VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Russia's leading oil producer, Rosneft has proposed investing another $500 million in Venezuela's state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela SA, to increase their stake from the original 16.7%. The proposition has come at a time when the country has declared an economic emergency after oil prices dropped to an alarming $24 a barrel.

Petroleos de Venezuela SA is set on selling USD4.5 billion worth of bonds to increase scarce international reserves as well as curb the fastest rising inflation rate in the world.

The consortium comprising of Indian Oil, ONGC Videsh and Oil India, as well as Repsol SA, would not be exercising the right of pre-emption of the vacated shares in the oil project previously owned by Petronas of Malaysia.