Linn Energy Llc News

At least 10 upstream oil and gas companies, cramped for cash in the oil downturn, must make coupon payments Friday, April 15, according to Thomson Reuters data.   Among them are oil and gas giant Chesapeake Energy Corp , which completed a debt swap last year, and Linn Energy LLC. Linn skipped interest payments due last month.   (Reporting by Jessica DiNapoli; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)

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.