Native Exploration Holdings LLC partnered with Kayne Anderson Energy Funds to pursue Midcontinent deals, the Oklahoma City-based company said July 18.

Kayne Anderson and members of the Native management team made capital commitments of more than $140 million to the newly formed independent oil and gas company, according to a company press release.

Native was founded by co-CEOs Lane Gibbs and Matt Whitaker to pursue acquisitions of oil and gas assets with scalable exploitation and development upside. The company will consider opportunities in the Midcontinent region, specifically in Oklahoma.

Prior to forming the company, Gibbs and Whitaker were "highly active" in the acquisition of leasehold, minerals and royalties—primarily in Oklahoma's Scoop and Stack plays—through their predecessor entity, Native Oil & Gas LLC.

Kayne is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Houston, New York City, Chicago, Denver, Dallas, Atlanta and Boca Raton, Fla. The firm manages $25.5 billion in assets, according to the press release.