By Didi French
Savannah Energy PLC, the British independent energy company focused on the delivery of Projects That Matter, announces that it has signed separate Share Purchase Agreements (“SPAs”) with Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Corporation (“SIPC”) and Jagal Ventures Limited (“Jagal”) to acquire 100% of the outstanding share capital of Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Nigeria Limited (“SIPEC”) (the “SIPEC Acquisition”).
Savannah also announces that it has today published an updated Competent Persons Report (“CPR”), compiled by CGG Services (UK) Ltd, covering its assets in Nigeria.
SIPEC’s principal asset is a 49% non-operated interest in the Stubb Creek oil and gas field (“Stubb Creek”), located in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. An affiliate of Savannah, Universal Energy Resources Limited, is the 51% owner and operator.
The SIPC SPA will see Savannah Energy SC Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Savannah) acquire a 75% equity interest in SIPEC for cash consideration of US$52 million, payable on completion and subject to customary adjustments for a transaction of this nature from September 1, 2023. The Jagal SPA will see Savannah Energy SC Limited acquire a 25% equity interest in SIPEC for cash consideration of US$7.5 million (without adjustment), payable on completion, plus US$2 million in deferred cash consideration payable in eight equal quarterly instalments post-completion. The transaction consideration is expected to be funded through a new bank debt facility arranged by The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited and the existing cash resources of the company. Completion under each of the SPAs is subject to the parties’ satisfaction of customary conditions precedent, including certain regulatory approvals, as well as a mechanism ensuring that completion under both SPAs occurs simultaneously.
As of year-end 2023, SIPEC had an estimated 8.1 MMstb of 2P oil reserves and 227 Bscf of 2C contingent gas resources. SIPEC oil production is estimated at an average for 2024 of 1.4 kbopd. Savannah’s reserve and resource base will increase by approximately 46 MMboe following the completion of the SIPEC acquisition.
It is anticipated that, within 12 months following completion of the SIPEC acquisition, Stubb Creek gross production should increase by approximately 2.7 Kbopd to approximately 4.7 Kbopd through the implementation of a de-bottlenecking programme.
The SIPEC acquisition will secure significant additional feedstock gas available for sale to Savannah’s 80%-owned Nigerian gas processing and distribution subsidiary, Accugas Limited (“Accugas”). At present, Accugas has eight principal gas customers, including large thermal power stations, such as Calabar Generation Company Limited, as well as key industrial players, such as Lafarge Africa PLC and the Central Horizon Gas Company Limited. With a weighted average remaining contract life of 14 years, Savannah’s natural gas supplies are a critical enabler of the Nigerian economy and currently support approximately 20% of Nigeria’s thermal power generation.
Since Savannah announced its intention to acquire Accugas in late 2017, (i) volumes of gas transported, (ii) the number of significant customers served, and (iii) the company’s contribution to thermal power generation in Nigeria have each more than doubled.
The following information in relation to the SIPEC acquisition is included in accordance with the disclosure requirements of Schedule Four to the AIM Rules for Companies:
For the financial year ended December 31, 2022, SIPEC audited accounts show income after tax of US$27.8 million (excluding exceptional income of US$42.3 million) and total assets of US$136.5 million.
Andrew Knott, CEO, Savannah Energy, said:
“Savannah remains committed to growing our core business in Nigeria through a combination of value-accretive acquisitions and organic projects. This is reflected in this morning’s announcement of the SIPEC acquisition. The base case acquisition has been priced in line with our expected return criteria, with the identified upside cases (the oil de-bottlenecking and new gas sales to Accugas projects) hoped to add significant value to the Stubb Creek field over time.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank the members of our team who have worked diligently on this transaction to make it happen. Thank you all.”
