Interim Results

Aminex PLC 27 September 2002 AMINEX PLC INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2002 AMINEX PLC, the oil and gas company with interests in the USA, Tanzania and Tatarstan, announces its results for the six months to 30 June 2002. HIGHLIGHTS • Steady progress in core business • Tanzania drilling to commence in fourth quarter • Following 2001 disposal of Komi assets, $7.5 million returned to shareholders by way of capital reduction • Speculative and costly hostile takeover bid successfully repelled • Absence of Komi revenue and high bid costs of $1.94 million led to a net loss for the period of $3.4 million • Strong balance sheet (net cash $12.2 million) enables Aminex to exploit new opportunities 27 September 2002 Enquiries: Aminex PLC +44 (0)20 7240 1600 Brian Hall College Hill +44 (0)20 7457 2020 Archie Berens Dennehy Associates +353 1 676 4733 Michael Dennehy CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT As I reported to you in June, 2001 was a year of significant change for the Group's business, and the results for the first half of this year reflect this change. They also reflect a period of steady growth and development in the Group's core business; the exciting acquisition of Tanzoil NL; the return of a substantial sum of money to shareholders; and the unwelcome and expensive distraction of a hostile takeover bid, successfully repelled. FINANCIAL RESULTS Turnover of $1.26 million during the current period relates only to the Group's US operations. The figure for the first six months of 2001 also included Russian operations which were sold during the latter part of that year, and the Spartan gas field in the United States which was sold in May 2001. Oil production in the USA during the reporting period is similar to the comparative period whereas gas production during the first six months of 2002 has been negligible. Average oil prices achieved at $22.29 per barrel are approximately $3.50 per barrel lower than the first six months of 2001. As a consequence of the lack of both Russian production and US gas production, cost of sales has contracted to $1.1 million (2001: $3.77 million) although administrative cost at $1.52 million is marginally ahead of the comparative period cost. The resulting operating loss before bid defence costs amounts to $1.65 million (2001: profit $3,000). As described more fully below, Aminex successfully repelled a takeover bid from Apple Oil & Gas Ltd. during the period. The cost of defending the company against Apple amounted to $1.94 million. This cost, offset by the net positive results from our associated company in Tatarstan and our interest in an oilfield services joint venture, contributed to a total operating loss amounting to $3.4 million (2001: profit $451,000). After taking into account net interest income and a minor taxation charge (relating to the Tatarstan associated company), the Group incurred a net loss of $3.39 million for the period (2001: profit $377,000). Fixed assets increased during the current period by approximately $8.4 million and mainly comprised the acquisition of Tanzoil NL and additions to our assets in the USA. Included in the reduction of shareholders equity is an amount of $7.5 million representing a cash repayment of capital to shareholders. USA OPERATIONS In August this year gas production commenced from the Sunny Ernst #1 well at Alta Loma, Texas. This discovery well was announced in December 2001 and initially flowed 3,000 mcf plus 107 barrels of condensate per day. It is currently producing at 5,300 mcf plus 170 barrels of condensate per day, a higher rate than anticipated. Start-up was delayed due to a dispute involving a field partner and a neighbouring lease holder, now successfully resolved. Aminex has a 37.5% interest in this well and in surrounding acreage. At Sabine Lake, Aminex participated in a significant discovery well that tested gas at a rate of 9,300 mcf/day and 750 barrels of condensate. A second exploration well was drilled on a different block, but was a dry hole. Aminex has a 10.6% interest in this discovery and a 15.5% interest in the surrounding acreage. Production will commence towards the end of this year after tie-in of facilities, more complex than normal due to the need to lay a pipeline across a navigable ship channel. Further drilling is planned for the Sabine Lake area. During the year to date Aminex has generated and advanced three new prospects in Texas. Kodiak has now been farmed out to industry partners and drilling of the first well has recently commenced. Antelope has also been farmed out and initial drilling locations selected. At Benchmark existing seismic data has been reprocessed and preliminary drilling locations identified. Two wells have been successfully drilled and completed for production on the Group's Vinton Dome leases in Louisiana and preparations are in hand for two further new wells. TANZANIA OPERATIONS Preparations for first drilling are well under way with bottom hole locations selected for both wells planned on the Group's offshore Nyuni licence. In our Annual Report for 2001 we indicated that the first well would spud this September but operational constraints mean this is not now likely to occur until the latter part of the fourth quarter. The two wells will test separate structures in the Lower Cretaceous formation, directly adjacent and analogous to the Songo Songo gas field which is under development. The Songas pipeline system, funded by international institutions including the World Bank, is due to deliver first gas from Songo Songo to Dar Es Salaam in 2004 and possibly beyond at a later date. The Nyuni Production Sharing Agreement gives us right of access to the Songas pipeline should we make a discovery of gas. Although East Africa offshore is considered to be gas prone, recent field work carried out by Aminex provides strong evidence for the possibility of oil discoveries as well as gas. Aminex recently launched a world-wide farm out initiative for the Nyuni licence which has attracted strong industry interest and detailed negotiations are currently in progress with several parties. Whatever the results of the farm out initiative, Aminex plans to retain a substantial interest in this large and prospective block. The two structures to be drilled later this year, individually known as Nyuni and Okuza, are among six so far identified on this 2,600 square kilometre licence, which stretches from Tanzania's Indian Ocean shoreline eastwards across the continental shelf and into deep water. Seismic has so far only been shot over about one third of the licence area. Activity in Tanzania has stepped up considerably since we acquired Tanzoil earlier this year. In particular, it has recently been announced that Shell has been awarded four offshore exploration licences to the north of Nyuni. We ourselves are in negotiations with Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation to convert our Technical Evaluation Agreement on the Ruvuma licence, close to the border with Mozambique, to a full Production Sharing Agreement. CORPORATE ACTIVITY In May, following approval of shareholders and the Irish courts, a capital repayment was made to shareholders of Sterling 6.65 pence per share, at a total cost of $7.5 million. This step was in line with our policy, announced before the bid from Apple Oil & Gas, to return tangible value to shareholders following our successful exit from the Komi Republic of Russia late last year and we are pleased to have been able to accomplish this. In March, Aminex shareholders received an unsolicited offer from the OFEX listed Apple Oil & Gas Ltd. The terms of the offer were speculative to say the least and the offer was successfully repelled, due to the good sense of the great majority of shareholders. It will be little consolation to shareholders to learn that Apple Oil & Gas has subsequently exited the OFEX market, ceased operations and is in negotiation with its creditors. The bid arrested your company's activities for many damaging weeks and the direct financial cost, written off in the results for the period under review, was $1.94 million, funds which are permanently lost to shareholders. The indirect cost is to be found in the time lost to take forward the company's interesting projects and there is no doubt that our efforts have been hampered by this unwelcome and totally opportunistic distraction. There has been no material change in the status of the litigation matters referred to in the 2001 Annual Report. TATARSTAN During the period production from the Dachnoye Field increased to an average of 1,750 barrels per day as a result of new drilling. Fifteen development wells are planned for the year 2002 of which six had been achieved by the end of June. An arbitration hearing instigated by Aminex is scheduled to take place in the fourth quarter regarding a disputed issue of new shares to an outside investor. OUTLOOK We believe that Tanzania is an exciting area for exploration and that the commencement of our involvement there was timed at the right moment in the cycle, given weight by the subsequent arrival of Shell. The work we have done in the USA during the period under review is part of an ongoing effort to build a reserves base in politically stable areas, contrasting with the higher risk Tanzania where a major discovery could transform the company. As well as these two core areas and our investment in oil production in Tatarstan, our strong balance sheet and in-house technical capabilities enable us to continue to review and evaluate further opportunities. Peter Elwes Chairman AMINEX PLC Unaudited Consolidated Profit and Loss Account Six months Six months ended ended Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2002 2001 2001 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) US$'000 US$'000 US$'000 Turnover: Group and share of joint venture 2,105 7,715 14,018 Less: share of joint venture turnover (840) (1,639) (2,713) Group turnover (Note 1) 1,265 6,076 11,305 Cost of sales (1,105) (3,771) (7,273) Amortisation of oil and gas properties (289) (862) (1,507) Gross (loss)/profit (129) 1,443 2,525 Administrative expenses (1,522) (1,440) (3,336) Group operating (loss)/profit before bid defence costs (1,651) 3 (811) Exceptional item - bid defence costs (Note 2) (1,944) - - Group operating (loss)/profit after bid defence costs (3,595) 3 (811) Share of operating profit - Associate 310 522 833 Share of operating loss - Joint Venture (132) (74) (211) Total operating (loss)/profit (Note 3) (3,417) 451 (189) Profit on disposal of subsidiary undertaking - - 5,709 (Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before interest (3,417) 451 5,520 Interest receivable and other income 176 321 330 Interest payable and similar charges - Group (77) (63) (193) - Joint venture (5) (2) (59) - Associate (35) (2) (6) (Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation (3,358) 705 5,592 Taxation - Group - (46) (201) - Associate (37) (98) (118) (Loss)/profit on ordinary activities after taxation (3,395) 561 5,273 Profit attributable to minority interest - equity - (184) (332) Retained (loss)/profit for the period (3,395) 377 4,491 Basic (loss)/earnings per €0.06 Ordinary Share (in US cents) (4.04) 0.49 6.46 (Note 4) Diluted (loss)/earnings per €0.06 Ordinary Share (in US cents) (4.04) 0.49 6.40 (Note 4) Rate of dividend (in cents) - - - AMINEX PLC Consolidated Balance Sheet 30 June 30 June 31 December 2002 2001 2001 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) US$'000 US$'000 US$'000 Fixed Assets Intangible assets 6,003 - - Tangible assets 12,822 39,330 11,374 Investment in joint venture - share of gross assets 1,172 827 766 - share of gross liabilities (503) (678) (759) Investment in associate 3,572 3,090 3,308 23,066 42,569 14,689 Current assets Stocks - 1,859 - Debtors 3,241 4,594 3,211 Cash at bank and in hand 12,293 3,107 24,836 15,534 9,560 28,047 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (5,243) (4,933) (3,352) Net current assets 10,291 4,627 24,695 Total assets less current liabilities 33,357 47,196 39,384 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (142) (7,247) (133) 33,215 39,949 39,251 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 6,390 5,648 5,661 Share premium account 35,353 38,809 38,823 Foreign currency reserve 106 (21) 6 Profit and loss account (8,634) (9,807) (5,239) Shareholders' funds - equity 33,215 34,629 39,251 Minority interest - equity - 5,320 - 33,215 39,949 39,251 AMINEX PLC Consolidated Cash Flow Statement Six months Six months ended ended Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2002 2001 2001 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) US$'000 US$'000 US$'000 Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities (1,746) 139 1,034 Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest received 159 88 107 Interest paid (77) (460) (772) Net cash inflow/(outflow) from returns on investments and servicing of finance 82 (372) (665) Taxation Overseas tax paid - (118) (295) Investing activities Purchase of tangible fixed assets (1,718) (2,353) (5,315) Purchase of intangible fixed assets (445) - - Sale of fixed assets 2 287 286 Acquisitions and disposals Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings (193) - - Disposal of subsidiary undertaking - - 31,651 Cash transferred on acquisition/(disposal) of subsidiary 1 - (440) undertaking Loans (advanced to)/repaid by joint venture (797) 133 145 Disposal of investments - 750 750 Cashflow from investing activities before management of liquid resources and finance (4,814) (1,534) 27,151 Management of liquid resources Cash withdrawn from/(placed on) short term deposits 11,607 - (20,307) Financing activities Issue of ordinary share capital 32 - 27 Issue expenses (279) - - Return of capital to shareholders (7,500) - - New loans drawn down - 500 566 Repayment of loan - (286) (7,286) Finance leases 55 - - Capital element of finance lease payments (57) (58) (107) Cash (outflow)/inflow from financing activities (7,729) 156 6,800 (Decrease)/increase in cash (936) (1,378) 44 Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from Six months Six months operating activities ended ended Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2002 2001 2001 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) US$'000 US$'000 US$'000 Operating (loss)/profit (3,595) 3 (811) Depreciation charges 355 984 1,733 Increase in stocks - (776) (34) Decrease in operating debtors 1,201 319 271 Increase/(decrease) in operating creditors 283 (435) (188) Foreign exchange movement 10 44 63 Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities (1,746) 139 1,034 AMINEX PLC Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Information 1. Turnover Six months ended Six months ended Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2002 2001 2001 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) US$'000 US$'000 US$'000 Oil and gas production Continuing operations - USA 1,265 2,723 4,119 Discontinued operations - Russia - 3,353 7,186 1,265 6,076 11,305 2. Exceptional item - bid defence costs The exceptional item relates to costs borne by the company relating to the proposed acquisition of the company by Apple Oil and Gas Limited ("Apple"). Apple announced its offer on 1 March 2002. The offer subsequently lapsed on 25 April 2002. 3. Total operating (loss)/profit Six months ended Six months ended Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2002 2001 2001 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) US$'000 US$'000 US$'000 Continuing operations - USA (1,473) 759 (367) Discontinued operations - Russia - (308) 178 Exceptional item - bid defence costs (1,944) - - (3,417) 451 (189) On 22 October 2001, the Group disposed of its interest in its wholly owned subsidiary undertaking, Aminex Production Company Limited, and its 55% interest in OOO AmKomi to a subsidiary company of OAO Lukoil. 4. Loss per share The calculation of loss per share for the six months ended 30 June 2002 is based on the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue during the period of 83,971,999 (six months ended 30 June 2001: 76,510,844) and on the loss on ordinary activities after taxation attributable to the shareholders of Aminex PLC of US$3,395,000 (six months ended 30 June 2001: profit US$377,000). The loss attributable to ordinary shareholders and weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of calculating the diluted loss per ordinary share are identical to those used for basic loss per ordinary share. This is because the exercise of share options and warrants would have the effect of reducing the loss per ordinary share and is therefore not dilutive under the terms of Financial Reporting Standard 14 Earnings per share. 5. Acquisition of subsidiary company On 28 March 2002, Aminex PLC acquired the share capital of Tanzoil NL through the issue of 13,461,538 Ordinary Shares of €0.06 each at Stg26 pence per share. 6. Comparative accounts Comparative accounts have been restated, where necessary, on the same basis as those for the current period. 7. Statutory Information The financial information for the six month periods to 30 June is unaudited and does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 19 of the Companies (Amendment) Act 1986. The financial information for year ended 31 December 2001 has been extracted from the audited financial statements which have been filed with the Companies Registration Office. The auditors, KPMG, have reported without qualification on the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2001. This announcement is being sent to shareholders and will be made available at the Company's registered office at 14 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2 and at the Company's UK representative office at 10 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9HE. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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