Ithaca Makes Takeover Offer for Valiant Petroleum
North Sea-focused Ithaca Energy has made a $309 million offer for Valiant Petroleum that it expects will result in the establishment of a leading mid-sized oil and gas operator in the region.
Ithaca is focused on production, appraisal and development activities in the North Sea, while Valiant has what Ithaca's management describes as "a balanced portfolio" of assets with a primary focus on the UK and Norway.
Ithaca expects that the acquisition will see a more than doubling of its current forecast for 2013 production to between 14,000 and 16,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), increasing to approximately 27,000 boepd in 2015. It would also see Ithaca's 2P reserves double to 74 million boe.
Ithaca reported that the Valiant board of directors, which is advised by Morgan Stanley, considers the terms of the acquisition to be fair and reasonable.
Ithaca Chairman Jack Lee commented in a statement:
"This proposed acquisition represents a significant step forward in the execution of Ithaca's strategy to build a highly profitable 25kboe/d North Sea oil and gas company. The combined assets of the two groups have a strong strategic fit, with the acquisition materially increasing and broadening Ithaca's producing asset base and reserves portfolio."
Valiant Chairman Kevin Lyon added:
"We are pleased to announce Ithaca's recommended offer to our shareholders… The combination with Ithaca will create a leading North Sea oil and gas operator with a diverse production and reserves asset base from which to pursue new and exciting growth opportunities."
In a separate announcement Friday Valiant said that drilling on the Timon prospect in the northern UK sector of the North Sea, on blocks 211/11b and 211/16b, has finished and the well will be plugged and abandoned after Jurassic sands there were found to be poorly developed. Valiant has a 10-percent share in the P1633 license on which Timon is located.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.
- ITEM Club: More Jobs Losses Expected in NE Scotland due to Oil Slump
- Shell Q&A: What Makes an Ideal Employer in Oil, Gas?
- Shell Takes First Place in Rigzone's Inaugural Ideal Employer Survey
- UK Government 'Must Recommit' to Oil, Gas Sector in Autumn Statement
- UK Government Gives Go-Ahead for Fracking in NW England
- ExxonMobil Racks Up Discoveries in Guyana Block Eyed by Chevron
- Oil Market Sentiment Has Improved Significantly
- EU, US Eye Collaboration on Nuclear Materials
- EU Electricity Export to Ukraine Up 94 Percent in Two Years
- China Coal Output Falls for First Time since Government Ordered More
- USA Driving Activity to Increase to All-Time Highs
- BP Pulse Buys One of Europe's Largest Truck Stops
- UK CCUS Plans Outdated: Think Tank
- TC Energy to Sell Prince Rupert Gas Pipeline Project to First Nation
- I Squared Eyes Full Ownership of Europe Gas Storage Firm
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- EIA Drops 2024 Henry Hub Gas Price Forecast
- EIA and Standard Chartered Offer Up Latest Oil Price Predictions
- Red Sea Region Sees Another Watershed Incident
- Chevron Oil Project in Kazakhstan to Cost $48.5B
- OPEC Voices Encouragement after IEA Affirms Support for Oil Security
- Biden Govt Bares Strategy for Freight Charging, Hydrogen Fueling Infra
- Ukraine Hits Third Russian Refinery In Escalating Drone Strikes
- Rystad Looks at the Buzz Around White Hydrogen
- VIDEO: Missile Attack Kills Crew Transiting Gulf of Aden
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- What Is the Biggest Risk to Offshore Oil and Gas Personnel in 2024?
- Is Peak Oil Demand Close?
- Vessel Sinks in Red Sea After Missile Strike
- JP Morgan, Standard Chartered Reveal Latest Oil Price Forecasts
- Exxon Rights in Stabroek Do Not Apply to Hess Merger with Chevron: Hess
- Rystad Forecasts Net Production of Top Permian Producers in 2024
- Analysts Reveal Latest Oil Price Outlook Following OPEC+ Cut Extension