Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (the “
Company”
or “
ReconAfrica”) (TSXV: RECO) (OTCQX: RECAF)
(Frankfurt: 0XD) announces it has signed a letter agreement
(“
Letter Agreement”), for a strategic farm down of
Petroleum Exploration Licence 73 (“
PEL 73”),
onshore Namibia with BW Energy Limited (“
BW
Energy”) (OSE: BWE), for a 20% working interest. In
connection with the Letter Agreement, BW Energy has agreed to a
strategic equity investment in the Company for US$16 million
(approximately C$22 million), pursuant to the brokered equity
offering, as defined below.
The Company has also entered into an agreement
with Research Capital Corporation as the lead underwriter and sole
bookrunner, on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters, in connection
with an overnight marketed public offering of units of the Company
(the “Units”) at a price of C$1.25 per Unit for
gross proceeds of C$35 million (the “Offering”).
Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a
“Common Share”), and one Common Share purchase
warrant of the Company (a “Warrant”). Each Warrant
will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at an
exercise price of C$1.75 at any time up to 24 months from closing
of the Offering, subject to an acceleration provision as detailed
further below.
The net proceeds from the Offering will be used
for exploration activities, working capital and general corporate
purposes.
Key Highlights of Letter
Agreement:
- Working interest sold to BW Energy
is 20%
- BW Energy to participate in two
Damara Fold Belt exploration wells and a 3D seismic program, with
an option to participate in two Rift Basin exploration wells over
2-year period
- US$16 million (C$22 million),
equity investment supporting the exploration program
- US$45 million (C$62 million), bonus
earned at declaration of commerciality (final investment decision),
providing additional capital carry through to first production
- US$80 million (C$109 million), of
production bonuses based on certain cash flow milestones achieved
by BW Energy
- US$141 million (C$192 million),
total potential consideration, including all incentives and
production bonuses which is paid after achieving positive free cash
flow
- The joint venture structure
preserves a 70% working interest in PEL 73 for ReconAfrica,
exposing shareholders to significant upside on success
- Provides alignment with strategic
partner to explore both the Damara Fold Belt and Kavango Rift Basin
with significant in country expertise on oil and gas monetization
markets
Brian Reinsborough, President and CEO
commented: “We are delighted to welcome BW Energy as our
partner in Namibia where we plan to drill a multi-well exploration
program and acquire a 3D seismic program in the Rift Basin. Our
farm out joint venture process was thorough and comprehensive,
which attracted significant interest from high quality companies of
all sizes. BW Energy’s offer met our guidelines to ensure strategic
alignment for a multi-well exploration drilling program while
retaining significant upside exposure on success. We continue to
execute our strategic priorities set out last year with the Company
on track to drill a portfolio of opportunities in the Damara Fold
Belt and the Kavango Rift Basin. The first well, Naingopo, is
currently drilling, and is supported by BW Energy whose
high-quality technical team will add significant value to the
execution of our forward exploration plans. This partnership
provides ReconAfrica with a strategic partner with a high-quality
technical and operational team which compliments ours along with a
shared view to expand the oil and gas potential in Namibia.
Additionally, we look forward to continuing to work closely with
NAMCOR, the Ministry of Mines and Energy in Namibia for the benefit
of all parties, including Namibia and its people.”
Carl K. Arnet, BW Energy CEO
commented: “The transaction will enable BW Energy to
expand its footprint in a strategically important energy region and
further our position as a leader in Namibia’s development towards
energy independence. The data and insights gained through
ReconAfrica’s exploration campaign will further our understanding
of the geology and petroleum system in Namibia and help de-risk
planned exploration and development of our Kudu licence.”
Strategic Farm Down
Transaction
ReconAfrica is selling a 20% working interest in
PEL 73, onshore northeast Namibia, to BW Energy, in exchange for
total potential consideration of US$141 million (C$193 million),
including US$16 million (C$22 million), equity investment and an
additional US$45 million (C$62 million) in carry payments based on
achievement of commerciality (final investment decision). These
payments will be paid in two installments, one at FID and the
second payment one year after production. In the event of
development of discoveries, production milestone payments could
total an additional US$80 million (C$109 million). Three separate
production payments of US$25 million (C$34 million), are made after
BW Energy reaches certain free cash flow milestones. An additional
first production payment of US$5 million (C$7 million), is paid
sixty days after the start of commercial production. On completion
of the transaction, the ownership interests in PEL 73 will be;
ReconAfrica 70%, BW Energy 20%, and NAMCOR 10%. ReconAfrica remains
the operator of PEL 73.
Completion of the transaction is subject to the
satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including entering
into a definitive farm down agreement and approvals from NAMCOR
(the state oil company of Namibia) and the Ministry of Mines and
Energy in Namibia.
Multi-Well Exploration Drilling Campaign
and Development Capital
The Joint Venture transaction has been
structured to provide tiers of financing to cover capital
requirements in each of the phases of exploration, development and
production.
Together with the concurrent Offering, the
Company has the financial runway to execute a high impact
multi-well exploration drilling program with play opening exposure
in the Damara Fold Belt, on a 100% working interest basis, to over
17.1 billion barrels of undiscovered original oil-in-place,
consisting of 3.4 billion barrels of unrisked prospective oil
resources, based on the most recent prospective resource report
prepared by Netherland, Sewell & Associates Inc.
(“NSAI”), dated March 12, 2024(1) (as announced in
a press release dated March 14, 2024). On exploration success, the
Company has built-in bonus payments to fund the program to first
production. On commencement of commercial production, the
transaction further exposes shareholders to certain production
payments based on cash flow milestones.
(1) There is no certainty that any portion of
the resources will be discovered. If discovered, there is no
certainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any
portion of the resources. Prospective resources are those
quantities of oil estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially
recoverable from undiscovered accumulations by application of
future development projects. Prospective resources have both an
associated chance of discovery and a chance of development.
Prospective resources are the arithmetic sum of multiple
probability distributions. Unrisked prospective resources are
estimates are the volumes that could reasonably be expected to be
recovered in the event of the discovery and development of these
prospects. Namibian Stock Exchange Listing
The Company intends to apply, in the near
future, for a dual-listing on the Namibian Stock Exchange,
alongside its existing listing on the TSXV in Canada, to further
broaden our global exposure.
Equity Offering Details
The Company has granted to the Underwriters an
option (the “Over-Allotment Option”), exercisable,
in whole or in part, in the sole discretion of the Underwriters, to
purchase up to an additional number of Units, and/or the components
thereof, that in aggregate would be equal to 15% of the total
number of Units to be issued under the Offering, to cover
over-allotments, if any, and for market stabilization purposes,
exercisable at any time and from time to time up to 30 days
following the closing of the Offering.
All Units purchased by BW Energy will be subject
to a six-month lock-up agreement.
In the event that, at any time four months and
one day after the date of issuance and prior to the expiry date of
the Warrants, the moving volume weighted average trading price of
the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange
(“Exchange”), or other principal exchange on which
the Common Shares are listed, is equal to or greater than C$3.70
for any 20 consecutive trading days, the Company may, within 10
business days of the occurrence of such event, deliver a notice to
the holders of Warrants accelerating the expiry date of the
Warrants to the date that is 30 days following the date of such
notice (the “Accelerated Exercise Period”). Any
unexercised Warrants shall automatically expire at the end of the
Accelerated Exercise Period.
The Offering is expected to be completed
pursuant to an underwriting agreement to be entered into by the
Company and the Underwriters. The closing of the Offering is
expected to occur on or about July 31, 2024 (the
“Closing”), or such other earlier or later date as
the Underwriters may determine. Closing is subject to the Company
receiving all necessary regulatory approvals, including the
approval of the Exchange to list, on the date of Closing, the
Common Shares, and the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants and the Underwriters’ broker warrants, on the Exchange. In
addition, the Company will use commercial reasonable efforts to
obtain the necessary approvals to list the Warrants on the
Exchange.
In connection with the Offering, the Company
intends to file a prospectus supplement, to the Company’s short
form base shelf prospectus dated February 29, 2024, with the
securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of
Canada (except Québec). Copies of the base shelf prospectus and any
supplement thereto to be filed in connection with the Offering, are
and will be available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.ca. The Units are being offered in each of the
provinces of Canada (except Québec) and may be offered in the
United States on a private placement basis pursuant to an
appropriate exemption from the registration requirements under
applicable U.S. law, and outside of Canada and the United States on
a private placement or equivalent basis.
This press release is not an offer to sell or
the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United
States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or
sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under
the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities being
offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the
United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such
securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or
to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent
registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration
requirements and applicable U.S. state securities laws.
About BW Energy Limited
BW Energy is a growth E&P company with a
differentiated strategy targeting proven offshore oil and gas
reservoirs through low risk phased developments. The Company has
access to existing production facilities to reduce time to first
oil and cashflow with lower investments than traditional offshore
developments. The Company's assets are 73.5% of the producing
Dussafu Marine licence offshore Gabon, 100% interest in the
Golfinho and Camarupim fields, a 76.5% interest in the BM-ES-23
block in, a 95% interest in the Maromba field in Brazil and a 95%
interest in the Kudu field in Namibia, all operated by BW
Energy.
BW Energy, 74% owned by BW Group Ltd., was
created as the E&P arm of Oslo listed BW Offshore, a company
with more than four decades of experience in operating advanced
offshore production solutions and executing complex projects. Since
its origin, BW Offshore has executed 40 FPSO and FSO projects.
About ReconAfrica
ReconAfrica is a Canadian oil and gas company
engaged in the opening of the newly discovered Kavango Sedimentary
Basin in the Kalahari Desert of northeastern Namibia and
northwestern Botswana, where the Company holds petroleum licences
comprising ~8 million contiguous acres. In all aspects of its
operations ReconAfrica is committed to minimal disturbance of
habitat in line with international standards and will implement
environmental and social best practices in all of its project
areas.
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For further information
contact:
Brian Reinsborough, President and Chief
Executive Officer | Tel: +1-877-631-1160Grayson Andersen, Vice
President Investor Relations | Tel: +1-877-631-1160
Email:
admin@reconafrica.comIR Inquiries Email:
investors@reconafrica.comMedia Inquiries Email:
media@reconafrica.com
Cautionary
Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements:
Certain statements contained in this press
release constitute forward-looking information under applicable
Canadian, United States and other applicable securities laws, rules
and regulations, including, without limitation, statements with
respect to the completion of the strategic joint venture
transaction, the timing and amount of cash payments relating to the
joint venture transaction, the timing and amount of any bonus
payments, the timing and amount of production milestone payments,
entering into a definitive agreement, the drilling of four
exploration wells, the undertaking of additional seismic
acquisition, statements with respect to prospective resources of
oil and natural gas, the financing of exploration, development and
production related costs, the expected use of proceeds from the
Offering, the expected closing date of the Offering, the completion
of the Offering being subject to the receipt of all necessary
regulatory approvals, including acceptance of the TSXV, any
potential acceleration of the expiry date of the Warrants, the
listing of the Warrants, and the Company’s commitment to minimal
disturbance of habitat, in line with best international standards
and its implementation of environmental and social best practices
in all of its project areas. These statements relate to future
events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could",
"intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and
similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not
historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking
information and are based on ReconAfrica's current belief or
assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events.
There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be
accurate, as the Company's actual results and future events could
differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking
statements as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk
Factors" section in the Company's annual information form dated
December 4, 2023, available under the Company's profile at
www.sedarplus.ca. Actual future results may differ materially.
Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing
conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in
forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are
based on information currently available to ReconAfrica. The
forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of
the date hereof and ReconAfrica undertakes no obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and
assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements
expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained
herein.
Disclosure of Oil and Gas
Information:
The report of Netherland, Sewell &
Associates, Inc. (“NSAI”) entitled “Estimates of Prospective
Resources to the Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. Interests in
Certain Opportunities Located in Damara Fold and Thrust Belt Play
Area in Petroleum Exploration Licence 73, Kavango Basin, Namibia as
of February 29, 2024” (the “NSAI Report”) and the prospective
resource estimates contained therein and in this press release were
prepared by NSAI, an independent qualified reserves evaluator, with
an effective date of February 29, 2024. The NSAI Report was
prepared in accordance with the definitions and guidelines of the
Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook prepared jointly by the
Society of Petroleum and Engineers (Calgary Chapter) (the “COGE
Handbook”) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy &
Petroleum and National Instrument 51-101 – Standards of Disclosure
for Oil and Gas Activities (“NI 51-101”). For additional
information concerning the risks and the level of uncertainty
associated with recovery of the prospective resources detailed
herein and in the NSAI Report, the significant positive and
negative factors relevant to the prospective resources estimates
detailed herein and in the NSAI Report and a description of the
project to which the prospective resources estimates detailed
herein and in the NSAI Report applies are contained within the NSAI
Report, a copy of which has been filed with the Canadian Securities
Administrators and is available under the Company’s issued profile
on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
The prospective resources shown in the NSAI
Report have been estimated using probabilistic methods and are
dependent on a petroleum discovery being made. If a discovery is
made and development is undertaken, the probability that the
recoverable volumes will equal or exceed the unrisked estimated
amounts is 90 percent for the low estimate, 50 percent for the best
estimate, and 10 percent for the high estimate. Low estimate and
high estimate prospective resources have not been included in the
NSAI Report. For the purposes of the NSAI Report, the volumes and
parameters associated with the best estimate scenario of
prospective resources are referred to as 2U. The 2U prospective
resources have been aggregated beyond the prospect and lead level
by arithmetic summation; therefore, these totals do not include the
portfolio effect that might result from statistical aggregation.
Statistical principles indicate that the arithmetic sums of
multiple estimates may be misleading as to the volumes that may
actually be recovered.
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