U.S. shale producers Devon Energy , WPX Energy in merger talks

NEW YORK: U.S. shale producer Devon Energy Corp is in talks to acquire rival WPX Energy Inc in an all-stock transaction that would create a combined company worth around $6 billion, people familiar with the matter said on Saturday.

The deal, which would value Tulsa, Oklahoma-based WPX at a small premium to its current share price, could be announced as soon as next week, according to one of the sources. The sources requested anonymity as the talks are private. Devon and WPX did not immediately respond to requests for comment.