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Hedge fund giant Citadel is looking to buy US shale oil production assets, sources say. September 4, 2026 at 12:04 PM GMT+0 * Citadel is exploring acquisitions of U.S. shale oil production assets, according to sources familiar with the matter. * The move would extend the firm's push into physical energy after its 2025 purchase of Paloma Natural Gas, now rebranded as Apex Natural Gas. * Citadel's interest underscores a broader trend of trading houses and financial firms seeking direct control of energy supply. A strategic shift. Citadel, the $71 billion hedge fund run by Ken Griffin, is looking to buy U.S. shale oil production assets, according to people familiar with the matter. The potential acquisitions would mark a significant expansion of Citadel's energy footprint, which has primarily focused on natural gas through its Apex Natural Gas unit. The firm entered upstream production in 2025 with the acquisition of Paloma Natural Gas for around $1 billion, giving it a foothold in the Haynesville shale, a major gas-producing region. Since then, Apex has been on an acquisition spree, agreeing in December to buy Texas natural-gas assets from Comstock Resources (CRK) for about $430 million and separately acquiring Haynesville assets from Azul Resources (AZUL). Apex is now operating about 14 rigs, up sharply from its initial footprint. While Citadel's focus so far has been on gas, the new interest in oil assets signals a potential pivot. "They see opportunities in the oil patch that align with their trading strengths," said one industry source, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private. Citadel declined to comment. The move comes as shale oil producers face pressure from lower crude prices, which have made some drilling uneconomical. This has created buying opportunities for well-capitalized buyers like Citadel, which can leverage its trading platform to hedge and market production. The broader context. Citadel's expansion reflects a growing trend of financial and trading firms moving into physical energy assets. Gunvor, for example, has been in talks to buy Silver Hill Energy Partners' Haynesville gas assets for an estimated $1.2 billion-$1.5 billion. Vitol has also invested in U.S. gas-producing and export-linked facilities. The Haynesville basin has become particularly valuable due to its proximity to Gulf Coast LNG terminals, where exports are booming. "The basin's appeal is tied to LNG expansion and AI-driven power demand," noted an energy analyst. This has made it a hotspot for M&A, with Comstock recently agreeing to sell minority stakes to Azerbaijan's SOCAR (403550.KS) for $1.65 billion. For Citadel, owning physical assets offers more than just a bet on energy prices. It provides supply assurance, valuable information about regional flows, and the ability to optimize marketing and transport. This vertical integration is a central motive behind the strategy. What's next? A deal is not assured merely because sources report discussions. If Citadel proceeds, it would likely face regulatory scrutiny, though such acquisitions are generally approved. The company would also need to manage the operational risks of oil production, which differ from gas. In the medium term, more M&A is expected as producers seek capital and position for future demand. Citadel's entry could encourage other financial firms to follow suit, potentially reshaping the landscape of U.S. shale ownership. For now, investors and competitors will be watching to see if Citadel converts its interest into action. As one banker put it, "When Citadel moves, it moves big."

Two major office towers in Miami's Brickell district could deliver over 1.5 million square feet of leasable space by the early 2030s, addressing a critical shortage of large office blocks. Santander broke ground in April 2026 on a 50-storey tower at 1401 Brickell Avenue, spanning over 1 million square feet with 560,000 square feet of marketable offices. The project is expected to complete by summer 2029. Citadel is planning a $2.5 billion waterfront tower along Brickell Bay Drive, totalling 1.7 million square feet. The firm will occupy approximately 560,000 square feet, leaving roughly 1 million square feet available for other tenants. Vertical construction could begin in Q4 2026. Brickell's Class A direct vacancy stood at 11.8% in Q2 2026, with average asking rents reaching $93.03 per square foot. Trophy office rents have climbed to $250 per square foot.

Citadel, a hedge fund giant, is reportedly looking to purchase US assets for shale production. September 4, 2026 Citadel has been in talks with a?U.S. Five people with knowledge of the matter have confirmed that Citadel is considering expanding its?business into?physical assets. Four sources claim that Ken Griffin's firm was one of the bidders on WildFire Energy. The company was sold earlier this year by Warburg Pincus & Kayne Anderson. Magnolia Oil & Gas won the auction and agreed to purchase the Eagle Ford shale operator in South Texas, for $4.06 Billion. Sources said Citadel had engaged in a number of discussions with private equity firms who own exploration and production companies about buying oil-weighted properties. The sources asked to remain anonymous because it is a private matter. Oil and gas assets in the United States have attracted increased buyer interest as crude prices rise and tensions in?Middle East disrupt the global energy market. This is because these assets can deliver oil to customers without having to pass through chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz. Although rare, hedge funds and other trading houses who have traded commodities on exchanges are also expanding their ownership of physical assets. This is often done to complement their trading businesses. Citadel and Warburg declined to comment. Kayne Anderson declined to comment on a request for comment. PLATFORM ASSET Citadel has already established itself as a major commodity trader, including oil, natural gases, power, and other commodities. Physical production assets are a good hedge for firms who trade commodities via futures and derivatives. This is because physical barrels tend to increase in value during the same market conditions that can cause losses on paper trading positions, such as disruptions of supply or geopolitical events. The oil prices have remained high this year. U.S. crude reached a six-week peak on Thursday, amid an escalating Middle East conflict. This has been a boon to oil producers. Many of them have recorded their best earnings for years in the second quarter. Executives in the oil industry have warned that it could take several months for tight supplies to be eased, even if the hostilities ended immediately. Other major commodity traders are also expanding into oil production, generating high returns. Vitol agreed to sell its VTX Energy 'Partners U.S. shale project in July, and Gunvor reported last week they were in negotiations to purchase assets in the?Haynesville shale area for over $1 billion. Citadel would benefit from purchasing a platform like WildFire, as it offers not only producing assets, but also a management team that is already in place to manage them and future acquisitions. This would be similar to the strategy that Citadel adopted when it entered into the U.S. natural gas production space last year. Last year, Citadel entered the natural gas production sector. Citadel purchased Paloma Natural Gas in February 2025 from EnCap Investments, renamed the company Apex Natural Gas and acquired additional assets from Comstock Resources, Azul Resources which is backed Carnelian Energy Capital. (source: Reuters)