Diversified Energy agrees $1.3bn Maverick deal

BY Richard Summerfield

In a deal focusing on expansion within the oil & gas rich Permian basin, Diversified Energy has agreed to acquire private equity-backed Maverick Natural Resources for $1.28bn, including debt.

According to a statement announcing the deal, Diversified Energy will take on about $700m of Maverick Natural Resources’ debt, giving the combined company a value of about $3.8bn, including debt.

The deal is expected to close during the first half of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including, among others, regulatory clearance and approval by Diversified shareholders for the issue and allotment of the ordinary shares pursuant to the agreement. The deal has been unanimously approved by the Diversified board.

Upon completion, Maverick’s current owner, investment firm EIG Global Energy Partners, will own about 20 percent of the new company. Following closure of the deal, Diversified’s board will consist of eight directors, six of whom are members of the current Diversified board, and two of whom will be designated by EIG.

“Today marks an important milestone for all of us at Maverick Natural Resources,” said Rick Gideon, chief executive of Maverick Natural Resources. “We have great respect for the innovative approach and stewardship demonstrated by the team at Diversified and are pleased to enter into this partnership. Maverick has built a strong foundation of execution and efficiency across our portfolio, and we look forward to combining our complementary portfolio of assets with Diversified. I would also like to express my gratitude to the team at Maverick for their hard work and dedication in supporting our strategic efforts and contributing to this achievement.”

“This acquisition expands our unique and highly focused energy production company with a complementary portfolio of attractive, high-quality assets,” said Rusty Hutson, Jr., chief executive of Diversified. “We have a proven track record of unlocking value from acquisitions while maintaining our commitment to sustainability leadership, and this acquisition provides us with great assets and employees that complement this strategy. The acquired producing assets have demonstrated leading well performance and are a natural fit with our operating advantage and existing acreage. Notably, the combined footprint in Oklahoma and the Western Anadarko Basin creates one of the largest in terms of production and acreage, which includes the emerging Cherokee formation.”

“We are extremely pleased to have entered into this acquisition and look forward to contributing as a core shareholder,” said Jeannie Powers, managing director and head of domestic traditional energy at EIG. “We aim to work closely with the Diversified management team and Board to support the Company’s focus on delivering long-term value. Diversified is uniquely positioned in the upstream space with a differentiated business model and a history of operational excellence. The combination of Maverick’s assets with Diversified’s existing footprint represents a strategic opportunity that we believe can support value creation for all stakeholders.”

News: Diversified Energy to buy energy producer Maverick in $1.3 bln deal

Thoma Bravo completes $3.6bn fund

BY Richard Summerfield

Software investment firm Thoma Bravo has announced the closure of its Credit Fund III, the firm’s largest credit fund to date, on $3.6bn, signalling a continuation of the strong private debt fundraising cycle that began in H2 2024.

The firm announced it had completed its capital raising efforts for Thoma Bravo Credit Fund III on Tuesday, marking its largest pool of credit capital to date. The fund, which exceeded its predecessor by $300m, will focus on investing in senior secured debt of enterprise software companies. The fund has already invested over $1bn across 20 investments.

“We appreciate our investors’ continued recognition and strong support of Thoma Bravo’s differentiated platform and strategy in credit, which is a testament to its growth and success,” said Orlando Bravo, a founder and managing partner at Thoma Bravo. “As an early adopter of private credit, Thoma Bravo has long recognized the crucial role private credit plays in enterprise software.”

“We are very proud of the strong backing we have received from our investors for our strategy and team, at a time of tremendous opportunity in software direct lending,” said Oliver Thym, a partner at Thoma Bravo who leads the Thoma Bravo Credit platform. “We are excited to have broadened our platform to include unlevered capital and funds-of-one/separately managed accounts. We look forward to capitalizing on the growing market demand for our flexible and differentiated credit solutions and driving further success for our partners and investors in 2025.”

The Thoma Bravo Credit platform focuses on the senior secured debt of established, mission-critical enterprise software companies. The platform targets sponsor-backed companies and leverages Thoma Bravo’s extensive sector experience in enterprise software, as well as its broad and differentiated sourcing channels. Since its inception in 2017, the platform has invested over $8bn across approximately 100 transactions.

Thoma Bravo is one of the largest software-focused investors in the world, with over $166bn in assets under management as of 30 September 2024 and has invested in more than 500 companies over the last 20 years, representing $265bn in enterprise value. Through its private equity, growth equity and credit strategies, the firm invests in growth-oriented, innovative companies operating in the software and technology sectors.

The closure of Credit Fund III is indicative of the current strength in the fundraising cycle that began in H2 2024. Though H1 2024 saw a slump in fundraising, the second half of the year saw a strong recovery. Through Q3 2024, private debt funds raised a total of $169.2bn, which, according to Pitchbook, put 2024’s fundraising efforts on track to slightly exceed 2023’s total of $226bn. Significant fund closings include Blackstone’s senior direct lending fund that closed on $22bn in October 2024 and Ares’ third direct lending vehicle that closed at $33.6bn in July 2024.

News: Thoma Bravo Completes Fundraising for Credit Fund III, Amassing $3.6 Billion in Total Available Capital for its Platform

Nippon Life Insurance to acquire Resolution in $8.2bn deal

BY Richard Summerfield

With a view to expanding its market share in the US, Nippon Life Insurance has agreed to acquire from Blackstone the remaining shares it does not own in Resolution Life Group Holdings for around $8.2bn in an all-cash deal. The deal values Resolution Life at $10.6bn.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is anticipated to close in the second half of 2025. It will complete a partnership that began in 2019 when Nippon Life first invested in Resolution Life. Since then, Nippon Life has remained the company’s largest investor and supported the growth of Resolution Life into a company with over $85bn of reserves and over 4 million policies.

Upon closure of the deal, Resolution Life’s operations in the US, the UK, Bermuda and Singapore will become a subsidiary of Nippon Life. This new division is expected to complement Nippon Life’s existing Japanese life business and its international asset management and retail operations. Clive Cowdery will continue to lead as chairman and chief executive, with Resolution Life Group Holdings Ltd remaining the primary regulated entity.

“As a mutual company owned by our policyholders, Nippon Life has always had a culture which puts customers at the heart of everything we do,” said Hiroshi Shimizu, president of Nippon Life. “We believe the acquisition of Resolution Life and the formation of Acenda demonstrates our commitment to working with exceptional businesses and teams to deliver innovative products and services. We are aligned with Resolution Life and our investment management partner Blackstone in continuing to deliver on the trust policyholders have placed in us to protect them and their families when they need us.”

“For 22 years, Resolution Life and prior Resolution companies have raised our capital from institutional investors and the public markets,” said Sir Cowdery. “I am delighted that we are now going forward under the single ownership and capital support of Nippon Life, an institution I admire and respect. There is a strong foundation of shared values, clarity of vision and breadth of capabilities across our organisations. Combining Resolution Life’s strengths, the investment management expertise of our partners at Blackstone and a well-funded parent gives us the opportunity to accelerate our growth and serve the needs of policyholders into the decades ahead.”

“We are very pleased with this outcome for Resolution Life’s policyholders and investors,” said Gilles Dellaert, global head of Blackstone Credit and Insurance. “Clive Cowdery has built a tremendous insurance platform, and we believe that this expanded partnership with the world-class team at Nippon Life will help drive its accelerated global growth. We look forward to continuing to deliver the benefits of Blackstone’s leading private credit and asset origination capabilities to Resolution Life and its policyholders in this next chapter with Nippon Life.”

The deal will mark Nippon Life’s second major overseas investment this year, following its $3.8bn purchase of a 20 percent stake in US insurance firm Corebridge Financial in May. The company has also sought to diversify its domestic business, buying nursing care provider Nichii Holdings for around $1.4bn in November last year.

News: Nippon Life to buy Resolution in $8.2 billion deal as it pursues US growth

EQT and GIC acquire majority stake in Calisen for $5bn

BY Fraser Tennant

More than four years after it was taken private by a consortium of investors, UK smart metering company Calisen is to be acquired by private equity firm EQT and Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC in a transaction valued at $5bn.

The deal will see EQT and GIC buy a majority stake in Calisen from BlackRock, Goldman Sachs and Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala, which acquired the UK company in 2020, less than a year after its initial public offering.

An independent owner and manager of essential energy infrastructure assets, Calisen is a provider of smart meters, electric vehicle charging, solar and battery, and heat pump installation, meter reading, maintenance and ancillary services – the purpose of which is to accelerate the development of a cleaner, more efficient and sustainable energy sector.

The rollout of smart meters is expected to continue to increase due to a supportive regulatory framework toward net zero as well as demand from energy suppliers and customers to support energy efficiency and the balancing of the electricity grid. With an installed base of approximately 16 million meters, Calisen is well-positioned to capitalise on market trends underpinned by the continued energy transition.

“Through its integrated business model, Calisen owns, installs, reads and maintains metres throughout their useful life,” said Ang Eng Seng, chief investment officer of infrastructure at GIC. “With its steady cash flows and long-term contracts, we are confident in Calisen’s growth potential as a core infrastructure investment.”

EQT and GIC will support Calisen’s long-term prospects by driving the continued rollout of its energy-transition-related assets, including smart meters, heat pumps and renewable energy systems, both in the UK and abroad. It will also explore expanding into adjacent sectors, such as smart water metering.

“Calisen plays an active role in the decarbonisation of the UK economy, a position we intend to strengthen with the support of all of our shareholders,” said Sean Latus, chief executive of Calisen. “EQT and GIC’s experience in the energy sector will be invaluable as we look to leverage our scale and customer relationships to significantly expand our smart meter portfolio and replicate our success in adjacent areas.”

The transaction is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including regulatory approvals.

“Calisen’s critical role in the UK’s energy transition aligns perfectly with EQT’s commitment to investing in essential infrastructure that contributes to a more sustainable future,” said Kunal Koya, a partner in EQT’s active core infrastructure advisory team. “We look forward to partnering with management and GIC to embark on Calisen’s next phase of growth.”

News: EQT and GIC to acquire majority stake in Calisen from consortium of investors

ABC Technologies to acquire TI Fluid Systems for $1.32bn

BY Richard Summerfield

Toronto-based manufacturer ABC Technologies has announced a deal to acquire TI Fluid Systems for $1.32bn.

Under the terms of the deal, shareholders of TI Fluid Systems will receive 200 pence per share, valuing TI Fluid Systems at an enterprise value of approximately £1.83bn.

The acquisition is currently expected to complete in the first half of 2025, subject to shareholder and other relevant legal and regulatory approvals. ABC Technologies is backed by Apollo Global Management, which acquired 51 percent of the Canadian manufacturer’s shares in April 2021.

“This transaction is a transformative strategic opportunity which unlocks value for all of our stakeholders and provides a platform for further growth,” said Terry Campbell, president and chief executive of ABC Technologies. “A combined business will enable us to better serve our customers, and I am excited for our teammates as we continue to build a winning future. We will be persistent in seeking alignment with organizations that have proven capabilities to further ABC’s success story.”

“TI Fluid Systems is a market-leading business, renowned for its exceptional people, innovative products, blue-chip customer base, and long-term growth potential,” said Tim Cobbold, chair of TI Fluid Systems. “The acquisition by ABC Technologies brings together two strategically complementary businesses, creating a unique opportunity to significantly accelerate TI Fluid Systems' strategic development. The combination will result in a larger, more diversified business with a broader range of products and customers, better positioned to navigate the current challenges facing the automotive industry and deliver sustainable long-term growth.”

According to a statement announcing the deal, both companies anticipate that the merger will unlock significant value and drive innovation in the rapidly evolving automotive industry. With more than 11,000 employees, ABC Technologies manufactures and supplies custom, highly-engineered, technical plastics to the North American light vehicle industry. TI Fluid Systems is a market leading global manufacturer of thermal and fluid system solutions for a full range of current and developing vehicle architectures. The deal will significantly expand ABC’s global footprint as TI Fluid Systems operates in 27 countries, serving all major automotive manufacturers.

The initial deadline for the sale offering was postponed to 22 November at the request of ABC Technologies. On Thursday last week, the company asked for a further extension “to allow the financing and other arrangements to be finalised”. The company added that it “has substantially completed its due diligence” and was reconfirming the possible offer price.

News: Canada's ABC Technologies to buy British firm TI Fluid for $1.32 bln