Hyperdynamics Signs Agreement for Exclusive Dealing and Letter of Intent With Repsol for Interest in Offshore Guinea Oil and Gas
November 30 2009 - 3:05PM
PR Newswire (US)
SUGAR LAND, Texas, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hyperdynamics
Corporation (NYSE Amex: HDY) today announced it has signed an
agreement for exclusive dealing and letter of intent (the "LOI")
with Spanish-based Repsol YPF, S.A. (BMAD: REP and NYSE: REP) under
which the two companies will negotiate the assignment to Repsol of
a 37 percent interest in Hyperdynamics' oil and gas concession
offshore the Republic of Guinea. The LOI gives Repsol exclusive
negotiating rights to take a 37 percent share in Hyperdynamics'
concession for $31.5 million. Repsol also would be the operator of
the Guinea project, subject to government and third-party approvals
and consents as required. Under the terms of the LOI, the two
companies will work to sign definitive documents no later than
January 31, 2010. The LOI otherwise terminates unless further
extended by both parties. Prior to the execution of definitive
documents as described in the LOI, Repsol has the right to
participate with Hyperdynamics in the evaluation of geological and
geophysical data, subject to licensing obligations with the various
seismic services companies. It also has the right to participate in
the preparation for negotiations with the Ministry of Mines, Energy
and Hydraulics of the Republic of Guinea regarding the terms of the
clarification of the production sharing contract pursuant to the
terms of the Memorandum of Understanding that the Company has
recently entered into with the government. The LOI with Repsol
satisfies the clause in Hyperdynamics' existing LOI with Dana
Petroleum PLC of the U.K. that envisioned Dana's option right to
take up to an additional 27 percent of the concession if
Hyperdynamics did not secure the participation of a major oil
company by November 30, 2009. Ray Leonard, Hyperdynamics President
and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Dana Petroleum and Repsol bring
significant experience to jointly explore our concession in
Northwest Africa, as Dana has led in discoveries made in Morocco
and Mauritania, and Repsol is a partner with Anadarko in the Upper
Cretaceous Venus discovery in Sierra Leone. Repsol and Dana have
successfully partnered in the past on exploration projects in
Northwest Africa. "Assuming we reach definitive agreements with
both Dana and Repsol, Hyperdynamics will retain a 40 percent
working interest in the Guinea concession and will be in a stronger
financial position, with more than $51 million upon the entry into
full legal effect of the production sharing contract clarification
to fund our share of 3D seismic and drilling required during the
exploratory period. We look forward to working with both companies
to explore and develop this large, highly prospective offshore
tract." Spain's largest oil company, Repsol is a fully integrated
oil and gas company that operates in Latin America, the Middle East
and North Africa. The company's exploration program has made
discoveries in recent years offshore Brazil, Venezuela and West
Africa. About Hyperdynamics Hyperdynamics is an emerging
independent oil and gas exploration and production company that is
exploring for oil and gas offshore the Republic of Guinea in West
Africa. To find out more, visit our website at
http://www.hyperdynamics.com/. Forward Looking Statements This news
release and the Company's website referenced in this news release
contain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding
Hyperdynamics Corporation's future plans and expected performance
that are based on assumptions the Company believes to be
reasonable. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise
include the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends",
"projects", "estimates", "plans", "may increase", "may result",
"will result", "may fluctuate" and similar expressions or future or
conditional verbs such as "will", "should", "would", "may" and
"could" are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical
facts. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual
results to differ materially from these statements, including
without limitation, funding and exploration efforts, fluctuations
in oil and gas prices and other risk factors described from time to
time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC, including the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June
30, 2009. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update
these forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
that occur after the issuance of this news release or to reflect
any change in the Company's expectations with respect to these
forward looking statements. HDY-IR Contacts: Dennard Rupp Gray
& Easterly, LLC --------------------------------- Ken Dennard,
Managing Partner Jack Lascar, Partner (713) 529-6600 Anne Pearson,
Sr. Vice President (210) 408-6321 DATASOURCE: Hyperdynamics
Corporation CONTACT: Ken Dennard, Managing Partner, or Jack Lascar,
Partner, +1-713-529-6600, or Anne Pearson, Sr. Vice President,
+1-210-408-6321, all of Dennard Rupp Gray & Easterly, LLC, for
Hyperdynamics Corporation Web Site: http://www.hyperdynamics.com/
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