Kelt Closes $90.0 Million Convertible Debenture Financings

CALGARY, AB--(Marketwired - May 03, 2016) -  

THIS NEWS RELEASE MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED IN THE UNITED STATES OR DISSEMINATED OVER UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES

Kelt Exploration Ltd. (TSX: KEL) ("Kelt" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced convertible debenture financing by way of a short form prospectus on a bought deal basis by completing the sale of $75.0 million principal amount of 5.00% convertible subordinated unsecured debentures (the "Debentures") at a price of $1,000 per Debenture (the "Offering"). The Offering was completed through a syndicate of underwriters co-led by Peters & Co. Limited and FirstEnergy Capital Corp. and including National Bank Financial Inc., Cormark Securities Inc., TD Securities Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc., RBC Capital Markets, GMP Securities L.P., Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd., Raymond James Ltd., Scotia Capital Inc., AltaCorp Capital Inc. and BMO Capital Markets.

Kelt is also pleased to announce the completion of its previously announced private placement offering to certain directors, officers and employees of the Company, along with certain other subscribers, on a non-brokered basis, of an additional $15.0 million principal amount of Debentures at a price of $1,000 per Debenture (the "Private Placement"). The Debentures issued in connection with the Private Placement are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus one day from the date of completion of the Private Placement, in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

Net proceeds from the Offering and the Private Placement (collectively, the "Debenture Offerings") will initially be used to pay down existing bank credit facilities and thereafter, for general corporate and working capital purposes.

The Debentures will mature and be repayable on May 31, 2021 (the "Maturity Date") and will accrue interest at the rate of 5.0% per annum payable semi-annually in arrears on May 31st and November 30th of each year (each an "Interest Payment Date"), commencing on November 30, 2016. At the holder's option, the Debentures may be converted into common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") at any time prior to the close of business on the earlier of the business day immediately preceding (i) the Maturity Date, (ii) if called for redemption, the date fixed for redemption by the Company, or (iii) if called for repurchase in the event of a change of control, the payment date, at a conversion price of $5.50 per share, subject to adjustment in certain events (the "Conversion Price"). This represents a conversion rate of approximately 181.8182 Common Shares for each $1,000 principal amount of Debentures, subject to certain anti-dilution provisions. Holders who convert their Debentures will receive, in addition to the applicable number of Common Shares, accrued and unpaid interest in respect thereof for the period up to, but excluding, the date of conversion from, and including, the most recent Interest Payment Date.

The Debentures are direct, subordinated unsecured obligations of the Company, subordinated to any existing and future senior indebtedness of the Company and ranking equally with one another and with all other existing and future subordinated unsecured indebtedness of the Company to the extent subordinated on the same terms.

The Debentures may not be redeemed by the Corporation prior to May 31, 2019 except in certain circumstances following a change of control. On and after May 31, 2019 and prior to May 31, 2020, the Debentures may be redeemed by the Corporation, in whole or in part, from time to time, on not more than 60 days and not less than 40 days prior notice at a redemption price equal to their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, up to but excluding the date set for redemption, provided that the volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") for the 20 consecutive trading days ending five trading days prior to the date on which notice of redemption is provided is at least 125% of the Conversion Price. On or after May 31, 2020 and prior to the Maturity Date, the Debentures may be redeemed by the Corporation, in whole or in part, from time to time, on not more than 60 days and not less than 40 days prior notice at a redemption price equal to their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, up to but excluding the date set for redemption.

It is anticipated that the Debentures will be listed and posted for trading on the TSX under the symbol KEL.DB at the open of markets today.

The Debentures and the Common Shares issuable on conversion thereof, have not and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the Act. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy the Debentures in the United States.

Strategic Property Acquisition

The Company is also pleased to announce that it completed its previously announced acquisition of certain assets in Kelt's core area at Progress, Alberta (the "Progress Acquisition") on April 28, 2016, for cash consideration of $18.8 million, before customary closing adjustments. The Progress Acquisition includes approximately 600 BOE per day of current production (60% light oil), 4,135 net acres of land and infrastructure that is an integral part of Kelt's existing light oil play at Progress.

About Kelt

Kelt is a Calgary, Alberta, Canada-based oil and gas company focused on exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas resources, primarily in west central Alberta and northeastern British Columbia.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements and Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the use of proceeds from the Debenture Offerings and the listing of the Debentures on the TSX.

Although Kelt believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Kelt cannot give any assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses; failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals for planned operations; health, safety and environmental risks; uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; volatility of commodity prices, currency exchange rate fluctuations; imprecision of reserve estimates; and competition from other explorers) as well as general economic conditions, stock market volatility; and the ability to access sufficient capital. We caution that the foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive.

In addition, the reader is cautioned that historical results are not necessarily indicative of future performance. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless expressly required by applicable securities laws.

Measurements

All dollar amounts are referenced in thousands of Canadian dollars, except when noted otherwise. Where amounts are expressed on a barrel of oil equivalent ("BOE") basis, natural gas volumes have been converted to oil equivalence at six thousand cubic feet per barrel and sulphur volumes have been converted to oil equivalence at 0.6 long tons per barrel. The term BOE may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet per barrel is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead and is significantly different than the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas. This conversion factor is an industry accepted norm and is not based on either energy content or current prices. References to oil in this discussion include crude oil and field condensate. References to natural gas liquids ("NGLs") include pentane, butane, propane, and ethane. References to gas in this discussion include natural gas and sulphur. Such abbreviation may be misleading, particulary if used in isolation.

For further information, please contact:

Kelt Exploration Ltd.
Suite 300, 311 - 6^th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 3H2

David J. Wilson
President and Chief Executive Officer
(403) 201-5340

Sadiq H. Lalani
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(403) 215-5310

Or visit our website at www.keltexploration.com