Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) on Thursday agreed to buy Denbury Inc (DEN.N) for $4.9 billion to accelerate its energy transition business with an established carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration operation.
The acquisition, which sent both companies’ shares lower, gives Exxon ready-made CO2 transportation and highlights its bets on making carbon capture a profitable business. U.S. tax credits for reducing planet-warming gases have set off a race to build carbon capture sites.
But wide-scale adoption of carbon sequestration remains uncertain because of the costs and technical challenges, which were reflected in the deal price. Exxon’s all-stock offer valued Denbury at a 1.9% premium to its Wednesday closing stock price.
Read the full story on Reuters here.