Warren Resources Enters Marcellus with Citrus Asset Buy - Analyst Blog

Independent energy company, Warren Resources, Inc. WRES announced that it has acquired certain assets in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale from Colorado-based oil and natural gas producer, Citrus Energy Corporation and two other parties that owned working interest in the region. The transaction, which marks Warren Resources' entry into the prolific natural gas basin, was for a purchase price of $352.5 million.

Following this announcement, shares of Warren Resources gained around 2.6% to close at $6.30. Shares also touched an intraday high of $6.70 that marked a new 52-week high for the stock.

The company mentioned that it will issue $40 million in shares at $6.00 per share as part of the transaction cost. The remaining consideration will be funded through debt financing. In view of this deal, Warren Resources' senior secured credit facility has been increased to $750 million from $300 million and its borrowing base expanded to $225 million from $175 million. The transaction has an effective date of Jul 1 and is anticipated to close in early August.

The company added that the acquisition adds lucrative assets to its existing portfolio. The sold properties yielded about 82 million net cubic feet of natural gas per day last month. As of Jul 1, the estimated proved reserves totaled about 208.3 billion cubic feet, of which 55% is anticipated to be proved developed reserve.

Warren Resources will be the operator of the assets. The acquired properties are expected to complement the company's existing California oil and Wyoming natural gas assets. The said properties are expected to be highly accretive and are anticipated to increase the company's net production by over 200% to 118 million cubic feet equivalent per day (Mmcfe/d) from the existing level of 36 Mmcfe/d. The deal would also increase the company's proved reserves to around 410.8 billion cubic feet equivalent (Bcfe) from the current level of 202.5 Bcfe.
 
The company stated that the acquisition has brought to its portfolio some of the top performing wells in the Marcellus region that generate significant cash, which should be enough to finance future drilling prospects in the area.

Warren Resources currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Meanwhile, one can consider some better-ranked players from the same industry like EQT Corporation EQT, EXCO Resources Inc. XCO and Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. MPO. All these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).