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FAR LIMITED — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2021
Feb 7, 2021
64899_rns_2021-02-07_9c4e101f-9d87-4707-a34f-e30963f88387.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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8 February 2021
Addendum to Notice of General Meeting
FAR Limited (ASX: FAR) is about to commence the dispatch of an Addendum to the Notice of Meeting relating to the General Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 10:00am (AEDST) on Thursday, 18 February 2021, postponed from the original date of 21 December 2020. A copy of the Addendum to the Notice of Meeting and a Shareholder letter are attached, together with a copy of the shareholder proxy voting form. Copies of the documents have been lodged with the ASX today and are available on the company’s website www.far.com.au.
This announcement has been approved for release by the FAR Limited Board of Directors.
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ABN 41 009 117 293
Need assistance?
Phone:
1300 850 505 (within Australia) +61 3 9415 4000 (outside Australia)
Online:
www.investorcentre.com/contact
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
For your proxy appointment to be effective it must be received by 10.00 am (Melbourne time) on Tuesday, 16 February 2021.
Dear Shareholders
Rescheduled Shareholders Meeting
Accompanying this letter is an Addendum to a rescheduled shareholders meeting which is being held at 10 am (Melbourne time) on Thursday, 18 February 2021 . This is an important document. Please read it carefully.
The meeting will be held virtually and details to access it are contained in the Addendum. Shareholders are encouraged to submit a new proxy form in advance of the meeting by following the instructions set out in the Addendum and on the accompanying proxy form. Proxy forms need to be received no later than 10 am on 16 February 2021. If you have already voted and do not wish to change your proxy vote, you do not need to take any action.
The purpose of the meeting is to consider approving the sale of FAR's interest in the Senegal RSSD project to Woodside Energy (Senegal) B.V. ( Woodside Sale ).
The background in relation to the Woodside Sale is contained in the original Notice of Meeting and Explanatory Statement dated 18 November 2020 as supplemented by the information in the Addendum. I encourage shareholders to read this Addendum carefully together with the Notice of Meeting and Explanatory Statement previously provided.
The original meeting date was postponed twice to allow Remus Horizons PCC Limited an opportunity to convert a non-binding proposal to acquire FAR shares at 2.1 cents per share ( Remus Proposal ) into a binding offer. As at the date of this letter, a binding offer from Remus has not eventuated.
In the absence of a binding offer from Remus or any alternative offer which may emerge, the Directors unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the resolution.
If a binding offer from Remus or any alternative offer emerges, the Directors will update shareholders accordingly and may reconsider their recommendation.
If you have any questions, please contact the company, and you may email any questions to [email protected]
Yours sincerely
Nicholas Limb Chairman
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ABN 41009 117 293
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Addendum to Notice of General Meeting and
Explanatory Statement
For the General Meeting which was to be held at 10.00am (Melbourne time) on Monday, 21 December 2020 which has been postponed to, and which is rescheduled to be held at, 10.00am (Melbourne time) on Thursday, 18 February 2021 or at any adjournment or further postponement thereof.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 related restrictions on gatherings and travel the General Meeting will be held virtually.
This is an important document. Please read it carefully.
This document is an addendum to the Notice of General Meeting (“Notice”) and accompanying Explanatory Statement dated 18 November 2020 for the General Meeting of FAR Limited shareholders that was scheduled to be held on Monday, 21 December 2020 (“Addendum”).
This Addendum supplements the Notice and Explanatory Statement and should be read together with the Notice and Explanatory Statement.
A new Proxy Form is provided with this Addendum for shareholders wishing to change a Proxy Form which has already been submitted or to submit a Proxy Form for the first time.
TIME AND PLACE OF RESCHEDULED MEETING, PROXY FORM AND LOGISTICAL MATTERS
Date of Postponed General Meeting
As previously announced, the General Meeting of the shareholders of the Company scheduled to be held at 10.00am (Melbourne time) on Monday, 21 December 2020 has been postponed and will now be held at 10.00am (Melbourne time) on Thursday, 18 February 2021 or at any adjournment or further postponement thereof (“Postponed Meeting”).
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The Postponed Meeting will be held virtually and the details to access the Postponed Meeting are unchanged from that set out in the Notice. The Postponed Meeting will be broadcast by Encore Events Technology. Shareholders can view and participate in the meeting by registering to attend at www.far.com.au/gm.
The postponement enables shareholders to obtain and consider further information in relation to the proposal from Remus Horizons PCC Limited to acquire 100% of the shares of the Company (“Remus Proposal”) which was first announced to ASX on 17 December 2020 and which is further described in the Addendum.
As at the date of this Addendum, the Remus Proposal remains non-binding and has not been formalised. FAR cautions that there is no certainty that the Remus Proposal will necessarily eventuate and care needs to be used in assessing the Remus Proposal at this time.
The business described in the Notice as supplemented by this Addendum is the subject of the Postponed Meeting. That business comprises the following:
RESOLUTION 1 – DISPOSAL OF INTEREST IN THE RSSD PROJECT
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:
“That, for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 11.2 and for all other purposes, approval is given for the disposal of the Company's interest in the RSSD Project on the terms and conditions set out in the Explanatory Statement accompanying this Notice.”
For reasons of brevity, this Addendum does not generally repeat information contained in the Notice which should be read in conjunction with this Addendum.
Capitalised terms used in this Addendum which are not defined in it have the same meaning given in the Notice.
Voting by Proxy
A new Proxy Form accompanies this Addendum and is being provided to all shareholders. Shareholders are advised that:
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If you have already voted and do not wish to change your proxy vote, you do not need to take any action. The Proxy Form you previously submitted remains valid and will be accepted by the Company.
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If you have already submitted a Proxy Form and you wish to change your proxy vote, please complete and return the new Proxy Form accompanying this Addendum.
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If you have not returned a Proxy Form, please complete and return the new Proxy Form accompanying this Addendum.
If you choose to submit a new Proxy Form, you must send the completed and signed Proxy Form by post to Computershare, GPO Box 242, Melbourne, Victoria 3001; or by facsimile to Computershare on facsimile number outside Australia +61 (3) 9473 2555 or within Australia 1800 783 447 so that it is received not later than 10.00am (Melbourne time) on Tuesday, 16 February 2021. Proxy Forms received later than this time will be invalid.
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Shareholders are advised to read the instructions on how to vote which are included in the Notice and on the Proxy Form.
Voting Entitlement
Paragraph 2 under the sub-heading “Notes” is replaced as follows:
For the purposes of the Corporations Act, securities will be taken to be held by persons who are registered holders as at 7.00pm (Melbourne time) on 16 February 2021.
Voting Exclusions
The same voting exclusions contained in the Notice apply to the Postponed Meeting.
Voting online during the meeting
Voting at the meeting can be accessed directly through https://web.lumiagm.com/ (meeting ID 317-957-256) using your HIN/SRN and the post code of your registered address. Overseas shareholders should use their country code in place of an Australian post code. Online voting registration will open 30 minutes prior to the meeting. For further information see the Lumi Lite – Online Voting Guide Here.
Shareholders who are unable to participate online, should lodge their proxy in accordance with the Notice of Meeting and this Addendum.
Enquiries
Shareholders are invited to contact the Company Secretary, Elisha Larkin, on +61 3 9618 2550 if they have any queries in respect of the matters set out herein.
This Addendum is dated 8 February 2021
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Elisha Larkin, Company Secretary
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION FOR EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
The Company provides shareholders with the following supplementary information, which supplements the information contained in the Explanatory Statement forming part of the Notice. Please refer to the Explanatory Statement forming part of the Notice if you wish to remind yourself of the background in this regard, a copy of which can be accessed here.
A. Non-Binding Indicative Proposal from Remus announced on 17 December 2020
On 17 December 2020, the Company announced to ASX that it had received a conditional non-binding indicative proposal from Remus Horizons PCC Limited, a private investment fund regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission, to engage in further discussions and further investigations for the purpose of evaluating its capacity to make an offer or announce an intention to make an offer to acquire 100% of the shares of the Company at 2.1c cash per share (the “Remus Proposal”). The Company cautioned that the Remus Proposal was not a legally binding offer, there was no certainty that the Proposal will necessarily eventuate, and that the Remus Proposal terms were uncertain at that stage. Accordingly, the Company noted that care needed to be used in assessing the Remus Proposal.
The Company noted that Remus has stated that the price represents a premium to the cash backing per share that would exist if the Company was to complete the sale of the RSSD project ("Woodside Sale") to Woodside Energy (Senegal) BV ("Woodside") which pre-empted the earlier proposed sale to ONGC Videsh Vankorneft Pte Ltd.
The Company noted that Remus stated that the Remus Proposal was conditional (amongst other things) on:
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The shareholder meeting to consider approving the sale of the RSSD project scheduled for Monday 21 December 2020 being rescheduled.
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The Company providing access to management and information in relation to the RSSD project and Remus being satisfied with such information.
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No superior proposal emerging.
The Company noted that Remus stated that the Remus Proposal will be funded from available internal cash reserves and that any formal binding offer would not include any financing conditions.
The Company noted that Remus has stated that Remus is willing to discuss the possibility of making available a zero, coupon bridge loan to the Company of up to US$50 million from the date of any binding offer on terms and subject to conditions to be agreed to enable FAR to meet its valid funding calls in relation to its interest in the RSSD project and other necessary working capital requirements.
The Company noted that Remus stated that it is well placed to move quickly to complete its confirmatory investigations and has committed to engage collaboratively with the Company to progress the Remus Proposal. The Company noted that it is in the process of seeking clarification from Remus regarding various aspects associated with the Remus Proposal.
In these circumstances, the Company advised that it had determined to postpone the shareholder meeting currently scheduled for 21 December 2020 to 10.00 am on 21 January 2021.
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The Company noted that this will enable further time for the Company and its shareholders to be able to obtain further information in relation to the Remus Proposal and assess the relative merits of the Woodside Sale alternative and the Remus Proposal. The Company noted that it would in due course distribute updated meeting information in this regard.
The Company noted that it had appointed Baker McKenzie to advise in relation to the Remus Proposal.
B. Update on Remus Proposal and Woodside Sale announced on 8 January 2021
On 8 January 2021, the Company announced to ASX that, subject to the qualifications relating to the non-binding nature of the Remus Proposal, the Company has obtained further information from Remus in relation to the Remus Proposal as follows:
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Remus is presently finalising the funding arrangements in advance of making the proposed offer.
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The only internal and regulatory approval required to proceed with the offer is the final approval of the Remus Board and final review and confirmation of documentation.
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Remus is presently satisfied that it will not need to undertake any further due diligence on the Company.
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FIRB approval is not required and any offer made will not be conditional on FIRB approval
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Any proposed offer is expected to be subject to a requirement that Remus achieves a controlling interest in the Company together with other customary conditions.
In these circumstances, the Company announced that it has determined to further postpone the shareholder meeting to consider approving the Woodside Sale currently scheduled for 21 January 2021 to 10.00 am on 18 February 2021.
The Company noted that this will enable further time for shareholders to see if the Remus Proposal eventuates, if so assess its merits, and consider the Woodside Sale on the basis of more detailed information. The Company noted that it will in due course distribute updated meeting information in this regard. The Company noted that it was not presently inclined to further postpone the shareholder meeting to consider updates in relation to the Remus Proposal.
The Company noted that In the meantime, it was continuing to advance negotiations with Woodside in relation to the form of the Woodside Sale proposed contractual documentation following Woodside's pre-emptive rights exercise.
The Company advised that it was in the process of paying the RSSD project November 2020 cash call (US$8.96 million plus interest) and the December 2020 cash call (US$6.48 million plus interest). Following these payments, the Company's cash position as at 8 January 2021 was approximately US$10.3 million.
The Company noted that Remus had also advised the terms that, subject to Remus board approval, it may make available to the Company a US$50 million working capital loan facility ("Bridge Loan") to enable the Company to meet its cash calls under the RSSD project. The Company may wish to enter into the Bridge Loan, but is not obliged to do so. The terms of the Bridge Loan have not been negotiated or finalised. Details are intended to be disclosed at the time of announcement of any formal proposal, assuming the Remus Proposal proceeds.
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C. Signing of RSSD Project Sale Contract with Woodside announced on 20 January 2021
On 20 January 2021, the Company announced to ASX that it had executed a Sale and Purchase Agreement with Woodside in relation to the Woodside Sale.
The Company noted that the agreement was on the same terms and conditions as the previously announced sale to ONGC Videsh Vankoreft Pte Ltd which Woodside pre-empted, details of which are detailed in the Company's Notice of Meeting dated 18 November 2020.
The Company noted that shareholders are due to consider authorising the agreement at a shareholders meeting to be held on 18 February 2021 and that the Company would provide shareholders with further information in advance of that meeting. Such information will enable them to consider the Woodside sale in the context of the Remus Proposal (should Remus provide the Company with a binding proposal prior to the shareholder's meeting). The Company noted that at this time the Remus Proposal was non-binding and conditional on the Woodside Sale not occurring.
D. Cash Position and Impact if the Woodside Sale is Not Approved
As at 31 January 2021, the Company's cash position was approximately US$9.9 million. All RSSD Project cash calls for the 2020 calendar year have been paid.
The Company is currently in default with respect to its January 2021 RSSD Project cash call of US$19.9 million. FAR anticipates remaining in default until completion of the Woodside Sale (assuming it occurs) at which time Woodside will assume responsibility for attending to payment. FAR has until mid-July 2021 to remedy the default or risk losing its interest in the RSSD Project.
If shareholders do not approve the Woodside Sale and the Remus Proposal proceeds, the Company may be able to enter into a Bridge Loan with Remus on the basis as described above to meet its cash calls.
If shareholders do not approve the Woodside Sale and the Remus Proposal does not proceed, in the absence of any other material development that may arise in the future, the Company is not likely to be able to meet its cash calls.
E. Status of the Conditions and Timing associated with the Woodside Sale
The Woodside Sale is subject to various conditions precedent (which the parties need to use reasonable endeavours to satisfy), including the following:
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The written approval of the Minister of Petroleum and Energies for the Republic of Senegal to the transfer of the Transferring Interest to the Purchaser being obtained. The Company has sought such approval. Approval is not expected to be obtained prior to the shareholders meeting. The Company does not know any reason why such approval would not be forthcoming in due course.
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Shareholder Approval - ASX Listing Rule 11.2 requires that the Company obtains shareholder approval in relation to the Woodside Sale. This is the reason for the approval currently being sought at the shareholders meeting. No break fee is payable by the Company to Woodside if shareholders decline to provide their approval.
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Third Party Agreement Termination - The Woodside Sale is subject to the termination or satisfactory resolution of an agreement between the Company and a third party, details of which are currently commercial in confidence. There has only been very minor progress in this regard, and the current status of this is uncertain. Woodside has the discretion to waive this condition.
The Woodside Sale does not require FIRB approval since it does not involve the sale of an Australian asset.
The Woodside Sale agreement includes other provisions which are customary for a sale and purchase agreement of its type, such as vendor warranties, vendor and purchaser indemnities and certain rights for Woodside to terminate following the occurrence a material adverse event that cannot be remedied.
The Company is presently contemplating completion of the Woodside Sale during April 2021. However, the timing of completion cannot be definitively determined at this time.
The Woodside Sale agreement allows for up until early June 2021 for satisfaction of the conditions or such later date as is agreed.
F. Impact if the Woodside Sale is Approved and Completes
If the Woodside Sale is approved by shareholders and completes, the Company is expected to have consolidated total assets relating to exploration and evaluation assets associated with its interests in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau in the order of US$5 million. In addition, the Company expects to have cash of approximately US$130 million and no debt. This would position the Company to continue its exploration in its highly prospective Gambian and Guinea-Bissau acreage and execute a new long-term strategy.
G. Directors Recommendation and Chairman's Voting Intentions
The Directors note that the Remus Proposal is inherently uncertain as at the date of this Addendum. The Directors also note that the shareholders meeting has been postponed twice from the original date of 21 December 2020 to allow the Remus Proposal to become a binding offer. As at the date of this Addendum this has not eventuated.
In the absence of a binding Remus Proposal or any alternative offer which may emerge, the Directors unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the resolution.
In the absence of a binding Remus Proposal or any alternative offer which may emerge, the Chairman of the meeting intends to vote undirected proxies in favour of the resolution.
In exceptional circumstances, the Chairman of the meeting may change his/her voting intention, in which case an ASX announcement will be made.
If a binding Remus Proposal eventuates or an alternative offer emerges, the Directors will update shareholders accordingly and may reconsider their recommendation and the Chairman's voting intentions as outlined above.
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ABN 41 009 117 293
Need assistance?
Phone:
1300 850 505 (within Australia) +61 3 9415 4000 (outside Australia)
Online:
www.investorcentre.com/contact
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
For your proxy appointment to be effective it must be received by 10.00 am (Melbourne time) on Tuesday, 16 February 2021.
Proxy Form
How to Vote on the Item of Business
Lodge your Proxy Form:
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All your securities will be voted in accordance with your directions.
Online:
APPOINTMENT OF PROXY
Voting 100% of your holding: Direct your proxy how to vote by marking one of the boxes opposite the item of business. If you do not mark a box your proxy may vote or abstain as they choose (to the extent permitted by law). If you mark more than one box on an item your vote will be invalid on that item.
Voting a portion of your holding: Indicate a portion of your voting rights by inserting the percentage or number of securities you wish to vote in the For, Against or Abstain box or boxes. The sum of the votes cast must not exceed your voting entitlement or 100%.
Appointing a second proxy: You are entitled to appoint up to two proxies to attend the meeting and vote on a poll. If you appoint two proxies you must specify the percentage of votes or number of securities for each proxy, otherwise each proxy may exercise half of the votes. When appointing a second proxy write both names and the percentage of votes or number of securities for each in Step 1 overleaf.
Lodge your vote online at www.investorvote.com.au using your secure access information or use your mobile device to scan the personalised QR code.
Your secure access information is
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Control Number: 999999 SRN/HIN: I9999999999 PIN: 99999
For Intermediary Online subscribers (custodians) go to www.intermediaryonline.com
A proxy need not be a securityholder of the Company.
SIGNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR POSTAL FORMS
Individual: Where the holding is in one name, the securityholder must sign.
Joint Holding: Where the holding is in more than one name, all of the securityholders should sign.
Power of Attorney: If you have not already lodged the Power of Attorney with the registry, please attach a certified photocopy of the Power of Attorney to this form when you return it.
Companies: Where the company has a Sole Director who is also the Sole Company Secretary, this form must be signed by that person. If the company (pursuant to section 204A of the Corporations Act 2001) does not have a Company Secretary, a Sole Director can also sign alone. Otherwise this form must be signed by a Director jointly with either another Director or a Company Secretary. Please sign in the appropriate place to indicate the office held. Delete titles as applicable.
By Mail:
Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited GPO Box 242 Melbourne VIC 3001 Australia
By Fax:
1800 783 447 within Australia or +61 3 9473 2555 outside Australia
PARTICIPATING IN THE MEETING
Corporate Representative
If a representative of a corporate securityholder or proxy is to participate in the meeting you will need to provide the appropriate “Appointment of Corporate Representative”. A form may be obtained from Computershare or online at www.investorcentre.com under the help tab, "Printable Forms".
PLEASE NOTE: For security reasons it is important that you keep your SRN/HIN confidential.
Samples/000001/000002/i12
Change of address. If incorrect, mark this box and make the correction in the space to the left. Securityholders sponsored by a broker (reference number commences with ‘ X ’) should advise your broker of any changes.
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I 9999999999
I ND
Prox Form y
Step 1
Appoint a Proxy to Vote on Your Behalf
I/We being a member/s of FAR Limited hereby appoint the Chairman OR of the Meeting
Please mark to indicate your directions
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XX
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PLEASE NOTE: Leave this box blank if you have selected the Chairman of the Meeting. Do not insert your own name(s).
or failing the individual or body corporate named, or if no individual or body corporate is named, the Chairman of the Meeting, as my/our proxy to act generally at the meeting on my/our behalf and to vote in accordance with the following directions (or if no directions have been given, and to the extent permitted by law, as the proxy sees fit) at the General Meeting of FAR Limited to be held virtually on Thursday, 18 February 2021 at 10.00 am (Melbourne time) and at any adjournment or postponement of that meeting.
Step 2 Item of Business
PLEASE NOTE: If you mark the Abstain box for the item, you are directing your proxy not to vote on your behalf on a show of hands or a poll and your votes will not be counted in computing the required majority.
For Against Abstain
Resolution 1 Disposal of interest in the RSSD Project
The Chairman of the Meeting intends to vote undirected proxies in favour of the item of business. In exceptional circumstances, the Chairman of the Meeting may change his/her voting intention on the resolution, in which case an ASX announcement will be made.
Step 3 Signature of Securityholder(s)
This section must be completed.
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Individual or Securityholder 1 Securityholder 2 Securityholder 3
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Sole Director & Sole Company Secretary Director Director/Company Secretary Date
Update your communication details (Optional) By providing your email address, you consent to receive future Notice
Mobile Number Email Address of Meeting & Proxy communications electronically
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