Mergers

Upstream mergers and acquisitions (M&A) staged a strong recovery by the end of 2009 and a “healthy” transaction level is on course to continue through 2010, according to a new review by energy consultant Wood Mackenzie.

Upstream mergers and acquisitions (M&A) staged a strong recovery by the end of 2009 and a “healthy” transaction level is on course to continue through 2010, according to a new review by energy consultant Wood Mackenzie.

Unconventional natural gas resources in North America and the Asia-Pacific region represented almost 40% of all of the global mergers and acquisitions last year, according to an annual review of upstream transactions.

Unconventional natural gas resources in North America and the Asia-Pacific region represented almost 40% of all of the global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) last year, according to an annual review of upstream transactions.

Despite an absence of $5 billion-plus mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the oil and gas patch, overall deal activity is rebounding on the strength of mid-size deal flow driven largely by onshore resource plays and offshore Gulf of Mexico (GOM) economics, according to analysts at Raymond James & Associates Inc.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) within the energy sector are likely to increase this year, but companies may be challenged in securing ready capital, according to a recent survey.

After completing 27 mergers and acquisitions in 15 years, Devon Energy Corp. always thought it had a surplus of people, but those coming in the door masked the exodus of early retirees and others. Now, with 10% of Devon’s workforce eligible for early retirement and nearly 60% eligible to leave within 10 years, the producer is joining its peers to step up recruiting and retention efforts.

After completing 27 mergers and acquisitions in 15 years, Devon Energy Corp. always had a surplus of people, but the “new” people masked a problem that began to surface about two years ago, the company’s manager of project support said Wednesday. Ten percent of Devon’s workforce now is eligible for early retirement and nearly 60% will be eligible to leave within 10 years, and the producer now is stepping up its recruitment and retention program.

Continuing to display its voracious appetite for acquisitions and mergers, Atlanta-based IntercontinentalExchange Inc. (ICE) — an electronic energy marketplace and soft commodity exchange — said Monday it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Houston-based ChemConnect Inc.’s commodity trading business.