Cenovus Energy said its proposed buyout of rival MEG Energy will unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in savings by consolidating their neighboring oil-sands operations in Alberta.

Cenovus Energy Inc. has signed a cash-and-stock deal to buy MEG Energy Corp. that values the company at $7.9 billion, including debt. The deal comes after Strathcona Resources Ltd. made an unsolicited offer for MEG in May that the company urged shareholders to reject.

Canada's Cenovus Energy announced on Friday it will acquire MEG Energy in a C$7.9 billion ($5.68 billion) cash-and-stock deal, ending weeks of speculation that it would emerge as a white knight for MEG,