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More than hope on show at Aminex
Edmond Jackson 30.10.09 08:42
The FTSE SmallCap shares in oil & gas explorer Aminex (AEX) merit fresh attention for breakthrough as a mainstream 'E&P'. I have followed Aminex on and off for about 15 years with its bull case changing form and yet the shares have not gone through the kind of transformation shown by the likes of Dana Petroleum (DNX), Premier Oil (PMO) and Tullow Oil (TLW), I have favoured, even as energy prices rose substantially from 2003.
Yet there can be an opportunity cost of lapsing into cynicism (there must be quite a few stale bulls here) towards a dynamic E&P as you never quite know which projects may surprise. Aminex has plenty, with news to watch for if you visit www.aminex-plc.com where there is a latest presentation dated 28 October to download.
This is not a 'blue sky' explorer; there is a balance of 'P' to help fund 'E' and limit downside risk. The business model is therefore attractive for an enterprising investor who wants to operate with discipline. But do not assume a share price of 8.75p is necessarily cheap, despite being low-priced. This relates to over 400 million shares in issue, so Aminex needs significant progress to impact per share values.
Interest is being regenerated firstly by Astaire, the company's broker, which has just recently upgraded its net asset value (NAV) estimate to 27p a share. This comprises 13p a share for the producing assets and 14p for exploration (which does not include West Songo-Songo in Tanzania, where evaluations are at an early stage, as well as Egypt).
Bear in mind, such modelling can give highly varied results according to the probability factor involved with 'risking' potential success with exploration, also NAV's can end up in a big range according to the discount rate applied to projected cash flows. The variations are very handy for share promoters to dangle enticing 'fair values'.
Secondly, Aminex has potentially useful exploration news in the near term.
Last Tuesday (27 October), Aminex announced that its Egyptian South Malak-1 well had encountered oil shows, and this is worth watching for the testing results. Aminex only has a 10% interest, however, so the find would need to be substantial.
Potentially of genuine 'high-impact' is drilling in the Ruvuma Basin of Tanzania where Aminex is in 50:50 partnership with Tullow Oil (the operator). As I have described in comment on Tullow, this team is currently as good as they get in exploration - 'making their own luck'.
Drilling became postponed and following a detailed review of seismic data a different prospect - Likonde - has been prioritised, seen as having more robust potential also with regard to oil rather than gas discovery. So watch for news.
Aminex also cites 'greatly increased potential revealed by 3D seismic' at its 100% working interest Shoats Creek gas field in Louisiana, where there is new drilling in the fourth quarter.
At Nyuni in Tanzania, the licence expires in mid 2011 hence there is attention on finding farm-in partners for drilling two wells on 'a new and encouraging play'. Although speculation surrounding North Korea has cooled, management is talking to a potential partner and a visit is planned for November - hence there is just a chance of news.
Besides current prospects in context of broader long-term value creation, the 'technical' situation of Aminex's chart is intriguing.
Over the last nine months, Aminex shares have lagged the recovery in crude oil prices that has re-rated similar companies. Might this be linked to a substantial shareholder base in Ireland, where the economy has been hard hit, so the fan club has lacked zeal?
It may also show how, in testing times, unless exploration prospects are dramatic and close to home (such as with AIM-listed Faroe Petroleum (FPM)) investors tend to prioritise companies with a proven earnings record. In fairness, Aminex's loss record has represented investment spending.
Otherwise, in recent years, the shares have tended to trade in a mid-20p range except for a blip over 40p in 2006 amid speculation over North Korea, and later on a plunge along with oil prices from July 2008.
In conclusion, the investment case rests on a useful spread of interests to impact reserves, for a 36 million company, despite being quite a hotchpotch that is typical of a smaller E&P. Meanwhile, Aminex's financial profile is improving anyway as growing revenue from the US side, also from an oilfield services business, is expected to cover central costs and profits are forecast in 2010.
The company is debt free and funded for its near-term drilling obligations. Over 10 million was raised last summer via a placing and open offer priced at 6p a share, boosting cash reserves for exploration and development. Otherwise the (US$-based) end-June balance sheet was looking a bit constrained with $4.7 million current assets offset similarly by liabilities despite $2.2 million cash.
Balance sheet net assets worked out at $41.9 million equating to 25.6 million or 6.2p per share - so at a circa 50% premium the market price is entertaining some hope value to balance sheet NAV, but not a lot in relation to overall potential. If the company broker's 13p a share valuation for the producing assets is credible then intrinsically there is a margin of safety at the current buying price near 9p.