Strong Demand Bodes Well For U.S. Midstream Energy Companies 28 June
NEW YORK June 28, 2006--Strong current and expected future demand for natural gas and refined petroleum products and decades of underinvestment in related infrastructure have created a favorable growth and cash flow landscape for master limited partnerships in the U.S. midstream energy sector, according to a report published today by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services titled "Industry Report Card: Infrastructure Spending To Continue For U.S. Midstream Energy Companies."
Recent developments in the midstream sector have included greater participation by private equity firms and an effort by Kinder Morgan Inc. to take its general partner stake out of the public equity markets through a proposed leveraged buyout.
"The prevailing consideration in many recent transactions is finding the optimal capitalization as the sector shifts from a historically low-spending, maintenance-oriented model to one of much bigger spending on multiyear, growth-oriented projects and a greater willingness to pursue acquisitions," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst John Whitlock.
Key factors for the sector for the rest of 2006 include:
-- Continuing merger and acquisition activity,
-- Organic growth opportunities and infrastructure spending,
-- Access to capital markets, and
-- Ownership structure.
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