Final Results

RNS Number : 3212H
Westmount Energy Limited
04 November 2008
 




4 November 2008



PRESS RELEASE


WESTMOUNT ENERGY LIMITED


 FINAL RESULTS FOR THE YEAR 

ENDED 30 JUNE 2008



The Board of Westmount Energy Limited (the 'Company') today announces the final results of the Company for the year ended 30 June 2008.


These results will shortly be available to download from the Company's website www.westmount-energy.co.uk and will be posted to shareholders no later than Friday 7 November 2008.


CHAIRMAN'S REVIEW


It is my pleasure to present my first Annual Report on the Company since I was appointed Chairman in March 2008, and to report that considerable progress has been made in realising the value of your Company's investments.


Your Board has maintained its policy of closely monitoring its four investments and this has initially resulted in the sale of our holding in CDS Oil and Gas Plc for £825,194 which resulted in a net profit of £289,072. The timing of this sale was particularly fortuitous in view of market conditions subsequent to the sale.


We raised further cash by disposing of a small percentage of our holding in Desire Petroleum Plc, namely 300,000 shares, at 77.79p and of one million of our holding in Sterling Energy Plc at 13.96p. I will refer later in my review as to our strategy in relation to these two investments.


Your Board continued with its programme to buy back the Company's shares as and when the opportunity arose and when the price represented a significant discount to our net asset value. During the year we purchased a total of 424,700 shares at a total cost of £348,092.


The most significant event has occurred subsequent to the year end when we accepted an offer from a Swedish utility company, Vattenfall AB (publ), to acquire our holding of 244,000 shares in Eclipse Energy Plc at a price of £18.01p per share. The formal offer has been tabled and under the terms of the offer the closing date was 31 October 2008. Subject to the offer becoming unconditional we would anticipate receiving proceeds in the region of £4,394,000. This would represent a profit of £3,659,000 on this investment.


For this we are deeply indebted to the foresight of our late Chairman, Derek Williams who had the courage and foresight to recognise the potential for wind and gas generation in the Irish Sea. At a time when Eclipse was encountering difficulty in raising additional finance, Derek personally guaranteed the company's loan of £500,000 to Eclipse which was subsequently converted into shares at £7.50.  In my view this loan was critical to Eclipse's survival at that time.


It is indeed sad that Derek could not have survived to witness the success of this investment.


Following the disposal of these two investments, the company has two remaining investments, namely:


1.    Desire Petroleum Plc (Desire)

    

Desire announced on the 14 August that it had signed an agreement with Arcadia Petroleum Ltd whereby Arcadia will drill two wells in the North Falkland Basin at no cost to Desire. In addition the Falkland Island Government has granted Desire and Arcadia new acreage adjacent to Desire's existing acreage in Tranche 1. 


In addition Desire has sufficient resources of its own to drill two additional wells in their licence area.


Following this announcement Desire and Arcadia are actively seeking rig and there are signs that the rig market is softening and they are hopeful that subject to engaging a rig, drilling could commence in the first quarter 2009. Desire have confirmed that the drilling opportunity is economically compelling even in the current oil price environment.



2.    Sterling Energy Plc (Sterling)


Sterling's performance has been very disappointing and the share price has collapsed from 14p to around 3p as worries persisted about the company's financial position. It has recently raised £13 million by way of a placing at 2p and in addition has entered into a contractual agreement to sell its North American assets. The sale of these, if completed, and the recent Farm In to their Kurdistan acreage should ensure that the company's outlook in 2009 will improve. We participated in the recent placing by buying 2,500,000 shares at 2p at a cost of £50,000.


Your Board has been successful in reducing the corporate costs and will continue to maintain a firm control on expenditure. As a result of the sale of our investment in CDS we are able to report a net profit after tax of £206,410 (2007 loss £363,923) for the year.


Future Policy


It is the Board's intention to realise value from its investments and to return surplus cash to shareholders. We would hope to receive the proceeds from the sale of our Eclipse shares towards the end of the calendar year and we will then review what action we propose with regard to returning surplus funds to our shareholders.


Finally at the time of writing this review the net asset value of our shares (taking into account the proceeds of Eclipse sale) is 110p per share.


MERVYN BRADLOW

Chairman

3 November 2008


REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF WESTMOUNT ENERGY LIMITED


1.    The directors have pleasure in presenting the audited financial statements of the company for the 
       year ended 30 June 2008.


2.    The result for the year is set out on page 10 in the profit and loss account. The directors do not 
       recommend the payment of a dividend in respect of these financial statements.


3.    Development of the company's activities and its prospects are reviewed in the chairman's review 
       on pages 4 and 5.


         4.    The directors during the year and subsequently were as follows:

                                

                A Levison      (Chairman) (resigned 11 March 2008)                

                P J Richardson                    

                M S D Yates                    

                P R Anderson

                M Bradlow (Non-Executive director, appointed Non-Executive Chairman 11 March 2008)


        Biographical Information


Peter J Richardson, age 52, a Jersey resident, is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and a diploma qualified Fellow of the Securities Institute. A director of the company since 25 June 1998, he is a director of fund management and special purpose vehicle administration companies. He was formerly for six years Corporate Trust Manager of The Royal Bank of Scotland Trust Company (Jersey) Limited and for the previous twenty years held senior positions with four major international banking groups.  


He also holds a number of public company directorships.


Marc S D Yates, age 48, a Jersey resident, and a director of the company since 1 October 1998, is a partner in the offshore legal and fiduciary services Ogier Group Partnership. He practices in the area of corporate and finance law and has been an advocate of the Royal Court of Jersey since 1985, as well as being an English barrister of twenty four years standing.  


He also holds a number of public company directorships.


Paul R Anderson, age 34, a Jersey resident, and a director of the company since 22 December 2005, is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and a senior trust manager of Bedell Group, Jersey and has been involved with the company's business for over 10 years.


Mervyn Bradlow, Non Executive Chairman, age 77, has been known to the company for many years and had a close association with the previous chairman, was a member of the London Stock Exchange and is currently an investment advisor with Hargreave Hale Limited, stockbrokers, and has been involved in the oil and gas sector for over 20 years.


5.    The secretary of the company throughout the year was Bedell Secretaries Limited.  


6.    The principal activity of the company is, and continues to be, investment holding. 


7.    The company purchased, for cancellation, 424,700 ordinary shares of 20p during the year for a total 
       consideration of £348,092. The shares represent 5.7% of the opening called up share capital as at 
       1 July 2007.


8.    At 3 November 2008 notification had been received of the following holdings of more than 3% of the 
       issued capital of the company:


Number

%




    Personal representatives of the late D G Williams and related  
    parties

1,005,939

14.41

    Amodeo Investments Limited

864,000

12.38

    Hargreave Hale Limited

1,262,000

18.08


    The company held no beneficial interest in shares of the company through related parties.


9.    There are no service contracts with directors. However, Ridge House Resources Limited, a 
       company in which D G Williams was interested, is entitled to a commission of 3% of profits arising 
       from the company's current interest held through Desire Petroleum plc and any future interests in 
       the 
Falkland Islands.  


In order to secure loan finance in July 2002 from The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, D G Williams provided a personal guarantee to the bank amounting to £500,000. In consideration of D G Williams providing that guarantee the company has agreed to pay him a fee of 3% of profits realised by the company on the investment in Eclipse Energy UK plc. This fee is payable to his estate.


The directors, from time to time, are entitled to an aggregate bonus calculated at 5% of the gross profit realised from any potential sale of shares in Sterling Energy plc, received following the disposal of the company's investments in Fusion Oil & Gas plc and Fusion Oil & Gas NL.


10.    The company is not resident in the United Kingdom and is, therefore, not a close company within 
         the meaning of the United Kingdom Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.


11.    The movements in investments are shown in note 7 to the financial statements on page 16.


12.    The company does not follow any specified code or standard on payment practice. However, it is 
         company policy to settle all debts owing on a timely basis, taking account of the credit period 
         given by each supplier. The company has few trade creditors and the majority of year end credit 
         was due to professional advisers. For this reason, the directors consider that the publication of the 
         number of creditor days would not provide meaningful information.


13.    The directors are responsible for preparing their Annual Report and the financial statements in 
         accordance with applicable law and regulations.


The directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UK GAAP) and applicable law. The financial statements are required to give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the company as at the end of the financial period and of the profit and loss of the company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the directors are required to:

  • Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

  • Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

  • State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

  • Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the company will continue in business.


    The directors are responsible for:

  • keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and that enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991;

  • safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities;

  • the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the company's website.


The directors confirm that they have complied with these requirements and, at the time of approving these financial statements, have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence as a going concern for the foreseeable future. For this reason they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.


14.    In the case of each of the persons who are directors at the time when the report is approved, the following applies:

  • so far as the director is aware, there is no relevant audit information (information needed by the company's auditors in connection with preparing their report) of which the company's auditors are unaware, and

  • each director has taken all the steps that he ought to have taken as a director in order to make himself aware of any relevant information and to establish that the company's auditors are aware of that information.


15.    A resolution to re-appoint the auditors, Moore Stephens, and authorising the directors to fix their 
         remuneration will be submitted to the forthcoming annual general meeting.


16.    Special Business at Annual General Meeting

The annual renewal of the general authority of the company to purchase up to ten per cent of its issued shares on a stock exchange is included as special business at the Annual General Meeting.



By Order of the Board




For and on behalf of


Bedell Secretaries Limited








P R ANDERSON




Secretary


26 New Street
St Helier

Jersey

JE2 3RA

Channel Islands


3 November 2008



INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF

WESTMOUNT ENERGY LIMITED


We have audited the financial statements of Westmount Energy Limited for the year ended 30 June 2008 which comprise the Profit and Loss Account, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement and the related notes. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out therein.


This report is made solely to the company's members as a body, in accordance with Article 110(2) of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991. 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 auditors' 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

The directors' responsibilities for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) are set out in the Report of the Directors.


Our responsibility is to audit the financial statements in accordance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland).


We report to you our opinion as to whether the financial statements give a true and fair view and are properly prepared in accordance with the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991. We also report to you whether, in our opinion, the Directors' Report is not consistent with the financial statements, whether the company has not kept proper accounting records, or whether we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.


We read the other information contained in the Annual Report and consider whether it is consistent with the audited financial statements. This other information comprises only the Company Profile, Company Information, Chairman's Review and the Report of the Directors. We consider the implications for our report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial statements. Our responsibilities do not extend to any other information.


Basis of opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued by the Auditing Practices Board. An audit includes an examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. It also includes an assessment of the significant estimates and judgements made by the directors in the preparation of the financial statements, and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the company's circumstances, consistently applied and adequately disclosed.


We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the financial statements.


Opinion

In our opinion the financial statements:

  • give a true and fair view, in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, of the state the company's affairs as at 30 June 2008 and of its profit for the year then ended; and

  • have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991;


Chartered Accountants                Dated:3 November 2008

 

First Island House

Peter Street

St Helier

JerseyJE2 8SG



PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2008


(Expressed in United Kingdom Sterling)



Note


2008


2007



£

£

£

£







Administrative expenses



(346,267)


(436,410)







Operating (loss)



(346,267)


(436,410)







Profit on disposal of investments

7

507,325 


-


Interest receivable


45,352 


72,487 





552,677 


72,487 

Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities






before taxation

3


206,410 


(363,923)







Taxation

5


-  


- 

Profit/(loss) for the financial year



206,410 


(363,923)













Earnings per share

6


2.85p


(4.89)p






There were no acquisitions or discontinued operations during the current or preceding year.


The company had no recognised gains or losses other than those disclosed in the profit and loss account.


BALANCE SHEET

AT 30 JUNE 2008


(Expressed in United Kingdom Sterling)



Note


2008

2007




£


£

£


£




























FIXED ASSETS









    Investments

7




4,728,998



5,418,141










CURRENT ASSETS









    Prepayments and accrued 
    income



7,689 



5,824 



    Cash at bank



1,118,597 



540,609 






1,126,286 



546,433 



CREDITORS: amounts falling 
                    due









                    within one year

8


(131,730)



(143,341)












NET CURRENT ASSETS





994,556



403,092










TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT









LIABILITIES





5,723,554



5,821,233














































SHARE CAPITAL AND RESERVES









    Share capital

9




1,403,060



1,488,000

    Share premium account

10




416,317



679,469

    Capital redemption reserve

10




251,410



166,470

    Share option account

10




269,416



225,413

    Profit and loss account

10




3,383,351



3,261,881










SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS

11




5,723,554



5,821,233




























These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board of directors on 3 November 2008 and were signed on its behalf by:





















P J RICHARDSON




















Director
















































































CASH FLOW STATEMENT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2008


(Expressed in United Kingdom Sterling)



Note




2008




2007






£




£





















Net cash (outflow) from operating










activities 

A




(315,740)




(326,654)











Returns on investments and servicing










of finance

B




45,352 




36,234 











Capital expenditure and financial investment

C




1,196,468 




- 











Cash inflow/(outflow) before financing





926,080 




(290,420)











Financing

D




(348,092)




(49,193)











Increase/(decrease) in cash





577,988 




(339,613)





















Reconciliation of cash flow to movement










in net funds/(debt)




















Increase/(decrease) in cash





577,988 




(339,613)





















Change in net funds/(debt) resulting from cash flows






577,988 





(339,613)











Conversion of loan to equity investment





-




(500,000)











Movement in net funds in the year





577,988 




(839,613)











Net funds brought forward





540,609 




1,380,222 











Net funds carried forward

E




1,118,597 




540,609 











Represented by:




















Cash at bank





1,118,597




540,609











Net funds carried forward





1,118,597




540,609
































A.

RECONCILIATION OF NET OPERATING LOSS TO NET CASH OUTFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 



2008

£




2007

£









Operating loss


(346,267)



(436,410)


Cost attributable to issue of share options


44,003 



142,709 


(Increase) in prepayments and accrued income


(1,865)



(146)


(Decrease) in creditors and accrued expenses


(11,611)



(32,807)


Net cash outflow from operating







activities 


(315,740)



(326,654)















B.

RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS AND SERVICING OF FINANCE


2008

£



2007

£









Interest received


45,352 



36,234 


Net cash inflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance



45,352
 




36,234 















C.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND FINANCIAL INVESTMENT


2008

£



2007

£









Sale of fixed asset investments


1,196,468 



-


Net cash inflow from capital expenditure and







financial investment


1,196,468 



-















D.

FINANCING


2008



2007




£



£









Purchase of own shares


(348,092)



(63,442)


Issue of shares


-



14,249 


Net cash outflow from financing


(348,092)



(49,193)















E.

ANALYSIS OF NET FUNDS

30 June





1 July



2008

Cash flow


Non cash


2007



£

£


£


£


Net funds








Cash at bank

1,118,597 

577,988 


  - 


540,609 


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2008


1.    ACCOUNTING POLICIES









       a) Accounting convention










The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards in the United Kingdom.











    b) Foreign currency










Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated to United Kingdom Sterling at the rate prevailing at the date of the transaction.

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into United Kingdom Sterling at the rate prevailing at the balance sheet date.

Exchange gains and losses are taken to administrative expenses in the profit and loss account.











    c) Investments




Fixed and current asset investments are stated at cost and are subject to review for impairment. Any impairment is recognised in the profit and loss account in the year in which it occurs. Profits or losses realised on the disposal of individual fixed asset investments are calculated on an average cost basis.











    d) Financial instruments










Financial assets and liabilities are initially recognised on the historical cost basis, which approximate to fair value. The company recognises a financial asset or financial liability in the balance sheet when it becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Income and expenses associated with financial instruments are taken to the profit and loss account on an accruals basis.

Impairment of financial assets is recognised in the profit and loss account in the year in which it occurs.











e) Share options

Awards of share options are recorded under Financial Reporting Standard 20: Share-based Payment. The cost of the share options are ascribed a fair value at grant date and accounted for as an administration cost of the company with an equal Share Option Reserve being created in Shareholders' Funds. The cost is recognised in the profit and loss account over the vesting period of the award.  


f) Capital redemption 

Nominal amount of the company's share that have been purchased for cancellation is transferred from Profit and Loss Account Reserves to the Capital Redemption Reserves as required by Jersey Company Law.


    

    


2.    TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES: 



    SEGMENTAL INFORMATION



    By geographical area













2008


2007






£


£

    Total assets less current liabilities







      South America





-


536,124

      South Atlantic 





658,998


697,017

      North American and African regions




3,335,000


3,450,000

      European regions





735,000


735,000

      Segment net assets





4,728,998


5,418,141

      Unallocated net assets





994,556


403,092














5,723,554


5,821,233









Segmental information is reported under Statement of Accounting Practice 25: Segmental reporting. Since there is only one class of business, reporting is provided by geographical area only.














3.    NET PROFIT/(LOSS) ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION


2008




2007

    




£



£

Net profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation is stated after charging:













    Directors' emoluments




148,883


221,515

    Compensation for loss of office




24,486


-

    Auditors' remuneration




16,000


14,000

    Other auditors' costs - consultancy



-


2,588














4.    REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS




    







2008


2007








Salary/

fees


  Salary/

Fees



£


£

     










    Highest paid director


82,821


49,227

    Other executive directors


55,000


169,494

    Non-executive director


35,548


2,794








173,369


221,515










Directors' remuneration includes the cost of 250,000 (2007: 450,000) share options granted to two directors (2007: three) at a weighted average fair value of 16.47p (2007: 43.25p), on 6 September 2007 (150,000) and 19 December 2007 (100,000).










During the year, legal and professional fees totalling £1,641 (2007: £2,448) were paid to Ogier, a firm in which M S D Yates is a partner, in respect of services charged on an arms length basis as the company's legal advisors. Company secretary fees of £37,598 (2007: £16,538) were paid to Bedell Secretaries Limited, a firm in which Mr Anderson is a senior manager. There were no amounts due to or from related parties at the balance sheet date.










The company does not employ any staff except for its board of directors. The company does not contribute to the pensions or any other long-term incentive schemes on behalf of its directors.  


5.    TAXATION
























The company was a listed exempt company under the Income Tax (Jersey) Law 1961, as amended, and is therefore not liable in the Island for income tax, on payment of an annual fee of currently £600. With effect from 1 January 2009 the status of exempt company will cease to exist and the company becomes subject to Jersey Income Tax. The rate for the forseeable future is zero percent.


During the second quarter of 2008 the company registered as an International Services Entity under the Goods and Services Tax (Jersey) Law 2007 and a fee of £100 has been paid. As no relationship exists between the tax and the level of the company's activities, the tax has been included in the administrative expenses.





















6.    EARNINGS PER SHARE






















    The calculation of basic earnings per ordinary share is based on the profit for the year after taxation of £206,410 (2007: Loss £363,923). The weighted average number of shares in issue during the year was 7,246,858 (2007: 7,440,867). As explained in note 9, there are share options in issue over the company's ordinary shares.  Since the exercise price of these options at 30 June 2008 was above the average market price of the ordinary shares during the year, they are deemed to have no dilution effect on earnings per share and diluted earnings per share are consequently the same as basic earnings per share.













7.    INVESTMENTS






2008


2007







£


£

    Fixed asset investments









    CDS Oil & Gas Group plc ('CDS')









    Nil ordinary, fully paid shares at cost









    (2007: 3,762,268) (a)






-


536,124










    Desire Petroleum plc ('Desire')









    5,200,000 ordinary, fully paid









    shares at cost (2007: 5,500,000) (b)






658,998


697,017










Eclipse Energy UK plc ('Eclipse')







    244,000 ordinary, fully paid









    shares at cost (2007: 244,000) (c)






735,000


735,000










    Sterling Energy plc ('Sterling')









    29,000,000 ordinary, fully paid









    shares at cost (2007: 30,000,000) (d)






3,335,000


3,450,000







4,728,998


5,418,141











    (a) During the year, the company disposed of its holding of 3,762,268 ordinary shares in CDS, 
         realising a profit of £289,072 (after expenses).


    (b) On 30 June 2008 the market value of the company's holding of 5,200,000 ordinary fully paid 
         shares in Desire, representing 2.28% of the issued share capital of the company, was 
         £4,771,000 (91.75p per share, 2007: 30.25p per share). During the year, the company disposed 
         of 300,000 ordinary shares in Desire, realising a profit of £194,384 (after expenses).


    (c) This investment represents 13.42% of the issued share capital of Eclipse. As the investment is 
         currently unquoted, the market value of the group's holding is not readily available. In the 
         directors'   opinion the value of the investment is not less than the carrying amount.


    (d) On 30 June 2008 the market value of the group's holding of 29,000,000 ordinary fully paid shares 
         representing 1.76% of the issued share capital of 
Sterling was £3,262,500 (11.25p per share, 
         2007 16.25p per share). In the opinion of the directors this represents a temporary diminution in 
         value. During the year, the company disposed of 1,000,000 ordinary shares in 
Sterling, realising 
         a  profit of £23,869 (after expenses).










8.    CREDITORS: amounts






2008


2007

    falling due within one year






£


£










    Amounts due to shareholders






93,892


112,170

    Accrued expenses






37,838


31,171







131,730


143,341



















9.    SHARE CAPITAL






2008


2007








£


£

    Authorised:










    10,000,000 shares of 20p each






2,000,000


2,000,000

    

















    Allotted, called up

    and fully-paid:



2008
No.


2007
No.


2008
£


2007
£











    In issue



7,015,300


7,440,000


1,403,060


1,488,000






















Ordinary
shares


Ordinary
shares

    Movement:

No.


£

    




    Balance at 1 July 2007

7,440,000 


1,488,000 

    Purchase of own shares

(424,700)


(84,940)





Balance at 30 June 2008

7,015,300 


1,403,060 





As at 30 June 2008, options were outstanding over 850,000 (2007: 600,000) ordinary 20p shares, with a weighted average exercise price of 102.8p (2007: 103.5p). During the year, 250,000 options were granted, 150,000 on 6 September 2007, with an exercise price of 108p and 100,000 options on 19 December 2007 with an exercise price of 91p. The options are exercisable at the election of the option holder, over various periods expiring 31 December 2012. As at 30 June 2008, 510,000 (2007: 480,000) of the options were exercisable at a weighted average exercise price of 103.5p (2007: 103.5p).  The weighted average vesting date of all options issued, currently not vested, is 10 February 2009. The share options are ascribed a total expense for the year ended 30 June 2008 of £44,003 (2007: £142,709).










The 250,000 (2007: 600,000) share options granted during the year have been ascribed a weighted average fair value of 16.47p (2007: 43.25p) each. The fair values of the options were calculated using the Black Scholes valuation model with the following inputs for 6 September 2007 and 19 December respectively: share prices at date of grant 78.5p and 82.5p; exercise prices 108p and 91p; expected volatilities of 33.9212% and 33.2199%; dividend yields 0%; vesting periods 1.02 and 1.00 years; expected terms to maturity 3.17 and 3.02 years; and risk free rates of interest 5.2165% and 4.542%.










At each date of grant the volatility of the company was estimated as the standard deviations of daily historical continuously compounded returns over a period commensurate with the expected life of the option, back from the date of grant, and annualised by the factor of square root 252, assuming 252 trading days per year. The risk-free rate is the yield to maturity on the date of grant of a UK Gilt Strip, with term to maturity equal to the life of the option. The expected life of the options is estimated as the mid-point between the date of grant and the date of expiry of the option.




















10.    SHARE PREMIUM

    ACCOUNT AND 

    RESERVES


Share
Premium

Account


Capital Redemption Reserve


Share Option Account


Profit &

Loss

Account



£


£


£


£

    









    1 July 2007


679,469 


166,470


225,413 


3,261,881 

    Cost of share options


- 


-


44,003 


    Purchase of own shares 


(263,152)


-



-

  Transfer between reserves


-


84,940


-


(84,940)

    Profit for the year


-


-



206,410 










    Balance at 30 June 2008


416,317 


251,410


269,416 


3,383,351 


















11.    RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN 

    SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS




2008 

£ 


2007 

£ 










    Profit/(loss) for the year






206,410 


(363,923)

    Issue of shares at a premium





14,249 

    Cost of share options




44,003 


142,709 

    Purchase of own shares




(348,092)


(63,442)








    Opening shareholders' funds




5,821,233 


6,091,640 

    Closing shareholders' funds




5,723,554 


5,821,233 



















12.  CONTROLLING PARTY










  In the opinion of the directors the company does not have a controlling party.



















13.    POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS


















On 11 July 2008 the company purchased for cancellation 35,000 of its ordinary shares of 20p each at a price of 90p per share.


On 12 September 2008 the 150,000 options over its ordinary shares of 20p each granted to Mr A. Levison by the company on 6 September 2007 lapsed.


On 17 September 2008 the company announced that it had agreed to sell its entire stake of 244,000    ordinary shares in Eclipse Energy UK plc to Vattenfall AB (publ) at a price of £18.01 per share. The formal offer has been tabled and under the terms of the offer the closing date was 31 October 2008. Subject to the offer becoming unconditional it is anticipated that proceeds in the region of £4,394,000 will be received. This would represent a profit of £3,659,000 on this investment.


Subsequent to the year end, the share price of the investment in Sterling Energy Plc has collapsed to around 3 pence per share (compared to a carrying cost value of 11.5 pence per share).  This would value the holding at approximately £870,000 compared with a carrying value of £3,335,000.  In the opinion of the directors, this diminution in value is only temporary and the actions taken by Sterling (as described in the Chairman's Report) will ensure that the carrying value of the investment is maintained. The directors will monitor the performance of this investment and revisit the question of its valuation at the next balance sheet date.



 

Notice of Meeting


Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Westmount Energy Limited will be held at Whiteley Chambers, Don Street, St. Helier, JerseyJE4 9WG Channel Islands on Monday, 1 December 2008 at 11.45 am for the purpose of conducting the following business. 


Ordinary business of the company:-


  • To receive the company's financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2008 and the reports of the directors and the auditors thereon.

            2.   To re-appoint Moore Stephens as auditors of the company. 

 

            3.   To authorise the directors of the company to fix the remuneration of the auditors.

 

            4.  To transact any other ordinary business which may properly be transacted at an annual general meeting.


Special business of the company:-

 

           1.    To consider and, if thought fit, pass a special resolution in the form attached as Annexure 1 to this Notice renewing 
                  the company's authority to purchase certain consolidated ordinary shares of £0.20 each in the company on the 
                  terms set out in Annexure 1.



By order of the Board

Bedell Secretaries Limited

Secretary

Registered office:

26 New Street
St Helier

Jersey JE2 3RA
Channel Islands


3 November 2008



CONTACTS:


Westmount Energy Limited

Tel: 01534 814209

  Paul Anderson, Director



Ruegg & Co Limited


Tel: 020 7584 3663

  Gavin Burnell


  Brett Miller





Note for Editors:


Westmount Energy Limited is a Jersey based AIM quoted Energy Investment Company. Its present investments include 31,500,000 shares of AIM quoted Sterling Energy plc, 5,200,000 shares of AIM quoted Desire Petroleum plc and 244,000 shares of presently unquoted Eclipse Energy UK plc. The Company has no borrowings.





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