DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today unveiled a proposal to acquire for $300 million all of the enlarged share capital in Gulf Keystone Petroleum following the latter's contemplated financial restructuring announced earlier this month.

Gulf Keystone Petroleum is an oil and gas exploration and production company operating in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. It is listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.

The terms of the DNO proposal, which would comprise cash and shares, reflect a 20 percent premium to the share price of $0.0109 at which, on July 14, Gulf Keystone issued shares representing 5.6 percent of its share capital, and also reflect a 20 percent premium to the price at which Gulf Keystone intends to issue further shares in its restructuring, a DNO statement said.

In addition, for the Gulf Keystone guaranteed noteholders the DNO terms reflect 111 percent of par value compared to 99 percent under the contemplated restructuring, and for the convertible bondholders the DNO terms reflect 18 percent of par value compared to 15 percent under the contemplated restructuring, a DNO statement said.
 
By offering $120 million in cash (approximately 40 percent of the consideration), DNO would provide an early exit for those noteholders and bondholders who may be unable or unwilling to hold equity for an extended period, it said.

The additional offer of 170 million DNO shares (approximately 13.6 percent of the post transaction DNO share capital) would provide Gulf Keystone investors with continued exposure to the Shaikan field in addition to DNO's wider portfolio of assets, significantly larger market capitalization, more robust cash flow, stronger balance sheet and proven operating and management capabilities, it said.

DNO has been active in the Kurdistan region of Iraq since 2004 and ranks number one among the international oil companies in oil production (50 percent), oil exports (60 percent) and proven oil reserves (50 percent). DNO holds a 55 percent stake in and operates the Tawke oil field at a current production level of around 120,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) of 27 degree API crude.

Gulf Keystone holds a 58 percent stake in and operates the Shaikan oil field at a current level of around 40,000 bopd of 17 degree API crude. Production from Shaikan is transported daily by road tanker to DNO's unloading and storage hub at Fish Khabur for onward pipeline transport to export markets, the statement said.
 
"Combining these two companies will create further scale and unlock operational synergies that will reinforce DNO's already formidable presence in Kurdistan," said Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani, DNO's executive chairman. "We understand Shaikan's challenges and opportunities and we are well positioned to focus financial, technical, commercial and logistical support to maintain and then grow production at this field to the benefit of both Kurdistan and our investors," he added.

Gulf Keystone, a Bermuda incorporated and London listed company, has called a special general meeting for August 5 to consider its contemplated financial restructuring.  - TradeArabia News Service