Bregal Partners has formed Aqua Terra Water Management to serve as an acquisition and organic growth platform providing water management and disposal services to onshore oilfield customers in North America.
Aqua Terra has made its first investment through the acquisition of Four Winds Energy Services, an operator of Class 1b and Class II water disposal facilities in Alberta, Canada. Four Winds is headquartered in Grande Prairie, Alberta (www.fourwindsmidstream.com).
Aqua Terra is actively seeking greenfield development opportunities and acquisitions in both the U.S. and Canada.
“Having spent a year studying the oilfield water management industry, traveling throughout the US and Canada to visit with a variety of industry players in a number of key producing basins, we are excited today to announce the formation of Aqua Terra and to embark on an aggressive growth plan to build a leading North American water management company that seeks to be best in class in safety and environmentally sound business practices,” said Scott Perekslis, Managing Partner and co-founder of Bregal Partners. “The growing use of hydrofracturing techniques to complete wells in emerging and unconventional light oil plays is creating increased demand for the handling of both frac water and water produced over the life of a well. Through Aqua Terra’s acquisition of Four Winds, we gain both an experienced management team led by Tom Johnston and a compelling entry point into the growing light oil plays of Western Canada.”
Bregal Partners invests from $25 million to $75 million of equity in companies operating in the consumer, food & retail, energy services and healthcare industries. Target investments generate $15 million to $75 million or more of EBITDA. Bregal Partners is based in New York (www.bregalpartners.com).
“Our partnership with Bregal places the Four Winds on a clear path to broaden our service offerings and to expand into new geographies via greenfield development and strategic acquisitions,” said Tom Johnston, President and co-owner of Four Winds. “Bregal’s financial acumen and resources are considerable and will help accelerate our growth initiatives. Moreover, it is important for us to work with a capital partner who knows our industry and understands its key drivers.”
Canaccord Genuity served as financial advisor to Bregal Partners on the acquisition of Four Winds Energy Services.
© 2013 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 11-12-13
