13 Dec 2021admin correction● Neutral
Santos moved its share registry from BoardRoom to Computershare from 13 December 2021. Holdings and details carry across. Administrative notice only.
Announcements, explained
Each one in plain English, with the numbers worked through for a shareholder.
13 Dec 2021other● Neutral
Santos listed on the PNG stock exchange (PNGX) on 13 December following the Oil Search merger, trading initially as STODA on deferred settlement. Normal trading under STO is expected from 20 December. Santos has been in PNG since 1987.
13 Dec 2021director officer appointment● NeutralMajor
Anthea McKinnell, Santos's deputy CFO since 2019, becomes CFO from 1 January 2022, replacing Anthony Neilson (CFO since December 2016). Neilson becomes Chief Commercial Officer, overseeing the Oil Search transition.
10 Dec 2021business combination▲ GoodMajor
The Santos–Oil Search merger is now effective. Oil Search holders get 0.6275 new Santos shares each (record date 14 December), with a combined market cap of about A$22bn, pro forma 2021 production ~117 mmboe and 4,867 mmboe 2P+2C. Three Oil Search directors join the Santos board.
10 Dec 2021business combination● Neutral
Oil Search confirms the scheme is legally effective after court orders were lodged in PNG. Its shares are expected to be suspended from close of trading today. New Santos shares are due to start trading on 13 December.
9 Dec 2021business combination▲ GoodMajor
The PNG National Court approved the Oil Search scheme, following the 7 December shareholder vote. The scheme becomes effective once court orders are lodged, expected 10 December. This was the last court step before completion.
8 Dec 2021business combination▲ Good
Oil Search confirms the PNG competition regulator (ICCC) clearance condition for the Santos merger is satisfied. Only court approval and customary conditions remain.
8 Dec 2021business combination▲ Good
Santos confirms PNG competition regulator (ICCC) clearance for the Oil Search merger. The scheme now needs only the PNG National Court's approval at the 9 December hearing. Same event as Oil Search's own announcement.
8 Dec 2021farm in farm out agreement▲ GoodMajor
Santos signed a binding agreement to sell 12.5% of Barossa to JERA for about US$300m at completion, expected 1H 2022. This finalises the sell-down flagged earlier, taking Santos to 50% alongside SK E&S 37.5%. First LNG remains 1H 2025, on schedule and budget.
7 Dec 2021business combination● Neutral
Oil Search released the chairman's address and slides for its scheme meeting on the Santos merger, restating the 0.6275 exchange ratio. The excerpt shows only procedural matters; no new facts. The vote result followed separately.
7 Dec 2021investor presentation● Neutral
Oil Search's scheme meeting slides repeat known terms: 0.6275 Santos shares per share, 38.5%/61.5% ownership split, US$90-115m pa synergies. They add a pro forma market cap of A$23bn and note Oil Search faces funding constraints standalone. Expert says Oil Search holders contribute more than 38.5% of value.
7 Dec 2021other● Neutral
S&P Dow Jones Indices will remove Oil Search from the S&P/ASX 200 before trading on 13 December, subject to final court approval of the Santos scheme. Index administration only.
7 Dec 2021business combination▲ GoodMajor
Oil Search shareholders approved the Santos merger, with 95.07% of votes cast in favour. Court approval was sought for 9 December, and the scheme could become effective on 10 December. This clears the main shareholder hurdle for Santos's deal.
6 Dec 2021business combination▲ Good
Oil Search confirms the PNG Securities Commission approval condition for the Santos merger is satisfied. Remaining conditions are PNG competition clearance, the 7 December shareholder vote and court approval.
6 Dec 2021business combination▲ Good
Santos confirms it has received the PNG Securities Commission approval letter and exemption notice, satisfying the merger deed's clause 3.1(d) condition. Same event as Oil Search's own announcement; a regulatory box ticked on the way to completion.
29 Nov 2021drilling progress report● Neutral
Tamboran says Santos has finished the 2021 EP 161 drilling program, with Tanumbirini 3H cased and the rig demobilised. Fracture stimulation of the 2H and 3H wells has begun, with about 10 stages each. Initial flow-test results are now expected in December 2021.
23 Nov 2021capital raising announcement● Neutral
Tamboran, Santos's 25% partner in Beetaloo EP 161, raised about A$35m at A$0.37 per share, anchored by US investor Bryan Sheffield (A$20m, ~7.4%). Funds go to Tamboran's 2022 EP 136 work. Santos is not a party; flow-test results from EP 161 still due by end 2021.
11 Nov 2021business combination▲ GoodMajor
The PNG court approved the Oil Search scheme booklet and set the shareholder vote for 7 December 2021. The independent expert found the merger in Oil Search holders' best interests, absent a superior proposal. The Oil Search board continues to unanimously recommend it.
11 Nov 2021business combination● Neutral
Same-day release as the earlier court approval: the Oil Search scheme booklet is attached, with the 7 December vote and the independent expert's 'best interests' conclusion, absent a superior proposal. Oil Search's board still unanimously recommends the 0.6275 Santos-share offer. Duplicate of the earlier summary.
9 Nov 2021regulatory community update● Neutral
Santos lodged a required JobKeeper disclosure: it received A$4.014m in 2020 for 244 employees and repaid it in full in December 2020. It received nothing in 2021. Administrative disclosure only.
8 Nov 2021drilling result▲ Good
Tamboran reports Tanumbirini 3H reached 4,857 m with over 1,000 m of target shale and strong gas shows, as at 2H. The 2021 drilling program is complete. Both wells will now be fracked and flow tested, with initial results by end of 2021.
1 Nov 2021drilling scheduled▲ GoodMajor
Santos and Beach Energy took final investment decision on the US$165m (A$220m) Moomba carbon capture project, with first injection targeted for 2024. It was registered with the Clean Energy Regulator, resolving the earlier pending condition. Santos holds 66.7% and operates.
29 Oct 2021business combination● Neutral
Santos said the First Court Date for the Oil Search scheme is now expected around 10 November 2021, instead of 27 October as in the merger deed timetable. No reason is given in the announcement.
18 Oct 2021regulatory community update▲ GoodMajor
The NSW Land and Environment Court dismissed the appeal against the Narrabri Gas Project, upholding the planning approval. Santos says the legal process delayed the project about 12 months, and it can now proceed to the appraisal drilling phase.
6 Oct 2021drilling progress report▲ Good
Tamboran reports Tanumbirini 3H reached about 3,760 m, hitting the target shale, with vertical drilling time cut 20% from learnings at 2H. The roughly 1,000 m horizontal section follows, with total depth about 4,900 m by end October. Flow-test results are still expected before year-end.
1 Oct 2021regulatory community update▲ Good
The federal government released its carbon capture method for the Emissions Reduction Fund, and Santos began registering the A$210m Moomba CCS project (1.7 mtpa) to earn carbon credits. This was the condition Santos had flagged before a final investment decision.
1 Oct 2021security holder rights change● Neutral
United Faith Ventures, holder of about 9.97% of Santos, entered stock lending for up to 100m shares as part of a collar financing. Banks sold 61.4m shares at A$6.75 to hedge. Santos sees no price-sensitive information.
14 Sept 2021joint venture update▲ Good
Santos, for the Bayu-Undan joint venture, signed an MOU with Timor-Leste's regulator ANPM to test turning Bayu-Undan into a carbon storage hub of about 10 million tonnes of CO2 a year. This follows the earlier Eni MOU and addresses the need for Timor-Leste agreement. It is a study step, not a decision.
10 Sept 2021business combination▲ GoodMajor
Santos and Oil Search signed a binding Merger Implementation Deed at 0.6275 Santos shares per Oil Search share, resolving the earlier proposal stage. Santos holders would own about 61.5%. Santos expects US$90-115m a year of pre-tax synergies; Oil Search holders, PNG court and regulators must approve.
10 Sept 2021other● Neutral
ASX paused trading in Santos shares pending a further announcement. No reason is given in the notice. Inference: it relates to the Oil Search merger news released the same day.