50% off Premium Yearly
Bankers PetroleumBNK.TOTOP PICKJun 24, 2014Stock 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.
(Top Pick July 23/13, 129.65%) Leadership changed at the top of the company. They cut costs. He continues to be optimistic about the company going forward. Albania is probably not the best part of the world to invest in, but management is solid and they licked their technical challenges. It throws off a lot of free cash flow. Operations are improving and they are cutting costs. They are having early success with recovery using polymer floods. They get Brent-linked pricing.