Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. Announces Acquisition of Ridgeback Resources Inc. Expanding Production to Approximately 30,000 boe/d and Bought Deal Financing including Strategic Lead Orders from GMT Capital Corp. and Libra Advisors, LLC
/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO
- Transformational
$525 million 1 ($516 million using the Offering Price for the Consideration Shares) corporate acquisition expands Saturn's pro forma production by approximately 140%, on closing, to ~30,000 boe/d2 of sustainable, light oil focused, high netback production. - The Ridgeback Acquisition, comprised of 17,000 boe/d (~71% light oil and natural gas liquids)3, with a proved developed producing reserve value of
$915 million 4, forecasted 12-month Net Operating Income3/ Operating Free Funds Flow3 of$311 million /$228 million , 99.4 MMboe of proved plus probable reserves3, and over 700 net drilling locations3, to sustain the acquired production for over 15 years.3 - Pro forma the Acquisition, Saturn will be positioned as a bonafide mid-cap oil producer with a market capitalization of approximately
$292 million 5 and an enterprise value of$850 million , with run rate production of approximately 30,000 boe/d, a combined proved developed producing reserve value of$1.4 billion 3, forecasted 2023E EBITDA3 / Free Funds Flow3 of$477 million /$228 million , and 163 MMboe of proved plus probable reserves3. - Saturn's strategy remains to efficiently maintain production and maximize free cash flow to rapidly reduce indebtedness which is expected to be fully repaid within three years, and will be evaluating various opportunities to return significant capital to shareholders.
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GMT Capital Corp. andLibra Advisors, LLC have indicated that they will make lead orders and strategic investments in the Company. - Saturn will seek to appoint up to two new members to the Board of Directors to expand its technical and operational expertise, and separately the Company has entered into new employment agreements with
John Jeffrey , President and CEO, andJustin Kaufmann , Chief Development Officer, to align incentives with shareholder interests.
Through the Ridgeback Acquisition, Saturn will acquire approximately 17,000 boe/d (~71% light oil and natural gas liquids ("NGLs"))6 of low decline, capital efficient production, which, at
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1
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2 Forecast production comprised of approximately 24,700 bbls/d of crude oil andNGLs plus 31,800mcf/d of natural gas at the Closing Date |
3
Net operating income (NOI) and operating free cash flow (NOI less expected 2023 capital expenditure of |
4 See advisory Reserves Disclosure and Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures |
5 Based on the Offering Price (herein defined) |
6 Expected production levels at Closing Date comprised of approximately 12,000 bbls/d of light crude oil andNGLs plus 30,000mcf/d of natural gas |
"This transformational acquisition is an important step for Saturn to establish material scale in its
The
Upon completion of the Ridgeback Acquisition, Saturn will focus on maximizing free cash flow from pro forma production base of approximately 30,000 boe/d (82% crude oil and NGL's), where after spending an expected
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Sustainable High Netback Production: The Ridgeback Acquisition brings approximately 17,000 boe/d of light oil focused production that provides high cash netbacks. The Company forecasts production on the Ridgeback Assets can be maintained at approximately 17,500 boe/d by reinvesting approximately 27% of the annual net operating income from the Ridgeback Assets creating substantial and sustainable free cash flow.
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Expands Existing Oxbow Core Production Area: Significantly expands Saturn's production base in its existing core development area in
Southeast Saskatchewan , increasing Saturn's production in the area by over 65%, with pro forma production at the Closing Date forecasted to be approximately 12,600 boe/d (97% crude oil and NGL's)8. -
Establishes a New Core Operating Area in
Alberta : Pro forma the Ridgeback Acquisition, approximately 60% of Saturn's production will be inAlberta , offering play diversification of highly economic, light oil focused drilling. -
Extensive Portfolio of Light Oil Focused Development Opportunities: The Ridgeback Acquisition brings an inventory over 400 net booked locations and over 300 net unbooked drilling locations5 for sustaining future production levels.
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Increased Size and Scale: Expansion of the production base is expected to enable Saturn to capture operating efficiencies, especially within the
Southeast Saskatchewan operating area, which can result in fixed and variable costs being allocated over larger per unit volumes of production. -
Highly Accretive on Cash Flow per Fully Diluted Per Share: The Ridgeback Acquisition increases Saturn's 2023 expected adjusted funds flow9 ("AFF") at the midpoint to
$393 million , or$2.33 10 per fully diluted share an increase of 25% above Saturn's stand-alone stay flat guidance. Pro forma the Ridgeback Acquisition, Saturn's 2023 AFF per basic share is forecasted at$3.12 .
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7 See advisory Reserves Disclosure and Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures. |
8 Forecast production comprised of 12,200 bbls/d of crude oil and NGLs plus 2,400 mcf/d of natural gas |
Attractive Acquisition Metrics
|
Ridgeback Acquisition |
Acquisition Metric |
Recycle Ratio |
Production Expected at Close |
17,000 boe/d |
|
- |
Net Operating Income11 |
$311MM |
1.66x |
- |
Operating Free Cash Flow8 |
|
2.26x |
|
Reserves12 |
|
|
|
Proved Developed Producing |
39.8 MMboe |
|
3.7x |
Total Proved |
67.0 MMboe |
|
6.3x |
Total Proved plus Probable |
99.4 MMboe |
|
9.4x |
P roved Developed Producing NPV10% |
|
0.57x |
|
Total Proved NPV10% |
|
0.40x |
|
Total Proved plus Probable NPV10% |
|
0.28x |
|
Ridgeback Asset Summary
The Ridgeback Assets consist of over 430,000 net acres of land, in four core areas in
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Southeast Saskatchewan – A strategic extension of Saturn's existing and adjacent core development area; -
Alberta Cardium – Entry into one of
North America's largest and most economic oil pools, with over 300 development drilling locations; - Kaybob Montney – Highly economic, de-risked light oil play with fast payback development drilling locations; and
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Deer Mountain Swan Hills – High oil weighted production, with an established enhanced oil recovery program.
The Ridgeback Acquisition more than doubles the light oil production of Saturn's existing and adjoining core growth asset in
The Ridgeback Acquisition offers a strategic extension for Saturn into some of the highest economic light oil development areas of
Strategic Benefits
The Ridgeback Acquisition is an extension of Saturn's strategy to become a premier, publicly traded, light oil producer through the acquisition and development of undervalued, low-risk opportunities that support building a strong portfolio of cash flowing assets offering strategic development upside.
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Stable Production with
Minimal Maintenance Capital – The Company forecasts keeping the combined production base flat at approximately 30,000 boe/d through 2023 by drilling 80-100 wells across the combined portfolio of assets. The annual replacement of base production declines is expected to be achieved due to stable long-life assets, strong development drilling economics and production optimization underpinning recent drilling. -
Strong Forecasted Free Funds Flow13 – Saturn's strategy of keeping production levels flat is intended to maximize Free Funds Flow13 estimated on a pro forma basis at approximately
$232 million per year, or approximately$1.84 per basic share with an implied Free Cash Flow Yield of 87%, based on the Offering Price (defined below). -
Diversified Play Exposure Enhances Sustainability – The addition of the high-quality development assets in
Alberta enhances Saturn's inventory of light oil focused drilling locations including: high return, fast paybackMontney development at Kaybob and an extensive number of de-risked Cardium drilling locations in the well defined light oil fairway in Greater Pembina. -
Enhanced Oil Recovery Projects with Demonstrated Success – With over five years of operating history, the advanced waterflood project in
Deer Mountain provides long life light oil production, with 100% owned and operated infrastructure andLACT connected battery. Saturn expects to deploy enhanced oil recovery programs to other light oil projects in Saturn's development portfolio that are predominantly on primary recovery. -
High Working Interest and Extensive Infrastructure in
Alberta – Each of theAlberta areas have high working interests: Cardium (68%),Deer Mountain (100%) and Kaybob (100%), (collectively, the "Alberta Assets"). Each of the Alberta Assets have extensive operated infrastructure in place to drive low operating costs and realize high cash netbacks from the light oil weighted, sustainable production. The Alberta Assets represent a manageable, low risk expansion opportunity for Saturn into the premium light oil development areas inAlberta . - Positive Environmental Performance – The Ridgeback Assets benefit from responsibly deployed capital directed to abandonment and reclamation programs with limited inactive liabilities and a strong Liability Management Rating ("LMR") of over 3x.
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9 See advisory Non-GAAP and other Financial Measures |
10 Fully Diluted Shares is calculated as the total number of shares outstanding, including new shares issued in connection with the Ridgeback Acquisition, and the exercise of all warrants, options and convertible notes outstanding, including any with out-of-the-money strike prices. |
11
Net Operating Income and Operating Free Cash Flow is based on the
field cash flow from the Ridgeback Acquisition, assuming a stabilized 17,500 boe/d, based on an |
12 See advisory Reserves Disclosure and Recycle Ratio. |
Updated Guidance
The following table summarizes the Company's pro forma updated operating and financial guidance for 2023. Notably, the Company's previous guidance, announced on
Pro Forma 2023 Guidance 13 |
|
Stand Alone, Stay Flat Guidance, 2023 |
Pro forma Stay Flat |
Change |
WTI Oil Price Assumptions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Production |
boe/d |
12,500 |
27,170 |
117 % |
Adjusted EBITDA13 prior to hedging |
$MM |
|
|
94 % |
Adjusted EBITDA13 post hedging |
$MM |
|
|
113 % |
Adjusted Funds Flow13 ("AFF") |
$MM |
|
|
106 % |
AFF per fully diluted share |
$ per share |
|
|
25 % |
Capital Expenditure |
$MM |
|
|
101 % |
|
|
|
|
|
Free Funds Flow13 ("FFF") |
$MM |
|
|
109 % |
FFF per fully diluted share |
$ per share |
|
|
28 % |
Year End |
$MM |
|
|
232 % |
YE Net Debt to EBITDA |
Ratio |
0.5x |
0.9x |
|
Common shares out (Closing Date) |
MM |
59.9 |
138.5 |
131 % |
Average common shares out |
MM |
59.9 |
125.8 |
110 % |
Dilutive instruments |
MM |
42.8 |
42.8 |
- |
Fully diluted shares |
MM |
102.7 |
168.6 |
64 % |
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13 See advisory Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures. |
Capitalization Overview
Company at Offering Price ( |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stand Alone, Stay Flat Guidance 2023 |
Pro forma Stay Flat |
Change |
Market Capitalization (basic) |
$MM |
|
|
114 % |
Enterprise Value (YE23 net debt) |
$MM |
|
|
166 % |
EV/Adjusted EBITDA |
Ratio |
1.1x |
1.3x |
|
FCF Yield (basic) |
% |
88 % |
87 % |
|
|
|
|
|
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The Ridgeback Acquisition will be implemented by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the BCBCA. Concurrent with the execution of the Agreement, shareholders of Ridgeback representing over 80% of the outstanding common and performance shares of Ridgeback (the "Ridgeback Supporting Shareholders") executed voting support agreements agreeing to vote in favor of the arrangement resolution either in writing or at a meeting of shareholders of Ridgeback (if required), subject to the terms of the voting agreements. The Consideration Shares issued to the Ridgeback Supporting Shareholders will be subject to a contractual hold period and released as to: (A) 50% on the first anniversary of the Closing Date; and (B) the remaining 50% on the 15-month anniversary of the Closing Date. The Agreement provides for customary provisions relating to non-solicitation on the part of Ridgeback and a mutual break fee of
The Ridgeback Acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023, subject to certain customary conditions and regulatory and other approvals, including the approval of the
In concert with signing the Agreement, Saturn has entered into an agreement in respect of the Offering, with
Each Subscription Receipt represents the right of the holder to receive, upon closing of the Ridgeback Acquisition, without payment of additional consideration, one common share of the Company.
If the Ridgeback Acquisition is not completed as described above by 120 days from the closing date of the Offering or if the Ridgeback Acquisition is terminated at an earlier time, the gross proceeds of the Offering and pro rata entitlement to interest earned or deemed to be earned on the gross proceeds of the Offering, net of any applicable withholding taxes, will be paid to holders of the Subscription Receipts and the Subscription Receipts will be cancelled.
The Subscription Receipts will be offered in all provinces and territories of
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of securities in
Senior Secured Term Loan
Saturn has signed a commitment letter to enter an amended and restated Senior Secured Loan agreement with its
The Company also wishes to announce that it has entered into new executive employment agreements with
The entry into the new employment agreements and issuance of the performance warrant and any common shares issuable pursuant thereto constitutes a "related party transaction" under applicable securities laws and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The related party transaction will be exempt from minority approval, information circular and formal valuation requirements pursuant to the exemptions contained in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the gross securities to be issued under the employment agreement does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.
This news release is not an offer of the securities for sale in
Boe means barrel of oil equivalent. All boe conversions in this news release are derived by converting gas to oil at the ratio of six thousand cubic feet ("Mcf") of natural gas to one barrel ("Bbl") of oil. Boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A Boe conversion rate of 1 Bbl : 6 Mcf is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio of oil compared to natural gas based on currently prevailing prices is significantly different than the energy equivalency ratio of 1 Bbl : 6 Mcf, utilizing a conversion ratio of 1 Bbl : 6 Mcf may be misleading as an indication of value.
All reserves information pertaining to the Ridgeback Acquisition in this news release were prepared for the Company in a report provided by
This news release discloses "booked" drilling locations with respect to the Ridgeback Assets derived from the Ryder Scott Report and account for drilling locations that have associated proved and/or probable reserves, as applicable.
Throughout this news release and in other materials disclosed by the Company, we employ certain measures to analyze financial performance, financial position and cash flow. These non-GAAP and other financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures provided by other issuers. Non-GAAP and other financial measures should not be considered to be more meaningful than GAAP measures which are determined in accordance with IFRS, such as net income (loss) and cash flow from operating activities as indicators of our performance. The Company's unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and MD&A as at and for the three and nine months ended
The following are non-GAAP financial measures: capital expenditures, free funds flow, net operating expenses and operating netback and operating netback net of derivatives. Where applicable, these non-GAAP financial measures are presented on a multiple, per boe or a per share basis resulting in non-GAAP financial ratios. These non-GAAP financial measures and ratios are not standardized financial measures under IFRS and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. See the disclosure under the section "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios" in our MD&A for the three and nine months ended
The following are capital management measures used by the Company: net debt, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted funds flow. See the disclosure under the "Capital Management" note in our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the three and nine months ended
Where applicable, the supplementary financial measures used in this news release are either a per unit disclosure of a corresponding GAAP measure, or a component of a corresponding GAAP measure, presented in the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements. Supplementary financial measures that are disclosed on a per unit basis are calculated by dividing the aggregate GAAP measure (or component thereof) by the applicable unit for the period. Supplementary financial measures that are disclosed on a component basis of a corresponding GAAP measure are a granular representation of a financial statement line item and are determined in accordance with GAAP.
"Net Operating Income" for the Ridgeback Assets is based on the expected cash flow from operations of the Ridgeback Acquisition for 12 months from the Closing Date, with the production assumption of 17,500 boe/d.
"Recycle Ratio" is calculated as the expected Operating Netback of the Ridgeback Acquisition of
"Enterprise Value" is calculated as market capitalization plus net debt. Management uses enterprise value to assess the valuation of the Company.
Any financial outlook or future oriented financial information in this news release, as defined by applicable securities legislation, including future (but not limited to) operating and fixed costs (and reductions thereto), debt levels, net operating income, funds flow, cash flow and production targets has been approved by management of Saturn. Readers are cautioned that any such future-oriented financial information contained herein should not be used for purposes other than those for which it is disclosed herein. The Company and its management believe that the prospective financial information has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management's best estimates and judgments, and represent, to the best of management's knowledge and opinion, the Company's expected course of action. However, because this information is highly subjective, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future activities or results.
Certain information included in this news release constitutes forward-looking information under applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project", "will" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking information in this news release may include, but is not limited to, statements concerning: timing of the Ridgeback Acquisition; Reserves information; satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions in the Agreement; receipt of required legal and regulatory approvals for the completion of the Ridgeback Acquisition (including court approval, approval of the TSXV and Competition Act (
The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Saturn, including expectations and assumptions concerning the receipt of all approvals and satisfaction of all conditions to the completion of the Ridgeback Acquisition, Offering, and Senior Secured Term Loan, the timing of and success of future drilling, development and completion activities, the performance of existing wells, the performance of new wells, the availability and performance of facilities and pipelines, the geological characteristics of Saturn's properties, the characteristics of the Ridgeback Asset, the successful integration of the Ridgeback Assets into Saturn operations, the successful application of drilling, completion and seismic technology, prevailing weather conditions, prevailing legislation affecting the oil and gas industry, commodity prices, royalty regimes and exchange rates, the application of regulatory and licensing requirements, the availability of capital, labour and services, the creditworthiness of industry partners and the ability to source and complete asset acquisitions.
Although Saturn believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Saturn can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks), constraint in the availability of services, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, the current COVID-19 pandemic, actions of
Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such information but which may prove to be incorrect. Although Saturn believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information because Saturn can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be identified in this news release, assumptions have been made regarding and are implicit in, among other things, the timely receipt of any required regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of all conditions to the completion of the Ridgeback Acquisition, Offering, and Senior Secured Term Loan. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which have been used.
The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof and Saturn undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
All dollar figures included herein are presented in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted.
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