InPlay Oil CEO Doug Bartole joined Steve Darling from Proactive to discuss the company's growth strategy, recent acquisitions, strong financial backing from the Delek Group, and its plans to continue expanding production through both acquisitions and drilling activity.
Bartole highlighted the transformation of InPlay Oil since the COVID-19 downturn, noting that the company has increased production by approximately ten times while growing reserves fourteen-fold. He credited much of that success to a disciplined acquisition strategy focused on adding high-quality assets that immediately enhance cash flow and shareholder value.
A key component of InPlay's growth story has been its relationship with the Delek Group, which currently holds a 32.7% ownership stake in the company. Bartole said the strategic partnership has provided significant financial flexibility, including access to attractive financing options such as an unsecured bond carrying an interest rate of just 6.2%. He noted that this support has strengthened InPlay's balance sheet and positioned the company to pursue additional growth opportunities.
The discussion also focused on InPlay's recent acquisition activity. Bartole pointed to the successful Pembina-area acquisition completed in April 2025 and the company's latest expansion into the Belly River play. The Belly River transaction added approximately 1,400 to 1,500 barrels of production and delivered an estimated 18% accretion to both adjusted funds flow and free adjusted funds flow, further strengthening the company's operating base.
Bartole emphasized that acquisitions remain an important pillar of InPlay's strategy moving forward."We'll continue to look for those accretive acquisitions, which we have a strong track record of," he said.Beyond acquisitions, InPlay continues to balance organic growth initiatives with debt reduction and shareholder returns. Bartole explained that capital allocation decisions are guided by commodity prices, market conditions, and the company's commitment to maintaining a conservative leverage profile while maximizing long-term value creation.
The company remains focused on light-oil production, which Bartole believes offers attractive economics and strong cash flow generation. At the same time, management continues to prioritize financial discipline and returns to shareholders.
Looking ahead, InPlay plans to drill and complete eight wells before the end of 2026, including two wells targeting the newly acquired Belly River assets. Bartole said the program is expected to bring additional production online before year-end and help establish momentum heading into 2027.
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