The market conditions that saw the creation of ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil in the 1990s are back. After Shell, who will be next to make a big deal?
The world of Big Oil looks set for another round of mega-mergers and acquisitions after Shell set the ball rolling this week with its $70bn agreement to take over BG.
All eyes are on ExxonMobil. The world’s largest shareholder-funded energy giant has plenty of cash – and opportunities, now that the drop in oil prices has produced an army of willing sellers.
Many energy companies are overextended after a period when they grew fat and over-ambitious, feasting on high oil prices