Strategic Bakken Acquisition & Revised Guidance
posted on
Feb 16, 2012 05:32PM
Edit this title from the Fast Facts Section
Press release from Marketwire
Thursday, February 16, 2012
CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Feb. 16, 2012) -
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE U.S. NEWSWIRE OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Crescent Point Energy Corp. ("Crescent Point" or the "Company") (TSX:CPG) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement (the "Bakken Acquisition") with PetroBakken Energy Ltd. ("PetroBakken"), a publicly traded oil and gas producer, to acquire certain assets in the proposed waterflood area of the Viewfield Bakken light oil resource play in southeast Saskatchewan (the "Bakken Waterflood Assets") for cash consideration of $427 million. The assets are primarily in the Company's proposed waterflood units and include more than 2,900 boe/d of production and more than 25 net sections of land in the Viewfield Bakken resource play. The Bakken Acquisition is expected to help accelerate Crescent Point's waterflood program in the Viewfield Bakken resource play.
The Company also announces that it has closed an agreement to acquire producing assets (the "Manitoba Asset Acquisition") in southwest Manitoba (the "Manitoba Light Oil Assets") for cash consideration of $130 million. The Manitoba Light Oil Assets produce approximately 940 boe/d of high-quality, high-netback, low-decline light oil production with a reserve life index of 16.3 years and are in close proximity to Crescent Point's existing Manitoba operations. Crescent Point believes this property has significant upside potential through infill drilling and waterflood optimization.
Assuming the successful completion of the Bakken Acquisition, and including the Manitoba Light Oil Assets, Crescent Point's average daily production in 2012 is expected to increase to 86,000 boe/d from 83,500 boe/d and its 2012 exit production rate is expected to increase to more than 93,000 boe/d from 90,000 boe/d.
In addition, the Company announces that it has entered into an agreement, on a bought deal basis, with a syndicate of underwriters co-led by BMO Capital Markets, CIBC and Scotia Capital Inc., and including RBC Capital Markets, TD Securities Inc., FirstEnergy Capital Corp., National Bank Financial Inc., GMP Securities L.P., Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd. and Peters & Co. Limited for an offering of 11,610,000 Crescent Point shares at $45.25 per share to raise gross proceeds of approximately $525 million. Closing is expected to occur on or about March 8, 2012, and is subject to customary regulatory approvals. Crescent Point has also granted the underwriters an over-allotment option to purchase, on the same terms, up to an additional 1,741,500 Crescent Point shares. This option is exercisable, in whole or in part, by the underwriters at any time up to 30 days after closing. The maximum gross proceeds raised under this offering will be approximately $604 million, should this option be exercised in full. Closing of the financing is not subject to the successful completion of the Bakken Acquisition.
BAKKEN ACQUISITION
Under the terms of the Bakken Acquisition, Crescent Point expects to acquire the Bakken Waterflood Assets for total cash consideration of $427 million.
The Bakken Waterflood Assets to be acquired include more than 2,900 boe/d of high-quality light oil production and more than 25 net sections of land in the core of the Viewfield Bakken resource play, primarily within the boundaries of the Company's proposed waterflood units. Independent engineers have assigned more than 1.0 billion barrels of Discovered Petroleum Initially In Place on the lands within the proposed waterflood units. Assuming the successful completion of the Bakken Acquisition, Crescent Point's working interest position within the proposed waterflood units will increase to approximately 96 percent from approximately 90 percent. This is expected to both simplify and accelerate Crescent Point's waterflood plans. The Company believes that waterflood implementation could increase ultimate recovery factors to greater than 30 percent from an expected 19 percent on primary recovery.
The Bakken Acquisition is expected to close on or before March 14, 2012.
Key attributes of the Bakken Waterflood Assets:
Reserves Summary
Independent engineers have assigned reserves utilizing NI 51-101 reserve definitions and effective December 31, 2011, as follows:
Approximately 10.5 million boe of proved plus probable and 6.4 million boe of proved reserves. Based on Crescent Point's development plans on 8 wells per section drilling, Crescent Point expects and additional 2.1 million boe of proved plus probable reserves and 2.5 million boe of proved reserves will be assigned by independent engineers, for a total of 12.6 million boe of proved plus probable and 8.9 million boe of proved reserves; and
Reserve life index of 11.9 years proved plus probable and 8.4 years proved, based on Crescent Point's development plans.
FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Scotiabank acted as financial advisor to Crescent Point with respect to the Bakken Acquisition.
MANITOBA ASSET ACQUISITION
The Manitoba Light Oil Assets produce approximately 940 boe/d of high-quality, long-life, light oil production in southwest Manitoba. The Manitoba Light Oil Assets are complementary to Crescent Point's existing properties in southwest Manitoba and include low-decline assets with stable, predictable production. The Manitoba Asset Acquisition is consistent with the Company's strategy to acquire large oil-in-place assets and the Company believes that the Manitoba Light Oil Assets have significant reserves upside potential through infill drilling and waterflood optimization.
The Manitoba Asset Acquisition closed on January 25, 2012.
Key attributes of the Manitoba Light Oil Assets:
Reserves Summary
Independent engineers have assigned reserves utilizing NI 51-101 reserve definitions and effective September 30, 2011, as follows:
ACQUISITIONS METRICS
Based on the above expectations for the Bakken Acquisition and the Manitoba Asset Acquisition, the combined estimated acquisition metrics are as follows:
The Bakken Acquisition and the Manitoba Asset Acquisition are expected to be accretive to Crescent Point on a per share reserves, production and cash flow basis, on a debt adjusted basis.
PRELIMINARY SUMMARY OF CRESCENT POINT'S FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR-END RESERVES
Crescent Point anticipates releasing its audited fourth quarter 2011 operating and financial results and year-end reserves on March 15, 2012. To provide further clarity on the pro forma guidance related to the Bakken Acquisition, the Manitoba Asset Acquisition and the bought deal financing, Crescent Point provides the following summary of anticipated results:
UPWARDLY REVISED 2012 GUIDANCE
Crescent Point continues to execute its business plan of creating sustainable value-added growth in reserves, production and cash flow through management's integrated strategy of acquiring, exploiting and developing high-quality, long-life light and medium oil and natural gas properties in United States and Canada.
As a result of the Bakken Acquisition and the Manitoba Asset Acquisition, Crescent Point is upwardly revising its 2012 capital expenditure plans and guidance.
Capital expenditures are expected to increase by $50 million to $1.2 billion. Approximately $43 million of the increase is expected to be spent on the drilling of 22 net Viewfield Bakken horizontal oil wells and the conversion of an additional 5 producing wells to water injection wells in the Viewfield Bakken waterflood area. Crescent Point now expects to drill 142 net wells in the Viewfield Bakken play in 2012 and to have approximately 60 net water injection wells in the play by year-end 2012. The remainder of the increase is expected to be spent on production optimization and facilities in southeast Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Crescent Point's average daily production in 2012 is expected to increase to 86,000 boe/d from 83,500 boe/d and its 2012 exit production rate is expected to increase to more than 93,000 boe/d from 90,000 boe/d. This guidance includes the anticipated shut-in of approximately 11,000 boe/d during second quarter 2012 to account for spring break-up and also includes the anticipated production impact of converting additional producing wells to water injection wells.
Funds flow from operations for 2012 is expected to be approximately $1.49 billion, with a payout ratio of 58 percent, based on forecast pricing of US$95.00 per barrel WTI, Cdn$3.25 per mcf AECO gas and a US$/Cdn$0.96 exchange rate.
Crescent Point's balance sheet remains strong, with projected average net debt to 12-month cash flow of less than 1.0 times.
The Company continues to implement its balanced 3 1/2-year price risk management program, using a combination of swaps, collars and purchased put options with investment grade counterparties. As at February 14, 2012, the Company had hedged 54 percent, 43 percent, 28 percent and 10 percent of production, net of royalty interest, for 2012, 2013, 2014 and the first half of 2015, respectively. Average quarterly hedge prices range from Cdn$91 per boe to Cdn$99 per boe.
The Company's upwardly revised guidance for 2012 is as follows:
Production |
Prior |
Revised |
|
Oil and NGL (bbls/d) 75,500 | 78,000 | ||
Natural gas (mcf/d) 48,000 | 48,000 | ||
Total (boe/d) | 83,500 | 86,000 | |
Exit (boe/d) | 90,000 | 93,000 | |
Funds flow from operations ($000) | 1,440,000 | 1,490,000 | |
Funds flow per share - diluted ($) | 4.67 | 4.72 | |
Cash dividends per share ($) | 2.76 | 2.76 | |
Capital expenditures ($000) (1) | 1,150,000 | 1,200,000 | |
Wells drilled, net | 367 | 389 | |
Pricing | |||
Crude oil - WTI (US$/bbl) | 95.00 | 95.00 | |
Crude oil - WTI (Cdn$/bbl) | 98.96 | 98.96 | |
Natural gas - Corporate (Cdn$/mcf) | 3.25 | 3.25 | |
Exchange rate (US$/Cdn$) | 0.96 | 0.96 | |
(1) The projection of capital expenditures excludes acquisitions, which are separately considered and evaluated. |
BOUGHT DEAL FINANCING
Crescent Point has entered into an agreement, on a bought deal basis, with a syndicate of underwriters co-led by BMO Capital Markets, CIBC and Scotia Capital Inc., and including RBC Capital Markets, TD Securities Inc., FirstEnergy Capital Corp., National Bank Financial Inc., GMP Securities L.P., Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd. and Peters & Co. Limited for an offering of 11,610,000 Crescent Point shares at $45.25 per share to raise gross proceeds of approximately $525 million. Closing is expected to occur on or about March 8, 2012, and is subject to customary regulatory approvals. Crescent Point has also granted the underwriters an over-allotment option to purchase, on the same terms, up to an additional 1,741,500 Crescent Point shares. This option is exercisable, in whole or in part, by the underwriters at any time up to 30 days after closing. The maximum gross proceeds raised under this offering will be approximately $604 million, should this option be exercised in full.
The offering will be a bought underwritten public issue in all provinces of Canada by way of a short form prospectus. The offering will be offered for sale to Qualified Institutional Buyers in the United States, pursuant to the registration exemptions provided by Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 and internationally, as permitted.
The net proceeds of the financing will be used to fund a portion of the Bakken Acquisition and the Manitoba Asset Acquisition, as well as the Beaverhill Lake land acquisitions that were previously announced on January 24, 2012.
Closing of the financing is not subject to the successful completion of the Bakken Acquisition.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/news-sources/?date=+20120216&archive=ccnm&slug=201202160767047001
Cheers; Scott