AIDEA Invests in Cook Inlet Rig

AIDEA Invests in Cook Inlet Rig

Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Buccaneer Energy Ltd.

Buccaneer advised that the board of the Alaskan Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) voted unanimously to invest up to US $30.0 million, as a joint owner, in the acquisition of a jack-up rig.

A Joint Ownership Agreement (JOA) is expected to soon be executed between the Company's subsidiary Kenai Offshore Ventures, LLC (KOV) and AIDEA. The joint project has been named Project Endeavour.

The JOA contains 15 Conditions Precedent that must be finalized prior to draw down of the AIDEA investment. The Company considers 5 of the Condition Precedents to be Material Conditions Precedent and these are listed in Schedule 1. The Company is confident that all the Condition Precedents can be met in a timely manner.

AIDEA's involvement and investment is as a Preferred Owner of the jack-up rig with an initial 85.7% interest in the Joint Project. KOV will be the sole Common Owner with a 14.3% initial interest in the Joint Project.

The following are the main features of AIDEA's Preferred Ownership interest:

• AIDEA's 85.7% Preferred Ownership interest in the Joint Project will be repurchased over a period of 6 years using cash flow generated by contracting of the rig for drilling operations. AIDEA's Preferred Ownership interest will be canceled as it is repurchased so that on conclusion of the repurchase program KOV will be the 100% owner of the jack-up rig;
• AIDEA will be paid a fixed annual dividend of 8.0%, paid semi-annually in arrears, on the Preferred Owner's outstanding balance of the Principal Repurchase;
• AIDEA's Preferred Ownership interest will be repurchased by way of an annual payment, in arrears. The repurchase schedule commences when the jack-up rig is delivered to the Cook Inlet ready for drilling operations; and
• Any dividend payment or Principal Repurchase that is not made in a 12 month period will accrue to the following 12 months.

The Company anticipates that the total cost of the acquisition, modification and mobilization of the jack-up rig to the Cook Inlet from its current location will be approximately US $85.0 million.

 

Exclusive Use Rights

Buccaneer will have the first right of refusal to utilize the rig until the conclusion of the 2013 drilling season i.e. November 2013. Under the terms of the JOA Buccaneer has committed to drilling a minimum of 4 wells in the Cook Inlet using the acquired jack-up rig.

Buccaneer to Meet AIDEA for Rig Usage Offshore Alaska

Buccaneer to Meet AIDEA for Rig Usage Offshore Alaska

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Buccaneer Energy Ltd.

Buccaneer advised that the board of the Alaskan Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) is due to meet on April 1, 2011 to consider and vote on the investment by AIDEA of up to US $30.0 million to acquire a jackup rig for use in the Cook Inlet and other Alaskan waters.

AIDEA's involvement will be as a joint owner in the jackup rig to be acquired. Therefore the proposed investment by AIDEA does not involve the issuance of any securities by the Company.

Extensive due diligence has been undertaken by AIDEA management and a Joint Ownership Agreement (JOA) between the Company's subsidiary Kenai Offshore Ventures, LLC and AIDEA has been negotiated. The JOA contains Conditions Precedent that must be finalized before draw down of the AIDEA investment. The Company is confident that these Condition Precedents can be met in a timely manner.

AIDEA's management have made a recommendation to the board of AIDEA that it views participation on the terms and conditions contained in the JOA is in the best interests of AIDEA and recommends approval of the resolution to proceed.

If the resolution to proceed is approved by the AIDEA board it is anticipated that the JOA will be executed in the week commencing April 4, 2011. Further details will be released at that time.