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An informal survey of Texas dealmakers has revealed lots of optimism about the next 12 months. And they mostly depend on a single factor: dry powder. There is lots of it. Record amounts of it: VC money. PE money. Family money. All dressed up and looking for places to go. That combined with potential policy changes in Washington. CDT Roundup has that and last week's transactions.
Sidley and Mergermarket have released the results of a survey testing the optimism of 150 executives from the PE and corporate dealmaking worlds. Considering the survey questions were answered in November, the optimism meter was running at low RPMs. Still, there are some interesting contrasts. Those and a review of the week's deals by the CDT Roundup's new addition, Anna Butler.
Last December we reported on a $2 billion-plus merger agreement between Diamondback Energy and QEP Resources. The all-stock deal seemed like a good deal for both sides, since it included Diamondback's assumption of $1.6 billion. But a major stockholder at QEP is having second thoughts, and their thinking is yet another sign that things are getting better. The CDT Roundup has the details of their concerns, as well as details of all 24 transactions.
Exhibition baseball began this past week. For those who pay attention to such things, it's a sign of life and hope. Not only did deal makers continue to show signs of both, the deals included at least one that involved...baseball. Or at least someone once involved with baseball. The CDT Roundup has that and last week's transactions.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse than a raging pandemic. Then comes a major energy grid collapse and water disruptions and a still-raging pandemic. And on top of all that, it’s really, really cold. But if you’re inclined to feel sorry for yourself consider: You could be Michael Fallquist. That story and last week’s deals.
Energy is back in the news, and not in a good way. The Texas grid, which has worked remarkably well in developing new energy sources, crashed mercilessly this week. With warmer weather on the horizon, get ready for the cleanup, the political recriminations and the lawsuits. They could last for years, suggests one expert. The CDT Roundup looks at the mess, in addition to last week's dealmaking.
Recent rig count stats suggest a modest rebound in oil and gas. Crude oil prices hovering around $60 per barrel suggest that optimism isn't just a guess. The question is whether higher commodity prices mean a future for new production, or simply a better return on the O&G already drilled. In the Corporate Deal Tracker Roundup, Caroline Evans looks at the evidence, along with last week's deals.
SPAC deals have become a phenomenon during the last few months. That's because they offer a path to going public that is easier than traditional routes. That said, there may be a downside to the new tool. Caroline Evans discusses along with last week's deals in the CDT Roundup.
The discussion surrounding carbon capture has, to this point, been pretty much just that. But a $100 million offer by Elon Musk for new technology that can make it happen adds new credibility to the idea. In the CDT Roundup Caroline Evans reviews the reaction to Musk's offer as well as last week's transactions.
So, we have a new president, one who has telegraphed his intentions regarding hydrocarbons. Decarbonization is going to be a big deal. The Keystone XL pipeline apparently isn't. Not only does it mark a break with the past, it may mark the point at which we recognized that lots of energy dollars had already moved on. In the CDT Roundup Caroline Evans explains.
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