Oil Search rejected unsolicited $6.5 billion bid from Santos
By Sonali Paul and Nikhil Nainan
Reuters
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Oil Search rejected an unsolicited scrip-based takeover proposal from Santos Ltd that valued the Papua New Guinea-focused oil and gas producer at A$8.8 billion ($6.5 billion), the two companies said on Tuesday.
Santos made the approach on June 25, but the proposal was only revealed on Tuesday after Oil Search was asked a day earlier whether it had received any approaches on an investor call following the shock exit of the company's relatively new chief executive.
Oil Search said the proposal, which was assessed by its advisers, board and senior management, was determined not to be in the best interest of shareholders.