CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Dec. 9, 2014) -
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Artisan Energy Corporation ("Artisan" or the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE:AEC) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an engagement letter with Integral Capital Markets, a division of Integral Wealth Securities Limited ("Integral"), pursuant to which Integral will offer for sale, on a best efforts private placement basis, up to 15,000,000 common shares of Artisan to be issued on a "flow-through" basis pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act") in respect of Canadian exploration expenses (the "CEE Shares") at an issue price of $0.27 per CEE Share for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $4,050,000 (the "Offering"). In addition, depending on the level of "flow-through" interest indicated, Artisan may also offer additional common shares through Integral to be issued on a "flow-through" basis pursuant to the Tax Act in respect of Canadian development expenses (the "CDE Shares").
It is anticipated that proceeds from the CEE Shares will be used to fund the drilling of qualifying exploration wells in Artisan's core area north of Pembina at its Tomahawk and Chip Lake projects, and will also test a new conventional oil opportunity in certain lands owned 100% by Artisan in southern Alberta. Proceeds from the issuance of the CDE Shares, if any, would be used to fund the drilling of a horizontal well at Artisan's Tomahawk project targeting liquids rich gas in the Wilrich-Fahler formation and / or a horizontal well at Artisan's Chip Lake project targeting light oil in the Rock Creek formation. Artisan's ongoing operational focus is on its Tomahawk and Chip Lake projects which Artisan believes have a combined developmental potential to achieve sustained production in excess of 5,000 boepd (25% oil & NGL's) assuming sufficient access to the necessary development capital.
Closing of the Offering is anticipated to occur on or about December 19, 2014 and is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The gross proceeds from the Offering will be used to incur (by December 31, 2015) and renounce (effective December 31, 2014) Canadian exploration expenses and, if applicable, Canadian development expenses.
The CEE Shares and any CDE Shares will be offered in each of the provinces of Canada other than Quebec. The CEE Shares and any CDE Shares issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus one day from the closing date in accordance with applicable securities legislation.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Advisory
This news release contains forward-looking statements and information ("forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the anticipated size, structure and closing date of the Offering and the use of proceeds therefrom, and the development potential of certain of Artisan's projects. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Artisan's management, including performance of existing and future wells; reserve and resource volumes; anticipated timing and results of capital expenditures; the success obtained in drilling new wells; the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities; the timing, location and extent of future drilling operations; the state of the economy and the exploration and production business; results of operations; the availability and cost of capital, labor and services; the impact of increasing competition; the ability to market oil and natural gas successfully; and entering into an agency agreement regarding the Offering and satisfying all required conditions to the Offering, including obtaining the approval of the TSXV. While Artisan believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements as a result of known and unknown risks. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and Artisan does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.
The term barrels of oil equivalent ("boe") may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. Per boe amounts have been calculated using a conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet (6 mcf) of natural gas to one barrel (1 Bbl) of crude oil. The boe conversion ratio of 6 mcf to 1 Bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.