Blue Dolphin Announces Veritex Forbearance Agreement

Rhea-AI Summary

Blue Dolphin Energy Company (OTCQX:BDCO) announced a forbearance agreement with Veritex Community Bank, addressing approximately $5.4 million in past due principal and interest. The agreement allows the company to avoid defaults until September 30, 2023, with monthly payments scheduled until then. If the debt is repaid by the deadline, late fees of $400,000 will be waived. CEO Jonathan Carroll noted active discussions to secure new long-term debt facilities to refinance existing debts and support future projects.

Positive

• Forbearance agreement allows avoidance of immediate defaults and provides relief from financial covenants until September 30, 2023.
• Potential waiver of late fees totaling approximately $400,000 if debts are settled by September 30, 2023.
• Ongoing discussions for new long-term debt facilities could enhance financial stability and provide additional capital.

Negative

• The need for a forbearance agreement indicates potential financial distress.
• Dependence on refinancing existing debt raises concerns about long-term financial health.

HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / November 23, 2022 / Blue Dolphin Energy Company ("Blue Dolphin")(OTCQX:BDCO), an independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products in the Eagle Ford Shale region, announced that wholly owned subsidiaries Lazarus Energy LLC ("Lazarus Energy"), Lazarus Refining & Marketing LLC ("Lazarus Refining" and, together with Lazarus Energy, the "Borrowers"), Blue Dolphin, Lazarus Energy Holdings LLC ("Lazarus Holdings"), and Jonathan Carroll ("Carroll" and , together with Borrowers, Blue Dolphin, and Lazarus Holdings, the "Lazarus Parties"), entered into a forbearance agreement with Veritex Community Bank ("Veritex"), relating to amounts owed by the Lazarus Parties to Veritex under June 22, 2015 and December 4, 2015 loan agreements.

Under the Forbearance Agreement, the Borrowers will pay on or before November 28, 2022, approximately $5.4 million to Veritex, which represents all past due principal and interest (excluding late fees) owed under the Loan Agreements and a $1,000,000 payment reserve account deposit. Veritex agreed to forebear from exercising any of its rights and remedies relative to existing past defaults of the Lazarus Parties under the Loan Agreements from the effective date of the Forbearance Agreement through September 30, 2023, and Veritex will also forbear from testing compliance with financial covenants during the term of the Forbearance Agreement. The Borrowers shall make monthly payments on the debt through September 30, 2023. In the event that the Borrowers pay off all amounts due under the Loan Agreements on or before September 30, 2023, Veritex also agreed to waive late fees totaling approximately $400,000 in the aggregate.

"We continue to make strides towards improving our financial profile," said Jonathan P. Carroll, Chief Executive Officer and President of Blue Dolphin Energy Company. He added, "Even though the two loans with Veritex do not mature until 2034, we are in active conversations to secure new long term debt facilities that would refinance the majority of our senior secured debt and provide additional capital for new projects, improvements, and working capital."

About Blue Dolphin
Blue Dolphin is an independent downstream energy company operating in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. Subsidiaries operate a light sweet-crude, 15,000-bpd crude distillation tower with more than 1.2 million bbls of petroleum storage tank capacity in Nixon, Texas. Blue Dolphin was formed in 1986 as a Delaware corporation. The company trades on the OTCQX under the ticker symbol "BDCO." For additional information, visit Blue Dolphin's corporate website at http://www.blue-dolphin-energy.com.

Contact:
Jonathan P. Carroll
Chief Executive Officer and President
713-568-4725

Cautionary Statements Relevant to Forward-Looking Information for the Purpose of "Safe Harbor" Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to Blue Dolphin's operations that are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections about the oil and gas industry. Words or phrases such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "targets," "advances," "commits," "drives," "aims," "forecasts," "projects," "believes," "approaches," "seeks," "schedules," "estimates," "positions," "pursues," "may," "can," "could," "should," "will," "budgets," "outlook," "trends," "guidance," "focus," "on track," "goals," "objectives," "strategies," "opportunities," "poised," "potential," "ambitions," "aspires" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the company's control and are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. The reader should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Unless legally required, Blue Dolphin undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For a discussion of risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, please see the factors set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in Blue Dolphin's 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Other unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this press release could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Blue Dolphin Energy Company

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FAQ

What is the recent agreement between Blue Dolphin Energy and Veritex Community Bank?

Blue Dolphin Energy Company entered into a forbearance agreement with Veritex Community Bank regarding approximately $5.4 million in debt, which allows the company to avoid defaults until September 30, 2023.

How much does Blue Dolphin Energy owe to Veritex Community Bank?

Blue Dolphin Energy owes approximately $5.4 million in past due principal and interest to Veritex Community Bank.

What impact does the forbearance agreement have on Blue Dolphin Energy's financial situation?

The forbearance agreement provides temporary relief from defaults and financial covenants, improving cash flow until September 30, 2023.

What are the potential consequences if Blue Dolphin Energy does not repay its debts?

If Blue Dolphin Energy fails to repay its debts by the deadline, it may face defaults and further financial challenges.

What does Blue Dolphin Energy plan to do regarding its existing debt?

Blue Dolphin Energy is in discussions to secure new long-term debt facilities to refinance its existing debt and support future projects.