Fund

Former BP plc CEO Tony Hayward, as well as former exploration chief Andy Inglis, have scored prominent positions in two energy firms. Vallares plc, an energy fund vehicle backed by Hayward and a group of high-profile investors, raised US$2.2 billion in an initial public offering, which is one-third more than the original target. Vallares, to be based in London, is sponsored by Hayward and financiers Nathaniel Rothschild, Tom Daniel and Julian Metherell, who is the former UK CEO for Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The company plans to buy an emerging-market energy firm or an energy asset with an enterprise value of US$4.85-12.9 billion, the sponsors said. Inglis has been tapped to run Petrofac plc’s new integrated energy services (IES) division.

The Environmental Defense Fund’s (EDF) Mark Brownstein held up an oil and gas company’s magazine advertisement touting “responsible” energy development. “The point is, I don’t really know if it’s true. In fact, no one really knows if it’s true,” said EDF’s energy program deputy director.

July natural gas took another small step higher Wednesday as traders adjust to strong interest by algorithmic and fund players and expectations of much-below-normal inventory increases in a government inventory report Thursday.

Marathon Oil Corp. has agreed to pay $3.5 billion to acquire the Eagle Ford Shale assets of Hilcorp Resources Holdings LP. Along with other transactions expected to close by the end of this year, Marathon’s Eagle Ford position is expected to more than double to 285,000 net acres, the company said.

To fund increased drilling in core areas of the Marcellus Shale and Piceance Basin, Antero Resources has added $126 million to its capital budget for 2011.

Texas American Resources Co. affiliate TARH E&P Holdings LP completed a farmout on a portion of its Eagle Ford Shale and Buda acreage in South Texas.

Natural gas futures carved out a modest gain Wednesday as aggressive fund trading managed to prevail over short-term traders looking to sell the market lower. At the close May had gained 4.3 cents to $4.141 and June was up 3.8 cents to $4.206. May crude oil added 86 cents to $107.11/bbl.

Midstream players Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP) and Regency Energy Partners LP have formed a joint venture to follow their producer customers to where the money is: liquids-rich shale plays. The partners are acquiring natural gas liquids (NGL) storage, fractionation and transportation assets to expand their producer service offerings.

CME Group, operator of the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), has fined hedge fund Goldfinch Capital Management LP for position limit violations in the natural gas futures market.