EX-99.I 3 d69851dex99i.htm EXHIBIT I Exhibit I

Exhibit I

ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION

FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY

 

 

DRAFT AGREEMENT ON THE MERGER OF MPI INTO

ETABLISSEMENTS MAUREL & PROM

 

 

BETWEEN

ETABLISSEMENTS MAUREL & PROM S.A.

SURVIVING ENTITY

AND

MPI S.A.

MERGED ENTITY

 

 

2 NOVEMBER 2015

 

 

 

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This document is a free English translation of the draft agreement on the merger of MPI into MAUREL & PROM. This translation has been prepared solely for the information and convenience of the shareholders of MPI and MAUREL & PROM and other readers. No assurances are given as to the accuracy or completeness of this translation and MPI and MAUREL & PROM assumes no responsibility with respect to this translation or any misstatement or omission that may be contained therein. In the event of any ambiguity or discrepancy between this translation and the original French version of the draft merger agreement, the French version shall prevail.

Important information

This document does not constitute and shall not be construed as an offer or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, sell or exchange any securities of MAUREL & PROM or MPI. In particular, it does not constitute an offer or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, sell or exchange of securities in any jurisdiction (including the US, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Japan) in which it would be unlawful or subject to registration or qualification under the laws of such jurisdiction.

This business combination is made for the securities of a foreign company, and is subject to disclosure requirements of a foreign country that are different from those of the United States. Financial statements included in any of the documents made available to the public in the context of the business combination have been prepared in accordance with foreign accounting standards that may not be comparable to the financial statements of United States companies.

It may be difficult for you to enforce your rights and any claim you may have arising under the US federal securities laws, since the issuer is located in a foreign country, and some or all of its officers and directors may be residents of a foreign country. You may not be able to sue a foreign company or its officers or directors in a foreign court for violations of the U.S. securities laws. It may be difficult to compel a foreign company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a U.S. court’s judgment.

In connection with the proposed transaction, the required information documents will be filed with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (“AMF”). Investors and shareholders are strongly advised to read, when available, the information documents that have been filed with the AMF because they will contain important information.

Shareholders and investors may obtain free copies of documents filed with the AMF at the AMF’s website at www.amf-france.org or directly from MAUREL & PROM’s website (www.maureletprom.fr) or MPI’s website (www.mpienergy.fr).

 

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DRAFT MERGER AGREEMENT

BETWEEN THE UNDERSIGNED:

MPI S.A.,

A French société anonyme with a share capital of EUR 11,533,653.40, having its registered office at 51 rue d’Anjou, 75008 Paris, registered as a company in Paris under number 517 518 247 and represented by Mr Xavier Blandin in his capacity as Managing Director (Directeur Général), duly authorised for the purposes hereof in a decision of the board of directors dated 15 October 2015;

hereinafter “MPI”.

FIRST PARTY,

AND:

ETABLISSEMENTS MAUREL & PROM S.A.,

A French société anonyme with a share capital of EUR 93,604,436.31, having its registered office at 51 rue d’Anjou, 75008 Paris, registered as a company in Paris under number 457 202 331 and represented by Mr Michel Hochard, in his capacity as Managing Director (Directeur Général), duly authorised for the purposes hereof in a decision of the board of directors dated 15 October 2015;

hereinafter “MAUREL & PROM”.

SECOND PARTY,

MPI and MAUREL & PROM are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party”.

This draft merger agreement (the “Agreement”) has been agreed with a view to the merger of MPI into MAUREL & PROM (the “Merger”); the provisions set out below will govern the Merger.

*            *

*

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1.    CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COMPANIES      6  
1.1    Presentation of MAUREL & PROM      6  
1.2    Presentation of MPI      7  
1.3    Existing relations between the Parties      8  
                    1.3.1            Share capital      8  
                    1.3.2            Shared corporate officers      8  
                    1.3.3            Tax regime      8  
2.    MOTIVATIONS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MERGER      9  
ARTICLE 1.    PLANNED MERGER OF MPI INTO MAUREL & PROM      10  
ARTICLE 2.    MERGER AUDITORS AND INDEPENDENT EXPERT      10  
ARTICLE 3.    CONDITIONS PRECEDENT AND FINAL COMPLETION OF THE MERGER      10  
3.1    Conditions precedent      10  
3.2    Merger Completion      11  
ARTICLE 4.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS USED FOR ESTABLISHING TERMS OF THE TRANSACTION      11  
4.1    MPI financial statements      11  
4.2    MAUREL & PROM financial statements      11  
ARTICLE 5.     DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES TO BE TRANSFERRED      12  
5.1    Transferred assets      12  
5.2    Transferred liabilities      13  
5.3    Dividends distributed since 31 December 2014 and exceptional distribution      14  
5.4    Net assets transferred      14  
5.5    Off balance sheet commitments      14  
ARTICLE 6.    TRANSFER OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES      14  
ARTICLE 7.    TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEES      15  
ARTICLE 8.    TRANSITION PERIOD      15  
8.1    Cooperation between the Parties      15  
8.2    Management of MPI and MAUREL & PROM      15  
ARTICLE 9.    SHARE EXCHANGE RATIO      15  
ARTICLE 10.    REMUNERATION OF CONTRIBUTION AND MAUREL & PROM SHARE CAPITAL INCREASE      16  
10.1    Vesting rights and rights attached to the new shares      16  
10.2    Effect of the Merger on MPI Free Shares and MPI Free Preferred Shares      17  
                    10.2.1            Effect of the Merger on MPI Free Shares      17  
                    10.2.2            Effect of the Merger on MPI Free Preferred Shares      17  
10.3    Unallocated new shares representing fractional rights      17  
10.4    Unclaimed new shares      17  
ARTICLE 11.    MERGER PREMIUM      17  

 

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ARTICLE 12.    OWNERSHIP AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE MERGER FOR ACCOUNTING AND TAX PURPOSES      18  
ARTICLE 13.    CHARGES AND CONDITIONS      18  
13.1    General charges and conditions      18  
13.2    Charges and conditions pertaining to MAUREL & PROM      19  
13.3    Charges and conditions pertaining to MPI      20  
ARTICLE 14.     REPRESENTATIONS      20  
14.1    Representations of MAUREL & PROM      20  
14.2    Representations of MPI      21  
ARTICLE 15.    DISSOLUTION OF MPI      21  
ARTICLE 16.    TAX PROVISIONS      21  
16.1    General undertaking to file tax returns      21  
16.2    Retroactive effect      22  
16.3    Corporate income tax      22  
16.4    Value Added Tax (VAT)      23  
16.5    Registration tax      24  
16.6    Other taxes      24  
ARTICLE 17.     MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS      24  
17.1    Costs      24  
17.2    Delivery of documents      24  
17.3    Governing law and jurisdiction      25  
17.4    Notifications      25  
17.5    Validity      25  
17.6    Amendments and waivers      25  
17.7    Formalities      25  
17.8    Powers      25  

 

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RECITALS

 

1. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COMPANIES

 

1.1 Presentation of MAUREL & PROM

MAUREL & PROM is a French société anonyme incorporated on 1 November 1919 and initially created for a term of 99 years and 2 months. The company’s term was extended by 99 years from 13 October 2014 until 13 October 2113, unless extended again or liquidated in advance of its term.

The corporate purpose of MAUREL & PROM in France and abroad is as follows:

 

    the management of all shares and membership rights and, to this end, the acquisition of interests in any company, group or association, particularly by way of purchase, subscription and contribution, as well as the sale in any form of said shares or membership rights;

 

    the prospecting and exploitation of all mineral deposits, particularly liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon deposits and related products;

 

    the leasing, acquisition, transfer and sale of all wells, land, deposits, concessions, operating permits and prospecting permits, either on its own account or on behalf of third parties, whether by participation or otherwise, and the transportation, storage, processing, transformation and trading of all natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, all liquid or gaseous products or by-products of the subsoil, and all minerals or metals;

 

    the acquisition of any buildings and their management or sale;

 

    trading in all products and commodities; and

 

    generally, the direct or indirect participation in all commercial, industrial, real estate, agricultural and financial transactions, in France or other countries, either by the formation of new companies or by the contribution, subscription or purchase of shares or membership rights, merger, joint venture or otherwise, and generally all transactions of any kind whatsoever directly or indirectly related to these activities and likely to facilitate development or management.

MAUREL & PROM’s registered office and identifying number on the companies register, and its share capital, are stated above at the beginning of the present document.

MAUREL & PROM’s financial year begins each year on 1 January and ends on 31 December.

MAUREL & PROM is governed by an 8-member board of directors: Mr Jean-François Hénin, chairman of the board, Ms Nathalie Delapalme, Ms Carole Delorme d’Armaillé, Mr Gérard Andreck, Mr Emmanuel de Marion de Glatigny, Mr Roman Gozalo, Mr Xavier Blandin, Mr François Raudot Genet de Chatenay and Mr Eloi Duverger, and managed by Managing Director Mr Michel Hochard.

Auditing is handled by the firms KPMG S.A. and International Audit Company as incumbent Statutory Auditors, and by the firm Salustro Reydel and Ms Fabienne Hontarrede as alternate Statutory Auditors.

 

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The share capital of MAUREL & PROM is EUR 93,604,436.31, divided into 121,564,203 fully paid up shares of the same category with a par value of EUR 0.77 each.

MAUREL & PROM has issued the following securities:

 

    Bonds redeemable into new shares and/or exchangeable into existing shares issued on 6 June 2014 and due 1 July 2019 (“ORNANE 2019”). On the date of the Agreement, a total of 14,658,169 shares could potentially be issued upon exercise of the attribution right of shares attached to the ORNANE 2019;

 

    Bonds redeemable into new shares and/or exchangeable into existing shares issued on 12 May 2015 due 1 July 2021 (“ORNANE 2021”). On the date of the Agreement, a total of 10,435,571 shares could potentially be issued upon exercise of the attribution right of shares attached to the ORNANE 2021;

 

    Share warrants granted on 19 May 2010 due 31 December 2015 (“MAUREL & PROM Warrants”). On the date of the Agreement, a total of 13,364,625 shares could potentially be issued upon exercise of MAUREL & PROM Warrants;

 

    Free shares to be allocated on a definitive basis on 28 March 2016, for which the lock-up period expires on 28 March 2018 (the “MAUREL & PROM Free Shares”). On the date of the Agreement, a total of 56,840 shares could potentially be issued upon final allocation of MAUREL & PROM Free Shares.

MAUREL & PROM had 31 employees as at 31 December 2014.

 

1.2 Presentation of MPI

MPI is a French société anonyme incorporated on 13 October 2009 for a term of 99 years, i.e. until 12 October 2108 unless extended again or liquidated in advance of its term.

The corporate purpose of MPI in France and abroad is as follows:

 

    the holding and management of all shares and membership rights and, to this end, the acquisition of interests in any company, group or association, particularly by way of purchase, subscription and contribution, as well as the sale in any form of the said shares or membership rights;

 

    the prospecting and exploitation of all mineral deposits, particularly liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon deposits and related products;

 

    the leasing, acquisition, transfer and sale of all wells, land, deposits, concessions, operating permits and prospecting permits, either on its own account or on behalf of third parties, whether by participation or otherwise, and the transport, storage, processing, transformation and trading of all natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, all liquid or gaseous products or by-products of the subsoil, and all minerals or metals;

 

    the acquisition, management or sale of any buildings;

 

    the trading in any products and commodities;

 

    the issuance of any guarantees, first demand guarantees, collateral and other sureties, particularly to the benefit of any group, undertaking or company in which it holds an interest, in the context of its activities, and the financing or refinancing of its activities; and

 

    generally speaking, the Company’s direct or indirect participation in all commercial, industrial, real estate, agricultural and financial transactions, in France or other countries, either by the formation of new companies or by the contribution, subscription or purchase of shares or membership rights, merger, joint venture or otherwise, and generally all transactions of any kind whatsoever directly or indirectly related to these activities and likely to facilitate development or management.

 

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MPI’s registered office and identifying number on the companies register, and its share capital, are stated above at the beginning of the present document.

MPI’s financial year begins each year on 1 January and ends on 31 December.

MPI is governed by a 9-member board of directors: Mr Jean-François Hénin, chairman of the board, Ms Nathalie Delapalme, Ms Caroline Catoire, Mr Xavier Blandin, Emmanuel de Marion de Glatigny, Mr Alexandre Vilgrain, Mr Augustine Ojunekwu Avuru, Mr Ambroisie Bryant Chukwueloka Orjiako, and MACIF represented by Mr Olivier Arlès, and managed by Managing Director Xavier Blandin, and Deputy Managing Director Michel Hochard.

Auditing is handled by the firms KPMG S.A. and International Audit Company as incumbent Statutory Auditors, and by the firm Salustro Reydel and Mr François Caillet as alternate Statutory Auditors.

Share capital of MPI is EUR 11,533,653.40, divided into 115,336,534 fully paid up shares of the same category with a par value of EUR 0.10 each.

MPI has issued the following securities:

 

    Free shares definitively allocated on 20 June 2015 for which the lock-up period expires on 20 June 2017 (the “MPI Free Shares”);

 

    Free preferred shares convertible into ordinary shares to be definitively allocated on 22 May 2017, for which the lock-up period expires on 22 May 2019 and the conversion period on 22 May 2022 (the “MPI Free Preferred Shares”). On the date of the Agreement, a total of 75,000 shares could potentially be issued upon conversion of MPI Free Preferred Shares.

MPI had 4 employees as at 31 December 2014.

 

1.3 Existing relations between the Parties

 

  1.3.1 Share capital

As at the date hereof, MAUREL & PROM and MPI do not have any cross-holdings.

 

  1.3.2 Shared corporate officers

Mr Jean-François Hénin is chairman of the board for MAUREL & PROM and for MPI.

Ms Nathalie Delapalme, Mr Emmanuel de Marion de Glatigny and Mr Xavier Blandin are directors on the boards of directors for MAUREL & PROM and for MPI.

Mr Michel Hochard is MAUREL & PROM Managing Director and MPI Deputy Managing Director.

 

  1.3.3 Tax regime

MAUREL & PROM and MPI are both subject to the rules for corporation tax.

 

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2. MOTIVATIONS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MERGER

MAUREL & PROM and MPI must currently face a difficult macroeconomic environment following the sudden drop in the price of oil, the lack of visibility related to their size, which limits their access to the best conditions that the financial markets have to offer and restricts their capacity for external growth in a capital-intensive industry.

Their merger is part and parcel of the consolidation trend within the sector affecting independent oil and gas exploration and production companies across the market. It would give the combined entity greater financial capacity through:

The merger is a strategic step in consolidation of the sector to which all independent oil exploration and production companies face. It would enable the combined entity to benefit from a reinforced financial capacity resulting from:

 

    a combination of significant cash flows from production in Gabon and Tanzania and dividends from Seplat in Nigeria;

 

    better access to financial markets; and

 

    substantial cost synergies and tax savings which, for example, would have represented EUR 14.5 million for the 2014 financial year on a pro forma basis, of which EUR 12 million in tax savings and EUR 2.5 million in operating expenses corresponding to listing, structural and management costs of MPI.

The merger would also enable the combined entity to benefit from an attractive combination of already developed onshore assets, offering a favourable oil (variable price)/gas (fixed price) product mix and greater geographic diversification combining (i) onshore operated assets generating substantial oil production with long-term visibility (including through Ezanga permit in Gabon held at 80%) (ii) operated assets that began producing gas on 20 August 2015 offering exposure to East African countries (Tanzania), (iii) a significant stake (21.76%) in Seplat, one of the leading indigenous operators in Nigeria with strong potential for growth, (iv) significant upside development and potential value increase in Canada and (v) exploration zones in Colombia, Myanmar and Namibia.

The consolidated entity would offer investors an attractive investment vehicle in terms of liquidity and market capitalisation with an optimized balance sheet and sustainable funding, ranking it among the top-tier independent European oil exploration/production companies.

In light of the above, MAUREL & PROM and MPI have decided to proceed with the Merger.

*            *

*

 

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NOW THEREFORE, the Parties have drawn up this Agreement.

ARTICLE 1. PLANNED MERGER OF MPI INTO MAUREL & PROM

Subject to satisfaction of the Conditions Precedent (as defined below) and in keeping with the conditions set out herein, MPI hereby transfers all its assets and liabilities together with all the standard legal and de facto guarantees in such matters in accordance with the conditions provided in articles L.236-1 et seq. and R.236-1 et seq. of the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce) to MAUREL & PROM, which accepts this transfer. It is understood that:

 

  as the Parties have decided to give the Merger retroactive effect for accounting and tax purposes, the effective date of the Merger for accounting and tax purposes will be the first day of the then current MPI financial year on the Final Completion Date (hereinafter the “Effective Date”) in accordance with article L.236-4 of the French Commercial Code;

 

  All MPI assets and liabilities will be transferred to MAUREL & PROM such as they exist on the Final Completion Date (as this term is defined below);

 

  the Merger will entail the transfer of all MPI assets and liabilities, including any items not expressly referred to herein (the list set out in Article 5 is non-exhaustive), with no exceptions or reservations;

 

  MAUREL & PROM will become the debtor of MPI creditors in lieu and stead of MPI, but without such substitution involving any novation with regards to said creditors.

 

ARTICLE 2. MERGER AUDITORS AND INDEPENDENT EXPERT

In accordance with articles L.236-10 and R.236-6 of the French Commercial Code, Mr Olivier Péronnet and Mr Jacques Potdevin were appointed as Merger Auditors in an order issued by the presiding judge of the Paris Commercial Court on 1 September 2015. Their mission is to (i) examine the terms of the merger and specifically, to verify that the relative values attributed to MAUREL & PROM and MPI shares are appropriate and the exchange ratio is equitable and (ii) assess the value of the contributions in kind to be made as part of the merger between MAUREL & PROM and MPI.

The firm Associés en Finance, represented by Mr Arnaud Jacquillat, was appointed by the MPI board of directors as independent expert on 27 August 2015 at the recommendation of its ad hoc committee. The independent expert submitted a report to the board dated 15 October 2015, which included an opinion on the fairness of the planned exchange ratio.

 

ARTICLE 3. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT AND FINAL COMPLETION OF THE MERGER

 

3.1 Conditions precedent

The Merger and resulting dissolution of MPI are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent stipulated for the benefit of each party:

 

    confirmation by the French market authority, the Autorité des marchés financiers (“AMF”), that the Merger will not result in an obligation for Pacifico S.A. to launch a public bid shares of MAUREL & PROM and MPI pursuant to article 236-6 of the General Regulations of the AMF;

 

    approval of the Exceptional Distribution (such as defined in ARTICLE 5.3 of the Agreement) at the MPI extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders;

 

    approval of the Merger, this Agreement, and the resulting dissolution of MPI at the MPI extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders;

 

    approval of the Merger, this Agreement, and the resulting MAUREL & PROM issue of new shares as consideration for the merger of MPI into MAUREL & PROM at the MAUREL & PROM extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders;

(the “Conditions Precedent”).

 

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3.2 Merger Completion

The Merger and resulting dissolution of MPI will be fully completed at 11.59 pm on the fourth trading day following the approval of the Merger by the shareholders of MAUREL & PROM and of MPI if the last Condition Precedent has been satisfied within the above-mentioned timeframe or, if the last Condition Precedent has not been satisfied within the above-mentioned timeframe, at 11.59 pm on the date the last Condition Precedent is satisfied (the “Final Completion Date”).

Satisfaction of the Conditions Precedent will be considered to be adequately demonstrated vis-à-vis any party on presentation of a certified extract of the minutes to the MPI and MAUREL & PROM board of directors’ meetings recording the satisfaction of the Conditions Precedent.

If the Conditions Precedent have not been satisfied by 29 February 2016 (inclusive), the Agreement will deemed null and void and no compensation will be owed by either Party to the other.

Completion of the Merger will be recorded in the compliance statement (déclaration de régularité et de conformité) signed by the Parties in accordance with articles L.236-6 and R.236-4 of the French Commercial Code.

 

ARTICLE 4. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS USED FOR ESTABLISHING TERMS OF THE TRANSACTION

 

4.1 MPI financial statements

The terms and conditions of the Agreement have been established by reference to MPI’s consolidated annual financial statements and individual financial statements as at 31 December 2014, using the same methods and presentation as for the previous annual balance sheet (“Transaction Financial Statements”). The Transaction Financial Statements are appended hereto in Schedule 4.1.

The MPI consolidated financial statements as at 31 December 2014 and as at 30 June 2015 and the individual financial statements as at 31 December 2014 will be made available to the shareholders in accordance with article R.236-3 of the French Commercial Code.

 

4.2 MAUREL & PROM financial statements

The terms and conditions of the Agreement have been established by reference to MAUREL & PROM’s consolidated annual financial statements and individual financial statements as at 31 December 2014, using the same methods and presentation as for the previous annual balance sheet. These financial statements are appended hereto in Schedule 4.2.

The MAUREL & PROM consolidated financial statements as at 31 December 2014 and as at 30 June 2015 and the individual financial statements as at 31 December 2014 will be made available to the shareholders in accordance with article R.236-3 of the French Commercial Code.

 

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It is understood, however, that the reference to the MPI assets and liabilities covered in the Transaction Financial Statements for the purpose establishing the Merger terms and conditions will not affect the actual content of such assets and liabilities, which will be transferred to MAUREL & PROM such as they exist on the Final Completion Date.

 

ARTICLE 5. DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES TO BE TRANSFERRED

MPI will transfer all its assets, rights, obligations, and all other assets or liabilities to MAUREL & PROM.

Pursuant to the applicable accounting regulations, valuation of the assets transferred by MPI is determined on a on an actual value basis. The actual value of the assets transferred from MPI to MAUREL & PROM was determined using the multi-criteria method described in Schedule 5.

The list of assets and liabilities, rights, securities, and obligations set out below is non-exhaustive and for information only; all MPI assets and liabilities are to be transferred in full to MAUREL & PROM such as they exist on the Final Completion Date. It is understood that all additional information that may prove necessary to make a precise, complete, or special description, inter alia for the purpose of completing legal registration formalities and enacting the transfer that ensues from the Merger, may be provided in inventories, tables, agreements, and statements that may be collected together in one or more documents supplementing or rectifying the present document, and will be drawn up with input from both Parties.

The assets and liabilities to be transferred (as these appear in the Transaction Financial Statements) are as follows:

 

5.1 Transferred assets

MPI assets which are to be transferred to MAUREL & PROM include the goods, rights and values listed below (without limitation):

 

In thousands of EUR    Gross      Depreciation      Individual
MPI NAV as
at 31/12/2014
     Re-valuation
and
adjustment
    Actual
value
 

Seplat

     21 317         0         21 317         118 863        140 180   

Saint-Aubin Energie

     14 232         0         14 232           14 232   

Cardinal

     6 060         4 448         1 612         (1 612     0   

MPNATI

     83            83           83   

Financial assets

     41 692         4 448         37 245         117 251        154 496   

Inventory and outstanding receivables

     0         0         0           0   

Receivables

     50         0         50           50   

Loans to Seplat

     3         0         3           3   

Loans to MPNATI

     314         0         314           314   

Loans to Saint-Aubin Energie

     44 396         0         44 396         (6 315     38 081   

Incoming dividends

     5 950         0         5 950           5 950   

Other receivables

     6         0         6           6   

Own shares

     10 627         143         10 485         (10 485     0   

Cash and cash equivalents

     251 003         0         251 003           251 003   

Prepaid expenses

     22         0         22           22   

Unrealised foreign exchange losses

     1 968         0         1 968         (1 968     0   

Current assets

     314 340         143         314 197         (18 767     295 430   

Total assets transferred

     356 032         4 591         351 442         98 484        449 926   

 

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The main assets being transferred are Seplat securities, Saint-Aubin Energie securities and loans to Saint-Aubin Energie and cash/cash equivalents.

The actual value of MPI’s stake in Seplat has been determined at EUR 140 million. This is based on the average share price at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 4 months before 8 October 2015 (date on which the figures have been calculated for the boards of directors of MAUREL & PROM and MPI dated 15 October 2015 which approved the Agreement), i.e., EUR 1.16 per Seplat share (or GBP 0.8440 based on the average EUR/GBP exchange rate of 0.725 over the same period).

The determination of the actual value of MPI’s stake in Saint-Aubin Energie is based on MPI’s share (two-thirds) in past costs, in keeping with the oil sector practice when valuing assets for farm-out agreements.

The actual value of MPI assets to be transferred to MAUREL & PROM therefore totals: EUR 449,926,032.

It is understood that the transferred assets include all property and rights that MPI owns as at the Final Completion Date.

 

5.2 Transferred liabilities

MPI liabilities, all of which MAUREL & PROM will assume as debtor on the Final Completion Date, include the debts listed below (without limitation):

 

In thousands of EUR    Book value as at
31/12/2014
     Adjustment      Actual value  

Provisions for foreign exchange losses

     (1 968      1 968         0   

Provisions for IFC

     (106         (106

Provisions

     (2 073      1 968         (106

Debts for the Cardinal stake

     (1 612      1 612         0   

Trade notes

     (937         (937

Tax and social security liabilities

     (11 411         (11 411

Other payables

     (666         (666

Unrealised foreign exchange gains (on loans to Saint-Aubin Energie)

     (4 535      4 535         0   

Debts

     (19 160      6 146         (13 014

Total liabilities transferred

     (21 234      8 114         (13 119

The actual value of all MPI debts to be transferred to MAUREL & PROM therefore totals: EUR 13,119,425.

It is understood that any additional liabilities arising with MPI during the interval between the end of the reporting period for the Transaction Financial Statements (the “Reporting Date”) and the Final Completion Date, and generally any liability that is related to the MPI business and neither known nor foreseeable on the date hereof and appears at a later date will be assumed by MAUREL & PROM.

 

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5.3 Dividends distributed since 31 December 2014 and exceptional distribution

On 22 May 2015, the shareholders of MPI held a combined (ordinary and extraordinary) general meeting, at which they decided, at the proposal of the board of directors, to distribute dividends of EUR 0.30 per MPI share with dividend rights (excluding treasury shares), namely a total distributed amount of EUR 33,260,222.10.

In addition, the MPI general meeting of shareholders convened to approve the Merger and resulting dissolution of MPI is also to take a decision on an exceptional distribution of EUR 0.45 per share with dividend rights (the “Exceptional Distribution”) (see below Schedule 9) for a total amount of approximately EUR 49,797,000.

 

5.4 Net assets transferred

The total net assets transferred from MPI to MAUREL & PROM according to the above descriptions and valuations is EUR 353,749,589 determined as follows:

 

Calculation of net assets transferred    In thousands
of EUR
 

Transferred assets

     449 926   

Assumed liabilities

     (13 119

Deduction for the 2015 distribution of dividends out of 2014 reserves by MPI

     (33 260

Deduction for the MPI Exceptional Distribution

     (49 797

Total net assets transferred

     353 750   

The representative of MAUREL & PROM, in his official capacity, therefore expressly discharges MPI from submitting a more detailed description and hereby declares that he has reviewed the detail of the transferred net assets prior to the date hereof at the MPI registered office.

 

5.5 Off balance sheet commitments

MAUREL & PROM will be the beneficiary of commitments made to MPI and will replace MPI in bearing responsibility for the commitments it has made.

Aside from the first demand guarantee presented below, no significant off balance sheet commitments have been either made by or given to MPI and will be assumed by MAUREL & PROM.

Regarding the oil exploration programme project on Anticosti in Quebec, MPI has given MAUREL & PROM a first demand guarantee for a maximum amount of EUR 33,333,333 representing two thirds of the maximum amount that could be owed by MAUREL & PROM pursuant to the guarantee agreement.

 

ARTICLE 6. TRANSFER OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

MAUREL & PROM will pay the debts to third parties that are recorded as MPI liabilities, whether these debts are already in existence on the Reporting Date and have not yet been paid as at the Final Completion Date, or are contracted thereafter in the interval between the Reporting Date and the Final Completion Date, including all costs and expenses generated by the dissolution of MPI.

However it is understood that the provisions of the Agreement once final cannot in any way be deemed to qualify as acceleration of payment or acknowledgment of debt to a creditor; each creditor being required to establish and document its rights.

 

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ARTICLE 7. TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEES

Pursuant to article L.1224-1 of the French Employment Code, MAUREL & PROM will take on all current employment contracts with MPI that are in effect as at the Final Completion Date, together with all related undertakings and obligations and all MPI obligations vis-à-vis said employees.

The list of MPI employees transferred to MAUREL & PROM is set out in Schedule 7.

 

ARTICLE 8. TRANSITION PERIOD

 

8.1 Cooperation between the Parties

Beginning with the signature hereof and until the Final Completion Date, the Parties hereby undertake:

 

    to cooperate in good faith and make their best effort so the Merger is completed at the earliest opportunity, and in particular, to take all necessary steps to ensure the Conditions Precedent are satisfied as soon as possible from the date of the Agreement. The Parties undertake to keep each other informed of all steps taken and the progress towards satisfying the Conditions Precedent, and to ensure the other Party is able to make its own observations and comments on said progress;

In light of the bank finance agreements, MAUREL & PROM undertakes to obtain the banks’ agreement to the Merger, in keeping with the procedures set out in said financing agreements, before the Final Completion Date;

 

    to make their best efforts and fully cooperate with the AMF in order to prepare, file and register the information document on the Merger that will be made available to the MPI and MAUREL & PROM shareholders prior to the general meetings of the two companies convened to approve the Merger. Said document will be prepared following the outline presented in Appendix II to AMF Instruction no. 2005-11;

To this end, the Parties will fully cooperate and exchange all necessary information and, where relevant, the responses to be made to the additional information requests they may receive from the AMF. The Parties will keep one another regularly and promptly informed of how the review and registration of said document is progressing and will provide one another with copies of any request and/or official correspondence with the AMF in connection with the Merger. The Parties will consult one another before making any replies to the AMF and will ask the AMF to invite the other Party to attend any meeting that is organised between the AMF and one of the Parties.

 

8.2 Management of MPI and MAUREL & PROM

As from signature of this Agreement and until the Final Completion Date, MAUREL & PROM and MPI undertake to operate their businesses in the ordinary course as an ordinary prudent person, i.e. to engage in reasonable and customary day-to-day management.

 

ARTICLE 9. SHARE EXCHANGE RATIO

The share exchange ratio proposed to MAUREL & PROM and MPI shareholders is set at 1 MAUREL & PROM share for 1.75 MPI shares (i.e. 4 MAUREL & PROM shares for 7 MPI shares), implementing the respective valuations of the Parties set out in Schedule 9, such valuation being calculated, as specified in Schedule 9, post Exceptional Distribution.

The methods used to determine the excahnge ratio are set out in Schedule 9.

 

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ARTICLE 10. REMUNERATION OF CONTRIBUTION AND MAUREL & PROM SHARE CAPITAL INCREASE

MAUREL & PROM will issue new shares as consideration for the MPI shares.

Consequently, in accordance with the exchange ratio of 1.75 MPI shares for 1 MAUREL & PROM share, 63,234,026 fully paid-up new MAUREL & PROM shares with a par value of EUR 0.77 each will be issued by MAUREL & PROM as new shares for a total share capital increase of EUR 48,690,200.02.

Newly created shares will be allocated to the owners of the 110,659,545 shares that make up the MPI share capital (which are entitled to consideration) as at the Final Completion Date in proportion to their equity holdings.

After the Merger, the MAUREL & PROM share capital will have increased from EUR 93,604,436.31 to EUR 142,294,636.33. It will be divided into 184,798,229 fully paid-up shares of the same category with a par value of EUR 0.77 each.

As the exchange ratio for the Merger will be 1 MAUREL & PROM share for 1.75 MPI shares, the shareholders without the requisite proportion or a multiple thereof must transfer the share franctions or acquire the necessary rights to achieve the requisite proportion. MPI shareholders will be responsible for selling or purchasing share fractions, and MPI shareholders owning a number of MPI shares on the Final Completion Date such that they are not entitled to a whole number of new MAUREL & PROM shares will be deemed to have expressly agreed to participate in the mechanism described below for the disposal of new MAUREL & PROM share fractions.

 

10.1 Vesting rights and rights attached to the new shares

The shares issued by MAUREL & PROM in consideration of the Merger will carry current dividend rights as from the Final Completion Date. As soon as they are issued, they will rank equally with outstanding shares and be submitted to all provisions of the articles of association and the same obligations; in particular they will entitle holders to all dividends, interim dividends, or distributions from reserve accounts that may be decided upon after the issue date.

All new MAUREL & PROM shares will be eligible for trading once the issue of new shares in consideration for the Merger has been fully completed pursuant to the provisions of article L.228-10 of the French Commercial Code. A request for a listing of the new shares issued by MAUREL & PROM on the regulated market of Euronext Paris (compartment A) will be made at the earliest opportunity following the issue date, under the same identification number as the existing shares making up the share capital of MAUREL & PROM (ISIN code FR0000051070). The terms for the listing of the new shares issued by MAUREL & PROM will be specified in a Euronext Paris notice.

Unless the relevant MPI shareholders agree otherwise, any divided ownership of MPI shares will automatically be transferred to the new MAUREL & PROM shares issued as consideration for MPI shares and in accordance with the ratio of such dividend ownership.

In accordance with article L.225-124 of the French Commercial Code, new MAUREL & PROM registered shares issued as consideration for the Merger will include double voting rights, if the MPI shares being exchanged carried double voting rights. For shareholders who have held registered MPI shares for less than four (4) years, the period for which the MPI shares exchanged in the Merger have been registered in the name of the same shareholder will be taken into account when calculating the period of four (4) years of ownership of double voting rights for the new MAUREL & PROM shares remitted in exchange.

 

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10.2 Effect of the Merger on MPI Free Shares and MPI Free Preferred Shares

 

  10.2.1 Effect of the Merger on MPI Free Shares

New MAUREL & PROM shares will be issued in consideration of the Merger and exchanged for MPI Free Shares still under lock-up period, it being understood that (i) new MAUREL & PROM shares will be allocated in consideration of the MPI Free Shares at the exchange ratio applicable for the Merger and (ii) the new MAUREL & PROM shares issued in consideration of the MPI Free Shares will be subject to the remaining lock-up period for the MPI Free Shares and other applicable terms of the MPI Free Shares plan in accordance with article L.225-197-1 III of the French Commercial Code and the terms of the MPI Free Shares plan.

 

  10.2.2 Effect of the Merger on MPI Free Preferred Shares

In accordance with the provisions of articles L.225-197-1 and L.228-17 of the French Commercial Code and (ii) of article 16 of the MPI Free Preferred Share plan of 22 May 2015, MAUREL & PROM will automatically replace MPI in MPI’s obligations towards the beneficiaries of the MPI Free Preferred Shares, it being specified that the exchange ratio will be applied to the maximum number of MPI shares obtained from the conversion of the MPI Free Preferred Shares. The relevant bodies of MAUREL & PROM will propose securities with equivalent features to the beneficiaries under the conditions set forth by law.

 

10.3 Unallocated new shares representing fractional rights

Pursuant to the provisions of articles L.228-6-1 and R.228-12 of the French Commercial Code, any new shares not allocated to MPI shareholders that represent fractional rights will be sold. The sale of these new shares and the allocation of the proceeds from the sales must occur within thirty (30) days as from the latest date the whole number of allocated shares is recorded on the holder’s account.

The new shares representing fractional rights will be sold on Euronext Paris through a clearing bank. The bank will be selected to facilitate the remittal and payment of net proceeds from the sale of new shares representing fractional rights in order to allocate the proceeds to the relevant MPI shareholders. The designated intermediary will sell the new shares on the Euronext Paris regulated market on behalf of participating MPI shareholders. Shareholders participating in the sale of fractional rights will receive net proceeds pro rata to their participation in the scheme. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that no interest will be paid on the cash amount to be received by MPI shareholders in consideration for a share fractions, even where payment of said amount has been delayed.

 

10.4 Unclaimed new shares

Pursuant to the provisions of articles L.228-6-3 and R.228-14 of the French Commercial Code, new shares whose holders are unknown to the custody account keeper (teneur de compte) or holders who have not been reached by notices for ten (10) full years may be sold after a period of one (1) year in accordance with the terms set out in article R.228-12, second paragraph of the French Commercial Code.

 

ARTICLE 11. MERGER PREMIUM

The difference between (i) the net assets to be transferred, i.e. EUR 353,749,589, and (ii) the amount of the share capital increase of MAUREL & PROM, i.e. EUR 48,690,200.02, constitutes the merger premium, in an amount of EUR 305,059,388.98, which will be recorded in the financial statements in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

 

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This amount will be recorded as a liability in the MAUREL & PROM balance sheet under item “Merger Premium”, on which the rights of all existing and future shareholders of MAUREL & PROM will apply.

The merger premium may be allocated in accordance with currently applicable principles as decided by the general meeting of the shareholders of MAUREL & PROM. A proposal will be submitted to the MAUREL & PROM shareholders at the general meeting convened to approve the Merger to authorise the board of directors to deduct any amounts from the merger premium for the purpose of (i) replenishing all regulated reserves or provisions recorded in the MPI balance sheet as part of the liabilities on the balance sheet of MAUREL & PROM; (ii) paying, out of the merger premium, all expenses, taxes and fees incurred or payable as a result of the Merger; (iii) paying, out of the merger premium, all amounts required to ensure that the legal reserve account corresponds to one tenth of the new post-Merger share capital amount; and (iv) paying, out of the merger premium, all omitted or undisclosed liabilities pertaining to the transferred assets.

 

ARTICLE 12. OWNERSHIP AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE MERGER FOR ACCOUNTING AND TAX PURPOSES

Ownership of all assets and rights of MPI (including any assets and rights omitted from the Agreement or from the financial statements of MPI) will be transferred to MAUREL & PROM on the Final Completion Date. MAUREL & PROM undertakes to accept all transferred assets and liabilities such as they exist on the Final Completion Date.

Pursuant to the provisions of article L.236-4 2° of the French Commercial Code, MAUREL & PROM and MPI expressly agree that the effective date of the Merger from an accounting and tax point of view will be retroactive to the first day of the then current MPI financial year on the Final Completion Date and will therefore occur prior to the date upon which the Merger proposal is submitted to the shareholders of MAUREL & PROM and MPI for approval, such that all earnings or losses generated by any and all transactions carried out by MPI commencing on the first day of its financial year in progress on the Final Completion Date and until the Final Completion Date will be recorded by MAUREL & PROM in so far as these transactions will be deemed to have been carried out by MAUREL & PROM.

 

ARTICLE 13. CHARGES AND CONDITIONS

 

13.1 General charges and conditions

Pursuant to the provisions of article L.236-14 of the French Commercial Code, non-bondholders creditors of MAUREL & PROM and MPI with claims arising prior to the publication date of the Agreement have a period of thirty (30) days to oppose the merger as from the last date of publication as provided for in article R.236-2 of the French Commercial Code or as from the date on which the Agreement is published on the website of each of the Parties, as provided for in article R.236-2-1 of the French Commercial Code. Any opposition by a creditor must be submitted to the Commercial Court, which may dismiss the claim or order its repayment or the granting of guarantees if any such guarantees are offered by MAUREL & PROM and if they are deemed sufficient. Failing the repayment of the claims or granting of guarantees as ordered, the Merger will not be enforceable against the opposing creditors. In accordance with the law, any opposition made by a creditor will not prevent the Parties from proceeding with any operations pertaining to the Merger.

 

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13.2 Charges and conditions pertaining to MAUREL & PROM

The transfers made as part of the Merger will be subject to the standard legal charges and conditions applicable to such cases, including those listed below, which the representative of MAUREL & PROM undertakes to ensure are carried out and completed.

 

    MAUREL & PROM will be subrogated to all MPI rights and obligations relating to the assets and liabilities transferred via the Merger.

 

    MAUREL & PROM will take all assets and rights transferred to it regardless of the form thereof, including all assets and rights omitted from the Agreement or the MPI financial statements, in the condition and state in which they are found on the Final Completion Date, with no available remedy against MPI on any basis.

 

    As from the Final Completion Date, MAUREL & PROM will bear all taxes, contributions, premiums and subscriptions and all other expenses, taxes and fees relating to the business and assets transferred.

 

    MAUREL & PROM will carry out all applicable formalities with a view to rendering the transfer of assets enforceable against third parties.

 

    MAUREL & PROM will be subrogated to all rights and obligations pertaining to all employment contracts in force on the Final Completion Date in accordance with the law and by sole operation of the Merger.

 

    MAUREL & PROM will be bound by all off-balance sheet commitments made by MPI on the same terms, including all forms of guarantee (caution, garantie, aval) granted by MPI, and will benefit from all related counter-guarantees and security and, more generally, all off-balance sheet commitments received.

 

    As from the Final Completion Date, MAUREL & PROM will be subrogated to all causes, actions and proceedings pending before the judicial courts and arbitral tribunals to which MPI is a party. MAUREL & PROM will have full power to commence or act as a defendant in all pending or future judicial proceedings or arbitral actions in the stead of MPI, to agree to all decisions and to receive or pay all sums payable as a result of an award or settlement.

 

    All securities and rights held or owned by MPI in third party companies will be transferred to MAUREL & PROM by sole operation of the Merger; MAUREL & PROM will thus become a shareholder of said companies or holder and/or owner of said rights subject to compliance with the applicable legal, regulatory and contractual conditions. The Parties will comply with the provisions of all laws, regulations, contracts and articles of association concerning the transferability of securities and rights, including those relating to approvals and pre-emptive rights if applicable in the event of a merger. MPI or, as applicable, MAUREL & PROM, will notify any and all necessary third parties of the transfer of the securities further to the Merger in accordance with the conditions applicable in each case. Any failure by the Parties to obtain an approval where such approval is legally required will not compromise the validity of the Merger or the Agreement.

 

    As from the Final Completion Date, MAUREL & PROM will bear and must perform all agreements, contracts and undertakings as may have been contracted by MPI and are in effect on the Final Completion Date. MAUREL & PROM will be subrogated at its own risk to all rights and obligations arising out of the above commitments, contracted by MPI, with no available remedy against the latter. Should the transfer of certain contracts or assets be conditional upon obtaining the agreement or approval of a co-contracting party or any other third party, MAUREL & PROM will request all necessary agreements or approvals.

 

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    MAUREL & PROM will have sole rights to the dividends and other earnings due on the securities and rights in companies transferred to it by MPI and will take personal responsibility for transferring said securities and rights into its name following the Final Completion Date.

 

    MAUREL & PROM will have sole ownership of the trademarks, domain names and other intellectual property rights of MPI as from the Final Completion Date. Consequently, from such date MAUREL & PROM will have the exclusive right to use and exploit all such rights without restriction and as it deems fit throughout the territory in which they are protected, it being specified that MAUREL & PROM will assume and will be subrogated to all rights and obligations arising out of all agreements relating to said intangible assets concluded with third parties.

 

    As from the Final Completion Date, MAUREL & PROM will be automatically subrogated to all rights, actions, charges over property (hypothèques), liens (privilèges), guarantees and security interests, whether personal or over property, of all types as may be attached to all claims held by MPI.

 

    MAUREL & PROM will complete, if necessary, all applicable formalities for the transfer of the assets and to render such transfer enforceable against all third parties; all necessary powers are hereby granted to the bearer of an excerpt from or copy of this Agreement.

 

13.3 Charges and conditions pertaining to MPI

The transfers made as part of the Merger will be carried out with the standard guarantees and subject to the standard legal charges and conditions in such cases, including those listed below:

 

    As from the date hereof until the Final Completion Date and save with the approval of MAUREL & PROM, MPI undertakes to refrain from entering into any agreements for the sale of the assets to be transferred and not to sign any agreement, contract or undertaking outside the ordinary course of business;

 

    MPI will supply MAUREL & PROM with all information it may require, sign all documents and provide all relevant assistance to ensure that both the transfer of assets and rights and the Agreement are fully effective and enforceable over all third parties.

 

ARTICLE 14. REPRESENTATIONS

 

14.1 Representations of MAUREL & PROM

As at the date of the Agreement, MAUREL & PROM represents that:

 

    it has full capacity to contract and is not subject to any measures which could impair its civil capacity;

 

    it has obtained the necessary authorisations from the appropriate decision-making bodies to sign and perform the Agreement;

 

    it is a duly incorporated company, is not subject to any action for a declaration of invalidity and does not meet the criteria for early dissolution as provided by French law;

 

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    it is not and has never been insolvent (en état de cessation des paiements), subject to pre-insolvency (conciliation, sauvegarde, sauvegarde financière, sauvegarde financière accélérée) or insolvency proceedings (redressement, liquidation judiciaire, liquidation amiable) or any other equivalent proceedings;

 

    no proceedings have been brought against it that could fully or significantly impair its ability to carry on its business as currently carried on; and

 

    there is no risk of confiscation or any other form of expropriation with respect to its assets and liabilities.

 

14.2 Representations of MPI

As at the date of the Agreement, MPI represents that:

 

    it has full capacity to contract and is not subject to any measures which could impair its civil capacity;

 

    it has obtained the necessary authorisations from the appropriate decision-making bodies to sign and perform the Agreement;

 

    it is a duly incorporated company, is not subject to any action for a declaration of invalidity and does not meet the criteria for early dissolution as provided by French law; and

 

    it is not and has never been insolvent, subject to pre-insolvency or insolvency proceedings or any other equivalent proceedings.

Regarding the transfers made as part of the Merger, MPI represents that:

 

    no proceedings have been brought against it that could fully or significantly impair its ability to carry on its business as currently carried on;

 

    there are no financial or other commitments, including any amounts payable as a result of a dispute or potential dispute, that might affect the valuation of the assets transferred as part of the Merger; and

 

    there is no risk of confiscation or any other form of expropriation with respect to its assets and liabilities.

 

ARTICLE 15. DISSOLUTION OF MPI

MAUREL & PROM and MPI agree that the Merger will be complete on the Final Completion Date.

Pursuant to the provisions of article L.236-3 I of the French Commercial Code, as a result of the transfer of all of its assets and liabilities to MAUREL & PROM, MPI will be automatically dissolved without liquidation on the Final Completion Date.

The shares issued by MAUREL & PROM to remunerate the Merger will be directly allocated to the shareholders of MPI based on the exchange ratio defined in Article ARTICLE 9 above.

 

ARTICLE 16. TAX PROVISIONS

 

16.1 General undertaking to file tax returns

The representatives of MAUREL & PROM and MPI will ensure that these companies comply with all applicable laws with respect to the returns to be filed for the payment of corporate income tax (impôt sur les sociétés) and all other forms of tax to which the Merger gives rise, in accordance with the provisions set out below.

 

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16.2 Retroactive effect

The Merger will take effect from a tax and accounting point of view on the first day of the then current financial year of MPI on the Final Completion Date.

The Parties acknowledge that the retroactive effect of the Merger will have full effect from a tax point of view and undertake to bear the resulting consequences.

 

16.3 Corporate income tax

As provided for above, the Merger will take effect for tax and accounting purposes on the first day of the then current financial year of MPI on the Final Completion Date. All tax credits and losses arising after such date out of the business of MPI will thus be incorporated into the taxable income of MAUREL & PROM for the financial year in progress on the Final Completion Date.

The representatives of MAUREL & PROM and MPI represent that on the Final Completion Date: (i) MAUREL & PROM and MPI are both submitted to corporate income tax and have their registered offices in France; (ii) the Merger will be submitted to the preferential tax rules set forth in article 210 A of the French Tax Code (Code Général des Impôts).

Accordingly, MAUREL & PROM expressly undertake to comply with all of the commitments set forth in article 210 A of the French Tax Code and in particular, as applicable, to:

 

  (i) incorporate into its liabilities all MPI provisions subject to deferred taxation that will not be rendered ineffective by the Merger, including any regulated provisions;

 

  (ii) assume the obligations of MPI with respect to adding back any profits/losses carried forward for tax purposes;

 

  (iii) calculate the capital gains generated on the sale of any non-depreciable non-current assets received as part of the Merger, pursuant to article 210 A of the French Tax Code, based on the value of these assets, from a tax point of view, recorded in MPI financial statements on the Final Completion Date;

 

  (iv) add back to its income liable to corporate income tax, under the conditions set forth in article 210 A of the French Tax Code, any capital gains generated by the Merger as a result of the transfer of depreciable assets, and to include to the result of the financial year of the sale any untaxed portion of the capital gains on assets sold prior to the expiry of the add back period as part of its profits or losses for the year;

 

  (v) record, in its balance sheet, those assets transferred to it, excluding non-current and equivalent assets as provided for in article 210 A(6) of the French Tax Code, at the value of said assets, from a tax point of view, in the financial statements of MPI or, failing this, record the profit corresponding to the difference between the new value of these assets and their previous value, from a tax point of view, in the financial statements of MPI as part of the income for the financial year;

 

  (vi) comply with the tax reporting obligations set forth in article 54 septies I and II of the French Tax Code, i.e.:

 

    append to the tax returns of the Parties a statement of the capital gains on the transferred assets containing the information required by article 38 quindecies of Appendix III to the French Tax Code,

 

    with respect to MAUREL & PROM, keep a special register of capital gains on non-depreciable assets, to be retained until the end of the third year following that in which the last asset entered into the register is no longer recorded as an asset of MPI, under the conditions set forth in article L.102 B of the French Code of Tax Procedures (Livre des procédures fiscales); this register must be disclosed in the event of a tax audit.

 

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Pursuant to the provisions of article 145 of the French Tax Code, for any investment securities transferred under the preferential rules set forth in article 210 A of the French Tax Code, the retention period applicable to MAUREL & PROM will be deemed to have commenced on the date of subscription or acquisition of the securities by MPI;

 

  (vii) in general, assume the profits and/or charges from all tax-related commitments arising out of any and all assets and liabilities transferred as part of the Merger as may have been taken out or over by MPI as part of any previous transactions to which preferential tax rules were applied with respect to registration and/or corporate income tax or other revenue-related tax.

 

16.4 Value Added Tax (VAT)

In so far as the Merger constitutes a transfer of all assets and liabilities of MPI and as MAUREL & PROM and MPI are liable to VAT, article 257 bis of the French Tax Code and the principles set forth in BOFIP BOI-TVA-CHAMP-10-10-50-10-20121001 will apply:

 

  (i) all deliveries of goods and services carried out between parties liable to VAT as part of a universal transfer of assets and liabilities (transmission universelle de patrimoine) are exempt from VAT. This exemption applies to all goods and services concerned by the transfer, regardless of the nature thereof;

 

  (ii) MAUREL & PROM will assume all rights and obligations of MPI, including with respect to adjustments of the tax deducted by MPI:

 

    as applicable, MAUREL & PROM must make all adjustments of the tax deduction rights provided for in article 207 to Appendix II to the French Tax Code, which MPI would have had to make had it continued to use the assets in question;

 

    MAUREL & PROM and MPI will enter the total amount before tax of the value of the goods transferred as part of the Merger on their VAT returns for the period during which the Merger is to take place. This amount should be entered under “Autres opérations non imposables” (BOI-TVA-DECLA-20-30-20-20120912 § 20);

 

  (iii) with respect to VAT credits, pursuant to the principles set out in BOFIP BOI-TVA-DED-50-20-20-20140513 no.130, MPI will automatically transfer all VAT credits available to it to MAUREL & PROM, if any, on the Final Completion Date:

 

    MPI will send two copies of the appropriate tax form reporting the transfer of its VAT credit to MAUREL & PROM to its allocated tax office;

 

    MAUREL & PROM must notify its allocated tax office of the amount of any credits transferred to it, citing the Merger with MPI as a reference;

 

    MAUREL & PROM will provide any and all accounting documentation to the tax office to justify the amount of the deduction rights included in the credit;

 

  (iv) transfers of immovable property liable to VAT on property will be “reported as non-existent” for the purposes of article 257-7 of the French Tax Code.

 

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16.5 Registration tax

The Parties represent that the Merger falls within the scope of the special rules set forth in article 816 of the French Tax Code in so far as it is to be carried out under conditions that comply with the provisions of articles 301-B and 301-F of Appendix II to the French Tax Code.

Accordingly, the Merger will be subject to a single fixed-rate registration tax of EUR 500.

 

16.6 Other taxes

 

  (i) Contribution Economique Territoriale (“CET”)

CET is payable by the taxpayer carrying on the applicable business on 1 January. In so far as the retroactive effect of the Merger has no bearing on CET, MPI will remain liable for the payment of this tax on the business in 2015. However, by operation of the Merger, MAUREL & PROM will assume the obligations of MPI for the payment of CET 2015.

 

  (ii) Miscellaneous tax provisions

In general, MAUREL & PROM will automatically be subrogated to the rights and obligations of MPI with respect to all taxes and other tax obligations to which it may be subject and the benefits of any surplus or credit.

For the avoidance of doubt, MAUREL & PROM undertakes to bear all payments of the taxe d’apprentissage and participation au financement de la formation professionnelle continue employment contributions to which MPI may be liable starting from the first day of its financial year that is in progress on the Final Completion Date.

Pursuant to the provisions of article 163 of Appendix II to the French Tax Code, MAUREL & PROM undertakes to bear all obligations relating to the participation des employeurs à l’effort de construction employment contribution to which MPI will continue to be liable on the Final Completion Date for all salaries paid by MPI starting from the first day of its financial year that is in progress on the Final Completion Date.

 

ARTICLE 17. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

17.1 Costs

Each Party will bear all costs and expenses it may incur for the negotiation and performance of the Agreement, it being specified that should the Merger take place, all costs, taxes and fees resulting therefrom and from all consequences thereof will be borne in full by MAUREL & PROM.

 

17.2 Delivery of documents

All titles of ownership, securities, contracts, archives, exhibits, accounting books and other documents relating to the transferred assets will be delivered by MPI to MAUREL & PROM on the Final Completion Date.

 

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17.3 Governing law and jurisdiction

Any issues pertaining to the validity, interpretation and performance of the Agreement will be governed by French law.

Any disputes arising out of or in connection to the Agreement or its schedules that cannot be settled out of court will be submitted, where permitted by law, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Paris Commercial Court.

 

17.4 Notifications

For the purposes of the Agreement and any subsequent agreements and for all service of documents and notices, the addresses for service of the Parties will be their respective registered offices.

 

17.5 Validity

If any provision of the Agreement is or becomes invalid, this will not affect the validity of the other provisions of the Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect.

In the above circumstances, the Parties will cooperate to draft a replacement clause which, to the greatest extent possible, achieves the intended result of the invalid provision.

 

17.6 Amendments and waivers

The Parties agree that this Agreement may only be amended by written amendment signed by all the Parties. However, each Party may individually waive a right conferred by this Agreement or a condition stipulated in its benefit, subject to notification in writing of such waiver to the other Party.

 

17.7 Formalities

MAUREL & PROM will carry out all necessary formalities relating to the filing and publication of the Merger.

MAUREL & PROM will assume personal responsibility for all necessary declarations and formalities with respect to all appropriate authorities to transfer the assets into its name.

In general, MAUREL & PROM will complete all necessary formalities to render the transfer of assets and rights enforceable against third parties.

The Parties will file a copy of the Agreement with the registry of the Paris Commercial Court and will comply with all publication obligations set forth in the provisions of articles L.236-6, R.236-3 (or, as applicable, R.236-3-1) and R.236-2-1 of the French Commercial Code.

Pursuant to the provisions of article R.236-2-1 of the French Commercial Code, MAUREL & PROM and MPI will publish the Agreement and the merger notice on their respective websites for a continuous period of thirty (30) days before the Final Completion Date and under conditions that guarantee the security and authenticity of these documents.

 

17.8 Powers

All powers are hereby expressly granted to:

 

    the undersigned, in their official capacity as the representatives of the companies concerned by the Merger, acting individually or collectively, to take all necessary actions by way of all additional or supplementary agreements;

 

    to the bearers of an original, copy or official copy (expédition) of the Agreement or a certified excerpt therefrom to carry out all formalities and make all declarations, serve all notices, make all filings, registrations and publications and, in general, to meet all necessary legal formalities.

*            *

*

 

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Executed in Paris, as at the date hereof,
In seven original counterparts,

 

ETABLISSEMENTS
MAUREL & PROM S.A.
By:  

 

Position:  

 

 

MPI S.A.
By:  

 

Position:  

 

 

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LIST OF SCHEDULES

 

SCHEDULE 4.1    Annual financial statements of MPI as at 31 December 2014
SCHEDULE 4.2    Annual financial statements of MAUREL & PROM as at 31 December 2014
SCHEDULE 5    Multi-criteria method for the calculation of the actual value of the transferred assets
SCHEDULE 7    List of MPI employees to be transferred to MAUREL & PROM
SCHEDULE 9    Calculation of the exchange ratio

 

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SCHEDULE 4.1

Annual financial statements of MPI as at 31 December 2014

 

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SCHEDULE 4.2

Annual financial statements of MAUREL & PROM as at 31 December 2014

 

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SCHEDULE 5

Multi-criteria method for the determination of the actual value of the transferred assets

 

  Determination of the actual value of the stake in Seplat

The determination of an actual value for MPI’s stake in Seplat is EUR 140 million. It is based on the average share price at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 4 months prior to 8 October 2015 (date on which the figures have been calculated for the boards of directors of MAUREL & PROM and MPI dated 15 October 2015 and having approved the Agreement), i.e. EUR 1.16 per Seplat share (or GBP 0.8440 at an average EUR/GBP exchange rate over the same period of 0.725).

The averages were taken from market data provided by BNPP.

Seplat market valuation

 

Nombre de titres Seplat (en millions)

     553,310   

MPI’s stake in Seplat

     21,76

 

     Seplat share
price (£)
     Seplat share
price (€)
     Seplat market
cap (€m)
     MPI stake in
Seplat (€m)
 

spot (8/10/2015)

     0,780         1,06         585         127   

1m average

     0,802         1,09         605         132   

2m average

     0,803         1,10         610         133   

3m average

     0,880         1,22         676         147   

4m average

     0,891         1,24         686         149   

6m average

     1,052         1,46         808         176   

9m average

     1,175         1,62         895         195   

12m average

     1,272         1,71         948         206   

moyenne 1m, 2m, 3m et 4m

     0,844         1,16         1         140   

 

  Determination of the actual value of the stake in Saint-Aubin Energie

The determination of an actual value for MPI’s stake in Saint-Aubin Energie is based on MPI’s share (two-thirds) in past costs, in keeping with the oil sector practice when valuing assets for farm-out agreements.

Past costs amount to EUR 78,097,000. They are determined on the basis of the following elements taken from the audited financial statements of Saint-Aubin Energie as at 31 December 2014:

 

    securities held by Saint Aubin Energie in its subsidiaries (excluding Maurel & Prom Irak): EUR 114,000;

 

    shareholder loans granted by Saint-Aubin Energie to its subsidiaries (excluding Maurel & Prom Irak) including restated accrued interest on corresponding unrealised foreign exchange gains: EUR 77,768,000;

 

    free cash flow: EUR 215,000.

 

  Determination of the actual value of other receivables, debts and free cash flows

Other receivables, debts and free cash flows will be transferred at their net book value as stated in MPI’s audited financial statements as at 31 December 2014.

The value of the Cardinal securities recorded as an asset has been set off against the debt on the investment.

Treasury shares will be transferred at a value of zero as they are to be cancelled.

 

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Unrealised foreign exchange losses and the related provision for foreign exchange losses have been set off.

The unrealised foreign exchange gains on the loans granted to Saint-Aubin Energie will not be transferred as they have been included in the actual value of Saint Aubin Energie, as explained above.

 

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SCHEDULE 7

List of MPI employees to be transferred to MAUREL & PROM

 

  Marc de Rodellec

 

  Clémentine Eichinger

 

  Olivier Carpentier

 

  Patrick Subiros

 

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SCHEDULE 9

Calculation of the exchange ratio

The consideration for the transfers and the method of calculation of the exchange ratio were jointly determined by the MAUREL & PROM and MPI boards of directors.

 

  1. Criteria used to compare the companies

The proposed exchange ratio of 1 MAUREL & PROM share for 1.75 MPI shares (corresponding to an exchange ratio of 4 MAUREL & PROM shares for 7 MPI shares), post-Exceptional Distribution, was determined using a multi-criteria approach relying on the usual and appropriate valuation methods for the Merger, taking into account the specific characteristics of the oil and gas exploration and production industry.

The following were applied:

 

  an analysis of the MAUREL & PROM and MPI historical share prices; and

 

  a comparison of the valuations obtained for MAUREL & PROM and for MPI using the revalued net asset value (RNAV) method, based mainly on the value of the principal assets of the two companies using the discounted cash flow (DCF) method.

In light of the above, the exchange ratio was determined as the ratio between the values of the equity of MAUREL & PROM and of MPI after taking into account the Exceptional Distribution.

 

  2. Criteria not used to compare the companies

The following methods were not applied:

Financial analysts’ forecasts of share prices

This method was not selected given the lack of regular coverage of MPI by financial analysts and the limited coverage of MAUREL & PROM.

Comparable peers

This method was not selected given (i) the lack of listed exploration and production companies that are truly comparable to MAUREL & PROM or to MPI, particularly in terms of geographical exposure, the gas/oil mix of reserves and the exploration/production mix and (ii) MPI’s unique position as an oil and gas exploration and production company and a holding company.

Comparable transactions

This method was not selected given the lack of comparable past transactions (in terms of oil and gas prices, geographical exposure and business mix) of which the terms are publicly available.

Net asset value

The net asset value method consists in calculating the value of a company by subtracting its debts from its assets as recorded in the balance sheet. This method, which is based on the historical value of assets and liabilities, was not selected in so far as it does not account for the current value of a company’s assets and liabilities or development prospects.

Dividend discount model

The dividend discount model is relevant where a value is traditionally considered as capitalised income value. In the present case, the method was rejected since MAUREL & PROM has not distributed dividends since 2013.

 

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  3. Basis for the calculation of the exchange ratio

Historical share price

The ratio between the share prices of MAUREL & PROM and MPI, taking into account the amount of the Exceptional Distribution, was calculated on the basis of their respective closing prices on the date of the announcement of the Merger and their weighted average prices 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months before this date.

Revalued Net Asset Value (RNAV)

The analysis of the revalued net asset value of MAUREL & PROM and of MPI is chiefly based on the DCF value of the principal assets of the two companies taking into account (i) the reserves reports issued at end 2014 by DeGolyer and MacNaughton for the assets in Gabon owned by MAUREL & PROM and Seplat (of which MPI owns 21.76%) and by RPS Energy for the assets in Tanzania owned by MAUREL & PROM, and (ii) the most recent estimates issued by these companies.

Consistent economic hypotheses were selected for the two companies for the DCF valuation:

 

  value at 30 June 2015;

 

  discount rates taking into account country-specific risks (10% for Gabon and Tanzania and 12% for Nigeria); and

 

  oil price per barrel based on the Forward graph at three (3) years and a long-term hypothesis of US$ 80 per barrel, based on analyst consensus in September 2015.

Sensitivity analyses of the main parameters of the valuation were carried out, especially of the discount rates and the expected price of oil per barrel. Variations were analysed of plus/minus 1% from the discount rates assumed in the main hypothesis, and plus/minus US$ 5 per barrel around the assumed long-term Brent price in the main hypothesis. Other sensitivity analyses were conducted, for example on the operational costs and the investments hypotheses. The result is that Brent price is the most sensitive hypothesis.

The calculation of the equity value of the companies as opposed to their enterprise value (especially with respect to net financial debt) was established based on the consolidated financial statements as at 30 June 2015 of MAUREL & PROM and MPI.

It is important to note that no holding company discount was accounted for in the assessment of MPI’s value per share based on its revalued net asset value. However, an average holding company discount of 30% has been apparent since the IPO of Seplat on 9 April 2014 (calculated based on the MPI share price in comparison to a transparent valuation of MPI taking into account the Seplat share price on the same date).

In addition, adjustments were made for MPI for the amount of the Exceptional Distribution to be paid by that company before the transaction is completed.

 

  4. Audit

The firm Associés en Finance, represented by Mr Arnaud Jacquillat, was appointed on a voluntary basis on 27 August 2015 by the MPI board of directors, further to a recommendation from its ad hoc committee, in keeping with AMF recommendation no. 2006-15 on independent auditing of financial transactions.

Associés en Finance issued its report on 15 October 2015 on the fairness of the planned exchange ratio, for submission to the MPI board of directors. This report is available on the MPI website.

 

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  5. Summary of the valuation

The following table and figure shows a summary of the ranges of exchange ratio obtained depending on the various methods described above, after accounting for the exceptional distribution amount to be offered to MPI shareholders at the general meeting of shareholders on 17 December 2015.

The implied ratio that emerges from a comparison of the share prices of MAUREL & PROM and MPI is between 2.3 MPI shares for 1 MAUREL & PROM share (closing price before the transaction was announced on 27 August 2015) and 2.9 MPI shares for 1 MAUREL & PROM share (weighted average price by volume over one year, as at 27 August 2015).

The central ratio that emerges from an analysis of the revalued net asset value is 1.5 MPI shares for 1 MAUREL & PROM share. The level of the ratio between the two companies is sensitive primarily to oil price-per-barrel hypotheses, as indicated above. The range of between 1.3 and 1.7 MPI shares for 1 MAUREL & PROM share indicated in the table below lines up with a sensitivity range of plus/minus US$ 5/barrel in the hypothetical long-term Brent price.

 

    

Exchange ratio

   Minimum    Average    Maximum

Historical share price

  

Date of the announcement

   2.3x    2.3x    2.3x
  

Average 1 month

   2.3x    2.5x    2.7x
  

Average 3 months

   2.3x    2.7x    3.0x
  

Average 6 months

   2.3x    2.6x    3.0x
  

Average 12 months

   2.3x    2.9x    3.8x

RNAV*

  

Sensitivity

   1.3x    1.5x    1.7x

Note: The values shown in this table do not include any holding company discount for MPI.

 

LOGO

 

* Note: average share prices weighted by volume

 

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  6. The selected exchange ratio

The selected exchange ratio provides for the issue of 63,234,026 new MAUREL & PROM shares in consideration for 110,659,545 MPI shares, i.e. a ratio of 1.75.

 

  7. Overview of the values obtained for each of the companies during recent transactions (takeover bids, acquisitions of controlling interests, mergers, transfers of assets, etc.)

At the time of the distribution of shares in MPI (formerly named “Maurel & Prom Nigeria”), which the shareholders of MAUREL & PROM decided upon on 12 December 2011, after reviewing the detailed findings and conclusions of the report of an independent expert, the board of directors of MAUREL & PROM decided to value MPI at EUR 240 million in total, or EUR 2.08 per share.

 

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