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Bankers PetroleumBNK.TOCOMMENTJan 20, 2015Stock 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.
The stock has been pounded along with everything else. What is not working in this company’s favour is that they have about a 20% differential to Brent, so their cash flow is more sensitive to the change in price of oil than to a light oil producer. If you are an oil bull and can be patient and want to buy it and look out a year, it is highly likely it is going to be higher, but over the next 6 months he doesn’t feel that he absolutely must own it. He’d rather get paid to wait with some dividend names.