17:56:01 EDT Sun 28 Apr 2024
Enter Symbol
or Name
USA
CA



Freehold Royalties Ltd
Symbol FRU
Shares Issued 150,683,834
Close 2023-12-08 C$ 13.15
Market Cap C$ 1,981,492,417
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Freehold to acquire Permian basin assets for $112M

2023-12-11 09:12 ET - News Release

Mr. Matt Donohue reports

FREEHOLD ROYALTIES LTD. ENTERS INTO AGREEMENTS TO ACQUIRE PERMIAN BASIN ROYALTY ASSETS FOR CAD$112 MILLION

Freehold Royalties Ltd. has entered into definitive agreements with two private sellers to acquire high-quality Permian mineral title and royalty assets located in the Midland basin in Texas and the Delaware basin in New Mexico and Texas for approximately $112-million, net of estimates for exchange rates and customary closing adjustments. All references in this news release to dollar amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

The acquired assets are located primarily in Martin county, Texas, within the Midland basin capturing some of the thickest stacked pay reservoir quality in North America, with up to 10 benches available for development under current practices. Additionally, the acquired assets have a significant weighting to undeveloped lands, which is expected to maximize development and recoveries. Future development will be led by a strong portfolio of well-capitalized operators with this core inventory ranking as some of the best within their portfolio.

Acquired asset highlights include:

  • Approximately 123,000 gross acres concentrated in the core of the Permian basin, comprising 2,670 net royalty acres (normalized to one-eighth); 76 per cent Midland, 24 per cent Delaware. Upon closing the acquisitions, Freehold's total Permian land position will increase by 40 per cent to greater than 500,000 gross acres and will represent approximately 57 per cent of Freehold's U.S. gross land base. Over 40 per cent of the acquired assets net royalty acres are undeveloped, providing significant future activity potential;
  • 2024 forecast average production of 600 barrels of oil equivalent/day, generating funds from operations of approximately $15-million (assuming current commodity prices and exchange rates), increasing Freehold's Permian production by approximately 30 per cent and the company's U.S. production by 12 per cent;
  • 85 per cent liquids weighted based on production, versus Freehold's Q3 2023 average U.S. liquids weighting of 78 per cent and the company's total liquids weighting of 63 per cent, providing meaningful uplift to Freehold's average realized price and sustainability of returns;
  • Strong well performance with average 365-day initial gross production rates of approximately 600 boe/d per Permian well (based on average performance of wells drilled in 2020 to 2022 on the acquired assets);
  • Multiple years of future upside, with greater than 2,000 gross development locations identified. Upon closing the acquisitions, Freehold's total U.S. inventory is expected to increase by 25 per cent, bringing the company's total pro forma U.S. inventory to greater than 10,000 gross locations. This implies approximately 17 years of drilling inventory based on 2022 drilling levels;
  • Future development is underpinned by some of North America's top operators with the combined Exxon Mobil and Pioneer Natural Resources expected to move into Freehold's top five payors and represent greater than 25 per cent of future gross locations within the company's U.S. inventory. Additional payors from the acquired assets include other large, well-capitalized producers such as Marathon Oil, Endeavor Energy Resources LP and Diamondback Energy.
  • The acquisitions are expected to double Freehold's Midland basin activity and on a pro forma basis, with one in every seven wells drilled in 2023 year to date in the Midland basin of the Permian will have occurred on Freehold's lands.

Acquired assets

The acquisitions will be finance through the utilization of Freehold's existing credit facility and are expected to close in January, 2024. Freehold will provide an update on its 2024 guidance as part of its 2023 year-end operating and financial results, which are expected to be released after market close on Feb. 28, 2024.

The acquisitions are consistent with Freehold's strategy of positioning its portfolio ahead of the drill bit in high-quality resource plays and complement the company's existing North American asset base. The company expects the addition of the acquired assets will contribute enhanced returns and sustainability to shareholders for multiple years into the future.

We seek Safe Harbor.

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