TAG Oil Files Second Quarter Results and Announces Proposed Share Consolidation
29 November 2008 - 1:50AM
PR Newswire (US)
VANCOUVER, Nov. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Oil and gas producer
and explorer, TAG Oil Ltd. (TSX-V: TAO / OTCBB: TAGOF), announces
the filing of the Company's unaudited consolidated financial
statements and the accompanying management's discussion and
analysis for the period ending September 30, 2008, as required
pursuant to National Instruments 51-101 and 51-102. Copies of these
documents can be obtained electronically at http://www.sedar.com/
or through the Company's website at http://www.tagoil.com/. Summary
of selected financial results: TAG is pleased to announce that the
Company recorded net income of $137,494 (6 months: $928,448) for
the second quarter of the 2009 fiscal year compared to a net loss
of $673,834 (6 months: $1,585,597) for the comparable period last
year. During the second quarter of the 2009 fiscal year TAG
recorded $1.53 million in production revenue which is an increase
of 194% from the same quarter last year. For the six month period
ending September 30, 2008, the Company recorded production revenue
of $3.6 million, compared to $1.68 million for the comparable
period last year. During the second quarter, the Cheal oil field
(TAG: 30.5%) produced 37,717 (6 months: 81,424) gross barrels of
oil; 41,660 (6 months: 93,000) gross barrels were sold, with oil
prices averaging $121 per barrel (6 months: $127 per barrel).
Royalty and production costs recorded for the quarter averaged $50
per barrel sold (6 months: $39 per barrel sold), resulting in a net
back of approximately $71 per barrel (6 months: $88 per barrel).
Net back is calculated by subtracting royalties and operating costs
from production revenue. Daily production rates for the quarter
averaged 410 barrels of oil per day (gross); currently the field is
producing approximately 450 barrels of oil per day (gross). Cheal
A7, which was drilled in the second quarter, has been utilizing a
temporary tie-in to the Cheal Plant while production capabilities
were monitored. The Cheal joint venture is satisfied that the first
quarter of production supports permanent tie-in to the Cheal plant,
and construction will begin on that project in early 2009. TAG's
forecast for the field's gross production going forward remains
consistent at approximately 425 barrels of oil per day (gross) over
the next quarter. TAG's focus at Cheal will be addressing the
significant fall in oil prices by increasing efficiencies of
production and reducing production and general and administrative
costs. TAG Oil CEO, Garth Johnson, said, "We are happy to report
another profitable quarter however we realize that we have
significant challenges ahead of us due to the recent drop in oil
prices that are materially affecting our net backs. The recent drop
in the New Zealand dollar versus the U.S. dollar has partially
offset the changes to oil prices but the Cheal joint venture needs
to do more in terms of reducing production costs and making Cheal
more efficient." TAG also announces that at the Company's upcoming
annual and special meeting of shareholders on December 19, 2008,
shareholders will be asked to consider the following matters, among
other items: 1. To approve the consolidation of the Company's
issued and outstanding common shares on the basis of five common
shares being consolidated into one common share, or such lower
ratio as the directors of TAG may determine appropriate. Any
fractional shares remaining after giving effect to the
consolidation will be rounded to the nearest whole share. 2. Upon
the consolidation being approved, to approve a name change of the
Company to "TAG Oil and Gas Ltd." or other such name as may be
approved by the directors of TAG and that is acceptable to the
regulatory authorities, as well as authorizing the required
amendments to the Company's constating documents. Currently TAG has
89,799,081 common shares issued and outstanding with an additional
1,250,000 shares being prepared for cancellation, leaving a balance
of 88,549,081 common shares issued and outstanding. Further shares
may be acquired under the Company's normal course issuer bid
currently underway. In the event the Company's shareholders approve
the consolidation of the Company's outstanding common shares, on
the basis of five common shares being consolidated into one common
share, the Company, based on the amount of common shares currently
issued and outstanding, would have 17,709,816 common shares
outstanding. TAG Oil CEO, Garth Johnson commented, "In order to
position TAG for growth and to enable the Company to access further
capital in coming years we need to adapt and restructure TAG to
take advantage of the opportunities that we feel will arise as a
result of the difficult financial conditions affecting many of our
peer companies. Although TAG remains in a strong financial
condition, our ability to act on growth opportunities that may
present themselves, is limited due to a number of challenges
including our low share price, global market conditions and the
number of common shares currently issued and outstanding." The
consolidation is subject to shareholders approval and TSX Venture
Exchange acceptance. If approved, the Company's Board of Directors
reserves the right to at any time, in its sole discretion,
determine whether or not to proceed with the consolidation without
further notice to or approval of the shareholders of the Company.
About TAG Oil Ltd. TAG Oil Ltd. is an oil and gas producer in the
Taranaki Basin, New Zealand. TAG is well funded, debt free and is
poised to grow through production, development and exploration
drilling on the Company's high-graded Taranaki exploration acreage.
Forward Looking Statements: Statements contained in this news
release that are not historical facts are forward-looking
statements that involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the
business of TAG Oil. Actual results may vary materially from the
information provided in this release. As a result there is no
representation by TAG Oil that the actual results realized in the
future will be the same in whole or in part as those presented
herein. Actual results may differ materially from the results
predicted, and reported results should not be considered as an
indication of future performance. Factors that could cause actual
results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking
statements, are set forth in, but are not limited to, filings that
the Company and its independent evaluator have made, including the
Company's most recent reports in Canada under National Instrument
51-102 and in the United States under Forms 20-F and 6K. The TSX
Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
DATASOURCE: TAG Oil Ltd. CONTACT: Garth Johnson, CEO, (604)
609-3350, Website: http://www.tagoil.com/
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