OSLO: Zenith Energy Ltd. announces the termination of the sale and purchase agreement (SPA) entered into with Coro Energy plc for the acquisition by Zenith of Coro’s entire Italian natural gas production and exploration portfolio.

Under the SPA, completion of the Italian Acquisition was conditional on, inter alia, receipt of Italian regulatory approvals prior to the long stop date of July 31, 2020, which will not be achieved. The SPA allowed for a possible extension of the long stop date to October 31, 2020 upon written request by Zenith. For reference, signing of the SPA was first announced to the market on December 3, 2019.

Zenith has elected not to formulate such a request because of negative profitability of the Italian acquisition as a result of COVID-19; and the concentration of the Company’s focus, in terms of management time and financial resources, on its publicly announced acquisition campaign in Africa.

Andrea Cattaneo, Chief Executive Officer of Zenith, commented: “In view of the many exciting developments that have taken place since the SPA was first announced to the market in December 2019, specifically our acquisitions in the Republic of the Congo and Tunisia, as well as the unprecedented changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided to reconsider the proposed expansion of our natural gas production and exploration portfolio in Italy.

There will therefore be no equity dilution associated with this transaction, enabling a further maximisation of our financial resources and attention towards possible additional value accretive acquisition opportunities in Africa.”