Venoco Inc. (NYSE: VQ) shares surged 30.3% to $11.70 after the oil and natural-gas company’s chief executive proposed taking the company private at a price of $12.50 a share. The stock volume Monday of 2.5 million shares proved more than five times its daily average.
A news release issued August 29 reported that the Denver-based Venoco, Inc. announced that its board of directors had received a non-binding proposal from CEO Timothy M. Marquez, the holder of approximately 50.3% of Venoco’s outstanding common stock, to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Venoco common stock for $12.50 per share in cash.
In response, Venoco’s board is in the process of forming a special committee of independent directors to consider the proposal, which will be comprised of all of the directors of the company other than Mr. Marquez. The committee will retain independent financial advisors and legal counsel to assist it in its work.
The release quotes the board of directors as cautioning Venoco shareholders and others considering trading in its securities that it has only received the proposal and that no decision has been made with respect to the company’s response to the proposal.
Venoco is an independent energy company primarily engaged in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation and development of oil and natural gas properties primarily in California.
Shares of independent operator, American Oil and Gas, Inc. (NYSE-AMEX: AEZ) were up 9 percent from Tuesday’s closing price, in morning trading on Wednesday after it was announced that oil giant Hess Corp. would acquire the company in an all stock deal worth approximately $445 million. Hess primarily acquired American Oil and Gas, Inc. to expand its holdings in the Bakken oil play of North Dakota. American Oil and Gas, Inc. has properties that span about 68,500 acres in the area.