THIRD QUARTER 2021 RESULTS

Calgary, November 12, 2021: Valeura Energy Inc. (TSX:VLE, LSE:VLU) (the “Company” or “Valeura”), an upstream oil and gas company with assets in the Thrace Basin of Turkey, reports its unaudited financial and operating results for the three month period ended September 30, 2021.

Highlights

  • Financial position – Cash position of US$41.7 million at September 30, 2021;
  • Royalties – Valeura is now due royalty payments in connection with the sale of its conventional gas producing business. Given current gas prices, these are now expected to reach the capped total of US$2.5 million within the coming year; and
  • Strategy – Continuing to pursue near-term inorganic growth opportunities and seeking a suitable partner to farm in to the Company’s 20 Tcfe unrisked mean prospective resource deep, tight gas play.

 

Sean Guest, President and CEO commented:

“Our third quarter results demonstrate the stability of our financial position as we continue to pursue our strategy from a position of strength.  With no debt, a cash position of US$41.7 million, and a lean organisation, we are aggressively evaluating new business opportunities without putting strain on our balance sheet.

“During the third quarter we have experienced a strengthening in the business environment for global upstream oil and gas investments, with stronger benchmark oil and gas prices.  This reinforces our view on the ability for mergers and acquisitions-led growth to contribute meaningful near-term cash flow, and we remain especially focused on those opportunities which also provide the potential for follow-on investment in the medium term. 

“We are encouraged by the substantial improvement in European gas market fundamentals, as well.  This underscores the inherent long-term value of our 20 Tcfe unrisked mean prospective resource gas play.  We also stand to benefit directly from increased gas prices in the near term by the start of royalty payments from the shallow gas producing business we sold earlier this year.  We anticipate receiving the full capped maximum royalty payment of $2.5 million within the coming year.

 

Financial position and Royalty

As of the end of Q3, Valuera had cash and cash equivalent resources totalling US$41.7 million, and no debt.

Associated with the sale of its conventional gas producing business which closed in Q2 2021, Valeura is due a royalty over the next five years of between US$1.0 and $2.5 million, related to gas prices. The Company has received confirmation that a royalty payment is due for September and, given the continued positive environment for gas prices, the royalty payment is expected to increase for Q4 2021.  Under the current gas price outlook, Valeura expects to receive the full US$2.5 million in royalty payments within the coming year and this has been recorded as an increase in the accounts receivable.

The Company’s near and mid-term financial obligations are minimal, comprised only of G&A associated with its small and lean organisation, and modest licence commitments required to keep its Turkish land holdings in good standing.

 

Strategy

With its strong financial position and internationally experienced team, Valeura is well positioned to grow by way of mergers and acquisitions  in a number of international jurisdictions including the Mediterranean basin and other areas where the management and board have experience.  The Company is evaluating several targets that could provide near-term cashflow plus the opportunity for medium-term re-investment to generate further value through growth.  Valeura is squarely focussed on only executing transactions that will generate material value for shareholders.

In the longer term, Valeura intends to deliver value from its deep, unconventional tight gas play in the Thrace Basin (the “Deep Gas Play”).  Its three exploration licences in the core of the Deep Gas Play are valid up to June 27, 2022 and, under Turkey’s licence terms, the Company has the ability to maintain these assets for up to approximately five more years through work programme commitments, which do not require material near term cost outlays.  Given recent gas price increases and the focus on gas supply to Europe, the Company is continuing with its plan to farm out a portion of its interest in the Deep Gas Play in order to jointly pursue the next phase of appraisal work.

 

Additional information and commentary on the three months ended September 30, 2021 is included in the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis, which is available on the Company’s website and on www.sedar.com.

 

For further information please contact:

Valeura Energy Inc. (General and Investor Enquiries)                       +1 403 237 7102
Sean Guest, President and CEO
Heather Campbell, CFO
Robin Martin, Investor Relations Manager
Contact@valeuraenergy.com, IR@valeuraenergy.com

Auctus Advisors LLP (Corporate Broker)                                          +44 (0) 7711 627 449
Jonathan Wright
Valeura@auctusadvisors.co.uk

CAMARCO (Public Relations, Media Adviser)                                   +44 (0) 20 3757 4980
Owen Roberts, Billy Clegg, Monique Perks, Hugo Liddy
Valeura@camarco.co.uk

 

Resources

Resource disclosure in this announcement is based on an independent resources evaluation as at December 31, 2018 conducted by DeGolyer and MacNaughton in its report dated March 13, 2019, which was prepared using guidelines outlined in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook and in accordance with National Instrument 51-101, Standards of Disclosure for Oil ang Gas Activities, as adjusted to reflect Equinor’s withdrawal in Q1 2020. Prospective resources are those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from undiscovered accumulations by application of future development projects. Prospective resources have both an associated chance of discovery and a chance of development. The unrisked estimates of prospective resources referred to in this announcement have not been risked for either the chance of discovery or the chance of development. There is no certainty that any portion of the prospective resources will be discovered. If a discovery is made, there is no certainty that it will be developed or, if it is developed, there is no certainty as to the timing of such development or that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the prospective resources. Additional resources information is included in the Company’s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Advisory and Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain information included in this new release constitutes forward-looking information under applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking information is for the purpose of explaining management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Forward- looking information typically contains statements with words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “estimate”, “propose”, “project”, “target” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking information in this new release includes, but is not limited to: the Company’s entitlement to royalty payments over a five-year period; statements with respect to the Company’s inorganic growth strategy, including its ability to identify M&A targets; statements with respect to the Company’s deep tight gas play strategy, including management’s belief that the play represents a material value proposition for shareholders, and its ability to find another partner for the play. In addition, statements related to “resources” are deemed to be forward-looking information as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the resources can be discovered and profitably produced in the future.

Forward-looking information is based on management’s current expectations and assumptions regarding, among other things: the resumption of operations following the COVID-19 pandemic; political stability of the areas in which the Company is operating and completing transactions; continued safety of operations and ability to proceed in a timely manner; continued operations of and approvals forthcoming from the Turkish government in a manner consistent with past conduct; future drilling activity on the required/expected timelines; the prospectivity of the Company’s lands, including the deep potential; the continued favourable pricing and operating netbacks in Turkey; future sources of funding; future economic conditions; future currency exchange rates; the ability to meet drilling deadlines and other requirements under licences and leases; the ability to attract a new partner in the deep play; the ability to identify attractive merger and acquisition opportunities to support growth; and the Company’s continued ability to obtain and retain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost efficient manner. In addition, the Company’s work programmes and budgets are in part based upon expected agreement among joint venture partners and associated exploration, development and marketing plans and anticipated costs and sales prices, which are subject to change based on, among other things, the actual results of drilling and related activity, availability of drilling, high-pressure hydraulic stimulation and other specialised oilfield equipment and service providers, changes in partners’ plans and unexpected delays and changes in market conditions. Although the Company believes the expectations and assumptions reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking information involves significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Exploration, appraisal, and development of oil and natural gas reserves are speculative activities and involve a degree of risk. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company including, but not limited to: the Company’s ability to secure a new partner for the deep play; the timing and quantum of future royalty payments, the ability to execute potential M&A transactions and add material value for shareholders including through near-term cash flow; the risks of further disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic; the risks of currency fluctuations; changes in gas prices and netbacks in Turkey; potential changes in joint venture partner strategies and participation in work programmes; uncertainty regarding the contemplated timelines and costs for the deep evaluation; the risks of disruption to operations and access to worksites; potential changes in laws and regulations, the uncertainty regarding government and other approvals; counterparty risk; risks associated with weather delays and natural disasters; and the risk associated with international activity. The forward-looking information included in this new release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. See the AIF for a detailed discussion of the risk factors.

The forward-looking information contained in this new release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained in this new release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Additional information relating to Valeura is also available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

This Announcement contains inside information as defined in EU No. 596/2014, part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and is in accordance with the Company’s obligations under Article 17 of that Regulation.

This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction, including where such offer would be unlawful. This announcement is not for distribution or release, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Ireland, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which its publication or distribution would be unlawful.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

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