Editing History of Statoil (1972–2007) (section)

===Merger with Hydro===
{{main|StatoilHydro}}
In December 2006 Statoil revealed a proposal to merge with the oil business of [[Norsk Hydro]], a Norwegian conglomerate.<ref>[http://www.hydro.com/cgi-bin/www.hydro.com/show_press_rel.cgi?file=/en/press_room/press_releases/archive/2006_12/2768/2768_en.html Hydro's oil and gas activities to merge with Statoil]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Norsk Hydro'', published  2006-12-18, accessed 20 June 2007</ref> Under the rules of the [[European Economic Area|EEA]] the proposal was approved by the European Union on 3 May 2007<ref name="EUB070305">[http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/statoil-norsk.44/ EU regulators approve Statoil, Norsk Hydro merger], ''EU Business'', published 2007-05-03, accessed 20 June 2007</ref> and by the [[Storting|Norwegian Parliament]] on 8 June 2007.<ref name="OR070611">[http://www.ocean-resources.com/news/ournews.asp?NewsID=5709 Norwegian Parliament Okays Statoil-Hydro Merger] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071122174703/http://www.ocean-resources.com/news/ournews.asp?NewsID=5709 |date=22 November 2007 }}, ''Ocean-Resources'', published 2007-06-11, accessed 20 June 2007</ref> Former Statoil's shareholders hold 67.3% of the new company [[StatoilHydro]], which started operations on 1 October 2007.<ref name="EUB070305" /><ref name="OR070611" /> The company is the biggest offshore oil and gas company in the world.<ref name="OR070611" />

In November 2009, StatoilHydro changed its name to simply Statoil, following a prolonged name debate that sparked considerable public interest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.petroleumafrica.com/statoilhydro-changes-name-to-statoil-launches-new-logo/|title=StatoilHydro Changes Name to Statoil Launches New Logo {{!}} Petroleum Africa|website=www.petroleumafrica.com|access-date=2018-04-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/statoilhydro-name-idUSL2031461720071220|title=StatoilHydro to postpone name change until 2009|author=Reuters Editorial|work=U.S.|access-date=2018-04-26|language=en-US}}</ref>