Strathcona Resources Ltd. Announces Intention to Commence Take-Over Bid to Acquire MEG Energy Corp.

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CALGARY, AB, May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Strathcona Resources Ltd. ("Strathcona") announced today that it intends to commence a take-over bid for MEG Energy Corp. (TSX: MEG) ("MEG"), pursuant to which Strathcona will offer (the "Offer") to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of MEG ("MEG Shares"), not already owned by Strathcona or its affiliates, for 0.62 of a common share of Strathcona ("Strathcona Shares") and $4.10 in cash per MEG Share. Based on the closing share price of the Strathcona Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") on May 15, 2025, the Offer represents total consideration of $23.27 per MEG Share (82.4% Strathcona Shares and 17.6% cash), reflecting a 9.3% premium based on the closing price of the MEG Shares on the TSX on May 15, 2025.

Strathcona Resources Ltd. Logo (CNW Group/Strathcona Resources Ltd.)
Strathcona Resources Ltd. Logo (CNW Group/Strathcona Resources Ltd.)

The Offer will not be subject to any financing condition, with the cash consideration payable under the Offer expected to be funded pursuant to a bridge financing commitment from a syndicate of lenders (the "Bridge Financing Commitment"), subject to the terms and conditions of such financing. At the time the Offer is commenced, Waterous Energy Fund ("WEF"), currently the holder of 79.6% of the Strathcona Shares, intends to, through Waterous Energy Fund III ("WEF III"), commit to further increase its investment in Strathcona and subscribe for an additional 21.4 million Strathcona Shares through the use of subscription receipts.

Upon completion of the Offer, Strathcona expects to have approximately 379 million Strathcona Shares outstanding and approximately $1.5 billion in net debt1. The combined business is expected to be owned approximately 56.5% by existing holders of Strathcona Shares ("Strathcona Shareholders"), approximately 37.8% by existing holders of MEG Shares ("MEG Shareholders") and approximately 5.6% by WEF III. WEF is expected to hold a combined approximately 51% ownership position, inclusive of its existing Strathcona Shares and those expected to be issued to WEF III pursuant to the WEF III Equity Investment (as defined below).

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1 A non-GAAP financial measure which does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by the IFRS® Accounting Standards (the "Accounting Standards"). See the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios" section of this news release.     

Strategic Rationale for the Offer

  • Complementary, High-Quality Assets of Scale: The combination of Strathcona and MEG would unify two 100+ Mbbls/d heavy oil "pure plays" with near identical netbacks and reserve life indexes, both focused on SAGD oil sands development. The combination would create Canada's fifth largest oil producer and fourth largest SAGD producer, with among the largest proved oil reserves in North America. The combined business is expected to possess the scale and balance sheet metrics required to achieve an investment grade credit rating.

  • Significant Accretion for Both MEG and Strathcona Shareholders: The combination of Strathcona and MEG is expected to provide significant accretion per share to both MEG Shareholders and Strathcona Shareholders on key metrics, including funds flow per share, funds flow less sustaining capital expenditures per share, net asset value per share and production per share, while being leverage neutral to current MEG Shareholders.

  • Meaningful and Achievable Synergies: Strathcona has identified $175 million in annual synergy opportunities, including $50 million in overhead reduction opportunities, $25 million in interest savings opportunities and $100 million in operating synergy opportunities ($75 million in capital expenditures and $25 million in operating costs). The PV-10 of the aggregate operating synergy opportunities is estimated at greater than $2.50/Strathcona Share, based on proved (1P) and proved plus probable (2P) reserves.