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Share Name Share Symbol Market Type
TSXV:EEN TSX Venture Common Stock
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 0 -

Estrella International Energy Services Ltd. Announces Proposed Acquisition of San Antonio Internacional Colombia

17/06/2013 6:55pm

Marketwired Canada


NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRES

Estrella International Energy Services Ltd. ("Estrella" or the "Company") (TSX
VENTURE:EEN) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive arm's
length share purchase agreement dated June 16, 2013 ("Purchase Agreement") with
San Antonio International Oil & Gas Services LLC and Armadillo Drilling Services
LLC (collectively the "Sellers") for the acquisition of all of the issued and
outstanding shares of San Antonio Internacional Co. Inc. ("SAI Colombia") held
by the Sellers, for a purchase price of approximately US$122 million (the
"Acquisition"). SAI Colombia is a company registered under the laws of the
British Virgin Islands and is the owner of San Antonio Internacional-Sucursal
Colombia, a branch registered in Bogota, Colombia (the "SAIC").


About SAIC

SAIC provides specialized services, equipment and personnel on a contractual
basis for the exploration and development of onshore oil and gas resources
throughout Colombia. SAIC has a portfolio of complementary oilfield services and
equipment business lines including, among others, drilling, workover, cementing
and coiled tubing. SAIC has a strong operational platform throughout key
Colombian basins, such as Los Llanos and Magdalena Medio. Its assets include 20
drilling rigs, 6 workover rigs, 4 cementing sets, 2 coiled tubing units and
operating bases in four locations around Colombia.




SAIC Rig Fleet - Drilling                                                   
                                                                            
3 x 2000 HP                                                                 
1 x 1700 HP                                                                 
4 x 1500 HP                                                                 
2 x 1200 HP                                                                 
4 x 1000 HP                                                                 
6 x 550 - 900 HP                                                            
                                                                            
SAIC Rig Fleet - Workover                                                   
                                                                            
3 x 550 HP                                                                  
3 x 250 HP                                                                  
                                                                            
SAIC Services Fleet                                                         
                                                                            
4 x Cementing Units                                                         
2 x Coil Tubing Units                                                       



Upon completion of the transaction Estrella will control 37 rigs in the
Colombian market (45 rigs total), making the combined company the largest rig
operator in that market. On the services front, the combination gives the
Company a broad range of services, and strengthens the capabilities for project
management and handing of bundled services and integrated projects. During the
year ended 2012, SAIC's average daily workforce consisted of approximately 1,260
employees, of which 1,054 are active rig-based personnel who operate the rigs on
a day-to-day basis.


Warren Levy, CEO of Estrella states "Estrella is pleased to announce the
acquisition of SAIC. The acquisition will increase revenues and cash flow from
the combined companies which should provide greater visibility to institutional
investors and access to capital markets The acquisition will also make the
combined entity the largest single rig operator in Colombia offering a broad
range of services with critical mass. The combination of SAIC's long and
successful operating history, Estrella's management expertise and technical
knowhow, together with the strengthening of the Company's balance sheet, will
help Estrella achieve its goal of being the standard of excellence for
operations in Latin America."


Terms of the Purchase Agreement 

Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, Estrella will acquire all of the
issued and outstanding shares of SAI for a purchase price of approximately
US$122.5 million which will be paid in cash at closing. The company will be
purchased cash and debt free. Additionally an anticipated US$30.5 million will
be injected into the company to repay indebtedness for working capital and other
general corporate purposes. The Purchase Agreement contains representations,
warranties and covenants of each of the Company, the Sellers and SAI Colombia
that are customary in transactions of this nature.


Closing of the Acquisition is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture
Exchange and certain other conditions precedent customary in transactions of
this type all as more specifically set forth in the Purchase Agreement, a copy
of which has been filed on SEDAR. The transaction is expected to close on or
about August 1, 2013. 


Financing Arrangements

In connection with the completion of the Acquisition the Company has entered
into a secured loan agreement dated June 16, 2013 ("Loan Agreement") with Ringo
Holding L.P. ("Ringo"), the Company's controlling shareholder, whereby Ringo has
agreed to loan the Company up to US$97 million (the "Shareholder Loan") and to
grant the Company an additional US$56 million loan in the event that the Company
is unable for any reason to obtain the Colombian Bank Loans referred to below
(the "Additional Shareholder Loan"). The Shareholder Loan, which is
non-convertible, will bear interest at the rate of 12% per annum from the
Effective Date (as such term is defined in the Loan Agreement) until 6 months
from the Effective Date, and thereafter at the rate of 14% per annum. The
Shareholder Loan will be due and payable on the date that is one year from the
Effective Date. The Company is of the view that Shareholder Loan and the
Additional Shareholder Loan will be made on reasonable commercial terms that are
not less advantageous to the Company than if the loans were obtained from a
person dealing at arm's length to the Company, and as such, pursuant to
Multilateral Instrument 61-101, shareholder approval of the Shareholder Loan and
the Additional Shareholder Loan will not be required.


Concurrently with the Shareholder Loan, the Company has been offered financing
by Colombian banks of an amount in the range of US$50 to 58 million ("Colombian
Bank Loans"). It is anticipated that the Colombian Bank Loans will be seven year
fully amortizing term loans, with the first two years being interest only. 


The proceeds of the Shareholder Loan and the Colombian Bank Loans or Additional
Shareholder Loan, as applicable, will be used as follows: (i) approximately
US$122.5 million to satisfy the purchase price for the Acquisition and (ii)
approximately US$30.5 million to repay indebtedness, and for working capital and
other general corporate purposes.


In the event that the Company completes a sale of equity securities or incurs
any additional indebtedness (excluding bank financing sourced in connection with
the Acquisition) the Shareholder Loan will, up to the amounts raised by the
Company in connection with the forgoing, become immediately due and payable.


The Loan Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants of each of
the Company and Ringo that are no more onerous than those the Company could
obtain from commercial lenders, and are customary in loans of this type. A copy
of the Loan Agreement has been filed by the Company on SEDAR.


Proposed Private Placement

Estrella is also pleased to announce that Ringo has executed a definitive
investment agreement with the Company dated June 16, 2013 (the "Investment
Agreement"). Pursuant to the Investment Agreement, Ringo has agreed to purchase,
by way of private placement, non-voting Series B Preference Shares ("Preference
Shares") of the Company based on a pre-consolidated share price of CAD$0.05 (the
"Subscription Price"), for gross proceeds to the Company of up to CAD$130
million ("Private Placement"). The gross proceeds of the Private Placement will
be reduced by the amount, if any, of the proceeds raised in a Concurrent
Financing (as defined below).


It is anticipated that the Series B Preference Shares will carry a fixed
preferred dividend at the rate of 6% per annum, a liquidation preference equal
to the paid up capital on such shares together with all accrued and unpaid
dividends, and would be convertible at the option of the holder into
post-consolidated common shares of the Corporation on a one for one basis.


Closing of the Private Placement is subject to, among other things,
disinterested shareholder approval, the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and
certain other conditions precedent customary in transactions of this type all as
more specifically set forth in the Investment Agreement, a copy of which has
been filed on SEDAR. 


The Company will request the approval of the disinterested shareholders of the
Company at the Company's upcoming annual general and special meeting of
shareholders (the "AGM"). The parties intend to complete the Private Placement
as soon as practicable following the AGM, subject to receipt of final approval
from the Exchange. The Company expects to use the proceeds of the Private
Placement to repay the outstanding indebtedness on the Shareholder Loan
specified above.


Concurrent Financing

In addition to the Private Placement, the Company may also complete a concurrent
financing of Preference Shares at the Subscription Price or other equity
securities to subscribers other than Ringo through a brokered or non-brokered
private placement or public offering (the "Concurrent Financing"). The Company
expects to use the proceeds of the Concurrent Financing, if any, in the same
manner as the Private Placement.


Closing of a Concurrent Financing would be subject to, among other things, the
approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and certain other conditions precedent
customary in transactions of its type and would be expected to take place at the
same time as the closing of the Private Placement.


Annual General and Special Meeting

Currently the AGM is scheduled for July 8, 2013. The Company wishes to announce
that in light of importance of the Acquisition, the Company will changing the
date of the AGM to a later date to be determined by the directors. In addition
to the approval of the Private Placement it is expected that the shareholders
will also be asked to consider and approve,as a special resolution, to
consolidate the existing common shares on a ratio to be determined by the
directors, but which ratio will be no greater than 100:1.


The common shares of the Company are currently halt traded and will remain halt
traded pending the receipt and review by the TSX Venture Exchange of
satisfactory documentation.


About Estrella

Estrella is an oil and natural gas, geothermal and mining service company with
operations throughout Latin and South America. It provides conventional drilling
services; directional drilling services; tools and equipment sales and rentals;
work-over and finishing services; and consulting and engineering services. The
Corporation is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina and has operating
locations in six countries Latin and South America.


Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements which reflect
management's expectations regarding future growth, results of operations,
performance and business prospects of Estrella, the completion of the
Acquisition, the Shareholder Loan, the Private Placement and the Concurrent
Financing. These forward-looking statements may relate to, among other things,
forecasts or expectations regarding business outlook for Estrella; commodity
prices for oil and natural gas; oil and natural gas demand and production
growth; debt service requirements for Estrella; improvements in operating
procedures and technology; capital expenditures by Estrella and the oil and gas
industry; the business strategies of Estella's customers; future global economic
conditions; and future results of operations; expectations regarding the
Corporation's ability to raise capital; realization of the anticipated benefits
of acquisitions and dispositions, revenue growth, future acquisitions,
generation of cash flow, and may also include other statements that are
predictive in nature, or that depend upon or refer to future events or
conditions, and can generally be identified by words such as "may", "will",
"expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates",
"guidance" or similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to
expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or
circumstances are forward-looking statements. These statements are not
historical facts or guarantees of future performance, but instead represent
management's current expectations, estimates and projections regarding future
events.


The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any
forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances,
such as future availability of capital on favourable terms, may cause actual
results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known
and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond
the control of Estrella. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on
any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered
reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect
and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking
statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this
cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press
release are made as of the date of this press release, and Estrella does not
undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise, except as required by securities law.


THIS PRESS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR
DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES,
AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL
ANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE SECURITIES
HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR
SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED OR EXEMPT
THEREFROM.


Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that
term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: 
Estrella International Energy Services Ltd.
Warren Levy
Chief Executive Officer
+54 (11) 5217-5250


Estrella International Energy Services Ltd.
Javier Vedoya
Chief Financial Officer
+54 (11) 5217-5250
+54 (11) 5217-5280 (FAX)
info@estrellasp.com

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