New E&P player Spirit Energy starts trading

Spirit Energy, the E&P joint venture which combines Centrica’s E&P business with Bayerngas Norge, has begun trading as an independent oil and gas operator.

Completion of the transaction – which was announced on July 17, 2017 – follows receipt of all the required regulatory approvals and Spirit Energy now becomes an independent European E&P company, Centrica said on Monday.

Centrica plc owns 69% of Spirit Energy, with Bayerngas Norge’s former shareholders, led by Stadtwerke München Group (SWM), owning 31%.

According to Centrica, 2017 production from the combined portfolios is expected to be around 50 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe) from 27 producing fields, and total 2016 year end 2P reserves and 2C resources were 625 mmboe. The company employs more than 700 people in the UK, Norway, Netherlands and Denmark.

The formation of Spirit Energy combines Centrica’s cash-generative and relatively near-term production profile with Bayerngas Norge’s more recently on-stream producing assets and development portfolio. The new company will be a self-financing entity and will invest in the range £400-£600 million per annum to deliver sustainable medium-term production of 45-55 mmboe.

The transaction is expected to generate £100-£150 million net present value of synergies and the joint venture will have the opportunity to strengthen through further consolidation and joint ventures.

For Centrica, the creation of Spirit Energy completes the first phase of its planned portfolio transformation. The establishment of Spirit Energy also gives its shareholders greater strategic optionality including the potential to participate in further industry consolidation, Centrica explained.

There is substantial near and medium-term production from established assets including Morecambe, Greater Markham, Kvitebjørn and Statfjord, and from recently on-stream assets Valemon, Cygnus and Ivar Aasen. The Joint Venture also owns a collection of development assets, including Maria, Oda, Fogelberg and Skarfjell in Norway and Hejre and Solsort in Denmark.

Centrica said that Spirit Energy’s focus in 2018 will be to maximize efficiency from its producing assets, as well as progressing several key projects including the developments of Maria and Oda, appraisal drilling at the Fogelberg discovery and drilling on a number of exploration prospects. Spirit Energy will also partner with Wintershall in submitting a plan for development and operation for the Skarfjell development.

Further consolidation & JVs

Iain Conn, Group Chief Executive of Centrica plc, said: “I’m delighted that the Spirit Energy joint venture has completed, creating a more focused and sustainable European E&P business which will contribute to the resilience of Centrica while limiting the Group’s E&P participation. With the creation of Spirit Energy we have now completed the first phase of our portfolio transformation as we reallocate resources towards our customer-facing businesses, leaving Centrica well-positioned to deliver longer-term returns and growth.

“As one of the largest independent E&P companies in North-West Europe, Spirit Energy will have the possibility to participate in further consolidation and joint ventures, and creates further optionality for Centrica’s shareholders.”

Florian Bieberbach, Chief Executive of Stadtwerke München Group, said: “Combining our E&P business units will enable us to run our joint business more effectively and cost efficiently in the future. Future investments and risks will be spread broader in the more diversified and balanced portfolio.”

Chris Cox, Chief Executive of Spirit Energy, said: “Teams across both Centrica’s E&P business and Bayerngas Norge have been working hard over the last few months to combine the businesses and today that hard work is reflected in the launch of Spirit Energy.

“Now that both businesses have been brought together, these teams and complementary portfolios set us up to be a strong and sustainable E&P business, built for the long-term and committed to Europe.”

Chris Cox will be joined on the Spirit Energy management team by Andrew le Poidevin as Chief Financial Officer and Gerry Harrison as Chief of Staff. Spirit Energy’s board will be made up of Chris Cox, plus four appointees from Centrica and two from Stadtwerke München. It will be chaired by Centrica’s Group Executive Director Mark Hanafin.

‘Positive sign for North Sea’

Commenting on the launch of Spirit Energy, Deirdre Michie, Chief Executive of Oil & Gas UK, said: “We welcome the arrival of a new independent operator to the North Sea. The launch of Spirit Energy is another positive sign of the strengthening belief in the future of this basin. It comes at a time of much merger and acquisition activity clearly signalling the investment potential of the UK Continental Shelf.”

Michie added: “Billions of barrels of oil and gas still remain within the basin. We need a diversity of companies with fresh ideas and innovative thinking to ensure we make the most of our own indigenous resources, which are vital for helping to meet our energy needs, and which also support hundreds of thousands of UK jobs.”