Canadian Natural to buy Painted Pony for $461 million

CALGARY— Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. says it has struck a $461-million deal to buy much smaller Painted Pony Energy Ltd.

The combination of the Calgary-based oil and gas companies for $111 million in cash and the assumption of $350 million in debt is expected to close later this year.

In a statement, Painted Pony says it is facing liquidity challenges caused by three years of weak natural gas prices and more recent declines in prices for the petroleum liquids produced with natural gas. It says it decided on a confidential process to enhance shareholder value and its board determined the offer of 69 cents per share by Canadian Natural was the best path forward.

Separately, Canadian Natural says Painted Pony’s lands in northeastern B.C., which produce liquids-rich gas from the Montney underground formation, are near its similar operations and offer potential synergies in infrastructure and pipelines.

It says the assets produce about 270 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and 4,600 barrels per day of liquids. By comparison, Canadian Natural produced 1.46 billion cubic feet per day of gas and 922,000 barrels per day of crude oil and liquids in the second quarter.

“This acquisition further strengthens Canadian Natural’s natural gas assets and production base in key operating areas and complements the company’s diversified portfolio,” president Tim McKay said. “This transaction also allows us to further insulate against natural gas costs in our oilsands operations and has minimal impact on the company’s low overall corporate decline rate.”