The Internationalization of Energy firms

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Background / Introduction
• Academic relevance - Research Gap
• Objective of the thesis
• Structure of the thesis
• Development of the energy sector in the past
• Early activities, early organization. Energy firms start to internationalize
• Energy market liberalization
• Benefits of and barriers to the liberalization of the market
• Consequences for European energy companies as well as for global big-players
• Managing governmental energy policy - the role of the state in the energy sector
• The global, liberalized energy industry of today
• Identification of current trends in the energy sector
• The wave of M&A and strategic alliances
• The evolution of "National Champions"
• Analysis of the expansion strategy of global players in the energy sector
• British Petroleum
• Royal Dutch Shell plc.
• Gazprom
• To what extent do companies follow theoretic Internationalization Theories?
• The energy industry as one part of the extractive industry
• Extractive Industries – Definition and Characteristics
• The obsolescing bargain in the extractive industry
• Foreign-Investor host-country bargaining
• Motives for Internationalization in extractive Industries
• The global mining industry with regard to the Expansion Strategy of the MNC BHP Billiton
• Definition
• Structure of the global mining industry
• Business Strategies in the global mining industry
• FDI in the global mining industry
• BHP Billiton - The Internationalization Strategy of a Small-country firm
• The Internationalization Model – A suitable underlying theoretical framework for Expansion Strategies in the mining Industry?

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis examines the internationalization process of energy firms, focusing on the historical development of the energy sector and analyzing current trends in the industry.

• Analyzing the impact of energy market liberalization on internationalization strategies
• Exploring the role of mergers & acquisitions (M&A) and strategic alliances in shaping the global energy landscape
• Examining the evolution of national champions and their international expansion strategies
• Assessing the application of internationalization theories in the context of the energy sector
• Investigating the specific characteristics of the extractive industry and its implications for internationalization strategies

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Background / Introduction: This chapter sets the stage for the thesis by outlining the research gap, the objective of the study, and the structure of the thesis.
• Development of the energy sector in the past: This chapter delves into the historical development of the energy sector, exploring the early stages of internationalization, the impact of energy market liberalization, and the evolving role of the state in the energy sector.
• The global, liberalized energy industry of today: This chapter provides an overview of the current global energy industry, highlighting key features and trends.
• Identification of current trends in the energy sector: This chapter explores two dominant trends: the wave of M&A and strategic alliances, and the evolution of "National Champions."
• Analysis of the expansion strategy of global players in the energy sector: This chapter examines the internationalization strategies of three major energy firms: British Petroleum, Royal Dutch Shell plc., and Gazprom. It also discusses the extent to which these companies follow theoretical internationalization theories.
• The energy industry as one part of the extractive industry: This chapter delves into the specific characteristics of the extractive industry, including the concept of the obsolescing bargain and foreign-investor host-country bargaining. It further examines motives for internationalization within extractive industries and analyzes the global mining industry through the lens of BHP Billiton's internationalization strategy.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Key terms and topics explored in this thesis include energy sector, internationalization, liberalization, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, national champions, extractive industries, obsolescing bargain, foreign direct investment, and BHP Billiton.