ConocoPhillips announces acquisition of Marathon Oil for 22.5 billion dollars: Impact on the U.S. oil industry.

The American oil giant ConocoPhillips has announced on Wednesday an acquisition agreement with its competitor Marathon Oil for an estimated total of 22.5 billion dollars. This operation is part of a series of significant mergers and acquisitions that have recently taken place in the US oil sector, generating a great impact and sparking discussions about the future of the industry in a context of growing concerns about climate change. The acquisition of Marathon Oil by ConocoPhillips comes at a time when the oil sector is facing significant pressures to reduce its environmental impact and move towards more sustainable energy sources. This operation adds to other important recent transactions, such as the agreements between ExxonMobil and Pioneer Natural Resources, Chevron and Hess, and Occidental Petroleum and CrownRock, which have reached multimillion-dollar figures and reshaped the industry landscape. For ConocoPhillips, the purchase of Marathon Oil represents an opportunity to strengthen its position in key shale oil and gas production regions, such as the Bakken and Permian basins. According to statements from Ryan Lance, CEO of ConocoPhillips, the merger will allow leveraging significant synergies and adding 2,000 million barrels of additional reserves to the company's portfolio in the United States. In financial terms, the transaction between ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil is expected to generate savings of up to 500 million dollars in the years following the acquisition, mainly through the reduction of administrative and production costs. Additionally, ConocoPhillips plans to allocate over 20 billion dollars to share repurchase operations in the three years following the purchase, demonstrating its commitment to shareholders and long-term value creation. The agreement between ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil is set to close in the fourth quarter of this year and will involve assuming Marathon Oil's liability of 5.4 billion dollars. Marathon Oil shareholders will receive 0.255 shares of ConocoPhillips for each share, representing a 14.7% premium over Tuesday's closing price, as reported in the joint statement issued by both Texas-based companies. In parallel to this news, industry attention is focused on the ExxonMobil shareholders' meeting taking place this Wednesday, where the company's response to recent criticisms about its management of climate change is expected to be addressed. This context of mergers and acquisitions in the oil sector coincides with the increasing pressure from investors, activists, and regulators for companies to adopt more ambitious measures in sustainability and carbon emissions reduction. In summary, the acquisition of Marathon Oil by ConocoPhillips marks a significant milestone in the American oil industry, reflecting the pursuit of efficiency, growth, and adaptation to a changing environment where sustainability and environmental responsibility play an increasingly important role. As the global energy transition advances, these consolidation operations could lay the groundwork for a more sustainable future aligned with the environmental challenges of the 21st century.