Civitas Resources, Inc. Announces Share Repurchase from Vitol

Rhea-AI Summary

Civitas Resources, Inc. announced the repurchase of 1.04 million shares from Vitol at $72.00 per share, totaling $75 million. The acquisition of oil and gas assets in the Permian Basin from Vencer Energy, resulted in Vitol holding less than 2% of Civitas' outstanding shares. Civitas has repurchased $142 million worth of shares year-to-date and has authorized approximately $338 million for share repurchases through 2024.

Positive

• Civitas' share repurchase demonstrates confidence in the company's future growth and financial stability.

• By repurchasing shares, Civitas potentially increases shareholder value and signals to investors that the stock is undervalued.

Negative

• The large amount paid for share repurchase could impact the company's cash reserves and future investment opportunities.

• The deferred payment obligation to Vitol, totaling $475 million, may strain Civitas' financial resources in the short term.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Observing Civitas Resources, Inc.'s share repurchase strategy reveals a significant commitment to capital return to shareholders, which is often interpreted as a positive signal regarding the company's future earnings potential and undervaluation perception. The $142 million outlay for buybacks indicates strong cash flow generation and a management confident in the intrinsic value of their shares being higher than the market price. By reducing the number of outstanding shares, earnings per share (EPS) may increase, potentially boosting the stock price. However, investors should remain vigilant about the sustainability of such buybacks, especially considering the deferred payment obligation to Vitol. The early payment plan, while decreasing interest costs, also reduces the cash available for other operational needs or investment opportunities.

Energy Sector Analyst

Within the energy sector, asset acquisitions and divestitures are common, but Civitas' strategy to streamline its ownership structure post-asset acquisition shows a proactive approach to managing its capital structure. The repurchase from Vitol resulting in less than 2% equity stake is a significant reduction and aligns with Civitas' aim to consolidate control. Considering the volatility of energy prices and regulatory pressures in the oil and gas industry, such financial maneuvers might be seen as an effort to bolster resilience against market fluctuations. Furthermore, the consolidation of ownership post-Permian Basin asset acquisition suggests a strategic focus on core operations and growth within a region known for its rich oil reserves.

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Civitas Resources, Inc. (NYSE: CIVI) (“Civitas” or the “Company”), today announced the execution of a definitive agreement to repurchase approximately 1.04 million shares of its common stock from Vitol at a price of $72.00 per share, totaling $75 million. Civitas’ acquisition of certain oil and gas assets in the Permian Basin from Vencer Energy, LLC, a Vitol investment, closed on January 2, 2024, in exchange for approximately 7.2 million shares of Civitas stock along with $1.55 billion in cash ($1 billion paid at closing and a remaining $550 million payable on January 3, 2025). Along with other open market sales since the first of the year, the repurchase brings Vitol’s current equity position in Civitas to less than 2% of Civitas’ outstanding shares.

Combined with share repurchases in the first quarter of 2024, Civitas has now bought back $142 million worth of its shares (2.07 million shares at an average price of $68.56) year-to-date. Following the completion of the transaction, Civitas’ remaining share repurchase authorization will be approximately $338 million through the end of 2024.

In addition to the share repurchases, Civitas has agreed to pay $75 million of its $550 million deferred payment obligation to Vitol prior to the due date. Of this amount, the Company will pay $37.5 million in May 2024 and plans to pay an additional $37.5 million in July 2024. The remaining $475 million will remain payable to Vitol on or before January 3, 2025.

About Civitas

Civitas Resources, Inc. is an independent, domestic oil and gas producer focused on development of its premier assets in the Denver-Julesburg (“DJ”) and Permian Basins. Civitas has a proven business model combining capital discipline, a strong balance sheet, cash flow generation and sustainable cash returns to shareholders. Civitas employs leading ESG practices and is Colorado’s first carbon neutral oil and gas producer. For more information about Civitas, please visit www.civitasresources.com.

Forward-Looking Statements and Cautionary Statements

Certain statements in this press release concerning future opportunities for Civitas, future financial performance and condition, guidance, and any other statements regarding Civitas’ future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, returns to stockholders, assumptions, or future events or performance that are not historical facts are “forward-looking” statements based on assumptions currently believed to be valid. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than statements of historical facts. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “ensure,” “expect,” “if,” “intend,” “estimate,” “probable,” “project,” “forecasts,” “predict,” “outlook,” “aim,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “potential,” “may,” “might,” “anticipate,” “likely,” “plan,” “positioned,” “strategy,” and similar expressions or other words of similar meaning, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company’s plans and expectations with respect to its future ability to return cash to stockholders. The forward-looking statements are intended to be subject to the safe harbor provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, Civitas’ future financial condition, results of operations, strategy, and plans; the ability of Civitas to realize anticipated synergies related to Civitas’ recent acquisitions in the timeframe expected or at all; changes in capital markets and the ability of Civitas to finance operations in the manner expected; the effects of commodity prices; the risks of oil and gas activities; and the fact that operating costs and business disruption may be greater than expected. Additionally, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated also include: declines or volatility in the prices we receive for our oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; general economic conditions, whether internationally, nationally, or in the regional and local market areas in which we do business, including any future economic downturn, the impact of continued or further inflation, disruption in the financial markets, and the availability of credit on acceptable terms; the Company’s ability to identify and select possible additional acquisition and disposition opportunities; the effects of disruption of our operations or excess supply of oil and natural gas due to world health events, and the actions by certain oil and natural gas producing countries, including Russia; the ability of our customers to meet their obligations to us; our access to capital on acceptable terms; our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations, borrowings, or other sources to enable us to fully develop our undeveloped acreage positions; our ability to continue to pay dividends at their current levels or at all; the presence or recoverability of estimated oil and natural gas reserves and the actual future sales volume rates and associated costs; uncertainties associated with estimates of proved oil and gas reserves; the possibility that the industry may be subject to future local, state, and federal regulatory or legislative actions (including additional taxes and changes in environmental, health and safety regulation and regulations addressing climate change); environmental, health and safety risks; seasonal weather conditions, as well as severe weather and other natural events caused by climate change; lease stipulations; drilling and operating risks, including the risks associated with the employment of horizontal drilling and completion techniques; our ability to acquire adequate supplies of water for drilling and completion operations; the availability of oilfield equipment, services, and personnel; exploration and development risks; operational interruption of centralized oil and natural gas processing facilities; competition in the oil and natural gas industry; management’s ability to execute our plans to meet our goals; unforeseen difficulties encountered in operating in new geographic areas; our ability to attract and retain key members of our senior management and key technical employees; our ability to maintain effective internal controls; access to adequate gathering systems and pipeline take-away capacity; our ability to secure adequate processing capacity for natural gas we produce, to secure adequate transportation for oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids we produce, and to sell the oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids at market prices; costs and other risks associated with perfecting title for mineral rights in some of our properties; political conditions in or affecting other producing countries, including conflicts in or relating to the Middle East (including the current events related to the Israel-Palestine conflict), South America, and Russia (including the current events involving Russia and Ukraine), and other sustained military campaigns or acts of terrorism or sabotage; the effects of any pandemic or other global health epidemic; other economic, competitive, governmental, legislative, regulatory, geopolitical, and technological factors that may negatively impact our businesses, operations, or pricing; and disruptions to our business due to acquisitions and other significant transactions. Expectations regarding business outlook, including changes in revenue, pricing, capital expenditures, cash flow generation, strategies for our operations, oil and natural gas market conditions, legal, economic and regulatory conditions, and environmental matters are only forecasts regarding these matters.

Additional information concerning other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described above can be found under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” sections in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and are based on information available at the time they were made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements were made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by federal securities laws. As forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance on such statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240502774959/en/

Civitas Contacts

Investor Relations:

Brad Whitmarsh, 832.736.8909, bwhitmarsh@civiresources.com

Kara English, 303.312.8790 kenglish@civiresources.com

Media:

Rich Coolidge, info@civiresources.com

Source: Civitas Resources, Inc.

FAQ

How many shares did Civitas repurchase from Vitol?

Civitas repurchased approximately 1.04 million shares from Vitol at $72.00 per share, totaling $75 million.

What was the price per share for the repurchase?

The price per share for the repurchase was $72.00.

What was the total value of the share repurchase?

The total value of the share repurchase was $75 million.

What was the amount of Civitas' share repurchases year-to-date?

Civitas repurchased $142 million worth of shares year-to-date.

What is the remaining share repurchase authorization for Civitas through 2024?

Civitas has authorized approximately $338 million for share repurchases through the end of 2024.