M&A

The outlook for the merger of Energy Transfer Equity LP (ETE) and The Williams Companies Inc. dimmed further this week as favorable tax treatment of ETE units and Williams shares was cast into doubt in an ETE regulatory filing.

The outlook for the merger of Energy Transfer Equity LP (ETE) and The Williams Companies Inc. dimmed further this week as favorable tax treatment of ETE units and Williams shares was cast into doubt in an ETE regulatory filing.

While most executives in the U.S. energy sector believe robust merger and acquisition (M&A) activity will continue into 2016, the sector ranks near the middle of the pack among respondents overall, and several uncertainties remain, according to a report by KPMG LLP.

While most executives in the U.S. energy sector believe robust merger and acquisition (M&A) activity will continue into 2016, the sector ranks near the middle of the pack among respondents overall, and several uncertainties remain, according to a report by KPMG LLP.

Halliburton Co. and Baker Hughes Inc. said Wednesday they would fight a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department to prevent the mega-merger, which claims the tie-up would eliminate “significant” head-to-head competition.

The Williams Companies Inc. (WMB) is suing would-be merger partner Energy Transfer Equity LP (ETE) and ETE CEO Kelcy Warren over a recent private offering of ETE units and alleged interference with the merger plan by Warren.

Westcoast Energy Inc., an indirect subsidiary of Spectra Energy Corp., has agreed to sell its ownership interests in Spectra’s Canadian natural gas liquids (NGL) business to Plains Midstream Canada ULC (PMC), an indirect subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline LLC (PAA), for approximately C$200 million (US$150 million) plus customary closing adjustments, the companies said Monday.

An investment firm that took $2.6 billion in stakes in Halliburton Co. and Baker Hughes Inc. after they had agreed to merge, with the intent to formulate merger strategies with the companies, was sued Monday by the Justice Department.

The proposed buyout of The Williams Companies (WMB) by Energy Transfer Equity LP (ETE) stumbled again Wednesday when ETE disclosed in a regulatory filing substantially lower expected benefits from combining the companies, due to the collapse in oil and natural gas prices.