Centrica May Go for Venture

摘要

The possibility that UK utility Centrica might bid for British independent Venture Production increased this week after Graeme Sword - a representative of private equity group 3i - quit the Venture board. 3i is Venture's biggest shareholder after Centrica, which acquired a 22.3% interest in March after buying stakes from Aberdeen Asset Management and Schroders and said it might make a bid for the entire company (IOD Mar.19,p4). Sword's resignation makes it possible for 3i to sell its 5.3% stake in the independent.