/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS
RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF UNITED STATES SECURITIES LAW./
CALGARY,
AB, July 29, 2022 /CNW/ - Tenaz Energy Corp.
("Tenaz", "we", "our", "us" or the
"Company") (TSX: TNZ) would like to provide an update
regarding the proposed acquisition of SDX Energy Plc
("SDX").
Earlier today, SDX announced the results of its Meeting of
Shareholders to consider the Scheme of Arrangement (the
"Scheme") to amalgamate Tenaz and SDX. As a percentage of
issued and outstanding SDX shares, 20.2% voted in favor with 21.6%
against the Scheme at the SDX meeting. SDX had earlier announced,
as reflected in a press release by Tenaz on July 18, 2022, that a shareholder group
representing 25.7% of the issued and outstanding shares of SDX
intended to vote against the Scheme. The results of the vote, as
represented by SDX, did not meet the required threshold of 75% of
voted shares in favour of the Scheme.
As of today, approximately 43% of the issued and outstanding
shares of Tenaz had been voted on our Share Issuance Resolution
regarding the proposed combination. Of the voted Tenaz shares,
99.995% were in favor of the resolution. However, based on the
results of the SDX vote, Tenaz will no longer hold its Special
Meeting of Shareholders, which had been scheduled for this
afternoon. Consequently, the Share Issuance Resolution will
not come into effect, and there will be no resulting share
issuance.
As announced on July 18, 2022,
Tenaz had reserved the right to elect to implement the transaction
by way of a Takeover Offer in compliance with UK and Canadian
regulatory requirements. We have completed our evaluation of this
alternative and have determined that it is not in the best
interests of Tenaz shareholders to proceed with a Takeover
Offer.
Although a Takeover Offer may have resulted in the tendering of
a majority of SDX shares, this outcome would not have achieved our
strategic objectives for the combination. Among other factors, our
assessment is that Tenaz's ownership of a simple majority of
shares, rather than owning SDX in its entirety, would result in the
following disadvantages as compared to our original plan:
- It is likely that SDX would continue to exist as a separate
corporate entity with a sizable minority interest. Moreover, unless
and until 75% of the voted shares of SDX would support delisting,
it is highly likely that SDX would have to retain its AIM listing
and remain a publicly-traded company.
- SDX would continue to have significant corporate general and
administrative costs that were part of the targeted cost reductions
by Tenaz had the Scheme become effective. In addition, the Takeover
Offer would have incurred additional transaction costs that can be
better employed by Tenaz in alternative corporate uses.
- Most fundamentally, the resulting acquisition of SDX shares,
despite majority control, would not constitute the type of clean
and meaningful acquisition that we are seeking in our business
model. The magnitude of cost, elapsed time and management focus
required is not warranted by the expected share ownership in SDX in
the event of a successful Takeover Offer.
We appreciate the support of Tenaz shareholders throughout the
SDX transaction process, as evinced by the positive vote in respect
of our Share Issuance Resolution. As a result of the termination of
the acquisition, we will unlock approximately $40 million (including approximately $16 million generated from our recently
established credit facility with ATB Financial) that was held in
escrow for the SDX transaction.
Tenaz will now proceed with an application for a Normal Course
Issuer Bid ("NCIB") program as we announced at the time of
our Q1 2022 report. The NCIB will be subject to acceptance by the
Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") and, if accepted, will be
made in accordance with the applicable rules of the TSX and
Canadian securities laws. Details of the NCIB will be discussed
along with our second quarter results on August 8, 2022. In addition, we continue to
advance value-adding acquisition opportunities and to develop our
Leduc-Woodbend semi-conventional oil asset.
About Tenaz Energy Corp.
Tenaz is an energy company focused on the acquisition and
sustainable development of international oil and gas assets capable
of returning free cash flow to shareholders. In addition, Tenaz
conducts development of a semi-conventional oil project in the Rex
member of the Upper Mannville group at Leduc-Woodbend in central
Alberta.
Forward–looking Information and
Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking
information and statements within the meaning of applicable
securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect",
"anticipate", "budget", "forecast", "continue", "estimate",
"objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should",
"believe", "plans", "intends", "strategy" and similar expressions
are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements.
In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this press
release contains forward-looking information and statements
pertaining to: an NCIB program, potential acquisition opportunities
and development of our Leduc-Woodbend semi-conventional oil
asset.
The forward-looking information and statements contained in
this press release reflect several material factors and
expectations and assumptions of the Company including, without
limitation: satisfaction of all conditions to the transaction and
receipt of all necessary approvals; the performance of the SDX
assets; the continued performance of the Company's oil and gas
properties in a manner consistent with its past experiences; and
the continued availability of adequate debt and equity financing
and cash flow from operations to fund its planned expenditures. The
Company believes the material factors, expectations and assumptions
reflected in the forward-looking information and statements are
reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these factors,
expectations, and assumptions will prove to be correct.
The forward-looking information and statements included in
this press release are not guarantees of future performance and
should not be unduly relied upon. Such information and statements
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from
those anticipated in such forward-looking information or statements
including, without limitation: the ability of management to execute
its business plan or realise anticipated benefits from the
transaction; the risks of not obtaining court, shareholder,
regulatory and other approvals for the transaction; the ability of
management to successfully integrate the SDX's business and assets;
changes in commodity prices; changes in the demand for or supply of
the Company's products; unanticipated operating results or
production declines; changes in tax or environmental laws, royalty
rates or other regulatory matters; changes in development plans of
the Company or by third party operators of the Company's
properties, increased debt levels or debt service requirements;
inaccurate estimation of the Company's oil and gas reserve volumes;
limited, unfavorable or a lack of access to capital markets;
increased costs; a lack of adequate insurance coverage; the impact
of competitors; and certain other risks detailed from time to time
in the Company's public documents.
The forward-looking information and statements contained in
this press release speak only as of the date of this press release,
and the Company does not assume any obligation to publicly update
or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as
may be required pursuant to applicable laws.
SOURCE Tenaz Energy Corp.