French oil giant Total SA (TOT) said Tuesday that it has withdrawn its offer for Canadian would-be oil-sands developer UTS Energy Corp. (UTS.T) as the minimum codition was not met.

In a statement, Total said the minimum condition was that "there shall be at least 66.67% of the common shares validly deposited under the offer and not properly withdrawn at the expiry date."

Total noted that its offer to acquire all outstanding common shares of UTS for 1.75 Canadian dollars a share expired at 2000 Toronto time on April 27.

The offer was made through Total's wholly-owned subsidiary Total E&P Canada Ltd.

Total also said that its Canadian subsidiary "remains committed to its current activities and investments in Canada and will continue to implement its willing strategy in the oil sands."

Company Web site: www.total.com

-By Alice Dore, Dow Jones Newswires; +33 1 4017 1740; alice.dore@dowjones.com