RE: Union Jack Oil buy price24 Sep 2024 09:04
Page 19 Rathlin Accounts :
'Although the Company has working capital to fund general operations, additional funds are required to finance these commitments. The Company is actively working on a number of fronts to address this circumstance. In May 2024, the Company submitted a request to the NSTA to defer the deadline for the recompletion of the existing well until 30 June 2026. In addition, the Company requested to defer the commitment to drill and test the new deviated/horizontal well to June 2027. as at the date of approval of the financial statements, discussions are ongoing with the NSTA. The Company also plans to apply to the NSTA to defer the abandonment commitments, to allow results of the recompletion and new well to be assessed. The Company and its joint venture partners intend to fulfill the commitments to the NSTA, and the joint venture partners have initiated plans to drill the new well off the West Newton A site and recomplete an existing West Newton A well. Due to the timelines involved, an extension will be required to allow this process to evolve in the most logical and cost-effective manner. The Company has had a good working relationship with the NTSA in the past, and • the board has a reasonable expectation that the deferrals will be granted. However, at the time of writing, the Company has not received a formal response from the NSTA.
Additionally, the Company is actively assessing financing alternatives for its unfunded share of these costs. The Company has a history of successfully addressing funding requirements on an as-needed basis and enjoys strong support from its existing shareholder base. Rathlin's largest shareholder has stated they could provide additional funding if necessary. In addition, the Company is considering several solutions including cost reductions, reducing its working interest via farm-out, or other commercial options. During the third quarter of 2023, Rathlin formally engaged a financial advisor to find a commercial partner or industry participant to support its share of the appraisal and development of PEDL 183 by way of an investment into the licence or the Company. At the date of approval of these financial statements, while the board of directors believe a financing solution is likely, there are no binding agreements in place for funding.
At year end, the Company's working capital balance was £2.2 million. The Board anticipates this is sufficient to maintain operations until the third quarter of 2025. As mentioned above, this does not include the anticipated costs of drilling, completion or abandonment obligations to the NSTA. If the Company cannot find an acceptable financing solution the Company may be forced to enter into an arrangement that would significantly dilute the Company's interest in PEDL 183. In addition, if the Company is unable to defer these commitments, the Company may lose its interest in the licence and may therefore be unable to continue as a going concern.'