Adelaide-based Santos said that XRG, comprised of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company and US private equity fund Carlyle, had tabled an indicative cash offer of US$5.76 a share — equivalent to A$8.89 — which represented a 28 per cent premium to the company’s closing share price last week.

But the offer for the ASX’s second-largest oil and gas producer has been met with a lukewarm reception from investors, who say the price could be higher.

UAE investors, led by XRG, offered nearly $30 billion to acquire Australian oil and gas producer Santos at $8.99 per share, a 28% premium. Following the deal announcement, the South Australian government threatened to intervene if the takeover bid for the state's largest company is "not in the interests of South Australians.