Westlake Securities to hold second annual energy conference in Austin, Texas

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Westlake Securities, LLC is pleased to announce its second annual energy conference to be held in Austin, TX in September.

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The New Frontiers in Energy Conference 2012, at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center on Tuesday, September 25, is expected to attract over 150 delegates and will have three separate tracks: energy services, exploration and production, and alternative uses of natural gas.

Westlake Securities Managing Director Randy Finch said with the high current level of activity in the energy sector driving corporate finance activities and merger and acquisition opportunities, Westlake is addressing the need to bring energy executives, institutional investors and other deal professionals together for networking and exploring opportunities to work together. 

"We believe that significant potential benefits will be derived by conference attendees, speakers and sponsors as a result of the ideas and relationships developed at the event.

"I am especially looking forward to our new Dealmakers' Roundtable. We are experiencing a rapidly evolving deal environment today as we shake off the effects of the 2008 financial crisis and resulting recession, coupled with the current economic and political uncertainties.  At the same time, American companies have strong balance sheets and record cash reserves, leaving them poised for transactional opportunities.  The experienced deal professionals on the Dealmakers Roundtable will address many of these issues."

This year's conference follows a very successful inaugural event in 2011.  

"Last year we had around 70 registrants and 10 speakers.  This year registrations are well up and we have over 30 speakers so it is shaping up to be a great conference.  We are privileged to have Grant Thornton as our title sponsor this year.

"This conference provides a forum in which we can create a dialog about the opportunities and challenges the energy industry faces today and in the future," Brandon Cradeur, Grant Thornton's Houston Transaction Advisory Services Practice Leader, said.  "The opportunity to collaborate with some of the industry's leading experts is key to developing viable growth in this field."

Keynote speakers are energy commentator and author Robert Bryce, www.robertbryce.com, and Kent Wilkinson of Chesapeake Energy's Natural Gas Ventures team.

Presenting companies this year include:

• American Power Group
• Applied Natural Gas Fuels
• Baker Hughes
• Blue Dolphin Petroleum
• Callon Petroleum Company
• CAP Resources
• Chesapeake Energy
• Clean Energy Fuels
• Chroma Oil&Gas
• Drillinginfo
• Energy Partners Ltd
• Energy Transfer Partners
• FTS International
• Geokinetics
• Gladstein Neandross
• Global Geophysical Services
• Green Energy Oilfield Services
• Green Field Energy Services
• ION Geophysical
• KiOR
• Leopard Energy
• Midstates Petroleum
• P2 Energy Solutions
• Prometheus Energy
• R3 Sciences
• Synthesis Energy Systems
• TransAtlantic Petroleum
• VAALCO Energy
• Venado Oil & Gas
• Westport

"Invited institutional investors represent a healthy mix of generalist and energy-focused analysts/portfolio managers from pension funds, mutual funds, hedge funds and private equity groups," Mr. Finch said.

"Investor one-on-ones are always key for attendees and we anticipate heavy demand for those again this year.

"Success in business is all about relationships.  You never know when you may meet the person or company that becomes the vital link in your next business venture.  Westlake Securities' New Frontiers in Energy Conference 2012 aims to help connect energy-focused professionals who share each other's goals." 

The conference will open with a cocktail reception on the evening of September 24^th, with the main presentations on Tuesday September 25 across Exploration and Production, Energy Services and Alternative Uses of Natural Gas tracks.  The conference will conclude with a dealmakers panel to discuss current factors impacting the M&A environment, something that should be of broad interest.

Silver sponsors are:

• Salof
• Dynamic Global Advisors
• Applied Natural Gas Fuels
• Green Energy Oilfield Services
• Owner Resource Group

About Westlake Securities, LLC
Westlake Securities, LLC is a Texas-based investment banking firm with offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston and Lafayette, serving middle market companies.  Westlake's clients include family-owned businesses, privately held companies, private equity and venture capital funds and publicly traded companies.  Services include equity capital formation, debt placement, merger and acquisition advisory, fairness opinions and valuations.  Westlake is a member of FINRA and SIPC.  Please visit www.westlakesecurities.com for further information.

About Grant Thornton, LLP
Grant Thornton LLP is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd.  Grant Thornton International Ltd and its member firms are not a worldwide partnership, as each member firm is a separate and distinct legal identity. In the U.S., visit Grant Thornton LLP at www.GrantThornton.com.

SOURCE Westlake Securities, LLC