Blackstone Infrastructure Partners is acquiring a controlling interest in Tallgrass Energy for $3.3 billion. The purchase shows that private investors continue to have strong interest in the oil and gas industry despite lower commodity prices, particularly in the infrastructure part of the sector. Claire Poole reveals the names of lawyers and firms involved.
Sidley Advises Luby’s on Proxy Fight Win Over Activist Investor
The management of Luby’s Inc. chalked up a big win on Friday – and so did several Sidley lawyers in Texas. The Houston-based restaurant chain beat back a proxy fight by Bandera, a New York-based investment firm run by Jeff Gramm, son of former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm. Claire Poole has the details.
CDT Roundup: 15 Deals, 16 Law Firms, 76 Lawyers, $3.82B
M&A in the U.S. oil and gas exploration and production industry was hot in 2018, hitting its highest total in four years at $84.3 billion, according to Drillinginfo. Eight of the year’s top 10 deals were in the second half. But thanks to sliding oil prices, fourth-quarter deal value came in at $20.9 billion, a bit off from its third quarter 2018 high.
Latham Grabs V&E Finance Partner
Trevor Wommack has left Vinson & Elkins to join Latham & Watkins as a partner in its finance group in Houston. The move, Latham’s first significant lateral hiring since 2012, signifies the firm is in growth mode.
The Shutdown Continues and Capital Markets Face Uncertainty
We are in the midst of the longest government shutdown in history and the capital markets are feeling the pinch. Depending on when the shutdown ends, these next few weeks could have an impact on capital raising in 2019. Two experts explain how regulators are responding to the shutdown and how you can negotiate the regulatory terrain in the meantime.
CDT Roundup: 18 Deals, 14 Law Firms, 92 Lawyers, $7.28B
With the beginning of every new year comes a new round of data showing how dealmaking fared in the previous year – and projections of what’s to come. Last year was the most active year ever recorded for private equity-backed buyout deals, according to data from Preqin. Claire Poole has more insights from 2018 and highlights the deals of the past week.
Kirkland Counsels Discovery II on $1B Commitment from Stonepeak
The law firm said Monday it counseled Dallas-based Discovery Midstream Partners II and Discovery Midstream Holdings II management on a $1 billion initial equity commitment from Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners. Claire Poole has the details and the lawyers involved.
CDT Roundup: 10 Deals, 12 Law Firms, 50 Lawyers, $529.08M
The midstream energy markets have been difficult, if not volatile, for some time now. In addition to the final deals of 2018, Claire Poole’s latest CDT Weekly Roundup discusses a new analysis by Morgan Stanley’s Tom Abrams, who suggests 10 things to watch for among midstreams in the coming year.
2018 In Review: The Top 10 Texas M&A Deals
There are lots of reasons for mergers and acquisitions: to simplify corporate structure; to diversify product mix; to extend geographic reach. There is also the need for cash: to pay down debt, to boost shareholder return or to invest in lucrative prospects. In her Top 10 Texas M&A Deals, Claire Poole found an array of those motives on display in 2018.
DBJ: Another Dallas Investment Firm Raising More than $1B for New Fund
Dallas private equity financier Newstone Capital Partners is aiming to raise $1.25 billion for a fourth fund, according to a recent regulatory filing.
