Chesapeake Energy to buy Houston-based WildHorse, nearly $4B

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Chesapeake Energy Corp. plans to acquire Houston-based WildHorse Research Development Corp. in a nearly $4 billion deal.

The agreement was announced Tuesday by Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake and WildHorse, an oil and gas company operating in the Eagle Ford Shale and Austin Chalk formations in Texas.

The boards of both companies have approved the sale.

Chesapeake officials say the acquisition expands the company’s oil growth platform.