CNPC to bid for 75% of YPF within days: paper

July 15, 2009 - 0:0

MADRID (Reuters) - China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) could make a binding offer for up to 75 percent of the Argentine unit YPF of Spanish oil major Repsol in the next few days, ABC reported, citing sources close to the talks.

The bid for YPF would cost China's largest oil company between $14 billion and $15 billion and would be made by the end of July at the latest, the sources told the Spanish daily.
A Repsol spokesman declined to comment on the report.
Earlier this month, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters China National Petroleum Company, parent company of top Asian oil and gas firm PetroChina, could pay up to $14.5 billion for a 75 percent stake.
Analysts said rival Chinese oil firm CNOOC could make a joint bid with CNPC.