Energy Country Review: Complimentary 7-day trial

  • News-alert sign up
  • Contact us

Northern Oil and Gas Announces Multiple Acquisitions in the Williston Basin

01/08/2020

Northern Oil and Gas has entered into definitive agreements to acquire producing properties, wells in process and acreage in the core of the Williston Basin from multiple counterparties

Highlights

  • Acquisitions in total consist of 400 net acres, 0.7 net producing wells, 1.9 net wells in process and 1.0 net undrilled locations in the core of the Williston Basin 
  • Production from acquisitions primarily expected to come online in mid-2021 and average approximately 820 Boe per day in total for 2021 
  • Initial acquisition costs of $3.2 million in cash and 2.95 million shares of common stock 
  • Northern expects to pay back its acquisition costs and development capital expenses related to the properties within approximately 3 years, and still retaining additional future upside inventory 
  • Executed additional exchange agreements which will retire $4.0 million of Senior Notes and $7.6 million of Preferred Stock 

Northern is providing a multi-year forecast for production (2-stream), operating cash flow, and development capital for the acquired properties on an unhedged basis, based on recent strip pricing as of July 27, 2020. Northern expects to payback its acquisition costs and expected 2020-2022 capital development expense related to the properties within approximately 3 years given the strong free cash flow profile of the assets.

Acquisition Forecast:

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

Net Wells Turned-in-Line

 

0.0

 

1.9

 

0.3

 

0.1

Forecasted Production (boe/d)

 

41

 

820

 

784

 

566

Cash Flow from Operations

 

$0.1

 

$8.7

 

$8.2

 

$5.9

Development Capital Expenditures

 

$4.0

 

$10.5

 

$2.1

 

$0.8

“We continue to add to our core inventory,” commented Adam Dirlam, Chief Operating Officer of Northern. “Record levels of wells-in-process should drive strong volumes, and improve upon our return on capital employed metrics in 2021 and beyond.”

BALANCE SHEET ENHANCEMENT

Northern entered into an exchange agreement with a holder of the Company’s 8.5% senior secured notes due 2023. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company agreed to issue $3.7 million in common stock, in exchange for $4.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes, based on a forward pricing mechanism. This includes all accrued interest for the period. This transaction is expected to close on or about September 8, 2020. Upon closing of this transaction, the Company expects to have approximately $293.3 million remaining principal amount of Notes outstanding, a reduction of $124.4 million since year end 2019.

Northern entered into an exchange agreement with a holder of the Company’s 6.5% Series A Perpetual Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company agreed to issue $4.0 million in common stock, in exchange for $7.6 million of liquidation value of the Preferred Stock, based on a forward pricing mechanism. This transaction is expected to close on or about September 8, 2020. Upon closing of this transaction, the Company expects to have approximately $221.9 million remaining liquidation value of Preferred Stock outstanding.

These transactions will reduce Northern’s fixed charges by over $800,000 on an annual basis, assuming full payment of the preferred dividend.

“Northern has continued to methodically reduce its liabilities,” commented Chad Allen, Chief Financial Officer of Northern. “We continue a path of acquiring and growing our enterprise while simultaneously reducing risk for our stakeholders.”

KeyFacts Energy: Acquisitions & Mergers news   l   KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Northern Oil and Gas

< Previous Next >