FRONTERA ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2026 RESULTS
FRONTERA ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2026 RESULTS |
| [15-May-2026] |
Shareholders Approve Arrangement with Parex to divest Frontera's E&P Assets for $750 Million in Enterprise Value and up to $470 million Return of Capital to Shareholders Recorded Net Income for the Period from Continuing Operations of $13.1 Million Recorded Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2026 of $28.5 Million Frontera Positioned as a Standalone Infrastructure Company Expected Post Closing Cash Balance of Approximately $50 Million ODL Declared $185 Million in Dividends ($64.7 million, Net to Frontera) Q1 2026 Average Production from Discontinued Operation of 36,700 boepd CALGARY, AB, May 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Frontera Energy Corporation (TSX: FEC) (OTCQX: FECCF) ("Frontera" or the "Company") today reported financial and operational results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026. All financial amounts in this news release and in the Company's financial disclosures are in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated. Gabriel de Alba, Chairman of the Board of Directors, commented: "During the first quarter, Frontera delivered solid infrastructure results while taking decisive steps to advance the Company's strategic repositioning. Frontera remains firmly committed to disciplined execution, prudent oversight of capital, emphasizing operational excellence, and maintaining a strong balance sheet. Frontera achieved an important milestone with shareholder approval of the plan of arrangement and return of capital, related to the sale of its Colombian E&P asset to Parex Resources. Subject to closing, the Company expects to return up to $470 million to shareholders, representing a substantial return of capital. The Company is retaining approximately $50 million of cash to support the growth opportunities of its high-quality infrastructure business, including the LNG regasification project with Ecopetrol. The standalone and refocused Frontera infrastructure business, anchored by its ownership in ODL and Puerto Bahia, generates stable long-term cash flows and provides multiple near-term growth catalysts that support long-term shareholder value creation. In total, this strategy will have unlocked approximately $1.3 billion of capital for investors." Orlando Cabrales, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Frontera, commented: "In the first quarter of 2026, Frontera delivered solid infrastructure performance, supported by contributions from Puerto Bahía and our equity interest in ODL, which generated an Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter of $28.5 million. Additionally, Frontera expects to receive, proportional to the Company's 35% equity interest in ODL, approximately $65 million in dividends in 2026. At Puerto Bahía, we continue to advance our key growth initiatives, supporting the long-term development of Frontera's infrastructure platform. During the first quarter, our container business delivered solid operational performance, handling 3,851 TEUs. We also achieved meaningful progress across our energy infrastructure projects, including reaching a key milestone in the LPG project with the successful commencement of initial operations in March 2026, which gives us the capacity to handle up to 10,000 tons per month. We continue making solid progress with the firm goal of becoming fully operational during the first quarter of 2028. In parallel, we continue to advance the LNG regasification project in partnership with Ecopetrol and support the long-term reliability of Colombia's energy supply. Looking ahead, we expect these initiatives to contribute to the continued growth and diversification, enhancing cash flow resilience over time. In our E&P business, we remain focused on maintaining safe and stable operations while advancing toward the expected closing of the Parex transaction, which is anticipated to be completed in May 2026." First Quarter 2026 Operational and Financial Summary*:
First Quarter 2026 Operational and Financial Results:
Puerto Bahia Puerto Bahia is a multi‑purpose maritime terminal (the "Port Facility") located in Cartagena, Colombia, which consists of a hydrocarbons terminal and a general cargo terminal adjacent to the Bocachica access channel in the Cartagena Bay. It is strategically located near the Cartagena refinery operated by Reficar. The Port Facility has a total area of 150 hectares. Puerto Bahia's income from operations is mainly generated from service contracts in the liquids terminal, which has a nominal capacity of 2,672,000 barrels, and from RORO, break bulk and containers services in the general cargo terminal. Frontera owns a 99.97% equity interest in Puerto Bahía. Revenues from the Port Facility for the first quarter 2026 were $12.7 million driven by strong performance in the dry port, which experienced significant growth in handled volumes in RORO units and containers, partially offset by lower volumes from others, reflecting reduced throughput from certain key custumers.
Puerto Bahía has established itself as a key strategic partner to the automotive sector in Colombia. RORO cargo volumes handled at the port increased by approximately 109% on a year over year basis. The following table shows the RORO units, their dwell times, the containers and break bulk volumes, for the general cargo terminal at Puerto Bahia:
The following table shows throughput for the liquids terminal at Puerto Bahia:
For the first quarter 2026, port operating cost was $7.6 million, compared with $5.0 for the same period of 2025. The increase was mainly due to increased port infrastructure maintenance activities in the liquids port and higher operated volumes in the general cargo facilities due to the increased number of handled volumes in RORO units and container units.
ODL Pipeline Investment (35% equity interest) Frontera owns a 35% equity investment in the ODL pipeline, which connects Rubiales, Quifa, Caño Sur, Llanos-34, and other blocks to the Monterrey and Cusiana Stations in the department of Casanare. During the first quarter 2026, ODL recognized $40.5 million of net income ($14.2 million net to Frontera), the result was driven by higher depreciation and amortization expenses and operating costs. In the three months ended March 31, 2026, ODL declared net dividends to FPI of $64.7 million, compared to $52.9 million in 2025. The income statement and key balance sheet information for 100% of ODL is as follows:
The following table shows the volumes pumped per injection point:
Divestment of Colombian E&P Asset Portfolio: On April 30, Frontera announced that the Company's shareholders voted to approve its previously announced plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") pursuant to which Parex Resources Inc. ("Parex"), through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Parex AcquisitionCo Inc. (the "Purchaser"), will acquire all of Frontera's Colombian upstream business consisting of Frontera's oil and gas exploration and production assets in Colombia, its reverse osmosis water treatment facility and its palm oil plantation (collectively, the "E&P Assets"), at the Company's special meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting"). At the Meeting, Frontera shareholders also approved the reduction of the capital account of the common shares of Frontera by an aggregate amount of up to C$647 million (equivalent to approximately $470 million), for the purposes of effecting a potential distribution to shareholders by way of a return of capital (the "Return of Capital") related to the net cash proceeds from the Arrangement. Pursuant to the Arrangement, Parex will acquire the E&P Assets for a purchase price of: (i) $500 million payable upon closing, subject to any adjustment in accordance with the arrangement agreement entered into between Frontera, Parex and the Purchaser in respect of the Arrangement (the "Arrangement Agreement"); plus (ii) an additional $25 million contingent payment payable upon the achievement of specified development milestones within a period of up to 12 months following the closing of the Arrangement. Upon completion of the Arrangement, Frontera will transition to a focused infrastructure company, with a portfolio anchored by its equity interests in the ODL crude oil pipeline and the Puerto Bahía port. The Infrastructure Business generated approximately $77 million of distributable cash flow in 2025 and will have identified growth initiatives at Puerto Bahía, including LPG import facilities, LNG regasification project and containerized cargo expansion, as disclosed in the Company's management information circular dated March 30, 2026, prepared in respect of the Arragement. On May 4, 2026, the Supreme Court of British Columbia issued the final order approving the Arrangement. Completion of the Arrangement remains subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining conditions precedent set out in the Arrangement Agreement and is expected to occur in May 2026. Discontinued Operations The Company has classified its E&P Assets as discontinued operations following the execution of Arrangement Agreement. The results of the discontinued operations are presented separately in the consolidated statements of income and cash flows for all periods presented, in accordance with IFRS 5. Please see Note 6 of the Company's consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2026.
About Frontera: Frontera Energy Corporation is a Canadian public company dedicated to energy‑focused investments in South America, including a significant footprint in midstream assets in Colombia, such as Puerto Bahia and the ODL pipeline as well as exploration and development assets with interests in 18 blocks in Colombia and Guyana. Frontera has entered into a transaction pursuant to which its interest in the 17 blocks in Colombia together with its Proagrollanos and Agrocascada assets, are being sold, with closing expected in the second quarter of 2026. Frontera is committed to conducting business safely and in a socially, environmentally and ethically responsible manner. If you would like to receive News Releases via e-mail as soon as they are published, please subscribe here: http://fronteraenergy.mediaroom.com/subscribe. Social Media Follow Frontera Energy social media channels at the following links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/fronteraenergy?lang=en Advisories: Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company following completion of the Arrangement, the Return of Capital, the expected operation date of the LPG Project and LNG regasification project, their impact on Colombia's domestic LPG market and energy supply and the business of the Company, the expected reduction of long-term debt and the amount thereof, the Arrangement and the expected closing date of the Arrangement, and the Company's business following completion of the Arrangement, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: there can be no assurance that the Arrangement will be completed on the terms or within the timeframes currently contemplated or at all; the failure to obtain all necessary third-party and regulatory approvals to complete the Arrangement; and the risk that the Arrangement may be varied, accelerated or terminated in certain circumstances; volatility in market prices for oil and natural gas; the U.S. trade tariffs and sanctions imposed on numerous countries; the impact of international conflicts including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the conflict in the Middle East and other escalating geopolitical tensions; actions of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, production estimates and estimated economic return; increases or changes to transportation costs; the ability of the Company to maintain its credit ratings; the ability of the Company to meet its financial obligations and minimum commitments, fund capital expenditures and comply with covenants contained in the agreements that govern indebtedness; the intentions of the Company with regard to its capital allocation decisions; political developments in the countries where the Company operates; and the other risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's annual information form dated March 17, 2026 filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. This news release contains future oriented financial information and financial outlook information (collectively, "FOFI") (including, without limitation, statements regarding expected average production), and are subject to the same assumptions, risk factors, limitations and qualifications as set forth in the above paragraph. The FOFI has been prepared by management to provide an outlook of the Company's activities and results, and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company and management believe that the FOFI has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management's reasonable estimates and judgments, however, actual results of operations of the Company and the resulting financial results may vary from the amounts set forth herein. Any FOFI speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any FOFI, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, unless required by applicable laws. Non-IFRS Financial Measures This news release contains various "non-IFRS financial measures" (equivalent to "non-GAAP financial measures", as such term is defined in NI 52-112), "non-IFRS ratios" (equivalent to "non-GAAP ratios", as such term is defined in NI 52-112), "supplementary financial measures" (as such term is defined in NI 52-112) and "capital management measures" (as such term is defined in NI 52-112), which are described in further detail below. Such measures do not have standardized IFRS definitions. The Company's determination of these non-IFRS financial measures may differ from other reporting issuers and they are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Furthermore, these financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance or cash flows as prepared in accordance with IFRS. These financial measures do not replace or supersede any standardized measure under IFRS. Other companies in the Company's industry may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures. The Company discloses these financial measures, together with measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, because management believes they provide useful information to investors and shareholders, as management uses them to evaluate the operating performance of the Company. These financial measures highlight trends in the Company's core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures. Further, management also uses non-IFRS measures to exclude the impact of certain expenses and income that management does not believe reflect the Company's underlying operating performance. The Company's management also uses non-IFRS measures in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period and to prepare annual operating budgets and as a measure of the Company's ability to finance its ongoing operations and obligations. Set forth below is a description of the non-IFRS financial measures, non-IFRS ratios, supplementary financial measures and capital management measures used in this news release. ODL (100%) Income Statement Summary
Adjusted Revenue, Adjusted Operating Cost and Adjusted General and Administrative Calculations Each of Adjusted Revenue, Adjusted Operating Costs and Adjusted General and Administrative, represents a non-IFRS financial measure that management uses to evaluate the performance of continuing operations. Adjusted Revenue consists of port revenues and ODL's revenues attributable to the Company's direct participation interest. Adjusted Operating Cost consists of port operating cost and ODL's operating cost attributable to the Company's direct participation interest. Adjusted general and administrative consists of General and administrative expenses and ODL's general and administrative expense attributable to the Company's direct participation interest. A reconciliation of each of Adjusted Revenue, Adjusted Operating Costs and Adjusted General and Administrative is provided below:
Adjusted Debt Calculations Adjusted Debt is a non-IFRS financial measure or contains a non-IFRS financial measure that management uses to evaluate and monitor its debt. Adjusted Debt includes short-term and long-term FPI Recapitalization Loan, lease liabilities, and ODL's debt attributable to the Company's direct participation interest. A reconciliation of Adjusted Debt is provided below:
Adjusted EBITDA The Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure used to assist in measuring the continuing operation results of the business, including ODL's EBITDA attributable to the Company's direct participation interest. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA is provided below:
The table below provides a reconciliation of operating income from continuing operations to Adjusted EBITDA:
(1) Corresponds to the Company's 35% equity participation in ODL's revenue, operating costs, and general and administrative expenses. LTM Infrastructure Distributable Cash Flow Distributable cash flow is a non‑IFRS financial measure that reflects the cash available to the Company from its infrastructure investments to service its debt, Capex investments and provide returns to shareholders, after fulfilling ongoing operational requirements. This measure incorporates the Company's port revenue, port operating cost and port general and administrative, and ODL capital distributions, net of taxes, for the last twelve‑month period ended at the reporting date.
Capital Expenditures Capital expenditures is a non-IFRS financial measure that reflects the cash and non-cash items used by the Company to invest in capital assets. This financial measure considers oil and gas properties, plant and equipment, infrastructure, exploration and evaluation assets expenditures which are items reconciled to the Company's Statements of Cash Flows for the period.
Net Debt Net debt is a non‑IFRS financial measure that reflects the Company's total indebtedness after deducting available cash and cash equivalents and is used by management to assess financial leverage and debt‑repayment capacity.
Net Sales - Discontinued Operations Net sales from Colombia discontinued operations is a non-IFRS financial measure that adjusts revenue to include realized gains and losses from oil risk management contracts while removing the cost of any volumes purchased from third parties. This is a useful indicator for management, as the Company hedges a portion of its oil production using derivative instruments to manage exposure to oil price volatility. This metric allows the Company to report its realized net sales after factoring in these oil risk management activities. The deduction of cost of diluent and oil purchased is helpful to understand the Company's sales from Colombia discontinued operations performance based on the net realized proceeds from its own production, the cost of which is partially recovered when the blended product is sold. Refer to the reconciliation in the "Sales from Discontinued Operations - Colombia" section on page 12 of the MD&A. Operating Netback - Discontinued Operations Operating netback from Colombia discontinued operations is a non-IFRS financial measure and operating netback from Colombia discontinued operations per boe is a non-IFRS ratio. Operating netback from discontinued operations per boe is used to assess the net margin of the Company's production Colombia after subtracting all costs associated with bringing one barrel of oil to the market. It is also commonly used by the oil and gas industry to analyze financial and operating performance expressed as profit per barrel and is an indicator of how efficient the Company is at extracting and selling its product. For netback purposes, the Company adds the effects attributable to transportation and operating costs of any realized gain or loss on foreign exchange risk management contracts. Refer to the reconciliation in the "Operating Netback from discontinued operations" section on page 11 of the MD&A. Oil and Gas Sales, Net of Purchases - Discontinued Operations Oil and gas sales from Colombia discontinued operations, net of purchases, is a non IFRS financial measure that is calculated using oil and gas sales less the purchased crude net margin. Produced crude oil and gas sales from Colombia discontinued operations per boe and Oil and gas sales from discontinued operations, net of purchases per boe, are a non IFRS ratio that are calculated using Colombia Produced crude oil and gas sales per boe, and the oil and gas sales, net of purchases, divided by the total Colombia sales volumes, net of purchases. A reconciliation of this calculation is provided below:
(1) Purchased crude net margin is a non-IFRS financial measure calculated using purchased crude oil and product sales, less the cost of those volumes purchased from third parties including transportation and refining costs. Please see the calculation below. Non-IFRS Ratios Adjusted EBITDA Margin Adjusted EBITDA Margin is a non‑IFRS ratio calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA, a non‑IFRS financial measure, by Adjusted Revenue, also a non‑IFRS financial measure.
Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA LTM Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA LTM represents a non‑IFRS ratio calculated by dividing Net Debt by Adjusted EBITDA for the last twelve‑month period ended at the reporting date, both of which are non‑IFRS financial measures.
Realized oil price, net of purchases, and realized gas price per boe - Discontinued operations Realized oil price, net of purchases, and realized gas price per boe are both non-IFRS ratios. Realized oil price, net of purchases, per boe is calculated using oil sales net of purchases, divided by total sales volumes, net of purchases. Realized gas price is calculated using sales from gas production divided by the conventional natural gas sales volumes.
(1) Non-IFRS financial measure. Net sales realized price - Discontinued operations Net sales realized price is a non-IFRS ratio that is calculated using net sales (including oil and gas sales net of purchases, realized gains and losses from oil risk management contracts and less royalties). Net sales realized price per boe is a non-IFRS ratio which is calculated dividing each component by total sales volumes, net of purchases. A reconciliation of this calculation is provided below:
Purchased crude net margin - Discontinued operations Purchase crude net margin is a non-IFRS financial measure that is calculated using the purchased crude oil and products sales, less the cost of those volumes purchased from third parties including its transportation and refining costs. Purchase crude net margin per boe is a non-IFRS ratio that is calculated using the Purchase crude net margin, divided by the total sales volumes, net of purchases. A reconciliation of this calculation is provided below:
Production costs (excluding energy cost), net of realized FX hedge impact, and production cost (excluding energy cost), net of realized FX hedge impact per boe - Discontinued operations Production costs (excluding energy cost), net of realized FX hedge impact is a non-IFRS financial measure that mainly includes lifting costs, activities developed in the blocks, processes to put the crude oil and gas in sales condition and the realized gain or loss on foreign exchange risk management contracts attributable to production costs. Production cost, net of realized FX hedge impact per boe is a non-IFRS ratio that is calculated using production cost (excluding energy cost), net of realized FX hedge impact divided by production (before royalties). A reconciliation of this calculation is provided below:
Energy costs, net of realized FX hedge impact, and production cost, net of realized FX hedge impact per boe - Discontinued operations Energy costs, net of realized FX hedge impact is a non-IFRS financial measure that describes the electricity consumption and the costs of localized energy generation and the realized gain or loss on foreign exchange risk management contracts attributable to energy costs. Energy cost, net of realized FX hedge impact per boe is a non-IFRS ratio that is calculated using energy cost, net of realized FX hedge impact divided by production (before royalties). A reconciliation of this calculation is provided below:
Transportation costs, net of realized FX hedge impact, and transportation costs, net of realized FX hedge impact per boe - Discontinued operations Transportation costs, net of realized FX hedge impact is a non-IFRS financial measure, that includes all commercial and logistics costs associated with the sale of produced crude oil and gas such as trucking and pipeline, and the realized gain or loss on foreign exchange risk management contracts attributable to transportation costs. Transportation cost, net of realized FX hedge impact per boe is a non-IFRS ratio that is calculated using transportation cost, net of realized FX hedge impact divided by net production after royalties. A reconciliation of this calculation is provided below:
Supplementary Financial Measures Royalties per boe Royalties includes royalties and amounts paid to previous owners of certain blocks in Colombia and cash payments for PAP. Royalties per boe is a supplementary financial measure that is calculated using the royalties divided by total sales volumes, net of purchases. Capital Management Measures Restricted cash short- and long-term Restricted cash (short- and long-term) is a capital management measure, that sums the short-term portion and long-term portion of the cash that the Company has in term deposits that have been escrowed to cover future commitments and future abandonment obligations, or insurance collateral for certain contingencies and other matters that are not available for immediate disbursement. Total cash Total cash is a capital management measure to describe the total cash and cash equivalents restricted and unrestricted available, is comprised by the cash and cash equivalents and the restricted cash short and long-term. Total debt and lease liabilities Total debt and lease liabilities are capital management measures to describe the total financial liabilities of the Company and is comprised of the debt associated to the Company's senior unsecured notes due 2028, loans, and liabilities from leases of various properties, power generation supply, vehicles and other assets.
SOURCE Frontera Energy Corporation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Company Codes: Toronto:FEC,OTC-BB:FECCF,OTC-PINK:FECCF,OTC-QX:FECCF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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