Reddy on Monday when he told Cairn Energy Plc chief executive Bill Gammel that ONGC's concerns needed to be "substantially and legitimately addressed" before the deal could be approved.
The ministry has been hemmed in by an ONGC board resolution asking the government not to clear the deal till Cairn settles its demand for an equitable royalty regime for Barmer oil fields. Any softening of stand will be seen as compromising ONGC's interest and stoke political outcry.
ONGC is a partner in seven out of Cairn's 10 acreages. It is willing to give up its pre-emption rights if its demand is accepted. Barmer is a white elephant for ONGC. Because of a hisotrical policy anomaly, the state-run company pays 100% royalty even though it has only 30% stake.
ONGC executives, who have been kept out of the ministry's deliberations, say they are trying to protect the company's interest by seeking an equitable business relationship with Cairn India's future owner. The demand emerged as a dealbreaker at Sunday's meet of oil ministry officials and top executives of Cairn and Vedanta. Cairn argued that accepting any change in the royalty regime will hurt Cairn India's future profitability and will be challenged by minority shareholders.
Cairn is facing another problem. The deal has to be completed by April 15. To meet the deadline, government approval needs to come this month so that Vedanta can meet the 55-60 days' timeframe mandated by market regulator Sebi for completion of the open offer. Gammell described his talks with Reddy as "positive and constructive", but said Cairn will not go to its shareholders for extending the April 15 deadline to close the Vedanta deal.
The deal involves Vedanta acquiring a 40-51% stake from Cairn Energy Plc and thereafter making an open offer to buy an additional 20% from minority shareholders of Cairn India