Kosmos sheds frontier portfolio

Explorer divests non-core assets to cut costs and focus attention on proven basins

US independent Kosmos Energy has agreed to farm down its participating interest in four frontier basins to Shell. The producer will offload its stake in blocks offshore Sao Tome e Principe, Suriname, Namibia and South Africa for up to $200mn. Under the terms of the deal, Kosmos will receive an upfront cash payment of $100mn and another maximum payment of $100mn, dependent on future oil discoveries. Shell will pay Kosmos $50mn for each of any first two commercial discoveries made from an initial four well drilling programme, three of which are planned to be spudded next year.   The divestment is part of Kosmos’ strategy to concentrate on proven basins. “Kosmos cash flow has been heavily impac