CALGARY, AB, May 8, 2026 /CNW/ - InPlay Oil Corp. (TSX: IPO) (TASE: IPO) (OTCQX: IPOOF) ("InPlay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2026. InPlay's unaudited interim financial statements and notes, and Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the three months ended March 31, 2026 will be available at "www.sedarplus.ca" and the Company's website at "www.inplayoil.com". An updated corporate presentation will be available on our website in due course.
First Quarter 2026 Highlights:
-- Closed an oversubscribed offering of senior unsecured bonds for total
gross proceeds of C$244 million maturing on December 15, 2030 at an
attractive interest rate of 6.23%. InPlay has fully hedged all cashflows
relating to the New Israeli Shekel denominated bonds over the next four
years.
-- Achieved average quarterly production of 18,337 boe/d(1) (61% light crude
oil and NGLs), a 102% increase from Q1 2025.
-- Improved light oil production to 8,813 bbl/d, a 157% increase from Q1
2025. Light crude oil weighting improved by 10% from Q1 2025 driving
stronger per boe netbacks and returns.
-- Realized strong operating income of $45.6 million, a 117% increase from
Q1 2025 and a 20% increase from Q4 2025. This resulted in an operating
income profit margin(4) of 52%, an 11% improvement from Q4 2025.
-- Enhanced field operating netbacks(3) to $27.62/boe, an increase of 31%
compared to Q4 2025.
-- Generated AFF(2) of $30.1 million ($1.08 per weighted average basic
share(3)), an 80% increase from Q1 2025.
-- Returned $7.6 million to shareholders via monthly dividends (6.4% yield
relative to current share price). Since November 2022, InPlay has
distributed $75 million in dividends, including dividends declared to
date in the second quarter.
Message to Shareholders:
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East and associated uncertainty has driven extreme and unprecedented volatility in oil and gas commodity prices. Concerns surrounding the largest oil supply shock in recent history has led to significantly higher crude oil prices. The Company believes this supply shortfall, combined with years of underinvestment and relatively modest global reserve additions compared to global consumption of approximately 38 billion barrels per year, supports a higher WTI pricing environment going forward relative to the US$60 WTI prices experienced in recent years.
InPlay has maintained a smart and disciplined business approach through the previous US$60 WTI pricing environment, achieving one of the highest free cash flow yields amongst our peers, which is expected to increase materially in a US $70+ WTI price environment. This increase is anticipated to drive meaningful net debt reduction, further strengthening the Company's ability to execute our strategy of disciplined organic growth coupled with our strong track-record of accretive acquisitions, while reinforcing our focus on Free Adjusted Funds Flow and delivering strong returns to shareholders.
Our strategically aligned relationship with Delek Group Ltd. ("Delek"), who have a solid track record of value creation in the oil and gas industry, puts us in an advantageous position to execute our strategy. This relationship has already created meaningful value through Delek's support in facilitating the successful issuance of unsecured bonds on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange ("TASE"). The bonds were issued at favorable rates and terms, and we are confident we will have continued access to this advantageous cost of capital resource going forward.
During the first quarter, InPlay continued to build on the strong momentum generated from our transformational 2025 acquisition and results. The Company executed an active drilling program in the first quarter with five (5.0 net) Pembina Extended Reach Horizontal ("ERH") wells drilled. The first two wells were brought on production in mid-February and have delivered strong results ahead of internal expectations. Initial production ("IP") rates for these two wells were 333 boe/d (88% light oil and NGLs) per well over the first 60 days of production (45% above type curve) and they are currently producing at a rate of 278 boe/d (83% light oil and NGLs) per well. The last three wells were brought on production in April and are currently in the clean-up phase. These wells have delivered initial production ("IP") rates of 351 boe/d (91% light oil and NGLs) per well over the first 27 days of production and are currently producing at a rate of 462 boe/d (90% light oil and NGLs) per well. To date, results indicate performance is significantly ahead of internal estimates.
The Company was able to access the field early in the second quarter during spring break-up, allowing us to accelerate our capital program. Drilling operations recently finished three (3.0 net) ERH Pembina wells that are expected to be on-production in early June, approximately 40 days earlier than originally planned. Unlimited use of access roads that are owned and maintained by the Company and unrestricted entry to surface locations with minimal road bans in effect allowed us to advance drilling operations in response to the significantly improved crude oil commodity price environment. Given the Company's financial flexibility and ability to quickly adjust operations, further modifications to upcoming capital programs can be made in response to changing market conditions.
Driven by strong production exiting the first quarter, InPlay reiterates its 2026 average annual production guidance of 18,600 boe/d -- 19,200 boe/d(1) (60% - 62% light oil and NGLs). The Company is now forecasting WTI prices to average US$81.50 for the remainder of the year (compared to our previous estimate of US$63.00). This results in an increase in AFF(2) from $125 million (mid-point) to $147 million (mid-point), with estimated FAFF(3) increasing from $55 million (mid-point) to $77 million (mid-point), equating to a FAFF yield(3) of 15% (mid-point). The Company's leverage metrics are projected to remain strong with net debt to EBITDA(3) forecasted to be 1.1x for 2026 (mid-point).
The Company continues to monitor the evolving pricing environment and remains focused on disciplined but flexible capital allocation and maintaining financial strength to support long-term sustainability and returns to shareholders.
First Quarter 2026 Financial & Operations Overview:
InPlay completed an active capital program during the first quarter investing $22.9 million in drilling five (5.0 net) Pembina ERH wells and related infrastructure. Operational execution remained strong during the quarter, with drilling and completion operations on budget and consistent with recent capital programs. Some service equipment delays and unseasonably warm weather in March impacted completion operations on the three-well pad, resulting in a three-week delay in bringing these wells on production. The Company benefitted from new flush production coming on-line into a favorable oil pricing environment, with WTI prices averaging US $91.00 and US $98.06 in March and April respectively, compared to approximately US $62.50 during the first two months of 2026.
Quarterly production averaged 18,337 boe/d(1) (61% light crude oil and NGLs), representing a 102% increase from the first quarter of 2025. Quarterly crude oil production averaged 8,813 bbl/d, a 157% increase from the first quarter of 2025. The Company forecasts an estimate of 3% - 5% of downtime per month, the first quarter was impacted by some extraordinary one-time events, resulting in incremental downtime of approximately 475 boe/d (47% light oil and NGLs). This included a severe windstorm in March which damaged power infrastructure affecting the Company's core Pembina properties, resulting in downtime of approximately 300 boe/d (55% light oil and NGLs) for the quarter. The low-decline nature of the Company's base production, combined with strong performance of recently drilled wells, continues to benefit the Company.
Quarterly operating costs decreased on an absolute basis compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, but were slightly higher on a per boe basis reflecting the impact of fixed operating costs on per boe metrics due to production downtime from the one-time events described above. In addition, the Company performed service operations on five low-rate wells that have been offline for up to three years. At current crude oil prices, these wells are estimated to payout in 6 -- 9 months and are anticipated to produce without issues for an additional 5 - 10 years with minimal decline. InPlay will look to complete similar well servicing operations in the upcoming months given the current pricing environment.
InPlay generated AFF of $30.1 million ($1.08 per basic share), representing an 80% increase from the first quarter of 2025. These results were achieved despite $5.5 million in realized hedging losses, primarily due to the significant increase in WTI in March relative to the hedges required by our first lien bank lenders to facilitate the acquisition in 2025. The Company has significantly less crude oil volumes hedged in the second half of 2026 and all of 2027 and intends to remain opportunistic with future hedging activity while monitoring the current backwardation in the WTI forward price curve. Details of the Company's current hedges are provided in the "Hedging Summary" section of the Reader Advisories.
During the quarter, InPlay paid dividends of $7.6 million to shareholders, representing a 6.1% yield relative to our current share price. Since November 2022, InPlay has distributed $75 million in dividends, including dividends declared to date in the second quarter.
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