The company will raise about A$4.5m at 8.5 cents a share: a A$1.5m placement of 17.3m shares, then up to A$3.0m via a rights issue. Sentient takes 14.9m shares, lifting its stake to 19.9%. Directors' 2.4m shares need shareholder approval. Funds go to Botswana coal and power projects.
At its own request, the company's shares are suspended from trading while it finalises a capital raising, which it expects to announce before trading on 9 April 2014.
The binding letter of intent to sell the Zambian uranium licences to Karoo is extended again, to 9 May 2014, to finalise an asset sale agreement. The sale, first agreed in September 2013, remains unfinished.
Interim accounts for the six months to 31 December 2013 (BDO review; directors state debts can be paid when due). Notes the A$3.5m raised from Sentient at 12 cents in July 2013 and completion of the Mmamantswe and Mmamabula West purchases. Supplied text shows no financial figures.
Company update: Sese environmental study and first feasibility phase due in March, then a mining licence application. Consortium remains shortlisted with bids expected late March. Karoo uranium sale letter of intent extended, so that sale is still unfinished.
The African Energy/ACWA Power consortium is shortlisted to receive the Botswana 300MW tender bid invitation, indicatively in late March. If the bid succeeds, financial close could be sought by year end. Advances the October expression of interest.
Retracts the Mmamantswe production target (10Mtpa, 2.4Mtpa export coal) and cost figures (US$9.10/t cash cost, US$350m capital) from the January report and February presentation. They came from an older scoping study and do not establish economic viability. Investors told not to rely on them.
February 2014 presentation repeats the 6.2Bt portfolio, ACWA Power JDA and Mmamabula West export plan. Says the Botswana ministry has approval to request a bid from the Sese consortium. Little new otherwise.
December quarter: cash fell to US$3.43m from US$4.56m. Mmamabula West purchase completed; Karoo finished due diligence on the uranium sale. Government response on the power expression of interest and start of the Sese definitive study are expected next quarter.
23 Dec 2013asset acquisition disposition▲ GoodMajor
Botswana's minister approved transfer of the Mmamabula West licence, completing the purchase. African Energy now pays Asenjo US$1m, with US$1.5m due once a retention licence is granted, expected mid-to-late 2014. Resolves the October agreement; total Botswana coal above 6.2Bt.
September quarter: cash fell to US$4.56m from US$5.62m. Reports the ACWA Power agreement, Mmamabula West purchase and Karoo uranium sale as already announced. Next steps include Botswana's response to the expression of interest and starting the Sese definitive study.
2013 annual report: managing director's letter reviews the year's progress, including the ACWA Power consortium, Sese prefeasibility, the Mmamantswe purchase and the Maputo export trial. Repeats known events; supplied text is truncated and shows no financial figures.
Signed a joint development agreement with Saudi-based ACWA Power, naming it as the partner behind the 2 October Sese 300MW power expression of interest. ACWA leads, funds equity and becomes major Sese Power shareholder; African Energy gets a structured return with no extra development funding commitment. Resolves the partner search.
15 Oct 2013asset acquisition disposition▲ GoodMajor
Binding agreement to buy the 2.4Bt Mmamabula West coal project in Botswana from Asenjo Energy for US$2.5m cash: US$1m on licence transfer approval, US$1.5m on retention licence grant. Resources 892Mt Indicated, 1,541Mt Inferred; Botswana total rises to 6.2Bt. Conditional.
October corporate presentation: an expression of interest for a 300MW Sese power station is being lodged 2 October with an unnamed development partner, and a joint development agreement is close. Partner would provide all equity. Resource figures repeat earlier.
1 Oct 2013asset acquisition disposition▲ GoodMajor
Binding letter of intent to sell the Zambian uranium licences to Karoo Exploration for US$2.0m cash plus US$0.5m of shares and warrants. Conditional on Karoo financing, due diligence and TSX-V approval. Follows the long-running search for a uranium buyer, refocusing on Botswana coal.
Full-year statutory accounts to 30 June 2013, with directors' report and board listing including the new Hume appointments. The supplied text is truncated and shows no financial figures.
Ian Hume, a Sentient founding partner who remains its independent adviser, joined as non-executive director, with Sentient's Yan Zhao as his alternate. Gives the largest shareholder (about 17%) board representation.
Africa Downunder presentation repeats known facts: Sese 2.5Bt, Mmamantswe 1,300Mt, planned Botswana and South Africa power bids. Shows 429.6m shares, A$33.5m market capitalisation, A$5.1m cash and A$5.0m debt.
Botswana invited expressions of interest for a 300MW greenfield coal power station, due 27 November 2013, power as early as 2016. African Energy plans to bid with Sese. Procurement decisions expected from January 2014; this gives its partner talks a deadline.
June quarter: Sentient's A$8.5m placement (70.83m shares at A$0.12) done, leaving it with about 17.3%. Mmamantswe acquired, giving 3.8Bt in Botswana. Cash US$5.62m (US$2.4m prior quarter). Power partner talks continue; feasibility study awaits a partner.
African Energy lodged a registration of interest with South Africa's Department of Energy to supply 300MW from Sese, with a South African BEE partner and Eskom as buyer. A Botswana greenfield bid is planned with partners. Early-stage, not a contract.
12 July 2013asset acquisition disposition● Neutral
Aviva confirmed it received A$3.5m from African Energy and completed the Mmamantswe sale. This is the seller's side of the deal already completed; a final payment of about US$22,000 is due to Mawana.