KKR, Chesapeake collaborate on energy investment

[March 06, 2012]  HOUSTON (AP) -- Investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Chesapeake Energy Corp. are teaming up to invest in mineral and royalty interests in key U.S. oil and gas basins.

The companies said Tuesday that they will initially contribute a combined $250 million to the partnership. Chesapeake, the second-largest natural gas producer in the U.S., will pay 10 percent of that amount and source, acquire and manage the royalty investment opportunities.

Chesapeake's stock fell 13 cents to $24.10 in premarket trading.

Investment firms are playing a bigger role in the oil and gas sector, as Cheniere Energy said last week that it will receive $2 billion in financing from The Blackstone Group to fund the construction of a natural gas export plant in Louisiana.

Chesapeake is based in Oklahoma City, while KKR is based in New York.

[Associated Press]

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