Andrew Thomison

Willkie represented Pan Energy Infrastructure Fund as an equity investor in Trinity Gas Storage, LLC, a pioneering natural gas storage project located in East Texas. On September 8, Trinity announced that it completed a round of equity funding from an equity consortium consisting of Pan Energy Infrastructure Fund, Abrdn PLC, SailingStone Capital Partners LLC, and Rice Investment Group. This funding marks a crucial milestone in the development of Trinity’s natural gas storage facility, which is set to play a pivotal role in fortifying energy security across the region. Pan Energy Infrastructure Fund is a Houston-based infrastructure fund managed by Pan Capital Management LP. The Willkie team was led by partners Brad Honeycutt, Kris Agarwal and Tan Lu and included counsel Jason Nasra and associates Ryan McNamara and Rishika Nallapareddy. Partners Robert Jacobson and Andrew Thomison and associate Devin Ralston also advised on the transaction.

Sep 12

1 min

Willkie represented Charah Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of environmental services and byproduct recycling to the power generation industry, in connection with its acquisition by SER Capital Partners, a private investment firm focused on sustainable investment. On April 17, Charah Solutions announced that it entered into a definitive agreement with SER Capital Partners to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the company for $6.00 per share. Additionally, under the proposed transaction all of the issued and outstanding shares of Series A and Series B preferred stock of the company will be redeemed by Charah Solutions. Concurrently with the execution of the merger agreement, SER, Charah Solutions and Bernhard Capital Partners (BCP), the company's largest equity holder, entered into a voting and support agreement, pursuant to which BCP agreed to, among other things, vote its shares of capital stock in favor of the transaction. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Charah Solutions assists utilities and independent power producers with all aspects of sustainably managing and recycling ash byproducts generated from the combustion of coal in the production of electricity. The company also designs and implements solutions for ash pond management and closure, landfill construction, structural fill projects, power plant remediation and site redevelopment. SER Capital Partners is an independent, middle-market private equity firm dedicated to investing in North American sustainable industrial, environmental and renewable businesses. The Willkie team was led by partners Brian Lennon, Debra Sinclair, Justin Sommerkamp and Andrew Thomison.

Apr 20

1 min

Willkie recently represented energy storage business Caliche Development Partners II in its capital commitment transaction with Orion Infrastructure Capital and GCM Grosvenor and two related acquisitions. The first acquisition is of Golden Triangle Storage, a Texas gas storage business, from Southern Company. Willkie also advised Caliche on its agreement to acquire Central Valley Gas Storage, a California gas storage business, from Southern Company. The Central Value Gas Storage acquisition is subject to close upon certain regulatory approvals. The aggregate purchase price of the initial two acquisitions total $186 million, plus working capital and other adjustments. The Caliche platform is focused on expanding critical energy storage infrastructure for a range of customers across fuel types. The Willkie deal team was led by partner Archie Fallon and included partner Ryan Giggs, counsel Jason Nasra, and associates Emerson Girardeau and Zoe Sellman. The debt financing team was led by partner Andrew Thomison and included associate Matthew Vitorla.

Dec 5

1 min

Willkie recently represented Coterra Energy Inc., a Houston-based oil and gas exploration and production company, in the negotiation of a revolving credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. The aggregate revolving commitments under the facility are $1.5 billion, with a discretionary swingline sub-facility of up to $100 million and a letter of credit sub-facility of up to $500 million. The Willkie team was led by partner Andrew Thomison and included associates Michael Arena, Onik Deb and Evan Saunders.

Mar 27

1 min

Willkie advised Caliche in the acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests of Central Valley Gas Storage, L.L.C., a natural gas storage complex located north of Sacramento, California, from Nicor Energy Ventures Company, an affiliate of Southern Company Gas. This acquisition, together with the November 2022 acquisition of Golden Triangle Storage, Inc. from Southern Company Gas, has a combined value of approximately $186 million. The acquisitions, funded in part by capital commitments from Orion Infrastructure Capital and GCM Grosvenor, position Caliche to expand into hydrogen storage in two regions with increasing demand for storage to support variable power loads, natural gas liquefaction, and high penetrations of renewable resources. Caliche is a Houston-based company focused on the acquisition, development, construction, ownership and operation of underground storage assets and associated pipelines in North America, with a primary focus on the U.S. Gulf Coast. The Willkie team was led by partner Archie Fallon and included partner Andrew Thomison, counsel Emerson Girardeau, and associate Zoe Sellman.

Dec 21

1 min