An unnamed source familiar with the deal has intimated that Rosneft, the Russian oil conglomerate would get unconditional European Union regulatory approval of its takeover of TNK-BP. This would signal the completion of the US$55 billion deal.
Rosneft is purchasing TNK-BP from the consortium of AAR of Russia and British Petroleum in two separate but integrated deal. The sale would put the Russian state owned oil conglomerate well ahead of Exxon Mobil.
Officially though, Antoine Colombani, the European Union's spokesman for competition policy reiterated that the investigation into the sale was still ongoing. The deadline set for the decision would be March 8 for the EU but Rosneft is predicting the decision can come out a day earlier.
BP for its part has declined to give any comment on the matter, saying "The sale is subject to regulatory approval. We expect to complete in the first half of the year."
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