(Reuters) -Chesapeake Vitality stated on Thursday it could purchase smaller rival Southwestern Vitality (NYSE:) in an all-stock transaction valued at $7.4 billion, a deal that will allow the second-largest U.S. producer to take the highest spot.

The transfer extends a current spate of multi-billion offers within the U.S. vitality sector together with Exxon Mobil (NYSE:)’s $60-billion Pioneer Pure Assets (NYSE:) provide and Chevron (NYSE:)’s $53-billion settlement for Hess (NYSE:), as companies search profitable acreage to rebuild depleting property.

Chesapeake has supplied $6.69 per Southwestern share held, representing a reduction of about 3% to the inventory’s final shut, in accordance with Reuters calculation.

Southwestern shares fell 4.5% in premarket buying and selling.

U.S. pure fuel costs are anticipated to tick larger from a bounce in exports, analysts have stated after a dismal 2023 because of file manufacturing, ample inventories and a gentle winter. Earnings additionally took a success as costs plunged 40% in 2023 from a yr earlier.

The deal is predicted to shut within the second quarter of 2024.