22 April 2009
AIM: XTR
XTRACT ENERGY PLC
("Xtract" or the "Company")
INVESTMENT UPDATE - Wasabi Energy Limited ("Wasabi")
Xtract refers to the announcement set out below released today in
Australia by Wasabi. Xtract holds approximately 19.4% of the issued
share capital of Wasabi.
"22 April 2009
The Manager
ASX Limited ("ASX")
Company Announcements Office
Dear Sir
Rights Issue and Distribution of Xtract Shares to Note Holders
The directors of Wasabi Energy Limited wish to advise they have
resolved to raise a total of approximately $4,500,000 through a
pro-rata rights issue of convertible preference shares.
Funds from the issue will be used to discharge $2.36m of the
convertible notes and to provide additional working capital. The
balance of $1.15m of the outstanding notes has been repaid by the
distribution of 35,000,000 Xtract Energy plc shares to the note
holders.
The Company intends to undertake a one for two non-renounceable
rights issue priced at 1 cent. The rights issue will be by way of 7%
preference shares with the dividend to be satisfied by the issue of
shares and which will be convertible for 3 years. Upon conversion
from a preference share, the Company will issue one ordinary share
and one free attaching option to convert into an ordinary share at 1c
for each preference share. The completion of the rights issue will
be conditional on shareholders passing the necessary resolutions to
allow the Company to issue the preference shares. Further details of
the terms of the preference share will be set out in the documents to
be sent to shareholders.
Should the ordinary shares trade above 1.5 cents for more than 14
days consecutively in the first 12 months, above 2 cents for more
than 14 days consecutively in the second 12 months or above 2.5 cents
for more than 14 days consecutively in the third 12 months then the
preference shares will automatically convert to ordinary shares. The
attached options will only be issued when the preference shares are
converted to ordinary shares.
The directors are pleased to announce an intention from the note
holders to underwrite the rights issue up to the balance of the loan
notes subject to a customary underwriting agreement. The Company
will give existing major shareholders the opportunity to underwrite a
proportion of the shortfall equal to their holding in the Company
before seeking an underwriter for the balance of the rights issue.
Full details of the rights issue including a notice to shareholders
with regard to creation of the preference share, a timetable and
Appendix 3B will be released to the market as soon as they are
finalised.
The Company expects to dispatch documentation in relation to the
rights issue to shareholders in early May 2009.
Mr Tim Wise
Managing Director"
The distribution of the 35,000,000 Xtract shares held by Wasabi to
its note-holders simplifies the Xtract Group structure by
substantially removing the cross-holding between Xtract and Wasabi
that has existed since July 2008.
Commenting on the transaction, Andy Morrison, CEO of Xtract Energy
said that, 'Xtract is very pleased to welcome Wasabi note-holders as
direct shareholders in the company. We believe that their willingness
to take Xtract paper is a significant vote of confidence in the
prospects for Xtract'.
Enquiries please contact:
Xtract Energy Andy Morrison, CEO +44 (0)20 3205 1148
Smith & Williamson David Jones +44 (0)20 7131 4000
Corporate Finance Azhic Basirov
Scott Harris Ian Middleton +44 (0)20 7653 0030
James O'Shaughnessy
About Xtract Energy
Xtract identifies and invests in a diversified portfolio of early
stage energy sector technologies and businesses with significant
growth potential. The Company aims to work closely with the
associated management teams to achieve critical project milestones,
to finance later development stages, and to build and crystallise
value for all shareholders and partners.
For further information on Xtract please visit www.xtractenergy.co.uk
A short description of the principal assets of Xtract is set out
below. These assets are either held directly or through wholly owned
subsidiaries of the Company.
MEO Australia Ltd ("MEO")
MEO (ASX: MEO) aims to become an integrated Australian Gas-to-Liquids
("GTL") company. In 2008, MEO made significant gas discoveries in the
Australian Timor Sea, in an area of shallow water known as Tassie
Shoal. Early commercialisation of these discoveries is planned
through construction of Liquified Natural Gas ("LNG") and Methanol
plants and export terminals on the off-shore Tassie Shoal. MEO has
already secured Australian Government environmental approvals for two
large scale (1.8 Mtpa) methanol plants and a 3 Mtpa LNG plant on
Tassie Shoal. Xtract owns approximately 11.6% of MEO's issued share
capital.
Elko Energy Inc. ("Elko")
Elko is a Canadian registered oil & gas exploration company which has
interests in exploration and production licences in the Danish and
Dutch North Sea. Its major asset is in the Danish North Sea; an 80%
interest on 26 offshore blocks in a 5,400 sq km exploration and
production licence close to the prolific Central Graben oil field.
Technical work indicates the potential for significant reserves. Elko
also holds a 60% operating interest in gas-bearing license blocks P1
and P2 in the Dutch North Sea. Xtract owns approximately 35.0% of
Elko's issued share capital.
Extrem Energy AS ("Extrem Energy")
Extrem Energy is an exploration and production joint venture with
Merty Energy of Turkey. The JV's aim is to create a new medium-sized
oil and gas exploration and production business, initially focused on
Turkey where Merty Energy has particular experience and expertise.
Extrem Energy has a portfolio of licence interests including the high
potential prospect at Candarli Bay in south-west Turkey. Xtract owns
20% of the issued share capital of Extrem Energy and has the option
of increasing its shareholding to 34% before 30 June 2009.
Xtract Oil Ltd ("XOL")
Xtract's wholly owned subsidiary, XOL, is focused on the development
of the Company's oil shale resources in Australia and the technology
for oil extraction from oil shale resources. Xtract has oil shale
exploration rights over mining tenements in the Julia Creek area of
Queensland. In addition to evaluating third party technologies, XOL
has been developing proprietary technology for the commercial
extraction of liquid hydrocarbon products from oil shale.
Xtract Energy (Oil Shale) Morocco SA ("XOSM")
XOSM is a joint venture with Alraed Limited Investment Holding
Company WLL, a company controlled by His Highness, Prince Bandar Bin
Mohd. Bin Abdulrahman Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia. XOSM has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Office National des
Hydrocarbures et des Mines for the purposes of evaluation and
possible development of an oil shale deposit near Tarfaya, in the
south west part of Morocco. Xtract currently holds 70% of the joint
venture.
Wasabi Energy Ltd ("Wasabi")
Wasabi (ASX: WAS) is a diversified investor in traditional and
renewable energy technologies. Amongst its listed assets it holds
approximately 38% of Rum Jungle Uranium Ltd (ASX: RUM) which has
interests in uranium exploration licenses covering some 4,150 sq km
of Australia's Northern Territory and approximately 12.5% of
Greenearth Energy Ltd (ASX:GER) which aims to explore and develop
geothermal resources in Australia and the wider Pacific Rim. Xtract
owns approximately 19.4% of the issued share capital of Wasabi.
Zhibek Resources Ltd ("Zhibek Resources")
Zhibek Resources is an oil and gas exploration and production company
which has a 72% interest in the Tash Kumyr and Pishkoran exploration
licences in the Kyrgyz Republic. Xtract has entered a farm-out
agreement to fund a seismic and drilling programme for 2008-09.
Xtract owns 25.0% of the issued share capital of Zhibek Resources.
---END OF MESSAGE---
This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is
solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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