Africa Oil Corp. (AOC) and Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas are forming a strategic partnership for exploration in West Africa and Guyana. Under the terms of an investment agreement, AOC has agreed to acquire a 19.77% shareholding in Eco through the purchase, by way of private placement, of 29.2 million common shares at US$.37 share (CAD$0.48 per share) for a total consideration of $10.9 million (CAD$14 million), AOC said in a 13 November press statement.
The investment agreement also provides the company with the right to participate in any future Eco equity issuances, on a pro rata basis, and to appoint one nominee to Eco's board of directors. Keith Hill, president and CEO of AOC, will join the Eco board of directors as soon as practicable.
As part of the agreement, the parties have also entered into a Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA), whereby they will jointly pursue new exploration projects. Pursuant to the terms of the SAA, AOC will be entitled to bid jointly on any new assets or ventures proposed to be acquired by Eco, on the same terms as Eco and for an interest at least equal to the company's percentage holding of the common shares in Eco from time to time. Additionally, under the terms of the SAA, AOC will also have a right of first offer on the farm-out of exploration properties currently held by Eco.
Eco’s exploration portfolio includes four blocks in Namibia and one block in Guyana. The Namibia blocks are located in an area of proven source rocks and large, seismically-defined stratigraphic traps where upcoming wells by neighboring operators will be drilled in the near future to derisk the play. In Guyana, Eco holds a block directly updip from the Stabroek block on which ExxonMobil estimates resources of 2.5 billion to 2.8 billion oil-equivalent barrels, including the supergiant Liza field. The Eco block exhibits good evidence of slope fan prospects and is expected to be fully delineated after processing and interpretation of the 2,550sq km 3D seismic survey recently completed in September. Eco also recently announced it has entered into an option agreement for a farm-in by Total on this Guyana acreage, AOC said.
This new investment is a good complement to the company's existing investment in Africa Energy Corp., (AFE) in which the company holds a 28.5% shareholding interest. AFE holds blocks in Namibia adjacent to the Eco acreage and a block offshore South Africa. Together, the two companies represent significant holdings in several of the most attractive exploration areas in the world.
Hill commented, "We are very excited to be joining this talented group of explorers who have been able to secure top quality blocks in prime exploration areas. We look forward to realizing the value of this acreage and believe we will be able to play a positive role in the expansion of their portfolio. The pace of exploration is increasing in these regions with large independents and even super-majors taking big acreage positions with aggressive drilling plans over the next few years. This alliance will help us take advantage of this upswing in activity."
PillarFour Securities LLP is acting as financial advisor to Africa Oil for the transaction.