A weekly update on issues important to the oil and gas industry
Upstream producers’ stock performance has been volatile, infrastructure issues are lurking and the industry ended the quarter a notch above flat. However, the strategic acquisitions by BP and Diamondback Energy highlight the segment’s continued optimism.
Private equity companies in the energy sector are positioned for an interesting opportunity. These companies have seen a surge of fundraising in recent years, leaving managers with large cash reserves or “dry powder” to be appropriately deployed. Despite the large amount of cash available, these firms are having trouble finding places to invest resulting in a decline in PE activity in 2016-2018 with deal counts dropping for the second year in a row by 8%. However, investments could see a marked increase in energy in the last quarter of 2018 and into 2019 as there is a climate of high demand for return on investment and low supply of cash needed for capital expenditures in upstream oil companies.
This blog post summarizes our whitepaper that provides an informative overview regarding the valuation of mineral royalty interests within the oil and gas industry. While there are a myriad of factors (mostly out of a royalty holder’s control) impacting the economics of a royalty interest, this blog post focuses on valuation methodology.
Companies that have maintained a presence in the Bakken since the downturn in oil prices are beginning to reap the rewards of their patience. Rising oil prices have begat increases in production, and efficiencies gained in recent years have led to higher margins and increased production. As noted in last week’s post about transaction activity in the region, while the Permian Basin has received much of the attention recently, the Bakken certainly appears to be back in business.
Over the past year, followers of the oil and gas industry have taken note of the multitude of transactions occurring in the Permian Basin with large deal values and hefty multiples. But the price differential between WTI and other benchmarks has grown over the last few months, and some attention has moved from the Permian to other domestic shale plays. The activity in other regions such as the Bakken was at one point slow (when compared to the Permian) causing the recent increase in production and the swapping of acreage to fly under the radar while many were focused on Texas.
The oilfield service sector has recovered significantly since the crash in oil prices in mid-2014. As capex budgets have expanded, especially in the Permian Basin, demand for oilfield services such as drilling and pumping has increased. But what does this mean for transaction activity in the sector?
Higher oil prices, coupled with lower breakeven costs for producers, are making drillers, completers and a host of other servicers busier than a gopher on a golf course. Does that translate into higher valuations?
Based upon the content in this blog, representatives from Forbes.com reached out to Bryce Erickson, ASA, MRICS with an invitation to become a contributor to Forbes.com in their Energy section.
In a recent post, we explored the ins and outs of MV Oil Trust. We analyzed the underlying net profit interests it holds, the underlying properties of the trust, and the rights of unitholders including their rights during termination of the trust. This week, we will look into how these play into the composition of the MV Oil Trust’s stock price, and the balance struck between investor’s current return in the form of dividends and potential for returns from capital appreciation.
On April 30, 2018, Marathon Petroleum announced its acquisition of the newly formed Andeavor making Marathon the largest refiner in the U.S. (by capacity) and one of the top five refiners in the world. The merger is moving into its final stages, and Marathon’s CEO is positive about the combination of the two well situated companies. In this post, we analyze the recent acquisition history of Western Refining, Tesoro, and Marathon, which has started to look somewhat like nesting dolls of acquisitions.
