BDT Capital Partners and former Murphy Oil chief executive Claiborne Deming have invested an aggregate $110 million in Houston-based energy investment and merchant banking firm Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. (TPH) through the purchase of debentures, a portion of which is convertible into a minority equity stake.

"The experience and quality of our partners in this transaction are as important as the capital they provide," said TPH CEO Robert B. Tudor.

"BDT Capital Partners, led by Byron Trott, specializes in advising and investing in closely held companies and has a world-class network of family business investors. Byron and his team know our business and will help us grow in new sectors and geographies," said Tudor.

Tudor cited Deming, immediate past chairman of the National Petroleum Council, as "one of the most respected professionals in the energy industry who will contribute as a TPH board member in many different areas." Deming also serves as an advisor to TPH's private-equity and asset management businesses.

Deming's experience in the international exploration realm will be helpful to TPH as it expands its reach outside of the U.S., Tudor told OilandGasInvestor.com."He will be able to help us gain access to places where we haven't had clients in the past. Also, he's a very active investor on his own, and his investor acumen will be useful to the firm.

"As for BDT, it has a network of investors that is worldwide, many of which touch the energy business directly and indirectly. We think this network is going to be incredibly helpful to our firm. Also, Byron came from the investment banking business; he knows it and understands it. Being able to look to him and his colleagues for additional ideas as we grow our investment banking and securities business will be very valuable."

Tudor said the transaction will help fund the firm's growth, including expansion into related sectors of the energy complex. "For instance, we recently hired an investment banking team to cover the power and utilities space, and will continue to increase our footprint to other complementary sectors and geographies."

Over time, he expects areas such as refining and marketing, petrochemicals, shipping and coal will be more interesting to the firm as it grows.

TPH is also expanding internationally, starting in the United Kingdom, Tudor said. "Over time, we will need to have more reach into Asia as well. There's a whole universe of companies and investors outside of the United States that need our attention and focus. Generally speaking, if you look at our business half of investment banking activity is in the U.S. and half is outside of it--international activity will be growing for us."

Tudor said the recent funding will also help strengthen the firm's presence in the energy capital markets arena, support continued expansion of its broker-dealer in the United Kingdom, and accelerate growth of our asset management business.

If TPH stays on its current growth path, in five years the firm will likely be much larger, and involved in more energy subsectors, Tudor added. He also expects its investment management platform to be larger. This growth is going to require capital, he said, and TPH remains open to the idea of future capital infusions if the timing is right down the road.

"Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. has industry-leading insight and perspective into the energy space, with superior research capabilities, a strong team and value-added advisory and investment expertise," said Trott, managing partner and chief investment officer for BDT Capital Partners. "We've known and respected Bobby Tudor and his team for a long time, and we look forward to partnering with them as they grow their business."

BDT Capital Partners provides family-controlled and entrepreneurially led companies with long-term capital, solutions-based advice and access to an extensive network of world-class family businesses. Based in Chicago, BDT Capital Partners is an employee-owned private partnership that combines a $2 billion investment fund and co-investment capital with advisory services to address the unique strategic and financing needs of closely held private and public companies.

Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. LLC, is an integrated energy investment and merchant bank, providing advice and services to institutional and corporate clients. Headquartered in Houston with offices in New York, Denver and an affiliate in London, the firm has 120 employees.

Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities Inc. is a registered broker-dealer and Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. International LLP, is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and is a separate but affiliated entity of Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities Inc. The firm's asset management divisions are TPH Partners (private equity) and TPH Asset Management.