Global oil majors may be joining race for BPCL: Document

Global oil majors may be teaming up with investment funds that are already in the race to acquire Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), a document detailing steps needed to complete India’s biggest privatisation showed. Billionaire Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta group as well as two US funds — Apollo Global and I Squared Capital – had last year submitted initial bids to buyout the government’s entire 52.98 per cent stake in India’s third-biggest oil refiner and second-largest fuel retailer.

Detailing the ‘Next Step’, the ‘Brief Note on BPCL Disinvestment’ said Transaction Advisor and Asset Valuer are to submit an inception report, bidders have to complete due diligence of the company and sale purchase agreement has to be finalised. Also, “security clearance” of bidders may be needed “since consortiums are being formed”, it said without giving details.