HOUSTON - LandBridge Company LLC (NYSE: LB), a prominent land management business, has announced the acquisition of Wolf Bone Ranch, a 46,000-acre tract in the Southern Delaware Basin, for $245 million in cash from VTX Energy Partners, LLC, a Vitol investment. The purchase enhances LandBridge's holdings to approximately 272,000 surface acres, including prior transactions.
The Wolf Bone Ranch, situated in Reeves County, Texas, offers strategic access to the Waha Gas market hub and is currently involved in produced water operations, managing around 300 MBbls/d. VTX Energy has committed to a minimum annual revenue of $25 million to LandBridge for the next five years.
Jason Long, CEO of LandBridge, highlighted the acquisition's alignment with the company's active land management strategy and the potential for industrial development and revenue growth. The ranch offers commercial real estate opportunities and the possibility of digital infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
To finance the acquisition, LandBridge has initiated a private placement of 5,830,419 Class A shares at $60.03 per share, raising approximately $200 million. This funding, along with additional debt facility borrowings, will cover the purchase cost. The private placement also aims to redeem membership units in DBR Land Holdings LLC held by an affiliate, LandBridge Holdings LLC.
The closing of the private placement and the acquisition are interdependent and are expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2024. Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) & Co. LLC and Barclays (LON:BARC) Capital Inc. serve as placement agents, with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Barclays Capital Inc. waiving lock-up restrictions related to LandBridge's recent IPO.
This development is based on a press release statement and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute an offer to sell securities described herein. Forward-looking statements in the press release carry risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Further details regarding the acquisition can be found on LandBridge's investor relations website.
LandBridge, established by Five Point Energy LLC in 2021, has been a leading land management entity within the Delaware Basin. Five Point Energy, based in Houston, specializes in environmental water management, surface management, and sustainable infrastructure investments.
In other recent news, LandBridge has been the subject of several key developments. Citi has maintained its neutral stance on the company, setting a price target of $34 and forecasting a third-quarter EBITDA of $28 million, in line with Wall Street's average prediction. The upcoming earnings report is expected to announce LandBridge's first dividend and provide forward-looking guidance.
LandBridge has also revised its foundational business agreement, changing its internal financial structure, and appointed Andrea Nicolás to its Board of Directors. Several financial firms have adjusted their evaluations of the company following its second-quarter results. Citi, Piper Sandler, Goldman Sachs, and Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) have all revised their price targets for LandBridge, while Barclays has projected a significant increase in EBITDA for 2025 and 2026.
However, potential risks were also discussed, such as execution risks linked to future acquisitions and potential conflicts of interest involving LandBridge, its affiliate WaterBridge, and the sponsor Five Point. These are among the recent developments concerning LandBridge.
InvestingPro Insights
LandBridge Company LLC (NYSE: LB) has demonstrated impressive growth and financial performance, as reflected in recent InvestingPro data. The company's revenue growth of 26.93% over the last twelve months and a substantial 60.05% quarterly growth in Q3 2024 align well with its strategic acquisition of Wolf Bone Ranch, indicating a strong trajectory for expansion.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that analysts anticipate sales growth in the current year, which is consistent with LandBridge's recent acquisition and the committed annual revenue from VTX Energy. The company's high return over the last year, with a remarkable 188.12% price total return, suggests investor confidence in LandBridge's growth strategy.
It's worth noting that LandBridge is trading at a high earnings multiple and a high Price / Book multiple of 50.19, reflecting market optimism about its future prospects. This valuation aligns with the company's aggressive expansion and the potential for increased revenue from the Wolf Bone Ranch acquisition.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 13 additional tips for LandBridge, providing deeper insights into the company's financial health and market position.
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