Bankers Petroleum
announces 2016 second quarter financial and operational results
CALGARY, Aug. 11, 2016 /CNW/ - Bankers Petroleum Ltd.
("Bankers" or the "Company") (TSX: BNK, AIM: BNK) is pleased to
provide its 2016 second quarter financial and operational
results.
During the second quarter, Bankers achieved a cash margin of
US$11.03 per barrel. All amounts
listed in this news release are in US dollars unless otherwise
stated.
Results at a Glance |
Three months ended June 30 |
Six
months ended June 30 |
(US$000s, except as noted) |
2016 |
2015 |
2016 |
2015 |
|
Financial |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oil revenue |
40,989 |
85,707 |
74,080 |
158,111 |
|
|
Net operating income |
12,383 |
41,503 |
15,831 |
66,371 |
|
|
Net loss |
(21,827) |
(10,462) |
(33,798) |
(9,583) |
|
|
|
Basic (US$/share) |
(0.08) |
(0.04) |
(0.13) |
(0.04) |
|
|
|
Diluted (US$/share) |
(0.08) |
(0.04) |
(0.13) |
(0.04) |
|
|
Funds generated from
operations |
5,387 |
50,230 |
6,834 |
75,120 |
|
|
|
Basic (US$/share) |
0.02 |
0.19 |
0.03 |
0.29 |
|
|
Capital expenditures |
7,371 |
37,567 |
20,047 |
87,512 |
|
Operating |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average production
(bopd) |
15,934 |
20,050 |
16,649 |
19,909 |
|
|
Average sales
(bopd) |
15,023 |
19,626 |
16,152 |
19,953 |
|
|
Average Brent oil price
(US$/barrel) |
45.59 |
61.88 |
39.81 |
57.84 |
|
|
Average realized price
(US$/barrel) |
29.98 |
47.99 |
25.20 |
43.78 |
|
|
Netback (US$/barrel) |
9.05 |
23.24 |
5.39 |
18.38 |
|
|
Cash margin (US$/barrel) |
11.03 |
29.52 |
8.84 |
26.39 |
|
|
|
|
June 30, 2016 |
December 31, 2015 |
June 30, 2015 |
|
Cash and restricted
cash |
|
26,080 |
69,141 |
39,589 |
|
Working capital |
|
83,885 |
159,868 |
160,909 |
|
Total assets |
|
1,192,977 |
1,261,390 |
1,257,837 |
|
Long-term debt |
|
94,826 |
98,628 |
98,459 |
|
Shareholders' equity |
|
686,064 |
719,294 |
710,245 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Highlights for the period ended
June 30, 2016 are:
Arrangement Agreement:
On March 19, 2016, Bankers
Petroleum Ltd. entered into a definitive agreement (the
"Arrangement Agreement") with an affiliate of Geo-Jade Petroleum
Corporation ("Geo-Jade"), for the purchase of all the issued and
outstanding common shares of the Company ("Bankers Shares") at a
cash price of C$2.20 per Bankers
Share. The transaction will be effected by the way of a plan
arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta). All Directors and Officers of
Bankers are committed to this transaction and have executed support
agreements. At a May 31, 2016 Special
Meeting, Bankers shareholders overwhelmingly approved the
transaction, and subsequently, the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench provided its
authorization. Additional regulatory approvals have been received
pursuant to the Investment Canada Act, the People's Republic of China and the
Republic of Albania. The
transaction is expected to close before September 30, 2016 and remains subject to the
regulatory approval of the Chinese State Administration of Foreign
Exchange ("SAFE"). Failure to receive the SAFE approval by
September 30, 2016 would entitle
Bankers to the US$20 million reverse
termination fee should Bankers terminate the Arrangement Agreement
due to such failure. Following successful completion of the
transaction, Bankers Shares will be delisted from the Toronto Stock
Exchange ("TSX") and the AIM market of the London Stock
Exchange.
Operational Highlights:
- Average oil production for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was 15,934 barrels of oil per day
("bopd") compared to 17,363 bopd in the previous quarter and 20,050
bopd in the second quarter of 2015. For the six months ended
June 30, 2016, average oil production
was 16,649 bopd compared to 19,909 bopd for the same period in
2015.
- Oil sales for the second quarter of 2016 averaged 15,023 bopd
compared to 17,280 bopd for the previous quarter and 19,626 bopd
for the second quarter of 2015. Crude oil inventory at June 30, 2016 increased to 350,000 barrels
compared to 260,000 barrels at March 31,
2016. For the six months ended June
30, 2016, oil sales were 16,152 bopd compared to 19,953 bopd
for the same period in 2015.
- Capital expenditures during the second quarter of 2016 were
$7 million. The Company did not drill
any wells during the quarter. Capital expenditures were
$13 million for the previous quarter
and $38 million for the second
quarter of 2015.
Product Margin Highlights:
- For the three months and six months ended June 30, 2016, operating costs and sales and
transportation ("S&T") costs, originating from Albanian-based
companies and their employees, were $23
million ($16.58/bbl) and
$48 million ($16.35/bbl), respectively, reduced from
$32 million ($17.86/bbl) and $69
million ($19.18/bbl) for the
same periods in 2015.
- In the second quarter of 2016, net operating income (netback)
was $12 million ($9.05/bbl) compared to $3
million ($2.19/bbl) for the
previous quarter and $42 million
($23.24/bbl) for the second quarter
of 2015. Net operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $16
million ($5.39/bbl) compared
to $66 million ($18.38/bbl) for the same period in 2015.
- Cash margin for the second quarter of 2016 was $11.03/bbl compared to $6.91/bbl in the previous quarter and
$29.52/bbl in the second quarter of
2015. Cash margin represents netback inclusive of the realized gain
on commodity contracts. Cash margin for the six months ended
June 30, 2016 was $8.84/bbl compared to $26.39/bbl for the same period in 2015.
Financial Highlights:
- Revenue was $41 million
($29.98/bbl) for the second quarter
of 2016, compared to $33 million
($21.04/bbl) in the previous quarter
and $86 million ($47.99/bbl) in the second quarter of 2015. Field
price realization represented 66% of the Brent oil benchmark price
($45.59/bbl) for the second quarter
of 2016 compared to 62% of the Brent oil benchmark price
($33.94/bbl) in the previous quarter
and 78% of the Brent oil benchmark price ($61.88/bbl) in the second quarter of 2015. The
increase, as a percentage of Brent, compared to the previous
quarter was mainly due to improvements in world commodity prices,
therefore reducing the pressure of competitive pricing differential
during the second quarter of 2016. For the six months ended
June 30, 2016, revenue was
$74 million ($25.20/bbl) compared to $158 million ($43.78/bbl) for the same period in 2015.
- Royalties to the Albanian Government and related entities
during the second quarter of 2016 were $6
million (14% of revenue) compared to $4 million (13% of revenue) for the previous
quarter and $12 million (14% of
revenue) for the second quarter of 2015. For the six months ended
June 30, 2016, royalties were
$10 million (14% of revenue) compared
to $22 million (14% of revenue) for
the same period in 2015.
- Funds generated from operations for the second quarter of 2015
were $5 million ($0.02 per share) compared to $1 million ($0.01
per share) for the previous quarter and $50
million ($0.19 per share) for
the second quarter of 2015. Funds generated from operations for the
six months ended June 30, 2016 were
$7 million ($0.03 per share) compared to $75 million ($0.29
per share) for the same period in 2015.
- The Company continues to maintain a stable financial position
at June 30, 2016, with cash and
restricted cash of $26 million and
working capital of $84 million. At
June 30, 2016, the Company had drawn
$109 million of its approved credit
facilities. Working capital for December 31,
2015 and June 30, 2015 was
$160 million and $161 million, respectively.
- At June 30, 2016, Bankers hedged
6,000 bopd under costless collar contracts with an average floor of
$50.84/bbl (all prices are referenced
to Dated Brent) and an average ceiling of $52.90/bbl for the balance of 2016. In the second
quarter of 2016, the hedge program generated proceeds of
$2 million compared to $7 million in the first quarter of 2016. The 2016
hedge program at June 30, 2016, is
valued at $2 million. These contracts
are designed to protect Bankers against further volatility in the
oil prices in 2016.
Outlook:
Production in the third quarter of 2016 to date is 15,358 bopd,
3% lower than the second quarter average of 15,934 bopd. The
Company is focused on optimization of current production levels and
is monitoring the economic return of all wells in accordance with
the current oil price environment.
In the third quarter, Bankers' infrastructure and facilities
projects include commissioning the inlet system and vapor recovery
unit at satellite facility Pad D, vapor recovery unit at Pad H and
the west emulsion gathering system. In addition, the Company is
focusing on design and implementation of a sour oil treating
project aimed at sweetening sour production from various reservoir
zones throughout the field.
Bankers continues to prioritize its polymer and water flood
development, with an additional seven (7) well conversions planned
throughout the remainder of 2016 to bring the total for the year to
sixteen (16) conversions. The producing water and polymer patterns
are performing well and Bankers is continuing to monitor production
from the fifty-eight (58) polymer and four (4) water flood patterns
implemented to date.
Due to continued pressure on oil prices, Bankers anticipates
receiving average cash realizations equivalent to 67 to 68% of
Dated Brent for the export market for the remainder of 2016.
Additionally, Bankers is in discussion for potential domestic crude
oil sales contracts for a portion of its volumes and expects to
receive equivalent pricing to the export market after accounting
for reduced transportation and export related fees.
Supporting Documents:
The full Management Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"),
Financial Statements and updated corporate presentation are
available on our website, http://www.bankerspetroleum.com/. The
MD&A and Financial Statements will also be available on
http://www.sedar.com/.
BANKERS PETROLEUM LTD. |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(LOSS) |
(Unaudited, expressed in thousands of US dollars, except per
share amounts) |
|
|
|
Three months ended
June 30 |
|
Six
months ended
June 30 |
|
|
|
2016 |
|
2015 |
|
2016 |
|
2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
40,989 |
$ |
85,707 |
$ |
74,080 |
$ |
158,111 |
Royalties |
|
|
(5,943) |
|
(12,306) |
|
(10,174) |
|
(22,450) |
Revenue, net of royalties |
|
|
35,046 |
|
73,401 |
|
63,906 |
|
135,661 |
Realized gain on financial
commodity contracts |
|
|
2,713 |
|
9,856 |
|
10,136 |
|
23,986 |
Unrealized loss on financial
commodity contracts |
|
|
(14,031) |
|
(20,798) |
|
(17,831) |
|
(22,837) |
Total operating revenues |
|
|
23,728 |
|
62,459 |
|
56,211 |
|
136,810 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
16,748 |
|
22,132 |
|
34,465 |
|
45,627 |
Sales and transportation
expenses |
|
|
5,915 |
|
9,766 |
|
13,610 |
|
23,663 |
General and administrative expenses |
|
|
7,514 |
|
5,188 |
|
14,655 |
|
9,840 |
Contract settlement expenses |
|
|
- |
|
40 |
|
- |
|
395 |
Depletion and depreciation |
|
|
24,640 |
|
30,830 |
|
51,298 |
|
60,949 |
Share-based compensation |
|
|
169 |
|
721 |
|
421 |
|
1,903 |
Total expenses |
|
|
54,986 |
|
68,677 |
|
114,449 |
|
142,377 |
Operating loss |
|
|
(31,258) |
|
(6,218) |
|
(58,238) |
|
(5,567) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net finance expense |
|
|
(4,174) |
|
(1,590) |
|
(4,338) |
|
(10,478) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before income tax |
|
|
(35,432) |
|
(7,808) |
|
(62,576) |
|
(16,045) |
Income tax recovery
(expense) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
|
1,032 |
|
- |
|
765 |
|
- |
Deferred |
|
|
12,573 |
|
(2,654) |
|
28,013 |
|
6,462 |
|
|
|
13,605 |
|
(2,654) |
|
28,778 |
|
6,462 |
Net loss for the period |
|
|
(21,827) |
|
(10,462) |
|
(33,798) |
|
(9,583) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income
(loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Currency translation
adjustment |
|
|
(787) |
|
115 |
|
(311) |
|
(1,305) |
Comprehensive loss for the
period |
|
$ |
(22,614) |
$ |
(10,347) |
$ |
(34,109) |
$ |
(10,888) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic loss per share |
|
$ |
(0.083) |
$ |
(0.040) |
$ |
(0.129) |
$ |
(0.037) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted loss per share |
|
$ |
(0.083) |
$ |
(0.040) |
$ |
(0.129) |
$ |
(0.037) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BANKERS PETROLEUM LTD. |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION |
(Unaudited, expressed in thousands of US
dollars) |
|
ASSETS |
|
|
June
30
2016 |
December 31
2015 |
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
20,018 |
$ |
51,963 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
6,062 |
|
17,178 |
|
Accounts receivable |
|
|
45,578 |
|
56,592 |
|
Income tax receivable |
|
|
580 |
|
- |
|
Inventory |
|
|
6,082 |
|
4,597 |
|
Deposits and prepaid expenses |
|
|
57,063 |
|
67,514 |
|
Financial commodity contracts |
|
|
2,169 |
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
137,552 |
|
217,844 |
Non-current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term deposits |
|
|
42,593 |
|
- |
|
Property, plant and equipment |
|
|
1,001,731 |
|
1,034,791 |
|
Exploration and evaluation assets |
|
|
11,101 |
|
8,755 |
|
|
$ |
1,192,977 |
$ |
1,261,390 |
|
LIABILITIES |
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued
liabilities |
|
$ |
42,134 |
$ |
39,156 |
|
Income tax liability |
|
|
- |
|
765 |
|
Current portion of long-term debt |
|
|
11,533 |
|
18,055 |
|
|
|
53,667 |
|
57,976 |
Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt |
|
|
94,826 |
|
98,628 |
|
Decommissioning obligation |
|
|
30,025 |
|
29,264 |
|
Deferred tax liabilities |
|
|
328,395 |
|
356,228 |
|
|
|
506,913 |
|
542,096 |
|
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |
Share capital |
|
|
365,045 |
|
365,045 |
Contributed surplus |
|
|
95,178 |
|
94,299 |
Currency translation
reserve |
|
|
1,206 |
|
1,517 |
Retained earnings |
|
|
224,635 |
|
258,433 |
|
|
|
686,064 |
|
719,294 |
|
|
$ |
1,192,977 |
$ |
1,261,390 |
|
BANKERS PETROLEUM LTD. |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
(Unaudited, expressed in thousands of US
dollars) |
|
|
Three months ended
June 30 |
|
Six
months ended
June 30 |
|
|
|
2016 |
|
2015 |
|
2016 |
|
2015 |
Cash provided by
(used in): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss for the
period |
|
$ |
(21,827) |
$ |
(10,462) |
$ |
(33,798) |
$ |
(9,583) |
|
Depletion and depreciation |
|
|
24,640 |
|
30,830 |
|
51,298 |
|
60,949 |
|
Accretion of long-term debt |
|
|
233 |
|
250 |
|
453 |
|
500 |
|
Accretion of
decommissioning obligation |
|
|
357 |
|
321 |
|
709 |
|
636 |
|
Unrealized foreign
exchange (gain) loss |
|
|
1,389 |
|
5,118 |
|
(1,302) |
|
4,340 |
|
Current income tax recovery |
|
|
(1,032) |
|
- |
|
(765) |
|
- |
|
Deferred income tax (recovery)
expense |
|
|
(12,573) |
|
2,654 |
|
(28,013) |
|
(6,462) |
|
Share-based compensation |
|
|
169 |
|
721 |
|
421 |
|
1,903 |
|
Unrealized loss on
financial commodity contracts |
|
|
14,031 |
|
20,798 |
|
17,831 |
|
22,837 |
|
|
|
|
5,387 |
|
50,230 |
|
6,834 |
|
75,120 |
|
Change in long-term deposits |
|
|
(42,593) |
|
- |
|
(42,593) |
|
- |
|
Change in non-cash working
capital |
|
|
27,892 |
|
(26,856) |
|
30,810 |
|
(19,017) |
|
|
|
|
(9,314) |
|
23,374 |
|
(4,949) |
|
56,103 |
Investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additions to property,
plant and equipment |
|
|
(7,037) |
|
(37,567) |
|
(17,701) |
|
(87,385) |
|
Additions to
exploration and evaluation assets |
|
|
(334) |
|
- |
|
(2,346) |
|
(127) |
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
8,976 |
|
(181) |
|
11,116 |
|
(772) |
|
Change in non-cash working
capital |
|
|
1,735 |
|
(7,216) |
|
(7,502) |
|
(12,934) |
|
|
|
3,340 |
|
(44,964) |
|
(16,433) |
|
(101,218) |
Financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issue of shares for cash |
|
|
- |
|
511 |
|
- |
|
722 |
|
Change in long-term debt |
|
|
(11,703) |
|
2,505 |
|
(10,622) |
|
10,267 |
|
|
|
(11,703) |
|
3,016 |
|
(10,622) |
|
10,989 |
Foreign exchange
gain (loss) on cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
(263) |
|
140 |
|
59 |
|
(93) |
Decrease in cash
and cash equivalents |
|
|
(17,940) |
|
(18,434) |
|
(31,945) |
|
(34,219) |
Cash and cash
equivalents, beginning of period |
|
|
37,958 |
|
52,251 |
|
51,963 |
|
68,036 |
Cash and cash
equivalents, end of period |
|
$ |
20,018 |
$ |
33,817 |
$ |
20,018 |
$ |
33,817 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest paid |
|
$ |
3,495 |
$ |
3,095 |
$ |
3,717 |
$ |
3,140 |
Interest received |
|
$ |
158 |
$ |
55 |
$ |
244 |
$ |
151 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BANKERS PETROLEUM LTD. |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY |
(Unaudited, expressed in thousands of US dollars, except
number of common shares) |
|
|
Number of
common
shares |
Share
capital |
Contributed
surplus |
Currency
translation
reserve |
Retained
earnings |
Total |
Balance at December 31, 2014 |
|
261,084,393 |
$ |
363,670 |
$ |
86,409 |
$ |
4,410 |
$ |
262,047 |
$ |
716,536 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based compensation |
|
- |
|
- |
|
3,875 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
3,875 |
Options exercised |
|
339,935 |
|
1,375 |
|
(653) |
|
- |
|
- |
|
722 |
Net loss for the period |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
(9,583) |
|
(9,583) |
Currency translation
adjustment |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
(1,305) |
|
- |
|
(1,305) |
Balance at June 30, 2015 |
|
261,424,328 |
$ |
365,045 |
$ |
89,631 |
$ |
3,105 |
$ |
252,464 |
$ |
710,245 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based compensation |
|
- |
|
- |
|
4,668 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
4,668 |
RSUs exercised |
|
133,056 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
Net income for the period |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
5,969 |
|
5,969 |
Currency translation
adjustment |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
(1,588) |
|
- |
|
(1,588) |
Balance at December 31, 2015 |
|
261,557,384 |
$ |
365,045 |
$ |
94,299 |
$ |
1,517 |
$ |
258,433 |
$ |
719,294 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based compensation |
|
- |
|
- |
|
879 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
879 |
Net loss for the period |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
(33,798) |
|
(33,798) |
Currency translation
adjustment |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
(311) |
|
- |
|
(311) |
Balance at June 30, 2016 |
|
261,557,384 |
$ |
365,045 |
$ |
95,178 |
$ |
1,206 |
$ |
224,635 |
$ |
686,064 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The information communicated in this
announcement is inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of
Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014 ("MAR").
Caution Regarding
Forward-looking Information
Certain information set forth in this press release,
including information and statements which may contain words such
as "could", "plans", "intends" "should", "anticipate", "expects",
"will", "propose", "opportunity", "future", "continue", and similar
expressions and statements relating to matters that are not
historical facts, contain forward-looking statements, including but
not limited to statements regarding: the proposed transaction and
the anticipated timing of closing, the timing of receipt of
required regulatory approvals and the delisting of the Bankers
Shares following completion of the transaction. By their nature,
forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and
uncertainties, some of which are beyond Bankers' control.
Completion of the Arrangement is subject to a number of conditions,
including receipt of the approvals required by the People's Republic of China, and other
conditions which are typical for transactions of this nature.
Failure to satisfy any of these conditions or the emergence of a
superior proposal may result in the termination of the Arrangement
Agreement. The foregoing list is not exhaustive. Additional
information on these and other risks that could affect completion
of the Arrangement is set forth in the Management Information
Circular of the Company dated April 19,
2016, which is available on SEDAR at
http://www.sedar.com/. Readers are cautioned that the
assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although
considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be
imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on
forward-looking statements. The actual results, performance or
achievement of Bankers could differ materially from those expressed
in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and,
accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events
anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or
occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that Bankers will
derive therefrom. Bankers disclaims any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by applicable securities laws.
About Bankers
Petroleum Ltd.
Bankers Petroleum Ltd. is a
Canadian-based oil and gas exploration and production company
focused on developing large oil and gas reserves in Albania and Eastern
Europe. In Albania, Bankers
operates and has the full rights to develop the Patos-Marinza heavy
oilfield, has a 100% interest in the Kuçova oilfield, and a 100%
interest in Exploration Block "F". In 2015 Bankers acquired an 85%
interest in the rights to explore the Püspökladány Block concession
within the Pannonian Basin located in north eastern Hungary. Bankers' shares are traded on the
Toronto Stock Exchange and the AIM Market in London, England under the stock symbol
BNK.
David French, President and Chief
Executive Officer, (403) 513-6930; Doug
Urch, Executive VP, Finance and Chief Financial Officer,
(403) 513-2691; Laura Bechtel,
Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Specialist, (403)
513-3428; Email: investorrelations@bankerspetroleum.com; Website:
www.bankerspetroleum.com; AIM NOMAD: Canaccord Genuity Limited,
Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor, +44 0 207
523 8000; AIM BROKER: FirstEnergy Capital LLP, Hugh Sanderson / David
van Erp, +44 0 207 448 0200