French oil operator Maurel & Prom recommends buyout

Maurel & Prom, a French oil operator that pumps mostly in Africa, recommended Friday that shareholders accept a planned buyout offer from Indonesia's state oil company Pertamina.

"The board of directors of Maurel & Prom ... considered that the offer is in the interests of the company, its shareholders and its holders (of convertible bonds) and its employees and" recommended by a unanimous vote they tender their shares, said a company statement.

At the end of August Pertamina took a 24.5 percent stake in Maurel & Prom as a prelude to making a buyout offer.

"This project is part of Pertamina's five strategic pillars implementation to enhance its upstream footprint around the world" and ensure Indonesia's energy security, Wianda Pusponegoro, Pertamina's Vice President for Corporate Communication, said at the time.

The acquisition of Maurel & Prom would help Pertamina expand its footprint in Africa. Already present in Algeria, Pertamina would gain operations in Gabon and Tanzania.

The stake in August was acquired at a price of 4.20 euros ($4.47) per share, plus a complement of 50 cents depending on the evolution of oil prices in 2017, which valued the company at 822 million euros (without the complement).

Pertamina confirmed at the beginning of November it was still interested in launching a buyout offer for Maurel & Prom.

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