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☆ EIG Global Energy Partners Expects New LNG Acquisition Within Months
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Stuart Condie | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

EIG CEO R. Blair Thomas said the investment firm is closing in on a deal for a liquefied natural gas asset worth several billion dollars. Photo: F. Carter Smith/Bloomberg NewsSYDNEY—U.S. investment firm EIG Global Energy Partners is closing in on a deal for a liquefied natural gas asset worth several billion dollars, as it raises bets on demand for the fuel amid a reordering of energy supply chains triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Chief Executive R. Blair Thomas said EIG’s MidOcean Energy unit is working on the deal in parallel with an effort to buy Australia’s Origin Energy as part of a consortium led by Brookfield Asset Management. MidOcean would acquire Origin’s 27.5% stake in the Australia Pacific LNG project in eastern Australia if the consortium’s nearly $11 billion offer for the company is successful.

Persons: Blair Thomas, Carter Smith, EIG’s, MidOcean Organizations: Bloomberg News SYDNEY —, EIG Global Energy Partners, Energy, Brookfield Asset Management, Australia Pacific LNG Locations: Bloomberg News SYDNEY — U.S, Ukraine, Australia

Under the new terms offered by Brookfield, the A$9.43 per share bid remains but some investors can stay invested in the energy markets business that would be owned by Brookfield. Brookfield's consortium partner EIG Partners would take on Origin's integrated gas business which includes the 27.5% stake in Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG). If that bid fails to achieve 75% shareholder support, an alternative proposal has been lodged that would see Origin sell the energy markets business to Brookfield for A$12.3 billion. When asked during a press conference if he had reservations about the revised deal, Chairman Scott Perkins said: "absolutely". DONE TALKINGFollowing the announcement of the revised offer, EIG CEO Blair Thomas told Reuters that he was done talking to AustralianSuper.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Australia's, EIG, Scott Perkins, Blair Thomas, Allan Gray, Simon Mawhinney, Mawhinney, Chris Bowen, Scott Murdoch, Lewis Jackson, Praveen Menon, Lincoln, Sonali Paul, Jamie Freed Organizations: Brookfield, REUTERS, SYDNEY, Brookfield ., EIG Partners, Australia Pacific LNG, Reuters, Brookfield consortium's, Energy, Thomson Locations: Brookfield, Sydney, Australia

Origin said based on the early votes received the original offer would not have won support. Under the new terms, the A$9.43 per share bid remains but some investors can stay invested in the energy markets business that would be owned by Brookfield. If that bid fails to achieve 75% shareholder support, an alternative proposal has been lodged that would see Origin sell the energy markets business to Brookfield for A$12.3 billion ($8 billion). Origin shareholders would receive a total of A$9.08 per share, with an additional A$0.22 if EIG got up to 90.1% control of Origin. Institutional investors who have already voted on the A$9.43 offer can choose to change or keep their vote, or opt to invest in the energy markets business.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, EIG, Chris Bowen, Scott Murdoch, Lewis Jackson, Miral Fahmy, Lincoln, Sonali Paul Organizations: Brookfield, REUTERS, Companies Brookfield, Origin Energy, Brookfield ., EIG Partners, Australia Pacific LNG, Brookfield consortium's, Energy, Thomson Locations: SYDNEY, Brookfield, Sydney, Australian, Australia

The A$300 billion ($195.24 billion) pension fund was against the original offer, which it also said substantially undervalued the company's ability to profit from Australia's shift to renewable energy. Under the new terms offered by Brookfield, the A$9.43 per share bid remains but some investors can stay invested in the energy markets business that would be owned by Brookfield. Brookfield's consortium partner EIG Partners would take on Origin's integrated gas business which includes the 27.5% stake in Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG). If that bid fails to achieve 75% shareholder support, an alternative proposal has been lodged that would see Origin sell the energy markets business to Brookfield for A$12.3 billion. DONE TALKINGFollowing the announcement of the revised offer, EIG CEO Blair Thomas told Reuters that he was done talking to AustralianSuper.

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Proxy advisor CGI Glass Lewis on Thursday recommended Origin Energy (ORG.AX) shareholders vote in favour of a $10.5 billion bid from a consortium led by Canada's Brookfield (BN.TO), despite opposition from the target's largest shareholder. Brookfield and EIG Partners last week offered a "best and final" A$9.53 per share for Origin after raising a previous bid. Australia's largest pension fund AustralianSuper opposes the offer and intends to use its 15% stake to vote against the deal at a Nov. 23 shareholder meeting. Origin Energy shares traded 1.9% higher at A$8.905 at 2 p.m. AEDT (0300 GMT) and are up 5.1% since the close of trade on Nov. 2, when AustralianSuper rejected the improved offer. Reporting by Scott Murdoch and Lewis Jackson; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Glass, Canada's Brookfield, AustralianSuper, Glass Lewis, Scott Murdoch, Lewis Jackson, Leslie Adler, Jamie Freed Organizations: Brookfield, REUTERS, Rights, Energy, EIG Partners, Services, Origin Energy, Australia Pacific LNG, Thomson Locations: Brookfield, Australia

☆ Proxy firm ISS recommends vote in favour of Brookfield-led consortium's Origin Energy bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Scott Murdoch | Thomson Reuters | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended investors vote in favour of a Brookfield-led consortium's $10.5 billion bid for Australia's Origin Energy (ORG.AX). Brookfield and EIG Partners has offered A$9.53 per share for Origin Energy. AustralianSuper, which holds a 15.03% stake, has said it believes the consortium's bid substantially "undervalues" Origin and will vote against the offer. Brookfield will take ownership of Origin's energy markets business if the vote is in favour of the bid, while EIG's MidOcean Energy will gain a 27.5% stake in Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG). In that scenario, EIG will own Origin and sell the energy markets business to Brookfield, meaning remaining shareholders, including AustralianSuper, will own only APLNG.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Scott Murdoch, Paul Simao Organizations: Brookfield, REUTERS, Rights, Services, Origin Energy, EIG Partners, Shareholders, Energy, Australia Pacific LNG, Thomson Locations: Brookfield, Australia, Sydney

Nov 6 (Reuters) - EIG Partners Chief Executive Blair Thomas said on Monday he is confident a Brookfield-EIG consortium can win support for its $10.5 billion bid for Origin Energy (ORG.AX) despite opposition from the Australian electricity and gas firm's top shareholder. Pension fund AustralianSuper said on Monday it had increased its stake in Origin to 15.03% from 13.67% and the A$9.53 per share bid remained "substantially" below its estimate of long-term value. Origin will hold a shareholder meeting on Nov. 23, where it will urge investors to vote in favour of the deal. If the deal is successful, Brookfield will take ownership of Origin's energy markets business, while EIG's MidOcean Energy will gain a 27.5% stake in Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG). Thomas confirmed both Brookfield and EIG had discussed with AustralianSuper the possibility of it participating in the deal earlier this year.

Persons: Blair Thomas, AustralianSuper, Thomas, EIG, Scott Murdoch, Lewis Jackson, Archishma Iyer, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: EIG Partners, EIG, Origin Energy, Brookfield, Energy, Australia Pacific LNG, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Brookfield, Australia, Bengaluru

"AustralianSuper believes Origin has a highly strategic portfolio of assets to participate in, and benefit from, the energy transition," a spokesperson said. Origin shares plunged as much as 5.6% to A$8.565 in high-volume trading following the news, as AustralianSuper's 13.68% holding could scupper a deal that requires approval from 75% of the register if not all investors vote. Should the deal fail at the shareholder vote scheduled for Nov. 23, a revised agreement allows the consortium to make a subsequent off-market bid if it buys 5% or more of Origin shares. "If it gets voted down, Brookfield aren't obligated to come back with an off-market takeover offer, but they may be inclined to," he said. Should the deal close, Brookfield and its partners GIC and Temasek will own Origin's Energy Markets business, which includes power generation and retailing.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, AustralianSuper, Canada's Brookfield, Brookfield, Jamie Hannah, Simon Mawhinney, Allan Gray, Stewart Upson, Scott Murdoch, Lewis Jackson, Sameer Manekar, Jamie Freed Organizations: Brookfield, REUTERS, SYDNEY, bourse, Brookfield Asia, Energy Markets, Saudi Arabia's Aramco, Australia Pacific LNG, Thomson Locations: VanEck, Brookfield, Temasek, Saudi, Australia, Sydney, Bengaluru

Origin, Australia's top energy retailer, on Monday agreed to the long-running takeover offer from the consortium, nearing the conclusion of one of the country's biggest private equity-backed buyouts. Once the deal is completed, EIG's MidOcean Energy will take control of Origin's integrated gas business. Thomas said government policy swings world over are a by-product of the volatility associated with the tension between energy security and the transition to cleaner energy. Origin, Australia's No. Brookfield said it plans to invest a further A$20 billion of capital to fully replace Origin's power generation and its power purchases with green power over a decade.

With markets increasingly volatile, BMO Capital Markets thinks investors should turn to a two-way strategy that provide returns and protection at the same time. The S & P 500 gained more than 1% last week, but it wasn't a smooth ride. Given this uncertain backdrop, BMO suggests relying on a dual-tiered approach encompassing growth at a reasonable price strategy, or "GARP," and a dividend growth barbell. The firm compiled a list of outperform-rated stocks that fit into the GARP or dividend growth themes. CF Industries and ConocoPhillips were also highlighted by BMO under their dividend growth strategy.

☆ Brookfield consortium trims offer for Australia's Origin Energy to $10.5 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Scott Murdoch | Thomson Reuters | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Feb 22 (Reuters) - A Brookfield-led consortium trimmed its offer for Origin Energy by 1% on Wednesday, valuing Australia's no.2 power producer and energy retailer at A$15.33 billion ($10.5 billion), after government moves to cap gas prices hit valuations in the sector. The consortium's first offer in November of A$9 per share was a near 55% premium to its previous close and valued Origin A$15.5 billion. Argo Investments, Origin's ninth largest investor, said the revised offer was still good value for the takeover target. The revised offer comprises A$8.90 apiece for the first 100,000 Origin shares. Almost 75% of Origin's shareholders own fewer than 100,000 shares, according to its annual report.

☆ Australia’s Origin Energy Gets $10 Billion Takeover Bid from Brookfield-Led Consortium
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( David Winning | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Origin is one of Australia’s biggest retailers of electricity and gas, and a shareholder in a supplier of liquefied natural gas to Asia. SYDNEY—Australia’s Origin Energy Ltd. said it has received a takeover proposal worth around $10 billion from a consortium led by Brookfield Asset Management Inc., underscoring the interest in global assets that can support the energy transition. Origin is a major shareholder in the Australia Pacific LNG plant in eastern Australia’s Queensland state, which supplies liquefied natural gas to Asia. The facility, operated by ConocoPhillips , has benefited from elevated prices of LNG after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as countries in Europe scour the world for alternative sources to Russian supply.

Nov 10 (Reuters) - Origin Energy Ltd (ORG.AX), Australia's no.2 power producer and energy retailer, backed an A$18.4 billion ($11.8 billion) non-binding buyout offer from a consortium led by Canada's Brookfield Asset Management, the companies said on Thursday. The deal sent Origin's share price soaring nearly 40% in early trade to A$8.14. Origin opened its books to the consortium after it raised its offer to A$9 per share in cash, a near 55% premium to Origin's last close of A$5.81. The bid from Brookfield comes after it was rebuffed earlier this year when it led a $3.5 billion takeover offer for Australia's top power producer, AGL Energy (AGL.AX). Under the indicative proposal submitted on Thursday, Brookfield would acquire Origin's energy markets business, while MidOcean Energy, the other consortium partner, would take control of Origin's integrated gas business, including its 27.5% stake in Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG).

☆ Origin Energy expects earnings from energy markets unit to jump in fiscal 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 19 (Reuters) - Origin Energy Ltd (ORG.AX) on Wednesday forecast a sharp increase in underlying earnings from its energy markets business in fiscal 2023, helped by higher natural gas prices. Origin in mid-August withheld outlook for 2023 due to extreme gas and power price volatility, as well as coal supply problems at its Eraring power plant, a decision that left investors disappointed. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe company now expects underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization for its energy markets division between A$500 million ($315.65 million) and A$650 million in fiscal 2023, compared with A$365 million a year earlier. Origin expects the unit to grow further in fiscal 2024, driven by a higher contribution from its electricity business. ($1 = 1.5840 Australian dollars)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Harish Sridharan in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak DasguptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Australia rules out curbs on gas exports after producer deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Sonali Paul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Australia will not put curbs on gas exports after reaching a deal with its three east coast producers of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to avert a forecast supply crunch, Resources Minister Madeleine King said on Thursday. The pact unveiled on Thursday provides for Queensland Curtis LNG, run by Shell, Australia Pacific LNG, run by ConocoPhillips (COP.N), and Gladstone LNG, run by Santos (STO.AX), to offer an extra 157 petajoules of gas to the domestic market next year. The terms require the LNG exporters to offer uncontracted gas to the domestic market before international buyers and ensure domestic buyers will not pay more for uncontracted gas than customers offshore. This is because it is the only east coast exporter to take more gas out of the domestic market each year than it supplies. GLNG agreed to step up domestic supply during Australia's peak winter demand period, Santos said.

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