Acquisition of UK North Sea asset portfolio
Summary by AI BETAClose X
30 September 2025
Serica Energy plc
('Serica' or 'the Company')
Acquisition of portfolio of assets in the UK North Sea
Serica Energy plc (AIM: SQZ) is pleased to announce it has signed a sale and purchase agreement to acquire 100% of the issued share capital of Prax Upstream Limited ('Prax Upstream') from Prax Exploration & Production Plc (in Administration) (the 'Acquisition'). Prax Upstream holds a 100% interest in, and is the operator of, the Lancaster field. In addition, Prax Upstream is party to separate executed sale and purchase agreements with TotalEnergies and ONE-Dyas for the purchase of certain assets ('Existing SPAs'). Consequently, the Acquisition, including completion of the Existing SPAs, comprises a 40% operated interest in the Greater Laggan Area ('GLA'), a 10% interest in the Catcher Field, a 5.21% interest in the Golden Eagle Area Development ('GEAD') and a 100% interest in the Lancaster field. The total aggregate upfront consideration is $25.6 million.
Chris Cox, Serica's CEO, stated:
"This transaction represents a further step in the delivery of our growth strategy - it diversifies our portfolio, increases our reserves and resources, and enhances near-term cashflows at an attractive valuation. The addition of GLA brings Serica a new production hub, with operatorship of the Shetland Gas Plant. There is an immediate boost to production and reserves, plus the scope to create significant value for shareholders through multiple subsurface, commercial, and further M&A opportunities.
This transaction illustrates Serica's ability to move quickly, utilising our strong balance sheet and skill sets to make an acquisition with strategic potential on attractive terms."
BENEFITS OF THE ACQUISITION
Completion of the Acquisition is expected in Q4 2025 and of the Existing SPAs in Q1 2026. Taken together, these transactions will enhance the Serica portfolio as follows:
· Addition of 11.0 mmboe of 2P reserves[1] (as at 30 June 2025), at an acquisition cost of $2.3/boe[2]
· A more diverse and robust production portfolio, with H1 2025 production of 7,900 boepd associated with the Existing SPAs and 5,900 boepd from the Lancaster field (expected to cease production in H2 2026)
· A new operated hub for Serica in the West of Shetland basin with multiple sources of organic growth potential, including an infill well on the Tormore field, the Glendronach development, four exploration licences, and third-party throughput opportunities in the Shetland Gas Plant ('SGP')
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
· Upon completion, Serica will pay an aggregate upfront consideration of $25.6 million and will receive payments totalling an estimated c.$100 million reflecting interim post-tax cashflows between the economic dates of each transaction and estimated completion dates
· In addition to the completion payments, Serica expects an incremental c.$50 million of Free Cash Flow[3] from the acquired assets in 2026
· Following completion of the transactions, Serica estimates that its portfolio decommissioning liability per 2P barrel will remain amongst the lowest in the UK North Sea. Near-term decommissioning costs relate largely to the plugging and abandonment of two wells at Lancaster, forecast to cost c.$60 million
- Catcher and GEAD decommisioning is set to occur towards the end of the decade, at an estimated net cost of c.$90 million
- Decommissioning at GLA is not currently planned until well into the 2030s, with net post-tax costs potentially in the range of $200 to $250 million. As operator, Serica expects to work with partners to pursue opportunities to extend the productive life of the facilities through increasing production and securing third party throughput
· With the addition of tax losses acquired, on completion of the Prax Upstream acquisition Serica aggregate ring-fence losses as of 30 June 2025 will total $2.14 billion Ring Fence Corporation Tax, $1.83 billion Supplementary Charge, and $518 million Energy Profits Levy
ACQUISITION SUMMARY
|
Assets acquired |
Prax Upstream |
SPA with TotalEnergies |
SPA with ONE-Dyas |
Total |
|
|
Lancaster |
Greater Laggan Area |
Catcher |
GEAD |
||
|
Interest acquired |
100% (operated) |
40% (operated) |
10% |
5.21% |
|
|
Economic date |
01.07.25 |
01.01.24 |
01.01.24 |
|
|
|
Consideration ($ million)[4] |
18.9 |
- |
6.75 |
25.6 |
|
|
Net production H1 2025 (boepd) |
5,900 |
5,000 |
2,900 |
13,800 |
|
|
2P (mmboe) |
2.6 |
4.6 |
3.8 |
11.0 |
|
|
2C (mmboe) |
- |
5.4 |
0.5 |
5.9 |
|
KEY TERMS OF THE ACQUISITION
The Acquisition is a corporate acquisition of Prax Upstream for a consideration of £14.5 million ($18.9 million). Completion is subject only to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to occur by year end.
KEY TERMS OF THE EXISTING SPAs
Upon completion, Serica will assume the rights and obligations of Prax Upstream in relation to the two Existing SPAs.
The Existing SPAs relate to two asset acquisitions undertaken by Prax Upstream: an agreement entered into between certain Prax Upstream subsidiaries and TotalEnergies E&P UK Limited ('TEPUK') in respect of a 40% operated interest in the GLA (the 'TTE Acquisition'); and an agreement between Prax Upstream and ONE-Dyas E&P Limited ('ONE-Dyas') in relation to a 10% interest in the Catcher Field and 5.21% interest in GEAD (the 'ONE-Dyas Acquisition'). Further details on the assets underlying the Acquisition and the Existing SPAs are set out below.
The TTE Acquisition was originally signed between certain Prax Upstream subsidiaries and TEPUK on 20 June 2024. On 29 September 2025, an Amended and Restated Asset Purchase Agreement and Share Purchase Agreements, both on the same terms and conditions as the original TTE Acquisition documents (save for the extension of the applicable longstop dates) have been signed between certain Prax Upstream subsidiaries and (subject to completion of the Acquisition) Serica as Guarantor. The TTE Acquisition consideration at the economic date of 1 January 2024 (the 'TTE Economic Date') is $1 payable on completion as adjusted by certain customary completion adjustments including inter alia net cashflows after tax from the GLA interests between the TTE Economic Date and completion. In addition, the TTE Acquisition includes contingent consideration related to the sanctioning of certain third-party fields developed as tie-backs to the SGP no later than 31 December 2033. Completion of the TTE Acquisition, which is subject to customary completion conditions including NSTA and partner consents, is expected to occur in H1 2026. On completion of the TTE Acquisition Serica is expected to receive a payment reflecting interim post-tax cashflows between the TTE Economic Date and the date of completion.
The ONE-Dyas Acquisition was originally signed between certain Prax Upstream subsidiaries and ONE-Dyas on 28 March 2025. On 29 September 2025, certain amendment letter agreements have been signed between certain Prax Upstream subsidiaries and (subject to completion of the Acquisition) Serica as Guarantor. The ONE-Dyas Acquisition consideration at the Economic Date of 1 January 2024 (the 'ONE-Dyas Economic Date') is $6.75 million payable on completion as adjusted by certain customary completion adjustments including inter alia net cashflows after tax from the Catcher and GEAD interests between the ONE-Dyas Economic Date and completion. Completion of the ONE-Dyas Acquisition, which is subject to customary completion conditions including NSTA and partner consents, is expected to occur in H1 2026. On completion of the ONE-Dyas Acquisition Serica is expected to receive a payment reflecting interim post-tax cashflows between the ONE-Dyas Economic Date and the date of completion.
ASSETS ACQUIRED
Greater Laggan Area (40% and operator): Laggan, Tormore, Glenlivet, Edradour and Glendronach fields, the onshore SGP (collectively the 'GLA Assets') and four infrastructure led exploration licences
The assets acquired under the TTE Acquisition comprise TotalEnergies' entire 40% operated interest in the GLA Assets, as well as associated infrastructure usage rights and operated licence interests in four near field exploration blocks in the SGP catchment area. The GLA Assets had net 2P reserves of 4.6 mmboe and 2C resources of 5.4 mmboe as at 30 June 2025.
The GLA Assets, located north-west of Shetland, comprise eight wells from four fields connected as subsea tiebacks to, and operated from, the SGP. Production totalled 5,000 boepd net to TotalEnergies in H1 2025, 90% of which was gas. Production from these fields is in decline, with the potential to offset this through organic projects, including an infill well on Tormore and development of the Glendronach discovery. There are also estimated unrisked net mean prospective resources of over 400 mmboe in the exploration blocks.
GLA gas is evacuated from the SGP through the Shetland Islands Regional Gas Export System ('SIRGE') pipeline into the Frigg UK Association ('FUKA') pipeline to the St Fergus terminal.
The SGP was commissioned in 2016 and is the newest onshore gas processing facility in the UK. Natural gas represents nearly 40% of the UK's total energy supply with a growing gap between UK demand and domestic production. The SGP and associated infrastructure serves as the key gathering system for gas coming from the highly prospective West of Shetland basin. Serica expects that this will facilitate the exploitation of infrastructure-led development and exploration opportunities in the area including new sources of third-party throughput that offer the potential to extend the productive life of the SGP. The impending start-up of production, anticipated in Q4 2025, from the Shell-operated Victory field is a prime example of such an opportunity.
Preparation for the transfer of operatorship of the GLA Assets from TEPUK to Prax Upstream was well advanced prior to Serica's involvement and will now be expedited.
Catcher (10%) and Golden Eagle Area Development ('GEAD') (5.2%)
The ONE-Dyas Acquisition comprises ONE-Dyas' non-operated working interests in the Catcher and GEAD fields in the Central North Sea, operated by Harbour Energy and CNOOC respectively. In H1 2025 the assets delivered combined net production of 2,900 boepd with high-uptime. The ONE-Dyas Acquisition brings net 2P reserves of 3.8 mmboe and 2C resources of 0.5 mmboe, as at 30 June 2025.
Lancaster (100%)
Prax Upstream owns a 100% interest in the Lancaster oil field, West of Shetland. Lancaster produced an average of 5,900 bopd of oil in H1 2025 via the Bluewater owned and operated Aoka Mizu FPSO. This FPSO has been earmarked for a potential new contract for the Sea Lion project in the Falkland Islands and Lancaster production is not expected beyond Q3 2026. The Lancaster field had 2P reserves of 2.6 mmboe as at 30 June 2025.
Serica will host a live presentation on the Investor Meet Company platform today at 0900 BST. The presentation is open to all existing and potential shareholders. Questions can be submitted at any time during the live presentation. Investors can sign up to Investor Meet Company for free and add to meet Serica Energy plc via https://www.investormeetcompany.com/serica-energy-plc/register-investor.
The person responsible for the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company is Chris Cox, CEO.
The technical information contained in the announcement has been reviewed and approved by Fergus Jenkins, VP Technical at Serica Energy plc. Mr. Jenkins (MEng in Petroleum Engineering from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh) is a Chartered Engineer with over 25 years of experience in oil & gas exploration, development and production and is a member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).
This announcement is inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation 596/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018). On the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
-end-
Enquiries:
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Serica Energy plc |
+44 (0)20 7487 7300 |
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Martin Copeland (CFO) / Andrew Benbow (Group Investor Relations Manager) |
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Peel Hunt (Nomad & Joint Broker) |
+44 (0)20 7418 8900 |
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Richard Crichton / David McKeown / Emily Bhasin |
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Jefferies (Joint Broker) |
+44 (0)20 7029 8000 |
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Sam Barnett / Cameron Jones |
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Rothschild & Co (Financial Adviser) James McEwen / Murray Yuill
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+44 (0)20 7280 5000 |
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Vigo Consulting (PR Advisor) |
+44 (0)20 7390 0230 |
|
Patrick d'Ancona |
serica@vigoconsulting.com |
NOTES TO EDITORS
Serica Energy is a British independent oil and gas exploration and production company with a portfolio of UKCS assets. Serica has a balance of gas and oil production. The Company is responsible for about 5% of the natural gas produced in the UK, a key element in the UK's energy transition.
Serica's producing assets are focused around two main hubs: the Bruce, Keith and Rhum fields in the UK Northern North Sea, which it operates, and a mix of operated and non-operated fields tied back to the Triton FPSO. Serica also has operated interests in the producing Columbus (UK Central North Sea) and Orlando (UK Northern North Sea) fields and a non-operated interest in the producing Erskine field in the UK Central North Sea.
Serica has a two-pronged strategy for growth comprising investment in its existing portfolio and M&A. Further information on the Company can be found at www.serica-energy.com. The Company's shares are traded on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker SQZ. To receive news releases via email, please subscribe via the Company website.
Important Notice
This announcement has been issued by, and is the sole responsibility of, Serica Energy plc. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made by, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by any adviser to the Company or by any of their respective affiliates or agents as to or in relation to the accuracy or completeness of this announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any responsibility or liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.
Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt"), which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the FCA, is acting for the Company in connection with the Acquisition and neither Peel Hunt nor any of its affiliates will be acting for any other person or otherwise be responsible to any person for providing the protections afforded to clients of Peel Hunt or for advising any other person in respect of the Acquisition or any transaction, matter or arrangement referred to in this announcement. Peel Hunt's responsibilities as the Company's nominated adviser under the AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange and are not owed to the Company or to any Director or to any other person in respect of his decision to acquire shares in the Company in reliance on any part of this announcement.
N. M. Rothschild & Sons Limited ("Rothschild & Co"), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting as financial adviser to the Company and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Rothschild & Co or its affiliates nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition, nor for providing advice in relation to the contents of this announcement or the Acquisition or any transaction, arrangement or matter referred to in this announcement.
Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on Peel Hunt or Rothschild & Co by FSMA or the regulatory regime established thereunder, none of Peel Hunt or Rothschild & Co accepts any responsibility whatsoever for the contents of this announcement, including its accuracy, completeness or verification or for any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on its behalf, in connection with the Company or the Acquisition. Each of Peel Hunt and Rothschild & Co accordingly disclaims all and any liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) in respect of this announcement or any such statement.
The contents of this announcement do not constitute or form part of an offer of or invitation to sell or issue or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for any securities for sale in any jurisdiction nor shall they (or any part of them) or the fact of their distribution form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, or act as an inducement to enter into, any contract or commitment to do so.
This announcement includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions, including statements with respect to the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "plans", "anticipates", "targets", "aims", "continues", "expects", "intends", "hopes", "may", "will", "would", "could" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. These statements are made by the Company's directors in good faith based on the information available to them at the date of this announcement and reflect the Company's directors' beliefs and expectations. By their nature these statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. A number of factors could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. No representation or warranty is made that any of these statements or forecasts will come to pass or that any forecast results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement and the Company and its advisers expressly disclaim any obligations or undertaking to release any update of, or revisions to, any forward-looking statements in this announcement. As a result, you are cautioned not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
Nothing in this announcement is intended as a profit forecast or estimate for any period and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share or dividend per share for the Company for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per share or dividend per share for the Company.
Certain figures included in this announcement have been subjected to rounding adjustments.
[1] All 2P reserves and 2C contingent resources stated in this announcement are based on an independent evaluation carried out by Sproule ERCE, effective as of 30 June 2025, and assume that the Existing SPAs reach completion, and are irrespective of the underlying effective dates of the Acquisition or the Existing SPAs. The implied consideration per 2P boe represents the aggregate consideration of the transactions divided by the aggregate 2P boe as at 30 June 2025
[2] Based on the aggregate upfront consideration
[3] Based on a Brent oil price average of $66/bbl and NBP price of 80p/therm in 2026
[4] Acquisition costs in GBP converted to USD at a rate of £1/$1:30, consideration stated is the upfront consideration
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