Savannah Energy Plc Appointment of NED and Chair (0384X)

TIDMSAVE

RNS Number : 0384X

Savannah Energy Plc

21 April 2023

21 April 2023

Savannah Energy PLC

("Savannah" or the "Company")

Appointment of Non-Executive Director & Chair Designate

Savannah Energy PLC, the British independent energy company focused around the delivery of Projects that Matter , is pleased to announce that it has appointed Joseph Pagop Noupoué as a Non-Executive Director and Chair Designate, with immediate effect. As previously announced on 7 June 2022, Steve Jenkins plans to step down from his role as the Company's Non-Executive Chair at the close of the 2023 Annual General Meeting, having completed over eight years in the role, but will continue to serve as a Non-Executive Director of the Company.

Joseph Pagop Noupoué is currently a senior partner at EY, the leading global professional services firm, whose work is focused around corporate (including contract, M&A and dispute resolution) and fiscal law matters, as well as major client relationship management in the French speaking and North African regions. He was formerly head of the Africa Department of EY Société d'Avocats France and is presently EY Managing Partner for Cameroon and Tax Leader for French speaking Africa leading more than 400 professional service providers located in nine countries.

Joseph's private sector experience has spanned advisory work in over 20 African countries, for a client list which includes the energy (e.g. BP, Shell, Eni, TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil and Petronas) and mining (e.g. Rio Tinto, Kinross, Mittal and BHP) majors, as well as leading FTSE100, CAC40 and Fortune 500 energy and mining service companies and major private equity houses. His public sector practice has included work for many African countries (including around the drafting of those countries' relevant energy and mining codes) and developmental finance institutions such as the World Bank Group.

Joseph is an Attorney at Law. He holds the French Bar Association Diploma (CAPA) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Banking and Finance (DESS) of the University of Lyon, France. Formerly registered with the French Bar (Hauts de Seine), he is registered with the Cameroon Bar. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Banking and Finance (DESS) from the University of Lyon, France.

In conjunction with his appointment, Joseph has agreed to subscribe for 6,095,726 new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company ("Ordinary Shares") at a subscription price as agreed between the Company and Joseph of 26.25 pence per share, equating to a total investment of approximately US$2 million

Commenting on the appointment, Steve Jenkins, Non-Executive Chair of Savannah, said:

"I am delighted that Joseph has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director and Chair Designate of Savannah. I believe his leadership skills, deep knowledge of the African business environment and extensive business, financial and legal expertise will serve Savannah well and will complement the skills of the existing Board and senior management team.

It has been a privilege to be the Chair of Savannah for over the past eight years and I look forward to contributing to the continuing success of the business as a Non-Executive Director."

Joseph Pagop Noupoué commented:

"I am pleased to be joining Savannah at this key point in its growth and look forward to applying my experience to the role. I would like to thank outgoing Chair, Steve Jenkins, for his tenure in guiding this company since 2014 and look forward to working with him, the rest of the Board and executive management team towards our many and wide-ranging goals.

It is very clear to me that Savannah is ambitious but fuelled by a passion to do good in the world. The benefits Savannah has brought to African communities in Nigeria and Niger and plans for Cameroon and South Sudan are impressive and evident."

Andrew Knott, CEO of Savannah Energy, said :

"I am delighted that Joseph has agreed to join Savannah as a Non-Executive Director and Chair Designate. Joseph has considerable experience in Africa and his background in advisory services to the African energy sector places him in an excellent position to steward Savannah to further growth through strong leadership and the promotion of good governance. I look forward to working with Joseph and would also like to take this opportunity to thank Steve Jenkins for his strong leadership of the Board from Savannah's initial listing to the current day and am grateful that his experience will be retained in his continuing role as a Non-Executive Director."

Additional Information

The following additional information is provided in accordance with paragraph (g) of Schedule Two of the AIM Rules for Companies.

Joseph Pagop Noupoué (age 54)

 
 Current Directorships/Partnerships   Past Directorships/Partnerships 
                                       (last 5 years) 
 Cameroon Oil Transportation          Financière d'Afrique SAS 
  Company S.A.                         SAS Terres du Moungo 
  Ernst & Young Europe LLP             SCI Drouot Akwa 
  Ernst & Young Cameroon S.A. 
  Ernst & Young Cameroon SARL 
  Terres du Moungo SARLU 
  Ranch de Ngaoundaba SARL 
                                     -------------------------------- 
 

Other than the information contained within this announcement, there is no further information required to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph (g) of Schedule Two of the AIM Rules for Companies.

Admission and Total Voting Rights

Following the issue of the 6,095,726 new Ordinary Shares, the Company will have 1,312,194,545 Ordinary Shares in issue, all with voting right attached.

Application will be made in due course to the London Stock Exchange plc for admission of the 6,095,726 new Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM, which is expected to take effect on or shortly following restoration to trading on AIM of the Ordinary Shares, which will occur following the publication of an AIM Admission Document in respect of the Company's proposed acquisition of PETRONAS International Corporation Limited's entire oil and gas business in South Sudan and a further announcement will be made when appropriate.

For further information, please refer to the Company's website www.savannah-energy.com or contact:

 
                                                [phone] 
   Savannah Energy                                9844 
   Andrew Knott, CEO 
   Nick Beattie, CFO 
   Sally Marshak, Head of IR & Communications 
 
                                                 [phone] 
   Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated Adviser)      3494 
   James Spinney 
   Ritchie Balmer 
   Rob Patrick 
 
                                                 [phone] 
   finnCap Ltd (Joint Broker)                     0500 
   Christopher Raggett 
   Tim Redfern 
 
                                                 [phone] 
   Panmure Gordon (UK) Ltd (Joint Broker)         2500 
   John Prior 
   Hugo Rich 
   James Sinclair-Ford 
 
                                                 [phone] 
   Camarco                                        4983 
   Billy Clegg 
   Owen Roberts 
   Violet Wilson 
 

About Savannah Energy:

Savannah Energy PLC is an AIM quoted British independent energy company focused around the delivery of Projects that Matter and is active in Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria.

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April 21, 2023 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)