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Interoil Corp Earnings Q3 2013 Earnings Call Teleconference - Printable Version

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Interoil Corp Earnings Q3 2013 Earnings Call Teleconference - Gator - 11-13-2013

Michael Hession:

  Thank you, Wayne. Well, thank you very much everybody for joining us this

  evening. The way we will structure this is, I'll make some introductory

  remarks, then I'll hand across to Collin, who will take us through the

  financial statement. Then, we'll come back to myself, and I'll give you some

  more details because where we are as the Company and where we headed.

  Finally, we'll open it to questions. So, if you recall in our second quarter

  or an earnings presentation, I made a commitment to deliver on three areas.

  Those three areas where strengthening the company's financial position and

  streamlining our operations, making progress on the monetization of our gas

  resource, the monetization which will transform this company.

  And then talk about capturing the upside, where we go after we transform the

  company into an LNG plant. Well today, I'm pleased to report that we made

  considerable progress and material progress in all those three issues. We'll

  talk about the security of $250 million facility to underpin our upstream

  exploration in [indiscernible] and we'll talk further about how we've reduced

  our operating costs and streamlined the company's operations.

  I will talk in some detail about the negotiation with the supermajors on the

  monetization and the plans to complete this transformational deal eventually

  by the end of the year. I will then come to the catch in the upside. The

  very, very important fact that InterOil has been a very successful explorer,

  the most successful explore in PNG. And I want to give you some color about

  our plans going forward in that space.

  So, before I get into the detail, I'm going to pass across the call and he's

  going to take you through the financials. Collin?

  Collin F. Visaggio:

  Thanks, Michael. And welcome to everyone listening to the live presentation.

  Let's start with Slide 6. I'm pleased to announce that on November 11, 2013,

  we entered into $250 million secured syndicated capital expenditure facility

  led by Credit Suisse, delighted to the approved drilling and seismic data

  acquisition program.

  As highlighted in previous conference calls, the company has did flexibility

  to meet ongoing portfolio requirements. The other participating lenders

  during the facility are the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, ANZ, UBS,

  Macquarie, the Bank of South Pacific, BNP Paribas and Westpac. The facility

  based interest at liable plus 5.5% margin on the drawn amount for up to the

  first six months, and is secured by the company's existing upstream and

  corporate entities. The facility is payable in full upon any sale of the

  Company's interest in the Elk and Antelope fields.

  Turing now to Slide 7 on financial results. The net loss for the quarter

  ended September 30, 2013 was $6.3 million. The operating segments of

  corporate, midstream refining and downstream collectively derived the net

  profit for the quarter of $7.5 million. The operating segment profit was

  reduced by our investments in our developing business segments of Upstream

  and LNG were $13.8 million.

  In comparing this quarter's loss to the same period of 2012, the reduction

  was mainly due to a $7.6 million decrease in gross margin mainly on stable

  crude and product cost movements during the current quarter as compared to

  increases in process during the same period in 2012, and then $8.6 million

  increase in foreign exchange losses resulting from the significant weakening

  of the Kina against the U.S. dollar.

  As mentioned, the Kina weakened significantly during the quarter from 0.46 to

  0.42. A weak at Kina and the lack of liquidity of the currency has had an

  unfavorable impact on the operating segment results. It is worth noting that

  the Kina exchange rate does form part of the import parity price formula,

  which is determined monthly in arrears.

  A rapid decline or appreciation in the Kina will affect the net result in a

  reporting period due to the timing difference between the set import parity

  price and the collection of domestic sales process.

  Turning now to Slide 8. The total volume of all products sold by us was 2

  million barrels for the quarter ended September 30, 2013, compared with 2.3

  million barrels in the same period of 2012, mainly due to reduced exports on

  timing of export shipments. Domestic sales remained very strong, with this

  quarter volume being 8% higher than the same period of 2012.

  Total volume of all products sold by us was 6.7 million barrels for the nine

  months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 6.2 million barrels in the same

  period of 2012. This is mainly due to increased export sales on our switch to

  a naptha-rich crude diet, as the premiums of these crudes are currently much

  lower than the higher middle distillate crudes, which we traditionally

  prefer. Domestic sales volumes have only increased marginally by 2% during

  the nine-month period due to the slowing down of construction activity on the

  PNG LNG project compared to prior year as it moves towards production.

  Turning now to Slide 9. A very clear focus is streamlining our business by

  cutting costs, simplifying agreements and our structures. Therefore, I'm

  pleased to advise several initiatives. On August 6, 2013, we agreed to align

  PacLNG's interest in the LNG joint venture to the interest in PRL15. Then on

  September 10, 2013, we sold our investment in the FLEX LNG shares to $7.8

  million resulting in a $4.7 million gain. Then on September 30, 2013, we made

  the final payment to Mitsui to extinguish the Condensate Stripping joint

  venture and the option to acquire interesting PRL15. Also during the quarter,

  there has been a clear focus on our core businesses, which is you would

  expenditure savings in excess of $30 million.

  Finally and subsequent to quarter end on October 24, we entered into an

  exchange agreement with PNGEI to buyback the 4.25% indirect participating

  interest under the indirect participating interest agreement of September

  2004. Including the interest [indiscernible] to future distributions, in

  exchange for a 100,000 of our common shares.

  Turning to Slide 10 on our financial position. As of September 30, 2013, our

  debt-to-capital ratio was 20%, with our total book assets amounting to $1.3

  billion and our total liabilities amounting to $513 million. Our current

  ratio and quick ratio were 1.3 times and 0.6 times respectively. The quick

  ratio was below our internal target of 1; however, the closing of the

  sell-down transaction will bring these ratios well within our internal

  target.

  Turning now to Slide 11 and then Slide 12 on cash position. As of September

  30, 2013, we had cash, cash equivalents and cash restricted of $79 million.

  We have had a $9 million decrease in cash balance for the nine months mainly

  as a result of expenditure on exploration activity and development activity

  offset by partner funding and process from the drawdown of the existing

  financing facilities.

  As stated earlier, we have since entered into a $250 million secured

  syndicated capital expenditure facility, which will be drawn on as and when

  required. If we were drawn today, this would place out giving at 37%. These

  facilities continue to optimally provide capital for the business to meet its

  business development strategy. Our full detailed analysis for your review is

  available in the press release and in the filed financials and MD&A.

  With that, I would like to hand back to Michael.




RE: Interoil Corp Earnings Q3 2013 Earnings Call Teleconference - Gator - 11-13-2013

Michael Hession:
Thank you very much, Collin. So as we showed out in the previous quarterly
earnings, I would like to take you through three main aspects to our
business. I want to talk about building the solid foundation and the delivery
on that. I would like to talk about the deal, the transformational deal that
is underway and how we're delivering on that.
And finally I'd like to talk about capturing the upside, capturing the upside
for this company, which we believe is considerable and how we're delivering
upon that. I've been in this company now for four months. I've spent a lot of
time looking and understanding what we've got and what asset base we've got.
And as I said previously, first thing was to understand the foundation and
make sure we had a solid foundation for growth. Obviously, that involves
strengthening the financial position and making sure that we were operating
efficiently. Further, we won't make wasting money by simply [indiscernible]
cash in and cash out. So what I did was I brought in a delivery team. A
delivery team that has and you'll see this team again and again in this
school, a delivery team that has a record of running efficient operational
businesses. And I'm very pleased to report progress in that space.
As Collin talked about, we secured a $250 million loan with high-caliber
banks and these are banks and these are institutions that I and my team have
worked with before. Now, the $250 million loan itself is important, but I
don't [indiscernible] the fact that this is all about relationships. This is
about banking with the right financers and the right banks behind us as we go
forward to being a major LNG player in PNG. These relationships well, I
believe, will [indiscernible] good stead as they have to be in good stead in
previous [indiscernible] inclinations in previous companies.
So I'm very pleased with the team that I've got on board and I'm very pleased
with the banks that we've got on board and I'm very pleased that we've got
$250 million loan and Collin will be taking through the details of that. To
cash in and the right team, things are looking good. In terms of cash out, we
looked out the efficiency of this business. We've looked very carefully at
the efficiency of this business and we look very carefully about what into
release and when you transform any company and that's what I've been brought
on board for this transformation from what was a very successful refining and
midstream company and distribution company into an LNG player and one is
going to look very carefully at what one does. And we've trimmed non-core
businesses. As I talked previously, I shut down certain divisions that I
believe are now no longer core and we shut down our Project division and we
shipped under construction division. Why have we done that, was quite simple
and we're going to be initially a non-operated LNG Company. LNG projects are
very, very special and very, very unique project. And there are a limited
number of companies in the world, that got the financial muscle and the
capability to build these projects, this is the mega majors generally.
And we will be partnering with a mega major [indiscernible] and I'll come to
that in the not too distant future in this pool. Savings while we've gone
through, we streamlined all asset pool of services and I think Deutsche Bank,
we've got an excess of $30 million of savings and I believe there's more to
come. The team that delivered that and [indiscernible] I'll give you some
color around that, a better work in the mega majors and work in some of the
mid-cap companies like Alcoa, companies like BP and companies like Shell have
experienced professionals [indiscernible] well.
And as I said, we got record of delivery. So we said earlier on, that we're
going to streamline and make sure that we got the foundation right and I
believe we're well underway there. [indiscernible] to the second part of my
discussion about the company. And I know this is a eagerly, eagerly awaited
discussion. It's a transformational deal. The transformational deal is
underway. Theme -- the theme -- the common theme is again we blow in a team
that delivers in these banks. What I've done is a blow into experienced LNG
negotiated, who have a track record of delivering these asset deals.
They've done these deals before and they'll do these deals again. I have
brought in people project manages, LNG project manages and a series of
people, they know what it takes to conclude the deal like this. More they've
done. Well, very simply. [indiscernible] we had a process that was -- in my
belief too complicated and lacks clarity. The best deals get done through a
simple process in my opinion, with clarity and with competitive attention. So
we sent the thought process and we simplified the deal. Example would be
those counterparties, we're talking to, we standardize documentation, we've
simplified the transaction with a view that you the shareholders and the
stakeholders will get to see through value. You'll understand exactly what
we've done. So where are we today? Well, we have office, we have office from
a number of mega majors and that believes -- that leads me to believe that we
can do this deal by the end of the year. That's the first time that a
[indiscernible] and said and given the timeline as to when we'll do this
deal. The reason I haven't gone out before is we're trying to understand the
deal, how to bring in the team to understand the deal. What gives me
confidence is the team I work with have done these things before, and myself
and the team believe that we can do this deal by the end of the year.
Where we are at the moment is we are in parallel negotiations with the number
of mega majors. These parallel negotiations are reaching conclusion. I say
that we're in the homes right, they are ongoing at the moment, they are
ongoing at the moment in Singapore, and I'm very confident that the finish
line is inside, we're close.
Now, major part of this whole process is bringing and working with the Papua
New Guinea government. They are integral to the success. We have a degree of
responsibility to Papua New Guinea, and that ping pong the process. And I
myself spending excess of 50% of my time in Papua New Guinea, working with
the stakeholders, taking them well through where we are, and making sure that
those stakeholders are really comfortable that what we're doing. So for
instance, I've spent time with Prime Minister, O'Neil; Administer of Energy,
Mr. Duma; Governor, Calvo; Minister, Michael and several other very important
stakeholders in the country.
I'm with part of the team here, and which fully gathered the team ethics
quite importantly to me, and we are part of the team with PNG. So the Papua
New Guinea government knows where we are, they know how close we are, and
they've been extremely supportive, extremely supportive. I've been very, very
pleased about the degree of support I've got from all levels, and that's from
the political level of [indiscernible] the bureaucracy, to the local
community sitting with Governor Calvo's domain.
So, I reiterate once more, the finish lines insight. I've used to quote
before internally, everyday is a possible finish day. That's what happens
when you win [indiscernible] negotiations with mega majors, we do cover these
assets, and there is a degree of competition.
Now, what I've done is with the mega majors in question, I respect the
confidentiality. I've got no intention of going out, and have no intention of
going out and negotiating this in the public domain. I think that we're
expecting, and that's more value for ever being around the table, and it
helps us get that line of outcome. So, we're close, very close in deed.
Now, moving on the upside, this is a part of the business that really well so
excites me. Because I do believe, we'll find more gas. I do believe that also
we'll be very, very happy with the appraisal program around Elk and Antelope.
Why do I Again, I'm going to talk to you about delivery chain and I brought
in a team from probably got century's worth of experience, actually I want to
add it up. People experienced explores and experienced development teams, and
they've worked with companies like Shell, like BP, like ARCO, actually
[indiscernible] people. People from a personal network including the network
of people's network [indiscernible] what all they do. I asked those guys, I
gave them a clean slather. I asked them to go away, and tell me what you
think about this resource and go away and tell me what you think about this
exploration program.
All I know, I've got [indiscernible] reports telling me about the resource.
But I wanted my own independent verification of what we were looking at. The
resource itself outcomes have come to look. I worked with people who had
defined these mega projects and these mega resources before, and I asked them
to tell me what they feel they saw. When I came back, we've nothing but a
[indiscernible] report on this discovered resource. I also got an exploration
team together and this exploration team includes people who sat on the global
committees as I said the BPs and Shells and [indiscernible] and they've come
back and told me this is a world-class exploration province and in fact a
world-class gas province. That started to give me more confidence that I can
comment today and tell you how happy I am to be the Chief Executive Officer
of this very exciting company.
What we've done about that. Now we're confident, now I'm confident that we've
got a world class gas province as part of this company portfolio we've
initiated a multi-well program. Now the [indiscernible] as I said before,
[indiscernible] that sounds the biggest gas field in Southeast Asia for 20
years. I mean that is not a particularly shabby record, that's a pretty good
record [indiscernible] to go. We recognized as the biggest and best explores
in PNG. I'm going to do more of it. I'm going to make sure that we understand
this province that we're working in. So what we've done is we've contacted
three weeks at this moment in time and they are all assigned to various
prospects and I'll talk to that in a moment. We're also concluding
negotiations in the fourth rig and this fourth rig quite likely will be used
in the appraisal program for [indiscernible] So thank you for the
exploration.
As soon as the slide there, we're talking through slide 19 to 23. I won't go
through the slides in detail, but I'll give you the headlines. And operations
are under way, site preparations under way and rigs have been to start. So,
Wahoo PPL 236, one of the most significant things about Wahoo is its close
proximity to [indiscernible] 167 kilometers from [indiscernible]. It's near
infrastructure, it's a very exciting, significant multi-TCF gas prospect, and
it's something we are looking forward to drilling in a very close future.
Raptor that's PPL 237 on Slide 20. That is 10 kilometers west of Antelope.
Now there's something I learned in my days working with the shales and BP's
is one tenth of fine hydrocarbons in close proximity to Triceratop resources.
So 10 kilometers west of Antelope, we've also got another multi-TCF visible
prospect. I have looked at, as I have Wahoo looked that by renowned globally
significant explorationists. And they told me, these prospects would rank
with any company's portfolio and any mega majors portfolio.
Bob Cat, PPL 238 [indiscernible] 21 that is between Antelope and Triceratops.
It sits between two existing discoveries. So, what we're looking at is a
world-class exploration province. What gives me more confidence about is, I
talk about independent verification a lot, I talk about delivery a lot, what
we see is the independent verification from the GTA -- sorry from the technic
lines of the of world of GLJ, independent verification of a team that I
brought in, an independent verification I think comes from the fact that
these assets are being sold by a number of the high quality oil and gas
companies on the planet, the mega majors.
We cover these assets and we're very pleased to be owners of 3.8 million
acres to surround these assets and include these assets. I talk a little bit
about appraisal, while we'll be drilling one well on Triceratops on Slide 23,
APRL39. What really excites me is, is PRL15. This is a joint hydrocarbon
accumulation, no matter which way you cut it, it's a joint hydrocarbon
accumulation. It's gone to tie between two and four appraisal wells to
understand the size of these things. Now we're working with the
counterparties, the mega majors I talked about and we are defining that
appraisal program in a moment. That tells you how close we are. We're
actually planning the operations with -- in parallel all the mega majors. As
of today, we have not made a decision who the winner is and [indiscernible]
will be making that decision in the not too distant future with the Papua New
Guinea Government. So PRL15, there will be as I said two to four delineation
wells on the joint heart without any accumulations with [indiscernible].
As a new CEO, as I said four months, I'm looking at a very solid foundation,
I'm looking at a company and a team, a leading a team, became a tough of
accounts from a deal. I mean, this company will change and major value will
be delivered to this company and to the shareholders, and on top of that a
good upside.
Four months in, I'm absolutely delighted to be the Chief Executive Officer of
this company. It is all hell of an opportunity and it's everything up in try
before and I'm really, really pleased about it. A great set of assets, great
company and oil and gas properties and a fantastic [indiscernible] PNG and I
don't under scope that. PNG is an amazing country, amazing geography with
fantastic people and I will begin the new opportunity to contribute to the
economy and work with the people of PNG. I'm really, really very pleased
about it.
So, couple of things I want to leave you with here. The delivery, it's
happening, it is for shattered in the previous second quarter earnings. We
talked about solid foundation what we're going to do that and I've told you
that. I've talked about the transformational deal for this company, while
we're on the cusp of finishing, closing, selecting, working through and I
think delivering on that deal.
And upside, yep, we are on the line, rigs all be mobilized, though to be
cleared and is going to be some very, very significant. Significant, I think
in the Asian context, significant in the gas context and the significance
would be PNG over the next year. So, I advice you all to stay tuned for what
is going to be a very, very interesting, important story.
Thank you very much. Operator, we'd now like to open the call for questions.


RE: Interoil Corp Earnings Q3 2013 Earnings Call Teleconference - Gator - 11-13-2013

Q&A

Operator:
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin the question-and-answer
session. [Operator Instructions] The first question comes from the line of
Evan Calio with Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead with your question.

: Yeah. Good morning and good evening guys. Very good
evening.

: Hi, Evan. How are you?

: Good. Very -- very good and very clear call this evening
for you. My first question on the asset monetization. Yeah, you mentioned
that you simplify the process negotiating with several majors in parallel
with some measures of standardization. Does that mean that everybody is
bidding on the same structure. Can you give us any general template of what
the deal structure looks like?

: Yeah, plenty of questions, but yes, everybody bidding on the same
template and everybody is bidding on the same documentation, everybody is
bidding on the same criteria. What we'd used is the LNG business is both
complicated and simple. It's complicated because it involved a very, very,
very and huge operational issues from market -- marketing the gas, developing
the gas to exploring the gas. But, however, there is a performer in the LNG
business, which is fairly standard. We've used it in Mark previous experience
and very, very simply we're going to get delivered to us a price for the gas.
We're going to get delivered to us a series of payments of the gas. We're
going to get delivered to us a certain equity that we're going to keep so
that going to tell you that we're very interested in keeping a significant
equity in this place, because we see as a major LNG player going forward. And
there is a number of other criterias that I can't share with you. But I'll
tell you that it is very straightforward, simple deal. And the feedback we've
had from those mega majors is they understand the JOI, they understand the
SBA, they understand our gas agreements because they are global double
standard, we are global standard.

: Maybe a follow-up and I know there was a previous strategy
and potentially under the envisioned Exxon gas sale agreement that InterOil
expected to receive a significant portion of cash and then now would allow
cash return strategy via an overcapitalized company via buyback or dividend
and that was discussed. I mean is this -- I am sure it's a balancing between
amount percentage sold as well as percentage retained, is it related to what
your CapEx would be, yet generally do you envision a positive cash event in
front of the a transaction. Yes, the answer to that is yes, yes. And it's all
about getting that balance, okay.
So we will get a positive cash event and the usual vernacular at the front
end of this transaction. That will be a series of payments and I am very keen
to be making sure that we do get the front end reward for this again. Now, we
will be in a situation then and we will be in -- what I believe is a good
situation where we will be able to use this -- possibly use this cash for the
development or basically, which is going to use it and what we decided the
optimal way going forward for InterOil. So there'll be a number of options
there and one of it will be using for the development and we'll be using what
we're working. As you thought, we talked about -- we're talking about
exploration and we've got a number of outstanding loans that we might -- we
may decide to streamline, normalize, so what we're going to do. We're looking
at as a portfolio of opportunities, we'll use that cash and we'll use it in a
very prudent manner.

: It's exciting uptick in activity, shifting into
exploration. But just to understand the plan better. I know you stay --
you're moving three rigs and finalizing contract of fourth. I see the three
exploration wells that you mentioned in the presentation, what was the fourth
rig be drilling and what is - can you put any better timing for us on when
you expect to spud these four prospects?

: Well, I can tell you that the exploration well will be drilling in the
first quarter of next year. We actually started operations already and part
of -- there's two components of this. We see this, as I mentioned before, is
a series of very exciting worthwhile prospects that need to be drilled. But
obviously, we're also going to fulfill a license commitment and we've got
series of licensed commitments and we've got the renewal process that's
already underway and we enjoy [indiscernible] license commitment and that's
part of our contract with PNG and we have always fulfilled our commitments
and we'll continue to do that. When we would be with fourth rig, well, that's
all about defining the size of this giant hydrocarbon accumulation that we
drill Elk and Antelope, and we're going to be drilling as many as four wells
on that. We're also going to be drilling and understanding the size of
Triceratops. So you can see it really splits into two areas. There's an
exploration activity and that's what ruptured [indiscernible] and then the
development around Triceratops Elk and Antelope.

: Right. So you'd expect that the three exploration wells.
First there will be more appraisal activity post those results in both
Triceratops and PRL 15?

: No, no. Certainly, it's a linear segment and the reason we got before
because we have parallel activities. So it's an area where we're going to be
drilling in development and at the same time as the exploration wells. I mean
there are almost two different business streams. We have to understand and
decide that the [indiscernible] uncovered accumulation to be sure we get the
benefit development concept, a part of that [indiscernible] impact as you go
out into the private wells. Equally, we need to understand on the
[indiscernible] and there exploration well succeeds and we feel positive
about it and also let me clear exploration wells do fail. So two effects the
streams there, exploration and appraisal.

: Yes, where there will be also exploration in PRL 15 and how
does -- how is it -- if they -- if asset monetization process involves, a
interest sales in the block, is there any look back because you can see some
information you provided there are a number of prospects, unexplored
prospects that remain outside of Antelope and PRL 15 and I believe with that.

: Yeah [indiscernible]. I mean our first priority in PRL 15 is all about
appraisal. But as I think, I mentioned earlier it will sensify and
[indiscernible] accumulations around exiting accumulations. And we've
identified a series of prospects in PRL15 and the weighting are at the
moment. We obviously think that some of those prospects that we're testing,
and will be exploration PRL 15 and that it had it. But our first priority in
PRL 15 is all about understanding the existing Antelope asset, monetization
of the asset and I want to be absolutely clear, the exploration of asset will
be important, but this transformational deal and monetization as a gap, is an
absolute priority for myself and my team.

: Got it. Thanks, guys. Great quarter.

: Thank you.

Operator:
The next question comes from the line of Jason Gammel with Macquarie. Please
go ahead with your question.

: Hi. Yeah, thanks very much, and thanks for the
presentation today. So it's actually quite morning presentation. The first
question I have for you is on the transformational deal, and I recognize is
going to be difficult to answer given that your negotiations, but how are you
thinking about the value that is extracted from the shareholders through sort
of the upfront cash stream versus the value that could potentially come from
the timing of the monetization of the gas through revenue stream. I guess, on
really getting at is -- it is timing of execution of the project fair amount
is upfront cash per amount or how do you think about the balance there?

: And that's an excellent question and I'm thinking that
to some extent you may eventually [indiscernible] thinking about the balance
that. There are some things that are absolutely critical to is uncertainty of
the development and making sure development happens in an absolutely
appropriate timeframe and I can share with you today and all the negotiations
with all counterparties where we're [indiscernible] all development time
lines. We've got a good understanding when these things will get develop. If
not if, it's when these things will get developed and I am comfortable these
things will be developed in the appropriate timeframe, no matter who we go
with. However, I'd also like to see an appropriate reward for the company. I
mean, at the end of the day, we're setting on a multi-TCF gas resource. And
one of these multi-measures is trying to buy to them and try to get their
hands on those molecules. So the two major things they bring to the party and
as I said before, we're not going to be developing these things, but these
major measures bring skill set and to develop those things and develop those
prospects and develop -- so, develop the sales. But I also want to reward for
the fact that we've discovered and the biggest cost savings Southeast Asia
for 20 years. So, it's very much on foot and we're working through a balanced
decision to [indiscernible].

: Great. I appreciate that. Next question is just in terms
of what you're thinking about on a capital budget for next year? Obviously,
the big step up in drilling activity, but you also mentioned the $30 million
level of cost reduction that you had through the streamlining of operations.
Do you have a thought on a capital budget for next year, is that something
you're still working through?

: I'll probably answer that. Look at this point, we're
working through finalizing all of the budgets for the coming year. We had
released some information with respect to the work program that's on the way
and that would give you some indication with respect to that work program and
they could also be other work associated with the project and with the new
partner. So we're working that through our OCMs and TCMs at the moment and of
course with the discussions we're having with the new partner.

: And I think I've been -- I talked about dates that we've got on the
table and you're aware of the financial facilities that we've now got in
place and we believe we're absolutely well placed to undertake the activity
and we've outlined so far today.

: Great. And then just one last quick one from me, you
clearly do have the financial capacity to go forward with the drilling
program with your existing working interest, which we're working to farm down
any of the exploration prospects or would you just prefer to retain the
interest that you have now?

: It really depends on the offers we get. I -- there
will be a number of determines that I think it's -- well it is public
knowledge that we are being approached and people are making of it's to get
into this Gulf Province and get into this exploration province. It will also
be affected by the deal we did and there's no doubt about it. There is a
scenario that if we do a deal with a particular mega major and then we build
a facility with that major, then it may be better to be along the value chain
with that particular major and that's something we're considering.
But, we've got at the moment again, I'm not going to overly link the
exploration with the appraisal or the transformational deal. I'm very focused
in getting this transformational deal done and we'll work with the
[indiscernible] making office to us about the exploration, but we'll consider
what they prepared to pay, but also a very strong consideration will be how
we'll monetize any subsequent discoveries.

: Okay. I appreciate your thoughts on that, Mike.

: Thank you very much, Jason.


RE: Interoil Corp Earnings Q3 2013 Earnings Call Teleconference -
Gator - 11-13-2013

Operator:
Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Chris McDougall with
Westlake Securities. Please go ahead with your question.

: Well, gentlemen. Thanks for the very clear and
concise update and Michael Collin, congrats on the progress and the bank
rates. So, Michael few questions back on the deal. You've mentioned there is
a standard template that everybody is working of off, but then from rest of
the conversation, I got the impression there's probably at least two separate
packages that people are bidding on and kind of mixing and matching there
between on PRL 15 and the broader exploration. Is that a fair assessment?

: Let me -- I mean exploration is generally pretty bulk
standard and we won't get into exploration by general farming and there is
normally promo associated with that if you had normally.

: Sure.

: So, that's [indiscernible] of return and that's a
fairly standard template. And the reason of spending so much this time
emphasizing is a simple, standard deal, a simple transaction we see through
value and I think where we were [indiscernible] joined the company and there
was some confusion about how this thing will get develop, why we'll get
developed, multiple development scenarios and a complicated set of contracts
and I thought maybe you and that was overly complicated and upload as a team
as I said before who do these sort of things. They took the view that was
overly complicated and [indiscernible] on that we've gone to a standard LNG
deal.
So again, standard LNG deal in the transformational front and standard
expression deal in the upside scenario.The linkage of those two, I mean any
mega majors coming in, is not rocket science, any mega majors coming in will
need the transformational deal who would obviously want to partake in the
exploration as well. I mean, the deal itself will be -- will make money for
us and if it obviously it's going be [indiscernible] deal that will make
money for the mega major that comes in. But the emphasis is not always on the
deal. I have sat here today and told you we'll do this deal by the end of the
year. And I'm not going to be distracted by a long, convoluted expiration an
assessment by any company that wants to come in.
So, I'm very happy to delink them and when [indiscernible] had linked them as
they didn't compromise the deal itself. So I'll go back to, my priority has
been making sure we have got solid foundation for the company and you've seen
what we've done in the final stage. Youv'e see what we've done in terms of
streamlining the company. My priority now is making sure we do this by the
end of the year.

: Got -- got that line clear and really appreciate
the focus there. The -- other parties that you're negotiating with, I assume
they've been approved to some degree by the government and after announcement
is made, what other approvals might have to happen from the government
standpoint?

: Right. I think I mentioned earlier on, I spent about 50% of my time in
Papua New Guinea and I spend an appropriate amount of time working with the
key stakeholders. The key stakeholders include Prime Minister O'Neill, and
Minister Duma [indiscernible] and I spent a lot of time with the bureaucrats
in the Minister of Energy and we spend time with a [indiscernible] and I
spent time with the [indiscernible]. We can't get away with that, we are
guest in PNG, and this is probably part of the PNG team and actually the only
assets we've got, we're PNG company, the only assets we've got PNG. So it's
absolutely critical for me and for InterOil to work with PNG. So, they are
part of this process and they going to be part of the success and absolutely
informed about the way this is going, they have marked out for me and the
approvals that are needed and we are working together on making sure; there
is going to be no hiccups on the way to delivering from PNG. So, I don't see
any issues in this space and but we spent a lot of time making sure; there is
no issues in this space.

: Okay, great. Then, going to be the resources
assessments, so you talked about the GLJ in the Gaffney Cline resource
report, you talked about I'm bringing in your own experts to look at PRL15
and before there's been talk of, once the deal was announced, I guess the
original deal for you joined. There will be some level of appraisal done to
determine if there is any more upside or what the real sizes on a 2C basis.
So, given that you've had four [indiscernible], which is moderate amount of
time and all these experts look at PRL15. I'd love to get some degree of
confidence from you as to least achieving the 2C assessment in the GLJ report
and maybe potential upside for just the Elk and Antelope PRL15 part?

: Okay, it's joint hydrocarbon accumulation and that how much will be
confident about -- I am absolutely confident and we're going to have to put
in between two important delineation well consisting -- the upside -- the
potential upside is associated with it, it is very, very significant. Our
development [ph] site, there is former upside and there is downside in this
space. Why I'm not confident when I say that, as I said [ph] have gone out,
and I looked carefully at Gaffney Cline. We've looked carefully at GLJ and I
have got an independent team to work this through and come and give me a
third opinion but geology is geology. I've been trying to possibly as a
geosciences and I think it would be inappropriate and told me to start
speculating on exact figures about how big it could get. But I will tell you
that I'm very confident, it's a joint hydrocarbon accumulation. I am very
confident, there is enough captive net underpinned in energy development. And
I'm actually very hopeful and exited about possibility of upside here.

: The answer -- real answer would be, when we put these full delineation
wells in ground here.

: Okay, great. So it's sounds -- might take away
from your thoughts there. Is that your confident in the 9.5 TGF to see number
from the GLJ report as we do temporal math and so I think that would be
enough to underpin two LNG trains, I'm going too much beyond your level of
confidence or is that a fair assessment.

: I mean, I get the sense that you are trying to throw a number at me.

: No, that's fine, that's fine.

: And maybe I'm thinking, I'm a little unfair on you. Let me tell you that
I do, I do believe as I said there is enough gas to run the independent LNG
development and I think that's obviously, and you can verify, by the fact
that we have got a number of mega majors reading down my neck wanting to
develop these gap into a LNG development. To come up and speculate on the
line about what the exact number is going to be, I know that backup and I'll
now that definitively, but I know that much better with the portfolio and the
price to well in the ground. When we choose the price well to release to
define the lease, but I will go back to you. I am excited about sector level
side.

: Okay.

: I am referring to other things.

: Great, thanks, Michael. Sorry, to figure it out.
So only capital raise [indiscernible] million dollar rise exclusively for E&P
activities that's some big news and exciting. I'm wondering if the banks
behind that, I would expect the ones that were already involved in the
certain process, had seen something beyond what, what we're seeing as far as
how far long the process and some sheet and stuff like that to give them
confidence. Is that a fair assessment either Colin or Micheal.

: Well, let me, let me just talk and also to refer this to Colin. The fact
that we've got a series of reputable bank. I mean that moving to back that's
about companies.

: Yeah, I think it's about belief that both
companies in my team. I think it's about confidence in the company and it's
about confidence in the resource, it's about confidence that we will actually
deliver this transformational deals, we're through these banks I think we
worked with a number of these banks before and they told us they are
confident that we will deal, and we will do this deal and we will grow this
company and they backed out by putting money on the table. And that's
something I'm quite hopeful and I also go to the fact that, it will form the
basis of future relationships with our banks and will be, we'll be working
with these banks going forward in any possible project financing complex. I
know the deals we made and it is given that these days and the companies
wanted to me. Thanks upon meeting.

: Thanks for choosing and we've chosen them
carefully.

: Collin, do you want to add anything?

: Well, just to a complement that, of course, any
bank that enters into a transaction like that discuss a very large amount of
due diligence.

: Yeah. Okay thanks. I'll leave it for some other
folks and might hop-back in the queue, time permitting. Thanks.

: Thank you. Operator, we'll take one more question, if we can't, you can
close.


RE: Interoil Corp Earnings Q3 2013 Earnings Call Teleconference -
Gator - 11-13-2013

Operator: And the final question then comes from the line of Pavel Molchanov with Raymond James. Please go ahead with your question. : All right. Thanks for taking the question. As everybody said, congrats on the nice headlines. Michael, can I ask when you used the word mega majors, how do you define that? : I think you probably better defined that than me. : Okay. Well, how many companies in your estimation fit that criteria of being called the mega major. : Okay. All right, let me do this down to. Well, I'd probably say about six, seven companies will fall into that category. : Okay. Clear enough. Slightly more elaborate question perhaps. There have been in the past instances when leases operated by the company have run into exploration and there was the process of extending those leases, which I believe involved giving up some acreage to retain the rest of it. Can you talk about where you are currently on lease expirations, anything like that coming up in the next 12 months or so in particular? : No. We're in a situation, we're in discussions with the Papua New Guinea government and authorities with respect to license renewal. We -- as I just said, we're going to pursue work commitments and again to the day we accompany that find and hydrocarbon in PNJ that's recognized, now we've been in PAG a long time and we're a very successful explorer. So, I feel confident and again if I kind of look back to my 50% of time that I spent in country. We're in advanced discussions about the renewals and we're confident that everything will go as per plan. : Okay. Are there any timetables that we should watch for in that regard? : I would rather not go into the detail of that, and we're in -- what I would describe as confidential discussion. We see with Papua New Guinea government, if that I wanted to comment, I would think that - after avail of the authority there, so I think I'd leave for them to comment on the renewals and where we are in certain timings. : Okay. I'll leave it here guys, thanks. : Okay. Thank you. : That's all operator? Operator: Please continue, sir. : Thank you all for participating in the call today. We look forward to updating you as we make additional progress here over the next few months. Thanks for your time. : Yeah. I'd just like to finish with them. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you very much for coming on the line, I know you'll expect all over the globe and then I look forward to delivering - continuing to delivering, my team continuing delivering on the promises that we've outlined in the previous calls and that we've outlined to them. So wherever you are, have a good day, have a good afternoon, have a good evening. Thank you.




RE: Interoil Corp Earnings Q3 2013 Earnings Call Teleconference - calaban48 - 11-13-2013

Thank you, Gator. That transcript is a keeper.




RE: Interoil Corp Earnings Q3 2013 Earnings Call Teleconference - Tusker - 11-13-2013

'calaban48' pid='31492' datel Wrote:

Thank you, Gator. That transcript is a keeper.

Thanks also Gator.

Time to put the optics and auditory togeather for a review.

Cheers

<img src=" border="0" class="smilie" src="images/smilies/cool.gif" />




RE: Interoil Corp Earnings Q3 2013 Earnings Call Teleconference - Getitrt2 - 11-13-2013

Thanks, Gator! Is that from SA?


RE: Interoil Corp Earnings Q3 2013 Earnings Call Teleconference - sageo - 11-13-2013

Gator-My thanks also.It was great to get such a comprehensive update on where we stand at this time. Am getting very excited about our drilling plans! Thanks again for your contribution.




RE: Interoil Corp Earnings Q3 2013 Earnings Call Teleconference - Gator - 11-13-2013

'Getitrt2' pid='31499' datel Wrote:Thanks, Gator! Is that from SA?

NO, but SA just posted.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/1833262-interoil-management-discusses-q3-2013-results-earnings-call-transcript?part=single