The Financial Post reports in its Thursday edition that a contest for control of MEG Energy has turned openly hostile, with each side scrambling to lock in support ahead of a crucial vote next month on MEG's negotiated takeover deal with Cenovus Energy. The Post's Meghan Potkins writes that HTM Energy's Michael Spyker says, [Strathcona Resources] has taken shots at MEG and it was good to see MEG point out some of the shortcomings that Strathcona has." He adds: "It was definitely nice to see them hit back. They've been very, very subdued throughout the process." The two oil producers are vying hard for MEG with nearly mirror-image offer structures: Cenovus's 75-per-cent cash, 25-per-cent stock offer carried an implied value for MEG at about $28.12 per share, or approximately $7.2-billion total, as of Monday's market close. Strathcona's new all-stock offer of 0.80 of a share for each share of MEG had an implied value of nearly $30 per share, or $7.6-billion, at close Monday. Mr. Spyker says: "They will do everything to stop the Cenovus bid. ... They're very fierce operators. This is why they're in business." Strathcona will vote against Cenovus's deal, reducing the shares available to meet a two-thirds requirement.