Northern Oil and Gas Inc. bolstered its Permian position with bolt-on acquisitions expected to boost free cash flow by over $100 million.
In a release from the company on June 16, Northern said it had entered into three definitive agreements to acquire nonoperated interests across approximately 2,900 net acres located in the core of the Delaware Basin for a combined purchase price of $102.2 million.
The sellers were not disclosed. However, the acquisitions, according to Northern COO Adam Dirlam, represent the “trifecta” and that the company expects to generate over $100 million in free cash flow from the assets through 2025.
“We are acquiring high return core properties with top operators, assets with significant inventory and growth potential, and engaging in a transaction expected to meaningfully impact Northern’s free cash flow profile,” Dirlam commented in the release.
Based in Minnetonka, Minn., Northern aims to be the go-to resource for operators that want to offload nonoperated working interests in leasehold. Originally focused in the Williston Basin, the company has last year began to branch out into the Marcellus Shale and Permian Basin.
The acquisitions announced June 16 include 5.3 net producing wells, 5 net wells in process and an additional 23.1 net undrilled locations in Reeves County, Texas, and New Mexico’s Lea and Eddy counties.
The assets are operated primarily by Mewbourne Oil Co., Colgate Energy, ConocoPhillips Co. and EOG Resources Inc. Production was approximately 2,200 boe/d in May and Northern expects production to average 3,700 boe/d in the second half of 2021.
Upon closing of the acquisitions, Northern management intends to submit a request for a 50% increase to the quarterly dividend to $0.045 per share, according to the company release.
“These deals are immediately accretive to our enterprise and all relevant per share statistics,” Northern CEO Nick O’Grady added in the release. “As promised, alongside a reduction in leverage ratios, it means an acceleration of our dividend strategy to shareholders, while augmenting our inventory and growth profile.”
Read more about Northern Oil and Gas’ M&A strategy in the May issue of Oil and Gas Investor.
Northern completed a portion of the acquisition in June and anticipates closing the remainder by Aug. 1. The effective date for the majority of the transaction value is April 1.
The company plans to fund the pending acquisition through a combination of a common equity offering and, cash on hand or borrowings under Northern’s senior secured credit facility if necessary.
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