Rule 2.7 Announcement: Gran Tierra Energy to Acquire i3 Energy plc

2024-08-19

NYSE - New York Stock Exchange · Oil · Natural Gas · Natural Gas Liquids · Canada

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN, INTO OR FROM ANY RESTRICTED JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

THE FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT A PROSPECTUS OR CIRCULAR OR PROSPECTUS OR CIRCULAR EQUIVALENT DOCUMENT AND INVESTORS SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY INVESTMENT DECISION IN RELATION TO THE NEW GRAN TIERRA SHARES EXCEPT ON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMATION IN THE SCHEME DOCUMENT WHICH IS PROPOSED TO BE PUBLISHED IN DUE COURSE.

NEITHER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, NOR THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION OF PROXIES WITHIN THE MEANING OF APPLICABLE CANADIAN SECURITIES LAWS. SHAREHOLDERS ARE NOT BEING ASKED AT THIS TIME TO EXECUTE A PROXY IN FAVOUR OF THE ACQUISITION OR THE MATTERS DESCRIBED HEREIN.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

19 August 2024

Recommended and Final* Cash and Share Acquisition

of

i3 Energy plc ("i3 Energy")

by

Gran Tierra Energy, Inc. ("Gran Tierra")

to be implemented by way of a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006

Summary

The Boards of Gran Tierra and i3 Energy are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended and final* cash and share offer by Gran Tierra for i3 Energy pursuant to which Gran Tierra will acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of i3 Energy (the " Acquisition "), intended to be effected by means of a court sanctioned scheme of arrangement between i3 Energy and the i3 Energy Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act (the " Scheme ").

Under the terms of the Acquisition, each i3 Energy Shareholder will be entitled to receive:

one New Gran Tierra Share per every 207 i3 Energy Shares held; and 10.43 pence cash per i3 Energy Share,

(together, the "Consideration")

In addition, each i3 Energy Shareholder will be entitled to receive:

a cash dividend of 0.2565 pence per i3 Energy Share in lieu of the ordinary dividend in respect of the three month period ending 30 September 2024 (the "Acquisition Dividend")

Following completion of the Acquisition, i3 Energy Shareholders will own up to 16.5 per cent. of Gran Tierra.

Based on Gran Tierra's closing price of US$8.66 per Gran Tierra Share on the NYSE American on 16 August 2024 (being the last Business Day before the Offer Period began), the Acquisition implies a value of 13.92 pence per i3 Energy Share and approximately £174.1 million (US$225.4 million) for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of i3 Energy which represents:

(a) a premium of 49.0 per cent. to the Closing Price of 9.34 pence per i3 Energy Share on 16 August 2024;

(b) a premium of 49.7 per cent. to the volume weighted average price of 9.30 pence per i3 Energy Share for the 30-day period ended 16 August 2024;

(c) a premium of 43.6 per cent. to the volume weighted average price of 9.70 pence per i3 Energy Share for the 60-day period ended 16 August 2024; and

(d) a premium of 37.5 per cent. to the volume weighted average price of 10.12 pence per i3 Energy Share for the 180-day period ended 16 August 2024.

A Mix and Match Facility will also be made available to i3 Energy Shareholders in order to enable them to elect, subject to off-setting elections, to vary the proportions in which they receive cash and New Gran Tierra Shares to be issued. The maximum aggregate amount of cash to be paid and New Gran Tierra Shares to be issued under the terms of the Acquisition will not be varied or increased as a result of elections under the Mix and Match Facility, in accordance with Gran Tierra’s no increase statement made in accordance with Rule 32.2 of the Takeover Code. Gran Tierra reserves the right to scale back elections made for the New Gran Tierra Shares pursuant to the Mix and Match Facility if the issuance of such New Gran Tierra Shares would result in any i3 Energy Shareholder holding 10% or more of Gran Tierra's issued share capital (on a non-diluted basis) following completion of the Acquisition.

If any dividend, distribution or other return of value in respect of the i3 Energy Shares other than the Acquisition Dividend is declared, paid, made or becomes payable on or after the date of this Announcement and prior to the Effective Date, Gran Tierra will reduce the cash consideration payable for each i3 Energy Share under the terms of the Acquisition by the amount per i3 Energy Share of such dividend, distribution or other return of value. Any exercise by Gran Tierra of its rights referred to in this paragraph shall be the subject of an announcement. In such circumstances, i3 Energy Shareholders would be entitled to receive and retain any such dividend, distribution or other return of value, which has been declared, made or paid or which becomes payable.

It is intended that, immediately following completion of the Acquisition, Gran Tierra will transfer the entire issued share capital of i3 Energy to its wholly owned, indirect subsidiary, Gran Tierra EIH. Gran Tierra EIH is the holding entity for Gran Tierra's Colombian assets.

Following completion of the Acquisition, it is expected that the i3 Energy Shares will be cancelled from trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and delisted from the TSX and that Gran Tierra will, subject to Canadian Securities Laws, apply to have i3 Energy cease to be a reporting issuer in all jurisdictions of Canada in which it is a reporting issuer.

No Increase Statement

Gran Tierra considers the financial terms of the Acquisition comprising 10.43 pence per i3 Energy Share in cash, one new Gran Tierra Share per every 207 i3 Energy Share held, and the payment of the 0.2565 pence per i3 Energy Share Acquisition Dividend to be full and fair and therefore that the financial terms of the Acquisition will not be increased in accordance with Rule 32.2 of the Takeover Code. Under Rule 35.1 of the Takeover Code, if the Acquisition lapses, except with the consent of the Panel, Gran Tierra will not be able to make an offer for i3 Energy for at least 12 months.

Gran Tierra reserves the right to revise the financial terms of the Acquisition in the event: (i) a third party, other than Gran Tierra, announces a firm intention to make an offer for i3 Energy on more favourable terms than Gran Tierra’s Acquisition; or (ii) the Panel otherwise provides its consent.

Background to and reasons for the Acquisition

Over the last five years, Gran Tierra has looked to diversify into specific oil and gas basins where it is confident it can create shareholder value focused on operated, high-quality assets with large resources in place and access to infrastructure. The Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (“ WCSB ”) being one of the basins on Gran Tierra’s priority list. The majority of the Gran Tierra team has worked in the WCSB and, with its headquarters located in Calgary, is well positioned to do so again.

Gran Tierra believes that the Acquisition offers significant benefits to both companies and their respective shareholders, including the following:

A business with increased scale and relevance: The Acquisition will create an independent energy company of scale in the Americas with significant production, reserves, cash flows and development optionality. This increased scale is expected to facilitate access to capital, allow for optimised capital allocation, enhance shareholder returns and increase relevance to investors: i3 Energy has guided to 2024 working interest production of 18,000 to 19,000 BOEPD from its Canadian assets with exit rate guidance of 20,250 – 21,250 BOEPD and Gran Tierra has announced 2024 guidance production of 32,000 to 35,000 BOPD (100 per cent. oil). i3 Energy has 1P working interest reserves of 88 MMBOE as at 31 July 2024 and Gran Tierra had 1P working interest reserves of 90 MMBOE as at 31 December 2023. i3 Energy has 2P working interest reserves of 175 MMBOE as at 31 July 2024 and Gran Tierra had 2P working interest reserves of 147 MMBOE as at 31 December 2023. i3 Energy has an independently valued 2P net present value discounted at 10 per cent. (" NPV10 ") (after tax) of C$994 million (approximately US$725 million) as at 31 July 2024 and Gran Tierra has an independently valued 2P NPV10 (after tax) of US$1.9 billion as at 31 December 2023. On a 1P (after tax) basis, i3 Energy’s NPV10 is C$469 million (approximately US$342 million) and Gran Tierra’s NPV10 is US$1.3 billion. i3 Energy has announced full year 2024 EBITDA guidance of US$50 – 55 million after considering hedges and Gran Tierra has announced full year 2024 EBITDA guidance of US$335 – US$395 million in its low case (at US$70/bbl Brent oil pricing), US$400 – US$460 million in its base case (at US$80/bbl Brent oil pricing), and US$480 – US$540 million in its high case (at US$90/bbl Brent oil pricing). i3 Energy has over 250 net booked drilling locations (374 gross booked drilling locations) associated with 2P reserves which, coupled with Gran Tierra’s substantial booked reserves, recent exploration discoveries and significant prospective acreage across Colombia and Ecuador, provides development and exploration upside potential to shareholders.

Increased diversity across geographies and product streams: The Acquisition will create a more diverse international energy company operating across the Americas in regions with substantial oil and gas production, well-established regulatory regimes, stable contracts, access to markets and attractive fiscal terms. The Combined Group will offer a more diversified proposition to both i3 Energy Shareholders and Gran Tierra shareholders. Gran Tierra's and i3 Energy's Q2 2024 production imply an approximate geographic split of 62 per cent. Colombia, 36 per cent. Canada, and 3 per cent. Ecuador for the Combined Group, with a commodity mix of 81 per cent. liquids and 19 per cent. natural gas. The addition of new geographies and commodities, along with the exposure to an investment grade country, is expected to benefit the Combined Group in terms of increased development optionality, risk diversification and credit profile. The Combined Group would have approximately 1.4 million net acres in Colombia, 138 thousand net acres in Ecuador and 584 thousand net acres in Canada including 298 thousand net acres in Central Alberta, 102 thousand net acres in Wapiti/Elmworth, 50 thousand net acres in Simonette, and 69 thousand net acres in North Alberta (Clearwater). Optimised capital allocation and investment: The Combined Group will have exposure to high return projects across Canada, Colombia and Ecuador, enabling capital allocation and investment across the portfolio to be optimised, using Gran Tierra’s balance sheet strength to accelerate production and cash flow growth from i3 Energy’s 250 net booked drilling locations associated with 2P reserves and additional unbooked Canadian drilling locations and Gran Tierra’s high-impact exploration and low decline oil assets currently under waterflood. Gran Tierra further believes that the strength of the Combined Group will provide an excellent platform for future consolidation, both in Canada and internationally, with significant management expertise, free cash flow, a strong balance sheet and borrowing base potential. Balance sheet strength: Gran Tierra has a strong balance sheet and ample liquidity to fund growth projects and shareholder returns. As of 30 June 2024, Gran Tierra had twelve month trailing net debt to adjusted EBITDA of 1.3x and a cash balance of US$115 million. Approximately 70 per cent. of Gran Tierra's debt is due in 2028 and 2029. The addition of i3 Energy’s production and cash flows would enhance Gran Tierra’s balance sheet and enable accelerated investment and shareholder returns. i3 Energy’s assets would add production, cash flows, reserves and a diversified drilling inventory in an investment grade country, Gran Tierra expects this enhanced scale and diversity to provide enhancements to the credit profile of the business and, ultimately, lower its cost of capital. As at 30 June 2024 i3 Energy had zero debt and a C$75 million undrawn credit facility. Increased trading liquidity and investor access: Gran Tierra maintains a primary listing on the NYSE American, where it trades significant volume, with additional listings on the London Stock Exchange and the TSX. With i3 Energy Shareholders expected to own up to 16.5 per cent. of Gran Tierra on completion of the Acquisition, the Acquisition is expected to provide enhanced trading liquidity for the Combined Group's shareholders across exchanges and provide continuity of trading venues for i3 Energy Shareholders. Additionally, with increased scale, Gran Tierra expects to be increasingly relevant to a larger pool of international equity and credit investors, with the potential for this to have further benefits in terms of trading liquidity and valuation multiple expansion. Cash return for i3 Energy Shareholders with upside potential: Gran Tierra’s offer provides i3 Energy Shareholders with a significant premium, in cash, to the current value of their holdings with material upside potential through equity ownership of the Combined Group. Gran Tierra intends to use the Combined Group's scale and enhanced financial capacity to accelerate development of i3 Energy’s Canadian assets as well as Gran Tierra's existing Colombian and Ecuadorian assets and expects this to provide meaningful long-term returns to shareholders of the Combined Group. Since 1 January 2023 Gran Tierra has purchased approximately 11 per cent. of its Gran Tierra Shares outstanding from free cash flow.

Recommendation and irrevocable undertakings

The i3 Energy Directors, who have been so advised by Zeus Capital as to the financial terms of the Acquisition, consider the terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice to the i3 Energy Directors, Zeus Capital has taken into account the commercial assessments of the i3 Energy Directors. In addition, the i3 Energy Directors consider the terms of the Acquisition to be in the best interests of the i3 Energy Shareholders as a whole. Zeus Capital is providing independent financial advice to the i3 Energy Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.

Accordingly, the i3 Energy Directors intend to recommend unanimously that the i3 Energy Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolutions to be proposed at the i3 Energy General Meeting as those i3 Energy Directors who hold i3 Energy Shares have irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings of in aggregate 32,139,532 i3 Energy Shares representing approximately 2.7 per cent. of the existing issued ordinary share capital of i3 Energy on the Last Practicable Date (excluding any i3 Energy Shares held in treasury).

Gran Tierra has also received irrevocable undertakings to vote (or, in relation to the i3 Energy CFDs, to use best endeavours to procure votes) in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolutions to be proposed at the i3 Energy General Meeting from the Polus Funds and Graham Heath in respect of a total of 238,537,465 i3 Energy Shares and 118,006,332 i3 Energy CFDs, which represent, in aggregate, approximately 19.84 per cent. and 9.81 per cent. respectively, of i3 Energy's existing issued ordinary share capital on the Last Practicable Date (excluding any i3 Energy Shares held in treasury). Therefore, the total number of i3 Energy Shares and i3 Energy CFDs that are subject to irrevocable undertakings received by Gran Tierra from the Polus Funds and Graham Heath is 356,543,797 i3 Energy Shares and i3 Energy CFDs, representing in aggregate approximately 29.65 per cent. of i3 Energy's existing issued ordinary share capital on the Last Practicable Date (excluding any i3 Energy Shares held in treasury).

Therefore, Gran Tierra has received irrevocable undertakings to vote (or, in relation to the i3 Energy CFDs, to use best endeavours to procure votes) in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolutions to be proposed at the i3 Energy General Meeting from holders of 270,676,997 i3 Energy Shares and 118,006,332 i3 Energy CFDs, which represent, in aggregate, approximately 22.51 per cent. and 9.81 per cent. respectively, of i3 Energy's existing issued ordinary share capital on the Last Practicable Date (excluding any i3 Energy Shares held in treasury). The total number of i3 Energy Shares and i3 Energy CFDs that are subject to irrevocable undertakings received by Gran Tierra is 388,683,329 i3 Energy Shares and i3 Energy CFDs, representing in aggregate approximately 32.32 per cent. of i3 Energy's existing issued ordinary share capital on the Last Practicable Date (excluding any i3 Energy Shares held in treasury).

Transaction Structure and Timetable

It is intended that the Acquisition will be implemented by way of a court sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act, further details of which are contained in the full text of this Announcement and full details of which will be set out in the Scheme Document to be published by i3 Energy in due course. However, Gran Tierra reserves the right, with the consent of the Panel, to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer.

The Acquisition will be subject to the Conditions and certain further terms set out in Appendix ‎1 to this Announcement and to the full terms and conditions which will be set out in the Scheme Document, including the approval of the Scheme by the i3 Energy Shareholders, the sanction of the Scheme by the Court, the satisfaction of the NSTA Condition, the Minority Shareholder Protection Condition and the Competition Act Condition, and the approval of the TSX.

The Scheme Document will include full details of the Scheme, together with notices of the Court Meeting and the i3 Energy General Meeting and the expected timetable of principal events, and will specify the action to be taken by i3 Energy Shareholders. It is expected that the Scheme Document, together with the Forms of Proxy and Forms of Election (and/or where required, Letters of Transmittal) in relation to the Mix and Match Facility, will be published as soon as practicable and in any event within 28 days of the date of this Announcement (or such later date as may be agreed by Gran Tierra and i3 Energy with the consent of the Panel).

The Scheme is expected to become effective in Q4 2024, subject to the satisfaction or, where permitted, waiver of the Conditions and certain further terms set out in Appendix ‎1 to this Announcement.

Comments on the Acquisition

Commenting on the Acquisition, Gary Guidry, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gran Tierra said:

"We are thrilled to announce this acquisition, which marks a significant milestone in diversifying our portfolio while strengthening our asset base. By integrating these high-quality, operated assets, including low-decline production, large resources in place and a substantial land base, we are not only enhancing our asset base but also aligning with our long-term strategic vision. We are excited to welcome the talented Canadian team to our company, as their expertise and dedication will be invaluable in driving our continued success. This acquisition is a testament to our commitment to sustainable and profitable growth and delivering consistent value to our shareholders."

Commenting on the Acquisition, Majid Shafiq, Chief Executive Officer of i3 Energy, said:

“We believe that the Acquisition presents an exceptional opportunity for i3 Energy's Shareholders. The Acquisition represents the culmination of a thorough process to realise the maximum value available for shareholders and offers significant upside potential; it expedites the realisation of fair value, with a cash premium and incremental upside through continued ownership in the Combined Group, without necessitating additional capital investment, time, or operational risk. This business combination will significantly enhance scale, thereby improving capacity to drive growth, production, and cash flows for the benefit of all shareholders and local stakeholders.”