A number of companies announced provisional awards (in some cases to subsidiaries) in the UK's 32nd Offshore Licensing Round: Advance Energy (ADV) was awarded interests in five blocks, Deltic Energy (DELT) was awarded interests in 12 blocks, Independent Oil & Gas (IOG) was awarded interests in four blocks, Jersey Oil & Gas (JOG) was awarded an interest in one block, Premier Oil (PMO) was awarded interests in six blocks, Reabold Resources (RBD) was awarded interests in four blocks, Serica Energy (SQZ) was awarded interests in four blocks and United Oil & Gas (UOG) was awarded interests in two blocks.
While some are good and have a value due to the applicants’ infrastructure (current or planned) in these areas, remember with the licences containing discoveries that other companies surrendered them since they believed the resources to be non-commercial. They can of course be spun and promoted, but there’s something called geology too. All blocks are not equal.
Last week was a short week with many not yet back at their desks (office or home), but there still was some other news too. It should get busier this coming week.
Tower Resources (TRP) announced a financing update. It’s conducted a $200,000 placing and entered into $500,000 loan facility, convertible into equity in the event of default. These additional funds are purely for working capital, drilling of the NJOM3 well on the Thali licence still needs to be financed. It all really hinges on that.
Solo Oil (SOLO) announced 2019 full-year results. It says there is a formal process ongoing to explore value realisation for Solo’s assets in Tanzania with an encouraging level of interest and a new company strategy to identify assets within the European energy market for long-term sustainable growth in line with which it continues to screen business development opportunities. Let’s see.
Pantheon Resources (PANR) announced an Alkaid production unit and operational update. The application to form the unit of 22,804 acres is complete and eligible for approval, and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources has opened a 30-day public comment period on the application and must make a decision on the application within 60-days. Drilling this coming winter is Pantheon’s objective, but that requires them to conclude a farm-out by the end of autumn. Again, let’s see.
88 Energy (88E) announced its interim report. Permitting of the Yukon acreage now is underway ahead of potential drilling in 2021, subject of course to a farm-out. President Energy (PPC) issued an operational update. It says it’s made "an encouraging preliminary start.” Lekoil (LEK) issued a TR-1. Metallon Corporation has increased its stake to 15.1%. There are some interesting developments coming up here.
I3 Energy (I3E) reported completion of the Gain acquisition/Harvard sale and announced that certain of its loan noteholders have exercised warrants over 6,788,945 shares. They're shy about mentioning the price, though, and no wonder: it was £0.0001 per share, raising £678 for the company and generating a profit of c. £370,000 for the noteholder. Management also recently repriced their own warrants to the same £0.0001 level (private investors have paid up to 12,800 times more for their shares) to guarantee substantial profits for themselves regardless of commercial success. The issue with I3E always has been its management. Any return to shareholders is entirely discretionary and private investors particularly appear to be seen only as a resource.
Sound Energy (SOU) announced a notification from the Moroccan tax authorities, who have assessed additional corporate and value-added tax liabilities totalling approximately $14 million. Obviously Sound dispute it publicly, but it’s good news in a way for the board, since it would enable them to put the Morocco subsidiary company down, while blaming “corrupt North African bureaucracy.” Directors’ lifestyles could still be funded through the parent quoted company.
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