Surge Energy buying Longview Oil in friendly deal worth $429M
by The Canadian Press
Deal creates mid-sized player focused on exploiting light and medium oil in Alberta
CALGARY—Surge Energy Inc. plans to buy Longview Oil Corp. in a friendly deal valued at roughly $429-million, including debt, creating a mid-sized player focused on exploiting light and medium oil in Alberta.
The two Calgary-based oil and gas companies said their businesses are a good fit with one another.
“The proposed transaction results in the formation of an elite, intermediate, light and medium oil focused, dividend paying, growth company,” they said.
“The combined asset base will be strategically focused in the Williston Basin and Central Alberta with significant complimentary reserves, production, land and operations.”
Surge already holds a roughly 19.8 per cent stake in Longview that it bought earlier this year for about $41-million or $4.45 per share.
They said shareholders of both companies will benefit from higher dividends after the proposed combination, which requires approval from two-thirds of Longview shareholders.
Longview shareholders are being offered 0.975 of a Surge common share.
In addition, Surge will assume $155-million of debt owed by Longview.
Based on the March 31 closing price before the agreement was announced, the offer was worth $5.99 per Longview share.
Longview shares closed at $5.49.
Longview shareholders will be asked to vote on the offer in June.
Assuming the deal is successful, Surge is expected to finish off 2014 producing more than 21,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
As well, Surge said it will increase its annual dividend by 11 per cent to 60 cents per share.
