• Warburg Pincus Group Reunites With Texas Wildcatters, Staking $780 Million in Shale Startup

    Move illustrates how private-equity firms are willing to spend increasing amounts of money on U.S. energy exploration.

    A group led by Warburg Pincus LLC has agreed to invest $780 million in an oil-exploration company, one of the largest private equity investments in a shale startup.

    ATX Energy Partners plans to use the money to acquire large assets from big oil companies or to make multiple smaller deals, according to people familiar with the matter. The company is named after Austin, Texas, where it makes its headquarters.


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