2015 Oil & Gas Institute

Course Agenda:

7:45 a.m. - Texas Oil and Gas: Regulations, Challenges and Opportunities

Gain a comprehensive update from the Texas Railroad Commission on all aspects of oil and gas regulation with insights directly from the organization.

David Porter/Commissioner/Railroad Commission of Texas/Austin

8:15 a.m. - The Domestic and International Political Impact of U.S. Shale Energy

Determine how the U.S. finds itself in the unexpected position of the top hydrocarbon producer in the world, which has brought major shifts in domestic and international political and economic perceptions. Learn how policy decisions underway in Washington and foreign capitals that adjust to the new paradigm, are charting new waters and will have a lasting effect. Explore the questions policy-makers are grappling with and their likely outcomes.

Garrett Golding/Vice President/The Rapidan Group/Dallas

8:55 a.m. - Acquisitions and Dispositions of Oil and Gas Assets-Structuring Considerations

Explore relevant corporate and securities, federal income and state tax and oil and gas considerations in the acquisition and disposition of oil and gas assets, including through private investment funds and other pooled investment vehicles. Discuss legal trends and issues in the U.S. upstream and midstream and oil and gas acquisition and divesture market. Explore state tax due diligence, franchise tax apportionment and Texas sales tax occasional sale exemption issues often encountered in the acquisition and disposition of gathering or midstream assets.

William H. Hornberger/Attorney/Jackson Walker, LLP

Cale McDowell/Attorney/Jackson Walker, LLP

Steve Moore/Attorney/Jackson Walker LLP

9:35 a.m. - Tailwinds and Headwinds for the U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Outlook

Gain details of the major tailwinds and headwinds ahead for the U.S. oil and natural gas macro. Examine the Simmons forecast/view for each commodity.

Pearce W. Hammond, CFA/Managing Director/Simmons & Company/Houston

10:05 a.m. - BREAK

10:20 a.m.  - Valuing the Deal and Current Market Trends

Cover current themes in oil and gas private equity and examine what private equity firms look for in an investment opportunity. Explore proven value creation strategies, as well as an acquisition case study. Review the value creation, capital preservation and other important related topics.

Luke Brandenberg/Vice Presiden/EnCap Instruments, LP/Dallas

11:00 a.m. - Buying Opportunities from the Midstream Oil and Gas Private Equity Perspective

Focus on the emergence of midstream private equity, and the opportunities and challenges of midstream current trends. Learn about identifying and evaluating buying and selling opportunities, valuation attributes of midstream vs. upstream, oilfield services and more. Examine case studies related to these issues.

Chandler Phillips, NA/Vice President/Energy Spectrum Capital/Dallas

Barb Bomersbach, CFA, CPA/Chief Financial Officer/Tristate Midstream/Denton

11:40 a.m. - Government Investigations and Prosecution of Oil and Gas Fraud

Discuss recent civil enforcement and criminal actions involving oil and gas funds and ventures that include issuer disclosure: use of proceeds, prior activities, and projections of returns. Review use of Joint Venture Structure and issuer accounting: commingling of funds and use of new offerings to prop up older offerings. Explore sales practices: broker-dealer due diligence, captive broker-dealers and use of unregistered brokers. Learn when to determine if a civil oil and gas matter turns into criminal case.

Andy Williams/Assistant United States Attorney

Jason Rennie/Special Agent Federal Bureau of Investigations

Jonathan Scott/Office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Michael Uhl/Partner/Fitzpatrick Hagood Smith & Uhl, LLP

12:20 p.m. - LUNCH BREAK

1:30 p.m. - Fund Structures to Raise and Deploy Capital in the Energy Markets

Through a panel format, discuss the various types of fund structures, including hedge fund, PE, 40-Act and Insurance Dedicated while discovering the pros and cons of each based on the target investment and likely investor base from a compliance, operations and legal perspective.

Michael “Mickey” Minces, JD/Co-founder & General Counsel/Blue River Partners, LLC/Dallas

Anna Hawkins, CPA/Managing Director/Blue River Partners, LLC/Dallas

Michael Passmore/Director/Blue River Partners, LLC/Dallas

Scott Hensell, CPA/Chief Financial Officer/Blue River Partners, LLC/Dallas

2:05 p.m. - Valuation Considerations in Oil and Gas Transactions

As a result of the decline in the oil and gas prices and current state of the industry, examine some of the key valuation and financial considerations in oil and gas transactions.

Shishir R. Khetan, CFA/Managing Director/Stout Risius Ross, Inc./Houston

2:45 p.m. - BREAK

3:00 p.m. - Accounting and Financial Reporting Update

Review US GAAP and SEC Accounting Update focused on the energy industry.

Nathen J. McEown, CPA/Audit Partner/Whitley Penn LLP/Dallas

3:40 p.m. - Recent Developments in Oil and Gas Law

Gain a comprehensive summary of recent developments in oil and gas law.

Vance P. Freeman, Esq./President/Freeman Mills PC/Longvie

4:10 p.m. - Alternative Financing in Oil and Gas

Cover a variety of alternative financing options, such as acquisition funds, high yield, JVs, VPPs, and more. Explore personal experiences in executing these types of various structures.

Marc Rowland/Senior Managing Director/IOG Capital, LP/Dallas

4:50 p.m. - E&P Restructuring: The Pace Quickens

Gain an overview of the current E&P restructuring environment and the challenges facing operators today.

Wade Stubblefield/Managing Director/Opportune LLP/Houston

5:30 p.m. - ADJOURN