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Final Results

23 May 2011 07:00

RNS Number : 0508H
Igas Energy PLC
23 May 2011
 



23 May 2011

IGAS ENERGY PLC("IGas" or "the Company")

RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2010

"A Step Change in Activity"

The Board of IGas is pleased to announce its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2010 and to provide a strategic and operational update.

 

Highlights

 

Strategic

o Gained control

o Secured 100%ownership of assets and operatorship through acquisition of Nexen Exploration UK Ltd

o The acquisition more than doubled the Company's resource base to 1.7tcf of technically recoverable gas (mid case); equivalent to 290 million barrels of oil

o Secured funding

o Completed £20.6m (gross) placing to fund accelerated drilling programme

o Enhanced execution capability

o Experienced team augmented to deliver objectives

o Investment in rig capacity through Meehan Drilling JV

 

Operational

o HSEQ

o OSPAR (Environmental Management System) accreditation achieved

o Exploration and appraisal

o DECC approval for Licence extension at Point of Ayr

o Planning in place for two additional sites

o Development

o Established generic production site plan

o FEED study for full production facilities on-going

o Production

o Continued at Doe Green with 94% up-time 2H 2010

o 2nd pilot site completed at Keele, work over under evaluation

o Resources

o Initial evaluation of Shale potential at up to 4.6tcf

 

Financial

o Revenue - £656k (2009 £828k)

o Operating loss - £1,713k (2009 £515k loss)

o Loss for the year - £1,543k (2009 £504k loss)

o Cash

o £12.08m at 31st December 2010 (2009 £17.5m)

o Capital raise in February 2011 of £20.6m gross

o £30.6m at 30th April 2011

o Capital expenditure in 2011 planned to be in the range £14m to £19m

 

2011 Accelerated Programme,

o Site works scheduled at Doe Green, additional well to be drilled this year alongside export facilities upgrade and potential second well targeted

o Ground works to begin shortly at Barton with objective of drilling one well with potential for a second

o Preparation in hand at Ince Marshes and Ellesmere Port, objective of drilling a well at each site

o Second rig being procured for four well programme

 

Francis Gugen, Chairman said :

"As I said in the last annual report, 2010 and 2011 were going to be critical years for IGas to grow. We have made an excellent start, taking control of our assets and becoming operator, putting funding in place for an accelerated drilling programme and hiring experienced personnel alongside experienced drilling and equipment partners. We are now totally focused on a step change in activity. During the next nine months we will be operational at five sites and will have more wells being drilled than in the previous four years. I look forward to the next year with optimism. "

 

For further information please contact:

IGas Energy Plc

Francis Gugen , Non Executive Chairman

 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7993 9901

RBS Hoare Govett

Stephen Bowler/ John MacGowan

 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7085 5000

Kreab Gavin Anderson

Ken Cronin/ Kate Hill/ Anthony Hughes

Tel: +44 (0)20 7074 1800

 

 

Notes to editors

IGas Energy produces and markets domestically sourced gas, primarily from coal bed methane (CBM). It is currently focussed on delivering commercial CBM production through an accelerated development programme.

IGas Energy has licences to extract hydrocarbons across the north of Wales and the north of England, covering an area of 1,756km² (equivalent to approximately 434,000 acres). IGas is the operator and sole owner of each of its licences.

IGas's unique position offers more than 1.7 Trillion Cubic Feet (Tcf) of technically recoverable gas (equivalent to 290 million barrels of oil) with customers located conveniently close to its operations, which includes the national gas network. IGas is therefore in a strong position to secure optimum gas prices from its production and to contribute to the UK's security of supply.

 

Further technical and quantitative information can be found on our website: www.igasplc.com/ 

 

 

Chairman's Statement

 

We have now completed the important step of taking control of day to day operations by acquiring Nexen Exploration UK Ltd, a transaction that closed on 9 March 2011. As a consequence IGas is now 100% owner and operator of all of its assets and Nexen is a 24.77% shareholder in IGas. In March 2011 we took the opportunity to strengthen our capital base. Following the acquisition of Nexen Exploration we placed 27.5 million shares for gross proceeds of £20.6 million. In doing so we have also widened our institutional shareholder base. These measures, being the increased asset base, the control afforded by operatorship and the additional funding, when taken together, put IGas in a strong position to pursue aggressively its primary goal, to demonstrate commercial production. To support this goal we have been recruiting a wider team and developing arrangements with key suppliers. We now have in-house capability supplemented by arrangements with quality service and equipment providers

 

Looking at the wider energy market in the UK we have been seeing rising prices for gas and electricity and an increasing focus on security of supply. Against this backdrop, IGas' portfolio of domestic assets, close to customers and distribution networks, is uniquely positioned. Security of supply is a growing political issue in the UK and it is my view that gas fired power generation will be an increasingly material part of the mix. With a growing demand for gas and the UK increasingly relying on importing gas, the benefits of supplying local gas to local consumers, via existing infrastructure, are considerable. Our gas also has a lower carbon footprint as it does not suffer the high environmental penalty that comes from transporting gas over long distances.

 

2011 and beyond will see us concentrating on delivering secure gas onshore , commercially, using the assets, the team,

the control and the funds that have now been put in place.

 

I would like to thank the whole IGas team for having brought the Company to the point of being able to now focus on demonstrating commercial production. I would also like to thank Brent Cheshire one of the founders who is now retiring from the Board but will continue his involvement as an advisor to the Company.

 

Francis Gugen

Non-Executive Chairman

 

 

CEO Statement

 

Since our last annual report, the most important change in our business has been the acquisition of Nexen Exploration Ltd and the consequential assumption of operatorship and 100% ownership of all of our assets. This highly accretive deal has increased our 2C contingent resource from 893bcf to 1,736bcf.

 

Our financial results show an expected drop in revenue and an increase in our operating loss. The majority of our revenue since 2006 had resulted from a Management Services Agreement with Nexen, which expired at the end of 2009, though in the financial year under review we continued to generate revenues from Nexen for a range of services. In 2011 with the acquisition of Nexen Exploration Ltd we will, by definition, see a significant drop in revenue as these services will now all be in-house.

 

The acquisition of Nexen Exploration Ltd transforms our business. During 2010 we were already building the team and capacity to ensure we are able to deliver on our plans to demonstrate commercial production in 2011. To this end we recruited a team that has skills in drilling and completions, geology, and reservoir engineering, as well as land experts and facilities specialists; while additional knowledge and expertise is available via our secondment agreement with Nexen Petroleum. In addition to this, we have a close knit team of contractors who work with our staff and assist in the execution of our plans. We are also in the process of establishing a joint venture with an Irish drilling contractor, Meehan Drilling, whereby we jointly own drilling equipment and IGas will have preferential access to drilling capacity. The rig we are using is a Schramm TXD 200 which is a design of rig which has been extensively used in North America for drilling for unconventional gas.

 

As part of this transaction we have managed to secure ancillary equipment such as mud pumps, mud tanks, shakers and blow out preventers in continental Europe and this equipment is now being assembled in Market Rasen (Lincolnshire) in advance of beginning drilling operations in the second half of 2011. We are also signing up a second rig, the BDF Rig 28 for a four well programme. This is a rig and crew that we have worked successfully with before and look forward to working with again in our programme this year.

 

Our operations at Doe green continue with a very encouraging 94% uptime in the second half of 2010, despite some very challenging weather conditions. We have also seen a significant increase in the price we are receiving for the electricity we are generating at the site though this will not have a material effect on our revenue since this is still a pilot production site.

This has gone from £36 per megawatt hour in the summer of 2010 to a rate of £58 per mega watt hour this year. This translates into an effective gas price of $11.00per mcf. Our ability to achieve high prices for our gas is a consequence of our proximity to the grid and customers which remains one of our key strengths. We are now looking to drill two additional wells at Doe Green in the coming months. This will involve drilling a lateral and branches off that lateral into a different seam from that which is the source of the production at DG2z. Following site works which will begin shortly where we will set two cellars and conductors, we will be upgrading the production facilities to deal with the increased production we expect from the site.

 

We will shortly be commencing ground works at our site at Barton having complied with the planning conditions. This site within PEDL 193 is one of the sites that we have access to under our framework agreement with the Peel estate. Here we plan to initially drill two wells with lateral sections in the coals.

 

Site preparation will also begin shortly at both Ince Marshes and Ellesmere Port in PEDLs 190 and 184 respectively. We are looking to initially drill a single well on each site, which we will log and core in advance of committing to further drilling. At each site, however, we will ensure that the site construction and well configuration allows us the option to convert these exploration wells into production.

 

We drilled a pilot production well at Keele in July 2010 and put it into production test in September of last year. We have been de-watering and producing some gas from this test. While there have been some mechanical issues to overcome, which we believe have considerably constrained the productive section of the coal, we remain encouraged by the quality of the coal and are planning a work- over to re-enter the well. As part of this process, we are also considering drilling a second well at the site.

 

At Point of Ayr we had identified a suitable brown field site but unfortunately were unable to agree access terms with the owner of the business occupying the site. However, we continue to work with local landowners to secure access to a suitable site and have a number of negotiations on-going. In recognition of the difficulties we encountered, we have been granted an extension by DECC on the first term of this licence and now have until March 2012 to fulfill the obligation. We are also now considering drilling this obligation well from offshore which will reduce the technical complexity of the well. A decision on this will be made before the end of 2011.

 

Finally I would like to thank all of the team at IGas, staff, contractors, the board and advisors for their hard work throughout 2010, particularly in delivering the acquisition of Nexen Exploration. I am confident we have the right people, skills and relationships in place to operate our first commercial sites and to deliver secure gas, onshore.

 

 

Corporate responsibility

 

People , Health and Safety

 

Our people and our neighbours are central to our business, without the contribution of our staff and contractors and the support of the communities in which we operate we would be unable to deliver.

 

Providing healthy and safe working conditions for our employees and contractors is vital to our success. We have now instigated a Company Management System, which is there to ensure that all the activities we undertake are done so safely and with a minimal impact on the environment in which we operate. A summary of the principles and objectives of the system are given in the extract opposite.

 

In March 2011 IGas was awarded OSPAR accreditation which means that we have in place systems audited and acceptable to DECC and the HSE to operate both on-shore and offshore in the UK. We intend to apply for both ISO14001 (environment) and ISO9001(quality) certification in the course of 2011 as a further step in demonstrating our commitment to Health, Safety, Environment, Social, Quality and Security performance.

 

 

Places and environment

 

IGas has obtained permission to drill twenty-five wells at fourteen sites. To date we have drilled nine wells and have reinstated five sites. In all locations our objectives are to have as minimal impact as possible while operating and to leave the environment as we found it. To this end we have developed site construction techniques and practices that ensure our ability to deliver on this promise. Groundwater management and aquifer protection are always at the core of our site construction and well plans. Above are some images from our activities at Doe Green in Cheshire, showing our tree planting schemes, our ground water monitoring system and the hedges we are cultivating from natural indigenous species.

 

In total we have now planted 460 trees, 75 Oaks, 50 Ash, 25 Birch, 110 Field Maple, 100 Hazel and 100 Willow as well as more than 5,000 indigenous hedging plants.

 

We have also now established a community liaison groups in areas where we are looking to establish production sites. As part of the permitting and well planning process we engage with groups including the Environment Agency, local and parish councils, the Countryside Commission of Wales, English Nature and many others. In all locations, whether we are only on site for a short period as an appraisal well or on sites where we will be producing for many years, our priority is to be a good neighbour and contribute to the environmental development of the area.

 

Directors

 

1. Francis Gugen

Non-Executive Chairman

Francis is a founder and Non-Executive Chairman and has over 30 year's oil and gas industry experience. Between 1982 and 2000 he helped grow Amerada Hess in North West Europe, ultimately becoming CEO. Currently he is also non-executive chairman of Petroleum Geophysical Services ASA, of Chrysaor Limited and of CEOC Limited; and a board member of SBM offshore NV all involved in conventional oil and gas. Until 2006 he served as non-executive chairman of North Sea gas fields and pipelines operator CH4 Energy Limited before it was acquired in 2006 by Venture Petroleum Plc. He is a member of the CBI's Economic Affairs Committee, past president of the UK Offshore Operators Association, past chair of the industries representation on the UK Government Oil & Gas Task Force (Pilot) and past chair of the CBI's Environmental Affairs Committee. Francis is a chartered accountant having worked for Arthur Andersen for eight years until 1982, principally as an oil and gas specialist.

 

2. John Bryant

Senior Independent Non-Executive Director

John is the Chairman of AIM listed Weatherly International plc. He was until recently a board member of the Attiki Gas Company, which supplies natural gas to Athens and the surrounding districts. John previously served as president of Cinergy Global Resources Corp, responsible for all international business and global renewable power operations of this US based electricity and gas utility provider. Before joining Cinergy, John was executive director with Midlands Electricity plc. He has been involved in developing a number of large gas fired power stations both in the UK and overseas, together with both electricity and gas distribution in Europe and Africa, renewable power in Europe and North America and gas and electricity trading. His prior experience was at British Sugar plc, Drexel Limited, the British Oxygen Company and Unilever plc. Drexel, where he was president, was a global oil and gas equipment manufacturing and servicing company. John is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

 

3. Andrew Austin

Chief Executive Officer

Andrew is one of the founders and the Chief Executive Officer and previously he specialised in energy projects in the gas,

electricity and renewables sector. Andrew has been an Executive Director since 2004 and for the last four years has been CEO with full time responsibility for day to day operations and business development. Prior to joining IGas Andrew has been

involved in ventures as principal and has also raised substantial funds from private and public equity for clients during the

course of his career to date. Andrew spent 17 years working in investment banking in the City of London with Merrill Lynch,

Nomura, Citibank and Barclays Capital. Latterly he was general manager of Creditanstalt Investment Bank in London. He also has six years of management and consultancy experience with clean tech companies including Generics Group and

Whitfield Solar.

 

4. John Blaymires

Chief Operating Officer

John has 27 years of international experience in the oil and gas industry gained with the Hess Corporation and Shell International. Before joining IGas he was director of Technology Development for Hess based in Houston, where he helped develop a global engineering and geoscience technology group responsible for providing support across the E&P (exploration and production) business, from deepwater to unconventional resources. Prior to that John was Technical Director for Hess' operations in West Africa, and subsequently South East Asia with responsibility for several major oil and gas developments. John has a BSc and PhD in Mining Engineering from Leeds University.

 

5. John Hamilton

Non-Executive Director

John is the Managing Director of Levine Capital Management Advisors Limited, a UK incorporated company and Interim Chairman of President Petroleum Corporation Plc. John was previously the Group Finance Director of Imperial Energy Corporation Plc. Prior to joining Imperial Energy, John held senior positions at ABN AMRO.

 

6. Richard Armstrong

Non-Executive Director

Richard is an associate with Fiske plc, the AIM quoted stockbrokers. He is a former equity analyst with extensive experience in reconstructing and raising capital for turnaround situations especially in the quoted microcap sector, such as Weatherly International plc and Artilium plc. In most cases, he has joined the Board of these companies and has played a major role in helping them to acquire or establish operating businesses. He is currently a Director of a number of unquoted companies.

 

Corporate governance

The Board of Directors support high standards of corporate governance and the guidance set out in the Combined Code on Corporate Governance (the "Combined Code"). As a Company that is quoted on AIM, it is not required to comply with the Combined Code but all the Directors intend to comply with its main provisions as far as is practicable having regard to the size and composition of the Group.

 

The Board and its committees

The Board of the Company consists of two Executive Directors and four Non-Executive Directors; with Mr Armstrong and Mr Bryant being considered to be independent. The Senior Independent Non-Executive Director is John Bryant and biographies of all the Directors are included on page 16.

 

The Board retains full and effective control over the Group. The Board meets regularly at least eight times a year to consider reports on the operational and financial performance of the Group and to decide on matters reserved unto itself, which include formulating, reviewing and approving the Group's strategy, budgets, major items of capital expenditure and senior personnel appointments.

 

The Directors have established separate committees each chaired by a Non-Executive Director as follows:

 

Audit committee

The committee comprises only Non-Executive Directors; being chaired by Richard Armstrong and having as other members: John Bryant and John Hamilton. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer may attend only at the invitation of the committee.

 

The committee receives and reviews reports from management and the Group's auditors relating to the Group's annual report and accounts and from management relating to interim results announcements. The committee focuses particularly on compliance with legal requirements, accounting standards and the AIM Rules and on ensuring that effective systems of internal financial and non-financial controls (including for the management of risk and whistle-blowing) are maintained. However, the ultimate responsibility for reviewing and approving the annual report and accounts remains with the Board of Directors. The committee is also responsible for making recommendations to the Board of Directors on the appointment of the external auditors and their remuneration. The committee keeps under review the external auditors' independence and considers the nature, scope, and results of the auditor's work and develops policy on and reviews (reserving the right to approve) any non-audit services that are provided by the external auditors.

 

The committee normally meets at least three times a year and meets the external auditors at least annually without the presence of the Executive Directors.

 

Remuneration committee

The committee comprises only Non-Executive Directors; being chaired by John Bryant and having as other members Richard Armstrong and John Hamilton. The committee, which normally meets at least twice a year, has responsibility for making recommendations to the Board of Directors on the Company's policy on the remuneration of the Chairman, Executive Directors and other senior executives (as are delegated to the committee to consider) and for determining, within agreed terms of reference, specific remuneration packages for each of them, including pension rights, any compensation payments and the implementation of executive incentive schemes. In accordance with the committee's terms of reference, no Director may participate in discussions relating to their own terms and conditions of service or remuneration.

 

Nomination committee

The Nomination committee is chaired by the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, John Bryant, and its other members are the Non-Executive Director, Richard Armstrong, and the Chairman, Francis Gugen. The committee, which meets as required throughout the year, has responsibility for considering the size, structure and composition of the Board of Directors, retirements and appointments of additional and replacement Directors and making appropriate recommendations to the Board of Directors. The committee is also tasked with ensuring that plans are in place for orderly succession to the Board of Directors and senior management positions, so as to maintain an appropriate balance of skills and experience within the Group and the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer of the Company is invited to attend meetings of the committee when the committee is discussing matters related to executive management and such other matters as the committee chairman deems appropriate.

 

At each Annual General Meeting at least one-third of the Directors shall retire from office by rotation. The Directors to retire by rotation shall include, firstly, any Director who wishes to retire at the meeting and not offer himself for re-election and, secondly, those Directors who have been longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment, provided always that each Director shall be required to retire and offer himself for re-election at least every three years. Directors appointed by the Board hold office only until the dissolution of the Annual General Meeting of the Company next following such appointment.

 

Internal control

The Board acknowledges that it is responsible for establishing and maintaining the Group's system of internal controls and reviewing its effectiveness. The procedures that include, inter alia, financial, operational and compliance matters and risk management are reviewed on an ongoing basis. The internal control system can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss. The Board has considered the need for a separate internal audit function but, bearing in mind the present size and composition of the Group, does not consider it necessary at the current time.

 

UK Bribery Act

IGas is aware of the draft legislation for the Bribery Act and is ensuring that it has in place appropriate policies, procedures and will be reporting in full in the 2011 Annual Report and Accounts.

 

Relations with shareholders

Communications with shareholders are considered important by the Directors. The primary contact with shareholders, investors and analysts is the Chief Executive Officer. The other Executive Directors, however, regularly speak to investors and analysts during the year. Company circulars and press releases have also been issued throughout the year in relation to various proposals and for keeping investors informed about the Group's progress.

 

The Company also maintains a website on the internet (www.igasplc.com) that is regularly updated and contains a wide range of information about the Group.

 

Directors' remuneration report

 

 

This report explains our remuneration policy for Directors and sets out how decisions regarding Directors' pay for the year under review have been taken.

 

Remit of the Remuneration committee

 

The remit of the Remuneration Committee is provided in the Corporate Governance section on page 15.

 

In 2010, the committee engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC") to provide wholly independent advice on executive compensation and to assist the committee in the implementation of its long term incentive arrangements. There were no other services provided by PwC to the Group during the period.

 

Remuneration policy

 

The Company's policy is to maintain levels of remuneration sufficient to attract, motivate and retain senior executives of the highest calibre who can deliver growth in shareholder value. Executive remuneration currently consists of basic salary, benefits, annual bonus (based on annually set targets), and long term incentives (to reward long term performance). The Company seeks to strike an appropriate balance between fixed and performance-related reward, therefore, the total remuneration package is structured so that a significant proportion is subject to the achievement of performance targets, forming a clear link between pay and performance. The performance targets are aligned to the key drivers of the business strategy, thereby creating a strong alignment of interest between executives and shareholders.

 

The committee has recently conducted a review of the Company's remuneration arrangements, which has resulted in changes to the remuneration policy for 2010 in recognition that the Company has developed rapidly since its reverse in December 2007 and the farm-ups in 2009. In this regard, a number of changes have been made to ensure that the policy is more compliant with best practice and institutional shareholder guidelines.

 

The committee does not intend to make further changes to the remuneration policy for 2011, however, the committee will continue to review the Company's remuneration package and make amendments, if necessary, to ensure it remains fit for purpose for the Company, driving high levels of executive performance and remains competitive against the market.

 

Base salary

When setting the salary of the Directors, the committee has considered the following:

·; levels of salary for similar positions in similar organisations (based on size, complexity and sector);

·; the performance of the individual Director; and

·; the individual Director's experience and responsibilities.

Bonus

Executives and employees are eligible to participate in a discretionary bonus plan. The percentage of maximum bonus entitlement received is based on the achievement of challenging corporate and personal targets.

For 2011, the maximum potential bonus entitlement for certain Directors under the plan will be increased to up to 100% of base salary.

Benefits

 

The Company does not provide significant levels of benefits in kind.

 

Long Term Incentives

 

The review of the Company's remuneration arrangements undertaken by the committee identified a gap in the Company's remuneration structure compared to the market as the Company did not have a long term incentive in place. In October 2010, the Board approved the introduction of the IGas Energy Plc Super Long Term Incentive Plan ("LTIP") and the IGas Energy Plc Share Option Plan ("Share Option Plan") to fill this gap in the remuneration package and also to drive high long-term performance.

 

 

LTIP

 

The LTIP is intended to drive the performance of members of the executive team. Under the LTIP, participants can each be granted nil cost options over up to 1.5% of the issued share capital of the Company (subject to an overall plan limit of 7.5% of the issued share capital of the Company for all participants). The LTIP has a three year performance period and awards vest subject to the achievement of stretching share price targets. On a change of control prior to the third anniversary of the grant date, a revised share price target reflecting the reduction in the performance period shall instead be used to determine the extent to which LTIP options vest. Other than on a change of control, 50% of vested awards can be exercised and sold on vesting, with the remaining 50% becoming exercisable on the first anniversary of vesting.

 

Share Option Plan

 

Both executives and employees may participate in the Share Option Plan. Typically each individual participant can be granted options under the Share Option Plan with a market value at grant of up to 100% of his base salary, although this limit can be exceeded in exceptional circumstances. Share options vest in three equal tranches over a three year period from the date of grant and vested options are exercisable subject to the attainment of a Company share price target.

 

2010 grants under the Share Option Plan are subject to an exercise price of 70p per share.

 

The Groups share price as at 31 December 2010 was 65.75p per share. The highest price during the period was 91p per share and the lowest share price during the period was 61p per share.

 

 

 

Current arrangements

 

Executive Directors

 

The Executive Directors are employed under evergreen contracts with notice periods of twelve months or less from the Company or executive.

 

Directors' emoluments for the year were as follows:

 

Taxable 2010 2009 Salary Bonus Benefits Pensions Total Total

Executive Directors £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000

F Gugen - Executive Chairman (to 19 October 2010) 83 - - - 83 150

A Austin - Chief Executive Officer 235 117 1 - 353 300

B Cheshire - Executive Technical Director 100 25 - - 125 150

J Blaymires - COO (Appointed 19 October 2010) 29 9 1 - 39 -

Total - Executive Directors 447 151 2 - 600 600

 

Each of the Executive Directors devotes such time as is required to discharge his duties, which in the case of A Austin and J Blaymires is full time.

 

Each Executive Director is entitled to receive a cash bonus dependent on the achievement of various objective targets and milestones as set by the Remuneration Committee.

As at 31 December 2010, the outstanding long term incentives held by the Directors who served during the year was as set out in the tables below:

Under the LTIP:

Date of Grant

At 1 January 2010

Granted

Exercised

Lapsed

As at31 December 2010

Earliest

vesting

date

A Austin

19.10.10

-

700,000

-

-

700,000

19 October 2013

J Blaymires

19.10.10

-

375,000

-

-

375,000

19 October 2013

 

 

Under the Share Option Plan:

Date of Grant

At 1 January 2010

Granted

Exercised

Lapsed

As at31 December 2010

*Earliest

vesting

date

J Blaymires

19.10.10

-

910,930

-

-

910,930

1/3rd 6 April 2011

1/3rd 6 April 2012

1/3rd 6 April 2013

 

*Vested Options will become exercisable when the Company's' share price target has been achieved for an average of five consecutive days.

LTIPs and Share Options issued expire 10 years from date of grant.

 

Non-Executive Directors

 

The Non-Executive Directors are employed under evergreen contracts with notice periods of twelve months or less, under which they are not entitled to any pension, benefits or bonuses.

 

2010 2009 Emoluments Total Emoluments Total £000 £000

F Gugen - Non-Executive Chairman (from 19 October) 17 -

J Bryant - Senior Independent 35 20

R Armstrong 35 20

J Hamilton 35 1

Former Directors* - 29

Total - Non-Executive Directors 122 70

* Relates to P Redmond.

 

Warrants held by Non-Executive Directors are detailed in Note 5 of the financial statements.

 

John Bryant

 

Chairman Remuneration Committee

20 May 2011

 

Directors' report

 

The Directors present their report together with the Group and Parent Company financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2010.

 

Business review and future developments

A review of the business and the future developments of the Group are presented in the Chairman's statement on page 4 and the Chief Executive's statement on pages 6 and 7 .

 

Results and dividends

The Group's loss for the year after taxation was £1.5 million (2009: loss £0.5 million). The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend for the year.

 

Going Concern

After reviewing the Group's budgets and cash flow projections for 2011 and 2012, and taking into consideration the acquisition of Nexen Exploration UK Ltd and the placing in March 2011, the current operating environment, the risks outlined in Note 15 and the Group's liquidity risk management as set out below, the Directors are satisfied that the Group has adequate resources to continue as a going concern. It is therefore appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the 2010 Annual Report and Financial Statements.

 

Principal activity

The Group's principal area of activity is unconventional gas including coal bed methane ("CBM"), intended to result in the production and marketing of methane gas for industrial and domestic use from virgin seams within its UK acreage. This requires acreage to be explored, appraised and developed and in connection with which the Group also provides technical and other related services details of which are outlined in Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements.

 

Share Capital

Details of changes to share capital in the period are set out in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Directors and their interests

The Directors who served during the year were as follows:

 

F R Gugen Non-Executive Chairman

A P Austin Chief Executive Officer

B Cheshire Executive Technical Director

J M Blaymires Chief Operating Officer - Appointed 19 October 2010

J Bryant Non-Executive

R J Armstrong Non-Executive

J A Hamilton Non-Executive

 

The interests of the Directors in the shares of the Company at 31 December 2010 were as follows:

 

31 December 2010 31 December 2009 31 December 31 December Ordinary 50p Shares Ordinary 50p Shares 2010 2009

Number % Number % Warrants* Warrants*

F R Gugen 27,615,764 29.66 27,615,764 30.34 - -

A P Austin** 11,429,253 12.28 11,429,253 12.56 - -

B Cheshire 11,429,253 12.28 11,429,253 12.56 - -

J Bryant 50,370 0.05 50,370 0.06 - 110,000

R J Armstrong 58,460 0.06 58,460 0.06 - 110,000

J A Hamilton 85,000*** 0.09 85,000 0.09 - -

Former Directors - - - - - ***

* On 31 December 2010 warrants issued to Non-Executive Directors lapsed.

** On 22 March 2011, A Austin disposed of 770,000 Shares.

*** J Hamilton is beneficially interested in 85,000 Ordinary Shares out of a total of 12,080,000 held by Peter Levine and Levine Capital Management Ltd, the latter of whom he is deemed to be associated for these purposes.

**** Former Directors was in relation to P Redmond who still held the same shares and warrants as at 31 December 2009 but these were not reported as he was no longer a Director.

 

Rotation and re-election of Directors

In accordance with the Articles of Association A Austin, J Bryant, R Armstrong and J Blaymires retire by rotation and being eligible offer themselves for re-election.

 

Directors' insurance and indemnity provisions

Subject to the conditions set out in the Companies Act 2006, the Company has arranged appropriate directors and officers Insurance to indemnify the directors and officers against liability in respect of proceedings brought by third parties. Such provision remains in force at the date of this report.

 

The Company indemnifies the Directors against actions they undertake or fail to undertake as Directors or officers of any Group company, to the extent permissible for such indemnities to meet the test of a qualifying third party indemnity provision as provided for by the Companies Act 2006. The nature and extent of the indemnities is as described in Section 60 of the Company's Articles of Association as adopted on 10 July 2009. These provisions remained in force throughout the year and remain in place at the date of this report.

Substantial shareholders

At 20 May 2011 the company had received notification from the following institutions, in accordance with Chapter 5 of the

Disclosure and Transparency Rules, of interests in excess of 3 per cent of the company's issued Ordinary Shares with voting rights:

 

 

 

Number of Shares

%

 

 

 

 

Peter Levine and Levine Capital Management Ltd

14,429,135

9.00

Baillie Gifford & Co

8,088,217

5.04

Artemis Investment Management LLP

5,298,333

3.30

Principal risks and uncertainties

·; The Group is exposed, through its operations, to liquidity risk, which is managed by the Board who regularly review the Group's cash forecasts and the adequacy of available facilities to meet the Group's cash requirements. At the Group's current stage of development, the Board does not consider foreign currency and credit risks to be material.

·; The Group is exposed to market price risk through variations in the wholesale prices of gas and electricity in the context of its future production volumes. Currently the Group has not entered into any forward contracts to fix the prices of these commodities. The Board will continue to monitor the benefit of entering into such contracts.

·; The Group is exposed to risks associated with geological uncertainty. No guarantee can be given that gas can be produced from any or all of the Group's assets or that gas can be delivered economically.

·; The Group is exposed to planning, environmental, licensing and other permitting risks associated with its operations and, in particular, with drilling and production operations.

·; The Group is exposed to capital risk resulting from its capital structure. Currently the Group has no borrowings and is solely equity funded. However, the capital structure is continually monitored to ensure it is in line with the business needs and ongoing asset development. Further details of the Group's capital management policy are disclosed in note 14 to the consolidated financial statements.

·; The Group is also exposed to a variety of other risks including those related to:

- operational matters (including cost increases, availability of equipment and successful project execution);

- competition;

- key personnel; and

- litigation.

 

Financial instruments

The Group's principal financial instruments comprise cash balances and other debtors and creditors that arise through the normal course of business as set out in Notes 11 to 13 to the consolidated financial statements. The Group's financial risk management objectives are set out in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements and the Operational review .

 

Employment policy

It is the policy of the Group to operate a fair employment policy. No employee or job applicant is less favourably treated than another on the grounds of their sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, religion, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, colour or disability and all appointments and promotions are determined solely on merit. The Directors encourage employees to be aware of all issues affecting the Group and place considerable emphasis on employees sharing in its success.

 

Creditor payment policy and practice

It is the Group's normal practice to agree payment terms with its suppliers and abide by such terms. Payment becomes due when it can be confirmed that goods and/or services have been provided in accordance with the relevant contractual conditions. The amount owed by the Company to trade creditors at the end of the financial year represented 15 days of daily purchases for the Company (2009: 17 days).

 

Charitable and political contributions

During the year, the Group made no donations (2009: nil).

 

Status

The Company is not a close company as defined in the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.

 

The Company is domiciled in the UK and incorporated and registered in England.

 

Board committees

Information on the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination committees is included in the Corporate Governance section of the annual report.

 

Auditors

A resolution to reappoint Ernst & Young LLP as auditor will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting at a fee to be agreed in due course by the Audit Committee and the Board.

 

Directors' statement as to disclosure of information to the auditors

So far as each person who was a Director at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant audit information, being information needed by the auditor in connection with preparing its report, of which the auditor is unaware. Having made enquiries of fellow Directors, each Director has taken all the steps that a Director might reasonably be expected to have taken as a Director in order to make himself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company's auditor is aware of that information.

 

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting will be held on 20 June 2011 as stated in the Notice of Meeting which accompanies this Annual Report.

 

By order of the Board

Mofo Secretaries Limited

Secretary

20 May 2011

Consolidated financial statements - Directors' statement of responsibilities in respect thereof

 

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and Group financial statements in accordance with applicable United Kingdom law and those International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union ("IFRSs").

 

Under Company Law the directors must not approve the Group financial statements unless they are satisfied that they present fairly the financial position of the Group and the financial performance and cash flows of the Group for that period. In preparing those Group financial statements the Directors are required to:

 

·; select suitable accounting policies in accordance with IAS 8: Accounting policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors and then apply them consistently;

·; present information, including accounting policies, in a manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and understandable information;

·; provide additional disclosures when compliance with the specific requirements in IFRSs is insufficient to enable users to understand the impact of particular transactions, other events and conditions on the Group's financial position and financial performance;

·; state that the Group has complied with IFRSs, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

·; make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

 

The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Group and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

 

The Directors confirm that they have complied with these requirements and, having a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, will continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the accountsIndependent auditor's report to the members ofIGas Energy plc

 

We have audited the group financial statements of IGas Energy plc for the year ended 31 December 2010 which comprise the Consolidated Income Statement, the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Balance Sheet, the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement and the related notes 1 to 20. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union.

 

This report is made solely to the company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

 

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors

As explained more fully in the Directors' Statement of Responsibilities set out on page 22, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the group financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the group financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board's (APB's) Ethical Standards for Auditors.

 

Scope of the audit of the financial statements

An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the group's circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the directors; and the overall presentation of the financial statements. In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information in the Annual Report to identify material inconsistencies with the audited financial statements. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

 

Opinion on financial statements

In our opinion the group financial statements:

·; give a true and fair view of the state of the group's affairs as at 31 December 2010 and of its loss for the year then ended;

·; have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union; and

·; have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

 

 

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion the information given in the Directors' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the group financial statements.

 

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

·; certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or

·; we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

 

Other matter

We have reported separately on the parent company financial statements of IGas Energy plc for the year ended 31 December 2010.

 

 

Gary Donald (Senior Statutory Auditor)

for and on behalf of Ernst & Young LLP, Statutory Auditor

London

 

20 May 2011

 

Consolidated income statement

For the year ended 31 December 2010

2010 2009 Notes £000 £000

Revenue 2 656 828

Cost of sales (589) (671)

Gross profit 67 157

Administrative expenses (1,780) (672)

Operating loss (1,713) (515)

Finance income 6 170 11

Loss on ordinary activities before tax (1,543) (504)

Tax on loss on ordinary activities 7 - -

Loss from continuing operations attributable to equity shareholders of the Group (1,543) (504)

 

Basic and diluted (loss) per share (£/share) 8 (0.0169) (0.0076)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

For the year ended 31 December 2010

2010 2009 £000 £000

Loss for the year (1,543) (504)

Other comprehensive income for the year - -

Total comprehensive loss for the year (1,543) (504)

Consolidated balance sheet

As at 31 December 2010

2010 2009 Notes £000 £000

Non-current assets

Intangible exploration and evaluation assets 9 4,644 1,334

Property, plant and equipment 10 205 -

4,849 1,334

Current assets

Trade and other receivables 11 589 258

Cash and cash equivalents 12 12,087 17,501

12,676 17,759

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables 13 (797) (931)

Net current assets 11,879 16,828

Total assets less current liabilities 16,728 18,162

 

Net assets 16,728 18,162

Capital and reserves

Called up share capital 16 19,665 18,617

Share premium account 18 2,500 2,203

Share plan/warrant reserve 17 63 131

Treasury shares 18 (1,299) -

Retained earnings/(accumulated deficit) (4,201) (2,789)

Shareholders' funds 16,728 18,162

These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on 20 May 2011 and are signed on its behalf by:

 

 

 

 

Francis Gugen Andrew Austin

Chairman Chief Executive Officer

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

 For the year ended 31 December 2010

Retained Called up Share Share Treasury earnings/ share capital premium plan/warrant shares (accumulated (Note 16) account reserve deficit) Total £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000

Balance at 1 January 2009 4,275 420 167 - (2,285) 2,577

Changes in equity for 2009

Total comprehensive loss for the year - - - - (504) (504)

Transfer to Share premium account - 36 (36) - - -

Issue of shares during year 14,342 2,868 - - - 17,210

Share issue costs - (1,121) - - - (1,121)

Balance at 31 December 2009 18,617 2,203 131 - (2,789) 18,162

Changes in equity for 2010

Total comprehensive loss for the year - - - - (1,543) (1,543)

Lapse of warrants - - (131) - 131 -

Employee share plans - cost under IFRS2 (note 17) - - 63 - - 63

Issue of shares during year 1,048 297 - (1,299) - 46

Balance at 31 December 2010 19,665 2,500 63 (1,299) (4,201) 16,728

Consolidated cash flow statement

For the year ended 31 December 2010

2010 2009 Notes £000 £000

Operating activities:

Loss for the year (1,543) (504)

Depreciation, depletion and amortisation 3 9 -

Share based payment charge 37 -

Finance income 6 (170) (11)

Increase in trade and other receivables (331) (408)

Increase in trade and other payables, net of accruals related to investing activities 196 338

Net cash used in operating activities (1,802) (445)

Investing activities

Acquisition of exploration and evaluation assets (3,608) (432)

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (220) -

Interest received 6 170 11

Net cash used in investing activities (3,658) (421)

Financing activities

Cash proceeds from issue of Ordinary Share Capital 16 46 17,210

Share issue costs 18 - (1,121)

Net cash from financing activities 46 16,089

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents in the year (5,414) 15,223

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 17,501 2,278

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 12 12,087 17,501

 

Consolidated financial statements - notes

As at 31 December 2010

 

1 Accounting policies

(a) Basis of preparation of financial statements

The consolidated financial statements of IGas Energy plc (the "Company") and subsidiaries (the "Group") have been prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, adopted for use by the European Union ("IFRSs") as they apply to the Group for the year ended 31 December 2010, and with the Companies Act 2006. The accounts were approved by the board and authorised for issue on 20 May 2011. IGas Energy plc is a public limited company incorporated and registered in England and Wales.

 

The Group financial statements are presented in UK pound sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand (£000) except when otherwise indicated.

 

During the year, the Group adopted the following new and amended IFRS which were applicable to the Group's activities as of 1 January 2010.

 

International Accounting Standards (IFRS/IAS):

IFRS 2

 

Amendment to IFRS 2 - Group Cash-settled Share-based Payment Transactions - This amendment clarifies that there shall now be included transactions where the transfer of cash or other assets is based on the price (or value) of the equity instruments of another group entity. The Group has considered the effect of this interpretation and has concluded that it is not expected to have any impact on the financial statements.

1 January 2010

 

 

 

Certain new standards, interpretations and amendments to existing standards have been published and are mandatory only for the Group's accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2011 or later periods but which the Group has not adopted early. Those that may be applicable to the Group in future are as follows:

Effective date

International Accounting Standards (IFRS/IAS)

 

IAS 24

 

Amendment to IAS 24 - Related Party Disclosures - This amendment clarifies the definition of a related party to simplify the identification of such relationships and to eliminate inconsistencies in its application. The revised standard introduces a partial exemption of disclosure requirements for government-related entities. The Group has considered the effect of this interpretation and has concluded that there is no impact on the financial statements.

1 January 2011

 

IFRS 9

 

IFRS 9 - Financial Instruments: Classification and Measurement - IFRS 9 as issued reflects the first phase of the IASB's work on the replacement of IAS 39 and applies to classification and measurement of financial assets as defined in IAS 39. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 2013. In subsequent phases, the IASB will address classification and measurement of financial liabilities, hedge accounting and derecognition. The adoption of the first phase of IFRS 9 will have an effect on the classification and measurement of the Group's financial assets. The Group will quantify the effect in conjunction with the other phases, when issued, to present a comprehensive picture.

1 January 2013

 

 

The Directors do not anticipate that the adoption of these standards and interpretations will either individually or collectively have a material impact on the Group's financial statements in the period of initial application. The Group does not anticipate adopting these standards and interpretations ahead of their effective date.

 

 

Improvements to IFRS

 

In May 2010 the IASB issued an omnibus of amendments to its standards. The amendments have not been adopted as they become effective for annual periods starting on or after either 1 July 2010 or 1 January 2011:

 

·; IFRS 3 Business Combinations

·; IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures

·; IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements

·; IAS 27 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements

 

The Group, however, expects no impact from the adoption of the amendments on its financial position or performance.

 

 (b) Going concern

After reviewing the Group's budgets and cash flow projections for 2011 and 2012, and taking into consideration the acquisition of Nexen Exploration UK Ltd and the placing in March 2011, the current operating environment, the risks and the Group's liquidity risk management outlined in Note 15, the Directors are satisfied that the Group has adequate resources to continue as a going concern. It is therefore appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the 2010 Annual Report and Financial Statements.

(c) Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements present the results of IGas Energy plc and its subsidiaries as if they formed a single entity. The financial statements of subsidiaries used in the preparation of consolidated financial statements are based on consistent accounting policies to the parent. All intercompany transactions and balances between Group companies, including unrealised profits arising from them, are eliminated in full. Where shares are issued to an Employee Benefit Trust, and the Company is the sponsoring entity it is treated as an extension of the entity.

 

At 31 December 2010 the Group comprised the Company and its subsidiaries Island Gas Limited and Island Gas Operations Limited (formerly KP Renewables (Operations) Ltd).

 

(d) Joint ventures

The Group's licence interests are all held jointly with others under arrangements whereby unincorporated and jointly controlled ventures are used to explore, evaluate and ultimately develop and produce from its gas interests. Accordingly, the Group accounts for its share of assets, liabilities, income and expenditure of these jointly controlled assets, classified in the appropriate balance sheet and income statement headings, except where its share of such amounts remain the responsibility of another party in accordance with the terms of the carried interests as described at (h) below. Where the Group enters into a farm-up agreement involving a licence in the exploration and evaluation phase, the Group records all costs that it incurs under the terms of the joint operating agreement as amended by the farm-up agreement as they are incurred.

 

(e) Significant accounting judgements and estimates

Critical judgements in applying the Group's accounting policies

The Group invests in the exploration, evaluation, development and production of gas in the UK. Costs are capitalised in accordance with the accounting policy as described at (h). Initial capitalisation of costs is based on management's judgement that capitalisation of such costs is in accordance to applicable standards and that over time there will be an economic benefit associated with such cost.

 

Estimates and assumptions:

The key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the balance sheet date, that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below:

 

·; Carrying value of intangible exploration and evaluation assets:

 

The Group has capitalised intangible exploration and evaluation assets in accordance with IFRS 6, which are evaluated for impairment as described at (h) below. Any impairment reviews, where required, involves estimates and assumptions related to matters (when appropriate), such as recoverable reserves; production profiles; review of forward gas and electricity prices; development, operating and off-take costs; nature of land access agreements and planning permissions; application of taxes; and other matters. Where the final outcome or revised estimates related to such matters differ from the estimates used in any earlier impairment reviews, the results of such differences, to the extent that they actually affect any impairment provisions, are accounted for when such revisions are made. Details of the Groups Intangible exploration and evaluation assets are disclosed in note 9.

 

(f) Exceptional items

Exceptional items are material items of income or expenditure which, in the opinion of the Directors, due to their nature and infrequency require separate identification on the face of the income statement to allow a better understanding of the financial performance in the year. A full explanation of such items is given, where applicable, in the notes to the financial statements

(g) Revenue

Revenue comprises the invoiced value of goods and services supplied by the Group, net of value added tax and trade discounts. Revenue is recognised in the case of gas and electricity sales when goods are delivered and title has passed and in the case of services rendered only once a legally binding contract is in place. Amounts billed for services where the contract provides for their delivery over a period of time are recognised evenly over the relevant period; amounts due for all other services are recognised as the services are provided.

 

 

(h) Non-current assets (intangible exploration and evaluation assets and property plant and equipment)

Intangible exploration and evaluation assets

The Group accounts for exploration and evaluation costs in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 6 "Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources" as follows:

 

·; Exploration and evaluation assets are carried at cost less any impairment and are not depreciated or amortised.

·; Expenditures recognised as exploration and evaluation assets comprise those related to acquisition of rights to explore; topographical, geological, geochemical and geophysical studies; exploratory drilling (including coring and sampling); activities in relation to evaluating the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting gas (including appraisal drilling and production tests); any land rights acquired for the sole purpose of effecting these activities. These costs include employee remuneration, materials and consumables, equipment costs and payments made to contractors.

·; Any costs incurred prior to obtaining the legal rights to explore an area are expensed immediately to the Income Statement. Expenditures related to development and production activities are not recognised as exploration and evaluation assets.

·; Tangible assets acquired for use in exploration and evaluation activities are classified as property, plant and equipment. However, to the extent that such tangible assets are consumed in developing an intangible exploration and evaluation asset, the amount reflecting that consumption is recorded as part of the exploration and evaluation asset.

·; Expenditures recognised as exploration and evaluation assets are initially accumulated and capitalised by reference to appropriate geographic areas (cash generation units or CGU), which may not be larger than a business segment, currently the entirety of the Group's UK gas business.

·; Expenditure recognised as exploration and evaluation assets are transferred to property plant and equipment, interests in oil and gas properties when technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting gas is demonstrable. Exploration and evaluation assets are assessed for impairment (on the basis described below), and any impairment loss recognised, before reclassification.

·; Expenditures recognised as exploration and evaluation assets are tested for impairment whenever facts and circumstances suggest that they may be impaired, which includes when a licence is approaching the end of its term and is not expected to be renewed; there are no substantive plans for continued exploration or evaluation of an area; the Group decides to abandon an area; whilst development is likely to proceed in an area there are indications that the exploration and evaluation asset costs are unlikely to be recovered in full either by development or through sale.

·; Net proceeds from any disposal of exploration and evaluation assets are initially credited against previously capitalised costs, with any surplus proceeds being credited to the consolidated Income Statement.

 

Property plant and equipment, interests in oil and gas properties

Property plant and equipment, interests in oil and gas properties are accounted for as follows:

 

·; Expenditure relating to evaluated properties is depleted on a unit-of-production basis, commencing at the start of commercial production. The depletion charge is calculated according to the proportion that production bears to the recoverable reserves for each property.

·; The Group's property plant and equipment, interests in oil and gas properties are assessed for indications of impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable, when impairment is computed on the basis as set out below. Any impairment in value is charged to the Income Statement as additional depreciation.

·; Net proceeds from any disposal of development/producing assets are compared to the previously capitalised costs for the relevant asset or group of assets. A gain or loss on disposal of a development/producing asset is recognised in the Income Statement to the extent that the net proceeds exceed or are less than the appropriate portion of the net capitalised costs of the asset or group of assets.

 

Impairment

Impairment reviews, when required as described above, are carried out on the following basis:

 

·; By comparing the sum of any amounts carried as exploration and evaluation assets and as property plant and equipment as compared to the recoverable amount.

·; The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset's fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. The Group generally relies on fair value less cost to sell assessed either by reference to comparable market transactions between a willing buyer and a willing seller or on the same basis as used by willing buyers and sellers in the oil and gas industry. When assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset or CGU.

·; Where there has been a charge for impairment in an earlier period, that charge will be reversed in a later period where there has been a change in circumstances to the extent that the recoverable amount is higher than the net book value at the time. In reversing impairment losses, the carrying amount of the asset will be increased to the lower of its original carrying value and the carrying value that would have been determined (net of depletion) had no impairment loss been recognised in prior periods.

 

Decommissioning

Where a liability for the removal of production facilities or site restoration exists, a provision for decommissioning is recognised. The amount recognised is discounted to its present value and is reflected in the Group's non-current liabilities. A corresponding asset is included in the appropriate category of the Group's Non-current assets (intangible exploration and evaluation assets and property plant and equipment), depending on the accounting treatment adopted for the underlying operations/asset leading to the decommissioning provision. The asset is assessed for impairment and or depleted in accordance with the Group's policies as set out above.

 

Carried interests

Where the Group has entered into carried interest agreements and the Group's interest is being carried by a third party, no amounts are recorded in the financial statements where expenditure incurred under such agreements is not refundable. Where expenditure is refundable, out of what would but for the carry agreements have been the Group's share of production, the Group records amounts as non-current assets, with a corresponding offset in current liabilities or non-current liabilities, as appropriate, but only once it is apparent that it is more likely than not that future production will be adequate to result in a refund under the terms of any carry agreement; the Group records refunds only to the extent that they are expected to be repayable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non oil and gas related property plant and equipment

Other property plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual values, over their estimated useful lives at the following rates, with any impairment being accounted for as additional depreciation:

 

Computer equipment - over three years on a straight line basis

Motor Vehicles - over four years on a straight line basis

Furniture and fixtures - over five years on a straight line basis

Equipment used for exploration and evaluation - between six and twelve years on a straight line basis

Leasehold property improvements - over the period of the lease

 

The Group does not capitalise amounts considered to be immaterial.

 

(i) Financial instruments

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and cash held on current account or on short-term deposits at variable interest rates with original maturity periods of up to three months. Any interest earned is accrued monthly and classified as interest income within finance income.

 

Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables are initially recognised at fair value when related amounts are invoiced, then carried at this amount less any allowances for doubtful debts or provision made for impairment of these receivables.

 

Trade and other payables

These financial liabilities are all non interest bearing and are initially recognised at the fair value of the consideration payable.

 

Impairment of financial assets

In relation to trade receivables, a provision for impairment is made when there is objective evidence (such as the probability of insolvency or significant financial difficulties of the debtor) that the Group will not be able to collect all of the amounts due under the original terms of the invoice. The carrying amount of receivables is reduced through use of an allowance account. Impaired debts are derecognised when they are assessed as uncollectible.

 

(j) Leases

The determination of whether an arrangement is, or contains a lease is based on the substance of the arrangement at inception date including whether the fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of a specific asset or assets or the arrangement conveys a right to use the asset.

Operating leases

Rentals are charged to the Income Statement on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

(k) Taxation

The tax expense represents the sum of current tax and deferred tax.

 

Current income tax assets and liabilities for the current and prior periods are measured at the amount expected to be recovered or paid to the tax authorities. Taxable (loss)/profit differs from the (loss)/profit before taxation as reported in the Income Statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The Group's liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

 

Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all temporary differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date. Temporary differences arise from differences at the balance sheet date between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts for financial reporting purposes.. Deferred tax liabilities are not discounted. Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is regarded as more likely than not that they will be recovered.

 

(l) Share based payments

Where share options or warrants are awarded to employees (including Directors), the fair value of the options or warrants at the date of the grant is recorded in equity over the vesting period. Non-market vesting conditions, but only those related to service and performance, are taken into account by adjusting the number of equity instruments expected to vest at each balance sheet date so that, ultimately, the cumulative amount recognised over the vesting period is based on the number of options that eventually vest. All other vesting conditions, including Market vesting conditions, are factored in to the fair value of the options or warrants granted. As long as all other vesting conditions are satisfied, the amount recorded is computed irrespective of whether the Market vesting conditions are satisfied. The cumulative amount recognised is not adjusted for the failure to achieve a Market vesting condition; although equity no longer required for options or warrants may be transferred to another equity reserve.

 

Where the terms and conditions of options or warrants are modified before they vest, the increase in the fair value of the options, measured immediately before and after the modification, is also recorded in equity over the remaining vesting period.

 

Where equity instruments are granted to persons other than employees, the amount recognised in equity is the fair value of goods and services received.

 

Charges corresponding to the amounts recognised in equity are accounted for as a cost against profit and loss unless the services rendered (and discharged by share based payments) relate to an issuance of equity or qualify for capitalisation as a non-current asset. In the case of an issuance of equity, the charge is to the same equity reserve as cash costs related to such an issuance would be charged. Costs may be capitalised within non-current assets in the event of services being rendered in connection with an acquisition or intangible exploration and evaluation assets or property plant and equipment.

 

Where shares are issued to an Employee Benefit Trust, and the Company is the sponsoring entity, the value of such shares at issue will be recorded in share capital and share premium account in the ordinary way, but will not affect shareholders' funds since this same value will be shown as a deduction from shareholders' funds by way of a separate component of equity (Treasury shares).

 

(m) Equity

Equity instruments issued by the Company are usually recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs, and allocated between called up share capital and share premium accounts as appropriate.

 

(n) Foreign currency

Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency UK pound sterling are translated at the exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are re-translated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. All differences that arise are recorded in the income statement.

 

2 Revenue and segment information

IFRS 8 requires operating segments to be identified on the basis of internal reports about components of the Group that are regularly reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and for which financial information is available. In the case of the Group the CODM are the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors and all information reported to the CODM is based on the consolidated results of the Group as a single operating segment as the Group's activities all relate to unconventional gas, including CBM in the UK. Therefore the Group has only one operating and reportable segment as reflected in the Group's consolidated financial statements.

 

All revenue which represents turnover arises within the United Kingdom and relates to external parties. The revenue for 2010 and 2009 related to the supply of CBM services and expertise under management service contracts (£536 thousand), to the supply of electricity generation services and to sales of electricity associated with CBM production (£120 thousand). £592 thousand of the Group's revenue was derived from a single customer (2009: £816 thousand). 

 

All the Group's non-current assets are in the United Kingdom.

 

3 Operating loss

2010 2009 £000 £000

Operating loss is stated after charging:

Staff Costs (see notes 4 and 5) 1,123 807

Depreciation 9 -

Auditor's remuneration:

Audit of the financial statements 57 35

Other fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP - Audits of subsidiaries 10 43

£39 thousand of the Group's remuneration costs has been capitalised in accordance with the Group's accounting policy.

 

4 Employee information

2010 2009 £000 £000

Staff costs comprised:

Wages and salaries 923 718

Social Security Costs 137 89

Employee share based cost under IFRS 2 63 -

1,123 807

 

No. No.

Average number of employees in the period:

Operations, including services 4 3

Administrative 2 2

6 5

 

£39 thousand of the Group's remuneration costs has been capitalised in accordance with the Group's accounting policy.

 

5 Directors' emoluments

The remuneration of the Directors for the year was as follows:

 

Taxable 2010 2009 Salary/Fees Bonus Benefits Pensions Total Total Executive Directors £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000

F Gugen - Executive Chairman (to 19 October) 83 - - - 83 150

A Austin - Chief Executive Officer 235 117 1 - 353 300

B Cheshire - Executive Technical Director 100 25 - - 125 150

J Blaymires - COO (Appointed 19 October 2010) 29 9 1 - 39 -

Total - Executive Directors 447 151 2 - 600 600

 

 

Non-Executive Directors

F Gugen - Non-Executive Chairman (from 19 October) 17 - - - 17 -

J Bryant - Senior Independent 35 - - - 35 20

R Armstrong 35 - - - 35 20

J Hamilton - (Appointed 10 December 2009) 35 - - - 35 1

P Redmond (Resigned 10 December 2009) - - - - - 29

Total - Non-Executive Directors 122 - - - 122 70

 

 

Directors' share schemes/warrants

 

At 31 December 2010 the Executive Directors held the following awards under the Long Term Incentive Plan and the Share Option scheme as follows;

 

Long Term Incentive Plan

2010 Exercise price 2009 Exercise price Number (p/share) Number (p/share)

A Austin 700,000 - - -

J Blaymires 375,000 - - -

 

 

Share Option Plan

2010 Exercise price 2009 Exercise price Number (p/share) Number (p/share)

J Blaymires 910,930 70 - -

 

 

Warrants

 

At 31 December 2010 the Directors held the following warrants over the Ordinary Shares of 50p each of the Company as follows;

 

2009 Exercise price Lapsed in 2010 Number (p/share) year Number

R J Armstrong 82,500 55 (82,500) -

27,500 75 (27,500) -

J Bryant 82,500 55 (82,500) -

27,500 75 (27,500) -

 

 

 

 

 

6 Finance income

2010 2009 £000 £000

Interest receivable comprised:

Interest on short-term deposits 170 11

7 Tax on loss on ordinary activities

2010 2009 £000 £000

UK corporation tax:

Current tax on income for the year - -

Total UK taxation - -

Tax on loss on ordinary activities - -

Factors affecting the tax charge

The tax assessed for the year does not reflect a credit equivalent to the loss on ordinary activities multiplied by the small profits rate of corporation tax in the United Kingdom of 21% (2009: 21%). A reconciliation of the UK small companies statutory corporation tax rate applicable to the Group's loss before tax to the Group's total tax charge is as follows:

2010 2009 £000 £000

(Loss) on ordinary activities before tax (1,543) (504)

(Loss) on ordinary activities multiplied by the small profit rate of corporation tax

in the UK for small companies of 21% (2009: 21%) (324) (106)

Tax effect of expenses not allowable for tax purposes 6 1

Net increase in unrecognised losses carried forward 318 105

Tax on loss on ordinary activities - -

Tax losses

The Group's tax losses amount to:

2010 2009 £000 £000

Not considered sufficiently certain of utilisation to set up deferred tax assets*:

 

Company:

Excess management expenses 4,830 3,488

Related to Share based payment transactions 13 -

IGL:

Petroliferous - Trading loss 156 17

Island Gas Operations Limited ("IGO"):

Trading loss 1,200 1,200

 

Not affecting deferred taxes, as they relate to undepreciated capitalised costs**:

 

IGL:

Petroliferous - Minerals extraction allowances 4,644 1,386

 

* Deferred tax losses have not been recognised in respect of temporary differences of Group companies whose future profits are not considered sufficiently certain to offset these temporary differences.

 ** As at 31 December 2010 no temporary difference arises as a result of Minerals Extraction Allowances as they have not been claimed and depreciation of the related capitalised costs has not commenced (2009: nil).

 

In 2009 IGL was awarded a Field Development Plan and so commenced a Petroliferous Trade (as defined for tax purposes), which will enable it to offset its losses against any future Petroliferous Trade profits. IGO's losses may only be offset against future profits of IGO, if any. The tax losses have no expiry date.

 

8 Earnings per share (EPS)

Basic EPS amounts are calculated by dividing the loss for the year attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent by the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares outstanding during the year.

 

Diluted EPS amounts are calculated by dividing the loss attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the parent by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year plus the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares that would be issued on the conversion of all the dilutive potential Ordinary Shares into Ordinary Shares.

The following reflects the income and share data used in the basic and diluted earnings per share computations:

 

2010 2009

Basic EPS - Ordinary Shares of 50p each (£) (0.0169) (0.0076)

Diluted EPS - Ordinary Shares of 50p each (£) (0.0169) (0.0076)

(Loss) for the year attributable to equity holders of the parent - £000 (1,543) (504)

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in the year - basic EPS 91,070,160 66,412,564

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in the year - diluted EPS 91,070,160 66,412,564

There are 2,447,304 potentially dilutive warrants and options over the Ordinary Shares at 31 December 2010 (2009: 440,450), which are not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive for the year as their conversion to Ordinary Shares would decrease the loss per share.

 

 

 

9 Intangible exploration and evaluation assets

2010 2009 £000 £000

Cost

At 1 January 1,334 476

Additions 3,310 858

At 31 December 4,644 1,334

Amortisation

At 1 January - -

Charge for the year, including impairment - -

At 31 December - -

Net book amount

At 31 December 4,644 1,334

At 1 January 1,334 476

Under certain agreements which the Group had in place with Nexen Exploration U.K. Limited ("Nexen" and the "Nexen Carry Agreements") as at 31 December 2010, Nexen provides 100% of the funding required for work programmes up to a gross spend of £26.5 million. The repayment to Nexen of any amounts carried under these arrangements was dependent, on a licence by licence basis, on successful operations yielding sufficient production to support repayment in accordance with terms of the Nexen Carry Agreements. At 31 December 2010 £5.6 million had been carried (2009: £5.1 million), which has not been recorded as either non-current assets or liabilities, since to 31 December 2010 expenditure has been mainly related to appraisal work and repayment was not then sufficiently certain.

 

On 5 August 2009 and 11 December 2009 the Group entered into farm-up agreements with Nexen (the "Farm-up Agreements"), under which the Group had agreed to meet 100% of certain costs incurred in relation to certain licences, thereby discharging what, but for these agreements, would have been Nexen's share of such licence costs. The Group's commitment was for up to £2 million of gross costs in the case of the agreement of 5 August 2009 and for £5 million of gross costs in the case of the agreement of 11 December 2009. In return the Group's interest in the Swallowcroft licences in Staffordshire (excluding PEDL 78-2) rose from 20% to 35%, in the Point of Ayr licences from 50% to 75% and in Northwest licences from 20% to 35%.

 

 

 

 

 

10 Property, plant and equipment

 

 Used for Exploration and Evaluation

£000

Fixtures, fittings and equipment

£000

Motor vehicles

£000

Total

£000

Cost

 

 

 

 

At 1 January 2009 and 1 January 2010

-

-

-

-

Additions

179

21

20

220

Disposals

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

At 31 December 2010

179

21

20

220

 

 

 

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

 

 

 

At 1 January 2009 and 1 January 2010

-

-

-

-

Charge for the year

6

4

5

15

Disposals

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 31 December 2010

6

4

5

15

 

 

 

 

Carrying amount

173

17

15

205

At 31 December 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 31 December 2009

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

11 Trade and other receivables

2010 2009 £000 £000

VAT recoverable 375 99

Trade debtors 61 114

Accrued income 73 -

Other debtors - 3

Prepayments 80 42

589 258

The carrying value of each of the Group's financial assets being trade debtors is considered to be a reasonable approximation of its fair value.

 

All of the Group's financial assets are from debtors of good credit standing and have been reviewed for indicators of impairment and no impairment provision was found to be required (2009: £nil).

 

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each class of assets listed in the table above.

 

The trade debtor balance reported above is from one customer which represents a concentration of credit risk.

 

Of the Group's financial assets as stated above £61 thousand (2009: £114 thousand) were past due but not impaired at the reporting date, of which the ageing was:

 

2010 2009 £000 £000

Not more than three months 61 50

More than three months but not more than six months - 64

More than six months but not more than one year - -

61 114

 

12 Cash and cash equivalents

2010 2009 £000 £000

Cash at bank and in hand 12,087 17,501

12,087 17,501

The carrying value of the Group's cash and cash equivalents as stated above is considered to be a reasonable approximation of their fair value.

 

The Group only deposits cash surpluses with major banks that have acceptable credit ratings of "AA" or better, except that the Group will make deposits with banks where the UK government is the major shareholder.

 

 

 

 

 

13 Current liabilities

2010 2009 £000 £000

Trade and other payables:

Trade creditors 240 109

Employment related taxation 42 102

Deferred revenue - 89

Accruals and other creditors 515 631

797 931

The carrying value of each of the Group's financial liabilities being trade creditors is considered to be a reasonable approximation of its fair value. All creditors are payable within one month and no creditors have been outstanding for longer than three months (2009: all within one month).

 

 

14 Commitments

The Group's capital and lease commitments comprised:

 

2010

2009

 

£000

£000

 

Capital Commitments:

 

 

Obligation under 13th licensing round

1,000

1,000

Decommissioning

26

26

Less: Amounts covered by Nexen Carry Agreements

(141)

(637)

 

885

389

Obligation under the 11 December 2009 farm-up agreement with Nexen

2,036

5,000

 

Total capital commitments

 

2,921

 

5,389

 

The Nexen Carry Agreements and the farm-up agreements are as further described in note 9, including

the up to £2 million provided for by the first farm-up agreement, which is not a firm binding commitment.

 

Operating lease commitments:

 

 

Minimum lease payments under operating leases recognised in income for the year

 

63

 

35

 

At the balance sheet date the Group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non cancellable operating leases, all falling due in under one year

 

 

 

45

 

 

 

64

 

15 Financial instruments

The Group's financial instruments principally comprise cash at bank, and various items such as trade debtors and creditors that arise directly from operations. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to provide finance for the Group's operations.

Financial assets and liabilities

The Group's policy is to ensure that adequate cash is available and the Group does not trade in financial instruments and has not entered into any derivative transactions.

 

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk arises from the Group's management of working capital and is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. Cash forecasts and plans are updated frequently and reviewed regularly by management and the Board. The Groups liquidity requirements have been met principally through the Nexen Carry Agreements and internal cash resources. The Group has no long-term borrowings, and based on current projections the Group has sufficient funds to meet current obligations as they fall due. Details of the maturity dates of the Group's financial liabilities are provided in note 13.

 

Interest rate risk profile of financial assets

Cash at bank earns interest at floating rates related to the published rate of the bank.

 

Interest rate sensitivity analysis

The Group is exposed to interest rate risk from changes in interest rates impacting future cash flows arising from its financial instruments, principally cash balances held at the balance sheet date. A sensitivity analysis has been performed to demonstrate the sensitivity of financial assets and financial liabilities to a reasonably possible change in interest rates applied to a full year from the balance sheet date, assuming the amount of the assets at balance sheet date are available for the whole year. An increase/ decrease in interest rates of 50 basis points, with all other variables held constant, results in an decrease/ increase in the Group's loss before tax of £60 thousand /£(60) thousand respectively (2009: decrease/ increase of £88 thousand /£(88) thousand). There is no effect on the Group's equity other than the equivalent effect to that on loss before tax. This is wholly attributable to the Group's exposure to interest rates on its variable rate cash and cash equivalents.

 

 

Credit risk

The maximum exposure to credit risk is equal to the balances as disclosed for trade debtors in note 11 and for cash in note 12.

 

 

 

Cash and Treasury

Cash and treasury credit risks are mitigated through the exclusive use of institutions that carry published grade "AA" or better credit ratings so as to minimise counterparty risk, except that the Group will make deposits with banks where the United Kingdom government is the major shareholder. £11.7 million (2009: £16 million) of cash and cash equivalents is deposited with a single institution.

 

Trade receivables

Trade receivables credit risks are mitigated by only dealing with institutions that have investment grade credit ratings. £61 thousand (2009: £111 thousand) of trade receivables are due from a single counterparty.

 

Capital management

The Group considers its capital to comprise its Ordinary Share capital and share premium. In managing its capital, the Group's primary objective is to ensure its continued ability to provide a return to equity shareholders, principally through capital growth. The Group currently has no borrowings. The Group's principal cash source has been the issuance of share capital.

 

16 Share capital

On 31 December 2007 the Company completed a reverse takeover whereby IGL became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company but with IGL's shareholders acquiring 94% of the Ordinary Share capital of the combined entity (the "Reverse").

 

In accordance with the required accounting for a reverse, the nominal value of the Company's share capital is not reflected in the Group's consolidated equity. For the purposes of the consolidated accounts share capital was recorded at the date of the Reverse at a value equal to the deemed cost of the Reverse, being the adjusted market value of the Company as last quoted immediately prior to the announcement of the Reverse, plus the equity of IGL; the effective acquiring company.

 

Accordingly, share capital and the share capital account comprised:

Ordinary Shares Deferred shares

£000 £000 No. Nominal value No. Nominal value

Authorised

1 January 2009, Ordinary Shares of 50p each 89,114,796 44,557

1 January 2009, Deferred Shares of .95p each : 46,589,662 443

 

10 December 2009 new Ordinary Shares created 22,916,667 11,459

 

31 December 2009 112,031,463 56,016 46,589,662 443

 

31 December 2010 112,031,463 56,016 46,589,662 443

Ordinary Shares Deferred shares

£000 £000 No. Nominal value No. Nominal value

Issued and fully paid

1 January 2009, Ordinary Shares of 50p each 62,329,642 31,165

14 July 2009 shares issued 5,766,666 2,883

10 December 2009 shares issued 22,916,667 11,459

31 December 2009, Ordinary Shares of 50p each 91,012,975 45,507 - -

23 April 2010 shares issued 82,500 41

26 October 2010 shares issued 2,013,956 1,007

31 December 2010, Ordinary Shares of 50p each 93,109,431 46,555 - -

 

£000

Share capital account

At 1 January 2009 4,275

Shares issued during the year 14,342

At 31 December 2009 18,617

Shares issued during the year 1,048

At 31 December 2010 19,665

The following share transactions took place since 1 January 2009:

·; 14 July 2009 - The Company issued 5,766,666 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 60p each;

·; 10 December 2009 - The Company issued 22,916,667 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 60p each;

·; 23 April 2010 - The Company issued 82,500 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 55p each; and

·; 26 October 2010 - The Company issued 2,013,956 Ordinary 50p shares at a price of 64.5p each

Deferred shares have no voting rights and shall not be entitled to any dividends or any other right or participation in the profits of the Group.

 

 

17 Share plan/warrant reserve

The Company has made equity settled share based payments, valued as follows:

 

2010 2009 £000 £000

Directors:

Balance 1 January 131 167

Transfer to retained earnings/(accumulated deficit) account re warrants (131) (36)

Employee share plans - cost under IFRS 2 63 -

Balance 31 December 63 131

 

Warrants

 

All warrants vested on grant and accordingly the key assumptions made in arriving at the Black-Scholes valuations were: share price on date of grant, adjusted for subsequent consolidations where appropriate and the length of time for which the warrants were expected to remain exercisable. A long-term risk free interest rate of 5% and an implied volatility of 20% were used in valuing the warrants at the time of granting. It was also assumed that no dividends would be paid during the life of the warrants.

 

Movement in the Share warrant reserve during the year was as follows:

 

2010 2009 Weighted Weighted average average exercise exercise 2010 price 2009 price No (pence) No (pence)

At 1 January 440,000 60 523,830 58

Exercised in Period (82,500) 55 - -

Lapsed in Period (357,500) 60 (83,830) 50

Outstanding at 31 December - 440,000 60

Exercisable at 31 December - 440,000 60

 

The weighted average remaining contractual life for the warrants outstanding as at 31 December 2010 is nil (2009: 12 months) with no maximum remaining term of options granted, (2009: 12 months).

 

Employee share plans - Equity settled

 

Long Term Incentive Plan ("LTIP")

 

In October 2010 the Company adopted a Long Term Incentive Plan scheme for certain key employees of the Group. Under the LTIP, participants can each be granted nil cost options over up to 1.5% of the issued share capital of the Company (subject to an overall plan limit of 7.5% of the issued share capital of the Company for all participants). The LTIP has a three year performance period and awards vest subject to the achievement of stretching share price targets. On a change of control prior to the third anniversary of the grant date, a revised share price target reflecting the reduction in the performance period shall instead be used to determine the extent to which LTIP options vest. Other than on a change of control, 50% of vested awards can be exercised and sold on vesting, with the remaining 50% becoming exercisable on the first anniversary of vesting.

 

Details of the LTIPs outstanding during the year are as follows:

2010

2009

Number of LTIPs

Weighted average exercise price(in £)

LTIPs

Weighted average exercise price(in £)

Outstanding at beginning of year

-

-

-

-

Granted during the year

1,125,000

nil

-

-

Forfeited during the year

-

-

-

-

Exercised during the year

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at the end of the year

1,125,000

nil

-

-

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at the end of the year

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

There were no LTIPs exercised during the year. The LTIPs outstanding at 31 December 2010 had both a weighted average remaining contractual life and maximum term remaining of 9.75 years.

 

 

 

 

 

The total charge for the year was £6 thousand. Of this amount, £2 thousand was capitalised and £4 thousand was charged to the income statement in relation to the fair value of the awards granted under the LTIP scheme measured at grant date using a Monte Carlo Simulation Model.

The inputs into the Monte Carlo model were as follows:

2010

 

Weighted average share price

64.5p

Weighted average exercise price

Nil

Expected volatility

35%

Expected life

6.5 years

Risk-free rate

1.09%

Expected dividends

0%

 

The expected life is the period from date of grant to the assumed exercise date. Expected volatility was determined by calculating the historical volatility of the Company's share price. The weighted average fair value of the awards granted in 2010 was 6p (2009: nil).

Share Option plan

 

In October 2010 the Company adopted a Share option plan for certain key employees of the Group. Both executives and employees may participate in the Share Option Plan. Typically each individual participant can be granted options under the Share Option Plan with a market value at grant of up to 100% of his base salary, although this limit can be exceeded in exceptional circumstances.Share options vest in three equal tranches over a three year period from the date of grant and vested options are exercisable subject to the attainment of a Company share price target.

 

2010 grants under the Share Option Plan are subject to an exercise price of 70p per share.

 

Details of the Share options outstanding during the year are as follows:

2010

2009

Number of share options

Weighted average exercise price(in £)

Number of share options

Weighted average exercise price(in £)

Outstanding at beginning of year

-

-

-

-

Granted during the year

1,322,204

0.70

-

-

Forfeited during the year

-

-

-

-

Exercised during the year

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at the end of the year

1,322,204

0.70

-

-

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at the end of the year

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

There were no Options exercised during the year. The unvested Options outstanding at 31 December 2010 had both a weighted average remaining contractual life and maximum remaining term of 9.75 years.

 

The total charge for the year was £57 thousand. Of this amount, £24 thousand was capitalised and £33 thousand was charged to the income statement in relation to the fair value of the awards granted under the Share Option scheme measured at grant date using a Monte Carlo Simulation Model.

The inputs into the Monte Carlo model are as follows:

2010

 

Weighted average share price

64.5p

Weighted average exercise price

Nil

Expected volatility

35%

Expected life

5 - 6.5 years

Risk-free rate

1.09%

Expected dividends

0%

 

The expected life is the period from date of grant to the assumed exercise date. Expected volatility was determined by calculating the historical volatility of the Company's share price. The weighted average fair value of the awards granted in 2010 was 12p (2009: nil).

 

18 Other reserves

·; Share premium account - The share premium account of the Group arises from the capital that the Company raises upon issuing shares for consideration in excess of the nominal value of the shares net of the costs of issuing the new shares. During the year the Company issued 82,500 and 2,013,956 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 55p and 64.5p each (2009: 28,683,333 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 60p each). The cost of the issue was nil (2009: £1,121 thousand). Together these events resulted in a net movement in the Share Premium reserve of £297 thousand (2009: £1,783 thousand).

·; Treasury shares - The Treasury shares of the Group has arisen in connection with the shares issued to the IGas Employee Benefit Trust, of which the Company is the sponsoring entity. The value of such shares is recorded in share capital and share premium account in the ordinary way and is also shown as a deduction from equity in this separate other reserve account; and so there is not net effect on shareholders'' funds. During the period 2,013,956 shares were issued to the Employee Benefit Trust.

·; Retained earnings/(accumulated deficit) - This represents the historic accumulated losses less profits made by the Group accounted for under reverse accounting as explained in Note 1(m) and from transfers from the Share plan/warrant reserve, when warrants lapse.

 

19 Related party transactions

Key management personnel

There are no key management personnel other than Directors of the Company.

2010 2009 £000 £000

Short-term employee benefits 854 746

Share plan 22 -

876 746

Short-term employee benefits

These amounts comprise fees paid to the Directors in respect of salary and benefits earned during the relevant financial year, plus bonuses awarded for the year.

Share plan

This is the cost to the Group of Directors' participation in LTIPs and Share Option plans, as measured by the fair value of LTIPs and options granted, accounted for in accordance with IFRS 2.

 

Further details regarding transactions with the Directors of the Group are disclosed in Note 5.

 

There are no other related party transactions.

 

20 Subsequent events

On 9 March 2011, the Company acquired the entire issued share capital of Nexen Exploration UK Limited (renamed IGas Exploration Limited) for a consideration of £25.6 million (the "Acquisition"). 39,714,290 new ordinary shares of 50p were allotted to Nexen Petroleum U.K. Limited credited as fully paid in consideration for the Acquisition. The acquisition is aligned with the Group's strategy by securing 100% ownership of assets and operatorship through the purchase of Nexen Exploration UK Limited. 

 

The Company raised gross proceeds of £20.625 million for 27,500,000 new ordinary 50p shares when the Acquisition became unconditional on 9 March 2011.

 

Following completion of the Placing and the Acquisition, the Company's current issued share capital is 160,323,721 ordinary shares.

 

On 22 March 2011, A Austin disposed of 770,000 shares.

 

 

Parent Company financial statements - Directors' statement of responsibilities in respect thereof

 

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and Parent Company financial statements in accordance with applicable United Kingdom law and those International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union ("IFRSs").

 

Under Company Law the directors must not approve the Group financial statements unless they are satisfied that they present fairly the financial position of the Parent Company and its financial performance and cash flows for that period. In preparing the Parent Company financial statements the Directors are required to:

·; select suitable accounting policies in accordance with IAS 8: Accounting policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors and then apply them consistently;

·; present information, including accounting policies, in a manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and understandable information;

·; provide additional disclosures when compliance with the specific requirements in IFRSs is insufficient to enable users to understand the impact of particular transactions, other events and conditions on the Parent Company's financial position and financial performance;

·; state that the Parent Company has complied with IFRSs, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in thefinancial statements; and

·; make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Parent Company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Parent Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

 

The Directors confirm that they have complied with these requirements and, having a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, will continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the accounts

 

Independent auditor's report to the members of IGas Energy plc

 

We have audited the parent company financial statements of IGas Energy plc for the year ended 31 December 2010 which comprise the Parent Company Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Parent Company Balance Sheet, the Parent Company Statement of Changes in Equity, the Parent Company Cash Flow Statement and the related notes 1 to 14. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

 

This report is made solely to the company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

 

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors

As explained more fully in the Directors' Responsibilities Statement set out on page 43, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the parent company financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the parent company financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board's (APB's) Ethical Standards for Auditors.

 

Scope of the audit of the financial statements

An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the parent company's circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the directors; and the overall presentation of the financial statements. In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information in the Annual Report to identify material inconsistencies with the audited financial statements. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

 

Opinion on financial statements

In our opinion the parent company financial statements:

·; give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 December 2010;

·; have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and

·; have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

 

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion the information given in the Directors' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the parent company financial statements.

 

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

·; adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

·; the parent company financial statements and are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

·; certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or

·; we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

 

Other matter

We have reported separately on the group financial statements of IGas Energy plc for the year ended 31 December 2010.

 

 

 

 

Gary Donald (Senior Statutory Auditor)

for and on behalf of Ernst & Young LLP, Statutory Auditor

London

 

20 May 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent Company statement of comprehensive income

For the year ended 31 December 2010

 

20010 2009 £000 £000

Loss for the year (1,401) (500)

Other comprehensive income for the year - -

Total comprehensive loss for the year (1,401) (500)

Parent Company balance sheet

As at 31 December 2010

2010 2009 Notes £000 £000

Non-current assets

Investments in subsidiaries 2 50,555 50,512

Property, plant and equipment 3 32 -

Loans to subsidiaries 4 5,013 436

55,600 50,948

Current assets

Trade and other receivables 4 289 102

Cash and cash equivalents 5 11,772 17,485

12,061 17,587

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables 6 (530) (112)

(530) (112)

Net current assets 11,531 17,475

Total assets less current liabilities 67,131 68,423

Net assets 67,131 68,423

Capital and reserves

Called up share capital 10 46,555 45,507

Merger reserve 12 22,222 22,222

Share premium account 12 6,392 6,095

Share plan/warrant reserve 11 63 131

Treasury shares 11 (1,299) -

Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) (6,802) (5,532)

Shareholders' funds 67,131 68,423

 

These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on 20 May 2011 and are signed on its behalf by:

 

 

 

 

Francis Gugen Andrew Austin

Chairman Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Parent Company statement of changes in equity

For the year ended 31 December 2010

Retained

Called up Share Share Treasury earnings share capital Merger premium plan/warrant shares (accumulated (Note 10) reserve account reserve deficit) Total £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000

Balance at 1 January 2009 31,165 22,222 4,312 167 - (5,032) 52,834

Changes in equity for 2009

Loss for the year - - - - - (500) (500)

Transfers to Share premium account - - 36 (36) - - -

Issue of shares: 14,342 - 2,868 - - - 17,210

Share issue costs - - (1,121) - - - (1,121)

 

Balance at 31 December 2009 45,507 22,222 6,095 131 - (5,532) 68,423

 

Changes in equity for 2010

Loss for the year - - - - - - (1,401) (1,401)

Lapse of warrants - - - (131) - 131 -

Employee share plans cost under IFRS2 (note 11) - - - 63 - - 63

Issue of shares 1,048 - 297 - (1,299) - 46

Balance at 31 December 2010 46,555 22,222 6,392 63 (1,299) (6,802) 67,131

 

Parent Company cash flow statement

For the year ended 31 December 2010

2010 2009 Notes £000 £000

Operating activities:

Loss for the year (1,401) (500)

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortisation 9 -

Share based payment charge 20 -

Finance income (170) (11)

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables (86) 37

Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables 418 (140)

Decrease in creditors due after one year - -

Net cash used in operating activities (1,210) (614)

Investing activities

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (41) -

Loans granted to subsidiaries (4,678) (211)

Interest received 170 11

Net cash used investing activities (4,549) (200)

Financing activities

Cash proceeds from issue of Ordinary Share Capital 10 46 17,210

Share issue costs 10 - (1,121)

Net cash from financing activities 46 16,089

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents in the year (5,713) 15,275

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 17,485 2,210

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 5 11,772 17,485

Parent Company financial statements - notes

As at 31 December 2010

 

1 Accounting policies

(a) Basis of preparation of financial statements

The Parent Company financial statements of IGas Energy plc (the "Company") have been prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, adopted for use by the European Union ("IFRSs") as they apply to the Company for the year ended 31 December 2010, and with the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 20 May 2011. IGas Energy plc is a public limited company incorporated and registered in England and Wales.

 

The Company's financial statements are presented in UK pound sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand (£000) except whenotherwise indicated.

 

As a Consolidated income statement is published in this Annual Report, a separate income statement for the Company is not presented within these financial statements as permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

During the year, the Company adopted the following new and amended IFRS which were applicable to the Company's activities as of 1 January 2010.

 

International Accounting Standards (IFRS/IAS):

IFRS 2

 

Amendment to IFRS 2 - Cash-settled Share-based Payment Transactions - This amendment clarifies that there shall now be included transactions where the transfer of cash or other assets is based on the price (or value) of the equity instruments of another group entity. The Company has considered the effect of this interpretation and has concluded that it is not expected to have any impact on the financial statements.

1 January 2010

 

 

 

Certain new standards, interpretations and amendments to existing standards have been published and are mandatory only for the Company's accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2011 or later periods but which the Group has not adopted early. Those that may be applicable to the Company in future are as follows:

Effective date

International Accounting Standards (IFRS/IAS)

 

IAS 24

 

Amendment to IAS 24 - Related Party Disclosures - This amendment clarifies the definition of a related party to simplify the identification of such relationships and to eliminate inconsistencies in its application. The revised standard introduces a partial exemption of disclosure requirements for government-related entities.

1 January 2011

 

IFRS 9

 

IFRS 9 - Financial Instruments: Classification and Measurement - IFRS 9 as issued reflects the first phase of the IASBs work on the replacement of IAS 39 and applies to classification and measurement of financial assets as defined in IAS 39. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 2013. In subsequent phases, the IASB will address classification and measurement of financial liabilities, hedge accounting and derecognition. The completion of this project is expected in early 2011. The adoption of the first phase of IFRS 9 will have an effect on the classification and measurement of the Group's financial assets. The Group will quantify the effect in conjunction with the other phases, when issued, to present a comprehensive picture.

1 January 2013

 

 

The Directors do not anticipate that the adoption of these standards and interpretations will either individually or collectively have a material impact on the Group's financial statements in the period of initial application. The Group does not anticipate adopting these standards and interpretations ahead of their effective date.

 

 

Improvements to IFRS

 

In May 2010 the IASB issued an omnibus of amendments to its standards. The amendments have not been adopted as they become effective for annual periods starting on or after either 1 July 2010 or 1 January 2011.

 

·; IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures

·; IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements

 

None of the amendments that are effective for the year ended 31 December 2010 had any impact on the accounting policies, financial position or performance of the Company. None of the amendments that are effective for the year beginning 1 January 2011are expected to have any impact on the accounting policies, financial position or performance of the Company.

 

(b) Going concern

After reviewing the Company's budgets and cash flow projections for 2011 and 2012, and taking into consideration the acquisition of Nexen Exploration UK Ltd and the placing in March 2011, the current operating environment, the risks and the company's liquidity risk management outlined in Note 9, the Directors are satisfied that the Company has adequate resources to continue in business as a going concern. It is therefore appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the 2010 Annual Report and Financial Statements.

 (c) Significant accounting estimates

The principal activity of the Company's major subsidiary, IGL, which has been accounted for at fair value at acquisition less provision for impairment, is Coal Bed Methane ("CBM").

 

The key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the balance sheet date, that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below:

 

·; Carrying value of investment in subsidiaries:The Company evaluates investments in subsidiaries that have been accounted for at fair value at acquisition less provision for impairment as described in (d) below. Any impairment review, where required, involves estimates and associated assumptions related to matters (when appropriate), such as recoverable reserves; production profiles; review of forward gas and electricity prices; development, operational and offtake costs; nature of land access agreements and planning permissions; application of taxes, and other matters. Where the final outcome or revised estimates related to such matters differ from the estimates used in any earlier impairment reviews, the results of such differences, to the extent that they actually affected any impairment provisions, are accounted for when such revisions are made. Details of the Company's investments are disclosed in note 2.

 

(d) Non-current assets

Investments in subsidiaries

Investments held as non-current assets are held at cost less provision for impairment unless the investments were acquired in exchange for the issue or part issue of shares in the Company, when they are initially recorded in the Company's balance sheet at the fair value of the shares issued together with the fair value of any consideration paid, including costs of acquisition less any provision for impairment which may subsequently be required.

The Company's investments held as non-current assets are assessed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable, when impairment is calculated on the basis as set out below. Any impairment in is charged to the income statement.

Impairment

Impairment reviews, when required as described above, are carried out on the following basis:

 

·; By comparing any amounts carried as investments held as non-current assets with the recoverable amount.

·; The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset's fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. The Company generally relies on fair value less cost to sell assessed either by reference to comparable market transactions between a willing buyer and a willing seller or on the same basis as used by willing buyers and sellers in the oil and gas industry. When assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset or cash-generating unit.

Where there has been a charge for impairment in an earlier period that charge will be reversed in a later period where there has been a change in circumstances to the extent that the recoverable amount is higher than the net book value at the time. In reversing impairment losses, the carrying amount of the asset will be increased to the lower of its original carrying value and the carrying value that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised in prior periods.

 

Property, plant and equipment

Other property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual values, over their estimated useful lives at the following rates, with any impairment being accounted for as additional depreciation:

 

Computer equipment - over three years on a straight line basis

Motor Vehicles - over four years on a straight line basis

Furniture and fixtures - over five years on a straight line basis

 

(e) Financial Instruments

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and cash held on current account or on short-term deposits at variable interest rates with original maturity periods of up to three months. Any interest earned is accrued monthly and classified as interest income within finance income.

 

Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables are initially recognised at fair value when related amounts are invoiced, less any allowances for doubtful debts or provision made for impairment of these receivables.

 

Trade and other payables

These financial liabilities are all non interest bearing and are initially recognised at the fair value of the consideration received.

 

Impairment of financial assets

In relation to trade receivables, a provision for impairment is made when there is objective evidence (such as the probability of insolvency or significant financial difficulties of the debtor) that the Company will not be able to collect all of the amounts due under the original terms of the invoice. The carrying amount of the receivable is reduced through use of an allowance account. Impaired debts are derecognised when they are assessed as uncollectible.

 

(f) Leases

The determination of whether an arrangement is, or contains a lease is based on the substance of the arrangement at inception date including whether the fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of a specific asset or assets or the arrangement conveys a right to use the asset.

Operating leases

Rentals are charged to the Income Statement in the year on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

(g) Taxation

The tax expense represents the sum of current tax and deferred tax.

Current income tax assets and liabilities for the current and prior periods are measured at the amount expected to be recovered or paid to the tax authorities. Taxable (loss)/profit differs from the (loss)/profit before taxation as reported in the Income Statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The Company's liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

 

Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all temporary differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date. Temporary differences arise from the inclusion of items of income and expenditure in taxation computations in periods different from those in which they are included in the financial statements. Deferred tax liabilities are not discounted. Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is regarded as more likely than not that they will be recovered.

 

(h) Share based payments

Where share options or warrants are awarded to employees (including Directors), the fair value of the options or warrants at the date of the grant is recorded in equity over the vesting period. Non-market vesting conditions, but only those related to service and performance, are taken into account by adjusting the number of equity instruments expected to vest at each balance sheet date so that, ultimately, the cumulative amount recognised over the vesting period is based on the number of options that eventually vest. All other vesting conditions, including Market vesting conditions, are factored in to the fair value of the options or warrants granted. As long as all other vesting conditions are satisfied, the amount recorded is computed irrespective of whether the market vesting conditions are satisfied. The cumulative amount recognised is not adjusted for the failure to achieve a market vesting condition; although equity no longer required for options or warrants may be transferred to another equity reserve.

 

Where the terms and conditions of options or warrants are modified before they vest, the increase in the fair value of the options, measured immediately before and after the modification, is also recorded in equity over the remaining vesting period.

 

Where equity instruments are granted to persons other than employees, the amount recognised in equity is the fair value of goods andservices received.

Charges corresponding to the amounts recognised in equity are accounted as a cost against the profit and loss which will usually be to the parent company Income Statement unless the services rendered (and discharged by share based payments) relate to an issuance of equity or qualify for capitalisation as a non-current asset. In the case of an issuance of equity, the charge is to the same equity reserve as cash costs related to such an issuance would be charged. Costs may be capitalised within non-current assets in the event of services being rendered in connection with an acquisition or intangible exploration and evaluation assets or property, plant and equipment.

 

Where shares are issued to an Employee Benefit Trust, and the Company is the sponsoring entity, the value of such shares at issue will be recorded in share capital and share premium account in the ordinary way, but will not affect shareholders' funds since this same value will be shown as a deduction from shareholders' funds by way of a separate component of equity (Treasury shares).

 

 

 

(i) Equity

Equity instruments issued by the Company are usually recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs, and allocated between called up share capital, share premium accounts or merger reserve as appropriate.

(j) Foreign Currency

 

Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency UK pound sterling are translated at the exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are re-translated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. All differences that arise are recorded in the income statement.

 

2 Non-current assets - investments in subsidiaries

Investments in subsidiaries comprises:

£000

At 1 January 2009 50,512

Acquisition in the year, at fair value _

Employee share based payment cost under IFRS 2 43

Disposals in the year -

At 31 December 2009 50,555

At 31 December 2010 50,555

 

The subsidiary undertakings of the Company at 31 December 2010 and 2009 which are all 100% owned directly by the Company and are all incorporated in England and Wales, were:

 

Name Principal activity

Island Gas Limited Production and marketing of unconventional gas , including Coal Bed Methane

Island Gas Operations Limited Electricity Generation

 

 

3 Property, plant and equipment

 

Fixtures, fittings and equipment

£000

Motor vehicles

£000

Total

£000

Cost

 

 

 

At 1 January 2009 and 1 January 2010

-

-

-

Additions

21

20

41

Disposals

-

-

-

 

 

 

At 31 December 2010

21

20

41

 

 

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

 

 

At 1 January 2009 and 1 January 2010

-

-

-

Charge for the year

4

5

9

Disposals

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 31 December 2010

4

5

9

 

 

 

Carrying amount

17

15

32

At 31 December 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 31 December 2009

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

4 Trade and other receivables

2010 2009 £000 £000

Amounts falling due within one year:

VAT recoverable 131 59

Other debtors 2 3

Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings 101 -

Prepayments 55 40

289 102

 

Amounts falling due after more than one year:

Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings 5,013 436

5,013 436

 

The carrying value of each of the Company's financial assets as stated above being amounts due from subsidiary undertakings is considered to be a reasonable approximation of its fair value.

 

All of the Company's financial assets are from debtors of good credit standing and have been reviewed for indicators of impairment and no impairment provision was found to be required (2009: £nil).

 

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each class of assets listed in the table above.

 

The financial assets reported above are from the Company's subsidiary undertakings which represents a concentration of credit risk.

 

5 Cash and cash equivalents

2010 2009 £000 £000

Cash at bank and in hand 11,772 17,485

11,772 17,485

The carrying value of the Company's cash and cash equivalents as stated above is considered to be a reasonable approximation of their fair value.

 

The Company only deposits cash surpluses with major banks that have acceptable credit ratings of "AA" or better, except that the Company will make deposits with banks where the UK government is the major shareholder.

 

 

 

6 Current liabilities

2010 2009 £000 £000

Trade and other payables:

Trade creditors 76 32

Taxation and social security 42 -

Accruals and other creditors 412 80

530 112

The carrying value of each of the Company's financial liabilities being trade creditors is considered to be a reasonable approximation of its fair value. All creditors are payable within one month and no creditor has been outstanding for longer than three months (2009: all within one month).

7 Taxation

Tax losses, none of which is considered sufficiently certain of utilisation to set up deferred tax assets, amount to:

2010 2009 £000 £000

Trading loss - -

Excess management expenses 4,830 3,488

Related to share based payment transactions 13 -

Excess management expenses may only be offset against future profits, if any, of the Company generated in its capacity as a Groupholding company.

 

8 Commitments

At the balance sheet date the Company had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non cancellable operating leases, all falling due in under one year of £45 thousand (2009: £48 thousand).

 

 

 

9 Financial instruments

The Company's financial instruments principally comprise cash at bank, and various items such as trade debtors and creditors that arise directly from operations. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to provide finance for the Company's operations.

Financial assets and liabilities

The Company's policy is to ensure that adequate cash is available and the Company does not trade in financial instruments and has not entered into any derivative transactions.

 

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk arises from the Company's management of working capital and is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. Cash forecasts and plans are updated frequently and reviewed regularly by management and the Board. The Company's liquidity requirements have been met principally through internal cash resources. The Company has no long-term borrowings, and based on current projections the Company has sufficient funds to meet current obligations as they fall due. Details of the maturity dates of the Company's financial liabilities are provided in note 6.

Interest rate risk profile of financial assets

Cash at bank earns interest at floating rates related to the published rate of the bank.

 

Interest rate sensitivity analysis

The Company is exposed to interest rate risk from changes in interest rates impacting future cash flows arising from its financial instruments, principally cash balances held at the balance sheet date. A sensitivity analysis has been performed to demonstrate the sensitivity of financial assets and financial liabilities to a reasonably possible change in interest rates applied to a full year from the balance sheet date, assuming the amount of the assets at balance sheet date are available for the whole year. An increase/ decrease in interest rates of 50 basis points, with all other variables held constant, results in a decrease/ increase in the Company's loss before tax of £59 thousand /£(59) thousand respectively (2009: decrease/ increase of £87 thousand /£(87) thousand). There is no effect on the Company's equity other than the equivalent effect to that on loss before tax. This is wholly attributable to the Company's exposure to interest rates on its variable rate cash and cash equivalents.

Credit risk

The maximum exposure to credit risk is equal to the balances as disclosed for amounts due from subsidiary undertakings in note 4 and cash in note 5.

 

 

Cash and Treasury

Cash and treasury credit risks are mitigated through the exclusive use of institutions that carry published grade "AA" or better credit ratings so as to minimise counterparty risk, except that the Company will make deposits with banks where the United Kingdom government is the major shareholder. £11.7 million (2009: £16 million) of cash and cash equivalents is deposited with a single institution.

 

 

Trade receivables

Trade receivables credit risks are mitigated by only dealing with institutions that have investment grade credit ratings or that are subsidiaries where risks are managed as explained in the Directors Report under the heading "Principal risks and uncertainties" on page 17.

 

Capital management

The Company considers its capital to comprise its ordinary share capital and share premium. In managing its capital, the Company's primary objective is to ensure its continued ability to provide a return to equity shareholders, principally through capital growth. The Company currently has no borrowings. The Company's principle cash sources have been the issuance of share capital.

 

10 Share capital

Ordinary Shares Deferred shares

£000 £000 No. Nominal value No. Nominal value

Authorised

1 January 2009, Ordinary Shares of 50p each 89,114,796 44,557

1 January 2009, Deferred shares of .95p each 46,589,662 443

 

10 December 2010 new Ordinary Shares created 22,916,667 11,459

 

31 December 2009 112,031,463 56,016 46,589,662 443

 

31 December 2010 112,031,463 56,016 46,589,662 443

 

Ordinary Shares Deferred shares

£000 £000 No. Nominal value No. Nominal value

Issued and fully paid

1 January 2009, Ordinary Shares of .50p each 62,329,642 31,165

14 July 2009 shares issued 5,766,666 2,883

10 December 2009 shares issued 22,916,667 11,459

31 December 2009, Ordinary Shares of 50p each 91,012,975 45,507

23 April 2010 shares issued 82,500 41 - -

26 October 2010 shares issued 2,013,956 1,007

31 December 2010, Ordinary Shares of 50p each 93,109,431 46,555 - -

 

The following share transactions took place since 1 January 2009:

 

·; 14 July 2009 - The Company issued 5,766,666 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 60p each;

·; 10 December 2009 - The Company issued 22,916,667 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 60p each;

·; 23 April 2010 - The Company issued 82,500 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 55p each; and

·; 26 October 2010 - The Company issued 2,013,956 Ordinary 50p shares at a price of 64.5p each

 

The costs of all share issues have all been charged to the share premium account and are as disclosed in the parent company statement of changes in equity.

 

Deferred shares have no voting rights and shall not be entitled to any dividends or any other right or participation in the profits of the Company.

 

11 Share plan/warrant reserve

The Company has made equity settled share based payments, valued as follows:

2010 2009 £000 £000

Balance 1 January 131 167

Transfers to Share Premium re: warrants (131) (36)

Employee share based payment cost under IFRS 2 63 -

Balance 31 December 63 131

 

 

Warrants

All warrants vested on grant and accordingly the key assumptions made in arriving at the Black-Scholes valuations were: share price on date of grant, adjusted for subsequent consolidations where appropriate and the length of time for which the warrants will remain exercisable. A long-term risk free interest rate of 5% and an implied volatility of 20% were used in valuing the warrant at the time of granting. It was also assumed that no dividends would be paid during the life of the warrants.

 

Movements in warrants during the year were as follows:

2010 2009 Weighted Weighted average average exercise exercise 2010 price 2009 price No (pence) No (pence)

At 1 January 440,000 60 523,830 58

Exercised in Period (82,500) 55 - -

Lapsed in Period (357,500) 60 (83,830) 50

Outstanding at 31 December - - 440,000 60

Exercisable at 31 December - - 440,000 60

 

The weighted average remaining contractual life for the warrants outstanding as at 31 December 2010 is nil (2009: 12 months) with no maximum remaining term of options granted, (2009: 12 months).

 

 

 

Employee share plans - Equity settled

 

Long Term Incentive Plan ("LTIP")

 

In October 2010 the Company adopted a Long Term Incentive Plan scheme for certain key employees of the Group. Under the LTIP, participants can each be granted nil cost options over up to 1.5% of the issued share capital of the Company (subject to an overall plan limit of 7.5% of the issued share capital of the Company for all participants). The LTIP has a three year performance period and awards vest subject to the achievement of stretching share price targets. On a change of control prior to the third anniversary of the grant date, a revised share price target reflecting the reduction in the performance period shall instead be used to determine the extent to which LTIP options vest. Other than on a change of control, 50% of vested awards can be exercised and sold on vesting, with the remaining 50% becoming exercisable on the first anniversary of vesting.

 

Details of the LTIPs outstanding during the year were as follows:

2010

2009

Number of LTIPs

Weighted average exercise price(in £)

LTIPs

Weighted average exercise price(in £)

Outstanding at beginning of year

-

-

-

-

Granted during the year

1,125,000

nil

-

-

Forfeited during the year

-

-

-

-

Exercised during the year

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at the end of the year

1,125,000

nil

-

-

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at the end of the year

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

There were no LTIPs exercised during the year. The LTIPs outstanding at 31 December 2010 had both a weighted average remaining contractual life and maximum remaining term of 9.75 years.

 

The total charge for the year was £6 thousand. Of this amount, £3 thousand was charged to the subsidiary and £3 thousand was charged to the income statement in relation to the fair value of the awards granted under the LTIP scheme measured at grant date using a Monte Carlo Simulation Model.

The inputs into the Monte Carlo model are as follows:

2010

 

Weighted average share price

64.5p

Weighted average exercise price

Nil

Expected volatility

35%

Expected life

6.5 years

Risk-free rate

1.09%

Expected dividends

0%

 

The expected life is the period from date of grant to the assumed exercise date. Expected volatility was determined by calculating the historical volatility of the Company's share price. The weighted average fair value of the awards granted in 2010 was 6p (2009: nil).

 

Share Option plan

 

In October 2010 the Company adopted a Share option plan for certain key employees of the Group. Both executives and employees may participate in the Share Option Plan. Typically each individual participant can be granted options under the Share Option Plan with a market value at grant of up to 100% of his base salary, although this limit can be exceeded in exceptional circumstances.Share options vest in three equal tranches over a three year period from the date of grant and vested options are exercisable subject to the attainment of a Company share price target.

 

2010 grants under the Share Option Plan are subject to an exercise price of 70p per share.

 

Details of the Share options outstanding during the year are as follows:

2010

2009

Number of share options

Weighted average exercise price(in £)

Number of share options

Weighted average exercise price(in £)

Outstanding at beginning of year

-

-

-

-

Granted during the year

1,322,204

0.70

-

-

Forfeited during the year

-

-

-

-

Exercised during the year

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at the end of the year

1,322,204

0.70

-

-

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at the end of the year

-

0.70

-

-

 

 

 

 

There were no Options exercised during the year. The unvested Options outstanding at 31 December 2010 had both a weighted average remaining contractual life and maximum remaining term of 9.75 years.

 

The total charge for the year was £57 thousand. Of this amount, £40 thousand was charged to the subsidiary and £17 thousand was charged to the income statement in relation to the fair value of the awards granted under the Share Option scheme measured at grant date using a Monte Carlo Simulation Model.

The inputs into the Monte Carlo model are as follows:

2010

 

Weighted average share price

64.5p

Weighted average exercise price

Nil

Expected volatility

35%

Expected life

5 - 6.5 years

Risk-free rate

1.09%

Expected dividends

0%

 

The expected life is the period from date of grant to the assumed exercise date. Expected volatility was determined by calculating the historical volatility of the Company's share price. The weighted average fair value of the awards granted in 2010 was 12p (2009: nil).

12 Other reserves

·; Merger reserve - The merger reserve arose as a result of a reverse acquisition on 31 December 2007 whereby IGL became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company but with IGL's shareholders acquiring 94% of the Ordinary Share Capital of the Company. The reserve represents the difference in the fair value and the nominal value of the shares issued. The reserve is not distributable.

·; Share Premium account - The share premium account of the Company arises from the capital that the Company raises upon issuing shares for consideration in excess of the nominal value of the shares net of the costs of issuing the new. During the year the Company issued 82,500 and 2,013,956 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 55p and 64.5p each (2009: 28,683,333 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 60p each). The cost of the issue was nil (2009: £1,121 thousand). Together these events resulted in a net movement in the Share Premium reserve of £297 thousand (2009: £1,783 thousand).

·; Treasury shares - The Treasury shares of the Company has arisen in connection with the shares issued to the IGas Employee Benefit Trust of which the Company is the sponsoring entity. The value of such shares is recorded in share capital and share premium account in the ordinary way and is also shown as a deduction from equity in this separate Treasury shares account; and so there is not net effect on shareholders' funds.

·; Retained Earnings/(accumulated deficit) - This represents the historic accumulated losses made by the Company shares and from transfers from the Share plan/warrant reserve, when warrants lapse.

 

 

 

13 Related party transactions

(a) With Group companies

A summary of the transactions in the year is as follows:

2010 2009 £000 £000

Subsidiaries:

Amounts due from/(to) subsidiary:

 

Island Gas Limited :

Balance 1 January 436 225

Services performed by subsidiary - (112)

Net cash advances 4,046 (196)

Services performed for subsidiary 531 519

Balance 31 December 5,013 436

 

Island Gas Operations Limited :

Balance 1 January - -

Net cash advances 101 519

Balance 31 December 101 225

 

A summary of year end balances is as follows:

Amounts due from Subsidiary:

Island Gas Limited 5,013 436

Island Gas Operations Limited 101 -

 

Payment terms are as mutually agreed between the Group's companies.

 

 

 

(b) With Directors

Key management are those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, controlling and directing the activities of the Group. In the opinion of the Board, the Group's key management are the Directors of the Company. Information regarding their compensation is given in Notes 5 and 19 to the consolidated accounts.

 

 

14 Subsequent events

 

On 9 March 2011, the Company acquired the entire issued share capital of Nexen Exploration UK Limited (renamed IGas Exploration Limited) for a consideration of £25.6 million (the "Acquisition"). 39,714,290 new ordinary shares of 50p were allotted to Nexen Petroleum U.K. Limited credited as fully paid in consideration for the Acquisition. The acquisition is aligned with the Group's strategy by securing 100% ownership of assets and operatorship through the purchase of Nexen Exploration UK Limited. 

 

The Company raised gross proceeds of £20.625 million for 27,500,000 new ordinary 50p shares when the Acquisition became unconditional on 9 March 2011.

 

Following completion of the Placing and the Acquisition, the Company's current issued share capital is 160,323,721 ordinary shares.

 

On 22 March 2011, A Austin disposed of 770,000 shares.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
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