The Everest platform is owned by Harbour Energy, the only large PE-backed firm to make it onto the public markets
UKCS still attracting buyers
Healthy appetite remains despite an evolving oil and gas landscape
It is perhaps a little surprising, with Cop26 and Shell’s decision to put the West of Shetland (WoS) Cambo oil project on hold fresh in our memories, to consider that there remains strong appetite from a select group of buyers to acquire assets on the UK continental shelf (UKCS). Last year saw a flurry of transactional activity, with several large deals announced. Neo Energy, financed by Norwegian private equity (PE) firm Hitec Vision, was particularly active, acquiring assets from ExxonMobil, Japan’s JX Nippon and fellow PE-backed producer Zennor Petroleum. North Sea-focused independents Ithaca Energy, Enquest and Waldorf Production also picked up notable assets. The assumption of maintaine
Also in this section
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
12 December 2025
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal
