OREANDA-NEWS. May 19, 2014. Australian gas firm WestSide Corp Ltd rejected as undervalued a takeover offer from China's diversified energy company Landbridge Group Co Ltd that valued the company at AUD177.6 million (USD164.52 million).

Landbridge, based in Shandong, China, launched the bid for the Queensland-based coal seam gas company to gain entry into northern Australia's fast-growing gas industry. It currently owns a 3.2 percent stake in WestSide.

WestSide said the proposal, which has already been increased to A\\$0.40 per share a week ago from AUD 0.36, did not represent fair value as it did not take into account recently announced gas sale deal with a consortium including Santos Ltd, Total SA and Korea Gas Corp (KOGAS)

The gas sale agreement could generate over AUD 110 million in annual revenue to WestSide at the maximum production rate, the company added. It recommended shareholders reject the Landbridge offer.

WestSide owns the Meridien CSG field in Queensland state, where three large liquified natural gas (LNG) projects are being built and are due to begin operating over the next two years.