Predator Oil & Gas Holdings Plc (LON: PRD) shares fell 42% after the company announced a £2.5 million equity fundraising to support drilling, production growth and exploration activities across its operations in Trinidad and Morocco.
The Jersey-based energy company has conditionally placed 166,666,667 new ordinary shares at 1.5 pence each, raising £2.5 million before expenses through joint brokers AlbR Capital and Crest Corporate Broking.
The sharp share price decline follows the announcement of the discounted placing, which will increase the number of shares in issue and dilute existing shareholders who do not participate.
Proceeds will support several near-term operational programmes, including the MOU-6 well testing campaign in Morocco and development activities aimed at increasing oil production in Trinidad.
At the MOU-6 well, Predator is progressing perforation and testing operations, with final results anticipated within two weeks. The outcome is expected to provide further information on reservoir performance and could influence discussions with potential Moroccan development partners.
The company said growing interest from larger Moroccan businesses in domestic gas exploration and development has created a more favourable environment for potential commercial partnerships.
Predator believes the forthcoming MOU-6 results could strengthen its position in negotiations, although no new partnership agreement has been confirmed.
In Trinidad, the Snowcap-3 development well has received regulatory approval, with drilling scheduled to commence in November 2026.
Part of the fundraising will be allocated towards expanding Snowcap-3 production facilities to accommodate higher initial throughput and accelerate potential sales revenue.
The company also intends to retain the drilling rig at the site following operations, allowing it to be redeployed more quickly for additional development wells.
Predator reported positive results from heavy workovers at the Goudron field, with GY-664 producing 37 barrels of oil per day and GY-665 delivering 18 barrels per day, representing combined reported production of 55 barrels daily.
Further investment could support testing of up to two additional Goudron development wells under the company’s existing agreement with NABI Construction.
The programme could also contribute towards evaluating a potential gas-to-power development supplying data centres using stranded gas resources at Goudron.
In Morocco, Predator plans to advance preparations for deepening its MOU-5 well by at least 640 metres, targeting potential helium resources associated with thermogenic gas beneath Triassic salt formations.
The proposed work would also investigate the suitability of the geological formations for potential natural gas storage.
Separately, the company intends to commission an initial study into potential unconventional biogenic gas resources across an area of up to 120 square kilometres within its Guercif exploration acreage.
The assessment will involve collaboration with a Romanian specialist company experienced in comparable gas-producing formations in Romania and western Ukraine.
Predator highlighted the long history of biogenic gas production in western Ukraine as a potential geological comparison, although the presence and commercial scale of similar resources in Morocco remain unproven.
The company also identified potential progress towards securing a successor authorisation for its Corrib South project, although no formal award has been announced.
For investors, the immediate concern is the dilutive impact of the £2.5 million placing, which has coincided with a substantial fall in Predator’s share price.
However, management believes the additional funding will support several operational catalysts, including MOU-6 test results, Snowcap-3 drilling and further evaluation of helium and gas resources in Morocco.
Attention will now turn to the MOU-6 testing outcome expected within two weeks, alongside the planned November drilling programme in Trinidad and progress towards securing commercial partners for the company’s Moroccan assets.
