Romgaz shareholders on Friday approved the transaction worth 1 billion euros to take over the stake of the American ExxonMobil in the Neptun Deep project to exploit gas from the Black Sea, according to a company press release published on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB). The Romanian state-owned company has also approved a €325 million loan to cover part of the purchase amount.
“The Extraordinary General Meeting of Romgaz Shareholders approved the transaction for the acquisition by the Company of all the shares issued by (representing 100% of the share capital of) ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Limited, which holds 50% of the acquired rights and obligations assumed under the Concession Agreement for oil exploration, development and exploitation in the XIX Neptun Deep Water Area perimeter. It was approved the conclusion of the sale-purchase agreement of all the shares issued by (representing 100% of the share capital of) ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Limited to be concluded by S.N.G.N. Romgaz S.A., as buyer, with ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Holdings Limited, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania (Domino) Limited, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania (Pelican South) Limited, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania (Califar) Limited and ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania (Nard) Limited, as seller,” the company’s press release states.
At the same time, Romgaz’s shareholders have approved borrowings from one or more credit institutions totaling €325 million to cover part of the purchase price.
Romgaz CEO Aristotel Jude recently estimated that the transaction between Romgaz and ExxonMobil would be completed in the first quarter of 2022.
Romgaz’s Board of Directors recently approved the acquisition of all the shares issued by ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Limited, which owns 50% of the Neptun Deep project, and the conclusion of the sale-purchase agreement, with the purchase price set at $1.060 billion and subject to a positive adjustment of up to $10 million.
ExxonMobil and OMV Petrom are currently equal partners in the Neptun Deep deep-water project, where exploration has revealed an estimated 42-84 billion cubic metres of oil.
ExxonMobil has announced its intention to leave Romania, while OMV Petrom has said it is likely to make a decision next year to invest in the Neptun Deep project, depending on legislative changes in Romania and the market situation.