The Keystone Royalty Acquisition is expected to close during the second quarter of 2022, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions

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Topaz Energy Corp. acquires oil-focused fee mineral title acreage through the acquisition of Keystone Royalty Corp. (Credit: John R Perry from Pixabay)

Topaz Energy Corp. (TSX: TPZ) (“Topaz” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Keystone Royalty Corp. (“Keystone Royalty”) for the purchase of its outstanding common shares, for $85.0 million, payable through the issuance of 4,187,193 Topaz shares (the “Keystone Royalty Acquisition”). The Keystone Royalty Acquisition is expected to close during the second quarter of 2022, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Keystone Royalty Acquisition

The Keystone Royalty Acquisition adds a large and diversified Western Canadian royalty portfolio consisting of over 480,000 gross acres of royalty lands (“Keystone Royalty Assets”) which includes (i) current royalty production of approximately 450 boe/d (83% liquids)(1); (ii) over 310,000 gross acres of fee mineral title lands; and (iii) complementary seismic assets. The Keystone Royalty Assets, primarily located in Southeast Saskatchewan, provide low base decline, oil-focused production and include royalty interest ownership in a number of unitized production areas, including the Weyburn Unit, in which Topaz owns an existing 5% royalty interest. Keystone Royalty has federal tax pools of over $25.0 million, positive working capital and no debt. Pro forma, Topaz will have over $1.8 billion of consolidated federal tax pools, approximately $500.0 million of which are non-capital losses. Topaz’s tax profile enhances its shareholder return proposition and provides the Company additional flexibility to expand its future dividends.

Topaz expects to generate approximately $17.0 million of annualized royalty revenue in 2022 from the Keystone Royalty Assets, based on current strip pricing.

Keystone Royalty Acquisition Attributes

  • Average fee mineral title royalty rate of approximately 18%;
  • Drilling activity over the past three months includes 10 gross wells which are expected to provide near term production growth;
  • 70% of the acreage is undeveloped; across which Topaz has identified a significant number of future unbooked drilling locations;
  • Resilient historical drilling activity through low commodity price cycles; development and future drilling is expected to be economic at crude oil pricing as low as US$40/bbl WTI; and
  • In 2021, over 60% of the royalty revenue was generated from six high quality Canadian public E&P companies including Canadian Natural Resources, Crescent Point Energy, Enerplus, Saturn Oil & Gas, Vermillion Energy and Whitecap Resources.

“The Keystone Royalty Acquisition contributes predominantly fee mineral title royalty interests which provide Topaz with incremental exposure to higher WCSB drilling activity; complements the high-quality gross overriding royalty portfolio Topaz has established through its strategic partnerships; and the transaction structure enables Topaz to retain its significant Excess FCF for further M&A growth in 2022,” said Marty Staples, President and CEO of Topaz. “In addition to FCF(2) per share accretion, the Keystone Royalty Acquisition provides future option value through increased leasing opportunities; technological advancements in drilling techniques; and potential exposure to future enhanced oil recovery projects and exploitation of other minerals such as potash, helium and lithium, in each case at no additional cost to Topaz.”

Approximately 56% of the shares of Keystone are beneficially owned or controlled by Craig Lothian, the President, CEO and a director of Keystone who commented, “We believe that the integration of Keystone by a well-capitalized, growth-oriented public royalty entity provides our shareholders with an incredible opportunity to realize additional long-term value, both from the former Keystone assets and from the significant royalty and infrastructure assets of Topaz.” National Bank Financial Inc. acted as the financial advisor to Keystone for the transaction.

Source: Company Press Release