Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
12/19/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 12/19/2025 17:43
Willkie Advises Peoria Resources on ∼$1.3 Billion Acquisition of Verdad Resources Intermediate Holdings
Willkie Advises Peoria Resources on ∼$1.3 Billion Acquisition of Verdad Resources Intermediate Holdings
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December 19, 2025
Willkie is representing Peoria Resources, LLC in its acquisition of Verdad Resources Intermediate Holdings LLC (VRIH), the operator of tight oil and gas assets in Colorado and Wyoming, for ∼$1.3 billion.
On December 18, Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd. (JAPEX) announced that it will acquire the entire equity interest in VRIH through an affiliate of Peoria Resources, its U.S. subsidiary. The VRIH assets currently produce around 35,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of tight oil and gas, and JAPEX expects to increase production to approximately 50,000 around 2030.
Willkie previously advised Peoria Resources on its partnership with JAPEX, which included an equity commitment from JAPEX (U.S.) Corp., the overseas consolidated subsidiary of JAPEX. The investment established Peoria Resources to acquire and develop operated oil and natural gas assets in the U.S.
The Willkie team is led by partners Brad Honeycutt and Tan Lu with counsel Emerson W. Girardeau III and associate Braxton Smith. The team also includes partners Robert Jacobson, Scott Thompson, Thomas McCaffrey, Andrew Thomison, Britt Mosman, Jeffrey Clancy, Robert Lepore and Stuart Lombardi; counsel William Thomas, Jonathan Konoff, Britton Davis and Emily Monk; associates Kenneth Sommer, Ahmad El-Gamal, Amanda Payne, David Mohl, Garry Canepa, Joshua Nelson, Jacob Bell, Michael Fabiyi and Katerina Ganasoulis; and law clerk Akshara Anirjita.
On December 18, Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd. (JAPEX) announced that it will acquire the entire equity interest in VRIH through an affiliate of Peoria Resources, its U.S. subsidiary. The VRIH assets currently produce around 35,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of tight oil and gas, and JAPEX expects to increase production to approximately 50,000 around 2030.
Willkie previously advised Peoria Resources on its partnership with JAPEX, which included an equity commitment from JAPEX (U.S.) Corp., the overseas consolidated subsidiary of JAPEX. The investment established Peoria Resources to acquire and develop operated oil and natural gas assets in the U.S.
The Willkie team is led by partners Brad Honeycutt and Tan Lu with counsel Emerson W. Girardeau III and associate Braxton Smith. The team also includes partners Robert Jacobson, Scott Thompson, Thomas McCaffrey, Andrew Thomison, Britt Mosman, Jeffrey Clancy, Robert Lepore and Stuart Lombardi; counsel William Thomas, Jonathan Konoff, Britton Davis and Emily Monk; associates Kenneth Sommer, Ahmad El-Gamal, Amanda Payne, David Mohl, Garry Canepa, Joshua Nelson, Jacob Bell, Michael Fabiyi and Katerina Ganasoulis; and law clerk Akshara Anirjita.
Emerson W. Girardeau III Counsel Corporate & Financial Services
Houston [email protected] +1 713 510 1755
Scott D. Thompson Partner Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits
San Francisco [email protected] +1 415 858 7432
Jeffrey B. Clancy Partner Insurance - Transactional and Regulatory
New York [email protected] +1 212 728 8603
Jonathan J. Konoff Counsel Corporate & Financial Services
New York [email protected] +1 212 728 8627
David Mohl Associate Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits
Washington [email protected] +1 202 303 1230
Katerina Ganasoulis Associate Corporate & Financial Services
Houston [email protected] +1 713 510 1751
Akshara Anirjita Law Clerk Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits
New York [email protected] +1 212 728 3488
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Houston
600 Travis Street
Houston , TX 77002
Los Angeles
2029 Century Park East
Los Angeles , CA 90067-2905
San Francisco
333 Bush St
San Francisco , CA 94104
Washington
1875 K Street, N.W.
Washington , DC 20006-1238
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP published this content on December 19, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on December 19, 2025 at 23:43 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]