Acquisitions & Divestitures

After two consecutive years of decline, global upstream M&A transaction value increased 40% in 2009 to just less then $150 billion, according to the annual Global Upstream M&A Review issued by energy research firm IHS Herold, which is part of IHS, Norwalk, Conn., (NYSE: IHS).

North American deals accounted for a record high two-thirds of the $150 billion.

The value increase was propelled by the two largest corporate takeovers since 2006: ExxonMobil’s $41-billion acquisition of XTO Energy and Suncor Energy’s $21-billion merger with Petro-Canada. Several deal by national oil companies ...