BHP Snares the Hawk: Implications for Gas Markets

BHP Billiton's recent purchase of Petrohawk helps identify other potential acquisition targets in the sector

Mark Hanson, CFA 25 July, 2011 | 12:36PM
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We've given some additional thought to the impact of BHP's (BLT) acquisition of Petrohawk (HK) on U.S. natural gas markets and E&Ps. While this deal is clearly a bullish signal for the industry--indicating continued strong interest from global resources players in unconventional oil and gas--we think its impact on North American natural gas prices and the U.S. exploration and production sector is likely to be more muted over the short and medium term. However, upstream firms with significant resource potential, concentrated portfolios, contiguous positions, and "bite-size" enterprise values are among the most likely acquisition targets, in our opinion.

Mark Hanson identifies Range Resources (RRC) as one potential acquisition target in the U.S. energy sector. Click here to find out who else made his list.

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Mark Hanson, CFA  Mark Hanson, CFA, is an equity analyst for Morningstar.

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