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Interim Results

RNS Number : 8588C
Forum Energy Plc
05 September 2008
 



5 September 2008

Forum Energy Plc

("Forum" or the "Company")


Interim results to 30 June 2008


Forum recorded a loss of US$1,657,000 for the interim period ended 30 June 2008 (US$1,739,000 for interim period ended 30 June 2007). This was primarily attributed to administrative expenses. 


Revenues for the period increased to US$389,000 (2007: US$370,000) and were derived from oil production from the offshore North West Palawan interests. An increase in other administrative expenses to US$1,777,000 (2007: US$993,000), due primarily to one-off legal, termination and other payments, was offset by lower provisions for share-based payments of US$32,000 (2007: US$416,000) and net financial income of US$297,000 (2007: US$143,000 net cost).


Operational Highlights


  • First Galoc production due 3Q 2008.

  • Formalised joint venture with Monte Oro Resources & Energy through a 30% farm-out of GSEC101 crystallising the Filipino Participation Incentive Allowance, influential local involvement and US$1.7 million in back-costs. 

  • Agreed final work programme for GSEC101 with the Philippines Department of Energy.

  • Finalised sale of COC132, subject to government approvals, and continued optimisation of remainder of portfolio.

  • Continued to implement plan to refocus the Company to take full advantage of GSEC101.

Financial Highlights


  • Revenues of US$389,000 for the interim period ended 30 June 2008 (US$370,000 - 30 June 2007).

  • Loss of US$1,657,000 for the interim period ended 30 June 2008 (US$1,739,000 - 30 June 2007).

  • Shareholders' equity of US$47.3 million as of 30 June 2008 (US$50.6m - 30 June 2007).

  • Working capital of US$6.2 million as of 30 June 2008 (US$3.6m - 30 June 2007).

  • Exercise in 3Q of 590,000 stock options and issue of 722,412 shares under Forum Long Term Incentive Plan increasing total shares in issue to 30,024,121 following their admission to trading on AIM.

For further information please contact: 


Alan Henderson                             Tel: +44 (0)1932 445 344

Forum Energy Plc, Chairman and acting Chief Executive Officer 

Andrew Mullins

Forum Energy Plc, Executive Direcor


Nick Naylor / Jamie Boyd            Tel: +44 (0)20 7763 2200 

Noble & Company Ltd, Nominated Adviser & Broker


Or visit the Company's website:

www.forumenergyplc.com



Key Events 


Shareholdings


On 2 July 2008, 4,004,000 shares of Forum were acquired by Philex Petroleum Corporation ("PPC") who indirectly controlled 29.5% of the capital of Forum through their 51% shareholding in FEC Resources, Inc. 


The acquisition resulted in a mandatory cash offer at 48 pence per share for the remaining issued and outstanding shares and options in Forum. This offer remains open to shareholders until 10 September 2008 and as at 20 August 2008 PPC had acquired an additional 3,333,079 shares bringing their total direct holding to 7,337,079 shares or approximately 25% of the share capital of Forum, and almost 55% of the share capital of Forum including the interest held through FEC.


On 19 August 2008 Wellington Asset Management Limited announced that they had taken a strategic investment in the Company having acquired 4,258,000 shares representing almost 15% of the then issued capital of the Company. Wellington have since increased their holding and as at 1 September held 5,594,579 shares representing over 19% of the issued share capital of Forum. 



Operational


GSEC101


On 25 June 2008 Forum entered into an amended Heads of Agreement with Monte Oro Resources & Energy Inc. ("MORE") a Filipino company. Under the terms of the agreement MORE acquired a 30% participating interest in GSEC101 qualifying Forum for the Filipino Participation Incentive Allowance ("FPIA") equating to 7.5% of gross proceeds from future production as well as the injection of US$1.7 million for past costs.



On 5 August 2008 Forum was notified in writing by the Philippines Department of Energy that the service contract to be entered into under the GSEC101 licence was in its final draft and that planned formal signing of the service contract would take place in the third week of August 2008. On 1 September 2008 the Company announced that it had received no update on the contract conversion and that the contract has not been converted.


The Company continues to try and conclude the contract conversion. 


NW PALAWAN


The Galoc Field, in which Forum holds a 2.27% carried interest, is due to come on-stream in 3Q 2008 and is forecast to generate net revenues to Forum of approximately US$7 million over an initial two year period based on current oil prices and production estimates. 


COAL OPERATING CONTRACTS


Sale of the Company's Central Cebu Coal Operating Contract for US$3.5 million continues to await final Government approval. However it is anticipated that Forum will receive necessary approvals by 4Q 2008.


Forum is in discussions with several parties on the sale of the Southern Cebu Coal Operating Contract as part of the refocus to gas and oil exploration and production. 


BASIC ENERGY CORPORATION


Forum continues to resist Basic's claims to further amounts under the Sale and Purchase Agreement of April 2006, in which Forum acquired Basic's NW Palawan producing assets, on the basis of legal advice provided to the Company. The next step is likely to be arbitration which the Company believes is likely to rule in its favour. Consequently no provision has been made for this claim in these accounts.



Dated: 4 September 2008


INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO FORUM ENERGY PLC

Introduction

We have been engaged by the company to review the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2008 which comprises the Consolidated Income Statement, the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, the Consolidated Balance Sheet, the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement and the related explanatory notes. 

We have read the other information contained in the half-yearly financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the condensed set of financial statements.

Directors' responsibilities

The interim report, including the financial information contained therein, is the responsibility of and has been approved by the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the interim report in accordance with the rules of the London Stock Exchange for companies trading securities on the Alternative Investment Market which require that the half-yearly report be presented and prepared in a form consistent with that which will be adopted in the company's annual accounts having regard to the accounting standards applicable to such annual accounts.

Our responsibility

Our responsibility is to express to the company a conclusion on the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report based on our review.

Our report has been prepared in accordance with the terms of our engagement to assist the company in meeting the requirements of the rules of the London Stock Exchange for companies trading securities on the Alternative Investment Market and for no other purpose. No person is entitled to rely on this report unless such a person is a person entitled to rely upon this report by virtue of and for the purpose of our terms of engagement or has been expressly authorised to do so by our prior written consent. Save as above, we do not accept responsibility for this report to any other person or for any other purpose and we hereby expressly disclaim any and all such liability

Scope of review

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410, ''Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity'', issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

Conclusion

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2008 is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the rules of the London Stock Exchange for companies trading securities on the Alternative Investment Market.



BDO Stoy Hayward LLP

Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors

London


Dated: 4 September 2008


CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

For the period 1 January 2008 to 30 June 2008




Six months ended 

Six months ended

Year ended


30 June 2008

30 June 2007

31 December 2007


US$000's

US$000's

US$000's


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited





Continuing operations




Revenue

389

370

876





Cost of sales

(524)

(527)

(1,013)





Gross loss

(135)

(157)

(137)





Other administrative expenses

(1,777)

(993)

(2,135)

Permanent impairment of deferred charges and abortive project costs


-


-


(84)

Share-based payments

(32)

(416)

(843)





Total administrative expenses

(1,809)

(1,409)

(3,062)





Loss from operations

(1,944)

(1,566)

(3,199)









Financial income

307

81

137

Financial expense

(10)

(182)

(609)

Share of operating loss of associates net of taxation

-

(42)

-





Loss on ordinary activities before taxation

(1,647)

(1,709)

(3,671)





Taxation

(10)

(30)

(39)





Loss from continued operations

(1,657)

(1,739)

(3,710)





Discontinued operations




Loss from discontinued operations

(-)

(-)

(180)





Loss for the period

(1,657)

(1,739)

(3,890)





Attributable to:




Equity holders of the parent

(1,744)

(1,607)

(3,503)

Minority interest

87

(132)

(387)






(1,657)

(1,739)

(3,890)





Loss per ordinary share (US$)




Basic and diluted

(0.060)

(0.056)

(0.122)


















        

  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

For the period 1 January 2008 to 30 June 2008



        










   


Called up

share

capital



Share

 premium

account

   

Share option and EBT reserve




Retained losses

   


Total attributable  to equity holders of parent




Minority interest





Total


US$'000

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000

US$'000









Balance as at 1 January 2007

5,182

48,597

824

(4,624)

49,979

1,872

51,851









Loss for the period

-

-

-

(1,607)

(1,607)

(132)

(1,739)









Total recognised income and       expense for the period


-


-


-


(1,607)


(1,607)


(132)


(1,739)

Share-based payments

-

-

416

-

416

-

416

Issue of shares

15

99

-

-

114

-

114









Balance as at 30 June 2007

5,197


48,696


1,240


(6,231)


48,902


1,740


50,642










Loss for the period

-

-

-

(1,896)

(1,896)

(255)

(2,151)









Total recognised income and expense for the period


-


-


-


(1,896)


(1,896)


(255)


(2,151)

Share-based payments

-

-

427

-

427

-

427









Balance as at 31 December 2007


5,197


48,696


1,667


(8,127)


47,433


1,485


48,918

















Loss for the period

-

-

-

(1,744)

(1,744)

87

(1,657)









Total recognised income and expense for the period


-


-


-


(1,744)


(1,744)


87


(1,657)

Share-based payments

-

-

32

-

32

-

32









Balance as at 30 June 2008

5,197

48,696

1,699

(9,871)

45,721

1,572

47,293


  CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET 

At 30 June 2008







Six months ended 

Six months ended

Year ended


30 June 2008

30 June 2007

31 December 2007


US$000's

US$000's

US$000's


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited





Non-current assets




Intangible assets

40,292

43,845

41,900

Property, plant and equipment

3,865

2,322

4,101

Financial assets

15

25

25

Investments in associated companies

-

1,039

-

Advances to associated companies

-

3,512

-





Total non-current assets

44,172

50,743

46,026





Current assets




Inventories

68

71

117

Trade and other receivables

285

315

364

Advances to associated companies

3,882

-

3,848

Cash and cash equivalents

2,619

3,740

2,319





Total current assets

6,854

4,126

6,648





Non-current assets held for sale

901

-

901





Total assets

51,927

54,869

53,575





Liabilities:




Current liabilities




Trade and other payables

642

515

283





Non-current liabilities




Other payables

3,992

3,712

4,374





Total liabilities

(4,634)

(4,227)

(4,657)





Total net assets

47,293

50,642

48,918





Capital and reserves attributable to




  equity holders of the Company




Called up share capital

5,197

5,197

5,197

Share premium account

48,696

48,696

48,696

Share option and EBT reserve

1,699

1,240

1,667

Retained losses

(9,871)

(6,231)

(8,127)


45,721

48,902

47,433





Minority interest

1,572

1,740

1,485





Total equity

47,293

50,642

48,918












































        

  CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

For the period 1 January 2008 to 30 June 2008



Six months ended 

Six months ended

Year ended


30 June 2008

30 Ju