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The Texas Lawbook

Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury

  • Appellate
  • Bankruptcy
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Corp. Deal Tracker/M&A
  • GCs/Corp. Legal Depts.
  • Firm Management
  • White-Collar/Regulatory
  • Pro Bono/Public Service/D&I

CDT Roundup: 25 Deals, 17 Firms, 182 Lawyers, $12.9B

November 12, 2019 Claire Poole

Dykema released its 15th annual M&A outlook survey last week – and the results weren’t too encouraging.

Only a third of the respondents – including corporate executives and advisors – are bullish about the outlook for U.S. M&A activity over the next 12 months, down from almost two-thirds in last year’s survey when there was optimism in the wake of sweeping federal tax reform.

M&A optimism levels essentially reverted to pre-2018 results, the firm said.

Almost a third of respondents said the main driver of U.S. M&A activity in the next 12 months will be general U.S. economic conditions, displacing availability of capital (24%), which had been in the top spot for the past six years. But they were split on the possibility of an economic downturn, with about half saying a recession in the next 12 months was at least somewhat likely and a quarter saying they were either neutral or thought a recession was unlikely or somewhat unlikely.

Respondents said trade tensions with China (43%) and U.S. political uncertainty (35%) were the greatest threats to U.S. M&A activity over the next year. But they were once again split on whether the impact from next year’s presidential election would be positive (36%) or negative (38%).

Fifty-eight percent of respondents anticipate an increase in M&A activity involving privately owned businesses over the next 12 months, down from 82% last year. 

Financial U.S. buyers are expected to be the biggest influencers on U.S. deal valuations, as they were in 2018. Foreign buyers are thought to have a greater influence compared with a year ago, as the U.S. is probably a relatively safe bet compared with other countries, the firm said.

Respondents predicted automotive, healthcare, energy, consumer products and technology would see the most deal activity, with healthcare moving up two spots from last year, Dykema reported.

Meanwhile, Texas lawyers experienced brisk deal activity last week, with 25 transactions valued at $12.9 billion compared with 10 deals worth $2.47 billion the week before. The activity was up in count but down in value from this time last year, which saw 16 transactions valued at $17.3 billion. Pre-holidays is clearly a busy time for dealmakers.

Weekly Corporate Deal Tracker Roundup Stats

A compilation of weekly stats from The Lawbook's CDT Weekly Roundup
(Deal Values in Millions)

Week Ending
Deal CountAmountFirmsLawyersM&A CountM&A Value $MCapM Count
CapM Value $M
28-Jun-202513$7,77781387$2,0316$5,746
21-Jun-202516$5,9841011311$3,0875$2,897
14-Jun-20259$4788133603$478
07-Jun-202516$26,2101119611$24,7445$1,466
31-May-202519$23,3811116612$18,6657$4,717
24-May-202515$24,0331112113$23,6242$409
17-May-202516$21,7601214511$18,6155$3,145
10-May-202524$33,1751620619$30,7655$2,410
03-May-202511$4,249139011$2,226.52$2,022.5
26-Apr-202512$8,78791689$6,0113$2,776
19-Apr-202511$8,09771389$7,9852$112
12-Apr-202513$2,392815210$2,0653$327
05-Apr-202519$27,7621518816$25,4733$2,289
29-Mar-202521$8,1881025816$4,1255$4,064
22-Mar-202519$6,4851423115$4,1284$2,857
15-Mar-202513$13,7371315110$9,9324$3,805
8-Mar-20257$2,2345665$2242$2,100
1-Mar-202511$3,05087510$2,5501$500
24-Feb-2512$16,39771496$6,6356$9,862
17-Feb-2517$12,1361313410$9,4112$2,725
10-Feb-2514$7,15491799$4,9505$2,204
3-Feb-2516 $10,068720011$7,5535$2,515
25-Jan-2514$10,261101259$2,2075$8,054
18-Jan-2519$7,3821531612$2,3007$5,082
11-Jan-2521$33,5601618716$32,5215$1,039
4-Jan-259$6,8279809$6,82700
21-Dec-2411$2,79811928$2,2293$570
14-Dec-2415$5,3231218612$3,8123$1,511
07-Dec-2416$4,7661023111$2,32152,445
30-Nov-2410$10,29191034$8,2906$2.001
23-Nov-2415$4,5531515311$3,3794$1,174
16-Nov-2417$11,4881124513$10,1864$1,303
09-Nov-2414$2,1101213912$1,4102$700
02-Nov-2412 $52,788 1110711$52,7381$50
26-Oct-248$3,1608657$3,0651$75
19-Oct-2412$5,3041113611$4,5541$750
12-Oct-2417$8,4381215015$8,1162$322
05-Oct-2422$23,1811218915$19,9807$3,201
28-Sep-2411$2,35671447$534$2,303
21-Sep-2412$9,568101695$4,1017$5,467
14-Sep-2424$10,9881223516$7,1758$3,813
7-Sep-2412$20,4201616811$20,3071$112.9
31-Aug-2413$20,631913412$14,7751$5,856
24-Aug-2419$8,4522132516$7,1023$1,350
17-Aug-2425$49,1961630411$39,38614$9,810
10-Aug-2420$12,2641531216$9,7944$2,470
03-Aug-2426$16,4981633418$8,1378$8,361
27-Jul-2419$16,4422127115$13,8384$2,604
20-Jul-2415$16,0161418410$14,2325$1,784
13-Jul-2420$17,220 1426518$7,146 2$10,074
6-Jul-2411$3,941 11958$2,650 3$1,291
29-Jun-2414$6,296 152248$6,296 6$1,927
22-Jun-2412$5,679 81375$210 7$5,469
15-Jun-2413$9,895 1621410$5,280 3$4,615
8-Jun-2419$23,859 1323912$19,436 7$4,423
1-Jun-2412$34,510 111479$26,110 3$8,400
25-May-2413$9,684 1517110$4,434 3$5,250
18-May-2411$5,490 111738$3,129 3$2,361
11-May-2422$14,855 1422716$11,105 6$3,750
4-May-2413$3,139 98710$1,297 3$1,842
27-Apr-2410$6,684 62810$6,684 00
20-Apr-2419$15,989 111479$5,208 10$10,781
13-Apr-2413$8,952 97610$1,652 3$7,300
6-Apr-2423$26,616 1422214$13,501 8$13,116
30-Mar-2412$9,286 81368$4,299 4$4,987
23-Mar-2418$5,451 1726616$4,759 2$692
16-Mar-2421$11,437 1318614$9,316 6$2,070
9-Mar-2423$4,695 2121819$2,723 4$1,972
2-Mar-2420$9,108 1937214$4,558 6$4,550
24-Feb-2419$16,382 1224815$9,507 4$6,875
17-Feb-2416$29,932 1515712$29,216 4$716
10-Feb-2425$10,750 1719619$5,372 6$5,379
3-Feb-2412$8,416 181259$3,416 3$5,000
27-Jan-249$8,165 9878$7,815 1$800
20-Jan-2414$4,084 1210912$3,219 2$865
13-Jan-2417$33,588 1225612$26,765 5$6,823
6-Jan-248$7,915 8846$7,265 2$650
30-Dec-2317$14,599 129915$2,714 2$11,885
23-Dec-2323$4,182 1321916$1,813 7$2,370
16-Dec-2313$16,436 132807$15,150 5$1,286
9-Dec-2326$14,633.90 1724416$8,095 10$6,538.90
2-Dec-2313$6,720 95712$6,630 1$90
25-Nov-239$4,835 91316$1,785 3$3,050
18-Nov-2322$6,568.70 1718414$4,709.20 8$1,859.50
11-Nov-2315$9,825 1317912$6,581 3$3,244
4-Nov-2315$20,582.50 1419312$19,417.50 3$1,165
28-Oct-2318$68,419.10 1815215$66,646 3$1,773.10
21-Oct-2316$6,755.90 1616515$6,755.90 1$3
14-Oct-2314$67,851.20 131259$61,998.50 5$5,852.70
7-Oct-2317$6,595.50 1322816$5,995.50 1$600
30-Sep-2317$1,896.45 1318914$806.45 3$1,090
23-Sep-2323$6,432.70 1723016$1,402.80 7$5,029.90
16-Sep-2325$23,226.70 2335316$17,239 9$5,987.70
9-Sep-2312$6,369 81027$4,311 5$2,058
2-Sep-2314$2,522 69213$1,322 1$1,200
26-Aug-2317$12,160.25 1320215$6,573.25 2$5,587.00
19-Aug-2319$11,505 1321315$11,255 4$250
12-Aug-2319$9,698.80 131847$3,270 12$6,428.80
5-Aug-2313$5,201 1211812$5,051 1$150
29-Jul-2315$21,031.60 1319611$18,292.00 4$2,739.60
22-Jul-2318$3,992 1213013$2,808 5$1,184
15-Jul-2313$8,254.95 138113$8,254.95 00
8-Jul-2316$5,441.45 1217211$2,443 5$2,998.45
1-Jul-2316$6,872 1010512$5,474 4$1,398
24-Jun-2313$10,914 1620110$7,874 3$3,040
17-Jun-2317$5,880.70 1515115$4,705.70 2$1,175
10-Jun-2319$8,516.10 1311116$6,252.40 3$2,263.70
June 3 202312$6,104.42 121388$4,256.92 4$1,847.50
27-May-2317$12,200 106711$6,165 6$6,035
20-May-2311$22,458.10 81034$19,455 7$3,003
13-May-2312$7,034 101018$5,460 4$1,574
6-May-2320$3,297.60 1819617$2,985.60 3$312
29-Apr-2323$3,691.20 1813517$1,969.70 6$1,721.50
22-Apr-2316$5,570 1410414$4,750 2$1,000
15-Apr-2312$23,818.10 95910$21,618.10 2$2,200
8-Apr-2316$7,949 91739$5,472 7$3,477
1-Apr-2321$18,676.70 1217511$10,926.70 10$7,750
25-Mar-2315$8,779.50 101415$2,362 10$6,416.50
18-Mar-237$14,048.80 6695$13,345 2$703.80
11-Mar-2321$11,576 1616516$8,131 5$3,445
4-Mar-2320$9,668 1122816$8,209 4$1,459
25-Feb-2313$5,335 1313012$4,235 1$1,200
18-Feb-2314$5,743.70 131588$898.70 6$4,845
11-Feb-2316$12,088 1213712$9,965 4$2,123
4-Feb-2317$8,066 1514013$5,614 4$2,452
28-Jan-237$2,180 7755$1,692.75 2$488
21-Jan-2317$5,768 1617412$1,918 5$3,850
14-Jan-2311$2, 800101028$421 3$2,400
7-Jan-2318$8,296 1116714$6,461 3$1,835
31-Dec-2214$2,732 119912$2,092 2$640
17-Dec14$7,919 1311512$7,419 1$500
10-Dec-2214$10,093 128811$7,093 3$3,000
3-Dec-2226$12,800.90 1117220$4,141 6$8,659.90
26-Nov-228$2,266.70 853$76 5$2,190.70
19-Nov-2221$2,886 1521219$2,550 2$336
12-Nov-2213$15,093.70 9819$14,200 4$893.70
5-Nov-222519,337.201650922$8,267.20 3$11,070
29-Oct-2215$7,805.30 911614$7,180.30 1$625
22-Oct-2220$8,193.50 1325313$5,442 7$2,751.50
15-Oct-229$3,046.10 91397$2,588.30 2$457.80
8-Oct-2219$2,011.80 1211416$833.80 3$1,178
1-Oct-2223$5,532.90 1615618$4,952.30 5$580.60
24-Sep-2218$5,194 1421615$4,050 3$1,144
17-Sep-2221$8,352.30 1232015$4,759.60 6$3,592.70
10-Sep-2215$19,853.50 1012613$19,403.60 2$450
3-Sep-229$2,312 9629$2,312 00
27-Aug-2216$30,891.70 1013515$30,666.40 1227.7
20-Aug-2212$1,977 815299253$1,052
13-Aug-2218$8,004.70 1124211$2,844.70 7$5,160
6-Aug-2224$7,948.90 1224017$3,577 7$4,371.90
30-Jul-228$6,941 9787$6,839 1$102
23-Jul-2211$801 119210$801 10
16-Jul-2214$3,650 1012214$3,650 00
9-Jul-2210$3,557.70 7689$3,557.70 10
2-Jul-2218$8,609.40 1315215$2,754.40 3$5,855
25-Jun-2215$6,142 131469$2,017 6$4,125
18-Jun-2217$11,890.10 1422815$11,410 2479.7
11-Jun-2217$7,600 1212310$2,300 7$5,300
4-Jun-2212$2,937 101279$692 3$2,245
28-May-229$3,197.60 11869$3,197.60 00
21-May-2214$7,284.50 1218511$6,609 3$675.50
14-May-2211$306.60 98010$306.60 1$225
7-May-2216$10,451.75 1210812$1,827 4$8,624.75
30-Apr-2216$2,296.50 1615712$895.50 4$1,401
23-Apr-2210$2,241 11588$1,641 2$600
16-Apr-2211$6,643 71568$2,359 3$4,284
9-Apr-2217$4,429 1418411$1,690 6$2,739
2-Apr-2213$1,755 88410$1,145 3$610
26-Mar-2211$3,205 8656$200 5$3,005
19-Mar-2213$2,239.17 910613$2,239.17 00
12-Mar-2218$12,016 1123915$11,965 2$51.35
5-Mar-2217$6,786 1313713$5,161 4$1,625
26-Feb-2212$5,095 81499$4,437.50 3$658
19-Feb-2217$22,229 1717414$21,354 3$875
12-Feb-2212$2,344.70 10738$641.70 4$1,703
5-Feb-2211$2,503 89911$2,503 00
29-Jan-2211$3,872 1210112$3,872 00
22-Jan-2213$5,143.50 109912$4,842.50 1$301
15-Jan-2212$7,605 91559$6,480 3$1,025
8-Jan-2213$8,256.20 1110213$8,256.20 00
1-Jan-229$1,273.80 6509$1,273.80 00
25-Dec-2121$4,734.75 1117616$3,410 5$1,324.75
18-Dec-2126$7,325.20 1519318$3,640.20 8$3,685.20
11-Dec-2116$5,017 1010913$1,417 3$3,600
4-Dec-2114$2,310 8868$2,310 6$1,882.05
27-Nov-219$3.460.1101016$1,758 3$1,702.60
20-Nov-2120$22,792 1515712$18,864.50 8$3,928
13-Nov-2121$26,729 1217813$11,822 8$14,907
6-Nov-2112$8,303 1315710$6,682 3$1,621
30-Oct-2121$10,368 1521815$9,24.46$1,103.00
23-Oct-2121$18.783.11522211$12,314 10$6,468.60
16-Oct-2115$3,868 1111815$2,293 2$1,575
9-Oct-2120$8,610 1617516$7,795 4$815
2-Oct-2114$6,250 1113710$5,200 4$1,050
25-Sep-2111$11,460 9937$10,200 4$1,250
18-Sep-2111$16,603 8998$15,084 3$1,519
11-Sep-2117$10,653 1110313$8,503 4$2,150
4-Sep-2113$7,222 108911$6,715 2$507
28-Aug-2112$763 96311$663 1$100
21-Aug-2112$29,659 77911$29,579 1$80
14-Aug-2122$17,845 1119912$12,805 10$5,04
7-Aug-2117$13,670 1213915$11,766 2$1,904
31-Jul-2121$8,160 1113410$3,574 10$4,586
July 24,202121$6,367 1113915$3,712 6$2,655
17-Jul-2114$4,009 1112412$2,015 2$1,994
10-Jul-2116$3,997 1314311$1,597 4$2,4
3-Jul-2124$7,492 139416$3,769 8$3,722
26-Jun-2110$4,995 7858$3,847 2$1,148
19-Jun-2128$16,830 82289$1,861 19$14,968
12-Jun-2126$27,238 1520919$25,602 7$1,636
5-Jun-2115$15,539 1310013$14,709 2$600
29-May-2135$20,279 1114528$18,647$1,639
22-May-2124$53,208 1417417$51,047 7$2,161
15-May-2118$10,620 1322011$5,870 7$4,809
8-May-2117$10,400 1115615$8,386 2$2,500
1-May-2121$7,200 1611512$3,808 9$3,392
24-Apr-218$20,200 9318$20,200 00
17-Apr-2114$6,270 810211$40,180 3$2,260
10-Apr-2115$8,940 1312914$7,990 1$950
3-Apr-2118$19,513 1015112$16,923 6$2,590
27-Mar-2127$13,942 1524414$4,300 13$9,633.50
20-Mar-2111$2,046 41023$270 8$1,776
13-Mar-2115$3,270 91096$538 9$2,732
6-Mar-2124$13,617 1019613$10,395 11$3,222
27-Feb-2119$8,105 1213915$4,970 4$3,135
20-Feb-219$8,820 91538$8,520 1$300
13-Feb-2112$4,852.60 78172,7665$2,086.60
6-Feb-2118$9,752 1315314$5,222 4$4,530
30-Jan-2118$9,449 918215$8,753.80 3$695.30
23-Jan-2114$8,150 81186$4,000 8$4,150
16-Jan-2117$6,783 1313811$2,400 6$4,382.90
9-Jan-2122$6,829 1413518$3,139.30 4$3,690
2-Jan-217$1,466 7607$1,466 00
26-Dec-2018$15,900 1216316$5,300 1$600
19-Dec-2018$9,769 1411014$8,426 4$1,343
12-Dec-2010$7,200 91009$3,325 1$3,830
5-Dec-2015$4,261 91229$2,780 6$1,481
28-Nov-2019$7,758 1011013$4,003 6$3,755
14-Nov-2014$864.10 1415712$289.10 2$575
7-Nov-2013$6,332 91299$2,483.50 4$3,849
31-Oct-2010$3,995.80 81036$3,231.10 4$754.70
24-Oct-206$18,100 6585$17,709 1$350
17-Oct-208$351.90 5558$351.90 00
10-Oct-207$5,229 3504$735 3$4,494
3-Oct-2014$21,428 91739$17,535 5$3,893
26-Sep-2010$12,770 8935$10,300 5$2,470
19-Sep-2014$8,365 91016$1,020 8$7,345
12-Sep-206$4,406 8593$1,270 3$3,136
5-Sep-2011$5,191 81179$4,061 2$1,130
29-Aug-2011$2,531 9945$1,130 6$1,401
22-Aug-2018$6,574 121407$1,930 11$4,644
15-Aug-2013$4,991 10977$1,216 6$3,775
8-Aug-2012$32,092 111129$30,457 3$1,635
1-Aug-207$5,287 8765$3,687 2$1,600
25-Jul-209$18,751 6677$18,403 2$348
18-Jul-206$1,982.50 5504$1,407.50 2$575
11-Jul-2011$565.10 127510$65.10 1$500
4-Jul-2010$8,889 8989$8,788 1$100.30
27-Jun-208$6,874 10505$4,972.50 3$2,081.50
20-Jun-2012$4,444 91157$2,829 5$1,615
13-Jun-206$3,582 4372$350 4$3,232
6-Jun-2011$3,213.70 8657$470 4$2,743.70
30-May-208$7,335 7486$4,639 2$2,697
23-May-204$432.40 4343$432.40 10
16-May-206$310 6345$310 10
9-May-2018$5,630 1612414$3,180 4$2,450
2-May-201510,40010908$1,900 7$,8,500
25-Apr-208$3,400 9365$1,000 3$2,450
18-Apr-2019$9,500 14928$185.70 11$9,360
11-Apr-2012$6,000 9405$190 7$5,800
4-Apr-2014$8,200 116810$2,200 4$6,000
28-Mar-2016$6,500 139610$3,700 6$2,800
21-Mar-2011$11,910 7337$2,250 4$9,960
14-Mar-207809.86346684.81125
7-Mar-2016$2,500 157013$669 3$1,400
29-Feb-2013$15,260 1312811$11,760 2$3,500
22-Feb-2012$3,700 109210$2,560 2$1,130
15-Feb-2016$1,250 108412$35 4$1,222
8-Feb-2018$6,080 1412314$2,595 4$3,485
1-Feb-2021$20,900 1210114$17,860 7$3,060
25-Jan-2013$7,430 136212$6,430 1$1,000
18-Jan-2023$9,580 1512019$6,580 4$3,000
11-Jan-2021$14,200 1819916$1,020 5$13,200
4-Jan-2022$6,400 1111916$3,204 6$3,245
28-Dec-1922$7,150 1917518$6,800 4$327.40
14-Dec-1924$36,300 2316719$9,500 5$26,800
7-Dec-1911$10,400 11557$1,082 4$9,370
November 30. 201914$2,450 1212612$1,760 2$692.50
23-Nov-1916$1,995 104111$615 5$1,380
16-Nov-1915$3,820 1313511$2,500 4$1,271
9-Nov-1925$12,900 1718223$12,200 2$575
2-Nov-1910$2,470 126192,4503$22
26-Oct-1912$5,560 147011$3,860 1$1,700
19-Oct-198$6,600 81388$6,600 00
12-Oct-1919$4,300 145516$3,800 3$500
5-Oct-1918$14,500 1916615$11,100 3$3,400
28-Sep-1919$8,100 1813218$7,560 1$550
21-Sep-1914$6,300 166611$2,160 3$4,170
14-Sep-1915$23,800 125611$21,250 4$2,570
7-Sep-1917$3,500 159814$1,900 3$1,600
31-Aug-195$8,700 6505$8,700 00
24-Aug-1916$10,000 148215$4,250 1$5,750
16-Aug-1910$1,680 5527$650 3$950
9-Aug-1917$17,700 156814$3,900 3$13,800
2-Aug-1913$5,760 1210813$5,760 NANA
27-Jul-1911$7,300 13768$6,570 3$730
20-Jul-1913$11,800 1312511$5,300 2$6,500
13-Jul-1910$775 7468$542.50 2$233
6-Jul-197$2,500 9857$2,500 00
29-Jun-1923$8,290 1515417$2,300 6$5,970
22-Jun-1917$10,700 1013914$7,700 3$3,000
15-Jun-1911$13,500 1416011$13,500 NANA
8-Jun-1913$2,870 175511$1,570 2$1,300
1-Jun-1910$4,460 11608$4,140 2$315
25-May-1917$4,360 147914$3,700 3$612
18-May-1922$9,000 1715016$3,400 6$5,600
11-May-1918$19,800 1717715$18,300 3$1,500
4-May-1910$7,075 6328$6,900 2$175
27-Apr-1915$3,200 1411714$3,160 1$40
20-Apr-1913$13,500 10909$12,200 4$1,300
13-Apr-1916$38,900 149114$37,800 2$1,100
6-Apr-1912$6,870 119410$6,730 2$50
30-Mar-1915$6,470 128410$7,91.55$5,677
23-Mar-1918$6,450 149114$5,042 4$1,408
16-Mar-1914$10,180 1211511$8,800 3$1,300
9-Mar-199$1,800 6498$1,300 1$500
2-Mar-1920$3,033 1610714$1,817 6$1,262
23-Feb-1912$2,040 8699$614.60 3$1,430
16-Feb-1916$9,970 187716$9,970 00
9-Feb-1914$6,400 1011014$6,400 00
2-Feb-1918$6,740 159916$5,720 2$950
26-Jan-1913$2,770 116711$918.95 2$1,850
19-Jan-1915$3,819 167612$2,594 3$1,225
12-Jan-1918$7,283 149215$1,683 3$5,600
5-Jan-1910$529 125010$529 00
22-Dec-1817$2,570 138714$941 3$1,629
15-Dec-1810$2,860 8268$264 2$2,600
8-Dec-1815$1,819 166512$552 3$1,267
1-Dec-1812$7,500 10909$1,200 3$6,200
28-Nov-1815$4,500 1110714$4,000 1$500
19-Nov-1818$6,137 139813$2,142 5$3,995
14-Nov-1818$9,200 1315215$8,500 3$694
6-Nov-1816$17,300 1618314$16,361 2$950
29-Oct-1814$14,400 1812717$13,800 1$600
24-Oct-1813$6,140 1312611$5,122 2$1,018
17-Oct-1818$18,390 1512514$12,292 4$6,098
10-Oct-1829$3,149 1810420$1,647 9$819
2-Oct-1818$9,300 116714$7,300 4$2,000
25-Sep-1813$7,000 117510$6,000 3$995
18-Sep-189$3,570 7449$3,570 00
11-Sep-1813$5,900 1013213$5,900 00
7-Sep-1814$5,000 158611$4,000 3$1,000
29-Aug-1815$20,700 147913$4,700 2$16,000
20-Aug-1810$12,400 11538$11,380 3$1,057
14-Aug-1812$19,900 121329$18,889 3$1,011
7-Aug-1816$68,600 1110613$67,259 3$1,340
31-Jul-1815$15,100 159511$13,060 4$2,060
23-Jul-1813$2,130 156010$1,804 3$1,100
17-Jul-1814$5,370 17989$4,310 5$1,100
9-Jul-1816$11,200 157410$11,080 6$862
3-Jul-1813$7,000 78112$6,330 1$750
25-Jun-1815$8,800 13979$4,970 6$3,930
18-Jun-1813$14,200 14807$221 6$14,290
11-Jun-1812$6,300 8968$5,910 4$803
6-Jun-1813$14,500 10888$14,154 5$579
31-May-1811$4,890 10638$3,240 3$1,790
22-May-1815$20,400 11639$19,808 6$885
15-May-1815$4,700 1510610$3,900 5$643
9-May-1811$1,400 13889$1,300 2$560
1-May-188$14,250 7887$13,400 1$450
24-Apr-1812$5,300 66111$4,470 1$800
17-Apr-189$1,800 10447$2,330 2$1,434
11-Apr-1811$2,500 8326$1,690 5$809
3-Apr-1815$13,400 111219$12,020 6$1,090
28-Mar-1810$4,000 10927$3,870 3$215
19-Mar-1817$5,800 135110$590 7$5,165
12-Mar-1815$3,130 114311$2,360 4$788
6-Mar-1819$5,400 1311610$1,530 9$4,860
27-Feb-1820$6,600 136914$5,530 6$1,030
19-Feb-1815$5,500 1411110$3,990 6$1,980
12-Feb-1823$10,900 1715712$7,110 11$3,840
5-Feb-1816$8,600 131007$1,330 9$7,800
30-Jan-1811$12,600 11685$7,300 6$4,982
24-Jan-1819$9,400 151295$2,010 14$7,337
18-Jan-1810$6,280 8492$2,100 8$4,188
9-Jan-1812$16,500 12929$15,890 3$475
3-Jan-1810$2,500 9478$2,350 2$150
27-Dec-1715$9,000 151139$7,568 6$1,784
18-Dec-1715$13,800 161649$13,010 7$1,118
11-Dec-1714$9,700 1012612$2,940 4$8,500
4-Dec-176$1,800 6315$1,510 1$300
28-Nov-177$3,850 8764$3,260 3$285
16-Nov-1710$2,700 10486$1,840 4$856
8-Nov-1715$2,380 179110$1,860 5$516
1-Nov-1712$4,700 17949$3,400 4$1,300
23-Oct-1715$10,500 106710$9,780 4$1,530
18-Oct-176$2,000 373$225 3$1,820
10-Oct-1712$6,570 1009$3,880 3$3,360
2-Oct-178$3,100 11193$1,630 5$1,750
25-Sep-178$4,880 8795$2,660 5$2,070
18-Sep-179$4,770 3$300 6$4,470
12-Sep-1711$4,430 8$2,030 3$2,400
1-Sep-174$1,310 3$317 1$1,000
23-Aug-1711$13,640 98$11,840 3$1,800

M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions again dominated the activity with 23 deals valued at $12.2 billion and two capital markets/financing transaction worth $575 million. Seventeen firms and 182 Texas lawyers were involved in all the activity.

M&A/PRIVATE EQUITY/VENTURE CAPITAL

Shearman aids CPPIB on purchase of Pattern Energy for $6.1B

Wind and solar power plant operator Pattern Energy Group Inc. said Nov. 4 that it agreed to be sold to Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, known as CPPIB, for $26.75 per share in cash, or $2.63 billion, which will take the company private.

The deal gives Pattern Energy an enterprise value of around $6.1 billion, including net debt. 

If the deal is completed, Pattern Energy will be combined with Riverstone Holdings-backed Pattern Development, which builds projects.

Shearman & Sterling advised CPPIB with a team led out of New York and Toronto that included associate Ryan Bray, who recently moved to the firm’s Houston office from Menlo Park.

Evercore and Goldman Sachs provided financial advice to Pattern Energy’s special committee and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison was the committee’s independent legal counsel.

The offer represented a 14.8% premium over Pattern Energy’s closing share price on Aug. 9, 2019, the last trading day before market rumors began to surface the company’s potential sale. 

The deal is subject to a 35-day go-shop process but is expected to close in the second quarter of next year.

The Pattern Energy management team, led by Mike Garland, will lead the combined enterprise. 

Pattern chairman Alan Batkin said in a statement that the deal delivers “significant, immediate and certain value to the company’s shareholders.”

Pension and infrastructure funds have been increasingly investing in renewable energy projects due to their steady returns.

Bruce Hogg led the transaction from CPPIB, whose fund reached      C$400.6 billion in June, and Chris Hunt and Alfredo Marti from Riverstone, which has raised and invested $39 billion in 180 energy investments around the world.

Pattern Energy has 28 wind and solar power projects with an operating capacity of 4.4 gigawatts in the U.S., Canada and Japan. Pattern Development has developed, financed and placed into operation 4,000 megawatts of wind and solar power projects. 

Blackstone invests in MagicLab, giving it a $3B valuation

Blackstone announced Nov. 8 that it’s taking a majority stake in MagicLab, which operates dating and social networking apps Bumble and Badoo, valuing the company at around $3 billion.

Elizabeth Monteleone, director of legal affairs at Bumble in Austin, told The Texas Lawbook that she was the only Texas lawyer on the deal. 

Davis Polk & Wardwell counseled Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder and CEO of Bumble. Baker McKenzie represented the majority shareholders of MagicLab, including Andrey Andreev, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett was Blackstone’s legal advisor. Citi is MagicLab’s financial advisor and providing financing to Blackstone. 

Founded in 2006 by Andreev, MagicLab has connected the lives of 500 million people around the world across dating, social and business activities. As part of the deal, Andreev will be selling his stake and stepping down from the business, replaced by Bumble founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd, who will work with Blackstone to expand the business.

Jon Korngold, head of Blackstone Growth, said MagicLab was a pioneer in the fast-growing online dating industry. Martin Brand also worked on the deal from Blackstone.

Bracewell, Gibson Dunn, HuntonAK work on DCP’s $1.53B IDR cut

DCP Midstream announced a transaction last week to eliminate its general partner economic interests and incentive distribution rights in exchange for 65 million newly issued DCP common units valued at $1.53 billion. 

DCP’s general partner is equally owned by Enbridge Inc. and Phillips 66.

Bracewell counseled DCP’s general partner, including partners William S. Anderson in Houston and Lance W. Behnke, who offices out of Seattle and Houston. The associates were Benjamin J. Martin, Andrew W. Monk, Sarah Ashley Byrd and Caroline E. Ellis, all of Houston.

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher represented Evercore, which advised DCP’s conflicts committee. The team included partner Hillary Holmes, associate Justine Robinson and tax partner James Chenoweth of Houston.

Hunton Andrews Kurth (partners Bob Jewell and Melinda Brunger in Houston) and Richards, Layton & Finger counseled the conflicts committee. JP Morgan was financial advisor to DCP’s general partner.

Denver-based DCP said the transaction will create alignment among all stakeholders and reduce future cost of capital. Wouter van Kempen is its chairman and CEO.

Jefferies analyst Christopher Sighinolfi said in a note that IDR eliminations lower the cost of issuing new limited partner units. But when done at a premium to cash parity (a 20% premium in this case), he said they immediately raise the amount of cash paid out without enhancing cash generation, “placing added strain on the business and its balance sheet.”

Weil represents RealPage on $580M Buildium acquisition

Weil Gotshal & Manges said it represented RealPage on its acquisition of Sumeru Equity Partners-backed Buildium for $580 million.

Partner Jim Griffin in Weil’s Dallas office led the team, which included associates Anne Moretti Langford, Heather McKinney, Wei Xu, Austin Freeman and Alex Farr (tax), all of Dallas.

The parties expect to close the deal by year-end.

Founded in 2004 and headed by CEO Chris Litster, Buildium is a SaaS real estate property management solution provider with 17,000 customers in 50 countries with 2 million residential units under management. 

RealPage expects to combine its capabilities with Buildium to target smaller multifamily, single-family, associations and commercial real estate market segments, which the company estimates to represent 50 million units in the U.S. It also plans to expand and improve Buildium’s platform, boosting its revenue per unit.

RealPage CEO and chairman Steve Winn said the market segment represents a big growth opportunity in which technology is underutilized and served by many point products.

Buildium generated around $50 million in revenue for the 12 months ending Sept. 30 and is expected to have a run-rate of $60 million by year-end, representing 30% year-over-year growth.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Richardson, RealPage serves 16.8 million units worldwide (before the acquisition of Buildium) from offices in North America, Europe and Asia. 

Orrick, Baker Botts aid on Equinor’s Eagle Ford sale to Repsol for $325M

Orrick said last week it advised Equinor on the sale of its 63% operated interest in Eagle Ford shale assets in South Texas to Spain’s Repsol for $325 million.

The team was led by partner Joe Roger, senior associate Adam Kowis and associate Ali Grace and included associate Ayla Vilander, partner Darrell Thomas and associate Michelle Pichardo, all of Houston.

Repsol was advised by Baker Botts, including partner Erin Hopkins and associates Robin Raasch and Justin Clune.

The transaction covers all of Equinor’s interests in its Eagle Ford joint venture with Repsol covering 69 000 net acres, bringing Repsol’s stake to 100%.

“This transaction supports Equinor’s strategy to optimize our onshore U.S. portfolio, enhancing our financial flexibility and focusing our capital on our core activities in the country,” Torgrim Reitan, Equinor’s executive VP of international development and production, said in a statement.

Reitan said the U.S. remains a core area for Equinor, demonstrated by recent acquisitions including assets in the Gulf of Mexico, onshore acreage in the Austin Chalk and the Empire Wind project offshore New York.

Equinor entered the Eagle Ford asset in 2010 through an acquisition from Enduring Resources with Talisman Energy USA, now owned by Repsol. In 2015, Equinor increased its interest in the asset from 50% to 63% and assumed full operatorship.

Repsol said it also acquired a 20% non-operated interest in Equinor’s Monument prospect in the Gulf of Mexico’s Northwest Walker Ridge area.

V&E, Kirkland advise on Devon’s $140M Delaware JV with QLCP

Vinson & Elkins said it advised Devon Energy Production Co. on its agreement to form a midstream partnership in the Delaware Basin with QL Capital Partners.

As part of the transaction, Devon will contribute gathering system and compression assets in the Cotton Draw area to the partnership in exchange for a $100 million special cash distribution funded by QLCP. Devon will continue to operate the assets as part of a management services agreement.

QLCP also is providing $40 million in expansion capital to help fund the build out the Cotton Draw midstream assets over the next several years.

V&E partners Mingda Zhao and John B. Connally led the deal team with assistance from associates John McEntire, Caroline Kuehn, Robert Vezina, Zachary Parker, Torie Berkowitz and Ryan Logan. 

Others were counsel Suzanne Clevenger and associates R.J. Colwell and Alexandra Noll (energy regulatory); partner Todd Way and associates Brian Russell and Emily Fawcett (tax); partner Larry Nettles (environmental); senior associate Matt Falcone and associate Ayman Haq (corporate); and partner David D’Alessandro and counsel Regina Ibarra (executive compensation/benefits).

Kirkland & Ellis advised QLCP, including corporate partners John Pitts and Cyril Jones and associates Erik Shoemaker and Mark Kunzman; transactional partner Chad Smith and associate Isaac Bate; and tax partners David Wheat and Bill Dong.

V&E aids on First Reserve’s purchase of TriMas’ Lamons for $135M

First Reserve agreed to buy the Lamons business from Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based TriMas for $135 million.

Vinson & Elkins represented First Reserve, including partner Shamus Crosby and senior associate Robert Hughes. Jones Day counseled TriMas out of Cleveland.

BofA Securities was Trimas’ financial advisor while Current Capital assisted First Reserve.

TriMas said it’s repositioning its portfolio of businesses by investing in innovation and acquiring businesses to accelerate long-term growth, predominantly in its packaging and aerospace segments.

“As Lamons moves into the next phase of growth and development, we believe this business will benefit from First Reserve’s focus and expertise in energy-related end markets,” CEO and president Thomas Amato said in a statement.

Lamons provides industrial sealing and fastener solutions used in the petrochemical, petroleum refining, midstream energy transportation, upstream oil and gas, metropolitan water and wastewater management markets. It generated $186 million in net sales for the 12 months ending Sept. 30.

First Reserve managing directors Gary Reaves and Neil Wizel said Lamons is positioned to benefit from long-term macro and secular trends, particularly an increasing focus on environmental, social and governance and preventative maintenance spending. 

The parties expect to close the deal by the end of the first quarter if it clears regulators.

First Reserve has raised $32 billion in capital since inception, completing more than 650 transactions

Shearman, Sidley aid Stonepeak’s Oryx on $135M pickup from Targa

Shearman & Sterling said it advised Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners-backed Oryx Midstream on its agreement to acquire Targa Resources Corp.’s Permian Delaware crude business in a deal valued at $135 million.

The Texas team members included partners Sarah McLean and Omar Samji and associates Doug Goldstein and Erin Kaufman.

Sidley Austin was co-counsel to Oryx, including partners Tim Chandler and associates Adam Prestidge, Ashley Moulder and Tommer Yoked.

The transaction has to clear regulators but should close this quarter.

Analysts at Tudor, Pickering, Holt said disclosure of the potential sale of its Permian crude gathering could help offset Targa’s capital needs.

Sidley represents Laredo on $130M upstream asset purchase

Sidley Austin said it represented Tulsa-based Laredo Petroleum Inc. on its acquisition of largely undeveloped oil and gas properties in Howard County, Texas, for $130 million.

Sidley partner James L. Rice III led the mostly Houston deal team, which included partner Tim Chandler, associate Jeremy B. Pettit (Dallas), associate Dane Rupley, partner George Vlahakos and associate Tanner Groce. Partner Heather Palmer pitched in on environmental matters and partner Zack Pullin on tax.

Laredo didn’t name the seller, but according to a Securities and Exchange filing it was Cordero Energy Resources. Kirkland & Ellis partners Rahul Vashi and Shubi Arora counseled Cordero.

Cordero appears to be operating as part of Dallas-based Stronghold Resources Partners, which is led by former American Energy, Caelus and Kosmos executive Ryan Turner and Billy Fennebreque. Reid Swanson is its general counsel.

The properties cover 7,360 net acres and 750 net royalty acres. The deal should close late this quarter.

Laredo said in a statement that it believes the opportunistic acquisition of high-margin, tier-one acreage at values below historical averages in Howard County will transform its near-term development plan and return profile and establishes another operating area in which to leverage the company’s basin-low cost structure.

Raymond James analyst John Freeman said the purchase improves Laredo’s outlook, but Simmons Energy analysts said that the purchase – along with with Laredo’s desire to consolidate assets – suggests the path toward returning capital to shareholders is “a long ways away.”

The company expects to begin producing from the play beginning in the third quarter of next year, materially boosting its oil production and free cash flow generation, Freeman said.

Baker Botts aids Liberty LatAm on $104M Cable & Wireless Seychelles sale

Baker Botts said Nov. 5 it advised Denver-based Liberty Latin America on the sale of Cable & Wireless Seychelles to a group of local investors in a deal valued at $104 million.

The cross-border team included Houston partner Jon Lobb on tax.

Portman Global Partners was Liberty Latin America’s financial advisor on the transaction.

Founded in 1893, Cable & Wireless Seychelles is the top telecommunication services provider in the 115-island country. As of June 30, it served 23,500 fixed subscribers and 76,000 mobile subscribers.

Liberty Latin America said it plans to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes. 

Liberty Latin America, led by CEO and president Balan Nair and owned in part by billionaire John Malone, recently purchased wireless and wireline operations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands from AT&T for $1.95 billion.

Gibson Dunn aids Magnolia on $76M purchase from Southcross

Bankrupt Dallas pipeline operator Southcross Energy Partners said Nov. 6 it received Delaware court approval for asset sales to Kinder Morgan and Magnolia Infrastructure Holdings.

Kinder Morgan Tejas Pipeline is buying Southcross’ natural gas pipeline network in Corpus Christi for $76 million and Magnolia is picking up pipelines and related assets in Mississippi and Alabama for $31.5 million.

The Kinder Morgan deal is expected to close in November and the Magnolia deal before year-end.

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher represented Magnolia, including partners Justin T. Stolte in Houston and Jonathan Whalen in Dallas. They had assistance from associates Monika Kluziak, Ashley J. Nguyen and Jordan Silverman, all of Houston.

Davis Polk & Wardwell and Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell are counseling Southcross (they also counseled the company on its bankruptcy). Alvarez & Marsal is its restructuring advisor and Evercore is its financial advisor.

After the asset sales are completed, Southcross will reorganize and focus on growing its Texas gathering and processing operations.

Southcross also said it recently acquired the Lancaster gathering and treating system from Southcross Holdings, including 650 miles of sweet and sour gas gathering pipeline with treating capacity, an acid gas injection well and associated compression and three segments of pipeline crossing Bee and Refugio counties in South Texas.

Southcross chairman, CEO and president James W. Swent III said in the release that the company has made progress in its court-supervised process toward maximizing the value of its assets and achieving the best outcome for its stakeholders.

Southcross filed for bankruptcy on April 1. Its confirmation hearing is scheduled for Dec. 9. 

Vinson & Elkins partner William Wallander, counsel Brad Foxman and associate Matt Pyeatt in Dallas and Womble Bond Dickinson US advised Wells Fargo, which served as agent for a $145 million syndicated secured reserve-based facility in connection with Southcross’ workout and bankruptcy case.

Shearman counsels Landry’s on $56.2M restaurant acquisition

Shearman & Sterling said it advised Landry’s Inc. on its acquisition of 18 RUI Holding Corp. locations across the U.S. in a deal valued at $56.2 million, including the assumption of liabilities.

Partner Bill Nelson and counsel John Menke in Houston led the deal team. Landry’s general counsel is Steven L. Scheinthal. Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg counseled RUI out of Wilmington and Philadelphia.

In August Landry’s bid $37 million for the restaurants of Seattle-based RUI, the bankrupt parent of Palomino, Palisade and two dozen other restaurants in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere. 

RUI filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in early July shortly after closing six locations. Court filings indicated it hadn’t made any payments on $37 million in debts to secured creditors since January and was behind on rent and other obligations to suppliers and unsecured trade creditors.

Winston represents FTS on $32.7M sale of SinoFTS stake to Sinopec

Winston & Strawn said it represented FTS International Inc. on the sale of its 45% equity ownership of SinoFTS Petroleum Services Ltd. to China’s Sinopec Oilfield Service Corp. for $32.7 million. 

The team included partner Charlie Haag and counsel Yang Wang in Dallas.

Fort Worth-based FTS International formed SinoFTS in 2014 as a joint venture with Sinopec to provide well-completion services to exploration and production companies in China.

Jackson Walker aids the Geekdom Fund on $2.3M fundraise for two startups

Jackson Walker said it advised the Geekdom Fund on raising more than $2.3 million in separate “sidecar” funding rounds for Austin-based startups One Model Inc. and Tenfold Corp.

Partner Stephanie Chandler and associate Alexine Zacarías Friedman in San Antonio handled the deals.

One Model provides human resources departments with a platform to help collect, access and use data. Tenfold claims to bring together the power of voice and intelligence of customer relationship management for better customer conversations. 

The Geekdom Fund led a $3.7 million seed round for One Model in 2017. Tenfold raised $7.5 million last month, including from the Geekdom Fund, and brought on former Rackspace executive Jeff Cotten as CEO.

The San Antonio-based Geekdom Funds invest in early stage IT startups in South Texas and beyond and are managed by Riverwalk Capital. The firm was co-founded by Michael Girdley, who also founded Codeup, Dura Software and RealCo; Don Douglas, who founded Liquid Networx; Mike Troy, previously CEO of FlashScan3D; and Cole Wollak, managing director of RealCo.

Winston represents MML on investment in Stone Turn

Winston & Strawn said it represented MML Capital Partners on a minority equity investment in global advisory firm StoneTurn Group. Terms weren’t disclosed.

Houston partner Chris Ferazzi led the deal team, which included tax partner Andrew Betaque of Dallas and associates Anna Gryska of Houston, Danielle Marr of Dallas and David Thaxton of Houston.

MML said the investment in StoneTurn – the first from the firm’s recently closed Fund VII – was motivated by the need for advisory services in the market.

Founded 15 years ago as a forensic accounting boutique, StoneTurn said it advises corporations, their counsel and government agencies around the world without the conflicts often found at large public accounting firms.

Jackson Walker advises GLI on sale by Glazer’s Beer

Jackson Walker aided GLI Inc. on its sale to Dallas-based Glazer’s Beer and Beverage for an undisclosed sum.

The corporate team was led by Patrick Tobin and Shari Mao with support from Brian Dethrow, Ashley Withers, Rick Garza, Ann Leafstedt, Chuck Campbell, Alyca Riley, Julia Mann, Matt Swantner and Ruth Thomson.

The deal was first announced Aug. 14.

GLI is a craft and import-focused malt beverage distributor operating in San Antonio. The acquisition of GLI’s brands adds about 15% to Glazer’s case volume. 

Founded in 1933 in Dallas, Glazer’s is a third-generation family business that operates in six states and is one of the country’s largest distributors of malt beverage products. Its chairman is Bennett Glazer, its CEO is Shelly Stein and its president and COO is Phil Meacham. John Gillis is owner of GLI, which was founded 37 years ago.

Jackson Walker, DMC assist on ICS’s sale to SitePro

Jackson Walker also assisted Integrated Control Solutions on its sale to SitePro for an undisclosed sum.

The Austin-based team was led by partner Cale McDowell and included partners Andee Hartig and Raman Dewan, senior counsel Argyrios Saccopoulos and associates Rony Kishinevsky and Cade Satterfield.

Dwyer Murphy Calvert advised SitePro, including Kelly Dwyer, Stephen Butter, Anna Denton, Adam Battani and Abigail Finch.

SitePro financed the deal through a debt facility provided by JP Morgan and SitePro’s existing shareholder group, including Cottonwood Venture Partners and several family offices. Alton McDowell led the financing from JP Morgan while Ryan Gurney did so from Cottonwood.

The deal, announced Nov. 4, brings together two oilfield automation providers. 

The buyer claims to be the leading automation technology solutions and service provider to the energy industry. It said the acquisition combines two veteran leadership teams – including ICS founders Randy Greer and Dominic Whitworth – and increases service availability in its operating regions.

SitePro chairman and co-CEO David Bateman said in a statement that the deal is part of its corporate development strategy to expand the number of sites automated with its platform.

Fluid management operations in the oil and gas industry represent one of the largest logistical challenges and costs within the upstream and midstream sectors, especially upstream water sourcing and disposal, SitePro said, and operators are adopting automation technology to reduce costs, increase transparency, boost safety and enhance environmental responsibility.

Aaron Phillips, president and co-CEO of SitePro, said ICS’ digital solutions for fluid management will integrate nicely with SitePro’s existing platform. 

Dykema advises Rackspace on Onica acquisition

San Antonio cloud services provider Rackspace, which is owned by Apollo Global Management, said Nov. 4 it agreed to purchase Sunstone Partners-backed cloud consulting company Onica for undisclosed terms. The parties expect to close the deal in a few months.

Rackspace’s deputy general counsel Stefanie Box led the deal in-house with help from chief legal officer Holly Windham. 

Dykema Cox Smith partner, San Antonio-based Nick Monaghan, provided outside counsel and Morgan Lewis provided Hart-Scott-Rodino advice. Brazeau Seller was the company’s Canadian counsel.

Before Rackspace, Windham held senior positions at Axiom Global, where she advised Google on its cloud offerings, and at Hewlett Packard, where she was one of three women deputy general counsels. The Pepperdine-educated attorney began her career at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher.

Santa Monica, Calif.-based Onica is made up of 350 consultants throughout North America. 

Rackspace CEO Kevin Jones, who joined the company in April, said in a statement that Onica is a cloud pioneer and one of the largest pure-play Amazon Web Services, or AWS, consultancies.

“This acquisition will strengthen our ability to meet all of our customer needs on AWS, and together, we will have the most complete set of professional services and managed service capabilities in the industry,” he said.

Rackspace helps customers manage their cloud services on AWS as well as Google, Microsoft Azure and other platforms.

Onica CEO Stephen Garden said by combining its capabilities with Rackspace’s global presence, resources and scale, the company will be better positioned to achieve its mission of helping customers innovate using AWS.

Garden and Onica chief technology officer Tolga Tarhan are staying on the board to lead the company after the acquisition.

Katten advises Trinity Hunt on the Lexitas sale to Apax

Apax Partners said Nov. 5 that it acquired Houston-based litigation services provider Lexitas from Trinity Hunt Partners for an undisclosed amount.

Katten Muchin Rosenman advised Trinity Hunt and Lexitas management, including partners Vic Zanetti and Wade Glover in Dallas. Kirkland & Ellis counseled the buyers with lawyers outside of Texas.

Deloitte Corporate Finance was Lexitas’ financial advisor while William Blair & Co. was Apax’s financial advisor and Ernst & Young was its accounting and tax advisor.

Apax’s investment is expected to support Lexitas in accelerating growth through geographic and salesforce expansion, technology differentiation and mergers and acquisitions.

Trinity Hunt acquired Houston-based Lexitas, formerly known as Deposition Solutions, in 2015. This past spring Lexitas bought Barrister Reporting Service and American Stenographic in New York and Eppley Court Reporting in Boston for an undisclosed sum.

Founded in 1987, Lexitas provides record retrieval, court reporting and legal videography. CEO Gary Buckland said in a statement that there’s opportunity to expand the depth and quality of the company’s offerings for clients while continuing to support growth in the business through strategic acquisitions. 

Apax partner Ashish Karandikar said over the past few years the firm has prioritized the deposition services and record retrieval market as an attractive investment area due to its growth and resilience during economic downturns. 

“We see numerous levers for growth available to Lexitas, including opportunities to expand into new markets,” he said.

London-based Apax has raised $50 billion over its 40-year history and invests in the tech/telco, services, healthcare and consumer industries. Trinity Hunt has raised funds with capital commitments of $775 million.

Locke Lord, V&E aid on Gravity’s purchase of On Point Oilfield

Clearlake Capital-based Gravity said Nov. 6 that it agreed to buy On Point Oilfield Holdings from White Deer Energy. Terms weren’t disclosed.

Austin-based On Point is a midstream company that acquires, develops and operates saltwater disposal wells and saltwater pipeline infrastructure in the Permian Basin.

Vinson & Elkins partner Matt Strock and associates Mike Marek and Farah Chranya advised Clearlake/Gravity.

Locke Lord partner Joe Perillo led the team advising White Deer. Others were partners Michael Blankenship, Jerry Higdon, Ed Razim, Mike Rose, Buddy Sanders and Hunter Summerford and associates Rachel Fitzgerald and Matt McKenna, all of Houston. Partner Van Jolas in Dallas also pitched in.

Tudor, Pickering, Holt provided financial advice to On Point and White Deer, including BJ Walker, Kirk Chatawanich, Klay Kovac, Michael Waldron, Alden Mutchnik and Cameron Bradley.

Formed in 2016 by management and White Deer, On Point has grown into the largest operator of produced water disposal by volumes in the Midland Basin with a focus in Howard, Martin and Midland counties. 

Gravity CEO and president Rob Rice said the acquisition is transformational for Gravity and enables it to offer expanded water handling infrastructure for producers operating in the Midland Basin’s core.

José E. Feliciano and Colin Leonard led the deal from Clearlake, which has managed $10 billion of institutional capital since its 2006 inception. Its principals have led or co-led more than 100 investments.

Locke Lord represents Ashford on Remington combination

Locke Lord said Nov. 7 it represented Dallas-based real estate and hotel manager Ashford Inc. on its recently completed combination with Remington Holdings.

Locke Lord partner Will Becker in Dallas led the deal team, which included partners Chrissy Metcalf and Whit Roberts and associates Michelle Drake, Kelsey French and Stephanie McDermott, all of Dallas; partner Michelle Earley in Austin; and partners Buddy Sanders and Jeff Wallace in Houston.

Robert Haiman is general counsel of Ashford, which he joined in 2018 from Remington Hotels, where he was chief legal officer. From 1996 through 2004, the Duke-trained lawyer was a real estate attorney in the Dallas office of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher.

The buyer expects the combination to build operating scale, increase earnings potential and facilitate additional growth from the third-party hotel management business. 

Ashford chairman and CEO Monty J. Bennett said in a statement that the transaction was compelling, as it adds high-margin, low-capex, fee-for-service hotel management business to the company’s platform.

V&E, Gibson Dunn work on Starwood’s Third Coast purchase

Vinson & Elkins said it advised energy infrastructure investor Starwood Energy Group Global Inc. on its agreement to acquire Third Coast Midstream’s gas gathering infrastructure around Lavaca County for an undisclosed sum.

The V&E corporate team included partner David Peck and associate Lauren Meyers on tax; partner Danielle Patterson and associates Jeremy Tripp and Kara Chung on projects; and partner Sean Becker and senior associate Christie Alcalá on labor/employment. 

Others were partner Brian Bloom and senior associate Kristy Fields on executive compensation/benefits; counsel Suzanne Clevenger and associate Tray Smith on energy regulatory; and counsel Scot Dixon on real estate.

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher was Third Coast’s legal counsel, including Houston partner Gerry Spedale and associate Jordan Rex on the corporate side, partner Shalla Prichard on finance and partner James Chenoweth on tax.

Third Coast’s general counsel is Nadine Moustafa. She joined the company in September from American Midstream, where she was associate general counsel and senior counsel. 

The Fordham-educated lawyer previously was senior counsel at TransCanada, counsel at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and an associate at Baker Botts and Huber Lawrence and Abell.

The gathering business includes 260 miles of natural gas gathering pipes and associated infrastructure and provides gathering and artificial gas lift services to local upstream clients focused on oil and gas production in the Eagle Ford.

Starwood Energy CEO Himanshu Saxena said the Lavaca system is an opportunity to own a critical piece of Eagle Ford gathering infrastructure and the mix of gas gathering and artificial gas lift results in a more stable cash flow profile for the asset, which fits well with its strategy. 

Third Coast CEO and president Matt Rowland said the Eagle Ford natural gas infrastructure platform has grown significantly since the company acquired it in 2014 and follows its previously announced divestitures as part of its strategic repositioning to focus on its core Gulf of Mexico infrastructure assets.

Starwood has raised equity commitments of $3 billion and has executed transactions totaling $7 billion in enterprise value. 

Houston-based Third Coast owns or has an interest in 5,100 miles of interstate and intrastate pipelines as well as gas processing plants, fractionation facilities, an offshore semi-submersible floating production system and a terminal site.

Willkie advises Sterling-backed Time on BrandFX acquisition

Waco-based Time Manufacturing Co./Versalift, a portfolio company of the Sterling Group, has acquired BrandFX Body Co. of Forth Worth for undisclosed terms.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher advised Sterling and Time Manufacturing/Versalift, including partner Bruce Herzog, who offices out of Houston and New York. BrandFX used Parker Poe out of Charlotte.

Founded in 1984, BrandFX is a maker of advanced composite service bodies, line bodies, inserts, toppers and covers for specialty equipment, including trucks.

Established in 1965, Time Manufacturing designs aerial lifts for electric utility, telecommunications, infrastructure, forestry and sign, light and traffic fleets. 

CAPITAL MARKETS/FINANCINGS

Gibson Dunn aids underwriters on NOV’s $500M notes offering

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher said it advised the underwriters on National Oilwell Varco Inc.’s $500 million public offering of 3.60% senior unsecured notes due 2029. 

Houston partner Hillary Holmes led the deal team, which included associates Harrison Tucker, Melissa Pick, Evan Shepherd and Brian Downs. Houston partner James Chenoweth advised on the tax aspects.

Locke Lord advised National Oilwell Varco, or NOV, with a team led by partner Eric Johnson in Houston. Other contributors were partners Michael Blankenship, Laura L. Ferguson, Berne Kluber, Tammi Niven, Gerry Pels and Buddy Sanders and associates Matt McKenna, John Niedzwiecki and Ben Smolij.

The banks included Barclays, JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, ABN AMRO, Citigroup, DNB Markets, HSBC Securities, Scotia Capital, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, Standard Chartered Bank and UniCredit Capital Markets. Others were BNP Paribas and Fifth Third Securities.

National Oilwell Varco also said it issued a notice to redeem a portion of its 2.60% senior notes due December 2022 and the completion of an amendment that includes the extension of its credit agreement’s maturity date.

NOV chairman, CEO and president Clay Williams said in a statement that the transactions extend the maturities on $500 million in debt and allow for a near-term paydown of up to $500 million in debt. They also demonstrate a commitment to further cut leverage by $400 million by December 2022 and accelerate the company’s timeline to reach its goal of a gross debt-to-adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio of two times or less.

“The company’s financial condition remains solid,” he said, noting NOV’s investment grade ratings. “The actions we are taking serve to better align our capital structure with our ongoing efforts to right-size the organization, improve profitability and increase returns on invested capital.”

Bracewell advises placement agents on Veritex’s $75M notes offering

Bracewell said it represented placement agents Sandler O’Neil and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods on a $75 million offering of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes by Dallas bank Veritex Holdings Inc.

The team included partners William S. Anderson in Houston and Joshua T. McNulty in Dallas, counsel Ian R. Brown in Dallas and associates Shannon Baldwin in Houston.

Veritex intends to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including repaying outstanding subordinated debt and potential share repurchases. 

The notes will initially bear interest at a fixed annual rate of 4.75% payable twice a year and Veritex is entitled to redeem the notes on any interest payment date on or after Nov. 15, 2024.

Veritex is a bank holding company that conducts banking activities through its unit Veritex Community Bank, which has locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and in the Houston metropolitan area. 

UPDATE/OTHER

Over the weekend Saudi Aramco released the prospectus for its trillion-dollar initial public offering, which is expected to be the largest ever, and White & Case is advising the company on the international offering while Latham & Watkins is assisting the banks. The two firms were tight-lipped as to whether there are any lawyers from its Houston offices involved. But sources say that no one locally from White & Case is working on it while there may be some Latham Houston involvement. Partner Marc Jaffe, global chair of Latham’s corporate department in New York, is part of the team, one source confirmed.

***

Occidental Petroleum is looking to sell more assets to pay down the $40 billion debt load it took on with its $38 billion purchase of Anadarko Petroleum. According to Reuters, the company is soliciting bids for oil and gas properties in Wyoming and Colorado that it picked up as part of Anadarko with the hope of bringing in $700 million, citing people familiar with the matter. Occidental is offering 200,000 acres in the Denver-Julesburg Basin that produce $66 million a year in cash flow, mostly in mineral royalties, and RBC Capital Markets is handling the sale with bids due in December, Reuters said. Oxy already raised about $10 billion through asset sales, including a liquefied natural gas project in Mozambique and production in Africa. It recently put plans on hold to divest its Western Midstream Partners pipeline unit after failing to attract an attractive offer, Reuters reported. Analysts at Tudor Pickering Holt said smaller asset sales, like minerals, longer dated Permian acreage and real estate carve offs may help, but they believe additional color from management would help the market understand how the company plans to bring down leverage “in a meaningful way.” Activist investor Carl Icahn, who opposed the merger, recently cut his holdings in the oil and gas producer Occidental by nearly a third. Oxy’s general counsel is Marcia Backus, a Vinson & Elkins veteran.

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