Baron Oil Regulatory News (BOIL)

2 September 2014

BARON OIL Plc

("Baron Oil", "Baron" or "the Company")

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

for the period 1 January 2014 to 30 June 2014

Baron Oil Plc, the AIM-listed oil and gas exploration and production company primarily focused on opportunities in Latin America, announces its unaudited interim financial information and results for the six months ended 30 June 2013.

Highlights

· Peru Block Z-34: The Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") was approved by the Ministry of Energy and Mines in June 2014.

· Colombia, Nancy Burdine ("NBM") fields: Baron Oil disposed of 50% of its equity in Invepetrol to C.I. International Fuels Ltd in April, 2014 for new investment of US$2 million.

· Loss on Ordinary Activities £2,018,000 (30 June 2013: profit of £256,000; 2012 year: loss of £3,565,000)

· Loss per share 0.17p (30 June 2013: earnings per share 0.02p; 2013 year: loss per share 0.31p )

Colombia Highlights:

Nancy Burdine Maxine Producing Fields (NBM) 

Baron Oil sold 50% of its equity in Invepetrol to C.I. International Fuels Ltd. in April 2014 for US$2 million, this sum being invested in the ongoing operations of the fields.

Baron Oil and CII are now equal partners in the NBM field where Baron Oil keeps the operatorship whilst CII will enhance the commercial side of the business.

The NBM's oil production has been steadily above 450 bopd on a daily average for most of the first half of this year. NBM's surface production plant has been modernized and upgraded aiming to maximize the quality of the produced oil and to satisfy the new oil quality specifications set by the new buyers.

Discussions about the potential extension of the NMB license are continuing with Ecopetrol.

Baron Oil Colombia Reorganisation

Baron Oil Colombia has concluded its operational reorganisation. The new operational structure provides a significant reduction, not only in field costs, but also in the Bogota overhead cost whilst keeping a close relationship with local communities and authorities 

Rosablanca Block

Following the new partnership with PG&I, a new exploration work program has been submitted to the Colombian authorities (ANH). Baron Oil remains the field operator and has a 5% percent carried interest through the whole exploration work program.

Peru Highlights

Block Z-34 offshore

The Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") was approved by the Ministry of Energy and Mines in June, 2014.

The license is now in the third phase out of five exploration phases. The third phase consists of 720 working units or one exploration well. The period is twelve months. No further "EIA's" will be required in the upcoming phases.

Baron Oil has a 20% carried interest in the three remaining phases and is the operator of the block. Currently, Baron Oil is discussing with Union Oil & Gas on how to move forward in the third phase.

Z34 is located within the Talara Basin offshore North West Peru and the block covers a very large area of 3,713 sq km. This highly prospective basin has historically produced more than 1.6 billion barrels of oil and most of the remaining potential is believed to be in the offshore area of the basin. Karoon Oil and Gas, operator of the adjoining block Z-38, has announced that it will start a drilling campaign.

A competent person's report compiled in 2012 for the Company by independent consultants DeGolyer and MacNaughton, using the results from the large 3D-seismic survey, has assessed the gross un-risked potential of this offshore block to be in excess of 2 billion barrels of oil. There are also a number of attractive individual prospects identified across this block, some exceeding 100 million barrels.

Block XXI onshore

Baron Oil expects to obtain the EIA approval within the next few months. A 2D seismic survey is being planned for next year to be closely followed by several exploration wells.

The Company has a 30% carried interest with Vale as partner.

Financial Results

In the six month period to 30 June 2014, the Company experienced an operating loss of £2,010,000 (30 June 2013: profit of £289,000; 2013 year: loss of £2,973,000) on revenue of £1,188,000 (30 June 2013: £2,059,000; 2013 year: £2,221,000). Oil sales for this period held up well after the difficulties experienced in the second half of 2013, with the Group's share of revenue reducing to 50% from mid-April as a result of the 50% divestment of NBM to CII. After finance and tax, the company shows a final loss of £2,018,000 (30 June 2013: profit of £256,000; 2013 year: loss of £3,565,000), representing a loss per share of 0.17p

We continue with our approach of impairing both development intangibles and goodwill, giving rise to a net charge to the Income Statement of £679,000 (30 June 2013: £439,000; 2013 year: £998,000).

Overheads in the period amounted to £794,000 (30 June 2013: £684,000; 2013 year: £2,043,000). This demonstrates that company management has continued to reduce the level of overead when compared with the whole of the preceding year.

Post balance sheet events

On 12 August 2014, the Company raised £2.85 million after expenses by way of a placing of 206,896,551 new ordinary shares.

Conclusions 

The Management of the Company continues its reorganisation of its operations..

The NBM field in Colombia has still a significant amount of upside potential but with continuing difficulties in its operations, and ongoing licence extension negotiations, the Company believes that by divesting 50% of its interest in favour of its new partner, CI International Fuels Ltd, it reduces its risk exposure .

In Peru, we remain of the view that this region offers very good prospects for the future and we continue to develop these opportunities with our commercial partners.

Baron Oil is now in a steady state after a period of significant financial turmoil, however it is clear to the Management that the Company has to look for opportunities to enhance shareholder value in the short to medium term. The Company continues to review potential opportunities and we will report to shareholders if a successful conclusion is forthcoming.

 For further information on the Company, visit www.baronoilplc.com or contact:

Baron Oil Plc:

Rudolph Berends (CEO) Tel: +44 (0)203 427 5089

Cantor Fitzgerald (Nominated Advisor and Broker): Tel.: +44 (0)207 894 7649

Sarah Wharry (Corporate Finance)

Richard Redmayne (Corporate Broking)

2 September 2014

Notes to the Interim Financial Information

1. General Information

Baron Oil Plc is a company incorporated in England and Wales and quoted on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange. The registered office address is Finsgate, 5-7 Cranwood Street, London EC1V 9EE.

The principal activity of the Group is that of oil and gas exploration and production.

These financial statements are a condensed set of financial statements and are prepared in accordance with the requirements of IAS 34 and do not include all the information and disclosures required in annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Group's annual financial statements as at 31 December 2013. The financial statements for the half period ended 30 June 2014 are unaudited and do not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 435 of the Companies Act 2006. 

Statutory accounts for the period ended 31 December 2013, prepared under IFRS, were approved by the Board of Directors on 2 June 2014 and delivered to the Registrar of Companies.

2. Basis of Preparation

These consolidated interim financial information have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as adopted by the European Union and on the historical cost basis, using the accounting policies which are consistent with those set out in the Company's Annual Report and Accounts for the period ended 31 December 2013. This interim financial information for the six months to 30 June 2014, which complies with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting', was approved by the Board on 1 September 2014.

3. Accounting Policies

Except as described below, the accounting policies applied are consistent with those of the annual financial statements for the period ended 31 December 2014, as described in those annual financial statements.

New and amended standards adopted by the Company

The Group has adopted the following new and amended IFRS and IFRIC interpretations as of 1 January 2014:

Notes to the Interim Financial Information

The impact of adopting the above amendments had no material impact on the financial statements of the Group.

Standards, interpretations and amendments to published standards that are not yet effective

The following standards, amendments and interpretations applicable to the Group are in issue but are not yet effective and have not been early adopted in these financial statements. They may result in consequential changes to the accounting policies and other note disclosures. We do not expect the impact of such changes on the financial statements to be material. These are outlined in the table below:

The Directors anticipate that the adoption of these standards and the interpretations in future periods will have no material impact on the financial statements of the Group.

Notes to the Interim Financial Information

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported for assets and liabilities as at the balance sheet date and the amounts reported for revenues and expenses during the year. The nature of estimation means that actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. Estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the financial statements are continually reviewed and revised as necessary. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that such estimates and assumptions are reasonable, by their nature they are uncertain, and as such, changes in estimates and assumptions may have a material impact in the financial statements.

i) Carrying value of property, plant and equipment and of intangible exploration and evaluation fixed assets.

Valuation of petroleum and natural gas properties: consideration of impairment includes estimates relating to oil and gas reserves, future production rates, overall costs, oil and natural gas prices which impact future cash flows. In addition, the timing of regulatory approval, the general economic environment and the ability to finance future activities through the issuance of debt or equity also impact the impairment analysis. All these factors may impact the viability of future commercial production from developed and unproved properties, including major development projects, and therefore the need to recognise impairment.

ii) Commercial reserves estimates

Oil and gas reserve estimates: estimation of recoverable reserves include assumptions regarding commodity prices, exchange rates, discount rates, production and transportation costs all of which impact future cashflows. It also requires the interpretation of complex geological and geophysical models in order to make an assessment of the size, shape, depth and quality of reservoirs and their anticipated recoveries. The economic, geological and technical factors used to estimate reserves may change from period to period. Changes in estimated reserves can impact developed and undeveloped property carrying values, asset retirement costs and the recognition of income tax assets, due to changes in expected future cash flows. Reserve estimates are also integral to the amount of depletion and depreciation charged to income.

iii) Decommissioning costs;

Asset retirement obligations: the amounts recorded for asset retirement obligations are based on each field's operator's best estimate of future costs and the remaining time to abandonment of oil and gas properties, which may also depend on commodity prices.

iv) Share based payments

The fair value of share-based payments recognised in the income statement is measured by use of the Black-Scholes model, which takes into account conditions attached to the vesting and exercise of the equity instruments. The expected life used in the model is adjusted; based on management's best estimate, for the effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations. The share price volatility percentage factor used in the calculation is based on management's best estimate of future share price behaviour and is selected based on past experience, future expectations and benchmarked against peer companies in the industry.

4. Segmental Information

In the opinion of the Directors the Group has one class of business, being the exploration for, and development and production of, oil and gas reserves, and other related activities.

The Group's primary reporting format is determined to be the geographical segment according to the location of the oil and gas asset. There are currently two geographic reporting segments: South America, which is involved in production, development and exploration activity, and the United Kingdom being the head office.