Final Results
LEPCO plc
29 June 2000
LEPCO plc
Chairman's Statement
In 1999 conditions within the exploration and production industry
remained difficult. The year started with historically low oil
prices and gas prices continued to fall throughout the year. Since
the oil price collapse in 1998 the industry, particularly in the
North Sea, has remained introspective focusing on mergers rather
than asset rationalisation. Even with the recovery in the oil price
over the last twelve months this trend has continued, with many
companies being reluctant to sell proved reserves and capital
budgets remaining low.
Given this background, LEPCO's activities in 1999 were focused on
developing its existing assets as well as seeking to acquire assets
at fair value. In this regard, the most important development was
the settlement of the Company's dispute with Mustang Oil Limited,
resulting in the Group acquiring effectively all of the equity on
block 47/9c (subject to small carried interests) and being approved
by the Department of Trade and Industry as operator of the block.
This is LEPCO's first operatorship.
Block 47/9c contains a significant gas prospect close to the
southern part of the Easington Catchment Area. Phase 1 of this
project, including the Mercury field on the immediately adjacent
block 47/9b and operated by BG plc, recently commenced production.
Following a review of previous activity on the block, we announced
on 9 May 2000 that the Company had agreed with Montrose Industries
Limited for them to earn a 5% interest in the block in return for
providing the services of Dr Richard Stabbins (formerly Exploration
Director of Goal Petroleum plc) to manage an evaluation programme.
This evaluation programme includes a full review and
reinterpretation of 3-D seismic and other data over the licence.
The evaluation is currently in progress and we will be making a
further announcement as to the outcome of this review. LEPCO has
also furthered its exploration effort in the same geological basin
by an application for acreage in the UK onshore 9th round which is
currently in progress.
The board and management continue to pursue opportunities to acquire
producing oil and gas interests in both the UK and the Netherlands.
In particular, we reached agreement in 1999 on two separate
transactions to acquire producing gas interests in the Dutch North
Sea. We announced in January 2000 that the principal transaction
concerned - involving the acquisition of a package of producing gas
interests in Netherlands North Sea from Total Oil and Gas Nederland
B.V. - had been pre-empted. Following this we withdrew from the
remaining agreed transactions as they no longer satisfied LEPCO's
criteria.
The financial results of the Group to 31 December 1999 reflect
LEPCO's current focus on exploration activities since the disposal
of its interest in the Forties field in January 1999. In
particular, overhead costs have been cut significantly and the
directors intend to keep costs consistent with the activities and
resources of the Group.
In spite of recent difficult conditions in our sector, the directors
believe that LEPCO is well placed to develop as one of the UK's few
quoted independents as activity increases in the industry. In
addition to progressing activity on the Group's exploration
programme, the board is continuing to review all options for the
Group's future development, including discussions with interested
parties, to assist in the significant growth of the business. I
look forward to keeping shareholders informed of progress.
P.J. Bassett
Chairman
29 June 2000
Copies of the Company's Annual Report will be sent to shareholders
on 30 June 2000 and will be available thereafter for members of the
public at the Company's office at Vigilant House, 120 Wilton Road,
London SW1V 1JZ.
For further information contact: Peter Wilde, LEPCO plc 020 7233 5245
Chris Callaway, Beeson Gregory 020 7488 4040
Consolidated profit and loss account
For the year ended 31 December 1999
1999 1998
£ £
Turnover
Continuing 37,125 19,146
Discontinued - 1,873,938
________ _________
37,125 1,893,084
________ _________
Cost of sales
Continuing (46,630) (11,242)
Discontinued (64,362)(2,468,792)
________ ________
(110,992) 2,480,034)
________ ________
Gross (loss) profit
Continuing (9,505) 7,904
Discontinued (64,362) (594,854)
________ ________
(73,867) (586,950)
________ ________
Administrative expenses
Abortive acquisition costs
-continuing (83,382) -
-discontinued - 168,217)
Other (continuing) (212,074) 186,160)
________ ________
(295,456)(354,377)
________ ________
Operating loss
Continuing (304,961)(178,256)
Discontinued (64,362)(763,071)
________ ________
(369,323)(941,327)
________ ________
Profit on sale of tangible fixed assets 11,140 -
(continuing)
Loss on disposal of discontinued - (189,310)
Investment income 24,936 5,029
Interest payable and similar charges (462) (26,354)
________ ________
Loss on ordinary activities before (333,709) (1,151,962)
Taxation - 39,606
________ ________
Retained loss for the year (333,709)(1,112,356)
________ ________
Loss per share (basic and diluted) 3.39p 13.2p
Consolidated statement of total recognised gains and losses
For the year ended 31 December 1999
1999 1998
£ £
Loss for the financial year (333,709) (1,112,356)
Gain on foreign currency translation 526 768
________ ________
Total recognised gains and losses relating to the (333,183) (1,111,588)
________ ________
Consolidated balance sheet
31 December 1999
1999 1998
£ £
Fixed assets
Intangible assets 877,434 714,761
Tangible assets 18,532 30,499
________ ________
895,966 745,260
________ ________
Current assets
Debtors 23,254 987,188
Investments - 106,647
Cash at bank and in hand 436,238 44,559
________ ________
459,492 1,138,394
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one (74,372) (269,385)
year
________ ________
Net current assets 385,120 869,009
________ ________
Total assets less current liabilities, 1,281,086 1,614,269
being net assets
________ ________
Capital and reserves
Called-up equity share capital 983,273 983,273
Share premium account 1,669,145 1,669,145
Other reserves 35,618 35,092
Profit and loss account (1,406,950)(1,073,241)
________ ________
Total equity shareholders' funds 1,281,086 1,614,269
________ ________
Company balance sheet
31 December 1999
1999 1998
£ £
Fixed assets
Intangible assets 729,510 533,006
Tangible assets 5,090 13,567
Investments 37,678 37,678
________ ________
772,278 584,251
________ ________
Current assets
Debtors 253,230 1,167,391
Investments - 106,647
Cash at bank and in hand 410,434 42,049
________ ________
663,664 1,316,087
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one (66,607) (248,982)
year
________ ________
Net current assets 597,057 1,067,105
________ ________
Total assets less current liabilities, 1,369,335 1,651,356
being net assets
________ ________
Capital and reserves
Called-up equity share capital 983,273 983,273
Share premium account 1,669,145 1,669,145
Profit and loss account (1,283,083)(1,001,062)
________ ________
Total equity shareholders' funds 1,369,335 1,651,356
________ ________
Signed on behalf of the Board on 29 June 2000
P.J. Bassett Director
P.K. Wilde Director
Reconciliation of operating loss to net cash outflow from operations
For the year ended 31 December 1999
1999 1998
£ £
Operating loss (369,323) (941,327)
Depletion and amounts written off tangible fixed 32,777 292,416
assets
Depreciation 8,477 7,246
Amounts written off intangible fixed assets 83,382 -
Provision for decommissioning - 345,675
Decrease in debtors 87,225 491,511
Decrease in creditors (40,572) (260,265)
Decrease in stocks - 77,965
________ ________
Net cash (outflow) inflow from operations (198,034) 13,221
________ ________
Consolidated cash flow statement
For the year ended 31 December 1999
1999 1998
£ £
Net cash (outflow) inflow from operations (198,034) 13,221
Returns on investments and servicing of 24,474 (21,325)
finance
Capital expenditure 662,331 (628,160)
________ ________
Net cash inflow (outflow) before 488,771 (636,264)
financing
Financing - 711,255
________ ________
Increase in cash 488,771 74,991
________ ________