Cairn-Vedanta deal goes to Cabinet for final approval

source : http://www.mydigitalfc.com/petroleum/cairn-vedanta-deal-goes-cabinet-final-approval-668
CABINET committee on economic affairs (CCEA) will take a final call on the multi-billion-stake sale by UK-based Cairn Energy in its Indian subsidiary to Vedanta. This will further delay the deal pending since August 2010.
"As it a huge issue, we are trying to go to CCEA...CCEA will look into several aspects such as finance, law and corporate affairs," oil minister S Jaipal Reddy said while in augurating IOC's Naptha Cracker plant.
When asked in how many weeks the oil ministry will approach CCEA, Reddy said, "We are trying to expedite the process. It may go to Cabinet in twothree weeks." Reddy hinted that concerns of ONGC would be addressed. "We cannot bail out any seller or buyer," Reddy added.
Cairn Energy is seeking regulatory approval from oil ministry and Sebi to sell 4051 per cent stake in its Cairn India to Vedanta Resources for $8.5-9 billion. Cairn Energy CEO Bill Gammell visited India earlier this month. Gammell, during his several days stay in the national capital, tried to push for the deal, but all in vain. Seeking CCEA approval may further delay the deal. Both, Cairn Energy and Vedanta will again have to seek shareholders' nod for extending deadline to seal the deal. The deal should be closed by April 15.
Gammell met oil minister and top bureaucrats in the ministry during his visit. However, officials privy to the development told that everybody is stuck to their respective positions.
State-run explorer ONGC, which is Cairn’s partner in eight exploration blocks, have urged the ministry to decide on royalty issue before clearing the deal. Currently, ONGC pays the royalty on behalf of Cairn for the Barmer block in Rajasthan.
Both the companies are in different views on whether the royalty should be ‘cost-recoverable.’ ONGC has urged the government to resolve royalty issue before giving its nod for the proposed equity sale. Otherwise, ONGC will bleed by nearly Rs 14,000 crore for paying entire share of royalty over lifetime of most prolific onshore block in the country.
Vedanta, listed in the London Stock Exchange, is primarily a mining company. It has no prior oil and gas experience. If the deal goes through, Vedanta will make its foray into exploration and production business. Cairn India has 10 exploration blocks under its ambit, which include the most prolific onshore block in Barmer Rajasthan.
(The correspondent’s visit to Panipat is hosted by IOC)
CABINET committee on economic affairs (CCEA) will take a final call on the multi-billion-stake sale by UK-based Cairn Energy in its Indian subsidiary to Vedanta. This will further delay the deal pending since August 2010.
"As it a huge issue, we are trying to go to CCEA...CCEA will look into several aspects such as finance, law and corporate affairs," oil minister S Jaipal Reddy said while in augurating IOC's Naptha Cracker plant.
When asked in how many weeks the oil ministry will approach CCEA, Reddy said, "We are trying to expedite the process. It may go to Cabinet in twothree weeks." Reddy hinted that concerns of ONGC would be addressed. "We cannot bail out any seller or buyer," Reddy added.
Cairn Energy is seeking regulatory approval from oil ministry and Sebi to sell 4051 per cent stake in its Cairn India to Vedanta Resources for $8.5-9 billion. Cairn Energy CEO Bill Gammell visited India earlier this month. Gammell, during his several days stay in the national capital, tried to push for the deal, but all in vain. Seeking CCEA approval may further delay the deal. Both, Cairn Energy and Vedanta will again have to seek shareholders' nod for extending deadline to seal the deal. The deal should be closed by April 15.
Gammell met oil minister and top bureaucrats in the ministry during his visit. However, officials privy to the development told that everybody is stuck to their respective positions.
State-run explorer ONGC, which is Cairn’s partner in eight exploration blocks, have urged the ministry to decide on royalty issue before clearing the deal. Currently, ONGC pays the royalty on behalf of Cairn for the Barmer block in Rajasthan.
Both the companies are in different views on whether the royalty should be ‘cost-recoverable.’ ONGC has urged the government to resolve royalty issue before giving its nod for the proposed equity sale. Otherwise, ONGC will bleed by nearly Rs 14,000 crore for paying entire share of royalty over lifetime of most prolific onshore block in the country.
Vedanta, listed in the London Stock Exchange, is primarily a mining company. It has no prior oil and gas experience. If the deal goes through, Vedanta will make its foray into exploration and production business. Cairn India has 10 exploration blocks under its ambit, which include the most prolific onshore block in Barmer Rajasthan.
(The correspondent’s visit to Panipat is hosted by IOC)