Education and Honors

  • J.D. (magna cum laude), Arizona State University College of Law, 1984
    Order of the Coif
    Editor, Arizona State Law Journal
  • B.S. (with highest honors), accounting and business administration, University of Kansas, 1980
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2009 - 2011

Admissions/Affiliations

State Bar of Texas

Chair, Eanes Education Foundation (EEF) Leadership Society

Economic Development Council, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce

SafePlace Foundation, Board of Directors

98 San Jacinto Boulevard
Suite 1500
Austin, Texas 78701-4078
United States
Phone:
+1.512.322.2661
Fax:
+1.512.322.8349

Concentration

Mergers and acquisitions, energy projects, private equity and venture capital, securities offerings and compliance

Summary

Mike Bengtson represents business clients in a wide variety of transactional and other corporate matters, with extensive experience in the energy, technology and life sciences industries.

Mr. Bengtson leads transaction teams in complex mergers and acquisitions, providing counsel to strategic and financial buyers and sellers on acquisitions and divestitures, including controlled auctions, negotiated acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, tender offers and distressed sale processes.

Within the energy industry, Mr. Bengtson represents industry participants in structuring and documenting upstream, midstream and downstream energy projects, including joint development transactions involving shale properties.

Mr. Bengtson represents private equity firms in portfolio company acquisitions and dispositions and other investments. He also represents issuers, investment banking firms and selling stockholders in public securities offerings and private placements.

Representative Engagements

Mergers and Acquisitions: Energy

    Upstream

  • $13.3 billion divestiture of offshore and onshore E&P operations to multiple buyers
  • $240 million Section 363 bankruptcy acquisition of an exploration and production company
  • $700 million auction process acquisition of foreign-owned domestic exploration and production business
  • $250 million auction process sale of independent energy company 
  • $170 million auction process sale of oil and gas divisions 
  • $500 million negotiated sale of unconventional properties 
  • $770 million auction process acquisition of the energy subsidiaries of a utility company 
  • $150 million acquisition of oil and gas properties 
  • $200 million merger of an operating division into an independent oil company
  • Acquisition of overriding royalty interests covering offshore blocks 
  • Representation of public and private energy companies in numerous acquisitions of exploration and production properties and companies

    Midstream/Downstream

  • $1.4 billion sale of majority interest in oil storage terminal 
  • $390 million auction process sale of FERC-regulated pipeline 
  • $275 million negotiated sale of intrastate gas pipeline and storage facility
  • $340 million auction process sale of a natural gas midstream business unit 
  • $275 million sale of a crude oil pipeline and storage company

Energy Projects and Joint Ventures

  • Joint venture and sale transaction involving Eagle Ford shale properties
  • Multi-year farmin and joint development program involving Arkoma Woodford shale properties
  • Equalization of interests and joint development transaction involving gas reserves and gathering system
  • Integrated tertiary oil recovery project, including long term supply and transportation arrangements 
  • Sale of equity interests in an integrated South American LNG project
  • Representation of industry participants in upstream and midstream energy jointly developed projects

Mergers and Acquisitions: Technology

  • $700 million negotiated sale of financial services company
  • $80 million negotiated sale of a software company
  • $55 million auction process sale of software company
  • Stock for stock merger of two financial services companies
  • Various sales and acquisitions of venture-backed technology companies

Private Equity Transactions

  • Representation of private equity firms in leveraged and other buyouts
  • Representation of technology and life sciences companies in early and late stage venture capital financings
  • Representation of investors in private equity and hedge funds

Securities Offerings

  • Equity public offerings including IPOs, follow-on offerings and secondary offerings
  • Private placements of equity and debt

Publications, Speeches and Presentations

  • “Shifting Trends in Exit Alternatives: IPO, M&A and Recaps,” Venture Capital Financing Seminar, Austin, October 2011
  • “Recent Securities Law Developments: Impact on Mergers and Acquisitions,” SEC Hot Topics Seminar, Merrill Corporation, Austin, October 2005 
  • Moderator, CEO Panel: “What Did It Take to Start a Company?” Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, Austin, November 2004