Oil Price Information Service Explained

Oil Price Information Service (OPIS)
Type:Subsidiary
Area Served:Worldwide
Num Employees:300-350
Subsid:PointLogic Energy, Axxis Software
Homepage:opisnet.com
Location City:Rockville, Maryland
Location Country:U.S.

Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) is a price reporting agency which provides information that is used for commercial contracts and trade settlement related to petroleum, gasoline, diesel, ethanol, biodiesel, LP-gas, jet fuel, crude, natural gas, petrochemicals, recycled plastics, refinery feedstocks, residual fuel, and kerosene.[1] [2] It is based in Rockville, Maryland and has offices in New Jersey, Houston, Texas, Minnesota, and internationally in Sweden, Romania, Singapore, and Japan.

On August 2, 2021, it was announced that News Corp, the parent company of Dow Jones & Co., would buy OPIS from IHS Markit for US$1.15 billion.[3] When the purchase was finalized on February 28, 2022, the company became a unit of News Corp.[4]

History

OPIS is one of the four main Price Reporting Agencies (PRAs) for oil market price reporting including daily market price assessments. The other three are Platts, Argus Media and ICIS according to the International Organization of Securities Commissions.[5]

OPIS is regarded as a benchmark in multiple areas such as Propane and NGL (Natural gas liquids). In 2016 it made four new contracts for trading at ICE Futures Europe.[6]

Acquisitions

1996 - OPIS acquired the Stalsby/Wilson Directory business and Computer Petroleum Corp. (CPC).
2005 - OPIS acquired Axxis Software.[7]
2012 - OPIS acquired PointLogic Energy (formerly LCI Energy Insight).[8]
2013 - OPIS acquired GasBuddy.[9]
2015 – OPIS acquires NAVX, the leading European and South American provider of retail fuel pricing, parking and Electric Vehicle (EV) charging location information.[10]
2016 – IHS Markit acquires OPIS for $650 Million.[11]
2018 - OPIS acquires Petrochem Wire.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Company Overview of Oil Price Information Service, LLC. . March 16, 2017.
  2. News: News Corp bets big on data with $1.2 bln OPIS buy. . 2 August 2021 . Aug 2, 2021.
  3. News: 2021-08-02. News Corp bets big on data with $1.2 billion OPIS buy. en. Reuters. 2021-08-02.
  4. News: News Corp Completes Acquisition of OPIS . Business Wire. 2022-12-19. en-US.
  5. Web site: IOSCO Requests Public Comment on Continuing Implementation of PRA Principles. International Organization of Securities Commissions. 12 February 2015.
  6. Web site: OPIS Contracts at ICE. Oil & Gas 360. November 30, 2015.
  7. Web site: OPIS Acquires AXXIS Petroleum. March 16, 2017. CSP Daily News.
  8. Web site: OPIS Unveils PointLogic Energy, Hires New Leadership. February 2, 2015.
  9. Web site: OPIS Acquires GasBuddy. February 28, 2013. Convenience Store News.
  10. Web site: OPIS Acquires NAVX-Creates global platform for aggregating and delivering critical real-time content into the connected car. March 27, 2015. Business Wire.
  11. Web site: IHS Acquires OPIS for $650 Million. Ann Steele. The Wall Street Journal. January 11, 2016.
  12. Web site: PetroChem Wire acquired by IHS unit OPIS. 2018-08-10. Plastics News. en. 2019-10-17.