TULSA, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2006--Syntroleum
Corporation (Nasdaq:SYNM) announced today that its subsidiary,
Syntroleum International Corporation, has signed a letter agreement
with Energy Equity Resources Limited ("EER") for the sale of
Syntroleum's exploration and production holdings. Syntroleum could
realize up to $25 million from this sale, subject to certain
conditions.
The transaction will be effected through the sale of 100 percent
of the stock of Syntroleum International Holdings, Ltd. and Syntroleum
International Holdings Company. Through a subsidiary, Syntroleum
International Holdings, Ltd. and Syntroleum International Holdings
Company own Syntroleum's 25 percent cost bearing interest in Oil
Mining Lease ("OML") 113, which includes the Aje field, and its 20
percent interest in the Ajapa field in OML 90. Both fields are located
off the coast of Nigeria.
EER has paid Syntroleum a non-refundable $2 million deposit, and
will also pay an additional $10 million to Syntroleum by April 1,
2007, or at the time EER completes its raising of additional capital
pursuant to any form of private placement or public offering,
whichever occurs first. Payments of an additional $13 million could be
earned from future farm-outs of the Aje field and initial production
from the Aje and Ajapa fields. Closing of this transaction will occur
on or before January 31, 2007.
"The monetization of our upstream exploration and development
interests through this transaction is beneficial to Syntroleum on
several fronts," said Jack Holmes, president and CEO of Syntroleum.
"The elimination of both our capital cost obligations and the
commitment of our management resources to upstream activities, coupled
with the proceeds realized from the sale will allow us to more closely
focus on the commercialization and funding of our portfolio of
technologies on a global basis."
Previously, EER and Syntroleum's subsidiary, Syntroleum Nigeria,
entered into agreements whereby EER obtained a 7.5 percent interest in
OML 113, and a 20 percent interest in the Ajapa field.
About Syntroleum (Nasdaq:SYNM)
Syntroleum Corporation owns a proprietary process for converting
natural gas or synthesis gas derived from coal and other carbon-based
feedstock into synthetic liquid hydrocarbons. The company plans to use
its technology to develop and participate in natural gas and coal
monetization projects in a number of global locations.
This document includes forward-looking statements as well as
historical information. Forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, statements relating to the amount of oil, natural gas
and GTL product reserves, possible production rates, drilling results,
oil and gas exploration and development plans and operations, oil and
gas well characteristics, cost and productivity, negotiations with
industry participants and governmental entities, project financing and
timing, receipt and amount of project revenues, and the use and
effectiveness of the Syntroleum Process and related technologies and
products. When used in this document, the words "anticipate,"
"believe," "estimate," "expect," "intent," "may," "project," "plan,"
"should," "could," and similar expressions are intended to be among
the statements that identify forward-looking statements. Although
Syntroleum believes that its expectations reflected in these
forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve
risks and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that actual
results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these
forward-looking statements include the failure to receive governmental
approvals, the failure to assign a participating interest to
Syntroleum and/or to an industry participant, failure of the wells to
produce as the previous test wells, the potential that
commercial-scale GTL plants will not achieve the same results as those
demonstrated on a laboratory or pilot basis or that such plants will
experience technological and mechanical problems, the potential that
improvements to the Syntroleum Process currently under development may
not be successful, the impact on plant economics of operating
conditions (including energy prices), construction risks, the ability
to implement corporate strategies, competition, intellectual property
risks, Syntroleum's ability to obtain financing and other risks
described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
(R) "Syntroleum" is registered as a trademark and service mark in
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
CONTACT: Syntroleum Corporation, Tulsa
Gary Gamino, 918-592-7900
ggamino@syntroleum.com
SOURCE: Syntroleum Corporation
|