As dealmakers know, M&A activity has been down across the board so far this year – 17% by value globally by one measure. But the energy industry seems to have been among the hardest hit.
According to Drillinginfo, the value of U.S. oil and gas mergers and acquisitions in the first quarter of 2019 reached only $1.6 billion, a 91% drop over the fourth quarter of 2018 and a 93% slide from the first quarter of 2018. The 10-year quarterly low followed the $82 billion in deals for all of 2018 that set a four-year record high.
The reasons are distinct to the sector. As The Texas Lawbook has reported, analysts and investors have been pushing oil and gas producers to focus on returns rather than growth. Acquisitions don’t exactly figure into that scenario.
“The market for upstream deals came to a halt in late 2018 with the combined pullback in oil prices and equities,” Drillinginfo M&A analyst Andrew Dittmar said in a statement. “Since then, oil has rebounded by 20% and E&P stocks are up 15% [but] deals haven’t returned in a meaningful way and we believe that is being largely driven by Wall Street.”
Meanwhile, private equity – which has in recent cycles stepped in as an opportunistic buyer to take advantage of pullbacks by public explorers and producers – has largely stayed on the sidelines, Drillinginfo added.
The firm said the top three deals of the quarter were Diversified Gas & Oil buying oil and gas properties in Appalachia from HG Energy II for $400 million; Ring Energy purchasing properties from Wishbone Energy for $300 million; and Kimbell Royalty Partners picking up royalty rights from Phillips Cos. for $151 million.
Filling out the top five were Noble Energy’s sale of its Delaware acreage to Tall City Exploration III for $132 million and Kern Cal Oil’s purchase of properties from All American Oil & Gas for $129 million. The rest of Drillinginfo’s top deals of the quarter were below $100 million.
But conditions may improve soon. The struggles of smaller explorers and producers set the stage for consolidation, with larger players able to leverage premium valuations and operating efficiencies to acquire smaller competitors, according to Drillinginfo senior director Brian Lidsky. “Whether these operators will step up remains to be seen,” he said.
The firm does think that 2019 could be a watershed year for U.S. shale. If companies can demonstrate that they can produce free cash flow, Wall Street’s approval probably will return along with capital for deals. “Given the current backlog of assets, there could be a rapid return of activity once the outlook improves,” the firm said.
For the second quarter, Drillinginfo thinks deal activity is likely to remain fairly slow but with some rebound. There’s also likely to be greater use of drilling joint ventures, or drillcos, along with joint ventures to plug funding gaps outside of debt and equity; and valuations of public explorers and producers look cheap compared with recent acquisition and divestiture deals especially among smaller companies (which could lead them to be bought out).
The firm also thinks that struggling companies without a ready buyer may be forced to restructure – see below for news on Vanguard Natural and Jones Energy’s efforts.
Weekly Corporate Deal Tracker Roundup Stats
A compilation of weekly stats from The Lawbook's CDT Weekly Roundup
(Deal Values in Millions)
(Deal Values in Millions)
| Deal Count | Amount | Firms | Lawyers | M&A Count | M&A Value $M | CapM Count | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23-Nov-24 | 15 | $4,553 | 15 | 145 | 11 | $3,379 | 4 | $1,174 |
| 16-Nov-24 | 17 | $11,488 | 11 | 245 | 13 | $10,186 | 4 | $1,303 |
| 09-Nov-24 | 14 | $2,110 | 12 | 139 | 12 | $1,410 | 2 | $700 |
| 02-Nov-24 | 12 | $52,788 | 11 | 107 | 11 | $52,738 | 1 | $50 |
| 26-Oct-24 | 8 | $3,160 | 8 | 65 | 7 | $3,065 | 1 | $75 |
| 19-Oct-24 | 12 | $5,304 | 11 | 136 | 11 | $4,554 | 1 | $750 |
| 12-Oct-24 | 17 | $8,438 | 12 | 150 | 15 | $8,116 | 2 | $322 |
| 05-Oct-24 | 22 | $23,181 | 12 | 189 | 15 | $19,980 | 7 | $3,201 |
| 28-Sep-24 | 11 | $2,356 | 7 | 144 | 7 | $53 | 4 | $2,303 |
| 21-Sep-24 | 12 | $9,568 | 10 | 169 | 5 | $4,101 | 7 | $5,467 |
| 14-Sep-24 | 24 | $10,988 | 12 | 235 | 16 | $7,175 | 8 | $3,813 |
| 7-Sep-24 | 12 | $20,420 | 16 | 168 | 11 | $20,307 | 1 | $112.9 |
| 31-Aug-24 | 13 | $20,631 | 9 | 134 | 12 | $14,775 | 1 | $5,856 |
| 24-Aug-24 | 19 | $8,452 | 21 | 325 | 16 | $7,102 | 3 | $1,350 |
| 17-Aug-24 | 25 | $49,196 | 16 | 304 | 11 | $39,386 | 14 | $9,810 |
| 10-Aug-24 | 20 | $12,264 | 15 | 312 | 16 | $9,794 | 4 | $2,470 |
| 03-Aug-24 | 26 | $16,498 | 16 | 334 | 18 | $8,137 | 8 | $8,361 |
| 27-Jul-24 | 19 | $16,442 | 21 | 271 | 15 | $13,838 | 4 | $2,604 |
| 20-Jul-24 | 15 | $16,016 | 14 | 184 | 10 | $14,232 | 5 | $1,784 |
| 13-Jul-24 | 20 | $17,220 | 14 | 265 | 18 | $7,146 | 2 | $10,074 |
| 6-Jul-24 | 11 | $3,941 | 11 | 95 | 8 | $2,650 | 3 | $1,291 |
| 29-Jun-24 | 14 | $6,296 | 15 | 224 | 8 | $6,296 | 6 | $1,927 |
| 22-Jun-24 | 12 | $5,679 | 8 | 137 | 5 | $210 | 7 | $5,469 |
| 15-Jun-24 | 13 | $9,895 | 16 | 214 | 10 | $5,280 | 3 | $4,615 |
| 8-Jun-24 | 19 | $23,859 | 13 | 239 | 12 | $19,436 | 7 | $4,423 |
| 1-Jun-24 | 12 | $34,510 | 11 | 147 | 9 | $26,110 | 3 | $8,400 |
| 25-May-24 | 13 | $9,684 | 15 | 171 | 10 | $4,434 | 3 | $5,250 |
| 18-May-24 | 11 | $5,490 | 11 | 173 | 8 | $3,129 | 3 | $2,361 |
| 11-May-24 | 22 | $14,855 | 14 | 227 | 16 | $11,105 | 6 | $3,750 |
| 4-May-24 | 13 | $3,139 | 9 | 87 | 10 | $1,297 | 3 | $1,842 |
| 27-Apr-24 | 10 | $6,684 | 6 | 28 | 10 | $6,684 | 0 | 0 |
| 20-Apr-24 | 19 | $15,989 | 11 | 147 | 9 | $5,208 | 10 | $10,781 |
| 13-Apr-24 | 13 | $8,952 | 9 | 76 | 10 | $1,652 | 3 | $7,300 |
| 6-Apr-24 | 22 | $22,616 | 14 | 222 | 14 | $13,501 | 8 | $13,116 |
| 30-Mar-24 | 12 | $9,286 | 8 | 136 | 8 | $4,299 | 4 | $4,987 |
| 23-Mar-24 | 18 | $5,451 | 17 | 266 | 16 | $4,759 | 2 | $692 |
| 16-Mar-24 | 21 | $11,437 | 13 | 186 | 14 | $9,316 | 6 | $2,070 |
| 9-Mar-24 | 23 | $4,695 | 21 | 218 | 19 | $2,723 | 4 | $1,972 |
| 2-Mar-24 | 20 | $9,108 | 19 | 372 | 14 | $4,558 | 6 | $4,550 |
| 24-Feb-24 | 19 | $16,382 | 12 | 248 | 15 | $9,507 | 4 | $6,875 |
| 17-Feb-24 | 16 | $29,932 | 15 | 157 | 12 | $29,216 | 4 | $716 |
| 10-Feb-24 | 25 | $10,750 | 17 | 196 | 19 | $5,372 | 6 | $5,379 |
| 3-Feb-24 | 12 | $8,416 | 18 | 125 | 9 | $3,416 | 3 | $5,000 |
| 27-Jan-24 | 9 | $8,165 | 9 | 87 | 8 | $7,815 | 1 | $800 |
| 20-Jan-24 | 14 | $4,084 | 12 | 109 | 12 | $3,219 | 2 | $865 |
| 13-Jan-24 | 17 | $33,588 | 12 | 256 | 12 | $26,765 | 5 | $6,823 |
| 6-Jan-24 | 8 | $7,915 | 8 | 84 | 6 | $7,265 | 2 | $650 |
| 30-Dec-23 | 17 | $14,599 | 12 | 99 | 15 | $2,714 | 2 | $11,885 |
| 23-Dec-23 | 23 | $4,182 | 13 | 219 | 16 | $1,813 | 7 | $2,370 |
| 16-Dec-23 | 13 | $16,436 | 13 | 280 | 7 | $15,150 | 5 | $1,286 |
| 9-Dec-23 | 26 | $14,633.90 | 17 | 244 | 16 | $8,095 | 10 | $6,538.90 |
| 2-Dec-23 | 13 | $6,720 | 9 | 57 | 12 | $6,630 | 1 | $90 |
| 25-Nov-23 | 9 | $4,835 | 9 | 131 | 6 | $1,785 | 3 | $3,050 |
| 18-Nov-23 | 22 | $6,568.70 | 17 | 184 | 14 | $4,709.20 | 8 | $1,859.50 |
| 11-Nov-23 | 15 | $9,825 | 13 | 179 | 12 | $6,581 | 3 | $3,244 |
| 4-Nov-23 | 15 | $20,582.50 | 14 | 193 | 12 | $19,417.50 | 3 | $1,165 |
| 28-Oct-23 | 18 | $68,419.10 | 18 | 152 | 15 | $66,646 | 3 | $1,773.10 |
| 21-Oct-23 | 16 | $6,755.90 | 16 | 165 | 15 | $6,755.90 | 1 | $3 |
| 14-Oct-23 | 14 | $67,851.20 | 13 | 125 | 9 | $61,998.50 | 5 | $5,852.70 |
| 7-Oct-23 | 17 | $6,595.50 | 13 | 228 | 16 | $5,995.50 | 1 | $600 |
| 30-Sep-23 | 17 | $1,896.45 | 13 | 189 | 14 | $806.45 | 3 | $1,090 |
| 23-Sep-23 | 23 | $6,432.70 | 17 | 230 | 16 | $1,402.80 | 7 | $5,029.90 |
| 16-Sep-23 | 25 | $23,226.70 | 23 | 353 | 16 | $17,239 | 9 | $5,987.70 |
| 9-Sep-23 | 12 | $6,369 | 8 | 102 | 7 | $4,311 | 5 | $2,058 |
| 2-Sep-23 | 14 | $2,522 | 6 | 92 | 13 | $1,322 | 1 | $1,200 |
| 26-Aug-23 | 17 | $12,160.25 | 13 | 202 | 15 | $6,573.25 | 2 | $5,587.00 |
| 19-Aug-23 | 19 | $11,505 | 13 | 213 | 15 | $11,255 | 4 | $250 |
| 12-Aug-23 | 19 | $9,698.80 | 13 | 184 | 7 | $3,270 | 12 | $6,428.80 |
| 5-Aug-23 | 13 | $5,201 | 12 | 118 | 12 | $5,051 | 1 | $150 |
| 29-Jul-23 | 15 | $21,031.60 | 13 | 196 | 11 | $18,292.00 | 4 | $2,739.60 |
| 22-Jul-23 | 18 | $3,992 | 12 | 130 | 13 | $2,808 | 5 | $1,184 |
| 15-Jul-23 | 13 | $8,254.95 | 13 | 81 | 13 | $8,254.95 | 0 | 0 |
| 8-Jul-23 | 16 | $5,441.45 | 12 | 172 | 11 | $2,443 | 5 | $2,998.45 |
| 1-Jul-23 | 16 | $6,872 | 10 | 105 | 12 | $5,474 | 4 | $1,398 |
| 24-Jun-23 | 13 | $10,914 | 16 | 201 | 10 | $7,874 | 3 | $3,040 |
| 17-Jun-23 | 17 | $5,880.70 | 15 | 151 | 15 | $4,705.70 | 2 | $1,175 |
| 10-Jun-23 | 19 | $8,516.10 | 13 | 111 | 16 | $6,252.40 | 3 | $2,263.70 |
| June 3 2023 | 12 | $6,104.42 | 12 | 138 | 8 | $4,256.92 | 4 | $1,847.50 |
| 27-May-23 | 17 | $12,200 | 10 | 67 | 11 | $6,165 | 6 | $6,035 |
| 20-May-23 | 11 | $22,458.10 | 8 | 103 | 4 | $19,455 | 7 | $3,003 |
| 13-May-23 | 12 | $7,034 | 10 | 101 | 8 | $5,460 | 4 | $1,574 |
| 6-May-23 | 20 | $3,297.60 | 18 | 196 | 17 | $2,985.60 | 3 | $312 |
| 29-Apr-23 | 23 | $3,691.20 | 18 | 135 | 17 | $1,969.70 | 6 | $1,721.50 |
| 22-Apr-23 | 16 | $5,570 | 14 | 104 | 14 | $4,750 | 2 | $1,000 |
| 15-Apr-23 | 12 | $23,818.10 | 9 | 59 | 10 | $21,618.10 | 2 | $2,200 |
| 8-Apr-23 | 16 | $7,949 | 9 | 173 | 9 | $5,472 | 7 | $3,477 |
| 1-Apr-23 | 21 | $18,676.70 | 12 | 175 | 11 | $10,926.70 | 10 | $7,750 |
| 25-Mar-23 | 15 | $8,779.50 | 10 | 141 | 5 | $2,362 | 10 | $6,416.50 |
| 18-Mar-23 | 7 | $14,048.80 | 6 | 69 | 5 | $13,345 | 2 | $703.80 |
| 11-Mar-23 | 21 | $11,576 | 16 | 165 | 16 | $8,131 | 5 | $3,445 |
| 4-Mar-23 | 20 | $9,668 | 11 | 228 | 16 | $8,209 | 4 | $1,459 |
| 25-Feb-23 | 13 | $5,335 | 13 | 130 | 12 | $4,235 | 1 | $1,200 |
| 18-Feb-23 | 14 | $5,743.70 | 13 | 158 | 8 | $898.70 | 6 | $4,845 |
| 11-Feb-23 | 16 | $12,088 | 12 | 137 | 12 | $9,965 | 4 | $2,123 |
| 4-Feb-23 | 17 | $8,066 | 15 | 140 | 13 | $5,614 | 4 | $2,452 |
| 28-Jan-23 | 7 | $2,180 | 7 | 75 | 5 | $1,692.75 | 2 | $488 |
| 21-Jan-23 | 17 | $5,768 | 16 | 174 | 12 | $1,918 | 5 | $3,850 |
| 14-Jan-23 | 11 | $2, 800 | 10 | 102 | 8 | $421 | 3 | $2,400 |
| 7-Jan-23 | 18 | $8,296 | 11 | 167 | 14 | $6,461 | 3 | $1,835 |
| 31-Dec-22 | 14 | $2,732 | 11 | 99 | 12 | $2,092 | 2 | $640 |
| 17-Dec | 14 | $7,919 | 13 | 115 | 12 | $7,419 | 1 | $500 |
| 10-Dec-22 | 14 | $10,093 | 12 | 88 | 11 | $7,093 | 3 | $3,000 |
| 3-Dec-22 | 26 | $12,800.90 | 11 | 172 | 20 | $4,141 | 6 | $8,659.90 |
| 26-Nov-22 | 8 | $2,266.70 | 8 | 5 | 3 | $76 | 5 | $2,190.70 |
| 19-Nov-22 | 21 | $2,886 | 15 | 212 | 19 | $2,550 | 2 | $336 |
| 12-Nov-22 | 13 | $15,093.70 | 9 | 81 | 9 | $14,200 | 4 | $893.70 |
| 5-Nov-22 | 25 | 19,337.20 | 16 | 509 | 22 | $8,267.20 | 3 | $11,070 |
| 29-Oct-22 | 15 | $7,805.30 | 9 | 116 | 14 | $7,180.30 | 1 | $625 |
| 22-Oct-22 | 20 | $8,193.50 | 13 | 253 | 13 | $5,442 | 7 | $2,751.50 |
| 15-Oct-22 | 9 | $3,046.10 | 9 | 139 | 7 | $2,588.30 | 2 | $457.80 |
| 8-Oct-22 | 19 | $2,011.80 | 12 | 114 | 16 | $833.80 | 3 | $1,178 |
| 1-Oct-22 | 23 | $5,532.90 | 16 | 156 | 18 | $4,952.30 | 5 | $580.60 |
| 24-Sep-22 | 18 | $5,194 | 14 | 216 | 15 | $4,050 | 3 | $1,144 |
| 17-Sep-22 | 21 | $8,352.30 | 12 | 320 | 15 | $4,759.60 | 6 | $3,592.70 |
| 10-Sep-22 | 15 | $19,853.50 | 10 | 126 | 13 | $19,403.60 | 2 | $450 |
| 3-Sep-22 | 9 | $2,312 | 9 | 62 | 9 | $2,312 | 0 | 0 |
| 27-Aug-22 | 16 | $30,891.70 | 10 | 135 | 15 | $30,666.40 | 1 | 227.7 |
| 20-Aug-22 | 12 | $1,977 | 8 | 152 | 9 | 925 | 3 | $1,052 |
| 13-Aug-22 | 18 | $8,004.70 | 11 | 242 | 11 | $2,844.70 | 7 | $5,160 |
| 6-Aug-22 | 24 | $7,948.90 | 12 | 240 | 17 | $3,577 | 7 | $4,371.90 |
| 30-Jul-22 | 8 | $6,941 | 9 | 78 | 7 | $6,839 | 1 | $102 |
| 23-Jul-22 | 11 | $801 | 11 | 92 | 10 | $801 | 1 | 0 |
| 16-Jul-22 | 14 | $3,650 | 10 | 122 | 14 | $3,650 | 0 | 0 |
| 9-Jul-22 | 10 | $3,557.70 | 7 | 68 | 9 | $3,557.70 | 1 | 0 |
| 2-Jul-22 | 18 | $8,609.40 | 13 | 152 | 15 | $2,754.40 | 3 | $5,855 |
| 25-Jun-22 | 15 | $6,142 | 13 | 146 | 9 | $2,017 | 6 | $4,125 |
| 18-Jun-22 | 17 | $11,890.10 | 14 | 228 | 15 | $11,410 | 2 | 479.7 |
| 11-Jun-22 | 17 | $7,600 | 12 | 123 | 10 | $2,300 | 7 | $5,300 |
| 4-Jun-22 | 12 | $2,937 | 10 | 127 | 9 | $692 | 3 | $2,245 |
| 28-May-22 | 9 | $3,197.60 | 11 | 86 | 9 | $3,197.60 | 0 | 0 |
| 21-May-22 | 14 | $7,284.50 | 12 | 185 | 11 | $6,609 | 3 | $675.50 |
| 14-May-22 | 11 | $306.60 | 9 | 80 | 10 | $306.60 | 1 | $225 |
| 7-May-22 | 16 | $10,451.75 | 12 | 108 | 12 | $1,827 | 4 | $8,624.75 |
| 30-Apr-22 | 16 | $2,296.50 | 16 | 157 | 12 | $895.50 | 4 | $1,401 |
| 23-Apr-22 | 10 | $2,241 | 11 | 58 | 8 | $1,641 | 2 | $600 |
| 16-Apr-22 | 11 | $6,643 | 7 | 156 | 8 | $2,359 | 3 | $4,284 |
| 9-Apr-22 | 17 | $4,429 | 14 | 184 | 11 | $1,690 | 6 | $2,739 |
| 2-Apr-22 | 13 | $1,755 | 8 | 84 | 10 | $1,145 | 3 | $610 |
| 26-Mar-22 | 11 | $3,205 | 8 | 65 | 6 | $200 | 5 | $3,005 |
| 19-Mar-22 | 13 | $2,239.17 | 9 | 106 | 13 | $2,239.17 | 0 | 0 |
| 12-Mar-22 | 18 | $12,016 | 11 | 239 | 15 | $11,965 | 2 | $51.35 |
| 5-Mar-22 | 17 | $6,786 | 13 | 137 | 13 | $5,161 | 4 | $1,625 |
| 26-Feb-22 | 12 | $5,095 | 8 | 149 | 9 | $4,437.50 | 3 | $658 |
| 19-Feb-22 | 17 | $22,229 | 17 | 174 | 14 | $21,354 | 3 | $875 |
| 12-Feb-22 | 12 | $2,344.70 | 10 | 73 | 8 | $641.70 | 4 | $1,703 |
| 5-Feb-22 | 11 | $2,503 | 8 | 99 | 11 | $2,503 | 0 | 0 |
| 29-Jan-22 | 11 | $3,872 | 12 | 101 | 12 | $3,872 | 0 | 0 |
| 22-Jan-22 | 13 | $5,143.50 | 10 | 99 | 12 | $4,842.50 | 1 | $301 |
| 15-Jan-22 | 12 | $7,605 | 9 | 155 | 9 | $6,480 | 3 | $1,025 |
| 8-Jan-22 | 13 | $8,256.20 | 11 | 102 | 13 | $8,256.20 | 0 | 0 |
| 1-Jan-22 | 9 | $1,273.80 | 6 | 50 | 9 | $1,273.80 | 0 | 0 |
| 25-Dec-21 | 21 | $4,734.75 | 11 | 176 | 16 | $3,410 | 5 | $1,324.75 |
| 18-Dec-21 | 26 | $7,325.20 | 15 | 193 | 18 | $3,640.20 | 8 | $3,685.20 |
| 11-Dec-21 | 16 | $5,017 | 10 | 109 | 13 | $1,417 | 3 | $3,600 |
| 4-Dec-21 | 14 | $2,310 | 8 | 86 | 8 | $2,310 | 6 | $1,882.05 |
| 27-Nov-21 | 9 | $3.460.1 | 10 | 101 | 6 | $1,758 | 3 | $1,702.60 |
| 20-Nov-21 | 20 | $22,792 | 15 | 157 | 12 | $18,864.50 | 8 | $3,928 |
| 13-Nov-21 | 21 | $26,729 | 12 | 178 | 13 | $11,822 | 8 | $14,907 |
| 6-Nov-21 | 12 | $8,303 | 13 | 157 | 10 | $6,682 | 3 | $1,621 |
| 30-Oct-21 | 21 | $10,368 | 15 | 218 | 15 | $9,24.4 | 6 | $1,103.00 |
| 23-Oct-21 | 21 | $18.783.1 | 15 | 222 | 11 | $12,314 | 10 | $6,468.60 |
| 16-Oct-21 | 15 | $3,868 | 11 | 118 | 15 | $2,293 | 2 | $1,575 |
| 9-Oct-21 | 20 | $8,610 | 16 | 175 | 16 | $7,795 | 4 | $815 |
| 2-Oct-21 | 14 | $6,250 | 11 | 137 | 10 | $5,200 | 4 | $1,050 |
| 25-Sep-21 | 11 | $11,460 | 9 | 93 | 7 | $10,200 | 4 | $1,250 |
| 18-Sep-21 | 11 | $16,603 | 8 | 99 | 8 | $15,084 | 3 | $1,519 |
| 11-Sep-21 | 17 | $10,653 | 11 | 103 | 13 | $8,503 | 4 | $2,150 |
| 4-Sep-21 | 13 | $7,222 | 10 | 89 | 11 | $6,715 | 2 | $507 |
| 28-Aug-21 | 12 | $763 | 9 | 63 | 11 | $663 | 1 | $100 |
| 21-Aug-21 | 12 | $29,659 | 7 | 79 | 11 | $29,579 | 1 | $80 |
| 14-Aug-21 | 22 | $17,845 | 11 | 199 | 12 | $12,805 | 10 | $5,04 |
| 7-Aug-21 | 17 | $13,670 | 12 | 139 | 15 | $11,766 | 2 | $1,904 |
| 31-Jul-21 | 21 | $8,160 | 11 | 134 | 10 | $3,574 | 10 | $4,586 |
| July 24,2021 | 21 | $6,367 | 11 | 139 | 15 | $3,712 | 6 | $2,655 |
| 17-Jul-21 | 14 | $4,009 | 11 | 124 | 12 | $2,015 | 2 | $1,994 |
| 10-Jul-21 | 16 | $3,997 | 13 | 143 | 11 | $1,597 | 4 | $2,4 |
| 3-Jul-21 | 24 | $7,492 | 13 | 94 | 16 | $3,769 | 8 | $3,722 |
| 26-Jun-21 | 10 | $4,995 | 7 | 85 | 8 | $3,847 | 2 | $1,148 |
| 19-Jun-21 | 28 | $16,830 | 8 | 228 | 9 | $1,861 | 19 | $14,968 |
| 12-Jun-21 | 26 | $27,238 | 15 | 209 | 19 | $25,602 | 7 | $1,636 |
| 5-Jun-21 | 15 | $15,539 | 13 | 100 | 13 | $14,709 | 2 | $600 |
| 29-May-21 | 35 | $20,279 | 11 | 145 | 28 | $18,64 | 7 | $1,639 |
| 22-May-21 | 24 | $53,208 | 14 | 174 | 17 | $51,047 | 7 | $2,161 |
| 15-May-21 | 18 | $10,620 | 13 | 220 | 11 | $5,870 | 7 | $4,809 |
| 8-May-21 | 17 | $10,400 | 11 | 156 | 15 | $8,386 | 2 | $2,500 |
| 1-May-21 | 21 | $7,200 | 16 | 115 | 12 | $3,808 | 9 | $3,392 |
| 24-Apr-21 | 8 | $20,200 | 9 | 31 | 8 | $20,200 | 0 | 0 |
| 17-Apr-21 | 14 | $6,270 | 8 | 102 | 11 | $40,180 | 3 | $2,260 |
| 10-Apr-21 | 15 | $8,940 | 13 | 129 | 14 | $7,990 | 1 | $950 |
| 3-Apr-21 | 18 | $19,513 | 10 | 151 | 12 | $16,923 | 6 | $2,590 |
| 27-Mar-21 | 27 | $13,942 | 15 | 244 | 14 | $4,300 | 13 | $9,633.50 |
| 20-Mar-21 | 11 | $2,046 | 4 | 102 | 3 | $270 | 8 | $1,776 |
| 13-Mar-21 | 15 | $3,270 | 9 | 109 | 6 | $538 | 9 | $2,732 |
| 6-Mar-21 | 24 | $13,617 | 10 | 196 | 13 | $10,395 | 11 | $3,222 |
| 27-Feb-21 | 19 | $8,105 | 12 | 139 | 15 | $4,970 | 4 | $3,135 |
| 20-Feb-21 | 9 | $8,820 | 9 | 153 | 8 | $8,520 | 1 | $300 |
| 13-Feb-21 | 12 | $4,852.60 | 7 | 81 | 7 | 2,766 | 5 | $2,086.60 |
| 6-Feb-21 | 18 | $9,752 | 13 | 153 | 14 | $5,222 | 4 | $4,530 |
| 30-Jan-21 | 18 | $9,449 | 9 | 182 | 15 | $8,753.80 | 3 | $695.30 |
| 23-Jan-21 | 14 | $8,150 | 8 | 118 | 6 | $4,000 | 8 | $4,150 |
| 16-Jan-21 | 17 | $6,783 | 13 | 138 | 11 | $2,400 | 6 | $4,382.90 |
| 9-Jan-21 | 22 | $6,829 | 14 | 135 | 18 | $3,139.30 | 4 | $3,690 |
| 2-Jan-21 | 7 | $1,466 | 7 | 60 | 7 | $1,466 | 0 | 0 |
| 26-Dec-20 | 18 | $15,900 | 12 | 163 | 16 | $5,300 | 1 | $600 |
| 19-Dec-20 | 18 | $9,769 | 14 | 110 | 14 | $8,426 | 4 | $1,343 |
| 12-Dec-20 | 10 | $7,200 | 9 | 100 | 9 | $3,325 | 1 | $3,830 |
| 5-Dec-20 | 15 | $4,261 | 9 | 122 | 9 | $2,780 | 6 | $1,481 |
| 28-Nov-20 | 19 | $7,758 | 10 | 110 | 13 | $4,003 | 6 | $3,755 |
| 14-Nov-20 | 14 | $864.10 | 14 | 157 | 12 | $289.10 | 2 | $575 |
| 7-Nov-20 | 13 | $6,332 | 9 | 129 | 9 | $2,483.50 | 4 | $3,849 |
| 31-Oct-20 | 10 | $3,995.80 | 8 | 103 | 6 | $3,231.10 | 4 | $754.70 |
| 24-Oct-20 | 6 | $18,100 | 6 | 58 | 5 | $17,709 | 1 | $350 |
| 17-Oct-20 | 8 | $351.90 | 5 | 55 | 8 | $351.90 | 0 | 0 |
| 10-Oct-20 | 7 | $5,229 | 3 | 50 | 4 | $735 | 3 | $4,494 |
| 3-Oct-20 | 14 | $21,428 | 9 | 173 | 9 | $17,535 | 5 | $3,893 |
| 26-Sep-20 | 10 | $12,770 | 8 | 93 | 5 | $10,300 | 5 | $2,470 |
| 19-Sep-20 | 14 | $8,365 | 9 | 101 | 6 | $1,020 | 8 | $7,345 |
| 12-Sep-20 | 6 | $4,406 | 8 | 59 | 3 | $1,270 | 3 | $3,136 |
| 5-Sep-20 | 11 | $5,191 | 8 | 117 | 9 | $4,061 | 2 | $1,130 |
| 29-Aug-20 | 11 | $2,531 | 9 | 94 | 5 | $1,130 | 6 | $1,401 |
| 22-Aug-20 | 18 | $6,574 | 12 | 140 | 7 | $1,930 | 11 | $4,644 |
| 15-Aug-20 | 13 | $4,991 | 10 | 97 | 7 | $1,216 | 6 | $3,775 |
| 8-Aug-20 | 12 | $32,092 | 11 | 112 | 9 | $30,457 | 3 | $1,635 |
| 1-Aug-20 | 7 | $5,287 | 8 | 76 | 5 | $3,687 | 2 | $1,600 |
| 25-Jul-20 | 9 | $18,751 | 6 | 67 | 7 | $18,403 | 2 | $348 |
| 18-Jul-20 | 6 | $1,982.50 | 5 | 50 | 4 | $1,407.50 | 2 | $575 |
| 11-Jul-20 | 11 | $565.10 | 12 | 75 | 10 | $65.10 | 1 | $500 |
| 4-Jul-20 | 10 | $8,889 | 8 | 98 | 9 | $8,788 | 1 | $100.30 |
| 27-Jun-20 | 8 | $6,874 | 10 | 50 | 5 | $4,972.50 | 3 | $2,081.50 |
| 20-Jun-20 | 12 | $4,444 | 9 | 115 | 7 | $2,829 | 5 | $1,615 |
| 13-Jun-20 | 6 | $3,582 | 4 | 37 | 2 | $350 | 4 | $3,232 |
| 6-Jun-20 | 11 | $3,213.70 | 8 | 65 | 7 | $470 | 4 | $2,743.70 |
| 30-May-20 | 8 | $7,335 | 7 | 48 | 6 | $4,639 | 2 | $2,697 |
| 23-May-20 | 4 | $432.40 | 4 | 34 | 3 | $432.40 | 1 | 0 |
| 16-May-20 | 6 | $310 | 6 | 34 | 5 | $310 | 1 | 0 |
| 9-May-20 | 18 | $5,630 | 16 | 124 | 14 | $3,180 | 4 | $2,450 |
| 2-May-20 | 15 | 10,400 | 10 | 90 | 8 | $1,900 | 7 | $,8,500 |
| 25-Apr-20 | 8 | $3,400 | 9 | 36 | 5 | $1,000 | 3 | $2,450 |
| 18-Apr-20 | 19 | $9,500 | 14 | 92 | 8 | $185.70 | 11 | $9,360 |
| 11-Apr-20 | 12 | $6,000 | 9 | 40 | 5 | $190 | 7 | $5,800 |
| 4-Apr-20 | 14 | $8,200 | 11 | 68 | 10 | $2,200 | 4 | $6,000 |
| 28-Mar-20 | 16 | $6,500 | 13 | 96 | 10 | $3,700 | 6 | $2,800 |
| 21-Mar-20 | 11 | $11,910 | 7 | 33 | 7 | $2,250 | 4 | $9,960 |
| 14-Mar-20 | 7 | 809.8 | 6 | 34 | 6 | 684.8 | 1 | 125 |
| 7-Mar-20 | 16 | $2,500 | 15 | 70 | 13 | $669 | 3 | $1,400 |
| 29-Feb-20 | 13 | $15,260 | 13 | 128 | 11 | $11,760 | 2 | $3,500 |
| 22-Feb-20 | 12 | $3,700 | 10 | 92 | 10 | $2,560 | 2 | $1,130 |
| 15-Feb-20 | 16 | $1,250 | 10 | 84 | 12 | $35 | 4 | $1,222 |
| 8-Feb-20 | 18 | $6,080 | 14 | 123 | 14 | $2,595 | 4 | $3,485 |
| 1-Feb-20 | 21 | $20,900 | 12 | 101 | 14 | $17,860 | 7 | $3,060 |
| 25-Jan-20 | 13 | $7,430 | 13 | 62 | 12 | $6,430 | 1 | $1,000 |
| 18-Jan-20 | 23 | $9,580 | 15 | 120 | 19 | $6,580 | 4 | $3,000 |
| 11-Jan-20 | 21 | $14,200 | 18 | 199 | 16 | $1,020 | 5 | $13,200 |
| 4-Jan-20 | 22 | $6,400 | 11 | 119 | 16 | $3,204 | 6 | $3,245 |
| 28-Dec-19 | 22 | $7,150 | 19 | 175 | 18 | $6,800 | 4 | $327.40 |
| 14-Dec-19 | 24 | $36,300 | 23 | 167 | 19 | $9,500 | 5 | $26,800 |
| 7-Dec-19 | 11 | $10,400 | 11 | 55 | 7 | $1,082 | 4 | $9,370 |
| November 30. 2019 | 14 | $2,450 | 12 | 126 | 12 | $1,760 | 2 | $692.50 |
| 23-Nov-19 | 16 | $1,995 | 10 | 41 | 11 | $615 | 5 | $1,380 |
| 16-Nov-19 | 15 | $3,820 | 13 | 135 | 11 | $2,500 | 4 | $1,271 |
| 9-Nov-19 | 25 | $12,900 | 17 | 182 | 23 | $12,200 | 2 | $575 |
| 2-Nov-19 | 10 | $2,470 | 12 | 61 | 9 | 2,450 | 3 | $22 |
| 26-Oct-19 | 12 | $5,560 | 14 | 70 | 11 | $3,860 | 1 | $1,700 |
| 19-Oct-19 | 8 | $6,600 | 8 | 138 | 8 | $6,600 | 0 | 0 |
| 12-Oct-19 | 19 | $4,300 | 14 | 55 | 16 | $3,800 | 3 | $500 |
| 5-Oct-19 | 18 | $14,500 | 19 | 166 | 15 | $11,100 | 3 | $3,400 |
| 28-Sep-19 | 19 | $8,100 | 18 | 132 | 18 | $7,560 | 1 | $550 |
| 21-Sep-19 | 14 | $6,300 | 16 | 66 | 11 | $2,160 | 3 | $4,170 |
| 14-Sep-19 | 15 | $23,800 | 12 | 56 | 11 | $21,250 | 4 | $2,570 |
| 7-Sep-19 | 17 | $3,500 | 15 | 98 | 14 | $1,900 | 3 | $1,600 |
| 31-Aug-19 | 5 | $8,700 | 6 | 50 | 5 | $8,700 | 0 | 0 |
| 24-Aug-19 | 16 | $10,000 | 14 | 82 | 15 | $4,250 | 1 | $5,750 |
| 16-Aug-19 | 10 | $1,680 | 5 | 52 | 7 | $650 | 3 | $950 |
| 9-Aug-19 | 17 | $17,700 | 15 | 68 | 14 | $3,900 | 3 | $13,800 |
| 2-Aug-19 | 13 | $5,760 | 12 | 108 | 13 | $5,760 | NA | NA |
| 27-Jul-19 | 11 | $7,300 | 13 | 76 | 8 | $6,570 | 3 | $730 |
| 20-Jul-19 | 13 | $11,800 | 13 | 125 | 11 | $5,300 | 2 | $6,500 |
| 13-Jul-19 | 10 | $775 | 7 | 46 | 8 | $542.50 | 2 | $233 |
| 6-Jul-19 | 7 | $2,500 | 9 | 85 | 7 | $2,500 | 0 | 0 |
| 29-Jun-19 | 23 | $8,290 | 15 | 154 | 17 | $2,300 | 6 | $5,970 |
| 22-Jun-19 | 17 | $10,700 | 10 | 139 | 14 | $7,700 | 3 | $3,000 |
| 15-Jun-19 | 11 | $13,500 | 14 | 160 | 11 | $13,500 | NA | NA |
| 8-Jun-19 | 13 | $2,870 | 17 | 55 | 11 | $1,570 | 2 | $1,300 |
| 1-Jun-19 | 10 | $4,460 | 11 | 60 | 8 | $4,140 | 2 | $315 |
| 25-May-19 | 17 | $4,360 | 14 | 79 | 14 | $3,700 | 3 | $612 |
| 18-May-19 | 22 | $9,000 | 17 | 150 | 16 | $3,400 | 6 | $5,600 |
| 11-May-19 | 18 | $19,800 | 17 | 177 | 15 | $18,300 | 3 | $1,500 |
| 4-May-19 | 10 | $7,075 | 6 | 32 | 8 | $6,900 | 2 | $175 |
| 27-Apr-19 | 15 | $3,200 | 14 | 117 | 14 | $3,160 | 1 | $40 |
| 20-Apr-19 | 13 | $13,500 | 10 | 90 | 9 | $12,200 | 4 | $1,300 |
| 13-Apr-19 | 16 | $38,900 | 14 | 91 | 14 | $37,800 | 2 | $1,100 |
| 6-Apr-19 | 12 | $6,870 | 11 | 94 | 10 | $6,730 | 2 | $50 |
| 30-Mar-19 | 15 | $6,470 | 12 | 84 | 10 | $7,91.5 | 5 | $5,677 |
| 23-Mar-19 | 18 | $6,450 | 14 | 91 | 14 | $5,042 | 4 | $1,408 |
| 16-Mar-19 | 14 | $10,180 | 12 | 115 | 11 | $8,800 | 3 | $1,300 |
| 9-Mar-19 | 9 | $1,800 | 6 | 49 | 8 | $1,300 | 1 | $500 |
| 2-Mar-19 | 20 | $3,033 | 16 | 107 | 14 | $1,817 | 6 | $1,262 |
| 23-Feb-19 | 12 | $2,040 | 8 | 69 | 9 | $614.60 | 3 | $1,430 |
| 16-Feb-19 | 16 | $9,970 | 18 | 77 | 16 | $9,970 | 0 | 0 |
| 9-Feb-19 | 14 | $6,400 | 10 | 110 | 14 | $6,400 | 0 | 0 |
| 2-Feb-19 | 18 | $6,740 | 15 | 99 | 16 | $5,720 | 2 | $950 |
| 26-Jan-19 | 13 | $2,770 | 11 | 67 | 11 | $918.95 | 2 | $1,850 |
| 19-Jan-19 | 15 | $3,819 | 16 | 76 | 12 | $2,594 | 3 | $1,225 |
| 12-Jan-19 | 18 | $7,283 | 14 | 92 | 15 | $1,683 | 3 | $5,600 |
| 5-Jan-19 | 10 | $529 | 12 | 50 | 10 | $529 | 0 | 0 |
| 22-Dec-18 | 17 | $2,570 | 13 | 87 | 14 | $941 | 3 | $1,629 |
| 15-Dec-18 | 10 | $2,860 | 8 | 26 | 8 | $264 | 2 | $2,600 |
| 8-Dec-18 | 15 | $1,819 | 16 | 65 | 12 | $552 | 3 | $1,267 |
| 1-Dec-18 | 12 | $7,500 | 10 | 90 | 9 | $1,200 | 3 | $6,200 |
| 28-Nov-18 | 15 | $4,500 | 11 | 107 | 14 | $4,000 | 1 | $500 |
| 19-Nov-18 | 18 | $6,137 | 13 | 98 | 13 | $2,142 | 5 | $3,995 |
| 14-Nov-18 | 18 | $9,200 | 13 | 152 | 15 | $8,500 | 3 | $694 |
| 6-Nov-18 | 16 | $17,300 | 16 | 183 | 14 | $16,361 | 2 | $950 |
| 29-Oct-18 | 14 | $14,400 | 18 | 127 | 17 | $13,800 | 1 | $600 |
| 24-Oct-18 | 13 | $6,140 | 13 | 126 | 11 | $5,122 | 2 | $1,018 |
| 17-Oct-18 | 18 | $18,390 | 15 | 125 | 14 | $12,292 | 4 | $6,098 |
| 10-Oct-18 | 29 | $3,149 | 18 | 104 | 20 | $1,647 | 9 | $819 |
| 2-Oct-18 | 18 | $9,300 | 11 | 67 | 14 | $7,300 | 4 | $2,000 |
| 25-Sep-18 | 13 | $7,000 | 11 | 75 | 10 | $6,000 | 3 | $995 |
| 18-Sep-18 | 9 | $3,570 | 7 | 44 | 9 | $3,570 | 0 | 0 |
| 11-Sep-18 | 13 | $5,900 | 10 | 132 | 13 | $5,900 | 0 | 0 |
| 7-Sep-18 | 14 | $5,000 | 15 | 86 | 11 | $4,000 | 3 | $1,000 |
| 29-Aug-18 | 15 | $20,700 | 14 | 79 | 13 | $4,700 | 2 | $16,000 |
| 20-Aug-18 | 10 | $12,400 | 11 | 53 | 8 | $11,380 | 3 | $1,057 |
| 14-Aug-18 | 12 | $19,900 | 12 | 132 | 9 | $18,889 | 3 | $1,011 |
| 7-Aug-18 | 16 | $68,600 | 11 | 106 | 13 | $67,259 | 3 | $1,340 |
| 31-Jul-18 | 15 | $15,100 | 15 | 95 | 11 | $13,060 | 4 | $2,060 |
| 23-Jul-18 | 13 | $2,130 | 15 | 60 | 10 | $1,804 | 3 | $1,100 |
| 17-Jul-18 | 14 | $5,370 | 17 | 98 | 9 | $4,310 | 5 | $1,100 |
| 9-Jul-18 | 16 | $11,200 | 15 | 74 | 10 | $11,080 | 6 | $862 |
| 3-Jul-18 | 13 | $7,000 | 7 | 81 | 12 | $6,330 | 1 | $750 |
| 25-Jun-18 | 15 | $8,800 | 13 | 97 | 9 | $4,970 | 6 | $3,930 |
| 18-Jun-18 | 13 | $14,200 | 14 | 80 | 7 | $221 | 6 | $14,290 |
| 11-Jun-18 | 12 | $6,300 | 8 | 96 | 8 | $5,910 | 4 | $803 |
| 6-Jun-18 | 13 | $14,500 | 10 | 88 | 8 | $14,154 | 5 | $579 |
| 31-May-18 | 11 | $4,890 | 10 | 63 | 8 | $3,240 | 3 | $1,790 |
| 22-May-18 | 15 | $20,400 | 11 | 63 | 9 | $19,808 | 6 | $885 |
| 15-May-18 | 15 | $4,700 | 15 | 106 | 10 | $3,900 | 5 | $643 |
| 9-May-18 | 11 | $1,400 | 13 | 88 | 9 | $1,300 | 2 | $560 |
| 1-May-18 | 8 | $14,250 | 7 | 88 | 7 | $13,400 | 1 | $450 |
| 24-Apr-18 | 12 | $5,300 | 6 | 61 | 11 | $4,470 | 1 | $800 |
| 17-Apr-18 | 9 | $1,800 | 10 | 44 | 7 | $2,330 | 2 | $1,434 |
| 11-Apr-18 | 11 | $2,500 | 8 | 32 | 6 | $1,690 | 5 | $809 |
| 3-Apr-18 | 15 | $13,400 | 11 | 121 | 9 | $12,020 | 6 | $1,090 |
| 28-Mar-18 | 10 | $4,000 | 10 | 92 | 7 | $3,870 | 3 | $215 |
| 19-Mar-18 | 17 | $5,800 | 13 | 51 | 10 | $590 | 7 | $5,165 |
| 12-Mar-18 | 15 | $3,130 | 11 | 43 | 11 | $2,360 | 4 | $788 |
| 6-Mar-18 | 19 | $5,400 | 13 | 116 | 10 | $1,530 | 9 | $4,860 |
| 27-Feb-18 | 20 | $6,600 | 13 | 69 | 14 | $5,530 | 6 | $1,030 |
| 19-Feb-18 | 15 | $5,500 | 14 | 111 | 10 | $3,990 | 6 | $1,980 |
| 12-Feb-18 | 23 | $10,900 | 17 | 157 | 12 | $7,110 | 11 | $3,840 |
| 5-Feb-18 | 16 | $8,600 | 13 | 100 | 7 | $1,330 | 9 | $7,800 |
| 30-Jan-18 | 11 | $12,600 | 11 | 68 | 5 | $7,300 | 6 | $4,982 |
| 24-Jan-18 | 19 | $9,400 | 15 | 129 | 5 | $2,010 | 14 | $7,337 |
| 18-Jan-18 | 10 | $6,280 | 8 | 49 | 2 | $2,100 | 8 | $4,188 |
| 9-Jan-18 | 12 | $16,500 | 12 | 92 | 9 | $15,890 | 3 | $475 |
| 3-Jan-18 | 10 | $2,500 | 9 | 47 | 8 | $2,350 | 2 | $150 |
| 27-Dec-17 | 15 | $9,000 | 15 | 113 | 9 | $7,568 | 6 | $1,784 |
| 18-Dec-17 | 15 | $13,800 | 16 | 164 | 9 | $13,010 | 7 | $1,118 |
| 11-Dec-17 | 14 | $9,700 | 10 | 126 | 12 | $2,940 | 4 | $8,500 |
| 4-Dec-17 | 6 | $1,800 | 6 | 31 | 5 | $1,510 | 1 | $300 |
| 28-Nov-17 | 7 | $3,850 | 8 | 76 | 4 | $3,260 | 3 | $285 |
| 16-Nov-17 | 10 | $2,700 | 10 | 48 | 6 | $1,840 | 4 | $856 |
| 8-Nov-17 | 15 | $2,380 | 17 | 91 | 10 | $1,860 | 5 | $516 |
| 1-Nov-17 | 12 | $4,700 | 17 | 94 | 9 | $3,400 | 4 | $1,300 |
| 23-Oct-17 | 15 | $10,500 | 10 | 67 | 10 | $9,780 | 4 | $1,530 |
| 18-Oct-17 | 6 | $2,000 | 37 | 3 | $225 | 3 | $1,820 | |
| 10-Oct-17 | 12 | $6,570 | 100 | 9 | $3,880 | 3 | $3,360 | |
| 2-Oct-17 | 8 | $3,100 | 11 | 19 | 3 | $1,630 | 5 | $1,750 |
| 25-Sep-17 | 8 | $4,880 | 8 | 79 | 5 | $2,660 | 5 | $2,070 |
| 18-Sep-17 | 9 | $4,770 | 3 | $300 | 6 | $4,470 | ||
| 12-Sep-17 | 11 | $4,430 | 8 | $2,030 | 3 | $2,400 | ||
| 1-Sep-17 | 4 | $1,310 | 3 | $317 | 1 | $1,000 | ||
| 23-Aug-17 | 11 | $13,640 | 9 | 8 | $11,840 | 3 | $1,800 |
In the Lone Star state last week, there were a couple of big deals involving Texas lawyers, both in the energy midstream sector, but the rest of the M&A activity was a bit sparse. In total, there were 12 deals worth $6.87 billion versus the previous week’s 15 transactions valued at $6.47 billion.
Two of the 12 deals were capital markets transactions valued at $150 million, leaving M&A to dominate at 10 deals worth $6.73 billion. Eleven law firms and 94 Texas lawyers were involved in the action.
MA&, PRIVATE EQUITY AND VENTURE CAPITAL
Five firms aid on Stonepeak’s $3.6B purchase of Oryx
As The Texas Lawbook reported last week, Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners announced that it was acquiring Oryx, the largest privately held midstream crude operator in the Permian Basin, for $3.6 billion.
The sellers included Quantum Energy Partners, Post Oak Energy Capital, Concho Resources, WPX Energy and others for $3.6 billion.
Shearman & Sterling and Vinson & Elkins counseled Oryx while Hunton Andrews Kurth and Sidley Austin represented Stonepeak.
The Shearman team was led by Houston partners Sarah McLean (M&A) and Todd Lowther (tax) and associates Monica Raspino, Doug Goldstein and Devon Yamauchi (tax). Other associates on the deal were Sarah Nealis, Alix Charles and Kelli Sims.
The V&E group included senior associate Robert Hughes and partner Keith Fullenweider with assistance from associate Sara Bloom.
Also advising were V&E partner John Lynch on tax; partner Sean Becker (labor/employment); partner Stephen Jacobson and associate Mary DanielMorgan (executive compensation/benefits); partner David Wicklund and associate Caitlin Snelson (finance); partners Bryan Loocke and Danielle Patterson and associate Jeremy Tripp (energy transactions/projects); and senior associate Matt Dobbins (environmental).
Hunton AK’s group was made up of partners Mike O’Leary, Courtney Cochran Butler, Taylor E. Landry, O’Banion Williams, Tom Ford, Allison Mantor, Lisa Shelton, Tony Eppert and Harve Truskett. The associates were Erin Juvenal, Marshall Heins, Emily Cabrera, Ming Lei and Alex Miron.
Partners Tim Chandler and Zackary Pullin led Sidley’s team, which included associates Tommer Yoked and Adam Prestidge.
Latham & Watkins represented the lenders, including Houston associate Benjamin T. Gelfand. Stonepeak’s fund counsel is Simpson Thatcher & Bartlett with lawyers in New York.
Financial advisors included Barclays for Stonepeak and Jefferies and Citi for Oryx and its sellers.
A Barclays-led arranger group including Goldman Sachs, RBC Capital Markets and Jefferies provided a $1.5 billion term loan B to support the transaction.
The deal will include a refinancing of Oryx Southern Delaware Holdings’ existing facility and the consolidation of Oryx Southern Delaware Holdings and Oryx Delaware Holdings into a single borrower.
Latham, Baker Botts advise on UGI’s $2.4B AmeriGas purchase
As The Lawbook also reported, Pennsylvania-based UGI Corp. said it was buying the 69.2 million units it didn’t already own of AmeriGas for cash and stock worth $2.4 billion, giving AmeriGas an enterprise value of around $6 billion, including debt.
Latham & Watkins represented UGI in the transaction with a Houston-based corporate team led by partners Ryan Maierson and John Greer with associates Kevin Richardson, Dan Harrist, Blake Berkey, Erin Lee and Hillarie James.
Specialists included Houston partners Tim Fenn and Bryant Lee with associate Jared Grimley on tax matters and Houston partner Joel Mack on environmental matters.
Baker Botts provided legal advice to AmeriGas, including partners Josh Davidson and A.J. Ericksen, senior associate Eileen Boyce and associate Catherine Ellis, all of Houston. Partner Mike Bresson and senior associate Jared Meier pitched in on tax matters and partner Rob Fowler did so on benefits.
Potter Anderson & Corroon represented the audit committee to AmeriGas’ board.
The financial advisors included Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. for AmeriGas (Lance Gilliland in Houston) and JP Morgan Securities for UGI.
AmeriGas unitholders will receive half of a share of UGI common stock and $7.63 in cash for each of their common units, or $35.33 per unit – a 13.5% premium over the previous day’s close.
The parties expect to complete the transaction in the fourth quarter if it clears a majority of AmeriGas’ unitholders.
The sale came after a 120-day strategic review AmeriGas initiated in December to study its structure and leverage with the goal of producing a “strong and stable” entity.
Jefferies analyst Christopher Sighinolfi said the deal was an “elegant solution” with benefits for all, including a healthy premium for AmeriGas unitholders and participation in an enhanced UGI story; and an improved cash flow and earnings per share profile and a 25% dividend raise for UGI’s shareholders.
Total invests $700M in Tellurian’s Driftwood project and Tellurian
Tellurian Inc. and Total announced April 2 that Total will invest $500 million in the integrated Driftwood project in Louisiana and purchase 2.5 million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas from the facility.
Total also will purchase about 19.87 million shares of Tellurian common stock for $200 million subject to certain closing conditions, including the Driftwood project reaching a final investment decision.
Including Total’s original $207 million investment in Tellurian in 2017, Total’s investment within the Tellurian portfolio will amount to $907 million.
Neither Total nor Tellurian responded to requests for in-house or outside counsel on the deals.
Daniel Belhumeur is Tellurian’s general counsel. He joined in 2016 after working at Cheniere Energy Inc. as tax counsel. He has a law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law and his LL.M. from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Analysts at Tudor, Pickering, Holt said commercial progress has heated up for the anticipated second wave of export facilities driven in part by oil majors’ increased willingness to underwrite projects with independent LNG operators.
Royal Dutch Shell also signed a 20-year off-take agreement last week with NextDecade for up to 2 million tonnes per year from its proposed facility in Brownsville. Both Shell and Tellurium aim to deliver LNG in 2023.
Tellurian CEO and president Meg Gentle said their facility will be the largest privately funded infrastructure project in the U.S. and produce low-cost, reliable natural gas as the world moves to reduce urban pollution and transition to a low-carbon economy.
Total chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanné said the cost to produce natural gas in the U.S. continues to fall as innovation finds more efficient ways to apply technology to producing the country’s vast energy resources.
The Driftwood project includes natural gas production, gathering, processing and transportation facilities along with Driftwood LNG, the liquefaction export facility located near Lake Charles.
Driftwood LNG and Driftwood Pipeline are expected to begin construction this year and be fully operating in 2026.
TowerBrook invests $100M in Studio Movie Grill
TowerBrook Capital Partners has invested $100 million in Dallas-based Studio Movie Grill, according to an announcement April 3.
Bell Nunnally counseled Studio Movie Grill with a team led by partner Ray A. Balestri. Others in the group were senior counsel Nikki Hurst Gibson; associates Natasha Gandhi, Murphy Sayre and Peter J. Kosydar III; and partners Jean Pierre Boyea, D. Andrew Dowdy, Jr., Danica L. Mathes and James A. Skochdopole.
Studio Movie Grill’s general counsel is James (Jim) Gdula, who joined the company in 2012.
Led by founder and CEO Brian Schultz, Studio Movie Grill said the partnership will help drive its next stage of accelerated growth as it continues to open in-theater dining locations across the U.S.
The company claims to have created the popular in-theater dining niche, combining film watching, food and cocktails starting in 1993. It also says it’s the fastest-growing, company-owned theater brand in the country, with 333 screens.
Jonathan Bilzin led the deal from TowerBrook, which invested in the company through its TowerBrook Structured Opportunities Fund. Its other non-control investments include GBA Group, JJA, OVH, La Maison Bleue and Gravity.
TowerBrook is based in New York and London and has $12.4 billion under management.
Rosehill sells Northern Delaware Basin acreage for $22M
Rosehill Resources Inc. said as part of an earnings release March 27 that it agreed to sell its assets in Lea County, New Mexico, to an unnamed buyer for $22 million.
The company expects to close the deal in early April with the net proceeds used to pay down outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility.
Rosehill general counsel Chris Hill wouldn’t provide in-house or outside counsel on the deal, as he said the company didn’t want to publicize the transaction or its participants.
Vinson & Elkins has represented the company in the past, including a $37.5 million stock offering in October.
Rosehill appointed David French as CEO, president and board member last month. He’s expected to join by April 30, succeeding Gary Hanna, who will remain chairman.
French previously was CEO of Obsidian Energy and Bankers Petroleum and held various managerial and operational positions at Apache, McKinsey & Co., Altura Energy and Amoco.
Jones Day advised NRC on $13M OIT acquisition
Jones Day said April 1 it advised NRC Group Holdings Corp. on its acquisition of OIT Inc. for up to $13 million.
Dallas partner Alain Dermarkar led the deal team. The Cavaliere Law Firm counseled OIT.
OIT is a provider of thermal treatment for non-hazardous petroleum contaminated soils, absorbent pads and sludges and treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
The price includes $6 million in cash, $2 million in deferred consideration payable in cash and stock and up to $5 million in earn-out payments over the next three years based on certain financial milestones.
NRC expects the transaction to close in the second quarter.
V&E aids Goldman Renewable on asset purchase from Macquarie
Vinson & Elkins said it advised Goldman Sachs Renewable Power Fund on its acquisition of a 142 megawatt portfolio of solar power generation assets from a unit of Macquarie Infrastructure Corp.
The firm said the transaction is one of several significant acquisitions and financings in which V&E has worked with Goldman Sachs’ renewable power unit.
Partner Danielle Patterson and senior associate Abby Branigan led the corporate team with assistance from associate KJ Pedersen.
Also advising were associates Jeremy Tripp, Josh Rocha, Caroline McDonald and Jack Moxon (energy transactions/projects); and counsel Debra Duncan and senior associate Mary Alexander (tax).
Winston & Strawn counseled Macquarie, which used Greentech Capital Advisors as its financial advisor.
Macquarie also is selling its 203 megawatt portfolio of wind generation assets to DIF Infrastructure V. It said both asset sales should bring in $215 million.
The parties expect the divestitures to close through this year if they receive regulatory approval.
Macquarie Infrastructure CEO Christopher Frost said in a statement that the sale is part of its plan to streamline its portfolio and realize investments in certain smaller and non-core business.
“At the same time we have delivered an attractive risk-adjusted return to our shareholders and expect to use the proceeds from these sales to fund a portion of our investment in the growth of our remaining businesses,” he said.
Macquarie Infrastructure announced its intention to exit its renewable power generation businesses in November. It said its guidance for EBITDA of between $610 and $635 million for this year didn’t include any contribution from those businesses.
White & Case advises Noble on development and sale of Alen field
White & Case said it advised Noble on the development and monetization of the Alen gas field in Equatorial Guinea, West Africa, with EG LNG.
The team was led by partners Jay Cuclis and Saul Daniel and included senior associates Bryan Cory and Christopher Peponis, all in the Houston office. Sidley Austin partner Dave Asmus in Houston represented EG LNG.
As part of the field’s development, Noble and its partners entered into agreements to process natural gas from the field through the Alba Plant gas processing facility and EG LNG’s liquefied natural gas production facility at Punta Europa, Bioko Island.
The government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea also was involved in the agreements.
Noble and its partners will install a 24-inch pipeline capable of handling 950 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day to transport all natural gas processed through the Alen platform about 43.5 miles to the onshore facilities at Punta Europa, Bioko Island. Noble expects to begin production in the first half of 2021.
Noble owns assets onshore in the U.S. as well as offshore in the Eastern Mediterranean and off the west coast of Africa.
PPC-backed C.H. Guenther acquires Mid South Baking
C.H. Guenther & Son, which was acquired last year by the Pritzker Group’s PPC Partners, bought Mid South Baking Co. for undisclosed terms.
Bryan, Texas-based Mid South Baking provides buns and English muffins to quick-serve restaurants in the southern U.S.
Kirkland & Ellis counseled Guenther and DLA Piper represented Mid South but none of the lawyers were in Texas. Tock McRae is general counsel of San Antonio-based Guenther.
Baker Botts partner Neel Lemon in Dallas had counseled Guenther on its sale to PPC.
McGuireWoods advises Intervale on Epic Lift sale to Tally
Intervale Capital said April 4 that it sold Epic Lift Systems to Tally Energy Services. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
McGuireWoods represented Intervale, which has used Kirkland & Ellis, Locke Lord and Baker Botts on past deals. Partners Matt Kapinos and Jay Hughes led the deal team, which included associates J. Hayden Harms and Kate Semmler Cornelius. All are in Houston.
Partner Peyton Smith in Austin advised on employment matters and partner Durham McCormick in Houston on tax aspects.
DLA Piper counseled Tally with an attorney out of New York. Tally is backed by RedBird Capital Partners and Sallyport Investments.
Fort Worth-based Epic provides plunger lift, gas lift and complementary compression solutions serving hundreds of customers from 16 locations across the U.S.
Founded in 2006, Intervale invests primarily in middle-market energy services and manufacturing companies. It has raised $1.3 billion of committed capital since inception.
CAPITAL MARKETS
iHeartMedia files for IPO with $100M placeholder
Commercial radio giant iHeartMedia filed for an initial public offering with a $100 million placeholder.
General counsel Robert Walls chose Kirkland & Ellis to counsel the company on the issue with attorneys outside of Texas. Davis Polk & Wardwell is assisting the underwriters.
Leading the IPO is iHeartMedia deputy counsel Paul M. McNicol, who joined the company in 2016. Before that, the Fordham-trained lawyer was the managing partner of the private equity firm Pilot Group and general counsel of the real estate division for HSF Corp. (now Cendant Corp.) and Six Flags Theme Parks.
The IPO is part of the company’s plan to emerge from Chapter 11, which is expected by the end of June. In January the company won court approval to eliminate $10 billion of its $20 billion debt load with Kirkland and Jackson Walker guiding it.
Bain Capital Partners and Thomas H. Lee Partners bought iHeartMedia in 2008 for $26.7 billion, loading the company up with debt. It filed for bankruptcy last year, agreeing to spin off its outdoor advertising business as part of a debt restructuring.
According to the filing, the company plans to have a dual-class share structure. It lost $38 million on $3.8 billion in sales last year.
The IPO will give iHeartMedia the flexibility to focus operations more seriously around streaming audio and podcast advertising, some of the fastest-growing segments in the advertising industry, Axios reported. “Its advantage is that it has a massive terrestrial radio footprint to market those efforts, but it had been inhibited by the former debt load,” the publication said.
DLA Piper advises Natixis on $50M letter of credit for Recurrent
DLA Piper said it counseled Natixis as arranger, agent and issuing bank with respect to a $50 million secured letter of credit facility for Canadian Solar unit Recurrent Energy.
The team was led out of Washington, D.C., and New York but included associate Andrew Zollinger in Dallas.
The facility is expected to support security obligations under power purchase agreements and interconnection agreements for development-stage projects. The size may be increased with participation from additional banking partners.
UPDATES:
Plano-based home décor retailer At Home Group has hired Bank of America to explore a possible sale, Reuters reported last week citing unnamed sources. At Home hasn’t commented. The news agency said the poor performance of At Home’s stock has turned it into a possible takeover target. Its market cap was recently around $1.3 billion. Its general counsel is Mary Jane Broussard, who joined the company in 2013. The University of Texas-trained lawyer was previously a partner at Brown McCarroll, which has since merged with Husch Blackwell.
Houston-based Vanguard Natural Resources Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for a second time.
It submitted its petition for relief in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the southern district of Texas in Houston.
The company has lined up a $130 million Citibank-underwritten debtor-in-possession financing facility, which proposes $65 million in new funds, $20 million of which will be available upon court approval, and $65 million that will roll up obligations of revolvers under its current credit agreement.
Vanguard CEO and president R. Scott Sloan said in a statement that the restructuring steps were necessary to attain a capital structure that is suitable for the company’s assets and business strategy.
The company lists nearly $1.2 billion in debt and $1.48 billion in assets.
Kirkland & Ellis partners Lucas Spivey and Rahul Vashi are on the team advising Vanguard. Evercore is Vanguard’s financial advisor and Opportune is the company’s restructuring advisor.
The company has oil and natural gas properties in the Green River Basin of Wyoming, the Piceance Basin in Colorado and the Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico. It also owns assets in the Arkoma Basin in Oklahoma, the Gulf Coast Basin in Texas, Louisiana and Alabama, the Big Horn Basin in Wyoming and Montana, the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma and North Texas, the Wind River Basin in Wyoming and the Powder River Basin in Wyoming.
Jones Energy Inc. also looks to be headed toward bankruptcy. It announced April 3 that it and holders of 84% of its first lien notes and 84% of its unsecured notes entered into a agreement that contemplates a balance sheet restructuring implemented through a prepackaged Chapter 11 filing.
The company said the plan will fully equitize its outstanding funded debt and include fully committed exit financing, strengthening its balance sheet and enhancing financial flexibility.
Jones Energy is being represented by Kirkland & Ellis (including Texas lawyers Brian Schartz, Will Bos, Mary Kogut Brawley, Anna Rotman, Matt Pacey, Michael Rigdon, Lech Wilkiewicz and David Wheat) and Jackson Walker.
An ad hoc group of holders of first lien notes is represented by Milbank and an ad hoc group of holders of first lien and unsecured notes is represented by Davis Polk & Wardwell.
Jones has an exit financing term loan facility involving post-emergence financing from a senior secured delayed draw term loan facility worth $20 million. The restructuring support agreement provides flexibility for the debtors to obtain alternative exit financing in lieu of the exit facility of up to $150 million during the Chapter 11 process, the company said.
The company plans to file for Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on or before April 15. It said it will request that the court convene a hearing to approve the disclosure statement’s adequacy and confirm the plan on May 6 and expects to emerge from bankruptcy within two weeks of the court’s entry of an order confirming the plan.
Texas lawyers from DLA Piper have worked on several deals since the beginning of the year that somehow didn’t make their way to The Lawbook.
Last month the firm advised Lantern Entertainment on its launch of Spyglass Media Group in partnership with former MGM CEO and Spyglass principal Gary Barber.
The team was led by partners in its New York office but included Austin partner John Gilluly and Texas associates Jibin Luke, Sarah Nabors and Tyler Davis in Houston.
Spyglass plans to combine new film and TV projects with assets of the Weinstein Co., which Lantern picked up at a bankruptcy auction last year for $298 million despite not having significant background in the industry.
In January DLA Piper also counseled Neopost on the $100 million acquisition of Irvine, California-based package solution provider Parcel Pending and the $70 million sale of Satori Inc. to Thompson Street Capital Partners, owner of postal management software provider BCC Software. That DLA team included Houston associate Katie Lee, who counsels clients on compliance with privacy and data security regulations.
Lee also was part of the DLA team that advised Circor on its $85 million sale of Reliability Services business to RelaDyne, also in January. Partner Brad Jorgensen pitched in from Austin. Circor, which provides flow control solutions and other engineered products for the industrial, energy, aerospace and defense markets, plans to use the net proceeds to pay down outstanding debt.
Another deal got away from The Lawbook, that being McGuireWoods’ representation of Charlotte-based Summit Park on the recapitalization of Exacta Land Surveyors last month for undisclosed terms. Associate Samuel Neece was part of the team out of Dallas. Stellus Capital provided the debt financing for the transaction. Exacta provides land surveys and field management services in six states.