Rosneft to buy 49% stake in Essar Oil

New Delhi: Russia's top oil producer Rosneft today said it has reached a preliminary agreement to buy 49 percent stake in Essar Oil and the deal is likely to be concluded by June.

Rosneft has concluded due diligence of Essar Oil, which operates the country's second biggest private sector oil refinery at Vadinar in Gujarat.

"We had constructive discussions with management of Essar. We achieved preliminary agreement on the terms and procedure," Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin told reporters after meeting Essar Directors Prashant Ruia and Ravi Ruia here.

Essar Oil owns India's second largest single site refinery, having a capacity of 20 million tons per annum and also has a network of petrol pumps as well as coal-bed methane (CBM) blocks.

"We have to go to obtain all the permits (for the acquisition)," Sechin said speaking through a translator. "Transaction will be completed by June 2016."

Prashant Ruia said Rosneft today confirmed its intention to acquire 49 percent equity interest in Essar Oil Ltd.

"Rosneft has completed satisfactory due diligence of Essar Oil," he said. "The parties intend to close the transaction by June 2016 following the execution of mutually agreed binding documents and after receipt of necessary approvals."

The Russian firm in a statement said Sechin has held negotiations with the management of Essar.

"Preliminary mutual understanding has been achieved on the timing and structure of a deal to buy into the equity of Essar Oil Ltd.

"The parties intend to sign and close the transaction by the end of June 2016 upon obtaining all necessary permits," it said.

Also, the Russian firm will also supply 10 million tons a year of crude to Essar Oil's 20 million tons per annum Vadinar refinery in Gujarat for 10 years.

"In addition an agreement on crude oil deliveries to commence this year has also been achieved," Rosneft said.

Rosneft, the world's top listed oil producer, and Essar Oil & Gas Ltd/Essar Energy Holdings Ltd, companies incorporated and managed under the laws of Mauritius, had in July last year signed a non-binding Term Sheet.

Promoter Ruia family in July last year held 90.5 percent of Essar Oil, of which 65.6 percent is in the form of overseas depository shares. The company has since been delisted through a share buy back.

Rosneft is majority owned by the Russian government with BP Plc holding under 20 percent stake and public shareholding at around 10 percent.