Global Natural Resource Investments

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Global Natural Resource Investments was previously known as Barclays Natural Resource Investments (BNRI), the private equity arm of Barclays Bank specialising in energy and commodity investments.

A management buyout in October 2015 saw BNRI's portfolio transferred to a new standalone company named Global Natural Resource Investments (GNRI), operating under the same staff. [1] The move meant that Barclays discontinued the right to run BNRI as its own business and would stop further investments, but GNRI would continue to manage its standing 17 investments on behalf of the bank, including ownership of shale gas explorer Third Energy UK. [2]

Barclays had originally sought to sell the entire portfolio of BNRI along with its management team, but failed to secure an appropriate buyer. GNRI has an estimated $1.7 billion in standalone funds, including investments from Barclays and the Qatar Investment Authority, and has plans to raise a further $1-$1.5 billion in 2016-2017. [3]

Activities

Its portfolio has a focus on upstream oil and gas, upstream mining, and power and renewables.

Sources uniquely well-placed management teams in specific niches of the natural resources sector and aligns interests with them through 'skin-in-the-game' and long-term incentives. [4]

Portfolio

In 2014 BNRI had 'committed over $2 billion to more than 20 portfolio companies and management teams'. Investments included:


Barclays owns 97 percent of Third Energy UK Gas Ltd [5].

Barclays' investment in the fracking industry has proved highly controversial, sparking strong protest from affected communities and environmental campaigners.[6] In May 2016, Third Energy was granted approval to extract shale gas at a site near Kirby Misperton in Ryedale, the first fracking operation in England since 2012. [7] The move was met with overwhelming local opposition, and contributed to further public malaise towards Barclays' investment in the energy firm.


Partial investments

Includes:

Realised investments

  • Caiman Energy - 'a midstream energy company focused on providing the infrastructure necessary to move natural gas products from the wellhead to market, primarily in unconventional resource plays across the US'. Invested: July 2010 Exited: March 2012
  • Greenergy - 'an originator, manufacturer, blender and supplier of petroleum transportation fuels and biofuels into the UK market. Led by Andrew Owens, management has established Greenergy as the UK's largest independent oil company and one of its top three fuel suppliers'. Invested: June 2006, Exited : May 2010
  • INR Energy, led by Gary Rogliano was formed in 2007 to invest in all aspects of mining including coal and industrial minerals mining operations. Invested: April 2007 Exited : July 2010 [8]

People

Affiliations

Notes

  1. Joseph Cotterill, Barclays spins out resources buyout arm, Financial Times, 28 October 2015, accessed 20 October 2016.
  2. MBO at Barclays Natural Resource Investments creates new PE firm GNRI, Private Equity Wire, 28 October 2015, accessed 20 October 2016.
  3. Martin Arnold and Madison Marriage, Management to buy Barclays private equity arm after stalled sale, Financial Times, June 25 2015, accessed 20 October 2016.
  4. Barclays Natural Resource Investments, website, acc 12 May 2014
  5. Emily Gosden, Barclays invests in shale gas revolution, The Telegraph, 30 November 2013, accessed 20 October 2016
  6. Tony Bosworth, Why Barclays' fracking excuses don't add up, Friends of the Earth, 13 October 2015, accessed 20 October 2016.
  7. Landmark North Yorkshire fracking operation approved, BBC News, 23 May 2016, accessed 14 September 2016.
  8. Realised Investments, Barclays Natural Resources Investment, undated, acc 12 May 2014
  9. Managing Directors and Directors, website, acc 12 May 2014