Investors Can Make a Rational Decision to Invest in Crude Oil Assets, ARC Financial Corp. Report Says

CALGARY, Feb. 16, 2016 /CNW/ - Crude oil investors do not need to be in the dark about the climate change risks they may be facing when investing in crude oil assets, says a new report published by ARC Financial Corp. ("ARC"). Investors are now able to estimate the cost of evolving greenhouse gas ("GHG") policies on their investments.

(LOGO: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160212/332935LOGO)

More stringent climate change policies are expected to increase the costs for a range of hydrocarbon assets, including crude oil production wells, facilities, and pipelines. Yet, a lack of information on the carbon intensity of crude oils makes it difficult for investors to quantify the range of extra costs that they could be exposed to, and as a result, how these extra costs could impact their returns.

The ARC report, Crude Oil Investing in a Carbon Constrained World, aims to give investors the assessment tools they need, in order to make measured decisions on how their investment returns will be impacted under a range of future policy scenarios. The ARC method draws upon publicly available research and academic models to estimate the GHG intensity for each stage of a petroleum fuel's production. The report was reviewed by a group of experts in the field of GHG emissions analysis, including academics, consultants and investors.

"Some organiza­tions and individuals are suggesting that crude oil investors are being exposed to excessive risks, and that divestment is the only option for mitigating this risk" says Peter Tertzakian, Chief Energy Economist and Managing Director at ARC, "that does not need to be the case, and we believe that what can be measured can be managed."

Jackie Forrest, Vice President Energy Research for ARC and one of the report's authors also added, "We have used our method to estimate future carbon costs for a range of crude oil investments. We have found that, under a realistic range of carbon prices, numerous asset types can continue to provide attractive investment returns." 

The need for this type of information has been growing, with a range of stakeholders including investors, government organizations, and regulators, all seeking greater clarity. The Canadian government's recent announcement to include upstream crude oil GHG emissions when evaluating new pipeline projects illustrates this increasing interest. Yet, for stakeholders to accurately compare the GHG intensity among various crude oils, they must use standard methods for estimating. It is for this reason that ARC developed this methodology. By using the ARC method consistently, a diverse group of investors and other stakeholders can compare the potential carbon costs for a range of crude oil investments using equivalent data.

Crude Oil Investing in a Carbon Constrained World is available here.

Certain statements in the ARC report, Crude Oil Investing in a Carbon Constrained World, and in this release that relate to future events or conditions are forward-looking statements.  Actual future events or conditions could differ materially, including as a result in changes in the assumptions and factors discussed in the ARC report.  Please see the ARC report for further details.

About ARC Financial Corp.

ARC is a Canadian private equity manager focusing exclusively on the Canadian oil and gas sector. The firm is based in Calgary, the center of the Canadian oil and gas business. Over the last two decades, ARC has invested in more than 180 energy growth companies; primarily private Canadian exploration and production and oilfield service companies. The ARC team includes petroleum engineers, geologists, and geophysicists who provide technical depth for understanding investment opportunities and value creation strategies. ARC has a sophisticated research team that supports its investment strategies, proactively identifies key trends, and helps build relationships with entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and government.

SOURCE ARC Financial Corp.

ARC Financial Corp.: Jackie Forrest, Vice President Energy Research, 403-292-0430, [email protected]