KEY TAKEAWAYS: Williams invests $378 million for stakes in Louisiana LNG and Driftwood Pipeline, reducing Woodside’s capital exposure. Deal gives Williams its first LNG project stake and expands its “wellhead to water” strategy. Louisiana LNG aims for 27.6 Mtpa capacity with first produc tion targeted in 2029. Project positioned as key export hub for European buyers reducing dependence on Russian gas. Australia’s Woodside Energy has partnered with U.S. pipeline operator Williams Companies to accelerate the $17.5 billion Louisiana LNG project near Lake Charles. Announced in late October 2025, the strategic deal sells Williams a 10% stake in Louisiana LNG LLC and an 80% stake in Driftwood Pipeline LLC, for a combined investment of $378 million. The deal also reduces Woodside’s expected capital exposure from $11.8 billion to $9.9 billion, as Williams assumes a proportionate share of development costs, estimated at $1.9 billion.  The transaction is effective as of January 1, 2025. The partnership gives Williams its first direct stake in an LNG project and deepens its “wellhead to water” strategy by integrating upstream gas sourcing, midstream infrastructure, marketing, and LNG export capabilities, according to Williams CEO Chad Zamarin. Williams will lead construction and operation of the Line 200 pipeline to supply the terminal and assume LNG offtake obligations for 10% of the project’s output. Once operational, Louisiana LNG is expected to become a critical U.S. export hub, particularly for European buyers seeking to reduce reliance on Russian gas. The project already includes offtake agreements with Germany’s Uniper and Turkey’s BOTAS. Woodside retains 20% of the pipeline company and a 90% stake in Louisiana LNG, the holding company which owns 60% of the infrastructure vehicle that owns the LNG facility. Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners continues to hold a 40% stake in the infrastructure vehicle, which it purchased in June 2025 for $5.7 billion. The collaboration pairs Woodside’s global LNG development and marketing expertise with Williams’ 33,000-mile U.S. pipeline network and its Sequent Energy Management platform, which manages over 7 Bcf/d of natural gas. The fully permitted Louisiana LNG facility has a total capacity of 27.6 Mtpa and is targeting first production in 2029, with construction led by Bechtel under a turnkey EPC contract. Chart Industries and Baker Hughes will provide liquefaction and turbine technology, respectively. Two Louisiana Public Safety Tech Companies Take Steps to Grow Within the past month, both Mandeville-based Watch Systems LLC and Baton Rouge-based CloudGavel LLC made noteworthy moves.  Both companies provide tools to law enforcement and communities to ensure safety and effectiveness. Watch Systems, the nation’s premier sex offender registry management software provider, announced it has received a significant investment from private equity firm STG Allegro Fund to support the company’s growth. The company, doing business as OffenderWatch, provides law enforcement agencies and public officials with tools for efficient, compliant, and effective sex offender registry management and community notification. Founded in 2000 by Lou Luzynski and Mike Cormaci, it is currently led by CEO Ben Luzynski. CloudGavel, a leading provider of electronic warrant solutions for the criminal justice system, has sold to Tyler Technologies, a Tyler, TX-based company that provides integrated software and technology services for the public sector.  CloudGavel was founded in 2016 by CEO Pratyush Kumar.  Prior to its sale, the company was active in 17 states and processed more than 20,000 warrants monthly.  The management and staff of CloudGavel will become part of Tyler’s Courts Justice Division. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed. Two Local Health Care Companies Expanded Through Acquisitions New Orleans-based Advanced Revenue Cycle Management has acquired Pensacola-based Rapid Coding and Oasis Review. The combined company has rebranded to Advanced RevCycle (ARC).  ARC provides revenue cycle management services for home health, hospice and palliative care providers. In connection with the transaction, Kolos Partners has made a growth investment to expand ARC’s AI capabilities and accelerate delivery automation across the revenue cycle. Metairie-based RestorixHealth, Inc., a leading wound care solutions company, acquired Florida-based CutisCare.  CutisCare provides hyperbaric medicine and hospital-based outpatient wound center management services.  Combined, the company has expanded to nearly 300 partners across 41 states. Terms of the two transactions were not disclosed.   G.F. Gay Le Breton is managing director for Chaffe Associates Inc., responsible for the corporate finance activities of the firm. Mitch Murray is a corporate finance analyst with the firm. Investment banking services are provided by Chaffe Securities Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. For more information, visit http://chaffe-associates.com. ...read more read less