Mergers

The total value of U.S. natural gas and oil and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the first three months of this year jumped 69% from a year ago and sends a signal that 2011 will be another strong year for transactions, according to a survey by PwC US. The Oil & Gas M&A analysis is a quarterly report of announced U.S. transactions valued at more than $50 million. PwC uses transaction data provided by John S. Herold Inc. Shale natural gas properties remain a big draw for buyers. According to PwC, eight transactions each valued at more than $50 million related to shale gas properties for a total value of $9.7 billion. Two transactions in the Marcellus Shale together totaled $325 million. Several big sales contributed to a 76% increase in overall average deal value from a year ago. Forty-seven transactions in the latest quarter were valued at more than $50 million each, accounting for a total of $51.5 billion in deal value, versus $30.4 billion in the year-ago period. The average size of a transaction also jumped significantly to $1.1 billion from $620.9 million year/year. Twenty-three individual transactions were valued at more than $250 million. Upstream transactions made up almost three-quarters (73%) of the sales valued at more than $50 million, with a total of 27 transactions fetching $25.3 billion.

The total value of U.S. natural gas and oil and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the first three months of this year was up 69% from the same period a year ago and the rest of 2011 promises to be strong, according to a survey by PwC US.

China’s and Korea’s national oil companies (NOC) stood out as particularly acquisitive in a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market last year that saw NOCs as mostly buyers and international oil companies (IOC) as mostly sellers, according to consultancy Wood Mackenzie. There were exceptions, however, as some IOCs had their checkbooks out in a big way, too.

China’s and Korea’s national oil companies (NOC) stood out as particularly acquisitive in a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market last year that saw NOCs as mostly buyers and international oil companies (IOC) as mostly sellers, according to consultancy Wood Mackenzie. There were exceptions, however, as some IOCs had their checkbooks out in a big way, too.

With improved credit markets and increased CEO confidence, the U.S. market for oil and gas mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in 2Q2010 reached its highest level in more than six quarters, according to a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC).

With improved credit markets and increased CEO confidence, the U.S. market for oil and gas mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in 2Q2010 reached its highest level in more than six quarters, according to a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC).

Majors and European-based international oil companies (IOC) invested heavily in U.S. onshore shale natural gas through both asset and corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in 2009, lifting the percentage of global spending for the United States to more than 40% of worldwide transaction value, according to energy research firm IHS Herold.

Majors and European-based international oil companies (IOC) invested heavily in U.S. onshore shale natural gas through both asset and corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in 2009, lifting the percentage of global spending for the United States to more than 40% of worldwide transaction value, according to energy research firm IHS Herold.

Majors and European-based international oil companies (IOC) invested heavily in U.S. onshore shale natural gas through both asset and corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in 2009, lifting the percentage of global spending for the United States to more than 40% of worldwide transaction value, according to energy research firm IHS Herold.