Latest news with #AdamMartin
Sky News AU
16-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Aussie oil and gas giant Santos receives almost $30b takeover bid from consortium led by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
Australia's second largest oil and gas producer has received an almost $30b takeover offer from a group led by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as it looks to expand its global gas business. The $25b energy giant Santos told shareholders on Monday the group, which includes global investment firm Carlyle and is known as the XRG Consortium, received a proposal to acquire the Aussie company for US$5.76 (A$8.89) per share. The bid marks a 28 per cent jump on Santos' Friday closing share price of $6.69 and follows two previous offers at lower prices made in March. Santos said it has provided the XRG Consortium with access to confidential information on the company to determine an offer. The consortium said it wants Santos to enter into an exclusivity deed before further discussions and negotiations. Santos' board has recommended its shareholders vote in favour of the potential takeover. The deal will need the approval from a litany of bodies including the Australia Securities and Investments Commission, the Foreign Investment Review Board and the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator. XRG Consortium has promised to keep Santos' headquarters in Adelaide, support Aussie employment and the communities where it operates and bolster gas investment in Australia. 'The XRG-led consortium aims to build on Santos' strong and longstanding legacy as a trusted and reliable energy producer, unlocking additional gas supply for Santos' customers, and strengthening domestic and international energy security,' the consortium said in a statement. 'The proposed transaction is aligned with XRG's strategy and ambition to build a leading integrated global gas and LNG business.' E&P analyst Adam Martin said he had considered Santos as a target for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) for more than two years now. 'Since that time, there has been numerous media articles about potential M&A and an official approach from Woodside regarding a merger between the two companies,' Mr Martin said. 'With the passage of time, our conviction level on Santos being acquired has been reducing as the business has effectively been open to offers but there has been limited newsflow. 'That said, now does feel like an opportune time to acquire Santos with risks building on energy prices and Santos entering a free cash inflection phase with the completion of several major growth projects.' ADNOC's investment marks a shift for the UAE company as it embarks on becoming a leader in the gas and LNG sectors. Santos' share price has jumped 12.7 per cent on Monday since news of the bid came to light.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cornwall fire co-responders 'undoubtedly saved daughter's life'
A man from Cornwall who believes his daughter's life was saved by fire co-responders is urging an ambulance trust to rethink its decision to replace them with Martin's daughter, Holly, 19, suffered a severe traumatic brain injury during a horse riding accident in trained firefighters, known as fire co-responders, were the first on scene. They are sent to category one emergencies in situations where they can reach a patient more quickly than an Western Ambulance Service said its decision to replace fire co-responders with community first responders would mean an improved service that "better suits patient needs". The trust said it had more than 650 volunteer community first responders and in 2024 they responded to 29,232 incidents across the said if, after a 12-month transition period, it had not recruited enough additional volunteers in a specific area it would "consider an alternative arrangement" for that co-responders attend incidents with a minimum of two people and they travel using blue lights, but they have to go to the fire station first responders usually attend alone and often using their own vehicles without blue light training, but they can go direct from their home or workplace. Ms Martin's injury occurred when her horse bolted on the family farm in Coverack, throwing her off and landing on her head on a stone Martin, the watch manager at St Keverne fire station and a fire co-responder, said a team was sent from nearby Mullion and were on the scene within about 20 "administered CPR and got Holly back into a stable breathing rhythm, which undoubtedly saved her life", he said. 'Massive bonus' Mr Martin said he was concerned his daughter might not have received the same level of care from a community first responder."Being able to blue light their way to us was a massive bonus, and two guys working in tandem is also a huge advantage," he said."It gives you confidence when there's two of you and you can rely on each other, you know each others skills... one of you is unpacking kit, another is assessing the patient."Mr Martin said his daughter was still recovering from the accident and the brain damage it caused, but she was receiving intensive physiotherapy and continuing to make good progress. Jane Whichello, head of volunteering at the ambulance trust, said she wanted to say "a huge thank you" to fire co-responders for the service they had given over many years. She said as a paramedic herself she felt patients were "at the heart" of every decision made by the service."It's absolutely not our intention to remove something without having an alternative in place which is better for our patients," she said."I'd like to reassure people, it's not about stopping something, it's about replacing it with something we feel better suits patient needs." Year-long transition Asked about fears some fire stations might be forced to close because of the change, Mrs Whichello said the trust was "continuing to talk to fire service colleagues".On the issue of community first responders attending incidents alone, she said they had "a direct link to ambulance control" and could get "remote clinical support" on scene, whereas messages from fire co-responders had to be relayed through fire control Whichello said she was "not concerned about response times in most areas" because community first responders could respond directly from where they were, adding the trust would revisit the plan if it could not recruit enough community first responders."We have planned a 12-month transition for this programme, at the end of that 12 months it is possible there will be some pockets where we haven't been able to recruit to the level that we would like and we have to come up with an alternative arrangement," she said.
