1 Aug 2011 12:33
Immediate Release
1 August 2011
EGDON RESOURCES PLC
("Egdon" or "the Company")
Sale of Interests in the Avington Oil field
Egdon Resources plc (AIM:EDR) is pleased to report that its wholly owned subsidiary Egdon Resources Avington Limited ("ERA") has reached agreement to sell a 10% interest in the Avington oil field under licence PEDL070, for £400,000 in cash.
Under the transaction, ERA has agreed to sell a 5% interest to IS E&P Limited and a further 5% interest in the licence to IS NV Limited (together the "IS Companies"). The consideration payable by each of the IS Companies for their respective 5% interests will comprise £200,000 in cash payable on completion and the assumption of their pro-rata shares of a Net Profit Interest ("NPI") payable to Heyco Energy Holdings S.L. The NPI varies between 5 and 10% dependent upon oil price. The effective date of the transaction is 1 June 2011.
The transfers of interest are subject to approval by the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
Prior to the transaction ERA held a 16.67% interest in PEDL070. Egdon Resources U.K. Limited also holds a further 20% interest in the licence meaning that on completion Egdon will retain an aggregate 26.67% interest in the licence and the Avington oil field.
The Avington oil field is located in the County of Hampshire and is operated by Star Energy Oil UK Limited. Oil is currently produced from the Jurassic age Great Oolite reservoir from two wells, Avington-2Z and Avington-3Z. Production averaged approximately 70 barrels of oil per day in June 2011.
The sale will reduce Egdon's daily production by a maximum expectation of 7 barrels of oil per day and reduce its Proven and Probable reserves by an estimated 23,000 barrels of oil. The contribution to net profit from the 10% interest for the eleven months to end June 2011 after depreciation and amortisation was £18,500 before tax (unaudited). The gross cash flow from the interest for the same period was £58,000 (unaudited). The carrying value of the asset sold as at 30 June 2011 was £422,390 (unaudited).
The proceeds of the sale, which will total £400,000 payable on completion, will be utilised on Egdon's active UK and French exploration, appraisal and development programme where the Company believes it can generate a better return on investment.
The IS Companies are private companies involved in oil and gas exploration and production. InfraStrata plc is a 50% shareholder in both companies although both companies have independent boards. Egdon directors Ken Ratcliff and Walter Roberts are also directors of InfraStrata plc and Walter Roberts and John Rix have shareholdings in the IS Companies. As such an independent committee of Egdon directors comprising Philip Stephens, Alan Booth and Mark Abbott was set up to consider the offers and negotiate and approve the transaction.
Commenting on the sale Egdon's Managing Director Mark Abbott said:
"These transactions realise a significant proportion of our expected future value from the transferred interest in cash at a time of strong oil price. Egdon believes it can utilise this cash on its higher potential projects in the UK and France to provide a better return for shareholders We still retain a material interest in the Avington field and any upside which may be realised from future drilling".
For further information please contact:
Egdon Resources plc
Mark Abbott 01256 702292
Buchanan Communications
Richard Darby, James Strong, Gabriella Clinkard 020 7466 5000
Nominated Adviser and Broker - Seymour Pierce
Jeremy Porter, Sarah Jacobs (Corporate Finance) 020 7107 8000
Richard Redmayne (Corporate Broking)
Notes to Editors:
Egdon Resources plc
Egdon Resources plc (LSE: EDR) is an established UK-based exploration and production company primarily focused on onshore exploration and production in the hydrocarbon-producing basins of the UK and Europe.
Egdon currently holds interests in thirty one licences in the UK and France and has an active programme of exploration, appraisal and development within its balanced portfolio of oil and gas assets. Egdon is an approved operator in both the UK and France.
Egdon was formed in 1997 and listed on AIM in December 2004.
www.egdon-resources.com
In accordance with the AIM Rules - Note for Mining and Oil and Gas Companies, the information contained in this announcement has been reviewed and signed off by the Managing Director of Egdon Resources plc Mark Abbott, a Geoscientist with over 25 years' experience.