Enverus, the Austin-based energy data collector, came out with 2021 M&A statistics in the upstream, or exploration and production, part of the U.S. oil and gas business, and what they found was meh.
The good news: M&A rose 25% year-over-year to reach $66 billion. The bad news: Activity was uneven with a slow beginning and end to 2021, including a 50% drop to only $9 billion worth of transactions in the fourth quarter. That kept the yearly total below the $72 billion average from 2015 through 2019.
It’s a similar to what Rystad found around the world, in which global upstream M&A deals rebounded to reach a total of $181 billion, a 70% jump over 2020. But 2021’s performance was not quite on par with 2017 ($205 billion) and 2018 ($199 billion).
Andrew Dittmar, a director at Enverus, said since the emergence of Covid, upstream M&A has been characterized by fewer but larger deals.
“During 2020, that took the form of public companies consolidating amongst themselves and in 2021 transitioned to a focus on rolling up private E&Ps,” he said.
But the volume of deals remained depressed with 172 in 2020 and 179 transactions in 2021 versus an average of nearly 400 deals per year before Covid, he notes.
Private equity exits continued into the fourth quarter, with two of the top three deals involving the sale of a PE-backed E&P to a public company, Enverus said. Southwestern Energy purchased GEP Haynesville, expanding the initial Haynesville position it acquired earlier in the year via its buy of Indigo Natural Resources, and Earthstone Energy capped a run of recent purchases by acquiring Chisholm Energy in the Delaware Basin.
Indeed, the Delaware and Haynesville were the two most active plays of the fourth quarter and combined to account for 80% of the period’s deal value, Enverus said.
“The largest supply of inventory meeting buyers’ criteria is available for sale in the Delaware for oil and the Haynesville for gas,” Dittmar said. “That is largely because both these plays had significant private investment in prior years that the sponsors are now looking to monetize via sales to a public company.”
But buying a private equity-backed E&P isn’t the only way to secure inventory in these basins, Enverus said. Continental Resources entered the Delaware Basin in the fourth quarter by purchasing Pioneer Natural Resources’ position for $3.25 billion. Pioneer had, in turn, picked up this asset when it merged with Parsley Energy during the height of the public company M&A boom in late 2020.
“Big time corporate M&A often leads to a subsequent wave of asset deals as buyers prune their expanded portfolios,” Dittmar said. “There was a bit of this during 2021 with non-core asset sales by Pioneer and Diamondback Energy, another buyer from the 2020 merger wave. There should still be plenty of room to run for deals though and we anticipate this to drive a resurgence in mid-size, asset-level deal making.”
Overall, the M&A market should be set for an active 2022, Enverus predicts. Pricing on inventory in areas like the Delaware Basin and Haynesville is still attractive for buyers, but there is also high-quality inventory remaining in other plays like the Midland Basin and northeast Marcellus dry gas and in more mature regions like the Williston Basin in the Bakken and the Eagle Ford.
“A return to higher asset-level deal flow would smooth the boom-or-bust cycle of M&A that has characterized the two years since the emergence of Covid,” Enverus said. “However, strong commodity prices lessen the pressure on smaller companies to sell.”
Rystad also believes the upstream M&A market looks set to continue to strengthen, with deals in the U.S. likely to remain a crucial driver of the global deal value. Large sales in other regions may also materialize in 2022, particularly if majors continue to streamline their portfolios.
For the week ending Jan. 22, there were 13 deals reported with a total value of $5.1 billion worked by 99 mostly Texas lawyers at 10 different firms. The deals include 12 M&A transactions for $4.8 billion and one capital markets deal for $301 million.
That compares to 12 deals for $7.6 billion last week and 13 deals for $7.4 billion for approximately the same week last year.
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)
| Week Ending | Deal Count | Amount | Firms | Lawyers | M&A Count | M&A Value $M | CapM Count | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2, 2023 | 13 | $6,720 | 9 | 57 | 12 | $6,630 | 1 | $90 |
| November 25, 2023 | 9 | $4,835 | 9 | 131 | 6 | $1,785 | 3 | $3,050 |
| November 18, 2023 | 22 | $6,568.7 | 17 | 184 | 14 | $4,709.2 | 8 | $1,859.5 |
| November 11, 2023 | 15 | $9,825 | 13 | 179 | 12 | $6,581 | 3 | $3,244 |
| November 4, 2023 | 15 | $20,582.5 | 14 | 193 | 12 | $19,417.5 | 3 | $1,165 |
| October 28, 2023 | 18 | $68,419.1 | 18 | 152 | 15 | $66,646 | 3 | $1,773.1 |
| October 21, 2023 | 16 | $6,755.9 | 16 | 165 | 15 | $6,755.9 | 1 | $3 |
| October 14, 2023 | 10 | $67,851.2 | 13 | 125 | 7 | $61,998.5 | 3 | $5,852.7 |
| October 7, 2023 | 17 | $6,595.5 | 13 | 228 | 16 | $5,995.5 | 1 | $600 |
| September 30, 2023 | 17 | $1,896.45 | 13 | 189 | 14 | $806.45 | 3 | $1,090 |
| September 23, 2023 | 23 | $6,432.7 | 17 | 230 | 16 | $1,402.8 | 7 | $5,029.9 |
| September 16, 2023 | 25 | $23,226.7 | 23 | 353 | 16 | $17,239 | 9 | $5,987.7 |
| September 9, 2023 | 12 | $6,369 | 8 | 102 | 7 | $4,311 | 5 | $2,058 |
| September 2, 2023 | 14 | $2,522 | 6 | 92 | 13 | $1,322 | 1 | $1,200 |
| August 26, 2023 | 17 | $12,160.25 | 13 | 202 | 15 | $ 6,573.25 | 2 | $ 5,587.00 |
| August 19, 2023 | 19 | $11,505 | 13 | 213 | 15 | $11,255 | 4 | $250 |
| August 12, 2023 | 19 | $9,698.8 | 13 | 184 | 7 | $3,270 | 12 | $6,428.8 |
| August 5, 2023 | 13 | $5,201 | 12 | 118 | 12 | $5,051 | 1 | $150 |
| July 29, 2023 | 15 | $21,031.6 | 13 | 196 | 11 | $18,292.0 | 4 | $2,739.6 |
| July 22, 2023 | 18 | $3,992 | 12 | 130 | 13 | $2,808 | 5 | $1,184 |
| July 15, 2023 | 13 | $8,254.95 | 13 | 81 | 13 | $8,254.95 | 0 | 0 |
| July 8, 2023 | 16 | $5,441.45 | 12 | 172 | 11 | $2,443 | 5 | $2,998.45 |
| July 1, 2023 | 16 | $6,872 | 10 | 105 | 12 | $5,474 | 4 | $1,398 |
| June 24, 2023 | 13 | $10,914 | 16 | 201 | 10 | $7,874 | 3 | $3,040 |
| June 17, 2023 | 17 | $5,880.7 | 15 | 151 | 15 | $4,705.7 | 2 | $1,175 |
| June 10, 2023 | 19 | $8,516.1 | 13 | 111 | 16 | $6,252.4 | 3 | $2,263.7 |
| June 3 2023 | 12 | $6,104.42 | 12 | 138 | 8 | $4,256.92 | 4 | $1,847.5 |
| May 27, 2023 | 17 | $12,200 | 10 | 67 | 11 | $6,165 | 6 | $6,035 |
| May 20, 2023 | 11 | $22,458.1 | 8 | 103 | 4 | $19,455 | 7 | $3,003 |
| May 13, 2023 | 12 | $7,034 | 10 | 101 | 8 | $5,460 | 4 | $1,574 |
| May 6, 2023 | 20 | $3,297.6 | 18 | 196 | 17 | $2,985.6 | 3 | $312 |
| April 29, 2023 | 23 | $3,691.2 | 18 | 135 | 17 | $1,969.7 | 6 | $1,721.5 |
| April 22, 2023 | 16 | $5,570 | 14 | 104 | 14 | $4,750 | 2 | $1,000 |
| April 15, 2023 | 12 | $23,818.1 | 9 | 59 | 10 | $21,618.1 | 2 | $2,200 |
| April 8, 2023 | 16 | $7,949 | 9 | 173 | 9 | $5,472 | 7 | $3,477 |
| April 1, 2023 | 21 | $18,676.7 | 12 | 175 | 11 | $10,926.7 | 10 | $7,750 |
| March 25, 2023 | 15 | $8,779.5 | 10 | 141 | 5 | $2,362 | 10 | $6,416.5 |
| March 18, 2023 | 7 | $14,048.8 | 6 | 69 | 5 | $13,345 | 2 | $703.8 |
| March 11, 2023 | 21 | $11,576 | 16 | 165 | 16 | $8,131 | 5 | $3,445 |
| March 4, 2023 | 20 | $9,668 | 11 | 228 | 16 | $8,209 | 4 | $1,459 |
| February 25, 2023 | 13 | $5,335 | 13 | 130 | 12 | $4,235 | 1 | $1,200 |
| February 18, 2023 | 14 | $5,743.7 | 13 | 158 | 8 | $898.7 | 6 | $4,845 |
| February 11, 2023 | 16 | $12,088 | 12 | 137 | 12 | $9,965 | 4 | $2,123 |
| February 4, 2023 | 17 | $8,066 | 15 | 140 | 13 | $5,614 | 4 | $2,452 |
| January 28, 2023 | 7 | $2,180 | 7 | 75 | 5 | $1,692.75 | 2 | $488 |
| January 21, 2023 | 17 | $5,768 | 16 | 174 | 12 | $1,918 | 5 | $3,850 |
| January 14, 2023 | 11 | $2, 800 | 10 | 102 | 8 | $421 | 3 | $2,400 |
| January 7, 2023 | 18 | $8,296 | 11 | 167 | 14 | $6,461 | 3 | $1,835 |
| December 31, 2022 | 14 | $2,732 | 11 | 99 | 12 | $2,092 | 2 | $640 |
| December 17 | 14 | $7,919 | 13 | 115 | 12 | $7,419 | 1 | $500 |
| December 10, 2022 | 14 | $10,093 | 12 | 88 | 11 | $7,093 | 3 | $3,000 |
| December 3, 2022 | 26 | $12,800.9 | 11 | 172 | 20 | $4,141 | 6 | $8,659.9 |
| November 26, 2022 | 8 | $2,266.7 | 8 | 5 | 3 | $76 | 5 | $2,190.7 |
| November 19, 2022 | 21 | $2,886 | 15 | 212 | 19 | $2,550 | 2 | $336 |
| November 12, 2022 | 13 | $15,093.7 | 9 | 81 | 9 | $14,200 | 4 | $893.7 |
| November 5, 2022 | 25 | 19,337.2 | 16 | 509 | 22 | $8,267.2 | 3 | $11,070 |
| October 29, 2022 | 15 | $7,805.3 | 9 | 116 | 14 | $7,180.3 | 1 | $625 |
| October 22, 2022 | 20 | $8,193.5 | 13 | 253 | 13 | $5,442 | 7 | $2,751.5 |
| October 15, 2022 | 9 | $3,046.1 | 9 | 139 | 7 | $2,588.3 | 2 | $457.8 |
| October 8, 2022 | 19 | $2,011.8 | 12 | 114 | 16 | $833.8 | 3 | $1,178 |
| October 1, 2022 | 23 | $5,532.9 | 16 | 156 | 18 | $4,952.3 | 5 | $580.6 |
| September 24, 2022 | 18 | $5,194 | 14 | 216 | 15 | $4,050 | 3 | $1,144 |
| September 17, 2022 | 21 | $8,352.3 | 12 | 320 | 15 | $4,759.6 | 6 | $3,592.7 |
| September 10, 2022 | 15 | $19,853.5 | 10 | 126 | 13 | $19,403.6 | 2 | $450 |
| September 3, 2022 | 9 | $2,312 | 9 | 62 | 9 | $2,312 | 0 | 0 |
| August 27, 2022 | 16 | $30,891.7 | 10 | 135 | 15 | $30,666.4 | 1 | 227.7 |
| August 20, 2022 | 12 | $1,977 | 8 | 152 | 9 | 925 | 3 | $1,052 |
| August 13, 2022 | 18 | $8,004.7 | 11 | 242 | 11 | $2,844.7 | 7 | $5,160 |
| August 6, 2022 | 24 | $7,948.9 | 12 | 240 | 17 | $3,577 | 7 | $4,371.9 |
| July 30, 2022 | 8 | $6,941 | 9 | 78 | 7 | $6,839 | 1 | $102 |
| July 23, 2022 | 11 | $801 | 11 | 92 | 10 | $801 | 1 | 0 |
| July 16, 2022 | 14 | $3,650 | 10 | 122 | 14 | $3,650 | 0 | 0 |
| July 9, 2022 | 10 | $3,557.7 | 7 | 68 | 9 | $3,557.7 | 1 | 0 |
| July 2, 2022 | 18 | $8,609.4 | 13 | 152 | 15 | $2,754.4 | 3 | $5,855 |
| June 25, 2022 | 15 | $6,142 | 13 | 146 | 9 | $2,017 | 6 | $4,125 |
| June 18, 2022 | 17 | $11,890.1 | 14 | 228 | 15 | $11,410 | 2 | 479.7 |
| June 11, 2022 | 17 | $7,600 | 12 | 123 | 10 | $2,300 | 7 | $5,300 |
| June 4, 2022 | 12 | $2,937 | 10 | 127 | 9 | $692 | 3 | $2,245 |
| May 28, 2022 | 9 | $3,197.6 | 11 | 86 | 9 | $3,197.6 | 0 | 0 |
| May 21, 2022 | 14 | $7,284.5 | 12 | 185 | 11 | $6,609 | 3 | $675.5 |
| May 14, 2022 | 11 | $306.6 | 9 | 80 | 10 | $306.6 | 1 | $225 |
| May 7, 2022 | 16 | $10,451.75 | 12 | 108 | 12 | $1,827 | 4 | $8,624.75 |
| April 30, 2022 | 16 | $2,296.5 | 16 | 157 | 12 | $895.5 | 4 | $1,401 |
| April 23, 2022 | 10 | $2,241 | 11 | 58 | 8 | $1641 | 2 | $600 |
| April 16, 2022 | 11 | $6,643 | 7 | 156 | 8 | $2,359 | 3 | $4,284 |
| April 9, 2022 | 17 | $4,429 | 14 | 184 | 11 | $1,690 | 6 | $2,739 |
| April 2, 2022 | 13 | $1,755 | 8 | 84 | 10 | $1,145 | 3 | $610 |
| March 26, 2022 | 11 | $3,205 | 8 | 65 | 6 | $200 | 5 | $3,005 |
| March 19, 2022 | 13 | $2,239.17 | 9 | 106 | 13 | $2,239.17 | 0 | 0 |
| March 12, 2022 | 18 | $12,016 | 11 | 239 | 15 | $11,965 | 2 | $51.35 |
| March 5, 2022 | 17 | $6,786 | 13 | 137 | 13 | $5,161 | 4 | $1,625 |
| February 26, 2022 | 12 | $5,095 | 8 | 149 | 9 | $4,437.5 | 3 | $658 |
| February 19, 2022 | 17 | $22,229 | 17 | 174 | 14 | $21,354 | 3 | $875 |
| February 12, 2022 | 12 | $2,344.7 | 10 | 73 | 8 | $641.7 | 4 | $1,703 |
| February 5, 2022 | 11 | $2,503 | 8 | 99 | 11 | $2,503 | 0 | 0 |
| January 29, 2022 | 11 | $3,872 | 12 | 101 | 12 | $3,872 | 0 | 0 |
| January 22, 2022 | 13 | $5,143.5 | 10 | 99 | 12 | $4,842.5 | 1 | $301 |
| January 15, 2022 | 12 | $7,605 | 9 | 155 | 9 | $6,480 | 3 | $1,025 |
| January 8, 2022 | 13 | $8,256.2 | 11 | 102 | 13 | $8,256.2 | 0 | 0 |
| January 1, 2022 | 9 | $1,273.8 | 6 | 50 | 9 | $1,273.8 | 0 | 0 |
| December 25, 2021 | 21 | $4,734.75 | 11 | 176 | 16 | $3,410 | 5 | $1,324.75 |
| December 18, 2021 | 26 | $7,325.2 | 15 | 193 | 18 | $3,640.2 | 8 | $3,685.2 |
| December 11, 2021 | 16 | $5,017 | 10 | 109 | 13 | $1,417 | 3 | $3,600 |
| December 4, 2021 | 14 | $2,310 | 8 | 86 | 8 | $2,310 | 6 | $1,882.05 |
| November 27, 2021 | 9 | $3.460.1 | 10 | 101 | 6 | $1,758 | 3 | $1,702.6 |
| November 20, 2021 | 20 | $22,792 | 15 | 157 | 12 | $18,864.5 | 8 | $3,928 |
| November 13, 2021 | 21 | $26,729 | 12 | 178 | 13 | $11,822 | 8 | $14,907 |
| November 6, 2021 | 12 | $8,303 | 13 | 157 | 10 | $6,682 | 3 | $1,621 |
| October 30, 2021 | 21 | $10,368 | 15 | 218 | 15 | $9,24.4 | 6 | $1,103. |
| October 23, 2021 | 21 | $18.783.1 | 15 | 222 | 11 | $12,314 | 10 | $6,468.6 |
| October 16, 2021 | 15 | $3,868 | 11 | 118 | 15 | $2,293 | 2 | $1,575 |
| October 9, 2021 | 20 | $8,610 | 16 | 175 | 16 | $7,795 | 4 | $815 |
| October 2, 2021 | 14 | $6,250 | 11 | 137 | 10 | $5,200 | 4 | $1,050 |
| September 25, 2021 | 11 | $11,460 | 9 | 93 | 7 | $10,200 | 4 | $1,250 |
| September 18, 2021 | 11 | $16,603 | 8 | 99 | 8 | $15,084 | 3 | $1,519 |
| September 11, 2021 | 17 | $10,653 | 11 | 103 | 13 | $8,503 | 4 | $2,150 |
| September 4, 2021 | 13 | $7,222 | 10 | 89 | 11 | $6,715 | 2 | $507 |
| August 28, 2021 | 12 | $763 | 9 | 63 | 11 | $663 | 1 | $100 |
| August 21, 2021 | 12 | $29,659 | 7 | 79 | 11 | $29,579 | 1 | $80 |
| August 14, 2021 | 22 | $17,845 | 11 | 199 | 12 | $12,805 | 10 | $5,04 |
| August 7, 2021 | 17 | $13,670 | 12 | 139 | 15 | $11,766 | 2 | $1,904 |
| July 31, 2021 | 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 |
| July 17, 2021 | 14 | $4,009 | 11 | 124 | 12 | $2,015 | 2 | $1,994 |
| July 10, 2021 | 16 | $3,997 | 13 | 143 | 11 | $1,597 | 4 | $2,4 |
| July 3, 2021 | 24 | $7,492 | 13 | 94 | 16 | $3,769 | 8 | $3,722 |
| June 26, 2021 | 10 | $4,995 | 7 | 85 | 8 | $3,847 | 2 | $1,148 |
| June 19, 2021 | 28 | $16,830 | 8 | 228 | 9 | $1,861 | 19 | $14,968 |
| June 12, 2021 | 26 | $27,238 | 15 | 209 | 19 | $25,602 | 7 | $1,636 |
| June 5, 2021 | 15 | $15,539 | 13 | 100 | 13 | $14,709 | 2 | $600 |
| May 29, 2021 | 35 | $20,279 | 11 | 145 | 28 | $18,64 | 7 | $1,639 |
| May 22, 2021 | 24 | $53,208 | 14 | 174 | 17 | $51,047 | 7 | $2,161 |
| May 15, 2021 | 18 | $10,620 | 13 | 220 | 11 | $5,870 | 7 | $4,809 |
| May 8, 2021 | 17 | $10,400 | 11 | 156 | 15 | $8,386 | 2 | $2,500 |
| May 1, 2021 | 21 | $7,200 | 16 | 115 | 12 | $3,808 | 9 | $3,392 |
| April 24, 2021 | 8 | $20,200 | 9 | 31 | 8 | $20,200 | 0 | 0 |
| April 17, 2021 | 14 | $6,270 | 8 | 102 | 11 | $4,0180 | 3 | $2,260 |
| April 10, 2021 | 15 | $8,940 | 13 | 129 | 14 | $7,990 | 1 | $950 |
| April 3, 2021 | 18 | $19,513 | 10 | 151 | 12 | $16,923 | 6 | $2,590 |
| March 27, 2021 | 27 | $13,942 | 15 | 244 | 14 | $4,300 | 13 | $9,633.5 |
| March 20, 2021 | 11 | $2,046 | 4 | 102 | 3 | $270 | 8 | $1,776 |
| March 13, 2021 | 15 | $3,270 | 9 | 109 | 6 | $538 | 9 | $2,732 |
| March 6, 2021 | 24 | $13,617 | 10 | 196 | 13 | $10,395 | 11 | $3,222 |
| February 27, 2021 | 19 | $8,105 | 12 | 139 | 15 | $4,970 | 4 | $3,135 |
| February 20, 2021 | 9 | $8,820 | 9 | 153 | 8 | $8,520 | 1 | $300 |
| February 13, 2021 | 12 | $4,852.6 | 7 | 81 | 7 | 2,766 | 5 | $2,086.6 |
| February 6, 2021 | 18 | $9,752 | 13 | 153 | 14 | $5,222 | 4 | $4,530 |
| January 30, 2021 | 18 | $9,449 | 9 | 182 | 15 | $8753.8 | 3 | $695.3 |
| January 23, 2021 | 14 | $8,150 | 8 | 118 | 6 | $4,000 | 8 | $4,150 |
| January 16, 2021 | 17 | $6,783 | 13 | 138 | 11 | $2,400 | 6 | $4,382.9 |
| January 9, 2021 | 22 | $6,829 | 14 | 135 | 18 | $3,139.3 | 4 | $3,690 |
| January 2, 2021 | 7 | $1,466 | 7 | 60 | 7 | $1,466 | 0 | 0 |
| December 26, 2020 | 18 | $15,900 | 12 | 163 | 16 | $5,300 | 1 | $600 |
| December 19, 2020 | 18 | $9,769 | 14 | 110 | 14 | $8,426 | 4 | $1,343 |
| December 12, 2020 | 10 | $7,200 | 9 | 100 | 9 | $3,325 | 1 | $3,830 |
| December 5, 2020 | 15 | $4,261 | 9 | 122 | 9 | $2,780 | 6 | $1,481 |
| November 28, 2020 | 19 | $7,758 | 10 | 110 | 13 | $4,003 | 6 | $3,755 |
| November 14, 2020 | 14 | $864.1 | 14 | 157 | 12 | $289.1 | 2 | $575 |
| November 7, 2020 | 13 | $6,332 | 9 | 129 | 9 | $2,483.5 | 4 | $3,849 |
| October 31, 2020 | 10 | $3,995.8 | 8 | 103 | 6 | $3,231.1 | 4 | $754.7 |
| October 24, 2020 | 6 | $18,100 | 6 | 58 | 5 | $17,709 | 1 | $350 |
| October 17, 2020 | 8 | $351.9 | 5 | 55 | 8 | $351.9 | 0 | 0 |
| October 10, 2020 | 7 | $5,229 | 3 | 50 | 4 | $735 | 3 | $4,494 |
| October 3, 2020 | 14 | $21,428 | 9 | 173 | 9 | $17,535 | 5 | $3,893 |
| September 26, 2020 | 10 | $12,770 | 8 | 93 | 5 | $10,300 | 5 | $2,470 |
| September 19, 2020 | 14 | $8,365 | 9 | 101 | 6 | $1,020 | 8 | $7,345 |
| September 12, 2020 | 6 | $4,406 | 8 | 59 | 3 | $1,270 | 3 | $3,136 |
| September 5, 2020 | 11 | $5,191 | 8 | 117 | 9 | $4,061 | 2 | $1,130 |
| August 29, 2020 | 11 | $2,531 | 9 | 94 | 5 | $1,130 | 6 | $1,401 |
| August 22, 2020 | 18 | $6,574 | 12 | 140 | 7 | $1,930 | 11 | $4,644 |
| August 15, 2020 | 13 | $4,991 | 10 | 97 | 7 | $1,216 | 6 | $3,775 |
| August 8, 2020 | 12 | $32,092 | 11 | 112 | 9 | $30,457 | 3 | $1,635 |
| August 1, 2020 | 7 | $5,287 | 8 | 76 | 5 | $3,687 | 2 | $1,600 |
| July 25, 2020 | 9 | $18,751 | 6 | 67 | 7 | $18,403 | 2 | $348 |
| July 18, 2020 | 6 | $1,982.5 | 5 | 50 | 4 | $1,407.5 | 2 | $575 |
| July 11, 2020 | 11 | $565.1 | 12 | 75 | 10 | $65.1 | 1 | $500 |
| July 4, 2020 | 10 | $8,889 | 8 | 98 | 9 | $8,788 | 1 | $100.3 |
| June 27, 2020 | 8 | $6,874 | 10 | 50 | 5 | $4,972.5 | 3 | $2,081.5 |
| June 20, 2020 | 12 | $4,444 | 9 | 115 | 7 | $2,829 | 5 | $1,615 |
| June 13, 2020 | 6 | $3,582 | 4 | 37 | 2 | $350 | 4 | $3,232 |
| June 6, 2020 | 11 | $3,213.7 | 8 | 65 | 7 | $470 | 4 | $2,743.7 |
| May 30, 2020 | 8 | $7,335 | 7 | 48 | 6 | $4,639 | 2 | $2,697 |
| May 23, 2020 | 4 | $432.4 | 4 | 34 | 3 | $432.4 | 1 | 0 |
| May 16, 2020 | 6 | $310 | 6 | 34 | 5 | $310 | 1 | 0 |
| May 9, 2020 | 18 | $5,630 | 16 | 124 | 14 | $3,180 | 4 | $2,450 |
| May 2, 2020 | 15 | 10,400 | 10 | 90 | 8 | $1,900 | 7 | $,8,500 |
| April 25, 2020 | 8 | $3,400 | 9 | 36 | 5 | $1,000 | 3 | $2,450 |
| April 18, 2020 | 19 | $9,500 | 14 | 92 | 8 | $185.7 | 11 | $9,360 |
| April 11, 2020 | 12 | $6,000 | 9 | 40 | 5 | $190 | 7 | $5,800 |
| April 4, 2020 | 14 | $8,200 | 11 | 68 | 10 | $2,200 | 4 | $6,000 |
| March 28, 2020 | 16 | $6,500 | 13 | 96 | 10 | $3,700 | 6 | $2,800 |
| March 21, 2020 | 11 | $11,910 | 7 | 33 | 7 | $2,250 | 4 | $9,960 |
| March 14, 2020 | 7 | 809.8 | 6 | 34 | 6 | 684.8 | 1 | 125 |
| March 7, 2020 | 16 | $2,500 | 15 | 70 | 13 | $669 | 3 | $1,400 |
| February 29, 2020 | 13 | $15,260 | 13 | 128 | 11 | $11,760 | 2 | $3,500 |
| February 22, 2020 | 12 | $3,700 | 10 | 92 | 10 | $2,560 | 2 | $1,130 |
| February 15, 2020 | 16 | $1,250 | 10 | 84 | 12 | $35 | 4 | $1,222 |
| February 8, 2020 | 18 | $6,080 | 14 | 123 | 14 | $2,595 | 4 | $3,485 |
| February 1, 2020 | 21 | $20,900 | 12 | 101 | 14 | $17,860 | 7 | $3,060 |
| January 25, 2020 | 13 | $7,430 | 13 | 62 | 12 | $6,430 | 1 | $1,000 |
| January 18, 2020 | 23 | $9,580 | 15 | 120 | 19 | $6,580 | 4 | $3,000 |
| January 11, 2020 | 21 | $14,200 | 18 | 199 | 16 | $1,020 | 5 | $13,200 |
| January 4, 2020 | 22 | $6,400 | 11 | 119 | 16 | $3,204 | 6 | $3,245 |
| December 28, 2019 | 22 | $7,150 | 19 | 175 | 18 | $6,800 | 4 | $327.4 |
| December 14, 2019 | 24 | $36,300 | 23 | 167 | 19 | $9,500 | 5 | $26,800 |
| December 7, 2019 | 11 | $10,400 | 11 | 55 | 7 | $1,082 | 4 | $9,370 |
| November 30. 2019 | 14 | $2,450 | 12 | 126 | 12 | $1,760 | 2 | $692.5 |
| November 23, 2019 | 16 | $1,995 | 10 | 41 | 11 | $615 | 5 | $1,380 |
| November 16, 2019 | 15 | $3,820 | 13 | 135 | 11 | $2,500 | 4 | $1,271 |
| November 9, 2019 | 25 | $12,900 | 17 | 182 | 23 | $12,200 | 2 | $575 |
| November 2, 2019 | 10 | $2,470 | 12 | 61 | 9 | 2,450 | 3 | $22 |
| October 26, 2019 | 12 | $5,560 | 14 | 70 | 11 | $3,860 | 1 | $1,700 |
| October 19, 2019 | 8 | $6,600 | 8 | 138 | 8 | $6,600 | 0 | 0 |
| October 12, 2019 | 19 | $4,300 | 14 | 55 | 16 | $3,800 | 3 | $500 |
| October 5, 2019 | 18 | $14,500 | 19 | 166 | 15 | $11,100 | 3 | $3,400 |
| September 28, 2019 | 19 | $8,100 | 18 | 132 | 18 | $7,560 | 1 | $550 |
| September 21, 2019 | 14 | $6,300 | 16 | 66 | 11 | $2,160 | 3 | $4,170 |
| September 14, 2019 | 15 | $23,800 | 12 | 56 | 11 | $21,250 | 4 | $2,570 |
| September 7, 2019 | 17 | $3,500 | 15 | 98 | 14 | $1,900 | 3 | $1,600 |
| August 31, 2019 | 5 | $8,700 | 6 | 50 | 5 | $8,700 | 0 | 0 |
| August 24, 2019 | 16 | $10,000 | 14 | 82 | 15 | $4,250 | 1 | $5,750 |
| August 16, 2019 | 10 | $1,680 | 5 | 52 | 7 | $650 | 3 | $950 |
| August 9, 2019 | 17 | $17,700 | 15 | 68 | 14 | $3,900 | 3 | $13,800 |
| August 2, 2019 | 13 | $5,760 | 12 | 108 | 13 | $5,760 | NA | NA |
| July 27, 2019 | 11 | $7,300 | 13 | 76 | 8 | $6,570 | 3 | $730 |
| July 20, 2019 | 13 | $11,800 | 13 | 125 | 11 | $5,300 | 2 | $6,500 |
| July 13, 2019 | 10 | $775 | 7 | 46 | 8 | $542.5 | 2 | $233 |
| July 6, 2019 | 7 | $2,500 | 9 | 85 | 7 | $2,500 | 0 | 0 |
| June 29, 2019 | 23 | $8,290 | 15 | 154 | 17 | $2,300 | 6 | $5,970 |
| June 22, 2019 | 17 | $10,700 | 10 | 139 | 14 | $7,700 | 3 | $3,000 |
| June 15, 2019 | 11 | $13,500 | 14 | 160 | 11 | $13,500 | NA | NA |
| June 8, 2019 | 13 | $2,870 | 17 | 55 | 11 | $1,570 | 2 | $1,300 |
| June 1, 2019 | 10 | $4,460 | 11 | 60 | 8 | $4,140 | 2 | $315 |
| May 25, 2019 | 17 | $4,360 | 14 | 79 | 14 | $3,700 | 3 | $612 |
| May 18, 2019 | 22 | $9,000 | 17 | 150 | 16 | $3,400 | 6 | $5,600 |
| May 11, 2019 | 18 | $19,800 | 17 | 177 | 15 | $18,300 | 3 | $1,500 |
| May 4, 2019 | 10 | $7,075 | 6 | 32 | 8 | $6,900 | 2 | $175 |
| April 27, 2019 | 15 | $3,200 | 14 | 117 | 14 | $3,160 | 1 | $40 |
| April 20, 2019 | 13 | $13,500 | 10 | 90 | 9 | $12,200 | 4 | $1,300 |
| April 13, 2019 | 16 | $38,900 | 14 | 91 | 14 | $37,800 | 2 | $1,100 |
| April 6, 2019 | 12 | $6,870 | 11 | 94 | 10 | $6,730 | 2 | $50 |
| March 30, 2019 | 15 | $6,470 | 12 | 84 | 10 | $7,91.5 | 5 | $5,677 |
| March 23, 2019 | 18 | $6,450 | 14 | 91 | 14 | $5,042 | 4 | $1,408 |
| March 16, 2019 | 14 | $10,180 | 12 | 115 | 11 | $8,800 | 3 | $1,300 |
| March 9, 2019 | 9 | $1,800 | 6 | 49 | 8 | $1,300 | 1 | $500 |
| March 2, 2019 | 20 | $3,033 | 16 | 107 | 14 | $1,817 | 6 | $1,262 |
| February 23, 2019 | 12 | $2,040 | 8 | 69 | 9 | $614.6 | 3 | $1,430 |
| February 16, 2019 | 16 | $9,970 | 18 | 77 | 16 | $9,970 | 0 | 0 |
| February 9, 2019 | 14 | $6,400 | 10 | 110 | 14 | $6,400 | 0 | 0 |
| February 2, 2019 | 18 | $6,740 | 15 | 99 | 16 | $5,720 | 2 | $950 |
| January 26, 2019 | 13 | $2,770 | 11 | 67 | 11 | $918.95 | 2 | $1,850 |
| January 19, 2019 | 15 | $3,819 | 16 | 76 | 12 | $2,594 | 3 | $1,225 |
| January 12, 2019 | 18 | $7,283 | 14 | 92 | 15 | $1,683 | 3 | $5,600 |
| January 5, 2019 | 10 | $529 | 12 | 50 | 10 | $529 | 0 | 0 |
| December 22, 2018 | 17 | $2,570 | 13 | 87 | 14 | $941 | 3 | $1,629 |
| December 15, 2018 | 10 | $2,860 | 8 | 26 | 8 | $264 | 2 | $2,600 |
| December 8, 2018 | 15 | $1,819 | 16 | 65 | 12 | $552 | 3 | $1,267 |
| December 1, 2018 | 12 | $7,500 | 10 | 90 | 9 | $1,200 | 3 | $6,200 |
| November 28, 2018 | 15 | $4,500 | 11 | 107 | 14 | $4,000 | 1 | $500 |
| November 19, 2018 | 18 | $6,137 | 13 | 98 | 13 | $2,142 | 5 | $3,995 |
| November 14, 2018 | 18 | $9,200 | 13 | 152 | 15 | $8,500 | 3 | $694 |
| November 6, 2018 | 16 | $17,300 | 16 | 183 | 14 | $16,361 | 2 | $950 |
| October 29, 2018 | 14 | $14,400 | 18 | 127 | 17 | $13,800 | 1 | $600 |
| October 24, 2018 | 13 | $6,140 | 13 | 126 | 11 | $5,122 | 2 | $1,018 |
| October 17, 2018 | 18 | $18,390 | 15 | 125 | 14 | $12,292 | 4 | $6,098 |
| October 10, 2018 | 29 | $3,149 | 18 | 104 | 20 | $1,647 | 9 | $819 |
| October 2, 2018 | 18 | $9,300 | 11 | 67 | 14 | $7,300 | 4 | $2,000 |
| September 25, 2018 | 13 | $7,000 | 11 | 75 | 10 | $6,000 | 3 | $995 |
| September 18, 2018 | 9 | $3,570 | 7 | 44 | 9 | $3,570 | 0 | 0 |
| September 11, 2018 | 13 | $5,900 | 10 | 132 | 13 | $5,900 | 0 | 0 |
| September 7, 2018 | 14 | $5,000 | 15 | 86 | 11 | $4,000 | 3 | $1,000 |
| August 29, 2018 | 15 | $20,700 | 14 | 79 | 13 | $4,700 | 2 | $16,000 |
| August 20, 2018 | 10 | $12,400 | 11 | 53 | 8 | $11,380 | 3 | $1,057 |
| August 14, 2018 | 12 | $19,900 | 12 | 132 | 9 | $18,889 | 3 | $1,011 |
| August 7, 2018 | 16 | $68,600 | 11 | 106 | 13 | $67,259 | 3 | $1,340 |
| July 31, 2018 | 15 | $15,100 | 15 | 95 | 11 | $13,060 | 4 | $2,060 |
| July 23, 2018 | 13 | $2,130 | 15 | 60 | 10 | $1,804 | 3 | $1,100 |
| July 17, 2018 | 14 | $5,370 | 17 | 98 | 9 | $4,310 | 5 | $1,100 |
| July 9, 2018 | 16 | $11,200 | 15 | 74 | 10 | $11,080 | 6 | $862 |
| July 3, 2018 | 13 | $7,000 | 7 | 81 | 12 | $6,330 | 1 | $750 |
| June 25, 2018 | 15 | $8,800 | 13 | 97 | 9 | $4,970 | 6 | $3,930 |
| June 18, 2018 | 13 | $14,200 | 14 | 80 | 7 | $221 | 6 | $14,290 |
| June 11, 2018 | 12 | $6,300 | 8 | 96 | 8 | $5,910 | 4 | $803 |
| June 6, 2018 | 13 | $14,500 | 10 | 88 | 8 | $14,154 | 5 | $579 |
| May 31, 2018 | 11 | $4,890 | 10 | 63 | 8 | $3,240 | 3 | $1,790 |
| May 22, 2018 | 15 | $20,400 | 11 | 63 | 9 | $19,808 | 6 | $885 |
| May 15, 2018 | 15 | $4,700 | 15 | 106 | 10 | $3,900 | 5 | $643 |
| May 9, 2018 | 11 | $1,400 | 13 | 88 | 9 | $1,300 | 2 | $560 |
| May 1, 2018 | 8 | $14,250 | 7 | 88 | 7 | $13,400 | 1 | $450 |
| April 24, 2018 | 12 | $5,300 | 6 | 61 | 11 | $4,470 | 1 | $800 |
| April 17, 2018 | 9 | $1,800 | 10 | 44 | 7 | $2,330 | 2 | $1,434 |
| April 11, 2018 | 11 | $2,500 | 8 | 32 | 6 | $1,690 | 5 | $809 |
| April 3, 2018 | 15 | $13,400 | 11 | 121 | 9 | $12,020 | 6 | $1,090 |
| March 28, 2018 | 10 | $4,000 | 10 | 92 | 7 | $3,870 | 3 | $215 |
| March 19, 2018 | 17 | $5,800 | 13 | 51 | 10 | $590 | 7 | $5,165 |
| March 12, 2018 | 15 | $3,130 | 11 | 43 | 11 | $2,360 | 4 | $788 |
| March 6, 2018 | 19 | $5,400 | 13 | 116 | 10 | $1,530 | 9 | $4,860 |
| February 27, 2018 | 20 | $6,600 | 13 | 69 | 14 | $5,530 | 6 | $1,030 |
| February 19, 2018 | 15 | $5,500 | 14 | 111 | 10 | $3,990 | 6 | $1,980 |
| February 12, 2018 | 23 | $10,900 | 17 | 157 | 12 | $7,110 | 11 | $3,840 |
| February 5, 2018 | 16 | $8,600 | 13 | 100 | 7 | $1,330 | 9 | $7,800 |
| January 30, 2018 | 11 | $12,600 | 11 | 68 | 5 | $7,300 | 6 | $4,982 |
| January 24, 2018 | 19 | $9,400 | 15 | 129 | 5 | $2,010 | 14 | $7,337 |
| January 18, 2018 | 10 | $6,280 | 8 | 49 | 2 | $2,100 | 8 | $4,188 |
| January 9, 2018 | 12 | $16,500 | 12 | 92 | 9 | $15,890 | 3 | $475 |
| January 3, 2018 | 10 | $2,500 | 9 | 47 | 8 | $2,350 | 2 | $150 |
| December 27, 2017 | 15 | $9,000 | 15 | 113 | 9 | $7,568 | 6 | $1,784 |
| December 18, 2017 | 15 | $13,800 | 16 | 164 | 9 | $13,010 | 7 | $1,118 |
| December 11, 2017 | 14 | $9,700 | 10 | 126 | 12 | $2,940 | 4 | $8,500 |
| December 4, 2017 | 6 | $1,800 | 6 | 31 | 5 | $1,510 | 1 | $300 |
| November 28, 2017 | 7 | $3,850 | 8 | 76 | 4 | $3,260 | 3 | $285 |
| November 16, 2017 | 10 | $2,700 | 10 | 48 | 6 | $1,840 | 4 | $856 |
| November 8, 2017 | 15 | $2,380 | 17 | 91 | 10 | $1,860 | 5 | $516 |
| November 1, 2017 | 12 | $4,700 | 17 | 94 | 9 | $3,400 | 4 | $1,300 |
| October 23, 2017 | 15 | $10,500 | 10 | 67 | 10 | $9,780 | 4 | $1,530 |
| October 18, 2017 | 6 | $2,000 | 37 | 3 | $225 | 3 | $1,820 | |
| October 10, 2017 | 12 | $6,570 | 100 | 9 | $3,880 | 3 | $3,360 | |
| October 2, 2017 | 8 | $3,100 | 11 | 19 | 3 | $1,630 | 5 | $1,750 |
| September 25, 2017 | 8 | $4,880 | 8 | 79 | 5 | $2,660 | 5 | $2,070 |
| September 18, 2017 | 9 | $4,770 | 3 | $300 | 6 | $4,470 | ||
| September 12, 2017 | 11 | $4,430 | 8 | $2,030 | 3 | $2,400 | ||
| September 1, 2017 | 4 | $1,310 | 3 | $317 | 1 | $1,000 | ||
| August 23, 2017 | 11 | $13,640 | 9 | 8 | $11,840 | 3 | $1,800 |
M&A/FUNDINGS
Melody closes on $1.95B communications infrastructure fund
Deal Description: Melody Investment Advisors, an alternative asset manager focused on communications infrastructure led by former investment banker Omar Jaffrey, announced Jan. 18 the final close of Melody Communications Infrastructure Fund II at $1.95 billion. The fund was oversubscribed, exceeding its target of $1.5 billion by nearly 30%. Current fund investments include CTI Towers, a leading owner and manager of wireless towers in the U.S., Harmoni Towers (formerly Uniti Towers), one of the largest tower builders in the U.S., and a cell sites and easements portfolio managed by Symphony Wireless. The unnamed investors include several large institutional infrastructure investors, including public and private pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, foundations and endowments, fund of funds, insurance companies and charitable trusts.
Melody’s Outside Counsel: Kirkland & Ellis led by investment funds partner Susan Eisenberg in Houston along with partners Kelly Ryan in Chicago and Marty Voelker in New York and associates Robert Holowka in Washington, D.C., Katherine Chernova in Houston, Randy Coffey in Austin, Lenny Licht in New York and Rehab Abdelwahab in Houston. Other team members were based in New York, London, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
International lottery operator going public through $1.2B SPAC transaction
Deal Description: Taking advantage of a surge in gaming investments worldwide, Prague-based lottery operator SAZKA Entertainment is taking its Allwyn Entertainment brand public with its merger with blank check Cohn Robbins Holdings Corp announced Jan. 21. The deal, which asserts an enterprise value at $9.3 billion includes $825 million from CRHC’s IPO trust account, along with a PIPE of $350 million.
Financial Advisors to Allwyn: PJT Partners
Financial Advisors to CRHC: Citi is financial advisor; Credit Suisse is capital advisor.
Outside Counsel to CRHC: Skadden Arps led by New York M&A partners Howard Ellin and June Dipchand
PIPE Placement Agent: PJT Partners
PIPE Outside Counsel: Winston & Strawn advised on PIPE placement with a team led from Houston by partner Mike Blankenship with London partner Paul Amiss and Houston associates John Niedzwiecki, Robbie Oakes, Luisa Patoni and Ben Smolij.
Notes: The principals of Cohn Robbins include Gary Cohn, former economic advisor to the Trump administration. The SPAC had originally filed with the SEC as CSR Acquisition Corp. with an IPO planned at $300M. The blank check company was renamed and upsized with the addition of Cohn, a former COO of Goldman Sachs. Upon closing, expected in the second quarter of 2022, Cohn will become a special advisor to the chairman of Allwyn. Cliff Robbins, founder and former CEO of the Blue Harbour Group, will join the Allwyn board.
DataBank acquires Houston data centers from CyrusOne for $670M
Deal Description: Dallas-based DataBank, the largest U.S. data edge infrastructure provider, announced Jan. 19 the acquisition of four data centers in Houston from CyrusOne, also based in Dallas. The four centers include CyrusOne’s Galleria data center and three from its West Parkway Boulevard campus, just west of downtown Houston. The acquisition was valued at $670 million. The acquisition is the 27th for DataBank, adding 300,000 square feet of raised-floor capacity and 42.5MW of critical IT load. The so-called edge centers, located near metropolitan areas, provide cloud-based capacity and data services for such data-heavy sectors as healthcare, fintech and media, as well as on-ramps from AWS (Amazon) and Google.
DataBank Financial Advisors: TD Securities; CIT provided debt financing
DataBank Outside Counsel: Jones Day advised DataBank with a team led by Cleveland partner George Hunter.
Notes: In November, CyrusOne was taken private in a blockbuster $15 billion transaction by a consortium of KKR and Global Infrastructure Partners.
ProKidney enters public trading via $825M deal with SPAC
Deal Description: ProKidney, a North Caroliina company seeking to capitalize on what it claims is the first biotherapeutic treatment for chronic kidney disease (CKD), has agreed to take the SPAC route to become publicly traded. The company announced Jan. 18 that it has agreed to a merger with Social Capital Survetta Holdings Corp. III, a blank check company. The deal involves up to $825 million in cash proceeds to ProKidney, including $250 million from the SCS IPO trust account and a fully committed PIPE of $575 million.
ProKidney Financial Advisors: Citigroup
ProKidney Legal Counsel: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo
SCS Financial Advisors: BofA Securities
SCS Legal Advisors: Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
PIPE Agents: Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Evercore, Jefferies and UBS
PIPE Legal Counsel: Winston & Strawn with a team led from Houston by partner Mike Blankenship with associates John Niedzwiecki, Robbie Oakes and Luisa Patoni.
Notes: ProKidney, headquartered in Winston-Salem, says its lead product, a Renal Autologous Cell Therapy called REACT, has been shown not only to slow the progression of CDK, but in some cases drive meaningful improvement in kidney function. The treatment involves a “minimally invasive” procedure that removes some of the patient’s kidney cells, which are then treated with lab-grown and purified progenitor cells which are then returned to the patient’s kidney.
Restore raises $100M from General Atlantic
Deal Description: Restore Hyper Wellness, a health and wellness company, raised more than $100 million in an equity offering led by private equity firm General Atlantic. Founded in 2015, Restore is designing an integrated wellness experience and creating proprietary protocols to address consumers’ near- and long-term health goals. Restore said that it plans to leverage the investment to help accelerate its rapid growth and deliver innovative technology. It has 115 predominantly franchised locations in 34 states. Restore plans to open one new store about every four days during 2022.
Restore’s Financial Advisor: Piper Sandler & Co.
Restore’s Outside Counsel: Greenberg Traurig led by corporate practice shareholder Thomas Woolsey in the firm’s Dallas office. Others included associate Richard D. Dusenbury; from the tax practice, shareholder Labry Welty and associate Josh Prywes; and from the health care and FDA practice, shareholder Charles C. Dunham IV and associate Ben Nipper.
Notes: GT’s Woolsey represented health care clients in connection with M&A in transactions valued at nearly $2 billion.
Split Rock purchases Permian Basin properties for $97.5M
Deal Description: Fort Worth-based Split Rock Resources, backed by Houston private equity firm North Hudson Resource Partners, announced Jan. 18 that it purchased non-operated Permian Basin oil and gas properties from a private unnamed seller for $97.5 million in cash. The acquisition consists of non-operated assets in the Delaware Basin in Eddy and Lea counties, New Mexico, and in the Midland Basin in Glasscock County, Texas. The assets are producing around 2,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and include about 1,000 net acres with drilling inventory targeting the Wolfcamp, Bone Spring and additional formations. The assets are operated by a group of top-tier companies and development activities this year are expected to more than double the daily production rates, Split Rock said.
Split Rock’s Outside Counsel: Willkie Farr & Gallagher led by partner Steven Torello in Houston
Clearfork acquires Azure, secures commitment from EnCap Flatrock
Deal Description: Fort Worth-based Clearfork Midstream announced Jan. 18 it secured a capital commitment from EnCap Flatrock Midstream and agreed to purchase Energy Spectrum Capital-backed Azure Midstream Energy. Terms weren’t disclosed. The transaction, which must clear regulators, is expected to close in the first quarter. Clearfork was formed in 2020 to provide midstream solutions for oil and gas producers with an emphasis on unconventional natural gas production in the Haynesville/Bossier Shale formation of North Louisiana and East Texas. Before forming Clearfork, CEO Kipper Overstreet served as Azure’s VP of corporate development and gas supply from 2017 to 2020.
EnCap Flatrock’s Outside Counsel: Latham & Watkins led by Houston partner James Garrett with Houston associates John Daywalt and Josh Blankenship. Advice was also provided on tax matters by Houston partner Jim Cole; on benefits and compensation matters by Washington, D.C., partner Adam Kestenbaum; on finance matters by Houston counsel Bryce Kaufman; and on intellectual property matters by Washington, D.C., counsel Kieran Dickinson.
Clearfork’s Outside Counsel on the Acquisition: Vinson & Elkins led by partner Matthew Falcone and senior associate Yong Eoh with assistance from associates Kara Chung, Erik Slavin and Darren Fox. Other team members included partner Sarah Mitchell and associate Victoria Bahrami-Negad (insurance); partner David Peck, senior associate Peter Rogers and associate Jeff Slusher (tax); partner Sean Becker, counsel Martin Luff and associate Annie Blanc (labor/employment); partner Julia Petty and associate Brian DeShannon (executive compensation/benefits); partner Matt Dobbins and associate Kelly Rondinelli (environmental and natural resources); partner John Decker, senior associate Andrew DeVore and associate Michael Carroll (energy regulatory); partner Chris Popov (litigation); partner Darren Tucker and senior associate Evan Miller (HSR/antitrust); counsel Rajesh Patel and associate Ricky Legg (technology transactions/IP); partner Dave Wicklund, counsel Zach Rider and associate Ariel Guerrero-Stewart (finance); and counsel Scot Dixon (real estate).
Clearfork’s Outside Counsel on the Funding: Vinson & Elkins led by partner Matthew Falcone and senior associate Will White with assistance from associates Bobbi Ingram and Carli Gish. Also advising were partner Sean Becker and counsel Martin Luff (labor/employment); partner Julia Petty and Brian DeShannon, senior associate Peter Rogers and associate Jeff Slusher.
Azure’s Outside Counsel: Porter Hedges including partner Kevin Poli and associate Allison Wilbanks Pearce in Houston with help from Geoff Schultz, Nick Nicholas, Riki Thomas and Ray Torgerson
Clearfork’s Financial Advisor: Donovan Ventures (John Donovan)
Azure’s Financial Advisor: Jefferies (Peter Bowden, Brian Conner, Chris Howey and Preston Martin)
Notes: V&E also advised Clearfork in connection with its $400 million capital commitment from Encap Flatrock. This is the second significant transaction in which Vinson & Elkins has represented an Encap Flatrock portfolio company in the past six months, with the other being Moda Midstream’s sale to Enbridge in October 2021.
Blue Point-backed TAS acquires Texas Water Management
Deal Description: Cleveland-based Blue Point Capital Partners announced Jan. 11 that its portfolio company, TAS Environmental Services has agreed to acquire Texas Water Management, a liquid waste transportation company. Based in Conroe and founded in 1997, Texas Water Management services industrial sites throughout the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast regions on both scheduled and emergency bases. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. TAS is in Blue Point’s BPCP IV portfolio.
Blue Point Outside Counsel: Denise Carkhuff led Jones Day from Cleveland.
Note: The deal is Blue Point’s fourth bolt-on transaction since acquiring TAS in May 2019.
First Reserve-backed Trillium Flow to acquire Termomeccanica Pompe
Deal Description: First Reserve-backed Trillium Flow Technologies and Termomeccanica Pompe signed a joint agreement Jan. 19 that will bring the Termomeccanica Pompe, Gabbioneta Pumps and Begemann brands under the Trillium umbrella in Italy. Terms weren’t disclosed. Due to regulatory approvals, Trillium Flow anticipates the transaction will close in three to four months. Following the deal, Termomeccanica will concentrate its activities on developing the ecological and gas compression sectors. The 100-year-old Termomeccanica is a pump manufacturing company that provides solutions and service for power, desalination, water transmission and oil and gas markets. It operates subsidiaries in Russia, Romania, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Trillium Flow’s Outside Counsel: Morgan Lewis led by partners Sameer Mohan (Houston) and Carl Valenstein (Boston). The team also included Houston associate Tara McElhiney and lawyers from the firm’s offices in Moscow, Dubai, London and Abu Dhabi.
LCA Studio Legale in Milan was Italian counsel on the deal, including Marina Rosito and Andrea Carreri (partners) and Luca Montolivo (associate).
Trillium Flow’s In-House Counsel: Mehgan Wichuk, senior VP, general counsel and chief compliance officer, supported by senior counsel Anna Boureiko, both in Houston
Satori pours money into Torani
Deal Description: Torani, a leader in the flavor industry for nearly 100 years, and Satori Capital, a Texas-based investment firm founded upon the principles of conscious capitalism, announced Jan. 18 that Satori has completed a minority investment in Torani. Satori’s investment will support Torani’s continued growth, particularly with direct-to-consumer sales, expanded distribution, new product innovation and increased social impact. Torani, a Bay Area company, has more than 150 innovative flavors and is known for popularizing the Italian soda in the U.S. and creating the first flavored latte in the 1980s. The company has grown an average of 20% year-over-year for the last three decades under CEO Melanie Dulbecco and is the number one coffee syrup brand at retail in the U.S. with a 90% market share.
Satori’s Outside Counsel: Gibson Dunn led by Dallas partner Robert Little with associates Steve Wright, Kiel Sauerman and Cody Wilson, also of Dallas. Partner Cromwell Montgomery advised on financing from Los Angeles. Partner Michael Cannon advised on tax aspects from Dallas, and partner Michael Collins advised on benefits from Washington, D.C.
Daikin Applied invests in two equipment, services and parts reps
Deal Description: Daikin Applied, a unit of Daikin Industries, announced Jan. 12 that it made majority investments in two of its equipment, services and parts representatives, Detroit-based ThermalNetics and Philadelphia-based TriState HVAC Equipment. Terms weren’t disclosed. Daikin said combining the track record and expertise that both firms bring with the backing of the global HVAC leader gives engineers, contractors, and facility owners the comprehensive solutions and assistance they require to improve comfort, air quality and sustainability.
Daikin’s Outside Counsel: Gibson Dunn led by partner Stephen Olson and included associates Jonathan Sapp, William Bald and Gerald Kimani. Partner James Chenoweth advised on tax and partner Krista Hanvey and associate Tyler Richardson counseled on benefits.
CAPITAL MARKETS
Enviva prices $301M offering of common stock
Deal Description: Enviva Inc., the world’s largest producer of industrial wood pellets, a renewable and sustainable energy source, announced Jan. 19 that it has priced an underwritten public offering of 4.3 million common shares at $70 per share. Enviva granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 645,000 common shares from Enviva. The offering is expected to close on Jan. 24. Enviva intends to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including pre-funding a portion of its capital expenditures related to ongoing development projects and the temporary repayment of debt.
Book-Running Managers: Goldman Sachs & Co., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities, Barclays Capital Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., RBC Capital Markets and Truist Securities Inc. Loop Capital Markets, Raymond James & Associates Inc. and USCA Securities are co-managers for the offering.
Enviva Outside Counsel: The V&E corporate team was led by partner Ramey Layne and counsel Jessica Lewis, with assistance from senior associate Caroline Bailey and associates Chandler Spinks, Claire Wenholz, John Sasso and Jake Lubenow. Other key team members include partner Ryan Carney and associates Dan Henderson and Jeff Slusher (tax); and partners Maggie Peloso and Matt Dobbins and associate Austin Pierce (environmental).
Underwriters’ Outside Counsel: Latham & Watkins led by Austin/Houston partner Michael Chambers and New York partner Stelios Saffos with New York associate Hana Nah and Houston associates Hunter Newell, Wole Oluborode and Dylan White. Advice was also provided on tax matters by Houston partners Tim Fenn and Jared Grimley, with Houston associate Michael Rowe; and on environmental matters by Los Angeles/Washington, D.C. counsel Josh Marnitz.