Aligning

Subsidiaries of Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI) propelled the company to big profits during the first quarter of 2013, allowing it to raise its quarterly dividend 19% and aligning it for more than $12 billion of expansion and joint venture (JV) projects across North America.

Subsidiaries of Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI) propelled the company to big profits during the first quarter of 2013, allowing it to raise its quarterly dividend 19% and aligning it for more than $12 billion of expansion and joint venture (JV) projects across North America.

Bismarck, ND-based MDU Resources Group is aligning its utility, construction, midstream infrastructure and exploration/production (E&P) businesses so each one profits and grows with the continuing hydrocarbon boom in the Bakken, the MDU senior executives emphasized in a half-day financial analysts meeting Thursday in New York City.

Skies brightened significantly last week for the merger of BPAmoco and Atlantic Richfield Co. (ARCO), with the companiesannouncing moves to assuage the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), butfederal regulators still have yet to give their blessing to theunion. And high gasoline prices have at least one legislatorcalling for strict curbs on oil patch mega-mergers.

BP Amoco said it is near an agreement with the FTC on its mergerwith Atlantic Richfield Co. (ARCO). The news comes with theannouncement the companies are selling ARCO’s Alaskan businesses toPhillips Petroleum Co. for $7 billion. BP Amoco also agreed to sellARCO’s interests in the Cushing storage terminal, together withvarious pipeline interests, to TEPPCO Partners of Houston for $355million.