15th Nov 2018 07:51
ASX Announcement
15 November 2018
ASX: OEX
AIM: OEX
High Court Extension Application Dismissed
Oilex Ltd (Oilex or the Company) advises that the application by Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) to the High Court of Gujarat, India (the Court) seeking an extension of time has been dismissed. On 14 November 2018, the Company announced that GSPC was seeking a further 15-day extension to 30 November 2018 to clarify the amount GSPC is required to submit to the Court. Following today's hearing, the Court has not granted an extension of time to comply with the conditions of the previous Court order as announced by the Company on 5 November 2018.
Background
By way of background, on 30 July 2018 Oilex announced that it issued Notice of Withdrawal of Participating Interest (NoW) and had formally requested the Government of India (GoI) to transfer GSPC's participating interest (PI) in the Cambay PSC to the Company. The request was made strictly in accordance with the Joint Operating Agreement and follows GSPC's failure to remedy the Event of Default (EoD Notice) within the required 60-day period. The EoD Notice was a result of GSPC's ongoing failure to pay its PI share of Cambay PSC expenses.
GSPC subsequently served an Order from the Court directing the Company not to take any coercive steps against GSPC. The GSPC Order was awarded on an interim basis to delay the Company transferring GSPC's PI in the Cambay PSC. As announced by the Company on 5 November 2018, the Court issued and passed judgement on 1 November 2018 further delaying the implementation of the EoD and NoW subject to the fulfilment of all of the following conditions:
a) GSPC is directed to deposit a sum of Rs.8.25 crores rupees (US$1.1 million approx) before the Court in the name Registrar of the High Court on or before by 15 November 2015#;
b) GSPC is directed to submit a bank guarantee for Rs.21.75 crores rupees (US$3.0 million approx) in the name of Registrar of High Court of Gujarat latest by 15 November 2015#; and
c) GSPC shall commence arbitration proceedings on or before 1 December 2018.
# We are advised by our Indian legal counsel that the applicable date should read 2018
In the event GSPC does not adhere to all of the abovementioned conditions, the stay order will no longer prevent the Company from seeking to implement all of its rights under the JOA.
For and on behalf of Oilex Ltd
Joe Salomon
Managing Director
For further information, please contact:
Investor Enquiries Oilex Ltd Joe Salomon Managing Director Email: [email protected] Tel: +61 8 9485 3200 Australia | AIM Broker Cornhill Capital Limited Broker Daniel Gee Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 20 3700 2500 UK | AIM Nominated Adviser Strand Hanson Limited Nominated Adviser Rory Murphy/Ritchie Balmer Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 20 7409 3494 UK | Media Enquires (UK) Vigo Communications Public Relations Patrick d'Ancona/Chris McMahon Email: [email protected] Tel:+ 44 20 7390 0230 UK | Media Enquiries (Aus) Citadel-MAGNUS Michael Weir Email: [email protected] Tel: +618 6160 4900 Australia |
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