CNSL Acquisition Completion

11 Nov

Ithaca Energy Limited (IAECN: ISINs US46567TAA25 / USG49774AA35) (“Ithaca” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has completed the $2 billion acquisition of Chevron North Sea Limited (“CNSL”). The transaction provides a material and important step up in the scale and breadth of the Company’s asset base, adding ten additional producing field interests to the existing portfolio, along with a wider portfolio of investment opportunities from which to grow the future cashflows of the business and accelerate monetisation of the Company’s existing UK tax allowances.

Ithaca Energy Limited (IAECN: ISINs US46567TAA25 / USG49774AA35) (“Ithaca” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has completed the $2 billion acquisition of Chevron North Sea Limited (“CNSL”).The transaction provides a material and important step up in the scale and breadth of the Company’s asset base, adding ten additional producing field interests to the existing portfolio, along with a wider portfolio of investment opportunities from which to grow the future cashflows of the business and accelerate monetisation of the Company’s existing UK tax allowances.

Taking into account the interim period cashflows generated by CNSL since the transaction effective date of 1 January 2019, the $200 million deposit paid at signing of the transaction and conventional working capital adjustments, the price payable at completion of the acquisition was $1.5 billion.

Les Thomas, Ithaca Energy CEO, commented:

“Completion of the CNSL acquisition marks a major milestone in the long term development of Ithaca Energy. The significantly enlarged operations provide an excellent platform from which to maximise the value of our high-quality asset portfolio and establishes the Company as a leading UK North Sea oil and gas producer. We have a highly experienced organisation that is well set-up to deliver upon our investment plans and secure the future success of the business. With this exciting backdrop, we look forward to contributing to the industry’s objective of maximising economic recovery for the UK North Sea over the years to come”.

Asi Bartfeld, Delek Group CEO, commented:

“With completion of the acquisition, we are delighted to have made a significant step towards our strategic objective of building the Delek Group’s position as a world class E&P business. The acquisition has established Ithaca Energy as a leading UK North Sea oil and gas company with a strong outlook and the opportunity set from which to deliver material value to the Delek Group and enhance its presence in the global energy markets.”

Additional Information

The net drawn debt of the Company as of the completion date was $1.6 billion, which takes into account the overall debt refinancing that has been completed in association with the transaction.

The Company will provide further information on the combined business when it announces its financial statements for the three quarters ending 30 September 2019 at the end of November. Full year 2019 consolidated financial results, incorporating the contribution of CNSL from the transaction completion date, will be issued at the end of March 2020 and a conference call for investors will also be held on the same day, in line with the terms of the senior notes indenture.

The following table summarises the producing field interests that have been acquired as part of the transaction.

Following completion of the transaction, Chevron is providing the security and remains financially responsible for the decommissioning obligations of CNSL in respect of its interests in the Heather and Strathspey fields and the Cambo exploration well.

- ENDS -

Enquiries:
Ithaca Energy
Les Thomas
lthomas@ithacaenergy.com
+44 (0)1224 650 261

Graham Forbes
gforbes@ithacaenergy.com
+44 (0)1224 652 151

Richard Smith
rsmith@ithacaenergy.com
+44 (0)1224 652 172

FTI Consulting - Media Enquiries
Ben Brewerton
ben.brewerton@fticonsulting.com
+44 (0)203 727 1000

Sara Powell
sara.powell@fticonsulting.com
+44 (0)203 727 1000

About Ithaca Energy

Ithaca Energy is an independent oil and gas company with production, development and exploration operations focused on the UK North Sea. The Company was founded in 2004 and has grown through a combination of acquisitions and new field developments. Our strategy is focused on establishing the company as a leading North Sea operator, delivering sustainable growth in free cash flow generation, underpinned by operational excellence and financial discipline.

Ithaca Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Tel Aviv stock exchange listed Delek Group Limited (TASE: DLEKG, US ADR: DGRLY), Israel’s leading integrated energy company. For further information please consult the Company’s website www.ithacaenergy.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains projections, information, beliefs, opinions and other forward-looking statements (collectively “forward-looking statements”) regarding future events and the performance, financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company and CNSL. All statements and information other than present and historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking. When used in this press release, the words and phrases like “forecast”, "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "plan", "should", "believe", "could", “target”, “in the process of”, “on track” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, whether used in connection with production forecasts, operational activities, drilling plans, anticipated timing for the commencement of production from new fields and wells, budgetary figures, future operating costs, financing activities, anticipated net debt, anticipated funding requirements and uses of available credit under the Company’s debt facilities, potential developments including the timing of closing and anticipated benefits of acquisitions and dispositions or otherwise, expected future payments in connection with such acquisitions and dispositions, statements relating to reserves, or otherwise, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs, including, among other things, assumptions with respect to production, drilling, construction and maintenance times, well completion times, risks associated with operations, future capital and operating expenditures, financing activities, continued availability of financing for future capital expenditures, future acquisitions and dispositions and cash flow, required regulatory, partner and other third party approvals. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such information may prove to be incorrect. Such statements are not promises or guarantees and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are in many cases beyond the control of the Company or CNSL and that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Past performance of the Company or CNSL cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable at the date of this press release but no assurance can be given that these expectations, or the assumptions underlying these expectations, will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. Ithaca expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based except as required by applicable securities laws.

CNSL Acquisition Completion