Centaurus says backs OMV's proposed offer for MOL

...considering a $20 billion offer for its Hungarian peer.

Centaurus, which described itself as having a significant shareholding in MOL, said in a letter to MOL dated Sept. 26 that OMV's indicative offer of 32,000 forints per MOL share was at a sufficient premium to warrant entering into formal talks.

The letter was released by Centaurus on Sunday.

Centaurus also said in its letter to Zsolt Hernadi, MOL's chairman and chief executive, that OMV's offer was "attractive enough to put directly to independent shareholders and allow them ... to gauge its merit".

OMV, which owns 20 percent of MOL and launched its bid to create central Europe's biggest energy group in June, said on Tuesday it would offer 32,000 forints per MOL share if its board agrees to negotiate. MOL rejected the 3.5 trillion forints ($20 billion) approach, saying it undervalued the business.

Centaurus said it expected Czech electricity producer CEZ's plan to buy a stake of up to 10 percent in MOL, would now be carried out at a price above 32,000 forints.

MOL shares closed at 28,500 forints on Friday.