Schlumberger Angles for Growth with Bid for Cameron

Business Growth

Changes in the outlook for the upstream oil and gas industry have led Schlumberger to launch a convincing bid for Houston-based oilfield equipment supplier and current joint-venture partner Cameron Int’l. The richly valued deal implies a price for Cameron’s stock of just over $66 per share, a 56% premium over its pre-announcement close.  With the assumption of $1.1 billion of Cameron debt, the deal’s total price approaches $15 billion.

This is not the first time in recent memory Schlumberger has sought to acquire an existing partner.  In 2010, it purchased Smith Int’l to gain needed Continue reading “Schlumberger Angles for Growth with Bid for Cameron”

Can a Struggling Transocean Reclaim Its Edge?

EnergyPoint Research

For many, the misfortune and missteps that have befallen Transocean in recent years have been painful to watch.  The bludgeoning began with fallout from the company’s role in the Macondo disaster.  Since then, the formerly top-rated offshore driller in EnergyPoint’s surveys has been waylaid by internal and external setbacks — poorly timed investments, credit downgrades, agitation from activist investors, low employee morale — leaving a battered operation to withstand the current downturn.

In an effort to right the ship, the company is aggressively scrapping older rigs and reducing expenses.  Plans for future capex have been cut, as have dividends.  Leadership changes have been made as well. Continue reading “Can a Struggling Transocean Reclaim Its Edge?”