3i is a global partner for companies in the upstream oil and gas sector. We made our first investment at the beginning of the North Sea oil and gas industry in the 1970s. Since then we have invested in some of the leading companies in the oil service and the exploration and production sectors. We have a portfolio of 17 companies with a combined equity commitment of more than $1.4bn. We focus on supplying growth capital to expanding businesses and buying existing businesses with growth potential.
The upstream sector has two main elements:
- Exploration and Production (E&P) companies discover, develop and produce hydrocarbons, own and license reserves, and finance and manage operations.
- Oil services are mostly contracted out to a large and broad sector, which provides products, people and technology for all elements of drilling, evaluation, development, construction and production.
We also invest in the midstream gas and power sector, which includes companies that develop, generate, store and transmit energy.
The energy industry is going through a period of profound and fundamental change which is creating numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs to seek partnership with a leading private equity firm:
- The oil, gas and power service industry is showing strong growth driven by increasing global energy demand.
- High oil prices are here for the foreseeable future, driven by economic growth in Asia where energy demand is growing by between 4% and 8% per annum.
- Reserves are concentrated in the Middle East and Russia, benefiting those who can operate there successfully.
- Elsewhere, the industry is fragmenting as established producing areas like the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Asia mature.
As one of the world’s leading private equity investors in the sector, we help oil, gas and power companies to capitalise on these opportunities, using our knowledge base and global network to add value.
We typically invest in companies that are:
- Innovative and flexible
- Mobile and scaleable
- Able to work in partnership
