Independent Oil & Gas (LON:IOG) has announced interim results for H1 2017. In the period the company made a net loss of £1.4m versus a loss of £1m on year earlier; as despite a reduction in administrative expenses of 20% YoY to £750k finance expanses were higher at £663k.
During the period IOG made significant progress, advancing the development of its core assets. The Thames pipeline acquisition is a key milestone in development of the Southern North Sea (SNS) gas hub and will save around £100m in costs whilst opening up these assets via a fully owned export route. IOG will now undertake an assessment programme to understand any necessary repair work ahead of dewatering. In addition, 3D seismic work was carried out on the Harvey asset demonstrating significant potential. IOG received an extension on the Harvey license in March 2017.
Post period end, the company made previously announced changes to the senior management team and board. In July IOG was awarded Licence P2343 by the OGA strengthening the position at the Vulcan Satellites where positive seismic and hydraulic stimulation studies were completed in June 2017. Furthermore, an LOI was signed with Schlumberger providing a framework for the two companies to work towards the Final Investment Decision on the SNS project.
In the remainder of 2017 we expect a CPR to be commissioned which will cover the entire SNS project which will support funding negotiations for project advancement. Negotiations with creditors relating to the Skipper Well are ongoing in order to determine whether liabilities due at the end of 2017 will be repaid, rescheduled or converted to equity in part.
We reiterate our Buy recommendation.
Obtala Limited#: Q3 Update
African forestry and agriculture business Obtala Limited (LON:OBT)# has announced a Q3 operational update.
• Forestry: 15,000m3 of logs harvested across Mozambique and Gabon in the quarter; 4,500m3 of export grade timber produced, with a proportion of logs stockpiled for future processing; 100m3 per day sawmill in Mozambique remains on track to be completed at the end of 2017; rapidly scaling of timber production in Gabon, increasing from 900m3 in July to 1,500m3 in August; remains in discussions for a US$25m trade finance facility to significantly scale timber trading business
• Agriculture: First significant Melon harvest processed through upgraded packhouse with product exported through Mombasa, Kenya
VSA Comment
Once again OBT has had an extremely busy operational quarter. However, unlike previous quarters, Q3 2017 marks the first period where OBT has also delivered significant revenues, following its acquisition of WoodBois on 30 June and the harvest of cash crops in Tanzania.
Our FY 2017 forecast for OBT’s log harvest across Mozambique and Gabon is c24,000m3, with c10,700m3 of timber produced. Given the levels achieved in Q3, the company is currently trading in-line with our expectations. Prices are reported in the range of US$400-900/m3, dependent on species and grade. Again, this is in-line with our expectations, with our FY 2017 average selling price forecast at US$400/m3 in Gabon and US$850/m3 in Mozambique.
Although its expansion plans are ambitious, OBT appears to be successfully executing its strategy in-line with our aggressive expectations.
We maintain our BUY recommendation and target price of 36p.