Maha Energy AB: Announces the Acquisition of Gran Tierra's Brazilian Operations, a Fully Committed Directed Share Issue of SEK 91.7 MM, and a Fully Guaranteed Rights Offering of SEK 91.7 MM

Press release
Stockholm
6 February 2017          

This press release is not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland or the United States, or in any other jurisdiction where distribution of this press release could be illegal or subject to legal restrictions. See also section IMPORTANT INFORMATION below. 

Maha Energy AB Announces the Acquisition of Gran Tierra's Brazilian Operations, a Fully Committed Directed Share Issue of SEK 91.7 MM, and a Fully Guaranteed Rights Offering of SEK 91.7 MM

Acquisition of Gran Tierra's Brazilian Operations

Maha Energy AB ("Maha" or the "Company") (NASDAQ OMX First North: MAHA A) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the Brazil business unit of Gran Tierra Energy Inc. ("Gran Tierra") (NYSE MKT:GTE)(TSX:GTE) through the purchase of all of the shares and outstanding intercompany debt^[1] of Gran Tierra Finance (Luxembourg) S.Á.R.L., including assumed liabilities involved with the going-concern operations, for a cash consideration of $35 million^[2], subject to closing adjustments (the "Acquisition").  Upon closing, Maha will own and operate, through a 100%-owned subsidiary, the 100% working interests in six concession agreements located^[3],[4] in the Reconcavo Basin of Brazil comprising 41,606 gross acres with average production expected to be 1,200 - 1,500 boepd in 2017^[5].  Closing of the Acquisition is subject to receiving the approval of the Acquisition from the Agencia Nacional do Petroleo, Gas Natural e Biocombustiveis of Brazil ("ANP"), completion of a financing by Maha, and other closing conditions standard for similar transactions.

"The Acquisition represents a unique opportunity to further grow Maha's position in Brazil.  It will provide Maha an immediate cash-flowing production base that can be readily grown through low-risk development initiatives, which will be complementary to our Tartaruga asset in Brazil and LAK Ranch asset in Wyoming, U.S.," stated Jonas Lindvall, CEO of Maha.

"The acquisition of a low-risk, producing asset close to our existing Tartaruga Field is a strategically important milestone for Maha.  This will provide a very solid foundation upon which to grow the Company," stated Wayne Thomson, Chairman of the Board of the Company.

Below are certain transaction highlights relating to the transaction.

Key Transaction Highlights²

• 10.2 MMboe of 2P Reserves³ associated with the Tie Field
  • Estimated NPV (10%) of 2P reserves: $188 million before tax³
  • 91% light oil (38° API)^[6]
  • 1P reserves of 7.7 MMboe³ represent 75% of 2P Reserves
• Attractive operating netbacks of $22.77 per Boe (Q3 2016)
  • Operating expenses of $9.74 per Boe and transportation expenses of $1.70 per Boe (Q3 2016)
  • Competitive fiscal regime
• Maha management estimates 2017 average WI production to be 1,200 - 1,500 boepd⁵
• Upside potential
  • 3P working interest Reserves of 14.3 MMboe³,including southern lobe of Tie Field
  • 10 prospects totalling gross mean unrisked Prospective Resources of 45 MMboe⁵
• Operating synergies and administrative savings with existing Brazilian assets of Maha at Tartaruga

Deposit

Maha has provided Gran Tierra a cash deposit ("Initial Deposit") of $3.5 million which is non-refundable in certain circumstances, including if the Company has not deposited into escrow the remaining cash consideration of $31.5 million on or before June 1, 2017 or has not provided a further cash deposit ("Second Deposit") of $1.5 million by such date.  If the Second Deposit is paid, the Company is required to place into escrow the remaining cash consideration of $30 million by August 1, 2017. The $35 million purchase price will be released upon all closing conditions being satisfied, including receiving the approval of the Acquisition from ANP.

Financing of the Transaction

To complete the Acquisition, Maha will be required to pay cash consideration of $35 million and arrange financial guarantees (letters of credit or surety bonds) for certain work commitments totalling approximately $12 million.  The Acquisition will be financed through a fully committed Directed Share Issue of SEK 91,727,214.60 (approximately $10.5 million)^[7] (see below).  A Rights Issue with pre-emption rights for existing shareholders (see below) will be performed on or before June 1, 2017 corresponding to 12,919,326 shares at the same price (SEK 7.10 per share) as the Directed Share Issue totalling SEK 91,727,214.60 (together with the Directed Share Issue a total of SEK 183.4 million, approximately $21 million). This pricing reflects an approximately 19.9 percent discount from the five day, volume weighted average price of the Class A Shares for the period up to and including February 1, 2017.  The Rights Issue is 100% guaranteed by a consortium consisting of Kvalitena AB (SEK 40 million) and LMK Venture Partners AB (SEK 18.3 million) among others.  Debt financing of a minimum gross proceeds of SEK 300 - 350 million is planned to take place on or before June 1, 2017, the details of which will be announced shortly.

Directed Share Issue of SEK 92 Million

The Company, through lead finance adviser, Stockholm Corporate Finance, has secured a Directed Share Issue of 12,919,326 Maha A shares at a share price of SEK 7.10 for gross proceeds of SEK 91,727,214.60 (approximately $10.5 million).

The following parties have committed to subscribe in the Directed Share Issue: Kvalitena AB (publ), Invium Partners AB, Pervasive Capital AB, Nerthus Investments Ltd., Erik Penser Bank AB, Litcap AB and City Capital Partners AB. These subscribers have committed contractually to not subscribe for such number of shares to be issued in the Rights Issue or use any such Rights (see below) that corresponds to the number of shares subscribed by each subscriber in the Directed Share Issue.  The Directed Share Issue is expected to be completed within the next few days.   

Fully Guaranteed Rights Issue of SEK 92 Million In Place

The Company will also arrange, through Stockholm Corporate Finance, a Rights Issue of 12,919,326 Maha A shares at a share price of SEK 7.10 for gross proceeds of SEK 91,727,214.60. The Rights Issue has been 100 percent guaranteed through a guarantee consortium consisting of the following guarantors: Kvalitena AB (publ), Invium Partners AB, Pervasive Capital AB, Phantome de Genolier AB, City Capital Partners AB, Litcap AB and LMK Venture Partners AB.  The Guaranteed Rights Issue is anticipated to commence March 15, 2017. The principal terms for the Rights Issue and a detailed timetable will be announced in a subsequent press release.

Advisers

Stockholm Corporate Finance AB is acting as financial adviser and Setterwalls Advokatbyrå AB is acting as legal adviser (as to Swedish law) to the Company in connection with the Directed Share Issue and the Rights Issue. FNCA Sweden AB is the Company's Certified Adviser.   

For more information, please contact:

Jonas Lindvall (CEO)
Tel:  +1 403 454 7563
Email:  jonas@mahaenergy.ca

or

Ron Panchuk
Tel:  +1 403 454 1564
Email:  ron@mahaenergy.ca

Miscellaneous

This information is published in accordance with the EU Market Abuse Regulation and/or the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act.  The information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact persons set out above on 6 February 2017, at 0801 CET.

Maha in Brief

Maha Energy AB is a Swedish public limited liability company.  FNCA Sweden AB has been engaged as Certified Adviser.  The Company's auditors are Deloitte.  The Company's predecessor Maha Energy Inc was founded in 2013 in Calgary, Canada, by Jonas Lindvall and Ron Panchuk. In May 2016, the new group was formed with Maha Energy AB as parent company for purposes completing an initial public offering on the NASDAQ OMX First North Sweden stock exchange.  Jonas Lindvall, CEO and Managing Director, has 25 years of international experience in the oil and gas industry, starting his career with Lundin Oil during the early days of E&P growth.  After 6 years at Shell and Talisman, Jonas joined, and helped secure the success of, Tethys Oil AB.  Maha's strategy is to target and develop underperforming hydrocarbon assets on global basis. The Company operates two oil fields, Tartaruga in Brazil and LAK Ranch, in Wyoming, U.S.  For more information, please visit our website www.mahaenergy.ca.

Important Information

This press release does not contain or constitute an invitation or an offer to acquire, subscribe for or otherwise trade in shares, subscription rights or other securities in Maha Energy AB (publ).  Any invitation to the persons concerned to subscribe for shares in Maha Energy AB (publ) will only be made through the prospectus that Maha Energy AB (publ) intends to publish by the beginning of March 2017.  Publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, of this press release could in some jurisdictions be subject to restrictions according to law and recipients of this press release, or part of it, are required to inform themselves of, and comply with, such legal restrictions.  This press release is not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland or the United States, or in any other jurisdiction where distribution of this press release could be illegal or subject to legal restrictions.  Copies of this press release are not being made and may not be distributed or sent, in whole, or part, directly or indirectly, in violation of such restrictions.  Failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a criminal act under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) ("Securities Act") or applicable laws in other jurisdictions.