Interim Results

UNITED ENERGY PLC 30 September 1999 Chairman's Statement Dear Shareholders The six months to 30 June 1999 have been spent divesting the US oil and gas operations and extracting value for the assets held by Agrigen following the Planning Inspector's decision to dismiss Agrigen's planning appeal for the Nunn Mills Biomass Power Station, Northampton, in February this year. As a result of these activities your Company entered the second half of 1999 as a cash shell with net liquid assets of £3.95 million. Group Results Results for the first half of 1999 were adversely impacted by weak oil and gas prices and a decline in production caused by the sale of the US assets which was completed on 1 June 1999, resulting in 5 months production being reflected in the Interim Results. Compared to the first six months of 1998 average received oil and gas prices were down 5% and 19% respectively at 12.61 US$/bbl and 1.77 US$/mcf, whilst production was down 5% at 1,880 boepd. This resulted in turnover down 12% at £2.38 million resulting in a loss for the first half of £409,000 before the £160,000 exceptional gain on disposal of operations. US Oil and Gas Operations In early June the Company announced that the disposal of AmBrit Energy Corp's US assets had been completed with an amount of approximately 1.20 million US$ being held in escrow, in accordance with the completion mechanism defined by the Sale and Purchase Agreement. The escrow funds have now been distributed during September, with all title defects cured thereby finalising the disposal of the US assets. The legal dispute relating to the Pilgreen 2-St well referred to in the 1998 Report & Accounts remains unresolved with the outstanding royalties due to AmBrit amounting to £300,000 remaining in the court. Your Board is still of the opinion that it has a high chance of success in this action. Agrigen Following the Planning Inspector's adverse decision, the site at Nunn Mills was sold for £250,000 in early March and Agrigen was placed in Receivership on 12 March, 1999. United Energy is the largest creditor of Agrigen Ltd and as such has made a full provision amounting to £0.87 million which was carried as an exceptional item in the 1998 accounts. There have been a number of expressions of interest in the NFFO licence and Thermie Grant but as yet, no transaction has been completed. Outlook Since the completion of the disposal of AmBrit Energy Corp's US assets, considerable time has been spent evaluating a number of potential businesses to 'reverse' into United Energy. As indicated at the time of the disposal we remain committed to the concept of shareholder value and are assessing opportunities on their potential to ensure this is maximised. We have identified a number of candidates and continue to evaluate these with the objective of announcing a transaction by the time the year end results are reported. John Billington Chairman 30 September 1999 Unaudited Group Results for the Six Months Ended 30 June 1999 Six months ended Six months ended Year ended 30 June 1999 30 June 1998 31 December 1998 £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover 2,380 2,698 5,471 Cost of sales: Production costs (945) (1,053) (2,186) Depletion of oil and gas interests and abandonment (1,019) (1,051) (2,414) Exceptional impairment of oil and gas interests - - (750) (1,964) (2,104) (5,350) Gross profit 416 594 121 Administrative expenses (464) (446) (910) Operating (loss)/profit (48) 148 (789) Loss from interests in associated undertaking - (11) (20) Exceptional loss on associated undertaking - - (870) Interest receivable and similar income 17 5 6 Interest payable and other charges (378) (330) (729) Exceptional gain on disposal of operations 160 - - Loss on ordinary activities before taxation (249) (188) (2,402) Taxation - - - Loss on ordinary activities after taxation (249) (188) (2,402) Loss per share (0.6p) (0.5p) (6.2p) Unaudited Group Balance Sheet as at 30 June 1999 30 June 1999 31 December 1998 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Intangible exploration assets 0 111 Oil and gas interests 0 12,009 Other tangible assets 33 322 33 12,442 Current assets Debtors 1,263 1,453 Cash at bank 3,868 458 5,131 1,911 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (1,214) (3,223) Net current assets 3,917 (1,312) Total assets less current liabilities 3,950 11,130 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year - (7,175) Net assets 3,950 3,955 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 3,889 3,889 Share premium account 272 272 Other reserves: capital reserve 717 717 Profit and loss account (928) (923) Shareholders' funds-equity 3,950 3,955 Notes 1. The figures above do not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The comparative figures for the year ended 31 December 1998 have been extracted from the statutory accounts for that year, on which the auditors reported without qualification, and which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. 2. The interim results for the six months ended 30 June 1999 are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies adopted in the statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 1998 as modified by the adoption of new financial reporting standards. 3. The directors do not propose to recommend the payment of an interim dividend (1998: nil). 4. These interim results are being circulated to shareholders and are available upon request from the Company's Head Office at 51 The Promenade, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 1PJ (Tel: 01242 253773).
UK 100

Latest directors dealings