18 Comments

great write-up!

Capital allocationis the big question/threat here

How do you explain the ~$35/bbl FCFE breakeven for Prime operations? (slide #5, Aug'21 corp presentation)

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Thanks. Good point. Prime FCFE is net of debt amortisation of ~$400M on 20mmbbl at 100% basis, or $20/bbl. Plus interest of $50M, or $2.50/bbl. Royalties were not applicable previously. So Opex 6 + Capex 7 + Amortisation 20 + Interest 2.5 =~35/bbl. $15/bbl is an estimate of pro-forma unlevered break-even, i.e., on FCFF basis, including minimum future royalties of 10%. There is still debt, but net debt is low now at <$500M at 100% basis as of September 2021. Also, the above analysis was unlevered: EV/FCFF and EV/GAV10. Unlevered valuation controls for financial risk and therefore is a fairer peer benchmark from a control perspective. It is more favourable to AOI than a P/NAV might be vs some of the more highly geared names.

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I remember that slide too! I think they were sandbagging the actual numbers based on what I see for opex and cap-ex in 2021. I did not consider future cap-ex for development drilling which the company says will increase in 2022.

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Great post. Learned a lot, thanks. Did you see this? https://mfn.se/cis/a/africa-oil/africa-oil-corp-africa-oil-announces-positive-amendments-to-its-corporate-facility-36139725

As I understand it they’re opening up for selling their listed holdings.

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Thank you! Yes, hopefully moving in the right direction.

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Excellent initiative. I will support this effort and also contact the BoD referencing your correspondence. We have a reasonable sized position. Cheers John.

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Hi John. Sorry I had not seen your comment until just now as I reviewed my recent post with my open letter to the board. Thanks for commenting, and also for your support by contacting the board. The more voices the better.

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Great write up about a great company, thanks!

Your valuation assumes 2 years at 80 USD/barrel then falling back to 55 USD/barrel until the wells dry up, correct?

You mention the lack of insider ownership, which, i agree, it is something to monitor and a potential risk. But what do you think of Keith Hill's trackrecord? Did he had such a poor ownership in his previous companies he managed were he achieved excellent returns?

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Thanks Enaut, for commenting. Sorry that I missed it until I reviewed comments on my recent post. To answer your question, for simplicity, my model assumes a level $80 oil unescalated for inflation. Not as a forecast, but for illustrative purposes.

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Where did Keith Hill achieve the excellent returns? TAG Oil.

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Thank you a lof for a great text, you are surely gifted in what you do. Lets elect you to the board :) (only one board, we dont want you to take the full 5 board approach with all the money that comes with that)

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Thank you! At your service, Mr Twain: he who holds the ballots calls the tune. Incidentally, I greatly enjoy your work. If I am not mistaken, it was you who said, "An ideal form of government is democracy tempered with assassination."

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Great, meaty write-up. We need more. Like maybe Canadian forest products, I'm thinking. (off the top of my head).

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Contangoes always demand more in the future.

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Great work, thanks a lot!

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Thank you!

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amazing tal ... your intelligence and drive to thrive are simply top notch ... nice pop in stock today too

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Thank Mike!

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