Ares EIF Group to buy Van Hook Gathering System

Ares EIF Group, a subsidiary of Ares Management LP, has agreed to acquire Van Hook Gathering System from WPX Energy. The value of the transaction is $185 million. The deal is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of this year. Based in North Dakota, Van Hook Gathering System consists of a oil, natural gas and water gathering system.

PRESS RELEASE

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ares Management, L.P. (NYSE:ARES) announced today that a fund managed by its Ares EIF Group has entered into a definitive agreement with WPX Energy (NYSE: WPX) to acquire the Van Hook Gathering System in North Dakota in a transaction valued at $185 million. While the transaction is subject to customary conditions, it is expected to close during the fourth quarter.

The acquisition consists of pipeline systems that currently gather approximately 11,000 barrels of oil, 6,500 million cubic feet of natural gas, and 5,000 barrels of water per day from WPX Energy’s Bakken shale oil assets. WPX Energy will continue to operate the Van Hook Gathering System.

“We are excited to make this acquisition since it fits the type of investment that the Ares EIF Group targets – a strong performing asset with stable and capable management and the potential for future expansion,” said Terence Darby, Partner and Co-Head of the Ares EIF Group.

About Ares
Ares is a publicly traded, leading global alternative asset manager with approximately $88 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2015 and more than 15 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Since its inception in 1997, Ares has adhered to a disciplined investment philosophy that focuses on delivering strong risk-adjusted investment returns throughout market cycles. Ares believes each of its four distinct but complementary investment groups in Tradable Credit, Direct Lending, Private Equity and Real Estate is a market leader based on assets under management and investment performance. Ares was built upon the fundamental principle that each group benefits from being part of the greater whole.

The Ares EIF Group, formerly known as Energy Investors Funds (EIF), was acquired by Ares in January 2015. Founded in 1987, Ares EIF has a 28-year track record and is one of the first managers focused on the independent power and electric utility industry. Ares EIF’s investment strategy is to create geographically and technologically diversified portfolios of energy infrastructure investments via acquisitions as well as development and construction across the power generation, transmission and midstream sectors.