JMG Exploration Terminates Share Exchange Agreement with Newco
JMG Exploration, Inc. announced that the share exchange with Newco Group Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands contemplated by the Share Exchange Agreement by and among JMG, Newco, ESAPI Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas ("ESAPI"), and certain other parties, dated September 5, 2007, has failed to close as of December 31st, 2007, and that JMG has elected to exercise its right under the Share Exchange Agreement to terminate such agreement, effective immediately.
In September, 2007, in anticipation of the closing of the share exchange, JMG made a $3 million loan to Newco pursuant to a Loan, Stock Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of September 5, 2007. The purpose of the loan was to enable Newco to purchase shares in Iris Computers Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of India ("Iris"), representing approximately a 39% equity interest in Iris. Prior to the loan, Newco already had a 14.5% equity interest in Iris, which it purchased with the proceeds from a $1 million loan made to Newco by ESAPI.
As security for the $3 million loan by JMG to Newco, JMG received a security interest in the ordinary shares of Iris purchased by Newco with the proceeds of the JMG loan. As further security for the loan, JMG received an irrevocable proxy from ESAPI granting to JMG the right to vote the shares of Iris owned by Newco that had been pledged to ESAPI by Newco as security for the loan by ESAPI to Newco.
The $3 million loan by JMG to Newco bears interest at 8% per annum. By the terms of the loan, it matured on December 31, 2007. Newco has failed to repay the loan and any accrued interest on the loan to JMG.
On January 3, 2008, JMG sent Newco notice that Newco is in default under the Loan Agreement and that JMG intends on exercising its remedies as a secured creditor if the default is not cured within 15 days of the notice, which remedies would include transferring the Iris shares that secure the loan into the name of JMG. In an attempt to settle the matter, JMG has offered to allow Newco until March 31, 2008 to repay the $3 million loan and accrued interest if Newco agrees that in the event that Newco does not repay the loan and accrued interest in full on or before March 31, Newco will not contest JMG proceeding with having the pledged Iris shares transferred into the name of JMG. The offer also requires that JMG and Newco mutually release each other from further liability. Newco has until January 10, 2008 to accept the offer.
In the event Newco does not repay the loan and JMG transfers the pledged Iris shares into JMG's name, JMG would have effective majority control of Iris because of the 39% equity interest in Iris represented by the pledged Iris shares and JMG's irrevocable proxy from ESAPI representing an additional 14.5% equity interest in Iris. If Newco does not repay the loan and the pledged Iris shares are transferred into the name of JMG, the intent of JMG's Board of Directors' would be to either: (1) sell the investment; or (2) explore retaining, and perhaps increasing, the investment in Iris.
JMG's Board of Directors has elected to extend its three classes of warrants for an additional year with and expiration in January 15, 2009. The strikes prices of $4.25, $5.00 and $6.25 on the warrants will remain in place.
- Falcon Oil Declares Commercial Flow Test Results for Shenandoah Well
- UK Oil Regulator Publishes New Emissions Reduction Plan
- Japan Failing to Meet Corporate Demand for Clean Power: Amazon
- PetroChina Posts Higher Annual Profit on Higher Production
- McDermott Settles Reficar Dispute
- Macquarie Strategists Expect Brent Oil Price to Grind Higher
- US, SKorea Launch Task Force to Stop Illicit Refined Oil Flows into NKorea
- Russian Navy Enters Warship-Crowded Red Sea Amid Houthi Attacks
- Pennsylvania County Joins List of Local Govts Suing Big Oil over Climate
- Equinor Makes Discovery in North Sea
- Standard Chartered Reiterates $94 Brent Call
- India Halts Russia Oil Supplies From Sanctioned Tanker Giant
- DOI Announces Proposal for Second GOM Offshore Wind Auction
- Centcom, Dryad Outline Recent Moves Around Red Sea Region
- PetroChina Set to Receive Venezuelan Oil
- Czech Conglomerate to Buy Major Stake in Gasnet for $917MM
- US DOE Offers $44MM in Funding to Boost Clean Power Distribution
- Oil Settles Lower as Stronger Dollar Offsets Tighter Market
- UK Grid Operator Receives Aid to Advance Rural Decarbonization
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- VIDEO: Missile Attack Kills Crew Transiting Gulf of Aden
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Another Major Oilfield Discovery
- What Is the Biggest Risk to Offshore Oil and Gas Personnel in 2024?
- Vessel Sinks in Red Sea After Missile Strike
- Exxon Rights in Stabroek Do Not Apply to Hess Merger with Chevron: Hess
- Analysts Reveal Latest Oil Price Outlook Following OPEC+ Cut Extension
- Equinor Makes Discovery in North Sea
- Standard Chartered Reiterates $94 Brent Call