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Gold/Mining/Energy : KERM'S KORNER -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)9/25/1998 3:41:00 PM
From: Kerm Yerman  Read Replies (7) | Respond to of 15196
 
EARNINGS / Techcorp Industries Inc. Announces Financial Results For
The Six Months Ended July 31, 1998.

September 25, 1998

SECOND QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS

July 31, 1998 July 31, 1997

Revenue $2,457,800 $0
Gross Margin 1,260,706 0
Net Earnings (Loss) 744,141 (4,194)
Earnings Per Share (basic) $0.06 $0.00

Cash Flow From Operations 986,681 (4,194)
Cash Flow From Operations Per Share (basic) $0.08 $0.00

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding 13,132,500 6,300,000

Mr. Arnold Wong, President of Techcorp Industries Inc. today announced
financial results for the six months ended July 31, 1998. The Company
generated revenue of $2,457,800, net earnings of $744,141 ($0.06 per
share) and cash flow of $986,681 ($0.08 per share). Techcorp incurred
general and administrative expenses of $263,601, and amortization
expenses of $242,540.

During the quarter, Techcorp delivered the final three of six RPM
System 3000TM Rotating Blowout Preventers sold to a Canadian oil
service company. Leader Energy Services, Inc. acted as authorized
agent for this sale.

The Company has finalized engineering files for both the Techcorp RPM
System 1500TM and the RPM System 5000TM Rotating Blowout Preventers,
and is in the manufacturing stage to supply various customers with
these products shortly. The RPM System 1500TM is a compact,
light-weight rotating blowout preventer used in low pressure
underbalanced, geothermal and air drilling applications. The RPM
System 5000TM is a high pressure rotating blowout preventer used
predominantly in high pressure offshore operations. The design of
Techcorp's Rotating Blowout Preventer systems allows oil and gas
companies to substantially decrease the present costs of services,
while at the same time dramatically improve safety and reduce rig
time.

Techcorp began manufacturing a line of External Casing Packers (ECP)
during the second quarter, which are frequently used in both
conventional and underbalanced completion programs. This product line
will increase Techcorp's market penetration revenues in the well
control market.

Techcorp commenced an aggressive marketing campaign at the start of
its 1999 fiscal year by participating at two international oil shows,
OTC'98 in Houston, Texas, and the 1998 National Petroleum Show in
Calgary, Alberta. The Company received very favorable reviews at these
shows, and is continuing its marketing efforts at other international
oil and gas shows.

The outlook for Techcorp's products remains excellent, in large part
because they are oriented to reducing costs while offering significant
operational advantages. Management is extremely satisfied with the
financial performance of the Company to date, and looks forward to
continuing corporate revenue and earnings growth during the remainder
of the year.

Techcorp would like to thank its shareholders for their commitment as
it strives to maximize the value of their investment in the Company.
Third quarter financial statements are expected to be released the
week of December 14. Techcorp will be changing its year-end reporting
to December 31, from January 31. Fiscal 1998 will therefore encompass
an eleven month period.

Techcorp Industries Inc. is a research and development company
involved in the design and manufacture of proprietary products for the
energy sector. As an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), Techcorp
is actively involved in the sale and rental of this equipment through
authorized agents. In addition, Techcorp also pursues transfer of
technology agreements and the licensing of their design files.

"The Alberta Stock Exchange has neither approved or disapproved of
this information."
Jason Krueger
info@techcorp-industries.com
tel: 403-850-7041



To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)9/25/1998 3:46:00 PM
From: Kerm Yerman  Respond to of 15196
 
FINANCING / Sharon Energy Announces CDN$210,000 Private Placement

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Sept. 25 / -- Jack S. Steinhauser, the president and a director of Sharon Energy Ltd. (''the Company'') (Vancouver: SHY) announces that the Company has arranged for the sale of 1,400,000 units at a price of Cdn$0.15 per unit in a non-brokered private placement. Each unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company and one-half of a common share purchase warrant. One whole warrant will be exercisable to purchase one additional common share for a period of six months from the date of issue at a price of Cdn$0.20 per share.

The net proceeds of the offering will be used to fund the drilling of an initial test well in Sharon's Centaurus Project and for general working capital. The Centaurus Project is located in the Elbridge Field, Edgar County, Illinois. The initial test well will be drilled to the Devonian to ascertain the presence of commercial quantities of recoverable gas from an abandoned gas storage facility. If commercial gas reserves are not found in the Devonian, the same wellbore can be used to drill horizontally into the Mississippi McClosky zone. The McClosky has produced 1.5 million barrels of oil from existing vertical wells and appears to be a good candidate for exploitation using horizontal wellbores. The private placement is subject to all necessary regulatory approvals.

The Company is an oil and gas exploration and production firm headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, with oil and gas properties in California, Colorado, Illinois and Louisiana. The Company specializes in the application of advanced technology such as 3-D seismic and horizontal drilling. The Company trades on the Vancouver Stock Exchange (''SHY''). The Vancouver Stock Exchange does not review and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.



To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)9/30/1998 12:18:00 PM
From: Kerm Yerman  Respond to of 15196
 
FIELD ACTIVITIES / Commonwealth Energy Colorado Update

COMMONWEALTH ENERGY CORP. - ANNOUNCEMENT

Date: 9/28/98 11:40:44 AM
Dateline: CALGARY, AB
Stock Symbol: CWY

Commonwealth is pleased to announce that casing has been set on the
Camp Colorado Warren #1 well at 3,100 feet. The electric logs
indicate the presence of hydrocarbons in all three of the primary
zones of interest: The Marble Falls, Duffer, and Ellenburger.
Testing to determine production potential will begin soon, when all
the data has been evaluated.



To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)9/30/1998 12:22:00 PM
From: Kerm Yerman  Read Replies (6) | Respond to of 15196
 
FINANCING / Doreal Energy Private Placement

DOREAL ENERGY CORPORATION - PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

Date: 9/28/98 3:20:49 PM
Dateline: VANCOUVER, B.C.
Stock Symbol: DOY

Doreal Energy Corporation is pleased to announce that it has
completed a private placement of US $450,000 (C $680,000) of 5%,
convertible subordinated debentures due September 30, 2000. The
issue was placed by the Corporation directly with accredited US and
foreign investors. Conversion price into common shares is at a
price of C $1.16 per share.




To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)9/30/1998 12:26:00 PM
From: Kerm Yerman  Respond to of 15196
 
SERVICE SECTOR / Corlac Oilfield Leasing Ltd. Completes Acquisition

CORLAC ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF ACQUISITION OF GAS RENTAL COMPANY ASSETS

Date: 9/28/98 7:24:12 PM
Dateline: REDCLIFF, ALBERTA
Stock Symbol: CKL

CORLAC OILFIELD LEASING LTD. ("Corlac") (ASE: CKL) is pleased to
announce that it has completed the previously announced acquisition
of all of the fixed operating assets and goodwill (the "Select
Acquisition") comprising the current leasing and rental business of
Select Oilfield Services Ltd. ("Select") for a purchase price of
$7,604,475.04 (the "Purchase Price"), after adjustments. The
Purchase Price was paid:

(a) $6,504,475.04 in cash;

(b) $350,000 in a subordinated, secured promissory note bearing
interest at a rate of 10% and maturing December 31, 1999; and

(c) $750,000 by the issuance of 1,250,000 common shares of Corlac
at a deemed price of $0.60 per share.

Of the cash portion of the Purchase Price, $3,000,000 was financed
from the proceeds of the previously completed special warrant
financing of Corlac, and the balance came from bank financing.
Corlac has obtained bank financing from Hongkong Bank of Canada in
the aggregate amount of $7,000,000, which consists of a $1,000,000
operating line, a $5,000,000 capital loan to complete the Select
Acquisition, and a $1,000,000 general acquisition line of credit
(collectively, the "Bank Financing"). The Bank Financing is secured
by the assets of Corlac, including the assets acquired in the
Select Acquisition.

Select was a private company that was in the business of renting
gas related production equipment for over 25 years with a history
of providing quality products and service in the gas rental market.
Select will become the cornerstone of Corlac's gas related rental
division. As a result of Corlac's association with Corlac Inc., it
is expected the rental fleet of Select will be significantly
expanded over the next year.

Corlac is a public company whose common shares are listed and
posted for trading on The Alberta Stock Exchange. Corlac is a
public company engaged in the business of providing equipment to
the oil and gas industry via various financial products, including
capital finance arrangements and general rentals to the oil and gas
industry. Corlac's current lease fleet includes engines, pumps,
separators, line heaters, drilling- related tanks, water injection
skids, proprietary free water knock-outs and oilfield production
tanks. Corlac's strategic plan is to increase its industry presence
in each of its divisions (gas production related equipment,
drilling related equipment, oil production related equipment and
custom financing).



To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)9/30/1998 12:30:00 PM
From: Kerm Yerman  Respond to of 15196
 
MERGERS - ACQUISITIONS / MacDonald Oil Merging With BRO-X Mines

MACDONALD OIL MERGER WITH BRO-X MINERALS

Date: 9/29/98 2:36:40 PM
Dateline: TORONTO, ONTARIO
Stock Symbol: MACO

PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc., the Interim Receiver-Manager of Bresea
Resources Ltd. (" Bresea") will seek Court approval for the
disposition of the interest of Bresea in Bro-X Minerals Ltd.
("Bro-X"). The Interim Receiver-Manager intends to make application
to the Court for the winding-up of Bro-X. Bro-X has presently
issued and outstanding 22 million common shares and 2 million
preferred shares convertible into 2 million common shares and
redeemable at $1 each. Bresea owns all the Bro-X preferred shares
and 22.7% of its common shares.

On September 11th, 1998 Bro-X and MacDonald Oil Exploration Ltd.
(CDN-MACO) ("MacDonald Oil") signed a letter of intent to seek all
requisite approvals to merge. Under the terms of the letter of
intent the holders of Bro-X's 22 million common shares would
receive 11 million shares and 5.5 million warrants of the merged
company and Bresea's 2 million preferred shares of Bro-X would
become convertible into 8 million common shares of the merged
company, while maintaining their $2 million preference in its
assets; the holders of MacDonald Oil's 18 million common shares
would receive 18 million shares and 18 million warrants of the
merged company. All warrants would be exercisable at $0.25 at any
time within 12 months of their issue.

MacDonald Oil now holds a 30% interest in Block 22, the single
largest onshore hydrocarbon exploration concession in the Republic
of Cuba, comprising 9,900 square kilometres. Earlier this summer
MacDonald Oil announced its agreement to farm-out a 70% operating
interest in Block 22, to Genoil Inc., a subsidiary of Beau Canada
Exploration Ltd. An initial seismic program identified at least
four potential drilling prospects which will be detailed with a
further seismic program that commenced earlier this month. An
initial exploration well is scheduled for the second quarter of
1999.

Bro-X's only significant asset is approximately $930,000 cash,
which has continued to be held by the Court and
PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. since Bro-X's own protection from its
creditors under CCAA terminated on November 1st, 1997. The
company's subsequent requests for the return of funds from the
Court have not been acted upon . On Friday, September 18th, 1998
PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. served Bro-X with a demand that it
repurchase 860,000 of its preferred shares for $860,000.

Bresea's Interim Receiver-Manager was to have appeared before the
Court for further instructions, on Friday, September 25th, 1998.
As the assigned Judge was presiding at another trial, the Bresea
hearing was postponed to a date yet to be determined.




To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)9/30/1998 12:35:00 PM
From: Kerm Yerman  Respond to of 15196
 
MISC. / Canada Dominion Resources Invests Into Canadian 88 Energy

CANADA DOMINION RESOURCES GROUP - $1,770,000 INVESTMENT IN CANADIAN 88
ENERGY AND VICEROY RESOURCES

Date: 9/29/98 5:54:47 PM
Dateline: VANCOUVER, B.C
Stock Symbol:

Canada Dominion Resources Limited Partnership is pleased to
announce it has acquired 170,000 flow-through shares at $6 per
share ($1,020,000) of Canadian 88 Energy Corp. (TSE-EEE) and
262,237 flow-through shares at $2.86 per share ($750,000) of
Viceroy Resources Corp. (TSE-VOY). Canadian 88 is a $500 million
market capitalization company that is focusing its exploration and
development activities in the natural gas and liquids prolific
basin of West Southern and West Central Alberta. Canadian 88 is
expected to show substantial 1999 volume and cash flow growth in
the order of 200% and 300% respectively, as prior discoveries are
tied-in to facilities.

Viceroy Resources Corp is a mid-tier gold company producing about
200,000 ounces annually from its Brewery Creek mine in the Yukon
and from its 75% owned Castle Mountain Mine in California. In
addition, the company has aggressive exploration plans in the
Americas.

"Here's an example of a great little story" commented Norm
Lamarche, portfolio manager for Canada Dominion. "Viceroy produces
200,000 ounces of gold per year at a cash cost of about US$200 per
ounce, has sold forward all of their 1998 and 1999 production at
approximately US$400 per ounce, and has cash available to pursue an
exploration program in Argentina. Not only is the company
generating cash flows in this depressed gold price environment, it
has the financial muscle to take advantage of the many
opportunities facing it."

To date, including the above described transactions, Canada
Dominion has invested approximately $4.4 million of its funds in
flow-through shares and holds approximately $12.7 million for
future investment.




To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)9/30/1998 12:39:00 PM
From: Kerm Yerman  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 15196
 
SERVICE SECTOR / Destiny Resource Service Cp. 1st Qtr Report

DESTINY RESOURCE SERVICES CORP. REPORTS FIRST QUARTER REVENUE AND
EARNINGS

Date: 9/30/98 9:09:17 AM
Dateline: CALGARY, AB
Stock Symbol: DSC

Destiny Resource Services Corp. today announced their financial
and operating results for the three months ended August 31, 1998.

---------------------------------------------------------------
THREE MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 31 1998 1997 Change
---------------------------------------------------------------
(thousands, except per share amounts) $ $ %
OPERATING RESULTS
Revenue
Canada 8,701 3,623 + 140
International 9,469 6,436 + 47
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total revenue 18,170 10,059 + 81
Direct expenses 14,600 7,672 + 90
---------------------------------------------------------------
Gross margin 3,570 2,387 + 50
Other expenses (income)
General and administrative 749 675 + 11
Depreciation, amortization and depletion 1,058 383 + 176
Interest 240 103 + 133
Other (277) (80) + 246
---------------------------------------------------------------
1,770 1,081 + 64
---------------------------------------------------------------
Income before income taxes 1,800 1,306 + 38
Income taxes 505 414 + 22
---------------------------------------------------------------
Net income 1,295 892 + 45
---------------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA 3,098 1,792 + 73
---------------------------------------------------------------

Earnings per share
Basic 0.13 0.12 + 8
Fully diluted 0.10 0.09 + 11
Cash flow from operations per share
Basic 0.24 0.16 + 50
Fully diluted 0.17 0.13 + 31
Weighted average shares outstanding (000s)
Basic 10,198 7,660 + 33
Fully diluted 14,136 10,113 + 40
---------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------
THREE MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 31 1998 1997 Change
---------------------------------------------------------------
(thousands, except per share amounts) $ $ %
BALANCE SHEET
Current assets
Cash 4,808 735 + 554
Receivables 14,657 8,251 + 78
Other 2,018 1,440 + 40
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total current assets 21,483 10,426 + 106
Capital assets 22,729 8,181 + 178
Goodwill 5,812 --
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets 50,024 18,607 + 169
---------------------------------------------------------------
Current liabilities
Bank indebtedness 497 1,744 - 72
Accounts payable and
accrued liabilities 12,551 5,134 + 144
Income taxes payable 1,169 650 + 80
Current portion of long-term debt 3,150 790 + 299
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total current liabilities 17,367 8,318 + 109
---------------------------------------------------------------
Long-term debt 9,067 1,368 + 563
---------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred income taxes 211 --
---------------------------------------------------------------
Convertible debentures -- 645
---------------------------------------------------------------
Share capital 16,328 4,481 + 264
Retained earnings 7,051 3,795 + 86
---------------------------------------------------------------
23,379 8,276 + 182
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity 50,024 18,607 + 169
---------------------------------------------------------------

For the three months ended August 31, 1998, revenue increased 81
percent to $18.2 million compared to $10.1 million a year ago.

Net earnings for the first quarter increased 45 percent to $1.3
million in fiscal 1999 compared with $892,000 in fiscal 1998. The
Company's basic earnings per share increased to $0.13 from $0.12
a year ago, while fully diluted earnings per share increased to
$0.10 from $0.09.

During the first quarter of fiscal 1999, Destiny recorded a 92
percent gain in cash flow from operations, before net change in
non-cash working capital, to $2.4 million from $1.3 million a
year ago. Basic cash flow per share was $0.24 compared to $0.16
a year ago, while fully diluted cash flow per share increased to
$0.17 from $0.13.

As at August 31, 1998, working capital increased to $4.1 million
from $2.1 million last year and shareholders' equity grew 182
percent to $23.4 million.

Mr. Adrian Erickson, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Destiny, stated "Through the diversification of our Domestic
activities and expanding year-round international operations,
Destiny is working to achieve what very few service companies
have - balanced, profitable and growing operations, which
mitigate the seasonality and the cyclical nature inherent to the
energy industry. Our first quarter results reflect the success of
our strategy."

Destiny Resource Services Corp. is a Calgary-based exploration
service company providing essential integrated services to the
seismic, exploration and production industries in Canada, the
United States, Central and South America, the Middle East, Africa
and Southeast Asia.

Neither The Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Alberta Stock Exchange
has approved or disapproved of the information contained herein.



To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)9/30/1998 12:45:00 PM
From: Kerm Yerman  Respond to of 15196
 
PROPERTY ACQUISITION / Probe Exploration Acquiriung Rights To
PanCanadian Property

PROBE SUBSTANTIALLY ADDS TO EXPLORATION LAND BASE
Date: 9/30/98 10:56:49 AM
Dateline: CALGARY, ALBERTA
Stock Symbol: PRX

Probe Exploration Inc. (PRX-TSE) is pleased to announce it has
entered into an agreement with PanCanadian Petroleum Limited to
acquire the rights to explore over 150 sections (96,000 acres) of
land adjacent to the Company's Leduc project. This checkerboard
acreage position extends approximately 50 miles north and west of
Leduc. The region exhibits excellent multizone potential with a
natural gas bias.

"Probe's existing two-year development inventory, combined with
this new strategic acquisition will continue to provide
shareholders with the long-term growth which Probe has exhibited
over the past five years," says Stephen Gibson, President & CEO.

Over a three-year period, Probe expects to drill a minimum of 45
wells, two thirds of which will be drilled within the next 12
months. This aggressive exploration effort will be aided through
Probe's immediate access to a database of approximately 1,100 km of
2D seismic, which was included in the transaction.

In spite of its proximity to Leduc and Pembina, the acquired
acreage can generally be considered as under explored. Probe's
existing Leduc area operations and infrastructure, along with
planned expansions at third party facilities, will allow the
Company to develop this geologically promising area on a timely
basis. Management views this transaction as the second in a series
of strategic moves designed to position the Company as a dominant
area player with high working interests in over 50 townships (1,800
square miles) through this central Alberta corridor.

First-year capital expenditures for drilling and seismic are
estimated to amount to $8 to $10 million which compares with $40
million of planned development expenditures at Leduc. While Probe's
1999 budget has not yet been finalized, management expects to spend
a total of $70 to $80 million in all areas including Leduc,
Majestic, Cutbank, Barrhead and Highvale plus the newly acquired
Leduc area lands.

Probe was also successful at a recent sale of Crown lands at
Majestic where it acquired 100% interests in 33 sections (21,000
acres) of new lands directly adjoining the Company's existing
lands. The Majestic Project now comprises a total of 60 sections
(over 85% average working interest) of gas and oil prone acreage
with a substantial inventory of both development and exploration
plays. Recent narrowing of oil price differentials, which Probe has
hedged, will allow for the orderly development of the Company's
original horizontal drilling project with four to six new wells
planned for the fourth quarter. Area infrastructure now includes an
expanded oil battery and disposal facilities as well as gas
gathering and compression for Probe's recent gas discoveries.

Probe's current production remains steady at an estimated 11,000
BOE/d. An additional 3,000 BOE/d is expected to be onstream through
October 1998, reflecting the completion of the sour gas gathering
system and the Calmar Plant expansion. The water injection for
Probe's Sparky formation will commence in early October, 1998.
Ongoing drilling and optimization programs utilizing Probe's fleet
of five drilling rigs and four service rigs will allow the Company
to continue its 1998 capital expenditure program on schedule.

Probe Exploration Inc. is a publicly traded exploration and
development company based in Calgary, Alberta. The Company's
activities are focused on oil and gas exploration and production in
high-reward areas in central Alberta.




To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)10/1/1998 9:26:00 AM
From: Kerm Yerman  Respond to of 15196
 
IN THE NEWS / Renaissance Energy Puts $200M Asset Sale On Back Burner

By CLAUDIA CATTANEO
Calgary Bureau Chief The Financial Post

Renaissance Energy Ltd. has scrapped the sale of a package of natural gas assets, valued at $200 million to $250 million, after failing to obtain an acceptable bid, the company confirmed yesterday.

The package, marketed mostly in the U.S., was put on the block to reduce debt following the acquisition of Pinnacle Resources Ltd. in July for $680 million in stock.

"The bids we received were not within our expectation range," said Renaissance spokesman Doug Anguish.

The properties, with a production of more than 100 million cubic feet of gas a day, are no longer being aggressively marketed, but Renaissance will consider offers, he said.

While there are no other debt reduction plans at the moment, Renaissance is comfortable with its current level of indebtedness, Anguish said.

The package was one of the largest being marketed in the industry, estimated to have $1.5 billion in oil and gas properties on the block, as producers struggle with the longest oil price downturn since 1973.

Ross Kobayashi of Kobayashi & Associates Ltd. said the Renaissance package probably failed to sell because it was marketed in the U.S.



To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)10/1/1998 9:30:00 AM
From: Kerm Yerman  Respond to of 15196
 
IN THE NEWS / Petro-Canada Invited To Oil Summit

BY CLAUDIA CATTANEO
Calgary Bureau Chief The Financial Post

Petro-Canada is the only Canadian oil and gas company that will attend an exclusive meeting in Venice of 20 of the world's biggest oil companies.

Petro-Canada, to be represented by president and chief executive Jim Stanford, was invited because it's one of the country's leading integrated oil firms, said Robin West, chairman of Petroleum Finance Co., the Washington-based consulting firm that is organizing the meeting.

Billed as a session to exchange ideas and build intellectual capital, the weekend meeting is also being watched as a forum that could pave the way to corporate deals.

West said the meeting is not intended to be a convergence of companies to carve up the market.

"The intention is to try and figure out what is going on in the world," he said. "This is just a chance for some serious people to get together and talk about serious issues."

Still, last month's takeover of Amoco Corp. by British Petroleum PLC has fed speculation other companies may follow suit, although finding a good marriage partner will be more difficult for the next generation.

Corporate leaders are eager to find solutions as the industry around the world struggles with low oil prices, increased production brought about by new technologies and lower demand.

Petro-Canada attempted a major joint venture this year with San Antonio-based Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corp., but walked away in June after the federal Competition Bureau said it would have resulted in a substantial lessening of competition and higher prices for gasoline retailers. The joint venture would have merged the two companies' refining and marketing operations.

Ultramar is now looking for a U.S. partner for its Canadian refining operations, while Petro-Canada says it's doing business as usual and continuing to build on its recently restructured downstream operations.





To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)10/1/1998 9:33:00 AM
From: Kerm Yerman  Respond to of 15196
 
IN THE NEWS / NEB Staff Swamped By Pipeline Boom

By CAROL HOWES
Calgary Bureau The Financial Post

Extensive hearings into Canada's expanding natural gas and oil pipeline system, including the proposed $4-billion Alliance pipeline project, taxed National Energy Board resources and stole staff away from monitoring safety and environmental hazards, says a board spokesman.

John McCarthy, head of NEB's operations business unit, said yesterday that, with a record year last year for applications for new pipelines, the heavy workload affected the entire board.

"That blip had an effect on some of our other programs," he said, referring to the 180 days the board spent in hearings compared with the average 80 days.

McCarthy was responding to a report by Auditor General Denis Desautels that warned the NEB is failing to monitor properly the country's 40,000-kilometre pipeline system, 60% of which is more than 20 years old.

Desautels said the number of reported spills, pipeline ruptures and gas leaks has jumped 73% in the past five years ­ to 88 from 48. Since 1992 there have been 18 "significant ruptures."

But McCarthy said the audit does not paint a fair picture because many of the reported accidents and spills were minor. The more serious incidents have been steadily declining in recent years.

Last year, for instance, the industry had only two significant ruptures, down from four in 1995. None have been reported this year.

The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association jumped to the NEB's defence, saying the pipelines don't pose any safety or environmental risk despite their age. More than 70% of incidents in 1997 were in areas that didn't affect the public, such as at a gas plant or pump station.

"Canada's pipelines are the safest and most reliable pipelines in the world," said Bob Hill, the association's vice-president of technology and operations.

The NEB has shrunk 35% in recent years, despite more demand on its resources due to a pipeline building boom.

The auditor general said the situation can only be expected to get worse as the amount of pipeline for inspection grows.

Because of staffing problems, including an 18% turnover rate, the NEB has just one person designated to inspect pipelines for their environmental impact.

McCarthy said his department has borrowed staff from elsewhere to help and expects the situation to be rectified with additional staff.



To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)10/1/1998 9:37:00 AM
From: Kerm Yerman  Respond to of 15196
 
IN THE NEWS / Imperial Oil Gets $140M Tax Windfall

BY CLAUDIA CATTANEO
Calgary Bureau Chief The Financial Post

Imperial Oil Ltd. said yesterday it has received a tax windfall of $140 million stemming from a 1992 court settlement on overpayment of income taxes.

Canada's largest integrated oil company said the refund will boost 1998 earnings by $60 million. It will be booked in the third quarter.

The settlement, of which $100 million is taxable interest, is on top of a rebate of $843 million the company received in March 1996, that resulted in a gain of $322 million in 1996, out of net earnings of $786 million.

The latest refund covers taxes paid to seven provinces that were collected by the federal government, said spokesman Richard O'Farrell.

Negotiations for related provincial tax refunds are still under way with Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.

Another 25 oil companies have reached settlements with Ottawa since a 1992 Federal Court of Appeal decision involving an income tax formula called the natural resource allowance.

At the time, companies were disputing how the government was calculating the allowance. Gulf Canada Ltd. took it to court and won.

The windfall was not unexpected. For years, Imperial's annual financial statements have noted the company could get back its income tax overpayments.

However, it couldn't have come at a better time. The industry is expected to post poor third-quarter results compared with last year, although integrated companies like Imperial will reduce the impact of low commodity prices with good margins in refining and marketing operations.

Shares of Imperial (IMO/TSE), which is 69.6% owned by Exxon Corp., closed at $23.30 yesterday, down 30¢.

Before the windfall, Imperial was expected to post a third-quarter profit of 28¢ a share, down from 45¢ last year.

"No question, crude oil prices have been low and the industry is not performing at the same level as in previous years," said O'Farrell.





To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)10/1/1998 9:48:00 AM
From: Kerm Yerman  Read Replies (3) | Respond to of 15196
 
IN THE NEWS / Bryan and Noval, Together At Last

Thursday, October 1, 1998
MATHEW INGRAM - Globe & Mail

So, the rumours have come true after all -- oil patch bad boys Greg Noval and J.P. Bryan have joined forces. After some extended wooing, gentleman gunslinger and former Gulf Canada honcho J.P. Bryan has hitched his wagon to big-game hunter Greg Noval's company, Canadian 88 Energy. Mr. Bryan says his vision is "mainly dedicated to seeing what we can buy."

This will bring cheer to corporate finance professionals, since Mr. Bryan showed an enthusiasm for various kinds of financing -- such as the income trust, which he helped popularize. No doubt underwriters are already sharpening their pencils, hoping to pitch Mr. Bryan on all kinds of debt and equity packages he can use to fuel a Canadian 88 buying spree.

Mr. Bryan will likely wince at that description of his plans for Canadian 88, of which he is now the executive chairman. But by their own estimates, he and Mr. Noval want to double or even triple the size of the company, which currently has a market value of about $550-million. You can't produce that kind of growth without making some big acquisitions.

And let's face it, big acquisitions are what got J.P. into trouble in his previous job. After building up Gulf Canada through more than $2-billion in purchases, he and the board parted company on strategy, and then finally Mr. Bryan parted with the company, period. Now he says he wants to bring his expertise in "creative transactions" to Canadian 88.

Mr. Noval's company has two things going for it that make it perfect for these purposes. First, it has little debt on its balance sheet -- so it's ready to be "leveraged up" as corporate finance types like to say. Second, it is focused on natural gas, and in the current market gas players are the chosen ones (oil companies are the outcasts).

Leverage is clearly a bit of a sore point with Mr. Bryan. At Monday's press conference, the former Gulf Canada CEO said he's a little peeved that he has a reputation for being overly enamoured of debt. "I don't carry it around with me like a prayer rug," he said in his Texas drawl, flashing one of his Gary Cooper-style grins. But like it or not, a fondness for debt is one of the things the market associates with Mr. Bryan.

That's not to say that loading Gulf Canada's balance sheet up is the only thing Mr. Bryan did during his tenure. As he pointed out, he took a company that was "on an iron lung machine" in 1994 and built it into a $4-billion producer with global assets. He also managed to ruffle quite a few feathers in the clubby Calgary oil patch with his tactics.

It's also true that Mr. Bryan increased Gulf Canada's equity, which had the effect of improving the company's financial ratios -- even as he added about $2-billion in debt to finance the purchase of Clyde Resources, Stampeder Explorations and others. Of course, Mr. Bryan did all this when the price of oil was soaring and the market couldn't get enough of oil stocks.

Mr. Bryan also pointed out that he structured Gulf Canada's debt so that most of the payments were far in the future, so the company wouldn't find itself pressed if commodity prices weakened -- as they have. "After 30 years in the corporate finance business, you'd think I'd be aware of the effect low prices would have" on a company's financial health, he said.

All these things are true. But what's also true is that many players in the market -- including ordinary investors and institutions -- have a much lower comfort level when it comes to debt than the charismatic Mr. Bryan. He may not have flinched when Gulf Canada's debt rose to 4.5 times cash flow, but there were plenty who did. Perhaps that's why shares of Canadian 88 fell on the news of his arrival, and continued to slide Tuesday and Wednesday.

In any case, when it comes to a desire for big acquisitions, Mr. Bryan picked the right partner in Mr. Noval, who has tried and failed several times to build his company through hostile takeovers. The first came in 1994, when he made an offer for Texaco Canada -- although he said later that he was glad he failed, since the target was 10 times his size.

Then Mr. Noval made a run at Amerada Hess in 1996, but his $540-million bid failed to win the day. Finally, he made a $650-million bid last year for Morrison Petroleums -- a move that also failed, and led to a trading ban for Mr. Noval imposed by the Alberta Securities Commission for transactions involving Morrison stock.

Mr. Noval is no doubt hoping the added firepower of J.P. Bryan will help him bag a big one or two -- and there are some attractive opportunities, including gas companies such as Penn West and Rio Alto (both controlled by Calgary financier Murray Edwards). There's also the soon-to-be-public Canadian Hunter, a spinoff from Noranda.

The market's appetite for debt and equity, however, is almost non-existent at the moment, and that goes double for income trusts. Can Mr. Bryan work his financing magic in that kind of environment? For the answer, don't miss future instalments of the J.P. Bryan and Greg Noval show.



To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)10/1/1998 10:01:00 AM
From: Kerm Yerman  Respond to of 15196
 
IN THE NEWS / High Energy Demand Expected - Calgary Conference Ends On
A Positive Note

By PAUL JACKSON, BUSINESS EDITOR
Calgary Sun

Worldwide energy demand is predicted to grow more than 50% between now and the year 2020.

That was the good news that Garry Mi-haichuk, president of TransCanada International, delivered yesterday to delegates attending the final day of the 17th annual Canadian Energy Research Institute's oil and gas marketing conference in Calgary.

Mihaichuk also predicted worldwide natural gas use will more than double by the year 2020, propelled by environmental concerns about pollution and opposition to hydro and nuclear plants.

Bruce Burke, vice-president of Chem Systems, had other good news for the 175 delegates from about 10 nations.

He said it would be at least 10 to 20 years before alternative fuels started taking over from gasoline and diesel -- and even then, they would appeal to only about 20% of the automotive market.

The bad news for Canadian delegates came from Robert Meneley of the Canadian Gas Potential Committee, who said there will be a major cut in the size of natural gas pools found in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin -- and exploration will become more expensive with smaller returns.

This, said other speakers, means exploration and development companies will have to look for more sites overseas if they want to expand and keep profits healthy.

And that can be a risky because foreign governments can change their rules over-night.

Marcel Kramer, president of the Norwegian-owned Statoil Asia-Pacific division in Singapore, said the line, "I'm in business, not politics," rarely works in in Asia.

He said in Thailand there are about 30 companies in the oil and gas retailing business -- and some of them are managed by politicians.

Kramer also said he believes the economic crisis in Asia was far from over and could become more traumatic.

During a panel discussion on risk -- both domestically and offshore -- Dick Auchinleck, president of Gulf Canada Resources Ltd., said one way that companies can reduce it is to form partnerships, joint ventures or alliances with other companies.

Auchinleck said although it was unthinkable for Coca-Cola or Pepsi-Cola to enter joint ventures, it was almost routine for companies in the oil and gas industry.

As an example, he pointed to the outstanding success of Syncrude, which initially had 10 partners -- and to the massive Hibernia project, both of which no single company could have taken the risk to build alone.

The mood at the conference was generally upbeat, although few delegates said there would be a dramatic recovery in oil prices soon.



To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)10/1/1998 10:13:00 AM
From: Kerm Yerman  Respond to of 15196
 
IN THE NEWS / Gulf Canada Resources President Said Company Not Holding
Asset Garage Sale

CAROL HARRINGTON
Calgary Herald

Gulf Canada Resources will continue to sell assets to cut its debt but not at basement bargain prices, company president Richard Auchinleck said Wednesday. Dozens of petroleum companies have contacted Gulf because they heard the company is in financial dire straits and is desperate to sell assets, said Auchinleck.

"We have some people saying we are going to have a fire sale in terms of assets," Auchinleck told reporters.

"Clearly, it's going to be a high-priced garage sale.

"We expect to get good value for these assets."

Burdened by a $2.8-billion debt, Gulf announced earlier this year it would unload non-core holdings and chop the debt to $1.85 billion.

Gulf is close to reaching that goal and has plans to whittle more by selling more assets.

"We are going to take the next step in terms of debt reduction," Auchinleck said, adding he's aiming to bring the debt below $1.5 billion in the next 12 to 18 months.

Gulf will close a $220-million deal in the next two weeks by selling midstream assets in Alberta, Auchinleck said. The deal will take Gulf over the $1-billion mark in its asset-selling binge since the beginning of this year.

Gulf made some major acquisitions, totalling $1.6 billion, during J.P. Bryan's three-year term as company president.

Bryan went on a shopping spree and turned the company from a money loser into a profitable oil and gas producer before resigning last February.

Gulf now wants to sell some heavy oil assets in Alberta, and there's interest in its offshore property in Australia, Auchinleck said.

But it has no intention of selling its nine-per-cent share of Syncrude.

"For us, it's very much sacred," Auchinleck said. "We've had a lot of approaches on Syncrude and we've sent them all away."

Syncrude, a joint-venture oilsands plant in northern Alberta, rolled out its billionth barrel this spring and had revenues exceed $2 billion for the second consecutive year.

During the second quarter, Gulf's oil and gas liquids production increased 10 per cent to 124,000 barrels a day.

The company's stocks plunged during the past year - from a high of $13.25 to $4.29. Auchinleck pointed out that stocks have rebounded in the past two weeks, closing above the $6 mark.

Auchinleck was in Calgary Wednesday for a two-day international oil and gas market conference held by the Canadian Energy Research Institute.



To: Kerm Yerman who wrote (12494)10/1/1998 10:32:00 AM
From: Kerm Yerman  Read Replies (7) | Respond to of 15196
 
IN THE NEWS / IPL Energy Buys 22.8 Per Cent Stake In Chicago Pipe Line

IPL Energy Inc. has bought nearly 23 per cent of a U.S. energy pipeline, the Chicap Pipe Line Co., for $34 million.

The deal, announced Wednesday, involved Clark Refining and Marketing Inc. of St. Louis, a gas bar operator in the U.S. Midwest states.

The 330-kilometre Chicap line, with a capacity of about 400,000 barrels a day, transports crude oil bound for Chicago from another system that runs from the U.S. Gulf Coast to Illinois.

Chicap parallels the Mustang Pipe Line, which transports crude oil from the Chicago area on the Lakehead Pipe Line system. IPL Energy is involved in both the Mustand and Lakehead systems.

Calgary-based IPL Energy owns the largest oil and liquids transmission pipeline in Canada as well as Consumers Gas Co., the biggest natural gas utility.

IPL said the deal fits the company's strategy of expanding its investment in North America's energy delivery infrastructure.

"Our investment in the Chicap system reinforces several strategic opportunities we see in the energy delivery arena, and geographically diversifies our pipeline asset base to include participation in the Gulf Coast-to-Chicago corridor," said Patrick Daniel, IPL's president of energy delivery.