Mexico's energy reforms promise to create abundant opportunities for U.S. firms

HOUSTON, Jan. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mexico's energy reforms will create "abundant opportunities" for U.S. energy companies and shrink the socioeconomic disparities between Texas' booming metro areas and its border cities, according to the latest BBVA Compass research.

Mexico's Congress approved energy reform legislation last month that allows private firms to invest in the state-owned energy industry for the first time in 75 years. It was lauded as the biggest economic breakthrough in the nation since the North American Free Trade Agreement was signed in 1992.

"The 2013 reform promises to create abundant opportunities for private companies that have the technology and expertise to revive Mexico's hydrocarbons and electricity industries," BBVA Compass economist Marcial Nava wrote in his report on the reforms.

While secondary laws are still needed to translate the reforms into a workable framework and legal processes, U.S. oilfield services, shale gas and infrastructure companies, among others, stand to benefit from the reforms, Nava wrote.

He predicts the reforms will pump around $1.2 trillion to the Texas-Northern Mexico region in the next decade. In the U.S., Mexico's reforms will create faster growth, helping to narrow the socio-economic disparities between Texas' border cities and metro areas like Houston, Dallas and Austin.              

"If these border towns effectively seize the opportunity," Nava said, the U.S.-Mexico border "could see one of the most dramatic transformations in its history."

To learn more about what energy reform in Mexico will mean, please join the bank's economists for a web conference and conference call at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28. To access the online meeting, click here. If asked, enter the meeting number 719 862 185 and password bbva. For the conference call, dial 1-877-768-4036 or 1-972-932-2100 and enter access code 719 862 185. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.

Led by BBVA Compass Chief Economist Nathaniel Karp, the bank's seven-member research team analyzes the U.S. economy and Federal Reserve monetary policy. For its analyses, the economists create models and forecasts for growth, inflation, monetary policy and industries. The economic research team also follows a variety of issues that affect the Sunbelt states where BBVA Compass operates.

In addition to Karp and Nava, the bank's economic research group includes Kim Fraser, Jason Frederick, Shushanik Papanyan, Boyd Nash-Stacey and Michael Soni. Follow their work on Twitter @BBVAResearchUSA and @BBVACompassNews.

About BBVA Group
BBVA Compass is a subsidiary of BBVA Compass Bancshares Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of BBVA (NYSE: BBVA) (MAD: BBVA). BBVA is a customer-centric global financial services group founded in 1857. The Group has a solid position in Spain, is the largest financial institution in Mexico and has leading franchises in South America and the Sunbelt region of the United States. Its diversified business is geared toward high-growth markets and relies on technology as a key sustainable competitive advantage. Corporate responsibility is at the core of its business model. BBVA fosters financial education and inclusion, and supports scientific research and culture. It operates with the highest integrity, a long-term vision and applies best practices. The Group is present in the main sustainability indexes. More information about the BBVA Group can be found at www.bbva.com.

About BBVA Compass
BBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 687 branches, including 351 in Texas, 90 in Alabama, 78 in Arizona, 64 in California, 45 in Florida, 38 in Colorado and 21 in New Mexico. BBVA Compass ranks among the top 25 largest U.S. commercial banks based on deposit market share and ranks among the largest banks in Alabama (2nd), Texas (4th) and Arizona (5th). BBVA Compass has been recognized as one of the leading small business lenders by the Small Business Administration and was recently awarded the 2013 Celent Model Bank Award for its new core banking platform. Additional information about BBVA Compass can be found at www.bbvacompass.com.

Editor's Note:
BBVA Compass is a trade name of Compass Bank, Member FDIC.

Video with caption: "BBVA Compass is a trade name of Compass Bank, Member FDIC. Marcial Nava, a BBVA Compass economist, says Mexico's energy reforms will be good for the U.S. economy." Video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1dTIsZmMz8&feature=youtu.be

SOURCE BBVA Compass

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