Oil and Gas M&A Could Once Again Bubble: Sliding Market Valuations May Inspire Large Players in an Acquisitive Way

Although the events of Sept. 11 have created tumbling valuations and uncertainty in the oil-and-gas markets, the repercussions of that day could also mean industry players sitting on a lot of cash, could make swift, cheap acquisitions, said market sources. “This is a huge opportunity if you have the vision,” said an arb. Large players like The Royal Dutch Shell Group, TotalFinaElf SA, ExxonMobil Corp. and BP PLC-companies with some of the largest market capitalizations in the world and vast cash resources-could be looking to acquire an oil-and-gas firms like Devon Energy Corp., he commentesd.