TORONTO,
June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Alange
Energy Corp. (TSXV: ALE) announces the filing of its interim
condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months
ended March 31, 2011, together with
its Management's Discussion and Analysis. These documents will be
available on the Company's website at www.alangeenergy.com and at
www.sedar.com.
Luciano Biondi,
the Company's Chief Executive Officer, stated "We are pleased with
the progress that executive management and operational staff have
made thus far in 2011, taking the company in its new direction
towards improved operational efficiencies and communications. These
factors contribute to the ongoing improvements in reduced
operational costs and enhanced netbacks, enabling us to focus all
of our resources on exploring and developing our core assets and
meeting our production growth target."
The Company reported revenues for the first
quarter of 2011 of $20.8 million,
more than double the same period a year ago, driven by the sale of
231,727 barrels of oil at an average selling price of $93 per barrel and 148,827 mcf of gas at an
average selling price of $4.35 per
MMbtu. Operating netbacks averaged $52 per barrel oil-equivalent (boe) in the first
quarter, a $30 per boe improvement
from the fourth quarter of 2010, as a direct result of the measures
taken by current management to improve the Company's profitability
and cash flow. As previously announced, the Company has also taken
steps to significantly reduce its G&A expenses. Excluding
non-recurring expenses incurred in the first quarter related to the
internal review process and costs associated with the staff who
have been terminated, G&A on an adjusted basis would have been
approximately $3.7 million in the
first quarter. The Company is continuing its initiatives to reduce
its quarterly G&A run rate.
For the first quarter of 2011, the Company
reported a net loss of $10.0 million
or $0.01 per share, including the
impact of a one-time charge of $6.3
million related to the 2011-2014 equity tax levied on
companies in Colombia.
Current management took steps during the first
quarter of 2011 to strengthen the Company's balance sheet and
improve its liquidity, including the completion of a CA$70 million
equity financing. The Company closed the first quarter with a cash
balance of $30.5 million, including
$25 million of cash set aside to fund
its 2011 exploration program, and a $53
million reduction in its working capital deficit. Total
short- and long-term debt was reduced by $35
million to $10 million by
early April 2011 to reduce the debt
service burden on the Company's operating cash flow.
In April 2011, the
Company completed a $25 million
acquisition of an additional 32% interest in the eastern block of
the Cubiro property in the Llanos Basin. Financed through a CA$31
million 9% Senior Notes offering that closed in early May, the
acquisition immediately increased the Company's share of production
(before royalties) to an average of approximately 2,800 boed, up
22% from the daily average production of 2,294 boed in the first
quarter of 2011. However, in mid-May, the wash-out of a major
highway north of the city of Yopal in the province of Casanare
triggered by severe weather conditions resulted in a short-term
production disruption at the Cubiro property due to limitations of
truck availability. Consequently the Company's daily average
production slipped to approximately 2,200 boed over a period of
about 32 days. Temporary repairs to the highway have since been
made by the government and the flow of traffic has resumed. Over
the last 6 days, the Company's daily average production has
returned to 2,800 boed.
Recent results from testing at the La Punta 4
well, which reached total depth in May, indicate that the well is
dry. Discussions are underway with the operator at La Punta
regarding timing and other considerations for the planned La Punta
5 well to be drilled later this year.
Alange Energy is continuing its efforts to
realize value from its non-core assets, essentially the gas assets
and the Las Quinchas heavy oil property. The Company is currently
in discussions with several parties pursuing opportunities to joint
venture, farm out or dispose of its interests in these assets.
On May 9, 2011, a
total of 36,607,500 stock options were granted to directors,
officers, employees and consultants of the Company at an exercise
price of CA$0.30 per common share. The options vested immediately
and have a term to expiry of five years.
Management will hold a conference call on
Thursday, June 30, 2011 at
9:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) to provide
an operational update and to discuss the first quarter results.
Analysts and interested investors are invited to participate as
follows:
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Toronto & International:
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(647) 427-7450 |
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North
America:
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(888) 231-8191 |
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Conference ID: |
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79954575 |
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A playback of this conference call will be
available by dialling 416-849-0833 or (800) 642 1687 with the above
conference ID number until July 14,
2011.
Alange Energy is a Canadian-based oil and gas
exploration and production company, with working interests in
19 properties in five basins in Colombia. Further information can be obtained
by visiting our website at www.alangeenergy.com
.
All monetary amounts in U.S. dollars unless
otherwise stated. This news release contains certain
"forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information"
under applicable Canadian securities laws concerning the business,
operations and financial performance and condition of Alange
Energy. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information
include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to
estimated production and reserve life of the various oil and gas
projects of Alange Energy; the estimation of oil and gas reserves;
the realization of oil and gas reserve estimates; the timing and
amount of estimated future production; costs of production; success
of exploration activities; and currency exchange rate fluctuations.
Except for statements of historical fact relating to the company,
certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized
by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe,"
"anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements
that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur.
Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates
of management at the date the statements are made, and are based on
a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and
uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or
results to differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on
factors and events that are not within the control of Alange Energy
and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Factors
that could cause actual results to vary materially from results
anticipated by such forward-looking statements include changes in
market conditions, risks relating to international operations,
fluctuating oil and gas prices and currency exchange rates, changes
in project parameters, the possibility of project cost overruns or
unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other risks
of the oil and gas industry, failure of plant, equipment or
processes to operate as anticipated. Although Alange Energy has
attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual
actions, events or results to differ materially from those
described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors
that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated,
estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Alange Energy undertakes no
obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or
management's estimates or opinions should change except as required
by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Statements concerning oil and gas reserve
estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking
statements to the extent they involve estimates of the oil and gas
that will be encountered if the property is developed. Boe may be
misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion
ratio of 6 mcf:1 bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion
method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not
represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Estimated values of
future net revenue disclosed do not represent fair market
value.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this news
release.
SOURCE Alange Energy Corp.