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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: 15 Deals, 10 Firms, 90 Lawyers, $10.4B

May 5, 2020 Claire Poole

In this age of the coronavirus, are conditions getting better?

They seem to be for Texas transactional lawyers, who had the best week on a value basis since Feb. 29, when the U.S. reported its first death due to COVID-19 and 10 days before the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic.

Fifteen deals emerged with Texas lawyer involvement valued at $10.4 billion, up from eight deals worth $3.4 billion the previous week and 15 deals valued at $3.2 billion at the same time last year.

More than half of the deal value for the week came from a little Dallas-based airline called Southwest. Co-founded by the late, straight-shooting, chain-smoking, Wild Turkey-swilling Herb Kelleher, the airline managed to raise $6 billion in three capital markets transactions over two days last week – and less than a week after it brought in $3.2 billion from the federal government.

Analysts chalked up Southwest’s success in the capital-raising markets to its relatively low-cost operations, strong balance sheet and U.S.-centric flights, which may be more resilient than international ones. Southwest’s timing was also good: It came just days before billionaire investor Warren Buffett pronounced that he was dumping his airline shares.

“I don’t know whether two to three years from now that as many people will fly as many passenger miles as they did last year,” the so-called “Oracle of Omaha” said. “The future is much less clear to me on how the business will turn out.”

Other companies have had success in the capital markets, including two natural gas producers who were able to launch convertible notes offerings to bring in extra cash. “The convert market is suddenly something very hot,” Tudor, Pickering, Holt CEO Maynard Holt said last week on a webcast. 

Even a restaurant operator was able to sell stock to help it manage its liquidity through the crisis.

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
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

Ten law firms and 90 Texas lawyers were involved in the activity, which included eight M&A/private equity/venture capital deals valued at almost $1.9 billion and seven capital markets transactions worth nearly $8.5 billion.

M&A/PRIVATE EQUITY/VENTURE CAPITAL

Baker Botts advises Liberty Media on $1.5B asset reattribution

Baker Botts said April 27 it advised billionaire John Malone’s Liberty Media Corp. on the reattribution of its interest in Live Nation Entertainment along with other assets and liabilities between Formula One Group and Liberty SiriusXM Group with a net asset value of $1.5 billion.

Dallas partner Samantha Crispin led the deal team with attorneys in the firm’s New York and Washington, D.C., offices. Dallas associate Josh Espinosa assisted on finance and Dallas partner Josh Mandell did so on tax.

The assets, including the 33% Live Nation stake, which is moving to SiriusXM, were worth $2.8 billion. The liabilities amounted to $1.3 billion.

Greg Maffei, president and CEO of Englewood, Colo.-based Liberty Media, said in a statement that the new Formula One Group now has a strengthened balance sheet that positions it to support and enhance its Formula 1 business while also being opportunistic during challenging times.

“We believe the reattribution is also responsive to the request of many Formula One Group shareholders to create a more focused currency,” he added. “For Liberty SiriusXM, this combines a complementary set of businesses that are established leaders in the live and audio entertainment space.”

Maffei said both the new Formula One Group and Liberty SiriusXM Group now have currencies with which to complete acquisitions, raise capital and engage in share repurchases, among other things.

King & Spalding counsels Baker Hughes on Lufkin unit sale to KPS for reported $200M

KPS Capital Partners said May 1 it agreed to acquire the Lufkin rod lift solutions business from Houston-based Baker Hughes.

Terms weren’t disclosed, but Reuters reported the price tag as being around $200 million.

Paul Weiss and Dentons counseled KPS. Baker Hughes used King & Spalding, including corporate/M&A partner Martin Hunt, who splits his time between London and Houston; Houston counsel Todd Amdor and associate Alyssa Ladd on corporate/M&A; Houston counsel Rajesh Patel on tax; and Houston senior associate Whitney Crayton on real property.

Baker Hughes’ in-house lawyers on the deal were John Keffer, VP of legal/global M&A in London, and Shalini May, senior counsel/global M&A in Houston. Will Marsh is the company’s general counsel.

Simmons Energy, a division of Piper Sandler & Co., was KPS’ financial advisor (Andrew Schroeder in Houston). Baker Hughes used Citi, including Steve Trauber, Serge Tismen and Arash Nazad, and Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co., including Bobby Tudor, Schuyler Tilney, Paul Perea, Max Barrett, Travis Bartlett, Jay Trapp, Jon Bates, Stone Ramatowski and Alex Criner.

Missouri City-based Lufkin was founded in 1902 and acquired by General Electric’s oil and gas division in 2013 for $3.3 billion. The unit later merged with Baker Hughes in 2017. 

The company is a top global provider of rod lift products, technologies, services and solutions, including automated control and optimization equipment and software for rod lift equipment for the oil and gas industry. It makes surface pumping units, downhole sucker rod pumps and automation systems in six manufacturing and assembly facilities worldwide. 

Lufkin’s power transmission business will remain part of Baker Hughes.

KPS co-managing partner Michael Psaros – an investment banker at Bear Stearns before starting the firm in 1997 – said in a statement that KPS will build an energy platform on the foundation of Lufkin’s brand name, reputation for reliability, superior technology and global footprint.

“The historic dislocation in current global and domestic energy markets has created an extraordinary investment opportunity for an investor like KPS,” he said.

The parties expect to close the deal by mid-year. Lufkin will be led by KPS partner Ryan Baker, who was an associate in the M&A group at Paul Weiss before joining the firm in 2007.

Andy Cordova, Baker Hughes’ rod lift solutions general manager, said management is confident in Lufkin’s future as an independent company under the ownership of KPS, which has $11.7 billion in assets under management.

Silverton Partners raises $144M for sixth venture capital fund

Austin early-stage venture capital firm Silverton Partners said April 29 it raised $144 million for its sixth fund, surpassing the $108 million it put together for its fifth fund in 2017.

Cooley counseled Silverton, including special counsel Casey Schulte. The attorney is listed in the firm’s Palo Alto, Calif., office but resides in Texas, the firm’s general partner Morgan Flager told The Texas Lawbook.

Silverton said the fund – which was oversubscribed – is the largest early-stage venture fund in Texas. The firm expects to deploy 25% to 30% of the capital out-of-state and has designated $17 million for a separate “opportunity fund” to support some of the firm’s most promising investments at the growth capital stage.

Silverton said it’s invested in seed-stage startups that have exited for $3.2 billion in value over the past two years, including Sailpoint, Ping Identity, TrendKite, Favor, WPEngine, Watermark and SpareFoot.

Silverton said Austin has been America’s fastest-growing city by population for eight of the past 10 years and that the firm is the longest-standing active venture firm in Texas. 

“Texas remains one of the nation’s most interesting and fastest growing tech markets, with Austin leading the way,” Flager said in a statement. “We’re pleased to have the capital to deploy not only in our home state of Texas but in other up-and-coming markets.”

Flager said some of the firm’s most successful exits were forged during the 2008 financial crisis, so it’s excited to help build the next generation of companies “that can withstand difficult times and emerge stronger.”

Co-led by Kip McClanahan and Mike Dodd, Silverton expects to add 20 to 25 companies to the Fund 6 portfolio and up to eight positions in the opportunity fund. 

The firm said it’s been growing steadily, with Tina Dai joining as a principal from First Round Capital; Roger Chen, whose previous experience was with Genacast Ventures, promoted to partner; and Alyssa Dadoly, formerly VP of finance, promoted to CFO.

DLA Piper represents Taysha Gene Therapies on $30M seed funding

Taysha Gene Therapies, a Dallas developer of therapies to treat monogenic diseases of the central nervous system, raised $30 million in seed funding co-led by PBM Capital and Nolan Capital.

The company’s CEO, president and founder R.A. Session told The Lawbook that DLA Piper partner Danny Tobey in Dallas counseled the company. Tobey — who is also a medical doctor — said his team included lawyers in the firm’s New Jersey, Boston, Phoenix and Philadelphia offices.

The company said the investment will help advance its pipeline of 15 adeno-associated virus gene therapy programs with options for four more.

Taysha Gene Therapies brings together former investors and executives from AveXis – including Session, who was senior VP of corporate strategy and business development – while accelerating its discovery and development efforts with UT Southwestern’s gene therapy program and department of pediatrics, one of the largest pediatric neurology residency programs in the U.S.

“Gene therapies have proven to deliver transformational benefit to patients who suffer from devastating diseases with significant, unmet medical need,” Session said in a statement. “Our mission at Taysha is to build upon these advancements to eradicate monogenic CNS diseases for the thousands affected.”

Kastner Gravelle advises Ontic on $12M funding

Ontic Technologies, an Austin developer of security intelligence software, has raised $12 million in Series A funding led by Felicis Ventures. 

Existing investors Silverton Partners, Floodgate and Village Global also participated.

Kastner Gravelle partner Evan Kastner advised Ontic. Silicon Legal Strategy represented the investors.

The financing brings the company’s total venture money raised to $16.7 million since its 2017 inception, according to Crunchbase.

Ontic helps identify potential physical threats to an organization’s employees, facilities and assets by gathering real-time and historical data points and curating them into actionable intelligence for security teams. 

The company hasn’t revealed the names of its customers but it claims they include dozens of Fortune 1000 companies in the technology, financial services, retail, media and entertainment industries. Its annual recurring sales have increased five-fold and it employs 46 people.

Ontic’s CEO and co-founder is Lukas Quanstrom. Victoria Treyger led the investment from Palo Alto-based Felicis.

Morgan Lewis aids Transtelco on Neutrona Networks acquisition

Morgan Lewis said April 28 it represented fiber optic services provider Transtelco on its purchase of Miami-based Neutrona Networks International. Terms weren’t disclosed.

The team included partner Humberto Padilla Gonzalez in Houston along with attorneys in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office.

UBS Investment Bank was Transtelco’s financial advisor while Deutsche Bank provided the acquisition financing. Bank Street Group was Neutrona’s financial advisor.

El Paso-based Transtelco delivers enterprise and carrier class network services to U.S. and transnational companies. It claims to be the leading fiber infrastructure provider of high-capacity, low-latency communication solutions between the U.S and Mexico.

Neutrona is an independent telecommunications carrier providing connectivity solutions to telecommunications carriers and Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. and throughout Latin America.

Transtelco CEO Miguel Fernandez said in a statement that Neutrona’s co-founders Luciano Salata and Mateo Ward built a world-class company whose core values align well with its own. Salata and Ward will join Transtelco’s executive team and contribute to the combined company.

Salata said Transtelco offers Neutrona a platform that will accelerate the next step of its growth strategy while Ward said the transaction delivers substantial financial and operating benefits to the combined companies.

Locke Lord represents Gyrodata on directional drilling business sale to Intrepid Drilling

Locke Lord said April 30 it advised privately held Gyrodata Inc. of Houston on the sale of its directional drilling business to Intrepid Drilling Specialists Ltd. Terms weren’t disclosed.

Houston partner Joe Perillo led the deal team, which included associates Jennie Simmons and Tom Johnson, both of Houston.

Wick, Phillips, Gould & Martin advised Intrepid, which received financial advice from Stephens Inc.

The sale includes all of Gyrodata’s directional drilling personnel and its high-performance drilling motors and measurement-while-drilling tools. 

The acquisition doubles Intrepid’s drilling capabilities in North America and expands its footprint in Latin America.

Gyrodata was founded in 1980 by Bob McMahan, who was CEO and president until 2017 (he still sits on the board), and Steve Klopp, who serves as chairman. 

Richard Trainer, who has been president and CEO since 2017, said in a statement that the divestiture will help Gyrodata refocus on its core gyro surveying offerings and advancements in its Spear solid-state gyro technology and make it more flexible and efficient as it continues to drive innovation in its differentiated surveying services.

Gyrodata plans to maintain its own fleet of telemetry systems, which will enable it to continue to provide its standalone gyro-while-drilling services throughout the world.

Intrepid president Clint Leazer said the transaction represents a major step forward for Intrepid in terms of scale and service quality.

“We are excited to expand our high-performance motor and MWD tool fleets to better serve the needs of our customers in the Permian Basin, across North America and in Latin America,” he said. “We strongly believe that expanding our business at this time will allow us to better meet our customers’ needs as the market continues to evolve in the coming years.”

Founded in 2001, Midland-based Intrepid claims to have drilled more than 5,000 directional and horizontal wells in every major basin in the U.S.

Locke Lord advises First Reserve-backed Refuel Operating on Double Quick acquisition

Locke Lord said May 1 that it represented First Reserve-backed Refuel Operating Co. on its completed acquisition of the convenience retailing, petroleum marketing and quick-service restaurant assets of Double Quick Inc. for an undisclosed sum.

Houston partner Lauren Corbeil and associate Jennie Simmons led the deal team.

Assisting were partners Steve Boyd, Jerry Higdon, Mark Miller, Ed Razim, Eric Larson and Sara Longtain, senior counsel Freddy Feldman, Michelle Gutierrez-Begin and DeLaina Mulcahy and associates Evan Blankenau and Shannon Schroeder, all of Houston; and partners Van Jolas and Kevin Twining, both of Dallas.

Matrix Capital Markets Group was Double Quick’s financial advisor.

The deal, which was first announced Feb. 14 with the expectation it would close this quarter, included 48 convenience store locations and 5 stand-alone quick service restaurants in Mississippi and Arkansas, expanding Refuel’s locations to 89. 

Refuel is based in Charleston, S.C., and led by CEO Mark Jordan. Double Quick was founded in 1983 by Tom Gresham and Bill McPherson and is based in Indianola, Miss.

CAPITAL MARKETS/FINANCINGS

V&E, Sidley advise on three Southwest Airlines deals worth $6B

As The Lawbook previously reported, Southwest Airlines inked three separate capital markets deals over two days last week amounting to $6 billion, bringing its total cash haul in less than a week to more than $9 billion.

The previous week the Dallas airline announced that it had brought in $3.2 billion in government funding, including $2.3 billion as a grant and $948 million as a low-interest loan backed by 2.6 million shares of its common stock.

The new transactions included an offering of 70 million shares of common stock on April 28 for proceeds of $2 billion; an offering on April 28 of $2 billion in 1.25% convertible senior notes due 2025; and an offering on April 29 of $2 billion worth of 4.75% and 5.25% senior notes due 2023 and 2025, respectively.

Southwest’s legal team includes chief legal officer Mark Shaw, deputy general counsel Marilyn Post and corporate counsel Jason Shyung.

Vinson & Elkins advised the airline on the new transactions, as it did on the government funding, while Sidley Austin assisted the underwriters.

V&E’s team was led again by Dallas partner Robert Kimball and a partner in New York (Brenda Lenahan) along with Houston partner David Stone. They had assistance from senior associates Katherine Frank in Dallas and Stancell Haigwood in New York and associates Cameron Land, Elizabeth Janicki, Claire Wenholz, Sydney Verner and Joanna Enns, all of Dallas.

Partners David Peck and Wendy Salinas and associate Lauren Meyers, all of Dallas, counseled on tax matters.

Sidley’s team was co-led by Houston partners Kevin Lewis and Jon Daly and included partners in the firm’s New York office (Michael Schiavone and David Ni). Assisting them were Houston associates Kayleigh McNelis, Tanner Groce, Leslie Slaughter, Sabina Wahl and Femi Aborisade and an associate in New York (Matthew Finkelstein).

Helped by the recent funding, Southwest now has more than 12 months of cash on hand after entering the COVID-19 crisis as the best positioned airline, Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth said in a note April 30. She cited the airline’s strong balance sheet and fortuitous MAX grounding, which provides greater capex/fleet order flexibility.

“Southwest’s relative advantage is further supported by its predominantly U.S. exposure and somewhat low-cost structure given our view that domestic demand is likely to recover faster than international travel and leisure traffic is likely to be more resilient once travel bans are lifted,” Syth said.

Morgan Stanley, BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan, BNP Paribas and Citigroup were the joint book-running managers for the stock and convertible senior notes offerings and Morgan Stanley, BofA Securities, and J.P. Morgan represented the underwriters of the offerings.

BofA Securities, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley were joint lead book-running managers for the senior notes offering and Goldman Sachs & Co. and Wells Fargo Securities are joint book-running managers.

Latham aids SM Energy on exchange offers/consent solicitations for up to $900M in notes

Latham & Watkins said April 29 it advised Denver-based SM Energy Co. on its exchange offers and consent solicitations for all of its outstanding notes.

The corporate team was led by Houston partners David Miller and Trevor Lavelle along with an associate in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office (Samuel Rettew) with assistance from Houston associates Danny Shulman, Ashlyn Royall and Danielle Kinchen. 

Houston partners Tim Fenn and Jim Cole weighed in on tax matters and Houston associate Benjamin Gelfand was on finance.

SM Energy announced April 29 that it had begun offers to eligible holders to exchange its outstanding notes for up to $900 million in newly issued 10% senior secured notes maturing in 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026 and 2027.

The old notes had yields ranging from 5% to 6.750% and were due in 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027.

HuntonAK advises Darden Restaurants on $526.5M stock offering

Hunton Andrews Kurth said May 1 it advised Orlando, Fla.-based Darden Restaurants Inc. on its $526.5 million follow-on offering of common stock.

The team was led out of New York but included Houston associate Tim Strother.

Bracewell counseled the underwriters, which included Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Banc of America Securities. New York partner Cathy Hood handled the deal.

The offering involved 7.8 million shares at $58.50 per share, below their recent price of around $62 per share.

Kirkland represents EQT on its $500M convertible notes offering

Kirkland & Ellis confirmed April 29 it represented EQT Corp. on a $500 million convertible notes offering.

Capital markets partners Matthew Pacey in Houston and Lanchi Huynh in Dallas led the deal with assistance from associates Brooke Milbauer (Houston), Taylor Anthony (Dallas), Logan Weissler (Dallas) and Tony Flor (Houston). 

Others on the team were in the New York office (partners Christian Nagler, Scott Gordon and Sara Zablotney).

A Kirkland spokeswoman said Pacey, Huynh and the firm have advised EQT on more than $2 billion of securities offerings this year.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett counseled the underwriters with attorneys in its New York office (partners Jonthan Ozner and Roxanne Reardon). The banks included J.P. Morgan Securities, Barclays Capital and Credit Suisse.

Morgan Lewis was EQT’s Pennsylvania counsel (lead partner Celia Soehner in Pittsburgh). General counsel William E. Jordan led EQT’s legal department.

The senior unsecured offering will mature on May 1, 2026. It carries a 1.75% coupon and a price of $15 per share, which represents a 20% premium over EQT’s previous share price of $12.50. The issuance involves 33.3 million shares. 

The notes can be converted to shares, cash or any mix, at EQT’s election, with a share cap price of $18.75. 

Tudor, Pickering, Holt ranks EQT as its top natural gas pick after Cabot Oil & Gas.

Latham, V&E advise on CNX Resources’ $300M private offering of convertible senior notes

Latham & Watkins said April 28 it advised Pittsburgh-based CNX Resources Corp. on a $300 million private offering of 2.250% convertible senior notes due 2026.

Houston partner David Miller led the team with a lawyer in the firm’s New York office (partner Greg Rodgers) along with Houston associates Monica White and Evann Hall and two New York associates (Andrew Blumenthal and Jessica Lim). 

New York lawyers counseled on equity derivative-related matters (New York partner Catherine Lee with associate Shawn Noh); and Houston partners Tim Fenn and Jim Cole advised on tax matters along with a partner in New York (Bora Bozkurt) and Houston associate Chelsea Munoz-Patchen. Houston partner Joel Mack assisted on environmental matters (along with Los Angeles counsel Joshua Marnitz).

Vinson & Elkins said May 1 it counseled the underwriters in connection with the offering. The corporate team was led by partners Mark Kelly, Doug McWilliams, David Stone and Thomas Zentner with assistance from senior associates Raleigh Wolfe and Andrew Schulte and associates Jordan Fossee and Miles Fortenberry.

CNX granted the initial purchasers a 13-day option to purchase up to $45 million more notes.

The initial conversion rate is 77.8816 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes, which represents an initial conversion price of $12.84 per share of common stock – a 20% premium over its last closing price of $10.70 per share.

CNX estimates that the net proceeds from the offering will be around $290.2 million, which will be used to fund the cost of entering into capped call transactions and for general corporate purposes, including the repayment or redemption of outstanding debt. 

CNX is one of the largest independent natural gas exploration, development and production companies in the U.S. with operations centered in the major shale formations of the Appalachian basin.

Leeward secures $162.9M in financing for Colorado wind farm

OMERS Infrastructure-backed Leeward Renewable Energy announced April 23 that it completed $162.9 million in financing from Citi for its 170 megawatt Mountain Breeze wind farm in Colorado.

Leeward interim CEO Jason Allen told The Lawbook that Mayer Brown was transactional counsel, Holland & Hart was local counsel and Van Ness Feldman was regulatory counsel. 

A Mayer Brown spokeswoman said Houston partner Rob Goldberg was the lead finance partner on the construction and tax equity financings while the lead tax partner on the tax equity financing was in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office ( Jeff Davis). The associates involved included Yvette Sokei in Houston.

Internal Leeward legal support included general counsel Theodore Matula and deputy general counsel Caitlin Beer.

Construction has already begun on the project, which is expected to be completed by year-end. The facility will supply power to Xcel Energy Colorado under a long-term purchase agreement.

OMERS Infrastructure is an investing arm of one of Canada’s largest benefit pension plans. It has an operating portfolio of around 1.7 gigawatts of wind generation over 19 projects in nine U.S. states.

Locke Lord represents HIIG on a $100M securities offering to existing shareholders

Locke Lord said April 28 it represented Houston International Insurance Group Ltd. on a recently completed private placement offering of securities to its existing shareholders worth $100 million.

Houston partner Christopher Martin led the deal team with a lawyer in the firm’s Chicago office (partner Brett Pritchard).

Partner Ed Razim and associates Stuart Lawson and Shannon Schroeder, all of Houston, also worked on the deal, which had contributions from other firm offices (partner Stanley Keller in Boston and associate Tom Sanford in Chicago).

HIIG plans to use the proceeds of the equity rights offering for contributing additional surplus to its insurance company subsidiaries to support growth and strengthen its risk based capital ratios. 

Stephen L. Way, chairman and CEO of HIIG, said the company has never been stronger “or opportunities greater.”

HIIG is an insurance holding company based in Houston with offices in Dallas as well as in Atlanta, Morristown, N.J., and Scottsdale, Ariz. 

The company’s underwriting segments are focused on accident and health, commercial, excess and surplus lines and specialty, producing more than $875 million in gross written premium last year. It has investment assets of more than $750 million, total assets exceeding $1.75 billion and shareholders’ equity of more than $400 million.

UPDATE/OTHER:

The ownership group of the San Antonio Spurs is planning to sell a minority stake in the team, Sportico reported April 30 citing sources. The team has retained Guggenheim Partners to manage the process (Guggenheim’s CEO Mark Walter is the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers). The Spurs didn’t comment directly on the report. The Spurs are controlled by the Holt family, which bought the team in 1996 for around $76 million. Forbes now values the team at around $1.8 billion.

***

BP said April 27 that it amended financial terms of the $5.6 billion sale of its Alaska business to privately held Hilcorp Energy. The price stayed the same but the revised agreement adjusts the structure and phasing of the remaining consideration, including lower completion payments in 2020, new cash flow sharing arrangements over the near-term, interest-bearing vendor financing and potentially an increase in the proportion of the consideration subject to earnout arrangements. The parties expect to complete the transaction in June if it clears regulators. Baker Botts represented BP in the transaction, including energy project partners Dan Mark and Craig Vogelsang and associate Branden Lankford and corporate partner Justin Hoffman and associates Katie Belleville and Stephen Noh, all of Houston. Raymond James analyst Pavel Molchanov said notwithstanding the recent headlines about Hilcorp’s struggle to secure financing, his model assumes that the deal closes – as originally expected – by mid-year, a timetable that the company reaffirmed. Simmons analyst Ryan Todd said the firm viewed the news as likely a net positive, given the increasing speculation that the deal wouldn’t close. BP aims to sell $15 billion in assets by mid-2021 (it generated $700 million in divestiture proceeds in the first quarter).

***

Valaris is looking more likely than not to file for Chapter 11, according to a report last week by RBC Capital Markets analyst Kurt Hallead. He said the firm is evaluating various capital structure alternatives, including a comprehensive debt restructuring that may require a substantial conversion of debt to equity. Hallead said the company has $1.5 billion in liquidity, including $185 million in cash and $1.3 billion available on its $1.6 billion revolver. Its free cash flow in the first quarter was negative $241 million, its contracted backlog was $1.9 billion and it took a $2.6 billion charge to scrap three drillships and four semisubmersibles and a $254 million non-cash impairment charge on seven jackups.

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