News

DALLAS, TX – Caiman Energy II, LLC (“Caiman II”) is pleased to announce that Stephen Arata, has been named Dallas Energy CFO of the Year by an independent panel of judges selected by the Dallas Business Journal. Arata serves as executive vice president, chief financial officer (CFO) and a director of Caiman II. He is also executive vice president, CFO and a director at Blue Racer Midstream (“Blue Racer”), a joint venture formed by Caiman Energy II and Dominion (NYSE: D) to develop midstream infrastructure and services in the Utica Shale.

Arata joined Caiman Energy I in 2010 and was instrumental in the financing and growth of the company’s multibillion dollar midstream footprint in the Marcellus Shale. In 2012, he played a key role in the $2.5 billion sale of Caiman I’s subsidiary, Caiman Eastern Midstream, LLC, to Williams Partners (NYSE: WPZ). He went on to help lead the capitalization of Caiman II and the subsequent formation of Blue Racer. In 2013 Arata led efforts to secure Blue Racer’s $800 million credit facility. Nineteen banks participated in the credit arrangement, which has since been expanded to $1 billion.

“Stephen has enjoyed a distinguished career in both the financial and energy sectors,” said Jack Lafield, Caiman’s chairman and CEO. “He has displayed exemplary leadership, as well as a remarkable ability to finance and grow the company through significant periods in our history. Stephen also makes very meaningful contributions of his time and extraordinary talent across the Dallas community. We are fortunate and honored to have him as a part of our leadership team.”

Arata spent nine years as an energy banker at UBS Investment Bank, transitioning to the midstream sector in 2005. He served as Regency Energy Partners’ (NYSE: RGP) CFO for five years prior to joining  Caiman I. Mr. Arata joined Regency in 2005 and led the process of Regency becoming a publicly traded master limited partnership in early 2006. During Mr. Arata’s tenure as CFO, Regency grew from an enterprise value of $400 million to nearly $5 billion.

Arata and his wife, Kathryn, are very active members of the Dallas community. He is a member of the executive board of both the Cox School of Business and Dedman College at Southern Methodist University. Arata also serves as chairman of the Board of Stewards of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church and is a member of the board of directors of Rays of Light, a program providing free, quality respite care to families of children with special needs.

Click here to read the full article from the Dallas Business Journal.