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Tethys Petroleum: Definitive Agreement for Acquisition of Control
March 19, 2019 4:57 PM EDT | Source: Tethys Petroleum Limited
Proposed Transaction
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - March 19, 2019) - Tethys Petroleum Limited (TSXV: TPL.H) ("Tethys" or the "Company") today announces that further to the Company's press release on December 20, 2018, Jaka Partners FZC ("Acquiror") and Tethys have today signed a binding arrangement agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") with respect to a potential acquisition by Acquiror of Tethys' outstanding ordinary shares ("Ordinary Shares") it does not already own pursuant to a scheme of arrangement under the Companies Law (2018 Revision) of the Cayman Islands (the "Companies Law"), and applicable Canadian securities laws. Such proposed acquisition is referred to hereafter as the "Proposed Transaction".
1. Proposed Transaction Structure
The Proposed Transaction will be carried out by way of a scheme of arrangement under the Companies Law, and effected pursuant to the Definitive Agreement, the terms and conditions of which are summarized below. The Proposed Transaction shall also be subject to the approval of the holders of the Ordinary Shares, including both approval by such shareholders representing more than 75% of the Ordinary Shares voting in person or by proxy at a special meeting as well as by a majority of those shareholders, excluding shares held by Acquiror or any of its affiliates or joint actors in accordance with Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). Approvals from the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands and the NEX board of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "NEX") will also be required.
2. Consideration
Acquiror proposes to acquire up to 70% of the Ordinary Shares that it does not already own and to offer shareholders the opportunity to exchange up to 30% of the Ordinary Shares that the Acquiror does not already own for preferred shares ("Preferred Shares") on a one-for-one basis. Each shareholder who approves the Proposed Transaction could elect to:
receive cash consideration of US$0.60 per ordinary share in exchange for up to 70% of its Ordinary Shares and to also receive Preferred Shares in exchange for up to 30% of its Ordinary Shares;
receive cash consideration of US$0.60 per ordinary share exchange for up to 70% of its Ordinary Shares and retain the remaining Ordinary Shares;
receive Preferred Shares in exchange for up to 30% of its Ordinary Shares and retain the remaining Ordinary Shares; or
retain all of its Ordinary Shares.
To the extent that the scheme of arrangement is approved and a shareholder does not make any election as to its preferred form of consideration, it shall be deemed to have elected to retain all of its Ordinary Shares.
The Preferred Shares shall be non-voting and non-convertible, and shall be automatically redeemed by Tethys on the date that is three (3) years from the closing of the Proposed Transaction at a redemption price of US$1.80 per Preferred Share (the "Redemption Amount"). To the extent that Tethys is unable to fund all or part of the payment of the Redemption Amount, Tethys will have an option to require Acquiror to provide funding for such payment by purchasing new ordinary shares in Tethys under a share purchase warrant or similar security (the "Warrant"). Pursuant to the Definitive Agreement, Acquiror's obligations under the Warrant will be guaranteed by an affiliated company of Jaka, Inform Systems LLP.
Convertible securities (including options, warrants and convertible debt) shall remain outstanding post-closing and any such securities that are exercised or converted into Ordinary Shares prior to the record date of the special meeting shall entitle the holder to vote at such meeting.
The consideration offered per Ordinary Share of US$0.60 per share and US$1.80 per Preferred Shares represents premiums of approximately 320% and 960%, respectively to the Cdn$0.25 price of the Ordinary Shares on the NEX on December 19, 2018, the date before the Proposed Transaction was first announced.
3. Stock Market Listing
Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, Tethys would seek to maintain a listing of its Ordinary Shares on the NEX, or other recognized securities exchange, and apply for a listing of the Preferred Shares. Listing will be subject to satisfaction of the rules of the NEX or other applicable exchange.
4. Management and the Board
As part of the Proposed Transaction, Acquiror will propose new directors as replacements for Mr. Mattias Sjoborg and Mr. William P. Wells. Acquiror shall ensure that following the completion of the Proposed Transaction, Tethys' board of directors, which would consist of at least three (3) members and will comply with all Canadian securities laws, including the rules of the NEX, applicable to public companies. In addition, upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, Mr. Sjoborg will resign from his position as Chief Executive Officer of Tethys. Annuity and Life Reassurance Ltd ("Annuity"), a company controlled by Mr. Wells, shall have a right to appoint a board observer and the right to inspect Tethys' corporate books, records and premises, for a period of three (3) years following the closing of the Proposed Transaction.
5. Definitive Agreement
The Definitive Agreement includes conditions precedent, representations and warranties, "fiduciary outs", covenants and provisions dealing with the mechanics of completing the Proposed Transaction.
The Definitive Agreement also contains certain minority protections such as restricting Tethys from issuing shares in excess of 18,000,000 shares and not pledging, selling, encumbering or disposing any of Tethys' for an agreed period of time.
The Definitive Agreement also contains a proposed settlement agreement which, subject to shareholder approval, Tethys will seek to enter into with Olisol Petroleum Ltd, Olisol Investments Ltd, Eurasia Gas Group LLP, DSFK Special Finance Company LLP and certain of their principals.
6. Approval of the Proposed Transaction
As noted above, the Proposed Transaction will require the approval of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, NEX and shareholders at a special meeting which will be convened for this purpose. It is anticipated that it will take at least two months to complete the Proposed Transaction.
As Acquiror owns in excess of 10% of the Ordinary Shares, it is a related party and the Proposed Transaction would be a related party transaction under MI 61-101. The Proposed Transaction is exempt from the valuation requirements of MI 61-101 as the Ordinary Shares are not listed on certain recognized exchanges though is subject to the requirement to obtain majority of the minority shareholder approval as described above.
About Tethys
Tethys is focused on oil and gas exploration and production activities in Central Asia and the Caspian Region. This highly prolific oil and gas area is rapidly developing and Tethys believes that significant potential exists in both exploration and in discovered deposits.
Disclaimer
Some of the statements in this document are forward-looking. Such statements are not promises or guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those suggested by any such statements. Such statements include statements regarding the closing of Proposed Transaction, continued listing of the Ordinary Shares on the NEX or listing of the Preferred Shares on the NEX and approval of the Proposed Transaction. No assurance can be made that the Proposed Transaction will be approved, or if approved that the Ordinary Shares will continue to be listed on, or that the Preferred will be listed on, the NEX. No part of this announcement constitutes, or shall be taken to constitute, an invitation or inducement to invest in the Company or any other entity, and shareholders of the Company are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Save as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake to update or change any forward-looking statements to reflect events occurring after the date of this announcement.
Contact Information:
Tethys Petroleum
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43524