The slump in the oil price is set to claim its first corporate casualty as Salamander Energy confirms it is in talks with two companies about a potential takeover.
Ophir Energy, the FTSE 250 explorer, is closing in on a possible £275 million deal, but Salamander said it was seeking clarity on the terms of the deal.
Another suitor, Cepsa, the Spanish group controlled by Ipic, the Abu Dhabi investment fund, is also circling. Salamander says it has not received the details of the consortium’s proposal yet or any confirmation that it will receive a proper offer.
“The proposals from Ophir and the Cepsa Consortium are subject to a number of conditions, including due diligence and the receipt of a unanimous recommendation from the Board