Acacia Research Expands Oil and Gas Investments Through Benchmark Energy’s Transformative Acquisition in the Western Anadarko Basin

Rhea-AI Summary

Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq: ACTG) announces the acquisition of upstream assets in Texas and Oklahoma, expanding Benchmark Energy II, LLC's portfolio with over 470 operated producing wells across 140,000 net acres. The Acquisition is expected to generate annualized asset-level cash flows of approximately $45 million, enhancing Benchmark's position in the Western Anadarko Basin and the emerging Cherokee play.

Insights

Financial Analyst

The acquisition by Acacia Research Corporation's subsidiary Benchmark Energy II, LLC, of upstream assets in Texas and Oklahoma is a strategic move that could significantly impact the company's financials. The expected annualized asset-level cash flows of approximately $45 million suggest a robust addition to the company's revenue streams. This transaction aligns with Acacia's strategy of investing in cash-flowing oil and gas properties with potential for value enhancement through field optimization.

From a financial perspective, the diversification of Benchmark's production portfolio to a 60/40 liquids to natural gas ratio may offer a hedge against price volatility in the commodities market. Furthermore, the acquisition cost of $57.5 million for Acacia's share indicates a calculated investment that could yield substantial returns if the assets perform as anticipated. The funding structure, which involves both equity from existing owners and committed debt financing, suggests a balanced approach to capital allocation that maintains a conservative leverage profile.

Energy Sector Analyst

The acquisition's focus on the Western Anadarko Basin is noteworthy, given the region's reputation for oil and gas production. The addition of over 110,000 net acres held-by-production and 27,000 net acres in the emerging Cherokee play reflects a strategic move to capitalize on both mature and developing assets. The mention of liquids-rich, low-decline, mature production indicates that these wells are expected to provide stable production and cash flow, a key factor for companies looking to ensure long-term operational viability.

Moreover, the operational synergies that could arise from the proximity of the newly acquired assets to Benchmark's existing operations may lead to cost efficiencies and enhanced production capabilities. The intent to hedge a significant amount of production is a prudent risk management strategy that could protect the company against commodity price swings, thereby stabilizing cash flows and potentially enhancing investor confidence.

Market Research Analyst

It's important to consider the broader market implications of this acquisition. The oil and gas sector is subject to cyclical trends and regulatory changes and the move by Acacia and Benchmark signals confidence in the sector's outlook. The emphasis on acquiring assets with attractive valuations could indicate that Acacia is positioning itself to take advantage of market opportunities, potentially outpacing competitors who are more cautious in the current economic climate.

Additionally, the focus on field enhancement opportunities, such as artificial lift optimization, workovers and return-to-production projects, suggests that Benchmark aims to maximize the value of these assets beyond the initial acquisition. This proactive approach to asset management may resonate well with stakeholders looking for companies that actively work to increase their asset's productivity and, by extension, shareholder value.

Acquisition Anticipated to Add Over 470 Operated Producing Wells Across Approximately 140,000 Net Acres with Expected Annualized Asset-Level Cash Flows of Approximately $45 Million

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq: ACTG) (“Acacia”) today announced that its majority owned subsidiary, Benchmark Energy II, LLC (together with its subsidiaries, “Benchmark”), has entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (“PSA”) to acquire certain upstream assets and related facilities (the “Assets”) in Texas and Oklahoma from a private seller (such transaction, the “Acquisition”). The Acquisition is anticipated to expand the Benchmark portfolio, adding approximately 140,000 net acres and approximately 470 operated producing wells in the prolific Western Anadarko Basin throughout the Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma.

Acquisition Highlights

• Expanded operated position throughout the core of the Western Anadarko Basin with over 110,000 net acres, 100% of which is held-by-production, with an additional 27,000 net acres in the emerging Cherokee play
• Liquids-rich, low-decline, mature production base of approximately 6,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day across approximately 470 operated wells
• Significant opportunity set of field enhancement opportunities including artificial lift optimization, workovers and return-to-production projects
• Material exposure to the emerging Cherokee development play via operated acreage and non-operated arrangements with best-in-class operators
• Benchmark anticipates hedging a significant amount of production

The Acquisition expands upon Acacia’s strategy within its Benchmark subsidiary of driving returns through a focus on cash flow. This is accomplished through acquiring predictable and shallow decline, cash-flowing oil and gas properties whose value can be enhanced via a disciplined, field optimization strategy, with risk managed through robust commodity hedges and low leverage.

Kirk Goehring, Benchmark’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The acquisition of these assets represents a transformative moment in Benchmark Energy’s history and an important next step in our partnership with Acacia and McArron. This unique asset is expected to deliver attractive, mature production with multiple drivers to enhance value. After closing this acquisition, Benchmark will have a large, contiguous acreage position in the heart of the Mid-Continent, and incremental scale to continue driving meaningful operational enhancements to create attractive returns for our stakeholders for many years to come.”

MJ McNulty, Jr., Acacia’s Chief Executive Officer, added, “We have always envisioned the Benchmark subsidiary as a platform, partnering with its highly talented leadership team, to acquire high-quality, cashflow-generating oil and gas assets. The Benchmark team has an established track record for acquiring excellent assets that possess attractive return profiles. This transaction is an example of that strategy in action and a meaningful first step of what we expect to be multiple acquisitions within the Benchmark platform. We continue to believe there is an opportunity to acquire outstanding assets at attractive valuations.”

Jonny Jones, McArron’s Chief Executive Officer, added, “This transaction further expands the exciting partnership between Acacia and McArron in our support of Benchmark. Kirk and his team have a deep familiarity with these high-quality assets, and they will bring Benchmark the required scale to drive meaningful value within the combined enterprise.”

Enhancing Scale in the Anadarko Basin

The Acquisition includes an interest in approximately 470 operated wells producing approximately 6,000 net mboe/d in the core of the Western Anadarko Basin, as well as a non-operated interest in the undeveloped Cherokee play. The wells are mature, low-decline production and will add significant diversification to Benchmark’s production, with a balanced pro-forma portfolio of approximately 60% liquids and 40% natural gas. Further, the Assets’ proximity to Benchmark’s existing operations in Texas creates further potential to develop operational synergies of scale in the basin.

Additional Information

The transaction is expected to be funded utilizing cash from Benchmark’s existing owners, Acacia and McArron Partners, as well as committed debt financing from a group of local, regional banks. Acacia’s share of the consideration is expected to be approximately $57.5 million. Closing of the transaction, which is expected in the second quarter of 2024, is subject to customary closing conditions and termination rights.

Additional details about the acquisition are included in a Form 8-K filed by Acacia today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Acacia

Acacia is a publicly traded (Nasdaq: ACTG) company that is focused on acquiring and operating attractive businesses across the industrial, healthcare, energy, and mature technology sectors where it believes it can leverage its expertise, significant capital base, and deep industry relationships to drive value. Acacia evaluates opportunities based on the attractiveness of the underlying cash flows, without regard to a specific investment horizon. Acacia operates its businesses based on three key principles of people, process and performance and has built a management team with demonstrated expertise in research, transactions and execution, and operations and management. Additional information about Acacia and its subsidiaries is available at www.acaciaresearch.com.

About McArron Partners

McArron Partners is the investment arm of the Jones family of Albany, Texas. McArron’s Chief Executive Officer is Jonny Jones, founder of Jones Energy and former Chairman of the Texas Oil & Gas Association and U.S. Oil & Gas Association. McArron deploys its capital in a mix of global public and private investments. The Jones family has supported energy entrepreneurs for more than five decades.

About Benchmark

Benchmark is an independent oil and gas company engaged in the acquisition, production and development of oil and gas assets in mature resource plays in Texas and Oklahoma.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based upon Acacia’s current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “positioned,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or similar words may be used to identify forward-looking statements; however, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. While Acacia believes its assumptions concerning future events are reasonable, a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, but not limited to: the ability of the parties to consummate the Acquisition; delay or failure to consummate the Acquisition due to unsatisfied closing conditions or otherwise; significant transaction costs associated with the Acquisition; the risk of litigation and/or regulatory actions related to the Acquisition; the ultimate amount of cash consideration to be paid in the Acquisition due to purchase price adjustments or otherwise; changes in reserve or production levels; conditions in the oil and gas industry, including supply/demand levels for crude oil and condensate, Natural Gas Liquids and natural gas and the resulting impact on price; changes in political or economic conditions in the U.S. and elsewhere, including changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, inflation rates and global and domestic market conditions; actions taken by the members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia affecting the production and pricing of crude oil and other global and domestic political, economic or diplomatic developments; capital available for exploration and development; risks related to hedging activities; voluntary or involuntary curtailments, delays or cancellations of certain drilling activities; well production timing; liabilities or corrective actions resulting from litigation, other proceedings and investigations or alleged violations of law or permits; drilling and operating risks; lack of, or disruption in, access to storage capacity, pipelines or other transportation methods; availability of drilling rigs, materials and labor, including the costs associated therewith; difficulty in obtaining necessary approvals and permits; the availability, cost, terms and timing of issuance or execution of, competition for, and challenges to, mineral licenses and leases and governmental and other permits and rights-of-way, and our ability to retain mineral licenses and leases; non-performance by third parties of contractual or legal obligations, including due to bankruptcy; unexpected events that may impact distributions from our equity method investees; changes in our credit ratings; hazards such as weather conditions, a health pandemic (similar to COVID-19), acts of war or terrorist acts and the government or military response thereto; security threats, including cybersecurity threats and disruptions to our business and operations from breaches of our information technology systems, or breaches of the information technology systems, facilities and infrastructure of third parties with which we transact business; changes in safety, health, environmental, tax and other regulations, requirements or initiatives, including initiatives addressing the impact of global climate change, air emissions, or water management; impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; and unknown geological, operating and economic factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. For further discussions of risks and uncertainties, you should refer to Acacia’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” section of Acacia’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Acacia undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release, except as required by law. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240220547241/en/

Investor Contact:

FNK IR

Rob Fink, 646-809-4048

rob@fnkir.com

Source: Acacia Research Corporation

FAQ

What assets are Acacia Research Corporation acquiring in Texas and Oklahoma?

Acacia Research Corporation is acquiring certain upstream assets and related facilities in Texas and Oklahoma.

How many operated producing wells will be added through the Acquisition?

Approximately 470 operated producing wells will be added across 140,000 net acres.

What is the expected annualized asset-level cash flow from the Acquisition?

The expected annualized asset-level cash flow from the Acquisition is approximately $45 million.

What is the ticker symbol for Acacia Research Corporation?

The ticker symbol for Acacia Research Corporation is ACTG.

When is the closing of the transaction expected?

The closing of the transaction is expected in the second quarter of 2024.