Financier

Dutch financier ING Group is setting up a Houston office to focus on upstream services primarily for the exploration and production (E&P) sector.

Financier Carl Icahn and his investor coalition have dropped their push to gain two seats on Kerr-McGee Corp.’s board of directors, according to a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

There was no mention of financier Carl Icahn’s recent demands on Kerr-McGee Corp. during the company’s 1Q2005 conference call with analysts last week, but his group’s calls to shake things up to increase shareholder value was evident.

There was no mention of financier Carl Icahn’s recent demands on Kerr-McGee Corp. during the company’s 1Q2005 conference call with analysts on Wednesday, but his group’s calls to shake things up to increase shareholder value was evident.

Kerr-McGee Corp.’s proxy battle with financier Carl Icahn and his associates appeared to come to an end last week, but the settlement announced Thursday came at a steep price. The producer said it will buy back $4 billion worth of stock at an all-time high, and announced a plan to sell off “select” U.S. onshore, Gulf of Mexico and North Sea assets, which represent 20-25% of current production and 10-15% of proved reserves.

Kerr-McGee Corp. appears to have convinced financier Carl Icahn and his associates to end a proxy fight, but the settlement announced Thursday came at a steep price. The producer said it will buy back $4 billion worth of stock at an all-time high, and announced a plan to sell off “select” U.S. onshore, Gulf of Mexico and North Sea assets, which represent 20-25% of current production and 10-15% of proved reserves.

Kerr-McGee Corp. filed a lawsuit against financier and shareholder Carl Icahn and his associates on Thursday, hours after Icahn sent a letter to CEO Luke Corbett urging the company to end its exploratory deepwater drilling program because it was costing the shareholders money.

Just days after financier Carl S. Icahn and Icahn Partners indicated they intend to buy 2-9% of the company, Kerr-McGee Corp. on Wednesday said it has hired an investment bank to consider selling its chemicals business.

Kerr-McGee Corp.’s stock got a boost from investors and financial analysts Tuesday after the producer said it had received notices from financier Carl C. Icahn and Icahn Partners Master Fund LP of their intention to acquire up to $1 billion total of the company’s stock. Based on last Friday’s closing share price, the purchases would amount to 2-9% of outstanding shares, assuming dilution.