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PCI Petroceltic

7.495
0.00 (0.00%)
18 Apr 2024 - Closed
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Petroceltic LSE:PCI London Ordinary Share IE00BB0QZ876 ORD EUR0.3125
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 7.495 0.00 01:00:00
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
0 0 N/A 0

Petroceltic International PLC Interim Report and Operational Update (6302A)

30/09/2015 7:02am

UK Regulatory


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TIDMPCI

RNS Number : 6302A

Petroceltic International PLC

30 September 2015

Dublin

30 September 2015

PETROCELTIC INTERNATIONAL PLC

Interim Results and Operational Update

Petroceltic International plc ("Petroceltic" or "the Company" or "the Group"), the independent oil and gas exploration development and production company focused on North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions today announces its results for the six month period ended 30 June 2015.

Highlights:

-- Significant progress in Algeria with rig contract awarded, development drilling to commence shortly and invitation to tender for EPC launched

-- First half working interest production of 15.7 Mboepd, 2015 full year guidance remains at 14 -15 Mboepd

-- Focus on core assets and de-emphasising high-risk exploration with exits from Kurdistan and Romania

-- Eni's 30 TCF Zohr discovery provides strong encouragement for Petroceltic's directly adjacent offshore Egyptian exploration blocks

   --     Revenue of $38m (H1 2014 - $96m) from Egypt ($29m) and Bulgaria ($9m) 
   --     Net debt of $184m (31 December 2014 - $153m) 
   --     Capital expenditure during the period of $29m (H1 2014 - $68m) 
   --     Loss for the period of $27m (H1 2014 loss: $57m) 

Brian O'Cathain, Chief Executive of Petroceltic, commented:

"The Company has remained focused on delivery from its core assets, despite a challenging sector and market environment. The Ain Tsila gas development in Algeria remains on track for first gas in 2018 and continues to be de-risked following the award of the rig contract and the invitation to tender for the EPC. Maintaining production levels in Egypt and Bulgaria remains a key objective and we are naturally encouraged by Eni's recent discovery directly adjacent to our offshore acreage in Egypt."

For further information, please contact:

   Brian O' Cathain / Tom Hickey, Petroceltic International       Tel: +353 (1) 421 8300 
   James Henderson / Rollo Crichton-Stuart, Bell Pottinger      Tel: +44 (20) 3772 2500 
   Douglas Keatinge / Joe Heron, Murray Consultants              Tel: +353 (1) 498 0300 
   John Frain / Roland French, Davy                                          Tel: +353 (1) 679 6363 

Chairman and Chief Executive's Statement

The results to June 2015 reflect a challenging period where the Company primarily focused on delivery from its core development and producing assets and on reducing corporate and exploration expenditures in response to oil price and sector weakness. Production during the period, all of which is operated by Petroceltic, was approximately 15.7 Mboepd (7.7 Mboepd on a net entitlement basis), which is in line with our unchanged full year guidance of 14 -15 Mboepd.

Algeria

Petroceltic (operator, 38.25%), Sonatrach (the National Oil and Gas Company of Algeria, 43.375%) and Enel (18.375%) are joint parties to the Isarene PSC which contains the Ain Tsila development with reserves of 2.1 Tcf of Gas and 179 MMbbls of condensate (69 MMbbls) and LPG (110 MMbbls).

An experienced project team has been established and in January 2015 the Joint Operating Organisation (known as 'Groupement Isarene'), which is responsible for executing the field development plan, relocated its office from Algiers to the main Algerian oil and gas operating centre at Hassi Messaoud. Planning for the development drilling programme is well advanced and in April 2015 a rig contract was awarded to Sinopec, a company with extensive experience in Algeria. The 1,500 horsepower rig, which is now en route to the field, will drill up to 24 new development wells prior to first gas; these drilling locations, all in the northern region of the field, have already been selected and approved. The contract award and rig mobilisation represents the achievement of a further milestone for the Ain Tsila project and will enable drilling to commence on schedule in late 2015.

During the period, the Groupement launched the Engineering, Procurement and Construction ("EPC") process by inviting applications for pre-qualification. The pre-qualification process resulted in the selection of a short-list of EPC contractors which would be capable of delivering the Central Gas Processing Facility and associated works envisaged for the Ain Tsila development. Four pre-qualified companies (or consortia) have been invited to tender, each of which has previously delivered similar projects and all of which have experience in Algeria including successful projects with our partner Sonatrach. Following a technical and commercial evaluation of the offers, it is anticipated that the EPC tender process will complete with an award recommendation targeted for year end 2015 and commencement of construction planned for 2016. The development plan remains on schedule, and we are targeting first gas from the Ain Tsila field in the last quarter of 2018.

The scope of work for the EPC contract comprises a central processing facility, an industrial base, an administration/accommodation base, well-gathering system, and product export system. The scope is based on the Front End Engineering and Design ("FEED") outputs being generated by Chicago Bridge and Iron Company. The surface facilities have been designed to process up to 420 million standard cubic feet/day of wet gas, and transport the resultant product streams of dry gas, liquefied petroleum gas ("LPG") and condensate to existing tie-in points in the Algerian national hydrocarbon export infrastructure.

The gross project cost prior to first production is expected to be in the region of $1.6 billion with the majority of the expenditure incurred from 2016 through 2018. The capital estimate and phasing will be confirmed in more detail after the FEED studies have been completed and EPC contract awarded.

In June 2015 an amendment to the Isarene PSC approving the transfer of Petroceltic's interest in the Isarene project to a subsidiary company (Petroceltic Ain Tsila Limited) was signed by all parties; this was approved by the Council of Ministers of Algeria in July 2015 and became fully effective upon formal gazetting in the Official Journal of Algeria on 16 September 2015.

Egypt

Daily production from the onshore Nile Delta fields for the first half of 2015 was 13.8 Mboepd on a working interest basis (6.2 Mboepd on a net entitlement basis) generating gross revenue of $29m of which $18m was from gas sales and $11m from sales of oil, condensate and LPG. Approximately 73% of the production was derived from the West Dikirnis, South Damas, and the West and South Khilala fields. Gas prices achieved during the period averaged $2.77/Mcf and liquids prices averaged at $51.62/bbl. During the period $29m was invested in a range of development and exploration activities including three new infill production wells - West Khilala 10, West Khilala 6 and West Dikirnis 12 - as well as 3D seismic acquisition on North Thekah and the signature bonus for the North Port Foaud block.

The Egyptian receivable at 30 June 2015 was $54m which is up from $50m at year end, however a number of significant payments since the end of the period have reduced the outstanding amount to approximately $31m.

In addition to its producing fields, the Group holds interests in four exploration concessions; these include a 75% interest in the onshore South Idku concession in the Nile Delta region, 50% interests in two adjacent deep water blocks, North Thekah and North Port Fouad, and a 37.5% interest in the El Qa'a Plain concession in the Gulf of Suez. In North Thekah, 3D seismic was acquired during the first half of 2015 and plans for exploration drilling will be made following evaluation of the recent 3D seismic survey. In North Port Fouad, 3D seismic tendering will start in Q4 2015. North Port Fouad is situated directly adjacent to the Shorouk block where Eni recently discovered the 'supergiant' Zohr gas field with a potential 30 Tcf of gas in place covering about 100 km(2) . The Zohr-1 exploration well was drilled just three kilometres from the western boundary of the North Port Fouad block. Although, it is too early to say for certain, there is a possibility that a portion of the Zohr discovery may extend into the North Port Fouad block. This discovery, allied to the very sizeable discoveries across the border in offshore Israel and Cyprus, provides strong encouragement for the overall prospectivity of the region and should support Petroceltic's plans to farm out our interest. In South Idku, a tendering process is underway for the acquisition of a 3D seismic survey and exploration drilling is likely to occur in 2016. In El Qa'a plain, the seismic contract to acquire 450 sq km of 3D seismic was tendered, evaluated and signed in the first half of 2015 and seismic acquisition commenced in September.

Black Sea

Petroceltic has a 100% operated interest in three offshore gas producing fields in the Bulgarian Black Sea; Galata, Kaliakra and Kavarna. Daily production in Bulgaria averaged approximately 1.9 Mboepd in the first half of 2015, with 74% of this from the Galata field. Total sales gas production for the six month period of 1.6 Bcf generated $9m of revenue at an average gas price of $5.84/Mcf.

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September 30, 2015 02:02 ET (06:02 GMT)

Capital expenditure in Bulgaria for the six months to June 2015 was $2m. The current focus is to optimise future production from Galata and satellite fields, and to complete the tie-in of the Kavarna East discovery, planned for early 2016. The Kavarna East field was discovered in 2010 and contains approximately 9.6 Bcf of gas reserves. The field will be developed using a single subsea well tied back to a manifold near the Kavarna field and, from there, the gas will flow to the Galata platform using the existing Kavarna flowline. As this is an existing discovery with pipeline laid, the development involves re-entry and completion of the existing well. The project execution plans are well advanced with all the long lead time equipment procurement activities completed. The exact project timing is now dependent on rig and diving support vessel availability. The Kaliakra-1 well rate continues to decline slowly and the Company is considering an additional well (Kaliakra-3) to ensure all reserves are accessed and to drain the field fully. The Kavarna-1 well is also declining and is likely to be shut-in when the Kavarna East field comes on stream.

In 2013 and 2014, Petroceltic and its partners drilled two unsuccessful exploration wells in the Romanian Black Sea, one in each of the Blocks 27 and 28. Following these disappointing results, Petroceltic made the decision to withdraw from the licences and in June 2015, sold its regional operating subsidiary, Petroceltic Romania BV, to GVC Investment B.V for a nominal consideration. Following the completion of the sale to GVC, Petroceltic has no remaining obligations in Romania.

Italy

The Elsa oil discovery, offshore Abruzzo, contains 95 MMbbl of gross contingent 2C resources (Petroceltic 55%, paying interest 70%). The discovery requires further appraisal drilling and the Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") for the Elsa-2 well was resubmitted to the relevant authorities in July 2014. In March 2015, technical approval was issued by the EIA Commission and the EIA final decree is expected in late 2015/early 2016, paving the way for drilling of the Elsa-2 well in late 2016. As part of the preparations for drilling, Petroceltic will consider farmouts or similar partnering initiatives for this appraisal project.

In the Western Po Valley, the EIA for the Carpignano Sesia-1 well on the Carisio permit was submitted by the Operator, Eni, to the authorities in December 2014. This well is being designed to test a large oil prospect located some 25km west of the analogous Villafortua-Trecate Field, and has gross mean unrisked prospective resources of 237 MMboe. Petroceltic has a 47.5% equity interest in the licence, but has concluded farm-out negotiations aimed at reducing the Group's exposure to exploration drilling and testing costs, while maintaining a material participation in the prospect. Further details of this transaction will be announced upon completion of the interest transfers.

Kurdistan

Petroceltic entered the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in 2011, participating in two exploration licences, Shakrok and Dinarta, through a joint venture with Hess Corporation (as operator). The Shakrok licence was relinquished in July 2014 following a non-commercial gas discovery in the Shakrok exploration well. The Shireen well on the Dinarta licence commenced in June 2014 and following significant operational difficulties was suspended in December at a depth of 1,430 metres. Following a detailed review by the joint venture partners, it was concluded that an additional well would be required to fully evaluate the exploration potential of the prospect, and Hess and Petroceltic jointly elected to withdraw from the Dinarta licence in March 2015 without further drilling. All costs, including a provision for committed costs to exit the licences, were written off in 2014. As a result, the costs incurred to date in 2015 do not impact the income statement for the period.

Financial

Revenue for the period was $38m (June 2014: $96m) primarily from production in Egypt of $29m and Bulgaria of $9m. The decrease in revenue is a result of lower production in Egypt and Bulgaria and the decreases in oil and gas pricing. The loss for the period to 30 June 2015 was $27m, down from $57m in the comparable period in 2014, principally due to a significantly lower exploration write-off. Administrative expenses were $15m (June 2014: $14m) and included approximately $3m of one-off costs related to corporate restructuring which delivered a significant reduction in headcount during the period and will result in material cost reductions in future periods. Finance expense amounted to $11m (June 2014: $10m) while the income tax expense of $4m (June 2014: $9m) was primarily related to Egyptian production.

Capital expenditure in the period amounted to $29m, which was invested in development activity in Egypt ($16m) and Bulgaria ($2m) as well as exploration activity in Egypt ($9m) and Algeria/Other ($2m); total capital expenditure in Algeria amounted to $18m of which $17m was funded by the Sonatrach carry pursuant to the 2014 farm-out agreement. Amounts remaining under the carry at the end of the period were $108m and are forecast to cover all of Petroceltic's project costs until Q2 2016. Full year 2015 capital expenditure is expected to be approximately $65m ($135m gross of which $70m is funded by the Sonatrach carry).

At the capital markets day in January 2015, the Group announced that, in light of the current oil price and the planned investment focus and activity levels over the coming years, it would undertake a reorganisation to simplify the structure of the Group. This has now been completed and has resulted in a reduction in head count of 27, representing approximately 40% of head office and corporate staff.

In June 2015, Petroceltic announced that it was contemplating issuing up to $175 million of Senior Secured Bonds (the "Bond Issue"). As part of this process, the Company has engaged with a broad group of international institutional credit and industry investors to discuss their appetite to participate in the Bond Issue. The Company has received positive confirmation of its strategy and outlook, as well as the quality of the Company's interest in the Isarene PSC for credit investors. That bond marketing period coincided with a time of exceptionally volatile market conditions and accordingly marketing was suspended in late July. Since then, the Group has maintained its dialogue with selected investors and, following the recent completion of the transfer of its interest in the Isarene PSC to a subsidiary company, expects to recommence marketing in relation to the Bond Issue, or equivalent financing, in the near future subject to market conditions. In addition, in recent months, the Group has also received a number of conditional proposals and expressions of interest in respect of the potential disposal of certain of the Group's producing and exploration assets in Egypt.

Investor relations

In January 2015 the Group held a capital markets day in London where Petroceltic senior management presented a detailed update on the significant progress that the Group has made in Egypt and Algeria to analysts and investors. The CEO and CFO, as well as other members of the Petroceltic management team, have also held regular meetings with analysts and institutional investors.

The Group's largest shareholder, Worldview Capital Management ('Worldview'), requisitioned an EGM which was held on 25 February 2015 and two further EGMs also requisitioned by Worldview were held on 7 September 2015. The details and results of these EGMs are discussed below.

Litigation

In July 2015, the Company announced that it had been served with legal proceedings issued by Worldview in the High Court of Ireland. The proceedings allege that the Company has failed to undertake a review of its business and seeks direction from the Court as to the manner in which the review is undertaken. Similar proceedings were issued by Worldview in London in December 2014 and dismissed by the English High Court in May 2015, with costs awarded to Petroceltic, on the grounds that the appropriate jurisdiction was Ireland. As with the previous English proceedings, Petroceltic believes that the latest Irish legal proceedings are totally without merit and misconceived. Nonetheless, if Worldview decides to pursue the proceedings, the Company will vigorously contest and defend its position.

In August, Petroceltic responded to allegations made on an anonymous blog-site concerning the Company and certain of its staff and contractors. The Company had no prior knowledge or notification of the claims or concerns, but upon its becoming aware, immediately instigated an investigation in accordance with established procedures. On the basis of the investigations conducted, the Company considers the allegations to be baseless, untrue and defamatory, and on 20 August 2015, the High Court of Ireland ordered the deletion of the blogsite and prohibited publication of further material posted by the blogger, finding, prima facie, that the material on the blog is defamatory of Petroceltic. Furthermore, the Court has ordered that the blogger be identified within a specified time frame. The identity of the blogger has to date, not been revealed to the Company.

Petroceltic has also been made aware of further allegations published on a website in Bulgaria. In accordance with its established procedures, Petroceltic will investigate all allegations and if appropriate, publicly report any findings or make any disclosures required.

Board and Governance

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September 30, 2015 02:02 ET (06:02 GMT)

On 25 February, at an EGM requisitioned by Worldview, shareholders rejected the resolutions submitted by Worldview proposing that Brian O'Cathain be removed as a Director, and that Maurice Dijols and Angelo Moskov be appointed as Directors, while Neeve Billis and Nicholas Gay (proposed by Petroceltic) were appointed to the Board as independent Non-Executive Directors. Don Wolcott and Joe Mach, who were originally appointed in 2014 pursuant to a shareholder agreement between the Company and Worldview, resigned from the Board in late February 2015, and in March 2015, Tom Hickey was re-appointed to the Board. In August, Hugh Cawley was appointed to the Board as an independent Non-Executive Director.

At an EGM on 7 September, convened at the request of Worldview, the Company presented a proposal to limit the borrowing powers delegated to Directors under its Articles by placing an appropriate monetary limit, which reflects institutional investor guidance, of an amount of $650m (which represents twice the capital and reserves of the Group's latest audited accounts) that can be borrowed by the Company without further Shareholder approval. A second special resolution to amend the memorandum of association in line with Irish Company law was also proposed by the Company at this EGM. These were special resolutions requiring 75% of votes to pass and both of these resolutions were defeated at the EGM.

A second EGM was held on the same day to consider a resolution proposed by Worldview. The resolution would have restricted the sale or disposal of any assets (including a subsidiary) by the Company if they represent 25% or more of the Company's revenues, profits or reserves unless prior shareholder approval is first obtained. As the Company is already subject to rules on the disposal of assets, as contained in the ESM Rules and the AIM Rules, the Board of Petroceltic believed that, if passed, the Worldview Resolution could adversely affect the Company's ability to effect future disposals, by increasing the conditionality and uncertainty of such disposals. This ordinary resolution was defeated at the EGM.

In September 2015, Worldview announced its intention to convene its own EGM, to discuss matters related to the Company's contemplated Bond funding, to be held on 5th October 2015. Petroceltic applied to the High Court of Ireland for an injunction to prohibit this EGM and on 28 September, the High Court of Ireland granted an injunction prohibiting this EGM from being held pending full trial of the action at a later date. Consequently the EGM will not proceed and shareholders should take no action in relation to any correspondence received.

Principal risks and uncertainties

Petroceltic is subject to various risks and uncertainties that may impact its business now and in the future. The Board categorises the risks as follows: Strategic & corporate, political & commercial, operational, HSES and financial (including Going Concern which is also covered in note 1 to the condensed set of financial statements). The principal risks and uncertainties faced by the Group over the remaining six months of 2015 are substantially unchanged from the disclosures included in the Annual Report as at 31 December 2014. A more detailed explanation of the risks can be found on pages 50-52 of the 2014 Annual Report and Financial Statements.

Outlook

Petroceltic retains a high quality portfolio with material reserves and we continue to ensure that the business is properly structured to achieve our objectives. The current market climate and low oil prices along with uncertainty surrounding future pricing has meant many oil and gas companies have faced a more challenging financing and business environment.

To address these challenges, Petroceltic has rationalised its business and made 40% of head office and corporate personnel redundant as part of an overall initiative to refocus the Company on its core development and producing assets. Looking forward, we anticipate a number of important events and contract awards in relation to the Isarene development over the coming months while elsewhere, a number of existing or anticipated farm-out and portfolio management initiatives have materially mitigated our exposure to future expenditures.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

   Robert Adair                                                       Brian O'Cathain 
   Chairman                                                          Chief Executive 

Responsibility Statement

Each of the Directors as follows,

   Robert Adair                - Chairman 
   Brian O'Cathain          - Chief Executive 
   Tom Hickey                 - Chief Financial Officer 
   Neeve Billis                 - Senior Independent Non-Executive Director 
   Alan Parsley                - Independent Non-Executive Director 
   Ian Craig                      - Independent Non-Executive Director 
   Nicholas Gay               - Independent Non-Executive Director 
   Hugh Cawley               - Independent Non-Executive Director (appointed 25 August 2015) 

confirm that, to the best of each person's knowledge and belief:

a) the condensed interim financial statements, comprising the condensed consolidated income statement, the condensed consolidated balance sheet, the condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity, the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows and related notes have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as adopted by the EU.

b) the interim management report includes a fair review of the information which would be required by:

i. Regulation 8(2) of the Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC) Regulations 2007, being an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements; and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year; and

ii. Regulation 8(3) of the Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC) Regulations 2007, being related party transactions that have taken place in the first six months of the current financial year and that have materially affected the financial position or performance of the entity during that period; and any changes in the related party transactions described in the last annual report that could do so.

 
 Condensed Consolidated Income Statement 
 For the period ended 
  30 June 2015 
                                            Unaudited   Unaudited        Audited 
                                              6 months    6 months      full year 
                                                 ended       ended          ended 
                                               30 June     30 June    31 December 
                                                  2015        2014           2014 
                                     Notes       $'000       $'000          $'000 
 
    Revenue                            2        37,978      96,270        157,242 
 
    Depletion and decommissioning      2      (23,354)    (41,100)       (88,498) 
    Other cost of sales                2      (10,483)    (15,351)       (29,914) 
                                            ----------  ----------  ------------- 
    Total cost of sales                       (33,837)    (56,451)      (118,412) 
                                            ----------  ----------  ------------- 
 
    Gross profit                                 4,141      39,819         38,830 
 
    Administrative expenses            2      (14,622)    (13,727)       (21,596) 
    Impairment of oil 
     and gas assets                                  -           -       (86,390) 
    Share-based payments 
     expense                           2       (1,915)     (1,810)        (3,759) 
                                            ----------  ----------  ------------- 
    (Loss)/profit from operating 
     activities before exploration 
     costs                                    (12,396)      24,282       (72,915) 
 
    Exploration costs 
     written off                       2           (6)    (64,250)      (183,384) 
                                            ----------  ----------  ------------- 
    Loss from operating 
     activities                               (12,402)    (39,968)      (256,299) 
 
    Finance income                     3            72       1,450          2,858 
    Finance expense                    3      (10,995)    (10,002)       (18,539) 
 
    Loss before tax                           (23,325)    (48,520)      (271,980) 
 
    Income tax expense                 4       (3,786)     (8,908)        (9,610) 
 
    Loss for the period                       (27,111)    (57,428)      (281,590) 
                                            ==========  ==========  ============= 
 
 
    Basic loss per share 
     (cents)                           5       (12.66)     (32.23)       (143.50) 
    Diluted loss per share 
     (cents)                           5       (12.66)     (32.23)       (143.50) 
 
 
     The loss for the period is derived entirely from 
     continuing operations and is 100% attributable 
     to equity shareholders of the Company. 
 
     There was no other comprehensive income during 
     the current or prior periods. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet 
 As at 30 June 2015 
 
 
                                        Unaudited   Unaudited        Audited 
                                         6 months    6 months      full year 
                                            ended       ended          ended 
                                          30 June     30 June    31 December 
                                             2015        2014           2014 
                                Notes       $'000       $'000          $'000 
 Non-current assets 
 Intangible assets                         39,214      98,609         29,752 
 Assets under development                 163,257     195,159        161,927 
 Property, plant and 

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September 30, 2015 02:02 ET (06:02 GMT)

  equipment                               279,904     390,984        281,088 
 Other receivables                         14,568       8,950         14,610 
 Deferred tax assets                        1,176       2,000          2,619 
 Total non-current 
  assets                                  498,119     695,702        489,996 
                                       ----------  ----------  ------------- 
 
 Current assets 
 Inventories                               14,254      22,640         16,256 
 Trade and other receivables               78,992     109,987         82,762 
 Cash and cash equivalents                 14,380     105,681         52,773 
 Total current assets                     107,626     238,308        151,791 
                                       ----------  ----------  ------------- 
 
 Total assets                     2       605,745     934,010        641,787 
                                       ----------  ----------  ------------- 
 
 Current liabilities 
 Trade and other payables                  46,993      47,901         40,916 
 Loans and borrowings             7       100,000      49,000         38,000 
 Derivative liability                           -         353              - 
 Provisions                       8         1,291           -         10,259 
 Current tax liabilities                    1,883       2,684          2,267 
 Total current liabilities                150,167      99,938         91,442 
                                       ----------  ----------  ------------- 
 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Provisions                       8        31,972      29,004         31,846 
 Deferred tax liabilities                  28,876      38,887         30,242 
 Loans and borrowings             7        90,034     214,229        158,365 
 Total non-current 
  liabilities                             150,882     282,120        220,453 
                                       ----------  ----------  ------------- 
 
 Total liabilities                2       301,049     382,058        311,895 
                                       ----------  ----------  ------------- 
 
 Net assets                               304,696     551,952        329,892 
                                       ==========  ==========  ============= 
 
 Equity 
 Share capital                            103,715     103,567        103,715 
 Share premium                            626,688     626,683        626,688 
 Other capital reserves                     (883)       (883)          (883) 
 Share-based payment 
  reserve                                  18,387      17,086         18,272 
 Retained deficit                       (443,211)   (194,501)      (417,900) 
 Total equity                             304,696     551,952        329,892 
                                       ==========  ==========  ============= 
 
 
 
   Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes 
   in Equity 
 For the period ended 
  30 June 2015 
 
 
 
                                                     Other   Share-based 
                              Share      Share     capital       payment    Retained       Total 
                            capital    premium    reserves       reserve     deficit      equity 
                              $'000      $'000       $'000         $'000       $'000       $'000 
 Unaudited 
 Balance at 1 January 
  2014                       87,249    546,290       (883)        16,810   (138,607)     510,859 
 Loss for the financial 
  period                          -          -           -             -    (57,428)    (57,428) 
 Shares issued               16,318     80,393                                            96,711 
 Share-based payment 
  charge                          -          -           -         1,810           -       1,810 
 Effect of share options 
  exercised or lapsed 
  -                                          -           -       (1,534)       1,534           - 
 Balance at 30 June 
  2014                      103,567    626,683       (883)        17,086   (194,501)     551,952 
                          =========  =========  ==========  ============  ==========  ========== 
 
 Audited 
 Balance at 1 January 
  2014                       87,249    546,290       (883)        16,810   (138,607)     510,859 
 Total comprehensive 
  income 
 Loss for the financial 
  year                            -          -           -             -   (281,590)   (281,590) 
 Transactions with owners 
  of the Company 
 Shares issued               16,466     80,398                         -           -      96,864 
 Share-based payment 
  charge                          -          -           -         3,759           -       3,759 
 Effect of share 
  options exercised 
  or lapsed                       -          -           -       (2,297)       2,297           - 
 Balance at 31 December 
  2014                      103,715    626,688       (883)        18,272   (417,900)     329,892 
                          =========  =========  ==========  ============  ==========  ========== 
 
 Unaudited 
 Balance at 1 January 
  2015                      103,715    626,688       (883)        18,272   (417,900)     329,892 
 Total comprehensive 
  income 
 Loss for the financial 
  period                          -          -           -             -    (27,111)    (27,111) 
 Transactions with owners 
  of the Company 
 Share-based payment 
  charge                          -          -           -         1,915           -       1,915 
 Effect of share 
  options lapsed                  -          -           -       (1,800)       1,800           - 
 Balance at 30 June 
  2015                      103,715    626,688       (883)        18,387   (443,211)     304,696 
                          =========  =========  ==========  ============  ==========  ========== 
 
 
 Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 
 For the period ended 30 
  June 2015 
 
 
                                   Unaudited   Unaudited        Audited 
                                    6 months    6 months      full year 
                                       ended       ended          ended 
                                     30 June     30 June    31 December 
                                        2015        2014           2014 
                                       $'000       $'000          $'000 
 Cash flows from operating 
  activities 
 Loss before tax                    (23,325)    (48,520)      (271,980) 
 Adjusted for: 
 Finance income                         (72)     (1,450)        (2,858) 
 Finance expense                      10,995      10,002         18,539 
 Depletion, depreciation 
  and decommissioning charges         23,646      41,236         89,050 
 Exploration costs written 
  off                                      6      62,623        169,897 
 Cost of share-based payments          1,915       1,810          3,759 
 Impairment of property, 
  plant and equipment                      -           -         80,478 
 Impairment of inventory                   -           -          5,912 
 Income tax charge on Egyptian 
  revenue                            (3,709)    (11,043)       (19,775) 
 Provision for Kurdistan 
  exit                                     -           -          9,994 
 Cash flows from operations 
  before changes in working 
  capital                              9,456      54,658         83,016 
                                  ----------  ----------  ------------- 
 
 Decrease/(increase) in 
  inventories                          2,001     (1,351)          (878) 
 (Increase)/decrease in 
  trade and other receivables          4,361       5,714         30,820 
 Increase/(decrease) in 
  trade and other payables           (7,711)         841        (2,733) 
 Income taxes paid                     (384)     (2,026)        (3,677) 
 Net cash from operating 
  activities                           7,723      57,836        106,548 
                                  ----------  ----------  ------------- 
 
 Cash flows from investing 
  activities 
 Expenditure on intangible 
  exploration and evaluation 
  assets                            (10,574)    (49,120)       (91,559) 
 Share of expenditures 
  funded by joint venture 
  partners                               836      13,497         14,815 
 Expenditure on assets 
  under development                 (17,695)    (27,961)       (51,913) 
 Share of expenditures 
  funded by joint venture 
  partners                            17,070      12,906         38,726 
 Expenditure on production 
  assets                            (18,409)    (17,724)       (23,612) 
 Proceeds from farm-outs                   -           -         20,000 
 Interest received                        72         220            716 
 Net cash from investing 
  activities                        (28,700)    (68,182)       (92,827) 
                                  ----------  ----------  ------------- 
 
 Cash flows from financing 
  activities 
 Proceeds from the issue 
  of new shares                            -      99,986        100,139 
 Payment of share issue 
  transaction costs                        -     (3,275)        (3,275) 
 Interest paid                       (4,753)     (9,634)       (12,769) 
 Borrowing fees paid                 (1,724)     (1,256)        (3,983) 
 Repayment of borrowings             (8,475)    (25,000)       (94,000) 
 Net cash from financing 
  activities                        (14,952)      60,821       (13,888) 
                                  ----------  ----------  ------------- 
 
 Net (decrease)/increase 
  in cash and cash equivalents      (35,929)      50,475          (167) 
 Effect of foreign exchange 
  fluctuation on cash and 
  cash equivalents                   (2,464)       1,337          (929) 
 Cash and cash equivalents 
  at start of period                  52,773      53,869         53,869 
 Cash and cash equivalents 
  at end of period                    14,380     105,681         52,773 
                                  ==========  ==========  ============= 
 

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September 30, 2015 02:02 ET (06:02 GMT)

Notes to the interim condensed financial statements

1. Accounting policies and basis of preparation

Petroceltic International plc is a company domiciled in the Republic of Ireland. The Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements ("the Interim Financial Statements") of the Company as at and for the six months ended 30 June 2015 comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the "Group").

The Interim Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as adopted by the EU. The Interim Financial Statements have been prepared applying the accounting policies that were applied in the preparation of the Company's published consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2014. There are no new standards, amendments to standards or interpretations which are mandatory for the first time for financial periods commencing on 1 January 2015 which have a significant impact on the Group's accounting policies or on the reported results.

The comparative information provided in the Interim Financial Statements relating to the year ended 31 December 2014 does not comprise statutory financial statements. Those statutory financial statements, on which the Company's auditor gave an unqualified audit opinion, are available on the Company's website, www.petroceltic.com.

The Interim Financial Statements do not include all of the information required for full annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Group as at and for the year ended 31 December 2014, which are available on the Company's website, www.petroceltic.com.

The Interim Financial Statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 30 September 2015.

The Interim Financial Statements for the six months ended 30 June 2015 are unaudited but have been reviewed by our auditor and their Independent Review Report is set out on pages 18 and 19.

Going Concern

A combination of adjustments to reserves arising from the 2014 Competent Person's Report, the drop in oil prices and a reduction in capital investment programmes in relation to the Group's assets in Egypt and Bulgaria have impacted on availability under the Group's Reserves Based Lending Facility during 2015. These circumstances have given rise to the requirement to make material repayments which the Group has not to date been in a position to fully satisfy and other potential breaches to the covenants of the Senior Bank Facility. The Group continues to have a constructive dialogue with, and has received various waivers to the latest review date from, the lending group which comprises HSBC, the International Finance Corporation, N.B.S.A Limited and Standard Chartered Bank. The Group has also agreed the commercial terms upon which certain further waivers may be provided, however these have not to date been formally approved.

Throughout 2015, the Group has been pursuing a number of alternative debt instruments to secure additional financing, create liquidity and/or reduce financial commitments. In particular, the Board believes that the value of the Group's Algerian interests is materially in excess of its current borrowings and that this asset will be the principal driver of the long term future value of the business. Consequently the Board believes a financing wholly or partly secured against this asset, which is currently ungeared, represents the best way to provide the necessary funding to strengthen the Group's financial position. The Group intends to recommence marketing discussions in relation to the Bond Issue, or equivalent funding, in the near future following the recent completion of the transfer of its interest in the project to its wholly owned subsidiary, Petroceltic Ain Tsila Limited.

The Group has also received a number of conditional proposals and expressions of interest in respect of the potential disposal of certain of the Group's producing and exploration assets in Egypt. A number of these proposals are currently under active investigation.

The Directors have given careful consideration to the Group's ability to continue as a going concern. In making their going concern assessment the Board has analysed the Group's cash flow requirements through to 30 September 2016 in detail. The principal assumptions underlying the forecast are that:

-- The Senior Bank Facility continues to operate in accordance with its terms and/or appropriate waivers are secured beyond the expiry of the current waiver;

-- A debt capital raising process, is undertaken with the ongoing financial support of the Company's lending group and, combined with potential farmouts, asset sales, equity or other initiatives, enables the Group to create liquidity and/or reduce financial commitments to sustainable levels;

-- The $140 million carry of Petroceltic's obligations in relation to the Ain Tsila development is expended in accordance with current forecasts;

-- Production revenue cash flows and operating and capital expenditure are in line with commitments and current expectations.

As at the date of approval of these financial statements, there can be no certainty that the additional funding required will ultimately be received. In the event that further funding cannot be secured, there is a material risk that the Group's lenders may withdraw their financial support and require immediate repayment of all amounts outstanding. These circumstances represent a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt upon the Group's ability to continue as a going concern and, therefore, it may be unable to realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. Nevertheless, after making enquiries and taking appropriate professional advice, and considering the uncertainties described above, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group will secure or retain adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the period set out above. For these reasons, the Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Accordingly, these financial statements do not include any adjustments to the carrying amount or classification of assets and liabilities that would result if the Group was unable to continue as a going concern.

 
 2. Revenue and segmental information 
                                                                        Corporate 
   6 months ended 30 June                            Black                 & Other 
    2015                     Algeria      Egypt        Sea   Kurdistan      Europe       Total 
                               $'000      $'000      $'000       $'000       $'000       $'000 
   Revenue 
   Gas                             -     17,563      9,164           -           -      26,727 
   Oil/condensate/liquids          -     11,146          -           -           -      11,146 
   Royalty                         -          -          -           -         105         105 
   Total revenue                   -     28,709      9,164           -         105      37,978 
   Depletion and 
    decommissioning                -   (17,299)    (6,045)           -        (10)    (23,354) 
   Other cost of sales             -    (7,353)    (3,130)           -           -    (10,483) 
                            --------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
   Gross profit                    -      4,057       (11)           -          95       4,141 
   Administrative expenses         -    (1,636)      (532)           -    (12,454)    (14,622) 
   Share-based payments 
    expense                        -          -          -           -     (1,915)     (1,915) 
   Exploration costs 
    written 
    off                            -        128    (2,441)           -       2,307         (6) 
                            --------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
   Reportable segment 
    result 
    from operating 
    activities                     -      2,549    (2,984)           -    (11,967)    (12,402) 
   Finance income                                                               72          72 
   Finance expense                                                        (10,995)    (10,995) 
   Loss before income tax                                                 (22,890)    (23,325) 
                                                                        ----------  ---------- 
   Income tax expense              -    (3,786)          -           -           -     (3,786) 
   Loss for the period                                                    (22,890)    (27,111) 
                                                                        ----------  ---------- 
 
 
   Reportable segment 
    assets                   178,344    312,076     80,996         113      34,216     605,745 
   Reportable segment 
    liabilities              (6,607)   (63,554)   (15,917)    (12,275)   (202,696)   (301,049) 
 
   6 months ended 30 June 
    2014 
   Revenue 
   Gas                             -     29,477     34,911           -           -      64,388 
   Oil/condensate/liquids          -     31,678          -           -           -      31,678 
   Royalty                         -          -          -           -         204         204 
   Total revenue                   -     61,155     34,911           -         204      96,270 
   Depletion and 
    decommissioning                -   (23,020)   (18,052)           -        (28)    (41,100) 
   Other cost of sales             -    (8,516)    (6,835)           -           -    (15,351) 
   Gross profit                    -     29,619     10,024           -         176      39,819 
   Administrative expenses         -    (2,006)      (697)           -    (11,024)    (13,727) 
   Share-based payments 
    expense                        -          -          -           -     (1,810)     (1,810) 
   Exploration costs 
    written 

(MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires

September 30, 2015 02:02 ET (06:02 GMT)

    off                            -    (3,813)    (8,113)    (50,690)     (1,634)    (64,250) 
   Reportable segment 
    result 
    from operating 
    activities                     -     23,800      1,214    (50,690)    (14,292)    (39,968) 
                            --------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
   Finance income                                                            1,450       1,450 
   Finance expense                                                        (10,002)    (10,002) 
   Loss before income tax                                                 (22,844)    (48,520) 
                                                                        ----------  ---------- 
   Income tax expense              -    (7,558)    (1,350)           -           -     (8,908) 
   Loss for the period                                                    (22,844)    (57,428) 
                                                                        ----------  ---------- 
 
 
   Reportable segment 
    assets                   194,737    396,812    177,527      52,003     112,931     934,010 
   Reportable segment 
    liabilities              (4,702)   (66,663)   (28,213)     (6,386)   (276,094)   (382,058) 
 3. Finance income 
  and expense 
                                                                        Unaudited            Unaudited 
                                                                         6 months             6 months 
                                                                            ended                ended 
                                                                          30 June              30 June 
                                                                             2015                 2014 
                                                                            $'000                $'000 
 
 Interest income                                                               72                  220 
 Foreign currency 
  gain                                                                          -                1,009 
 Change in fair value of 
  derivative financial instruments                                              -                  221 
 Total finance income for 
  the year                                                                     72                1,450 
                                                               ------------------  ------------------- 
 
 
 Interest expense                                                         (4,988)              (6,194) 
 Foreign currency 
  loss                                                                    (1,541)                    - 
 Amortisation 
  of loan fees                                                            (2,144)              (3,268) 
 Financing and 
  related fees                                                            (1,723)                (115) 
 Unwinding of discount on 
  decommissioning provision                                                 (599)                (425) 
                                                               ------------------  ------------------- 
 Total finance expense 
  for the year                                                           (10,995)             (10,002) 
                                                               ------------------  ------------------- 
 
 
 
 
 4. Income tax 
  expense 
                                            Unaudited   Unaudited 
                                             6 months    6 months 
                                                ended       ended 
                                              30 June     30 June 
                                                 2015        2014 
                                                $'000       $'000 
 Current tax expense 
 Current period                                 3,709      13,626 
 
 Deferred tax expense 
 Origination and reversal 
  of temporary differences                         77     (4,718) 
 Income tax expense                             3,786       8,908 
                                           ==========  ========== 
 
 The difference between the total current tax 
  shown above and the amount calculated by applying 
  the standard rate of Irish corporation tax to 
  the loss before tax is as follows: 
 
 Loss before tax                             (23,325)    (48,520) 
                                           ----------  ---------- 
 
 Tax charge on Group loss at standard Irish corporation 
  tax rate applicable to the Company of 25% 
                                              (5,831)    (12,130) 
 
 Effects of: 
 Non deductible expenses 
  /(non chargeable income)                        771       (175) 
 Losses utilised                              (1,084)           - 
 Other temporary 
  differences                                      77       (956) 
 Deferred tax not recognised (arising 
  primarily on tax losses)                      9,822      20,776 
 Under/ (over) provided 
  current tax in prior 
  years                                             -       (846) 
 Effect of tax rate 
  in foreign jurisdictions                         31       2,239 
 Income tax expense                             3,786       8,908 
                                           ==========  ========== 
 
 
 
   5. Earnings per 
   share 
                                             Unaudited     Unaudited 
                                              6 months      6 months 
                                                 ended         ended 
                                               30 June       30 June 
                                                  2015          2014 
 
 Basic and diluted 
  loss per ordinary 
  share: 
 
 Loss for the 
  period ($'000)                              (27,111)      (57,428) 
                                          ------------  ------------ 
 
 
 Number of ordinary shares 
  in issue - start of period               214,094,301   175,537,405 
 Shares issued 
  during the period                                  -    38,180,845 
 Shares in issue 
  at end of period                         214,094,301   213,718,250 
                                          ------------  ------------ 
 
 Weighted average number of ordinary 
  shares in issue - basic and 
  diluted                                  214,094,301   178,205,352 
                                          ------------  ------------ 
 
 
 Basic loss per ordinary 
  share (cents)                                (12.66)       (32.23) 
 Diluted loss per ordinary 
  share (cents)                                (12.66)       (32.23) 
                                          ============  ============ 
 

6. Capital expenditure

Capital expenditure during the period, net of amounts funded by joint venture partners, was $29m, the expenditure related to Egypt $25m, Bulgaria $2m, Algeria $1m, and others $1m.

7. Loans and borrowings

 
                         Unaudited   Unaudited 
                          6 months    6 months        Audited 
                             ended       ended      full year 
                           30 June     30 June    31 December 
                              2015        2014           2014 
                             $'000       $'000          $'000 
 Amounts falling due 
  within one year 
 Bank loan                 100,000      49,000         38,000 
 
 Amounts falling due 
  after one year 
 Bank loan                  90,034     214,229        158,365 
                        ----------  ----------  ------------- 
 
 Total                     190,034     263,229        196,365 
                        ==========  ==========  ============= 
 

The Groups loans and borrowings include $7.5m of loan fees capitalised to give a carrying value of the loan of $197.5m.

The fair value of the Group loans and borrowings at 30 June 2015 was $197m (31 December 2014: $202m)

The fair value of the amount drawn at the reporting date has been calculated based on the present value of the expected future principal and interest cash flows discounted at estimated market interest rates effective at the balance sheet date

 
  8. Provisions 
                                  Decommissioning        Other 
                                        Provision    Provision     Total 
                                            $'000        $'000     $'000 
 Non current 
 At 1 January 
 2014                                      29,252            -    29,252 
 Changes in estimate                        1,944            -     1,944 
 Unwinding of discount                        650            -       650 
 At 31 December 2014                       31,846            -    31,846 
                                 ----------------  -----------  -------- 
 Current 
 At 1 January 
 2014                                         871            -       871 
 Additions                                      -        9,994     9,994 
 Utilised 
  in the 
  year                                      (303)            -     (303) 
 Changes in estimate                        (303)            -     (303) 
 At 31 December 2014                          265        9,994    10,259 
                                 ----------------  -----------  -------- 
 
 Total provisions at 31 
  December 2014                            32,111        9,994    42,105 
                                 ================  ===========  ======== 
 
 Non current 
 At 1 January 
 2015                                      31,846            -    31,846 
 Utilised in the period                        35            -        35 
 Changes in estimate                        (508)            -     (508) 
 Unwinding of discount                        599            -       599 
 At 30 June 
  2015                                     31,972            -    31,972 
                                 ================  ===========  ======== 
 Current 
 At 1 January 

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