Category: Update

The rise of climate change has led to the emergence of new protocols for companies across the world. One of the main developments is the field of ESG that aids consumers in analyzing the ability of companies to adapt to changing environmental regulations and standards. Due to the upside of attaining a favorable ESG score, many companies use marketing tools to make their companies appear more environmentally friendly than they actually are. The phenomenon, called greenwashing, is commonplace and many companies have been accused of it.

Isaac Toussie, an known corporate oil investor and syndicator believes that the greenwashing claims against the company flawed and exaggerated. Isaac says BP has a track record of using green technologies and of land conservation strategies. In any event, explains Toussie, such matters should not factor in a person’s analysis of the merits of investment in the underlying business. BP has stable dividends, a low PE, highly experienced management, and strong free cashflows Companies like BP can produce natural gas and still have a commitment to going green. The world of course still needs natural gas to operate.

Avoiding investment into BP on the premise to cut out natural gas is more of a moral statement than a financial premise or philosophy explains Toussie. Cutting out natural gas would upset the world economies. One can produce and use natural gas in a responsible way; one in which there is a limited effect on the environment. For example, committing to cleaner and more efficient drilling procedures is a step that natural gas companies like BP could make to show a further commitment to going green. Looney also made a strong point: many economies would resort to coal if natural gas was not available. Coal remains one of the most dominant forms of energy consumption despite its harmful effects on the environment. If natural gas is able to replace coal, a reasonable goal, then producing natural gas would be beneficial to the environment. Toussie agrees with Looney’s reasoning here as a practical matter. Most people don’t recognize the difficulties associated with overhauling energy infrastructure systems. The world cannot abandon the structures and systems that they’ve spent hundreds of years building within a matter of years. A transition of this nature takes decades and commitments from gas companies during those decades of transition about going green should be taken seriously.

Modern society requires energy, and it is impossible to say that there should be zero net emissions overnight. Natural gas companies could and should continue to produce gas to preserve the progressive way of life that we have established. At the same time, gas companies need to produce and consume that gas in a manner that is beneficial to the environment.

This article is presented for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as financial or other advice.

As tensions continue to escalate between Russia and Ukraine, many are wondering how the war and the sanctions placed by the Western world on Russia will impact the world. Russia is one of the largest oil producers in the world and their economy is heavily dependent on their energy sector. The war itself is bound to disrupt Russia’s ability to continue their natural gas output levels, while the sanctions will further limit their ability to market and distribute that natural gas. Prices for gas are already rising as a result of the war and many fear that this trend will only continue if the war intensifies.

A corporate oil investor, and consultant in the natural gas industry, Isaac Toussie stated that the crisis will have dire effects on the price of oil worldwide. A disruption in the production chain, especially in one of the world’s largest producers, is bound to continue to increase barrel prices. As retribution for their actions, countries around the world have placed significant sanctions on Russia for their invasion. Although these sanctions did not aim to hinder Russia’s energy sector, Isaac Toussie stated that these sanctions will nevertheless intensify the negative impact on oil prices. Crude oil prices have risen steadily since the tensions have increased, only to jump up over the past few days. On February 28^th, only a few days following the invasion, crude oil prices opened at $95.

Significant additional actions taken by the United States are targeted at handicapping the Russian economy. Most recently, the U.S. has officially severed Russia’s Central Bank’s ability to conduct dollar transactions. The move is part of the reason the Russian ruble collapsed, dropping nearly 30% and forced a shutdown of the Russian stock market. Although none of these actions directly impact oil prices, Toussie mentioned that all of these actions will cause oil prices to continue to rise.

Additionally, oil companies are making executive decisions to exit the Russian market as a result of their invasion. The most notable example of this phenomenon is BP’s recent decision to divest their stake in Rosneft, a Russian oil company. Analysts expect that this will cost the company billions along with losing one of their main sources of oil production. BP had over a 19% stake in the Russian oil company. With similar trends arising amongst other companies, Toussie anticipates that oil companies will undergo an internal shift as a result of this invasion, causing long-term changes to the industry.

However, Toussie also said that the disruptions occurring to the oil industry only show how important natural gas is to the world economy. The world relies on the steady flow of natural gas, and it is pivotal on the ground level of every country in the world. Sustaining the industry and preserving stability in prices is an important economic goal that should be contemplated economically.

This article is presented for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as financial or other advice.

New York City has various thriving Jewish communities. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Isaac Toussie has always contributed to organizations that strengthened the Jewish community that he remains a part of. Toussie values his Judaism and all that it has provided him. Specially, Toussie always related to the Jewish laws pertaining to business that the Talmud, a Jewish legal text, discussed and analyzed. “Judaism has strict and rigorous ethical codes that not only govern interpersonal affairs but business affairs as well I strive to adhere to such ethical norms on a day-to-day basis,” he stated.

Toussie supports various Jewish causes. Toussie has donated to the local Chabad House in Canarsie. Chabad is an organization that seeks to empower Jews worldwide by giving them the tools to learn about their heritage and traditions. The organization utilizes technology to accomplish their goal and thousands use the resources available on their website. There are hundreds of Chabad houses worldwide, each offering programs, educational classes, and after-school programs.

Toussie’s commitment to the Jewish community expands beyond the borders of New York City. Toussie also contributed to the Jewish Braille Institute International, an organization that renders Jewish interest materials accessible to visually impaired individuals. Given that many Jews rely on books and written materials to educate themselves religiously, the organization is of vital importance. The organization also provides resources for students within a school setting to supplement their classroom experience, such as braille texts. The organization services over 35,000 Jews of all ages and across the globe, providing them with the tools necessary to integrate into their community.

Toussie’s desire to aid the Jewish community also took on an international perspective as Toussie recognized the importance of supporting the Jewish state, Israel. Toussie has made donations to multiple Israeli institutions, including the Friends of the IDF. The FIDF’s mission is “To offer educational, cultural, recreational, and social services programs and facilities that provide hope, purpose, and life-changing support for the soldiers who protect Israel and Jews worldwide.” The donations are used to ensure that soldiers are able to transition to civilian life, attain any supplemental medical care and receive necessary financial relief.

Toussie’s commitment to helping people has never been limited to his religion- in fact he has helped American Veterans of all religions, which earned him a Certificate of Recognition from the Paralyzed Veterans of America. He has also contributed to the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association to help fund the P.O. John Kelly Fund.

Toussie’s commitment to both Israel and promoting accessibility to education made Tel Aviv University another great charitable opportunity for him. One of Israel’s most innovative universities, Tel Aviv University enrolls over 30,000 students. The university is the first university in Israel to create a venture capital fund, laying the groundwork for future growth in Israel. 25% of entrepreneurs in Israel graduated from Tel Aviv University, a staggering statistic given the progressive nature of the country.

Toussie’s wide ranging charitable pursuits are a testimony to his ethical reach and constitution.

This article is presented for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as financial or other advice.

Litigation involving the oil industry has grown substantially over the last few decades. Changes in government administrations coupled with numerous state regulations have led to uncharted litigation matters at all court levels. Oil spills have contributed to the legal and business dilemmas, raising issues of health and safety alongside economic ones. Litigation and business strategies are not taken lightly by oil companies and investors. Besides for the law firms that any major oil company employ, companies will often seek outside business consulting aid to help advise.

One such individual is Isaac Toussie. Toussie has been involved on the financial and investor side of oil transactions for some significant US oil companies. His involvement in these deals and transactions consequentially led to his exposure to the legal battles that often trail the major oil companies. “One particularly challenging part of my work is helping companies and their attorneys navigate regulatory matters that arise over time while still maintaining existing business operations,” he stated. Government reforms have changed so radically between the past two presidential administrations.

Events happening in California have proved to be the next avenue for potential litigation. State and city counselors in Los Angeles are pushing for new zoning demarcations banning the usage of certain oil wells and drilling sites. The county board members recently passed a 5-0 vote approving the proposition. The measure only applies to unincorporated areas of the county, but it will affect over 1,600 well and drilling sites. A major force propelling the measure was the recent oil spill in Inglewood Oil Field back in April. The counselors pointed to health and safety measures as two of the main reasons for the measure. The counselors have faced opposition from multiple oil companies, especially from those with active wells that will be shut down.

This tension could be the battleground for thousands of hours of litigation. The first hurdle for the counselors is the timetable by which to enforce this plan. Banning the use of an active oil well can lead to constitutional issues of a government taking. Additionally, the county must provide sufficient time to the companies by which to transition. Companies like Cooper & Brain Inc. could go out of business because of the measure. Output level drops and the loss of the wells in the newly banned zone would render the company unable to maintain profitability. Cooper & Brain could try to bring legal claims to slow down the implementation of the measure for as long as possible. Further legal battles are inevitable, yet indeterminable so early in the implementation of the measure. Toussie’s business consulting advice in these matters has proved very helpful.

Toussie believes there is a way to balance and harmonize all of the vectors and that operators, environmentalists, and regulatory agencies must seek to create the optimum outcome for all parties. “Reaching for green technologies and methods of being less environmentally impactful are important for any business, but this is particularly so in the oil industry”, says Isaac Toussie.

This article is presented for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as financial or other advice.

Compounding concerns regarding the use of natural gas and oil have been pushed to the forefront of global conversation in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, global emissions dropped by 5.6% with nearly every economic sector outputting a fraction of goods compared to the year before. The reduction in emissions has shown that the world has the capability to stop the emission crisis. Some would argue that reducing carbon emissions from natural gases and oil now is the best way to reduce emissions. This flawed approach overlooks the fact that pivoting from coal to natural gas for the near future would significantly reduce carbon emissions, while still maintaining a long-term commitment to net-zero emissions.

A renowned advisor in the oil industry, Isaac Toussie, has been advising oil exploration and refining investors for many years. Shocked by the degree to which the world has relied on energy generated from coal, Toussie has incessantly advocated for an immediate shift to natural gas and oil for countries around the world. Coal has historically been the world’s leading energy generator; over the past 50 years, coal energy constituted roughly 25% of global energy. Over the past 50 years, energy supply has grown by 250%, and despite scientific developments, coal has maintained their relative market share. Toussie accentuated that this is particularly concerning given the fact that coal emits around 50% more carbon emissions than natural gas. Carbon emissions from coal relative to natural gas could be even higher given the operational inefficacies of coal plants generally. By switching from coal to natural gas or oil, global emissions could be cut by large percentages annually.

Toussie has recently been advising clients on a variety of passive investments in international oil companies. He has designed several acquisition and financing strategies which were adopted by his clients in 2021. He pointed to multiple opportunities worldwide that pose as promising markets. One in particular that he emphasized was China. China relies more heavily on coal than any other country in the world. China’s coal consumption is an estimated 60% of its total energy consumption annually. China’s reliance on coal renders it the world’s leading carbon emitter, accounting for 20% of total global emissions. China shows no sign of slowing their reliance on coal. They have promulgated proposals for over 73 gigawatts of new coal proposals, a staggering number given the fact that the world decreased its new coal related proposals to around 20 gigawatts (and is steadily declining). Toussie highlighted the fact that investments in the Chinese oil market could greatly reduce global emissions and help the shift away from coal. Overlooking natural gas and oil as a means to limit carbon emissions is overlooked and dismissed for clean energy alternatives. Renewables are an ideal that are not currently scalable to the size necessary to remove emissions entirely. In the interim, the shift to natural gas and oil could decrease emission by well over the 5.6% decrease in 2020.

Net zero emissions is a goal to aspire to, but overlooking the benefits of natural gas and its applicability harms our environment. Individuals like Isaac Toussie are pushing for increased investments in oil and gas companies, especially in foreign countries like China that place a heavy emphasis on coal. The shift to oil and gas could alleviate the carbon output until renewable, clean energy is scalable on a global level.

Toussie received his MBA from the NYU Stern School of Finance and his specialties in finance, real investment, acquisition and regulatory navigation.

This article is presented for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as financial or other advice.

Together with his son, Isaac Toussie, business icon-turned-celebrated philanthropist Robert Toussie helps The Wings Foundation support American Airlines flight attendants who find themselves in traumatic circumstances. NEW YORK/ For an organization born from tragedy and operating on a shoestring budget, any and all help is welcome. That’s what makes what Robert Toussie and his son, Isaac Toussie, do for The Wings Foundation so impressive. The Toussie family has provided considerable monetary, logistical, and recruiting aid to the foundation, which was founded nine years ago to help administer support to American Airlines flight attendants who are in need of financial help. Isaac  Toussie Helps American Airlines Flight Attendants Get Through Tragedy Bob Toussie and his son, Isaac Toussie, have directly and indirectly helped dozens of American Airlines flight attendants by supporting the coordination of fundraisers, helping to recruit donors to the cause, and by donating monies directly. The Toussies say they were deeply affected by the events of September 11th, 2001, where roughly three thousand American citizens were killed in a series of terrorist attacks that included the hijacking and deliberate crashing of passenger jets. Robert and Isaac Toussie came to learn American Airlines lost a total of 17 crew members