Edison Investment Research

Kosmos searching for more investors

Kosmos coming to London

On 2 August, Kosmos announced that it will be seeking a main-market listing in London during the third quarter in order to access European investors. According to Reuters, the company indicates “There are a number of European investment funds and specialist international oil and gas investors that are currently unable to hold Kosmos’ shares due to their listing outside of a European regulated market”

We also believe it is a function of the differing attitudes the investor bases have towards exploration. Given the multitude of onshore producers, US investors typically place more emphasis on near-term cashflows and production. Especially since the advent of shale fracking, exploration risk is smaller and a greater attention is given to cashflows and financial leverage.

European exchanges tend to see more international explorers focussing on frontier areas, leading to a greater understanding of international exploration and willingness to value it.  European exchanges are more used to taking a risked approach to longer term value ideas such as 2P/3P reserves and exploration.
This may explain why European analysts have higher target prices given Kosmos’ mix of production/ development/exploration assets.

Killing the goose that laid the golden eggs

Tanzanian resource nationalism - replaying past mistakes

In London, the shares of Acacia Mining (formerly African Barrick Gold, the 62%-owned, listed subsidiary of Barrick Corp) have fallen by almost half in the last 24 hours, after the Tanzania Revenue Authority demanded $190bn ($40bn in alleged back taxes, with the rest in interest and penalty charges).

Oil and share prices for mid-cap E&Ps

E&P volatility

With the tribulations of the London-listed E&Ps with the oil price slide, investors have seen large moves in the share prices.

Significant discovery for Premier offshore Mexico

Premier’s discovery in Zama-1, offshore Mexico, demonstrates why international companies have been lining up to secure positions in the region. The well encountered net oil bearing reservoir in the Upper Miocene that the company estimates contains over 1 bn bbls gross oil in place (while partner and operator Talos Energy gives a range of 1.4 to 2bnbbls).

Sound focus on Morocco after Badile disappointment

Sound Energy will switch its focus to its ongoing activity in its Sidi Moktar licence onshore Western Morocco following the sub -commercial gas volume discovered at Badile.

AIMing high

Liquidity in London vs other exchanges

Companies often ask us our opinion on listing whether they should consider listing on other exchanges to boost liquidity and move their shares closer towards their perceived fair value. The answer is a complex one, market timing, industry and peer group as well as overall market sentiment and always have an impact on the answer. However, the chart below indicate the added liquidity that companies see in London (vs Australia and Canada).