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Bankers PetroleumBNK.TOTOP PICKJul 23, 2013Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 15, 2026. Market Open.
Being acquired by a Chinese group. At the beginning they announced a bid of $2.20, and the stock was trading at about $1.80. He thinks the investment community did not know this Chinese group and not able to assess their legitimacy. They have gotten through various regulatory hurdles. He has elected to sell ahead of the acquisition.
(Market Call Minute.) Recently got a bid from a Chinese Consortium at $2.25. Stock is trading well below that on the fear that the Chinese buyer might not have the cash or may not close the deal. There is also Albanian tax risk. He reads it that this deal probably does go through, and there is a nice spread there for someone willing to take that risk.
Doesn’t see this as a takeover target. Their balance sheet is fine and has no net debt. Valuation is reasonable, but the problem is they are in a fight with the Albanian government over a tax dispute, so their bank accounts were recently frozen. Albania is where all their assets are. Very bad price momentum. Has this as a small Short. This is not something he would hold.
Has been fairly range bound for quite some time. There is a tremendous amount of inherent value. Has a great balance sheet. They benefit from strong global oil prices. Their production mix is heavy but there is a lot of resources to be addressed in Albania as high as 6 billion barrels of oil in place. They are on track now, 4 or 5 quarters, to putting in 6% per quarter production growth. Cheap and trading at 2.2X price to cash flow on next year’s numbers.