15 June 2007
Paris-based oil giant Total S.A. has reportedly hired Merrill Lynch & Co. as an adviser on a possible bid for Western Oil Sands Inc. (WTO/TSX), according to La Lettre de l’Expansion.
Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Texaco Inc. are also said to be interested in the Canadian company, which has a 20% stake in the Athabasca Oil Sands Project, a Bloomberg News report said, citing the French newspaper.
While a representative from Total declined to comment on the rumour, the company’s shares climbed to a record high on Friday.
In February, Western Oil Sands said Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and TD Securities Inc. would be working as advisors on a possible merger, acquisition or sale of assets, Bloomberg reported.
This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.