GHS Initiates Coverage of EXXI

MICHAEL BODINO, Global Hunter Securities (12/23/2010)
"Effective strategy: With an experienced management team, Energy XXI combines a low-risk exploitation strategy with a high-impact exploration program. EXXI has a proven ability to make acquisitions that add to current production and provide a significant amount of upside in known stacked field pays and deeper regional horizons. In addition, EXXI spends a small amount of its cash flow to gain exposure to exciting exploration opportunities. Management has been successful at leveraging industry experience and relationships to not only make a series of acquisitions, but also increase its exposure to opportunities on the exploration front.

Transformational acquisition: It would not feel like the holidays without Energy XXI acquiring assets. For the second year in a row, EXXI has made a significant transaction. With the $1 billion cash purchase of shelf interests from Exxon, the company picked up 49.5 Mboe (61%) of proved reserves and production of 18,765 Boe/d (55% oil). Including the ARO of $154.6M, EXXI paid $23.58/Boe for proved reserves and $62,169 per Boe/d of production. This transaction should increase EXXI proved reserves to 125 Mboe, up 65% from fiscal 2010 levels. In addition, this transaction increases 2P reserves from 92.1 Mboe to 158.1 Mboe.

Big-time growth: After producing 7.9 Mboe in FY10, EXXI was geared for solid sequential growth with production over 10 Mboe in FY11. The recent XOM transaction should vault production to 13.9 Mboe in FY11 and to 17.5 Mboe in FY12. There is upside to this number with drilling on the newly acquired properties or any deep-shelf production. We are initiating coverage of Energy XXI with an Accumulate rating and a 12-month target price of $33."

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