{{Short description|American energy investment firm}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox company | name = EIG Global Energy Partners LLC | logo = EIG Partners.png | image = | image_caption = | trading_name = | type = Private | industry = Investment management | former_name = TCW Energy & Infrastructure Group | foundation = {{start date and age|1982}} | location = Washington, D.C., U.S. | founders = | key_people = Robert Blair Thomas (Chairman and CEO)<br>Randall Wade (President) | parent = | subsid = | aum = US$23.5 billion (March 2023) | num_employees = 134 (March 2023) | products = Private credit<br>Private equity<br>Mezzanine capital<br>Infrastructure fund | homepage = {{URL|eigpartners.com}} | footnotes =<ref name="ADV">{{cite web |title=Form ADV |url=https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/ADV/159699/PDF/159699.pdf |website=SEC}}</ref> }}
'''EIG Global Energy Partners''' (also known as EIG and EIG Partners) is an American investment firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. It focuses on investments in the energy sector. The firm has additional offices in Hong Kong, Houston, London, Rio de Janeiro, Seoul and Sydney.
In 2023, the firm was ranked by Infrastructure Investor (under ''Private Equity International'') as the fifth largest infrastructure debt investment firm based on total fundraising over the most recent five-year period.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Infrastructure Investor |date=March 6, 2023 |title=Infrastructure Debt 30 2023: Ranking 1-10 |url=https://www.infrastructureinvestor.com/infrastructure-debt-30-2023-ranking-1-10/ |access-date=July 22, 2023 |website=Infrastructure Investor |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Background ==
In 1982, the TCW Group (TCW) established its Energy & Infrastructure Group in Los Angeles. The purpose of it was to invest solely in companies or projects in energy-related infrastructure. This was by providing mezzanine debt and private equity to energy projects and companies mainly in OCED countries. It would also target one-off negotiated private transactions with small- and mid-cap energy companies.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Heath |first=Thomas |date=May 8, 2011 |title=Capital Buzz: Taste of DC picks Groupon |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/capital-buzz-taste-of-dc-picks-groupon/2011/05/05/AFUAZtRG_story.html |access-date=July 22, 2023 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2008 |title=Financing Clean Energy with an Equity Investment Fund |url=https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/ie/se/pp/adhoc/EE21ahge21_22Feb08/ECEF21Feb08/ECEF_Bourgeaud.pdf |website=United Nations Economic Commission for Europe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722073311/https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/ie/se/pp/adhoc/EE21ahge21_22Feb08/ECEF21Feb08/ECEF_Bourgeaud.pdf |archive-date=July 22, 2023 }}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=August 21, 2013 |title=TCW Spinoff EIG Global Is Said to Cap Energy Fund at $6 Billion - Bloomberg |language=en |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-08-21/tcw-spinoff-eig-is-said-to-cap-energy-fund-at-6-billion |access-date=July 22, 2023}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Dezember |first=Ryan |date=June 8, 2016 |title=Oil Investor Still Bets on McClendon |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/oil-investor-still-bets-on-mcclendon-1465426206 |access-date=July 22, 2023 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
In 2007, the Energy & Infrastructure Group founded TCW Energy Partners, a feeder fund that invests in EIG-managed funds and projects and only accepts investments from institutional investors. It was listed on GSTrUE, a private exchange managed by Goldman Sachs. Barry Cheung was a director of the fund.<ref name=":4">{{Cite press release |last=LLC |first=EIG Global Energy Partners |title=TCW Energy Partners Announces Name Change and Appointment of New President |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tcw-energy-partners-announces-name-change-and-appointment-of-new-president-123803564.html |access-date=July 22, 2023 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=September 13, 2012 |title=The EIG-managed investment fund Gateway sets new date for HK listing |url=https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1035385/eig-managed-investment-fund-gateway-sets-new-date-hk |access-date=July 22, 2023 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Jönsson |first=Anette |date=March 19, 2012 |title=Gateway sets terms for $200 million Hong Kong offering |url=https://www.financeasia.com/article/gateway-sets-terms-for-200-million-hong-kong-offering/294116 |access-date=July 22, 2023 |website=FinanceAsia}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=January 21, 2013 |title=State-owned CDB teams up with asset manager |url=https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1132560/state-owned-cdb-teams-asset-manager |access-date=July 22, 2023 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>
In January 2011, TCW Energy & Infrastructure Group was spun off as an independent firm and was renamed to EIG Global Energy Partners. The stated reasons for the split was the energy team wanted to "own the upside" of their business and free themselves from regulatory red tape. EIG moved its headquarters from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2018 |title=McClendon lender struck lucrative deal with CEO |website=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chesapeake-mcclendon-sidebar-idUSBRE83H0HB20120418 |access-date=July 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615172155/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chesapeake-mcclendon-sidebar-idUSBRE83H0HB20120418 |archive-date=June 15, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jacobius |first=Arleen |date=January 4, 2011 |title=Energy & Infrastructure Group spins out of TCW |url=https://www.pionline.com/article/20110104/ONLINE/110109976/energy-infrastructure-group-spins-out-of-tcw |access-date=July 22, 2023 |website=Pensions & Investments |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Atiya |first=Alexandra |date=January 28, 2013 |title=Energy, infrastructure fund manager splits from TCW |url=https://www.infrastructureinvestor.com/energy-infrastructure-fund-manager-splits-from-tcw/ |access-date=July 22, 2023 |website=Infrastructure Investor |language=en-US}}</ref>
In June 2011, TCW Energy Partners was renamed to Gateway Energy & Resource (Gateway).<ref name=":4" />
In February 2012, China Investment Corporation acquired an undisclosed minority stake in EIG.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 1, 2016 |title=China CIC buys minority stake in EIG Global |website=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cic-eig-idUSTRE8110WO20120202 |access-date=July 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201142234/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cic-eig-idUSTRE8110WO20120202 |archive-date=February 1, 2016 }}</ref>
In March 2012, EIG planned to list Gateway on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to raise US$200 million and allow a larger range of investors to get exposure to EIG's investments. However it withdrew due to poor market conditions. In September 2012, another attempt to list was done In December 2012, China Development Bank and Gateway signed a letter of intent where Gateway would be acquired by the listing platform, China Development Bank International Investment which would allow Gateway to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange via backdoor listing.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gateway seeks merger with CDB affiliate |url=https://www.theasset.com/article/23351/for-app-deeplink-mobile |access-date=July 22, 2023 |website=www.theasset.com |language=en}}</ref> However, on August 7, 2013, the deal was terminated.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zhang |first=Xuguang |date=August 7, 2013 |title=TERMINATION OF NEGOTIATION OF A POSSIBLE TRANSACTION |url=https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2013/0808/ltn20130808116.pdf |website=HKEX}}</ref>
In March 2014, Affiliated Managers Group acquired an undisclosed minority stake in EIG.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 28, 2014 |title=AMG Buys Stake in EIG Global Energy as Sonneborn Joins - Bloomberg |language=en |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-03-28/amg-buys-stake-in-eig-global-energy-as-sonneborn-joins |access-date=July 22, 2023}}</ref>
== Notable deals == In April 2021, a consortium led by EIG signed a deal to acquire a 49% equity stake in the oil pipelines business of Saudi Aramco for $12.4 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 14, 2021 |title=A $12.5 Billion Deal Shows Saudi Oil Still Eclipses All Else |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-14/pipeline-deal-shows-oil-still-king-for-investors-in-saudi-arabia |access-date=July 22, 2023}}</ref>
In March 2023, EIG and Brookfield Corporation acquired Origin Energy for $10.2 billion. Origin Energy would be broken up with EIG taking the liquefied natural gas unit.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 27, 2023 |title=Brookfield, EIG Near $10.2 Billion Takeover of Origin |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-27/brookfield-eig-said-to-near-10-2-billion-takeover-of-origin |access-date=December 17, 2023}}</ref> In October 2023, the takeover was approved by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johanson |first=Simon |date=October 9, 2023 |title=ACCC clears $18.7b Origin buyout to speed up green energy shift |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/accc-clears-canadian-fund-s-18-7b-takeover-of-origin-energy-20231010-p5eb1x.html |access-date=December 17, 2023 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> The acquisition was terminated in December 2023 after Origin shareholders led by its largest investor, AustralianSuper, opposed the deal, failing to meet the required 75% threshold.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murdoch |first=Scott |date=December 4, 2023 |title=Origin investors reject $10.6 billion Brookfield bid, company open to other funding |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/origin-investors-reject-brookfields-106-bln-bid-proxy-votes-2023-12-04/ |website=Reuters}}</ref>
== Legal actions ==
=== The Carlyle Group acquisition of TCW === In August 2012, EIG filed a lawsuit to prevent a deal where The Carlyle Group would acquire its former parent, TCW. EIG alleged the deal violated certain contractual rights granted to EIG as part of its separation from TCW. It resolved around a joint venture between EIG and TCW that was put in place at the time of the spin off to act as a central clearing house for sharing some of the economics of EIG's funds with TCW. The deal would put EIG's proprietary information into the hands of Carlyle which EIG deemed a direct competitor. However sources stated the EIG's real purpose behind the lawsuit was to sever all ties with TCW by using the company's ability to block the acquisition as leverage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roumeliotis |first=Greg |date=August 22, 2012 |title=TCW sued by former unit over Carlyle deal |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eig-tcw-idUSBRE87K12220120822 |website=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dai |first=Shasha |date=August 22, 2012 |title=EIG Files Lawsuit Seeking to Void Carlyle's Play for TCW |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/DJFLBO0020120822e88mhn7l2 |access-date=July 22, 2023 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DeCambre |first=Mark |date=August 25, 2012 |title=New hitch in TCW sale |url=https://nypost.com/2012/08/25/new-hitch-in-tcw-sale/ |access-date=July 22, 2023 |website=New York Post |language=en-US}}</ref>
In January 2013, EIG came to an agreement with the parties and dropped its lawsuit opposing the deal. As part of the agreement, EIG would no longer make payments to TCW on new funds it introduces in the future, As a result, Carlyle acquired TCW from Société Générale in February 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Toonkel |first=Jessica |date=January 17, 2023 |title=EIG won't challenge TCW-Carlyle sale |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/eig-agreement-idUSL1E9CGAXT20130116 |website=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 16, 2013 |title=Carlyle's Deal to Acquire TCW Group Is Cleared of EIG Opposition - Bloomberg |language=en |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-01-16/carlyle-deal-to-buy-tcw-group-cleared-of-eig-opposition |access-date=July 22, 2023}}</ref>
=== Intervention Energy Holdings === Intervention Energy Holdings (Intervention) had received $200 million in senior secured notes from EIG in 2012, which it used to finance well development costs. However, in the fall of 2015, Intervention defaulted on its debt and at the time still owed EIG $140 million.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last1=Rizzo |first1=Lillian |last2=Fitzgerald |first2=Patrick |date=May 20, 2016 |title=Intervention Energy Holdings Files for Bankruptcy Protection |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/intervention-energy-holdings-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-1463766054 |access-date=July 22, 2023 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last=Rizzo |first=Lillian |date=June 6, 2016 |title=EIG Loses Bid to Have Intervention Bankruptcy Dismissed |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/eig-loses-bid-to-have-intervention-bankruptcy-dismissed-1465239823 |access-date=July 22, 2023 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
On May 20, 2016, Intervention Energy Holdings filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and EIG filed a lawsuit to stop the process stating that according an agreement, Intervention could not file for bankruptcy protection without 100% of shareholder votes. As EIG did not vote to support it, Intervention was in breach of contract.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" />
However, on June 6, 2016, the court sided with Intervention and denied EIG's bid to stop the process. Intervention at the time agreed to a deadline to receive a new loan or equity commitment to pay back EIG by November 15.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Rizzo |first=Lillian |title=Bankruptcy Judge Dismisses Intervention Energy Chapter 11 Case |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/bankruptcy-judge-dismisses-intervention-energy-chapter-11-case-1480364909 |access-date=July 22, 2023 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}</ref>
In late October 2016, EIG made another attempt to stop the process stating that Intervention was fast approaching the deadline and it had provided no indication that it would be able to obtain such financing.<ref name=":10" />
In late November 2016, the court dismissed Intervention's Chapter 11 Case. As a result, EIG took control of Intervention.<ref name=":10" />
== Relationship with Aubrey McClendon and Chesapeake Energy == It was reported that EIG was the lender of over $1.2 billion worth of personal loans to Aubrey McClendon who ran Chesapeake Energy (Chesapeake) until 2013. These loans were used to finance his personal stake in the oil wells of Chesapeake as well as drilling costs. When this revelation became public, McClendon was forced to leave the company. This raised the potential for conflicts of interest and prompted questions on the corporate governance and business ethics of Chesapeake's senior management. However EIG was not accused of impropriety.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":11" /><ref name=":12" /><ref name=":13" />
EIG had known McClendon and Chesapeake since its establishment and had provided early stage financing which enabled Chesapeake to hold an initial public offering in 1993. The strong relationship created unique business opportunities that EIG benefited from. When Tom L. Ward left Chesapeake in 2006 to found SandRidge Energy, EIG invested $50 million in the company, which returned over twice the initial investment when the company held its initial public offering in November 2007. EIG also invested in Permian Resources which was another one of McClendon's companies. Before McClendon's death on March 2, 2016, due to a car crash, EIG had already taken possession of his stakes in the oil wells by foreclosing on the loans.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2012 |title=Special Report: Chesapeake CEO took $1.1 billion in shrouded personal loans |website=Reuters |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/18/us-chesapeake-mcclendon-loans-idUSBRE83H0GA20120418 |access-date=July 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421014034/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/18/us-chesapeake-mcclendon-loans-idUSBRE83H0GA20120418 |archive-date=April 21, 2012 }}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite news |last=Hedlund |first=Andrew |date=June 7, 2016 |title=EIG's request to dismiss Intervention bankruptcy denied |url=https://www.privatedebtinvestor.com/eigs-request-to-dismiss-intervention-bankruptcy-denied/ |access-date=July 22, 2023 |website=Private Debt Investor |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite news |last=Krauss |first=Clifford |date=March 2, 2016 |title=Aubrey McClendon, Ex-Head of Chesapeake Energy, Is Charged With Conspiracy |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/02/business/aubrey-mcclendon-is-charged-with-conspiracy-in-oil-and-natural-gas-bidding.html |access-date=July 22, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|https://www.eigpartners.com}} {{Private equity and venture capital}} {{authority control}}
Category:1982 establishments in California Category:American companies established in 1982 Category:Corporate spin-offs Category:Financial services companies established in 1982 Category:Financial services companies based in Washington, D.C. Category:Investment management companies of the United States Category:Mezzanine capital investment firms Category:Private equity firms based in Washington, D.C. Category:Privately held companies based in Washington, D.C.