Santos denies equity raising talks

Santos, an Australian oil and gas company, has denied reports it is planning to launch an equity raising.

Santos said it noted the steep decline in its share price on Friday, August 14, 2015, the company closed at $5.99, and subsequent media speculation it had been planning to launch an equity raising.

“Santos confirms that it has no current intention to undertake an equity raising,” the company said in the press release.

Santos retained ample liquidity, with over $2 billion in cash and undrawn debt facilities currently available, the company said.

Furthermore, Santos added it “continues to take positive steps to strengthen the company’s operating position in the lower oil price environment”. 

According to Santos, first half capital expenditure was more than 50% below 2014 levels and unit production costs for the first half were 11% lower. The underlying performance of the business remains strong. Production was up 13% in the first half and continued growth is expected over the next few years, coinciding with the ramp up of GLNG.

The GLNG project has made significant progress and remains on track for first LNG around the end of the third quarter. All upstream facilities are fully operational and good progress is being made on commissioning the LNG plant on Curtis Island, Santos concluded.