Boyden Houston Quarterly Update

April 2012

Included in this Quarterly Update is the latest edition of the Boyden Executive Outlook in which we provide our global view of trends in senior management hiring. Also included is Boyden’s continuing series on China and an article written by my good friend Alan Blackburn, Managing Director for the oilfield services sector at Houston investment banking firm GulfStar Group.

As for the oilfield, hiring continues to be quite robust with only a slight slowing as operators and service companies readjust and shift from gas to liquids focused activities. Capital continues to flow into the industry in support of new technologies for shale drilling. The environmental service sector to manage the delivery and recovery of water and other fluids has seen a dramatic growth with a number of new companies emerging. Where else but the oilfield do you see billion dollar companies created overnight? A great example is Rockwater Energy Solutions with 2800 employees and revenues in excess of $1.0 billion, established by SCF Partners through a four way merger in June of 2011.

Hiring in the oilfield is driven by the need for executive leadership to build and professionalize these new growth platforms acquired by Private Equity investors from their founders. Increased environmental and safety standards driven by the BP Macondo well blowout, concerns around fracing and the reentry of the major integrated oil companies into the U.S. domestic land business are raising operating and HSE standards and creating a demand for more professionally trained operating leadership.

Thank you for your continued support.

Best regards,

Tom

Boyden Executive Outlook, February 2012

Despite an uneven global environment, executive hiring remains steady in sectors with predictable growth and where leadership gaps exist, according to the quarterly Boyden Executive Outlook.

“Companies are facing challenging markets and are prepared to hire leaders who can effectively steer them through the ‘new normal,” said Trina Gordon, President and CEO of Boyden World Corporation. “In developing regions, organizations are looking for senior executives who can apply strong global experience to further drive growth opportunities in local markets.”

Please click here to read the article in its entirety.

The Boyden Report: China – Multiculturalism – China’s gift to the global economy?

Brian Renwick, Managing Partner of the Boyden Hong Kong office, hosted a thought provoking webinar focused on the top 5 priorities for future business growth. I hope that you find this webinar as interesting as I do.

Please click here to access the recording of the webinar; you may also access the complete China report by clicking here.

Preparing to Sell Your Business

by Alan J. Blackburn, Managing Director, GulfStar Group

Current market conditions for owners of privately-held companies considering selling their businesses are very strong. Buyers are actively seeking to acquire businesses, whether it is a strategic buyer seeking to grow earnings and cash flow or a private equity firm seeking to deploy capital that has been raised for the purpose of making acquisitions. The capital markets are also very accommodating with respect to providing acquisition capital at attractive terms. Prior to entering a sale process, however, it is important for business owners to understand what alternatives are available to them and how their businesses should be positioned to achieve maximum valuations.

Please click here to continue reading.

Boyden Houston Current and Recently Completed Searches

• Cobalt International - Chief Information Officer
• Union Drilling Co. - Vice President, HSE
• Pason Systems Inc. - General Manager, 3PS
• Crescent Directional Drilling - Chief Executive Officer
• Hudson Products Inc. - General Manager, Americas
• Total Safety - Vice President, North American Sales
• Total Safety - Vice President, Operational Excellence
• Pipe Maintenance Inc. - Chief Executive Officer
• Confidential Oilfield Service Company - Chief Operating Officer
• General Plastics & Composites - Vice President, Operations
• Alcoa - Director, Natural Gas Development