Owen
owensanderson.bsky.social
Owen
@owensanderson.bsky.social
Asset-based finance editor at 9fin. Loves weird credit, unhealthy interest in financial structuring. My free newsletter is here https://9fin.com/insights/excess-spread-dreams-disasters-cars
...and Magnetar is all over the cap stack....easier to get the company to do GPU deals when you also own the stock, converts and regular bonds
July 9, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Do I want to run a refinery? No. Do I have the money to run a refinery? Also no. But it is kind of amazing how little money down one needs to pick up major strategic assets in this space
July 8, 2025 at 7:43 PM
The actual working capital that Prax didn't borrow was just a tiny sliver, basically whatever crude was in the cracker?
July 8, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Prax had this working capital, $518m of recievables securitisation. Glencore owned the crude, and it discounted the invoices from selling the petrol as soon as it was out the door
July 8, 2025 at 7:43 PM
The working capital bit is supet interesting too, as the FT piece highlights
July 8, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Instead they ended up doing "private credit" deals at like 20% with the kind of funds you don't mess with...and spending the money on a massive acqusition bender
July 8, 2025 at 7:43 PM
If they'd come out six months earlier people would buy any old shit with minimal covenants, they'd probably be in a consensual restructuring rn trying all kinds of chicanery to keep the keys
July 8, 2025 at 7:43 PM
But still maybe the bond deal they tried to do in 2022 could have saved them?
July 8, 2025 at 7:43 PM
FT is right to point out that extracting $500m of synergies from a $167m acquisition seemed pretty punchy www.ft.com/content/5113...
Too big too fast: how $10bn UK energy challenger Prax unravelled
Collapse of Lindsey refinery owner is a cautionary tale of a company lacking financial heft to manage its sprawling operations
www.ft.com
July 8, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Look at this thing it's an absolute beast
July 8, 2025 at 7:43 PM
First, isn't it wild that you can just buy an oil refinery for $167m? Like, I walked past suburban london property worth more than that taking my daughter to school
July 8, 2025 at 7:43 PM
November 20, 2024 at 11:12 PM