Financial Times: Setting the scene: "Shell expects hostile takeover bids from BP and ExxonMobil within the next few months. These bids will be followed by a successful 'white knight' bid from Total” (ShellNews.net)
By Clay Harris
Jul 30, 2004
Royal Dutch/Shell has long been known for its "scenario" planning. Mudlark's man at the downstream end of the rumour pipeline reports the following scenario from a "senior Shell source".
"Shell expects hostile takeover bids from BP and ExxonMobil within the next few months. These bids will be followed by a successful 'white knight' bid from Total, which will agree to sell some of Shell's assets to BP and Exxon to persuade them to withdraw." It's something to think about.