Maersk Oil will be sold to French competitor Total in a deal which values the oil company at USD 7.45 billion, states Maersk Group in a press release.

Although Danish company Maersk Oil is now in foreign hands, the company will continue to have a strong connection to Denmark, reveals Maersk Group in a press release. 

"Total S.A. will maintain Maersk Oil’s strong position in the North Sea with strong Copenhagen and Esbjerg bases and with Denmark being the operating hub for Total S.A.’s combined operations in Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands," says the Maersk Group in a press release.

Total will pay for Maersk Oil with a mix of shares and debt takeover. Altogether, the Maersk Group has received shares for USD 4.95 billion in the French oil company, corresponding to a 3.76 percent ownership share.

Total is also taking over short-term debt valued at USD 2.5 billion and closure obligations worth USD 2.9 billion. Total will thus pay a 3-percent interest rate of enterprise value from June 30 2017 until the deal is closed.

The margin for the Maersk group is expected to be USD 2.8 billion.

The deal is continent on necessary approvals and is expected finalized in the first quarter 2018.

English Edit: Lena Rutkowski

Here is an overview of the Maersk Group Q2 results

Danish EPA reports Maersk Oil to the police

Maersk Drilling wins contracts for three rigs