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Gas supply for south-east Australia

2019 Annual Report

Cooper Energy
We find, develop and commercialise oil and gas.

We do this with care and strive to provide attractive 
returns for our shareholders and good commercial 
outcomes for our customers.

Cooper Energy Limited
ABN 93 096 170 295

Cover: Construction and installation of a 64 kilometre pipeline connecting the 
Sole gas field with the Orbost Gas Plant was one of the major development 
activities for 2019. Cover picture shows 1.5 kilometre pipeline stalks laid out at 
Crib Point in preparation for spooling on to the pipelay vessel.

Information on descriptions of the company and years, abbreviations 
and industry terms.

The terms “the company” and “Cooper Energy” are used in the report to refer to 
Cooper Energy Limited and/or its subsidiaries. The terms “2019”, “FY19” and the 
“2019 financial year” refer to the 12 months ended 30 June 2019 unless otherwise 
stated. Likewise references to 2020, FY20 or other years refer to the 12 months 
ended 30 June of that year.

This Report uses terms and abbreviations relevant to the Group, its accounts and 
the petroleum industry. Information on abbreviations and terms, rounding and 
reserves and resources reporting is provided on page 120.

Our values and what they mean.
We have chosen to be a values-driven business.

We strive to think, decide and act at all times in accordance with our  
7 core values:

Care: prioritising safety, health, the environment and community

Integrity: striving to be consistent; staying true to our values and  
being accountable for our actions

Fairness and Respect: valuing diversity and difference; acting without 
prejudice; and communicating with courtesy

Transparency: being honest; addressing problems; and being clear  
with our communications

Collaboration: sharing ideas and knowledge; encouraging cooperation; 
listening to our stakeholders; and building long term relationships

Awareness: taking account of all identified key issues in our decisions  
and considering future impacts

Commitment: staying focused on core objectives; making pragmatic, 
quality technical and commercial decisions; and being decisive with  
the courage of our convictions

Our business
We generate revenue from the discovery, 
commercialisation and sale of gas to  
south-east Australia and from low cost  
Cooper Basin oil production.

We have purpose-built our portfolio to provide attractive returns for our  
shareholders and good commercial outcomes for our customers by selecting  
assets that:

• possess superior competitiveness for the supply of gas to market;

•  are in production or expected to be ready for development decision within  

5 years; and 

• are value accretive.

Production
2019: 1.31 million boe

Proved and Probable Reserves
52.7 million boe at 30 June 2019

Contingent Resources
26.9 million boe at 30 June 2019

0.24

1.8

10.9

0.6

3.0

1.07

40.0

23.3

Cooper Basin oil 

Otway Basin gas and gas liquids 

Gippsland Basin gas

Other key statistics: 
As at 30 June 2019

Market capitalisation:

Net debt:

Issued shares:

Shareholders:

$876 million

$54 million

1,621.6 million

6,758

Employees and contractors:

97.3 full time equivalent

2

Offshore Otway Basin: 
Gas production and exploration

Gippsland Basin:  
Offshore gas development and exploration

•   Casino Henry gas production and development

•   Sole Gas Project

•   Annie gas field

•   Minerva Gas Plant

•   Gas exploration

•   Manta gas and liquids resource

•   Exploration permits

Darwin

Perth Office

Brisbane

Adelaide  
Office

Sydney

Melbourne

Onshore Otway Basin:  
Gas exploration

•   Gas exploration

Hobart

Cooper Basin:  
Onshore oil production

•   Western flank oil production and exploration

3

Key results

Financial

•  Sales revenue up 12% due to higher revenue from gas sales

•  Statutory loss after tax of $12.1 million after significant items of $(25.4) million

•  Underlying profit after tax up 36% to $13.3 million 

•  Net debt of $53.9 million as debt drawn down to fund Sole gas project

Sales revenue
$ million

Statutory net profit after tax 
$ million

Underlying net profit after tax 
$ million

75.5

67.5

27.0

-12.3

-12.1

-1.3

-2.8

39.1

39.1

27.4

-34.8

-63.5

13.3

9.8

-8.7

  2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019

  2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019

  2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019

Net cash from operating activities
$ million

Net cash/(debt)
$ million

Total equity
$ million

22.2

20.5

147.4

111.0

49.8

39.4

443.9

433.7

285.0

7.9

4.1

2.0

103.9

91.6

-53.9

  2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019

  2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019

  2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019

4

Operations and reserves

•  Zero lost time injuries

•  Production of 1.31 million boe, down 12% 

•  Proved and Probable reserves up 0.3 million boe to 52.7 million boe

•  Sole offshore project completed

Safety 
Lost time injury frequency rate

Production 
million boe

Proved and probable reserves 
million boe

1.0

1.49

1.31

0.96

52.4

52.7

0.48

0.46

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

11.7

3.1

3.0

  2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019

  2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019

  2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019

Equity

Share price  
cents at 30 June

Basic earnings per share
cents

Market capitalisation
$ million at 30 June

54.0

38.0

38.5

1.8

-1.8

-0.7

24.5

21.5

-10.1

876

616

433

  2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019

  2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019

  2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019

-19.2

81

94

5

Overview of operations 2019

Gas supply
New contracts for retail  
and industrial users. 
Increased gas reserves.

Oil production
High margin oil production.

Gas

Sales PJ

Revenue $ million

Reserves Proved and Probable PJ 

2019

2018

Crude oil and condensate

6.6

52.3

311

7.0

40.9

309

Production million barrels

Revenue $ million 

Proved and Probable reserves million barrels

1.8

2019

0.24

23.2

2018

0.27

26.6

1.8

•  5 new gas agreements negotiated for supply  
to AGL Energy, Origin Energy, O-I and Visy*  
from Casino Henry and Sole

•  Sole term contract capacity committed to 2025

• 2P reserves maintained at 1.8 million barrels

•  Reprocessing then interpretation of merged 3D 

seismic data

•  Commitment to escalated drilling program  

•  Installation of web-based customer nomination 

in 2020

platform for Sole gas

Gas contract book by term 
PJ

Gas contract book by  
buyer type  
PJ

17

25

100

100

194

186

Contracted 1 year or less

Contracted >3 years

Uncontracted

Industrial

Utilities

Uncontracted

* July 2019

6

Exploration and 
Development
Sole gas field developed  
and ready to supply gas.

Health, Safety, 
Environment  
and Community
Targets met.

2019

2018

Capital expenditure $ million

200.0

124.4

Hours worked

Reserve replacement ratio 

-206% 2,380%

Recordable incidents 

Wells drilled

0

4

Lost time injuries 

2019

2018

505,300

491,100

0

0

2

0

•  Sole offshore project completed within budget

• Zero lost time injuries

•  Casino Henry umbilical upgrade completed

•  Zero recordable injury frequency rate 

•  Completion of offshore Otway Basin subsurface 
analysis, well design and commitment to 2019 
drilling program

•  Planning for further development of Henry gas 

field and for Manta appraisal well

•  Zero reportable environmental incidents

•  Launch of Cooper Energy Legacy  

Foundation

2019 Capital expenditure  
by activity $ million

2019 Capital expenditure by 
region $ million

12

23

1

188

176

Exploration

Development

Cooper Basin

Gippsland Basin

Otway Basin

7

From the Chairman

John Conde AO

The status of these ‘soft’ assets cannot be ascertained fully from an 
annual report. However, I can assure shareholders Cooper Energy 
has made a considerable investment over the past three years in 
resources and capabilities for management of its operations and of  
its health, safety and environmental impacts. 

The company has good relationships with its financiers, which 
are blue-chip Australian and international banks. Cooper Energy 
is well supported by its shareholders and the broader investment 
community. Financial institutions account for approximately three-
quarters of the company’s issued capital and it is the subject  
of research coverage by a growing number of international and 
domestic stockbrokers.

The continual development of the company’s human resources  
is necessary to support growth. The calibre, and number, of well-
experienced professionals attracted to Cooper Energy is very 
encouraging; not only for our existing business but also for the future 
the company can create.

2019 has seen heightened recognition of the role of corporate  
culture in company decision-making and its implications for corporate 
reputation and trust. Shareholders know that Cooper Energy has long 
been a values-driven organisation. We seek to deliver sustainable 
growth in total shareholder return, bounded always by the Cooper 
Energy Values of care, integrity, fairness and respect, collaboration, 
awareness, transparency and commitment. 

Of course, articulation of values is no guarantee of their recognition 
or adherence to them. It is heartening to recall the results of the 
independently conducted and benchmarked employee perception 
study conducted during the year and noted in the previous annual 
report. The report confirmed high levels of engagement and 
awareness across the company’s workforce. 

The best illustrations of the significance of the company’s 
performance in 2019 are its plans and prospects for 2020. Cooper 
Energy is now positioned to record new benchmarks on a number  
of fronts in the coming twelve months. Production and revenue  
are forecast to undergo an upwards step change. The company will 
conduct its largest drilling program. Gas supply is set to increase  
with first sales into new contracts.

Your board and management have embraced keenly the task  
of translating our plans and prospects for 2020 into value  
for shareholders.

On behalf of all shareholders I thank my fellow board members 
and our Managing Director David Maxwell, and his team, for their 
contribution to this successful year for our company.

John Conde AO 
Chairman

Offshore Victoria, the Seven Oceans laying the 64 kilometre 
pipeline connecting the Sole gas field to the Orbost Gas Plant

I am pleased to present this annual report to shareholders. The 
twelve months to 30 June 2019 have been a successful year for  
our company, which has grown in size, significance and value. 

Cooper Energy has operated safely, managed costs and expenditure 
well and increased reserves during the year. Development projects 
have been completed and we have secured new gas contracts that 
are expected to generate growth in the coming twelve months. 

Revenue of $75.5 million was the highest yet recorded by the 
company. While restoration expense resulted in a statutory loss 
of $12.1 million, underlying results show a company which has 
increased its earnings capacity as its gas business grows.

The progress made has translated into shareholder value with  
the company’s shares appreciating by 40% over the financial year. 
As detailed in the Remuneration Report, this result exceeded all, 
bar one, of the comparator companies within our peer group. The 
company’s development as a publicly traded oil and gas company 
was recognised with admission to the S&P ASX 200 index. Cooper 
Energy is one of only five exploration and production companies 
included in the index.

The key element in these results has been the Sole Gas Project. 
Development of the offshore Sole gas field, begun in July 2017, has 
been completed free of lost-time-injuries and within the $355 million 
budget. This will stand as a company-making triumph when gas 
supply from Sole commences.

Behind these ‘headline’ outcomes there has also been a deeper 
transformation which is ongoing. Growth in revenue, cash flow, 
earnings and share price can only be sustained where the requisite 
systems, resources of talent and capital, and support of stakeholders, 
are present.

8

9

Managing Director’s Report
After a successful year, a stocktake  
on our 6 ingredients for future success.
David Maxwell

In this report, I discuss our current position, plans and expectations 
for 6 ingredients critical to your company’s capacity to create and 
generate wealth:

1)  our ability to act safely, responsibly, and with care, for the 
environments and communities in which we operate; 

2) access to competitive reserves of gas (and oil); 

3) operating and technical excellence; 

4) mutually beneficial customer relationships; 

5) our team and the quality of the staff engagement; and

6) financial strength.

There are, of course, other requirements for success; such as the 
support of shareholders and financiers and constructive, well-informed  
relationships with regulators. However, it is our belief excellence  
in each of the 6 core ingredients is foundational to success in other 
aspects of our business and to our performance.

1) Health, safety, environment and community

Operating with care is the first Cooper Energy Value and this governs 
our day-to-day operations and decision-making. A report of the 
company’s performance, and targets for 2020, is provided in the 
company’s Sustainability Report that is available from our website. 

I noted in my opening comments that the company completed 
the year safely. Zero lost-time-injuries occurred in the company’s 
operations. There were also zero recordable injuries. As an injury- 
free performance is the only acceptable safety standard, these  
12-month results should, ideally, be ‘business as usual’. However,  
I know the safety results were the most pleasing aspect of the year’s 
performance for both the board and management of our company. 

It is noteworthy these results occurred in the context of an increase 
in the working hours and exposure to hazards brought by a wider-
ranging work program, involving more employees, more contractors 
and more, and more varied, risks to manage. 

Ultimately, the safety performance recorded in any given year will 
be determined by the vigilance of employees and contractors in 
their day-to-day work over 365 days. I commend them for their 
commitment to safety in 2019.

Care for, and involvement in, the communities in which the company 
operates has assumed greater significance with the expansion of  
our activities. Our engagement with communities occurs at many 
levels, ranging from dialogue with elected representatives and 
officers, meetings and briefings with individuals and groups who  
have an interest in our operations to financial support for selected 
local causes promoting the health, well being and education of 
community members. 

The commencement of the Cooper Energy Legacy Foundation during 
the year was a milestone in the company’s strategy of care within 
the communities within which it operates. Through the foundation, 
Cooper Energy is seeking to contribute a beneficial legacy to its 
communities with a particular focus on the themes of: Education, 

Fellow shareholders,

I am pleased to report your company has completed the financial year 
safely, without reportable environmental incidents and is now ready 
to supply gas from its flagship project, the Sole gas field. Since year-
end we have also made significant progress in growing our Otway 
Basin business.

With the field development complete, Sole is set to commence 
production when the Orbost Gas Plant comes on-line, an event the 
company has been advised will occur in the December quarter 2019. 

This is later than anticipated in the previous annual report as the 
onshore plant upgrade has taken longer than forecast by APA Group. 
The offshore element of the Sole Gas Project managed by Cooper 
Energy was completed after year-end and is ready to commence 
supply. 

The impact of the Sole project start-up will be transformational.  
Gas production, at plant design rates, is expected to increase nearly  
5 times, with flow-on to revenue and cash flow. 

It will also see the establishment of the multi-basin production 
portfolio that lies at the heart of the company’s gas strategy. With 
production in eastern Victoria from the Gippsland Basin, and in the 
state’s west from the Otway Basin, Cooper Energy is positioned  
to optimise gas supply to its customers from the 2 most competitive 
local sources of production. 

An imminent milestone of this scale and significance for the company 
can be expected to draw attention. However, the primary purpose  
of this document is to report on the company’s position at 30 June 
2019 and its performance in the preceding 12 months. 

The company’s financial results, position and operating results  
are reported in detail in the Financial Report from page 37 of  
this document.

10

Pre-job safety meeting in  
the ’doghouse’ of the  
Ocean Monarch during drilling

particularly indigenous education; Health, in particular mental health 
and children; and Sustainability, in particular the marine environment. 
Further details on the work of the Foundation is contained in the 
Sustainability Report. 

2) Competitive reserves and resources

Our principal business is the supply of gas to south-east Australia. 
Our gas reserves and resources are located in south-east Australia 
and rank among the most competitive sources of gas supply to  
the region. We hold acreage in proven gas-producing provinces 
assessed as being prospective for new discoveries of gas and which, 
by virtue of existing pipelines and processing infrastructure, can be 
developed rapidly.

Those who have followed our development will appreciate this 
position owes little to serendipity. Rather, it is the product of a 
disciplined research, analysis and acquisition process which screened 
opportunities to consider only those assets which:

1)  occupied superior positions on ‘the cost curve’ i.e. assets which 
ranked in the best quartile for the cost of delivered gas to our 
chosen markets;

2) were either currently in production, or where a development 

decision was considered likely within 5 years; and

3) would be value accretive.

These attributes are reflected in the company’s portfolio of reserves, 
resources and exploration acreage. 

Cooper Energy’s gas reserves and resources are capable of taking 
annual gas production from 2019’s 6.5 PJ to more than 50 PJ in 6 
years’ time. Potential for additional growth exists in the company’s 
exploration portfolio as evidenced by the Annie gas discovery in  
the Otway Basin subsequent to year-end.

At 30 June 2019 the company’s Proved and Probable Reserves  
were assessed to be 311 petajoules of sales gas and 1.8 million 
barrels of oil. Collectively, these reserves represent 40 years’ 
production at 2019 levels and approximately 10 years’ production  
at levels anticipated when Sole is producing at plant design rates.

Contingent Resources (2C) of 26.9 million barrels of oil equivalent at 
30 June 2019 are 98% accounted-for by our undeveloped gas fields  
in the Otway and Gippsland basins. The location of these fields,  
in proximity to gas pipelines and gas processing infrastructure at the 
Orbost and Minerva gas plants, support expeditious and attractive 
development.

In addition, geotechnical analysis has identified gas prospects 
and leads in our Otway and Gippsland basin acreage considered 
potentially commercial. 

3) Technical and operating capability

Offshore Victoria is the largest, and lowest cost, source of gas supply 
for south-east Australia. Cooper Energy is one of a few operators  
of offshore exploration and production activities in the region and the 
only company operating activities in both the Otway and Gippsland 
basins. As I noted in the company’s 2018 annual report, this confers 
positional advantage in the speed, ease and cost with which we  
can address gas exploration and development opportunities. 

Of course, incumbency as an established operator will not deliver  
the best value for shareholders if poor operating performance  
erodes returns, or if technical capability is poor at recognising  
potential. Like safety, this is a challenge the company must rise to  
each day, knowing its capabilities will be measured on its most  
recent performance.

11

Managing Director’s Report
David Maxwell

The company’s achievements in 2019 illustrate its capability in 
offshore exploration and production operations. During the year 
Cooper Energy:

Since 1 July 2018 the company has secured new agreements with 
Origin Energy, O-I, AGL and Visy (the latter being executed and 
announced in July 2019).

-  successfully operated its first offshore drilling campaign, completing 
the Sole-3 and Sole-4 wells in a 108-day program, just over budget. 
The performance of the completed wells during testing confirmed 
the capability for Sole to produce in excess of plant design rates.

-  completed the construction of the offshore infrastructure for the 
Sole Gas Project. The offshore project was formally completed 
after year-end and within budget and schedule. Performance of the 
project involved work at plant, marine and sub-surface environments 
and the involvement of numerous contractors. Workstreams 
completed ranged from the delivery and integration of the pipelines, 
shore crossings, fabrication installation and testing of gas pipeline 
and umbilical controls, well-head design construction and integration 
and the drilling and completion of production wells.

-  completed repair and maintenance of the offshore umbilical  

control systems in the Casino Henry gas project within budget  
and schedule.

-  completed geotechnical analysis of Otway Basin acreage, identified 

lead prospects Annie and Elanora and released a Prospective 
Resource assessment for both targets. Drilling of Annie was 
conducted subsequent to year-end. Annie-1 proved successful 
and recorded the first new gas discovery by an offshore well in the 
Otway Basin in 11 years.

These highlights have deeper significance than their demonstration  
of operational or technical capability.

In each instance, the quality of the company’s performance has had 
favourable implications for shareholder value, either through careful 
custodianship of capital, the reinforcement of investor and financier 
confidence in Cooper Energy’s execution capability or by encouraging 
upgraded valuations of our portfolio by the investment community.

4) Mutually beneficial customer relationships and 
our gas contract portfolio 

Cooper Energy’s contract portfolio currently includes a total of 9 term 
gas sales agreements with south-east Australia’s principal gas utilities 
and industrial customers. This portfolio has been established within  
4 years.

The customer contract portfolio has been built around an underlying 
philosophy that mutually beneficial agreements will, in the long 
term, prove the most value-accretive. This sounds self-evident. But 
it has not generally been the underlying philosophy of the Australian 
domestic gas industry, where a focus on contractual terms rather than 
customer needs has been evidenced by a history of contract disputes, 
arbitration and litigation. 

Over the past 5 years we sought to build an understanding of  
gas buyers’ needs and sensitivities and identify the sectors where 
mutually beneficial agreements were most likely to be struck.

Our philosophy was not about finding where the highest price  
could be extracted, but finding where, and how, competitively priced  
gas could secure long-term demand loads with the stability and  
terms that make for the most efficient production. The objective 
has been to build a contract portfolio complementing the portfolio 
of production assets, permitting optimisation of supply sources and 
stability of cash flow whilst retaining some exposure to short term 
opportunities. As outlined below, we have delivered on our objective.

12

Approximately 68% of the company’s Proved and Probable Reserves 
of gas at 30 June are contracted or subject to extension options. This 
is consistent with our prioritisation of long-term cash flow assurance. 

All the gas available for term gas contract from Sole has been 
committed until 2025 and the company is continuing discussions  
with potential buyers for volumes expected to become available.  
Gas from Casino Henry, which is contracted on a shorter-term basis, 
is contracted to 31 December 2020.

The company will retain optionality in respect of the small volumes 
of gas either uncontracted, or expected to become available where 
customer nominations are less than the contracted maximum  
daily quantity.

The development and installation of a gas trading platform and 
accreditation as an authorised market participant during the year 
means Cooper Energy is positioned to now participate in short-term 
trading opportunities.

5) Our team and the quality of the staff 
engagement

The development of the company has required growth in the size and 
capability of our team of employees and contractors. At 30 June 2019 
this team numbered 97.3 full time equivalent (FTE) persons, nearly  
4 times the 24.7 FTE of 3 years’ previous.

The company’s success in attracting, engaging and retaining talent 
has been germane to the results. Over the past 3 years the company 
has evolved from a mainly non-operating onshore oil producer  
to be an established offshore operator in south-east Australia, with 
a track record and competitive advantage in subsea installation, 
operation and maintenance and in gas marketing.

The team, like the company, will be judged on its results. The 
results achieved, and expected, from a team are not simply a matter 
of capability but will be influenced by intangible factors. Values, 
engagement and alignment are 3 factors which, by design, feature, 
and are measured and tested, within Cooper Energy. 

Values 

Cooper Energy has chosen to be a values-driven organisation. 
The Cooper Energy Values are not ornamental, but expected to be 
exercised every day at every Cooper Energy workplace. Pleasingly, 
this is not a ‘top-down’ process but something team members  
initiate and maintain.

Engagement 

Our engagement with team members is not taken for granted.  
A program of independently conducted, bi-annual, surveys of staff 
engagement has been initiated. The results from the survey are 
benchmarked against scores from the international oil and gas 
industry, global general industry norms and the norms of companies 
that qualify as high-performing globally.

Cooper Energy’s first survey, conducted in July 2018, attracted 
an 80% response rate. The survey analysed responses from the 
company’s employees to 83 questions and found overall employee 
engagement within Cooper Energy to be comparable with norms 
recorded for global high-performing companies and superior to norms 
recorded for the oil and gas industry and general industry.

Diamond Offshore Ocean Monarch drilling the successful 
Annie-1 offshore Peterborough, Otway Basin. Preparation for 
the offshore Otway drilling campaign was a major workstream 
for the company in 2019. Annie-1 recorded the first new gas 
field discovery in the region in 11 years by an offshore well.

13

Managing Director’s Report
David Maxwell

Alignment 

Our team performance and remuneration is aligned with shareholder 
interests through direct share ownership and short-term and long-
term incentive plans. Under these plans, all employees are exposed 
to equity-linked incentives through the company’s short- and long-
term incentive plans. Employees with 3 months or more service are 
eligible, subject to performance for rights to Cooper Energy shares.

The effectiveness of the company’s efforts to communicate and 
encourage the Cooper Energy Values, to align and engage our staff 
has underwritten its results. We are expecting further growth in 
the size of the company’s team and are mindful our effectiveness 
in values leadership, engagement and alignment is critical to our 
ongoing success.

6) Financial strength

The 2019 financial statements are the first annual accounts where 
Cooper Energy has reported a net debt, rather than net cash, 
position. The company’s indebtedness arises from drawing down of 
senior bank project finance facilities to fund the offshore construction 
element of the Sole Gas Project. 

There are 3 aspects of the year-end position I want to highlight.

a)  The year-end position of gross debt of $218.2 million is a superior 
position to the conservative forecasts of the Sole project finance 
package. Completion of the offshore project within the mid-case 
budget estimate of $355 million has reduced debt required to 
complete the project and enabled the release of cash previously 
required to be reserved by financiers. The release of these  
funds enabled Cooper Energy to contract the Ocean Monarch to  
conduct the successful 2019 drilling campaign.

b) Cash flows anticipated from the Sole gas field are forecast to be 

more than sufficient to fund repayment of debt and support capital 
expenditure for new growth projects.

c)  Cooper Energy is conservatively financed, expects milestone-

related improvements in financial terms and will seek to 
optimise its finances whilst maintaining a conservative gearing 
position. Commencement of firm supply from Sole will enable 
the commencement of finance-related performance tests for 
qualification for the lower borrowing margin and improved terms 
that accrue from the transition from the construction phase to the 
operations phase. The company expects cash flows generated 
from its projects will enable further optimisation of its finances.

Resources and capital expenditure planning has shifted to new 
growth projects such as offshore Otway Basin gas exploration and 
development and development of the Manta gas resource. The 
company can assess these opportunities with confidence because 
of its financial position at year-end, its projected cash flows and the 
support and interest it receives from senior banks.

Strategy and concluding comments 

Over the past 2 years I have been frequently asked “What does the 
company do next after Sole starts?” 

This question reflects the project’s significance as the culmination of 
the gas strategy initiated in 2012. Identifying the latent value of a field 
considered uneconomic, Cooper Energy catalysed the support and 
commitments from gas buyers, equity investors, financiers and APA 
Group that enabled development of Sole as the first new local gas 
project at a time when south-east Australia needed new supply.

14

The last 2 years have seen progressive recognition by equity markets 
of the value created in this project as construction of the offshore 
project advanced to completion. As an indication, Cooper Energy’s 
market capitalisation has risen from $246 million in February 2017 
(when APA Group joined the company in the project) to $876 million 
at 30 June 2019.

The coming months are expected to see the potential of Sole fully 
realised as the field commences production and the company realises 
a transformative uplift in production and cash flow.

So, in this context, the question of “what happens after Sole?” is 
pertinent. The answer to the question is clear in our current position 
and plans for FY20.

Cooper Energy has established itself as a low-cost, competitive and 
competent operator of offshore exploration and production in south-
east Australia and a growing gas supplier to the region’s energy users. 

Our portfolio contains undeveloped reserves and resources, such  
as at Manta in the Gippsland Basin and Annie and Henry in the  
Otway Basin. In FY20 we will be performing the necessary planning,  
analysis and assurance for drilling these fields with a view to further 
increasing production. 

In August we resumed gas exploration in the offshore Otway Basin 
where, due mainly to low gas prices, there had been no wildcat 
drilling in 7 years, despite a high success rate and the region’s 
standing as being among the most competitive sources of gas 
supply for south-east Australia. I have noted the discovery at Annie-1. 
Production from this field could commence within the second half  
of the 2021 calendar year, subject to development decision, joint 
venture approval and rig availability. 

In this event, it is expected gas from Annie, as well as from our 
existing gas production operations at Casino Henry, will be processed 
at the Minerva Gas Plant. The cessation of production from Minerva 
in September 2019 has triggered the agreement for acquisition of  
the plant by the Casino Henry Joint Venture in which the company 
has a 50% interest.

Our analysis indicates the Otway and Gippsland opportunities can 
provide the next wave of growth for Cooper Energy. Our plans  
for FY20 are devoted to testing and realising that potential as value  
for shareholders.

In closing, I record my appreciation for the support of our 
shareholders and the efforts of our employees and contractors who 
have made the year’s results, and our promising outlook, possible.

David Maxwell

2019 saw the launch of the Cooper Energy Legacy Foundation.  
Ngathoo Wampa Tyama-Ki Teen, a resource of the Portland District  
Heath Education and Learning Centre, was among the regional and 
community causes to which the foundation provided financial support 
during the year. The centre is a valuable resource for the provision of 
regional training in nursing and healthcare in the Victorian South West.

15

6 questions for the Managing Director: 
Sole, gas market and strategy

1. What are your expectations for production 
from Sole? Near term and longer term?

The time when firm supply commences from Sole will be 
determined by the readiness of APA’s gas plant at Orbost to, 
firstly, receive gas and then complete the commissioning process. 
This aspect of the project is running later than originally expected 
but is, nonetheless, approaching.

  Once commissioning and plant production testing is completed, 
the way should be clear for the field to supply gas at the plant 
design capacity of 68 TJ/day. This equates to an annual rate of just 
under 24 PJ per year. Being a conventional gas development, one 
would expect the ramp-up to these rates to be relatively short.

Longer term, we know there is potential for higher production 
rates. It is typical for gas developments to graduate to higher 
production rates than nameplate capacity and that is our 
expectation for Sole.

  Both Sole-3 and Sole-4 have demonstrated capability to produce 
in excess of the plant design rate. I would expect that, once the 
Orbost Gas Plant has established base line production to contract 
rates, we and APA will be collaborating on accelerating production 
from the field through debottlenecking activities.

  We will not know just how much potential exists until we go 

through the process, but there is a strong shared financial interest 
in accelerating production where we can.

2. Commentary about south-east Australian  
gas supply and prices intensified in 2019.  
How do you see the market outlook?

  Our analysis is gas supply will continue to be tight, but that  

is no surprise. It has been a widely discussed expectation for at 
least 6 to 7 years and it is what we based our strategy around.

  While supply will be tight, we are not expecting a material change 
in prices from the range the ACCC has published in its research  
of just under $9 a gigajoule to just under $11 a gigajoule.

  At these prices, gas is flowing south from Queensland to meet 
southern market needs not met by local production. In addition, 
Cooper Energy and other southern gas producers are spending 
money on exploration and development to bring new gas to 
market. There is also Santos’ Narrabri project and LNG import 
terminal proposals.

Therefore it is our view that whilst gas supply will be tight, gas 
demand can, and will be, met at current prices.

16

3. How does your gas contracting strategy  

fit with this expectation? If you are expecting 
tight gas supply why have you locked up  
Sole’s term contract capacity to 2025? 

  Our objective is to deliver the best sustainable return for our 

shareholders. Our objective is not to extract the highest possible 
gas price; because that, certainly, will not give the best long term 
return for shareholders.

  We will get the best from our gas fields, fixed assets, cash flow and 
capital management and our customer relationships by being able 
to maintain production at steady, high utilisation rates. The contracts 
we have in place have us set to do just that, while still preserving 
scope for marginal sales where higher prices are available.

It means we, our financiers, and our investors have good line-of-
sight to long term stable cash flows. That alone has immediate 
benefits for our cost of finance and the value of the company. 

Long term stable cash flow is also important as we are in a 
business which requires long term planning and commitments 
for growth. To illustrate, at the moment we are preparing for a 
drilling campaign in FY21 which will require a significant financial 
commitment beforehand in well design, analysis and assurance, 
long lead items and pre-payments to secure the rig prior to the 
actual cost of the campaign.

4. Are you concerned about calls for government 

intervention given the recent political 
commentary on gas? Is that a threat to your 
business model and returns from Sole and  
your other gas opportunities?

I am not aware of any firm plans for government intervention, 
so this is essentially a “hypothetical”. Nevertheless, it is a 
hypothetical that I have been asked more frequently of late so  
it is important to address.

The short answer is “no”. We do not foresee a threat to our 
business model as the model is based around acquiring and 
developing gas that ranks among the most competitive source 
of supply for south-east Australia. Our own, and independent 
analysis, confirms our gas reserves and resources in the Otway 
and Gippsland basins are firmly positioned at the sharpest end  
of the cost curve for supply to our markets.

So our gas is part of the solution, if you like, not part of the 
problem. Perhaps the most telling indication is the keenness of 
industrial and utility gas buyers to contract with us.

  However, energy security and prices do become a matter for 

concern where there is uncertainty. This is clearly the situation  
in Australia at the moment. If we want to address the issue 
we need to be sure we focus our considerations on measures 
to improve the situation by encouraging supply from the most 
competitive sources.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5. After 3 years with a simple focus on Sole,  
the way forward seems less clear-cut. 

‘Growth after Sole’ seems to involve a lot of 
moving parts at different stages of maturity: 
Manta appraisal and exploration, Henry 
development, Annie development and 
exploration for more gas in the offshore  
Otway and Gippsland basins.

  What is the strategy here and what will be the 
company’s approach in sorting through the 
opportunities?

The strategy is consistent with that which we set out to execute  
7 years ago: build a multi-basin portfolio of gas assets with 
superior competitiveness in gas delivery to south-east Australia 
and then optimise development and supply for the best outcomes 
for shareholders and customers.

The portfolio is in place and we have a number of opportunities 
to bring gas to a market keen for new supply. The opportunities 
are of different maturities: ranging from development of reserves, 
appraisal of contingent resources for translation into reserves 
and addressing potential in proven gas provinces. In all cases the 
opportunities are close to existing gas processing and pipeline 
infrastructure.

There are 2 particular strengths to this portfolio. First we are 
not dependent on any one single element for success. Sole will 
deliver growth and we have a number of other options which can 
provide what we call the next wave of growth. Second, we are 
able to consider these projects in the favourable development 
economic context conferred by the location and market strengths 
embedded in our asset portfolio.

Chairman John Conde AO and Managing Director David Maxwell  
inspecting pipespooling operations at Crib Point during the year.

This doesn’t mean we will ‘have a swing at everything’. It is about 
doing the work to assess what offers the best returns, not just 
on a standalone basis but ultimately for shareholders. That could 
involve changes in the sequencing of, or nature of, development  
as we optimise our programs and plans.

The acceleration of the Otway drilling campaign this year is an 
example of that. When our cost management on the Sole gas 
project enabled a finance facility redetermination, we acted on an 
opportunity to bring forward the drilling and capture a favourable 
rig contract. We now have a new gas field development 
opportunity at Annie in our portfolio that could present a 
compelling case for rapid development.

6. Where does capital management fit within 
this? Cash flow is expected from Sole, debt 
repayment obligations commence and 
shareholders also have been patiently waiting 
to share in the returns from the project.

  Capital management is front and centre in all of this. Yes, the 

commencement of gas sales from Sole will usher in a big step-up 
in our cash flows and the start of our debt repayment schedule.

  Once Sole is in full production the company is in a different place 
from a financing perspective. Consistent with this we are reviewing 
our finance facilities. This will be conducted with regard to the 
capital commitments and optimising value for our shareholders.

  Our forecasts indicate there will be surplus cash flow after debt 
repayment. The strength of our portfolio, business position  
and markets is such that we expect there to be a range of value-
accretive options available for the deployment of surplus cash.

The approach we will take will be the same as we have used 
all the way along: shareholder value wins. We will do the work, 
understand what will give our shareholders the best sustainable 
return and optimise for that.

17

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reserves and Resources

Reserves
Cooper Energy’s 2P Reserves at 30 June 2019 are assessed to be 52.7 million barrels of oil equivalent. This is a 0.3 million boe year-on-year 
increase from 30 June 2018. The key factors contributing to the revision are FY19 production of 1.3 million boe, reserves growth in the Cooper 
and Otway basins and Sole gas field revision following 2019 drilling.

Reserves at 30 June 2019

Category

Unit

1P (Proved)

2P (Proved and probable)

   3P (Proved, Probable and Possible)

Developed Undeveloped Total

Developed Undeveloped Total

Developed Undeveloped Total

Sales Gas

PJ

Oil + Cond million bbl

Total 1

million boe

15

1.1

3.6

210

0.2

34.5

225

1.3

38.1

24

1.5

5.4

288

0.3

47.3

311

1.8

52.7

36

1.8

7.6

398

0.7

65.7

433

2.5

73.3

1  Totals may not reflect arithmetic addition due to rounding. The method of aggregation is by arithmetic sum by category. As a result, the 1P estimate  

may be conservative and the 3P estimate may be optimistic due to the effects of arithmetic summation.

Reserves by basin allocated between oil and gas

Category

Unit

1P (Proved)

2P (Proved and Probable)

 3P (Proved, Probable and Possible)

Cooper Otway Gippsland Total1 Cooper Otway Gippsland Total1 Cooper Otway Gippsland Total1

Developed

Sales Gas

PJ

Oil + Cond

million bbl

0.0

1.1

15

0.01

Sub-total1

million boe2

1.1

2.4

Undeveloped

Sales Gas

PJ

Oil + Cond

million bbl

0.0

0.2

Sub-total1

million boe2

0.2

Total 1

million boe

1.3

29

0.01

4.8

7.2

0.0

0.0

0.0

181

0.0

29.6

29.6

15

1.1

3.6

210

0.2

34.5

38.1

0.0

1.5

1.5

0.0

0.3

0.3

1.8

24

0.01

3.9

43

0.01

7.0

10.9

0.0

0.0

0.0

245

0.0

40.0

40.0

24

1.5

5.4

288

0.3

47.3

52.7

0.0

1.8

1.8

0.0

0.7

0.7

2.5

36

0.01

5.8

69

0.02

11.3

17.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

329

0.0

53.7

53.7

36

1.8

7.6

398

0.7

65.7

73.3

1  Totals may not reflect arithmetic addition due to rounding. The method of aggregation is by arithmetic sum by category. As a result, the 1P estimate may 

be conservative and the 3P estimate may be optimistic due to the effects of arithmetic summation.

Year-on-year movement in Reserves (million boe)

Category

Proved (1P)

Proved and Probable (2P)

Proved, Probable and Possible (3P)

Reserves at 30 June 2018 1

FY18 Production 2

Revisions 

Reserves at 30 June 2019 3

42.1

(1.3)

(2.7)

38.1

1  As announced to the ASX on 13 August 2018. 

52.4

(1.3)

1.6

52.7

66.4

(1.3)

8.2

73.3

2 Otway and Cooper basin production from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019 (inclusive). The Reserves exclude Cooper Energy’s share of future fuel usage.

3  Totals may not reflect arithmetic addition due to rounding. The method of aggregation is by arithmetic sum by category. As a result, the 1P estimate  

may be conservative and the 3P estimate may be optimistic due to the effects of arithmetic summation.

18

Contingent Resources
Cooper Energy’s 2C Contingent Resources at 30 June 2019 have increased since 30 June 2018 by 3.3 million boe to 26.9 million boe. 

The key factors contributing to the revision are:

• Upgrade of the resource assessment of the Manta gas resources in the Gippsland Basin; and

• Inclusion of the contingent development programs in the ex-PEL 92 PPLs in the Cooper Basin.

Contingent Resources at 30 June 2019

Category

Basin

Gippsland

Otway

Cooper

Total 1

1C

2C

3C

 Gas 
PJ

Oil/Cond 
million bbl

 Total 
 million boe

78

17

0

95

2.2

0.0

0.3

2.5

14.9

2.8

0.3

18.0

Gas 
PJ

121

18

0

140

Oil/Cond 
million bbl

 Total 
 million boe

3.4

0.0

0.6

4.1

23.3

3.0

0.6

26.9

 Gas 
 PJ

190

24

0

214

Oil/Cond 
million bbl

 Total 
 million boe

5.4

0.0

1.1

6.5

36.5

3.9

1.1

41.5

1  Totals may not reflect arithmetic addition due to rounding. The method of aggregation is by arithmetic sum by category. As a result, the 1C estimate  

may be conservative and the 3C estimate may be optimistic due to the effects of arithmetic summation.

Year-on-year movement in Contingent Resources (million boe)

Category

Contingent Resources at 30 June 2018 1, 2

Revisions

Contingent Resources at 30 June 2019 1, 2

1C

14.8

3.2

18.0

2C

23.6

3.3

26.9

3C

36.8

4.7

41.5

1  As announced to the ASX on 13 August 2018.
2  Totals may not reflect arithmetic addition due to rounding. The method of aggregation is by arithmetic sum by category. As a result, the 1C estimate  

may be conservative and the 3C estimate may be optimistic due to the effects of arithmetic summation.

19

 
Reserves and Resources

Notes on calculation of reserves and resources

Contingent Resources

Cooper Energy has completed its own estimation of Reserves  

and Contingent Resources for its operated Gippsland and Otway  

Under the SPE PRMS 2018, “Contingent Resources are those quantities 

of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable 

Basin assets, and elsewhere based on information provided by the  

from known accumulations by application of development projects, 

permit Operators (Beach Energy Ltd for PEL 92, Senex Ltd for  

but which are not currently considered to be commercially recoverable 

Worrior Field, and BHP Billiton Petroleum (Vic) P/L for Minerva Field) 

owing to one or more contingencies”.

in accordance with the definitions and guidelines in the Society of 

Petroleum Engineers (SPE) 2018 Petroleum Resources Management 

System (PRMS). 

The Contingent Resources assessment includes resources in the 

Gippsland, Otway and Cooper Basins. The Contingent Resources 

assessment at Manta gas field in VIC/RL13, VIC/RL14 and VIC/RL15 

All Reserves and Contingent Resources figures in this document are  

(formerly VIC/L26, 27 and 28) reported on 16 July 2015 has been 

net to Cooper Energy. Reserves exclude Cooper Energy’s share of 

upgraded at 13 August 2019. The change is a result of a new technical 

future fuel usage.

Petroleum Reserves and Contingent Resources are prepared using 
deterministic and probabilistic methods. The reserves and resources 
estimate methodologies incorporate a range of uncertainty relating to 
each of the key reservoir input parameters to predict the likely range 
of outcomes. Project and field totals are aggregated by arithmetic 
summation by category. Aggregated 1P and 1C estimates may be 
conservative, and aggregated 3P and 3C estimates may be optimistic 
due to the effects of arithmetic summation. Totals may not exactly 
reflect arithmetic addition due to rounding.

The conversion factor of 1 PJ = 0.163 million boe has been used to 

convert from Sales Gas (PJ) to Oil Equivalent (million boe).

Reserves

study of the resource. No new data or information was used in the 

assessment. The update has results in an immaterial increase to 

Manta 2C gas resources from 106 PJ to 121 PJ and oil and condensate 

resources from 3.2 million barrels to 3.4 million barrels.

The assessment used deterministic simulation modelling and 

probabilistic resource estimation for the Intra-Latrobe and Golden Beach 

Sub-Group in the Manta Field. This methodology incorporates a range  

of uncertainty relating to each of the key reservoir input parameters  

to predict the likely range of outcomes. This approach is consistent with 

the definitions and guidelines in the Society of Petroleum Engineers 

(SPE) 2007 Petroleum Resources Management System (PRMS).

Qualified Petroleum Reserves and Resources 
Evaluator Statement

Under the SPE PRMS 2018, “Reserves are those quantities of 

The information contained in this report regarding the Cooper Energy 

petroleum anticipated to be commercially recoverable by application 

Reserves and Contingent Resources is based on, and fairly represents, 

of development projects to known accumulations from a given date 

information and supporting documentation reviewed by Mr Andrew 

forward under defined conditions”.

The Otway Basin totals comprise the arithmetically aggregated project 

fields (Casino-Henry-Netherby and Minerva). The Cooper Basin totals 

comprise the arithmetically aggregated PEL 92 project fields and the 

arithmetic summation of the Worrior project Reserves. The Gippsland 

Basin total comprises Reserves in Sole field only. All Reserves exclude 

Cooper Energy’s share of future fuel usage. 

The Reserves for the Sole gas field located in VIC/L32 reported on  

24 February 2017 are updated at 13 August 2019. It incorporates 

drilling outcomes from Sole-3 and Sole-4 and a change to deterministic 

Reserves, as is used on the company’s other developed field. The 

update results in an immaterial decrease to Sole 2P Reserves from 249 

PJ to 245 PJ and wider range of low (1P) and high (3P) case outcomes.

Thomas who is a full-time employee of Cooper Energy Limited holding 

the position of General Manager – Exploration and Subsurface, holds  

a Bachelor of Science (Hons), is a member of the American Association  

of Petroleum Geologists and the Society of Petroleum Engineers,  

is qualified in accordance with ASX listing rule 5.41, and has consented 

to the inclusion of this information in the form and context in which  

it appears.

20

Drilling operations, Otway Basin

21

Review of Operations

Production 

Cooper Energy’s oil and  
gas production for the year 
totalled 1.31 million boe 
compared with 1.49 million boe 
in the previous year.

The movement is due to lower  
gas production from the Otway 
Basin and lower oil production 
from the Cooper Basin.

Production: 12 months to 30 June

2019

2018

Gas  
PJ

Oil and condensate 
‘000 barrels

Total  
million boe

Gas  
PJ

Oil and condensate 
‘000 barrels

Total  
million boe

Otway Basin

6.6

Cooper Basin

-

4.6

238

1.07

0.24

7.0

-

6.0

275

1.22

0.27

Production by region million boe

0.68

0.03

0.25

0.08

0.4

0.14

0.32

1.22

1.07

0.27

0.24

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018  

2019

  Otway Basin, Australia

  South Sumatra, Indonesia
  Cooper Basin, Australia

Safety metrics year ended 30 June

2019

2018

Hours worked

Recordable incidents 

Lost time injuries 

Lost time injury frequency rate

Total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR)1

Industry TRIFR2

505,300

491,100

0

0

0.0

0.0

3.48

2

0

0.0

4.0

4.07

1  TRIFR – Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate all recordable incident data (Medical Treatment 

Injuries + Restricted Work/Transfer Case + Lost Time Injuries + fatalities) multiplied by 1,000,000 
then divided by total hours worked

2 Industry TRIFR is NOPSEMA benchmark for offshore Australian operations

Safety

A detailed report, and  
discussion of the company’s 
safety management and 
performance is provided in the 
2019 Sustainability Report.  
The report, which has been 
released contemporaneously  
with the annual report can  
be viewed and downloaded  
from the company’s website  
www.cooperenergy.com.au.

Safety performance statistics  
are provided on the right.

22

Sole gas pipeline construction.  
The 64 kilometre pipeline required 5,269 welds.

23

Review of Operations
Offshore Otway Basin

Offshore Otway Basin Production

Casino Henry 

By project year 
ended 30 June

Casino Henry

2019

2018

• Gas PJ

5.52

• Condensate kbbl

1.7

Minerva

• Gas PJ

1.03

• Condensate kbbl

2.9

5.73

2.9

1.31

3.1

Offshore Otway Basin 2P Reserves

As at 30 June

2019

2018

Developed

• Gas PJ

Undeveloped

• Gas PJ

Total

• Gas PJ

24

43

67

26

35

61

The Casino Henry gas operations produce 
gas and condensate from the Casino  
field in VIC/L24, and the Henry and 
Netherby fields in VIC/L30. The fields are 
located 17 kilometres to 25 kilometres 
offshore Victoria in water depth ranging from 
65 metres to 71 metres.

The licences are covered entirely by 
high-quality 3D seismic surveys acquired 
between 2001 and 2007. The hydrocarbon 
reservoirs discovered and produced to date 
are in the Cretaceous Waarre Formation. 
The depth of the top Waarre Formation 
at the discovered fields ranges between 
approximately 1,500 metres to 2,000 metres.

Casino Henry consists of a subsea 
development comprising 4 producing  
wells (Casino-4, Casino-5, Henry-2  
and Netherby-1), with production from a 
maximum of 3 wells at any one time.

Gas produced from Casino Henry is 
transported by a 12-inch subsea pipeline 
to the processing facility at Iona owned 
by Lochard Energy. Casino was brought 
online in January 2006 and the Henry and 
Netherby fields in February 2010. Cooper 
Energy’s share of gas from Casino Henry is 
currently sold to Origin Energy and O-I under 
a 12 month contract to 31 December 2019. 
The company’s share of gas production 
for the subsequent calendar year has been 
contracted to AGL Energy.

Gross field production from Casino Henry  
for the year averaged 30.2 TJ/day compared 
to 31.4 TJ/day. Total production from  
the field was affected by interruptions for 
scheduled maintenance at the Iona Gas 
Plant and the upgrade of the Casino Henry 
umbilical system. 

The company’s interests in the 
offshore Otway Basin include:

-   a 50% interest in, and 

Operatorship of, the producing 
Casino Henry Netherby (“Casino 
Henry”) Joint Venture production 
licences (VIC/L24 and VIC/L30);

-   a 50% interest in, and 

Operatorship of, production 
licence VIC/L33 and VIC/L34 
which were formerly the 
retention leases VIC/RL11  
and VIC/RL12 and which contain 
part of the undeveloped Black 
Watch gas field;

-   a 50% interest in, and 

Operatorship of, the VIC/P44 
exploration permit; and

-   a 10% interest in the Minerva 

gas project comprising offshore 
production licence VIC/L22  
and the Minerva Gas Plant, 
onshore Victoria. The field 
reached end of life subsequent 
to the end of the year.

   The Minerva Gas Plant is  

subject to an agreement signed 
by the Casino Henry Joint 
Venture participants and BHP 
Billiton Petroleum (Victoria) 
Pty Ltd for the acquisition of 
the plant by the Joint Venture 
participants on cessation 
of its current operations 
processing gas from Minerva. 
The transaction is also subject 
to completion of regulatory 
approvals and assignments.

24

Adelaide

Warrnambool

PEP 168 (50%)

VIC/L34 (50%)

VIC/L33 (50%)

Halladale

Black Watch

Cooper Energy 
tenement

Gas field

Gas pipeline

Gas well

Proposed well

VICTORIA

Melbourne

Iona Gas Plant

VIC/P44 (50%)

Martha

Minerva Gas Plant (10%*)

VIC/P44 (50%)

VIC/L30 (50%)

Henry

Netherby

Annie-1

Minerva

Elanora-1

Casino

VIC/L24 (50%)

VIC/L22 (10%)

VIC/P44 (50%)

0

10

kilometres

Exploration

The 2019 financial year saw the culmination 
of preceding year’s technical studies with 
the selection of the Annie and Elanora 
prospects as the lead targets for drilling. 
Annie-1 was drilled after the end of the 
financial year and resulted in a new gas 
field discovery. Drilling of Elanora-1 is to be 
considered for a future campaign.

Otway 116AR19

The cessation of production from Minerva 
has triggered the agreement for acquisition 
of the Minerva Gas Plant by the Casino 
Henry Joint Venture participants. The 
acquisition is expected to be completed, 
subject to regulatory approvals and 
assignments, late in the 2019 calendar year. 
The joint venture intends to connect the 
plant to Casino, Henry and Netherby gas 
fields to realise economies in gas processing 
and better field productivity enabled by 
the plant’s lower inlet pressure. It is also 
intended the Minerva Gas Plant be used 
for processing of gas from other offshore 
Otway Basin gas fields that may  
be developed such as Annie.

The Minerva Gas Plant is located 
approximately 5 kilometres north-west 
of Port Campbell. The plant, which was 
commissioned in January 2005, has gas 
processing capacity of approximately  
150 TJ/day and hydrocarbon liquids 
processing facilities. The Minerva Gas Plant 
is connected directly to the SEAGas Port 
Campbell to Adelaide Pipeline and to the 
South West Pipeline, owned by APA Group.

Development

Maintenance and upgrade of the Casino 
Henry umbilical control system was 
completed during the year. The operation 
restored communication to the Netherby-1 
well, enabled production from the field to 
resume and introduced capacity for ready 
extension of the control system to include 
new field developments in the region. The 
operation was completed within time and 
budget, with the interruption to production 
being accommodated within field shut-
downs scheduled for Iona Gas Plant 
maintenance. 

Potential for further production exists 
through development of undeveloped 
reserves in the Henry gas field. The 
joint venture progressed planning for a 
development well for this purpose with 
a view to finalisation of Final Investment 
Decision for the well in 2020, after 
assessment of results from the 2019  
drilling campaign.

Production and processing cost benefits 
are forecast from the connection of the 
Casino Henry fields to the Minerva Gas 
Plant, which the Joint Venture is contracted 
to acquire. Preparations for this event were 
commenced, including front-end work 
activity planning, receipt and consideration 
of front-end engineering proposals and the 
assembly of a project team.

Minerva

The Minerva gas field is located in 
production licence VIC/L22, 9 kilometres 
offshore Victoria in a water depth of 
approximately 60 metres. The field was 
discovered by the current operator,  
BHP Billiton, in 2002.

Gross total field production from Minerva 
during the year averaged 28.2 TJ/day 
compared to 35.9 TJ/day in the previous 
year. The decline in production during the 
year was consistent with expectations the 
field was approaching end-of-life. Production 
from Minerva ceased on 3 September, 2019.

25

Review of Operations
Gippsland Basin

Cooper Energy’s interests in  
the Gippsland Basin comprise:

-   a 100% interest in the Patricia 
Baleen to Orbost Pipeline; and 

-   a 100% interest, and 

-   a 100% interest in and 

Operatorship of, VIC/L32 which 
contains the Sole gas field;

-   a 100% interest and 

Operatorship of VIC/RL13,  
VIC/RL14 and VIC/RL15,  
which contain the Manta gas 
and liquids resource;

-   a 100% interest, and 

Operatorship of, VIC/L21,  
which contains the produced 
Patricia-Baleen gas field;

Operatorship of the exploration 
permits VIC/P72 and VIC/P75 
located in the Gippsland Basin. 

Gippsland Basin 2P reserves

2019

2018

Undeveloped

• Gas PJ

245

249

Sole Gas Project

The Sole Gas Project involves the 
development of the Sole gas field and 
upgrade of APA Group’s Orbost Gas Plant  
to supply approximately 24 PJ per annum 
from 2019.

Cooper Energy conducted the upstream 
component to develop and connect the gas 
field through drilling and completion of  
2 production wells (both spudded in the 
previous financial year), installation of 
subsea wellheads and connection of the 
subsea pipeline and umbilical controls to the 
plant via 2 shore crossings. The upstream 
project was completed after year-end and 
the Sole gas field is ready to commence gas 
supply on the completion of the Orbost Gas 
Plant upgrade being undertaken by APA. 

VICTORIA

Orbost

E A

S T E R N  GAS     P IP E LIN E

Sydney

Melbourne

Bainsdale

Lakes Entrance

Orbost Gas Plant

VIC/L21 (100%)

VIC/P72 (100%)

Patricia-Baleen

VIC/L32 (100%)

Snapper

Longtom

Tuna

Kipper

Barracoota

Marlin

Flounder

Sole

Sole

Manta

Manta

Basker

Chimaera

Gummy

VIC/RL15 (100%)

VIC/P75 (100%)

Fortescue

VIC/RL13 (100%)

%)
VIC/RL14 (100%)

Bream

Gippsland_115AR19

26

Kingfish

Blackback

0

20

kilometres

Cooper Energy tenement

Gas field

Oil field

Gas pipeline

Oil pipeline

Pipeline options

Prospect

VIC/P75

VIC/P75 is an exploration permit located 
in the central area of the Gippsland Basin 
awarded to the company subsequent to 
year-end. The permit is surrounded by 
major oil and gas fields including the Marlin, 
Snapper and Barracouta gas fields to the 
north and the Kingfish and Fortescue oil 
fields in the south and east respectively. 
Three-dimensional seismic data is available 
covering most of the permit area.

The permit has a 6-year term, of which the 
first 3 years is a guaranteed work program 
consisting of seismic reprocessing and 
geological\geophysical studies. Cooper 
Energy has 100% equity in VIC/P75 and  
will assess the involvement of joint venture 
partners according to value and risk 
management considerations.

1  Contingent Resource for the Manta gas and 
liquids resource was announced to ASX on 
12 August 2019. Prospective Resource for 
the field was announced to the ASX on 4 May 
2016. Cooper Energy confirms that it is not 
aware of any new information or data that 
materially affects the information included in 
the announcements of 12 August 2019 or 4 
May 2016 and that all the material assumptions 
and technical parameters underpinning the 
estimates in the announcements continue to 
apply and have not materially changed.

APA have advised the plant is expected to 
be ready to commence gas supply in the 
December quarter 2019.

The Sole gas field is assessed to hold 
Proved and Probable Reserves of 245 PJ at 
30 June 2019. This assessment incorporates 
marginal revisions to 2P estimates arising 
from analysis of the results of Sole-3 and 
Sole-4.

Manta

The Manta gas field is located in retention 
licences VIC/RL13, VIC/RL14 and VIC/RL15,  
35 kilometres from Sole and 58 kilometres 
from the Orbost Gas Plant. The field is  
assessed to contain 2C Contingent 
Resources1 of 121 PJ of gas and 3.4 million 
boe of condensate. Prospective Resources1 
are also present at the Manta Deep 
prospect, with a Best Estimate unrisked 
prospective resources comprising 526 PJ  
of gas, 12.9 million barrels of condensate 
and 1.5 million barrels of oil.

The estimated quantities of petroleum 
that may be potentially recovered by the 
application of future development project(s) 
relate to undiscovered accumulations. 
These estimates have both an associated 
risk of discovery and a risk of development. 
Further exploration, appraisal and evaluation 
is required to determine the existence of a 
significant quantity of potentially moveable 
hydrocarbons.

Manta is being considered as a follow-on 
development to Sole, with the capability to 
produce approximately 18 PJ per annum plus 
associated condensate. The field’s proximity 
to Sole and the Orbost Gas Plant enhances 
its prospects for development. Analysis 
has identified significant synergies and cost 
savings if Manta is developed and operated 
in coordination with Sole in areas including 
control umbilicals, plant, redundancies and 
maintenance. Provision for Manta gas to 
access the Orbost Gas Plant for processing 
has been incorporated in the agreements 
executed by APA and Cooper Energy.

An appraisal well is required prior to 
a development decision on the field’s 
Contingent Resources, which would 
also present the opportunity to test the 
Prospective Resource assessed in deeper 
reservoirs. Planning for this well, Manta-3, 
has progressed and it is expected to 
be drilled as part of the offshore drilling 
campaign targeted for 2021 subject to  
rig availability.

Patricia Baleen

Patricia Baleen is a produced offshore gas 
field located in production licence VIC/L21 
which is in suspension and under care and 
maintenance after being shut-in in 2008.  
The field is connected to the Orbost Gas 
Plant by a 24 kilometre pipeline, also owned 
by Cooper Energy.

VIC/P72

In May 2018 the company was awarded 
100% equity in offshore exploration permit 
VIC/P72 for an initial 6-year term. The permit 
adjoins the company’s VIC/L21 production 
licence which holds the depleted Patricia 
Baleen gas field and its associated subsea 
production infrastructure connected to the 
Orbost Gas Plant.

VIC/P72 lies in proximity to several Esso-
operated gas and oil fields including 
Snapper, Marlin, Sunfish and Sweetlips and 
the Longtom gas field operated by SGH 
Energy. Prospect analogues similar to the 
offset fields are identified in VIC/P72. 

The first 3 years’ guaranteed work program 
consists of 260 square kilometres of 3D 
seismic reprocessing and studies and the 
drilling of one exploration well.

Interpretation of reprocessed 3D seismic 
and quantitative interpretation volumes 
acquired during the year is underway with  
a view to identifying candidate prospects  
for drilling in 2021.

27

Review of Operations
Onshore

Cooper Basin

Cooper Energy holds interests 
in 34 retention licences and 11 
production licences in the South 
Australian Cooper Basin. The 
company’s activities are primarily 
focused on tenements held by the 
PEL 92 Joint Venture (‘PEL 92‘) 
on the western flank of the basin, 
which provided approximately 
17% of Cooper Energy’s total 
production and 96% of its oil 
production for 2019. The Worrior 
Field (PPL 207) supplied 1% of 
Cooper Energy’s total production 
for the year.

Cooper Basin 2P reserves

million barrels  
as at 30 June

Developed

• Crude oil

Undeveloped

2019

2018

1.5

1.4

• Crude oil

0.3

0.4

Total

• Crude oil

1.8

1.8

Cooper Basin production

million barrels  
as at 30 June

2019

2018

Crude oil

0.24

0.27

Joint venture and tenement 
interests comprise:

-   a 25% interest in the PEL 92 
Joint Venture which holds 
PRL’s 85 to 104, including the 
producing Butlers, Callawonga, 
Christies, Elliston, Germain, 
Parsons, Perlubie, Rincon, 
Rincon North, Sellicks, Silver 
Sands and Windmill oil fields;

-   a 30% interest in PEL 93 

and PPL 207 which holds the 
producing Worrior oil field;

-   a 19.17% interest in the PRL’s 
207-209 (ex PEL-100), and

-   a 20% interest in the PRL’s  

183 -190 (ex PEL-110).

The company’s primary focus in the onshore 
Otway Basin is exploration of gas plays 
associated with the Casterton, Sawpit and 
Pretty Hill formations, primarily within the 
Penola Trough. Analysis of data from Jolly-1 
ST1 and Bungaloo-1 drilled in 2014 assisted 
identification of a number of opportunities 
for future evaluation of the deep plays in 
the Penola Trough. The potential of this play 
was proven during the year by the gas field 
discovery in the Haselgrove-3 sidetrack well 
drilled by Beach Energy in PPL 62 in 2017,  
a licence surrounded by PEL 494.

An exploration well, Dombey-1, is to be  
drilled by the PEL 494 Joint Venture to test 
the Pretty Hill sandstone and the deeper 
Sawpit sandstone where gas was discovered 
at Haselgrove. The well, which is part funded 
by a $6.89 million PACE Gas Round 2 grant 
by the South Australian Government was 
spudded in September 2019.

Activity in the Victorian permits has been 
suspended pursuant to the moratorium 
imposed by the state government on onshore 
petroleum exploration and production until  
30 June 2020.

Onshore Otway Basin

Cooper Energy holds interests  
in 4 exploration licences and  
1 retention licence in the onshore 
Otway Basin:

-   a 30% interest in PEL 494  
and PRL 32, Penola Trough, 
South Australia;

-   a 50% interest in PEP 150 and 

PEP 168, Victoria, and;

-   a 75% interest1 in PEP 171, 

Penola Trough, Victoria which 
may reduce by up to a further 
25% on fulfillment of farm-in 
arrangements executed with 
Vintage Energy Ltd.

1   Title transfer of interest to Vintage Energy still 
awaiting regulatory approval and registration.

28

 
-27°

-28°

139°3
139°

140°

Plan area

PRLs 183-190 (20%)
(former PEL 110)

-27°2
-27°

TAS

Cooper Energy tenement

Other companies’ tenement

Oil field

Gas field

Oil pipeline

Gas pipeline

PRLs 207-209 (19.165%)
(former PEL 100)

e r m ia n  edge

C oop

er  C

r

P

Rincon
North

Rincon

PRLs 85 to 104 (25%)
(former PEL 92)

W

A

H

P A T C

Callawonga
Elliston

Windmill

Christies

Sellicks

Silver Sands

-28°

Parsons
Perlubie
Germein

Butlers

Lycium Hub

PRL 231 (30%)
(former PEL 93)

PRL 232 (30%)
(former PEL 93)

PRL 233 (30%)
(former PEL 93)

Worrior
PPL 207

PRL 237 (20%)
(former PEL 93)

0

20

40

Cooper Basin

139°

kilometres

an

i

  edge

m

r

e
P

140°

Kingston SE

SOUTH  AUSTRALIA

Naracoorte

PEL 494 (30%)

PRL 32 (30%)

ROBE  TROUGH

Robe

ST CLAIR  TROUGH

PENOLA

Beachport

Dombey-1

Millicent

Penola
Katnook

Nangwarry

T

R

O

U

G

O U G H

R

e

e

k

R

R

A

A          T

E

G

G MI      RI D

R I     T

R

E

M

A P P A

N

H

G

U

O

R

H

G

U

O

MOOMBA
R
A    T

G

N

U

L L

A

H

G

U

O

R

A     T

R

E

P

P

A

N

E

T

Cooper 86AR19

Cooper Energy tenement

Gas field

Gas pipeline

Depositional trough

Proposed well

PEP 171 (100%*)

VICTORIA

M
Mount Gambier

H

ARDONACHIE  T

R

O

U

G

H

Hamilton

PEP 150 (50%)

PEP 168 (50%)

Cobden

Portland

Warrnambool

Plan area

0

20

40

TAS

kilometres

SHIPWRECK 
TROUGH

Onshore  
Otway Basin

Otway 115AR19
Otway 115AR19

29

Portfolio 
Cooper Energy Exploration and Production Tenements

Region: Australia

Cooper Basin

State

Tenement

Interest

Location

Area (km2)

Operator

Activities

South Australia

PPL 204 (Sellicks)

25%

Onshore

PPL 205 (Christies / 
Silver Sands)

PPL 207 (Worrior)

PPL 220 (Callawonga)

PPL 224 (Parsons)

PPL 245 (Butlers)

PPL 246 (Germein)

PPL 247  
(Perlubie/Perlubie South)

PPL 248  
(Rincon/Rincon North)

PPL 249 (Elliston)

PPL 250 (Windmill)

PRLs 85-104 

25%

30%

25%

25%

25%

25%

25%

Onshore

Onshore

Onshore

Onshore

Onshore

Onshore

Onshore

25%

Onshore

Onshore

Onshore

25%

25%

25%

2.0

4.3

6.4

5.5

1.8

2.1

0.1

1.5

2.0

0.8

0.6

Beach Energy

Production

Beach Energy

Production

Senex Energy

Production

Beach Energy

Production 

Beach Energy

Production

Beach Energy

Production

Beach Energy

Production

Beach Energy

Production

Beach Energy

Production

Beach Energy

Production

Beach Energy

Production

Onshore

1889.3

Beach Energy

Exploration 

PRLs 207-209

19.17%

Onshore

PRLs 231-233 and 237 1

PRLs 183-190

30%

20%

Onshore

Onshore

296.5

621.8

727.5

Senex Energy

Exploration 

Senex Energy

Exploration 

Senex Energy

Exploration 

1  PRL 237 is subject to a Farm-in Agreement which could reduce Cooper Energy’s interest to 20%.

Gippsland Basin

State

Victoria 

Tenement

VIC/L21

VIC/RL13 

VIC/RL14

VIC/RL15

VIC/L32

Interest

Location

Area (km2)

Operator

Activities

100%

Offshore

134.0

Cooper Energy

Production 
(suspended)

100%

100%

100%

100%

Offshore

Offshore

Offshore

Offshore

67.0

67.0

67.0

Cooper Energy

Retention

Cooper Energy

Retention

Cooper Energy

Retention

201.0

Cooper Energy

Development  
(for Sole Gas 
Project)

VIC/P72

100%

Offshore

269.0

Cooper Energy

Exploration

30

Rob Schenberg Drilling Engineer  
and Zacc Paparella, Geologist.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Otway Basin

State

Tenement

Interest

Location

Area (km2)

Operator

Activities

South Australia

PEL 494

Victoria

PRL 32

VIC/L22

VIC/L24

VIC/L30

VIC/L33

VIC/L34

VIC/P44

PEP 150

PEP 168

PEP 171

30%

30%

10%

50%

50%

50%

50%

50%

50%

50%

Onshore

2,488.8

Beach Energy

Exploration

Onshore

Offshore

Offshore

Offshore

Offshore

Offshore

Offshore

36.9

58.0

Beach Energy

Exploration

BHP

Production

199.0

Cooper Energy

Production

200.0

Cooper Energy

Production

127.0

Cooper Energy

Development

6.0

Cooper Energy

Development

599.0

Cooper Energy

Exploration

Onshore

3,212.0

Bridgeport

Exploration 

Onshore

795.0

Beach Energy

Exploration 

 75%1

Onshore

1,974.0

Vintage Energy*

Exploration 

 1  Subject to Heads of Agreement for a farm-in which could reduce Cooper Energy’s interest by up to a further 25%.

* Joint Operating Agreement prescribing Vintage Energy as operator pending regulatory approval

31

 
Board of Directors

Chairman 
Mr John C. Conde AO 
B.Sc. B.E(Hons), MBA

Independent Non-Executive Director 
Appointed 25 February 2013

Managing Director 
Mr David P. Maxwell M.Tech, FAICD

Appointed 12 October 2011

Independent  
Non-Executive Director
Ms Elizabeth A. Donaghey B.Sc., M.Sc.

Appointed 25 June 2018

Experience and expertise

Experience and expertise

Experience and expertise

Mr Conde has extensive experience in 
business and commerce and in chairing high 
profile business, arts and sporting 
organisations.

Previous positions include Non-executive 
Director of BHP Billiton, Chairman of Pacific 
Power (the Electricity Commission of NSW), 
Chairman of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, 
Director of AFC Asian Cup, Chairman of 
Events NSW, President of the National Heart 
Foundation and Chairman of the Pymble 
Ladies’ College Council.

Current and other directorships in the last  
3 years

Mr Conde is Chairman of The McGrath 
Foundation (since 2013 and Director since 
2012). He is President of the Commonwealth 
Remuneration Tribunal (since 2003) and a 
Director of Dexus Property Group ASX:  
DXS (since 2009). He is Deputy Chairman of 
Whitehaven Coal Limited ASX: WHC (since 
2007). Mr Conde is a former Chairman of 
Bupa Australia (2008 – 2018).

Special responsibilities 

Mr Conde is Chairman of the Board of 
Directors. He is also a member of the People 
and Remuneration Committee and Chairman 
of the Nomination Committee.

32

Ms Donaghey brings over 30 years’ 
experience in the energy sector including 
technical, commercial and executive roles  
in EnergyAustralia, Woodside Energy and  
BHP Petroleum.

Ms Donaghey’s experience includes  
Non-executive director roles at Imdex Ltd,  
an ASX-listed provider of drilling fluids and 
downhole instrumentation: St Barbara Ltd,  
a gold explorer and producer and the 
Australian Renewable Energy Agency. She  
has performed extensive committee roles  
in these appointments, serving on audit  
and compliance, risk and audit, technical and 
regulatory, remuneration and health and  
safety committees.

Current and other directorships in the last  
3 years

Ms Donaghey is a Non-executive Director  
of Australian Energy Market Operator  
(AEMO) (since 2017). Ms Donaghey is a  
former Director of Imdex Ltd (2009 - 2016).

Special responsibilities

Ms Donaghey is a member of the Audit 
Committee, Risk and Sustainability 
Committee, People and Remuneration 
Committee and Nomination Committee.  
Ms Donaghey was a member of the 
Remuneration and Nomination Committee 
until 19 June 2019.

Mr Maxwell is a leading oil and gas industry 
executive with more than 25 years in senior 
executive roles with companies such as  
BG Group, Woodside Petroleum Limited and 
Santos Limited. Mr Maxwell has very 
successfully led many large commercial, 
marketing and business development projects.

Prior to joining Cooper Energy Mr Maxwell 
worked with the BG Group, where he was 
responsible for all commercial, exploration, 
business development, strategy and 
marketing activities in Australia and led  
BG Group’s entry into Australia and Asia 
including a number of material acquisitions.

Mr Maxwell has served on a number of 
industry association boards, government 
advisory groups and public company boards.

In September 2019, he was award the 2019 
John Doran Lifetime Achievement Award for 
out-standing long term achievement in the 
Australian oil and gas industry. 

Current and other directorships in the last  
3 years

Mr Maxwell is a Director of wholly owned 
subsidiaries of Cooper Energy Ltd. He is also 
on the Board of the Australian Petroleum 
Production and Exploration Association and 
the Minerals and Energy Advisory Council.

Special responsibilities

Mr Maxwell is Managing Director and is 
responsible for the day to day leadership  
of Cooper Energy. He is the leader of  
the Management Team. Mr Maxwell is  
also chairman of the HSEC Committee  
(a management committee, not a Board 
committee).

Non-Executive Director
Mr Hector M. Gordon B.Sc. (Hons). FAICD

Independent  
Non-Executive Director

Appointed 24 June 2017 

Executive Director  
26 June 2012 – 23 June 2017

Mr Jeffrey W. Schneider B.Com

Appointed 12 October 2011

Independent  
Non-Executive Director
Ms Alice J. M. Williams  
B.Com FAICD, FCPA, CFA

Appointed 28 August 2013

Experience and expertise

Experience and expertise

Experience and expertise

Mr Schneider has over 30 years of experience 
in senior management roles in the oil and gas 
industry, including 24 years with Woodside 
Petroleum Limited. He has extensive 
corporate governance and board experience 
as both a non-executive director and chairman 
in resources companies.

Current and other directorships in the last  
3 years

Mr Schneider does not currently hold any 
other directorships.

Special responsibilities

Mr Schneider is Chairman of the People and 
Remuneration Committee and a member  
of the Nomination Committee. Mr Schneider  
is also a member of the Audit Committee. He 
was a member of the Risk and Sustainability 
Committee until 19 June 2019.

Mr Gordon is a very successful geologist  
with over 35 years of experience in the 
petroleum industry. Mr Gordon was previously 
Managing Director of Somerton Energy until  
it was acquired by Cooper Energy in 2012. 
Previously he was an Executive Director  
with Beach Energy Limited where he was 
employed for more than 16 years. In this  
time Beach Energy experienced significant 
growth and Mr Gordon held a number of  
roles including Exploration Manager,  
Chief Operating Officer and, ultimately,  
Chief Executive Officer. Mr Gordon’s previous 
employers also include Santos Limited, AGL 
Petroleum, TMOC Resources, Esso Australia 
and Delhi Petroleum Pty Ltd.

Current and other directorships in the last  
3 years

Mr Gordon is a Director of Bass Oil Limited 
ASX: BAS (since 2014) and during the 
reporting period was a director of various 
wholly owned subsidiaries of Cooper Energy 
Limited (until 10 April 2019).

Special responsibilities

Mr Gordon is the Chairman of the Risk and 
Sustainability Committee and a member of 
the Audit Committee and the Nomination 
Committee.

Ms Williams has over 30 years of senior 
management and Board level experience in 
corporate, investment banking and 
Government sectors.

Ms Williams has been a consultant to major 
Australian and international corporations  
as a corporate advisor on strategic and 
financial assignments. Ms Williams has also 
been engaged by Federal and State based 
Government organisations to undertake 
reviews of competition policy and regulation. 
Prior appointments include Director of 
Airservices Australia, Guild Group, Port of 
Melbourne Corporation, Telstra Sale Company, 
V/Line Passenger Corporation, State Trustees, 
Western Health and the Australian Accounting 
Standards Board. Ms Williams is also a  
former council member of the Cancer Council 
of Victoria.

Current and other directorships in the last 
3 years

Ms Williams is a Non-executive Director of 
Equity Trustees Ltd ASX: EQT (since 2007), 
Djerriwarrh Investments Ltd, Victorian Funds 
Management Corporation (since 2008),  
the Foreign Investment Review Board (since 
2015), Defence Health (since 2010) and not 
for profit Tobacco Free Portfolios (since 2018).

Special responsibilities

Ms Williams is the Chairman of the Audit 
Committee and a member of both the  
Risk and Sustainability Committee and the 
Nomination Committee. Ms Williams was a 
member of the Remuneration and Nomination 
Committee until 19 June 2019.

33

Executive Management Team

Managing Director 
David Maxwell  
M. Tech FAICD

General Manager, 
Development
Duncan Clegg  
PhD – Soil Mechanics, BSc Engineering

Company Secretary  
and General Counsel 
Amelia Jalleh  
LL.M, LL.B, LegalPrac (Hons), BA

General Manager, 
Commercial and 
Business Development 
Eddy Glavas B.Acc CPA, MBA

Ms Jalleh joined Cooper Energy  
in August 2019 with more than  
18 years’ experience in the 
international oil and gas industry, 
including senior corporate, 
commercial and legal roles in 
Australia, the Middle East, North 
America and South-East Asia for 
Talisman Energy, King & Spalding 
LLP and Santos. Prior to joining 
Cooper Energy, Ms Jalleh was 
Director, Business Development 
Asia-Pacific for Repsol, based in 
Singapore.

Ms Jalleh holds a Masters of 
Laws (University of Melbourne) a 
Bachelor of Laws and Legal 
Practice (Hons) (Flinders 
University of South Australia) and 
a Bachelor of Arts (Flinders 
University of South Australia).

Mr Glavas joined Cooper Energy 
in August 2014 and has more 
than 20 years’ experience in 
business development, finance, 
commercial, portfolio 
management and strategy, 
including 17 years in the oil and 
gas sector.

Prior to joining Cooper Energy,  
he was employed by Santos as 
Manager Corporate Development 
with responsibility for managing 
multi-disciplinary teams tasked 
with mergers, acquisitions, 
partnerships and divestitures.

Prior roles within Santos included: 
Finance Manager WA and NT, 
where Mr Glavas was a member 
of the leadership team that 
managed a large asset portfolio; 
corporate roles in strategy and 
planning; and operational, 
commercial and finance roles for 
Santos’ Cooper Basin assets. 

Mr Maxwell is a leading oil and  
gas industry executive with more 
than 25 years in senior executive 
roles with companies such as  
BG Group, Woodside Petroleum 
Limited and Santos Limited.

Mr Maxwell has led many large 
very successful commercial, 
marketing, business development 
and acquisition projects and led 
multi-function oil and gas teams.

Mr Maxwell was previously  
director of gas and marketing  
with Woodside in Perth and a 
member of Woodside’s executive 
committee. He has served on a 
number of industry association 
boards, government advisory 
groups and public company 
boards, including the Australian 
Petroleum Production and 
Exploration Association –  
Mr Maxwell is a recipient of the 
Australian Gas Association Silver 
Flame Award for his contribution 
to the gas industry. In September 
2019, he was named the recipient 
of the 2019 John Doran Lifetime 
Achievement Award for out-
standing long term achievement 
in the Australian oil and gas 
industry.

Mr Clegg has extensive 
experience in upstream and 
midstream oil and gas 
development acquired over  
35 years, including senior 
management positions at Shell 
and Woodside. His experience 
features leadership roles in the 
North Sea, Africa and Malaysia, 
the management of gas receiving 
facilities and LNG plant 
expansions at Bintulu (Malaysia) 
and the North West Shelf  
and FPSO, subsea and fixed 
platforms developments.

Mr Clegg held several senior 
executive positions at Woodside 
including Director of the Australia 
Business Unit, Director of the 
Africa Business Unit and CEO of 
the North West Shelf Venture. 
Prior to joining Cooper Energy he 
managed the development and 
projects group at Coogee 
Resources and worked as an 
independent consultant on a 
range of offshore oil and gas 
project developments including 
FLNG with Höegh LNG. Mr Clegg 
was a board member of Verve 
Energy from 2011 to 2013 and of 
Matrix Composites Limited from 
2014 to 2017.

34

General Manager, 
Projects
Michael Jacobsen  
B. Eng (Hons)

Mr Jacobsen has 28 years 
experience in upstream  
and midstream oil and gas 
development projects.

He has held various positions  
at Santos, Woodside and BHPB 
Petroleum. Mr Jacobsen’s 
experience includes managing 
major capital works projects  
with multi-discipline teams in  
the North Sea, Asia, and 
Australia. He has overseen  
the management of subsea  
and FPSO developments, fixed 
platforms and LNG plants. 

Prior to joining Cooper Energy  
Mr Jacobsen worked for Santos 
as part of the leadership team  
of the WA/NT business unit.  
Mr Jacobsen has extensive 
experience with oil field services 
company Halliburton managing 
subsea construction projects 
throughout Asia and Australia.

General Manager, 
Operations 
Iain MacDougall BSc (Hons) 

Chief Financial Officer 
Virginia Suttell  
B.Com ACA GAICD, FGIA, FCIS 

Ms Suttell joined Cooper Energy  
in January 2017, bringing more 
than 25 years’ experience  
in finance and accounting and 
secretarial roles, including 20 
years in publicly listed entities, 
principally in group finance and 
secretarial roles in the resources 
and media sectors. This has 
included the role of Chief 
Financial Officer and Company 
Secretary for Monax Mining 
Limited and Marmota Energy 
Limited from 2007 to 2016, and 
2007 to 2015 respectively. 

Other previous appointments 
include 9 years at Austereo  
Group Limited, culminating in 
performance of the role of Group 
Financial Controller from 2003 to 
2006. A chartered accountant,  
Ms Suttell’s other previous 
employers include KPMG and 
Price Waterhouse.

Mr MacDougall’s career in the 
upstream petroleum exploration 
and production business spans 
more than 30 years, prior to  
which he worked in the nuclear 
power industry and in automotive 
powertrain research and 
development.

Mr MacDougall has extensive 
experience with international 
oilfield services company 
Schlumberger, with operational 
and management assignments in 
Australia, Asia, the UK North Sea, 
Europe, West Africa and the 
Middle East.

Since 2001, he has been  
based in Australia, initially with 
independent Operator Stuart 
Petroleum as Production and 
Engineering Manager and 
subsequently as acting CEO  
prior to the takeover of Stuart 
Petroleum by Senex Energy.

Mr MacDougall is an alumnus of 
Manchester University in the  
UK and of the INSEAD Business 
School in France. He is a member 
of the Society of Petroleum 
Engineers and also serves on the 
Advisory Board of the Australian 
School of Petroleum at Adelaide 
University.

General Manager, 
Exploration  
and Subsurface 
Andrew Thomas BSc (Hons)

Mr Thomas is a successful and 
experienced geoscientist who  
has been involved with Australian 
and International oil and gas 
exploration and development 
projects for over 29 years. He has 
experience in a wide range of 
onshore and offshore basins in 
Australia, Asia and Africa.

Prior to joining Cooper Energy  
Mr Thomas was employed  
by Newfield Exploration in the 
roles of SE Asia New Ventures 
Manager and Exploration Manager 
for offshore Sarawak and was a 
key person in the team that 
successfully negotiated 
Newfield’s entry into Malaysia in 
2004. Through the efforts of the 
teams he led, Newfield built a 
substantial portfolio of permits in 
Malaysia and made several 
significant oil and gas discoveries 
before being divested to 
SapuraKencana in 2014.

Mr Thomas’s previous employers 
also include Santos Limited, Gulf 
Canada and Geoscience Australia. 
He is a member of the American 
Association of Petroleum 
Geologists and a member of the 
Society of Petroleum Engineers.

35

Key Performance Indicators

Operational

Production

Financial

Sales revenue

Other income

EBITDA

Profit before tax

12 months  
to 30 June

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

million boe

0.41

0.52

0.49

Proved and probable reserves million boe

2.47

1.88

2.16

Wells drilled

number

Exploration wells spudded

number

12

6

10

6

13

8

0.59

2.01

11

5

0.48

0.46

3.08

3.00

9

4

1

-

0.96

11.7

9

1

1.49

52.4

4

2

1.31

52.7

0

0

Reserve replacement ratio1

percent

134% (113)%

98%

71%

333%

18%

768% 2,380% (206)%

$ million

39.1

59.6

53.4

72.3

39.1

27.4

39.1

67.5

75.5

$ million

$ million

$ million

5.1

(6.0)

(5.5)

Profit after tax / (loss)

$ million

(10.3)

Cash and term deposits

$ million

72.4

Other financial assets

$ million

-

Working capital

$ million

79.5

53.4

 51.7

Accumulated profit

$ million

Cumulative franking credits

$ million

14.1

31.4

22.5

37.0

23.8

39.0

4.7

9.1

21.0

8.4

61.5

13.2

2.3

22.3

18.3

2.8

1.9

0.9

36.9

(58.4)

(37.4)

1.6

1.9

4.9

49.9

4.2

7.5

31.2

(18.8)

(26.0)

(7.0)

31.0

(13.2)

1.3

22.0

(63.5)

(34.8)

(12.3)

27.0

(12.1)

47.9

20.2

49.1

26.0

41.2

39.4

49.8

147.5

236.9

164.3

1.9

1.0

0.7

42.6

21.7

43.0

44.2

84.0

154.0

131.8

45.7

(17.7)

(52.6)

(64.9)

(37.9)

(49.9)

38.7

43.7

42.9

42.9

42.9

42.9

Total equity

$ million

114.9

136.9

137.2

167.8

103.9

91.6

285.0

443.9

433.7

Earnings per share

cents

(3.5)

2.8

0.4

6.4

(19.2)

(10.1)

(1.8)

1.8

(0.7)

Return on shareholders funds

percent

(8.6)%

6.7%

0.9% 14.4% (46.7)% (38.0)% (6.5)%

7.4% (2.6%)

Total shareholder return

percent

(2.7)% 25.0% (16.7)% 34.7% (51.5)% (12.2)%

72.7

6.0%

40.3%

Average oil price 

A$/bbl

95.42 

114.63 

112.31 

124.08 

85.48 

60.75

61.89

99.61

106.19

Capital as at 30 June

Share price

$ per share

0.36

0.45

0.375

0.505

0.245

0.215

0.38

0.385

0.54

Issued shares

million

292.6

327.3

329.1

329.2

331.9

435.2

1,140.2

1,601.1

1,621.6

Market capitalisation

$ million

105.3

147.3

123.4

166.3

81.4

93.6

433.3

616.4

875.5

Shareholders

number

5,573

5,485

5,284

5,122

5,103

4,931

6,292

6,622

6,758

1  Reserve replacement ratio calculated by net IP reserve addition/production.

36

 
 
 
 
 Cooper Energy Limited and its controlled entities
 Financial Report

 For the year ended 30 June 2019

Operating and Financial Review

Directors’ Statutory Report

Remuneration Report

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Group Performance

1. Segment reporting

2. Revenues and expenses

3.

Income tax

4. Earnings per share

Working Capital

5. Cash and cash equivalents and term deposits

6. Trade and other receivables 

7. Prepayments 

8.

Inventory

9. Trade and other payables

Capital Employed

10. Property, plant and equipment

11. Intangible assets

12. Exploration and evaluation assets

13. Oil and gas assets

14. Impairment

15. Provisions

16. Government grants

Funding and Risk Management

17. Interest bearing loans and borrowings

18. Net finance costs

19. Contributed equity and reserves

20. Financial risk management

21. Hedge accounting

Group Structure

22. Interests in joint arrangements

23. Investments in controlled entities

24. Parent entity information

Other Information

25. Commitments and contingencies

26. Share based payments

27. Related party disclosures

28. Remuneration of Auditors

29. Events after the reporting period

Directors’ Declaration

Independent Auditor’s Report to the 
Members of Cooper Energy Limited

Auditor’s Independence Declaration to the 
Directors of Cooper Energy Limited

Securities Exchange and Shareholder Information

Shareholder Information

Information on AGM, annual report and  
abbreviations and terms

38

48

50

68

69

70

71

72

76

77

78

83

84

85

85

85

85

86

86

87

88

89

90

92

92

93

93

95

99

100

101

102

103

103

106

106

106

107

108

116

117

118

120

3737

Operating and Financial Review
For the year ended 30 June 2019

Operations

Cooper Energy Limited (the “Company”) generates revenue from the supply of gas to South-East Australia and oil production in the Cooper 
Basin. The Group’s current operations and interests include:

• offshore gas and gas liquids production in the Otway Basin, Victoria, from the Casino, Henry, Netherby (“Casino Henry”) and Minerva gas 

fields;

• non-operated onshore oil production and exploration from the western flank of the Cooper Basin;

• the Sole gas field development in the offshore Gippsland Basin;

• the Manta gas and liquids field in the offshore Gippsland Basin;

• gas exploration in the offshore and onshore Otway Basin; and 

• gas exploration in the offshore Gippsland Basin.

The Company is the Operator of all of its offshore gas production, exploration and development activities with the exception of the Minerva 
gas field.

Reserves and Contingent Resources 

Proved and Probable Reserves (2P) as at 30 June 2019 are estimated at 52.7 million boe (barrels of oil equivalent) compared with 52.4 million 
boe at 30 June 2018. Contingent Resources (2C) as at 30 June 2019 are estimated at 26.9 million boe compared with 23.6 million boe at 
30 June 2018. 

As at 30 June 20191

Gippsland Basin

Otway Basin

Cooper Basin 

Total Cooper Energy

2P Proved and Probable Reserves

2C Contingent Resource 

Gas 
PJ

Oil & condensate 
MMbbl

Total 
MMboe

Gas 
PJ

Oil & condensate 
MMbbl

Total 
MMboe

244.7

66.6

-

311.3

-

-

1.8

1.8

40.0

10.9

1.8

52.7

121.4

18.2

-

139.6

3.4

-

0.6

4.1

23.3

3.0

0.6

26.9

1  As announced to the ASX on 12 August 2019. Totals may not reflect arithmetic addition due to rounding. The method of aggregation is by 

arithmetic sum by category.

Workforce

At 30 June 2019 the Company had 53.5 full time equivalent (FTE) employees and 43.8 FTE contractors compared with 38.9 FTE employees and 
62.1 FTE contractors at 30 June 2018. The increase in employee numbers is attributable to resourcing of roles and functions for the growth of 
the Group’s operations. Contractor numbers have fluctuated in line with the progress of the Sole Gas Project and requirements for the 2019 
drilling program. 

Health Safety Environment and Community

Zero lost time injuries or reportable environmental incidents occurred within the Company’s operations during the 12 months to 30 June 2019 
and previous 12 months to 30 June 2018.

Production

Total production for the year was 1.31 million boe compared with 1.49 million boe in the previous year, with the decline being attributable to 
lower gas and oil output. 

Gas production for the year was 6.6 PJ compared with 7.0 PJ in 2018. Natural field decline, the impact of interruption to Casino Henry output 
brought by scheduled maintenance at the Iona Gas Plant and the repair and upgrade to the Casino Henry control umbilical contributed to lower 
gas production in 2019.

Liquids production for the year consisted of 242.6 kbbl compared with 281.0 kbbl in the previous year. Approximately 98% of the 2019 liquids 
production was sourced from the Cooper Basin, where no drilling was conducted and production rates declined. As noted under ‘Outlook’ 
following, drilling in the Company’s Cooper Basin acreage is planned to resume in 2020.

38

Operating and Financial Review
For the year ended 30 June 2019

Operations continued

Commercial

The company’s strategy for creating shareholder value involves the establishment and operation of a portfolio style gas business to address 
supply opportunities in South-East Australia. 

Fundamental to this strategy is identifying, developing and contracting gas reserves that rank among the most competitive supply available to 
the region. The Company considers the gas supply with the lowest delivered cost to market is the gas supply best able to optimise price for 
customers and value for shareholders.

Commercial focus in 2019 was on securing gas sales agreements for uncontracted gas supply for the near to medium term. Customer 
engagement and negotiations initiated in 2019 resulted in the announcement of gas sales agreements with AGL Energy, Origin Energy and 
Visy which was announced subsequent to year-end. These new agreements provide for a total supply of approximately 30 PJ net from Cooper 
Energy from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2025.

Uncontracted proved and probable gas reserves are approximately 86 PJ, representing 28% of gas reserves at 30 June 2019. Almost all of this 
uncontracted gas is deliverable from the 2021 financial year. 

Exploration and Development 

Offshore Otway Basin 

The Company’s interest in the offshore Otway Basin comprise: 

a) 

 50% interest in and Operatorship of:

- production licences VIC/L24 and VIC/L30 containing the Casino, Henry and Netherby gas fields;

- retention licences VIC/RL11 and VIC/RL12 and;

- exploration permit VIC/P44.

These interests are held in joint ventures with Mitsui E&P Australia Pty Ltd and Peedamullah Petroleum Pty Ltd (the “Casino Henry 
Joint Venture”).

b)  10% interest in:

- the production licence VIC/L22 which holds the Minerva gas field; and 

- the Minerva Gas Plant, onshore Victoria. 

These interests are held in a joint venture (the “Minerva Joint Venture”) with the Operator and remaining interest-holder, BHP Petroleum.

The participants in the Casino Henry Joint Venture have agreed to acquire the Minerva Gas Plant from the Minerva Joint Venture on the 
cessation of production from the Minerva gas field. This is expected to occur in 2020.

Offshore Otway exploration

The offshore Otway permits are highly attractive for gas exploration, being located in a proven gas province possessing pipeline infrastructure 
and access to processing and market (via the Minerva Gas Plant after its acquisition). 

Since acquiring these interests in 2017, the company has conducted a re-evaluation of prospectivity, including reprocessing and interpretation 
of 3D seismic volume, which was integrated with other exploration studies. These studies resulted in two high-graded prospects, Annie and 
Elanora, being selected for drilling. 

A two-well drilling campaign to test these prospects commenced subsequent to year-end with the spudding of Annie-1 on 2 August 2019, to 
be followed by Elanora-1. It is expected that any commercial gas discoveries resulting from the campaign may be developed using production 
wells drilled as part of a broader drilling campaign being planned for 2021.

Offshore Otway development 

Development projects in the offshore Otway Basin (including the associated onshore gas processing facilities) and their status, are as follows:

• upgrade and replacement of the Casino Henry umbilical control system. This project was completed during the year to undertake routine 

maintenance, restore control system communication for the re-opening of Netherby-1 and upgrade capacity for accommodation of additional 
production wells such as may be required in the event of exploration success. 

• connection of the Casino Henry gas operations to the Minerva Gas Plant. This project is to be initiated on acquisition of the plant by the 

Casino Henry Joint Venture. 

• Henry development well. A development well is planned for the Henry gas field to access undeveloped reserves and increase production.  

The Henry development well is being considered for inclusion in the drilling campaign planned for 2021. 

The Company has applied for conversion of the VIC/RL11 and VIC/RL12 retention leases into production licences for the purpose of developing 
the portion of the Black Watch gas field that lies within these permits.

39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating and Financial Review
For the year ended 30 June 2019

Operations continued

Onshore Otway Basin 

The Company’s interests in the onshore Otway Basin include licences in South Australia and permits in Victoria. Activities in the latter are 
currently suspended until June 2020 pursuant to the moratorium on onshore gas exploration imposed by the Victorian State Government. 

The onshore Otway Basin interests comprise:

a)  30% interests in PEL 494 and PRL 32, South Australia

The remaining interest in the PEL 494 and PRL 32 joint ventures is held by the Operator, Beach Energy Limited.

b)  50% interests in PEP 150 and PEP 168 in Victoria

The remaining interests in the PEP 150 and PEP 168 joint ventures are held respectively by the Operators, Bridgeport Energy Limited and 
Beach Energy Limited.

c)  75% interest in PEP 171 in Victoria, which may reduce to 50% on fulfilment of farm-in arrangements executed with Vintage Energy Ltd who 

hold 25% of the permit.

In South Australia, the PEL 494 Joint Venture prepared for the drilling of the Dombey-1 exploration well, which is expected to commence in late 
August 2019. Dombey-1 is located 20 kilometres north-west of the Katnook Gas Plant and will be part-funded through a $6.89 million PACE Gas 
Round 2 grant by the South Australian Government. 

Gippsland Basin

The Company’s major development project and the majority of its Reserves and Resources, are located in the Gippsland Basin, offshore 
Victoria, Australia.

Interests in the region comprise:

a)  100% interest in VIC/L32 which contains the Sole gas field;

b)  100% interest in VIC/RL13, VIC/RL14 and VIC/RL15, which contain the Manta gas and liquids field. The retention leases also hold legacy 

infrastructure associated with the BMG oil project; 

c)  100% interest in VIC/L21 which contains the largely depleted and shut-in Patricia-Baleen gas field, and infrastructure offering connection to 

the Orbost Gas Plant; and

d)  100% interest in exploration permit VIC/P72.

The Company is pursuing a phased development program of its Gippsland gas reserves and resources through development of Sole and a 
subsequent development of Manta. 

Sole Gas Project

The Sole Gas Project is being undertaken to develop the Sole gas field, offshore Victoria. Production from Sole is expected to add 24 PJ per 
annum to Cooper Energy’s gas sales. 

The Sole gas field is being developed through separate offshore and onshore projects. APA Group is undertaking the onshore project to upgrade 
its existing Orbost Gas Plant to process gas from the Sole gas field. 

The Company completed works relating to offshore construction of the Sole Gas Project during the year and the Sole gas field is ready 
to supply gas to the Orbost Gas Plant. First gas flow from the field to the Orbost Gas Plant will occur during the second phase of plant 
commissioning. APA have advised the plant is expected to commence commissioning in September 2019 and commence firm sales gas supply 
during the December quarter 2019.

The offshore construction was completed with zero lost time injuries and zero reportable environmental incidents after performance of 561,362 
work hours at offshore sites, marine and subsea workplaces. 

Capital expenditure incurred on the offshore project to 30 June 2019 totalled $339 million. The final cost for the project will be subject to 
expenditure for planned support of commissioning activities and commercial close-out of key supplier contracts, which may include rebates, 
credits and variations. Forecast final cost remains within budget for the offshore project cost of $355 million.

Manta 

Development of the Manta gas and liquids field is being pursued as the next phase of the Gippsland Gas Project, utilising economies available 
through coordination with the Sole gas field development. 

A business case undertaken in 2015 found commercialisation of the gas field could be feasible. Appraisal of the field’s Contingent Resources 
is considered necessary for confirmation of the assessed resource. An appraisal/exploration well, Manta-3, will also test the potential of a 
prospective resource in deeper reservoirs and inform a development decision on the field and the final firm development plan. The drilling of 
Manta-3 is being considered in the planning of the offshore drilling campaign for 2021.

The 2021 drilling campaign may also include drilling an exploration prospect in VIC/P72. 

40

 
 
Operating and Financial Review
For the year ended 30 June 2019

Operations continued 

Cooper Basin

The Cooper Basin interests comprise:

a)  25% interest in PRLs 85-104 (the “PEL 92 Joint Venture”) with the remaining interest held by the Operator, Beach Energy Limited.

b)  30% interest in PRLs 231-233 (the “PEL 93 Joint Venture”), with the remaining interest in the joint venture held by the Operator,  

Senex Energy Limited;

c)  20% interest in PRL 237, with the remaining interests in the joint venture held by Metgasco Limited and the Operator, Senex  

Energy Limited; 

d)  19.165% interest in PRLs 207-209 (formerly PEL 100), with the remaining interests in the joint venture held by Santos QNT Pty Ltd  

and the Operator, Senex Energy Limited; and

e)  20% interest in PRLs 183-190 (formerly PEL 110), with the remaining interest in the joint venture held by the Operator, Senex  

Energy Limited.

The PEL 92 FY20 drilling of up to 19 exploration, appraisal and development wells commenced on 30 July 2019 at Parsons-6. Reprocessing  
and merging of the PEL 92 3D seismic surveys was conducted and interpretation of the data sets commenced. The results of this activity  
will assist future definition of exploration prospectivity. 

In PRLs 231, 232 and 233 (formerly PEL 93) acquisition of the Westeros 3D seismic survey was completed. This seismic survey covered 
278 km2 within the Company’s acreage to address the highly prospective Namur Sandstone exploration play and support testing a southern 
extension of the western flank oil play. The seismic data is now being processed, with prospects to be identified in 2020.

Financial Performance

Cooper Energy Limited recorded a statutory loss after tax of $12.1 million for the financial year which compares with the profit after tax of 
$27.0 million recorded in the 2018 financial year. The 2019 financial year statutory loss included a number of items which affected the result  
by a total of $25.4 million. These items comprise:

• a non-cash restoration expense of $26.2 million resulting from a reassessment of the Patricia Baleen field rehabilitation provision; and

• gain on exit provision of $0.8 million in respect of the Company’s settlement of a payment relating to the exit of the Hammamet permit 

(Tunisia), which had been previously provided for.

The prior period result included a gain on sale of the Orbost Gas Plant of $21.9 million.

Calculation of underlying net profit after tax by adjusting for items unrelated to the underlying operating performance is considered to provide 
a meaningful comparison of results between periods.  Underlying net profit after tax and underlying EBITDA are not defined measures under 
International Financial Reporting Standards and are not audited.  Reconciliations of net (loss)/profit after tax, underlying net profit after tax, 
underlying EBITDA and other measures included in this report to the Financial Statements are included at the end of this review.

The underlying profit after tax (exclusive of the items noted above) was $13.3 million, compared with an underlying profit after tax of $9.8 
million in the 2018 financial year. The factors which contributed to the movement between the periods were:

• higher oil and gas sales revenue of $8.0 million;

• higher costs of sales of $5.4 million as a result of higher gas processing costs;

• higher administration costs of $4.3 million, mainly relating to the Company’s increased remuneration costs as a result of increased head count 

due to higher activity levels across the business; and

• lower tax expense of $5.2 million including PRRT payments made in respect of the Company’s producing gas assets.

Financial Performance

Sales volume

Sales revenue

Gross profit

Gross profit / Sales revenue

Operating cash flow

Cash, other financial assets and investments

Reported profit/(loss) after tax

Underlying profit/(loss) after tax

Underlying profit/(loss) before tax

Underlying EBITDA*

MMboe

$ million

$ million

%

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

* Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation

2019

1.3

75.5

31.7

42.0

20.5

165.5

(12.1)

13.3

12.1

32.9

2018

Change

1.5

67.5

29.0

43.0

22.2

259.3

27.0

9.8

14.0

32.6

(0.2)

8.0

2.7

(1.0)

(1.7)

(93.8)

(39.1)

3.5

(1.9)

0.3

%

(12%)

12%

9%

(2%)

(8%)

(36%)

(145%)

36%

(14%)

1%

41

Operating and Financial Review
For the year ended 30 June 2019

Financial Performance continued

All numbers in tables in the Operating and Financial Review have been rounded. As a result, some total figures may differ insignificantly  
from totals obtained from arithmetic addition of the rounded numbers presented.

Cash and cash equivalents balance decreased by $72.6 million over the period as summarised in the following chart. 

Operating cashflows for the period were $20.5 million comprising: 

• cash generated from operations of $41.6 million; 

• general administration costs of $9.5 million; 

• restoration costs of $14.3 million;

• Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) payments of $0.5 million; and

• interest revenue of $3.2 million; 

Financing, investing and other cash flows for the period were $93.1 million and included: 

• debt drawdowns of $90.7 million (net of costs of $1.6 million); 

• exploration, development and property, plant and equipment costs of $194.6 million;

• interest payments of $11.0 million;

• transfer of $20.6 million from escrow; and

• foreign exchange differences and other of $1.2 million. 

Movements in cash and cash equivalents
2019 vs 2018

$ million
Total cash and
cash equivalents,
other financial
assets and
investments
259.3

Other
financial
assets and
investments

22.4

236.9

Cash and
cash
equivalents

+113.6

(11.0)

90.7

(9.5)

41.6

(14.3)

(0.5)

3.2

257.4

Operating
20.5

Total cash and
cash equivalents,
other financial
assets and
investments
165.5

(194.6)

Other
(93.1)

1.2

1.2

20.6

Other financial
assets and
investments

164.3

Cash and
cash
equivalents

June -18 Operations General 

Admin

Restoration 
costs

PRRT

Interest

Cash 
after 
operating 
cash 
flows

Net 
debt 
draw-
downs

Interest 
payments

Exploration, 
develop-
ment & PPE

Transfer 
from 
esrow

FX & 
Other

June-19

42

Operating and Financial Review
For the year ended 30 June 2019

Financial Position 

Financial Position

Total assets

Total liabilities

Total equity

Net (debt)/cash

Assets

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

2019

1,001.8

568.1

433.7

(53.9)

2018

816.8

372.9

443.9

111.0

Change

185.0

195.2

(10.2)

%

23%

52%

(2%)

(164.9)

(149%)

Total assets increased by $185.0 million from $816.8 million to $1,001.8 million.

At 30 June the Company held cash and cash equivalents of $164.3 million and investments of $1.2 million. 

Exploration and evaluation assets increased by $53.6 million from $98.7 million to $152.3 million as a result of increases associated with the 
reset of the rehabilitation provisions and capital expenditure incurred on exploration assets.

Oil and gas assets increased by $218.6 million from $394.6 million to $613.2 million mainly as a result of capital expenditure incurred on 
development activities and increases associated with the reset of the rehabilitation provisions.

Total Liabilities

Total liabilities increased by $195.2 million from $372.9 million to $568.1 million. 

Provisions increased by $107.4 million from $180.5 million to $287.9 million attributable to the revised gross cost assumptions for restoration 
provisions and lower discount rates.

Interest bearing loans and borrowings increased by $96.8 million from $116.9 million to $213.7 million. This represents the drawdowns under 
the reserve-based lending (RBL) facility of $218.2 million offset by associated capitalised transaction costs of $4.5 million.

Total Equity

Total equity decreased by $10.2 million from $443.9 million to $433.7 million. In comparing equity at 30 June 2019 to 30 June 2018 the key 
movements were: 

• higher contributed equity of $2.6 million due to shares issued to select contract staff, shares issued on vesting of performance rights and 

share appreciation rights during the period; 

• lower reserves of $0.7 million mainly due to the vesting of equity incentives to employees partially offset by fair value movements in the 

Company’s interest rate swaps for which cash flow hedge relationships apply; and

• higher accumulated losses of $12.1 million due to the statutory loss for the period.

Outlook

The 12 months to 30 June 2020 are expected to be a milestone year in the life of the Company as the Sole gas field comes on line. The 
contribution from Sole at plant design rates is expected to increase Cooper Energy gas production by more than five times from approximately 
15 TJ per day to more than 80 TJ per day and substantially increase sales revenue and cash flow.

The timing of this event will be determined by completion of the Orbost Gas Plant upgrade. APA have advised the plant is expected to 
commence commissioning in September and to commence firm sales gas supply in the December quarter 2019. As the date for this event 
is currently unknown, the company’s guidance for 2020 production is, at this stage, based on existing producing assets alone and does not 
include estimates for Sole. These assets, in the Otway and Cooper Basins are expected to generate production of approximately 1.2 million boe 
in 2020, which includes gas production expected to exceed 5 PJ. Oil production of approximately 240,000 barrels is expected from the  
Cooper Basin.

Guidance for 2020 will be revised and announced subsequent to the completion of plant commissioning. Sole is expected to add 68 TJ 
(11,000 boe) per day at plant design rates.

2020 will also feature the largest drilling program yet undertaken by the Company. The program, which comprises 22 wells, has two elements:

1)  gas exploration in the Otway Basin to identify commercial gas discoveries capable of providing the company’s next wave of growth. This 
element includes the drilling of the Annie-1 and Elanora-1 exploration wells in the offshore Otway Basin and the Dombey-1 well onshore. 
Subsurface studies and well design will also be conducted for the company’s VIC/P72 exploration permit in the Gippsland Basin. Gas 
exploration accounts for $49 million, or 85%, of the year’s exploration budget. 

2)  Exploration, appraisal and development drilling in the Cooper Basin by the PEL-92 joint venture to add new reserves and production.  

The Cooper Basin program includes three exploration wells, 10 appraisal wells on producing fields and, depending on appraisal results,  
six development wells.

43

Operating and Financial Review
For the year ended 30 June 2019

Business Strategies and Prospects 

Cooper Energy seeks to generate shareholder wealth through ownership and operation of a portfolio of gas assets with superior 
competitiveness in the supply of gas to South-East Australia. Key to the Company’s success, and its desire to generate superior returns  
for its shareholders, is value-adding acquisition, discovery, development, contracting and supply of gas. 

Execution of the strategy over the past six years has seen accumulation of a portfolio of gas assets occupying an advantageous position  
on the cost curve and a portfolio of supply contracts with utility and industrial customers. 

This portfolio offers a range of value catalysts in current and future years through:

-  new gas contracts. As financial results for 2019 have demonstrated, the commencement of new gas contracts has been responsible for 

increased revenue.

-  increased production of gas. As noted under Outlook preceding, the commencement of production from the Sole gas field in 2020 is 

expected to increase Cooper Energy’s gas sales by a factor of five. Potential for further increases to gas production has been established by 
the performance of Sole-3 and Sole-4 in excess of plant design rates during testing. 

-  development of existing resources and reserves at Manta and the Henry gas field.

-  exploration for new resources of gas in the Otway and Gippsland basins. The Company’s acreage in these regions holds identified gas 
prospects in proximity, and on-trend with, producing and known gas fields and close to existing pipe and processing infrastructure.  
These are to be targeted in the drilling campaign that commenced in August and the subsequent campaign being planned for 2021.

-  completion of the acquisition of the Minerva Gas Plant and integration of the plant into the Casino Henry pipeline system. 

-  The Company’s oil producing production and reserves are expected to benefit from an escalated drilling campaign planned for 2020

The Company is vigilant in identifying potential value-creation opportunities from participation in assets that fit with the Company’s strategy 
and portfolio. The Company reviews its portfolio and equity participation levels on an ongoing basis for optimal allocation of capital for  
value creation.

Funding and Capital Management

Cooper Energy seeks to manage its capital with the objective of providing shareholders with the optimal risk-weighted return from the 
application of its expertise in the exploration, development, production and sale of hydrocarbons. 

At 30 June 2019 the Company had cash, deposits, and equity instruments of $165.5 million and drawn debt of $218.2 million1. The 
Company has a Reserve Based Lending facility to fund a portion of the Sole gas field development with a limit of $250.0 million. Of this limit, 
$233.0 million is available, of which $14.8 million remains undrawn at 30 June 2019. The facility can be used for general corporate purposes 
after project completion. The Company has additional liquidity of approximately $15 million through a working capital facility to be used  
for general business purposes, of which $1.7 million has been utilised in respect of bank guarantees with the remaining balance undrawn.  
Further information is detailed in Note 17 of the Financial Statements.

The Company continues to assess value accretive funding options as it pursues growth opportunities.

Risk Management

The Company manages risks in accordance with its risk management policy with the objective of ensuring risks inherent in oil and gas 
exploration and production activities are identified, measured and then managed or kept as low as reasonably practicable. The Management 
Team perform risk assessments on a regular basis and a summary is reported to the Risk and Sustainability Committee. The Committee 
approves and oversees an internal audit program undertaken internally and/or in conjunction with appropriate external industry or  
field specialists.

Appropriate policies and procedures are continually being developed and updated to manage these risks.

1. Shown as $213.7 million on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, net of prepaid transaction costs.

44

Operating and Financial Review
For the year ended 30 June 2019

Risk Management continued

Risk

Description

Exploration

Development and 
Production

Regulatory

Market

Exploration is a speculative activity with an associated risk of discovery to find oil and gas in commercial quantities 
and a risk of development. If Cooper Energy is unsuccessful in locating and developing or acquiring new reserves 
and resources that are commercially viable, this may have a material adverse effect on future business, results of 
operations and financial conditions.

Cooper Energy utilises established methodologies and experienced personnel to evaluate prospects and manage 
the risk associated with exploration. The Company also ensures all major decisions are subjected to assurance 
reviews which include external experts and contractors where appropriate.

Development and production of oil and gas projects may be exposed to low side reserve outcomes, cost overruns, 
production decrease or stoppage, which may result from facility shutdowns, mechanical or technical failure and other 
unforeseen events. Cooper Energy undertakes technical, financial, business and other analysis in order to determine  
a project’s readiness to proceed from an operational, commercial and economic perspective. Even if Cooper Energy 
recovers commercial quantities of oil and gas, there is no guarantee that a commercial return can be generated. 

Cooper Energy has a project risk management and reporting system to monitor the progress and performance of 
material projects and is subject to regular review by senior management and the Board. All major development and 
investment decisions are subjected to assurance reviews which includes external experts and contractors 
where appropriate.

Cooper Energy operates in a highly regulated environment. Cooper Energy complies with the regulatory authorities’ 
requirements. There is a risk that regulatory approvals are withheld, take longer than expected or unforeseen 
circumstances arise where requirements may not be adequately addressed in the eyes of the regulator and costs 
may be incurred to remediate non-compliance and/or obtain approval(s). Changes in personnel, Government, 
monetary, taxation and other laws in Australia or internationally may impact the Company’s operations.

Cooper Energy monitors legislative and regulatory developments and works to ensure that stakeholder concerns 
are addressed fairly and managed. Documents submitted to regulatory authorities are reviewed and audited to help 
ensure they are appropriate and comply with all regulatory requirements. 

The global oil market and Australian domestic gas market are subject to the fluctuations of supply and demand and 
price. To the extent that future actions of third parties contribute to demand destruction or there is an expansion  
of alternative supply sources, there is a risk that this may have a material adverse effect on price for the oil and gas 
produced and the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

Cooper Energy regularly monitors developments and changes in the international oil and domestic gas market to 
enable the Company to be best placed to address changes in market conditions.

Oil and gas prices

Future value, growth and financial conditions are dependent upon the prevailing prices for oil and gas. Prices for oil 
and gas are subject to fluctuations and are affected by numerous factors beyond the control of Cooper Energy. 

Cooper Energy monitors and analyses the oil and gas markets and seeks to reduce price risk where reasonable and 
practical. The Company has policies and procedures for entering into hedging contracts to mitigate against the 
fluctuations in oil price and exchange rates.

Operating

There are a number of risks associated with operating in the oil and gas industry. The occurrence of any event 
associated with these risks could result in substantial losses to the Company that may have a material adverse effect 
on Cooper Energy’s business, results of operations and financial condition. 

To the extent that it is reasonable to do so, Cooper Energy mitigates the risk of loss associated with operating events 
through insurance contracts. Cooper Energy operates with a comprehensive range of operating and risk management 
plans and an HSEC management system to ensure safe and sustainable operations.

Counterparties

The ability of Cooper Energy to achieve its stated objectives will depend on the performance of the counterparties 
under various agreements (including joint venture arrangements) it has entered into. If any counterparties do not 
meet their obligations under the respective agreements, this may impact on operations, business and 
financial conditions.

Reserves

Cooper Energy monitors performance across material contracts against contractual obligations to minimise 
counterparty risk and seeks to include terms in agreements which mitigate such risks.

Oil and gas reserves are expressions of judgement based on knowledge, experience and industry practice. These 
estimates may alter significantly or become uncertain when new information becomes available and/or there are 
material changes of circumstances which may result in Cooper Energy altering its plans which could have a positive 
or negative effect on Cooper Energy’s operations.

Reserves and Contingent Resources estimation is consistent with the definitions and guidelines in the Society of 
Petroleum Engineers 2007 Petroleum Resources Management Systems. The assessment of Reserves and 
Contingent Resources may also undergo independent review.

45

Operating and Financial Review
For the year ended 30 June 2019

Risk Management continued 

Risk

Description

Environment

Funding

Restoration 
liabilities

Community

Cooper Energy’s exploration, development and production activities are subject to state, national and international 
environmental laws and regulations. Oil and gas exploration, development and production can be potentially 
environmentally hazardous giving rise to substantial costs for environmental rehabilitation, damage control 
and losses.

Cooper Energy has a comprehensive approach to the management of risks associated with environment which is 
embedded as a core part of our approach to health, safety, environment and community. This approach includes 
standards for asset reliability and integrity, technical and operational competency and emergency 
response preparedness.

Cooper Energy must undertake significant capital expenditures in order to conduct its development appraisal and 
exploration activities. Limitations on the access to adequate funding could have a material adverse effect on the 
business, results from operations, financial condition and prospects. Cooper Energy’s business and, in particular 
development of large scale projects, relies on access to debt and equity funding. There can be no assurance that 
sufficient debt or equity funding will be available on acceptable terms or at all.

Cooper Energy endeavours to ensure the best source of funding is obtained to maximise shareholder value, having 
regard to prudent risk management supported by economic and commercial analysis of all business undertakings.

Cooper Energy has certain obligations in respect of decommissioning of its fields, production facilities and related 
infrastructure. These liabilities are derived from legislative and regulatory requirements concerning the 
decommissioning of wells and production facilities and require Cooper Energy to make provisions for such 
decommissioning and the abandonment of assets. Provisions for the costs of this activity are informed estimates 
and there is no assurance that the costs associated with decommissioning and abandoning will not exceed the 
amount of long term provisions recognised to cover these costs.

Cooper Energy recognises restoration provisions after construction and conducts a review on a semi-annual basis. 
Any changes to the estimates of the provisions for restoration are recognised in line with accounting standards.

Cooper Energy conducts exploration and production operations in regions with residential, environmental, cultural 
and economic significance to local and national communities. Loss of confidence in the company, in its ability to 
operate responsibly or opposition to exploration and production activities generally within these communities may 
impair the ‘social licence’ for Cooper Energy and its capacity to execute its plans.

Cooper Energy conducts a community engagement programme at multiple levels and in multiple forms. The 
purpose of this programme is to build and maintain awareness of the company, its operations and plans in local 
regions. It serves to build relationships with local communities together with awareness of the economic benefits 
to the community and the nation generally. 

Elements of the program include:

•  sponsorship and donations made to local community organisations;

•  engagement and briefing with local office holders and elected representatives of local, state and 

federal government;

•  engagement with local community groups via town hall meetings and community information sessions;

•  engagement with fishing industry associations;

•  publication of information regarding the company’s activities and plans including the maintenance of a ‘Community’ 

page on the company’s website; and

•  engagement with local media, including the use of social media 

Climate and 
Sustainability

Cooper Energy recognises both the direct physical and indirect non-physical impacts of climate change that may 
affect our operations and the markets into which we sell our gas and oil. Potential risks related to the direct impacts 
of climate change include those arising from increased severe weather events as well as those from longer-term 
changes in climate patterns and factors such as sea level rise. 

Indirect risks arise from a variety of legal, policy, technology and market responses to the challenges that climate 
change poses as society transitions to a lower emissions future.

Opportunities arise from our gas focused portfolio. Natural gas is by far the cleanest burning fossil fuel; when used 
to produce electricity it delivers approximately a 50% reduction in emissions per unit of output compared to coal. 
Beyond conventional heating and cooking applications, gas is also a critical input for many industries including 
fertiliser and other agricultural chemicals, refrigerants, plastics, glass manufacture, food processing, 
pharmaceuticals and many more.

Natural gas is viewed as a key element supporting society’s sustainable energy transition and forecasts show an 
increasing global demand for gas over the medium to long term.

46

Operating and Financial Review
For the year ended 30 June 2019

Reconciliations for net profit/(loss) to Underlying net profit/(loss) and Underlying EBITDA

Reconciliation to Underlying profit/(loss)

Net profit/(loss) after income tax

Adjusted for:

Gain on derecognition of investment in associate

Gain/(loss) on payment of exit penalty

Impairment of exploration and evaluation

Restoration expense

Gain on sale of subsidiary

Gain on movement of consideration receivable

Tax impact of above changes

Underlying profit/(loss)

Reconciliation to Underlying EBITDA*

Underlying profit/(loss)

Add back:

Interest revenue

Accretion expense

Tax expense/(benefit)

Depreciation

Amortisation

Underlying EBITDA*

* Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

$ million

2019

(12.1)

-

(0.8)

-

26.2

-

-

-

13.3

2019

13.3

(3.4)

5.0

(1.2)

1.0

18.2

32.9

2018

27.0

(0.4)

0.2

0.7

4.9

(21.9)

(0.5)

(0.2)

9.8

2018

9.8

(4.0)

2.7

4.0

3.3

16.9

32.6

Change

%

(39.1)

(145%)

0.4

(1.0)

(0.7)

21.3

21.9

0.5

0.2

3.5

Change

3.5

0.6

2.3

(5.2)

(2.3)

1.3

0.3

100%

(500%)

(100%)

435%

100%

100%

100%

36%

%

36%

15%

85%

(130%)

(70%)

8%

1%

47

Directors’ Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

The Directors present their report together with the Consolidated Financial Report of 
the Group, being Cooper Energy Limited (the “parent entity” or “Cooper Energy” or 
“Company”) and its controlled entities, for the financial year ended 30 June 2019, and 
the Independent Auditor’s Report thereon. 

1. Directors 

The Directors of the parent entity at any time during or since the end of the financial year are:

Mr John C. Conde AO 
B.Sc. B.E(Hons), MBA

Chairman  
Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed 25 February 2013

Mr David P. Maxwell 
M.Tech, FAICD

Managing Director

Appointed 12 October 2011

Ms Elizabeth A. Donaghey 
B.Sc., M.Sc.

Independent Non-Executive Director 

Appointed 25 June 2018

48

Experience and expertise 

Mr Conde has extensive experience in business and commerce and in chairing high profile 
business, arts and sporting organisations. 

Previous positions include Non-executive Director of BHP Billiton, Chairman of Pacific Power (the 
Electricity Commission of NSW), Chairman of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Director of AFC 
Asian Cup, Chairman of Events NSW, President of the National Heart Foundation and Chairman of 
the Pymble Ladies’ College Council.

Current and other directorships in the last 3 years

Mr Conde is Chairman of The McGrath Foundation (since 2013 and Director since 2012). He is 
President of the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal (since 2003) and a Director of Dexus 
Property Group ASX: DXS (since 2009). He is Deputy Chairman of Whitehaven Coal Limited ASX: 
WHC (since 2007). Mr Conde is a former Chairman of Bupa Australia (2008 – 2018).

Special responsibilities 

Mr Conde is Chairman of the Board of Directors. He is also a member of the People and 
Remuneration Committee1 and Chairman of the Nomination Committee1.

Experience and expertise

Mr Maxwell is a leading oil and gas industry executive with more than 25 years in senior executive  
roles with companies such as BG Group, Woodside Petroleum Limited and Santos Limited. Mr. Maxwell 
has very successfully led many large commercial, marketing and business development projects.

Prior to joining Cooper Energy Mr Maxwell worked with the BG Group, where he was responsible  
for all commercial, exploration, business development, strategy and marketing activities in Australia 
and led BG Group’s entry into Australia and Asia including a number of material acquisitions.

Mr Maxwell has served on a number of industry association boards, government advisory groups  
and public company boards.

Current and other directorships in the last 3 years

Mr Maxwell is a Director of wholly owned subsidiaries of Cooper Energy Ltd. He is also on the 
Board of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association and the Minerals and 
Energy Advisory Council.

Special responsibilities 

Mr Maxwell is Managing Director and is responsible for the day to day leadership of Cooper Energy. 
He is the leader of the Management Team. Mr Maxwell is also chairman of the HSEC Committee 
(a management committee, not a Board committee).

Experience and expertise

Ms Donaghey brings over 30 years’ experience in the energy sector including technical, commercial 
and executive roles in EnergyAustralia, Woodside Energy and BHP Petroleum. 

Ms Donaghey’s experience includes Non-executive director roles at Imdex Ltd, an ASX-listed 
provider of drilling fluids and downhole instrumentation: St Barbara Ltd, a gold explorer and 
producer and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. She has performed extensive committee 
roles in these appointments, serving on audit and compliance, risk and audit, technical and 
regulatory, remuneration and health and safety committees.

Current and other directorships in the last 3 years

Ms Donaghey is a Non-executive Director of Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) (since 
2017). Ms Donaghey is a former Director of Imdex Ltd (2009 - 2016).

Special responsibilities 

Ms Donaghey is a member of the Audit Committee, Risk and Sustainability Committee, People and 
Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee. Ms Donaghey was a member of the 
Remuneration and Nomination Committee1 until 19 June 2019.

Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

1. Directors continued 

Mr Hector M. Gordon 
B.Sc. (Hons). FAICD 

Executive Director

26 June 2012 – 23 June 2017

Non-Executive Director

Appointed 24 June 2017

Experience and expertise

Mr Gordon is a very successful geologist with over 35 years of experience in the petroleum industry. 
Mr Gordon was previously Managing Director of Somerton Energy until it was acquired by Cooper 
Energy in 2012. Previously he was an Executive Director with Beach Energy Limited where he was 
employed for more than 16 years. In this time Beach Energy experienced significant growth and  
Mr Gordon held a number of roles including Exploration Manager, Chief Operating Officer and, 
ultimately, Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gordon’s previous employers also include Santos Limited, 
AGL Petroleum, TMOC Resources, Esso Australia and Delhi Petroleum Pty Ltd.

Current and other directorships in the last 3 years

Mr Gordon is a Director of Bass Oil Limited ASX: BAS (since 2014) and during the reporting period was 
a director of various wholly owned subsidiaries of Cooper Energy Limited (until 10 April 2019).

Special responsibilities

Mr Gordon is the Chairman of the Risk and Sustainability Committee and a member of the Audit 
Committee and the Nomination Committee.

Mr Jeffrey W. Schneider 
B.Com 

Independent Non-Executive Director 

Appointed 12 October 2011

Experience and expertise

Mr Schneider has over 30 years of experience in senior management roles in the oil and gas industry, 
including 24 years with Woodside Petroleum Limited. He has extensive corporate governance and 
board experience as both a non-executive director and chairman in resources companies.

Ms Alice J. Williams 
B.Com, FAICD, FCPA, CFA

Independent Non-Executive Director 

Appointed 28 August 2013

Current and other directorships in the last 3 years

Mr Schneider does not currently hold any other directorships.

Special responsibilities 

Mr Schneider is Chairman of the People and Remuneration Committee1 and a member of the 
Nomination Committee1. Mr Schneider is also a member of the Audit Committee. He was a 
member of the Risk and Sustainability Committee until 19 June 2019.

Experience and expertise

Ms Williams has over 30 years of senior management and Board level experience in corporate, 
investment banking and Government sectors.

Ms Williams has been a consultant to major Australian and international corporations as a corporate 
advisor on strategic and financial assignments. Ms Williams has also been engaged by Federal and 
State based Government organisations to undertake reviews of competition policy and regulation. 
Prior appointments include Director of Airservices Australia, Guild Group, Port of Melbourne 
Corporation, Telstra Sale Company, V/Line Passenger Corporation, State Trustees, Western Health 
and the Australian Accounting Standards Board. Ms Williams is also a former council member of the 
Cancer Council of Victoria.

Current and other directorships in the last 3 years

Ms Williams is a Non-executive Director of Equity Trustees Ltd ASX: EQT (since 2007), Djerriwarrh 
Investments Ltd, Victorian Funds Management Corporation (since 2008), the Foreign Investment 
Review Board (since 2015), Defence Health (since 2010) and not for profit Tobacco Free Portfolios 
(since 2018). 

Special responsibilities 

Ms Williams is the Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of both the Risk and 
Sustainability Committee and the Nomination Committee1. Ms Williams was a member of the 
Remuneration and Nomination Committee1 until 19 June 2019.

1. Note that the responsibilities of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee were separated into the People and Remuneration 
Committee and the Nomination Committee from 19 June 2019.

49

Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

2. Company secretary

Ms Alison Evans B.A., LLB was appointed to the position of Company Secretary and Legal Counsel on 25 February 2013 and resigned from this 
position on 9 August 2019. Ms Evans is an experienced company secretary and corporate legal counsel with extensive knowledge of corporate 
and commercial law in the resources and energy sectors. Ms Evans has been Company Secretary and/or Legal Counsel in a number of minerals 
and energy companies including Centrex Metals, GTL Energy and AGL. Ms Evans’ public company experience is supported by her work at 
leading corporate law firms.

Effective from 9 August 2019, Ms Amelia Jalleh was appointed to the position of Company Secretary and General Counsel. Ms Jalleh brings 
more than 18 years’ international oil and gas experience in senior corporate, commercial and legal roles. Her experience spans conventional 
and unconventional projects, asset and portfolio management, and international M&A transactions. Prior to joining Cooper Energy, Ms Jalleh 
held the position of Director, Business Development Asia-Pacific for Repsol, based in South East Asia Singapore. Ms Jalleh has worked in 
Australia, the Middle East, North America, the UK and Singapore/South East Asia in roles with Repsol, Talisman Energy, King & Spalding LLP 
and Santos Limited. 

3. Directors’ meetings

The number of Directors’ meetings (including meetings of committees of Directors) and number of meetings attended by each of the Directors 
during the financial year were:

Director

 Board Meetings

Audit & Risk 
Committee 
Meetings

Risk & 
Sustainability 
Meetings

Remuneration and 
Nomination Committee 
Meetings**

Mr J. Conde

Mr D. Maxwell

Ms E. Donaghey*

Mr H. Gordon 

Mr J. Schneider 

Ms A. Williams

A

9

9

9

9

9

9

A = Number of meetings attended. 

B

9

9

9

9

9

9

A

-

-

1

4

4

4

B

-

-

1

4

4

4

A

-

-

-

3

3

3

B

-

-

-

3

3

3

A

2

-

1

-

2

2

B

2

-

1

-

2

2

B = Number of meetings held during the time the Director held office, or was a member of the committee, during the year

* Ms Donaghey was appointed to the Audit Committee and the Remuneration and Nomination Committee from 1 June 2019

** The responsibilities of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee were separated into the People and Remuneration Committee 
and the Nomination Committee from 19 June 2019. No meetings of these committees were held during the reporting period.

4. Remuneration Report (audited)

Information about the remuneration of the Company’s key management personnel for the financial year ended 30 June 2019 is set out in the 
Remuneration Report. The information in the Remuneration Report has been audited as required by the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and forms 
part of the Directors’ Report. 

50

Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

4. Remuneration Report continued 

Introduction to Remuneration Report from the Chairman of the Remuneration 
and Nomination Committee

Dear Shareholder

I am pleased to present your Company’s 2019 Remuneration Report for which we will be seeking your support at the 2019 Annual General 
Meeting. This report is an important element of the Company’s annual reporting. It documents the Company’s remuneration framework 
and guiding principles; details the remuneration outcomes for its Board and key management personnel and enables comparison of these 
remuneration outcomes with the Company’s performance. 

The Remuneration and Nomination Committee’s view is this report shows the Company’s remuneration framework to be appropriate and  
the 2019 remuneration outcomes are fair when compared to peer companies and taking account of the Company’s performance over the last 
few years. 

Remuneration report context: 2019 Financial Year 

The Company’s performance in the 12 months to 30 June 2019 is reported in the Operating and Financial Review of the Financial Report.  
This performance and how it compared to the specific targets of the Company Scorecard provide the context of the Remuneration Report. 

Cooper Energy met or exceeded the targets of its Corporate Scorecard in all categories. One outcome I highlight as being particularly 
noteworthy is the completion of the construction phase of the offshore Sole project free of lost time injuries, free of reportable environmental 
incidents and within budget. 

The Sole project is of great significance for the expansion of gas sales and the long-term stable income it will generate upon start-up. It is 
important not to overlook the significance of the achievement of the offshore project construction. This exemplifies the excellent and broad-
spectrum performance our remuneration framework seeks to encourage and reinforce within Cooper Energy. 

Cooper Energy recorded a superior total shareholder return when compared to the large majority of its peers in both the short and long-term 
assessment periods. The Company’s share price rose by 40.3% over the 2019 financial year and has increased 3 times (200%) in the 3 years to 
30 June 2019. This leading performance has consolidated post-balance-date with the achievement of 11-year share price highs. While this latter 
performance is outside the scope of this report, it is affirmatory of the Company’s year-end position.

A remuneration framework which attracts, encourages, rewards and retains talent that can repeat performances such as this is essential for 
your Company’s ongoing growth.

Remuneration developments 

The Company’s remuneration framework, and its management team, has been stable for some time. The view of the People and Remuneration 
Committee is that the Company’s remuneration framework and principles have served the Company well. They are simple and relevant and 
consistent with the objective to attract and retain high calibre employees and provide incentives to deliver superior performance in line with the 
Cooper Energy Values. Consequently, there has been little change to the Company’s remuneration structure and no change is proposed for the 
2020 financial year. The one change made in the 2019 financial year was the elimination of the re-testing provision to the Long Term Incentive 
Plan. This change recognises the growth in the Company’s development activities and that it will no longer be reliant on single projects which 
had previously justified the re-testing provision.

In June 2019, the Board determined that fees payable to Directors, which have not changed since 1 January 2017, are to increase from  
1 July 2019. The Chairman’s fee will increase from $210,000 to $240,000 and other Directors fees will increase from $100,000 to $115,000. 
Committee fees will remain the same at $20,000 and $10,000 for chair and member fees respectively for all committees, except the new 
Nomination Committee for which the fees paid to members will be $5,000. These fees are comparable to those at relevant peer companies.

Remuneration outcomes 

The remuneration outcomes detailed in this report are consistent with and recognise the superior performance of the Company over both the 
short and long terms. 

The at-risk payments under the Long Term Incentive Plan increased significantly in 2019 as the first vesting date for the Performance Rights  
and Share Appreciation Rights under the Equity Incentive Plan approved by shareholders in 2015 occurred on 14 December 2018. This triggered 
the vesting of incentives and the issue of shares consistent with the Company’s leading performance over the three year performance period. 

Remuneration paid to the Managing Director increased from 1 October consistent with benchmarking within the hydrocarbon industry. 
This included recognition of the scaling back of grants payable under the Long Term Incentive Plan from 120% to 100% of fixed annual 
remuneration, which is also consistent with broader industry practice. 

We thank the Managing Director, management team and their teams for their very considerable commitment and contribution over the year. 

Yours sincerely, 

Mr Jeffrey Schneider 
Chairman of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee

51

 
Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

4. Remuneration Report continued

Contents

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Key Management Personnel covered in this Report

4.3 Remuneration Governance

4.4 2019 performance and Executive KMP outcomes

4.5 Nature of Executive KMP remuneration

4.6 Nature of Non-executive Director remuneration

4.7 Statutory Remuneration Disclosures

4.1 Introduction

Page

52

52

52 

53 

57

60

60

This Remuneration Report (Report) details the approach to remuneration frameworks, outcomes and performance for Cooper Energy. The 
Remuneration Report forms part of the Directors’ Report and provides shareholders with an understanding of the remuneration principles and 
practices in place for key management personnel (KMP) for the reporting period.

The Remuneration Report has been prepared in accordance with section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001 and unless specified otherwise, 
has been audited in accordance with the provisions of section 308 (3C) of the Corporations Act 2001.

4.2 Key Management Personnel covered in this Report 

In this Report, Key Management Personnel (KMP) are the people who have the authority and responsibility for planning, directing and 
controlling the activities of the Group, either directly or indirectly. They are:

• Non-executive Directors;

• The Managing Director; and 

• the executives on the management team.

The Managing Director and other executives on the management team are referred to in this Report as “Executive KMP”. The following table 
sets out the KMP of the Group during the reporting period, and the period they were KMP:

Non-executive Directors

Mr J. Conde AO 

Ms E. Donaghey

Mr H. Gordon 

Mr J. Schneider

Ms A. Williams

Executive KMP

Mr D. Maxwell

Mr A. Thomas 

Ms V. Suttell

Ms A. Evans

Mr I. MacDougall 

Mr E. Glavas

Mr D. Clegg

Mr M. Jacobsen

Position

Chairman

Non-executive Director

Non-executive Director

Non-executive Director

Non-executive Director

Position 

Managing Director

General Manager Exploration & Subsurface

Chief Financial Officer 

Company Secretary and Legal Counsel

General Manager Operations

Dates

Full reporting period

Full reporting period

Full reporting period

Full reporting period

Full reporting period

Dates

Full reporting period

Full reporting period

Full reporting period

Full reporting period

Full reporting period

General Manager Commercial & Business Development

Full reporting period

General Manager Development

General Manager Projects

Full reporting period

Full reporting period

4.3 Remuneration Governance 

4.3.1 Philosophy and objectives

The Company is committed to a remuneration philosophy that aligns to its business strategy and encourages superior performance and 
shareholder returns. Cooper Energy’s approach towards remuneration aims to ensure that an appropriate balance is achieved among:

• maximising sustainable growth in shareholder returns;

• operational and strategic requirements; and

• providing attractive and appropriate remuneration packages.

52

Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

4. Remuneration Report continued

4.3 Remuneration Governance continued

4.3.1 Philosophy and objectives continued

The primary objectives of the Company’s remuneration policy are to:

• attract and retain high-calibre employees;

• ensure that remuneration is fair and competitive with both peers and competitor employers;

• provide significant incentive to deliver superior performance (when compared to peers) against Cooper Energy’s strategy and key business 

goals without rewarding conduct that is contrary to the Cooper Energy Values or risk appetite;

• achieve the most effective returns (employee productivity) for total employee spend; and

• ensure remuneration transparency and credibility for all employees and in particular for Executive KMP with a view to enhancing Cooper 

Energy’s reputation and standing in the community.

Cooper Energy’s policy is to pay fixed remuneration (base salary and superannuation) at the median level compared to hydrocarbon industry 
benchmark data and supplement this with “at risk” remuneration to bring total remuneration within the upper quartile when outstanding 
performance is achieved. 

4.3.2 Remuneration and Nomination Committee

The Remuneration and Nomination Committee (which comprises of 3 Non-executive Directors, all of whom are independent) makes 
recommendations to the Board about remuneration strategies and policies for the KMP. During the reporting period (on 19 June 2019), the 
Board decided to separate the duties of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee and created the People and Remuneration Committee 
and the Nomination Committee. The People and Remuneration Committee is now responsible for making recommendations to the Board 
about remuneration strategies as well as strategies and policies aimed at ensuring that the Company’s culture is consistent with its values. It 
will also consider programs related to executive development and talent management. The Nomination Committee is responsible for making 
recommendations to the Board about the appointment, performance and resignation of Non-executive Directors.

On an annual basis, the Committee makes recommendations to the Board about the form of payment and incentives to Executive KMP and 
the amount. This is done with reference to relevant employment market conditions, current industry practices and independent remuneration 
benchmark reports. The assessment of payments to individual Executive KMP also takes into account the annual performance reviews of the 
Executive KMP.

4.3.3 External remuneration advisers

The Committee may consider advice from external advisors who are engaged by and report directly to the Committee. Such advice will typically 
cover Non-executive Director fees, Executive KMP remuneration and advice in relation to equity plans. 

The Corporations Act 2001 requires companies to disclose specific details regarding the use of remuneration consultants. The mandatory 
disclosure requirements only apply to those advisors who provide a “remuneration recommendation” as defined in the Corporations Act 
2001. The Committee did not receive any remuneration recommendations during the reporting period and all remuneration benchmarking was 
performed in-house against independent Australian hydrocarbon industry remuneration data.

4.4 2019 performance and Executive KMP pay outcomes

4.4.1 Remuneration actually delivered to Executives in 2019 (not audited)

The Company believes that reporting remuneration actually delivered to Executive KMP is useful to shareholders and provides clear and 
transparent disclosure of remuneration provided by the Company. The tables set out below show amounts paid to Executive KMP and the cash 
value of equity awards which vested during the reporting period.

This information is non-IFRS and is in addition to and different from the disclosures required by the Corporations Act 2001 and Accounting 
Standards in the rest of the Remuneration Report and the tables in sections 4.7.3 and 4.7.4. The information in this section 4.4.1 is not audited.

The total benefits actually delivered during the reporting period and set out in the table below comprise several elements including:

• fixed remuneration being base salary and superannuation;

• STI cash payment made in October. This is the STI awarded for performance over the prior measurement period but actually paid within the 
financial year i.e. the STI paid in 2019 related to performance over the 2018 financial year and the STI paid in 2018 related to performance 
over the second half of the 2017 financial year (see note below); 

• the market value of shares issued in December 2018 on the vesting of performance rights and share appreciation rights granted in 

December 2015. The market value is taken to be the share price at the date of issue of the shares;

• the value of other short term benefits including fringe benefits on accommodation, car parking and other benefits.

53

Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

4. Remuneration Report continued

4.4 2019 performance and Executive KMP pay outcomes continued

4.4.1 Remuneration actually delivered to Executives in 2019 (not audited) continued

Name

Mr D. Maxwell

Mr A. Thomas

Ms V. Suttell

Ms A. Evans2

Mr I. MacDougall

Mr E. Glavas

Mr D. Clegg

Mr M. Jacobsen3

Year

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

Fixed 
Remuneration1 
$

845,000

787,500

437,250

416,250

435,520

393,750

351,000

317,125

415,933

416,250

390,000

366,250

524,018

455,417

401,342

383,683

STIP1 

$

646,000

325,000

152,880

80,000

166,306

57,000

127,533

54,800

145,635

80,000

141,703

70,000

182,000

100,000

164,535

15,000

LTIP1 

$

2,476,215

320,533

885,256

114,592

-

-

425,971

53,019

848,953

109,892

630,939

74,791

-

-

-

-

Other 

$

80,904

78,012

5,916

6,382

5,916

6,382

5,916

6,382

5,916

6,382

5,916

6,382

536

536

536

536

Total 

$

4,048,119

1,511,045

1,481,302

617,224

607,742

457,132

910,420

431,326

1,416,437

612,524

1,168,558

517,423

706,554

555,953

566,413

399,219

1.  Amounts above include adjustments for unpaid leave where applicable. Disclosure of realised LTIP in 2018 was the accounting fair value of 
rights that vested during the period. Comparatives have been revised to reflect the market value of the vested shares at the time of issue.

2.  Ms Evans worked part time (0.8 full time equivalent for the period 1 July 2017 to 31 January 2018; and 0.9 full time equivalent for the period 
1 February 2018 to 30 June 2018) and 0.9 full time equivalent for the period 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019. Accordingly, her entitlements 
are prorated.

3.  Mr Jacobsen commenced employment with the Company as General Manager Projects on 1 July 2017 and the STIP shown for 2018 was a 

sign on bonus.

Note in relation to 2018 STIP payment STI payments are generally made in respect of performance over the financial year and actually paid 
in October of the next financial year. However, the STI payments which were actually paid in 2018 and which are noted above relate only to 
performance over the second half of the 2017 financial year (6 months). As reported in the 2017 and 2018 annual reports, this was because 
the acquisition of the Victorian gas assets from Santos Limited during 2017 was an extraordinary event which transformed the Company and 
required the STIP performance measures to be re-set as at 1 January 2017. An interim STIP award was made to employees in January 2017. 
This meant that the STI actually paid in 2017 related to performance over the whole of 2016 and the first half of the 2017 financial year. The 
STI payments made to Executive KMP detailed in the table above and paid in October 2017 (during the 2018 financial year), relate only to 
performance during the second half of the 2017 financial year. 

54

 
 
 
 
Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

4. Remuneration Report continued

4.4 2019 performance and Executive KMP pay outcomes continued

4.4.1 Remuneration actually delivered to Executives in 2019 (not audited) continued

i. Summary of performance outcomes for the year ended 30 June 2019

Remuneration

Performance Outcome

Fixed Remuneration

Short Term Incentive 
(STI)

Long Term Incentive 
(LTI)

Total fixed remuneration expense, being base salary and superannuation for Executive KMP increased from 2018 
to 2019 primarily due to an increase in the roles and responsibilities of the Executive KMP as the Company has 
grown in terms of number of employees, nature of operations and market capitalisation, all of which are 
appropriate to take into consideration when examining benchmarking data. The Managing Director’s fixed 
remuneration was increased from 1 October 2018 to take into account the reduction of the maximum LTI award 
opportunity (% of fixed remuneration) from 120% to 100%.

Company Scorecard results for the 2019 measurement period were overall between target and stretch range 
and not as strong as for 2018 in which stretch was attained. This was primarily due to production volumes (not 
revenue) being slightly below target and growth in reserves and assets lower than 2018. Individual performance 
reviews have not yet been undertaken, however, given that individual performance accounts for 25% of the STI 
weighting for the Managing Director and 30% for other Executive KMP, it is anticipated that Executive KMP will 
achieve a lower percentage of their maximum opportunity than that achieved in relation to the 2018 
measurement period. 

The value of LTI that vested in 2019 increased compared to 2018 due to a higher number of rights vesting 
because of superior performance of the shares against its peers over the measurement period. In addition, 
share appreciation rights (SARs) vested under the Company’s EIP for the first time. SARs are more valuable than 
performance rights in times of high share price growth. Over the three year measurement period from 15 
December 2015 to 14 December 2018, Cooper Energy’s total shareholder return was 180% and it achieved a 
relative total shareholder return percentile rank of 87.9%. This resulted in a vesting outcome of 96.3% of all 
performance and share appreciation rights that were granted in 2015. 

ii. Cooper Energy’s five year performance

Operational

Annual production

Proved & Probable Reserves

TRIFR1

Financial

Sales revenue

Profit after tax

Earnings per share

Total shareholder return

Capital as at 30 June

Share price

Market capitalisation

MMboe

MMboe

events per hours worked

$ million

$ million

cents

percent

$ per share

$ million

1. Total Recordable Case Frequency Rate 

12 months to 30 June

2015

0.48

3.08

4.18

39.1

(63.5)

(19.2)

(51.5)

0.245

81.4

2016

0.46

3.00

0.00

27.4

(34.8)

(10.1)

(12.2)

0.215

93.6

2017

0.96

11.7

1.98

39.1

(12.3)

(1.8)

72.7

0.38

433.4

2018

1.49

52.4

4.07

67.5

27.0

1.8

6.0

0.39

616.4

2019

1.31

52.7

0.00

75.5

(12.1)

(0.7)

40.3

0.54

875.6

55

Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

4. Remuneration Report continued

4.4 2019 performance and Executive KMP pay outcomes continued

4.4.2 STIP outcomes

The Company Scorecard results for the reporting period ranged between Target and Stretch. The final STIP results for the reporting period, in 
conjunction with individual performance reviews will be determined in September and form the basis of individual STI payments in October 
2019.

Performance measures in 
company scorecard

Weighting

Scorecard 
Result

Comment

HSEC

Production and revenue 
(existing permits)

20%

20%

Stretch

Target

Major Projects & Development

20%

Target

TRCFR 0.0 – below NOPSEMA average of 3.48. No 
environmental incidents. Community relationships enhanced.

Production of 1.31 MMboe is at target guidance and increased 
gas and oil prices positively impacting revenue.

As at 30 June 2019 the works relating to offshore construction 
of the Sole Gas Project were completed and was within budget. 
The focus is on APA’s completion of the Orbost Gas Plant 
upgrade.

Growth in reserves and resources

Reserve additions have replaced production. 

Key gas strategy milestones

20%

Target

Casino Henry gas has been contracted for 2019 at increased 
prices, together with new Sole contracts with AGL and Visy.

Acquisitions and divestments

No material acquisitions or divestments.

Cost management

Costs generally below budget.

Processes and risk management

20%

Stretch 

People and stakeholder 
relationships

4.4.3 LTIP outcomes

Continuous improvement to risk management and processes, 
including planning for enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. 

Ongoing high level of engagement and enablement. Strong 
investor support and the Company added to the ASX200.

The Company’s total shareholder return relative to the peer group against which it was measured is set out below for the LTIP grant that vested 
during 2018. The base for the graph is December 2015, the time the first grant of performance rights and share appreciation rights were made 
under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan (EIP). Rights vested and shares were issued for the first time under this plan in December 2018.  
The terms of the EIP are set out in section 4.5.3.

Share Price Performance of Cooper Energy Limited Versus Peer Group – 15 December 2015 to 14 December 2018

-100%

-50%

0%

50%

100%

150%

200%

250%

300%

350%

400%

314%

345%

300%

291%

Cooper Energy Limited

168%

133%

121%

121%

110%

-4%

-27%

-43%

-70%

56

Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

4. Remuneration Report continued

4.5 Nature of Executive KMP remuneration

Executive KMP remuneration during the reporting period consisted of:

• base salary and statutory superannuation;

• short term incentive plan (STIP) (performance based cash bonuses); 

• other short term benefits such as accommodation, internet allowance and carparking; and

• long term incentive plan (LTIP) (performance rights and share appreciation rights under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan (EIP)).

It is the Company’s policy that the performance based (or at risk) pay forms a significant portion of the Executive KMP’s total remuneration. The 
Company aims to achieve an appropriate balance between rewarding operational performance (through the short term incentive cash bonuses) 
and rewarding long-term sustainable performance (through the long term incentive plan).

The Company’s remuneration profile for Executive KMP is as follows:

Remuneration 
Element

Expressed as percentage of fixed remuneration 
at target level performance

Expressed as percentage of fixed remuneration 
at maximum (super stretch) level performance

Fixed Remuneration 

STIP (at risk)

LTIP1 (at risk)

Total

Managing 
Director

100%

50%

100%

250%

Other 
Executive 
KMP

100%

25%

70%

195%

Managing 
Director

100%

100%

100%

300%

Other 
Executive 
KMP

100%

50%

70%

220%

1. Reflects face value of LTIP at grant date however may not necessarily reflect the amount that will ultimately vest and be exercised.

4.5.1 Fixed Remuneration 

Fixed Remuneration includes base salary (paid in cash) and statutory superannuation.

Executives are paid base salaries which are competitive in the markets in which the Company operates and are consistent with the 
responsibilities, accountabilities and complexities of the respective roles. 

The Company benchmarks Executive KMP base salaries against hydrocarbon industry market surveys which are published annually. 
Additionally, the pay levels of Executive positions in the Company may be benchmarked against national market executive remuneration 
surveys. It is the Company’s policy to position itself at the median level of the market when benchmarking base salaries.

4.5.2 Short term incentive plan (STIP) - Overview

The key features of the STIP for the financial year 2019 are set out in the following table:

Plan Feature

Details

What is the purpose of the STIP?

The STIP is designed to motivate and reward Executive KMP for their contribution to the annual 
performance of the Company.

How does the STIP align with the 
interests of Cooper Energy’s 
shareholders?

The STIP is aligned to shareholder interests by encouraging Executive KMP to achieve 
operational and business milestones in a balanced and sustainable manner.

What is the vehicle of the STIP award?

The STIP award is delivered in the form of a cash payment.

What is the maximum award 
opportunity (% of fixed remuneration)?

Managing Director 
Other Executive KMP 

100% 
50%

What is the performance period?

Each year, the Board reviews and approves the performance criteria for the year ahead by 
approving a Company scorecard and individual performance contracts are agreed with each 
Executive KMP. The Company’s STIP operates over a 12 month performance period from  
1 July to 30 June. 

57

Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

4. Remuneration Report continued

4.5 Nature of Executive KMP remuneration continued

4.5.2 Short term incentive plan (STIP) - Overview continued

How are the performance measures 
determined and what are their 
relative weightings?

The measurement of Company performance is based on the achievement of key performance 
indicators (KPIs) set out in a Company scorecard. See section 4.4.2 for the Company scorecard 
measures used for the 2019 financial year. The KPIs focus on the core elements the Board 
believes are needed to successfully deliver the Company strategy and maximise sustainable 
shareholder returns. For each KPI in the scorecard, a base or threshold performance level is 
established as well as a target, stretch and super stretch (i.e maximum). 

Personal performance measures are agreed between each Executive KMP and Cooper Energy 
each year. These relate to the individuals’ performance in achieving things such as business unit 
objectives, promotion of the Cooper Energy Values and identified areas for development.

The relative weighting of Company scorecard and individual performance is as follows:

• Managing Director: 75% Company: 25% individual 

• Executives 70% Company; 30% individual

Performance measures are challenging, and maximum award opportunities are only achieved 
by outstanding performance. 50% of the maximum award opportunity will be awarded if 
the Company meets target level performance. Target level KPIs are set at a challenging and 
achievable level of performance (and not at the base level of performance). 0% STIP will be 
awarded for base level achievement.

0% STIP will be awarded if during any measurement period the Company sustains a fatality or 
major environmental incident.

Irrespective of the scorecard outcome, payment of any STIP is entirely at the discretion of 
the Board.

When are STIP payments made?

STIP payments, are generally made in October each year. 

4.5.3 Long term incentive plan (LTIP) - Overview

In the reporting period, the LTIP involved grants of performance rights and share appreciation rights under the Equity Incentive Plan approved by 
shareholders at the 2018 AGM (EIP). The key features of the grants made in the 2019 financial year (granted December 2018) are set out in the 
following table: 

Plan Feature

Details

What is the purpose of the LTIP?

The Company believes that encouraging its employees, including Executive KMP, to 
become shareholders is the best way of aligning their interests with those of the Company’s 
shareholders. Having a LTIP is also intended to be a retention incentive for employees (with 
a vesting period of at least three years before securities under the plan are available to 
employees). 

How is the LTIP aligned to 
shareholder interests?

Employees only benefit from the LTIP when there is sustained superior share price performance 
of the Company compared to relevant peer group companies. This aligns the LTIP with the 
interests of shareholders.

What is the vehicle of the LTIP?

During the reporting period, the LTIP involved grants of 50% Performance Rights and 50% 
Share Appreciation Rights (SARs).

A performance right is a right to acquire one fully paid share in the Company provided a specified 
hurdle is met. 

Share Appreciation Rights (SARs) are rights to acquire shares in the Company to the value of the 
difference in the Company share price between the grant date and vesting date.

What is the maximum award 
opportunity (% of fixed remuneration)?

Managing Director 
Executive KMP 
Senior staff 

100% 
70% 
50%

58

Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

4. Remuneration Report continued

4.5 Nature of Executive KMP remuneration continued

4.5.3 Long term incentive plan (LTIP) - Overview continued

Plan Feature

Details

What is the performance period?

The performance period is three years. 

What are the performance measures?

Grants in years prior to the 2019 financial year allowed for re-testing 12 months following the 
end of the performance period. A re-test was considered appropriate because the Company’s 
growth has been dependent on development of projects that have generally taken greater 
than three years from conception to start-up. Given the growth of the Company, including its 
development activities the Company will no longer be reliant on single projects, such as the Sole 
development. As a consequence, the Board determined that re-testing would not form part of 
the terms of the Incentives for future grants.

100% of the grant (both performance rights and SARs) is subject to a relative total shareholder 
return performance (RTSR) measure. RTSR is a common LTI measure across ASX-listed 
companies and is aligned with shareholder returns. Relative measures ensure that maximum 
incentives are only achieved if Cooper Energy’s performance exceeds that of its peers and 
therefore supports competitive returns against other comparable organisations.

In addition to the RTSR performance measure set by the Board, SARs by their nature also have a 
natural absolute total shareholder return measure. No SARs will be exercisable unless the share 
price appreciates over the measurement period.

What is the vesting schedule?

The level of vesting will be determined based on the ranking against the comparator Group of 
companies in accordance with the following schedule:

• below the 50th percentile no rights vest

• at the 50th percentile 30% of the rights vest

• between the 50th percentile and 90th percentile pro rata vesting

• at the 90th percentile or above, 100% of the rights will vest.

The vesting schedule reflects the Board’s requirement that performance measures are 
challenging, and maximum award opportunities are only achieved by outstanding performance.

The RTSR of the Company is measured as a percentile ranking compared to the following 
comparator Group of 12 listed entities: Woodside Petroleum Limited; Oil Search Limited; Santos 
Limited; Beach Energy Limited; Senex Energy Limited; Karoon Gas Limited; FAR Limited; 
Sundance Energy Limited; Buru Energy Limited; Carnarvon Petroleum Limited; Strike Energy 
Limited; Horizon Oil Limited.

The peer group was based on a group of ASX-listed companies in the oil and gas sector, with 
Australian operations and a range of market capitalisation. 

Generally, if an employee ceases employment prior to the vesting date (e.g. to take a position 
with another company), they will forfeit all awards. Exceptional circumstances may be approved 
by the Board in the event of redundancy, retirement or incapacity, and may result in a pro-rated 
number of awards being retained. 

Which companies make up the 
Relative TSR peer group?

What happens on cessation 
of employment?

What happens if there is a change 
of control?

In the event of a change of control, the Board has the discretion to approve pro-rata vesting 
based on service and performance. 

Who can participate in the LTIP?

Eligibility is generally restricted to Executive KMP and other senior staff who are in a position to 
influence shareholder value the most. 

Is there a cap on dilution?

5% total on issue (excluding KMP).

Will the Company make any changes to 
the LTIP for the grant to be made in the 
2020 financial year?

It is not anticipated that the general structure of the LTIP will change for grants made in the 2020 
financial year however, the Board will continue to review the appropriateness of the performance 
measures as the Company transitions from development to gas production and sale.

59

Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

4. Remuneration Report continued

4.5 Nature of Non-executive Director remuneration continued

4.5.4 Executive KMP employment contracts

Mr David Maxwell – Managing Director

Mr Maxwell commenced as Managing Director on 12 October 2011 under a contract of employment. The initial term of the Managing Director’s 
contract expired on 10 October 2014 and was renewed to end on 31 July 2019. On 1 August 2018 Mr Maxwell’s contract of employment was 
amended to remove the fixed term and therefore the contract must be terminated in accordance with the notice provisions in the contract 
of employment.

The Company may terminate the contract by providing twelve months written notice or payment in lieu of notice. The Company may also 
terminate the contract immediately for cause. Mr Maxwell may terminate the contract by providing six months’ written notice.

Deed of indemnity

The Company also entered into a deed of indemnity, insurance and access with the Managing Director under which the Company will, on 
the terms set out in the deed, provide an indemnity, maintain an appropriate level of Directors’ and Officers’ indemnity insurance and provide 
access to Company records.

Other Executive KMP

The Company has entered into a contract of employment with each Executive KMP. The term of each contract continues until termination. 
The Company may terminate the contract by providing six months’ notice or payment in lieu of notice. The Company may also terminate the 
contract immediately for cause. The Executive may terminate the contract by providing three months’ written notice.

4.6 Nature of Non-executive Director remuneration

Non-executive Directors are remunerated solely by way of fees and statutory superannuation. Their remuneration is reviewed annually to 
ensure that the fees reflect their responsibilities and the demands placed on them. Non-executive Directors do not receive any performance 
related remuneration. 

The maximum aggregate remuneration pool for Non-executive Directors, as approved by shareholders at the Company’s 2018 Annual General 
Meeting, is $1.25 million.

The Non-executive Directors’ fee structure for the reporting period was as follows:

Chairman*

Member

Board

Audit 
Committee

Risk & 
Sustainability 
Committee

Remuneration 
& Nomination 
Committee

$210,000

$100,000

$20,000

$10,000

$20,000

$10,000

$20,000

$10,000

* Where the Chairman of the Board is a member of a committee he will not receive any additional committee fees.

Remuneration paid to the Non-executive Directors for the reporting period and for the previous reporting period is shown in the table in 
Section 4.7.3 

The Company has entered into written letters of appointment with its Non-executive Directors. The term of the appointment of a Non-executive 
Director is determined in accordance with the Company’s Constitution and is subject to the provisions of the Constitution dealing with 
retirement, re-election and removal of Non-executive Directors. The Constitution provides that all Non-executive Directors of the Company are 
subject to re-election by shareholders by rotation every three years.

The Company has entered into deeds of indemnity, insurance and access with each of the Non-executive Directors under which the Company 
will, on the terms set out in the deed, provide an indemnity, maintain an appropriate level of Directors’ and Officers’ indemnity insurance and 
provide access to Company records.

4.7 Statutory remuneration disclosures

4.7.1 Accounting for performance rights

The value of the performance rights issued under the EIP is recognised as Share Based Payments in the Company’s statement of 
comprehensive income and amortised over the vesting period. Performance rights and share appreciation rights were granted under the EIP on 
12 December 2018. The performance rights and share appreciation rights were granted for no consideration and the employee received no cash 
benefit at the time of receiving the rights. The cash benefit will be received by the employee following the sale of the resultant shares, which 
can only be achieved after the rights have been vested and the shares are issued.

Performance rights and share appreciation rights granted under the EIP were valued by an independent consultant who applied the Monte Carlo 
simulation model to determine the probability of achievement of the relative shareholder total return (RSTR) against performance conditions  
(as described in Section 4.5 above). 

60

Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

4. Remuneration Report continued

4.7 Statutory remuneration disclosures continued

The value of performance rights and share appreciation rights shown in the tables below are the accounting fair values for grants in the 
reporting period:

Performance Rights (EIP)

Share Appreciation Rights (EIP)

No. of rights 
granted 
during period

Fair value 
of rights at 
grant date

No. of 
rights vested 
during period

% of rights 
vested to 
30 June 
2019

No. of rights 
granted 
during period

Fair value 
of rights at 
grant date

No. of 
rights vested 
during period

% of rights 
vested to 
30 June 
2019

Directors

Mr D. Maxwell

940,919

282,276

2,146,113

36%

2,562,574

371,573

6,057,580

38%

Executives

Mr A. Thomas

339,277

101,783

767,243

37%

924,016

133,982

2,165,605

Ms V. Suttell

344,638

103,391

-

-

938,617

136,099

-

Ms A. Evans

272,264

81,679

369,185

Mr I. MacDougall

333,150

99,945

735,780

Mr E. Glavas

302,516

90,755

546,829

Mr D. Clegg

402,078

120,623

Mr M. Jacobsen

333,150

99,945

-

-

29%

37%

34%

-

-

741,507

107,519

1,042,056

907,330

131,563

2,076,798

823,897

119,465

1,543,471

1,095,053

158,783

907,330

131,563

-

-

39%

-

31%

39%

36%

-

-

The vesting date of the performance rights granted on 12 December 2018 is 12 December 2021. The fair value of these rights is $0.30 per 
right. These performance rights have a commencement date of 12 December 2018.

The vesting date of the share appreciation rights granted on 12 December 2018 is 12 December 2021. The fair value of these rights is $0.145 
per right. These share appreciation rights have a commencement date of 12 December 2018.

4.7.2 Additional remuneration disclosures 

Movement in performance rights

The movement during the reporting period in the number of performance rights granted but not exercisable over ordinary shares in Cooper 
Energy held, directly, indirectly or beneficially, by each KMP, including their related parties, is as follows:

Held at 
1 July 2018

Granted

Lapsed

Vested & 
Exercised

Held at 
30 June 2019

Performance 
Rights (EIP)

Directors

Mr D. Maxwell

Mr H. Gordon1

Executives

Mr A. Thomas

Ms V. Suttell

Ms A. Evans

Mr I. MacDougall

Mr E. Glavas

Mr D. Clegg

Mr M. Jacobsen

5,036,541

987,364

1,717,072

487,101

998,245

1,667,120

1,313,677

594,025

498,981

940,919

-

339,277

344,638

272,264

333,150

302,516

402,078

333,150

1. Performance Rights were granted to Mr Gordon when he was an Executive Director.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2,146,113

3,831,347

621,915

365,449

767,243

1,289,106

-

369,185

735,780

546,829

-

-

831,739

901,324

1,264,490

1,069,364

996,103

832,131

61

Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

4. Remuneration Report continued

4.7 Statutory remuneration disclosures continued

4.7.2 Additional remuneration disclosures continued

Share Appreciation 
Rights (EIP)

Held at 
1 July 2018

Granted

Lapsed

Vested & 
Exercised

Held at 
30 June 2019

Directors

Mr D. Maxwell

Mr H. Gordon1

Executives

Mr A. Thomas

Ms V. Suttell

Ms A. Evans

Mr I. MacDougall

Mr E. Glavas

Mr D. Clegg

Mr M. Jacobsen

13,426,625

2,705,027

4,590,331

1,223,358

2,641,614

4,453,481

3,497,369

1,491,901

1,253,196

2,562,574

-

924,016

938,617

741,507

907,330

823,897

1,095,053

907,330

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

6,057,580

1,755,404

2,165,605

-

1,042,056

2,076,798

1,543,471

-

-

9,931,619

949,623

3,348,742

2,161,975

2,341,065

3,284,013

2,777,795

2,586,954

2,160,526

1.  Share Appreciation Rights were granted to Mr Gordon when he was an Executive Director.

2.  Share Appreciation Rights represent the right to receive a quantity of shares based on an amount equal to the difference in share price from 

grant date to test date. 

Movement in shares

The movement during the reporting period in the number of ordinary shares in Cooper Energy held, directly, indirectly or beneficially, by each 
KMP, including their related parties, is as follows: 

Purchases

Received on 
vesting of 
performance rights

Sales

Held at 
30 June 2019

Directors

Mr J. Conde AO

Mr D. Maxwell

Ms E. Donaghey

Mr H. Gordon

Mr J. Schneider

Ms A. Williams

Executives

Mr A. Thomas

Ms V. Suttell

Ms A. Evans

Mr I. MacDougall1

Mr E. Glavas

Mr D. Clegg

Mr M. Jacobsen

Held at 
1 July 2018

859,093

11,377,332

-

-

-

160,000

1,043,601

1,016,594

166,094

2,169,810

40,600

782,427

606,541

286,589

135,000

-

-

-

13,350

-

-

-

-

22,470

-

-

-

6,039,549

-

-

-

-

1,750,180

120,000

-

-

2,159,160

-

1,038,954

2,070,616

1,538,876

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

135,530

-

-

859,093

17,416,881

160,000

2,673,781

1,016,594

179,444

4,328,970

40,600

1,821,381

2,677,157

1,712,405

135,000

-

1. The 2018 Remuneration Report noted Mr I. MacDougall held 1,062,146 shares at 30 June 2018. This amount included shares held by a party 
no longer related and hence has been removed from the above table.

Options

No options were issued (or forfeited) during the year. 

62

Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

4. Remuneration Report continued

4.7 Statutory remuneration disclosures continued

4.7.3 Table of Directors’ remuneration for 2019 and 2018 financial years

 Benefits

Short-term

Base Salary 
& Fees

STIP (a)

Other 
Short-term 
Benefits (b)

Directors

Mr J. Conde AO

$

2019

191,781

2018

191,781

$

-

-

$

-

-

Long 
Term

Long  
Service 
Leave

$

-

-

Mr D. Maxwell

2019

824,469

622,946

80,904

34,796

2018

767,451

667,186

78,012

29,253

Ms E. Donaghey(e)

2019

91,324

2018

2,101

Mr H. Gordon(f)

2019

118,722

-

-

-

2018

118,722

23,861

Mr J. Schneider

2019

118,722

2018

118,722

Ms A. Williams

2019

118,722

2018

118,722

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Post 
Employment

Share Based 
Remuneration (d)

Superannuation (c)

LTIP 

Total

$

18,219

18,219

20,531

20,049

8,875

200

$

-

-

$

210,000

210,000

739,175

2,322,821

684,776

2,246,727

-

-

100,199

2,301

11,278

93,091

223,091

18,689

149,283

310,555

11,279

11,279

11,279

11,279

-

-

-

-

130,001

130,001

130,001

130,001

a)  The STIP values noted for 2019 exclude accrued on-costs as these do not represent a benefit to Directors and Executives however 2018 
remains consistent to that disclosed in the prior period. The STIP values noted for 2019 are an estimate as final performance has not yet 
been determined.

b)  Other short term benefits include fringe benefits on accommodation, car parking and other benefits.

c)  Superannuation includes the amounts required to be contributed by the Company and does not include amounts salary sacrificed.

d)  In accordance with the requirements of the Accounting Standards, remuneration includes a proportion of the value of the equity-linked 

compensation determined as at the grant date of the performance rights and progressively expensed over the vesting period. The amount 
allocated as remuneration is not relative to or indicative of the actual benefit (if any) that may ultimately be realised should the equity 
instruments vest. The value of the performance rights was determined in accordance with AASB 2 Share-based Payments and is discussed 
in Section 4.7.1 above and in more detail in Note 26 of the Notes to the Financial Statements. 

e)  Ms Donaghey was appointed a Non-executive Director of the Company effective from 25 June 2018.

f)  Performance rights and share appreciation rights were granted to Mr Gordon when he was an Executive Director.

63

 
Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

4. Remuneration Report continued

4.7 Statutory remuneration disclosures continued

4.7.4 Table of Executives’ remuneration for 2019 and 2018 financial years

Short-term

Base Salary 

STIP(a)

 Benefits

Other 
Short-term 
Benefits(b)

Long 
Term

Long  
Service 
Leave

$

$

$

$

416,719

145,374

5,916

16,358

396,201

161,569

6,382

12,825

414,989

164,023

5,916

373,701

175,493

6,382

-

-

330,469

121,362

5,916

12,472

297,076

133,698

6,382

20,916

395,402

135,829

5,916

14,303

396,201

161,569

6,382

11,780

369,469

134,847

5,916

13,548

346,201

145,673

6,382

34,033

503,487

172,380

435,368

249,958

380,811

154,729

363,634

149,869

536

536

536

536

-

-

13,730

-

Executives

Mr A. Thomas

Ms V. Suttell 

Ms A. Evans(e)

Mr I. MacDougall

Mr E. Glavas

Mr D. Clegg

Mr M. Jacobsen(f)

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

Post 
Employment

Share Based 
Remuneration(d)

Superannuation(c)

LTIP

Total

$

20,531

20,049

20,531

20,049

20,531

20,049

20,531

20,049

20,531

20,049

20,531

20,049

20,531

20,049

$

$

249,745

854,643

236,115

833,141

133,503

738,962

50,713

626,338

166,114

656,864

132,709

610,830

244,208

816,189

281,444

877,425

202,241

746,552

177,141

729,479

160,349

857,283

61,844

767,755

134,073

704,410

51,949

586,037

a)  The STIP values noted for 2019 exclude accrued on-costs as these do not represent a benefit to Directors and Executives however  

2018 remains consistent to that disclosed in the prior period. The STIP values noted for 2019 are an estimate as final performance has not 
yet been determined.

b)  Other short term benefits include fringe benefits on accommodation, car parking and other benefits.

c)  Superannuation includes the amounts required to be contributed by the Company and does not include amounts salary sacrificed.

d) 

In accordance with the requirements of the Accounting Standards, remuneration includes a proportion of the value of the equity-linked 
compensation determined as at the grant date of the performance rights and progressively expensed over the vesting period. The amount 
allocated as remuneration is not relative to or indicative of the actual benefit (if any) that may ultimately be realised should the equity 
instruments vest. The value of the performance rights was determined in accordance with AASB 2 Share-based Payments and is discussed 
in Section 4.11 above and in more detail in Note 26 of the Notes to the Financial Statements. 

e)  Ms Evans worked part time (0.8 full time equivalent for the period 1 July 2017 to 31 January 2018; and 0.9 full time equivalent for the period 
1 February 2018 to 30 June 2018) and 0.9 full time equivalent for the period 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019. Accordingly her entitlements 
are prorated.

f)  Mr Jacobsen commenced employment with the Company as General Manager Projects on 1 July 2017. 

End of remuneration report.

64

Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

5. Principal activities

Cooper Energy is an upstream oil and gas exploration and production company whose primary purpose is to secure, find, develop, produce 
and sell hydrocarbons. These activities are undertaken either solely or via unincorporated joint ventures. There was no significant change in the 
nature of these activities during the year.

6. Operating and Financial Review

Information on the operations and financial position of Cooper Energy and its business strategies and prospects is set out in the Operating and 
Financial Review.

7. Dividends

The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend and no amount has been paid or declared by way of dividends since the end of the 
previous financial year, or to the date of this report.

8. Environmental regulation 

The Company is a party to various production, exploration and development licences or permits. In most cases, the licence or permit terms 
specify the environmental regulations applicable to oil and gas operations in the respective jurisdiction. The Group aims to ensure that it 
complies with the identified regulatory requirements in each jurisdiction in which it operates. There have been no significant known breaches of 
the environmental obligations of the Group’s licences or permits.

9. Likely developments

Other than disclosed elsewhere in the Financial Report (including the Operating and Financial Review under the heading “Outlook”), further 
information about likely developments in the operations of the Group and the expected results of those operations in future financial years has 
not been included in this report because disclosure of the information would likely result in unreasonable prejudice to the consolidated entity. 

10. Directors’ interests

The relevant interest of each Director in ordinary shares and options over shares issued by the parent entity as notified by the Directors to the 
Australian Stock Exchange in accordance with S205G(1) of the Corporations Act 2001, at the date of this reports is as follows:

Mr J. Conde AO

Mr D. Maxwell

Ms E. Donaghey

Mr H. Gordon

Mr J. Schneider

Ms A. Williams

Ordinary Shares

Performance Rights

Share Appreciation Rights

859,093

17,416,881

160,000

2,673,781

1,016,594

179,444

Nil

3,831,347

Nil

365,449

Nil

Nil

Nil

9,931,619

Nil

949,623

Nil

Nil

11. Share options and rights

At the date of this report, there are no unissued ordinary shares of the parent entity under option.

At the date of this report, there are 15,464,897 outstanding performance rights and 39,756,951 share appreciation rights under the Equity 
Incentive Plan approved by shareholders at the 2018 AGM.

During the financial year 19,682,053 shares were issued as a result of performance rights exercised. At the date of this report, no performance 
rights have vested and been exercised subsequent to 30 June 2019.

12. Events after financial reporting date

Refer to Note 29 of the Notes to the Financial Statements.

13. Proceedings on behalf of the Company

No person has applied to the Court under section 237 of the Corporations Act 2001 for leave to bring proceedings on behalf of the Company, or 
to intervene in any proceedings to which the Company is a party for the purpose of taking responsibility on behalf of the Company for all or part 
of the proceedings.

65

Director’s Statutory Report
For the year ended 30 June 2019

14. Indemnification and insurance of directors and officers

14.1 Indemnification 

The parent entity has agreed to indemnify the current Directors and past Directors of the parent entity and of the subsidiaries, where applicable, 
against all liabilities (subject to certain limited exclusions) to persons (other than the Group or a related body corporate) which arise out of the 
performance of their normal duties as a Director or Executive Director unless the liability relates to conduct involving a lack of good faith. The 
parent entity has agreed to indemnify the Directors and Executive Directors against all costs and expenses incurred in defending an action that 
falls within the scope of the indemnity and any resulting payments. 

14.2 Insurance premiums

During the financial year, the parent entity has paid insurance premiums in respect of Directors’ and Officers’ liability and legal insurance 
contracts for current and former Directors and Officers including senior employees of the Parent entity. The insurance premium relates to 
costs and expenses incurred by the relevant officers in defending proceedings, whether civil or criminal and whatever their outcome and other 
liabilities that may arise from their position, with the exception of conduct involving a wilful breach of duty or improper use of information or 
position to gain a personal advantage. The insurance policy outlined above does not contain details of premiums paid in respect of individual 
Directors, Officers and senior employees of the parent entity.

15. Indemnification of auditors

To the extent permitted by law, the Company has agreed to indemnify its auditors, Ernst & Young, as part of the terms of its audit engagement 
agreement against claims by third parties arising from the audit (for an unspecified amount) except in the case where the claim arises because 
of Ernst & Young’s negligent, wrongful or wilful acts or omissions. No payment has been made to indemnify Ernst & Young during or since the 
financial year.

16. Auditor’s independence declaration

The auditor’s independence declaration is set out on page 116 and forms part of the Directors’ report for the financial year ended 30 June 2019.

17. Non-audit services

The amounts paid and payable to the auditor of the Group, Ernst & Young and its related practices for non-audit services provided during the 
year was $193,650 (2018: $172,187). The directors are satisfied that the provision of non-audit services Is compatible with the general standard 
of independence for auditors imposed by the Corporations Act 2001. The nature and scope of each type of non-audit service provided means 
that auditor independence was not compromised.

18. Rounding 

The Group is of a kind referred to in ASIC Corporations (Rounding in Financial/Directors’ Reports) Instrument 2016/191 dated 24 March 2016 
and in accordance with that Legislative Instrument, amounts in the financial report have been rounded to the nearest thousand dollars, unless 
otherwise stated.

This report is made in accordance with a resolution of the Directors.

Mr John C. Conde AO 
Chairman 

Mr David P. Maxwell
Managing Director

Dated at Adelaide 12 August 2019

66

 Cooper Energy Limited and its controlled entities

 Financial Statements

 For the year ended 30 June 2019

67

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
For the year ended 30 June 2019 

Revenue from oil and gas sales

Cost of sales

Gross profit 

Other income

Other expenses

Finance income

Finance costs

(Loss)/Profit before tax

Income tax benefit

Petroleum Resource Rent Tax expense

Total tax benefit/(expense)

Notes

2

2

2

2

18

18

3

3

2019
$’000

75,543

2018 
(Restated)
$’000

67,452

(43,866)

(38,464)

31,677

28,988

796

22,818

(44,126)

(22,057)

3,398

(4,972)

(13,227)

10,040

(8,864)

1,176

4,049

(2,779)

31,019

4,781

(8,789)

(4,008)

(Loss)/Profit after tax for the period attributable to shareholders

(12,051)

27,011

Other comprehensive income/(expenditure)

Items that will be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

Fair value movements on oil price options accounted for in a hedge relationship

Fair value movements on interest rate swaps accounted for in a hedge relationship

Reclassification during the period to profit or loss of realised hedge settlements

Income tax effect on fair value movement on derivative financial instrument

Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

Fair value movement on equity instruments at fair value through other comprehensive 
income

Other comprehensive (expenditure)/income for the period net of tax

21

21

21

19

-

(1,277)

-

383

258

(481)

280

92

(989)

(1,883)

1,230

1,379

Total comprehensive (loss)/gain for the period attributable to shareholders

(13,934)

28,390

Basic (loss)/earnings per share

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share 

4

4

cents

(0.7)

(0.7)

cents

1.8

1.8

The above Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

68

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
As at 30 June 2019

Assets

Current Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Other financial assets

Trade and other receivables

Prepayments

Inventory

Total Current Assets

Non-Current Assets

Term deposits at bank

Trade and other receivables

Other financial assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Exploration and evaluation assets

Oil and gas assets

Deferred tax asset

Total Non-Current Assets

Total Assets

Liabilities

Current Liabilities

Trade and other payables

Provisions

Other financial liabilities

Total Current Liabilities

Non-Current Liabilities

Provisions 

Government grants

Interest bearing loans and borrowings

Other financial liabilities

Deferred Petroleum Resource Rent Tax Liability

Total Non-Current Liabilities

Total Liabilities

Net Assets

Equity

Contributed equity

Reserves

Accumulated losses

Total Equity

Notes

2019
$’000

2018
$’000

5

20

6

7

8

5

6

20

10

11

12

13

3

9

15

20

15

16

17

20

3

19

19

19

 164,289 

236,907

 - 

 21,169 

 3,346 

 426 

189,230

-

-

21,740

4,580

36

152,268

613,198

20,757

812,579

1,001,809

44,533

11,131

1,758

57,422

276,789

430

213,680

3,482

16,293

510,674

20,171

27,330

2,761

467

287,636

16

156

22,387

2,864

-

98,732

394,632

10,334

529,121

816,757

59,215

73,812

591

133,618

106,680

2,067

116,923

3,231

10,356

239,257

568,096

372,875

433,713

443,882

474,397

9,247

(49,931)

433,713

471,837

9,925

(37,880)

443,882

The above Consolidated Statement of Financial Position should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

69

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
For the year ended 30 June 2019

Notes

Issued 
Capital

$’000

Reserves

Accumulated 
Losses

$’000

$’000

Total 
Equity

$’000

471,837

9,925

(37,880)

443,882

Balance at 1 July 2018

Loss for the period

Other comprehensive expenditure

Total comprehensive loss for the period

Transactions with owners in their capacity  
as owners:

Share based payments

Transferred to issued capital

Shares issued

19

19

19

-

-

-

-

2,217

343

-

(12,051)

(12,051)

(1,883)

(1,883)

-

(1,883)

(12,051)

(13,934)

3,422

(2,217)

-

-

-

-

3,422

-

343

Balance as at 30 June 2019

474,397

9,247

(49,931)

433,713

Balance at 1 July 2017

Profit for the period

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive gain for the period

Transactions with owners in their capacity as 
owners:

Share based payments

Transferred to issued capital

Shares issued

Balance as at 30 June 2018

343,161

6,777

(64,891)

285,047

-

-

-

-

873

127,803

471,837

19

19

19

-

27,011

1,379

1,379

-

27,011

27,011

1,379

28,390

2,642

(873)

-

-

-

-

9,925

(37,880)

2,642

-

127,803

443,882

The above Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

70

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
For the year ended 30 June 2019

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Receipts from customers

Payments to suppliers and employees

Payments of exit provision

Payments for restoration

Petroleum Resource Rent Tax paid

Interest received

Net cash from operating activities

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Transfers to term deposits

Transfers from/(to) escrow proceeds receivable

Payments for property, plant and equipment

Receipts from disposal of property, plant and equipment

Payments of contingent consideration

Payments of consideration

Receipts for assumption of rehabilitation provisions

Receipts from sale of subsidiary

Receipts of consideration receivable

Payments for exploration and evaluation

Payments for oil and gas assets

Interest paid

Net cash flows used in investing activities

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Proceeds from equity issue

Proceeds from borrowings

Transaction costs associated with borrowings

Net cash flow from financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash held

Net foreign exchange differences

Cash and cash equivalents at 1 July

Cash and cash equivalents at 30 June

Notes

2019
$’000

2018
$’000

79,873

65,065

(44,510)

(27,521)

(3,133)

-

(14,348)

(12,413)

(530)

3,152

5

20,504

16

20,571

(2,607)

-

-

-

-

-

894

(6,706)

3,793

22,218

25

(40,171)

(1,595)

41,847

(20,000)

(1,000)

48,082

739

-

(11,962)

(26,283)

(180,010)

(170,581)

(11,015)

(4,597)

(184,113)

(173,534)

-

92,290

(1,559)

90,731

127,228

125,865

(12,295)

240,798

(72,878)

89,482

260

236,907

164,289

-

147,425

236,907

5

5

The above Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

71

 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the year ended 30 June 2019

Corporate information 

The consolidated financial report of Cooper Energy Limited and its controlled entities (“Cooper Energy” or “the Group”) for the year ended 30 
June 2019 was authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the Directors on 12 August 2019. Cooper Energy Limited is a for profit 
company limited by shares incorporated and domiciled in Australia whose shares are publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange. 

The nature of the operations and principal activities of the Group are described in the Directors’ Statutory Report and Note 1.

Basis of preparation

The financial report is a general-purpose financial report, which has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Corporations 
Act 2001, Australian Accounting Standards and other authoritative pronouncements of the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) and 
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

The financial report has also been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for equity instruments measured at fair value through other 
comprehensive income and derivative financial instruments measured at fair value. Cooper Energy Limited is a for profit Group.

The financial report is presented in Australian dollars and under the option available to the Group under ASIC Corporations (Rounding in 
Financial/Directors’ Reports) Instrument 2016/191, all values are rounded to the nearest thousand dollars ($’000) unless otherwise stated.

Australian Dollars is the functional currency of Cooper Energy Limited and all of its subsidiaries. Transactions in foreign currencies are initially 
recorded in the functional currency of the transacting entity at the exchange rates ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets 
and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the reporting date are translated at the rates of exchange ruling at that date. Exchange 
differences in the consolidated financial statements are taken to the income statement.

Basis of consolidation 

The consolidated financial statements are those of the consolidated entity, comprising Cooper Energy Limited (“the parent entity”) and its 
controlled entities (“Cooper Energy” or “the Group”).

The financial statements of subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting period as the parent entity, using consistent accounting policies. 
All inter-company balances and transactions, income and expenses and profit and losses arising from intra-group transactions, have been 
eliminated in full. 

Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date on which the Group gains control of the subsidiary and cease to be consolidated from the date on 
which the Group ceases to control the subsidiary.

Significant accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions 

In the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies, management is required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that 
affect the reported amounts in the financial statements. Judgements, estimates and assumptions which are material to specific notes of the 
financial statements are below:

Note 3

Income tax

Note 15

Provisions

Note 13

Oil and gas assets

Note 22

Interests in joint arrangements

Note 14

Impairment

Note 26

Share based payments

Judgements, estimates and assumptions which are material to the overall financial statements are below:

Significant Accounting Judgements, Estimates and Assumptions

Determination of recoverable hydrocarbons 

Estimates of recoverable hydrocarbons impact the asset impairment assessment, depreciation and amortisation rates and 
decommissioning and restoration provisions.

Estimates of recoverable hydrocarbons are evaluated and reported by qualified petroleum reserves and resources evaluators in 
accordance with the ASX Listing Rules and the Group’s Hydrocarbon Guidelines (www.cooperenergy.com.au/our-company/corporate-
governance-and-policies/hydrocarbon-reporting-policy). A technical understanding of the geological and engineering processes enables 
the recoverable hydrocarbon estimates to be determined by using forecasts of production, commodity prices, production costs, 
exchange rates, tax rates and discount rates.

Recoverable hydrocarbon estimates may change from time to time if any of the forecast assumptions are revised.

72

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the year ended 30 June 2019

New accounting standards and interpretations 

New standards, interpretations and amendments thereof, adopted by the Group

The Group has adopted all of the new and revised Standards and Interpretations issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (the 
AASB) that are relevant to their operations and effective for the 2019 financial year. As at 1 July 2015, Cooper Energy early adopted AASB 
9 Financial Instruments (2014). The impact for Cooper Energy has been outlined in Note 23 of the 2016 Financial Statements. The Group’s 
accounting policies are consistent with those of the previous financial year except for new policies adopted from 1 July 2018.

AASB 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The Group has adopted AASB 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which replaces AASB 118 Revenue and related Interpretations, 
from 1 July 2018. In accordance with the transition provisions of AASB 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, the Group has elected to 
adopt the full retrospective approach upon transition whereby any adjustment to historical revenue transactions (that impacts net profit) would 
be recorded against opening retained earnings as at 1 July 2017. Comparatives for the 30 June 2018 reporting period have been restated. 

As part of the transition to the new standard the Group has undertaken a detailed review of its revenue contracts that existed during the 
transition period and has also reviewed the accounting treatment for the disposal of property, plant & equipment and producing assets in the 
prior year. This is because AASB 15 also makes consequential amendments to AASB 116 Property, Plant & Equipment, which may impact on 
the date of disposal and the amount of consideration included in the gain or loss arising from the de-recognition. This review has concluded 
there are no impacts to net profit or opening retained earnings. 

The application of AASB 15 has resulted in the disclosure of the individual components of revenue. Revenue from contracts with customers 
are now shown separately from other forms of revenue in Note 2, with total revenue remaining on the face of the Consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive Income. To allow the distinction between revenue from operations and interest accrued on cash and short-term deposits, 
interest earned has been reclassified from Other revenue to Finance income on the face of the statement of comprehensive income. The 
application of AASB 15 has resulted in revised classification outlined below and as detailed in Note 2. The transition adjustments are primarily 
due to reclassification of the provisional pricing on crude oil sales and the settlement of commodity price options. Revenue from contracts 
with customers is recognised based on the provisional pricing at the date of delivery, with the price estimate based on the forward curve. The 
difference between the estimated price and the price ultimately achieved for the sale of the crude oil transaction is recognised as a movement 
in the fair value of the receivable in accordance with AASB 9. A summary of the reclassification adjustments made is set out in the table below.

30 June 2018
$’000

Transition 
adjustment

30 June 2018 
(Restated) 
$’000

Revenue from contracts with customers

Oil revenue from contracts with customers

Gas revenue from contracts with customers

Total revenue from contracts with customers

Other revenue

Fair value movement on receivables 

Settlement of commodity price options

Total other revenue

Total revenue from oil and gas sales

26,602

40,850

67,452

-

-

-

67,452

(4,342)

-

(4,342)

4,622

(280)

4,342

-

22,260

40,850

63,110

4,622

(280)

4,342

67,452

73

New accounting standards and interpretations continued

Accounting standards and interpretations issued but not yet effective

The accounting standards and interpretations that have recently been issued or amended but are not yet effective and have not been adopted 
by the Group for the annual reporting period ending 30 June 2019, are outlined below:

AASB 16

Summary

Leases

AASB 16 was issued in January 2016 and it replaces AASB 117 Leases, AASB Interpretation 4 
Determining whether an Arrangement contains a Lease, AASB Interpretation 115 Operating Leases-
Incentives and AASB Interpretation 127 Evaluating the Substance of Transactions Involving the Legal 
Form of a Lease. AASB 16 sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation 
and disclosure of leases and requires lessees to account for all leases under a single on-balance 
sheet model similar to the accounting for finance leases under AASB 117.

Under AASB 16 Leases, a lessee is required to recognise a right-of-use asset representing its right to 
use the underlying asset and lease liabilities for all leases with a term of more than 12 months. At the 
commencement date of a lease, the lessee will recognise a liability to make lease payments (i.e., the 
lease liability) and an asset representing the right to use the underlying asset during the lease term 
(i.e., the right-of-use asset). The right-of-use asset is depreciated and recognised in the consolidated 
statement of financial performance together with the interest on the lease liability. 

There are recognition exemptions for short-term leases and leases of low-value items. Lessor 
accounting remains substantially the same as the current standard – i.e. lessors continue to classify 
leases as finance or operating leases.

Application Date of the Standard

1 January 2019

Application Date for Group

1 July 2019

Impact on Consolidated Financial 
Statements

The standard will impact the accounting for the Group’s operating leases. A detailed review of 
AASB 16 was undertaken by subject matter experts to identify all leases and embedded leases and 
quantify the impact of the Group’s leasing arrangements. The Group expects to apply the modified 
retrospective transition approach, measuring the right of use asset as equal to the lease liability, 
with the cumulative effect of adopting AASB 16 recognised as an adjustment to the opening 
balance of retained earnings at 1 July 2019, with no restatement of comparative information.

The Group estimates the following impact on its Consolidated Statement of Financial Position at 
1 July 2019:

Assets: Right-of-use assets

Liabilities: Lease Liabilities

$’000

9,378

(9,378)

The Group does not expect the adoption of AASB 16 to impact its ability to comply with 
debt covenants. 

Under AASB 16, the Group will recognise a right of use asset and corresponding lease liability in 
relation to the Orbost Gas Plant. The Sole Gas Processing Agreement creates a right-of-use asset 
and will be recognised at an amount equal to the corresponding lease liability. The Group will 
recognise a right of use asset and lease liability under AASB 16 for the Orbost Gas Plant at the date 
the underlying asset is available for use. The Group currently expects the agreement, which was 
signed prior to 1 July 2019, to result in a right of use asset and lease liability of approximately 
between $260 million to $290 million based on current information, with recognition to occur in the 
2020 financial year once the asset is available for use. The right of use asset and lease liability is 
dependent on a number of factors that will be known at the time the asset is available for use.

AASB 16 requires that the lessee’s rate implicit in the lease arrangement be used to measure the 
present value of the lease liability. In determining the discount rate applicable to the Orbost Gas 
Plant lease liability, the Group will use the interest rate implicit in the lease. 

The Group will recognise a depreciation expense and interest expense from the date the underlying 
asset is available for use.

The AASB 16 charge is calculated based on the fixed payments required under the agreements. 
The variable charges based on volumes of gas processed do not form part of the lease liability and 
will be recognised as production costs as incurred.

Orbost Gas Plant

74

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 2019New accounting standards and interpretations continued

Accounting standards and interpretations issued but not yet effective continued

AASB Interpretation 23

Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments

Summary

The Interpretation clarifies the application of the recognition and measurement criteria in AASB 112 
Income Taxes when there is uncertainty over income tax treatments. The Interpretation specifically 
addresses the following: 

• Whether an entity considers uncertain tax treatments separately 

• The assumptions an entity makes about the examination of tax treatments by taxation authorities 

• How an entity determines taxable profit (tax loss), tax bases, unused tax losses, unused tax credits 

and tax rates 

• How an entity considers changes in facts and circumstances. 

Application Date of the Standard

1 January 2019

Application Date for Group

1 July 2019

Impact on Consolidated Financial 
Statements

The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Group.

Notes to the financial statements 

The notes include information which is required to understand the financial statements and is material and relevant to the operations, financial 
position and performance of the Group. They include applicable accounting policies applied and significant judgements, estimates and 
assumptions made. Specific accounting policies are disclosed in the respective notes to the financial statements. 

The notes are organised into the following sections:

Group performance

Working capital

Capital employed

Funding and risk management

Group structure

Other information

Provides additional information regarding financial statement lines that are most relevant to 
explaining the Group’s performance during the period.

Provides additional information regarding financial statement lines that are most relevant to 
explaining the assets used to generate the Group’s trading performance during the period.

Provides additional information regarding financial statement lines that are most relevant to 
explaining the capital investments made that allows the Group to generate its operating result during 
the period and liabilities incurred as a result.

Provides additional information regarding financial statement lines that are most relevant to 
explaining the Group’s funding sources. This section also provides information relating to the Group’s 
exposure to various financial risks, its impact on the financial position and performance of the Group 
and how these risks are managed.

Summarises how the group structure affects the financial position and performance of the Group as 
a whole.

Includes other information that is disclosed to comply with relevant accounting standards and other 
pronouncements, but is not directly related to the individual line items in the financial statement.

75

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 2019Group Performance

1. Segment reporting

Identification of reportable segments and types of activities

The Group identified its reportable segments to be Cooper Basin, South-East Australia (based on the nature and geographic location of the 
assets) and Corporate. This forms the basis of internal Group reporting to the Managing Director who is the chief operating decision maker for 
the purpose of assessing performance and allocating resources between each segment. Revenue and expenses are allocated by way of their 
natural expense and income category. 

Other prospective opportunities are also considered from time to time and, if they are secured, will then be attributed to the segment where 
they are located, or a new segment will be established.

The following are reportable segments:

Cooper Basin

Exploration and evaluation of oil and gas and production and sale of crude oil in the Group’s permits within the Cooper Basin. Revenue is 
derived from the sale of crude oil to IOR Energy Pty Ltd and a consortium of buyers made up of Santos Limited (and its subsidiaries), Delhi 
Petroleum Pty Ltd and Lattice Energy Limited. 

South-East Australia

The South-East Australia segment primarily consists of the Sole Gas Project, Manta Gas Project and the Group’s interest in the operated 
Casino Henry and non-operated Minerva producing gas assets. Revenue is derived from the sale of gas and condensate to four customers. The 
segment also includes exploration and evaluation and care and maintenance activities ongoing in the Otway and Gippsland basins. 

Corporate and Other

The Corporate segment includes the revenue and costs associated with the running of the business and includes items which are not directly 
allocable to the other segments.

Accounting policies and inter-segment transactions

The accounting policies used by the Group in reporting segments internally is the same as those contained in the financial statements.

Segments

30 June 2019

Revenue from oil and gas sales

Total revenue

Segment result before interest, tax, 
depreciation, amortisation and impairment

Depreciation and amortisation

Net finance (costs)/income

Profit/(loss) before tax

Income tax benefit

Petroleum Resource Rent Tax

Net profit/(loss) after tax

Segment assets

Segment liabilities

Cooper 
Basin 

$’000

23,283

23,283

14,168

(1,628)

(101)

12,439

-

-

12,439

19,059

6,719

South-east 
Australia  

Corporate  
and Other 

Consolidated 

$’000

$’000

$’000

52,260

52,260

7,126

(16,713)

(4,871)

(14,458)

-

(8,864)

(23,322)

765,765

342,798

-

-

(13,778)

(828)

3,398

(11,208)

-

-

(11,208)

216,985

218,579

75,543

75,543

7,516

(19,169)

(1,574)

(13,227)

10,040

(8,864)

(12,051)

1,001,809

568,096

76

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 2019 
 
 
 
 
1. Segment reporting continued

Accounting policies and inter-segment transactions continued

Segments

30 June 2018

Revenue from oil and gas sales

Total revenue

Segment result before interest, tax, 
depreciation, amortisation and impairment

Depreciation and amortisation

Impairment expense

Net finance (costs)/income

Profit/(loss) before tax

Income tax benefit

Petroleum Resource Rent Tax

Net profit/(loss) after tax

Segment assets

Segment liabilities

Cooper 
Basin 

$’000

26,602

26,602

16,589

(3,053)

(696)

(109)

12,731

-

-

12,731

18,978

5,168

South-east 
Australia  

Corporate  
and Other 

Consolidated 

$’000

$’000

$’000

40,850

40,850

47,415

(16,536)

-

(2,670)

28,209

-

(8,789)

19,420

284,598

210,810

-

-

(13,366)

(604)

-

4,049

(9,921)

-

-

(9,921)

513,181

156,897

67,452

67,452

50,638

(20,193)

(696)

1,270

31,019

4,781

(8,789)

27,011

816,757

372,875

In 2019, revenue from two customers amounted to $42.2 million, and $5.4 million respectively in the South-East Australia segment and 
$22.7 million from one customer in the Cooper Basin segment. In 2018, revenue from three customers amounted to $24.4 million, $10.4 million 
and $5.1 million respectively in the South-East Australia segment and $21.8 million from one customer in the Cooper Basin segment.

2. Revenues and expenses

Revenue from oil and gas sales

Revenue from contracts with customers

Oil revenue from contracts with customers

Gas revenue from contracts with customers

Total revenue from contracts with customers

Other revenue

Fair value movement on crude oil receivables

Settlement of commodity price options

Total other revenue

Total revenue from oil and gas sales

Other income

Gain on exit provision

Gain on movement of consideration receivable

Gain on sale of subsidiary

Gain on derecognition of associate

Total other income

Notes

2019
$’000

2018 (restated)
$’000

23,744

52,260

76,004

(445)

(16)

(461)

22,260

40,850

63,110

4,622

(280)

4,342

75,543

67,452

774

22

-

-

796

-

531

21,934

353

22,818

77

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 2019 
 
 
 
 
2. Revenues and expenses continued

Cost of sales

Production expenses

Royalties

Amortisation of oil and gas assets

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

Total cost of sales

Other expenses

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

General administration 

Care and maintenance

Restoration expense

Write-off of fixed asset

Write-off of inventory 

Exploration and evaluation expense 

Impairment expense

Fair value adjustment of success fee liability

Fair value movement on oil price derivatives

Realised and unrealised foreign currency translation gain

Total other expenses

Employee benefits expense included in general administration

Director and employee benefits

Share based payments

Superannuation expense

Total employee benefits expense (gross)

Lease payments included in general administration

Minimum lease payment – operating lease (gross)

Accounting Policy

Revenue from contracts with customers

Notes

2019
$’000

2018 (restated)
$’000

(23,623)

(1,902)

(18,179)

(162)

(43,866)

(828)

(16,546)

(590)

(26,205)

(57)

(41)

(1,360)

-

(358)

236

1,623

(16,881)

(1,994)

(16,873)

(2,716)

(38,464)

(604)

(14,325)

(775)

(4,916)

(324)

-

(850)

(696)

34

(236)

635

(44,126)

(22,057)

(17,002)

(3,422)

(853)

(21,277)

(12,536)

(2,642)

(657)

(15,835)

(951)

(839)

14

Revenue from contracts with customers is recognised at the point in time when control of the crude oil, natural gas or liquids is 
transferred to the customer, at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Group expects to be entitled in exchange for those 
goods. This is generally when the product is transferred to the delivery point specified in the individual customer contract. The Group’s 
performance obligations are considered to relate only to the sale of the crude oil, natural gas or liquids, with each barrel of crude oil or GJ 
of natural gas considered to be a separate performance obligation under the contractual arrangements in place. 

The Group has concluded that it is the principal in all of its revenue arrangements since it controls the goods before transferring them to 
the customer. Under the terms of the relevant joint operating arrangements the Group is entitled to its participating share in the crude oil, 
natural gas or liquids based on the Group’s entitlement interest. Revenue from contracts with customers is recognised based on the 
actual volumes sold to customers. 

The Group’s sales of natural gas are predominantly based on contracted prices, while crude oil and liquids transactions are priced based 
on market prices. The crude oil sales price is the Tapis crude oil price, adjusted for a quality differential. 

The crude oil sales contain provisional pricing. Revenue from contracts with customers is recognised based on the provisional pricing at 
the date of delivery, with the price estimate based on the forward curve. The difference between the estimated price and the price 
ultimately achieved for the sale of the crude oil transaction is recognised as a movement in the fair value of the receivable in accordance 
with AASB 9. This amount is presented as other revenue in Note 2 as these movements are not within the scope of AASB 15. 

78

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 20193. Income tax

The major components of income tax expense are:

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Deferred income tax

Origination and reversal of temporary differences

Over provision in respect of prior year income tax

Income tax benefit

Current royalty tax

Current year

Adjustments in respect of prior year income tax

Deferred royalty tax

Origination and reversal of temporary differences

2019
$’000

2018
$’000

7,522

2,518

10,040

(3,760)

(492)

(4,252)

(4,612)

(4,612)

5,784

(1,003)

4,781

(1,372)

1,458

86

(8,875)

(8,875)

Total royalty tax (expense)

(8,864)

(8,789)

Total tax benefit/(expense)

1,176

(4,008)

Reconciliation between tax expense and pre-tax net profit

Accounting (loss)/profit before tax from continuing operations

Income tax using the domestic corporation tax rate of 30% (2018: 30%)

(Increase)/decrease in income tax expense due to:

Deductible expenditure

Non-assessable income

Non-deductible expenditure 

Adjustments in respect to current income tax of previous years

Recognition of royalty related income tax benefits

Other

Income tax benefit

Royalty related tax expense

Total tax benefit/(expense)

Income tax recognised in other comprehensive income

Deductible equity costs

Fair value movement on derivative financial instruments

Income tax using the domestic corporation tax rate of 30% (2018: 30%)

(13,227)

3,968

161

232

(1,469)

2,518

1,383

3,247

10,040

(8,864)

1,176

-

383

383

31,019

(9,306)

6,044

6,582

(749)

(1,003)

3,107

106

4,781

(8,789)

(4,008)

1,599

(92)

1,507

79

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 20193. Income tax continued

Tax Consolidation

Cooper Energy Limited and its 100% owned Australian resident subsidiaries are consolidated for Australian income tax purposes with Cooper 
Energy Limited being the head entity of the tax consolidated group. Members of the Group entered into a tax sharing arrangement in order to 
allocate income tax expense to the wholly-owned subsidiaries. In addition, the agreement provides for the allocation of income tax liabilities 
between the entities should the head entity default on its tax payment obligations. 

Members of the tax consolidated group have entered into a tax funding agreement. The tax funding agreement requires members of the tax 
consolidated group to make contributions to the head Company for tax liabilities and deferred tax balances arising from transactions occurring 
after the implementation of tax consolidation. Contributions are payable following the payment of the liabilities by Cooper Energy Limited. 
The assets and liabilities arising under the tax funding agreement are recognised as inter-company assets and liabilities with a consequential 
adjustment to income tax expense or benefit. In addition, the agreement provides for the allocation of income tax liabilities between the entities 
should the head entity default on its tax payment obligations or upon leaving the Group. The current and deferred tax amounts are measured in 
a systematic manner that is consistent with the broad principles in AASB 112 Income Taxes.

Unrecognised temporary differences

At 30 June 2019, there are no unrecognised temporary differences associated with the Group’s investments in subsidiaries, as the Group has 
no liability for additional taxation should unremitted earnings be remitted (2018: $nil).

Franking Tax Credits

At 30 June 2019 the parent entity had franking tax credits of $42.9 million (2018: $42.9 million). The fully franked dividend equivalent is 
$142.9 million (2018: $142.9 million). 

Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT)

Cooper Energy Limited has recognised a Deferred Tax Liability for Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) of $16.3 million (2018: $10.4 million) 
relating to PRRT on the Group’s producing gas assets. The Group has not recognised a Deferred Tax Asset for PRRT of $19.1 million (2018: 
$52.2 million). In the current year, this is in respect of the Sole Gas Project, and the Deferred Tax Asset for Sole will be recognised when it 
is probable that the undeducted expenditure will be able to be utilised. From 1 July 2019, there was a change in the PRRT legislation so that 
onshore petroleum projects will no longer be subject to PRRT. The Group has significant levels of undeducted expenditure in respect of the 
Cooper Basin oil producing assets that will not be utilised.

Income Tax Losses

(a) Revenue Losses

A Deferred Tax Asset has been recognised for the year ended 30 June 2019 of $23.6 million (2018: $21.6 million). 

(b) Capital Losses

Cooper Energy has not recognised a Deferred Tax Asset for Australian income tax capital losses of $15.5 million (2018: $3.0 million) on the 
basis that it is not probable that the carried forward capital losses will be utilised against future assessable capital profits. Capital losses have 
been utilised in the prior year to offset the capital gain generated from the sale of the Orbost Gas Plant and the receipt of funds from exited 
joint venture parties for the BMG abandonment.

80

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 20193. Income tax continued

Income Tax Losses continued

Deferred income tax from corporate tax

Deferred income tax at 30 June relates to:

Deferred tax liabilities

Trade and other receivables

Oil and gas assets

Exploration and evaluation

Property, plant and equipment

Other

Unrealised currency translation gain

Deferred tax assets

Trade and other payables

Provision for employee entitlements

Provisions

Other

Capital raising costs

Tax losses

Deferred tax benefit

Consolidated 
Statement of Financial  
Position

Consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive 
Income

2019
$’000

2018 
$’000

2019
$’000

2018 
$’000

2,240

20,325

8,293

40

103

-

3,583

16,153

4,082

-

424

-

1,343

(1,164)

(4,172)

(4,211)

(40)

(62)

-

(15,828)

11,851

-

(308)

38

31,001

24,242

(7,142)

(5,411)

-

2,082

18,410

5,377

2,261

23,628

51,758

-

1,823

4,602

3,313

3,226

21,612

34,576

-

259

13,808

2,064

(965)

2,016

17,182

10,040

(1,199)

1,459

2,114

3,108

(628)

5,338

10,192

4,781

Deferred tax asset from corporate tax

20,757

10,334

Deferred income tax from PRRT

Deferred income tax at 30 June relates to:

Deferred tax liabilities

Oil and gas assets

Deferred tax (expense)

16,293

10,356

(4,612)

(4,612)

(8,875)

(8,875)

Deferred tax liability from PRRT

16,293

10,356

81

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 20193. Income tax continued

Income Tax Losses continued

Accounting Policy

Current tax assets and liabilities for the current and prior periods are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to 
the taxation authorities based on tax rates and tax laws that are enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date.

Deferred income tax is recognised on all temporary differences, except for:

• the initial recognition of an asset or liability that affects neither the accounting profit nor taxable profit or loss; or

• the taxable temporary difference is associated with investments in subsidiaries, associates or interests in joint ventures, and the timing 

of the reversal of the temporary difference can be controlled and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the 
foreseeable future.

Deferred income tax assets are recognised for all deductible temporary differences, carry-forward of unused tax assets and unused tax 
losses, to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the deductible temporary differences 
and the carry-forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses can be utilised.

The carrying amount of deferred income tax assets is reviewed at each reporting date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer 
probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the deferred income tax asset to be utilised. Unrecognised 
deferred income tax assets are reassessed at each reporting date and are recognised to the extent that it has become probable that 
future taxable profit will allow the deferred tax asset to be recovered. 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that were expected to apply to the year when the asset is 
realised or the liability is settled, based on tax rates and tax laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date.

Income taxes relating to items recognised directly in equity are recognised in equity and not in profit or loss.

Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset only if a legally enforceable right exits to offset current tax assets against 
current tax liabilities and the deferred tax asset and liabilities relate to the same taxable entity and the same taxation authority. Where 
allowable by initial recognition exemptions, deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities that arise on acquisition are not recognised.

Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT)

For PRRT purposes, the impact of future augmentation on expenditure is included in the determination of future taxable profits when 
assessing the extent to which a deferred tax asset can be recognised in the statement of financial position. Deferred tax assets are 
reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realised. 

Goods and Services Taxes (GST)

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of GST. Receivables and payables are stated inclusive of the amount 
of GST receivable or payable. The net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority is included as part of 
receivables or payables in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. Commitments and contingencies are disclosed net of the 
amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority.

Cash flows are included in the Cash Flow Statement on a net basis and the net GST component of cash flows arising from investing and 
financing activities, which is recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority, are classified as operating cash flows.

Significant Accounting Judgements, Estimates and Assumptions

The Group has a Tax Risk Management Framework which outlines how the direct and indirect tax obligations of Cooper Energy Limited 
are met from an operational, governance and tax risk management perspective. 

Management judgements are made in relation to the types of arrangements considered to be a tax on income (PRRT) in contrast to an 
operating cost. 

Judgement is also made in assessing whether deferred tax assets and certain deferred tax liabilities are recognised on the 
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. Deferred tax assets, including those arising from un-recouped tax losses, capital losses, 
and temporary differences arising from the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax legislation, are recognised only where it is considered more 
likely than not they will be recovered, which is dependent on the generation of sufficient future taxable profits. Future taxable profits 
are estimated by Board approved internal budgets and forecasts.

Judgements are also required about the application of income tax legislation. These judgements and assumptions are subject to risk 
and uncertainty, hence there is a possibility changes in circumstances will alter expectation, which may impact the amount of deferred 
tax assets and deferred tax liabilities recognised on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position and the amount of other tax losses 
and temporary differences not yet recognised.

In such circumstances, some or all of the carrying amounts of recognised deferred tax assets and liabilities may require adjustment, 
resulting in a corresponding credit or charge to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. 

82

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 20194. Earnings per share

The following reflects the net (loss)/profit and share data used in the calculations of earnings per share:

Net (loss)/profit after tax attributable to shareholders

2019
$’000

(12,051)

2018
$’000

27,011

2019
Thousands

2018
Thousands

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating basic earnings per share 

1,611,905

1,506,880

Dilutive performance rights and share appreciation rights1

-

22,570

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating dilutive earnings per share

1,611,905

1,529,450

Basic (loss)/earnings per share for the period (cents per share)

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share for the period (cents per share)

(0.7)

(0.7)

1.8

1.8

1. The weighted average number of potentially dilutive shares at 30 June 2019 is 24.6 million (2018: 22.6 million)

At 30 June 2019 there exist performance rights and share appreciation rights that if vested, would result in the issue of additional ordinary 
shares over the next three years. In the current period, these potential ordinary shares are considered antidilutive as their conversion to ordinary 
shares would reduce the loss per share. Accordingly, they have been excluded from the dilutive earnings per share calculation. There have been 
no other transactions involving ordinary shares or potential ordinary shares between the reporting date and the date of completion of these 
financial statements.

Accounting Policy

Basic earnings per share are calculated as net profit attributable to shareholders divided by the weighted average number of ordinary 
shares. Diluted earnings per share is calculated as net profit attributable to shareholders adjusted for the after tax effect of dilutive 
potential ordinary shares that have been recognised as expenses during the period divided by the weighted average number of ordinary 
shares and dilutive potential ordinary shares.

83

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 2019Working Capital

5. Cash and cash equivalents and term deposits

Current Assets

Cash at bank and in hand

Term deposits at bank

Cash and cash equivalents

Non-Current Assets

Term deposits at bank

Reconciliation of net profit to net cash flows from operating activities

Net (loss)/profit after tax

Add/(deduct) non-cash items:

Amortisation of oil and gas assets

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

Impairment expense

Exploration and Evaluation expense

Restoration expense

Share based payments

Finance costs

Gain on sale of subsidiary

Foreign exchange (gain)/loss

Other non-cash movements

Net cash from operating activities before changes in assets or liabilities

Add/(deduct) changes in operating assets or liabilities:

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables

(Increase)/decrease in inventories

(Increase)/decrease in prepayments

(Decrease)/increase in deferred taxes

(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables

(Decrease)/increase in provisions

(Increase)/decrease in held for sale assets

Net cash from operating activities

Reconciliation of liabilities arising from financing activities

Balance at beginning of period

Proceeds from borrowings

Other

Balance at end of period

Accounting Policy

2019
$’000

136,539

27,750

164,289

-

2019
$’000

2018
$’000

236,907

-

236,907

16

2018
$’000

(12,051)

27,011

18,179

990

-

1,360

26,205

3,422

4,972

-

(778)

(656)

41,643

4,694

41

(560)

(4,486)

(7,169)

(13,659)

-

20,504

116,923

92,290

4,467

213,680

16,873

3,320

696

850

4,916

2,642

2,779

(21,934)

(1,385)

1,400

37,168

(11,544)

-

52

2,856

5,463

(12,135)

358

22,218

-

125,865

(8,942)

116,923

Cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position comprise cash at bank and short-term deposits for periods 
of three months or subject to insignificant changes in value. For the purposes of the Statement of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents 
includes cash and term deposits as defined above, net of outstanding bank overdrafts.

Cash held in escrow with associated restrictions whereby the Group cannot use that cash for operational purposes as it deems appropriate is 
classified as a financial asset and not as cash and cash equivalents. 

84

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 2019 
6. Trade and other receivables 

Current Assets

Trade receivables

Accrued revenue

Related party receivable – joint arrangements

Interest receivable

Non-Current Assets

Trade receivables

Consideration receivable

2019
$’000

9,474

11,349

-

346

21,169

-

-

-

2018
$’000

12,604

12,298

2,067

361

27,330

11

145

156

There are no past due or impaired trade receivables and none that have a history of past default.

Accounting Policy

Trade receivables are non-interest bearing and generally have 30 to 90 day terms. Trade receivables are recognised at the transaction price 
as defined by AASB 15 and carried at amortised cost less any allowances for expected credit loss. An allowance for expected credit loss is 
recognised using the simplified approach. Bad debts are written off when identified.

7. Prepayments 

Insurance 

Other

8. Inventory

Spares and parts

2019
$’000

884

2,462

3,346

2019
$’000

426

2018
$’000

1,761

1,000

2,761

2018
$’000

467

All inventory items are carried at cost in the current and previous financial years.

Accounting Policy

Inventories are carried at the lower of their cost or net realisable value. Inventories held by the Group are in respect of spares and parts 
involved in drilling operations. Items held as insurance or capital spares are treated as part of property, plant and equipment.

9. Trade and other payables

Trade payables

Accruals (capital and operating expenditure)

Deferred lease incentive

Accounting Policy

2019
$’000

5,046

36,598

2,889

44,533

2018
$’000

14,159

43,597

1,459

59,215

Trade payables are non-interest bearing and carried at amortised cost. The amounts represent liabilities for goods and services provided 
during the financial year, but not yet settled at the balance sheet date. Accruals represent unbilled goods or services.

85

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 2019Capital Employed

10. Property, plant and equipment 

Reconciliation of carrying amounts at 
beginning and end of period:

Carrying amount at beginning of period

Additions

Disposals/written off

Depreciation

Carrying amount at end of period

Cost

Accumulated depreciation

Carrying amount at end of period

Accounting Policy

Production assets

Corporate assets

Total

2019
$’000

2018
$’000

521

184

-

(162)

543

4,080

(3,537)

543

2,768

469

-

(2,716)

521

3,896

(3,375)

521

2019
$’000

2,343

2,579

(57)

(828)

4,037

6,075

(2,038)

4,037

2018
$’000

926

2,353

(332)

(604)

2,343

4,511

(2,168)

2,343

2019
$’000

2,864

2,763

(57)

(990)

4,580

10,155

(5,575)

4,580

2018
$’000

3,694

2,822

(332)

(3,320)

2,864

8,407

(5,543)

2,864

Property, plant and equipment comprises office and IT equipment, leasehold improvements and the Minerva Gas Plant, and is stated at 
historical cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly 
attributable to the acquisition of the items. Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, 
as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item 
can be measured reliably. Repairs and maintenance are recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income as incurred.

Depreciation on property plant and equipment is calculated at between 7.5% and 37.5% per annum using the diminishing value method over 
the asset’s estimated useful lives. The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each reporting 
date. 

An item of property, plant and equipment is derecognised upon disposal or when no further future economic benefits are expected from its 
use. Any gains or losses arising on derecognition of the asset (calculated as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the net 
carrying amount of the asset) is included in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.

11. Intangible assets

Reconciliation of carrying amounts at beginning and end of period:

Carrying amount at beginning of period

Additions

Carrying amount at end of period

Cost

Accumulated depreciation

Carrying amount at end of period

Accounting Policy

2019
$’000

2018
$’000

-

36

36

36

-

36

-

-

-

-

-

-

Intangible assets are stated at historical cost less accumulated amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses. Historical cost includes 
expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items. Intangible assets are determined to have a finite useful life and are 
amortised over their useful lives and tested for impairment whenever there is an indicator of impairment.

86

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201912. Exploration and evaluation assets

Reconciliation of carrying amounts at beginning and end of period

Carrying amount at beginning of period

Additions

Exploration and evaluation expense

Impairment

Transfer to oil and gas assets

Carrying amount at end of period (i)

Notes

14

2019
$’000

98,732

54,896

(1,360)

-

-

152,268

2018
$’000

223,331

26,582

(850)

(696)

(149,635)

98,732

(i) Recoverability is dependent on the successful development and commercial exploration or sale of the respective areas of interest.

Accounting Policy

Exploration and evaluation expenditure include costs incurred in the search for hydrocarbon resources and determining the commercial 
viability in each identifiable area of interest. Exploration and evaluation expenditure is accounted for in accordance with the successful 
efforts method and is capitalised to the extent that:

i. 

the rights to tenure of the areas of interest are current and the Group controls the area of interest in which the expenditure has been 
incurred; and

ii.  such costs are expected to be recouped through successful development and exploration of the area of interest, or alternatively by its 

sale; or

iii.  exploration and evaluation activities in the area of interest have not at the reporting date:

a. reached a stage which permits a reasonable assessment of the existence or otherwise of economically recoverable reserves; and 

b. active and significant operations in, or in relation to, the area of interest are continuing.

An area of interest refers to an individual geological area where the potential presence of an oil or a natural gas field is considered favourable 
or has been proven to exist, and in most cases, comprises an individual prospective oil or gas field.

Exploration and evaluation expenditure which does not satisfy these criteria is written off. Specifically, costs carried forward in respect of 
an area of interest that is abandoned or costs relating directly to the drilling of an unsuccessful well are written off in the year in which the 
decision to abandon is made or the results of drilling are concluded. The success or otherwise of a well is determined by reference to the 
drilling objectives for that well. For successful wells, the well costs remain capitalised on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 
as long as sufficient progress in assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the project is being made. Any appraisal 
costs relating to determining commercial feasibility are also capitalised as exploration and evaluation assets. A regular review is undertaken 
of each area of interest to determine the appropriateness of continuing to carry forward costs in relation to that area of interest.

Where an ownership interest in an exploration and evaluation asset is exchanged for another, the transaction is recognised by reference  
to the carrying value of the original interest. Any cash consideration paid, including transaction costs, is accounted for as an acquisition  
of exploration and evaluation assets. Any cash consideration received, net of transaction costs, is treated as a recoupment of costs 
previously capitalised with any excess accounted for as a gain on disposal of non-current assets. Where a discovered oil or gas field enters 
the development phase the accumulated exploration and evaluation expenditure is tested for impairment and then transferred to oil and  
gas assets.

87

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 2019 
 
13. Oil and gas assets

Reconciliation of carrying amounts at beginning and end of period:

Carrying amount at beginning of period

Additions

Transferred from exploration and evaluation

Amortisation

Carrying amount at end of period

Cost

Accumulated amortisation & impairment

Carrying amount at end of period

Accounting Policy

2019
$’000

2018
$’000

394,632

236,745

-

(18,179)

613,198

712,241

(99,043)

613,198

69,402

192,468

149,635

(16,873)

394,632

447,631

(52,999)

394,632

Oil and gas assets are carried at cost including construction, installation of infrastructure such as roads, pipelines or umbilicals and the cost 
of development of wells. Any restoration assets arising as a result of recognition of a restoration provision is also included in the carrying 
amount of oil and gas assets. 

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that 
future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. All other repairs 
and maintenance are charged to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income as incurred. 

Oil and gas assets are amortised on the Units of Production basis using the latest approved estimate of Proved and Probable (2P) Reserves 
and future development cost estimates. Amortisation is charged only once production has commenced. No amortisation is charged on areas 
under development where production has not commenced.

Significant Accounting Judgements, Estimates and Assumptions

Estimation of oil and gas asset expenditure

Capitalised oil and gas assets for the construction of major projects or ongoing well construction activities include accruals in relation to the 
value of work done. These remain estimates until the contractual arrangement is finalised, including any rebates, credits and variations as part 
of the standard contractual process.

Amortisation of oil and gas assets

The amortisation of oil and gas assets are impacted by management’s estimates of reserves and future development costs. Refer to 
the Significant accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions section on page 72 in relation to reserves. Future development cost 
estimates are costs necessary to develop an assets’ undeveloped 2P reserves. These costs are subject to changes in technology, regulation 
and other external factors.

Significant accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions are also made in relation to the impairment of oil and gas assets and 
recognition of restoration assets, refer to Note 14 and Note 15 respectively. 

88

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201914. Impairment

Impairment of exploration and evaluation assets

Cooper Basin Northern Licenses

Exploration and evaluation impairment

2019
$’000

2018
$’000

-

696

At year-end the Group’s exploration assets were assessed for impairment indicators in accordance with AASB 6. There were no indicators of 
impairment identified, therefore no impairment expense was recognised (2018: $0.7 million).

Oil and gas asset impairment

At year-end the Group’s oil and gas assets were assessed for impairment indicators in accordance with AASB 136. Notwithstanding that 
impairment indicators were present, no impairment was recognised on oil and gas assets due to the presence of sufficient headroom in the 
impairment modelling.

Accounting Policy

The carrying values of non-current assets, including, property, plant and equipment, capitalised exploration and evaluation assets and oil 
and gas assets are assessed for indicators of impairment biannually. Where indicators of impairment are present, an impairment test is 
performed. 

An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset or CGU’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The 
recoverable amount of non-current assets is the higher of fair value less cost to sell (FVLCS) and value in use (VIU). For the purposes of 
assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows (CGUs). In assessing 
VIU, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of 
the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. Where the recoverable amount is based on the FVLCS the inputs are consistent 
with the level 2 and level 3 fair value hierarchy.

Significant Accounting Judgements, Estimates and Assumptions

Impairment of exploration and evaluation assets

The future recoverability of capitalised exploration and evaluation expenditure is dependent on a number of factors, including whether the 
Group decides to exploit the related lease itself or, if not, whether it successfully recovers the related exploration and evaluation asset 
through sale.

Management is required to make certain estimates and assumptions in applying this policy. Factors which could impact the future 
recoverability include the level of oil and gas resources, future technological changes which could impact the cost of extraction, future legal 
changes (including changes to environmental restoration obligations) and changes to commodity prices. These estimates and assumptions 
may change as new information becomes available. To the extent that capitalised exploration and evaluation expenditure is determined not to 
be recoverable in the future, this will reduce profits and net assets in the period in which this determination is made.

In addition, exploration and evaluation expenditure is capitalised if activities in the area of interest have not yet reached a stage which permits 
a reasonable assessment of the existence or otherwise of economically recoverable oil and gas reserves or resources. To the extent that it is 
determined in the future that this capitalised expenditure should be written off, this will reduce profits and net assets in the period in which 
this determination is made.

Impairment of oil and gas assets

The Group reviews the carrying amount of oil and gas assets at each reporting date starting with analysis of any indicators of impairment. 
Where indicators of impairment are present, the Group will test whether the CGU’s recoverable amount exceeds its carrying amount. Relevant 
items of working capital and property, plant and equipment are allocated to CGUs when testing for impairment.

The Group calculates the VIU of an asset or CGU using a discounted cash flow model. The estimated expected cash flows used in the 
discounted cash flow model are based on management’s best estimate of the future production of reserves and sales volumes, commodity 
prices, foreign exchange rates, capital expenditure for any development required to produce the reserves, and operating expenditure. 

The Group’s commodity prices and foreign exchange rates for impairment testing are based on management’s best estimates of future market 
prices, with reference to external brokers, market data and futures prices. The Group’s oil price assumptions (real) are US$65/bbl for 2020, 
US$68/bbl for 2021 and beyond (2018: US$65/bbl for 2019, US$67/bbl for 2020 and US$68/bbl long term). The Group’s gas price assumptions 
are based on contracted gas volumes, and the Group’s view of future uncontracted gas prices are based on market data available, and South-
East Australia gas market supply and demand. Discount rates applied in the net present value calculation of the VIU are derived from the 
weighted average cost of capital. The Group applied a pre-tax real discount rate of 9.03% (2018: 11.7%). The decrease in the discount rate is 
mainly due to a decrease in the risk-free rate, reflecting a change in Australian government bond rates. A sensitivity analysis of the impairment 
models shows that the recoverable amounts are most sensitive to management’s assumptions relating to production, commodity prices, 
capital expenditure, timing of cash flows and discount rates. In the event that future circumstances vary from the assumptions used in the 
impairment assessment, the recoverable amount of the Group’s assets or CGUs could change materially and result in an impairment loss.

89

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201915. Provisions

Current Liabilities

Restoration provisions

Employee provisions 

Exit penalty provision (i)

Other provisions

Non-Current Liabilities

Employee provisions

Restoration provisions

2019
$’000

9,989

1,142

-

-

2018
$’000

67,651

730

3,907

1,524

11,131

73,812

561

276,228

276,789

610

106,070

106,680

(i)  The exit provision relates to an amount payable in relation to the Group’s exit from the joint venture partnership in the Hammamet permit in 
Tunisia. The amount payable by the joint venture was determined by the Tunisian government and was paid by the joint venture during the 
year. The amount paid to the joint venture by the Group was lower than the provision, with the difference being recognised as other income 
(refer to Note 2). 

Movement in carrying amount of the current restoration provision:

Carrying amount at beginning of period

Restoration provision assumed (i)

Restoration expenditure incurred

New provisions recognised (ii)

Transferred (to)/from non-current provisions

Impact of changes in restoration assumptions (iii)

Carrying amount at end of period

Movement in carrying amount of the non-current restoration provision:

Carrying amount at beginning of period

New provisions recognised (ii)

Transferred from/(to) current provisions

Increase through accretion

Impact of changes in restoration assumptions (iii)

Carrying amount at end of period

2019
$’000

67,651

-

2018
$’000

14,584

48,082

(10,112)

(16,367)

597

(48,735)

588

9,989

106,070

13,507

48,735

4,902

103,014

276,228

-

21,271

81

67,651

99,437

13,608

(21,271)

2,649

11,647

106,070

(i)  Relates to the Group’s increased share of the BMG restoration provision on settlement with exited parties.

(ii)  New provisions recognised is in respect of restoration provisions arising from the Sole Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) and pipeline and 

exploration permits (2018: Sole-3 and Sole-4 wells).

(iii)  Changes in restoration assumptions results from a change in the discount rate and changes in gross cost assumptions.

The discount rate used in the calculation of the provisions as at 30 June 2019 ranged from 0.96% to 1.82% (2018: 2.00% to 2.70%) reflecting a 
risk-free rate that aligns to the timing of restoration obligations. The reduction in the risk-free rate reflects the change in Australian government 
bond rates since the last assessment.

90

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201915. Provisions continued

Accounting Policy

Provisions are recognised when the Group has a legal or constructive obligation as a result of past transactions or other past events, it is 
probable that a future sacrifice of economic benefits will be required and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

Employee benefits

Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non-monetary benefits and annual leave are recognised in respect of employees’ services up to the 
reporting date and are measured at the amount expected to be paid when the liabilities are settled. Expenses for non-accumulating sick leave 
are recognised when the leave is taken and are measured at the rates paid or payable. 

The provision for long service leave is recognised and measured as the present value of expected future payments to be made in respect of 
services provided by employees up to the reporting date using the projected unit credit method. Consideration is given to expected future 
wage and salary levels, experience of employee departures, and periods of service. Expected future payments are discounted using market 
yields at the reporting date based on high quality corporate bonds with terms of maturity and currencies that match, as closely as possible,  
the estimated future cash outflows. Employees’ accumulated long service leave is ascribed to individual employees at the rates payable as  
and when they become entitled to long service leave. 

A provision for bonus is recognised and measured based upon the current wage and salary level and forms part of the employee short term 
incentive plan. The basis for the bonus is set out in the Remuneration Report.

Restoration

The Group records a restoration provision for the present value of its share of the estimated cost to restore its sites. The nature of restoration 
activities includes the obligations relating to the reclamation, waste site closure, plant closure, production facility removal and other costs 
associated with the restoration of the site.

A restoration provision is recognised upon commencement of construction and then reviewed biannually at each reporting date. When the 
liability is recorded the carrying amount of the production or exploration asset is increased by the same amount and is depreciated over  
the remaining producing life of the asset. The movement is recorded as a restoration expense when there is no asset recorded. Over time,  
the liability is increased for the change in the present value based on a risk-free discount rate. The unwinding of the discount is recorded as  
an accretion charge within finance costs.

Any changes in the estimate of the provision for restoration arising from changes in the gross cost estimate or changes in the discount rate of 
the restoration provision are recorded by adjusting the provision and the carrying amount of the production or exploration asset, to the extent 
that it is appropriate to recognise an asset under accounting standards, and then depreciated over the remaining producing life of the asset. 
Where it is not appropriate to recognise an asset, changes will go through profit or loss. Any change in assumptions is applied prospectively.

These estimated costs are based on current technology available, State, Federal and International legislation and or industry practice.

Significant Accounting Judgements, Estimates and Assumptions

Provisions for restoration costs

Decommissioning and restoration costs are a normal consequence of oil and gas extraction and the majority of this expenditure is incurred  
at the end of a field’s life. In determining an appropriate level of provision, assumptions are made on the expected future costs to be incurred,  
the timing of these expected future costs (largely dependent on the life of the field), and the estimated future level of inflation.

The ultimate cost of decommissioning and restoration is uncertain and these ultimate costs can vary in response to many factors. These 
include the extent of restoration required due to changes to the relevant legal or regulatory requirements and the emergence of new 
restoration techniques or experience at other fields, including prevailing service costs. The expected timing of expenditure can also change, 
for example in response to changes in oil and gas reserves or to production rates. Changes to any of the estimates could result in significant 
changes to the amount of the provision recognised, which would in turn impact future financial results. 

91

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201916. Government grants

Reconciliation of government grants at beginning and end of period:

At beginning of period

Grant received during the year

Allocated to exploration and evaluation assets

At end of period

Accounting Policy

2019
$’000

2,067

-

(1,637)

430

2018
$’000

-

2,067

-

2,067

Grants from the government are recognised at their fair value where there is a reasonable assurance that the grant will be received and 
the Group will comply with all attached conditions. Government grants received in relation to exploration and evaluation assets, oil and gas 
assets or property, plant and equipment are recognised as a reduction in the carrying value of the asset as expenditure is incurred.

Funding and Risk Management

17. Interest bearing loans and borrowings

Non-current bank debt

Net of capitalised transaction costs of $4.5 million (2018: $8.9 million).

2019
$’000

2018
$’000

213,680

116,923

In August 2017, Cooper Energy negotiated a $250.0 million senior secured Reserve Based Lending Facility, principally to fund the Sole Gas 
Project, and a senior secured $15.0 million working capital facility. 

A summary of the Group’s secured facilities is included below.

Facility

Currency

Limit1

Reserve Based Lending Facility

Australian dollars

$250.0 million (2018: $250.0 million)

Utilised amount

$218.2 million (2018: $125.9 million)

Accounting balance

$213.7 million (2018: $116.9 million)

Effective interest rate

6.19%

Maturity

Facility

Currency

Limit

2020 – 2024

Working Capital Facility

Australian dollars

$15.0 million (2018: $15 million)

Utilised amount2

Accounting balance

Nil (2018: Nil)

Nil (2018: Nil)

Effective interest rate

Nil

Maturity

28 September 2020

1. As at 30 June 2019, $233.0 million of the facility limit of $250.0 million is currently available.

2. As at 30 June 2019, $1.7 million has been utilised by way of bank guarantees.

Accounting Policy

Borrowings are recognised initially at fair value net of transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, borrowings are stated at amortised 
cost, with any difference between cost and redemption value being recognised in profit or loss over the period of the borrowings on an 
effective interest basis. Transaction costs are capitalised initially and included in the effective interest rate calculation and unwound over the 
expected term of the facility.

Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an unconditional right to defer the settlement of the liability for at least 
12 months after the end of the reporting period. Interest expense is recognised as interest accrues using the effective interest rate and if not 
paid at balance date, is reflected in the balance sheet as a payable.

92

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201918. Net finance costs

Finance Income

Interest income

Finance Costs

Accretion of restoration provision 

Accretion of success fee liability

Interest expense

Capitalised interest

Total finance costs

Net finance (costs)/income 

Accounting Policy

2019
$’000

2018
$’000

3,398

4,049

(4,902)

(70)

(11,015)

11,015

(4,972)

(1,574)

(2,735)

(44)

(3,394)

3,394

(2,779)

1,270

Interest earned is recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income as finance income and is recognised as interest 
accrues using the effective interest rate. This is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the 
financial instrument to the net carrying amount of the financial asset.

Interest expense is capitalised to the cost of a qualifying asset during the development phase.

19. Contributed equity and reserves

Capital Management

For the purpose of the Group’s capital management, capital includes issued capital and all other equity reserves attributable to the equity 
holders of the parent entity. The primary objective of the Group’s capital management is to maintain an appropriate capital profile to support its 
business activities and to maximise shareholder value. At 30 June 2019, the Group has utilised $218.2 million of its Reserve Based Lending 
Facility. The Group manages its capital structure and makes adjustments in light of economic conditions and the requirements of the financial 
covenants. To maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust its dividend policy, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares 
or draw on debt. No changes were made in the objectives, policies or processes during the current and prior period.

Share capital

Ordinary shares issued and fully paid

Movement in ordinary shares on issue

At 1 July

Equity issue

Issuance of shares for Performance Rights and Share 
Appreciation Rights

Issuance of shares to contractors

At 30 June

Accounting Policy

2019
$’000

2018
$’000

474,397

471,837

2019

2018

Thousands

$’000

Thousands

$’000

1,601,079

471,837

1,140,551

-

-

456,222

19,682

790

2,217

343

4,306

-

343,161

127,803

873

-

1,621,551

474,397

1,601,079

471,837

Issued and paid up capital is recognised as the fair value of the consideration received by the Group.

Any transaction costs arising on the issue of ordinary shares that would not have been incurred had ordinary shares not been issued are 
recognised directly in equity as a reduction of the share proceeds received. 

The Group may issue shares to contractors at its discretion in exchange for services rendered. The cost of these issued shares is measured 
by reference to the fair value at the date at which they are granted.

93

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201919. Contributed equity and reserves continued

Reserves

Consolidation
reserve
$’000

Share 
based 
payment
reserve
$’000

(541)

7,817

-

-

-

(541)

-

-

-

(541)

-

(873)

2,642

9,586

-

(2,217)

3,422

10,791

Consolidated

At 1 July 2017

Other comprehensive income/
(expenditure)

Transferred to issued capital

Share-based payments

At 30 June 2018

Other comprehensive income/
(expenditure)

Transferred to issued capital

Share-based payments

At 30 June 2019

Nature and purpose of reserves

Consolidation reserve

Option
premium
reserve
$’000

Cash flow 
hedge 
reserve 
$’000

Equity 
instrument 
reserve  
$’000

Total
$’000

25

-

-

-

25

-

-

-

161

149

-

-

310

(894)

-

-

(685)

6,777

1,230

-

-

545

(989)

-

-

1,379

(873)

2,642

9,925

(1,883)

(2,217)

3,422

9,247

25

(584)

(444)

The reserve comprises the premium paid on acquisition of minority shareholdings in a controlled entity. 

Share based payment reserve

This reserve is used to record the value of equity benefits provided to employees, contractors and Executive Directors as part of their 
remuneration.

Option premium reserve

This reserve is used to accumulate amounts received from the issue of options. The reserve can be used to pay dividends or issue bonus 
shares.

Cash flow hedge reserve

This reserve is used to capture the effective portion of the mark to market movement of instruments designed in a hedge relationship. 

Equity instruments reserve

This reserve is used to capture the mark to market movement in the value of shares held in companies listed on a public exchange. Items in 
this reserve are never recycled through profit or loss.

2019
$’000

2018
$’000

(37,880)

(12,051)

(49,931)

(64,891)

27,011

(37,880)

Accumulated Losses

Movement in accumulated losses:

Balance at 1 July

Net (loss)/profit for the year

Balance at 30 June

94

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201920. Financial risk management

The Group’s principal financial instruments comprise cash and short-term deposits (Note 5), receivables (Note 6), equity investments, payables 
(Note 9) and borrowings (Note 17).

2019
$’000

2018
$’000

Other financial assets

Current

Cash held in escrow

Non-Current

Equity instruments (i)

Escrow proceeds receivable

Other financial liabilities

Current 

Derivative financial instruments

Derivative financial instruments designated in a hedge relationship

Non-Current

Success fee financial liability

Derivative financial instruments designated in a hedge relationship

Movement in carrying amount of the success fee financial liability:

Carrying amount at 1 July

Finance cost

Fair value adjustment

Carrying amount at 30 June

-

-

1,252

20,488

21,740

-

1,758

1,758

3,482

-

3,482

3,054

70

358

3,482

20,171

20,171

2,241

20,146

22,387

236

355

591

3,054

177

3,231

3,044

44

(34)

3,054

(i) The equity instruments consist of two investments and the Group has received no dividends throughout the financial year.

Fair value hierarchy 

All financial instruments for which fair value is recognised or disclosed are categorised within the fair value hierarchy, described as follows, and 
based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole:

Level 1   Quoted market prices in an active market (that are unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities

Level 2    Valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is directly or indirectly observable

Level 3   Valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is unobservable

For financial instruments that are recognised at fair value on a recurring basis, the Group determines whether transfers have occurred between 
levels in the hierarchy by re-assessing categorisation (based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a 
whole) at the end of each reporting period. 

95

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201920. Financial risk management continued

Set out below are the carrying amounts and fair values of financial instruments held by the Group:

Consolidated

Financial assets

Trade and other receivables

Equity instruments

Cash held in escrow

Escrow proceeds receivable

Financial liabilities

Trade and other payables

Success fee financial liability

Derivative financial instruments

Derivative financial instruments designated in a 
hedge relationship

Interest bearing loans and borrowings

Carrying amount

Fair value

Level

2019
$’000

2018
$’000

2019
$’000

2018
$’000

2

1

2

2

2

3

2

2

2

21,169

1,252 

-

20,488

44,533

3,482

-

1,758

27,330

2,241

20,171

20,146

59,215

3,054

236

532

21,169

1,252 

-

20,488

44,533

3,482

-

1,758

27,330

2,241

20,171

20,146

59,215

3,054

236

532

213,680

116,923

215,566

101,842

The following summarises the significant methods and assumptions used in estimating the fair values of financial instruments:

Equity instruments

Equity instruments are measured at fair value through other comprehensive income based on an election made at inception on an instrument 
basis and are initially recognised at fair value plus any directly attributable transaction costs. The classification depends on the purpose for which 
the investments were acquired. After initial recognition, investments are remeasured to fair value determined by reference to their quoted 
market price on a prescribed equity stock exchange at the reporting date, and hence is a Level 1 fair value measurement. 

Changes in the fair value of equity investments are recognised as a separate component of equity. Any dividends received are reflected in profit 
or loss.

Cash held in escrow and escrow proceeds receivable

During the 2018 financial year, the Group completed the sale of Orbost Gas Plant to APA Group. A portion of proceeds from the sale is held in 
escrow, to be released upon certain conditions being satisfied. Additional funds were held in escrow for payments to be made in connection with 
the Group’s 2018 drilling campaign. Amounts held in escrow are measured at amortised cost in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

Derivative financial instruments designated in a hedge relationship

The derivative financial instruments relate to the Group’s hedging activities to hedge against cash flow risks from movements in interest rates 
(and oil price in the prior year), for which hedge accounting has been applied. The derivative financial instruments are measured at fair value 
through other comprehensive income and the fair value is obtained from third party valuation reports.

Derivative financial instruments

Commodity derivatives are also used to manage the Group’s exposure to changes in oil prices and are measured at fair value through profit and 
loss. The Group has elected not to apply hedge accounting to its commodity derivatives entered into during the 2018 financial year. The use of 
derivative financial instruments is subject to a set of policies, procedures and limits approved by the Board of Directors. The Group does not 
trade in derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.

Success fee financial liability

The success fee liability is the fair value of the Group’s liability to pay a $5.0 million success fee upon the commencement of commercial 
production of hydrocarbons on the Group’s VIC/RL 13-15 assets acquired on 7 May 2014. The significant unobservable valuation inputs for the 
success fee financial liability includes: a probability of 33% that no payment is made and a probability of 67% the payment is made in 2024.  
The discount rate used in the calculation of the liability as at 30 June 2019 equalled 1.02% (June 2018: 2.70%). The financial liability is 
measured at fair value through profit and loss, and valued using a discounted cash flow model and the value is sensitive to changes in discount 
rate and probability of payment.

The Group manages its exposure to key financial risks in accordance with its risk management policy with the objective to ensure that the 
financial risks inherent in oil and gas exploration activities are identified and then managed or kept as low as reasonably practicable. The Group 
has a separate Risk and Sustainability Committee.

96

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201920. Financial risk management continued

The main financial risks that arise in the normal course of business for the Group’s financial instruments are foreign currency risk, commodity 
price risk, share price risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and interest rate risk. The Group uses different methods to measure and manage different 
types of risks to which it is exposed. These include monitoring exposure to foreign exchange risk and assessments of market forecast for 
interest rates, foreign exchange and commodity prices. Liquidity risk is monitored through the development of future rolling cash flow forecasts.

The Board’s policy is that no speculative trading in financial instruments be undertaken. The primary responsibility for the identification and 
control of financial risks rests with the Managing Director and the Chief Financial Officer, under the authority of the Board. The Board is apprised 
of these and other risks at Board meetings and agrees any policies that may be implemented to manage any of the risks identified below.

Market risk

Market risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices.  
Market risk comprises three types of risk: foreign currency risk, commodity price risk and interest rate risk. Financial instruments affected by 
market risk include deposits, trade receivables, trade payables and accrued liabilities.

The sensitivity analyses in the following sections relate to the position as at 30 June 2019 and 30 June 2018.

The sensitivity analyses have been prepared on the basis that the amount of the financial instruments in foreign currencies is all constant.  
The sensitivity analyses are intended to illustrate the sensitivity to changes in market variables on the Group’s financial instruments and show 
the impact on profit or loss and shareholders’ equity, where applicable.

The analyses exclude the impact of movements in market variables on the carrying value of provisions.

The following assumptions have been made in calculating the sensitivity analyses:

• The Consolidated Statement of Financial Position sensitivity relates to US-denominated trade receivables

• The sensitivity of the relevant profit before tax item and/or equity is the effect of the assumed changes in respective market risks. This is 

based on the financial assets and financial liabilities held at 30 June 2019 and 30 June 2018

a) Foreign currency risk

The Group has transactional currency exposure arising from oil sales which are denominated in United States dollars, whilst almost all its costs 
are denominated in Australian dollars.

The majority of costs related to the Sole Gas Project are denominated in Australian dollars, however there are some costs incurred in Great 
British pounds and United States dollars. Transaction exposures, where possible, are netted off across the Group to reduce volatility and provide 
a natural hedge.

The Group may from time to time have cash denominated in United States dollars.

Currently the Group has no foreign exchange hedge programmes in place. The Group manages the purchase of foreign currency to meet 
expenditure requirements, which cannot be netted off against US dollar receivables.

The financial instruments which are denominated in US dollars are as follows:

Financial assets

Cash

Trade and other receivables (current and non-current)

Cash held in escrow

2019
$’000

3,980

5,591

-

2018
$’000

5,403

7,852

20,171

The following table summarises the sensitivity of financial instruments held at the year end, to movements in the exchange rates for the 
Australian dollar to the foreign currency, with all other variables held constant. 

If the Australian dollar were 10% higher at the balance date

If the Australian dollar were 10% lower at the balance date

b) Commodity price risk

Impact on after tax profit

2019
$’000

(870)

1,063

2018
$’000

(1,205)

1,473

The Group uses oil price options to manage some of its transaction exposures. Options entered into have not been designated as cash flow 
hedges and are entered into for periods consistent with oil price exposure of the underlying transactions, generally from one to 12 months.

The following table shows the effect of price changes in oil on the Group’s provisional sales excluding the effect of hedging.

Commodity price risk arises from the sale of oil denominated in US dollars. The Group has provisional sales at 30 June 2019 of $5.6 million 
(2018: $7.9 million).

97

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201920. Financial risk management continued

Market risk continued

If the Brent Average price were 10% higher at the balance date

If the Brent Average price were 10% lower at the balance date

c) Interest rate risk

Impact on after tax profit

2019
$’000

656

(656)

2018
$’000

901

(901)

The Group has borrowings of $213.7 million at 30 June 2019 (2018: $116.9 million). Interest on borrowings are capitalised while the project is in 
development. The Group has fixed rate term deposits that are not impacted by changes in the interest rate at balance date. 

Credit risk

Credit risk arises from the financial assets of the Group which comprise cash and cash equivalents and trade and other receivables including 
hedge settlement receivables. The Group’s exposure to credit risk arises from potential default of the counter party, with a maximum exposure 
equal to the carrying amount of these instruments. Exposure at balance date is addressed in each applicable note.

The Group trades only with recognised creditworthy third parties and has had no exposure to expected credit losses. The Group has a 
concentration of credit risk with trade receivables due from a small number of entities which have traded with the Group since 2003.

Cash and cash equivalents and term deposits are held at three financial institutions that have a Standard & Poor’s A credit rating or better. Trade 
receivables are settled on 30 to 90 day terms.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The liquidity position of the Group is 
managed to ensure sufficient liquid funds are available to meet all financial commitments in a timely and cost-effective manner. The Managing 
Director and Chief Financial Officer review the liquidity position on a regular basis including cash flow forecasts to determine the forecast 
liquidity position and maintain appropriate liquidity levels. 

Any fluctuation of the interest rate either up or down will have no impact on the principal amount of the cash on term deposit at the banks. The 
Group does not invest in financial instruments that are traded on any secondary market. 

The table below summarises the maturity profile of the Group’s financial liabilities based on contractual undiscounted payments:

Less than 
3 months 
$’000

3 to 12 
months 
$’000

1 to 5 
years 
$’000

Greater than 
5 years 
$’000

At 30 June 2019

Trade and other payables1

41,644

-

-

-

Interest bearing loans and borrowings

Financial liabilities

Derivative financial liabilities designated in 
a hedge relationship

-

-

-

9,490

235,262

15,763

-

5,000

1,758

-

-

-

Total 
$’000

41,644

260,515

5,000

1,758

41,644

11,248

240,262

15,763

308,917

At 30 June 2018

Trade and other payables1

Interest bearing loans and borrowings

Financial liabilities

Derivative financial liabilities

Derivative financial liabilities designated in 
a hedge relationship

1. Excludes deferred lease incentive

98

57,756

1,967

-

91

-

-

5,902

-

145

355

-

56,747

5,000

-

177

-

104,141

-

-

-

57,756

168,757

5,000

236

532

59,814

6,402

61,924

104,141

232,281

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201920. Financial risk management continued

Share price risk

Share price risk arises from the movement of share prices on a prescribed stock exchange. The Group has equity instruments measured at fair 
value through other comprehensive income the fair value of which fluctuates as a result of movement in the share price. 

If the share price were 10% higher at the balance date

If the share price were 10% lower at the balance date

21. Hedge accounting 

Impact on reserve

2019
$’000

125

(125)

2018
$’000

223

(224)

The Group uses interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. The swaps are designated as cash flow hedges and 
are entered into for a period consistent with the exposure of the underlying transactions.

Cash flow hedges – interest rate swaps

Interest rate swaps measured at fair value through other comprehensive income are designated as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges 
of forecast interest payments in respect of the Group’s reserve base lending facility. These forecast transactions are highly probable and they 
comprise 74% of the Group’s total expected interest payments June 2020.

Carrying amount

$1.8 million liability (2018: $0.5 million liability)

Notional value

Hedge cover

Maturity date

Average hedged rate

$161.7 million (2018: $118.4 million)

74%

June 2020

6.38%

The fair value of the swaps varies based on changes in forward rates.

30 June 2019

30 June 2018

Assets
$’000

Liabilities
$’000

Assets
$’000

Liabilities
$’000

Fair value of interest rate swaps

-

1,758

-

532

The terms of the interest rate swaps match the terms of the expected highly probable forecast interest payments.

The cash flow hedges of the expected future interest payments were assessed to be highly effective and a net unrealised loss of $1.3 million 
(2018: $0.5 million) and a tax expense of $0.4 million (2018: $0.1 million) relating to the hedging instrument are included in OCI. 

During the previous financial year, $0.3 million was reclassified from other comprehensive income (OCI) to capitalised borrowing costs on the 
balance sheet in respect of realised hedge settlements.

The amounts retained in OCI at 30 June 2019 are expected to mature and impact the statement of profit or loss during the 2020 financial year.

Accounting Policy

Derivatives are initially recognised at their fair value when the Group becomes a party to the contract. Derivative financial instruments 
measured at fair value through profit and loss may be designated as hedging instruments in a hedge relationship.

Cash flow hedges

The Group uses interest rate swaps as hedges of its exposure to interest rate risk in forecast transactions. Amounts recognised as other 
comprehensive income are transferred to profit or loss when the hedged transaction affects profit or loss – when the sale occurs or when interest 
is paid.

Hedge effectiveness is determined at the inception of the hedge relationship and through periodic prospective effectiveness assessments 
to ensure an economic relationship exists between the hedged item and a hedging instrument. The Group enters into hedging relationships 
where the critical terms of the hedging instrument match exactly with the terms of the hedged item and so a qualitative assessment of 
effectiveness is performed. If changes in circumstances affect the terms of the hedged item such that the critical terms no longer match 
exactly with the critical terms of the hedging instrument, the Group uses the hypothetical derivative method to assess effectiveness.

The effective portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument is recognised in other comprehensive income in the cash flow hedge 
reserve while any ineffective portion is recognised immediately in the statement of profit or loss.

If the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated or exercised without replacement or rollover, or if its designation as a hedge is 
revoked, or when the hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, any cumulative gain or loss previously recognised in other 
comprehensive income remains separately in equity until the forecast transaction occurs.

99

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 2019Group Structure

22. Interests in joint arrangements

The Group has the following interests in joint arrangements involved in the exploration and/or production of oil and gas in Australia: 

 Ownership Interest

2019

2018

Joint Arrangements in Australia in which Cooper Energy Limited is the operator/manager

VIC/L24 & 30

Gas exploration and production

50%1

-

Joint Arrangements in Australia in which Cooper Energy Limited is not the operator/manager

PEL 90K

PEL 933

PRL 237

Oil and gas exploration

Oil and gas exploration and production

Oil and gas exploration

25%2

30%

20%

25%

30%

20%

PRL 207-209 (Formerly PEL 100)

Oil and gas exploration

19.165%

19.165%

PRL 183-190 (Formerly PEL 110)

Oil and gas exploration

PEL 494

PEP 150

PEP 168

PEP 171

PRL 32

Oil and gas exploration

Oil and gas exploration

Oil and gas exploration

Oil and gas exploration

Oil and gas exploration

PRL 85-104 3 (Formerly PEL 92)

Oil and gas exploration and production

1. Following a change in the ownership structure of the joint venturers, there is now joint control.

2. The Group withdrew from the PEL 90K joint venture, however the title had not been transferred as at 30 June 2019.

3. Includes associated PPLs.

Accounting Policy

20%

30%

50%

50%

75%

30%

25%

20%

30%

20%

50%

100%

30%

25%

The Group has interests in arrangements that are controlled jointly. A joint arrangement is either a joint operation or a joint venture. The Group 
has several joint arrangements which are classified as joint operations. A joint operation is a joint arrangement whereby the parties that have 
joint control of the arrangement, have rights to the assets, and obligations for the liabilities, relating to the arrangement. Currently the Group 
does not have any interests in joint ventures.

In relation to its interests in joint operations, the Group recognises its:

• Assets, including its share of any assets held jointly

• Liabilities, including its share of any liabilities incurred jointly

• Revenue from the sale of its share of the output arising from the joint operation

• Expenses, including its share of any expenses incurred jointly

Significant Accounting Judgements, Estimates and Assumptions

Joint arrangements 

Judgement is required to determine when the Group has joint control over an arrangement, which requires an assessment of the relevant 
activities and when the decisions in relation to those activities require unanimous consent. The Group has determined that the relevant 
activities for its joint arrangements are those relating to the operating and capital decisions of the arrangement, such as approval of the 
capital expenditure program for each year and appointing, remunerating and terminating the key management personnel or service 
providers of the joint arrangement. Where joint control does not exist, the relationship is not accounted for as a joint arrangement. The 
considerations made in determining joint control are similar to those necessary to determine control over subsidiaries. 

Judgement is also required to classify a joint arrangement. Classifying the arrangement requires the Group to assess their rights and 
obligations arising from the arrangement. Specifically, the Group considers:

• The structure of the joint arrangement – whether it is structured through a separate vehicle;

• When the arrangement is structured through a separate vehicle, the Group also considers the rights and obligations arising from: The legal 

form of the separate vehicle; the terms of the contractual arrangement and; other facts and circumstances (when relevant).

This assessment often requires significant judgement, and a different conclusion on joint control and also whether the arrangement is a 
joint operation or a joint venture, may materially impact the accounting.

100

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201923. Investments in controlled entities

(a) Schedule of controlled entities

The Group’s consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Cooper Energy Limited and the subsidiaries listed in the 
following table.

Name

CE Tunisia Bargou Ltd

CE Hammamet Ltd

CE Nabeul Ltd

Somerton Energy Limited

Essential Petroleum Exploration Pty Ltd

Cooper Energy (Australia) Pty Ltd

Cooper Energy (PBF) Pty Ltd

Cooper Energy (PB Pipelines) Pty Ltd

Cooper Energy (CH) Pty Ltd

Cooper Energy (TC) Pty Ltd

Cooper Energy (MF) Pty Ltd

Cooper Energy (MGP) Pty Ltd

Cooper Energy (IC) Pty Ltd

Cooper Energy (HC) Pty Ltd

Cooper Energy (EA) Pty Ltd

Cooper Energy (Sole) Pty Ltd

Cooper Energy (VO) Pty Ltd

Cooper Energy (Marketing) Pty Ltd

Country of 
incorporation

British Virgin Islands

British Virgin Islands

British Virgin Islands

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Note

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

Ownership interest

2019

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

2018

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

-

-

The parties that comprise the Closed Group and were added to the Closed Group during the year are denoted by (a).

(b) Deed of Cross Guarantee

Pursuant to ASIC Corporations (Wholly-owned Companies) Instrument 2016/785 dated 29 September 2016, relief has been granted to these 
controlled entities of Cooper Energy Limited from the Corporations Act 2001 for preparation, audit and lodgement of financial reports, and 
directors’ reports. As a condition of the Class Order, Cooper Energy Limited, and the controlled entities subject to the Class Order, entered 
into a Deed of Cross Guarantee. The effect of the deed is that Cooper Energy Limited has guaranteed to pay any deficiency in the event of the 
winding up of any member of the Closed Group, and each member of the Closed Group has given a guarantee to pay any deficiency, in the 
event that Cooper Energy Limited or any other member of the Closed Group is wound up.

CE Tunisia Bargou Ltd, CE Hammamet Ltd and CE Nabeul Ltd were inactive during the current and prior year, therefore the Financial 
Statements of the consolidated entity also represent the closed group results.

101

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201923. Investments in controlled entities continued

Accounting Policy

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the aggregate of the 
consideration transferred, measured at acquisition date fair value and the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. For each 
business combination, the Group elects whether it measures the non-controlling interest in the acquiree at fair value or at the proportionate 
share of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets. Acquisition costs incurred are expensed and included in administrative expenses.

When the Group acquires a business, it assesses the financial assets and liabilities assumed for appropriate classification and designation  
in accordance with the contractual terms, economic circumstances and pertinent conditions as at the acquisition date. If the business 
combination is achieved in stages, the acquisition date fair value of the acquirers previously held equity interest in the acquiree is 
remeasured to fair value at the acquisition date through profit or loss.

Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the acquirer will be recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequent changes 
to the fair value of the contingent consideration that is deemed to be an asset or liability will be recognised in accordance with AASB 9 
either in profit or loss or as a change to other comprehensive income. If the contingent consideration is classified as equity it will not be 
remeasured. Subsequent settlement is accounted for within equity. In instances where the contingent consideration does not fall within  
the scope of AASB 9, it is measured in accordance with the appropriate AASB. 

An asset or group of assets that do not meet the definition of a business are accounted for as asset acquisitions. Under this method,  
assets are initially recognised at cost based on their relative fair value at the date of acquisition. Under this method transaction costs are 
capitalised to the asset and not expensed.

24. Parent entity information

Information relating to the parent entity, Cooper Energy Limited

Current Assets

Total Assets

Current Liabilities

Total Liabilities

Issued capital

Accumulated loss

Option premium reserve

Cash flow hedge reserve

Equity instruments reserve

Share based payment reserve

Total shareholders’ equity

Profit of the parent entity

Total comprehensive loss of the parent entity

2019
$’000

179,179

597,200

22,683

120,522

474,397

(8,535)

25

-

-

10,791

476,678

1,250

-

2018
$’000

416,213

700,530

145,306

227,749

471,837

(8,108)

25

310

(869)

9,586

472,781

22,416

(35)

102

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 2019Other Information

25. Commitments and contingencies

Operating lease commitments under non-cancellable office lease not provided for in the 
financial statements and payable: 

Within one year

After one year but not more than five years

After more than five years

Total minimum lease payments

The Parent entity leases offices in Adelaide and Perth from which it conducts its operations. 

Exploration capital commitments not provided in the financial statements and payable: 

Within one year

After one year but not more than five years

Total capital commitments

2019
$’000

1,584

6,866

896

9,346

2019
$’000

20,722

33,544

54,266

2018
$’000

888

2,826

1,246

4,960

2018
$’000

5,776

20,130

25,906

From time to time through the ordinary course of business, Cooper Energy enters into contractual arrangements that may give rise to 
negotiated outcomes.

As at 30 June 2019 the Parent entity has bank guarantees for $1.7 million (2018: $0.9 million). These guarantees are in relation to performance 
bonds on exploration permits and guarantees on office leases.

Accounting Policy

The determination of whether an arrangement is or contains a lease is based on the substance of the arrangement and requires an 
assessment of whether the fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of a specific asset or assets and the arrangement conveys 
a right to use the asset.

Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income on a straight-line basis 
over the lease term. 

The Group has entered into commercial property leases. The Group has determined that is does not obtain any of the significant risks and 
rewards of ownership of these properties and has thus classified the leases as operating leases.

26. Share based payments

At the 2018 AGM, shareholders of Cooper Energy approved the plan referred to as the Equity Incentive Plan (EIP). Performance rights and 
share appreciation rights were issued for no consideration under the EIP. These rights issued will vest as shares in the parent entity subject 
to performance hurdles being met. A performance right is the right to acquire one fully paid share in the Company provided a specified hurdle 
is met and share appreciation rights are rights to acquire shares in the Company to the value of the difference in the Company share price 
between the grant date and vesting date. 

Testing of the performance rights and share appreciation rights will occur at the end of the three year performance period. Rights granted prior 
to the 2019 financial year may be retested once 12 months after the original three year test date. At the end of the three year measurement 
period, those rights that were tested and achieved will vest. 

The vesting test is determined from the absolute total shareholder return of Cooper Energy’s share price ranked against the absolute total 
shareholder returns of 12 peer companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. If Cooper Energy is ranked lower than the 50th 
percentile no rights will vest. If Cooper Energy is ranked in the 50th percentile 30% of the eligible rights will vest. If Cooper Energy is ranked 
greater than the 50th percentile but less than the 90th percentile the amount of eligible rights vested will be based on a pro rata calculation.  
If Cooper Energy is ranked in in the 90th percentile or higher 100% of the eligible rights will vest.

There are no participating rights or entitlements inherent in the rights and holders will not be entitled to participate in new issues of capital 
offered to shareholders during the period of the rights. All rights are settled by physical delivery of shares.

103

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201926. Share based payments continued

Information with respect to the number of performance rights and share appreciation rights granted to employees is as follows:

Number of share 
appreciation rights 
(SARs) granted

Number of 
performance 
rights granted

Average share 
price at 
commencement 
date of grant

Average
contractual life 
of rights at grant 
date in years

Remaining life of 
rights in years

Date Granted

21 December 2016

8 December 2017

8 December 20171,2

9,841,875

15,898,978

-

3,810,503

6,330,443

521,438

12 December 2018

13,312,848

4,888,166

12 December 20182

-

697,284

1. Granted in December 2017 and exercised in December 2018

2. Relates to deferred STIP performance rights granted

$0.298

$0.310

$0.310

$0.435

$0.435

3

3

1

3

1

0.5

1.5

-

2.5

0.5

The number of performance rights and share appreciation rights held by employees is as follows:

Balance at beginning of year

 - granted

 - vested

 - expired and not exercised

 - forfeited following employee termination 

Balance at end of year

Achieved at end of year

1. Includes deferred STIP issued as performance rights

Number of Share 
Appreciation Rights

Number of Performance 
Rights1

2019

2018

2019

2018

46,017,694

13,312,848

(19,269,412)

-

(304,179)

30,118,716

15,898,978

17,846,179

10,994,298

5,585,450

6,851,881

-

-

-

(7,296,874)

(51,439)

(618,419)

-

-

-

39,756,951

46,017,694

15,464,897

17,846,179

-

-

-

-

The fair value of services received in return for the performance rights granted are measured by reference to the fair value of performance 
rights granted. The estimate of the fair value of the services received is measured based on the Black-Scholes methodology to produce a 
Monte-Carlo simulation model that allows for the incorporation of market-based performance hurdles that must be met before the shares vest 
to the holder. 

Share Appreciation Rights Fair value assumptions

Fair value at measurement date

Share price

Risk free interest rate

Expected volatility

Dividend yield

Performance Rights Fair value assumptions

Fair value at measurement date

Share price

Risk free interest rate

Expected volatility

Dividend yield

104

21 December 
2016

8 December 
2017 

12 December  
2018

15.1 cents

29.78 cents

1.575%

56%

0%

12.4 cents

29.5 cents

1.94%

56%

0%

14.5 cents

43.5 cents

1.95%

49%

0%

21 December 
2016

8 December 
2017 

12 December  
2018

28.3 cents

34.5 cents

1.88%

56%

0%

22.4 cents

29.5 cents

1.94%

56%

0%

30.0 cents

43.5 cents

1.95%

49%

0%

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 2019 
26. Share based payments continued

Accounting Policy

The Group provides benefits to employees of the Group in the form of share-based payment transactions, whereby employees render 
services in exchange for rights over shares (“equity-settled transactions”). 

The cost of these equity-settled transactions with employees is measured by reference to the fair value at the date at which they are 
granted and are recorded as an expense, with a corresponding increase in reserves, on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the 
related instrument. 

The fair value is determined using the Black-Scholes methodology to produce a Monte-Carlo simulation model that takes into account the 
exercise price, the vesting period, the vesting and performance criteria, the impact of dilution, the non-tradable nature of the performance 
right or share appreciation right, the share price at grant date, the expected price volatility of the underlying share, the expected dividend  
yield and the risk-free interest rate for the term of the vesting period. The fair value of the performance rights and share appreciation rights 
granted excludes the impact of any non-market vesting conditions (for example, profitability and sales growth targets). 

The volatility assumption is based on the actual volatility of Cooper Energy’s daily closing share price over the three-year period to the 
valuation date. 

The cost of equity-settled transactions is recognised, together with a corresponding increase in equity, over the period in which the 
performance and/or service conditions are fulfilled, ending on the date on which the relevant employees become fully entitled to the award 
(the vesting period).

The cumulative expense recognised for equity-settled transactions at each reporting date until vesting date reflects:

1.  the extent to which the vesting period has expired; and 

2.  the Group’s best estimate of the number of equity instruments that will ultimately vest.

No adjustment is made for the likelihood of market performance conditions being met as the effect of these conditions is included in the 
determination of fair value at grant date. The Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income charge or credit for a period represents  
the movement in cumulative expense recognised as at the beginning and end of that period. 

No expense is recognised for awards that do not ultimately vest, except for awards where vesting is only conditional upon a market 
condition.

If the terms of an equity-settled award are modified, as a minimum an expense is recognised as if the terms had not been modified. In 
addition, an expense is recognised for any modification that increases the total fair value of the share-based payment arrangement, or is 
otherwise beneficial to the employees as measured at the date of modification. 

If an equity-settled award is cancelled, it is treated as if it had vested on the date of cancellation, and any expense not yet recognised for the 
award is recognised immediately. However, if a new award is substituted for the cancelled award and designated as a replacement award on 
the date that it is granted, the cancelled and new award are treated as if they were a modification of the original award, as described in the 
previous paragraph. 

The dilutive effect, if any, of outstanding performance rights and share appreciation rights is reflected as additional share dilution in the 
computation of diluted earnings per share. 

Significant Accounting Judgements, Estimates and Assumptions

The Group measures the cost of equity-settled transactions with employees by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments at the 
date at which they are granted. The fair value is determined by an external valuation expert using the calculation criteria.

105

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 201927. Related party disclosures

The Group has a related party relationship with its joint arrangements (Note 22), its subsidiaries (Note 23), and its key management personnel 
(disclosure below).

The key management personnel’s remuneration included in General Administration (see Note 2) is as follows:

Short-term benefits

Other long-term benefits

Post-employment benefits

Performance Rights and Share Appreciation Rights

Total

28. Remuneration of Auditors

The auditor of Cooper Energy Limited is Ernst & Young

Amounts received or due and receivable by Ernst & Young Australia for:

Auditing and review of financial reports of the entity and the consolidated Group

Taxation and other services

Services in relation to one off transactions

29. Events after the reporting period

There are no significant events subsequent to 30 June 2019 at the date of this report.

2019
$

2018
$

6,038,132

5,905,751

105,207

225,178

108,807

220,058

2,122,499

1,825,974

8,491,016

8,060,590

2019
$

2018
$

390,425

130,150

63,500

584,075

330,000

79,702

92,485

502,187

106

Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsFor the year ended 30 June 2019Directors’ Declaration

In accordance with a resolution of the Directors of Cooper Energy Limited, I state that:

1. 

In the opinion of the Directors:

(a) the financial statements and notes of the consolidated entity are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including:

(i)  giving a true and fair view of the consolidated entity’s financial position as at 30 June 2019 and of its performance for the year ended 

on that date; and

(ii)  complying with Australian Accounting Standards (including the Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the Corporations 

Regulations 2001; 

(b)  the financial statements and notes also comply with International Financial Reporting Standards as disclosed in the Basis of 

Preparation; and

(c)  there are reasonable grounds to believe that the consolidated entity will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due 

and payable.

2.  This declaration has been made after receiving the declarations required to be made to the Directors in accordance with section 295A of the 

Corporations Act 2001 for the financial year ended 30 June 2019. 

3. 

In the opinion of the Directors, as at the date of this declaration, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the members of the Closed 
Group identified in note 23 will be able to meet any obligations or liabilities to which they are, or may become subject, by virtue of the deed 
of cross guarantee. 

Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Directors. 

Mr John C. Conde AO 
Chairman 

12 August 2019

Mr David P. Maxwell
Managing Director

107

 
 
 
 
 
Ernst & Young 
121 King William Street 
Adelaide  SA  5000  Australia 
GPO Box 1271 Adelaide  SA  5001 

  Tel: +61 8 8417 1600 
Fax: +61 8 8417 1775 
ey.com/au 

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Cooper Energy Limited 

Report on the Audit of the Financial Report 

Opinion  

We have audited the financial report of Cooper Energy Limited (the Company) and its subsidiaries 
(collectively the Group), which comprises the consolidated statement of financial position as at 30 
June 2019, consolidated statement of comprehensive income, consolidated statement of changes in 
equity and consolidated statement of cash flows for the year then ended, notes to the financial 
statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies, and the directors declaration. 

In our opinion, the accompanying financial report of the Group is in accordance with the Corporations 
Act 2001, including: 

a) 

b) 

giving a true and fair view of the consolidated financial position of the Group as at 30 June 
2019 and of its consolidated financial performance for the year ended on that date; and 

complying with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Regulations 2001. 

Basis for Opinion 

We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards.  Our responsibilities under 
those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial 
Report section of our report.  We are independent of the Group in accordance with the auditor 
independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 and the ethical requirements of the 
Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board’s APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional 
Accountants (the Code) that are relevant to our audit of the financial report in Australia. We have also 
fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the Code. 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis 
for our opinion.  

Key Audit Matters 

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in 
our audit of the financial report of the current year.  These matters were addressed in the context of 
our audit of the financial report as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, but we do not provide 
a separate opinion on these matters. For each matter below, our description of how our audit 
addressed the matter is provided in that context. 

We have fulfilled the responsibilities described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the 
Financial Report section of our report, including in relation to these matters.  Accordingly, our audit 
included the performance of procedures designed to respond to our assessment of the risks of 
material misstatement of the financial report. The results of our audit procedures, including the 
procedures performed to address the matters below, provide the basis for our audit opinion on the 
accompanying financial report. 

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108

LC:RC:COOPER:084 

 
 
 
 
 
1.  Estimation of oil and gas reserves and resources 

Why significant 

How our audit addressed the key audit matter 

Estimation of oil and gas reserves and resources 
requires significant judgement and the use of 
assumptions by the Group, as outlined in the notes to 
the financial statements within the section on 
significant accounting judgements, estimates and 
assumptions on page 72 of the Group’s financial 
report. These estimates can have a material impact on 
the financial statements, primarily in the following 
areas:  

• 

• 

• 

• 

capitalisation and classification of expenditure as 
exploration and evaluation (E&E) assets (note 12) 
or oil and gas assets (note 13); 

valuation of assets and impairment testing (note 
14);  

calculation of amortisation of oil and gas assets 
(note 13) and deprecation of property, plant and 
equipment (note 10); and  

estimation of the timing of restoration activities 
(note 15).  

Our audit procedures focused on the work of the Group’s 
experts with respect to the hydrocarbon reserve 
estimations.  

Our procedures included the following:  

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

assessed the qualifications, competence and 
objectivity of the Groups’ internal and external experts 
involved in the estimation process.  

evaluated the adequacy of the experts’ work to 
determine if the work undertaken was appropriate. 

assessed controls over the estimation process 
employed by the Group.  

assessed whether key economic assumptions used in 
the estimation of reserves and resources volumes 
were consistent with those utilised by the Group in the 
impairment testing of exploration and evaluation and 
oil and gas assets, where applicable. 

analysed the reasons for reserve revisions, or the 
absence of reserves revisions where expected, and 
assessed movements in reserves for consistency with 
other information that we obtained throughout the 
audit. 

ensured the reserves and resources volumes used in 
the determination of information recorded in the 
financial statements, such as the calculation of 
amortisation of oil and gas assets and depreciation of 
property, plant and equipment, valuation of assets and 
impairment testing, and the calculation of restoration 
provisions, were consistent with those addressed 
through these procedures.  

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2.  Impairment assessment of oil and gas assets  

Why significant 

How our audit addressed the key audit matter 

Australian Accounting Standards require the 
Group to assess throughout the reporting period 
whether there is any indication that an asset may 
be impaired, or that reversal of a previously 
recognised impairment may be required. If any 
such indications exist, the Group shall estimate the 
recoverable amount of the asset. An asset is also 
required to be tested for impairment immediately 
before an exploration and evaluation asset is 
transferred to assets in development.  

Impairment indicators were present during the 
period for certain cash generating units (CGUs), 
and impairment testing was undertaken where 
required. The Group’s testing determined that no 
impairment of oil and gas assets was required.  

The impairment testing process is complex and 
highly judgemental and is based on assumptions 
and estimates that are affected by expected future 
performance and market conditions. Key 
assumptions, judgements and estimates used in 
the formulation of the Group’s impairment of oil 
and gas assets are set out in the financial report 
(note 14). 

We evaluated the assumptions and methodologies used by the 
Group and the estimates made. In particular we considered 
those estimates and judgements relating to the forecast cash 
flows and the inputs used to formulate those cash flows, such 
as discount rates, reserves and resources, operating and 
capital costs, commodity prices and foreign exchange rates.  

We involved our valuation specialists to assist in these 
procedures, where appropriate. Our audit procedures were 
undertaken across all significant CGUs, with the extent of 
procedures commensurate with the level of impairment risk. 

Specifically, we evaluated the discounted cash flow models and 
other data supporting the Group’s assessment for those CGUs 
where impairment indicators were present. In doing so, we: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

understood future production profiles compared to 
latest reserves and resources estimates, as outlined 
in the key audit matter above, current approved 
budgets and forecasts and historical performance, 
where relevant. 
evaluated commodity price assumptions with 
reference to contractual arrangements, market prices 
(where available), broker consensus, analyst views, 
market regulators and historical performance. 
evaluated discount rates and foreign exchange rates 
with reference to risk free rates, market indices, 
market risk, company and project risk, applicable tax 
rates, market expectations, and historical 
performance. 
compared future operating and capital expenditure to 
current approved budgets, forecasts, contractual 
arrangements and historical expenditure, and 
ensured variations were in accordance with our 
expectations based upon other information obtained 
throughout the audit. 
examined the reasons for changes to recoverable 
amounts relative to previous impairment 
assessments. 
tested the mathematical accuracy of the Group’s 
discounted cash flow models.  

We also considered the adequacy of the financial report 
disclosures regarding assumptions, key estimates and 
judgements applied by management with respect to the 
impairment assessments.  

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3.  Restoration provisions  

Why significant 

How our audit addressed the key audit matter 

The Group has recognised restoration provisions of 
$286.2 million at 30 June 2019 which are disclosed in 
note 15 of the Group’s financial report.  

The calculation of restoration provisions made by the 
Group is conducted using both internal and external 
specialist engineers. These calculations require 
judgement in respect of asset lives, timing of 
restoration work being undertaken, environmental 
legislative requirements, the extent of restoration 
activities required and future restoration costs.  

Our audit procedures focused on the work of the Group’s 
experts and included the following: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

assessed the qualifications, competence and 
objectivity of both the Group’s internal and external 
experts involved in the estimation process. 

evaluated the adequacy of the expert’s work to 
determine whether their work was appropriate, 
including understanding the basis for forecast cost 
assumptions for restoration. 

assessed the effectiveness of relevant controls over 
the Group’s restoration provision estimation process. 

tested the consistency of the application of principles 
and assumptions to other areas of the audit, such as 
reserves estimation and impairment testing.  

tested the mathematical accuracy of the net present 
value calculations and considered the appropriateness 
of the discount rate applied in the calculation.  

assessed the Group’s disclosures in respect of the 
restoration provisions.  

A member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited 
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111

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.  Accounting for deferred tax and Petroleum Resource Rent Tax 

Why significant 

How our audit addressed the key audit matter 

The Group has recognised a net deferred tax asset of 
$20.8 million at 30 June 2019 in respect of corporate 
income tax. In arriving at the net deferred tax asset, 
consideration has been given to temporary differences 
arising on assets and liabilities, and carry forward 
losses in respect of corporate income tax, which are 
available for offset against amounts payable in future 
periods.  

The Group has interests in a number of assets subject 
to the Australian Petroleum Resource Rent Tax 
(“PRRT”) regime. The Group has recognised a net 
deferred tax liability of $16.3 million at 30 June 
2019. Deferred tax assets in respect of the PRRT 
regime, arising due to carried forward undeducted 
expenditure, have not been recognised in relation to a 
number of assets.  

The determination of the quantum, likelihood and 
timing of the realisation of deferred tax assets arising 
from corporate income taxes and PRRT is complex and 
judgemental. The Group’s accounting policies and 
disclosures regarding PRRT and income taxes are 
included in the financial report.  Further details are set 
out in note 3 to the financial report.  

We assessed the Group’s determination of tax payable now 
and in the future. We involved our taxation specialists to 
assist in this assessment.  

We assessed the application of the methodologies used, 
and the judgements involved in estimating the utilisation of 
deferred tax benefits in the future, and in assessing the 
offsetting of corporate income tax deferred tax assets and 
liabilities.  

We assessed the estimation of future taxable income, the 
interpretation of PRRT and income tax legislation and the 
consistency in the application of forecast performance with 
other forecasts made, such as in the Group’s impairment 
testing and corporate modelling.   

We assessed the Group’s disclosures in respect of PRRT 
and income taxes which are included in note 3 to the 
financial report.  

Information Other than the Financial Report and Auditor’s Report 

The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the 
information included in the Company’s 30 June 2019 Annual Report, but does not include the 
financial report and our auditor’s report thereon. We obtained the Directors’ Report and the Overall 
Financial Review that are to be included in the Annual Report, prior to the date of this auditor’s 
report, and we expect to obtain the remaining sections of the Annual Report after the date of this 
auditor’s report.  

Our opinion on the financial report does not cover the other information and we do not and will not 
express any form of assurance conclusion thereon, with the exception of the Remuneration Report 
and our related assurance opinion. 

In connection with our audit of the financial report, our responsibility is to read the other information 
and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial 
report or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.  

If, based on the work we have performed on the other information obtained prior to the date of this 
auditor’s report, 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.  

A member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited 
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112

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ Responsibilities for the Financial Report 

The Directors of the Company are responsible for the preparation of the financial report that gives a 
true and fair view in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Act 2001 
and for such internal control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of the 
financial report that gives a true and fair view and is free from material misstatement, whether due to 
fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial report, 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 cease 
operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.  

Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report  

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report as a whole is 
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 Australian Auditing Standards 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 this financial report. 

As part of an audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards, we exercise professional 
judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit.  We also: 

• 

Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to 
fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit 
evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not 
detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, 
as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override 
of internal control. 

•  Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit 

procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an 
opinion on the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control. 

•  Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting 

estimates and related disclosures made by the directors. 

•  Conclude on the appropriateness of the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting 

and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events 
or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern.  
If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our 
auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial report or, if such disclosures are 
inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up 
to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Group to 
cease to continue as a going concern. 

A member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited 
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113

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•  Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial report, including the 
disclosures, and whether the consolidated financial statements represent the underlying 
transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.  

•  Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or 

business activities within the Group to express an opinion on the financial report. We are 
responsible for the direction, supervision and performance of the Group audit. We remain solely 
responsible for our audit opinion. 

We communicate with the Directors regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of 
the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that 
we identify during our audit.  

We also provide the Directors with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical 
requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other 
matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related 
safeguards. 

From the matters communicated to the Directors, we determine those matters that were of most 
significance in the audit of the financial report of the current year and are therefore the key audit 
matters. We describe these matters in our auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes public 
disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter 
should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would 
reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication. 

Report on the Remuneration Report 

Opinion on the Remuneration Report 

We have audited the Remuneration Report included in pages 50 to 64 of the Directors’ Report for the 
year ended 30 June 2019. 

In our opinion, the Remuneration Report of Cooper Energy Limited for the year ended 30 June 2019, 
complies with section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001. 

A member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited 
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114

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Responsibilities 

The Directors of the Company are responsible for the preparation and presentation of the 
Remuneration Report in accordance with section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001. Our 
responsibility is to express an opinion on the Remuneration Report, based on our audit conducted in 
accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. 

Ernst & Young 

L A Carr 
Partner 
Adelaide 
12 August 2019 

A member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited 
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation 

115

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ernst & Young 
121 King William Street 
Adelaide  SA  5000  Australia 
GPO Box 1271 Adelaide  SA  5001 

Tel: +61 8 8417 1600 
Fax: +61 8 8417 1775 
ey.com/au 

Auditor’s Independence Declaration to the Directors of Cooper Energy 
Limited 

As lead auditor for the audit of the financial report of Cooper Energy Limited for the financial year 
ended 30 June 2019, I declare to the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been: 

a)  no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 in 

relation to the audit; and   

b)  no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit. 

This declaration is in respect of Cooper Energy Limited and the entities it controlled during the 
financial year. 

Ernst & Young 

L A Carr 
Partner 
Adelaide 
12 August 2019 

A member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited 
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation 

116

LC:RC:COOPER:085 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities Exchange and Shareholder Information
as at 31 August 2019

Listing
The company’s shares are quoted on the Australian Securities Exchange under the code of “COE”.

Number of Shareholders
There were 6,871 shareholders. All issued shares carry voting rights. On a show of hands every member at a meeting of shareholders shall 
have one vote and upon a poll each share shall have one vote.

Distribution of Shareholding (at 31 August 2019)

Size of Shareholding

Number of holders

Number of Shares

% of issued capital

1 - 1,000 

1,001 - 5,000

5,001 - 10,000 

10,001 - 100,000 

100,001 - 9,999,999,999 

Total 

Unquoted Options on Issue
Nil

Unquoted Performance Rights

Number of Holders of Rights

44

18

972

1,606

1,053

2,653

587

6,871

269,143

4,693,109

8,605,643

96,808,074

1,511,174,841

1,621,550,810

0.02

0.29

0.53

5.97

93.19

100.00

Total Performance Rights 

15,464,897 Performance Rights

38,457,469 Share Appreciation Rights

Unmarketable Parcels
There were 861 members, representing 162,325 shares, holding less than a marketable parcel of 870 shares in the company.

Twenty Largest Shareholders

Rank Name

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

JP Morgan Nominees Australia Pty Limited

HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited

Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited

National Nominees Limited

BNP Paribas Nominees Pty Ltd 

BNP Paribas Noms Pty Ltd 

Zero Nominees Pty Ltd

Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited 

Invia Custodian Pty Limited 

Mirrabooka Investments Limited

Warbont Nominees Pty Ltd 

Kavel Pty Ltd 

CPU Share Plans Pty Ltd 

Mr Leendert Hoeksema + Mrs Aaltje Hoeksema

UBS Nominees Pty Ltd

Mr Timothy Bryce Kleemann

AMP Life Limited

Hooks Enterprises Pty Ltd 

Levak Nominees Pty Ltd

Farjoy Pty Ltd

Units

% of Issued Capital

374,503,191

359,346,583

224,844,888

103,061,172

55,546,296

21,549,614

19,965,437

13,381,545

12,641,696

12,252,207

10,347,351

10,131,476

9,995,434

8,000,000

6,045,835

5,647,682

5,491,069

5,200,000

4,919,015

4,350,000

23.10

22.16

13.87

6.36

3.43

1.33

1.23

0.83

0.78

0.76

0.64

0.62

0.62

0.49

0.37

0.35

0.34

0.32

0.30

0.27

Totals: Top 20 holders of Ordinary Fully Paid Shares (Total)

1,267,220,491

78.17

Substantial Shareholder
The following were substantial holders in the company, as disclosed in substantial holding notices given to the Company as required by section 
671B of the Corporations Act.

Name of entity

Challenger Ltd

CBA

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc

Carol Australia Holdings Pty Ltd

Greencape Capital

Number of securities in which substantial  
shareholder has a relevant interest as at date of last notice

Voting power  
as at date of last notice

132,744,035

118,924,031

103,955,804

97,203,575

81,202,438

8.19%

7.43%

6.41%

5.99%

5.01%

117

Shareholder Information

Enquiries and share registry 
address

Shareholders with enquiries about their 
shareholdings should contact the company’s 
share registry, Computershare Investor 
Services Pty Ltd, via the telephone contact 
above.

Online shareholder information

Shareholders can obtain information 
about their holdings or view their account 
instructions online, as well as download 
forms to update their holder details.  
For identification and security purposes,  
you will need to know your Holder 
Identification Number (HIN/SRN), Surname/
Company Name and Post/Country Code to 
access. This service is accessible via the 
Computershare website.

Change of address

Shareholders who have changed their 
address should advise Computershare in 
writing. Written notification can be mailed or 
faxed to Computershare at the address given 
above and must include both old and new 
addresses and the security holder reference 
number (SRN) of the holding. 

Change of address forms are available for 
download from the Computershare website. 
Alternatively, holders can amend their details 
on-line via the Computershare website. 
Shareholders who have broker sponsored 
holdings should contact their broker to 
update these details.

Annual Report mailing list

Shareholders who wish to vary their annual 
report mailing arrangements should advise 
Computershare in writing. Electronic 
versions of the report are available to all  
via the company’s website. Annual Reports 
will be mailed to all shareholders who have 
elected to be placed on the mailing list  
for this document. Report election forms can 
be downloaded from the Computershare 
website.

Forms for download

All forms relating to amendment of holding 
details and holder instructions to the 
company are available for download from  
the Computershare.

Investor information

Information about the company is available 
from a number of sources:

• Website: www.cooperenergy.com.au 

•  E-news: Shareholders can nominate to 

receive company information electronically. 
This service is hosted by Computershare 
and can be accessed via Computershare’s 
website

•  Publications: the annual report is the  
major printed source of company 
information. Other publications include 
half-yearly and quarterly reports, company 
press releases, investor packs, and 
presentations. All publications can be 
obtained either through the company’s 
website or by contacting the company

• Telephone or email enquiry:  

to Don Murchland, Investor Relations  
+61 439 300 932;  
donm@cooperenergy.com.au

118

Notes

119

Cooper Energy Limited
ABN 93 096 170 295

Annual Report

Other abbreviations

Reserves and resources 

This document has been prepared to 
provide shareholders with an overview  
of Cooper Energy Limited’s performance  
for the 2019 financial year and its 
outlook. The Annual Report is mailed to 
shareholders who elect to receive a copy 
and is available free of charge on request 
(see Shareholder Information printed in  
this Report).

The Annual Report and other information 
about the company can be accessed  
via the company’s website at  
www.cooperenergy.com.au

Notice of Meeting

The 2019 Annual General Meeting  
of Cooper Energy Limited  
ABN 93 096  170 295 (“the company”)  
will be held at 10.30 am (ACDT) on 
Thursday, 7 November 2018 at  
Level 1, 43 Franklin Street, Adelaide,  
South Australia.

The Notice of Meeting has been mailed 
to shareholders. Additional copies can be 
obtained from the company’s registered 
office or downloaded from its website  
at www.cooperenergy.com.au

bbl: barrels of oil

boe: barrels of oil equivalent

bopd: barrels of oil per day

$: Australian dollars

E&P: exploration and production

FEED: front end engineering and design

FID: final Investment decision

FTE: full time equivalent

GJ: gigajoules

HSEC: Health, safety, environment  
and community

kbbl: thousand barrels

km: kilometres

LNG: liquefied natural gas

LTI: lost time injury

LTIFR: lost time injury frequency rate

m: metres

MMbbl: million barrels of oil

MMboe: million barrels of oil equivalent

NOPSEMA: National Offshore Petroleum 
Safety and Management Authority

NOPTA: National Offshore Petroleum  
Title Administrator

Abbreviations and terms

PJ: petajoules

This Report uses terms and abbreviations 
relevant to the Group, its accounts and the 
petroleum industry.

PRMS: Petroleum Resources  
Management System

SCF: standard cubic feet

The terms “the Company” and “Cooper 
Energy” and “the Group” are used in  
the report to refer to Cooper Energy 
Limited and/or its subsidiaries. The terms  
“2019”, or “2019 financial year” refer to 
the 12 months ended 30 June 2019 unless 
otherwise stated. References to “2020”,  
or other years refer to the 12 months 
ended 30 June of that year.

SPE: Society of Petroleum Engineers

TJ: terajoules

TRIFR: Total recordable injury 
frequency rate

1C: Low Estimate Contingent Resources 

2C: Best Estimate Contingent Resources 

3C: High Estimate Contingent Resources 

1P: Proved Reserves

2P: Proved and Probable Reserves

3P: Proved, Probable and Possible 
Reserves

VWAP: volume weighted average price

Cooper Energy reports its reserves and 
resources according to the SPE (Society 
of Petroleum Engineers) Petroleum 
Resources Management System guidelines 
(PRMS). 

Reserves are those quantities of petroleum 
anticipated to be commercially recoverable 
by application of development projects  
to known accumulations from a given date 
forward under defined conditions.

Contingent resources are those quantities 
of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, 
to be potentially recoverable from known 
accumulations but the applied project(s)  
are not yet considered mature enough for 
commercial development due to one or 
more contingencies.

In PRMS, the range of uncertainty is 
characterised by three specific scenarios 
reflecting low, best and high case  
outcomes from the project. The 
terminology is different depending on 
which class is appropriate for the project, 
but the underlying principle is the same 
regardless of the level of maturity. In 
summary, if the project satisfies all the 
criteria for Reserves, the low, best and high 
estimates are designated as proved (1P), 
proved plus probable (2P) and proved plus 
probable plus possible (3P), respectively. 
The equivalent terms for contingent 
resources are 1C, 2C and 3C.

Rounding

Numbers in this report have been 
rounded. As a result, some figures may 
differ insignificantly due to rounding and 
totals reported may differ insignificantly 
from arithmetic addition of the rounded 
numbers.

120

Corporate Directory

Directors

John C Conde AO, Chairman
David P Maxwell
Elizabeth A Donaghey 
Hector M Gordon
Jeffrey W Schneider
Alice J M Williams

Company Secretary

Amelia Jalleh

Registered Office and Business Address

Level 8, 70 Franklin Street
Adelaide, South Australia 5000

Telephone: + 618 8100 4900
Facsimile: + 618 8100 4997
E-mail: customerservice@cooperenergy.com.au
Website: www.cooperenergy.com.au

Perth Office

Level 15, 123 St Georges Terrace
Perth, Western Australia 6000

Telephone: +61 8 6556 2101
Facsimile: +61 8100 4997

Auditors

Ernst & Young
121 King William Street
Adelaide, South Australia, 5000

Solicitors

Johnson Winter & Slattery 
Level 9, 211 Victoria Square 
Adelaide SA 5000

Bankers

Australia and New Zealand Banking  
Group Limited
11-29 Waymouth Street 
Adelaide, 5000 
South Australia

NATIXIS
Hong Kong Branch
Level 72, International Commerce Centre
1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong

ABN AMRO Bank N.V. 
Level 11, 580 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

ING Bank N.V.
Sydney Branch  
Level 31, 60 Margaret Street
Sydney NSW 2000

National Australia Bank Limited
Level 32, 500 Bourke Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Share Registry

Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited
Level 5, 115 Grenfell Street
Adelaide SA 5000

Website: investorcentre.com/au

Telephone: 
Australia 1300 655 248 
International +61 3 9415 4887

Facsimile: +61 3 9473 2500

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