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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: 13 Deals, 11 Law Firms, 67 Lawyers, $2.77B

January 30, 2019 Claire Poole

The market for mid-sized private equity deals was white hot last year, hitting a record $427.9 billion, according to a recent report from PitchBook.

The data provider said value increased by 14.8 percent over 2017 and volume was up by 15.1 percent to 2,971 transactions.

However, exit value only amounted to $187.6 billion, down 10.5 percent over 2017, and volume slid 14.8 percent to 876 exits. Capital raised alsco slipped by 4.4 percent to $110.8 billion while the number of funds doing the fundraising dropped by 21.1 percent to 131.

Could it be a sign that middle market deals are beginning to slow down? According to TD Bank, mid-sized companies in the U.S. are still pretty optimistic.

Of the 350 U.S. middle market companies it surveyed (generating between $50 million and $500 million in annual sales), 68 percent said they planned to engage in M&A activity in the next six to 24 months, with 85 percent noting no barriers in doing so.

The oil and gas industry is also pretty gung-ho on 2019. Analysts at Raymond James expect robust deal flow – and intervention by activist investors – likely to continue this year.

Exploration and production M&A picked up steam last year as crude oil markets improved through most of the year, the analysts said. They report that corporate-level combinations increased 44 percent over 2017, ultimately topping $35 billion in total transaction value.

Activity was particularly hot in West Texas’ and New Mexico’s Permian Basin, accounting for around 70 percent of corporate deal value last year, the analysts said. They expect more corporate consolidations and acquisition and divestiture activity in the area given compelling operational synergies available to operators, noting the $2 billion-plus expected for the Concho-RSP Permian and Diamondback-Energen mergers.

“Given the resurgence of operator focus on capital discipline, many … are taking steps to improve their cash flow profiles and return metics over the next few years, which they may achieve in part through the realization of operational synergies,” the analysts said.

In M&A and capital markets activity involving Texas lawyers, the numbers were down this past week. There were only 13 transactions worth $2.77 billion, which compares with 18 deals worth $7.28 billion the previous week and 19 deals valued at $9.4 billion in 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)

Week Ending
Deal CountAmountFirmsLawyersM&A CountM&A Value $MCapM Count
CapM Value $M
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

Eleven law firms and 67 Texas lawyers participated in the deal flow. DLA Piper won the overachiever award, having been involved in the three of the deals, with two of them handled by Austin partner Jenifer Smith. Austin firm Kastner Gravelle worked on two of the deals.

Indeed, a lot of the deals this past week centered around venture capital, with five financings worth $160.35 million. Including those, total M&A activity reached $918.95 million across 11 deals while capital markets transactions hit $1.85 billion across two deals. Industries represented included technology, financial services, business services, energy and manufacturing.

M&A TRANSACTIONS

DLA Piper advises Trendkite on $225M sale to Cision

Cision said last week that it acquired Austin-based public relations analytics provider eTrendKite for $225 million.

DLA Piper partner John Gilluly in Austin counseled TrendKite while non-Texas lawyers from Kirkland & Ellis assisted Chicago-based Cision.

The deal included $94 million in cash and 10.3 million ordinary shares of Cision.

TrendKite uses artificial intelligence and analytics to help brands understand the effect communications programs have on corporate reputation, website traffic and business outcomes. The company is led by CEO Erik Huddleston, who will become president of Cision.

TrendKite had raised almost $50 million in venture capital funding, including $10 million led by Harmony Partners in late 2017. Other investors were the Mercury Fund, Adams Street Partners, Battery Ventures and Noro-Moseley Partners, among others.

Cision said the purchase, its second announced this month, will help it automate parts of its public relations campaigns.

CEO Kevin Akeroyd leads publicly traded Cision, which has bought a dozen companies over the years.

Bracewell aids Woodforest on $504M unit sale to Sterling

Sterling Bancorp said Jan. 23 it was acquiring the asset-based and equipment finance businesses of the Woodlands-based Woodforest National Bank.

As of Dec. 31, the businesses’ balance of commercial loans and leases outstanding was $504 million, including $339 million in asset-based loans and $165 million in equipment finance loans. They had an average yield of about 5.5 percent and included 24 percent in fixed rate loans and 76 percent in floating rate loans.

Bracewell counseled Woodforest with attorneys in Houston and Dallas, including partners Joshua T. McNulty, William S. Anderson, K. Brock Bailey, Heather L. Brown, Robert S. Nichols and Scott C. Sanders and associates Nigel Wheeler and Shannon Baldwin.

Montebello, New York-based Sterling didn’t use outside counsel.

Sterling expects the acquisition to boost its annual operating expenses by $3 million per year. Management aims to close the deal this quarter.

Sterling said the acquisition will add origination capabilities in the Midwest and Southwest to its national commercial lending platform, including a direct lending equipment finance sales and originations team.

Including the deal, Sterling will have $1.1 billion in asset-based loans and $1.4 billion in equipment finance loans.

Sterling CEO and president Jack Kopnisky said in a statement that the acquisition is part of the bank’s strategy to transition its balance sheet to a more diversified and higher yielding commercial loan mix – along with adding strong organic origination volumes it expects in its commercial businesses this year.

V&E advises Disco on $83M funding from Georgian-led investors

Austin legal technology provider Disco said last week it secured $83 million in funding from an investor group led by Toronto-based Georgian Partners, bringing its total raised to $135 million.

Other investors were Bessemer Venture Partners, LiveOak Venture Partners, the Stephens Group and Comerica. Georgian partner Tyson Baber joined Disco’s board.

Vinson & Elkins advised Disco with a group led by partner Paul Tobias and counsel Wes Watts assisted by associates Luke Thomas and Vaughn Miller.

Others were partners David Peck and senior associate Allyson Seger on tax; partner Shane Tucker on executive compensation/benefits; and associate Ben Cukerbaum on intellectual property/M&A.

Disco, which was founded in 2013 and is led by CEO Kiwi Camara, plans to use the money to expand its staff, product portfolio and operations in the U.S. and abroad, including through acquisition. It recently moved its headquarters to Austin from Houston.

Disco claims its electronic discovery, or e-discovery, software helps lawyers gather evidence quickly without using third-party technology or service providers.

DLA Piper counsels Dosh on $40M funding from Goodwater, others

Austin cash-back app provider Dosh said Jan. 22 it raised $40 million in Series B funding, including $20 million in equity and $20 million in debt.

Goodwater Capital and Western Technology Investment co-led the investment, which also included returning investors PayPal, BAM Capital and Anthem Venture Partners.

The funding was done on a $300 million valuation, TechCrunch reported citing sources close to the company. So far, Dosh has raised $96 million in equity and debt.

DLA Piper partner Jenifer Smith counseled Dosh on the funding while the investors used Orrick out of San Francisco.

Dosh’s general counsel is Courtney Dickey, who was general counsel at Opcity before it was sold to News Corp unit Move Inc. – operator of realtor.com – last year for $210 million.

Chi-Hua Chien is co-founder and managing partner at Goodwater.

Dosh created a card-linked offer platform and fintech app that rewards consumers when they shop and eat out. It claims it delivered more than $50 million in cash back to millions of consumers, achieving the top position in the U.S. App Store.

It has 3 million card-linked subscribers and more than 150,000 retailers and brands, including Nike, Toms, Gap, Walgreens, Walmart and Jack in the Box. It’s said to make money by taking an undisclosed cut on each transaction.

Dosh founder and CEO Ryan Wuerch said in a statement that the funding would be used for hiring, business development and investment in technology.

Talos acquires Gunflint field interest from Samson for $29.6M

Houston oil and gas explorer Talos Energy said last week that it acquired a 9.6 percent non-operated working interest in the Gunflint field in the Gulf of Mexico from Samson Offshore Mapleleaf for $29.6 million.

The purchase was handled in-house by Talos general counsel Bill Moss, who previously practiced at Mayer Brown.

Gunflint is in the company’s Mississippi Canyon core area. The asset’s average production for October and November was about 1,500 to 1,800 barrels of oil equivalent per day and it had proved reserves of 2.2 million barrels of oil equivalent as of Nov. 30.

The field began producing in 2016. At that time its investors included Noble Energy, which operated the field, as well as Samson, Ecopetrol America Inc. and Marathon Oil Corp.

DLA Piper advises Essentium on $22.2M capital raise

Essentium Inc, a College Station startup that’s developing 3D printing solutions for industrial manufacturing, has raised $22.2 million in Series A funding.

BASF Venture Capital led the round with participation from 3D software company Materialise and Houston private equity firm Genesis Park.

DLA Piper represented Essentium on the transaction with partner Jenifer Smith as its lead counsel. The investors were represented by West Coast firms.

Sven Thate, an investment manager at BASF, will join Essentium’s board. Bart Van der Schueren led the investment from Materialise.

Led by CEO Blake Teipel, Essentium inked a partnership with BASF and Materialise in November to boost adoption of 3D printing by offering users more control, more choice in materials and at lower costs and higher margins.

Genesis Park is led by Paul Hobby, the grandson of former Texas governor William P. Hobby. Its other investments include Texas Monthly, which it purchased from Emmis Communications in 2016 for $25 million, Hcareers, Virgil, PetroCloud, Greenwell Energy Solutions and Starr Hill Presents.

WSGR advises Seismos on $10.5M investment

Seimos Inc. said Jan. 23 it attracted a $10.5 million equity investment from investors led by Quantum Energy Partners.

The round also included returning investors Javelin Venture Partners, Osage University Partners, ATP fund and Hicks Oilfield.

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati counseled Seimos, including partner Robert Suffoletta and associate Aaron Barker in Austin. Cooley represented Quantum with a partner in its New York office.

Seismos provides frac treatment and frac performance evaluation for companies in the oil and gas industry. It said the financing will support the company’s growth and future product development.

Seismos claims its product, Seismos-Frac, allows frac engineers to adjust and optimize their treatment operations, thus maximizing future production and return on investment.

The technology, which was initially developed with Stanford University faculty, provides a real-time picture of the created fracture network, an understanding of its geometry and characteristics and its ability to flow-back hydrocarbons into the wellbore, all without putting any equipment downhole, the company says.

Seismos already has provided insight for thousands of stages across various U.S. shale plays, including the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford Trend, Austin Chalk formation, Haynesville/Bossier Shale and the DJ Basin.

Panos Adamopoulos, Seismos’ CEO and founder, said in a statement that the company’s technology is not about incremental improvements but about “transforming the production profile.”

Jeffrey Harris, venture partner at Quantum Energy Partners, said the increasing number of exploration and production companies repeatedly using Seismos’ technology supports the need for additional resources to meet growing market demand.

Kastner Gravelle aids Ontic on $4.65M investment from Silverton, others

Ontic, a protective intelligence technology platform in Austin, has raised $4.65 million in funding from Silverton Partners, Floodgate and Village Global.

Kastner Gravelle partner Evan Kastner counseled Ontic on the seed round.

The funding will be used to further accelerate product development, customer acquisition and strategic hiring, including VP of sales and marketing Mat Thompson, who previously was at social media management platform Sprinklr.

Ontic said it aggregates different data sources to surface “pre-incident indicators” for acts of violence, mental health issues and behavior of concern. It works with Fortune 5000 companies and educational institutions to keep its people safe.

Lukas Quanstrom, co-founder and CEO of Ontic, who also previously worked at Sprinklr, said in a statement that the company uses big data and artificial intelligence to proactively provide insight to risk events ahead of human harm.

Mike Dodd led the deal from Silverton, which was founded in 2006 and has been recognized as the most active venture capital firm in Texas. It was an early investor in such companies as Convio, WP Engine, SpareFoot, SailPoint and Silicon Labs, among others.

Floodgate is a Silicon Valley-based early-stage angel fund whose portfolio includes Twitter, Chegg, ngmoco, digg, Modcloth, Solarwinds, Spiceworks and Demandforce.

Village Global also is an early stage venture capital firm backed by Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg, Bill Gates, Reid Hoffman and Anne Wojcicki.

ScottHulse advises Protech on sale to Compass

M&A advisory firm Kratos Capital said last week that it assisted Protech Global Solutions on its sale to Compass Group Equity-backed Compass Electronics Group. Terms weren’t disclosed.

ScottHulse shareholder Jose Luis Carbonell, who offices out of San Antonio and El Paso, counseled Protech on the sale. Affinity Law Group in St. Louis assisted the buyer.

Josh Bammel led the deal team from Kratos. PNC Business Credit provided the funding.

Founded in 2001, Protech serves the global electronic contract manufacturing markets from El Paso and Juarez, Mexico, including industrial, alternative energy, consumer goods, transportation and lighting. It’s led by president Leonard Lachmann.

Compass Group is a four-year-old private equity firm in St. Louis that acquires and builds lower middle-market companies.

Kastner Gravelle advises Structured Polymers on sale to Evonik

German specialty chemicals giant has acquired Austin 3D printing materials technology developer Structured Polymers for an undisclosed sum.

Kastner Gravelle partner Ryan Gravelle represented Structured Polymers. Evonik used Robinson & Cole in New York and in-house counsel.

Evonik was already an investor in the company, having put venture capital into it in 2017.

Evonik said the acquisition will provide it with access to a new patented technology that will expand its portfolio of specialty polymer powders in the additive manufacturing market.

Ralph Marquardt, Evonik’s head of strategy and growth businesses, said in a statement that the purchase will allow it to expand its portfolio of customized, ready-to-use polymer materials for the attractive, rapidly growing 3D printing market.

Founded in 2012, Structured Polymers will be integrated into Evonik’s North American organization. It will remain in Austin and continue to be led by CEO Vikram Devarajan.

Thomas Grosse-Puppendahl, Evonik’s head of additive manufacturing innovation, said Structured Polymers’ technology can be scaled up easily and economically.

Evonik is active in 100 countries around the world and has more than 36,000 employees. In fiscal 2017, it generated sales of $16.4 billion and EBITDA of $2.69 billion.

Locke Lord, CKR advise on Sentry’s Himarc purchase

Intervale Capital-backed Sentry Energy Solutions said Jan. 25 it acquired Himarc Environmental Solutions for an undisclosed sum.

Locke Lord counseled Sentry with a team led by partner Walker Clarke and associate Jennie Simmons in Houston.

Others were partners Steve Boyd, Laura Ferguson, Eric Larson and Buddy Sanders and associates Thomas Johnson, Stuart Lawson, and Jeff McPhaul.

CKR Law partner Jason Frazer in Houston counseled Himarc.

Himarc provides natural gas engine emissions testing and gas leak detection services. It also offers water testing, environmental site assessments and environmental consulting to the U.S. oil and gas industry.

Sentry CEO Tom Lucario said in a statement that customers can take advantage of the two companies’ combined resources, footprint and safety and environmental service products. The company also is looking for ways to further expand its offerings, including through acquisition.

Himarc co-founders Scott Hibbeler and Keith Marcotte are joining Sentry.

Intervale invests primarily in middle-market energy services and manufacturing companies. It’s raised $1.3 billion in committed capital since its 2006 inception.

CAPITAL MARKETS

Sidley advises Vistra on $1.3B bond offering

Irving power company Vistra Energy Corp. said Jan. 22 that it priced a private offering of $1.3 billion in senior notes due 2027, twice what it originally had planned at a time of a rejuvenation of the junk bond market.

The notes will be senior, unsecured obligations of unit Vistra Operations Co. and bear interest at 5.625 percent per year – in line with the average for other double-B rated issuers, according to the Financial Times. The notes will be guaranteed by Vistra’s subsidiaries. The offering is expected to close Feb. 6.

Sidley Austin lawyers in Dallas counseled Vistra on the offering, including partner William D. Howell and associates Ryan M. Scofield, Jocelyne E. Kelly and Katie L. Legband.

Howell also worked on Vistra’s listing on the New York Stock Exchange after its spin-off from EFH Corp.

Vistra’s general counsel is Stephanie Zapata Moore, who previously was general counsel of Luminant, a unit of Vistra and its predecessor Energy Future Holdings. Before joining Luminant in 2005, the graduate of the William & Mary School of Law was an associate at Gardere Wynne Sewell.

A Sullivan & Cromwell attorney in Los Angeles represented the banks, including lead JPMorgan.

Vistra said the purpose of the offering is to purchase and/or redeem for cash its outstanding 7.375 percent senior notes due 2022 for up to $1.275 billion and for general corporate purposes.

A Sidley spokesman said Vistra is one of the first, if not the first, Texas company to do a bond deal in what has been an uncertain bond market – and could be a bellwether for the state of capital markets going forward.

Baker Botts aids Transocean on $550M notes offering

Baker Botts said Jan. 24 that it advised offshore driller Transocean Ltd. on a $550 million senior secured notes offering.

The team included partners Gene Oshman and A.J. Ericksen, senior associate Laura Katherine Mann and associates Ieuan List and Emmie Proctor.

Specialists included partner Luke Weedon and associates Jennifer Ybarra and Taylor Courtade on finance; partners Derek Green and Jon Lobb and associate Dominick Constantino on tax; and associate Laura Williams on environmental.

Transocean’s in-house lawyer was senior associate general counsel Daniel Ro-Trock, who joined the company in 2014 after stints at Baker McKenzie and Winstead. He’s a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center.

Vinson & Elkins counseled the initial purchasers, including partners Mark Kelly, Mike Telle and David Stone, senior associate Doug Lionberger and associates Bo Shi, David Bumgardner and Markeya Scott.

Specialists included partner John Michael and associate Ben Glass (energy transactions/projects); partner Wendy Salinas and associate Liz Snyder (tax); and partner Larry Nettles and associate Jennifer Cornejo (environmental).

Transocean said Jan. 23 that unit Transocean Poseidon Ltd. priced the offering of notes due 2027. They will be guaranteed by Transocean Ltd., Transocean Inc. and a unit that owns the Deepwater Poseidon and secured by a lien on the Deepwater Poseidon and other assets related to the rig.

The notes will bear interest at 6.875 percent per year and be callable after Feb. 1, when the offering is expected to close. Transocean Poseidon expects to receive $538 million in net proceeds, which will be used to partially finance the construction or acquisition of the Deepwater Poseidon.

UPDATE:

As was expected, Hydro One and Avista said Jan. 23 that they mutually agreed to terminate their $5.3 billion merger after regulators in Washington state and Idaho denied its approval. As required by the merger agreement, Hydro One will pay Avista a $103 million termination fee.

Several Texas attorneys worked on the failed deal, including partner Andy Calder at Kirkland & Ellis’ Houston office for Avista and Bracewell for Hydro One, including partners Bruce R. Jocz, Heather M. Palmer and Rebecca L. Baker and senior counsel Allison K. Perry. Moelis & Co. was Hydro One’s financial advisor while Bank of America Merrill Lynch was Avista’s.

***

Meanwhile, another large energy merger is moving along thanks to a second sweetened offer.

Rowan Cos. said Jan. 29 that it and Ensco agreed to a revised takeover proposal in which Rowan shareholders will get 2.75 Ensco shares for each of their shares. The new offer is a 24.2 percent increase over the original 2.215 exchange rate offered in October that was raised to 2.6 in January.

Odey Asset Management, one of Rowan’s largest shareholders, pledged its support for the amended transaction by entering into an irrevocable voting agreement for its 11.4 million shares, or 9 percent of the company’s shares outstanding. The parties expect the vote to take place during the week of Feb. 18.

Ensco shareholders will end up with 55 percent of the combination while Rowan stockholders will own 45 percent. The two now expect to realize $165 million in annual pre-tax expense synergies, 75 percent of which will be realized within a year of closing.

Texas lawyers working on the deal include Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher partner Tull Florey, who assisted Ensco senior legal counsel Davor Vukadin in Houston; and Kirkland & Ellis partner Sean Wheeler, who worked with Rowan general counsel Mark Mai and senior counsel Ryan Tarkington. Morgan Stanley, HSBC and Citigroup are advising Ensco while Goldman Sachs is assisting Rowan.

***

India’s AGC Networks, which has a large office in Irving, said Jan. 7 it completed its $10 million acquisition of Black Box Corp. with expectations that it will boost its annual sales by $600 million. Alas, no Texas lawyers worked on the deal. An Alston & Bird attorney in Atlanta counseled AGC while a Jones Day attorney in Pittsburgh assisted Black Box. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey was AGC’s financial adviser and GLC Advisors and Rubin Capital helped arrange financing. Mike Carney is AGC’s strategy and development chief.

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