Gran Tierra Energy Inc. Announces Private Offering of an Additional Amount of its 9.500% Senior Secured Amortizing Notes due 2029

Rhea-AI Summary

Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (NYSE American:GTE) (TSX:GTE) (LSE:GTE) has announced its intention to offer additional 9.500% Senior Secured Amortizing Notes due 2029, subject to market conditions. This private placement will be made to qualified institutional buyers in the US, non-US persons outside the US, and certain exempt buyers in Canada. The new Notes will have the same terms as the US$587,590,000 aggregate principal amount of Original Notes currently outstanding, except for the issue date and price.

The Notes will be guaranteed by certain Gran Tierra subsidiaries. The company plans to use the net proceeds to finance the cash portion of the proposed acquisition of i3 Energy plc, with any remaining funds allocated for general corporate purposes, including exploration development, debt repayment, working capital, or acquisitions.

Positive

• Potential expansion of capital through additional note offering
• Planned acquisition of i3 Energy plc, indicating growth strategy
• Flexibility in use of remaining proceeds for various corporate purposes

Negative

• Increase in debt obligations with additional 9.500% Senior Secured Amortizing Notes
• Potential dilution of shareholder value due to new debt issuance
• Market and conditions-dependent offering, indicating uncertainty

Insights

Financial Analyst

Gran Tierra Energy's decision to offer additional 9.500% Senior Secured Amortizing Notes due 2029 is a significant move that could impact its financial structure. The high interest rate of 9.500% suggests the company is willing to pay a premium for capital, potentially indicating urgent funding needs or access to cheaper financing options.

The intended use of proceeds for the proposed acquisition of i3 Energy plc signals an aggressive growth strategy. This expansion could diversify Gran Tierra's portfolio but also increase its debt load. Investors should closely monitor the debt-to-equity ratio and interest coverage ratios post-acquisition to assess the company's financial health.

The private placement to qualified institutional buyers might limit retail investor participation but could provide Gran Tierra with more flexible terms compared to a public offering. Overall, this move could be a double-edged sword, potentially fueling growth but also increasing financial risk.

Oil & Gas Industry Expert

Gran Tierra's pursuit of i3 Energy plc marks a strategic shift in its operations. i3 Energy has assets in the UK North Sea and Canada, which could significantly diversify Gran Tierra's portfolio beyond its current focus on Colombia and Ecuador. This geographical expansion could help mitigate geopolitical risks associated with South American operations.

However, the integration challenges of merging two companies with different operational focuses shouldn't be underestimated. The success of this acquisition will largely depend on Gran Tierra's ability to efficiently manage and develop i3 Energy's assets, particularly in the North Sea, where operating conditions differ significantly from Gran Tierra's expertise in onshore South American fields.

The move also signals Gran Tierra's ambition to scale up in the industry, potentially positioning it as a more significant player in the global oil and gas market. This could enhance its bargaining power and open doors to larger projects in the future.

Market Risk Analyst

The additional note offering by Gran Tierra Energy presents several risk factors for investors to consider. Firstly, the high yield of 9.500% suggests a significant risk premium, reflecting the market's perception of the company's credit quality and the inherent risks in the oil and gas sector.

The proposed acquisition of i3 Energy plc introduces integration risk and potential challenges in managing a more geographically diverse portfolio. While diversification can mitigate some risks, it also exposes Gran Tierra to new market dynamics and regulatory environments.

Moreover, the increased debt load could make Gran Tierra more vulnerable to oil price volatility. If oil prices decline, the company might face difficulties in servicing its higher debt obligations. Investors should carefully assess Gran Tierra's ability to generate sufficient cash flow to cover interest payments and principal amortization, especially in a potentially volatile commodity price environment.

CALGARY, Alberta, Sept. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (“Gran Tierra” or the “Company”) (NYSE American:GTE) (TSX:GTE) (LSE:GTE) today announced that it intends, subject to market and other conditions, to offer an additional amount of its previously issued 9.500% Senior Secured Amortizing Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) in a private placement to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in the United States pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), to non-U.S. persons in transactions outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act, and pursuant to certain prospectus exemptions in Canada.

Gran Tierra currently has outstanding US$587,590,000 aggregate principal amount of 9.500% Senior Secured Amortizing Notes due 2029 (the “Original Notes”). The Notes will have the same terms and provisions as the Original Notes, except for the issue date and the issue price, and will form the same series as the Original Notes, including with respect to interest payments. Upon settlement, the Notes are expected to trade under the same CUSIP number as the Original Notes, except that the Notes sold pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act will have a different CUSIP number than the Original Notes until 40 days after the issue date of the Notes.

The Notes will be guaranteed by certain subsidiaries of Gran Tierra. Gran Tierra intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to finance the cash portion of the consideration payable for the shares under the terms of the proposed acquisition of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of i3 Energy plc, a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales, and any remaining net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include additional capital to appraise and develop exploration discoveries, repayment of other indebtedness, working capital and/or acquisitions.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

The offering will be made, and the Notes will be offered and issued, only (a) in the United States to investors who are reasonably believed to be “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, (b) outside the United States to investors who are persons other than “U.S. persons” (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act) in reliance upon Regulation S under the Securities Act, and (c) pursuant to certain prospectus exemptions in Canada.

This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, and those statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “may,” “might,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “goal,” “guidance,” “budget,” “plan,” “objective,” “potential,” “seek,” or similar expressions or variations on these expressions are forward-looking statements. Gran Tierra can give no assurances that the assumptions upon which the forward-looking statements are based will prove to be correct or that, even if correct, intervening circumstances will not occur to cause actual results to be different than expected. Because forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause Gran Tierra’s actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to Gran Tierra’s expectations regarding the completion, timing and size of the proposed offering and use of proceeds; and those factors set out in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in Gran Tierra’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in Gran Tierra’s other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Although Gran Tierra believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, Gran Tierra cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither Gran Tierra nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Investors should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The information included herein is given as of the date of this press release and, except as otherwise required by the securities laws, Gran Tierra disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to, or to withdraw, any forward-looking statement contained in this press release to reflect any change in Gran Tierra’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

ABOUT GRAN TIERRA ENERGY INC.

Gran Tierra Energy Inc. together with its subsidiaries is an independent international energy company currently focused on international oil and natural gas exploration and production with assets currently in Colombia and Ecuador. The Company is currently developing its existing portfolio of assets in Colombia and Ecuador and will continue to pursue additional growth opportunities that would further strengthen the Company’s portfolio. The Company’s common stock trades on the NYSE American, the Toronto Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GTE.

For investor and media inquiries please contact:
Gary Guidry, President & Chief Executive Officer
Ryan Ellson, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
+1-403-265-3221
info@grantierra.com

SOURCE Gran Tierra Energy Inc.

FAQ

What is the purpose of Gran Tierra Energy's (GTE) new note offering?

Gran Tierra Energy (GTE) is offering additional 9.500% Senior Secured Amortizing Notes due 2029 primarily to finance the cash portion of its proposed acquisition of i3 Energy plc, with remaining proceeds to be used for general corporate purposes.

How much in 9.500% Senior Secured Amortizing Notes does Gran Tierra Energy (GTE) currently have outstanding?

Gran Tierra Energy (GTE) currently has US$587,590,000 aggregate principal amount of 9.500% Senior Secured Amortizing Notes due 2029 outstanding.

Who are the target investors for Gran Tierra Energy's (GTE) new note offering?

The new notes are being offered to qualified institutional buyers in the US, non-US persons outside the US, and certain exempt buyers in Canada through a private placement.

How will the new notes offered by Gran Tierra Energy (GTE) differ from the original notes?

The new notes will have the same terms and provisions as the original notes, except for the issue date and issue price. They will form the same series as the original notes, including interest payments.