Dong Energy's tax losses could help attract interest from Maersk Oil - report (translated)
Dong Energy's tax losses could be another reason for the Danish energy company's Danish peer, Maersk Oil, to buy Dong's oil and gas operations, according to Berlingske Tidende.
The Danish daily reported, without citing any specific sources, that Dong Energy has tax losses of DKK 23.7bn (EUR 3.2bn) with the Danish government which it is not able to take advantage of any time soon. However, Maersk has significant operations in Denmark and would therefore benefit from them.
The paper cited a Jyske Bank analyst who said that it looks like Dong wants to sell its oil and gas unit in one go and it seems likely that it will sell to a buyer which can utilize the deductions. He speculated that Maersk Oil and other companies are likely interested but he pointed out that a buyer would have to hydro carbon revenues in order to use the deductions which are reportedly connected to previous Danish rules regarding hydro carbon.