Prairie Provident Resources Inc. (“Prairie Provident” or the
“Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a
definitive agreement with a private oil and gas company to sell the
Company's Evi cash-generating unit located in northern Alberta for
a base purchase price of $27.0 million payable in cash, subject to
effective date adjustments based on an effective date of August 1,
2023 (the “Evi Sale“). Upon completion of the Evi Sale, the
purchaser will become responsible for all future abandonment and
reclamation obligations (ARO) pertaining to the Evi assets, with
AER deemed liabilities of approximately $48.1 million gross ($43.5
million net).
In a separate transaction, the Company has
entered into a definitive agreement with another private oil and
gas company to sell certain non-core assets located in the Provost
area of central Alberta for a base purchase price of $1.8 million
payable in cash, subject to effective date adjustments based on an
effective date of July 1, 2023, and potential future payments of up
to $720,000 in aggregate based on the price of oil and production
from the Provost assets during the 24-month period following
closing (the “Provost Sale”).
Both transactions are currently expected to
close on or before January 31, 2024 and are subject to regulatory
approval, customary closing conditions and purchase price
adjustments.
Completion of the Evi Sale and the Provost Sale
will build upon the recapitalization initiated in May 2023 by
streamlining the Company’s asset portfolio through the disposition
of undercapitalized legacy assets, in turn allowing Prairie
Provident to focus on higher return development opportunities in
Central and Southern Alberta.
Proceeds of the completed transactions will
allow the Company to achieve a material reduction in debt and
associated interest expense. Additionally, a portion of the
proceeds will be directed to a development program designed to
increase production, cash flow and reserves value from Prairie
Provident’s core areas located in Central and Southern Alberta,
including Princess, Provost and Michichi.
Evi Sale
The properties included in the Evi Sale comprise
the Company’s entire asset base in the Northern Alberta region.
The Company is selling the Evi assets for a base
purchase price of $27.0 million payable in cash, subject to
effective date adjustments based on an effective date of August 1,
2023. In addition, the purchaser will upon completion become
responsible for all future ARO pertaining to the Evi assets, which
carry AER deemed liabilities of approximately $48.1 million gross
($43.5 million net).
The purchase price (before adjustments)
represents a prior twelve month operating net income multiple of
3.5x.
For the quarter ended September 30, 2023, the
production attributed to the Evi properties averaged 874 boe/d in
sales volumes.1
Provost Sale
The properties included in the Provost Sale
comprise a portion of the Company’s asset base in the region.
The Company is selling the Provost assets for a
base purchase price of $1.8 million payable in cash, subject to
effective date adjustments based on an effective date of July 1,
2023. In addition, the Purchaser will upon completion become
responsible for future ARO pertaining to the Provost assets, which
carry AER deemed liabilities of approximately $2.6 million. The
Provost Sale also provides for future contingent payments to the
Company of up to $720,000 in aggregate based on the price of oil
and production from the Provost assets during the 24-month period
following closing as follows: (i) $10,000 for any month that WTI
Cushing averages between USD $80.00 and $89.99; (ii) $20,000 for
any month that WTI Cushing averages between USD $90.00 and $99.99;
and (iii) $30,000 for any month that WTI Cushing averages USD $100
or more, prorated for any month in which production from the assets
is less than 70 boe/d.
Production currently attributed to the Provost
properties is approximately 70 boe/d.2
Advisor
National Bank Financial Inc. acted as financial
advisor to Prairie Provident with respect to the Evi Sale.
About Prairie Provident
Prairie Provident is a Calgary-based company
engaged in the exploration, development and production of low
decline, long life oil reserves in Alberta. The Company maintains a
significant portfolio of low-risk production enhancement and
drilling opportunities.
For further information, please contact:
Prairie Provident Resources Inc.1100, 640 5th
Avenue SWCalgary, Alberta T2P 3G4
Investor RelationsTel: (403) 292-8000Email:
investor@ppr.ca
Barrels of Oil Equivalent
The oil and gas industry commonly expresses
production volumes and reserves on a “barrel of oil equivalent”
basis (“boe”) whereby natural gas volumes are converted at the
ratio of six thousand cubic feet to one barrel of oil. The
intention is to sum oil and natural gas measurement units into one
basis for improved analysis of results and comparisons with other
industry participants. A boe conversion ratio of six thousand cubic
feet to one barrel of oil is based on an energy equivalency
conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip. It does
not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead nor at the plant
gate, which is where Prairie Provident sells its production
volumes. Boes may therefore be a misleading measure, particularly
if used in isolation. Given that the value ratio based on the
current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is
significantly different from the energy equivalency ratio of 6:1,
utilizing a 6:1 conversion ratio may be misleading as an indication
of value.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain statements
(“forward-looking statements”) that constitute forward-looking
information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future performance,
events or circumstances, are based upon internal assumptions,
plans, intentions, expectations and beliefs, and are subject to
risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to
differ materially from those indicated or suggested therein. All
statements other than statements of current or historical fact
constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
are typically, but not always, identified by words such as
“anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “budget”,
“forecast”, “target”, “estimate”, “propose”, “potential”,
“project”, “continue”, “may”, “will”, “should” or similar words
suggesting future outcomes or events or statements regarding an
outlook.
Without limiting the foregoing, this news
release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to:
satisfaction of the conditions precedent to and the completion of
the Evi Sale and the Provost Sale; anticipated benefits of the Evi
Sale and the Provost Sale, including streamlining of the Company's
asset portfolio and high-grading of its development inventory;
future intentions with respect to debt repayment; the ability to
direct a portion of net sale proceeds to development, and the
Company's ability to increase production, cash flow and reserves
value from that development activity; the Company's ability to
achieve drilling and optimization success consistent with
management’s expectations; and liquidity and capital resources that
may be available to complete development.
Forward-looking statements are based on a number
of material factors, expectations or assumptions of Prairie
Provident which have been used to develop such statements but which
may prove to be incorrect. Although the Company believes that the
expectations and assumptions reflected in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on
forward-looking statements, which are inherently uncertain and
depend upon the accuracy of such expectations and assumptions.
Prairie Provident can give no assurance that the forward-looking
statements contained herein will prove to be correct or that the
expectations and assumptions upon which they are based will occur
or be realized. In particular, the Company can give no assurance
that requisite regulatory approvals from the Alberta Energy
Regulator (AER) will be obtained in respect of the Evi Sale or the
Provost Sale, or if approved that the terms and conditions of any
such approval (including in relation to security deposits) will be
acceptable to the parties, or that either transaction will be
successfully completed, whether on the terms proposed or at all.
Actual results or events will differ, and the differences may be
material and adverse to the Company. In addition to other factors
and assumptions which may be identified herein, assumptions have
been made regarding, among other things: that the Company will be
able to complete the Evi Sale and Provost Sale on the agreed terms;
that all necessary regulatory approvals from the AER will be
obtained in respect of the Evi Sale and the Provost Sale on terms
and conditions that are acceptable to the parties, and that all
other conditions precedent to completion of the Evi Sale and the
Provost Sale will be satisfied, not later than January 31, 2024;;
that the purchaser under each of the Evi Sale and the Provost Sale
will fund the purchase price at closing; the results from
reactivation and development projects, that Prairie Provident will
continue to conduct its operations in a manner consistent with past
operations; results from drilling and development activities, and
their consistency with past operations; the quality of the
reservoirs in which Prairie Provident operates and continued
performance from existing wells (including with respect to
production profile, decline rate and product type mix); the
continued and timely development of infrastructure in areas of new
production; the accuracy of the estimates of Prairie Provident’s
reserves volumes; future commodity prices; future operating and
other costs; future USD/ CAD exchange rates; future interest rates;
continued availability of external financing and cash flow to fund
Prairie Provident’s current and future plans and expenditures, with
external financing on acceptable terms; the impact of competition;
the general stability of the economic and political environment in
which Prairie Provident operates; the general continuance of
current industry conditions; the timely receipt of any required
regulatory approvals; the ability of Prairie Provident to obtain
qualified staff, equipment and services in a timely and cost
efficient manner; drilling results; the ability of the operator of
the projects in which Prairie Provident has an interest in to
operate the field in a safe, efficient and effective manner; field
production rates and decline rates; the ability to replace and
expand oil and natural gas reserves through acquisition,
development and exploration; the timing and cost of pipeline,
storage and facility construction and expansion and the ability of
Prairie Provident to secure adequate product transportation; the
regulatory framework regarding royalties, taxes and environmental
matters in the jurisdictions in which Prairie Provident operates;
and the ability of Prairie Provident to successfully market its oil
and natural gas products.
The forward-looking statements included in this
news release are not guarantees of future performance or promises
of future outcomes, and should not be relied upon. Such statements,
including the assumptions made in respect thereof, involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
actual results or events to differ materially from those
anticipated in such forward-looking statements including, without
limitation: the imposition by the AER of terms and conditions on
the Evi Sale or the Provost Sale that cannot be satisfied or are
otherwise not acceptable to the Company or the respective
purchasers; the ability of each purchaser to fund the purchase
price and complete the transaction on the agreed terms; reduced
access to financing; higher interest costs or other restrictive
terms of debt financing; changes in realized commodity prices;
changes in the demand for or supply of Prairie Provident’s
products; the early stage of development of some of the evaluated
areas and zones; the potential for variation in the quality of the
geologic formations targeted by Prairie Provident’s operations;
unanticipated operating results or production declines; changes in
tax or environmental laws, royalty rates or other regulatory
matters; changes in development plans of Prairie Provident or by
third party operators; increased debt levels or debt service
requirements; inaccurate estimation of Prairie Provident’s oil and
gas reserves volumes; limited, unfavourable or a lack of access to
capital markets; increased costs; a lack of adequate insurance
coverage; the impact of competitors; and such other risks as may be
detailed from time-to-time in Prairie Provident’s public disclosure
documents (including, without limitation, those risks identified in
this news release and Prairie Provident’s current Annual
Information Form as filed with Canadian securities regulators and
available from the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com) under Prairie
Provident’s issuer profile).
The forward-looking statements contained in this
news release speak only as of the date of this news release, and
Prairie Provident assumes no obligation to publicly update or
revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, or otherwise,
except as may be required pursuant to applicable laws. All
forward-looking statements contained in this news release are
expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
_____________________________________
1 Comprised of approximately 829 bbl/d of
light and medium crude oil, approximately 1 bbl/d of natural gas
liquids, and approximately 268 Mcf/d of conventional natural
gas.
2 Comprised of approximately 39 bbl/d of
light and medium crude oil, approximately 4 bbl/d of natural gas
liquids, and approximately 164 Mcf/d of conventional natural
gas.
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