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CORRECTED - UPDATE 3-ONGC says conditions unmet in $2.6 bln Imperial bid

Mon Nov 10, 2008 11:09pm IST
 
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(Corrects closing share price in fifth paragraph to 1,000 pence not 951.43 pence)

* ONGC says still awaiting final clearance from Russia

* Sources say no attempt to renegotiate bid terms

* Imperial share price drops 14 pct, then recovers

(Adds Indian government official, updates shares)

By Tom Bergin and Vladimir Soldatkin

LONDON/MOSCOW, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Indian oil company ONGC (ONGC.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday it was still awaiting Russia's approval for its $2.6 billion bid for UK-listed oil explorer Imperial Energy IEC.L, but sources familiar with the situation denied speculation that ONGC wanted to cut the bid price.

Russia's anti-trust authority (FAS) said on Friday it had cleared the 1,250 pence a share offer for Russia-focused Imperial, which ONGC's overseas unit, ONGC Videsh, had announced in August when crude oil fetched around $128 a barrel.

Indian newspaper The Economic Times quoted on Monday a cabinet source as saying the Indian government now felt the bid price might be too high.  Continued...

Russian Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin poses with his G20 colleagues and central bank leaders during the family photo at the G20 Finance Ministers meeting at a hotel in St. Andrews, Scotland. REUTERS/POOL New
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