The Warrego Energy Ltd (ASX: WGO) share price has been on fire over the past month. The company's valuation has been boosted significantly thanks to a flurry of takeover interest.
Today, shares in the natural gas explorer are holding near their 52-week high as Warrego releases its response to the latest offer to come its way.
At present, the Warrego Energy share price is sitting at 25.5 cents apiece — representing a monumental increase of 82% when compared to a month ago. Meanwhile, the bigger end of the energy town is floundering in an otherwise green day of trade.
So, what offers do Warrego shareholders have to pick from now?
Energy giants go to war for Warrego
This morning Warrego Energy released an announcement addressing the latest takeover offer flung its way.
The 23 cents per share bid from Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting is the third entrant into the race. According to the release, the offer is being considered by the Warrego board and an update will be made in "due course".
Only yesterday, reports of Hancock Prospecting achieving its second-largest profit result in its history were doing the rounds. The mining and agriculture behemoth was said to have recorded a staggering $5.8 billion net profit. However, this result is approximately 20% below its previous year, being dragged down by weaker iron ore prices.
If Hancock Prospecting were valued on the same price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio as fellow iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG), the private company would be worth a gargantuan $38 billion.
Notably, the bid from Hancock beats out the next best proposal by 3 cents a share. The former highest bidder was fellow ASX energy name, Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT). Prior to Beach, Strike Energy Ltd (ASX: STX) kicked off the action with a proposal that valued the Warrego Energy share price at 18.6 cents.
According to Credit Suisse analyst Saul Kavonic there's a possibility that shareholders could see former frontrunners take another stab at winning Warrego. Furthermore, Kavonic pointed out the likelihood of even more would-be acquirers that have yet to throw in an offer.
Where has the Warrego Energy share price come from?
Like most ASX energy shares, this year has been exceptionally kind to the Warrego Energy share price. Shares in the company have now exploded by 112% since the start of 2022 after the recent rally.
Heightened interest could be gravitating toward natural gas explorers and producers amid the burgeoning energy demand.
According to Mckinsey, gas will be the strongest-growing fossil fuel between 2020 and 2035. Enticing the value proposition, the global consulting firm forecasts gas to be the only fossil fuel to grow past 2030.
Based on the current Warrego Energy share price, the company now holds a market capitalisation of $311 million.
