LinnCo LLC (LNCO), Berry Petroleum Company (BRY): Linn Energy LLC (LINE) is Back in the Game

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spent $275 million earlier this year to pick up 7,000 net acres in the play from

Range Resources Corp. (NYSE:RRC). Those assets were a bit less oily at 59% oil and NGLs. That deal also came with some upside as Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC (NASDAQ:VNR) saw about four years of development opportunities. Meanwhile, Range Resources Corp. (NYSE:RRC) was able to get a very fair price for a non-core asset. The cash it received was reinvested to drill its higher growth acreage in areas like the Marcellus. Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC (NASDAQ:VNR) is building up its position in the Permian for the same reason as LINN. These are oilier assets, with low decline rates, making them perfect fits for an MLP.

That is why LINN really has bulked up in the Permian over the past few years. Once it combines with Berry Petroleum Company (NYSE:BRY) it will have over 67,000 net acres in the play with more than 1,000 proved future drilling locations. That’s a lot of low-risk, oil-rich growth that should continue to support its distribution for years to come.

Final Foolish thoughts
The bottom line here is that LINN is back in the acquisition market as it would appear that it’s starting to put its rough start to the year in the rearview mirror. What that means for investors is that the distribution we’ve come to love isn’t going to stop anytime soon. In fact, with more deals like this, LINN should be able to keep raising the payout as it continues to put its cash flows on even more solid ground.

The article LINN Energy is Back in the Game originally appeared on Fool.com is written by Matt DiLallo.

Fool contributor Matt DiLallo owns shares of Linn Energy, LLC and Linn Co, LLC . Matt DiLallo has the following options: short October 2013 $25 puts on Linn Energy, LLC and short November 2013 $25 puts on Linn Co, LLC . The Motley Fool recommends Range Resources. 

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