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Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the First Quarter Results Conference Call.I would now like to turn the meeting over to Mr. David Spyker. Please go ahead.
Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us. On the call with me today are David Hendry, our CFO; Rob King, our Vice President, Business Development; and Matt Donahue, our Manager of Investor Relations and Capital Markets.The first quarter marked a period of rebound for Freehold as the company restored production levels, generated significant improvements in funds from operations, increased its dividend, and completed its first transformational U.S. royalty transaction, all while reducing leverage. To start this morning, I would like to talk about the dividend increase and then we will focus on the excellent operational performance we have had.In conjunction with projecting 10% to 15% production growth over 2020, we will be increasing our dividend for the third time this year, increasing our monthly payout by 33% from $0.03 per share to $0.04 per share starting in June to shareholders of record on May 31, 2021. This healthy dividend increase represents a measured approach in moving the dividend upwards towards our long-term 60% to 80% payout ratio objective. This step-wise approach takes into consideration that despite the improvement in the commodity price outlook, there still remains considerable risk with uncertainty on the ultimate pace and sustainability of demand recovery as COVID-19 vaccination initiatives are well underway.We also see this as an opportunity to deleverage our balance sheet with free cash flow after dividends being directed to further reduce our debt, retaining financial flexibility to do further high-quality acquisition work. The key highlight for the quarter was the completion of our acquisition of a diverse U.S. royalty package reinforcing our identity as a publicly traded North American focused oil and gas royalty company. The $74 million acquisition closed in early January and has provided Freehold with exposure to 450,000 gross drilling unit acres of mineral title lands an overriding royalty interests across 12 basins in 8 states, predominantly weighted towards the activity-rich Permian and Eagle Ford basins. Our team has worked hard to incorporate these assets into our portfolio over the quarter with early indications suggesting performance exceeding expectations.Additionally, over the quarter, we were able to complete 3 tuck-in acquisitions adding exposure to the Bakken and Permian basins. These deals totaled $4.9 million and closed this quarter. They are estimated to add 85 BOE a day of production in 2021 and will provide additional growth into next year. We've been extremely encouraged with the level and quality of acquisitions we have seen to date with the initial transaction providing us a strong suite of assets to expand on through further deals.In the near term, we expect to be busy on both sides of the border with a focus on enhancing the quality of our royalty portfolio and providing strong returns to our shareholders. We see the growth of Freehold's U.S. portfolio as further diversifying our royalty lands, enabling participation in some of the most attractive plays in North America. Moving forward, we believe our U.S. royalty lands will provide a key growth wedge to our production profile increasing option value to provide returns to our shareholders.On the operations front, production for the quarter averaged 10,944 BOE a day, representing a 13% improvement over Q4 2020 and a 3% gain on a per-share measure. We had a small period of weakness associated with our U.S. portfolio with the cold weather in Texas over the quarter but this has since rebounded. Production from Freehold's U.S. royalty assets averaged 1,285 BOE a day in Q1 2021, a 400% increase from 257 BOE a day in Q4 2020, and a 414% increase versus the same period last year.Based on our first quarter results and our outlook for activity on our royalty lands both as in the U.S. and Canada, we are maintaining our 2021 production guidance range of 10,500 to 11,000 BOE a day. At current commodity price levels, we see third-party activity offsetting natural declines, which enables free cash flow for growth of the dividend, value-enhancing transactions or to pay down leverage.On the drilling front, 111 growth, 3.9 net wells were drilled on our royalty lands in Q1, a 37% decline on a gross measure versus the same period in 2020 but flat when compared to Q4 2020. With the upward move in crude oil prices, we have seen activity increase on Freehold's royalty lands with approximately 10 rigs, 6 in Canada, 4 in the U.S. running on our royalty lands during the quarter.In Q1 2021, approximately 75% of all locations drilled in Canada targeted gross overriding royalty prospects with 25% focused on prospects on Freehold mineral title lands. 50% of all locations drilled targeted prospects in Saskatchewan, with the remainder focused in Alberta. The vast majority of wells drilled, more than 90% were focused on oil or liquids prospects.The Clearwater oil play in Central Alberta Redhill holds most active area over the quarter. The increase in activity reflected a change in operator late last year and subsequent ramp-up in that operator spending on the lands. We expect this to represent a key growth area for Freehold in the near to medium term with the play offering strong economics at current commodity price levels.In the U.S., activity levels on Freehold's mineral title lands have met expectations, with the majority of the focus on light oil prospects targeting the Permian and Eagle Ford basins. Overall 18 gross wells were drilled on our U.S. royalty lands over the quarter was between 4 to 5 rigs continuing to drill on our lands. The acquisition of additional U.S. royalty production and royalty lands in Q1 2021 has further diversified and enhanced Freehold's asset base bringing added sustainability to its portfolio and dividend.We have considerable optimism heading into 2021 and we'll continue to focus on positioning Freehold to be a premier North American royalty company with a strong balance sheet, a sustainable dividend, and prospects for growth in top-tier oil and gas operating areas.I will now pass the call to Dave Hendry to walk through some of the financial highlights.
Thanks, Dave, and good morning, everyone. Financially as commodity prices improved over the quarter, Freehold continued to deliver on the core aspects of its return proposition, providing a meaningful dividend while also providing investors with a lower risk investment differentiating itself from traditional oil and gas E&P companies.Royalty and other revenue totaled $36.8 million for Q1 2021, up 42% from the fourth quarter of 2020. Funds flow from operations for Q1 2021 totaled $32.4 million or $0.25 per share, up 47% versus the previous quarter. The increase of both reflects strong upward momentum in crude oil prices and the positive contribution from our U.S. acquisition.Freehold's dividend payout totaled 24% for Q1 2021 consistent with Q4 2020 and down from 92% during the same period in 2020. As previously mentioned, we increased our monthly dividend for 2021 from $0.03 per share to $0.04 per share reflecting a measured response to an improved commodity price outlook and an expected increase in third-party spending on our royalty lands in 2021.For Q1 2021, cash costs totaled $4.37 per BOE, slightly up from $4.11 per BOE in Q4 2020 with annual short-term incentive plan paid in the first quarter of each year but down 24% versus the same period last year. This strong result reflected reduced G&A financing and operating cost charges. Over the year, we executed upon a number of cost-saving measures, which have improved our netback and profitability. Our 2021 U.S., acquisitions are expected to only add a marginal amount of G&A, which should continue to improve our corporate cost base and netback.Net debt totaled $64.8 million at March 31, 2021, representing 0.8x net debt-to-funds flow from operations relatively consistent with Q4 2020 as free cash flow was applied to our recent acquisition, but a $37 million reduction from Q1 2020. The decrease in net debt year-over-year reflected strong funds flow from operations alongside a lower dividend payout. Freehold's prudent strategy of maintaining long-term debt-to-funds flow from operation below 0 and -- between 0 and 1.5x alongside a longer-term dividend payout target range of 60% to 80% of funds flow from operations provides cushion for potential volatility in commodities.In conjunction with our recent U.S. acquisition, Freehold exchanged 12.6 million subscription receipts for an equivalent number of Freehold common shares raising gross proceeds of $60.7 million. This represented 1 of the first successful Canadian E&P financing in a number of years and we would like to thank all of our shareholders and the syndicate of banks that helped Freehold complete the transaction. In March 2021, Freehold also amended its credit facility with a syndicate of 4 Canadian banks maintaining the committed revolving facility at $165 million and the operating facility at $15 million. The amended credit facility agreement includes a permitted increase in the revolving facility to $215 million subject to lenders' consent. Both the committed revolving and operating facilities mature March 31, 2024.At the end of Q1 2021, $96 million was drawn on these facilities versus $93 million at year-end. This slight increase is due to the recent acquisitions of U.S. royalty properties. The credit facilities are secured with $400 million first charge demand debentures over all of Freehold's Canadian royalty income assets and fixed charge mortgage securities on certain U.S. royalty income assets.Now back to Dave for his final remarks.
Thanks, Dave. So looking forward, we remain enthusiastic about the next 12 months of operations. We have seen a steady trending up of capital and production volumes on our lands both in Canada and the U.S. and in current commodity price levels, our high royalty margins offer significant option value to provide returns to our shareholders.With today's increase to our 2021 monthly dividend, we highlight that this is the third time in the past 6 months that we have revised our 2021 payout upwards. The groundwork is in place for an exciting 2021 and beyond. The improved economic conditions are very positive for our industry and highlight the strength of the royalty model. Through execution of our strategy in the coming quarters, we expect to be able to showcase the strong return proposition and investment Freehold provides with the ultimate commitment to maximize value to our shareholders. Thank you.Dave, so we'll now turn the meeting over to questions. So if anyone has any questions, please feel free to bring them forward at this time and we'll add to those.
[Operator Instructions] The first question is from [ Ilias Tsoukalas ] with Industrial Alliance.
Got a couple of questions. First one is if you could comment on the trap line at potential acquisitions in both Canada and the U.S. Just maybe flipping back to 6 months ago and today, do you see that trap-line is greater or equal to or less than very broad -- could be numbers or size. And really what I want to drive to is the potential increase in the capital gains tax rate driving some of that potential upside?
Sure. It's Rob King speaking, I'll take question, [ Ilias ]. So maybe I'll just give you a couple of data point numbers in terms of the opportunities that we've looked at the first 4 months of the year and sort of what we're seeing on our plates right now. In the first 4 months, between U.S, and Canada, we looked at above 35 opportunities in depth. There is probably about the same number that we did not look at in terms of something we wanted to allocate our time to and what that was -- whether it is the wrong basins or not the right mix of development versus near-term production, et cetera, a bunch of reasons why we might have decided not to evaluate those other transactions. I think we are seeing a pickup, particularly in the U.S. as it relates to opportunities that we're seeing coming forward. Private equity, which is -- they've put north of $15 billion of capital towards the mineral title sector in the last half a dozen years. They really haven't had an opportunity for an exit in the last 1.5 years, and so I think are increasingly looking to test the waters in terms of how this more constructive price environment may play out. And we're looking at right now, close to a dozen opportunities in the U.S. primarily focused on the Permian and on the Eagle Ford. In terms of the capital gains comment, I think that was something that we saw a bit more activity late last -- in late Q4 in terms of the number of sellers, wondering that wasn't something that the rumors and the prospects of that and certainly that's probably accelerated a little bit in terms of people again suspecting there will be some near-term tax changes. I think the commodity price has a bigger impact frankly in terms of encouraging people than the capital gains out from what we're seeing.
Okay. I really appreciate that color. I know my questions are a little higher level or macro, maybe 1 last 1. The dividend payout ratio is relatively low within Q1 and you do have your targeted range. Targeted range is probably based on a number of factors but over what period of time, would you see moving into that targeted range, would that be 4 quarters, 8 quarters? Very broad question but I thought I'd throw it out there.
It is -- this is Dave Spyker, I could respond to that. From a target perspective, the 60% to 80% range, we view that where we want to be is probably more in the lower end of that target range right now. And so going forward at the $55 price deck that we're using in our models, we're projecting kind of run rate payout in that low 50%. So we're getting toward that that 60% range, and so the -- a couple of things that are keeping us there is that still a little bit uncertainty on the commodity price. We like where it's at right now but we recognize given what's supporting it that it can still be a little bit fragile. And also just with the opportunity set that Rob referenced that we see in front of us, we think that there is opportunity to continue to add meaningful high-quality assets to the portfolio. One of our advantages is that with the recent reconstruct of our portfolio with adding in the U.S. acquisition work and some of the work we've done in Canada, is that we see really a low to no decline forecast for the next few years. So we can be much more patient and finding the right opportunity that we want to add. So we've got a certain recipe that we have to build the portfolio. And so we want to just keep some capacity available to do that. So in our view, we'll keep at that low end of the payout range or we may be slightly below that for the next year or so but ensure we back up into that range as we have confidence in the commodity price outlook.
Great. Really appreciate that answer it helps with the calibration points and what you're thinking of. Got lots more questions, but I'll turn the call over to others in the queue.
[Operator Instructions] The next question is from Jamie Kubik.
You guys highlighted in your press release you had 10 rigs running, 6 in Canada, and 4 in the U.S. on your royalty lands. Can you maybe frame or remind us, I guess, what level of rig activity would drive growth on your asset base in Canada and what level would probably be needed to remain flat -- I'm sorry, both in Canada and the U.S. on that question.
Yes, so in terms of rig activity, when we came to the forecast for our 2021, 10,500 to 11,000 barrels a day, that sort of baked in about 15, 1-5 net wells on our U.S. and Canadian lands over the course of 2021. And so as of first quarter end, we're at just under 4. So we're sort of on path to -- that effectively is maintaining our flat production year-over-year. So both above the level that we sort of saw in Q1 and sort of the run rate that we're seeing right now.
And, Jamie, I don't think it's just necessary -- it's Matt here. Sorry, but I don't think it's just a rig number because we've had producer in the Viking go to longer reach wells and have the productivity. We've seen some more deep basin drilling that add higher volumes and we're still kind of triangulating on the U.S. and what it actual -- what a rig translates to a well, translates to a net well and adds production. So -- but I think we've done a pretty good job of trying to figure out what the profile looks like and it looks at a much more constructive level than it has in the past. I think it inching up through the back half of the year as the U.S. grows and maybe Canada's decline slightly.
Good comment there on the net wells, Matt, I mean it's 1 where we're still calibrating these numbers, but when we look at what a net well in Canada brings on relative to 1 net well in the U.S., it's quite a different story. What a net well in Canada for us would bring on about call it 70 BOEs a day of incremental production. One net well in the U.S. would bring 700 barrels a day of incremental production. Obviously, our royalty rate in the U.S. is much smaller than it is in Canada. 4%, 5% in Canada; 0.5% in the U.S. but sort of shows there our ability to expand the U.S. portfolio. Can certainly bring a lot more incremental production gains.
There are no further questions registered at this time. So I will turn the meeting back over to Mr. Spyker.
Okay. Thanks to everyone for attending today and I'll say, we're really excited about going forward in 2021 and we've got a lot of good initiatives underway and I look forward to catching up with everybody at the next quarter conference call. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Spyker. The conference has now ended. Please disconnect your lines at this time and we thank you for your participation.