Sonde Resources Corp. Updates Liquidity Position
CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Nov 18, 2014) - Sonde Resources Corp. ("Sonde" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:SOQ)(NYSE MKT:SOQ) announced today that its capital resources have been significantly depleted since June 30, 2014 and, to date, its strategic alternatives process has not resulted in a transaction that would satisfy Sonde's significant financial commitments under the Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement ("EPSA") covering the Joint Oil Block. Refer to Sonde's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 ("Second Quarter MD&A") for a description of these material commitments.
As at November 17, 2014, cash and cash equivalents (excluding restricted cash) are estimated to be $0.3 million. Restricted cash secures a US$15 million letter of credit issued to Joint Oil to guarantee the Company's obligation to drill the Fisal-1 well by November 30, 2014 as well as a $0.2 million abandonment bond in Canada. The penalty for failure to drill the Fisal-1 well on or before November 30, 2014 would allow Joint Oil to draw US$15 million under the letter of credit to satisfy this penalty. Drilling of the Fisal-1 well has not commenced due to the Company's current liquidity position and it is Sonde's expectation that Joint Oil may draw upon the letter of credit in early December. Sonde has also provided a corporate guarantee of US$30 million to secure its commitment to drill two additional wells. Under the terms of the EPSA, the next well is required to be drilled by December 23, 2014 and the final well is required to be drilled by December 23, 2015. Failure to meet these commitments could result in a termination of the EPSA by Joint Oil. In addition to its work commitments under the EPSA, Sonde has commitments under its existing office leases which are further detailed in its Second Quarter MD&A and its net current assets less liabilities as at November 17, 2014 is estimated to be a negative $0.3 million.
The Company no longer generates cash flow from petroleum and natural gas sales and the Company no longer has a credit facility. As such, the Company must fund operations, including its commitments under the EPSA, from working capital, new financings, farm-outs or property dispositions. While discussions are ongoing, the Company's strategic alternatives process has not resulted in a transaction that would satisfy its significant financial commitments. There can be no assurance that the current strategic process will result in the sale of its interest or securing a partner, farm-out or other source of funding to meet the Company's financial obligations. There is a significant likelihood that the Company will exhaust its working capital prior to the execution of new financings, farm-outs or property dispositions.
Sonde's interim financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and related disclosures ("Third Quarter Report") were due November 14, 2014 and the Company is presently unable to complete the preparation and filing of its Third Quarter Report. The Company's failure to file its Third Quarter Report will likely result in the issuance of a cease trade order by the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and could lead to a delisting of the Company's common shares from all stock exchanges.
AI
