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Bankers PetroleumBNK.TOCOMMENTNov 06, 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.
This is a big holding for him. The company is delivering a very low risk development style growth. They are doing 15% a year in Albania in one of, if not the largest, onshore heavy oil deposits. Have worked out a lot of the technical kinks there and are at the point where they are just manufacturing returns for shareholders. Thinks the wells deliver an internal rate of return of about 75% and have a net present value of $3 million a well. He sees the company doubling in size in the next 5 years. In addition, enhanced oil recovery techniques are showing some very good initial success.