Sector News

OMV sells UK business in retreat from costly exploration

November 9, 2016
News

OMV said it is selling its UK business to Siccar Point Energy for up to $1 billion (808 million pounds), putting an end to the Austrian oil and gas group’s exploration activities in Britain as it seeks to escape high costs in areas such as the North Sea.

The firm’s Chief Executive Rainer Seele is unwinding a strategy set by his predecessor, who bought North Sea assets in 2013 for $2.65 billion, by shifting OMV’s focus from output growth to cutting costs and cash generation.

Tuesday’s deal is expected to close in the first quarter of next year, but would be effective from Jan. 1 this year.

The transaction, which is pending regulatory approval, would at current exchange rates shave 350 million euros ($386 million) off OMV’s overall earnings before interest and tax to reflect lost revenues in 2016, OMV said.

OMV is due to report third-quarter results on Wednesday, but it was unclear when the impairment would be booked.

Under the terms of the deal, Britain’s Siccar will pay OMV $750 million in cash and a further $125 million once a long-awaited final investment decision is made on the Chevron-operated Rosebank field.

It will also get a further $125 million for investments it has already paid for in Britain this year if the deal goes through.

As part of Seele’s strategy shift, OMV is placing its bets on swapping a stake in its Norwegian unit with Russia’s Gazprom for a stake in a low-cost Siberian gas field, although the deal is taking longer than expected.

($1 = 0.9073 euros)

By Shadia Nasralla

Source: Reuters

comments closed

Related News

August 23, 2019

The higher purpose of being a CEO

Borderless Leadership

LinkedIn Twitter Xing EmailWhen I left my second large company experience to become President of a small manufacturing company I did so driven by ego; I fancied the title. Soon […]

August 23, 2019

As Brexit nears, Britain’s drugs, devices and pricing regulators seek the exit

Life sciences

LinkedIn Twitter Xing EmailFirm details on exactly how the U.K. will regulate new medicines is still to be decided after it leaves the EU later this year (caveats on timing […]

August 23, 2019

The Simply Good Foods Company acquires Quest Nutrition for $1bn

Consumer Packaged Goods

LinkedIn Twitter Xing EmailThe Simply Good Foods Company, the owner of Atkins-branded food products, has secured a deal to acquire protein snack maker Quest Nutrition for $1 billion. Quest, which […]

How can we help you?

We're easy to reach