• Bill White, former chief financial officer of Pure Resources Inc., has formed a new E&P company, Amado Energy LP, Midland. White will focus on oil and gas producing properties in the Permian Basin. Separately, former Pure chief executive officer and founder Jack Hightower also plans to establish a new E&P company in Midland. "We think we can do this [build a new E&P company and sell it for profit in a few years] one more time before we retire." Unocal Corp. acquired Pure in November. • Rob Lindermanis and Michael Keener have formed Petrobridge Investment Management LLC, Houston, with capital commitments of $200 million from an investor group. The new firm will provide equity and mezzanine debt financing to independent producers. "We are trying to fill part of the void left by Enron and some of the other players who have left the market," Lindermanis says. The company's first deal is the financing of part of the Northstar Gulfsands LLC, Houston, acquisition of a 50% interest in Unocal Corp.'s stake in Eugene Island 32 Field in the Gulf of Mexico. Lindermanis was with Mirant's producer-finance business and Keener headed Shell Capital's. Both businesses were closed last year. • David G. Nini, formerly president of Torch Energy Advisors Inc. business unit PLS, and Andy Taurins, formerly with Waterous & Co. in Houston, have formed A&D negotiated-sales firm Lantana Oil & Gas Partners, Houston, focused on asset packages up to $20 million. Separately, Scott Richardson and Steve Barr have left Waterous & Co. to form A&D negotiated-sale advisory firm Richardson & Barr, Houston. Meanwhile, former PLS owner Ronyld Wise and a group of investors have bought back the PLS business from Torch. And, the auction business of Oil & Gas Journal Exchange has been closed by owner PennNet, a business of PennWell. OGJE continues to operate the negotiated-sales business OGJE-Madison Energy Advisors. • Private-investment firm Moncrief Willingham Energy Advisers LP, Houston, and A&D negotiated-sales firm Meagher Oil & Gas Properties Inc., Denver, have formed Upstream Advisors LP, which will provide A&D and merger advisory services. Upstream Advisors' chairman and chief executive is Lee P. Moncrief, who founded Moncrief Willingham with B.J. Willingham. Matt Meagher is president and chief operating officer for Upstream. Both firms will continue their separate businesses as well. • Sylvia Barnes, formerly of Nesbitt Burns Securities, and George Morris, formerly with Simmons & Co. International, have joined investment banker Petrie Parkman & Co. in Houston. Barnes was most recently with Enron Energy Services. With Petrie Parkman, she will focus on upstream merger, acquisition and divestiture, and financial advisory services. Morris will lead the firm's launch into the downstream sector and strengthening of its existing midstream business. • Donato Eassey, formerly the lead natural gas analyst for Merrill Lynch, has launched a new independent equity research firm, Royalist Independent Equity Research, Houston, covering more than 40 natural gas companies, related securities and master limited partnerships. • Participation in the recent NAPE 2003 Expo in Houston hit a record-breaking 8,700 attendees this year. There were approximately 800 exhibit booths. The next expo will be Feb. 5-6, 2004.