But I consider that these kinds of risks is where you have value added in being a pioneer; it takes a bit more work to understand what you're doing, but you actually make ot more money for what ends up being a reasonably transaction; whereas in transactions in the onshore sector, the risks are well known - but now in most cases wildly excessive from a sane banker's perspective.
Of course, once we show that it can be done, there will be a rush by other banks. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
countries who have no other choice for exploiting their resources than teaming up with "Majors" such as BP, all this to receive a meagre share of the profits
It's the other way round. The biggest problem of the majors is that they are welcome in so few countries these days that those that are willing to work with them can pretty much call the shots and set the terms (or improve further the terms set in earlier years). Host countries typically get 90% of the marginal revenues these days.
As to the aggressiveness of financial structures, it never got too bad, apart for pricing, which is a lesser problem. And now that the sector is so rich anyway, operations have all but dried up. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
