Monday, April 28, 2025

Management News

Elliott, an activist investor, calls for a change in BP's strategy chief and organizational structure

A source familiar with this situation on Friday said that activist investor Elliott Investment Management is pushing oil major BP's strategy chief to be replaced and its structure changed to separate its upstream and downstream divisions to improve accountability. Elliott has a small stake in BP of a little over 5%. The strategy, sustainability, and ventures division of BP is headed by Giulia Chiarchia.

REFILE-ConocoPhillips plans layoffs as part of broad restructuring

ConocoPhillips plans to reduce staff. The company announced this on Tuesday. This is part of a broader effort to control costs and streamline operations following its $23 billion purchase of Marathon Oil. Job cuts are a sign of the pain that the oil and gas sector is experiencing as it faces higher costs and lower revenue due to prices hovering around $63 per barrel.

Elliott presses BP to boost free cash flow by 40% via spending reductions, FT reports

The Financial Times reported that Elliott Management, an activist investor, has urged BP a 40% increase in its free cash flow through spending cuts. Elliott wants BP to focus on achieving a $20 billion annual free cash flow target by 2027 instead of growing its oil business, according to a report citing sources familiar with the issue. BP has worked to increase its share price…

Trump Administration kicks off plan to expand offshore drilling

The U.S. The U.S. Donald Trump ordered the government to find ways to increase U.S. oil production. He argued that previous administrations had curtailed drilling unnecessarily to combat climate changes. He also rescinded the efforts of former president Joe Biden to stop oil drilling in the Arctic, and large areas along the U.S. Atlantic Coast and Pacific Coast.

After hearing, US judge decides on bid starting price in Citgo parent sale

In the coming days, a U.S. Court is expected to confirm and reject a $3.7billion offer made by an affiliate of Contrarian Funds. The offer was intended to set a floor price for a second round of bidding for shares in Citgo Petroleum's parent company. Citgo, America's seventh-largest refiner, was the subject of a Thursday hearing at which creditors made their case.

BP shareholders punish Helge Lind with low support

BP's Murray Auchincloss, CEO and Helge Lund, Chair were reelected on Thursday. However, the dramatically reduced level of support from shareholders for Lund may mean that his departure earlier than expected is possible. BP's Board was up for reelection at the annual general meeting. The group faced activist shareholder Elliott Management, as well as criticism from climate-focused shareholders who had demanded a vote against Lund.

Prices to fall as demand falls ahead of the holiday

The German wholesale electricity price on Thursday was expected to fall over the four-day holidays due to low consumption. The indication for the next day's working day, which is April 22, was nearly half of the price paid for delivery on Friday. The week-ahead contract in France was priced below Wednesday's closing price. LSEG's research noted a reduction in demand during the holiday season…

BP's leadership is facing shareholder votes amid Elliott campaign and climate ire

BP's Board is up for reelection on Thursday at its annual meeting. The group will be facing activist shareholder Elliott Management, as well as climate-focused investors that have asked for a vote to remove Chairman Helge Lind. BP's stock, which has underperformed rivals Shell and Exxon in recent months, is under pressure to increase its share price. This comes after U.S.

Elliott builds $1.5-billion stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise

A person with knowledge of the matter confirmed on Tuesday that hedge fund Elliott Investment Management had built up a stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise worth more than $1.5 Billion. Elliott, one the world's largest activist investors, is now among the biggest investors in the company and plans to engage the management, according to the person who wasn't allowed to discuss the campaign publically.

European shares increase as Trump lowers China tariffs

After U.S. president Donald Trump exempted smartphones and computers from China's steep tariffs, a rally in technology shares helped lift European stocks on Monday. This provided markets with a breather after weeks of sharp fluctuations. STOXX 600, the pan-European index, was up 2.1% at 0824 GMT after posting its third consecutive week of losses on Friday.

Bloomberg News reports that Abu Dhabi's ADNOC is considering a bid for Aethon US natgas assets.

Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported Friday that Abu Dhabi's state oil company ADNOC was considering a bid to acquire natural gas assets from investment firm Aethon Energy Management, which could be worth up to $9 billion. ADNOC is acquiring a number of companies in the gas and chemical industries, which it sees as important pillars to its future growth.

US no longer requires green analyses for oil and gas leases in Western States

The Trump Administration announced on Thursday that they will no longer be requiring environmental impact statements (EIS) for oil and natural gas leases in the U.S. West. This is a move to remove green barriers that will likely be challenged in court by environmental groups. Interior Department released a statement saying that its Bureau of Land…

Oil advocate withdraws nomination for US Land Bureau

Senator Mike Lee announced at a Senate Hearing on Thursday that oil industry lobbyist Kathleen Sgamma had withdrawn her nomination for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Sgamma was scheduled to appear before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Thursday morning to discuss her nomination. Lee announced the news at the beginning of the hearing.

BP warns about lower production in the first quarter and weak gas sales

Energy group BP said that it expects the first-quarter production of oil and gas to be lower than in the previous quarter. Lower gas output in Egypt and Trinidad and asset sales will offset gains in oil. The trading update provides an early look at BP's performance in its first quarter, as the company faces investor pressure on capital discipline, share repurchases and energy transition.

GE Vernova will supply turbines for a planned natgas plant in Pennsylvania by 2026

GE Vernova is helping to transform Homer City Generating Station, a coal-powered power plant in Pennsylvania, into a campus of natural gas powered data centers by providing seven turbines that will produce almost 4.5 gigawatts. The project should begin generating power in 2027. It will be the largest natural-gas power plant in the U.S. once it is completed.

Helge Lound, BP chairman, to resign amid Elliott campaign

BP Chairman Helge Lund plans to step down in "likely 2026", and the process of selecting his successor has begun, BP announced on Friday. This comes amid a campaign from activist hedge fund Elliott to bring about more change within the company. Lund had backed BP’s 2020 strategy, which included an ambition to reduce its hydrocarbon production by 40% in this decade.

Chevron will pay $740 Million to restore Louisiana's coastline, reports AP

The Associated Press reported that Chevron had been ordered to pay $740m to repair damages caused by the oil and gas giant to the coastal wetlands of southeast Louisiana. Report: The jury's verdict awarded $575,000,000 for compensation for land losses, $161,000,000 for contamination, and $8,000,000 for abandoned equipment. The original lawsuit was filed in 2013 by the Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana.

Mitsubishi to invest $27 billion in the next three years to drive growth

Mitsubishi Corp, a Japanese trading company, said it would invest 4 trillion yen (about 27 billion dollars) in the next three financial years to boost growth. It also aims to increase its net profit from 1.2 trillion to 1.2 trillion by 2027/28. Mitsubishi announced its new management strategy for the next three years, starting this month. It also stated that it would continue its basic policy…

Octopus Energy, a British company, has bought a stake in the East Anglia One windfarm

Octopus Energy, a British company, announced on Thursday that its Octopus Energy Generation division had purchased a 10% share in the East Anglia One Wind Farm, which is one of the largest operating wind farms in the world, supplying electricity to around 700,000 households a year. The unit's fourth investment in an offshore wind farm in Britain and seventh in Europe, the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Lithuanian official: EU could aggregate the demand for US gas in trade negotiations

As part of the negotiations with President Donald Trump, Lithuania's Energy Minister said on Tuesday that the European Union might consider aggregating their member countries' demands to buy U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas in an effort to avoid a trade conflict. Maros SEFCIOVIC, EU Trade Commissioner, said that LNG could be included in negotiations when…

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