i3 Energy has elected to drill two wells with a partner at its Wapiti Elmworth acreage at a net cost of USD 2.1mm. Operations are expected to commence shortly and are anticipated to conclude in early Q3 2021. These oil-weighted wells are expected to initially increase i3's production by c.175 boe/d and are estimated to return the full investment in 1.3 years based on current commodity strip pricing. The Company has additionally entered a Letter of Intent to acquire 230 boe/d of Wapiti production, a non-core asset to the seller, whereafter i3 intends to conduct six reactivations to bring NTM production to an estimated 310 boe/d at a total acquisition and capital cost of USD 410k. This production acquisition is expected to complete in Q2 2021.

Operational and corporate update

• i3 has elected to drill two high-return wells in the Company's producing Wapiti area during July at a net cost of USD 2.1mm, equivalent to 1.3x next twelve months ("NTM") forecasted net operating income ("NOI" = revenue minus royalty, opex, transportation and processing costs).
• Executed Letter of Intent ("LOI") (expected to complete in Q2 2021) for a synergistic Cardium and Dunvegan focused production acquisition at Wapiti (currently producing 230 boepd) which, if it was to complete, could deliver NTM production of c.310 boepd after i3 performs six reactivations at a total acquisition and capital cost of approximately USD 410k, resulting in an effective acquisition multiple of 0.6x NTM NOI.
• Canadian acquisitions and drilling initiatives announced during H1 2021 (including the two above) are estimated to increase i3's NTM NOI to approximately USD 44mm, a 42% increase over the previous guidance which excluded these, and grow production towards 10,000 boe/d.
• A new corporate presentation is available on the Company's website which summarizes the net effect i3's 2021 acquisition and drilling initiatives on its Canadian business.
• On 11 June 2021 the High Court of England and Wales approved the draft order to effect i3's cancellation of its share premium account; a "final" confirmation hearing will be held on 29 June 2021 where the Company expects the High Court will confirm the cancellation can proceed, clearing the way for i3 to make dividend distributions to its shareholders.
• i3 is reclassifying the previously announced CAD 2mm dividend as a "special dividend" (versus associating it with Q1 2021 cash flow); the Company expects to pay this special dividend upon completion of the abovementioned court proceedings, followed by a payment of up to 30% of total H1 2021 free cash flow ("FCF") alongside the release of its Half-yearly Interim Report in September 2021.
• If the Company receives a favourable outcome at the above-referenced 29 June 2021 confirmation hearing, i3 expects to set the special dividend's ex-dividend date for 8 July 2021, with the payment being made in late July. A further announcement will be made once precise dates are known.

Maiden Dividend and Future Distributions

Having strategically acquired a large production package at the bottom of the market in 2020, the Company's assets have outperformed the directors' expectations. As a result, i3 is reclassifying its previously announced dividend of CAD 2mm (initially associated with Q1 2021 FCF) as a "special dividend" which will be paid if the court proceedings to cancel i3's share premium account are successful. The final confirmation hearing in the High Court of England and Wales is currently scheduled for 29 June 2021. Thereafter, scheduled half-yearly dividends will be paid alongside the Company's release of each of its Interim and Annual Reports, with the first half-yearly dividend payment expected to be made in September 2021 for up to 30% of i3's full H1 2021 FCF. Upon receipt of a favourable outcome at the 29 June 2021 confirmation hearing, i3 expects to set the special dividend's ex-dividend date for 8 July 2021, with the payment being made in late July.

Majid Shafiq, CEO of i3 Energy plc, commented:
"i3 is continuing to deliver on its stated strategy of economics-driven buying or building, dependent on attainable metrics. To date in 2021, i3's WCSB initiatives are expected to materially increase both production and free cash flow, which is expected to directly translate into healthier cash distributions and a stronger balance sheet to pursue opportunities as they arise.

"On our intention to become a dividend payer, the necessary share capital reduction is nearly behind us and we expect to commence returning value to our shareholders by way of a special dividend, with scheduled half-yearly dividend payments thereafter alongside our Interim and Annual Reports."

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KeyFacts Energy: i3 Energy UK country profile