Prairie Provident Resources Inc. (TSX: PPR) ("Prairie Provident" or
the "Company") announces amendments to the terms of the equity
financing and debt settlement components of its previously
announced recapitalization transactions (collectively, the
"Recapitalization").
Pursuant to the amended terms, the Company's
brokered private placement equity offering (the "Equity Financing")
of units ("Units") on a commercially reasonable efforts basis, for
gross proceeds of C$4,000,000, will be conducted at an amended
issue price of C$0.09 per Unit, with each Unit now comprised of one
common share of Prairie Provident ("Common Share") and one whole
Common Share purchase warrant ("Warrant") exercisable at an amended
exercise price of C$0.10 per share. The Warrant term is unchanged
at 60 months from closing. The Equity Financing is being led by
Research Capital Corporation, as the sole agent and sole bookrunner
(the "Agent").
The Company has also agreed with PCEP Canadian
Holdco, LLC (the "Noteholder"), as holder of all the Company's
outstanding subordinated notes (the "Subordinated Notes"), to amend
the price per share at which Common Shares are proposed to be
issued in repayment of all outstanding indebtedness under the
Subordinated Notes (approximately US$52.8 million) (the
"Subordinated Notes Conversion"), to an agreed repayment price of
C$0.14 per share (representing a 56% premium to the amended Unit
offering price, and a 33% increase to the previously agreed
repayment price) based on the new Unit offering price and Warrant
exercise price. The Noteholder is indirectly controlled by the
investment management arm of one of the world's largest financial
institutions, which has over US$1 trillion in assets under
management.
In addition to reduced pricing and an additional
half Warrant per Unit for subscribers to the Equity Financing,
these amended terms offer existing shareholders and new equity
investors a significantly increased stake in the Company, with
existing shareholders and new equity investors retaining
approximately 24% of the Company’s pro forma common shares, an
increase of approximately 27% from the terms originally announced
on March 29, 2023. See "Pro Forma Shareholding Information"
below.
The offering price under the Equity Financing is
positioned as an attractive opportunity for equity investors. Based
on its year-end 2022 reserves data evaluation, the Company's
estimated net present value of future net revenue from
proved plus probable (2P) reserves (NPV10%)(1)
is C$588.8 million, or C$0.676 per share on a pro
forma fully diluted basis assuming completion of the
Recapitalization, and its 2P reserve life index(2) is 20.1 years
(based on estimated 2P reserves and current production levels). The
Company has approximately C$860 million in tax
pools (C$560 million of which are available as tax shelter
against current income) to complement its reserves value. These tax
pools represent significant potential value to the Company and its
shareholders; if all of the pools were immediately deductible, they
could shelter an equivalent amount of the Company's income, thus
representing up to C$0.18 per share in value.
(1) Based on the Company's year-end 2022
independent reserves data evaluation by Sproule Associates Limited,
independent qualified reserves evaluator, effective as of December
31, 2022 and based on forecast prices and costs at the effective
date.
(2) Reserve life index (RLI) is an oil and gas
metric calculated by dividing total company share reserves by
annualized production. RLI provides a summary measure of the
relative magnitude of the Company's reserves through an indication
as to how long they would last based on a current, annualized
production rate and assuming no additions to reserves.
Matthew Shyba and certain other officers and
employees of the Company have advised the Company of their
intention to participate in the Equity Financing alongside other
investors, and have provided an indication of interests for the
aggregate amount of approximately C$700,000 (17.5% of the offering
size) under the Accredited Investor Exemption. Matthew Shyba is
currently one of Prairie Provident's largest shareholders and a
director of the Company since July 2022. The Company welcomes Mr.
Shyba's continued support and his input into refocusing the
business to enhance shareholder value, a key step of which is
completing the Recapitalization.
At the amended offering price of C$0.09 per
Unit, a total of 44,444,444 Units will be offered under the Equity
Financing for gross proceeds of C$4,000,000. A portion of the
total offering will be made in reliance on the 'listed issuer
financing exemption' (LIFE) in Part 5A of National Instrument
45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106") (the "Listed Issuer
Financing Exemption") to purchasers resident in Canada, except
Québec, and/or other qualifying jurisdictions. The balance of the
total offering will be made in reliance on the 'accredited
investor' exemption under Section 2.3 of NI 45-106 (the "Accredited
Investor Exemption") and other available exemptions from the
prospectus requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws, to
eligible purchasers resident in Canada and/or other qualifying
jurisdictions.
Of the total Units offered under the Equity
Financing, up to 31,111,111 Units (approximately C$2,800,000) are
expected to be offered pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing
Exemption, and up to 13,333,333 Units (approximately C$1,200,000)
are expected to be offered pursuant to the Accredited Investor
Exemption and other available prospectus exemptions. Pricing and
other terms will be identical under both exempt offerings.
Units sold pursuant to the Listed Issuer
Financing Exemption (and any Common Shares issued on a future
exercise of the Warrants included in such Units) will not be
subject to any restricted hold period pursuant to applicable
Canadian securities laws. Units sold pursuant to the Accredited
Investor Exemption and other available prospectus exemptions (and
any Common Shares issued on a future exercise of the Warrants
included in such Units) will be subject to a restricted hold period
of four months and one day from the date on which the Units are
issued.
The closing of the Equity Financing is expected
to occur on or about the week of April 26, 2023, or such later or
earlier dates as the Agent and the Company may determine.
The Company will use commercially reasonable
efforts to obtain the necessary approvals to list the Warrants on
the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") upon closing of the Equity
Financing. Listing will be subject to the approval of the TSX in
accordance with its original listing requirements.
Completion of the Equity Financing and the
Subordinated Notes Conversion is subject to receipt of all
necessary approvals of the TSX. In this regard, Prairie Provident
has applied to the TSX for an exemption from shareholder approval
requirements under TSX rules, pursuant to the 'financial hardship'
provisions of the TSX Company Manual. See "TSX Approvals"
below.
Completion of the Subordinated Notes Conversion
also remains conditional upon completion of an offering of new
equity for gross proceeds of at least C$4,000,000.
There is an amended and restated offering
document dated April 11, 2023 related to the LIFE offering that can
be accessed under the Company's issuer profile at www.sedar.com and
on the Company's website at www.ppr.ca. Prospective investors under
the LIFE offering should read this offering document before making
an investment decision.
Further details regarding the Recapitalization
are provided in the Company's news releases dated March 29, 2023
and March 31, 2023.
Pro Forma Shareholding
Information
The following table sets forth information
regarding the total pro forma holdings of Common Shares (undiluted)
of the Noteholder, of subscribers under the Equity Financing, and
of current Prairie Provident shareholders, after completion of the
Recapitalization, based on the assumptions identified therein and
in the notes to the table.
|
Assuming Gross Proceeds of C$4,000,000 under Equity Financing
(1) |
Noteholder per Subordinated Notes Conversion (2) |
71.8%(514 million Common Shares) |
Noteholder per cashless exercise of 34,292,360 outstanding warrants
currently held (the "Warrant Exercise") (3) |
3.8%(27 million Common Shares) |
Noteholder Subtotal |
75.6%(541 million Common Shares) |
Subscribers under Equity Financing |
6.2% (1)(44 million Common Shares) |
TOTAL NEW SHARES(Subordinated Notes Conversion plusWarrant Exercise
plus Equity Financing) |
81.8% (4)(586 million Common Shares) |
EXISTING SHAREHOLDERS |
18.2%(130 million Common Shares) |
Figures may not add due to rounding.
Notes:
(1) Assumes the issuance of 44 million Units at
a price of C$0.09 per Unit (being substantially the same as the
market price of the Common Shares on the TSX at market close on
April 10, 2023 of C$0.0899 per share) for total gross proceeds of
C$4.0 million.
(2) Assumes (i) a repayment price of C$0.14 per
share, (ii) a completion date of April 1, 2023, at which time the
outstanding balance owed under the Subordinated Notes will be
US$52.8 million and (iii) a USD-to-CAD exchange rate of 1.3626.
(3) Assumes a market price of the Common Shares
on the TSX of C$0.0899 per share at the date of completion, which
would result in an 'in-the-money' amount of C$0.0707 per warrant
held by the Noteholder based on the exercise price of C$0.0192 per
share, with the total number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to
the Warrant Exercise being such number of Common Shares as have a
value, based on such market price, equal to the aggregate
in-the-money value of all such warrants.
(4) Represents an increase of 586 million or
approximately 550% in the number of Common Shares outstanding, from
130 million Common Shares outstanding today to 716 million
outstanding after completion of the Subordinated Notes Conversion,
Warrant Exercise and Equity Financing based on the assumptions
described above.
TSX Approvals
Completion of the Equity Financing and the
Subordinated Notes Conversion is subject to receipt of all
necessary approvals of the TSX. In this regard, Prairie Provident
has applied to the TSX for an exemption from shareholder approval
requirements under TSX rules, pursuant to the 'financial hardship'
provisions of the TSX Company Manual. For further information,
please refer to the Company's news release dated March 29,
2023.
Pursuant to TSX rules, the Recapitalization (on
the amended terms described in this news release) would ordinarily
require approval of the Company's disinterested shareholders:
- under section
604(a)(i) of the TSX Company Manual, on the basis that the
Noteholder will, after giving effect to the Subordinated Notes
Conversion and related Warrant Exercise as well as the Equity
Financing, hold more than 20% of the outstanding Common Shares and
the Recapitalization will therefore be considered by TSX to
materially affect control of Prairie Provident;
- under section
604(a)(ii) of the TSX Company Manual, on the basis that (i) the
Noteholder is, by reason of holding warrants pursuant to which it
has the right to acquire more than 10% of the outstanding Common
Shares, an insider of Prairie Provident, and (ii) the Common Shares
issuable to the Noteholder on the Subordinated Notes Conversion and
Warrant Exercise, together with the total interest plus deferred
compensation fee payable to certain affiliates of the Noteholder
over the term of the US$3.64 million principal amount of second
lien notes due December 2024 (the "Second Lien Notes") issued and
sold to such affiliates on March 31, 2023 as part of the
Recapitalization, will provide the Noteholder and such affiliates
with more than 10% of the Company's market capitalization;
- under section
607(g)(i) of the TSX Company Manual, on the basis that (i) the
offering price under the Equity Financing (C$0.09 per Unit) is
deemed under TSX rules to be less than the market price of the
Common Shares because of the included Warrant, and (ii) the number
of new Common Shares issuable pursuant to the Equity Financing
(being at least 44.4 million Common Shares forming part of the
number of Units issuable to raise gross proceeds of not less than
C$4,000,000 plus a further 44.4 million Common Shares potentially
issuable on future exercise of the Warrants forming part of such
Units) will be greater than 25% of the number of Common Shares
currently issued and outstanding on an undiluted basis
(130,116,666);
- under section
607(g)(ii) of the TSX Company Manual, on the basis that (i) the
Noteholder is, by reason of holding warrants pursuant to which it
has the right to acquire more than 10% of the outstanding Common
Shares, an insider of Prairie Provident, and (ii) the total number
of Common Shares issuable to the Noteholder on the Subordinated
Notes Conversion and Warrant Exercise, whether alone or taken
together with any number of Common Shares (including Common Shares
issuable under the Warrants) that any director or officer of the
Company may acquire under the Equity Financing, is greater than 10%
of the number of Common Shares currently outstanding (it being
noted, however, that no director or officer that acquires Common
Shares, including Common Shares issuable under the Warrants, will
individually acquire more than 10% of the outstanding Common
Shares);
- under section
607(g)(ii) of the TSX Company Manual, on the basis that Matthew
Shyba, a current director of Prairie Provident who has provided an
indication of interest for a lead order of C$600,000 under the
Equity Financing might, and any other director or officer of the
Company that participates in the Equity Financing (with up to an
additional C$100,000 to C$200,000 of participation by other
directors or officers contemplated) might, depending on overall
market demand, acquire under the Equity Financing such number of
Common Shares (including Common Shares issuable under the warrants)
as exceeds 10% of the number of Common Shares currently
outstanding;
- under section
607(e) of the TSX Company Manual, on the basis that the 'Adjustment
Right' described in the March 29, 2023 news release1 constitutes an
adjustment for which not all shareholders are compensated, and may
result in securities being issued at a price lower than market
price less the permissible discount under TSX rules; and
- on the basis
that the compensation payable to Agent for its services in respect
of the Equity Financing is higher than general TSX guidelines;
and
- on the basis
that (i) the amended offering price under the Equity Financing of
C$0.09 per Unit was determined prior to public disclosure of the
amended repayment price for the Subordinated Note Conversion of
C$0.14 per share, (ii) TSX would ordinarily in such circumstances
restrict insider participation to maintenance of their pro rata
holding, unless otherwise approved by shareholders, and (iii)
participation by the Noteholder (who is, as a result of holding
warrants, an insider of the Company) in the Recapitalization will,
and participation by any director or officer in the Equity
Financing may, result in such parties increasing their pro rata
holdings of Common Shares.
The TSX is considering the 'financial hardship'
application in connection with its review of the Company's request
for TSX approval of the applicable Recapitalization transactions.
There is no certainty that the TSX will approve such transactions,
or accept the Company's application to rely on the financial
hardship exemption.
A special committee of independent and
disinterested directors (the "Independent Committee") has
considered the terms of the Recapitalization transactions and, in
the circumstances, recommended that the 'financial hardship'
application be made to the TSX. The Independent Committee
determined, and the Board of Directors unanimously agreed, that
Prairie Provident is in serious financial difficulty, and that the
Recapitalization (including, in particular, the Subordinated Notes
Conversion and Equity Financing) is reasonable in the circumstances
and designed to improve the Company's financial situation.
Prairie Provident expects that, as a consequence
of its 'financial hardship' exemption application, the TSX will
place the Company under a remedial delisting review, which is
normal practice when a listed issuer seeks to rely on this
exemption. Although the Company believes that it will be in
compliance with all continued listing requirements of the TSX upon
conclusion of a delisting review, no assurance can be provided as
to the outcome of that review and, therefore, on Prairie
Provident's continued qualification for listing on the TSX.
_____________________________1 As
more particularly described in Prairie Provident's news release of
March 29, 2023, the Company has agreed to enter into an Investor
Rights Agreement and a Registration Rights Agreement with the
Noteholder and certain of its affiliates (the "Holders" for the
purposes of the following) in connection with completion of the
Subordinated Notes Conversion. Pursuant to the Investor Rights
Agreement, among other things, the Holders will, with respect to
the Common Shares issued on the Subordinated Notes Conversion,
receive an anti-dilution adjustment right (the "Adjustment Right")
entitling the Holders to receive, for no additional consideration
and subject to certain exceptions, in the event of Prairie
Provident issuing, within 6 months after completion of the
Subordinated Notes Conversion, Common Shares a price (or securities
convertible or exercisable into Common Shares at a conversion or
exercise price) that is less than the C$0.14 repayment price per
share at which the Subordinated Notes Conversion is completed, such
number of additional Common Shares as (i) reduces the effective
price per share of the Common Shares issued on the Subordinated
Notes Conversion, when taken together with such additional Common
Shares issued for no additional consideration, to such lower price,
or (ii) maintains the Holders' voting interest, whichever number is
the lesser.
ABOUT PRAIRIE PROVIDENT
Prairie Provident is a Calgary-based company
engaged in the exploration, development and production of its low
decline, long life oil reserves in Alberta. The Company is
currently producing oil and gas in western Canada with significant
growth opportunities from a deep inventory of low-risk horizontal
drilling locations and waterflood potential.
For further information, please contact:
Prairie Provident Resources Inc.
Patrick R. McDonaldAdam SmithTel: (403) 292-8150Email:
investor@ppr.ca
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS:
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward‐looking
statements regarding the Equity Financing and other
Recapitalization transactions, and the completion and anticipated
timing of the same. These forward‐looking statements are provided
as of the date of this news release, or the effective date of the
documents referred to in this news release, as applicable, and
reflect predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future
events based on the Company's beliefs at the time the statements
were made, as well as various assumptions made by and information
currently available to Prairie Provident. In making the
forward-looking statements included in this news release, the
Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but
not limited to, the timely receipt of TSX approvals in respect of
the applicable Recapitalization transactions; that all conditions
precedent to the completion of the Recapitalization will be
completed in a timely manner; and that general economic conditions
and commodity price conditions will not change in a materially
adverse manner. Although management considers these assumptions to
be reasonable based on information available to it, they may prove
to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward‐looking statements
involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and
specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections
and other forward‐looking statements will not be achieved or that
assumptions on which they are based do not reflect future
experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these
forward‐looking statements as a number of important factors could
cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the
expectations expressed in them. These risk factors may be generally
stated as the risk that the assumptions expressed above do not
occur, but specifically include, without limitation, risks relating
to: general market conditions; the Company's ability to secure
financing on favourable terms; the failure to receive all
applicable third party and regulatory approvals for the
Recapitalization transactions, and the additional risks described
in the Company's latest Annual Information Form, and other
disclosure documents filed by the Company on SEDAR. The foregoing
list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive.
When relying on our forward‐looking statements, investors and
others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other
uncertainties and potential events. The Company does not undertake
to update any forward‐looking statement, whether written or oral,
that may be made from time to time by the Company or on behalf of
the Company, except as required by law.
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