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Exxon sees Hess arbitration dragging into 2025, CEO states

U.S. energy major Exxon Mobil's arbitration case that could obstruct Chevron's. purchase of Hess will extend into 2025, Exxon CEO Darren Woods. stated in an interview on CNBC on Monday, ahead of a coming vote. by Hess shareholders on the offer.

Exxon and CNOOC Ltd submitted cases before the International. Chamber of Commerce in March, looking for a right-of-first-refusal. over any sale of Hess's 30% stake in the Stabroek overseas oil. block in Guyana, where the three business manage the largest. oil discovery in nearly a decade.

Hess has actually set May 28 for a shareholder vote on the $53. billion all-stock deal that would provide Chevron a significant stake in. Guyana's lucrative offshore oil fields, which to date have actually been. revealed to hold more than 11 billion barrels of oil and gas. resources.

Exxon would choose to slow the offer closing to gain time to. consider its next steps, Roy Behren, co-president of the New. York financial investment company Westchester Capital Management and a big. Hess investor, said in an interview.

Westchester Capital expects to vote its 2 million Hess. shares in favor of the Chevron deal unless a higher quote. materializes, Behren stated.

At Monday's closing price for Hess and Chevron shares, Hess. traded at a $6.97 spread to the current value of the. deal. Chevron closed at $162.30 and Hess at $159.40 at 4. p.m. New York Stock Exchange trading.

The spread recommends an about 79% possibility of the deal. being successfully completed, stated Behren. That is lower than. the indicated possibility a high quality deal would. usually trade.

Exxon has said it was not preparing to bid for Hess but could. think about a larger stake in the Guyana joint endeavor.

Exxon would most likely like to see a shareholder vote not. take place because it is another of the dominos that needs to. fall for the transaction to be finished, Behren said on. Monday. They want investors to be not comfortable with the. assumption that this is a cake walk for Chevron.

Woods remarks present a later timeline for a choice on. its claims and for when the Chevron deal could close. Formerly, Hess said it looked for to have actually the case heard by the. 3rd quarter and finished by year-end.

Chevron CEO Michael Wirth individually told CNBC the business. is pursuing U.S. Federal Trade Commission approval and the. Hess investor vote.

Hess did not respond ask for remark.

An Exxon spokesperson stated the 2025 arbitration timeline was. not new and did not discuss the investor remarks on any. influence on the Hess investor vote.

U.S. antitrust regulators have not yet approved the. Chevron-Hess deal. The U.S. FTC recently consented to Exxon's. $ 60 billion all-stock purchase of leading U.S. shale oil manufacturer. Pioneer Natural Resources.

Exxon has declared it holds a right of first rejection over any. modification of control in Hess's Guyana residential or commercial properties as part of the. Stabroek consortium's operating contract. Hess and Chevron have. said they think a right does not apply to the sale of the. whole company.