Shell (SHEL) is in early stage talks to acquire rival BP (BP), people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal’s By Ben Dummett, Lauren Thomas and Jenny Strasburg. Talks between company representatives are active and BP is considering the approach carefully, the sources are reported to have said. BP is currently valued at around $80B and taking into account a premium, a deal could end up as the largest corporate oil deal since the $83B merger that created Exxon Mobil (XOM), the report added. BP shares trading in New York are up $2.84, or 9.5%, to $32.67 following the report.
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