Baytex to Buy Raging River in US$1.2 billion Oil Sands Deal

Baytex Energy Corporation has agreed to buy rival western Canadian oil producer Raging River Exploration Inc, in a deal valued at C$1.6 billion (US$1.2 billion) which includes about 260,000 acres in the emerging East Duvernay Shale basin.

Under the pact, holders of common shares of Raging River will receive 1.36 common shares of Baytex for each Raging River Share owned, according to a statement on the 18^th June.

Upon close, expected in August, the company will operate as Baytex with Neil Roszell, Raging River’s chairman and chief executive officer, as chairman.

The combination of East Duvernay and light oil from the Viking Formation “are both positives,” Greg Pardy, an analyst at Royal Bank of Canada, said. “All of this is likely to make Baytex a more investable producer from an institutional standpoint.”

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and the Bank of Nova Scotia are co-financial advisers to Baytex. GMP FirstEnergy is exclusive financial adviser to Raging River.

Source: Rigzone