Oil States International, Inc. (OIS): 1 Energy Company Accommodating Investors to Unlock Value

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There has been a lot of talk recently among management teams of energy companies about creating or enhancing shareholder value. For the most part, this is just speculation. One company, however, has decided that it’s time to accommodate investors and do more than just talk. That company is Oil States International, Inc.  (NYSE:OIS), which announced that it is spinning off its accommodations business into a separately traded public company.

Photo Credit: Oil States International

Accommodations is an interesting business for Oil States International, Inc. (NYSE:OIS). It’s a leading provider of housing and related services to energy and mining companies. Because many of the world’s top resource basins are in remote locations, accommodating the workforce is critical to retaining employees. Currently, Oil States has operations in the Canadian oil sands, Australia, and in many U.S. shale basins.

One area of particular note when looking at its U.S. operations is the Bakken. Housing and related services have been critical to the development of that shale play. In fact, Nuverra Environmental Solutions Inc (NYSE:NES) has pointed to its access to housing as being a competitive advantage for its business. CEO Mark Johnsrud built a housing business that he held on to when he sold his Power Fuels business to Nuverra. However, the relationship between Johnsrud and Nuverra has given the company access to housing, which has turned out to be a big advantage in retaining employees and keeping its customers happy.

Oil States International, Inc. (NYSE:OIS)Oil States International, Inc. (NYSE:OIS) has used its accommodations business to similar advantage, but it has gotten to the point where it has the potential to do more for investors as a stand-alone business. That is why the plan is to spin off the business by next summer into a C corporation. In addition, the company will assess the feasibility of converting the business into a REIT. If it does choose to go that route, and the earliest it could is the first quarter of 2015, it would certainly give income investors a very intriguing set of assets.

There are a lot of intriguing possibilities for energy investors these days — Oil States International, Inc. (NYSE:OIS) isn’t the only company looking at value unlocking opportunities. Coal and natural gas producer CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE:CNX), for example, has said that “everything is on the table” to unlock value in its business. That could include separating the natural gas business again in addition to a variety of stand-alone assets that it could sell off.

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