Zengas- iii1 Nov 2013 10:59
Interesting views and always seems to be very well informed or at least on the ball!
Lekoil is repaying the $28m in full to its partner Afren. The loan did not need to be repaid until April of 2015 and there is no evidence that Afren can call it in early. Afren although farming it out to Lekoil basically provided Lekoil with the bulk of the money for Lekoil to repay them later.
From the 24 hour $100m Lekoil book building placing - "In connection with the development of the Ogo discovery to date, Lekoil has drawn down on the Afren Facility and now has an outstanding balance of approximately US$28 million due under this. Lekoil intends to apply approximately US$28 million of the proceeds of the Placing to *** repay completely the Afren Facility***.
Why pay Afren in fuill now when the term is for another 18 months ?
We partner Afren on 2 assets already including AJE - could we do so on a 3rd shortly ?
Here is a an important point - Afren farmed out 17.14% of OPL-310 to Lekoil on 14th May 2013 after the OGO well was spudded in late April 2013 for $50m carry.
Afren just 3 days ago did a major East African presentation - they are about to drill on 5 billion barrel potential. No doubt imo that they will farm out some of this just as they did with OPL-310 to Lekoil. They actually say they will derisk on the final page of the presentation (farmout).
Lekoil are going to use part of $20m to progress further opportunities currently being reveiwed.
Lekoil are chasing East Africa assets (as well as West Africa) source Beaufort coverage.
Are Lekoil again poised to participate in a major asset with Afren to some extent ? (ie demonstrating faith/committment by repaying Afren in full before a new deal with Afren may be completed?)
29/10/2013 Afren plc, today will present at the 2(nd) East Africa Oil and Gas Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
The presentation materials are available on Afren's website at www.afren.com
5 operated licences with over 6 billion boe in prospective resources. Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia Madagascar and the Seychelles.
There was an aggressive seismic acquisition campaign completed across the portfolio during 2010-12 (page 11).
There is one discovery in Kenya (page 13).
Page 19 - Near term drilling. Targetting the largest undrilled structure along African margin -'Mombassa High' Evidence of oil on nearby L19 drilling. Excellent reservoir quality in closest Jurrassic well.
Page 20 - Drilling preperations underway - 'Mombassa High'.
Page 22 - Ready to drill Chungwa (Orpheus) Prospect.
Page 24 - Drilling preparations underway Prospect 4A.
Page 29 - East Africa - the driver of future growth for Afren. Near term drilling programme is targetting up to 5 billion barrels of prospective resources.
I'm sure there were questions asked by those who stomped up $100m in less than 24 hours as regards current strategy, new deals in the offing etc, reasons for paying Afren long before term. If this is paid,