Blackstone News

EverWind Fuels, a company founded by private equity veteran Trent Vichie, told Reuters it became the first green hydrogen producer in North America to secure the necessary permits for a commercial-scale facility on Tuesday.Provincial authorities in Canada granted environmental approval for EverWind to begin converting a former oil storage facility and marine terminal at Point Tupper in Nova Scotia into a green hydrogen and ammonia production hub.Green hydrogen is different than conventional hydrogen only in its production…

Batteries for maritime power have been picking up big momentum, benefiting from the most basic concept within Econ 101: supply and demand.On May 19 Corvus Energy announced it would establish a lithium ion battery manufacturing facility in Port Bellingham, Wash., just north of Seattle. Corvus Energy is a leading supplier of battery energy storage systems (BESS) for marine applications. Its systems already power more than 30 North American vessels, as well as 29 hybrid port cranes and 11 land-based drilling rigs.Geir Bjørkeli…

KVH Industries, Inc., announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Brent C. Bruun as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board. The Board also appointed two seasoned industry executives, David Kagan and David Tolley, as directors of KVH.Bruun first joined KVH in 2008 and has served as KVH’s Interim President and Chief Executive Officer since March 2022. He also served as Chief Operating Officer of KVH beginning in 2016, as well as Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

The European Union is underwriting a project, called Current Direct, to facilitate and hasten the transition to battery powered commercial maritime vessels. It's funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. It also has 13 private sector partners, including Blackstone Resources, Spear Power Systems and Wärtsilä. It has a quick timeline; a demonstration project should be ready by 2023.New thinking and innovation run across every aspect of this project…

Short-term sales of crude oil and liquefied natural gas into China almost ground to a halt this week as the coronavirus slows economic activity and cuts demand and buyers ponder legal action to avoid having to honor purchase agreements, trade sources said.Typically, trade would have revived after the Lunar New Year holiday at the end of January, but China has extended the break into February to try to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus, which has claimed nearly 500 lives.As a result…

The next wave of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects will be “tougher” to bring online, as companies with existing facilities take advantage of lower costs to expand capacity in coming years, the chief executive of Blackstone Group said on Wednesday.Blackstone CEO David Foley said at the Gastech Energy Conference in Houston that only one or two new startup projects may reach a final investment decision (FID) in the next wave of U.S. LNG export projects.“In terms of liquefaction capacity that gets FID from the U.S.…

U.S. investment firm Blackstone Group LP said on Sunday that funds affiliated with Blackstone Infrastructure Partners invested in Carrix Inc, the largest marine terminal operator in the United States and the Americas.The company did not disclose the terms of the transaction.Carrix is the parent of SSA Marine and its related affiliates with operations at over 250 port and rail locations worldwide, including 16 container terminals in Long Beach and Oakland in California, Seattle and Tacoma in Washington…

Power specialist Royston has completed an extensive overhaul of diesel engines on a Britannia Aggregates’ owned and operated dredger, which extracts sand and gravel from the seabed.Engineers undertook the service work onboard the 100m, 3,610 gross tonnage Britannia Beaver, as part of a comprehensive refurbishment and maintenance program of essential power systems.The 1991 built A class dredger, which operates around the south-east coast of the UK, delivers aggregates to Brett-owned wharves around the South East of England…

Blackstone Energy Partners announced today that it has entered into binding agreements to acquire a controlling, majority interest in Ulterra Drilling Technologies from affiliates of American Securities LLC. American Securities and certain members of management will retain a minority equity interest in the Company going forward. Financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close prior to year-end 2018. Ulterra is the largest pure-play, independent supplier of polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bits to the oil and gas industry. The Company is one of the fastest growing PDC drill bit manufacturers, having more than doubled total revenue since 2016. Ulterra currently has a leading position in many of the most active U.S.

Denmark-based shipping company Hafnia Tankers is exploring the possibility of consolidation with BW Tankers, part of BW Group, Hafnia’s CEO Mikael Skov said.In its half year results statement Hafnia said: “Hafnia is exploring the possibility of consolidation with BW Tankers, a company owned by BW Group, one of our shareholders.”BW Group increased its shareholdings in Hafnia in early July when it acquired BTS Tankers Partners LLC. With the acquisition, BW Group became the beneficial owner of 43.5% of the Hafnia Group.Last month, BW Group said it has entered into a definitive agreement to buy a 36.3% stake in Hafnia Tankers, a shipping company formed by the management team of former Tankers Inc.

BW Group has entered into a definitive agreement to buy a 36.3% stake in Hafnia Tankers, a shipping company formed by the management team of former Tankers Inc. The majority of the shares will be acquired through BTS, a collaboration between Blackstone-managed funds, Tufton Oceanic and Hartmann, and the balance purchased directly from certain Blackstone-managed funds. ombined with recent purchases from other shareholders, BW Group will own 43.5% of Hafnia Tankers. Carsten Mortensen, CEO of BW Group says, “BW Group is pleased to acquire this shareholding in Hafnia Tankers with its strong operational platform and quality fleet. We look forward to discussions with the other shareholders about the future strategy.

Jan Thorsgaard Nielsen, Senior Managing Director of Blackstone, is appointed Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of A/S. A P Moller Holding (APMH). APMH is a privately owned holding company and is the biggest shareholder in A P Moller-Maersk (APM), the Danish shipping giant. Jan T. Nielsen holds a Cand. Oecon. from Aarhus University, Denmark, and has been with Blackstone since 2005. He started working for Blackstone in London as an associate and was subsequently promoted to principal and Managing Director. During this time, Jan T. Nielsen was also involved in investments related to the Nordic market, including the investment in TDC and Merlin’s investment in the LEGOLAND Parks.

Eletson Gas and Evergas announced an alliance of the two companies that will trade the companies’ semi-ref/ethylene capable vessels. The new venture, to be called the E3 Pool, will commence trading on the 30th of January from the Eletson offices in Piraeus and London and the Evergas offices in Copenhagen and Singapore. The new commercial venture will control the 15-strong fleet of modern gas carriers that are currently trading. It will be joined by a further four vessels to be delivered to Eletson over the next twelve months and will create a single point of contact for cargo owners. A larger fleet will provide more flexibility and more options for Charterers…

Some positive market indicators could presage an investment revival in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico – and beyond. The good news, reported by Bloomberg, is that in the third quarter of 2016, the largest oil companies increased cash from operations by nearly $26 billion. This reflects a 67 percent increase from the previous quarter and more than twice the amount of the first quarter of 2016. Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron, Total and BP indicated that the increase was due to lower spending, increased output and rising crude prices, although the numbers were still below last year’s numbers.

Genco Shipping & Trading Limited and its subsidiary Baltic Trading Limited has announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Genco will acquire Baltic Trading in a stock-for-stock transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Baltic Trading will become an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Genco, and Baltic Trading shareholders will receive 0.216 shares of Genco common stock for each share of Baltic Trading common stock they own at closing, with fractional shares to be settled in cash. Upon consummation of the transaction, Genco shareholders are expected to own approximately 84.5 percent of the combined company and Baltic Trading shareholders are expected to own approximately 15.5 percent of the combined company.

Private equity firm Quantum Energy Partners will invest up to $1 billion in a new entity for acquisition and development of oil and gas assets that will be managed by Linn Energy LLC. Linn will be able to take a 15-50 percent direct working interest in the acquired assets, the two companies said in a joint statement on Monday. Linn's shares rose 4.5 percent in premarket trading, while its unit LinnCo LLC's shares were up 6.5 percent. The deal comes two months after Linn received funding of up to $500 million from GSO Capital Partners LP, a unit of Blackstone Group LP. Linn, like other oil and gas companies, has been struggling to cope with a 50 percent fall in crude oil prices since June. In response to weak prices, Linn cut its annual payout by more than half in January.

A Coast Guard Station Valdez 45-foot Response Boat - Medium crew assisted three recreational mariners aboard the disabled 24-foot Bayliner Herrisea in Blackstone Bay near Whittier, Alaska, Sunday. The rescue boatcrew rendezvoused with the Herrisea and safely towed the vessel to Whittier. Watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector Anchorage command center received notice from the mariners that their main engine had failed and they did not have enough fuel to return to Whittier. After the watchstanders issued a Marine Assistance Request Broadcast, a good Samaritan responded but could only assist with anchoring and communications due to worsening weather conditions. Station Valdez launched the RB-M crew to assist.

Crude price volatility may not have completely closed the funding doors for US high-yield energy companies as private equity firms and new funds prepare to snap up juicy yields on offer after a recent slump in the sector's bonds. In a likely sign of things to come, GSO Capital Partners, the alternative asset manager owned by Blackstone, last week deployed cash by providing a large order for CrownRock's US$350m high-yield bond - the first such E&P offering in months. The move came after Blackstone President Tony James said last month it has US$10bn in equity and debt capital available for energy investment opportunities. GSO is now raising a new fund solely for energy, expected to be US$2bn, a source familiar with the matter said.

The Coast Guard rescued four hunters stranded in Blackstone Bay near Whittier Monday. A 45-foot response boat-medium crew from Station Valdez safely transported the men and towed their skiff to Whittier. Watchstanders at the Sector Anchorage command center recieved a report from the men that they were cold and stranded without fuel or enough supplies to make it back to their camp or Whittier. Command center personnel issued a marine assistance request broadcast with no results and dispatched the RB-M crew to the scene, maintaining cell phone contact with the hunters until the crew arrived. "This case serves as a good example of the need for hunters and boaters to be prepared for emergencies as we head into winter," said Ensign Jessica Stock, Sector Anchorage command center watchstander.

Shipping is currently attracting a great deal of interest from investors in the private equity sector, according to UK-based accountants Moore Stephens, members of shipping trade organization Maritime London and as reported in its fortnightly 'London Matters'. In its Shipping Group newsletter 'Bottom Line' Moore Stephens notes that it has been estimated that at least USD7-bn  of private equity funding could find its way into shipping this year. The shipping industry, however, still accounts for only a tiny percentage of overall private equity investment, so there is arguably scope for significantly more. The timing appears to be good. A shipping industry emerging from a protracted slump offers potentially exciting opportunities for private equity investors.

Private equity has pumped $32 bln into shipping in past 2 years. Ships totaling 299 mln dwt to enter global fleet from May. Some private equity-backed shipping IPOs have been put off on weak sentiment. The shipping industry faces a looming capacity glut as billions of dollars pumped into it by private equity have stoked a vessel-buying spree, threatening its prospects just as the sector is emerging from its worst downturn in three decades. Backed by private equity and hedge fund financing, shipping companies have placed orders for thousands of new ships over the past two years, reminiscent of the ship-ordering binge of the mid-2000s that eventually led to overcapacity after the global financial crisis severely hit cargo demand.

Blackstone Group LP is unlikely to make a foray into commodity trading in the short term as the world's largest alternative asset manager struggles to find a target to fit its asset-light business model, a senior executive said on Thursday. In his first earnings call with reporters since Blackstone lost out to Mercuria to buy JPMorgan Chase & Co's physical commodity division, Blackstone President Tony James said he is still interested in broadening the company's revenue through commodities. "It remains of interest, but I would not count on us doing anything in the short term," he said. James did not identify any potential targets. Instead…

Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd. will cut its debt by more than $1 billion by giving control of the company to its lenders in a deal that requires the dry bulk shipping company to file for bankruptcy. Lenders backing a $1.06 billion credit facility would convert their debt into about 81.1 percent of company's stock, according to a regulatory filing from Thursday. Investors who hold $125 million of Genco convertible debt would receive 8.4 percent of the company. The remaining equity would be allocated to those investors funding a $100 million rights offering…