Isramco, Inc. (NASDAQ CM: ISRL) (the “Company,” “Isramco,” “we” or
“our”) announced today that it has signed a definitive merger
agreement with Naphtha Israel Petroleum Corporation Ltd.
(“Naphtha”), Naphtha Holding Ltd. (“NHL”), I.O.C. – Israel Oil
Company, LTD. (“IOC”) and Naphtha US Oil, Inc. (each a wholly owned
subsidiary of Naphtha, and, together with Naphtha, the “Naphtha
Group”), pursuant to which the Naphtha Group will acquire all of
the common stock of Isramco issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the effective time of the merger. The holders of the
Company’s outstanding shares of common stock will receive US
$121.40 per share in cash, other than (i) the shares owned by NHL
or IOC, (ii) the shares held by Isramco as treasury stock and (iii)
the shares in respect of which appraisal rights have been properly
and validly exercised under Delaware law.
The US $121.40 per share price represents a premium of
approximately 10% over the US $110.36 purchase price per share
initially offered by Naphtha and a premium of approximately 4.4%
over the 30 trading-day average price of the Company’s common stock
as of May 17, 2019. Mr. Haim Tsuff, who through various entities
controls Naphtha, beneficially owns approximately 73.0% of the
outstanding common stock of Isramco.
The Company’s Board of Directors, acting on the unanimous
recommendation of the special committee formed by the Board of
Directors (the “Special Committee”), approved the merger agreement
and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement and
resolved to recommend that the Company’s stockholders adopt the
merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement. The Special Committee, which is comprised solely of
independent and disinterested directors of the Company who are
unaffiliated with the Naphtha Group or management of the Company,
exclusively negotiated the terms of the merger agreement with the
Naphtha Group, with the assistance of its independent financial and
legal advisors.
Upon closing of the merger, Isramco will become an indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of Naphtha. Isramco is expected to remain
headquartered in Houston, Texas. The merger is subject to approval
by Isramco’s stockholders, including a non-waivable condition
requiring approval by the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Isramco common stock that are not beneficially owned by
the members of the Naphtha Group or certain senior executive
officers of the Company, as well as certain other customary closing
conditions. The merger is not subject to a financing condition. The
Company will call a meeting of stockholders for the purpose of
voting on the adoption of the merger agreement in due course. If
completed, the merger will result in the Company becoming a
privately held company and Isramco’s common stock would no longer
be listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market.
Duff & Phelps, LLC is serving as sole financial advisor to
the Special Committee and Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP is serving
as legal counsel to the Special Committee. Baker Botts L.L.P. is
serving as U.S. legal counsel to the Naphtha Group.
About Naphtha
Naphtha is an Israeli public company, whose shares are listed
for trading on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange (TLV:NFTA). Naphtha
engages primarily, through its subsidiaries, in exploration,
development and production of oil & gas: offshore Israel and
onshore US. Naphtha also is engaged in the field of commercial
real-estate and hotel management, in Israel and in Europe.
About Isramco
Isramco, Inc. (NASDAQ CM: ISRL) is an independent oil and
natural gas company engaged in the exploration, development and
production of oil and natural gas properties located onshore in the
United States and ownership of various royalty interests in oil and
gas concessions located offshore Israel. The Company also operates
a well service company that provides well maintenance, workover
services, well completion and recompletion services. The Company
also operates a production services company that provides a full
range of onshore production services U.S. oil and gas producers and
a transportation company providing transport of liquefied petroleum
products.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in
respect of the proposed acquisition of Isramco by the Naptha Group
and their respective affiliates. In connection with the proposed
merger, Isramco will file with the SEC and furnish to Isramco’s
stockholders a proxy statement and other relevant documents. This
communication does not constitute a solicitation of any vote or
approval. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, ISRAMCO’S STOCKHOLDERS
ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT
BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC
IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
IN THE PROXY STATEMENT BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER.
Investors will be able to obtain a free copy of the proxy
statement, when available, and other relevant documents filed by
Isramco with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In
addition, investors may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement,
when available, and other relevant documents from Isramco’s website
at www.isramcousa.com or by directing a request to Isramco, Inc.,
Attn: Chief Financial Officer, 1001 West Loop South, Suite 750,
Houston, Texas 77027 or by calling (713) 621-3882.
Participants in the Solicitation
Isramco and its directors, executive officers and certain other
members of management and employees of Isramco may be deemed to be
“participants” in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders
of Isramco in connection with the proposed merger. Information
regarding the interests of the persons who may, under the rules of
the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the
stockholders of Isramco in connection with the proposed merger,
which may be different than those of Isramco’s stockholders
generally, will be set forth in the proxy statement and the other
relevant documents to be filed with the SEC. Stockholders can find
information about Isramco and its directors and executive officers
and their ownership of Isramco’s Common Stock in Isramco’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 18, 2019, and
amended on April 30, 2019, and additional information about the
ownership of Isramco’s Common Stock by Isramco’s directors and
executive officers is included in their Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed with
the SEC.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains certain forward-looking statements
that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. This
communication contains forward-looking statements related to
Isramco, the Naphtha Group and the proposed acquisition of Isramco
by the Naphtha Group and their respective affiliates. Actual
results and events in future periods may differ materially from
those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements
because of a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors. All
statements other than statements of historical fact, including
statements containing the words “aim,” “anticipate,” “are
confident,” “estimate,” “expect,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will
likely result,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” and other
words and terms of similar meaning, or the negative of these terms,
are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements.
Risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited
to: (i) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances
that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement;
(ii) the inability to complete the proposed merger due to the
failure to obtain stockholder approval for the proposed merger or
the failure to satisfy other conditions to completion of the
proposed merger; (iii) the failure of the proposed merger to close
for any other reason; (iv) risks related to disruption of
management’s attention from Isramco’s ongoing business operations
due to the transaction; (v) the outcome of any legal proceedings,
regulatory proceedings or enforcement matters that may be
instituted against Isramco and others relating to the merger
agreement; (vi) the risk that the pendency of the proposed merger
disrupts current plans and operations and the potential
difficulties in employee retention as a result of the pendency of
the proposed merger; (vii) the effect of the announcement of the
proposed merger on Isramco’s relationships with its customers,
operating results and business generally; and (viii) the amount of
the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the proposed
merger. Consider these factors carefully in evaluating the
forward-looking statements. Additional factors that may cause
results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements are set forth in Isramco’s Annual Report
on Form 10–K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, filed
with the SEC on March 18, 2019, and amended on April 30, 2019,
under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and in subsequently
filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form
8-K. The forward-looking statements represent Isramco’s views as of
the date on which such statements were made and Isramco undertakes
no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking
statements.
CONTACTEdy FrancisCo-Chief
Executive Officer /Chief Financial OfficerIsramco, Inc.
713-621-3882
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