Sharechat Logo

Shareholders' Assn opposes NZOG deal; shareholders split

Friday 8th November 2019

Text too small?

The independent directors of New Zealand Oil & Gas have failed to get maximum value for their shareholders, says the New Zealand Shareholders’ Association, which plans to vote its proxies against the planned takeover by Ofer Global.

 

 

The association says there are legitimate questions about asset valuations and the “adequacy” of the offer for longer-term investors in the Wellington-based explorer.

 

 

It says the revised and final 74 cents being offered by 70 percent shareholder OG Oil & Gas appears to only value NZOG’s current production assets and cash – with little or no value being ascribed to the firm’s exploration interests.

 

 

“In our view, the independent directors have failed to extract the greatest value for ordinary shareholders,” the NZSA says in a note to members. “Their credibility in recommending the 62c initial offer has been undermined by the subsequent increase, which only came about as a result of shareholder discontent.”

 

 

But the association has not advised against the transaction and is urging shareholders to carefully consider their own circumstances. The takeover, being effected through a scheme of arrangement, requires 75 percent support of the votes cast by Nov. 14. Data from NZOG today shows shareholders who have voted so far are split on the deal.

 

 

“It is important that retail shareholders vote their shares,” the association says.

 

 

“It is likely that some shareholders will remain unhappy with the offer amount whereas others, perhaps with shorter-term horizons and recognising the low trading liquidity in NZOG, may be inclined to accept.”

 

 

NZOG shares last traded at 72 cents and are near a 22-month high. The initial offer was a 25 percent premium to the market price on July 9 and the latest offer is almost 50 percent higher.

 

 

Today the company said about 40 percent of the shares held by minority investors had been voted as of last night.

 

 

Of those, about 48.4 percent were cast against the transaction, 40 percent were in favour and 12.2 percent were being left to the discretion of proxy holders. OGOG can’t vote on the transaction.

 

 

NZOG has a small stake in the Kupe gas field and, through subsidiary Cue Energy Resources, a small stake in the Maari oil field and production interests in Indonesia. It also owns half the Barque exploration permit off the Oamaru coast and has a 15 percent stake in the Ironbark prospect off north-western Australia where partner BP plans to drill late 2020. Cue, half-owned by NZOG, also has a 21.5 percent stake in Ironbark.

 

 

Many of the complaints about the offer relate to the treatment of the firm’s exploration assets, particularly a 5 percent probability ascribed to the chances of Ironbark – a potentially 15 trillion cubic feet gas resource – being commercially developed.

 

 

While the odds of a discovery are better, there are many undeveloped gas discoveries in Australia’s greater north-west shelf.

 

 

Last month, the Takeovers Panel asked NZOG to clarify two aspects of the information provided on Ironbark, which the company did. 

 

 

But it stopped short of finding the original advice was misleading and said most of the complaints appeared to reflect honest and reasonable differences of opinion.

 

(BusinessDesk)



  General Finance Advertising    

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:
Your name:
Your email:
Not displayed to the public
Comment:
Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved.

Related News:

SML - Synlait Milk Limited - Trading Halt of Securities
AIA - Auckland Airport announces board chair changes
AIA - Auckland Airport announces board chair changes
CEN - Tauhara commissioning progress update
FPH initiates voluntary limited recall
March 28th Morning Report
KFL Celebrates 20 Years of Excellence in Investment Mgmt.
SVR - Savor FY24 Earnings Guidance & Change in Banking Partner
NZK - NZ King Salmon Investments Limited FY24 Results
March 27th Morning Report