Investment Update
28 April 2009
AIM: XTR
XTRACT ENERGY PLC
("Xtract" or the "Company")
INVESTMENT UPDATE - Elko Energy and Lysander
Xtract Energy Plc ("Xtract") is pleased to announce that it has
entered into a conditional agreement with Lysander Minerals
Corporation (TSX-V: LYM) ("Lysander") of Vancouver, Canada under
which it will acquire 35,000,000 common shares of Lysander and
warrants entitling Xtract to subscribe for an additional 17,500,000
common shares of Lysander at an issue price of C$0.20 per share
exercisable for a period of three years in exchange for 35,000,000
shares in Elko Energy Inc. ("Elko"), representing all of Xtract's 35%
interest in Elko. The market price of Lysander was C$0.18 per share
at the close of business on 24 April 2009.
The agreement is subject to further due diligence, the completion of
a definitive agreement and to regulatory, Board and Lysander
shareholder approval.
Elko (www.elkoenergy.com) 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 in 26 offshore blocks in a 5,400 sq
km exploration and production licence close to the prolific Central
Graben oil field. Technical analysis carried out to date indicates
the potential for significant reserves. Elko also holds a 60%
operating interest in gas-bearing licence blocks P1 and P2 in the
Dutch North Sea. Xtract owns approximately 35% of Elko's issued share
capital.
The acquisition of Xtract's interests in Elko will represent the
second transaction arranged by Lysander under their policy, adopted
following reorganization in 2008, of expansion into businesses with
potential for high returns. For its expansion plans, Lysander is
focusing on exceptional situations in the field of energy. It has
already acquired rights over a coal mine in Ukraine and continues to
advance that project. As previously announced, Lysander expects to
issue 22,000,000 common shares on the exercise of its option to
acquire Ukraine Energy Limited. For further information on Lysander,
please visit their web-site www.lysanderminerals.com.
Upon successful completion of both the above transactions, Xtract
will own approximately 43.7% of the issued capital of Lysander,
rising to approximately 52.2% on a fully diluted basis. Under the
terms of the agreement with Lysander, Xtract will have the right to
appoint a director to the board of Lysander. It is expected that Andy
Morrison, CEO of Xtract and a director of Elko, will join the board
of Lysander and maintain his existing oversight role with respect to
the development of Elko. John Newton and John Conlon, directors of
Xtract, are existing directors of Lysander.
In the year ended 31 December 2007, Lysander incurred a loss before
tax of C$0.4 million and had net assets of C$4.3 million and Elko
incurred a loss before tax of C$7.3 million and had net assets of
C$19.9 million. The unaudited book value of Elko in Xtract's
accounts as at 31 December 2008 was £4.0 million.
Commenting on the agreement, Andy Morrison said, "The proposed
arrangement with Lysander will help crystallise the value of Elko
within the portfolio and provide valuable commercial flexibility to
the Xtract Group. From a financial perspective it will strengthen
liquidity by increasing the proportion of the Group's holdings in
publicly listed entities. We look forward to working with Lysander to
help develop Elko to its undoubted potential".
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 in 26 offshore blocks in a 5,400 sq km exploration and
production licence close to the prolific Central Graben oil field.
Technical analysis carried out to date 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.
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