RNS Number : 3342B
Xcite Energy Limited
16 June 2016
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN, INTO
OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH
JURISDICTION
LSE-AIM: XEL
16 June 2016
Xcite Energy Limited
("Xcite Energy" or the "Company")
Summons to Bondholders' Meeting
Xcite Energy announces that Nordic Trustee ASA (the "Bond Trustee"), which acts as trustee for the
holders (the "Bondholders") of the $135 million senior secured bonds (the "Bonds") issued by Xcite Energy Resources plc (formerly
Xcite Energy Resources Limited, the "Issuer") has issued a summons (the "Summons") to a Bondholders' Meeting to be held on 30
June 2016 at the offices of Nordic Trustee ASA, 6th floor, Haakon VIIs gt 1, 0160 Oslo.
As announced in our full year results for the ended 31 December 2015 on 21 March 2016, the Company
has been in discussions with its principal Bondholders with respect to a potential restructuring of the Bonds. While those
negotiations have been constructive, no terms have yet been agreed. However, should agreement on the terms of a
restructuring be reached, it is likely that these will involve a reduction to the balance of the Bonds in return for an equity
stake in the Company.
In order to continue these negotiations and to allow it to resolve terms for restructuring the
Bonds, the Issuer has requested a short-term extension to the maturity date of the Bonds, which is currently 30 June 2016, to 30
September 2016 (the "Maturity Date Extension").
In light of the above negotiations and an extension of the bond maturity to 30 September 2016, the
Issuer is agreeing to amendments to the bond agreement dated 27 June 2014 (as amended and/or restated from time to time) and made
between the Issuer, the Company and the Bond Trustee (the "Bond Agreement") such that an event of default would occur under
Clause 15.1 of the Bond Agreement in the event that (i) the constitutional documents of the Issuer or the Company were to be
amended (save for amendments approved by a Bondholders' Meeting or by a written resolution of the Bondholders); (ii) the
shareholder rights plan agreement dated 30 November 2010 between the Company and Computershare Investor Services Inc. (as amended
prior to the date of the Summons) were to be amended, extended or replaced with any similar or analogous agreement; or (iii) any
options, warrants or other rights to purchase, subscribe for or acquire any of the shares in the Issuer or the Company were to be
granted to any person other than an issuance of shares in the Company for cash at or in excess of fair market value.
Finally, the Issuer is also requesting amendments to the Bond Agreement to (i) reduce the notice
period for a Bondholders' Meeting from ten business days to five business days; (ii) allow a written resolution procedure to be
used in lieu of a Bondholders' Meeting, to simplify and speed up the voting process for Bondholders when the terms of a
restructuring are agreed and are presented to the Bondholders; and (iii) effect a staged reduction in the figure for the minimum
cash balance undertaking during the period of the Maturity Date Extension such that the balance on the Group balance sheet shall
be equal to or higher than a particular stated balance at the end of each calendar month.
The Issuer also agrees that if the amendments to the Bond Agreement are approved, it will continue
to make interest payments in respect of the Bonds when they become due under Clause 9.2 of the Bond Agreement during the period
of the Maturity Date Extension, with the next interest payment dates falling on 30 June 2016 and 30 September 2016. From
(and excluding) 30 June 2016, PIK interest will accrue and be paid in cash or in kind (at the Issuer's discretion) on each
interest payment date, and any PIK interest paid in kind will be compounded on a quarterly basis on each interest payment
date. Should the Issuer fail to make any interest payments due under the Bond Agreement during the period of the Maturity
Date Extension, it will constitute an immediate event of default under the Bond Agreement.
In consideration for, and as a condition to, the Bondholders' Meeting approving the amendments to
the Bond Agreement, the Issuer is required to pay a consent fee to the Bondholders comprising an amount equal to 1% of the
principal amount of the Outstanding Bonds as at 30 June 2016 (the "Consent Fee"), payable in cash or through the issue of
additional Bonds to the Bondholders (at the Issuer's election). Should the Issuer fail to pay all or part of the Consent
Fee, it will constitute an immediate event of default under the Bond Agreement.
Bondholders holding in excess of 93% of the outstanding Bonds have indicated their support for the
proposed amendments. Notice of the results of the Bondholders' Meeting is expected to be released following the
Bondholders' Meeting on 30 June 2016.
Shareholders will be notified of the date of the Company's Annual General Meeting in due
course.
The Summons can be found on the Xcite Energy Resources plc section of the Company's website
www.xcite-energy.com.
ENQUIRIES:
Xcite Energy Limited
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+44 (0) 1483 549 063
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Rupert Cole / Andrew Fairclough
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Liberum (Joint Broker and Nomad)
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+44 (0) 203 100 2222
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Clayton Bush / Jamie Richards
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Morgan Stanley (Joint Broker)
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+44 (0) 207 425 8000
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Andrew Foster
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Bell Pottinger
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+44 (0) 203 772 2500
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Henry Lerwill
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Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to the usual risk
factors and uncertainties associated with the oil and gas exploration and production business. Whilst the Company believes the
expectations reflected herein to be reasonable in light of the information available to it at this time, the actual outcome may
be materially different owing to factors beyond the Company's control, or otherwise within the Company's control, for example, if
the Company decides on a change of plan or strategy. Accordingly, no reliance may be placed on the figures contained in such
forward-looking statements.
Notes to Editors
Xcite Energy (LSE-AIM: XEL) is an oil appraisal and development company with a portfolio of heavy
oilfield assets in the Northern North Sea in the UK. Xcite Energy holds a 100% working interest in the Bentley field; a heavy oil
field with 2P recoverable reserves of 267 MMstb, making Bentley one of the largest undeveloped oilfields in the UK Continental
Shelf.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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