Mergermarket data provided exclusively to The Texas Lawbook shows that deal flow quarter over quarter continued at a rapid clip in the first half of the year, but the deal values came with a heftier price tag in Q2. And in this week’s Corporate Deal Tracker Roundup, July continues to lag – though nothing new based on comparative data.
Deal Flow in First Half of 2021 Overshadows 2020 – But It Wasn’t Difficult
While public offerings and mergers tied to SPACs have cooled in the past few months, transaction activity tied to Texas companies in the first half of 2021 pretty much reflected the broader themes seen across the country. New H1 data from Mergermarket shows that Texas-based dealmaking is in lockstep with the rest of the planet on the road to recovery. The Lawbook’s Anna Butler describes what seems to be driving the moment.
CDT Roundup: 16 Deals, 13 Firms, 143 Lawyers, $3.99B
The first half comparison between 2020 and 2021 isn’t pretty (if you’re 2020). Efforts to bolster corporate practices in the past year are on-display in The Texas Lawbook‘s first swipe at the exclusive data provided by Mergermarket. And reported M&A and capital markets activity cooled slightly during the holiday week in this week’s Roundup.
The Buzzword in Oil and Gas? ‘Scale’
Transaction volume in oil and gas is expected to continue at a consistent clip through the rest of the year. The Texas Lawbook has more on the outlook in the space – with Skadden partner Eric Otness of Houston adding perspective to the midyear update.
CDT Roundup: 23 Deals, 13 Firms, 90 Lawyers, $6.89B
The adoption and development of battery storage systems could mean big things for the energy transition and middle-market private equity firms are taking note. Kirkland’s Shubi Arora touches on the potential of backing the technology in this week’s edition of the Corporate Deal Tracker Roundup.
Latham Snags Ravi Purohit
Latham & Watkins is bringing in Ravi Purohit, a corporate attorney with deep in-house and investor experience, as the firm looks to further build out its infrastructure offerings. Purohit, along with Tim Fenn and Justin Stolte, spoke with The Texas Lawbook about the move.
White & Case, Kirkland Advise on Celanese’s Planned Buy of ExxonMobil Unit
The Dallas-based chemical and specialty materials company is turning to a well-regarded ExxonMobil business to push forward its efforts tied to the red-hot future mobility, medical and sustainability spaces.
CDT Roundup: 10 Deals, 7 Firms, 85 Lawyers, $4.99B
Capital spending, oil and gas production and costs are front of mind for energy executives as uncertainty continues to slip away for firms. And in this week’s Corporate Deal Tracker roundup, a handful of Texas-based brands made big moves.
Simpson Thacher, Kirkland Counsel in Blackstone’s Backing of Fort Worth’s Simpli.fi
Blackstone is joining GTCR in backing a Fort Worth company in its next phase of growth. Simpson Thacher and Kirkland provided counsel on the investment.
Irving Subprime Auto-loan Firm Gets New Owner
Private equity continues to circle subprime loans and distressed debt opportunities as an investor group led by Warburg Pincus buys out Blackstone funds in Irving’s Exeter Finance.