Trading Symbol: NWX (TSX-V)
VANCOUVER, BC, March 2, 2021 /CNW/ - Newport Exploration
Ltd ("Newport" or "the Company") is pleased to report the receipt
of its after tax 2.5% Gross Overriding Royalty ("GOR") payment from
Beach Energy Ltd. ("Beach") for the November 2020-January 2021 quarter. Gross royalty income for
the quarter was AUD$2,568,598. The AUD$1,798,019 payment received
by Newport is net of 30%
Australian withholding taxes (AUD$770,579).
Company Financial Status
Newport has approximately
CDN$7.1 million in its Treasury,
comprised of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments,
with no debt. As announced on February
10th, 2021, Newport's first quarterly dividend payment
date for 2021 is March
12th, 2021. After the dividend payment, the
Company will have approximately CDN$6
million in its Treasury.
The Company has a strong balance sheet and management is
confident in its ability to maintain regular quarterly dividend
payments as committed to in the News Release dated December 10th, 2019.
Newport's Dividend Performance,
Annual Yields and Earnings Per Share since 2015 were documented in
a Company News Release dated November
12th, 2020. Investors are cautioned that
historical results are no guarantee of future performance.
Management Strategy
The Company's management Strategy was summarized in a Company
News Release dated February
10th, 2021.
Newport proposes to maintain
regular dividend payments to shareholders with the option of
increasing quarterly payments at any time.
Guidance
Up-to-date Guidance for shareholders was reported in a Company
News Release dated February
17th, 2021.
With the success of the drilling programs conducted by Beach
over which the Company holds its 2.5% GOR, Beach's low cost of oil
production and the projected Life of Assets of over 15 years (as
reported in a Company News Release dated February 17th, 2021), the Company
anticipates continuity of production, associated royalty revenues
and dividends.
Newport has no control over
operating decisions made by Beach. Accordingly, this prevents the
Company from commenting on Beach's operating plans going forward.
The Company recommends that shareholders and potential investors
access material information relevant to the Company as released
independently by Beach and Santos Ltd ("Santos") in order to keep
current during exploration, development and potential production of
all the licences subject to the Company's GOR. Beach's results and
performance are also subject to regular research reports by J.P.
Morgan (Asia Pacific Equity Research) and by RBC Capital
Markets.
"Brent Oil recently hitting a 13-month high marks the
oil markets rebound since the Covid pandemic destroyed demand for
most of 2020. As the global economy recovers oil demand is
expected to continue to increase, and along with Beach's plans to
bring eight producers online and to drill six more horizontal
wells, this is all very positive for Newport and its shareholders.", stated
Ian Rozier, president and CEO of
Newport.
About Newport
Newport holds a 2.5% GOR on
several oil and gas licences and permits in the Cooper Basin in
Australia. These permits are
currently being operated and explored by Beach and Santos, both
major Australian oil and gas producers. The Company receives its
GOR from Beach which is not a reporting issuer in Canada, therefore Newport is not able to confirm if the
disclosure satisfies the requirements of NI 51-101 - Standards of
Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities, or other requirements of
Canadian securities legislation.
The Company currently has 105,579,874 common shares issued and
outstanding.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the accuracy or
adequacy of this news release.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
This news release is intended to provide readers with a
reasonable basis for assessing the future performance of the
Company. The words "believe", "should", "could", "expect",
"anticipate", "contemplate", "target", "plan", "intends",
"continue", "budget", "estimate", "may", "will", "schedule" and
similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements may pertain to assumptions regarding
Beach's drilling plans, the price of oil and fluctuations in
currency markets (specifically the Australian dollar) and future
dividend payments. Forward-looking statements are based upon a
number of estimates and assumptions that, which are considered
reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to business,
economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Factors
include, but are not limited to, the risk of fluctuations in the
assumed prices of oil, the risk of changes in government
legislation including the risk of obtaining necessary licences and
permits, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic
developments in Canada,
Australia or other countries in
which the Company carries or may carry on business in the future,
risks associated with developmental activities, the speculative
nature of exploration and development, and assumed quantities or
grades of reserves. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance. There can be
no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and
actual results and future events could differ materially from those
acknowledged in such statements.
The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent
required by applicable laws.
© 2020 Newport Exploration Ltd.
SOURCE Newport Exploration Ltd.