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Borgestad
Annual Report 2019

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FY2019 Annual Report · Borgestad
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borders&southern
petroleum plc&southern

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2019

WELCOME TO OUR ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Borders & Southern is an independent  
oil and gas company. Its principal area  
of activity is in the Falkland Islands,  
where it holds three Production Licences 
covering nearly 10,000 square kilometres.  
The Company was successful with its first 
exploration well, making a significant gas 
condensate discovery.

Our Purpose
To explore for new hydrocarbon 
resources that can be monetised  
for the benefit of all our stakeholders. 
We will do so safely and with due 
respect for the environment and  
the communities in which we operate.

CONTENTS

GOVERNANCE

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc (AIM: BOR)  
is pleased to announce its Annual Report and Accounts 
2019. The accounts contained within this report 
represent the consolidation of Borders & Southern 
Petroleum plc and its subsidiary Borders & Southern 
Falkland Islands Limited. 

Strategic Report

01   Highlights 2019

02   Chairman’s and CEO’s Review

03   Borders & Southern at a Glance

04   Why Invest

05   Strategy and Business Model

06   Principal Risks and Uncertainties

Highlights 2019

$3.7m

Cash balance at 31 December 2019 
(2018: $5.6m)

$1.37m

Loss before tax for the year  
(2018: $1.96m)

$1.45m

Reduced administrative expense  
for the year (2018: $1.8 million)

•  Farm-out process remains active. 
Progress has been impacted by 
current industry capital allocation 
constraints.

•  The Company’s prospect inventory 

has been updated to include 
additional smaller pools close  
to the Darwin discovery.

Governance 

09   Introduction to Governance

10   Board of Directors 

11  Remuneration Committee Report

12  Directors’ Report 
14   Independent Auditor’s Report 

Financial Statements

17  Consolidated Statement  
of Comprehensive Income

18  Consolidated Statement  
of Financial Position

19  Consolidated Statement  
of Changes in Equity

20  Company Statement 
of Financial Position

21  Company Statement  
of Changes in Equity

22  Consolidated Statement  

of Cash Flows

23  Company Statement  

of Cash Flows

24   Notes to the Financial    

Statements

38   Corporate Directory


Further information:
www.bordersandsouthern.com

01  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSSTRATEGIC REPORT 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHAIRMAN’S AND CEO’S REVIEW

Committed to progressing Darwin

As part of our effort to continually enhance 
the sub-surface technical aspects of the 
project, we have been assessing the potential 
small pools of hydrocarbons not previously 
captured in our assessment of Darwin or the 
near-field prospects. Detailed mapping and 
evaluation of the 3D depth migrated seismic 
volume has revealed a number of interesting 
amplitude anomalies adjacent to Darwin. 
Individual leads have un-risked best estimate 
prospective resource values of up to 17 million 
barrels. These would not provide stand-alone 
targets, but might be able to be tied into 
a development at a later stage. Detailed 
structural mapping and evaluation of the  
area to the north of Darwin has highlighted  
a number of small structural closures with 
strong amplitude anomalies and small 
associated flat spots. These have potential  
un-risked prospective resource volumes of  
up to 29 million barrels. Again, these structures 
may not represent economic stand-alone 
targets, but they offer us confidence that  
the hydrocarbon system is working across  
a large area of the Aptian shelf.

Possibly the most interesting lead to emerge 
from the technical work is the newly defined 
the Stewart prospect, mapped on the more 
recently generated 3D seismic inversion 
volume. Measuring approximately 20 square 
kilometres, it occurs at the same stratigraphic 
interval as near-field prospects Sulivan and 
Stokes. The un-risked prospective resource 
estimate is 40 million barrels. Whilst this is 
a relatively small volume, the target interval 
could be tested by extending a Darwin West 
well approximately 385 metres below the 
Darwin reservoir. The outcome would provide 
important insights into the larger Sulivan  
(473 million barrels) and Stokes (134 million 
barrels) prospects.

Harry Dobson
Non-Executive Chairman

Howard Obee
Chief Executive
9 April 2020

Our principal objective for 2019  
was to secure funding for the next 
phase of operations in the South 
Falkland Basin. 

Unfortunately, the team has been frustrated 
by the slow progress, largely due to factors 
outside of its control. The industry has 
experienced significant constraints on 
capital availability during the last five years. 
Smaller companies, such as ours, are finding 
it particularly challenging to raise risk capital 
and attract partners for large conventional 
offshore projects in frontier areas. This issue 
has recently been exacerbated by the unknown 
and unpredictable impact of the global 
Covid-19 pandemic and the simultaneous 
over-supply of crude caused by lack of 
agreement on production levels by OPEC+ 
countries. Oil prices have again fallen below 
$30 per barrel and the outlook over the next 
12 months appears very challenging. 

Nevertheless, history suggests oil prices will 
bounce back and create conditions that will 
allow us to proceed with Darwin’s appraisal 
and development. Darwin represents an 
exciting opportunity for all those involved,  
and we remain hopeful that we can deliver 
success. Our confidence is based on very 
strong project fundamentals. Darwin is a 
liquids-rich, gas condensate that has been 
independently assessed to contain an un-risked 
recoverable resource of over 450 million 
barrels of condensate and LPGs. The reservoir 
is of high quality, the hydrocarbons have good 
mobility and low contaminants, which means 
the development does not require a large 
number of wells. In the attractive Falkland 
Islands fiscal regime, project economics are 
particularly robust, even at lower oil prices.  
Our current economic model suggests the 
project break-even oil price is less than $35 
per barrel which compares favourably against 
many other global opportunities.

During this period of slow project headway,  
we have been particularly conscious of our 
balance sheet strength. The Company has 
always maintained strict financial discipline, 
with a low overhead. But we have targeted  
a 25% reduction in Sterling expenditures 
during 2020 (the majority of the Company’s 
current expenditures are in Sterling). Our cash 
balance at year-end was $3.68 million (2018: 
$5.6 million). Administrative expense was lower 
at $1.45 million (2018: $1.8 million), although 
some of the reduction was due to exchange 
rate differences. We aim to keep our overhead 
base cost low in order to ensure the Company 
is able to continue along its path to monetise 
Darwin, post these unprecedented times. 

Darwin represents 
an exciting 
opportunity for  
all those involved.

02

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTBORDERS & SOUTHERN AT A GLANCE

Engaged in exploration

Borders & Southern Petroleum is a London Stock Exchange (AIM) 
listed company with exploration acreage in the Falkland Islands.  
It holds a 100% operating interest in three Production Licenses 
which provide exclusive rights for surveying, drilling and production 
within the specified area. The acreage is located approximately  
150 km south-east of the Islands.

Industry outlook

Brent Crude averaged close to $64 per barrel 
in 2019. Despite this relatively strong oil 
price, capital availability for new oil and gas 
developments continued to be constrained 
in 2019, as it has been for the last five years. 
Expenditure on conventional exploration 
and appraisal is much reduced, with fewer 
companies drilling fewer exploration and 
appraisal wells. This trend is anticipated to 
continue during 2020 following the significant 
fall in the oil price in March 2020 as well  
as the unknown extent of the Covid-19  
pandemic on the global economy. 

Our strategy and 
business model

To focus on frontier or emerging  
basins where substantial volumes  
of hydrocarbons are yet to be found, 
where multiple large-scale prospects 
can be defined, and where discoveries 
are commercially robust throughout  
the commodity cycle. 

We will apply rigorous technical and 
commercial discipline across all activities, 
identifying, assessing and managing the  
key risks.

 Read more on page 05

Our short-term objective 

To monetise the Darwin discovery as quickly  
as possible prior to returning to the exploration 
drill bit and testing our extensive prospect 
inventory. The first step is to secure funding/
partners for the next phase of operations.  
Key objectives for the operation programme  
are to confirm the resource estimates and 
reservoir deliverability, and thereby advance  
the project to FID. We aim to complete two 
cored penetrations of the reservoir section,  
one well test, confirm the gas water contact  
and investigate the possibility of an oil rim  
to the discovery. 

 Read more about Darwin on page 04

The Company has acquired 
2,517km of 3D seismic data  
and drilled two exploration wells. 
The first well, Darwin, resulted in  
a major, liquids rich, gas condensate 
discovery. The second well, Stebbing, 
had good hydrocarbon shows, but 
failed to reach its target depth.

Our vision

To be a successful explorer 
through the discovery and 
monetisation of hydrocarbons 
for the benefit of all our 
stakeholders.

Our values 

To act with integrity and  
honesty at all times. Our drive  
to succeed will not compromise 
high standards of business  
ethics and we will act safely  
and responsibly in all activities.

Our people

Borders & Southern has an 
experienced and successful 
technical and commercial team, 
that has delivered a significant 
discovery with the Company’s 
first exploration well. Prudent 
financial management over 
the long term has enabled the 
Company to operate through 
periods of low oil price and 
conservative industry  
capital allocation.

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

03

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
STRATEGIC REPORT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

WHY INVEST

Future growth potential

Borders & Southern holds a 100% equity interest and operatorship 
in three Production Licences in the Falkland Islands. These licenses 
provide exclusive rights for surveying, drilling and production within 
the specified area. The acreage is located approximately 150km 
south-east of the Islands. To date, the Company has acquired 
2,517km of 3D seismic and drilled two exploration wells.

Darwin Key Facts

Overview
Darwin is a large, liquids rich, gas 
condensate discovery. The reservoir 
comprises high quality, laterally 
continuous shallow marine sands. 
The trap consists of two tilted fault 
blocks. The discovery is exceptionally 
imaged on 3D seismic data, where 
hydrocarbons are marked by a clear 
flat spot and amplitude conformance 
to structure. The wet gas discovery 
contains a large volume of LPGs as 
well condensate. 

The objective of the next drilling programme 
will be to confirm resource estimates and 
reservoir delivery by making two cored 
penetrations of the reservoir section and 
undertaking a well test. The well will confirm 
the gas water contact and test for a potential 
oil rim.

If the discovery is successfully appraised,  
then the current plans for a development 
involve the production of the liquids and  
re-injection of the dry gas back into the 
reservoir. Engineering studies have shown  
that the discovery could be commercialised  
by an FPSO development, utilising six production 
wells and four gas re-injectors. Initial production 
could be in excess of 90,000 barrels of liquids  
per day. Alternative options for the development 
will be considered post appraisal. 

Future exploration programmes are likely 
to focus on the near-field prospects. The 
Company has an exciting portfolio of amplitude 
supported prospects. Management’s total  
un-risked best estimate prospective resource 
for these prospects exceeds one billion barrels.

An independent un-risked resource  
assessment concluded: 

Licence

B&S interest

Discovery well number

Discovery date

Water Depth

Total depth

Structure

PL018

100%

61/17-1

April 2012

2011 metres

4876 metres

Tilted fault blocks

Darwin East

1,759

1,096

659

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Area of seismic anomaly

26 square kilometres

High

Best

Low

Reservoir

Gross reservoir interval

Net pay

Early Cretaceous 
(Aptian)

84.5 metres

67.8 metres

Average porosity

22% (up to 30%)

Average permeability

337 mD (up to 1D)

Initial condensate yield

148 stb/MMscf

Condensate API

46 to 49 degrees

  Darwin West

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3,160

2,110

1,361

High

Best

Low

Condensate
(MMSTB)

Condensate  
& LPG
(MMBBL) 

115

Darwin East  
Contingent (2C)

202

Darwin West 
Prospective

170

Darwin East  
Contingent (2C)

292

Darwin West 
Prospective

Independent un-risked resource assessment

04

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STRATEGY AND BUSINESS MODEL

Focused on exploration

Our aim is to create value through the discovery and monetisation 
of hydrocarbons, applying our core strengths.

Business Model

Exploration
The Company has an exploration 
strategy focused on frontier or 
emerging basins where a significant 
acreage position can be secured at 
relatively low cost. 

The basins must have the potential to yield 
substantial yet-to-find resources, large prospect 
sizes and display good evidence of a working 
source rock. Comprehensive technical 
screening prior to access helps mitigate 
the sub-surface risks along with economic 
modelling to ensure project rewards justify the 
investment decision. We carefully deploy our 
limited financial resources on acquiring the 
right technical data and ensuring it is of the 
highest quality in order to apply our rigorous 
petroleum systems analysis. This allows us to 
compile a comprehensive prospect inventory, 
undertake detailed prospect risk analysis and 
ultimately high-grade drilling targets.

Appraisal
Following the discovery of 
hydrocarbons, the next stage is an 
assessment of its commerciality. 

Analysis of well results, detailed reservoir 
modelling, and integration of the new data  
into existing interpretations allow us to 
estimate the hydrocarbon volume in-place and 
the potential volume that might be recoverable. 
If the project economics look positive, then an 
appraisal drilling programme will be designed 
and executed in order to constrain resource 
estimates and test reservoir deliverability.

Development
If the appraisal drilling programme is 
successful and the project economics 
continue to be attractive, the next 
stage comprises detailed engineering 
and cost analysis of development 
concepts prior to design selection and 
final project sanction. First production 
and cash flow might be three years 
after project sanction.

Given the scale of investment required for  
a major development, partners can be brought 
into the project at any time during the 
exploration, appraisal or development phases.

The Company has been successful in the 
first stage of the exploration to development 
cycle. It has found a high quality, liquids rich, 
gas condensate accumulation in an attractive 
fiscal regime. The scale of the resource has 
been independently verified. Additionally, the 
Company holds a multi-billion barrel follow-up 
prospect inventory. The Company’s strategic 
priorities are to ensure a stable financial 
footing for the business, deliver on the Darwin 
project, and grow the business by adding 
further discoveries.

Technical rigour
Our experienced in-house team is supported 
by expert consultants that have worked  
with the Company over a long period of  
time. This team has a proven track record  
of discovery and evaluation.

Commercial discipline
The Company has always maintained  
a healthy balance sheet with no debt.  
Robust financial controls are in-place.  
Our financial resources are effectively  
directed towards our strategic objectives.

Risk management
All our activities are underpinned by thorough 
risk identification, monitoring and mitigation.  
We operate responsibly, displaying care and 
respect to all our stakeholders. 

05  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

Managing risks effectively

As an oil and gas exploration company, Borders & Southern is subject to  
a variety of risks and uncertainties. Managing risk effectively is fundamental 
to delivering safe and responsible business plans and strategic objectives. 
Our approach is to ensure that all significant risks are identified, their 
potential impact understood, and the likelihood of their occurrence assessed. 
The Board of Directors review the risk register and ensure management 
plans are put in place where appropriate.

Risk

Nature of risks

Mitigating factors

Sub-surface

Health and 
Safety 

Exploration for oil and gas is inherently 
a risky business and commercial 
success cannot be guaranteed. 
Whilst many of the technical risks 
can be mitigated, they cannot  
be eliminated.

Drilling for oil and gas in a remote, 
offshore environment presents many 
risks to personal safety including 
serious injury or death. More recently 
the COVID-19 pandemic has created 
many challenges to all.

The Company has an experienced sub-surface 
team with a proven track record. Industry 
experts provide specialist supplementary skills. 
Current technologies and techniques are used 
in all evaluations.

The Company employs experienced drilling 
management teams. Prior to operations, detailed 
risk assessments and mitigation plans are put in 
place, along with emergency response exercises, 
closely following industry best practices.

The COVID–19 pandemic is a significant 
challenge to all businesses including those  
in the oil industry. For the Company, as we  
are not yet in operations, the challenges are 
limited to the office where we are following 
Government guidelines. In the future we will 
most likely understand the virus better and be 
able to operate safely as the industry adapts.

Status

Risk Unchanged

Risk Increase

Environmental

The Falkland Islands are located in a 
remote area with an abundant range 
of wildlife and plant life that could be 
at risk from operational incidents.

Prior to operations, the Company undertakes 
detailed environmental impact assessments 
and baseline studies using industry specialists. 
Mitigation plans are put in place including oil 
response training for all relevant personnel.

Climate Change

The activities of exploration and 
production companies could be 
subject to government legislation in 
response to global carbon emission 
reduction targets.

Financial (access 
to capital) 

Constraints in the capital markets 
could impact the Company’s ability 
to carry out the appraisal programme 
and future development programme.

There is no indication that the Falkland Islands 
Government want to place a moratorium  
on the production of hydrocarbons as the 
potential revenues will provide a profound 
economic benefit to the Islands. During future 
operations the Company will seek to minimise 
its emission levels.

The Company holds a high-quality asset 
(Darwin) with a low break-even oil price 
which is very competitive against other global 
opportunities. This should help attract funds  
to the project.

Risk Unchanged

Risk Unchanged

Risk Unchanged

Financial 
(commodity 
price) 

Volatility in oil and gas prices can 
have a material impact on project 
economics and the access to capital.

The Darwin project appears very robust at 
current levels in oil price. Project modelling 
suggests it is economic down to at least  
$35 per barrel.

Risk Increase

06     

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTRisk

Nature of risks

Mitigating factors

Status

Risk Unchanged

In accordance with the timetable for licence 
renewals, the Company intends to seek  
an extension to the current licence term.  
Based on recent licence renewals by other 
operators in the region, the Directors are 
confident that a licence extension will  
be granted.

Licence Renewal 

The Company’s Production  
Licences are due for renewal  
at the end of October 2020. 
There is an outstanding one well 
licence obligation, which will not 
have been completed by this time. 
There is a risk that the Falkland 
Islands Government will not grant 
an extension to the current licence 
period and these licences would 
lapse. (The Discovery Area Licence  
is not due for renewal until the end 
of January 2022).

Political

The sovereignty of the Falkland 
Islands is challenged by Argentina.

Key Personnel 

To keep a low overhead the  
Company outsources many non-core 
roles. It is therefore reliant on a 
small number of in-house personnel. 
Potential disruption to business  
and loss of corporate knowledge 
could occur if these were to depart 
the Company.

In the 2013 referendum in the Falkland Islands 
the people voted unequivocally to remain 
as a British Overseas Territory. The British 
Government strongly supports the Falkland 
Islands right to determine their own future  
and rebuts Argentina’s claim to sovereignty. 

The Company has service contracts with key 
employees that provide notice periods that 
allow sufficient time to source experienced 
replacements. Additionally, the Company has  
a wide network of experienced contractors.

Risk Unchanged

Risk Unchanged

07  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
As a relatively small company with a business 
structure that has a limited number of in-house 
roles supported by expert out-sourced 
functions, we are able to ensure a high  
level of communication with all employees.  
This cultivates a good appreciation of business 
risks and objectives and provides employees 
with direct access to all Board members and 
input into critical decision making. 

The Strategic Report was approved by the 
Directors on 9 April 2020 and signed on its 
behalf by:

Harry Dobson
Non-executive Chairman

Environmental, Social  
and Governance (ESG)
Borders & Southern’s business is to create 
value through the discovery and monetisation 
of hydrocarbons. To be successful, we 
recognise that all our stakeholders should 
benefit, including shareholders, host 
governments, the communities in which we 
operate, employees and partners. Corporate 
responsibility is therefore central to everything 
we do. Our aim is to conduct ourselves in 
an ethical and transparent way. We aim to 
conduct our operations safely, in line with 
industry best practice and minimising the 
potential risk to the environment.

Recently the major oil and gas companies 
have been developing strategies for carbon 
reduction, as the global economy transitions  
to renewable sources of energy, whilst helping 
to meet the projected increase in energy demand  
over the next 20 years associated with global 
population increase. As a small company,  
we too have to be cognisant of our role.  
We are not currently in an operational phase, 
but in the build-up to the next drilling campaign 
we will develop strategies to reduce and 
mitigate emissions from operations (in particular 
respect to Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions).

Directors’ Duties
The Directors act in accordance with a set of 
duties detailed in section 172 of the Companies 
Act which are summarised as follows:

•  A director of a company must act in the way 
they consider, in good faith, would be the 
most likely to promote the success of the 
Company for the benefit of its shareholders 
as a whole and, in doing so, have regard to:

•  The likely consequences of any decisions 

in the long term;

•  The interests of the Company’s 

employees;

•  The need to foster the Company’s 

business relationships with suppliers, 
customers and others;

•  The impact of the Company’s operations 

on the community and environment;

•  The desirability of the Company 
maintaining a reputation for high 
standards of business conduct; and

•  The need to act fairly between 
shareholders of the Company.

In addition to that outlined in the Chairman’s 
and CEO’s Review (page 2) the ESG section 
above and in the Director’s Report (pages  
12-13), the Directors fulfilled their duties 
during the year as follows:

Section 172 Statement
Throughout the year the Company has 
engaged with its key stakeholders and has 
incorporated their feedback into the Board’s 
main strategic decisions. The two principal 
areas of strategic focus have been the pursuit 
of funding/partners for the next phase  
of operations and the advancement of the  
sub-surface technical work. 

As a company active in the Falkland Islands  
we ensure we represent the interests of the  
Falkland Islands community, the Falkland 
Islands Government, Department of Minerals  
and environmental groups. As a member  
of FIPLA (Falkland Islands Petroleum Licensee’s 
Association), not only do we foster relationships 
with other Falkland Islands operating companies, 
but also engage with the government on 
petroleum policy development and matters 
impacting our business. We also provide 
support to environmental groups for base-line 
studies with the objective of minimising our 
impact on the natural environment. Through 
our monthly reporting to the Falkland Islands 
Department of Minerals we communicate 
developments in our sub-surface work and 
listen to any feedback offered by their advisors 
at the British Geological Survey. 

In our technical work, we have developed 
wider relationships with the academic 
community. For many years we have made our 
data available to certain British universities and 
mentored students. This year we provided data 
and part mentored an MSc. student at Imperial 
College and provided data for Falkland Islands 
academic research at Heriot Watt University. In 
previous years we have offered similar support 
to Oxford University and Royal Holloway 
College, London University.

The Company’s strategies, results and 
ongoing developments are communicated to 
shareholders and other stakeholders through 
the Company’s website, incorporating Stock 
Exchange public releases and presentation 
material. The Board of Directors are made 
aware of shareholder comments and feedback. 
Shareholders are encouraged, where possible, 
to attend the annual AGM to offer direct 
feedback to all the Company’s Directors.

08 

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTINTRODUCTION TO GOVERNANCE

Adopting the QCA Code

As the code evolves, we will, of course, make adjustments  
to internal controls, for example, to ensure we continue to  
be fully compliant.

We operate with
•  Respect;
•  Transparency; and
•  Leadership.

Applying the principles of the QCA 
Corporate Governance Code

Leadership
The board members have a collective 
responsibility and legal obligation to 
promote the interests of the Company,  
and are collectively responsible for defining 
corporate governance arrangements.

Effectiveness
The board should regularly review the 
effectiveness of its performance as a unit, 
as well as that of its committees and the 
individual directors.

Transparency
The Company should maintain governance 
structures and processes in line with its 
corporate culture and appropriate to its:

•  Size and complexity; and
•  Capacity, appetite and tolerance for risk.

Respect
Long-term success relies upon good 
relations with a range of different 
stakeholder groups both internal 
(workforce) and external (suppliers, 
customers, regulators and others).

Remuneration
The Company remunerates fairly and 
responsibly and ensure that the level  
and composition of remuneration for 
all employees is competitive.


Find out more about how we support 
the QCA Code on our website:
www.bordersandsouthern.com

Principles of corporate governance
I am, along with the rest of the Directors, 
responsible for corporate governance. 
The Board currently comprises the 
Chairman, two Executive Directors  
and one Non-executive Director. 

The roles of the Chairman and CEO are 
separate and clearly defined. All of the 
Directors bring independent judgement to bear 
on issues of strategy, performance, resources, 
key appointments and standards. One of the 
critical roles of the Board is to make decisions 
that are in the best interests of the Company 
and that follow the six key factors in S172(1) 
of the Companies Act 2006. The Board 
meets regularly throughout the year and all 
the necessary information is supplied to the 
Directors on a timely basis to enable them to 
discharge their duties effectively. The Board 
considers that the current balance of Executive 
and Non-executive Directors is appropriate for 
the Company, taking into account its size and 
status. All Directors retire by rotation.

QCA Corporate Governance Code
The Company follows the QCA Corporate 
Governance Code which was chosen  
as the most appropriate for the time being.  
The Company remains compliant with the 
principles of the Code and further details 
can be found on its website under investor 
relations/corporate governance.

My role as Chairman
I have been Chairman of the Company since its 
inception and I am responsible for the effective 
running of the Board and for ensuring that 
it plays a constructive role in the development 
of the Company. Together with the Chief 
Executive Officer, I also set and run the  
Board meeting agendas.

Role of the Non-executive Director 
Nigel Hurst-Brown brings considerable 
business experience to the Board and its 
Committees. He provides independent views 
on the Company’s performance, operations 
and strategy.

Audit Committee
The Audit Committee comprises two Non- 
executive Directors. The members of the Audit 
Committee and their attendance at meetings of 
the Audit Committee during 2019 are detailed 
in the Directors’ Report.

The objectives of the Audit Committee are  
to ensure:

•  the accuracy and integrity of the financial 

statements and related disclosures;

•  the keeping of adequate books, records  

and internal controls;

•  compliance with legal and regulatory 

requirements; and

•  oversight and communication with  

the auditors

Internal Controls
The Board is responsible for approving all 
major projects, external reports and budgets. 
The Company has robust internal controls and 
risk management procedures. 

Insurances
The Company has taken out Directors’ and 
Officers’ insurance that provides insurance 
cover for all Directors and senior officers of the 
Company. This insurance is reviewed annually.

Key performance indicators
At this stage in its development, the Company 
is focused on the development of the Darwin 
discovery. When the Company commences 
production, KPIs will be developed and 
reported as appropriate. The Directors do, 
however, closely monitor certain financial 
information, in particular overheads and  
cash balances.

Harry Dobson
Non-executive Chairman 
9 April 2020

09

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Developing our strategy

Our board develops strategy and leads Borders  
& Southern to achieve long term success.

A Audit Committee

R

E

Remuneration Committee

Executive Director

RA

E

Harry Dobson
Non-executive Chairman

Howard Obee 
Chief Executive Officer

E

Peter Fleming 
Finance Director

Committee Memberships
Chairman of the Remuneration 
Committee and member 
of the Audit Committee

Committee Memberships
—

Committee Memberships
—

A

R

Nigel Hurst-Brown
Non-executive Director

Committee Memberships
Chairman of the Audit Committee 
and member of the Remuneration 
Committee

Experience

Experience

Experience

Experience

•  Former investment banker 

and senior partner of Yorkton 
Securities plc

•  Over 30 years experience  
in the oil industry, with BP  
and BHP Billiton

•  Over 25 years of upstream  
oil and gas experience,  
at BHP Billiton

•  Qualified chartered accountant 

and chairman of Lloyd’s 
Investment Managers

•  Former Chairman of American 

•  Trained as an exploration 

•  Held senior positions in 

•  Former director of Mercury 

Pacific Mining Company

geologist

•  Inc, Lytton Minerals Limited, 
Kirkland Lake Gold Inc and 
Rambler Metals and Mining plc

•  Former director of Copper Bay 
Limited, Glenmore Highlands 
Inc., Belvedere Resources Ltd 
and Concordia Resource Corp

•  Numerous technical and 

commercial roles with strategic 
planning and business 
development

•  Seismic and drilling operational 

experience

exploration and business 
development, investment 
evaluation, acquisitions and 
disposals and strategic planning

•  Masters degrees in business 
administration and finance

Asset Management

•  Former managing director 

of Merrill Lynch Investment 
Managers

•  Current external chief 

executive of Hotchkis and 
Wiley (UK) Limited and its  
US parent company

•  Current Non-executive director 

of Central Asia Metals plc

Number of Board meetings during 2019

Attendance

Harry Dobson
Howard Obee
Peter Fleming
Nigel Hurst-Brown

Board

Remuneration
Committee

Audit Committee

3
3
3
3

–
–
–
–

2
–
–
2

10     

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTREMUNERATION COMMITTEE REPORT

On 18 May 2005 all of the Company’s Directors entered into a service agreement with the Company.

The Board has a Remuneration Committee comprising myself and one Non-executive Director. The members of the Remuneration Committee are 
detailed in the Directors’ Report.

The purpose of the Remuneration Committee is to independently ensure the Company remunerates fairly and responsibly and ensure that the  
level and composition of remuneration for all employees is competitive. Both short and long term performance-based components are reviewed.  
The Company benchmarks its remuneration and overheads with comparable peer group companies.

The remuneration of the Directors for the year ended 31 December 2019 was as follows:

Harry Dobson
Howard Obee
Nigel Hurst-Brown
Peter Fleming

Basic salary

Share-based payment

Total 2019

Total 2018

£

$

–
250,000
–
200,000

–
337,840
–
270,270

450,000

608,110

£

–
–
1,819
–

1,819

$

–
–
2,458
–

£

$

£

$

–
250,000
1,819
200,000

–
337,840
2,458
270,270

–
250,000
1,819
200,000

–
318,430
2,316
254,745

2,458

451,819

610,568

451,819

575,491

During 2020 the Company commenced several initiatives to reduce overheads by approx. 25% including a 35% reduction in salaries for the Executive 
Directors. It is envisaged that during 2020 the Company will issue share options to partially compensate those employees affected by these cuts.
The Company paid £56,784 ($76,735) (2018: £56,784 ($71,000)) in National Insurance for its Directors during the year. The Group operates a 
pension scheme for some of its employees.

Harry Dobson
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 
9 April 2020

11  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORT

Directors and their interests
The beneficial and other interests of the Directors and their families in the share capital at 31 December 2019 and at 31 December 2018 were  
as follows:

Harry Dobson
Howard Obee
Peter Fleming
Nigel Hurst-Brown

At 31 December
2019
Number

At 31 December
2018
Number

26,670,000
10,000,000
2,200,000
1,530,000

26,670,000
10,000,000
2,200,000
1,530,000

The ordinary shares in which Harry Dobson is interested are held by the Zila Corporation, a company owned by the Whitmill Trust Company Limited, 
as trustee of The Lotus Trust of which he is a beneficiary.

The Group has provided the Directors with qualifying indemnity insurance from a third party.

Share options

Howard Obee
Peter Fleming
Nigel Hurst-Brown

Number of
options held at 
the beginning 
of the year

Number of 
options held at 
the end 
of the year

1,250,000
1,250,000
1,250,000

1,000,000
1,000,000
1,250,000

Fair value 
of options

24 pence
24 pence
0.5-32 pence

Exercise price

Vesting period

51 pence
51 pence
1.8-58 pence

three years
three years
three years

The share-based payments are the amortisation over the vesting period of the fair value of options issued to Directors in previous years.  
See note 7 for more details.

Substantial shareholders
At 31 December 2019, the following held 3% or more of the nominal value of the Company’s shares carrying voting rights:

Lansdowne Partners Limited Partnership
Allianz Global Investors
Interactive Investor
Stephen Posford
Zila Corporation
Hargreaves Lansdowne Asset Management
LGT Vestra
HDSL
Killik

Number of 
ordinary shares

% of share capital

67,613,605
33,921,782
29,223,632
27,500,000
26,670,000
22,695,252
22,510,258
19,749,575
5,844,038

13.97%
7.01%
6.04%
5.68%
5.51%
4.68%
4.65% 
4.07%
3.27%

Domicile
The Parent Company of the Group, Borders & Southern Petroleum plc, is a public limited company and is registered and domiciled in England.

Results and dividends
The Group Statement of Comprehensive Income is set out on page 17 and shows the result for the year. The Directors do not recommend  
the payment of a dividend (2018: $nil).

Review of business and future developments
A review of the operations of the Group is contained in the CEO’s Review on page 2 onwards.

12     

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTPost reporting date events
There are no Company or Group specific events that have occurred since the year end which require reporting. Please see note 19 for the Company’s 
response to the COVID-19 virus.

Charitable and political donations
There were no political or charitable contributions made by the Company or the Group during the year (2018: $nil).

Financial instruments
Details of the use of financial instruments by the Company and its subsidiary undertakings are contained in note 20 of the financial statements.

Directors’ responsibilities
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Directors’ Report, the Strategic Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable  
law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have prepared the  
Group and Company financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European  
Union. Under Company law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view  
of the state of affairs of the Group and Company and of the profit or loss of the Group for that period. The Directors are also required to prepare 
financial statements in accordance with the rules of the London Stock Exchange for companies trading securities on AIM.

In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to:

•  Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

•  Make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

•  State whether they have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union, subject to any material departures 

disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

•  Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Group and Company transactions 
and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements 
comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence for taking 
reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Website publication
The Directors are responsible for ensuring the Annual Report and the financial statements are made available on a website. Financial statements  
are published on the Company’s website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination 
of financial statements, which may vary from legislation in other jurisdictions. The maintenance and integrity of the Company’s website is the 
responsibility of the Directors. The Directors’ responsibility also extends to the ongoing integrity of the financial statements contained therein.

Auditor
All of the current Directors have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any information needed by the 
Company’s auditor for the purposes of its audit and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.

The Directors are not aware of any relevant audit information of which the auditor is unaware.

BDO LLP has expressed its willingness to continue in office and a resolution to reappoint them will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.  
By order of the Board

William Slack 
Company Secretary
9 April 2020

13  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
 
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
to the members of Borders & Southern Petroleum plc

Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Borders & Southern Petroleum plc (“the Parent Company”) and its subsidiary (“the Group”) for the year 
ended 31 December 2019 which comprise the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the consolidated statement of financial position, 
the consolidated statement of changes in equity, the Company statement of financial position, the Company statement of changes in equity, the 
consolidated statement of cash flows, the Company statement of cash flows and the related notes to the financial statements, including a summary  
of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the Group and Parent Company 
financial statements is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union and as regards  
the Parent Company financial statements as applied in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

In our opinion:
•  the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and the Parent Company’s affairs as at 31 December 2019  

and of the Group’s loss for the year then ended;

•  the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union;

•  the Parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union  

and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and

•  the financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (“ISAs (UK)”) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those 
standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent 
of the Parent Company and the Group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the 
UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to listed entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these 
requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you where:

•  the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate; or

•  the Directors have not disclosed in the financial statements any identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about the 
Group’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting for a period of at least twelve months from the date when the 
financial statements are authorised for issue.

Key audit matters (“KAMs”)
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements of the 
current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) that we identified, including 
those which had the greatest effect on the overall audit strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit and directing the efforts of the engagement 
team. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon,  
and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

Key audit matter identified
Carrying value of exploration and evaluation assets
The Group’s exploration and evaluation (E&E) assets associated with the Darwin and Stebbing licence areas in the Falkland Islands represent  
the key assets on the Group’s Statement of Financial Position. See note 11.

Management are required to perform an assessment of potential impairment indicators at the year end. If impairment indicators are identified 
management are required to perform an assessment of the recoverable value of the E&E assets under the provisions of the relevant accounting 
standard. Management did not identify any potential impairment indicators.

Given the inherent judgement involved in the assessment of the existence of potential impairment indicators and the materiality of this balance  
we consider this to be a significant audit risk.

14     

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
Our response:
We assessed management’s impairment indicator review to establish whether it was performed in accordance with the requirements of the  
relevant accounting standard. We also performed our own assessment of the impairment indicators noted in the relevant accounting standard.  
The key point noted related to the short time period remaining on the Production Licences before they are due for renewal.

We obtained and read third party documents relating to the licence status and commitments. We assessed management’s conclusion on their ability 
to renew the Production Licences and checked their assessment against publicly available information, the Falkland Islands regime for renewal of oil 
and gas licences and noted the Company’s previous ability to renew its licences. 

We considered whether there was evidence in the Group’s cash flow that funding was available to maintain and continue development of the  
E&E assets.

We reviewed the economic models prepared by third party management experts. Our work in this regard was completed in order to assess whether 
there was any evidence in the models of further potential triggers for impairment which had not been previously identified.

As we reviewed the reports prepared by the third party management experts, we considered the expert’s independence, competence and objectivity.

Key observations:
Our audit procedures did not identify any material misstatements in the carrying value of exploration and evaluation assets or in the disclosure  
as required by IFRS 6.

Our application of materiality
We apply the concept of materiality both in planning and performing our audit, and in evaluation of the effect of misstatements. We consider 
materiality to be the magnitude by which misstatements, including omissions, could influence the economic decisions of reasonable users that  
are taken on the basis of the financial statements. Importantly, misstatements below these levels will not necessarily be evaluated as immaterial  
as we also take account of the nature of identified misstatements, and the particular circumstances of their occurrence, when evaluating their effect 
on the financial statements as whole.

We consider total assets to be the financial metric of the most interest to shareholders and other users of the financial statements, given the Group’s 
status as an exploration and evaluation entity and therefore consider this to be an appropriate basis for materiality. Materiality was set at 1.4% of total 
assets, being $4.2m (2018: 1.4% of total assets being $4.2m). 

A specific materiality was set at 10% of loss before taxation being $137,000 (2018: $196,000) in order to ensure sufficient testing was performed  
on the Group income statement.

Performance materiality is the application of materiality at the individual account or balance level set at an amount to reduce to an appropriately low 
level the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and undetected misstatements exceeds materiality for the financial statements as a whole. 
Performance materiality was set at 75% (2018: 75%) of the above materiality levels.

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to the committee all individual audit differences identified during the course of our audit  
in excess of $83,000 (2018: $83,000). We also agreed to report differences below these thresholds that, in our view, warranted reporting on 
qualitative grounds. 

There were no misstatements identified during the course of our audit that were individually, or in aggregate, considered to be material in terms  
of their absolute monetary value or on qualitative grounds. 

An overview of the scope of our audit
In approaching the audit, we considered how the Group is organised and managed. We assessed the business as being principally a single project 
Group comprising of the exploration activities in the Falkland Islands. 

Our audit strategy focused on the Group’s significant components which comprised Borders & Southern Petroleum plc and Borders & Southern 
Falkland Islands Ltd, which represented all of the Group companies. Whilst materiality for the financial statements as a whole was $4.2m,  
each component of the Group was audited to a lower level of performance materiality of between $3m and $3.2m. All of the components  
were subject to full scope audit procedures and all were audited by BDO LLP.

Other information
The Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other  
than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, 
except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the 
other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially 
misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material 
misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude 
that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

15  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT CONTINUED
to the members of Borders & Southern Petroleum plc

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

•  the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared  

is consistent with the financial statements; and

•  the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the Parent Company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit,  
we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report or the Directors’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if,  
in our opinion:

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

•  the Parent Company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

•  certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or

•  we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of Directors
As explained more fully in the Directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 13, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of the 
financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Directors determines is necessary  
to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing,  
as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Directors either intend to liquidate  
the Group or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether 
due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a 
guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.

Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected  
to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at:  
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report
This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit  
work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report 
and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company  
and the Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Anne Sayers (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of BDO LLP, Statutory Auditor 
London
United Kingdom 
9 April 2020

BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC305127).

16     

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTCONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the year ended 31 December 2019

Administrative expenses

Loss from operations
Finance income
Finance expense

Loss before tax
Tax expense
Loss for the year and total comprehensive loss for the year  
attributable to equity owners of the parent

Note

2
8
8

9

2019
$000

(1,447)

(1,447)
88
(11)

(1,370)
–

(1,370)

2018
$000

(1,802)

(1,802)
29
(193)

(1,966)
–

(1,966)

Basic and diluted loss per share (see note 3)

(0.28) cents

(0.41) cents

The notes on pages 24 to 37 form part of the financial statements.

17  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
At 31 December 2019

Assets
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets

Total non-current assets

Current assets
Other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Liabilities 
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables

Total net assets

Equity attributable to the equity owners  
of the Parent Company
Share capital
Share premium
Other reserves
Retained deficit
Foreign currency reserve

Total equity

2019

2018

Note

$000

$000

$000

$000

233
3,682

10
11

13
16

14

15

118
291,765

291,883

3,915

295,798

(235)

295,563

8,530
308,602
1,777
(23,330)
(16)

295,563

260
5,626

15
291,367

291,382

5,886

297,268

(337)

296,931

8,530
308,602
1,775
(21,960)
(16)

296,931

The notes on pages 24 to 37 form part of the financial statements.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 9 April 2020.

Howard Obee 
Director 

Company Number: 5147938

Peter Fleming
Director

18     

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
For the year ended 31 December 2019

Balance at 1 January 2018
Loss and total comprehensive loss for the year
Recognition of share-based payments

Balance at 31 December 2018
Loss and total comprehensive loss for the year
Recognition of share-based payments

Balance at 31 December 2019

Share 
capital
$000

8,530
–
–

8,530
–
–

8,530

Share 
premium
$000

308,602
–
–

308,602
–
–

308,602

Other 
reserves
$000

1,773
–
2

1,775
–
2

1,777

Retained 
deficit
$000

(19,994)
(1,966)
–

(21,960)
(1,370)
–

(23,330)

Foreign
currency
reserve
$000

(16)
–
–

(16)
–
–

(16)

Total
$000

298,895
(1,966)
2

296,931
(1,370)
2

295,563

The following describes the nature and purpose of each reserve within owners’ equity:

Reserve 
Share capital 

Share premium 

Other reserves 

Retained deficit 

Description and purpose
This represents the nominal value of shares issued.

Amount subscribed for share capital in excess of nominal value.

Fair value of options issued, less transfers to retained deficit on expiry.

 Cumulative net gains and losses recognised in the Consolidated Statement  
of Comprehensive Income.

Foreign currency reserves 

Differences arising on change of presentation and functional currency to US dollars. 

The notes on pages 24 to 37 form part of the financial statements.

19  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
At 31 December 2019

Assets
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investments
Inter-company loan

Total non-current assets

Current assets
Other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Liabilities 
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables

Total net assets

Equity attributable to owners of the Parent Company
Share capital
Share premium
Other reserves
Retained deficit
Foreign currency reserve

Total equity

2019

2018

Note

$000

$000

$000

$000

233
3,682

10
12
13

13
16

14

15

118
–
291,944

292,062

3,915

295,977

(235)

295,742

8,530
308,602
1,777
(23,149)
(18)

295,742

260
5,626

15
–
291,546

291,561

5,886

299,447

(337)

297,110

8,530
308,602
1,775
(21,779)
(18)

297,110

The Parent Company has taken advantage of the exemption from the requirement to publish its own income statement.

The Parent Company loss for the year ended 31 December 2019 was $1,370,000 (2018: $1,966,000). The notes on pages 24 to 37 form part of the 
financial statements.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 9 April 2020.

Howard Obee 
Director 

Company Number: 5147938

Peter Fleming
Director

20     

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
At 31 December 2019

Balance at 1 January 2018
Loss and total comprehensive loss for the year
Recognition of share-based payments

Balance at 31 December 2018
Loss and total comprehensive loss for the year
Recognition of share-based payments

Balance at 31 December 2019

Share 
capital
$000

8,530
–
–

8,530
–
–

8,530

Share 
premium
reserve
$000

308,602
–
–

308,602
–
–

308,602

Other 
reserves
$000

1,773
–
2

1,775
–
2

1,777

Retained 
deficit
$000

(19,813)
(1,966)
–

(21,779)
(1,370)
–

(23,149)

Foreign
currency
reserve
$000

(18)
–
–

(18)
–
–

(18)

Total
$000

299,074
(1,966)
2

297,110
(1,370)
2

295,742

The following describes the nature and purpose of each reserve within owners’ equity:

Reserve 
Share capital 

Share premium 

Other reserves 

Retained deficit 

Description and purpose
This represents the nominal value of shares issued.

Amount subscribed for share capital in excess of nominal value.

Fair value of options issued, less transfers to retained deficit on expiry.

 Cumulative net gains and losses recognised in the Consolidated Statement  
of Comprehensive Income.

Foreign currency reserve 

Differences arising on change of presentation and functional currency to US dollars. 

The notes on pages 24 to 37 form part of the financial statements.

21  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the year ended 31 December 2019

2019

2018

Note

$000

$000

$000

$000

Cash flow from operating activities
Loss before tax
Adjustments for: Depreciation
Share-based payment
Finance costs
Finance income
Realised foreign exchange gains

Cash flows used in operating activities  
before changes in working capital
Decrease in other receivables
Decrease in trade and other payables

Net cash outflow from operating activities
Cash flows used in investing activities
Interest received
Purchase of intangible assets
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing
Cash flows from financing activities
Lease interest
Lease payments

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Exchange gain/(losses) on cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

10
7
8
8
8

8
11
10

8

16

The notes on pages 24 to 37 form part of the financial statements.

(1,370)
92
2
11
 (88)
27

(1,326)
 29
(176)

(1,473)

(382)

(123)
(1,978)

5,626
34

3,682

27
(398)
(11)

 (11)
 (112)

(1,966)
1
2
193 
(29)
21

(1,778)
180
(296)

(1,894)

(517)

–
(2,411)

8,251
 (214)

5,626

29
(541)
(5)

–
–

22     

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the year ended 31 December 2019

2019

2018

Note

$000

$000

$000

$000

Cash flow from operating activities
Loss before tax
Adjustments for:
Depreciation
Share-based payment
Finance costs 
Finance income
Realised foreign exchange gains

Cash flows used in operating activities  
before changes in working capital
Decrease in other receivables
Increase in trade and other payables

Net cash outflow from operating activities 
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest received
Increase in amounts due from Group undertaking
Purchase of tangible fixed assets

Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing
Cash flows from financing activities
Lease interest
Lease payments

10
7
8
8

10

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Exchange gain/(loss) on cash and cash equivalents 

16

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

The notes on pages 24 to 37 form part of the financial statements.

(1,370)

92
2
11
(88)
27

(1,326)
27
(176)

(1,475)

(380)

(123)
(1,978)

5,626
34

3,682

27
(396)
(11)

 (11)
 (112)

29
(541)
(5)

–
–

(1,966 )

1
2
193
 (29)
21

(1,778)
180
(296)

(1,894)

(517)

–
(2,411)

8,251
(214)

5,626

23  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the year ended 31 December 2019

1 Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below and have been consistently applied to all 
years presented.

These consolidated and Parent financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs and 
IFRIC interpretations) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) as adopted by the European Union and with those parts of the 
Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies preparing their accounts under IFRS.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Adoption of new and revised International Financial Reporting Standards
Certain new standards, amendments and interpretations to existing standards have been published that are relevant to the Company’s activities and 
are mandatory for the Company’s accounting periods from 1 January 2019. These include:

Annual improvements to IFRSs (2015-2017 Cycle)*
IFRS 16: Leases*
IFRIC 23*

* Endorsed by the EU

Details of the impact IFRS 16 has had are given below. 

Effective period  
commencing on  
or after

1 Jan 2019
1 Jan 2019
1 Jan 2019

Standards effective in future periods
A number of new and amended accounting standards and interpretations have been published that are not mandatory for the Group’s accounts  
ended 31 December 2019, nor have they been early adopted. These standards and interpretations are not expected to have a material impact  
on the Group’s Consolidated Financial Statements: 

•  Amendments to References to Conceptual Framework in IFRS Standards (effective from 1 January 2020); 

•  Amendments to IFRS 3 ‘Definition of a Business’ (effective from 1 January 2020); and

•  Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28 – Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its Associate or Joint Venture  

(effective date not yet confirmed). 

Adoption of IFRS 16 ‘Leases’ 
The new IFRS standard on leases came into effect on 1 January 2019. The new standard sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, 
presentation and disclosure of leases and requires lessees to account for most leases under a single on-balance sheet model. 

The Group adopted IFRS 16 from 1 January 2019 using the modified retrospective approach and accordingly the information presented for 2018  
is not restated. It remains as previously reported under IAS 17 and related interpretations. On initial application, the Group elected to record  
right-of-use assets based on the corresponding lease liability. A right-of-use asset and lease obligations of $0.19m relating to the office lease  
were recorded as of 1 January 2019, with no net impact on retained earnings. Management have made judgements as to any increase in current  
lease costs that may occur during 2020 that are allowable under the lease contract.

The right-of-use asset for the lease of the Group’s head office was measured on a retrospective basis. 

At 31 December 
2018
$’000

11

11

Adjustment 
on adoption 
of IFRS 16
$’000

184
(112)
(72)
–

At 1 January 
2019
$’000

195
(112)
(72)
 11 

Other fixed assets
Lease liabilities – current
Lease liabilities – non-current
Net assets/total equity

24     

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT1 Accounting policies continued
Adoption of IFRS 16 ‘Leases’ continued
A reconciliation of the operating lease commitments disclosed at 31 December 2018 to the total lease liabilities recognised upon initial application  
of IFRS 16 is presented below: 

Operating lease commitments at 1 January 2019
Effect of discounting (5%)
Lease liabilities recognised on adoption of IFRS 16

$ Million

$0.194
($0.010)
$0.184

The Group also elected to use the recognition exemptions for lease contracts that, at the commencement date, have a lease term of 12 months or 
less and do not contain a purchase option (‘short term leases’), and lease contracts for which the underlying asset is of low value (‘low-value assets’). 
This is an ongoing recognition exemption. The Group has elected to use a single discount rate across the lease identified.

On adoption of IFRS 16, the Group recognised lease liabilities in relation to leases which had previously been classified as ‘operating leases’ under the 
principles of IAS 17 Leases. These liabilities were measured at the present value of the remaining lease payments. 

Straight-line operating lease expense recognition in cost of sales is replaced with a depreciation charge for the right-of-use assets and an interest 
expense on the recognised lease liabilities (included in finance charges). In the earlier periods of the lease, the expenses associated with the lease 
under IFRS 16 will be higher when compared to lease expenses under IAS 17. However, EBITDA results improve as the operating expense is now 
replaced by interest expense and depreciation in profit or loss. 

For classification within the cash flow statement, previously operating lease payments were presented as operating cash flows. These lease payments 
are now disclosed in financing activities with the interest portion included within financing cash flows. 

The Group has also applied other new accounting standards, amendments and interpretations for the first time, but their adoption has not had any 
material impact on the disclosures or on the amounts reported in this financial information, nor are they expected to significantly affect future periods: 

•  Prepayment Features with Negative Compensation (Amendments to IFRS 9); 

•  Long-term Interests in Associates and Joint Ventures (Amendments to IAS 28); 

•  Annual Improvements to IFRS 2015-2017 Cycle; 

•  Plan Amendment, Curtailment or Settlement (Amendments to IAS 19); and 

•  IFRIC 23 ‘Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments’. 

Basis of consolidation
Subsidiaries
Subsidiaries are all entities (including structured entities) over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when the Group is exposed 
to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity.

Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group. They are deconsolidated from the date that control 
ceases. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies into line with those used 
by other members of the Group. All intra-Group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.

Going concern
The Directors are of the opinion that the Group has adequate financial resources for a period of no less than twelve months from the date of approval 
of the financial statements to continue to apply the going concern basis of preparation. The Group does have a licence obligation on its Production 
licences which it does not have funds to be able to complete however, the Directors note that they are confident that the commitment will be 
extended by the Falkland Island Government as part of a licence extension the Company intends to apply for. Based on recent licence renewals by 
other operators in the region, the Directors are confident that a licence extension will be granted.

The Directors have also considered the impact of the current Covid-19 pandemic on the Group’s going concern assessment and note that as there 
is no committed overhead spend, other than wages and salaries and a reverse stress test on the cash flow forecast has been prepared and evidences 
sufficient head room for the Group and Company to continue in existence for a period which is in excess of the twelve month period required to be 
considered. Based on current cash burn rates the Group could continue to operate for a period of at least 20 months. With the additional cost savings 
which have already been implemented in 2020 this period can be extended still further. On this basis the Group continue to prepare the financial 
statements on a going concern basis. 

Loss for the financial year
The Company has taken advantage of the exemption allowed under Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not presented its own income 
statement in these financial statements. The Group loss for the year includes a loss after tax of $1,370,000 (2018: loss after tax of $1,966,000) which 
is dealt with in the financial statements of the Parent Company.

The Company’s investments in subsidiaries
The Parent Company’s subsidiaries are carried at cost less amounts provided for impairment.

Finance income
Finance income consists of interest on cash deposits and foreign exchange gains.

25  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
For the year ended 31 December 2019

1 Accounting policies continued
Segment reporting
Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-maker. The chief 
operating decision-maker, who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, has been identified  
as the Board of Directors.

Property, plant and equipment
Office equipment is initially recorded at cost. Depreciation is provided on office equipment so as to write off the cost, less any estimated residual 
value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:

Office equipment 331/3%
Right-of-use assets – Property – over term of lease

Assets are depreciated from the date of acquisition and on a straight-line basis.

Exploration and evaluation expenditure
The Group applies the requirements of IFRS 6 Exploration For and Evaluation of Mineral Resources in respect of its exploration and evaluation 
expenditure. The requirements of IFRS 6 are not applied to expenditure incurred by the Group before legal title to explore for and evaluate hydrocarbon 
resources in a specific area, generally referred to as pre-licence expenditure. Likewise, the Group does not apply the requirements of IFRS 6 after the 
point at which the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting hydrocarbons are demonstrable.

The costs of exploring for and evaluating hydrocarbon resources are accumulated and capitalised as intangible assets by reference to appropriate 
cash-generating units (CGUs), generally referred to as full cost accounting. Such CGUs have been determined by the Group to be a Darwin CGU  
and a Stebbing CGU and are noted as not being larger than an operating segment as determined in accordance with IFRS 8 Operating Segments. 
Whilst the short term focus is on developing Darwin, Stebbing remains a viable prospect for growth beyond Darwin.

Capitalised exploration and evaluation expenditure may include, amongst other costs, costs of licence acquisition, third party technical services and 
studies, seismic acquisition, exploration drilling and testing, but does not include general overheads. Any property, plant and equipment (PPE) acquired 
for use in exploration and evaluation activities is classified as property, plant and equipment. However, to the extent that such PPE is consumed in 
developing an intangible exploration and evaluation asset, the amount reflecting that consumption is recorded as part of the cost of the intangible 
exploration and evaluation asset.

Intangible exploration and evaluation assets are not depreciated and are carried forward, subject to the provisions of the Group’s impairment of 
exploration and evaluation policy, until the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting hydrocarbons are demonstrable. At such point, 
exploration and evaluation assets are assessed for impairment and any impairment loss is recognised before reclassification of the assets to a category 
of property, plant and equipment.

Impairment of exploration and evaluation expenditure
The Group’s exploration and evaluation assets are assessed for impairment when facts and circumstances suggest that the carrying amount of the 
exploration and evaluation assets may exceed the assets’ recoverable amount.

In accordance with IFRS 6, the Group firstly considers the following facts and circumstances in its assessment of whether the Group’s exploration and 
evaluation assets may be impaired:

•  whether the period for which the Group has the right to explore in a specific area has expired during the period or will expire in the near future, 

and is not expected to be renewed;

•  whether substantive expenditure on further exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources in a specific area is neither budgeted nor 

planned;

•  whether exploration for and evaluation of hydrocarbons in a specific area have not led to the discovery of commercially viable quantities of 

hydrocarbons and the Group has decided to discontinue such activities in the specific area; and

•  whether sufficient data exists to indicate that although a development in a specific area is likely to proceed, the carrying amount of the 

exploration and evaluation assets is unlikely to be recovered in full from successful development or by sale.

If any such facts or circumstances are noted, the Group, as a next step, performs an impairment test in accordance with the provisions of IAS 36.

In such circumstances, the aggregate carrying value of the exploration and evaluations assets is compared against the expected recoverable amount 
of the CGU. The recoverable amount is the higher of value in use and the fair value less costs to sell. The Group has identified two cash-generating 
units, a Darwin CGU and a Stebbing CGU. In accordance with the provisions of IFRS 6 the level identified for the purposes of assessing the Group’s 
exploration and evaluation assets for impairment may comprise one or more cash-generating units.

Provisions
A provision is recognised in the Statement of Financial Position when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past 
event and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation.

26     

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT1 Accounting policies continued
Foreign currencies
Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into US dollars at the exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction.

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into US dollars at the closing rates at the reporting date and the 
exchange differences are included in the Statement of Comprehensive Income. The functional and presentational currency of the Parent and all  
Group companies is the US dollar.

Leases
All leases are accounted for by recognising a right-of-use asset and a lease liability except for:

•  Leases of low-value assets; and

•  Leases with a duration of 12 months or less.

IFRS 16 was adopted on 1 January 2019 without restatement of comparative figures. For an explanation of the transitional requirements that were 
applied as at 1 January 2019, see section “Adoption of new and revised International Financial Reporting Standards” above. The following policies 
apply subsequent to the date of initial application, 1 January 2019.

Lease liabilities are measured at the present value of the contractual payments due to the lessor over the lease term, with the discount rate 
determined by reference to the rate inherent in the lease unless (as is typically the case) this is not readily determinable, in which case the Group’s 
incremental borrowing rate on commencement of the lease is used. Variable lease payments are only included in the measurement of the lease liability 
if they depend on an index or rate. In such cases, the initial measurement of the lease liability assumes the variable element will remain unchanged 
throughout the lease term. Other variable lease payments are expensed in the period to which they relate.

On initial recognition, the carrying value of the lease liability also includes:

•  amounts expected to be payable under any residual value guarantee;

•  Right-of-use assets which are initially measured at the amount of the lease liability incentives received, and increased for lease payments made 

at or before commencement of the lease; and

•  initial direct costs incurred

Subsequent to initial measurement lease liabilities increase as a result of interest charged at a constant rate on the balance outstanding and are 
reduced for lease payments made. Right-of-use assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over the remaining term of the lease or over the 
remaining economic life of the asset if, rarely, this is judged to be shorter than the lease term.

When the Group revises its estimate of the term of any lease (because, for example, it re-assesses the probability of a lessee extension or termination 
option being exercised), it adjusts the carrying amount of the lease liability to reflect the payments to make over the revised term, which are 
discounted using a revised discount rate. 

The carrying value of lease liabilities is similarly revised when the variable element of future lease payments dependent on a rate or index is revised, 
except the discount rate remains unchanged. In both cases an equivalent adjustment is made to the carrying value of the right-of-use asset, with the 
revised carrying amount being amortised over the remaining (revised) lease term. If the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset is adjusted to zero, 
any further reduction is recognised in profit or loss.

Share-based payments
The fair value of employee share option plans is calculated using the Black-Scholes pricing model. Non-employee options granted as part of 
consideration for services rendered are valued at the fair value of those services. Where information on the fair value of services rendered is not 
readily available, the fair value is calculated using the Black-Scholes pricing model.

In accordance with IFRS 2 Share-based Payments the resulting cost is charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Income over the vesting period  
of the options. The amount of charge is adjusted each year to reflect expected and actual levels of options vesting.

Where equity-settled share options are awarded, the fair value of the options at the date of grant is charged to the Statement of Comprehensive 
Income over the vesting period. Non-market vesting conditions are taken into account by adjusting the number of equity instruments expected to 
vest at each reporting date so that, ultimately, the cumulative amount recognised over the vesting period is based on the number of options that 
eventually vest. Market vesting conditions are factored into the fair value of the options granted.

As long as all other vesting conditions are satisfied, a charge is made irrespective of whether the market vesting conditions are satisfied.  
The cumulative expense is not adjusted for failure to achieve a market vesting condition.

Where the terms and conditions of options are modified before they vest, the increase in the fair value of the options, measured immediately before 
and after the modification, is also charged to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income over the remaining vesting period.

27  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
For the year ended 31 December 2019

1 Accounting policies continued
Financial instruments
Financial instruments are initially recorded at fair value. Subsequent measurement depends on the designation of the instrument, as follows:

•  Other receivables are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently at amortised cost using the effective rate of interest, net of expected 

credit losses.

•  Trade and other payables are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently at amortised cost using the effective rate of interest.

•  Financial instruments issued by Group companies are treated as equity only to the extent that they do not meet the definition of a financial 

liability.

•  The Group’s and Company’s ordinary shares are all classified as equity instruments.

•  Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash at bank on demand and balances on deposit with an original maturity of three months or less.

•  Inter-company receivables are held in order to collect contractual cash flows and the contractual cash flows are solely payments of principal  

and interest. These receivables are initially recognised at fair value and are subsequently carried at amortised cost.

IFRS 9: Impairment of Financial Assets
IFRS 9 replaces the incurred loss model of IAS 39 with a model based on expected credit losses. The standard requires entities to use an expected 
credit loss model for impairment of financial assets. Under the new standard, the loss allowance for a financial instrument will be calculated at an 
amount equal to 12 month expected credit losses or lifetime expected credit losses if there has been a significant increase in credit risk of the 
financial instrument.

The Company has provided a loan to its 100% owned subsidiary that is the license holder in the Falkland Islands. Management have completed  
a scenario based assessment of the expected credit loss in accordance with IFRS 9 and concluded that this loss is immaterial.

Taxes
The major components of tax on profit or loss include current and deferred tax.

Current tax is based upon the profit or loss for the year adjusted for items that are non-assessable or disallowed and is calculated using tax rates that 
have been enacted, or substantively enacted, by the reporting date.

Tax is charged or credited to the Statement of Comprehensive Income, except where the tax relates to items credited or charged directly to equity,  
in which case the tax is also dealt within equity.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised where the carrying amount of an asset or liability in the Statement of Financial Position differs to its 
tax base.

Recognition of deferred tax assets is restricted to those instances where it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the difference 
can be utilised.

The amount of the asset or liability is determined using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date and are 
expected to apply when deferred tax liabilities and assets are settled or recovered.

Critical accounting estimates and key sources of estimation uncertainty
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of revenues, 
expenses, assets and liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements. If in the future such estimates and 
assumptions, which are based on management’s best judgement at the date of the financial statements, deviate from the actual circumstances,  
the original estimates and assumptions will be modified as appropriate in the year in which the circumstances change. Where necessary, the 
comparatives will be reclassified from the previously reported results to take into account presentational changes.

Critical judgements in applying the Group’s accounting policies
Management has made the following judgements which have the most significant effects on the amounts recognised in the financial statements:

Recoverability of exploration and evaluation costs
Management has made the judgement to group two CGUs together for impairment purposes as both resources are contained within the same 
license and are close in proximity. Expenditure is capitalised as an intangible asset by reference to the CGUs and is assessed for impairment when 
circumstances suggest that the carrying amount may exceed its recoverable value. This assessment involves judgement as to whether there are any 
circumstances which are considered to be an indicator of impairment. As noted management and the Directors are confident that the Production 
Licences associated with the CGUs will be renewed. The Directors note that if the Production Licence period is not extended, then the Production 
Licenses will lapse. The Discovery Area Licence would continue to remain active. Other licences associated with the CGUs are not due for renewal 
until 2021. When taken alongside the positive resource report communicated in 2018 and the expected cash flows from the development of Darwin, 
management have concluded that there is no impairment of the CGUs at the year end.

Recoverability of inter-group receivable balances (Company only)
Management are required to apply their judgement in the assessment of whether the inter-group receivable balances held by the Company are 
subject to any potential expected credit loss. Management have assessed the recoverability of the balances by reference to chances of success  
of finding first liquids attributed to the specific assets, probabilities around funding and the overall indicative value of the assets derived from third 
party reports. 

28     

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT1 Accounting policies continued
Right-of-use assets and lease obligations
The measurement of right-of-use assets and the corresponding obligations are subject to management’s judgement of the applicable incremental 
borrowing rate and the expected lease term. The net book value of the ROU assets, lease obligations, and interest and depreciation expense may 
differ due to changes in the expected lease terms. Where the discount rate determined by reference to the rate inherent in the lease (as is typically 
the case) is not readily determinable, the Group’s incremental borrowing rate on commencement of lease is used as the discount rate. The weighted 
average cost of capital is used as an input when determining the incremental borrowing rate. 

The Group has applied judgement to determine the lease term for some lease contracts that include renewal options. The assessment of whether the 
Group is reasonably certain to exercise such options impacts the lease term, which significantly affects the amount of lease liabilities and right-of-use 
assets recognised.

2 Loss from operations

Staff costs (note 5)
Share-based payment – equity-settled 
Services provided by the auditors:
Fees payable to the Company’s auditors for the audit of the Parent Company  
and consolidated annual accounts
Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates for other services: 
Tax services
Depreciation of office equipment
Operating lease expenses – property
Foreign exchange (gain)/loss

2019
$000

916
2

52

3
92
–
(61)

2018
$000

959
2

44

6
1
324
193

During 2020 the Executive Directors agreed to a 35% reduction in salaries as part of a 25% reduction in total overheads. 

3 Basic and dilutive loss per share
The calculation of the basic and dilutive loss per share is based on the loss attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by the weighted average 
number of shares in issue during the year. The loss for the financial year for the Group was $1,370,000 (2018: loss $1,966,000) and the weighted 
average number of shares in issue for the year was 484,098,484 (2018: 484,098,484). During the year the potential ordinary shares are anti-dilutive 
and therefore diluted loss per share has not been calculated. At the Statement of Financial Position date, there were 6,100,000 (2018: 7,050,000) 
potentially dilutive ordinary shares being the share options (see note 7 for further details).

4 Segment analysis
The Company operates in one operating segment (exploration for oil and gas) and in substantially one geographical market (the Falkland Islands), 
therefore no additional segmental information is presented.

Of the Group’s total non-current assets, property, plant and equipment is based in the UK and all other non-current assets are located in the  
Falkland Islands.

29  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
For the year ended 31 December 2019

5 Staff costs
Company and Group:
Staff costs (including Directors) comprise:

Wages and salaries
Employers’ national insurance contributions
Employers’ pension contributions

Share-based payment – equity-settled

2019
$000

806
103
7

916
2

918

2018
$000

848
104
5

959
2

961

The average number of employees (including Directors) employed during the year by the Company was five (2018: five) and for the Group was five 
(2018: five). All employees and Directors of the Group and the Company are considered to be the key management personnel. The National Insurance 
payments made during the year are detailed in the Remuneration Committee Report.

Of the $1,718 (2018: $2,000) share-based payment charge included in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, $2,000  
(2018: $2,000) has been charged in respect of share options granted to staff (including Directors) in the current and prior years.

6 Directors’ emoluments
The Directors’ emoluments for the year are as follows:

Directors’ fees
Share-based payments – equity-settled

2019
$000

575
2

577

2018
$000

605
2

607

The fees and share-based payments made to each Director are disclosed in the Remuneration Committee Report. During the year, the highest paid 
director received total remuneration of $337,840 (2018: $335,883).

In 2016, the Group granted 1,000,000 share options to a Director of the Group with a total fair value of $6,714. Of this amount, $1,718 has been 
expensed during the year. The options vest after three years and expire after ten years.

Due to the difficulty in measuring the fair value of the services received, this has been determined by reference to the fair value of the options 
granted. A Black-Scholes model has been used to determine the fair value of options granted (see note 7).

7 Share-based payment

Outstanding at the beginning of the year
Granted during the year

Outstanding at the end of the year
Exercisable at the end of the year

2019 
Weighted 
average 
exercise price

30p

29p
29p

2019 
Number

7,050,000
–

6,100,000
6,100,000

2018 
Weighted 
average 
exercise price

39p

33p
30p

2018 Number

7,050,000
–

7,050,000
4,650,000

The Company operates a share option scheme. The options are issued at market price at the time of issue, vest after three years and have a life  
of ten years. When exercised they are equity-settled. The weighted average contractual life of the options outstanding at the year end was five years 
(2018: three years). The range of exercise prices of share options outstanding at the end of the year is 1.8-74p (2018: 1.8p-74p).

30     

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT7 Share-based payment continued
The following information is relevant in the determination of the fair value of the options granted during 2016 under the scheme operated  
by the Company.

Equity-settled scheme
Option pricing model used
Weighted average share price at grant date
Exercise price
Weighted average contractual life (days)
Expected volatility
Risk-free interest rate
Fair value of options
Option life

2016

Black-Scholes
1.8p
1.8p
1,460
60%
1.0%
0.5p
10 years

The expected volatility used to calculate the share-based remuneration expense is based on the standard deviation of the Company’s monthly close 
share price since inception.

8 Finance income and expense

Finance income

Bank interest received
Foreign exchange gain

Finance expense

Foreign exchange loss
Lease interest

9 Tax expense

Current tax expense

UK corporation tax on loss for the year at 19.00% (2018: 19.00%)
Adjustments recognised in the current year in relation to the current tax of prior years

Total current and deferred tax for the year

2019
$000

27
61

88

2019
$000

–
11

11

2019
$000

–
–

–

2018
$000

29
–

29

2018
$000

193
–

193

2018
$000

–
–

–

31  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
For the year ended 31 December 2019

9 Tax expense continued
Factors affecting current year tax charge
The reasons for the difference between the actual tax charge for the year and the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK applied to losses for the 
year are as follows:

Loss before taxation
Standard corporation tax charge at 19% (2018 -19%)
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes 

Prior year adjustment
Adjust closing deferred tax rate to average rate 19% (2018: 19%)
Adjust opening deferred tax rate to average rate 19% (2018: 19%)
Movement in unrecognised deferred tax for the year
Fixed asset differences 
IFRS 16 adjustment 

Total current and deferred tax for the year 

2019
$000

(1,368)
(260)
–

(183)
187
(160)
413
1
2

–

2018
$000

(1,966)
(334)
205

(40)
138
(120)
151
–
–

–

The prior year adjustment relates to expenses that were allowed in the final submitted tax return. This expense was originally disallowed at the time  
of provisioning for FY18 as it was assumed to have been incurred on behalf of the subsidiaries not wholly and exclusively related to the trade of 
Borders & Southern Petroleum plc. However, at finalisation, this was confirmed to be wholly and exclusively related to the trade of the Company 
creating a prior year adjustment.

Factors that may affect future tax charges
The Group has a deferred tax asset of approximately $1,590,057 (2018: $1,173,294) in respect of unrelieved tax losses of approximately $9,456,602 
at 2019 (2018: $6,901,727). The tax rate of tax used in the calculation for the deferred tax asset is 19% (2018: 19%). The deferred tax asset has not 
been recognised in the financial statements as the timing of the economic benefit is uncertain.

10 Property, plant and equipment

Group and Company

Cost
As at 1 January 2018
Additions

As at 31 December 2018

Depreciation
As at 1 January 2018
Charge for the year

As at 31 December 2018

Net book value
As at 1 January 2018

As at 31 December 2018

32     

Office equipment
$000

115
5

120

104
1

105

11

15

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT10 Property, plant and equipment continued

Cost
As at 1 January 2019
Recognition due to adoption of IFRS 16

As at 31 December 2019

Depreciation
As at 1 January 2019
Charge for the year

As at 31 December 2019

As at 1 January 2019

As at 31 December 2019

11 Intangible assets

Group

Cost
As at 1 January 2018
Additions

As at 31 December 2018

Net book value
As at 1 January 2018

As at 31 December 2018

Group

Cost
As at 1 January 2019
Additions

As at 31 December 2019

Net book value
As at 1 January 2019

As at 31 December 2019

Right-of-use
assets
$’000

Office equipment
$’000

Office equipment
and right-of-use 
assets
$’000

–
184

184

–
89

89

–

95

120
 11

131

105
3

108

11

23

120
195

315

105
92

197

11

118

Exploration and
evaluation costs 
$000

290,826
541

291,367

290,826

291,367

Exploration and
evaluation costs
$000

291,367
398

291,765

291,367

291,765

On 31 May 2016 the Company received notice from The Falkland Islands Government that the Company’s application to extend the expiry date of 
the Second Term for Production Licenses PL018, PL019 and part of PL020 was extended until 31 October 2020. On the same day the Company also 
received notice that the expiry date of Darwin East Discovery Area was extended until 31 January 2022. As noted the Company has a one exploration 
well commitment on its production licences but it has plans to enter into discussions with the relevant authorities to extend the Production Licenses 
during 2020. Given renewals have been granted to other companies in the region, in similar circumstances, and the open dialogue the Company has 
with the authorities the Directors are confident the renewal will be granted. The Directors note that if the Production Licence period is not extended, 
then the Production Licenses will lapse. The Discovery Area Licence would continue to remain active.

In considering the carrying value of intangible assets, the Company used external independent estimates of resource volume, production rates and 
operating and capital costs to compare the carrying value with net present value to assess whether there were any issues that would trigger an 
impairment assessment and based on these third party reports, it was concluded that there were no triggers so no impairments were made.

33  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
For the year ended 31 December 2019

12 Investments in subsidiary

Company

Cost
As at 1 January and 31 December

Net book value
As at 31 December

2019
$

2

2

2018
$

2

2

The Company owns the one ordinary £1 subscriber share, being 100% of the issued share capital, in Borders & Southern Falkland Islands Limited.  
The Company was registered in England and its principal activity is oil and gas exploration. The Company’s registered office is One Fleet Place,  
London EC4M 9AF.

13 Other receivables

Inter-company loan
Other receivables
Prepayments 

Group

Company

2019
$000

–
 90
143

233

2018
$000

–
113
147

260

2019
$000

291,944
90
143

292,177

2018
$000

291,546
113
147

291,806

All amounts owed by or to entities outside the Group shown as other receivables and prepayments fall due for payment within one year.  
The Group’s exploration licenses are held by a wholly owned subsidiary and all costs incurred by the subsidiary have been loaned to that company 
by the Parent Company. The inter-company loan is interest free and on demand and expected to be repaid from the revenues of the Darwin field 
production. Management consider the inter-company loan to be in stage 3. All the internal and external technical and economic studies undertaken  
to date have confirmed Darwin to be economic. Sensitivities have been applied to the key inputs into the models used to analyse Darwin and the field 
has been proven to be robust under different scenarios. Management have also completed a scenario based assessment based on their judgements  
of the expected credit loss in accordance with IFRS 9 and concluded that any loss is immaterial.

All of the Company’s bank deposits are with Lloyds Bank plc. It has a P-1 credit rating with Moody’s, F1 with Fitch and A-1 with Standard & Poor’s. 
Amounts owed by Group undertakings are not interest-bearing and are payable on demand.

14 Trade and other payables

Trade payables
Other taxes and social security costs
Lease liability
Accruals 

Group

Company

2019
$000

–
35
72
128

235

2018
$000

46
37
–
254

337

2019
$000

–
35
72
128

235

2018
$000

46
37
–
254

337

In accordance with IFRS 16 and using the modified retrospective approach, lease liabilities of $184,000 were recognised as at 1 January 2019.  
As at 31 December 2019 $112,000 had been repaid to leave an amount due of $72,000 at year end and interest of $11,000 was paid during  
the year.

34     

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
15 Share capital

Authorised
750,000,000 ordinary shares of 1 pence each (2018: 750,000,000)

Allotted, called up and fully paid
484,098,484 ordinary shares of 1 pence each (2018: 484,098,484)

Share capital
Brought forward

Carried forward

Share premium
Brought forward

Carried forward

There are no restrictions on the share capital.

16 Cash and cash equivalents and restricted use cash

Group and Company

Cash available on demand
Cash on deposit

Total

2019
$000

2018
$000

14,926

14,926

8,530

8,530

8,530

308,602

308,602

2019
$000

320
3,362

3,682

8,530

8,530

8,530

308,602

308,602

2018
$0000

256
5,370

5,626

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash at bank on demand and balances on deposit with an original maturity of three months or less.

17 Related party transactions
Company
During the year Borders & Southern Petroleum plc paid expenses of $478,340 (2018: $541,828) on behalf of its 100% owned subsidiary  
Borders & Southern Falkland Islands Limited. At the year end $291,944,000 (2018: $291,546,000) was due from the subsidiary.

Borders & Southern Falkland Islands Limited’s registered office is One Fleet Place, London EC4M 7WS.

The employees and Directors of the Group and the Company are considered to be the key management personnel. There were no transactions 
between the Group, the Company and the key management personnel during the year. The remuneration paid to the key management personnel  
is disclosed in note 6.

18 Commitments
The Group Production Licence commitment is to drill one exploration well before 1 November 2020. It is now clear that this will not be achieved.  
The Directors are confident that the Production Licence period will be extended by the Falkland Island Authorities and it is likely the commitment  
well would remain an obligation. The Directors note that if the Production Licence period is not extended, then the Production Licenses will lapse.  
The Discovery Area Licence would continue to remain active.

19 Events after the reporting period
Post reporting date the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe. The Company, along with all other companies and governing bodies, is still 
assessing the impact both on the short and the long term of this pandemic. In the short term, the Company is not significantly impacted as it is not 
operational and its employees are following government guidelines. 

35  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
For the year ended 31 December 2019

20 Financial instruments
The main risks arising from the Group’s operations are cash flow interest rate risk, foreign currency translation risk and credit risk. The Group monitors 
risk on a regular basis and takes appropriate measures to ensure risks are managed in a controlled manner.

The Group’s deposits are held with Lloyds on short-term deposits. Whilst there is a risk of Lloyds’ ability to repay these deposits, the Group considers 
this risk to be low.

Liquidity is not considered to be a risk due to the sufficient cash funds readily available to the Group at the year end.

The Group is exposed to risks that arise from its use of financial instruments. This note describes the Group’s objectives, policies and processes 
for managing those risks and the methods used to measure them. There have been no substantive changes in the Group’s exposure to financial 
instrument risks, its objectives, policies and processes for managing those risks or the methods used to measure them from previous periods unless 
otherwise stated in the note.

Principal financial instruments
The principal financial instruments used by the Group from which financial instrument risk arises, held by category, are as follows:

Amortised cost

Other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other payables

2019
$000

53

3,682

200

2018
$000

173

5,626

300

Other receivables does not include items that are not financial instruments.

The fair values of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities at 31 December 2018 and as at 31 December 2019 are materially equivalent to the 
carrying value as disclosed in the Statement of Financial Position and related notes.

a) Cash flow interest rate risk
The Group is exposed to cash flow interest rate risk from monies held at bank and on deposit at variable rates. The considerations below and the 
figures quoted are the same for both Group and Company.

The Group’s financial assets and liabilities accrue interest at prevailing floating rates in the United Kingdom or at pre-arranged fixed rates, as described 
further below. The Group does not currently use derivative instruments to manage its interest rate risk.

At 31 December 2019 the Group held cash at bank and in deposits under its control of $3,681,581 (2018: $5,626,124), which forms the majority 
of the Group’s working capital. Of the cash at bank and in deposit, $319,348 (2018: $256,265) relates to deposits placed with banking institutions 
that are available on demand which carry interest at prevailing United Kingdom deposit floating rates. The balance represents restricted deposits of 
$3,362,233 (2018: $5,369,859) with a weighted average fixed interest rate of 0.2% (2018: 0.2%) for three months. If there was a 1% change  
in interest rates the impact on the Statement of Comprehensive Income would be $33,622 (2018: $53,698).

b) Foreign currency translation risk
The operational currency of the oil and gas exploration and evaluation activities of the Group is US$ and the Group’s presentational currency is US$. 
Foreign exchange risk arises because the currency of the Group’s services and treasury function is UK sterling, which results in gains or losses on 
retranslation into US$. To minimise this foreign currency risk, cash balances are held in both £ sterling and US$.

The foreign currency profile of financial assets and liabilities of the Group and the Company are as follows:

Group

Company

Other 
receivables
measured at
amortised cost
2019
$000

Other 
receivables
measured at
amortised cost
2018
$000

Other 
receivables
measured at
amortised cost
2019
$000

Other 
receivables
measured at
amortised cost
2018
$000

90
3,664
3,754

–
18

3,772

280
5,599
5,899

–
27

5,886

90
3,664
3,754

291,944
18

295,716

260
5,599
5,859

291,546
27

297,432

Current financial assets

Held in UK£:
Other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Total current financial assets held in UK£

Held in US$:
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Total financial assets

36     

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT20 Financial instruments continued
b) Foreign currency translation risk continued
If there was a 10% change in the year end exchange rate there would be a movement in the US$ equivalent of financial assets held in UK£  
of $375,400 (2018: $589,900) for the Group and Company.

Held in UK£:
Trade and other payables

Total financial liabilities

Group

Company

Financial 
liabilities 
measured at
amortised cost
2019
$000

Financial 
liabilities 
measured at
amortised cost
2018
$000

Financial 
liabilities 
measured at
amortised cost
2019
$000

Financial 
liabilities 
measured at
amortised cost
2018
$000

200

200

300

300

200

200

300

300

c) Credit risk
Neither the Group nor the Company have customers, so formal credit procedures are in the process of being established. Credit risk on cash balances 
is managed by only banking with reputable financial institutions with a high credit rating. The only significant concentration of credit risk on an ongoing 
basis is cash held at bank and the maximum credit risk exposure for the Group and Company is detailed in the table below:

Cash and cash equivalents

Maximum credit risk exposure

2019

2018

Carrying 
value
$000

3,682

3,682

Maximum
exposure
$000

3,682

3,682

Carrying 
value
$000

5,626

5,626

Maximum 
exposure
$000

8,251

8,251

Capital
The objective of the Directors is to maximise shareholder return and minimise risk by keeping a reasonable balance between debt and equity.  
To date, the Group has minimised risk by being purely equity financed. The Group considers its capital to comprise its ordinary share capital, share 
premium, accumulated retained deficit and other reserves.

37  

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTHarry Dobson
Howard Obee 
Peter Fleming 
Nigel Hurst-Brown

William Slack

One Fleet Place 
London
EC4M 7WS

33 St James’s Square 
London
SW1Y 4JS

Strand Hanson 
26 Mount Row 
London
W1K 3SQ

Mirabaud Securities Limited
5th Floor
The Verde Building 
10 Bressenden Place 
London
SW1E 5DH

SNR Denton UK LLP
One Fleet Place 
London
EC4M 7WS

Link Asset Services
The Registry
34 Beckenham Road 
Beckenham
BR3 4TU

Lloyds TSB Bank plc
19-21 The Quadrant 
Richmond
Surrey TW9 1BP

BDO LLP
55 Baker Street 
London
W1U 7EU

Tavistock
1 Cornhill 
London 
EC3V 3ND

CORPORATE DIRECTORY

Directors 

Secretary 

Registered office 

Business address 

Nominated advisor 

Broker 

Solicitors 

Registrars 

Bankers 

Independent auditors 

Investor relations 

38     

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTSGOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Design and Production
www.carrkamasa.co.uk

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Borders & Southern Petroleum plc
33 St James’s Square
London SW1Y 4JS
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)20 7661 9348
Fax: +44 (0)20 7661 8055

info@bordersandsouthern.com
www.bordersandsouthern.com