Whiting's Kodiak Acquisition Puts Bakken M&A Back Into Focus

摘要

US independent Whiting Petroleum ended years of speculation this week when it announced that it would acquire Bakken peer Kodiak Oil & Gas in a deal valued at $6 billion including debt -the largest transaction thus far in the US tight oil play. Kodiak had reportedly been seeking a buyer since at least 2012, but had been unable sell, as many onlookers believed it would come with too steep of a price tag. The deal, which will make the combined company the No. 1 crude producer and No. 2 acreage holder in the play, stoked speculation that another similar-sized firm with operations in the Williston Basin could be the next company snatched up in a multibillion-dollar acquisition.