Final Results
Aminex PLC
28 April 2004
AMINEX PLC
("Aminex" or "the Company")
Preliminary Results for the year ending 31 December 2003
Aminex, the oil and gas company listed on the London and Irish Stock Exchanges,
today announces its preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2003.
Highlights
• Nyuni 1 drilling complete, well currently under limited test
• Increased production and higher oil and gas prices in USA
• Disposal of interest in OAO Ideloil since year end completes planned
withdrawal from Russia
• Operating loss before exceptional items reduced from 2002 $5 million to
current period $2.2 million
• Net positive cash and negligible debt at year end
Overview
In the Preliminary Statement last year reference was made to the changes in
Aminex Group strategy that were in hand or had already been accomplished. It
will be recalled that in 2001 the Group disposed of its principal assets in
Russia, a 55% stake in the AmKomi joint venture in the Komi Republic. Since
then Aminex has negotiated the sale of its investment in OAO Ideloil which owns
the producing Dachnoye oil field in Tatarstan, another internal Russian
republic. This completes the planned withdrawal from Russia after ten years.
The Group's activities now have a much stronger bias towards high impact
exploration in frontier areas where the search for hydrocarbons is still at an
early stage, reflecting the Board's belief that this strategy offers scope for
major growth. During the last year the Group has been able to focus its
attention on its current principal area of interest, Tanzania. Aminex believes
that East Africa, and Tanzania in particular, is set to become a new
oil-producing province.
Financial Review
Group turnover has increased from $3.5 million in 2002 to $7.76 million for the
current year. The increase is mainly due to a combination of higher prices and
higher production of oil and gas in the USA during 2003. Cost of sales has
increased by $2 million to $4.36 million in 2003. The resulting gross profit,
after taking into account an amortisation charge of $1 million, amounts to $2.4
million, an increase of $2 million over that for 2002.
Administrative charges of $4.6 million have increased from 2002 by $1.2 million,
in part due to the recognition of twelve months administrative expenses for the
oilfield services business (the comparative period only reflecting two months of
such costs, following the Group's purchase of the remaining 50% interest of the
oilfield services joint venture at the end of October 2002) but also as a
consequence of a weaker US dollar on translation of the Group's sterling
denominated administrative expenses. The resulting Group operating loss before
exceptional items for the year amounts to $2.2 million, an improvement of $2.8
million over 2002. However, the comparative year's result included a charge of
$2 million, being the cost of defending an unsolicited bid for the Company.
The Group disposed of its investment in Ideloil in early 2004. As a
consequence, the book value of the investment at 31 December, 2003 was adjusted
down to the net proceeds on sale, resulting in an exceptional charge in the
current period of $2.01 million. After taking account of this charge and
offsetting net interest income, the Group net loss after tax for the twelve
months ended 31 December, 2003 amounted to $4.13 million, which compares with a
net loss of $4.95 million for 2002.
The Balance Sheet at 31 December, 2003 shows an increase over 2002 in intangible
fixed assets of $4.3 million, reflecting the Group's exploration activities
during the year on the Nyuni licence in Tanzania and, to a lesser extent, in the
USA. The Group has a positive cash balance and remains virtually debt free.
Strategy
Aminex has a general objective of building reserves and production through
drilling or acquisition. Your Board believes the progress made in the Tanzanian
venture validates its decision to pursue exploration and development
opportunities with the ability to add substantially to the value of the
business. This will remain its guiding principle.
United States
Operations in the US continue satisfactorily and revenues increased as a result
of both increased production and higher oil and gas prices. During the year, the
Sabine Lake gas discovery was brought on stream following the construction of
facilities, including a marine pipeline. An infill drilling programme is planned
over the next twelve months in the South Weslaco field to convert "proved
undeveloped" reserves into the producing category, together with an appraisal
well on the producing Alta Loma gas field.
Tanzania
Following the acquisition of Tanzoil in 2002, exploration activities were
initiated on the Nyuni licence, a large tract offshore Tanzania. Aminex
assembled a three-partner group which has now drilled the Nyuni-1 exploration
well. Several other prospects have already been identified over the Nyuni
licence area. The well, which reached a total depth of 3,895 metres in the Upper
Jurassic, has drilled through a 1,100 metre Lower Cretaceous sequence, the
potential reservoir, and is currently under limited test. The well has already
established the presence of hydrocarbons in the area.
Aminex is the first company to have drilled an exploration well offshore East
Africa for many years. However, the area is rapidly becoming a focus of renewed
interest as larger companies negotiate extensive acreage holdings in Tanzania
itself and in neighbouring offshore Kenya. Thanks to two existing gas
discoveries, Songo Songo and Mnazi Bay, made some years back, Tanzania has
generally been considered as an area of gas rather than oil potential. From the
outset, however, Aminex has taken the view that offshore Tanzania offers great
scope for the discovery of oil as well as gas and has approached the Nyuni
project with this in mind. Subsequent regional oil sampling and geochemical
analysis carried out by Aminex, allied to the presence of oil shows from
cuttings during the drilling of Nyuni-1 itself, indicates the presence of oil
over the region originating from a Lower Jurassic source rock.
Prospects
Aminex will continue its work on the Nyuni licence, the precise scope of which
will depend upon the final results of Nyuni-1. As well as Nyuni, Aminex also
holds the Ruvuma onshore licence in the south of Tanzania, adjacent to gas
discoveries in neighbouring Mozambique. Aminex expects to commence preliminary
exploration of Ruvuma during the current year. Its exploration team continues
to identify other areas of interest in Tanzania which are unlicensed at present.
The Group is in the process of assembling a small group of industry partners
to undertake initial joint studies. There is a strong and growing demand for
gas as well as oil in East Africa, so Aminex views its future there with
optimism.
28 April 2004
Enquiries
Aminex PLC + 44 (0)20 7240 1600
Brian Hall - Chief Executive
Simon Butterfield - Finance Director
College Hill + 44 (0)20 7457 2020
James Henderson
Nick Elwes
Davy Corporate Finance + 353 (0)1 614 8934
Hugh McCutcheon
Consolidated Profit and Loss Account for the year ended 31 December 2003
2003 2002
Note US$'000 US$'000
Turnover - Group and share of joint venture 7,760 4,738
Less share of joint venture turnover - (1,242)
7,760 3,496
Group turnover
- continuing operations 7,153 3,413
- discontinued operations 607 83
Group turnover 7,760 3,496
Cost of sales (4,362) (2,316)
Amortisation of oil and gas properties (998) (779)
Gross profit 2,400 401
Administrative expenses (4,582) (3,400)
Exceptional item - bid defence costs - (1,999)
Group operating loss
- continuing operations (2,067) (4,953)
- discontinued operations (115) (45)
(2,182) (4,998)
Share of operating profit - associate - 856
Share of operating loss - joint venture - (202)
Provision against loans to joint venture - (624)
Group operating loss before exceptional items
- continuing operations (2,067) (4,923)
- discontinued operations (115) (45)
(2,182) (4,968)
Exceptional items:
Write down in book value of investment in associate 2(a) (2,010) -
Loss on disposal of subsidiary undertaking 2(b) (8) -
Loss on ordinary activities before interest (4,200) (4,968)
Interest receivable and other income 105 283
Interest payable and similar charges - Group (38) (41)
Interest payable and similar charges - associate - (88)
Interest payable and similar charges - joint venture - (8)
Loss on ordinary activities before taxation (4,133) (4,822)
Tax on loss on ordinary activities - Group - -
- associate - (127)
Retained loss for the financial year (4,133) (4,949)
Basic and diluted loss per Ordinary Share (in US cents) 3 (4.55) (5.67)
Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2003
2003 2002
Note US$'000 US$'000
Fixed assets
Intangible fixed assets 11,068 6,797
Tangible fixed assets 12,834 13,585
Investment in associate 2(a) - 4,000
Other financial assets 868 -
24,770 24,382
Current assets
Investment held for resale 2(a) 2,003 -
Stocks - 141
Debtors 6,102 4,791
Cash at bank and in hand 346 8,287
8,451 13,219
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (5,474) (5,940)
Net current assets 2,977 7,279
Total assets less current liabilities 27,747 31,661
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (88) (136)
Net assets 27,659 31,525
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 6,172 6,156
Share premium account 35,258 35,212
Capital conversion reserve fund 234 234
Foreign currency reserve 316 111
Profit and loss account (14,321) (10,188)
Shareholders' funds - equity 27,659 31,525
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 December 2003
Note 2003 2003 2002 2002
US$'000 US$'000 US$'000 US$'000
Net cash outflow from operating activities 5 (1,814) (4,471)
Return on investments and servicing of finance
Interest received 41 212
Dividend received from associate 39 -
Rent received 9 -
Interest paid (38) (40)
Net cash inflow from returns on investments
and servicing of finance 51 172
Capital expenditure
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (2,355) (2,249)
Purchase of intangible fixed assets (3,023) (1,206)
Sale of tangible fixed assets 32 3
Purchase of other investment (868) -
Net cash outflow for capital expenditure (6,214) (3,452)
Acquisitions and disposals
Disposal of subsidiary undertaking (12) (253)
Cash transferred on (disposal)/acquisition of
subsidiary undertaking (10) 48
Loans advanced to joint venture - (810)
Net cash outflow for acquisitions and disposals (22) (1,015)
Net cash outflow before use of liquid resources
and financing (7,999) (8,766)
Management of liquid resources
Cash removed from short term deposit 7,400 15,007
Financing activities
Issue of ordinary share capital - 32
Issue expenses - (295)
Return of capital - (7,500)
Expenses on return of capital - (105)
New bank loans advanced 225 130
Repayment of bank loans (118) (21)
New finance lease obligations 45 70
Capital element of finance lease payments (94) (94)
Cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities 58 (7,783)
Decrease in cash (541) (1,542)
Notes to the Financial Information
1 Basis of preparation
The preliminary statement has been derived from the financial statements for the
year ended 31 December 2003 which have been prepared on the basis of the
accounting policies set out in the statutory financial statements for the year
ended 31 December 2002.
2 Exceptional items
(a) Subsequent to the year end, the Group disposed of its interest in OAO
Ideloil for US$2.215 million before selling expenses. The disposal has given
rise to a write down in book value of the investment in associate at 31 December
2003 of US$2.01 million. As a result, the investment in associate has been
reclassified to current assets under "Investment held for resale". No share of
profits was recognised in the year ended 31 December 2003.
(b) On 21 August 2003, the Aminex Group disposed of its 90% interest in Amossco
Ropes Limited.
3 Basic and diluted loss per Ordinary Share
2003 2002
Loss attributable to ordinary shareholders US$4,133,000 US$4,949,000
Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares outstanding 90,905,734 87,343,188
Loss per share US4.55 cents US5.67 cents
Loss per share is calculated by dividing the weighted average number of Ordinary
Shares in issue during the year into the loss after taxation for the year
attributable to the shareholders of Aminex PLC.
There is no difference between the basic net loss per share and the diluted net
loss per share for the years ended 31 December 2003 and 2002 as all potentially
dilutive Ordinary Shares are anti-dilutive.
4 Dividends
No dividend is proposed (2002: US$nil).
5 Reconciliation of operating loss to net cash outflow from operating
activities
2003 2002
US$'000 US$'000
Operating loss (2,182) (4,998)
Depreciation charges 1,166 923
Decrease/(increase) in stocks 46 (29)
(Increase)/decrease in debtors (3,009) 443
Increase/(decrease) in creditors 1,905 (809)
Issue of share capital in settlement of services provided 62 -
Loss on sale of tangible fixed assets 7 -
Foreign exchange movement 191 (1)
Net cash outflow from operating activities (1,814) (4,471)
6 2003 Report and Accounts
The 2003 Report and Accounts will be posted to shareholders shortly.
7 Statutory information
The financial information set out above does not constitute the Company's
statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2003 within the meaning of the
Companies (Amendment) Act, 1986. The statutory accounts will be finalised on
the basis of the financial information presented by the Directors in the
preliminary announcement and together with the auditors' report thereon will be
delivered to the Register of Companies following the Company's Annual General
Meeting.
This information is provided by RNS
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