TIDMEDR
RNS Number : 1467Z
Egdon Resources PLC
15 May 2019
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR
JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A
BREACH OF THE RELEVANT SECURITIES LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or offering
memorandum or an offer in respect of any securities and is not
intended to provide the basis for any investment decision in
respect of Egdon Resources plc or other evaluation of any
securities of Egdon Resources plc or any other entity and should
not be considered as a recommendation that any investor should
subscribe for or purchase any such securities.
15 May 2019
EGDON RESOURCES PLC
("Egdon" or the "Company")
Underwritten Open Offer of 43,330,803 Open Offer Shares
At 5 pence per Open Offer Share
Proposed Waiver of Rule 9 of the City Code on Takeovers and
Mergers
Notice of General Meeting
and
Production Update
Egdon is pleased to announce that, in order to provide the
Company with additional resources to be used in the Company's
exploration and appraisal work programme, the Company is proposing
to raise approximately GBP2.17 million (before expenses) pursuant
to an underwritten Open Offer. Under the Open Offer, all Qualifying
Shareholders have an opportunity to subscribe for new Ordinary
Shares at the Issue Price by subscribing for their respective Open
Offer Entitlements on the basis of 1 Open Offer Share for every 6
Existing Ordinary Shares held on the Record Date.
The Company has received irrevocable commitments to take up (or
procure the taking up) of Open Offer Shares from:
-- Petrichor Holdings Coöperatief U.A., ("Petrichor") in respect
of an Open Offer Entitlement to 12,994,907 Open Offer Shares (the
"Petrichor Committed Shares"); and
-- Premier Oil plc ("Premier") in respect of an Open Offer
Entitlement to 6,534,285 Open Offer Shares (the "Premier Committed
Shares", together with the Petrichor Committed Shares, the
"Excluded Shares").
Petrichor has also agreed to underwrite 23,801,611 Open Offer
Shares (the "Underwritten Shares"), being the total number of Open
Offer Shares less the Excluded Shares, on a fully underwritten
basis in exchange for the payment of an underwriting commission of
an amount equal to 4 per cent. of the total Issue Price of
23,801,611 Underwritten Shares.
Petrichor currently holds 77,969,448 Existing Ordinary Shares
representing 29.99 per cent. of the current issued share capital of
the Company. Petrichor has committed to take up its maximum Open
Offer Entitlement and has also agreed to subscribe for or purchase,
at the Issue Price, any Underwritten Shares (as defined above) not
taken up by Qualifying Shareholders under the Open Offer. If
Petrichor is required to subscribe for some or all of the
Underwritten Shares, then Petrichor's interest in shares carrying
voting rights in the Company could increase to 30.00 per cent. or
more. This would ordinarily result in Petrichor being required to
make a mandatory cash offer, under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code, to
the remaining Shareholders to acquire their ordinary shares. The
Panel has agreed to grant a waiver of the requirement under Rule 9
subject to the approval of the Company's Independent Shareholders
being obtained. A Resolution is being proposed at the General
Meeting (defined below) in this regard to enable the Company to
issue further Ordinary Shares to Petrichor pursuant to the Open
Offer and underwriting arrangements, without Petrichor being
required to make a mandatory cash offer to the remaining
Shareholders.
The terms and conditions of the Open Offer are set out in a
circular being sent to Shareholders today, which includes notice of
a general meeting of the Company ("General Meeting"). The circular
will soon be available on the Company's website
www.egdon-resources.com. The circular sets out: the reasons for,
and provides further information on the Proposals; explains why the
Directors consider the Proposals to be in the best interest of the
Company and its Shareholders as a whole; and why the Directors
recommend that Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolution.
The Open Offer is conditional, inter alia, (i) upon the passing
of the Resolution at the General Meeting; and (ii) admission of the
Open Offer Shares to trading on AIM on or before 8.00 a.m. on 4
June 2019 (or such later date and/or time as the Company, VSA,
Cantor Fitzgerald and Petrichor may decide, being no later than
5.00 p.m. on 20 June 2019). It is expected that Admission will
become effective and dealings in the Open Offer Shares will
commence on, or around, 4 June 2019. The Open Offer Shares will,
when issued and fully paid, rank pari pasu in all respects with the
Existing Ordinary Shares, including the right to receive all
dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the
date of Admission.
Production Update
The Company is pleased to announce that average monthly
production during the period January to April 2019 was 238 boepd
(January to April 2018: 85 boepd).
Enquiries:
Egdon Resources plc +44 (0) 1256 702
Mark Abbott, Managing Director 292
VSA Capital Limited -Financial Adviser & Joint Broker
Andrew Raca (Corporate Finance)
Andrew Monk (Corporate Broking) +44 (0) 20 3005 5000
Cantor Fitzgerald Europe Limited - Nominated Adviser
and Joint Broker
David Porter (Corporate Finance)
Caspar Shand Kydd (Sales) +44 (0) 20 7894 7000
Buchanan - PR
Ben Romney/Chris Judd +44 (0) 20 7466 5000
Defined terms in this announcement are as defined in the
circular.
1. Introduction
Egdon is pleased to announce that, in order to provide the
Company with additional resources to progress its exploration and
appraisal work programme, it is proposing to raise approximately
GBP2.17 million (before expenses) pursuant to the Open Offer. Under
the Open Offer, all Qualifying Shareholders have an opportunity to
subscribe for new Ordinary Shares at the Issue Price by subscribing
for their respective Open Offer Entitlements which have been
calculated on a pro rata basis to their holding in the Existing
Ordinary Shares in the Company on the Record Date.
The Open Offer is conditional, inter alia, (i) upon the passing
of the Resolution at the General Meeting; and (ii) admission of the
Open Offer Shares to trading on AIM becoming effective on or before
8.00 a.m. on 4 June 2019 (or such later date and/or time as the
Company, VSA, Cantor Fitzgerald and Petrichor may decide, being no
later than 5.00 p.m. on 20 June 2019).
It is expected that Admission will become effective and dealings
in the Open Offer Shares will commence on 4 June 2019. The Open
Offer Shares will, when issued and fully paid, rank pari passu in
all respects with the Existing Ordinary Shares, including the right
to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or
paid after the date of Admission.
2. Information on Egdon Resources plc
Egdon Resources plc is an established UK--based exploration and
production company primarily focused on onshore exploration and
production in the hydrocarbon--producing basins of the UK.
Egdon holds interests in 44 licences in the UK and has a
programme of exploration, appraisal and development within its
portfolio of oil and gas assets. Egdon was formed in 1997 and
listed on AIM in December 2004.
3. Use of proceeds
The net proceeds from the Open Offer (being approximately
GBP1.982 million, after costs of approximately GBP0.185 million)
will be used in the Company's exploration and appraisal work
programme as follows:
-- progress the Gainsborough Trough Shale-Gas Assets;
-- progress the Resolution Gas Discovery; and
-- for general working capital purposes.
4. Current Trading and Outlook
On 9 April 2019, the Company announced its unaudited interim
results for the six months ended 31 January 2019 and provided
updates on its current assets, trading and outlook.
Operational highlights since the date of these results
include:
-- average monthly production during the period January to April
2019 of 238 boepd (January to April 2018: 85 boepd);
-- completion of drilling of Springs Road-1 (Egdon 14.5%) during
March 2019 - The well encountered all three pre-drill targets with
a reported hydrocarbon bearing shale sequence of over 250 metres in
the Bowland Shale and significant gas indications within the
Millstone Grit sequence, deeper parts of the lower Bowland Shale
and the Arundian Shale;
-- completion of drilling operations at Biscathorpe-2 during
February 2019 - The primary target was poorly developed and the
well has been suspended for a potential future sidetrack;
-- the completion of a Competent Person's Report ("CPR") by
Schlumberger Oilfield UK PLC for Resolution indicating mean
contingent resources of 231 bcf; and
-- the submission of planning appeal for the revised Wressle
development following refusal of planning consent on 28 November
2018 with the public inquiry scheduled to start on 5 November
2019.
In relation to the Company's outlook, the interim results
announcement stated:
"The Company has advised production guidance for the full
financial year 2018-19 of 170-180 boepd driven by continued strong
production from Ceres.
The main operational focus of the business during the coming
period will be on:
-- Finalising the Springs Road-1 core and log analysis during Q2
2019 to facilitate the planned horizontal Springs Road-2 well
-- Finalising the introduction of an industry partner to fund
the planned 3D seismic and appraisal drilling on the Resolution Gas
Discovery
-- Securing consent for the Wressle development via a planning
inquiry anticipated during Q3 2019 with a decision possible late in
Q4 2019
The fundamentals of the business remain robust with the Company
debt free and holding a range of high potential assets in the UK, a
location and jurisdiction which remains commercially attractive,
despite some regulatory and planning challenges."
5. Details of the Open Offer
5.1. Structure
The Directors have given consideration as to the best way to
structure the proposed equity fundraising, taking into account
current market conditions, the composition of the Company's
shareholder register and the Board's desire to give shareholders
the opportunity to limit dilution where practicable.
The Directors have concluded that the structure of the
fundraising by way of the Open Offer is the most suitable option
available to the Company and its shareholders as a whole. The Open
Offer will provide an opportunity for all Qualifying Shareholders
to participate in the fundraising by acquiring Open Offer Shares
pro rata to their current holdings of Existing Ordinary Shares with
the option to apply to subscribe for more Open Offer Shares
pursuant to the Excess Application Facility subject to
clawback.
The Issue Price of 5 pence per Open Offer Share represents a
discount of approximately 3.85 per cent. to the Volume Weighted
Average Price of an Existing Ordinary Share in the seven days prior
to the date of the announcement of the Open Offer.
5.2. Principal terms of the Open Offer
Subject to the fulfilment of the conditions set out below and in
Part IV of the circular, Qualifying Shareholders are being given
the opportunity to subscribe for the Open Offer Shares at a price
of 5 pence per Open Offer Share, pro rata to their holdings of
Existing Ordinary Shares on the Record Date on the basis of:
1 Open Offer Share for every 6 Existing Ordinary Shares
Qualifying Shareholders are also being given the opportunity,
provided that they take up their Open Offer Entitlement in full, to
apply for Excess Shares through the Excess Application
Facility.
The Open Offer is being underwritten by Petrichor as set out in
paragraph 6 below. The issue of the Open Offer Shares will raise
gross proceeds of approximately GBP2.17 million for the
Company.
Fractions of Open Offer Shares will not be allotted to
Qualifying Shareholders in the Open Offer and entitlements under
the Open Offer will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of
Open Offer Shares. The fractional entitlements will be aggregated
and made available to Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess
Application Facility.
Qualifying Shareholders with holdings of Existing Ordinary
Shares in both certificated and uncertificated form will be treated
as having separate holdings for the purpose of calculating the Open
Offer Entitlements.
5.3. Excess Application Facility
The Excess Application Facility will enable Qualifying
Shareholders, provided that they take up their Open Offer
Entitlement in full, to apply for Excess Open Offer Entitlements.
Qualifying non-CREST Shareholders who wish to apply to acquire more
than their Open Offer Entitlement should complete the relevant
sections on the Application Form. Qualifying CREST Shareholders
will have Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements credited to their
stock account in CREST and should refer to paragraph 4.2(j) of Part
IV of the circular for information on how to apply for Excess
Shares pursuant to the Excess Application Facility. Applications
for Excess Open Offer Entitlements will be satisfied only and to
the extent that corresponding applications by other Qualifying
Shareholders are not made or are made for less than their Open
Offer Entitlements. If applications under the Excess Application
Facility are received for more than the total number of Open Offer
Shares available following take-up of Open Offer Entitlements, such
applications will be scaled back to the number of Excess Shares
applied for by Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess Application
Facility.
Application will be made for the Open Offer Entitlements and
Excess Open Offer Entitlements in respect of Qualifying CREST
Shareholders to be admitted to CREST. It is expected that such Open
Offer Entitlements and Excess Open Offer Entitlements will be
admitted to CREST at 8.00 a.m. on 17 May 2019. Such Open Offer
Entitlements and Excess Open Offer Entitlements will also be
enabled for settlement in CREST at 8.00 a.m. 17 May 2019.
Applications through the means of the CREST system may only be made
by the Qualifying Shareholder originally entitled or by a person
entitled by virtue of a bona fide market claim.
Qualifying non-CREST Shareholders will have received an
Application Form with the circular which sets out their entitlement
to Open Offer Shares as shown by the number of Open Offer
Entitlements allocated to them. Qualifying CREST Shareholders will
receive a credit to their appropriate stock accounts in CREST in
respect of their Open Offer Entitlements on 17 May 2019.
Shareholders should note that the Open Offer is not a rights
issue. Qualifying CREST Shareholders should note that although the
Open Offer Entitlements and Excess Open Offer Entitlements will be
admitted to CREST and be enabled for settlement, applications in
respect of entitlements under the Open Offer may only be made by
the Qualifying Shareholder originally entitled or by a person
entitled by virtue of a bona fide market claim. Qualifying
non-CREST Shareholders should note that the Application Form is not
a negotiable document and cannot be traded. Qualifying Shareholders
should be aware that in the Open Offer, unlike in a rights issue,
any Open Offer Shares not applied for will not be sold in the
market or placed for the benefit of Qualifying Shareholders who do
not apply under the Open Offer.
Further information on the Open Offer and the terms and
conditions on which it is made, including the procedure for
application and payment, are set out in Part IV of the
circular.
For Qualifying non-CREST Shareholders, completed Application
Forms, accompanied by full payment, should be returned by post or
by hand (during normal business hours only) to Neville Registrars,
Neville House, Steelpark Road, Halesowen, West Midlands B62 8HD so
as to arrive as soon as possible and in any event so as to be
received no later than 11.00 a.m. on 31 May 2019. For Qualifying
CREST Shareholders, the relevant CREST instructions must have been
settled as explained in the circular by no later than 11.00 a.m. on
31 May 2019.
5.4. Other information relating to the Open Offer
The Open Offer is conditional upon (i) the passing without
amendment of the Resolution at the General Meeting; and (ii)
admission of the Open Offer Shares to trading on AIM becoming
effective on or before 8.00 a.m. on 4 June 2019 (or such later
and/or time as the Company, VSA, Cantor Fitzgerald and Petrichor
may decide, being no later than 5.00 p.m. on 20 June 2019).
Accordingly, if this condition is not satisfied or waived, the
Open Offer will not proceed.
The Open Offer will result in the issue of in total 43,330,803
Open Offer Shares assuming full take up under the Open Offer
(representing, in aggregate, approximately 14.29 per cent. of the
Enlarged Share Capital). The Open Offer Shares, when issued and
fully paid, will rank pari passu in all respects with the Existing
Ordinary Shares and therefore rank equally for all dividends or
other distributions declared, made or paid after the date of issue
of the Open Offer Shares. No temporary documents of title will be
issued.
Qualifying Shareholders who do not take up any of their
entitlements in respect of the Open Offer will experience a
dilution of approximately 14.29 per cent to their interests in the
Company because of the Open Offer (assuming full take up under the
Open Offer). Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange
for the Open Offer Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is
expected that Admission will become effective on 4 June 2019 and
that dealings for normal settlement in the Open Offer Shares will
commence at 8.00 a.m. on 4 June 2019.
6. Underwriting Agreement and Undertakings
Irrevocable Undertakings
Petrichor has irrevocably undertaken to the Company to take up
its own maximum Open Offer Entitlement to 12,994,907 shares under
the Open Offer (the "Petrichor Committed Shares"). Premier has also
irrevocably undertaken to the Company to procure the subscription
by its subsidiaries, Premier Oil (EnCore Petroleum) Limited, EnCore
(NNS) Limited and EnCore Oil Limited, in respect of their own
respective maximum Open Offer Entitlement (to 6,534,285 shares in
aggregate) under the Open Offer (the "Premier Committed Shares",
together with the Petrichor Committed shares, the "Excluded
Shares"). The Company has therefore received irrevocable
undertakings to take up the Excluded Shares, which represent 45.07
per cent. of the Open Offer Shares being made available under the
Open Offer.
Underwriting Agreement
On 15 May 2019, the Company and Petrichor entered into an
Underwriting Agreement whereby Petrichor agreed to underwrite
23,801,611 Open Offer Shares (the "Underwritten Shares"), being the
total number of Open Offer Shares less the Excluded Shares, on a
fully underwritten basis. Therefore, if the Company receives valid
applications under the Open Offer (including the Excess Application
Facility) in relation to the Underwritten Shares for less than the
total number of Underwritten Shares being made available, Petrichor
has agreed to subscribe as principal for the remaining Underwritten
Shares.
The obligations of Petrichor under the Underwriting Agreement
are conditional upon:
(a) admission of the Open Offer Shares to trading on AIM taking
place by 4 June 2019, or such later time as agreed by the Company,
VSA, Cantor Fitzgerald and Petrichor being not later than 20 June
2019;
(b) the passing of the Whitewash Resolution by the Independent
Shareholders at the General Meeting by way of poll.
The Company has agreed to pay Petrichor commission of an amount
equal to 4 per cent. of the total Issue Price of 23,801,611
Underwritten Shares, being the maximum number of Underwritten
Shares that Petrichor could be required to take up pursuant to its
underwriting commitment, together with all costs, fees and
out-of-pocket expenses properly incurred by Petrichor in connection
with the underwriting of the Underwritten Shares and agreed in
advance by the Company in writing.
The entering into of the Underwriting Agreement by the Company
is a related party transaction under the AIM Rules. The Directors
consider, having consulted with Cantor Fitzgerald, the Company's
Nominated Adviser, that the terms of the Underwriting Agreement are
fair and reasonable insofar as Shareholders are concerned.
Details of the current interest and maximum potential interest
of Petrichor, following the Open Offer, in the ordinary share
capital of the Company are set out in the table below:
As at date of the circular On Admission
Maximum number of
Open Offer Shares
that Petrichor
could be required
to take up
pursuant to Maximum % interest
Number of Existing % interest of the Underwriting Maximum number of in the Enlarged
Ordinary Shares Existing Issued Agreement and the Ordinary Shares Issued Share
Name held Share Capital Undertaking held Capital
Petrichor 77,969,448 29.99 36,796,518 114,765,966 37.84
7. Waiver of Rule 9 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers
The Rule 9 Waiver is being sought in connection with the Open
Offer.
On 13 July 2018, Infinis Energy Services ("Infinis"), the 100%
owner of Alkane Energy Limited ("Alkane"), announced that it had
entered into a sale and purchase agreement ("SPA") to sell
35,870,487 Ordinary Share (representing 13.797 per cent. of the
issued share capital of the Company) to Petrichor Holdings
Coöperatief U.A. ("Petrichor"), a wholly owned subsidiary of HEYCO.
Pursuant to the terms of the SPA, Petrichor agreed to pay Alkane an
amount equivalent to 12.8 pence per Ordinary Share (the "SPA
Consideration Per Share").
Alkane also entered into an agreement with VSA, where VSA
undertook inter alia to place Alkane's remaining 4,129,513 Ordinary
Shares (the "Placing Shares") (representing 1.588 per cent. of the
issued share capital of the Company) with institutional and other
investors.
On 27 July 2018, Infinis announced that VSA had completed the
placing of the Placing Shares at a price of 8 pence per Placing
Share. Under the terms of the SPA, Petrichor agreed that if the
Placing Shares were sold below the SPA Consideration Per Share, it
would pay Alkane the difference between the price achieved per
Placing Share and the SPA Consideration Per Share. Consequently,
taking into account this purchase price adjustment, the price paid
to Alkane by Petrichor for the 35,870,487 Ordinary Shares was 13.4
pence per share.
Petrichor currently holds 77,969,448 Existing Ordinary Shares
representing 29.99 per cent. of the current issued share capital of
the Company. Petrichor has committed to take up its maximum Open
Offer Entitlement and has also agreed to subscribe for or purchase,
at the Issue Price, any Underwritten Shares (as defined in
paragraph 6 above) not taken up by Qualifying Shareholders under
the Open Offer. If Petrichor is required to subscribe for some or
all of the Underwritten Shares, then Petrichor's interest in shares
carrying voting rights in the Company could increase to 30.00 per
cent. or more. If no other Qualifying Shareholders take up their
Open Offer Entitlements in respect of Underwritten Shares,
Petrichor's holding will increase to 37.84 per cent. of the
Enlarged Share Capital.
As detailed in paragraph 8 below, this would ordinarily result
in Petrichor being required to make a mandatory cash offer, under
Rule 9 of the Code, to the remaining Shareholders to acquire their
Shares. The Resolution (the "Whitewash Resolution") is being
proposed to enable the Company to issue further Ordinary Shares to
Petrichor pursuant to the Open Offer and the Underwriting
Agreement, without Petrichor being required to make a mandatory
cash offer to the remaining Shareholders.
Given the potential increase in Petrichor's proportional
shareholding, the Company and Petrichor have entered into a
relationship agreement, conditional on Admission, to regulate the
relationship between the Company and Petrichor following Admission.
Further details of the relationship agreement are set out in
paragraph 9 of Part I of the circular.
8. The Takeover Code and Rule 9 Waiver
As indicated above, the terms of the Open Offer and the
Underwriting Agreement give rise to certain considerations under
the Takeover Code. Brief details of the Panel, the Code and the
protection they afford are given below.
The purpose of the Takeover Code is to supervise and regulate
takeovers and other matters to which it applies. The Takeover Code
is issued and administered by the Panel. The Company is a company
to which the Takeover Code applies and as such its Shareholders are
therefore entitled to the protections afforded by the Takeover
Code.
Under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code, where any person acquires,
whether by a single transaction or a series of transactions over a
period of time, an interest (as defined in the Takeover Code) in
shares which (taken together with shares in which persons acting in
concert with him are interested) carry 30 per cent. or more of the
voting rights of a company which is subject to the Takeover Code,
that person is normally required by the Panel to make a general
offer, in cash (or with a cash alternative), to all remaining
shareholders to acquire their shares. Rule 9 of the Takeover Code
further provides that, inter alia, where any person who, together
with persons acting in concert with him, is interested in shares
which in aggregate carry not less than 30 per cent. of such voting
rights and such person, or any such person acting in concert with
him, acquires an interest in additional shares which increase his
percentage of shares carrying voting rights, such person is
normally required by the Panel to make a general offer to the
remaining shareholders to acquire their shares.
Following completion of the Open Offer, Petrichor could be
interested in a maximum number of 114,765,966 Ordinary Shares,
representing 37.84 per cent. of the Enlarged Share Capital. Should
the Open Offer be fully subscribed, then Petrichor will remain as a
29.99 per cent. shareholder and therefore no obligation to make an
offer under Rule 9 will arise.
An offer under Rule 9 must be made in cash (or with a cash
alternative) and at the highest price paid by the person required
to make the offer or any person acting in concert with him for any
interest in shares of the company during the 12 months prior to the
announcement of the offer.
The Panel has been consulted and has agreed to waive the
requirement for Petrichor to make a general offer under Rule 9 of
the Takeover Code in cash for Ordinary Shares in the Company which
might otherwise arise as a result of the issue of further Ordinary
Shares to Petrichor pursuant to the Open Offer and the Underwriting
Agreement, subject to the Whitewash Resolution (as set out in the
notice convening the General Meeting) being based on a poll of the
Independent Shareholders. To be passed, the Whitewash Resolution
will require a simple majority of the votes cast by the Independent
Shareholders. Petrichor has undertaken not to vote on the Whitewash
Resolution.
Following completion of the Open Offer and assuming that
Petrichor is required to subscribe for some or all of the
Underwritten Shares (as defined in paragraph 6 above), Petrichor
will be interested in, in aggregate, shares carrying more than 30
per cent. of the Company's voting share capital but will not hold
shares comprising more than 50 per cent. of such voting rights.
Following completion of Admission of the Open Offer Shares, Rule 9
of the Takeover Code will continue to apply to Petrichor, requiring
a general offer to be made to all Shareholders if Petrichor or
persons acting in concert with it acquire any Ordinary Shares in
addition to those which are the subject of the Whitewash
Resolution, unless a further waiver is obtained (or in certain
other limited circumstances). Shareholders should note that the
waiver of Rule 9 of the Takeover Code which the Panel has agreed to
give (conditional on the Whitewash Resolution being passed by the
Shareholders) is only in respect of the acquisition of Ordinary
Shares by Petrichor as a result of the Open Offer and Underwriting
Agreement and not in respect of any other future acquisition of
Ordinary Shares by Petrichor or persons acting in concert with it.
In the event that the Whitewash Resolution is passed by Independent
Shareholders at the General Meeting, subsequently Petrichor will
not be restricted from making an offer for the Company but will not
be required to make an offer.
9. Relationship Agreement
On 15 May 2019, the Company and Petrichor entered into a
relationship agreement, conditional on Admission, to regulate the
relationship between the Company and Petrichor following Admission.
The relationship agreement contains undertakings from Petrichor
that, amongst other things, it will not seek to interfere with the
day to day control of the Company and that all transactions and
arrangements between the Company and Petrichor and members of its
group will be at arm's length and on normal commercial terms. The
relationship agreement will continue in full force and effect for
so long as the Ordinary Shares are admitted to trading on AIM and
Petrichor is interested in 20 per cent. or more of the Company's
issued ordinary share capital.
10. Information on Petrichor
Petrichor is a wholly owned subsidiary of HEYCO. HEYCO is a
privately owned, US based, upstream energy portfolio company that
delivers strategy, sophisticated unconventional technology, and
capital to oil and gas exploration projects in the United States
and Europe.
Petrichor is incorporated in the Netherlands with company file
number 34306097, and its registered office is at Kabelweg 37, 1014
BA Amsterdam.
11. Information on HEYCO
HEYCO, is a privately owned, US based, upstream energy portfolio
company that delivers strategy, sophisticated unconventional
technology, and capital to oil and gas exploration projects in the
United States and Europe.
HEYCO is incorporated in Delaware, USA with company number
3443499, and its registered office is at Corp. Trust Co., 1209
Orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801.
Further information on HEYCO is available on its website:
http://www.heycoenergy.com/
HEYCO's majority shareholder is Explorers Petroleum Corporation
of which George M. Yates is the ultimate controller. George M.
Yates is a United States of America national who was born in
Artesia, New Mexico, USA and resides in Dallas, Texas, USA. Other
Directors of HEYCO are Lauren Yates, a United States of America
national who resides in Plano, Texas, USA; Barrett Yates-Mack, an
United States of America national who resides in Weston,
Massachusetts, USA; and Tara Lewis, an United States of America
national, who resides in Dallas, Texas, USA.
Domestic US
HEYCO historically operated in the Permian Basin, specifically
in the Delaware Basin, In early 2015, HEYCO's subsidiary, Harvey E.
Yates Company, was acquired by Matador Resources Company for an
equity position in the company. Through its involvement with
Matador HEYCO has access to current best practice in the Permian
Basin.
HEYCO Development Company (DEVCO) focuses on non-operated
projects in New Mexico, East Texas, and Wyoming.
Europe
Various subsidiaries of HEYCO have been involved in
international exploration for more than 20 years, having operated
exploration projects in England, Spain, and Morocco. The group
currently holds non-operated interests in England, Spain, and
France.
12. Relationship between Petrichor, the Directors and the
Independent Shareholders
There are no relationships (personal, financial or commercial),
arrangements or understandings between Petrichor and any of the
Directors.
Petrichor has no relationships (personal, financial or
commercial), arrangements or understandings with any of the
Independent Shareholders or any person who is, or is presumed to
be, acting in concert with any such Independent Shareholder.
13. Intentions of Petrichor
Petrichor has confirmed that, if the Whitewash Resolution is
passed by the Independent Shareholders on a poll, there is no
agreement, arrangement or understanding for the transfer of their
Ordinary Shares to any third party. Petrichor is not intending to
seek any changes in respect of: the future of the Company's
business; any planned investment in research and development; the
continued employment of the Company's employees and management;
including any material change in conditions of employment or
balance of skills and functions; the location of the Company's
places of business, headquarters and headquarter functions;
employer contributions into the Company's pension schemes, the
accrual of benefits for existing members and the admission of new
members; any redeployment of the fixed assets of the Company as a
result of such proposals; and the maintenance of any existing
trading facilities for the relevant securities of the Company.
Petrichor has also confirmed that as a result of and following
completion of the Open Offer, it does not intend to change its
business strategy and that as a result of and following completion
of the Open Offer there is no intention to discontinue the
employment of its existing employees and management, nor will there
be any material change in their conditions of employment.
14. Material Contracts
Save for the Underwriting Agreement and Relationship Agreement
entered into with the Company as described more fully in paragraph
6 and 9 above, there have been no material contracts (other than
contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business) entered
into by Petrichor in the period of two years prior to the date of
the circular.
15. Intentions to vote in favour of the Resolution
The Company has received confirmation from the following
Directors and Shareholders that they intend to vote in favour of
the Resolution in respect of the following number of Existing
Ordinary Shares:
Name Aggregate % of Existing % of Independent
number of Ordinary Shareholders
Existing Shares
Ordinary
Shares voted
in favour
Premier Oil plc 39,200,000 15.08 21.54
Mark Abbott 8,089,387 3.11 4.44
Philip Stephens 112,889 0.04 0.06
Walter Roberts 974,129 0.37 0.54
Ken Ratcliff 169,743 0.07 0.09
Total 48,546,148 18.67 26.67
16. General Meeting
You will find set out at the end of the circular a notice
convening the General Meeting to be held at 11.00 a.m. on 3 June
2019 at the offices of VSA Capital, New Liverpool House, 15-17
Eldon Street, London EC2M 7LD. Details of the Resolution which will
be proposed at the General Meeting are set out below:
Ordinary Resolution
The Resolution proposes the disapplication of Rule 9 of the
Takeover Code following the issue of further Ordinary Shares to
Petrichor pursuant to the Open Offer and the Underwriting
Agreement. The Panel has confirmed that, subject to the Whitewash
Resolution being passed by the requisite majority of the
Independent Shareholders on a poll, no mandatory bid obligation on
Petrichor under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code would be triggered by
virtue of the issue of Ordinary Shares to Petrichor pursuant to the
Open Offer and the Underwriting Agreement.
In accordance with the requirements of the Takeover Code,
Petrichor has undertaken not to vote on the Whitewash Resolution in
respect of its aggregate holding of 77,969,448 Ordinary Shares.
The Proposals are conditional, inter alia, on the passing of the
Resolution and Admission taking place on 4 June 2019 (or such later
date as the Company, VSA, Cantor Fitzgerald and Petrichor may
decide, being no later than 5.00 p.m. on 20 June 2019).
The Company specifies that only those members registered on the
Company's register of members at:
-- 11.00 a.m. on 3 June 2019; or
-- if the General Meeting is adjourned, at 11.00 a.m. on the day
two days (excluding non-working days) prior to the adjourned
meeting,
shall be entitled to attend and vote at the General Meeting.
Voting on the Whitewash Resolution will be by way of a poll and,
following the General Meeting, the Company will announce its
results via a regulatory news service announcement and on the
Company's website at www.egdon-resources.com.
17. Action to be taken
In respect of the General Meeting
A Form of Proxy is enclosed for use at the General Meeting.
Whether or not you intend to be present at the meeting you are
requested to complete, sign and return the Form of Proxy to the
Company's Receiving Agent to Neville Registrars, Neville House,
Steelpark Road, Halesowen, West Midlands B62 8HD by no later than
11.00 a.m. on 30 May 2019. The completion and return of a Form of
Proxy will not preclude you from attending the meeting and voting
in person should you wish to do so.
In respect of the Open Offer
Qualifying non-CREST Shareholders
If you are a Qualifying non-CREST Shareholder you will have
received an Application Form which gives details of your maximum
entitlement under the Open Offer (as shown by the number of Open
Offer Entitlements allocated to you). If you wish to apply for Open
Offer Shares under the Open Offer (whether in respect of your Open
Offer Entitlement or both your Open Offer Entitlement and any
Excess Open Offer Entitlements), you should complete the
accompanying Application Form in accordance with the procedure for
application set out in paragraph 4.1 of Part IV of the circular and
on the Application Form itself.
Qualifying CREST Shareholders
If you are a Qualifying CREST Shareholder and do not hold any
Ordinary Shares in certificated form, no Application Form
accompanies the circular and you will receive a credit to your
appropriate stock account in CREST in respect of the Open Offer
Entitlements representing your maximum entitlement under the Open
Offer except (subject to certain exceptions) if you are an Overseas
Shareholder who has a registered address in, or is a resident in or
a citizen of an Excluded Territory. Applications by Qualifying
CREST Shareholders for Excess Open Offer Entitlements in excess of
their Open Offer Entitlements should be made in accordance with the
procedures set out in paragraph 4.2(i) of Part IV of the circular,
unless you are an Overseas Shareholder in which event, applications
should be made in accordance with the procedures set out in
paragraph 6 of Part IV of the circular.
The latest time for applications under the Open Offer to be
received is 11.00 a.m. on 31 May 2019. The procedure for
application and payment depends on whether, at the time at which
application and payment is made, you have an Application Form in
respect of your entitlement under the Open Offer or have Open Offer
Entitlements credited to your stock account in CREST in respect of
such entitlement. The procedures for application and payment are
set out in Part IV of the circular.
Qualifying CREST Shareholders who are CREST sponsored members
should refer to their CREST sponsors regarding the action to be
taken in connection with the circular and the Open Offer.
18. Overseas Shareholders
Information for Overseas Shareholders who have registered
addresses outside the United Kingdom or who are citizens or
residents of countries other than the United Kingdom appears in
paragraph 6 of Part IV of the circular, which sets out the
restrictions applicable to such persons. If you are an Overseas
Shareholder, it is important that you read that part of the
circular.
19. Recommendation
The Takeover Code requires the Board to obtain competent
independent advice regarding the merits of the Rule 9 Waiver which
is the subject of the Whitewash Resolution. The Directors, having
been so advised by VSA, as the Company's financial adviser,
consider the Proposals to be fair and reasonable and in the best
interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole and
therefore recommend Shareholders to vote in favour of the
Resolution. In giving its advice, VSA has taken account of the
commercial assessments of the Directors.
EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS
2019
Record Date for entitlement under the Open Close of business
Offer on
14 May
Announcement of the Open Offer 15 May
Posting of the circular and, to Qualifying 15 May
non-CREST Shareholders only, the Application
Forms
Ex-entitlement date for the Open Offer 16 May
Open Offer Entitlements and Excess CREST Open 8.00 a.m. on 17
Offer Entitlements credited to stock accounts May
in CREST of Qualifying CREST Shareholders
Latest recommended time and date for requesting 4.30 p.m. on 24
withdrawal of Open Offer Entitlements and May
Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements from
CREST
Latest time for depositing Open Offer Entitlements 3.00 p.m. on 28
and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements into May
CREST
Latest time and date for splitting Application 3.00 p.m. on 29
Forms (to satisfy bona fide market claims) May
Latest time and date for receipt of Forms 11.00 a.m. on 30
of Proxy May
Latest time and date for receipt of completed 11.00 a.m. on 31
Application Forms and payment in full under May
the Open Offer or settlement of relevant CREST
instruction (as appropriate)
General Meeting 11.00 a.m. on 3
June
Announcement of results of Open Offer 7.00 a.m. on 4 June
Admission effective and dealings in the Open 8.00 a.m. on 4 June
Offer Shares expected to commence on AIM
Expected date for crediting of Open Offer 8.00 a.m. on 4 June
Shares in uncertificated form to CREST stock
accounts
Expected date of despatch of share certificates 20 June
in respect of Open Offer Shares in certificated
form
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions apply throughout this announcement
unless the context otherwise requires:
Act means the Companies Act 2006 (as amended)
Admission means the admission to trading on AIM
of the Open Offer Shares to be issued
pursuant to the Open Offer taking place
in accordance with the AIM Rules for Companies
AIM means the market of that name operated
by the London Stock Exchange
AIM Rules for Companies means the AIM Rules for Companies, as
published and amended from time to time
by the London Stock Exchange
AIM Rules for Nominated means the rules for nominated advisers
Advisers to AIM companies, as published and amended
from time to time by the London Stock
Exchange
Alkane means Alkane Energy Limited, a 100% owned
subsidiary of Infinis
Applicant means a Qualifying Shareholder or a person
entitled by virtue of a bona fide market
claim who lodges an Application Form under
the Open Offer
Application Form means the application form which accompanies
the circular for Qualifying non-CREST
Shareholders for use in connection with
the Open Offer
Articles means the existing articles of association
of the Company as at the date of the circular
Board means the board of directors of the Company
from time to time
boe means barrel of oil equivalent
boepd means barrel of oil equivalent per day
Business Day means any day (excluding Saturdays and
Sundays) on which banks are open in London
for normal banking business and the London
Stock Exchange is open for trading
Cantor Fitzgerald means Cantor Fitzgerald Europe of One
Churchill Place
Canary Wharf, London E14 5RB, Nominated
Adviser to the Company
CCSS means the CREST courier and sorting service,
established by Euroclear UK & Ireland
to facilitate, inter alia, the deposit
and withdrawal of certified securities
certificated or certificated means not in uncertificated form
form
Company or Egdon means Egdon Resources plc
CREST means the relevant system for the paperless
settlement of trades and the holding of
uncertificated securities operated by
Euroclear UK & Ireland in accordance with
the CREST Regulations
CREST member means a person who has been admitted by
Euroclear UK & Ireland as a system-member
(as defined in the CREST Regulations)
CREST participant means a person who is, in relation to
CREST, a system participant (as defined
in the CREST Regulations)
CREST payment shall have the meaning given in the CREST
Manual issued by Euroclear UK & Ireland
CREST Regulations means the Uncertified Securities Regulations
2001, as amended
CREST sponsor means a CREST participant admitted to
CREST as a CREST sponsor
CREST sponsored member means a CREST member admitted to CREST
as a sponsored member (which includes
all CREST Personal Members)
Directors means the directors of the Company at
the date of the circular whose names are
set out on page 12 of the circular
Enlarged Share Capital means the issued ordinary share capital
of the Company immediately following Admission
enabled for settlement means in relation to Open Offer Entitlements
or Excess Open Offer Entitlements, enabled
for the limited purpose of settlement
of claim transactions and unmatched stock
event transactions (each as described
in the CREST Manual issued by Euroclear
UK & Ireland)
Euroclear UK & Ireland means Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited,
or Euroclear the operator of CREST
Excess Application Facility means the arrangement pursuant to which
Qualifying Shareholders may apply for
Open Offer Shares in excess of their Open
Offer Entitlement
Excess CREST Open Offer means, in respect of each Qualifying CREST
Entitlement Shareholder, the entitlement to apply
for Open Offer Shares in addition to his
Open Offer Entitlement credited to his
stock account in CREST, pursuant to the
Excess Application Facility, which is
conditional on such shareholder taking
up his Open Offer Entitlement in full
and which may be subject to scaling back
in accordance with the provisions of the
circular
Excess Open Offer Entitlement means an entitlement for each Qualifying
Shareholder to apply to subscribe for
Open Offer Shares in addition to his Open
Offer Entitlement pursuant to the Excess
Application Facility which is conditional
on him taking up his Open Offer Entitlement
in full and which may be subject to scaling
back in accordance with the provisions
of the circular
Excess Shares means Open Offer Shares in addition to
the Open Offer Entitlement for which Qualifying
Shareholders may apply under the Excess
Application Facility
Excluded Territories means the United States, Australia, Canada,
Japan, the Republic of South Africa and
any other jurisdiction where the extension
or availability of the Open Offer would
breach any applicable law or regulations
Existing Ordinary Shares means the existing issued ordinary shares
of 1p each in the capital of the Company
as at the date of the circular
FCA means the Financial Conduct Authority
of the United Kingdom
Form of Proxy means the form of proxy accompanying the
circular for use at the GM
FSMA means the Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000 (as amended)
Fundraising means the Open Offer
GM or General Meeting means the general meeting of the Company
convened for 11.00 a.m. at the offices
of VSA Capital, New Liverpool House, 15-17
Eldon Street, London EC2M 7LD on 3 June
2019 by the Notice of GM and any adjournment
thereof
Group means the Company and its subsidiaries
and subsidiary undertakings
HEYCO means HEYCO Energy Group, Inc.
Independent Shareholders means Shareholders other than HEYCO or
Petrichor
Independent Shares means the Ordinary Shares held by the
Independent Shareholders
Infinis means Infinis Energy Services of First
Floor, 500 Pavilion Drive, Northampton
Business Park, Northampton, NN4 7YJ
IRR means the internal rate of return
ISIN means International Securities Identification
Number
Issue Price means 5 pence per Open Offer Share
Link Asset Services a trading name of Link Registrars Limited
London Stock Exchange means London Stock Exchange plc
Member Account ID means the identification code or number
attached to any member account in CREST
Money Laundering Regulations the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing
and Transfer of Funds (Information on
the Payer) Regulations 2017
Notice of GM means the notice of the GM set out at
the end of the circular
Official List means the Official List of the UK Listing
Authority
Open Offer means the invitation to Qualifying Shareholders
to subscribe for Open Offer Shares at
the Issue Price on the terms of and subject
to the conditions set out or referred
to in Part IV of the circular and, where
relevant, in the Application Form, which
has been underwritten
Open Offer Entitlement means the pro rata basic entitlement for
Qualifying Shareholders to apply to subscribe
for 1 Open Offer Shares for every 6 Existing
Ordinary Shares held by them on the Record
Date pursuant to the Open Offer
Open Offer Shares means the 43,330,803 new Ordinary Shares
for which Qualifying Shareholders are
being invited to apply under the terms
of the Open Offer
Overseas Shareholders means Shareholders who are resident in,
or who are citizens of, or who have registered
addresses in, territories other than the
United Kingdom
Panel or Takeover Panel mean the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers
Participant ID means the identification code or membership
number used in CREST to identify a particular
CREST member or other CREST participant
PEDL means the United Kingdom onshore petroleum
exploration and development licence
Placing Shares has the meaning given to such term on
page 17 of the circular
Petrichor means Petrichor Holdings Coöperatief
U.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of HEYCO
Premier means Premier Oil plc
Proposals means the Open Offer and the Underwriting
Agreement
Prospectus Rules means the rules made by the FCA under
Part VI of FSMA in relation to offers
of transferable securities to the public
and admission of transferable securities
to trading on a regulated market
Qualifying CREST Shareholders means Qualifying Shareholders whose Existing
Ordinary Shares on the register of members
of the Company at the close of business
on the Record Date are held in uncertificated
form
Qualifying non-CREST means Qualifying Shareholders whose Existing
Shareholders Ordinary Shares on the register of members
of the Company at the close of business
on the Record Date are held in certificated
form
Qualifying Shareholders means holders of Existing Ordinary Shares
on the Company's register of members at
the Record Date (other than certain Overseas
Shareholders)
Receiving Agent Neville Registrars, Neville House, Steelpark
Road, Halesowen, West Midlands B62 8HD
Record Date means close of business on 14 May 2019
Registrar means Neville Registrars, Neville House,
Steelpark Road, Halesowen, West Midlands
B62 8HD
Resolution Prospect means the Resolution Gas Discovery field
held under licence P1929
Resolution or Whitewash means the resolution to be proposed at
Resolution the General Meeting as set out in the
Notice of GM
Rule 9 Waiver means the waiver by the Panel of any requirement
under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code for
Petrichor to make a general offer to Shareholders
for the Company
Shareholders means holders of Existing Ordinary Shares
SPA means the sale and purchase agreement
dated 13 July 2018, entered into by Alkane
and Petrichor in respect of Petrichor's
purchase of Alkane's 35,870,487 Ordinary
Shares in the Company
SPA Consideration Per means GBP0.128 per Ordinary Share which
Share Petrichor agreed to pay Alkane for the
35,870,487 Ordinary Shares in the Company
pursuant to the SPA
stock account means an account within a member account
in CREST to which a holding of a particular
share or other security in CREST is credited
subsidiary means a subsidiary undertaking as that
term is defined in the Act
Takeover Code or Code means the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers
uncertificated or uncertificated means recorded on the relevant register
form or other record of the share or other
security concerned as being held in uncertificated
form in CREST, and title to which, by
virtue of the CREST Regulations, may be
transferred by means of CREST
Underwriting Agreement means the agreement dated 15 May 2019,
entered into by Petrichor and the Company
in respect of the underwriting of the
Open Offer
UKLA means the United Kingdom Listing Authority,
being the FCA acting in its capacity as
the competent authority for the purposes
of Part VI of FSMA
United Kingdom or UK means the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland
GBP or Pounds means UK pounds sterling, being the lawful
currency of the United Kingdom
US Securities Act means the United States Securities Act
of 1933, (as amended).
VSA means VSA Capital Limited of New Liverpool
House, 15-17 Eldon Street, London EC2M
7LD, the financial adviser and broker
to the Company
Notes to Editors:
Egdon Resources plc (LSE: EDR) is an established UK-based
exploration and production company focused on onshore exploration
and production in the hydrocarbon-producing basins of the UK.
Egdon holds interests in 44 licences in the UK and has an active
programme of exploration, appraisal and development within its
portfolio of oil and gas assets. Egdon is an approved operator in
the UK.
Egdon was formed in 1997 and listed on AIM in December 2004.
Qualified Person Review
In accordance with the AIM Rules - Note for Mining and Oil and
Gas Companies, this release has been reviewed by Mark Abbott,
Managing Director of Egdon, who is a geoscientist with over 30
years' experience and is a member of the Petroleum Exploration
Society of Great Britain and a Fellow of the Geological Society. Mr
Abbott has consented to the inclusion of the technical information
in this release in the form and context in which it appears.
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by
the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under
the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ("MAR"). Upon the
publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service
("RIS"), this inside information is now considered to be in the
public domain
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the
London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct
Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United
Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution
of this information may apply. For further information, please
contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
END
MSCLELFFKEFEBBV
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