Connacher Oil and Gas Limited files for CCAA protection and receives order permitting interim financing of up to US$20 million and initiation of sales and investment solicitation process

CALGARY, May 17, 2016 /CNW/ - Connacher Oil and Gas Limited (CLC – TSX; "Connacher" or the "Company") announced today that the Company has obtained court protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act ("CCAA") pursuant to an initial order granted by the Court of Queen's Bench, in the Province of Alberta, on May 17, 2016 ("Initial Order").  Pursuant to the Initial Order, the Company has obtained protection from its creditors under the CCAA for a period expiring June 16, 2016, as the Company attempts to restructure and reorganize its assets, business and financial affairs, subject to possible extension from time to time pursuant to further court order. 

During the CCAA proceedings, it is expected that the Company's operations will continue uninterrupted in the ordinary course of business and that every day obligations to employees, key suppliers of goods and services and the Company's customers will, after the filing date, continue to be met on an ongoing basis. While under CCAA protection, management of the Company will remain responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Company under the general oversight of the Monitor. At this time, there are no intended changes to the management team or the composition of the Board of Directors of the Company and the Company anticipates that such individuals will continue in their respective roles throughout the CCAA process.

To enable the Company to maintain normal business operations, the Initial Order provides a stay of certain creditor claims and the exercise of contractual rights arising out of the CCAA process. 

Subject to execution of definitive documents, the Company has received commitments from certain of its existing lenders for up to US$20 million in interim financing, subject to certain terms and conditions (including initial draws up to US$11.5 million), to support its continued operations, which interim financing was approved by the Court in the Initial Order. The interim financing is expected to provide sufficient liquidity to support the business of the Applicants during the CCAA proceedings.

Pursuant to the Initial Order, the Company also obtained approval to initiate a sale and investment solicitation process to be conducted in conjunction with the CCAA proceedings, intended to generate interest in the business and/or the assets of the Company, with the goal of maximizing value for all stakeholders of the Company.

Ernst & Young Inc. has been appointed Monitor of the Company for the CCAA proceedings.  A copy of the CCAA Initial Order will be made available and details relating to this case may be accessed on the Monitor's website at www.ey.com/ca/connacheroilandgas.  The Monitor has also established the following information hotline related to enquiries regarding the CCAA process, at 403-206-5650.

On May 16, 2016, the TSX suspended trading of Connacher's common shares and has commenced an expedited review with respect to whether Connacher continues to meet the requirements for continued listing. There is no certainty as to timing or likelihood that the common shares will recommence trading on the TSX or any other exchange or market.

Further news releases will be provided on an ongoing basis throughout the CCAA process as may be determined necessary.

Forward Looking Statements   

This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward‑looking statements under applicable securities legislation.  All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward‑looking statements.  In some cases, forward‑looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue", or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.  These statements are only as of the date of this document and the Company does not undertake to publicly update these forward‑looking statements except in accordance with applicable securities laws.  Forward‑looking statements, including but without limitation, statements concerning the implementation of CCAA proceedings and the reorganization or restructuring of the assets, business and financial affairs of the Company are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, which the Company believes are reasonable but which may prove to be incorrect and therefore such forward‑looking statements should not be unduly relied upon.  These forward‑looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties which may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied herein.  These risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the Company include, but are not limited to, the level of indebtedness of the Company, the implementation and impact of obtaining any reorganization or restructuring of the assets, business and financial affairs of the Company, future co‑operation of the creditors of the Company, the Company's ability to generate sufficient cash‑flow from operations or to obtain adequate financing to fund capital expenditures and working capital needs and to meet the Company's ongoing obligations during the CCAA process and thereafter, the ability of the Company's common shares to remain listed and trading on the TSX, the ability to maintain relationships with suppliers, customers, employees, stockholders and other third parties in light of the Company's current liquidity situation and the CCAA proceedings, as well as other general assumptions regarding, among other things: industry activity; the general stability of the economic and political environment; effect of market conditions on demand for the Company's products; the ability to obtain qualified staff, equipment and services in a timely and cost efficient manner; the ability to operate its business in a safe, efficient and effective manner; the effect of current plans; the timing and costs of capital expenditures; future commodity prices; currency, exchange and interest rates; the regulatory framework regarding environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates; and the ability of the Company to successfully market its products.

Additional risks and uncertainties affecting the Company and its business and affairs are described in further detail in the Company's AIF for the year ended December 31, 2015. Although the Company believes that the expectations in such forward looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations shall prove to be correct. Any forward looking information included in this press release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Any forward looking information included herein is made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

SOURCE Connacher Oil and Gas Limited

Merle Johnson, Chief Executive Officer; Jeff Beeston, Vice President of Finance and Interim Chief Financial Officer; Connacher Oil and Gas Limited, Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone], Suite 900, 332 - 6th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 0B2, [email protected], www.connacheroil.com