Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-07-18 12:56Group 1 - Chevron (CVX.US) won an arbitration battle against ExxonMobil (XOM.US), clearing a key obstacle for its $53 billion acquisition of Hess (HES.US) [1] - The arbitration, lasting over 20 months, concluded with an international chamber expert group supporting Chevron and Hess, ruling that ExxonMobil does not have a right of first refusal on a 30% stake in the Stabroek block offshore Guyana [1][2] - Following the arbitration result, Hess's stock surged 7.67% in pre-market trading, while Chevron's stock rose 3.7%, indicating positive market sentiment towards the deal [1] Group 2 - The Stabroek block has proven recoverable reserves exceeding 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent, with production surpassing 600,000 barrels per day, making it one of the fastest-growing oil and gas production bases globally [2] - The arbitration victory ended a period of strategic uncertainty for Chevron, which had faced stock pressure due to legal risks [2] - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also lifted a ban on Hess founder John Hess joining Chevron's board, further facilitating the transaction [2] Group 3 - The resolution of this arbitration marks a significant outcome in the commercial competition among North America's three major energy giants, allowing Chevron to solidify its asset base in Guyana [3] - This case provides an important precedent for defining rights in global oil and gas industry mergers and acquisitions [3]