The US oilfield services major Halliburton is said to be close to strike a deal to acquire Norwegian oil services company, Aker Solutions.
According to Norwegian media reports, with reference to an article in the Norwegian Financial daily Finansavisen, the Aker Group, owned by Kjell Inge Røkke, is about to sell its oil services business.
Earlier reports, citing people familiar with the matter, have speculated that Norwegian billionaire Rokke is considering the sale of Aker Solutions, and that the negotiations with Halliburton have been going on for a while.
A spokesperson from Aker ASA was quoted that the Norwegian investment firm will neither confirm nor deny its talks, but also added that it does not plan to announce any news regarding its holdings in Aker Solutions.
Aker Solutions’ shares opened today close to 15 percent higher at NOK 54.8 (previous close NOK 47.7) and are being traded between NOK 53.8 and NOK 56 on Oslo Stock Exchange.
Aker Solutions ended the 2016 in profit of NOK 152 million, down some 60 per cent from profit in 2015.
Subsea World News Staff