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Hardy Oil & Gas PLC

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FY2019 Annual Report · Hardy Oil & Gas PLC
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Hardy Oil and Gas plc

Annual Report and Accounts
FY2019

Contents

Strategic Report

Financial Statements

Additional Information

Reserves and Resources ........................78

Asset Description ...................................79

Definitions and Glossary of Terms ...........80

Company Information .............................82

Independent auditor’s report to the
shareholders of Hardy Oil and Gas plc....45

Consolidated Statement of 
Comprehensive Income..........................49

Consolidated Statement of Changes 
in Equity .................................................50

Consolidated Statement of 
Financial Position....................................51

Consolidated Statement of 
Cash Flows ............................................52

Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements.............................................53

Parent Company Statement of 
Changes in Equity...................................70

Parent Company Statement of 
Financial Position....................................71

Parent Company Statement of 
Cash Flows ............................................72

Notes to the Parent Company 
Financial Statements ..............................73

Contents ...............................................IFC

Summary FY2019.....................................1

Strategic Report .......................................2

Market Overview.......................................4

Business Model ........................................5

Key Performance Indicators......................6

Operational Review...................................7

Financial Review .....................................12

Principal Risks And Uncertainties............15

Sustainability ..........................................17

Governance

Board of Directors ..................................18

Management Committee ........................19

Audit Committee Report .........................26

Directors' Remuneration Report .............30

Annual Report on Remuneration.............31

Directors’ Remuneration Policy...............35

Nomination Committee Report ...............41

Directors' Report ....................................42

Welcome

Hardy Oil and Gas plc is an upstream
oil and gas company whose operating
assets are in India

Our portfolio includes a blend of appraisal
and development assets

Hardy’s goal is to evaluate and exploit its asset
base with a view to creating significant
value for its shareholders

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

1

Summary FY2019

Hardy Oil and Gas plc (LSE: HDY), the oil and gas exploration and production company reports its results for the year ended 31
March 2019 (FY19). 

CY-OS/2 

• The Supreme Court of India (SC), after 48 listings over 24 months, overruled a previous Delhi High Court (HC) order and deemed
that India Courts did have jurisdiction to hear the Government of India’s (GOI) appeal of the CY-OS/2 international arbitration
award (Award) Hardy is evaluating options available to the Company. 

• In June 2018 the Washington District Court declined to Confirm the CY-OS/2 award reasoning that the restoration of the block
was against US public policy and given the two parties did not agree on the methodology of computing the compensation
portion of the award it could not be confirmed. Hardy Exploration & Production (India) Inc. (HEPI) had been seeking a lower figure
than the GOI had represented. HEPI has not appealed the order. 

PY-3

• The GOI review, of PY-3 unincorporated joint venture’s (uJV) unanimously recommended Revised Full Field Development Plan

(RFFDP) and application for an extension of the Production Sharing Contract (PSC), has been ongoing for more than 17 months
which is beyond the time prescribed within the of GOI’s own PSC extension policy. The PSC is due to expire in December 2019. 

• In March 2019 ONGC notified Hardy that it had been instructed by Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) to exercise its

right to assume operatorship of PY-3. ONGC’s notification included several conditions which are not in accordance with the PSC. 

• An arbitration between HEPI and the PY-3 uJV partners continues and the matter is reserved for judgment since November

2018. 

Financial

• Having considered India’s SC ruling, to allow an appeal of the CY-OS/2 award in India courts, Intangible Assets associated with
CY-OS/2 exploration expenditures was written-down by $51.1 million. This resulted in a significantly higher total comprehensive
loss of $56.3 million for FY19 compared to a loss of $4.7 million for FY18. General and administrative expenditure included legal
expense of $2.5 million compared with $1.8 million in FY18. 

• Cash and short-term investments at 31 March 2019 amounted to $4.2 million. 

OUTLOOK

• CY-OS/2 – The GOI appeal of the CY-OS/2 arbitration Award in the Delhi HC has been adjourned until September 2019. This is

the third time that the matter has been adjourned and is consistent with the past ineffectiveness of the India Judiciary. It is
expected that the appeal process will take three to five years to conclude and the Board are evaluating options available to the
Group. 

• PY-3 – The GOI’s protracted review of the uJV’s unanimously agreed revised full field development plan (RFFDP) and extension

application has compromised the likelihood that production can recommence prior to the expiry of the PY-3 PSC. 

• PY-3 - The arbitration tribunal, overseeing the arbitration between HEPI and the other uJV partners, was expected to issue a

decision by the end of July 2019. 

• Strategic Review – review the Group’s strategic objectives which could include one or more of the following, a sale of HEPI,

individual asset sales, securing litigation funding or the other means of raising capital. 

Our considerable efforts to enforce the CY-OS/2 Arbitration Award, handed down in 2013, have not produced a meaningful
outcome. The GOI has consistently been allowed by the judicial institutions in India, UK and US to abuse legal process and frustrate
enforcement. Consequently, we initiated a strategic review of the Group to consider all options including the possible sale of HEPI. I
will report back the conclusions of this review to shareholders in due course

2

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Strategic Report

OVERVIEW

The Group’s strategy has been to be an active participant in the upstream oil and gas industry, realise value from our current India
focused portfolio and pursue new opportunities as they arise. The events surrounding Hardy Exploration & Production (India) Inc’s
(HEPI) attempts to enforce the CY-OS/2 Award has lead the Board to conclude that contracts entered into with the GOI do not
provide basic protection from unilateral amendment to, deviation from, and termination of agreements. In November 2018 the Board
initiated a strategic review which remains ongoing.

Activity

Notwithstanding the GOI’s documented abuse of legal process, the Supreme Court of India (SC) order, allowing the GOI to appeal
the CY-OS/2 arbitration Award, was fundamentally flawed. The order made no reference to, or acknowledgement of, HEPI’s
arguments. The contractual provisions regarding international arbitration were put in place precisely to avoid the sovereign appealing
an award within its own judiciary. We are further disappointed that the GOI has not completed its review of the PY-3 RFFDP and
extension application. It is understood that the delay in calling a Management Committee meeting is a deliberate attempt to
compromise the health of HEPI. On the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas’s (MOPNG) instruction ONGC, a state-owned
company, notified the uJV partners that it intended to assume operatorship of the PY-3 field. Finally, one of the PY-3 uJV partners
has written to the MOPNG and other uJV partners proposing an alternative development plan thereby reneging on its previous
Operating Committee (OC) approvals.

The GOI continued to escalate pressure on HEPI. On 14 June 2019, HEPI received an order from India’s Commissioner of GST and
Central Excise (CGCE) levying service tax of INR 29 crores and a penalty of INR 29 crores ($8.2 million total). On 15 November
2018, the Customs Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) passed an order upholding HEPI’s claim of a service tax
refund (initially filed in May 2009) of over $1.9 million. The written order was received on 11 January 2019 and HEPI formally
requested the refund on 12 April 2019. Notwithstanding the finality of the order the CGCE authorities have asked for many
clarifications and required in person meetings. HEPI has fully cooperated but as of this date we are not in receipt of our entitlement.

Strategy

We continue to be frustrated by India specific constraints including the GOI’s avoided adherence to the dispute resolution
procedures provided for in the Production Sharing Contracts. Further it is apparent that the GOI is not prepared to sanction any
activity wherein HEPI is involved including the approval for the PY-3 Revised full field development plan (RFFDP) and GOI
sanctioning of an extension of the production sharing contract (PSC). The state owned ONGC’s action to assume operatorship is
further evidence of the challenges facing HEPI in India. Having carefully considered the deteriorating environment Hardy has initiated
a review to identify possible alternative activity to realise value for shareholders in the near term. The focus being on a reduced level
of participation in the India Upstream industry. This review remains ongoing and we will update shareholders in due course.

Market Overview

The EIA forecasts Brent spot prices will average $67 per barrel in 2019 and remain at $67 per barrel in 2020. EIA’s lower 2019 Brent
price path reflects rising uncertainty about global oil demand growth. We do not anticipate much change in the cost of upstream
services and equipment.

Financial

While the CY-OS/2 award remains valid, having considered that it has been over five years since the tribunal issued the award and
the GOI appeal in the Delhi High Court is expected to take a considerable amount of time, the intangible asset associated with the
CY-OS/2 block was written down at the time of the Group’s interims in November 2018. This resulted in a significant increase in the
consolidated loss of the Group.

The Group is reporting a total comprehensive loss of $56.2 million for the year ended 31 March 2019 (FY19) compared to a loss of
$4.7 million for the year ended 31 March 2018 (FY18). This included a write-down of $51.1 million of intangible assets associated
with past exploration expenditures on the CY-OS/2 asset. General and administrative expenditure of $4.8 million included legal
expenses of over $2.5 million.

Conservation of cash resources is paramount for the Group and the Board has acted to reduce certain legal and administrative
expenditures. The Group is considering other actions to reduce ongoing administrative expenditures while the strategic review is
ongoing. The Group projects administrative expenses for FY20 to be around $1.6 million. 

Cash used in operating activities amounted to $5.4 million for the year ended 31 March 2019 compared to a cash outflow of $5.4
million for the year ended 31 March 2018. The Group’s capital expenditure was marginal and investment income was $0.5 million.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

3

Governance

On 10 September 2018, Pradip Shah stepped down as Non-Executive Director of Hardy Oil and Gas plc on medical grounds. On
31 October 2018, T.K. Ananth Kumar stepped down as a Director of Hardy Exploration & Production (India) Inc. Considering the
current circumstances of the Company the composition of the Board will be maintained. The non-executive directors of Hardy have
voluntarily reduced their director fees to £30,000 per annum each to conserve the Group’s cash resources. 

Further details of the Board’s activities this year can be found in the Corporate Governance section of the Annual Report. The
Group’s near-term principal risks remain that the timing or execution of planned activities may not commence as forecast; the
possible relinquishment of appraisal acreage; liabilities related to ongoing disputes and cost associated with noted disputes.

In accordance with provision C.2.2 of the 2016 UK Code, the Directors have assessed the prospects of the Group over a period
longer than the 12 months required for the “Going Concern” statement. The Board conducted this review for a period of three years
to 31 March 2022, considered the current challenges facing the Group in India and the ongoing strategic review. The underlying
conditions, described in note 1.b. of the Accounts, indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast doubt about the
Group’s ability to continue as a going concern within the adopted viability horizon. The Directors have however made an informed
judgement, at the time of approving these financial statements, that there is a reasonable expectation that the Group and the
Company have adequate resources to continue to operate for the 12 months from the date of approval of these financial
statements.

Objectives and outlook

Our considerable efforts to enforce the CY-OS/2 Arbitration Award, handed down in 2013, have not produced a meaningful
outcome. The GOI has consistently been allowed by the judicial institutions in India, UK and US to abuse legal process and frustrate
enforcement. Consequently, we initiated a strategic review of the Group to consider all options including the sale of HEPI. I will
report back the conclusions of this review to shareholders in due course.

Alasdair Locke 
Chairman

26 June 2019

4

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Market Overview

The IFC estimated that global growth will be 2.6 per cent in 2019 and rise to 2.8 per cent by 2021. The IFC predicts continued
benign global financing conditions, as well as a modest recovery in emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) previously
affected by financial market pressure. However, EMDEs are expected to remain constrained by subdued investment, which is
dampening prospects and impeding progress toward achieving development goals. Risks are also firmly on the downside, in part
reflecting the possibility of destabilizing policy developments, including a further escalation of trade tensions between major
economies; renewed financial turmoil in EMDEs; and sharper-than-expected slowdowns in major economies.

Brent crude oil spot prices averaged $71 per barrel in May almost $6/b lower than the price in May of last year. The EIA forecasts
Brent spot prices will average $67 per barrel in 2019 and remain at $67 per barrel in 2020. EIA’s lower 2019 Brent price path reflects
rising uncertainty about global oil demand growth. The EIA also predict that the United States becomes a net energy exporter in
2020 and remains so throughout their projection period due in part to large increases in crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas plant
liquids (NGPL) production coupled with slow growth in U.S. energy consumption. Natural gas prices are expected to remain
comparatively low compared with historical prices, leading to increased use of this fuel across end-use sectors and increased
liquefied natural gas exports. The EIA also expect an increase in energy efficiency across end-use sectors to keep U.S. energy
consumption relatively flat, even as the U.S. economy continues to expand.

India

In India, the economy continues to enjoy strong economic growth outlook with the country’s median GDP growth forecast at 7.1 per
cent for FY20 and 7.2 per cent for FY 21, according to a survey. The industry body FICCI’s economic outlook survey said the
minimum and maximum growth estimate stood at 6.8 per cent and 7.3 per cent, respectively, for 2019-20. CPI inflation in FY2019 is
estimated at 4.0 per cent, close to the midpoint of the target band (4 per cent ±2 per cent). The country recently concluded a
national election wherein Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party was handed another significant majority.

According to PNGRB – Vision 2030 Natural Gas Infrastructure, India’s demand for natural gas is expected to grow by about 19 per
cent per annum (from 370 mmscmd in 2016 to 516 mmscmd in FY2023) to meet the ever-increasing requirements of the power,
fertiliser and other industries. The Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and city gas sector are also projected to see a quantum growth
in natural gas use. The GOI’s New Domestic Natural Gas Guidelines, benchmarked domestic natural gas prices to market prices of
net exporting countries. As a result, prices are much lower than the cost of replacement fuels in India and up to three times lower
than LNG prices in Asia. The current notified price is $3.1 per mmbtu based on the net calorific value (NCV) of the sales gas. 

Transparency International ranked India 78 out of 180 countries noting that India had one of the highest bribery rates of all the
countries surveyed, where nearly seven in 10 people, who had accessed public services, had paid a bribe1. In the World Bank’s
assessment of the ease of doing business India ranked 166 for enforcement of contracts. It noted that the average dispute case
takes over 1,400 days and legal expenses on average amount to one third of the claim value. HEPI has experienced first-hand
exceptionally protracted and expensive judicial resolutions due, in part, to the under resourced and inefficient judicial system. As a
result, the Hardy Board is not confident that the contracts entered into in India can be enforced within reasonable timelines and
resources.

1PEOPLE AND CORRUPTION: ASIA PACIFIC – GLOBAL CORRUPTION BAROMETER, Transparency International, March 2017

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

5

Business Model

The assets in the Group’s portfolio are, to varying degrees, involved in litigation of disputes. As a result, the Group’s activities, in the
short-term, are not necessarily focused on those described below. It remains the Group’s long-term objective to undertake activities
commensurate with the business model described herein; 

Obtaining exploration rights (1–3 years)

Acquire directly through national authorities or indirectly via purchase or farm-in

Obtaining hydrocarbon exploration rights is accomplished through:

a. The granting of exploration licences by the government of the countries in which we choose to invest. In India this is

accomplished via the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) / Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy (HELP), which
are competitive closed bid processes held periodically.

b.  The acquisition of exploration licences from third parties. This can be accomplished via direct farm-in, purchase or corporate

mergers.

Exploration (2–5 years)

Geoscience surveys and studies, high-grade prospects, verify via drilling

Exploration campaigns are planned to try to discover oil and gas fields within under-explored sedimentary basins. Initial activity will
typically involve investment in extensive geotechnical analysis which will typically include geological modelling of sedimentary basins,
and the acquisition of seismic and other data, which is then integrated to facilitate the identification of possible subsurface
hydrocarbons accumulations (prospects). Drilling of exploration wells commences if a prospect has a reasonable chance of success
and meaningful size estimate.

Appraisal (2–5 years)

Geotechnical and engineering studies to assess commerciality of discoveries

When we have a significant discovery we undertake appraisal programmes which may include the drilling of wells and further
geotechnical analysis to determine the size and quality of the discovery. Initial development concepts are also formulated at this time
to facilitate the determination of commerciality. Markets to monetise the discovered hydrocarbons are also identified at this time. 

HARDY FOCUS

Development (3–10 years)

Finalise optimal development plan, implement plan and commence production

If the appraisal programme confirms that the development of a discovery will be commercially and financially viable, we begin work
on a development plan. The plan will map out the optimal process to extract the hydrocarbons in a cost effective manner and
identify which markets the production may be sold into. Field developments are complex, require significant capital investment and
may take many years to implement.

Production optimisation and enhanced recovery

Monitor production and performance, identify viable enhanced recovery techniques

Once a discovery is in production we use our expertise and knowledge to ensure strategies optimise recovery in a safe and cost
effective manner. Later in a field’s life we create value through the implementation of enhanced production strategies to optimise the
value of recoverable hydrocarbons from existing producing fields.

Return profits to shareholders

Establish sustainable business, return capital to shareholders

After retaining sufficient profit to reinvest in the business, we return profits to our shareholders. Divestment and farm-downs,
throughout the investment cycle described above, may also accelerate the return of profits to shareholders.

6

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Key Performance Indicators
KPIs provide an illustration of management’s ability to successfully deliver against the Group’s strategic objectives

The Board periodically reviews the KPIs of the Group considering the strategic objectives and the challenges facing implementation
of such. The Board has identified two financial and two non-financial measures as KPIs for Hardy. The measures reflect the Group’s
ongoing efforts to achieve the reinstatement of the CY- OS/2 exploration block, the importance of a positive cash posit ion and our
underlying commitment to ensuring safe operations. A summary is provided in the table below:

KPI

Definition

Relevance

Progress

FY20 outlook/
target

Key activity

1

Enforcement
of the 
CY-OS/2
Award

Enforcement of the CY-OS/2
Award which provides for
the reinstatement of the
exploration licence and
payment of compensation.

2

Control of
overhead
cash flow

Cash
administrative expense in
India and UK.

3

Government
Sanctioning
of PY-3 FFDP
and extension
of PSC

4

Resolution of
litigation

Management Committee
(MC) approval of an RFFDP
including all technical
aspects of the
implementation plan and
required capital and
operating budgets. GOI
sanctioning of PSC
extension.

The Group is involved in a
number of litigation
proceedings initiated by
third parties and the Group.
Where reasonably feasible
the Company may seek the
conclusion of disputes in a
timely manner.

Reinstatement of the
exploration block will permit
the appraisal of the
Ganesha discovery.
Compensation of
approximately $79 million to
significantly improve the
Group’s financial position.

Preservation of capital is an
important consideration of
the Board. Net cash from
operating activities provides
a good measure of the level
of capital erosion or
accretion experienced by
the Group.

Approval of an FFDP will
provide a tangible milestone
for creating value and
mitigate ongoing or pending
disputes between
stakeholders. Extension of
PSC will permit future value
creation activity.

Litigation proceedings
heavily detract management
from focusing on value
creation activities. Mitigation
of costs and liabilities.

India’s Supreme
Court ruled that it
had jurisdiction to
hear an appeal of
the Award.

Commence
defense of GOI
appeal in the
Delhi High Court.
Maintain rights to
enforce the
Award in other
jurisdictions.

Preparation and
delivery of robust
representations in
India.

Board and
Executive
remuneration and
other professional
fees significantly
reduced.

Significantly
reduce
expenditure in
India. Curtail
litigation
expenditure. 

Close monitoring
of all
expenditures and
recovery of uJV
partner recharges

MC approval of
FFDP and GOI
sanctioning of
PSC extension.

Timely resolution
or avoidance of
matters largely
dependent on
PY-3 results.

Satisfy PY-3
partner and GOI
requirements to
progress
adoption of FFDP,
extension of PSC
and secure MC
budget approval
prior to tendering
process.

Where practical,
approach
counterparts to
reach mutually
equitable
conclusion to
proceedings.

MOPNG failed to
conclude their
review of the OC
recommended
RFFDP within the
legislated timeline
then instructed
ONGC to assume
operatorship.

Several disputed
matters have
been progressed
or resolved.
Successful in
maintaining
refund claim for
$1.8 million in
service tax
payments (India).

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

7

Operational Review
The Group’s exploration and production assets are based in India and are held through its wholly owned subsidiary,
Hardy Exploration & Production (India) Inc. (HEPI)

Health, Safety and Environment

The Group is committed to excellent health and safety practices which are at the forefront in all our activities. Although all offshore
activities are currently suspended, maintaining high HSE standards throughout the organisation remains core to all our undertakings.
The Group’s HSE policy document is regularly reviewed and amended as appropriate.

Block CY-OS/2:

Appraisal (Hardy 75 per cent interest – Operator) 

Hardy is the operator of the CY-OS/2 exploration block and holds a 75 per cent participating interest. The block is in the northern
part of the Cauvery Basin immediately offshore from Pondicherry, India and covers approximately 859 km2. The Ganesha-1
discovery well was drilled to a depth of 4,089 m and on testing, the well flowed natural gas at a peak rate of 10.7 mmscfd.

In 2009 the GOI notified HEPI that the CY-OS/2 block stood relinquished. Subsequently, HEPI has undertaken to rely on the
contractual rights provided to it under the CY-OS/2 Production Sharing Contract between HEPI, GAIL and the GOI. The table below
summarises the extraordinary actions the GOI has taken to deny responsibility for the illegal expropriation of the CY-OS/2 licence. 

Date

2007

Event

Description

Discovery

Natural Gas discovery “Ganesha-1”

January 2009

GOI Unilateral
Relinquishment

GOI unilaterally notified Hardy that the CY-OS/2 block was deemed relinquished citing they had
classified the discovery as Oil which allowed for 2 years appraisal wherein Gas discoveries allowed
for 5 years.

May 2010

Arbitration initiated HEPI, with the formal consent of its uJV partners GAIL and ONGC, initiated a dispute under the

provisions of the CY-OS/2 PSC.

February 2013 Award

A tribunal, comprising of three former Chief Justices of India, unanimously judged that the
relinquishment of the Block by the MOPNG of the GOI was illegal and the block should be
returned.The uJV shall be entitled to a period of three years from the date on which the block is
restored to it, to carry out further appraisal; the uJV shall be paid compensation calculated at the
simple rate of 9 per cent per annum on the amount of Rs. 5.0 billion from the date of
relinquishment till the date of the award; interest will then accrue at a rate of 18 per cent per annum
on the amount of Rs. 5.0 billion until the block is restored to the uJV.

July 2013

GOI Appeal – India GOI files Section 34 appeal (initial) petition to the Delhi High Court under the Indian Arbitration Act.

The Delhi High Court ignored the delay and accepted the application.

July 2015

Appeal dismissed

The Delhi HC dismissed the GOI appeal due to the GOI withdrawal of the Section 34 
application.

February 2016 GOI Appeal – India GOI files Section 37 appeal (challenging the July 2015 order) petition before Division Bench of

Delhi High Court.

July 2016

GOI Appeal
Dismissed

Delhi HC Division Bench dismisses GOI Section 37 appeal petition on grounds of jurisdiction
citing; Arbitration in accordance with UNICTRAL Model Law, Award written and handed down in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Therefore, concluded that Malaysian law has jurisdiction and not India.

Oct 2016

GOI filed SLP to SC GOI files a Special Leave Petition (SLP) requesting the SC to consider overturning the Delhi HC

dismissal.

8

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Operational Review continued

Date

Event

Description

1 May 2018

SC Order

The GOI SLP was listed before the SC bench, comprising of Hon’able Judges Rajesh Kumar
Agrawal and Abhay Manohar Sapre, on 41 occasions covering over 17 months. At the request of
the GOI, the SC bench allowed the matter to be adjourned over 30 times. Following this protracted
and costly process, the India SC bench took the decision not to pass judgement and instead
referred the matter to a larger SC bench. 

June -
September
2018

HEPI Arguments

HEPI argued before the Special Bench of the SC that:

1. The arbitration agreement within the CY-OS/2 Production Sharing Contract (PSC) specified that
the venue of arbitration shall be Kuala Lumpur. The Pre-NELP bid round was the first to invite
non-Indian companies to participate with a neutral venue designated for dispute resolution.

2. The arbitration agreement within the PSC makes mention of the Permanent Court of Arbitration

at the Hague in three places thereby conferring international influence on the process.

3. The arbitration agreement within the PSC specifies that the arbitration proceedings shall be
conducted in accordance with the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial
Arbitration 1985 (a departure from reference to Indian domestic law i.e. the Indian Arbitration
and Conciliation Act 1996).

4. The final hearings of the arbitration proceedings were held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

5. The arbitration award was made, signed and handed down (delivered) by the Tribunal sitting in

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

6. Kuala Lumpur was not a convenient place for all the parties involved in the arbitration process

thereby it was to establish the seat outside of India.

7. Hardy presented a number of precedent cases from both the courts of India and England &

Wales wherein similar arbitration agreements which contained the term ‘venue’ was determined
to mean ‘seat’ (of arbitration).

25 September
2018

SC Order

The Special Bench of the SC consisting of Chief Justice D Misra, Justice Dr DY Chandrachud and
Justice AM Khanwilkar judged that Indian courts have jurisdiction over the Award, thereby allowing
the Civil Appeal filed by GOI to be heard by the High Court. The Special Bench of the SC order did
not acknowledge or make reference to HEPI’s arguments

24 October
2018

HEPI Review
Petition

HEPI files a Review Petition before the newly appointed Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi (D Misra had
superannuated on 2 October 2018.) and was rejected on 2 February 2019.

October 2018 GOI Section 34

Appeal

GOI files request for their Section 34 Appeal to challenge the Tribunals award. It has been listed 5
times and adjourned 3 times at the request of the GOI. It has now been adjourned until 23
September 2019

The summary table above illustrates that India’s Judiciary required over five years to conclude that the Seat of arbitration was India
and not Malaysia. The significance of this decision was to allow the GOI to appeal the Award in India courts. HEPI notes that the
India Arbitration Act allows a significant wider ground to appeal compared with the Malaysia Arbitration Act. There is also the
obvious conflict of the Judiciary considering a negative Award against the GOI that is in favour of a foreign company.

International Enforcement 

USA - On 8 June 2018, Judge Rudolph Contreras denied HEPI’s confirmation petition which would have allowed HEPI to enforce
the award within the US. He concluded that the restoration of the CY-OS/2 exploration license and post-Award interest was against
USA public policy wherein the CY-OS/2 exploration license was within the GOI sovereign boundary and the post interest
compensation award interlinked to the former action. He further concluded that the initial Award of compensation was not
confirmed as HEPI and the GOI had presented different methodologies for computing the intended magnitude of such. Of note
HEPI had represented that the Award provided for compensation to be calculated on a simple interest basis where the GOI had
represented that a compounding computation was provided. The result being that HEPI was claiming a significantly smaller amount
than that represented by the GOI. 

Judge Contreras did note that the GOI appeal in India “…which has been delayed over and over again due to the actions of the
Government of India and the Supreme Court”. Notwithstanding this fact, Judge Contreras granted, over the course of the
proceedings, the GOI time extensions totaling 22 weeks and also took over nine months to issue his order. 

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

9

International Enforcement continued

HEPI is particularly aggrieved that Judge Contreras relied on the parties’ divergent representation of compensation calculation as a
basis of denial, particularly given that he elected to not convene an oral hearing to clarify. The GOI had formally requested an oral
hearing. 

UK – On 27 July 2018 Deputy Judge Peter Macdonald-Eggars, of the London Commercial High Court of Justice, discharged an
interim third-party debt order (TPDO) that HEPI had secured against a guarantee fee payable from India Infrastructure Finance
Company UK Limited (IIFC) to the GOI. Judge Macdonald-Eggars discharged the TPDO accepting the GOI arguments;

(cid:129) The Debt was not situs in the UK – (IIFC is a UK registered company, the GOI guarantee is for funds borrowed by IIFC, IIFC
primary business is in the UK and the guarantee fee was to be made from one UK account to GOI Ministry of Finance.)

(cid:129) Real risk that payment to HEPI would not discharge IIFC liability to GOI resulting in double payment – (the GOI is the sole

shareholder of IIFC, GOI had not issued default notices to IIFC). 

(cid:129) The debt under the Guarantee Fee Agreements was not “due or accruing due” on 28th February 2018 and 5th March 2018

when the Interim Order was made and served.

Further, IIFC and the GOI were awarded substantial costs which fell due in August 2018. 

There remains in place an enforcement order which the GOI is currently contesting. A hearing is expected to take place in FY20. In
May 2018 HEPI had contested the late filing of the GOI set aside application of the enforcement order. The GOI represented to
Justice Moulder that the late filing was an “honest mistake” and had no record of receipt of service. HEPI produced a copy of the
British High Commission’s service note which clearly outlined purpose and date of service. Justice Moulder scolded HEPI for
suggesting that the “honest mistake” was not possible, accepted the GOI representations and granted their extension of time. 

FY20 Objectives – The immediate impact of the SC order was to allow the GOI to have their Section 34 appeal of the Award
heard. It is expected that should the HC uphold the Award, the GOI will file a Section 37 appeal and should that fail to overturn the
Award the GOI will appeal to the SC which we have seen is prepared to extend the maximum privilege to the GOI. It is therefore
expected that the process will take three to five years to conclude. 

As at 31 March 2019, Hardy’s 75 per cent share of the compensation awarded by the Hon’ble Arbitration Tribunal amounted to
approximately $80.0 million.

10

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Operational Review continued
Block CY-OS 90/1 (PY-3):

Oil Field (Hardy 18 per cent interest – Operator)

Operations – The PY-3 field was shut-in in July 2011. Since then Hardy has been working diligently to establish a consensus
amongst stakeholders regarding the optimal development of the field with an objective to recommence production at the earliest
opportunity. 

PY-3’s Production Sharing Contract (PSC) is due to expire in December 2019 and it is eligible for an extension of up to ten years. In
December 2017, HEPI had submitted an extension application, in accordance with the GOI PSC Extension Policy No. O-
19025/10/2005-ONG-D-V (Part-II) dated 28 March 2016 (Extension Policy). As per the Extension Policy, DGH, the technical
regulator wing of the Ministry of Petroleum, GOI had six months and then MOPNG had 3 months to conclude its review of the
application. HEPI addressed all queries issued by the regulator however after 10 months, since the application was submitted, an
MC meeting has not been called, despite repeated requests from HEPI to both MOPNG and DGH officials.

The application included, among other requirements, a Revised Full Field Development Plan (RFFDP) that has been unanimously
approved by the uJV partners and has been recommended to the Management Committee which includes the GOI. The RFFDP
programme envisions;

(cid:129) Contracting a floating production, storage and offloading vessel or equivalent;

(cid:129) Recommencing production from an existing well prior to December 2019,

(cid:129) Drilling one development well in the first half of 2020; and 

(cid:129) A tie-in to the PY-1 gas field infrastructure to export produced gas. 

ONGC operatorship – on 1 March 2019 ONGC wrote to the uJV partners informing them of their intention to assume operatorship
of PY-3 as provided for under Article 6.1 of the joint operating agreement. ONGC placed several conditions including;

1. Each Party confirm that ONGC, as Operator shall not be responsible and liable for any of the past liabilities / claims /disputes /
litigation incurred before the effective date by HEPI in its capacity as operator and the same shall continue to be the liability of
HEPI, as operator.

2. Each Party to the contract become Joint Licensee / Lessee for the Block in proportion to your PI and to pay cess, royalty, taxed
and statutory dues as applicable on respective license and lease directly to the Government in terms of Gazette Notification
dated 14.08.2018 issued by Government of India. Each Party to apply to the Government for the same within 30 days from
receipt of notice.

3. The transfer of Operatorship to ONGC will be effective on fulfilment of above condition precedents or 180 days from the date of

issue of notice, whichever is later.

4. ONGC to subsequently form a Joint Operatorship model, the modalities of which shall be discussed mutually amongst all JV

partners.

HEPI has acknowledged ONGC’s right to assume the operatorship but has rejected all pre-conditions. It is understood that ONGC’s
above action is due to instructions from the MOPNG and are intended to undermine the viability of HEPI and its activity in CY-OS/2
enforcement.

Samson Maritime Limited (Samson) has previously secured an award, amounting to $5.3 million, against HEPI for offshore services
provided in the PY-3 field during 2011 and 2012. The full amount of the award is included in current liabilities. Samson has
subsequently filed an execution petition with the Madras High Court and secured an attachment order on HEPI’s Indian based bank
accounts. HEPI has implemented measures to allow it to continue to make payments in India and is seeking partial relief from the
attachment order. On 6 June 2018 the Madras High Court issued an order for HEPI to write to the MOPNG to have funds held in
the PY-3 Site restoration fund (SRF) to meet the liability to Samson. The Madras High Court accepted MOPNG’s representation that
the funds held in the special scheme between the PY-3 uJV and the GOI is not a legally attachable asset. On 13 March 2019,
Justice R Subramanian of the Madras High Court issued an order to detain an employee of HEPI. On 20 March 2019, Justice M.M.
Sundresh and Justice C Saravanan issued an order staying the detainment. 

In March 2017, Hardy initiated arbitration with the uJV partners to collect approximately $11 million associated with expenditures
incurred by HEPI in fulfilling its responsibilities as Operator of PY-3, including the amounts due to Samson. The uJV partners have
made several counter claims for substantial damages they attribute to alleged Gross Negligence and Wilful Misconduct. In addition,
ONGC is claiming reimbursement of Cess and Royalty paid since commencement of production that was in excess of their
participating interest. The ONGC claim states that HEPI, as Operator, was negligent in not collecting the amounts from TPL and
HOEC. We believe that all counter claims are baseless and without merit. Final written arguments have been submitted and the
Tribunals’ decision was initially expected to be issued by the end of 2018. In May 2019 the tribunal notified the parties that an order
would not be passed until July 2019, more than 8 months after final submissions. 

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

11

FY20 Objective – The sequence of events for FY20 is to:

• Secure MC approval of RFFDP and Budgets, and of a request to GOI for extension of PSC

• Obtain confirmation of GOI sanctioning of extension

• Initiate tendering process

• Obtain unanimous consent from uJV partners to award contracts (if required secure MC approval of revised estimates)

• Collect cash-calls from all uJV partners prior to entering into contracts with vendors

It is expected that offshore activity could commence within 9 to 12 months of the sanctioning of the RFFDP by the Management
Committee. The development plans under consideration would require funding of more than HEPI’s current cash resources.

Background – The PY-3 field is located off the east coast of India, 80 km south of Pondicherry in water depths between 40 m and
450 m. The licence covers 81 km2 and produces high quality light crude oil. The field has produced over 24.8 mmbbl and was 
shut-in in July 2011 due to the expiry of the production facilities’ marine classification and absence of approval to extend the
contract.

Block GS-OSN-2000/1 (GS-01):

Appraisal (Hardy 10 per cent interest) 

Operations – The matter of possible liquidated damages associated with unfinished minimum work programme (UMWP), which has
been under consideration since 2009, continued to be deliberated by the GOI and the Operator. It is our understanding that this is a
common matter for NELP I to NELP VII licences starting from 2005 to 2016, including the HEPI D9 licence which was relinquished
in 2012. HEPI and other operators have been working with industry associations to develop a policy to facilitate a resolution. The 
GS-01 uJV has conveyed to the GOI that this matter needs to be closed out prior to the progression of further activity on the block.
HEPI has previously provided for $0.3 million of liquidated damages which is HEPI’s share of the Operator’s estimate.

Background – In 2011, the GS-01 joint venture secured the GOI’s agreement for the declaration of commerciality (DOC) proposal for
the Dhirubhai 33 discovery GS01-B1 (drilled in 2007) which flow-tested at a rate of 18.6 mmscfd gas with 415 bbld of condensate
through a 56/64 inch choke at flowing tubing head pressure of 1,346 psi. The GS-01 licence is in the Gujarat-Saurashtra offshore
basin off the west coast of India, north west of the prolific Bombay High oil field, with water depths varying between 80 m and 
150 m. The retained discovery area covers 600 km2. 

12

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Financial Review

In the year ended 31 March 2019, the Group recorded a total comprehensive loss of $56.3 million. As at 31 March 2019 the Group
held total cash and short-term investments of $4.2 million with no debt.

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

Operating expense
$0.3 million of expenses associated with direct expenditures of HEPI 
operated blocks and an Inventory charge of $0.6 million associated with the write-down of 
two subsea trees

Exploration Cost Provision - Block CY-OS/2
the write-down charge has been incurred 
having considered that; whilst the award remains valid; it has been over five years since a 
tribunal issued the order for the block to be reinstated; the SC ruling has allowed the Delhi HC 
to hear an appeal of the award; it is expected that the appeal process will take a considerable 
amount of time.

Administrative expense
The Group incurred a significant increase in administrative expenses almost entirely due to an 
increase in legal fees. Legal fees and other dispute related expenditure amounted to $2.5 million. 
Excluding legal costs and exchange lose of 0.4 million, G&A expenditure was $1.9 million 
a decrease of $0.2 million from FY18. 

Overall to date HEPI has incurred $4.8 million in legal expenditures to dispute the GOI appeal 
of the CY-OS/2 Award. Due to the extraordinarily protracted process in India’s judicial system, 
HEPI had initiated enforcement of the award in the US and the UK. 

HEPI continues to be involved in two arbitrations with Aban Offshore, and the PY-3 uJV partners.

Interest and investment income
The Group realised interest and investment income of $0.5 million and incurred no finance costs.

Taxation
No current tax is payable. Having consideration for the outstanding sanctioning of the OC approved 
RFFDP and extension of the PY-3 PSC, the projected tax payable in the future that may be offset 
by the Group’s carried forward loss amount was not recognised in the year.

FY19
(audited)
US$ million

F`Y18
(audited)
US$ million

(0.9)

0.0

(51.1)

-

(4.8)

(5.2)

0.5

0.5

-

-

Total comprehensive loss
The Group’s increase in total comprehensive loss is attributable to the write-down of CY-OS/2.

(56.3)

(4.7)

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

13

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

FY19
(audited)
US$ million

F`Y18
(audited)
US$ million

Non-current assets .
The Group fully wrote down the intangible asset of $51.1 million attributable to CY-OS/2. This non-current 
asset represented successful or work-in-progress exploration expenditure incurred ten years ago. 
The rationale for the write down is provided in the statement of consolidated loss. Any compensation 
is likely to be subject to tax.

5.1

56.2

The remaining non-current asset comprises of an Indian Rupee denominated site restoration deposit of 
$5.2 million relating to PY-3. The Company regularly reviews the underlying assumptions used to support 
the carrying value of the assets

Current assets
The Group’s cash and short-term investments reduced by $5.0 million to $4.2 million. This is primarily 
due to the payment of general and administrative expenses. Trade and other receivables of $5.4 million 
represents net amounts due to be recovered from joint arrangements operated by HEPI regarding 
PY-3 and CY-OS/2. Inventory comprising of two subsea trees was written-down by a further $0.6 million.

Provisions
The Group’s provisions represent a provision for the decommissioning of the PY-3 field. 
The provision has been estimated based on observed long-term industry cost trends.

Current liabilities 
Trade and other accounts payable comprise amounts due to vendors and other provisions associated 
with various joint arrangements including the award of $5.3 million due to Samson Maritime plus 
interest accruing thereon.

9.7

14.6

3.9

3.9

9.3

9.1

14

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Financial Review continued

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW

Cash flow (used in) operating activities
Cash used in operating activities of $4.0 million comprised primarily of administrative costs. 
Net debtor and creditor movement was $(0.5) million.

Capital expenditure
The Company did not incur any material capital expenditures in the year. 
A $0.2 million charge is associated with the reinvestment of interest accrued on a deposit 
committed to site restoration of the PY-3 field.

Financing activity
Interest and investment income realised from Indian rupee and USD deposits, amounted to 
$0.3 million and $0.1 million respectively.

Cash and short-term investments
Hardy has resources available to meet specific operating and administrative expenditure. 
Hardy and HEPI have no debt.

FY19
(audited)
US$ million

F`Y18
(audited)
US$ million

(5.4)

(5.4)

(0.0)

(0.3)

0.5

0.5

4.2

9.2

Service Tax Claims - On 14 June 2019, HEPI received an order from India’s Commissioner of GST and Central Excise (CGCE)
levying service tax of INR 29 crores and a penalty of INR 29 crores ($8.2 million gross). The CGCE issued the demand on the basis
that the Production Sharing Contract entered into with the GOI is a service contract and consideration is the Cost Oil recovered
expenditures. The GOI has been classified the service recipient and as such the liability to pay the service tax falls with them. The
CGCE however, has issued a fine on HEPI for not collecting from the GOI to remit back to the GOI. Management have not provided
for the Cost Oil claim as it is not believed to be legally maintainable and will have far greater consequence for all producers.

In a separate matter, On 15 November 2018, the Customs Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) passed an order
upholding HEPI’s claim of a service tax refund (initially filed in May 2009) of over $1.9 million. The written order was received on
11 January 2019 and HEPI formally requested the refund on 15 April 2019. Notwithstanding the finality of the order the CGCE
authorities have asked for many clarifications and required in person meetings. HEPI has fully cooperated but as of this date we are
not in receipt of our entitlement.

Notwithstanding the finality of the service tax refund court order there remains a level of uncertainty regarding likelihood and timing
of receipt from the GOI.

Transparency International ranked India 78 out of 180 countries noting that India had one of the highest bribery rates of all the
countries surveyed, where nearly seven in 10 people, who had accessed public services, had paid a bribe.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

15

Principal Risks And Uncertainties

The Group has adopted a systematic approach to risk identification and risk management which combines the Board’s assessment
of risk with risk factors originating from, and identified by, the Group’s senior management team. Risks are identified, assessed for
materiality, documented, and monitored through a risk register with senior management involved in the process. Risks that are
identified as high and/or trending upwards are noted and assigned to the Executive Director to monitor and, if possible, proactively
mitigate. The Board has formed a sub-committee on risk which reports periodically to the Audit Committee. The Board is provided
with regular updates of the identified principal risks at scheduled Board meetings.

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

The underlying risks and uncertainties inherent in Hardy’s current business model have been grouped into four categories: strategic,
financial, operational and compliance. The Board has identified principal risks and uncertainties for FY20 and established clear
policies and responsibilities to mitigate their possible negative impact on the business, a summary of which is provided below:

Risk or uncertainty

Mitigation action

Strategic –  The Group is reconsidering strategic options to mitigate exposure to ongoing arbitration and litigation and the outcomes of

such. The Group has sought to mitigate risks inherent with such litigious matters, however duration is out of the control of the
Group and the risk of an adverse outcome cannot be fully mitigated.

Asset portfolio exclusively in one geopolitical 
region

Convey business constraints to accomplishing our objective via direct and open
dialogue with government officials.

Financial –  Financial risks facing the Group could be: adverse results from ongoing or pending arbitration and litigation; cost overruns;

financing constraints for further development; 

Prolonged delay in enforcement of CY-OS/2 
Award

Secure high-quality cost effective and reputable legal counsel. Secure litigation
specific funding

Arbitration and Litigation – the Group is involved in
disputes with service providers, uJV partners and
Indian tax authorities 

Cost of litigation

The Group has secured high quality, reputable professional advisors and legal
counsel in India and other jurisdictions. 

Estimated cost to continue litigation remain high. The Group mitigates costs
through effective management and the monitoring of advisory costs. The Group has
employed strict funding constraints to HEPI related litigation.

Liquidated damages started (LD), unfinished
Minimum Work Programme (MWP)

Engagement with industry lobby groups to facilitate formulation of industry wide
resolution. A provision has been made based on management’s assessment of a
reasonable outcome.

Operational – Offshore exploration and production activities by their nature involve significant risks. Hardy is the operator of two blocks.

However, currently there are no committed plans to undertake offshore operations. The role of operator of an asset
introduces additional responsibilities and commensurate potential liabilities. 

Securing approval for further development of PY-3
including extension of the PSC

We have complied with all criteria outlined in the GOI’s extension policy. Lobby
regulatory and Ministry personnel.

PY-3 HSE – status of PY-3 wells

Contractual dispute with uJV partners

Enforcement of arbitration award

Four subsea wells were securely shut-in in March 2012. The shut-in of wells has
been longer than expected and, in the absence of an extension of the PSC, full
abandonment of the PY-3 field may need to be initiated.

Initiated the dispute resolution procedures provided for under the PY-3 joint
operating agreement. PY-3 uJV partners have filed counter claims. Matter expected
to conclude in 2019.

Samson Maritime Limited has secured an award against HEPI on PY-3 which is
enforceable in India. Samson has frozen India bank accounts of HEPI. This has
resulted in some business disruption and the Company is seeking various legal
remedies. Processes and procedures are in place to mitigate the impact of
enforcement proceedings.

Compliance – The Group’s current business is dependent on the continuing enforceability of the PSCs, farm-in agreements, and
exploration and development licences. The Group’s core operational activities are dependent on securing various
governmental approvals. Developments in politics, laws, regulations and/or general adverse public sentiment could
compromise securing such approvals in the future.

Regulatory and political environment in India

Ensure full compliance of all laws, regulations and provision of contracts. Develop
sustainable relationships with government and communities.

Taxation and significant third-party claims

Secured the services of leading professional and legal service providers. Proactive
communication with taxation authorities to ensure queries are addressed and
assessments are agreed or challenged as required.

16

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Principal Risks And Uncertainties continued

Viability Statement

In accordance with the provision of section C.2.2 of the 2016 UK Code, the Directors have assessed the viability of the Group over
a three-year period to 31 March 2022, considering the Group’s current position and the potential impact of the principal risks
documented in this report. Based on this assessment, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group will maintain a
positive cash position to September 2021.

In making this statement, the Directors have considered the resilience of the Group, its current position, the principal risks facing the
business in severe but reasonable scenarios and the effectiveness of any mitigating actions. This assessment has considered the
potential impacts of these risks on the business model, future performance, solvency and liquidity over the period. The assessment
highlighted that the cashflow position is projected to fall to a level wherein a funding deficit is likely to arise should cash outflow in
respect of payment of current liabilities (including Samson Maritime) without commensurate recovery of debts due from uJV
partners; or the materialisation of contingent liabilities or unprovided for claims by third parties and government authorities.

Most liabilities of a material nature are limited to the wholly owned subsidiary Hardy Exploration & Production (India) Inc. and the
Group’s cash and short-term investments are held within Hardy Oil and Gas plc.

The Directors have previously determined that the three-year period is an appropriate period over which to provide its Viability
Statement. The current assessment covers the period when the Group hopes to have the PY-3 RFFDP and PSC extension
approved as well as clarity regarding its holdings in CY-OS/2 and GS-01. The PY-3 RFFDP is an asset that will require additional
funding during this period. In making our assessment, the Directors have considered the Group’s current cash position, that no
capital is committed, and they have not considered the receipt of funds from a claim against the GOI of $80.0 million, recovery from
uJV partners in excess of the Samson liability and other tax refund claims. 

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

17

Sustainability
Code of Business Conduct

We have a comprehensive Code of Business Conduct that was adopted in 2013 (the Code) which details the levels of behaviour we
expect all employees to adhere to when representing Hardy. Everyone working for Hardy is personally responsible for following the
Code and ensuring that we conduct our business safely and in a fair, honest and ethical manner. Full details of the policy are
available on our website www.hardyoil.com.

Compliance awareness

The Chief Executive Officer personally introduces the Code to all employees and the Board and executive are committed to ensure
that the Code is embedded throughout the business. 

Raising concerns

Hardy employees and contractors are encouraged to promptly report any concerns they have about the Company’s business
practices or where someone is concerned or suspects that the Code has been breached. Where members of staff do not feel
comfortable reporting concerns to their line manager or executive, they have been invited to contact the Senior Non-Executive
Director directly through a confidential email address. The Board does not tolerate retaliation against an individual reporting in good
faith.

HSE

The Company is committed to excellent health and safety practices which are at the forefront of all our activities. Although all
offshore activities are currently suspended, maintaining high HSE standards throughout the organisation remains core to all our
undertakings.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

The Group’s total GHG emissions for the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 have been estimated at 140 tCO2e equating to 10.7
tC02e/FTE. The estimate is based on the previous years’ report that was carried out in accordance with the Defra Environmental
Reporting Guidelines (2013) and emissions factors have been sourced from the Defra 2013 UK Government Conversion Factors for
Company Reporting. The figure presented includes all material Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from all assets under Hardy Oil and
Gas plc’s operational control. 

Reporting period

FY19
FY18
FY17

Local content

Scope 1
emissions 
tCO2e

Scope 2
emissions
tCO2e

Total carbon
footprint
tCO2e

Intensity
metric
tCO2e/FTE

19
19
11

120
120
125

140
139
136

10.7
10.7
9.0

India has an extensive pool of upstream oil and gas professionals. As a result, we have been able to assemble and maintain 100 per
cent local staffing of our India-based professionals and staff.

Rider Sustainability

As of June 2019 the Company employed 14 (including non-executive directors) which can be broken into the following categories;
Location - 5 in the UK and 9 in India; Gender - 13 male and 1 female.

18

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Governance
Board of Directors
Alasdair Locke (aged 65)
Non-Executive Chairman

Terms of appointment

Mr Locke was appointed to Hardy’s Board as Non-Executive Chairman in January 2012.

Background and experience

Mr Locke is the former executive chairman of Abbot Group plc, an oil services company which he founded in 1992. It was listed on
the London Stock Exchange from 1995 until its sale in 2008 for £906 million to Turbo Alpha Ltd, a company controlled by a US
private equity fund. He sold his remaining interest in the group and stepped down altogether in 2009. His early career started in
investment banking at Citigroup in 1974, where he specialised in shipping and oil.

Mr Locke holds a History and Economics degree from Oxford. He was the recipient of the Grampian Industrialist of the Year (2001)
award, the Scottish Business Achievement Awards Trust International Business Achievement Award (2000) and the Scottish
Business Achievement Awards Entrepreneur of the year (1999).

External appointments

Mr Locke is the chairman of Argenta Holdings plc, Motor Fuel Group and First Property Group plc. He is also non-executive director
of other companies.

Committee membership

Chairman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees and a member of the Audit and risk sub-committee.

Ian MacKenzie (aged 62)
Chief Executive Officer

Terms of appointment

Mr MacKenzie was appointed to Hardy’s Board as Chief Executive Officer in February 2012.

Background and experience

Mr MacKenzie has a proven track record of knowledge, experience and achievement of high performance in the management of oil
and gas operations, technical support functions, and major design and construction projects developed through 30 years in the oil
and gas industry.

Mr MacKenzie was a group director and member of the executive team of KCA DEUTAG Drilling as well as a director of group
subsidiaries including chairman of the main Norwegian operating entity KCA DEUTAG Norge A/S. Mr MacKenzie gained an honours
degree in Engineering Science from Aberdeen University and a postgraduate diploma in Offshore Engineering from Robert Gordon
University, Aberdeen. He also has formal qualifications in Finance and Accounts. He is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer; FEANI
registered European Engineer, member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Energy Institute, Society of Petroleum Engineers,
and a past External Examiner in the RGU Oil & Gas MSc course.

External appointments

None.

Committee Membership

Chairman of the Risk Sub-Committee. 

Peter Milne (aged 65)
Senior Non-Executive Director

Terms of appointment

Mr Milne was appointed to Hardy’s Board as Senior Non-Executive Director in March 2012.

Background and experience

Mr Milne has a proven track record in the oil sector. For over 15 years he was the finance director of Abbot Group plc, the largest
UK headquartered drilling contractor. During that period the company grew from being a largely UK-focused business, with turnover
of £50 million, into a global organisation with more than £1 billion turnover, operations in 20 countries and employing over 8,000
people. This transformation was achieved through a strategy of organic and acquisition led growth. Mr Milne qualified as a chartered
accountant with Deloittes in 1977 and was an executive director of Abbot Group plc (a former FTSE250 company) and KCA
DEUTAG Drilling Group up until 2010.

External appointments

Member of the audit committee of the University of Aberdeen.

Committee membership

Chairman of the Audit Committee, a member of the Remuneration Committee, Nomination Committee and Risk Sub-Committee.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

19

Management Committee
Richard Galvin
Treasurer and Corporate Affairs Executive

Terms of appointment

Mr Galvin joined Hardy in 2005 and was appointed Treasurer in 2011 and appointed to HEPI’s Board in 2013.

Background and experience

Mr Galvin has over 20 years of commercial and corporate finance experience in the upstream oil and gas industry. Mr Galvin started
his career at Encana (formally AEC) working in progressively senior commercial roles over seven years. Mr Galvin holds a Master of
Business Administration from the London Business School and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary. Mr Galvin
joined Hardy in 2005 as Business Development Manager and was appointed an Executive Officer of the Company in 2011. Mr
Galvin is a director of HEPI.

Sankalpa Mitra
Senior Vice President - Production of HEPI

Terms of appointment

Mr Mitra joined HEPI in 2006 and was appointed senior vice president in 2014. 

Background and experience

Mr Mitra has over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He previously worked for ONGC over 23 years holding a
position of chief engineer-production having experience in both onshore and offshore operations and project implementation. Mr
Mitra joined HEPI in 2006 as manager of special projects and has been heading the operations team as general manager- PY-3
since 2010. He holds a BE (Mechanical) from Calcutta University.

CH. V. Satya Sai
Vice President Geoscience of HEPI

Terms of appointment

Mr Satya Sai joined HEPI in 2006 and was appointed vice president in 2014.

Background and experience

Mr Satya Sai has over 30 years of Geological and Geophysical (G&G) experience in the oil and gas industry. Mr Satya Sai previously
worked at ONGC for over 21 years, holding a position of superintending geophysicist prior to leaving. He holds a Master’s degree in
Geophysics and a bachelor degree in Science from Andhra University. Mr Satya Sai joined Hardy in 2006 as Chief Geophysicist and
has been the Head of G&G since 2012.

20

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

The UK Corporate Governance Code

The Company maintains a listing on the London Stock Exchange and under the UK Listing Rules, is required to comply with the UK
Corporate Governance Code published in April 2016 (the UK Code). The UK Code is publicly available on the Financial Reporting
Council’s website at www.frc.org.uk.

Introduction

Hardy Oil and Gas plc is incorporated in the Isle of Man and is not subject to any corporate governance regime in its place of
incorporation. This Corporate Governance Report describes the way the Group has applied the main principles of governance set
out in the UK Code throughout the year.

The Company strives to maintain a balance between conservation of limited resources and maintaining robust corporate
governance practices. Set out below are Hardy’s corporate governance practices for the year ended 31 March 2019. Disclosures
below include matters where Hardy has not fully complied with the provision of the UK Code during the reporting period.

Leadership

The Company is headed by a Board which is collectively responsible for the long-term success of the Company.

The role of the Board

The Board sets the Group’s strategy, ensuring that the necessary resources are in place to achieve the agreed strategic priorities,
and reviews management and financial performance. It is accountable to shareholders for the creation and delivery of both strong,
sustainable financial performance and long-term shareholder value. The Board has a formal schedule of matters reserved which is
provided later in this report.

Board meetings

The core activities of the Board are carried out in scheduled meetings of the Board and its Committees. These meetings are typically
timed to align with key events in the Group’s corporate calendar. Additional meetings and conference calls are arranged, when
necessary, to consider matters which require decisions outside the scheduled meetings. During the year ended 31 March 2019, the
Board met on 11 occasions. Outside the scheduled meetings of the Board, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer make frequent
contact with each other and the other Directors to discuss any issues of concern they may have relating to the Group or their areas
of responsibility, and to keep them fully briefed on the Group’s operations.

Matters reserved specifically for the Board

The Board has a formal schedule of matters reserved that can only be decided by the Board. The key matters reserved are the
consideration and approval of:

(cid:129) The Group’s overall strategy

(cid:129) Financial statements and dividend policy

(cid:129) Management structure including succession planning, appointments and remuneration (supported by the Nomination

Committee)

(cid:129) Material acquisitions and disposals, material contracts, major capital expenditure projects and budgets

(cid:129) Capital structure, debt and equity financing, and other related matters

(cid:129) Risk management and internal controls (supported by the Audit and Risk Committees)

(cid:129) The Company’s corporate governance and compliance arrangements; and

(cid:129) Corporate policies.

Subject to those reserved matters, the Board delegates authority for the management of the business primarily to the Executive
Director and members of the Group’s Management Committee. Certain other matters are delegated to the Board Committees,
namely the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees.

Summary of the Board’s work in the period

For the year ended 31 March 2019, the Board considered all relevant matters within its remit with focus on the following key issues:

(cid:129) Strategy and management with a focus on the optimisation of the Group’s Indian focused portfolio

(cid:129) Financial management

(cid:129) Regulatory compliance

(cid:129) Environment, health and safety

(cid:129) Stakeholder relations.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

21

Attendance

Member

Alasdair Locke

Ian MacKenzie

Peter Milne

Pradip Shah*

* P Shah resigned on 10 September 2018

Division of responsibility

(Chairman)

11 of 11

11 of 11

11 of 11

3 of 3

There is a defined separation of the responsibilities between Alasdair Locke, the Non-Executive Chairman, and Ian MacKenzie, the
Chief Executive Officer, which has been set out in writing and agreed by the Board. The Chairman is primarily responsible for the
effective working of the Board, whilst the Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the operational management of the business, for
developing strategy in consultation with the Board and for implementation of the strategy.

The Chairman

The Chairman sets the Board agenda and ensures adequate time for discussion. On appointment as Chairman on 16 January
2012, Alasdair Locke met the independence criteria set out in the UK Code.

Non-Executive Directors

The Non-Executive Director has a broad range of business and commercial experience. He has a responsibility to challenge
independently and constructively the performance of the executive management and to monitor the performance of the
management team in the delivery of the agreed objectives and targets. He is kept aware of current issues affecting the Group via
informal discussions and ad hoc updates from the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. 

Delegations of authority

Board Committees

The Board has delegated matters to three Committees namely the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees. The
memberships, roles and activities of these Committees are detailed in separate reports: The Audit Committee on pages 26 to 29,
the Remuneration Committee on pages 30 to 40, and the Nomination Committee on page 41. Each Committee reports to the
Board and the issues considered at meetings of the Committees are tabled by the respective Committee Chairmen. The terms of
reference of each Committee are reviewed by the Board every other year.

Other governance matters

The Directors are aware that independent professional advice is available to each Director to properly discharge their duties as a
Director. In addition, each Director and Board Committee has access to the advice of the Company Secretary.

The Company Secretary

The Company Secretary is Richard Vanderplank who is retained on a consultancy basis. He is available to Directors and is
responsible for the Board complying with Isle of Man procedures. He is supported by the Treasurer & Corporate Affairs Executive in
the provision of company secretarial services to the Company.

Effectiveness

The Board currently comprises of a Non-Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a Non-Executive Director. Biographical
details of the Board members are set out on page 18 of this report. The Directors are of the view that the Board and its Committees
consist of Directors with an appropriate balance of skills, experience, independence and diverse backgrounds to enable them to
discharge their duties and responsibilities effectively. At the Company’s Annual General Meeting held on 12 September 2018,
shareholders re-elected Alasdair Locke as a Director of the Company.

Independence

The Board considers Alasdair Locke and Peter Milne to be independent Directors in character and judgement. 

22

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Appointments

The Nomination Committee is responsible for reviewing the structure, size and composition of the Board and making
recommendations to the Board with regards to any required changes. The Committee is also concerned with succession planning
which includes assessment of senior management capabilities and development needs to compliment the Group’s leadership
requirements.

Commitments

All Directors have disclosed to the Board significant commitments outside their respective duties as Non-Executive Directors and
confirmed that they have enough time to discharge their duties.

Conflict of interest

A Director has a duty to avoid a situation in which he or she has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly
may conflict, with the interests of the Group. The Board has satisfied itself that there is no compromise to the independence of
those Directors who have appointments on the Boards of, or relationships with, companies outside the Group. The Board requires
Directors to declare all appointments and other situations which could result in a possible conflict of interest.

Board performance and evaluation

Hardy undertakes an internal appraisal of the Board’s performance on an annual basis. This process comprises of a confidential
questionnaire submitted by each Director. The questionnaire provides members with a platform to comment on the effectiveness of
the Board and performance of each Director. The Senior Independent Non-Executive Director is responsible for overseeing the
reporting of the review.

Re-election

Peter Milne will stand for re-election at the Company’s 2019 Annual General Meeting. A Director’s position is subject to satisfactory
performance of their responsibilities and is subject to reappointment by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.

Accountability

The Board is committed to providing shareholders with a clear assessment of the Group’s position and prospects. This is achieved
through this report and, as required, other periodic financial and trading statements. The arrangements established by the Board for
the application of risk management and internal control principles are detailed on page 44. The Board has delegated to the Audit
Committee oversight of the relationship with the Company’s auditor as outlined in the Audit Committee report on pages 26 to 29.

Going concern

The Group’s business activities, together with factors likely to affect its future operations, financial position, and liquidity position, are
set out in the Strategic Report section of the Annual Report and note 1.a to consolidated financial statements. In addition, note 22
to the consolidated financial statements discloses the Group’s financial risk management practices with respect to its capital
structure, foreign currency risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, commodity price risk, credit risk and other related matters. The
Directors, having made due and careful enquiry, believe the Group and the Company have sufficient working capital to execute their
ongoing activities and could access additional financing, if required. The Directors, therefore, have made an informed judgement, at
the time of approving these financial statements, that there is a reasonable expectation that the Group and the Company have
adequate resources to continue to operate for the 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements. As a result,
the Directors have continued to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual financial statements in
accordance with Guidance on Risk Management, Internal Control and Related Financial and Business Reporting (2014).

Viability Statement

The Group’s Viability Statement can be found on page 16 of the Strategic Report.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

23

Internal controls

The Board of Directors reviews the effectiveness of the Group’s system of internal controls in line with the requirement of the UK
Code. The internal control system is designed to manage the risk of failure to achieve its business objectives. This covers internal
financial and operational controls, compliances and risk management. The Group had the necessary procedures in place for the
period under review and up to the date of approval of the Annual Report and Accounts. The Directors acknowledge their
responsibility for the Groups’ system of internal controls and for reviewing its effectiveness. The Board confirms the need for an
ongoing process for identification, evaluation and management of significant risks faced by the Group and has formed a Risk
Committee which reports to the Audit Committee. A risk assessment for each project is carried out by a team consisting of the
Executive Director and senior management, and report to the Risk Committee before making any material commitments. This team
meets as and when required to consider internal and external risks, including operational, compliance, financial and strategic risks
are continuously assessed. The Audit Committee regularly reviews and reports to the Board on the effectiveness of the internal
control systems. Given the size of the Group, the relative simplicity of the systems and the close involvement of senior management.
The Board considers that there is no current requirement for an internal audit function. The Directors are responsible for taking such
steps as are reasonably available to them to safeguard the assets of the Group and to prevent and detect fraud and other
irregularities.

Business model

Hardy strives to create value through participating in the full exploration and production cycle. The cycle requires first the acquisition
of permits to explore which are issued by government authorities of the countries in which we choose to invest. After extensive
analysis, exploration campaigns are planned to try to discover oil and gas fields within under-explored sedimentary basins. When we
have made a significant discovery of hydrocarbons we undertake appraisal programmes which may include the drilling of wells and
further geotechnical analysis to determine the size and quality of the discovery. Once the appraisal programme confirms that the
development of a discovery is commercially viable, we begin work on a development plan. This maps out how we will release the
production of the discovered hydrocarbon to achieve the ultimate objective to generate revenue and cash flow. Beyond this further
value may be create through the implementation of enhanced production strategies to optimise the value of recoverable
hydrocarbons from existing producing fields.

Remuneration

The Board has delegated to the Remuneration Committee responsibility for agreeing the remuneration policy for the Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer and senior executives. The Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 30 to 34 contains full details of the role and
activities of the Remuneration Committee.

Shareholder relations Communication and dialogue

Open and transparent communication with shareholders is given high priority and there is regular dialogue with institutional
investors. All Directors are kept aware of changes to major shareholdings in the Company and are available to meet with
shareholders who have specific interests or concerns. The Group issues its Annual Report promptly to individual shareholders and
publishes interim and annual results on the Company’s website: www.hardyoil.com. Regular updates to record news in relation to
the Group and the status of its development programmes are included on the Company’s website. Shareholders and other
interested parties can subscribe to receive these news updates by email free of charge. The Chairman and Executive Director are
available to meet with shareholders to assist them in gaining an understanding of the Group’s business, its strategies and
governance. Peter Milne currently serves as the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company and is available to
shareholders if they have concerns that have not been resolved through the normal channels of Chairman or Executive Director.

24

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Annual General Meeting

At every Annual General Meeting, individual shareholders are given the opportunity to put questions to the Chairman, Committee
Chairs and other members of the Board. Notice of the Annual General Meeting is sent to shareholders at least 20 working days
before the meeting. Details of proxy votes for and against each resolution, together with the votes withheld are announced to the
London Stock Exchange and are published on the Company’s website as soon as practical after the meeting.

At the Company’s 2018 Annual General Meeting seven resolutions were presented. Below is a summary of the voting results:

Description

Type

For

Against

Withheld

Total

Votes for %

#

1

2

3

4

5

Adopt annual accounts
for year ended
31 March 2018

To receive and 
consider the Report 
on Remuneration 

To re-elect Pradip 
Shah as a Director 
of the Company.

To re-elect Alasdair 
Locke as a Director 
of the Company.

Re-appointment of 
Crowe UK LLP 
as auditor

6* Disapplication 5 per 
cent of issued share 
capital

7*

Authority to make 
market purchases of 
ordinary shares

Total shares issued

Total instructed

73,764,035

34,473,613

Ordinary

34,471,547

2,066

Ordinary

22,508,526

11,965,087

Withdrawn

-

-

Ordinary

33,176,649

1,296,964

Ordinary

34,471,547

2,066

Special

34,470,165

3,448

Special

34,470,755

2,858

0

0

-

0

0

0

34,473,613

100

34,473,613

-

34,473,613

34,473,613

34,473,613

34,473,613

65

-

96

100

100

100

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

25

Non-compliance with the UK Code

The Company did not comply with the UK Code in the following matters during the year ended 31 March 2019:

Code provision

Subject matter

Discussion

B.1.1 Non-Executive Directors meeting
independence requirements

Pradip Shah had served on the Board
for more than nine years

Mr Shah voluntarily resigned from the
Board on 10 September 2018.

B.1.2. Except for smaller companies, at
least half the board, excluding the
chairman, should comprise non-
executive directors determined by the
board to be independent. A smaller
company should have at least two
independent non-executive directors

Following the resignation of Mr Shah, the
Board comprises of an independent
Non-Executive, a Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer. Therefore, less than
half of the Board is independent.

Having considered the current status of
the Company the Board is satisfied that
the composition of its members is
appropriate. Following the completion of
a strategic review the Board intends to
re-evaluate the needs of the Group.

The Board believes all the Non-Executive Directors provide valuable advice and counsel in furthering the business objectives of the
Group.

The Company is a small cap upstream oil and gas company with a modest resource base. The Board has put in place a mandate to
optimise the allocation of the Company’s limited resources to support medium term strategic objectives. As the Company evolves,
the Board is committed to enhancing the Company’s corporate governance policies and practices deemed appropriate considering
the size and maturity and complexity of the organisation.

Alasdair Locke 
Chairman

26 June 2019

26

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Audit Committee Report
Governance

The Audit Committee comprises of two Non-Executive Directors and oversees the Group’s financial reporting and internal control
procedures as well as providing a formal reporting link with the external auditor. Mr Milne, who has been the Chairman of the Audit
Committee since 2012, is a chartered accountant with over 30 years of oil and gas sector experience. Mr Locke was appointed to
the Audit Committee following the resignation of Mr Pradip Shah. 

The Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer were invited to attend all meetings and other senior management and representatives of
the external auditor were invited as appropriate. The external auditor has unrestricted access to the Audit Committee Chairman. 

Summary of responsibilities

The ultimate responsibility for reviewing and approving the Annual Report and Accounts and the half-yearly reports remains with the
Board. The Audit Committee met three times in the 12 months ended 31 March 2019 and the attendance of members at the Audit
Committee meetings held in the current reporting period were as follows:

Committee member

Meetings attended

Peter Milne (Chairman) 

Alasdair Locke

Pradip Shah* 

3 of 3

1 of 1

2 of 2

*Mr Shah resigned on 10 September 2018

Main responsibilities

The Audit Committee acts as a preparatory body for discharging the Board’s responsibilities in a wide range of financial matters by:

• monitoring the integrity of the financial statements and formal announcements relating to the Company’s financial performance;

• reviewing accounting policies, significant financial reporting issues and relevant disclosures in financial reports;

• overseeing that an effective system of internal control and risk management systems are maintained;

• ensuring that effective whistle-blowing, anti-fraud and bribery procedures are in place;

• considering the Company’s internal audit requirements and make recommendations to the Board;

• overseeing the Board’s relationship with the external auditor and, where appropriate, the selection of new external auditor;

• approving non-audit services provided by the external auditor and ensuring the independence and objectivity of the external

auditor is safeguarded when appointing them to conduct non-audit services; and

• ensuring compliance with legal requirements, accounting standards and the UKLA Listing and Disclosure and Transparency

Rules.

The Audit Committee terms of reference can be accessed via the Company’s website www.hardyoil.com. The Committee fully
discharged its responsibilities during the year.

Consideration and review of six-month interim statement and results for the 12 months ended 31 March 2019

• The Audit Committee monitored the current business and geopolitical environment in India while considering the appropriateness

of the Group’s statements.

• The Audit Committee met with the external auditor as part of both the six-month interim statement and annual accounts approval

processes.

• The Audit Committee considered the most appropriate treatment and disclosure of any new or judgemental matters identified
during the audit of the 12-month accounts or interim statement review, as well as any other recommendation or observation
made by the external auditor.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

27

The Audit Committee audit planning and update on relevant accounting developments

• The Company prepares financial statements under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the

European Union.

• The Audit Committee continued to review the appropriateness of the Company’s accounting policies and was satisfied that the

policies adopted by management are currently appropriate.

• The Audit Committee approved the scope of the work to be undertaken by the external auditor for the interim review and year-

end statutory audit.

• Considered and adopted where appropriate requirements provided for in the 2016 UK Code, EU’s Transparency and Accounting

Directives, and other IFRS.

Review of risk management systems and internal control process and procedures

• The management via the Risk Committee and Board meetings provided the Audit Committee with clear updates of risk and

uncertainties facing the Company and accompanying actions to mitigate such risk.

• Following a review the Audit Committee was satisfied with the appropriateness of the risk management framework which

provides for a systematic approach to risk identification and management which combines both the Board’s assessment of risk
with risk factors originating from and identified by the Group’s senior management.

Review of the requirement for an internal audit function

• The Committee considered the requirement for an internal audit function. The Audit Committee considered the size of the Group,

its current activities, the relative simplicity of the systems and the close involvement of senior management. Following the
Committee’s review, it was recommended to the Board that an internal audit function is not appropriate at this time.

Financial reporting

The Committee monitored the integrity of the Group’s financial statements and reviewed the significant financial reporting issues and
accounting policies and disclosures therein. The Committee met with the external auditor as part of the full year and interim
accounts approval processes. The process included the consideration of key audit risks identified as being significant to the FY19
accounts. 

28

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Audit Committee Report continued

Significant issues considered in relation to the financial statements 

The primary areas of judgement considered by the Audit Committee in relation to the FY19 accounts and how these were
addressed are detailed below:

Issue

Action taken by the Committee

Intangible assets – exploration CY-OS/2

There is continuing uncertainty over the status of the block
due to the ongoing legal dispute with the GOI. The value of
the intangible asset in relation to CY-OS/2 was material to
the Group balance sheet. Details of the dispute and
arbitration award are provided for on note 14 on page 63. In
2018 the Supreme Court of India overturn a high Court order
in determining that India courts had jurisdiction to hear an
appeal of a tribunal award ordering the reinstatement of the
CY-OS/2 licence and compensation. Management advised
the committee that the GOI appeal in India courts would
take several years to conclude and recommended the write-
down of the Intangible asset.

Legal matters

The Group is currently involved in several disputes with third
parties, uJV partners, and taxation authorities which may
result in material cash inflow and outflows. In the event of
adverse findings could result in material movements in
working capital.

Management has provided assessments of the merits of
such claims and counter claims and made appropriate
provisions for likely outcomes.

PY-3 field

The PY-3 field has been shut-in since July 2011 and had
been fully written-down previously. In FY18 the uJV
unanimously agreed to apply for the extension of the PY-3
PSC which included, among other things, a recommend
RFFDP. The RFFDP is currently under review by the GOI
representative DGH. Sanctioning of the RFFDP by the MC
and subsequent confirmation of the extension of the PSC
will allow for the full tendering of services and equipment in
respect to the recommencement of production.
Management has considered the prevailing circumstances
and recommended maintaining the full write-down of the
asset at the current time. 

Provisions for decommissioning costs

Estimates of the cost of future decommissioning and
restoration of the PY-3 field are based on current technical
and legal requirements, cost levels, while estimates of when
decommissioning will occur depend on assumptions made
regarding the economic life of fields. Having considered the
prevailing cost environment and projected timing of
abandonment management made no change to the
provision.

The Audit Committee reviewed and considered the external
legal advice obtained by Management concerning the
enforcement of the CY-OS/2 Award in favour of Hardy and
the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Delhi High
Court’s ruling against the GOI appeal. It assessed the
consequences of the Supreme Court’s decision, the
expected duration to conclude the GOI appeal and
considered implications of HEPI’s enforcement actions
outside of India. The Committee challenged Management’s
assumptions in regard to the implications of continuing to
operate effectively in India. The Committee concurred with
Management assessment that the CY-OS/2 intangible asset
of $51.1 million was impaired and that it be written down
fully.

The Committee reviewed, with management and some of its
professional advisors, the status of various disputed matters
and their likely outcomes as well as the Samson Maritime
enforcement action in India. The committee challenged
management’s assessment and assumptions regarding
certainty of recovery of long outstanding debts due from uJV
partners. The Committee requested robust stress test of
cash flow implications from expected outcomes and these
outcomes have been considered in assessing the Group’s
ongoing viability. The Committee is satisfied that sufficient
provisions or contingent liabilities have been recognised in
the financial statements where necessary.

The Committee reviewed the progress made by
Management in securing unanimous approval from the uJV
partners to recommend an RFFDP and apply for an
extension of the PSC. The Committee considered the
ongoing GOI review of the RFFDP and extension request,
other GOI policies (tax, levies, and other policies) and the
prevailing commodity price and cost environment. 

The Committee is satisfied that management’s conclusion
that the PY-3 asset remained impaired and the maintenance
of full write-down of the assets is appropriate at the balance
sheet date. The Committee will review the situation in FY20
when the outcome of the RFFDP and extension application
is known.

The Committee discussed with management the estimation
process and the basis for the principal assumptions
underlying the cost estimates, noting the reasons for any
major changes in estimates as compared with the previous
year. The Committee was satisfied that the approach applied
was fair and reasonable. Further information on
decommissioning provisions is provided in note 4 on page
59.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

29

Viability Statement 

A principal requirement of UK Code is to include a Viability Statement requiring the Board to state whether it has a reasonable
expectation that the Group will be able to continue in operation. In making this statement the Directors are expected to look forward
significantly longer than 12 months. The Group’s Viability Statement can be found on page 16 of the Strategic Report. The
Committee has reviewed and concurred with the basis on which the Viability Statement has been prepared and the testing of
possible outcomes of ongoing litigation and conditions and the mitigating actions disclosed in the statement. The Committee has
further reviewed and concurs with going concern matters described note 1.b of the financial statements which indicate a material
uncertainty.

External auditor

The Company’s external auditor is Crowe U.K. LLP (Crowe). During the year our auditors changed their name from Crowe Clark
Whitehill LLP to Crowe U.K. LLP. Authorisation of non-audit services provided to the Group is a matter reserved for the Audit
Committee. In the year ended 31 March 2019 Crowe did not provide any non-audit related services to the Company. Crowe
undertook a review of the Group’s Interim Statement and Accounts for the six months ended 30 September 2018.

The external auditor has unrestricted access to the Audit Committee Chairman. During the current audit process, the Audit
Committee Chairman met with the audit engagement partner from Crowe, without the presence of management.

The Committee is satisfied that Crowe has adequate policies and safeguards in place to ensure that auditor objectivity and
independence are maintained. The external auditor confirmed to the Audit Committee during the year their independence from the
Company. In accordance with professional standards, the partner responsible for the audit is changed every five years. The current
auditor, Crowe, was first appointed by the Company in 1999 and the current partner rotated onto the engagement for the
September 2017 interim review. Taking into consideration the transitional rules issued by the Competition Commission as an
indication of best practice, the Company would intend to put the audit out to tender after the end of the 2020 audit at the earliest.

The UK Code states that the Audit Committee should have primary responsibility for making a recommendation on the
appointment, reappointment or removal of the external auditor. Based on the Audit Committee’s review of the external auditor’s
performance, effectiveness and independence, the Committee recommends to the Board that it recommends to shareholders the
reappointment of the auditor at the Company’s 2019 Annual General Meeting.

Peter Milne
Chairman of the Audit Committee

26 June 2019

30

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Directors’ Remuneration Report

The Remuneration Committee’s Report for the 12 months ended 31 March 2019 comprises of two sections:

• An annual statement providing a summary of the Committee’s activities in the 12 months ended 31 March 2019 and its intention

going forward.

• A copy of the Directors’ Remuneration Policy which was put to an advisory shareholder resolution at the 2018 Annual General

Meeting.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

31

Annual Report on Remuneration

This part of the report provides details of the operation of the Remuneration Committee, how the remuneration policy was
implemented in the 12 months ended 31 March 2019 (including payment and awards in respect of incentive arrangements) and
how shareholders voted at the 2018 Annual General Meeting. This part of the report is to include a summary of how the policy will
be operated for the next financial year however, for ease of reference, this is presented within the Remuneration Policy Report on
pages 35 to 40.

The Remuneration Committee- governance 

The Company’s Remuneration Committee comprises of two Non-Executive Directors: Alasdair Locke (Chairman) and Peter Milne.

Hardy’s Remuneration Committee operates within the terms of reference approved by the Board. A copy of the Remuneration
Committee’s terms of reference can be found on the Company’s website www.hardyoil.com. 

Committee’s main responsibilities

• The Remuneration Committee considers remuneration policy, employment terms and remuneration of the Executive Director and

also reviews the remuneration of senior management.

• The Remuneration Committee’s role is advisory in nature and it makes recommendations to the Board on the overall

remuneration packages for the Executive Director and senior management in order to attract, retain and motivate high quality
executives capable of achieving the Group’s objectives.

• The Remuneration Committee also reviews proposals for the share option plans and other incentive plans, makes

recommendations for the grant of awards under such plans as well as approving the terms of any performance-related pay
schemes.

• The Board’s policy is to remunerate the Group’s senior executives fairly and in such a manner as to facilitate the recruitment,

retention and motivation of suitably qualified personnel.

• The Remuneration Committee, while considering the remuneration packages of Hardy executives, has reviewed the policies of
comparable groups in the industry. The remuneration of the Non-Executive Directors is determined by the Chairman and the
Executive Director outside the framework of the Remuneration Committee.

The Remuneration Committee met two times in the 12 months ended 31 March 2019. Mr Shah resigned as a Director effective 12
September 2018 and subsequently Mr Locke was appointed chairman of the committee. The attendance of members at the
Remuneration Committee meetings was as follows:

Number of Committee member Meetings attended

Pradip Shah (Chairman)*

Alasdair Locke (Chairman)*

Peter Milne

2 of 2

2 of 2

2 of 2

* Mr Shah resigned on 10 September 2019, Mr Locke appointed to Chairman

Committee advisors

No remuneration advisors were retained by the Remuneration Committee during the year ended 31 March 2019. The Company has
consulted with the Company’s major investors and investor representative groups as appropriate. No Director takes part in any
decision directly affecting their own remuneration. The Company Chairman also absents himself during discussion relating to his
own fees.

Executive

The Chief Executive Officer’s remuneration package remained unchanged at £296,297 for the year ended 31 March 2019.

Non-Executive

Effective 1 July 2018 the Chairman’s annual fee was reduced from £90,000 to £30,000. Effective 1 October 2018 Mr Milne’s annual
fee was reduced from £60,000 to £30,000.

32

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

Set out below are the emoluments of the Directors for the years indicated (US$):

Single total figure of remuneration for each Director (audited)

Set out below are the emoluments of the Directors for the years indicated ($):

Executive                            Fixed                                     Long term

Benefits

Bonuses

LTI 
vesting

Pension 
contribution Other

Total

Name of Director 

Salaries / 
fees

(a)

Ian MacKenzie1

FY19

388,996

FY18

FY17

390,267

365,227

(b)

3,543

3,697

3,262

(c)

-

-

-

Non-Executive

Name of Director

Fixed

Salaries / 
fees

Long term

Benefits

Bonuses

(a)

(b)

(c)

Alasdair Locke

FY19

59,062

Peter Milne

FY18

FY17

FY19

FY18

FY17

120,315

117,394 

58,870

80,210

78,263 

Pradip Shah

FY192

32,913

FY18

FY17

66,842

65,219 

-

-

- 

-

-

- 

-

-

- 

-

-

- 

-

-

- 

-

-

- 

1

2

Ian Mackenzie’s benefits included life and medical insurance.

Pradip Shah resigned in September 2018.

Long-term incentive plans

Unapproved Share options

(d)

-

-

-

Share 
awards

(d)

-

-

- 

-

-

- 

-

-

- 

(e)

-

-

-

(f)

-

-

-

392,539 

393,964

368,489

Pension 
contribution Other

Total

(e)

-

-

- 

-

-

- 

-

-

- 

(f)

-

-

- 

-

-

- 

-

-

- 

59,062

120,315

117,394 

58,870

80,210

78,263 

32,913

66,842

65,219 

The Committee did not recommend an award under this scheme FY2019. The last award provided under this scheme was on 11
April 2014 wherein the Committee recommended the award of 250,000 options to the Chief Executive Officer. The options awarded
will vest between the third and fifth anniversary of the date of grant (the Vesting Period) subject to the satisfaction of a Performance
Condition. The Performance Condition shall be satisfied where at any time during the Vesting Period, the volume weighted average
market price of an Ordinary Share for any ten consecutive London Stock Exchange trading days is equal to or greater than the
Ordinary Share price of the Company on the date of grant as increased by compounded growth of 5 per cent per annum in the
share price as at the end of such 10-day period. If the Performance Condition is not satisfied by the fifth anniversary of the date of
grant, the options shall lapse. Options are to vest immediately upon the occurrence of a Rule 8 Event under the unapproved share
option scheme (relating to change of control etc).

ESOP scheme

The Committee did not recommend any awards under the ESOP scheme.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

33

Directors’ share options

Set out below is certain information pertaining to share options granted to Directors who held office at 31 March 2019:

As at 31
March 2018 during FY19 during FY19 March 2019

As at 31 

Forfeited

Granted

Date
of grant

Vested at
end of FY19 Expiry date

Exercise price
per share (£)

Ian MacKenzie1

250,000

Total

250,000

–

–

250,000

11–Apr–14

–

10–Apr–19

0.65

250,000

1 Mr MacKenzie’s options awarded in 2014 were subject to the conditions outlined above. As at 11 April 2019 these conditions had not been met and the
options have expired.

Material contract

There have been no other contracts or arrangements during the financial year in which a Director of the Company was materially
interested and/or which were significant in relation to the Group’s business.

Performance graph

Ordinary Shares of the Company were listed on the Official List of the London Stock Exchange’s market for listed securities (Main
Market) from 20 February 2008.

In the circumstances, and since the Company’s principal business is upstream oil and gas exploration, development and
production, the Company has chosen to compare its performance with the FTSE All-Share Index.

Shareholders return and index performance
5 June 2005-31 March 2019

Chief Executive Officer’s remuneration

Total remuneration ($)

Months of service

Total remuneration ($/mth)

Annual bonus (%)1

Option vesting

FY17

368,489

12

30,707

Nil

Nil

FY18

393,964

12

32,780

Nil

Nil

FY19

388,996

12

32,416

Nil

Nil

1 The Chief Executive Officer was entitled to a bonus of nil to 100 per cent of annual salary equivalent. No bonus has been awarded by the Board.

On 28 March 2019, the market price of an Ordinary Share of Hardy Oil and Gas plc was £0.049 per share. The highest and lowest
market price of an Ordinary Share of Hardy during the year ended 31 March 2018 was £0.16 on 10 May 2018 and £0.0168 on 20
December 2018.

34

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

Percentage change in Chief Executive Officer’s remuneration

The table below shows the percentage change in the Chief Executive Officer’s total remuneration between the financial period
ended 31 March 2018 and financial year 31 March 2019 compared to that of the average for all employees of the Group.

Chief Executive Officer

Average employees

Salary

Benefits

Bonus

0

0

0

0

0

0

Note: Percentage figures provided in the table above are determined based on the currency in which individuals are paid.

Relative importance of spend on pay

The following table shows the Company’s actual spend on pay for all employees relative to dividends.

Total employee remuneration ($ million)

Dividend and share buyback

1 Weighted average change.

FY18

1.2

0

FY19

1.1

0

%1

(6)

0

Shareholder voting at the last Annual General Meeting

At last year’s Annual General Meeting, held on 12 September 2018, the Company’s Remuneration Report received the following
votes from shareholders:

For

Against

Votes
withheld

Report

Total number of votes

22,508,526

11,965,087

0

% of votes cast

Total issued
share capital
instructed

34,473,613

Directors’ interests in the share capital of the Company 

The Directors who held office at 31 March 2019 and who had beneficial interests in the Ordinary Shares of the Company are
summarised in the table below. There are no minimum shareholding requirements for Directors:

Name of Director 

Position 

As at 
31 March 
2019

As at 
31 March 
2018

Alasdair Locke 

Non-Executive Chairman 

1,198,153 

1,198,153 

Peter Milne 

Senior Non-Executive Director 

Ian MacKenzie 

Chief Executive Officer 

319,595

350,000

319,595

350,000

Other than above, the Directors do not have any beneficial interest in the Ordinary Shares or any other securities of the Company,
except for stock options.

Other matters

The Company does not manage any pension scheme for any of the Directors.
The Company has not paid out any excess retirement benefits to any Directors or past Directors.
The Company has not paid any compensation to past Directors.
The Company has not paid any sums to third parties with respect to any services of Directors.

Approved on behalf of the Board of Directors.

Alasdair Locke
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

26 June 2019

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

35

Directors’ Remuneration Policy

In this section, we set out our Remuneration Policy which was approved by shareholders on 13 September 2017, how it supports
our strategy, how the Committee intends to operate it, the selection of performance metrics and why we believe they support our
strategy and are appropriately stretching and other relevant information about the Directors’ service agreements. 

Policy overview

The principles of the remuneration policy are to ensure that remuneration promotes the attraction, motivation and retention of the
highest-quality executives who are key to executing our strategy and delivering substantial returns to shareholders. A meaningful
proportion of executive remuneration is structured to link rewards to corporate and individual performance, conservation of limited
capital resources, and an alignment of interests with those of shareholders and to incentivise them to perform at the highest levels.
The remuneration package for the executive and senior management will comprise of base salary, annual bonus, taxable benefits,
pension contributions and participation in the Company’s share incentive arrangements.

Consideration of shareholders’ views

The Remuneration Committee considers shareholder feedback received at the Annual General Meeting each year and, more
generally, guidance from shareholder representative bodies. This feedback, plus any additional feedback received from time to time,
is considered as part of the Company’s review of remuneration policy.

Employment conditions elsewhere in the Group

In setting the remuneration policy and remuneration level for the Executive Director, the Committee is cognisant of the approach to
rewarding employees in the Group and levels of pay increases generally.

Operation of share plans

The Committee will operate the Unapproved Share Option Plan, Executive Share Option Plan and Restricted Share awards
according to their respective rules and in accordance with the Listing Rules and HMRC rules where relevant. The Committee retains
discretion over a number of areas relating to the operation and administration of the plans in relation to senior management
including the Executive Directors. These include (but are not limited to) the following:

• who participates;

• the timing of grant of awards and/or payment;

• the size of awards and/or payment;

• discretion relating to the measurement of performance in the event of a change of control or reconstruction;

• determination of a good leaver (in addition to any specified categories) for incentive plan purposes and a good leaver’s treatment;

• adjustments to awards required in certain circumstances (eg rights issues, corporate restructuring and special dividends); and

• the ability to adjust existing performance conditions for exceptional events so that they can still fulfil their original purpose.

Non-executive remuneration

Policy 

The main goals of the Company’s remuneration policy for the Chairman and Non-Executive Directors is designed to assure
alignment with shareholders, maintain independence, recognise time commitments, and attract and retain outstanding candidates.

The remuneration of the Non-Executive Directors is determined by the Chairman and the Executive Director outside the framework
of the Remuneration Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The fees paid are set at a level to attract individuals with
the necessary experience and ability to make a significant contribution to the Group’s activities, while also reflecting the time
commitment and responsibility of the role. None of the Directors participate in any discussion or votes on any proposal relating to
his or her own remuneration.

36

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Directors’ Remuneration Policy continued

Director fees

This clause is not currently applied to Non-Executive remuneration see page 40 for further details;

Each Non-Executive Director currently receives a basic annual fee of £50,000. The Chairman of the Board will receive
an additional annual fee of £40,000 to reflect additional responsibilities as Chairman of the Board. The Audit Committee
Chairman will receive an additional annual fee of £10,000 to reflect additional responsibilities. Each Non-Executive
Director is also entitled to the reimbursement of necessary travel and other expenses. In certain circumstances a Non-
Executive Director may receive additional fees to compensate for more time spent than what would reasonably be
expected in the execution of their roles and responsibilities.

The Non-Executive Directors have voluntarily agreed to waive the entitlement provided below;

{Non-Executive Directors may receive a restricted shares award up to an equivalent of 25 per cent of their basic annual
fee based on the market value of Hardy shares on the last trading day prior to the date of issue.}

These shares will remain restricted for three years from the date of issue. The shares will become unrestricted and are delivered to
the individual three years after the date of issue. The share award will be in addition to the annual basic fee. In the event of change
of control of Hardy and the participant is no longer a Director going forward, all the restricted shares will vest. In the event of death
of a Director, all shares will become fully vested. Upon the Director not being re-elected at a general meeting of shareholders after
offering himself for re-election as a Director at a general meeting, the shares will vest. In all other circumstances, shares that will
remain restricted are forfeited if the participant is no longer a Director of Hardy. In addition, for a good leaver (defined as death, injury
or disability, redundancy, retirement, his office or employment being either with a company which ceases to be in the Group or
relating to a business or part of a business which is transferred to a person who is not a party to the Group or any other reason the
Committee so decides) the Board has discretion to accelerate vesting on a date determined by it.

Chairman’s additional remuneration

Alasdair Locke’s terms of agreement provide for a one-time award of restricted shares equivalent to £50,000 if the average price of
the Company’s Ordinary Shares remains above £3.00 for any consecutive three-month period during the term of his appointment.

Remuneration scenarios for the Executive Director

The chart below shows how the composition of the Executive Director’s remuneration package varies at different levels of
performance under the remuneration policy, as a percentage of total remuneration opportunity and as a total value.

Remuneration potential

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

37

Service agreement

The service contracts with Directors are on an evergreen basis, subject to termination provisions. The Company may, in lieu of
notice, terminate the Executive Director’s employment with immediate effect by making a payment which does not exceed: a lump
sum equal to basic salary, pension entitlement and other benefits at the rate prevailing at the date of termination for a period which
does not exceed 12 months; and a bonus to the extent earned and awarded by the Company at the date of termination. The
appointment of the Executive Director is subject to termination by no greater than 12 months by either party. The appointments of
Non-Executive Directors are subject to termination upon at least three months’ notice.

Chief Executive Officer

The service contract of Ian MacKenzie is on an evergreen basis until terminated by not less than 12 months’ written notice by either
party. If a written notice is given by either party, the Company may require the Executive Director to continue to perform such duties
as the Board may direct during the notice period or require the Executive Director to perform no duties. In each case, the Company
will continue to pay salary and provide all other benefits arising under the service contract until the end of the notice period.

External appointment

The Board has not introduced a formal policy in relation to the number of external directorships that an Executive Director may hold.
Currently the Executive Director does not hold any other external appointment.

Policy for new appointments

Executive

Base salary levels will consider market data for the relevant role, internal relativities, the individual’s experience and their current base
salary. Where an individual is recruited at below market norms, they may be realigned over time (eg two to three years), subject to
performance in the role. Benefits will generally be in accordance with the approved policy. The Committee may consider buying out
incentive awards which an individual would forfeit upon leaving their current employer although any compensation would, where
possible, be consistent with respect to currency (ie cash for cash, equity for equity), vesting periods (ie there would be no
acceleration of payments), expected values and the use of performance targets. For external and internal appointments, the
Committee may agree that the Company will meet certain relocation and/or incidental expenses as appropriate.

Non-executive

A one-time restricted share award may be made to a new Non-Executive Director on joining the Board under the same terms and
conditions outlined for non-executive annual restricted share award. The market value of the one-time award of Hardy Ordinary
Shares will not be greater than 100 per cent of the annual fee entitlement. In exceptional circumstance this amount may be revised
as deemed appropriate by the Remuneration Committee with Board approval.

Policy for loss of office

The Chief Executive Officer’s service contract is terminable by him or the Company on 12 months’ notice. There are no specific
provisions under which the Executive Directors are entitled to receive compensation upon early termination, other than in
accordance with the notice period. On termination of the Executive Director’s service contract, the Committee will consider the
departing Director’s duty to mitigate his loss when determining the amount of any compensation. Disbursements such as legal and
outplacement costs and incidental expenses may be payable where appropriate. Any unvested awards held under the Unapproved
Share Option Plan, ExSOP (a structured option plan) plan or restricted shares awards will lapse at cessation unless the individual is
a good leaver in which case the Board may permit the extension of unvested options to a later date not to exceed 12 months from
date of cessation. The appointments of any Non-Executive Director may be terminated by either party on three months’ written
notice.

38

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Directors’ Remuneration Policy continued

Summary Directors’ remuneration policy

The table below sets out a summary of each element of the Directors’ remuneration packages, their link to the Company’s strategy,
the policy for how these are operated, the maximum opportunity and the performance framework.

Summary of Directors’ remuneration policy

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Base salary

Purpose and link to strategy

To provide an appropriate level of fixed cash income to attract and retain individuals with the
personal attributes, skills and experience required to deliver our strategy.

Operation

Generally reviewed annually with increases effective from 1 January. Base salaries will be set by
the Committee taking into account the:

• scale, scope and responsibility of the role;

• skills, experience and performance of the individual;

• retention risk; and

• base salary of other individual undertaking similar roles in companies of comparable size and

complexity.

Opportunity

Changes to the Executive Director’s salary, presented in the “Application of policy in FY19” row
below, will not normally exceed the average change awarded to other UK-based employees.

Framework for recovery

None.

Application of policy in FY19 1

Executive Director Base salary £296,297 (may be reviewed annually by the Committee effective 1
January). Effective 1 April 2019 reduced to £180,000

1 Not part of the policy report.

Pension and benefits

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Opportunity

To attract and retain individuals with the personal attributes, skills and experience required to
deliver our strategy.

Salary supplement contribution to personal pension plan. Membership of a medical scheme, life
and long-term disability assurance cover, and professional dues and other professional services.

Pension: 7.5 per cent of base salary. Benefits: the range of benefits that may be provided is set
by the Committee after considering local market practice in the country where the executive is
based. Additional benefits may be provided, as appropriate.

Framework for recovery

None.

Application of policy in FY191 No change.

1 Not part of the policy report.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

39

Incentives

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

To provide a simple, competitive, incentive plan that: will attract, retain and motivate individuals
with the required personal attributes, skills and experience; provide a real incentive to achieve our
strategic objectives; and align the interests of management to shareholders.

Annual bonus plan – personal performance targets are set for the executive which the Committee
deem appropriate and effective in aligning and motivating the executive toward the achievement
of the Company’s short-term objective:

• Annual award of cash bonus based on personal target linked performance ranging from nil up

to the equivalent of 100 per cent of the executive base salary.

Annual long-term equity-based award will be made in line with the Committee’s assessment of
the strategic targets:

• Unapproved Share Option Plan, ExSOP (a structured option plan) or restricted shares;

• annual long-term equity-based award based on performance of the Company and personal

performance; and

• option and restricted share awards will normally vest after three years, subject to certain

performance conditions and continued service.

Opportunity

Annual bonus plan – the maximum annual level of award is 100 per cent of salary for the
Executive Director. 

Annual long-term share or option award – the maximum face value for an annual award of option
or share-based Long-term Incentives (LTIs) is equivalent to 100 per cent of the executive’s base
salary. Face value is the product of market value at time of award and number of options/shares
awarded.

Framework for recovery

Claw back: unvested restricted shares and options can be terminated by the Board in instances
of material misstatement or serious misconduct.

Application of policy in FY191

Award will be based on the Boards assessment of performance in meeting strategic targets. 

Threshold

Target

Cap

Bonus

20% 

40% 

100%

LTI (option-based 
award)

nil%

65%

100%

LTI – option vesting will be conditional on the Company’s share price appreciating at an average
compounded rate of 5 per cent over three to five years from the date of grant. At the time of
award the Board may apply additional vesting conditions as it deems appropriate.

The Board has adopted a simple and effective incentive arrangement which it believes best
serves the mission that management is charged with, which is to create additional value leading
to a higher share price for all shareholders, subject to general market conditions.

1 Not part of the policy report.

40

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Directors’ Remuneration Policy continued

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Purpose and link to strategy 

Operation

Opportunity

To provide an appropriate fee level to attract individuals with the necessary experience and ability
to make a significant contribution to the effectiveness of the Board and to the Group’s activities
while also reflecting the time commitment and responsibility of the role.

The Chairman and the Non-Executive Directors are paid a basic annual fee with additional
responsibility fees for the chairing of the Audit Committee. Fees are normally reviewed annually.
Each Non-Executive Director is also entitled to a reimbursement of necessary travel and other
expenses, and when applicable extra fees for additional work beyond the normal Non-Executive
Director responsibilities. Restricted shares are issued to the Chairman and each Non-Executive
Director on an annual basis equivalent to 25 per cent of their basic annual fee. 

There is no maximum prescribed fee increase although fee increases for Non-Executive Directors
will not normally exceed the average increase awarded to the Executive Director. Increases may
be above this level if there is an increase in the scale, scope or responsibility of the role.

Framework for recovery 

None. 

Application of policy in FY191

Current Non-Executive Director fees: 

Basic annual non-executive

Additional fees 

Chairman of the Board

Chairman Audit Committee 

Other fees to remain at the same level as FY18.

£50,000
To
£30,000

£40,000 to nil

£10,000 – to Nil

1 Not part of the policy report.

Non-Executive Director terms of appointment

The services of Alasdair Locke and Peter Milne are, as Non-Executive Directors, provided under the terms of agreements with the
Company dated as follows:

Non-Executive Director

Year of appointment

Number of years completed

Date of current engagement letter

Alasdair Locke

Peter Milne

2012

2012

7

7

12 January 2012

29 February 2012

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

41

Nomination Committee Report

The main role of the Nomination Committee is to ensure that the Board has the necessary skills and expertise to support the
Company’s current and future activities. Further it works to ensure that the Company’s senior management have the necessary
competencies to execute the organisation’s strategic objectives.

The Hardy Board comprises of two members. The Committee concluded that the current membership is sufficient to guide the
Company to achieve its strategic objectives. The Nomination Committee will continue to assess the Group’s leadership
requirements and the overall effectiveness and composition of the Board.

Committee’s role

The Nomination Committee reviews the composition and balance of the Board and senior executive team on an intermittent basis to
assess that the Board and senior management have the right structure, skills and experience in place for the effective management
of the Company’s business.

Main responsibilities

The main duties of the Nomination Committee are summarised below:

• Review the structure, size and composition of the Board and make recommendations to the Board with regard to any changes.

• Succession planning for Directors and other senior executives. 

• Identifying and nominating, for Board approval, candidates to fill Board vacancies as and when required.

• Reviewing annually the time commitment required of Non-Executive Directors; and

• Make recommendations to the Board regarding membership of the Audit and Remuneration Committees in consultation with the

Chairman of each Committee.

Committee membership

The Nomination Committee currently comprises of three Non-Executive Directors with Alasdair Locke as Chairman of the
Committee. The Nomination Committee met twice in the 12 months ended 31 March 2019. The membership and attendance of
members at Committee meetings held are provided below:

Committee 

Meetings attended

Alasdair Locke (Chairman)

Peter Milne

Pradip Shah*

2 of 2

2 of 2

2 of 2

* resigned on 10 September 2018

Committee activities

The principal activities of the Committee during the year ended 31 March 2019 and after year end were:

Board composition – on 10 September 2018 Mr Pradip Shah voluntarily resigned from the Board citing ill health. Following his
resignation, the Board reassessed the structure, size and composition of the Board. It was agreed that the current composition of
the Board is adequate to fulfil its obligations to stakeholders.

Management resources -The Committee members relied upon its regular contact with the Executive to assess the Company’s
senior management capabilities and expertise. The Committee is satisfied that the Company currently has enough human resources
to achieve the Company’s short-term objectives.

Board Committee membership – It was agreed that following the departure of Mr Shah, Mr Locke would join the Audit
Committee and Mr Locke would assume the chair of the Remuneration Committee. Membership of the Nomination Committee
remained unchanged. A copy of the Committee’s terms of reference can be found on the Company’s website www.hardyoil.com.

The Committee have concluded that the current Board members are the most appropriate for the needs of the organisation. We will
continue to closely monitor the composition of the Board in this regard and act when appropriate.

Gender diversity - All of the Executive and Non-Executive Directors are male. The Committee recognise the benefit of gender
diversity however with due consideration to current circumstances there is no immediate plan to change the composition of the
Board. 

Alasdair Locke
Chairman of the Nomination Committee

26 June 2019

42

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Directors’ Report

Directors of Hardy Oil and Gas plc present their Annual Report together with the audited financial statements for the year ended 31
March 2019.These will be presented before the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on 12 September
2019.

Business review and future developments

Hardy is an international upstream oil and gas company holding exploration and production rights in India. The Company is
incorporated in the Isle of Man and its registered office is Fort Anne, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 5PD. Hardy’s objective is to be a
leading independent exploration and production company and deliver consistent step change growth in shareholder value through
the exploration of potential commercial hydrocarbon accumulations. A full review of the Group’s activities during the year ended 31
March 2019 and plans for the year ended 31 March 2020 can be found in the Strategic Report section on pages 2 to 17 of the
Annual Report, which are incorporated herein by reference.

Directors

The Directors that served in office throughout the year ended 31 March 2019 were:

Board member

Position

Committee member

Alasdair Locke

Non-Executive Chairman

Remuneration (Chairman*), Nomination (Chairman), Audit, Risk

Ian MacKenzie

Chief Executive Officer 
Executive Director

Risk (Chairman)

Peter Milne

Non-Executive Director

Audit (Chairman), Remuneration, Nomination, Risk

Pradip Shah*

Non-Executive Director

Audit, Remuneration (Chairman), Nomination, Risk

* Mr Pradip Shah resigned from the board effective 10 September 2018

Indemnity provision for Directors

Subject to the Isle of Man Companies Acts 1931 to 2004, but without prejudice to any indemnity to which a Director may otherwise
be entitled, every Director shall be entitled to be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against all costs, charges, losses,
damages and liabilities incurred by the Director in the actual or purported execution of his or her duties. The Group has a Directors’
and officers’ liability insurance policy in place.

Results and dividends

The Group is reporting a total comprehensive loss of US$ 56,299,750 for the year ended 31 March 2019 compared to a
comprehensive loss of US$4,736,187 for the year ended 31 March 2018. The Directors do not recommend the payment of a
dividend.

Election and re-election of Directors

At the next Annual General Meeting of the Company, to be held on 12 September 2019, Peter Milne will offer himself for re-election
as Director of HOGL. Biographical details for Mr Milne are set out on page 18. The Board of Directors believe that the contribution
being made by Mr Milne continues to be of value and is satisfied that he conducts himself in an appropriate manner and in the best
interest of shareholders.

Messrs Locke and Milne have entered into engagement letters with the Company in respect of their appointments as Non-Executive
Directors of the Company. The appointments are subject to termination upon at least three months’ notice by either party. 

The Board of Directors is satisfied that the performance of all Directors continues to be effective and is also satisfied as to their
commitment to their role as Directors.

Capital structure and significant shareholders

The Company’s authorised and issued share capital and changes thereto are disclosed in note 18 to the consolidated financial
statements. Disclosures with respect to share options are provided in note 8 to the consolidated financial statements and in the
Directors’ Remuneration Report.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

43

At 31 March 2019 and at the date of this report, there were 73,764,035 Ordinary Shares of Hardy issued and fully paid. Major
interests in share capital of the Company, more than 3 per cent1, as of the date of this report are as follows:

Richard Griffiths and controlled undertaking

Aberforth Partners LLP

Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited

Robert Quested

Henderson Global Investors

NFU Mutual Insurance Society Limited

Yogeshwar Sharma

John Grahame Whateley

21,931,218

9,462,230

9,243,931

8,574,354

3,277,403

2,713,479

2,662,438

2,438,169

29.73%

12.83%

12.53%

11.62%

4.44%

3.68%

3.61%

3.31%

1 The Company relies on TR-1 notifications to track major shareholdings. Such notification is to be issued by the shareholder to the Company and
appropriate authority following which the Company is required to disclose via an Regulatory News Service (RNS) There is no mechanism in place for the
Company to verify the accuracy of such disclosures.

GHG emissions

The disclosure concerning GHG emissions is included in the Strategic Report on page 17.

Diversity

The disclosures concerning Director, management and employee gender diversity as required by law are included in the Strategic
Report on page 17.

Annual General Meeting

The Company’s next Annual General Meeting will be held at Dorsey & Whitney LLP, 199 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3UT, UK on
30 September 2019 at 4.00 pm. The notice of meeting and the explanatory circular to shareholders setting out business to be
conducted at the Annual General Meeting accompanies this Annual Report. The notice includes an item of special business which is
explained by the Chairman in his letter contained in the circular. The item of special business concerns the disapplication of the pre-
emption rights set out in article 5.1 of the Company’s Articles of Association.

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

The Directors are responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and IFRS as adopted by the
European Union. Under such requirements, the Directors are required to prepare Consolidated and Parent Company financial
statements of Hardy Oil and Gas plc for the year ended 31 March 2019, which comprise Consolidated Statement of
Comprehensive Income, Consolidated and Parent Company Statements of Financial Position, Consolidated and Parent Company
Statements of Cash Flows, Consolidated and Parent Company Statements of Changes in Equity, and related notes. In preparing
these financial statements, the Directors are required to:

• Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently

• Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent

• State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained

in the financial statements; and

• Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis.

44

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Directors’ Report continued

The Directors are responsible for ensuring that proper accounting records are kept and which disclose with reasonable accuracy at
any time the financial position of the Company and of the Group and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply
with the Isle of Man Companies Acts 1931 to 2004.The Directors are responsible for ensuring the Directors’ Report and other
information included in the Annual Report are prepared in accordance with company law of the Isle of Man and are also responsible
for ensuring that the Annual Report includes information required by the rules of the London Stock Exchange.

In addition to the above, the Directors are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and of the Group and hence
for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or other irregularities.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Company’s website. Legislation in the Isle of Man governing
the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Directors’ responsibility statement pursuant to disclosure and Transparency Rule 4.1.12.

The Directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge: 

• The financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union, give a true and fair

view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Group; and

• The Annual Report and statement of accounts includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and

the position of the Group, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face.

Internal control and risk management systems

The Board has the ultimate responsibility for the Group’s internal control and risk management systems. The Audit Committee
monitors internal controls and risk management systems on an annual basis. The Group has established a system of control and
risk management involving an appropriate degree of oversight by senior management.

Reappointment of auditor

Crowe UK LLP have expressed their willingness to continue as auditor. In accordance with the Isle of Man Companies Acts 1931 to
2004, a resolution reappointing Crowe U.K. LLP as auditor of the Company will be proposed at the next Annual General Meeting.

Going concern

Going Concern - The financial information has been prepared assuming the Group will continue as a going concern. The basis to
which the Directors have formed this Critical accounting estimates and judgment is further outlined in note 1.a of the Group’s
consolidated accounts.

The Directors, having made due and careful enquiry, believe the Group has adequate working capital to execute its operations over
the next 12 months. The Directors, therefore, have made an informed judgement, at the time of approving financial statements, that
there is a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for 12 months from
the date of approval of these financial statements. As a result, the Directors have continued to adopt the going concern basis of
accounting in preparing the annual financial statements.

Events after 31 March 2019

There have not been any material events that have occurred since 31 March 2019 to the date of this report.

Approved by the Board of Directors.

Alasdair Locke
Chairman

26 June 2019

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

45

Financial Statements
Independent auditor’s report to the shareholders
of Hardy Oil and Gas plc

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Hardy Oil and Gas plc for the year ended 31 March 2019 which comprise the
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, Consolidated and Parent Company Statements of Financial Position, the
Consolidated and Parent Company Statements of Cash Flows, the Consolidated and Parent Company Statement of Changes in
Equity and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting
framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as
adopted by the European Union.

In our opinion:

• the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 31 March

2019 and of the Group’s loss for the year then ended;

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

• the parent company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European

Union as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Isle of Man Companies Acts 1931 to 2004; and

• the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Isle of Man Companies Acts 1931 to

2004.

Basis for opinion 

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

Material Uncertainty Related to Going Concern

In forming our opinion on the financial statements, which is not modified, we have considered the adequacy of the disclosures made
in Notes 1 b) and 2 in the financial statements concerning the Group’s and Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within
the adopted Viability horizon. As set out in note 1 b), the Groups pursuit of strategic objectives and the financing of on-going
overheads will require additional funding, with the directors identifying how that funding may be sourced. 

These conditions indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt about the Group’s and
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include the adjustments that would result if the
Group and Company were unable to continue as a going concern.

Materiality

In planning and performing our audit we applied the concept of materiality. An item is considered material if it could reasonably be
expected to change the economic decisions of a user of the financial statements. We used the concept of materiality to both focus
our testing and to evaluate the impact of misstatements identified.

Based on our professional judgement, we determined overall materiality for the financial statements as a whole to be $200,000
(2018: $700,000), based on 4% of the Group’s adjusted result for the year being the reported loss for the year excluding the
impairment of Block CY-OS/2 (2017: Based on a percentage of the Group’s total assets and net assets). 

We use a different level of materiality (‘performance materiality’) to determine the extent of our testing for the audit of the financial
statements.Performance materiality is set based on the audit materiality as adjusted for the judgements made as to the entity risk
and our evaluation of the specific risk of each audit area having regard to the internal control environment.

Where considered appropriate performance materiality may be reduced to a lower level, such as, for related party transactions and
directors’ remuneration.

We agreed with the Audit Committee to report to it all identified errors in excess of $6,000 (2018: $20,000). Errors below that
threshold would also be reported to it if, in our opinion as auditor, disclosure was required on qualitative grounds.

46

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Independent auditor’s report to the shareholders
of Hardy Oil and Gas plc continued

An overview of the scope of our audit

Our audit approach was based on a thorough understanding of the Group’s business and is risk based. In order to address the
audit risks identified during our planning procedures, we performed a full-scope audit of the financial statements of the Parent
Company and the US entity with activities in India. The operations that were subject to these audit procedures made up 100% of
consolidated results and financial position.

Key Audit Matters

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

In addition to the matter described in the Material Uncertainty Related to Going Concern section, we have determined the matters
described below to be the key audit matters to be communicated in our report. This is not a complete list of all risks identified by
our audit.

Key audit matter

How the scope of our audit addressed the 
key audit matter

Provisions and contingent liabilities

There are a number of threatened and actual legal,
regulatory and tax cases against the Group. There is a high
level of judgement required in estimating the level of
provisioning required.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to:

• Obtaining management’s assessment of the likely

outcome of ongoing disputes;

• Reviewing board minutes and legal invoices for evidence
of additional legal disputes which we were not previously
made aware; 

• Reviewing the legal advice received and discussing
matters directly with Hardy’s relevant legal and
professional advisors.

We reviewed the disclosure made concerning this matter to
ensure that it is consistent with our understanding of the
current legal position.

We validated the completeness and appropriateness of the
related disclosures through assessing that the disclosure of
the uncertainties in note 2 and note 25 of the financial
statements was sufficient.

Estimation of the future liability in respect of
decommissioning

We reviewed the underlying economic models challenging
the key assumptions made by management. This included:

The carrying value of the decommissioning provision, relating
to the PY-3 field, is $3.9m. We considered the risk that the
assumptions were not appropriate in current market
conditions and that the liability was materially misstated.

• Comparison of rig day rate assumptions to available

market data; 

• Considering the appropriateness of the assumptions

concerning the timing and discounting of the cash flows;
and

• Performing of scenario analysis of the various underlying

assumptions.

We reviewed the disclosure made concerning this matter to
ensure that it is consistent with our understanding.

The Audit Committee’s consideration of these matters is set out on page 28.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

47

Other information

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

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider
whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or
otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we
are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the
other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other
information, we are required to report that fact. 

We have nothing to report in this regard.

In this context, we also have nothing to report in regard to our responsibility to specifically address the following items in the other
information and to report as uncorrected material misstatements of the other information where we conclude that those items meet
the following conditions:

• Fair, balanced and understandable – the statement given by the directors that they consider the annual report and financial

statements taken as a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for shareholders to
assess the group’s performance, business model and strategy, is materially inconsistent with our knowledge obtained in the
audit; or

• Audit committee reporting – the section describing the work of the audit committee does not appropriately address matters

communicated by us to the audit committee; or

• Directors’ statement of compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code – the parts of the directors’ statement required
under the Listing Rules relating to the company’s compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code containing provisions
specified for review by the auditor in accordance with Listing Rule 9.8.10R(2) do not properly disclose a departure from a relevant
provision of the UK Corporate Governance Code.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Isle of Man Companies Acts 1931 to 2004
requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

• adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company; or

• the financial statements of the parent company are not in agreement with the accounting records; or

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

• if information required by law regarding Directors’ loans and remuneration and other transactions is not disclosed.

Responsibilities of the directors for the financial statements

As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 20, the directors are responsible for the
preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the
directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether
due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the Group’s and the Parent Company’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 the Parent Company or to cease operations, or have no
realistic alternative but to do so.

48

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Independent auditor’s report to the shareholders
of Hardy Oil and Gas plc continued

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a
high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material
misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the
aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial
statements.

We are responsible for obtaining reasonable assurance that the financial statements taken as a whole are free from material
misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that
material misstatements of the financial statements may not be detected, even though the audit is properly planned and performed in
accordance with ISAs (UK). Our audit approach is a risk-based approach and is explained more fully in the “An overview of the
scope of our audit” section of our audit report.

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

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Section 15 of the Isle of Man Companies Acts
1982. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to
state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume
responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for
the opinions we have formed.

Leo Malkin
Senior Statutory Auditor

For and on behalf of
Crowe U.K. LLP
Statutory Auditor
London

26 June 2019

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

49

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 
For the year ended 31 March 2019

Continuing Operations 

Revenue

Cost of Sales

Production costs

Impairment of Block CY-OS/2

Gross (loss) / profit

Administrative expenses

Operating loss

Interest and investment income

Loss before taxation

Taxation

Loss after taxation

Total other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive loss for the year attributable to 
owners of the parent

Loss per share

Basic & diluted

Year ending
31 March 2019
US$

Year ending
31 March 2018
US$

Notes

3

4

14

5

10

11

-

-

(867,363)

(51,128,272)

(51,995,635)

(4,760,806)

(56,756,441)

456,691

21,679

-

21,679

(5,241,983)

(5,220,304)

484,117

(56,299,750)

(4,736,187)

-

-

(56,299,750)

(4,736,187)

-

-

(56,299,750)

(4,736,187)

12

(0.76)

(0.06)

50

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 
For the year ended 31 March 2019

Share
capital
US$ 

Share
Premium 
US$

Shares 
option
reserve
US$

Retained
earnings/
(loss)
US$

Total
US$

At 31 March 2017

737,641

120,936,441

764,488

(59,842,294)

62,596,276

Total Comprehensive loss for the year

-

-

-

(4,736,187)

(4,736,187)

At 31 March 2018

737,641

120,936,441

764,488

(64,578,481)

57,860,089

Total Comprehensive loss for the year

Adjustment of lapsed vested options

-

-

-

-

-

(56,299,750)

(56,299,750)

(659,545)

659,545

-

At 31 March 2019

737,641

120,936,441

104,943

(120,218,686)

1,560,339

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

51

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position  
As at 31 March 2019

Notes

31 March
2019
US$

31 March
2018
US$

Assets

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Site restoration deposits

Total non-current assets

Current assets

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Short-term investments

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Equity and liabilities

Equity attributable to owners of the parent

Share capital

Share premium

Shares option reserve

Retained loss

Total equity

Provisions

Provision for decommissioning

Total provisions

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Total current liabilities

Total liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

13

14

20

15

16

17

23

18

19

19

20

21

16,811

-

5,076,807

5,093,618

20,000

5,486,731

3,957,079

204,160

9,667,970

14,761,588

22,863

51,128,774

5,059,523

56,211,160

659,656

4,740,148

8,934,123

241,952

14,575,879

70,787,039

737,641

737,641

120,936,441

120,936,441

104,943

764,488

(120,218,686)

(64,578,481)

1,560,339

57,860,089

3,854,995

3,854,995

9,346,254

9,346,254

13,201,249

14,761,588

3,854,995

3,854,995

9,071,955

9,071,955

12,926,950

70,787,039

Approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 26 June 2019

52

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
For the year ended 31 March 2019

Year ending
31 March 2019
US$

Year ending
31 March 2018
US$

Notes

Operating activities

Cash flow (used in) operating activities

6

(5,448,232)

(5,428,470)

Tax (deducted) / refund

(1,719)

-

Net Cash (used in) operating activities

(5,449,951)

(5,428,470)

Investing activities

Expenditure on other fixed assets

Site restoration deposit

Realised from short term investments

Net cash from investing activities

Financing activities

Interest and investment income

Net cash from financing activities

Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

23

(4,292)

(17,284)

4,977,044

4,955,468

456,691

456,691

(37,792)

241,952

204,160

(9,193)

(336,286)

5,244,903

4,899,424

484,117

484,117

(44,929)

286,881

241,952

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

53

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 March 2019

1.  Accounting Policies

The following accounting policies have been applied in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements of Hardy Oil and Gas
plc (“Hardy” or the “Group”). The domicile, country of incorporation, address of the registered office and a description of the Group’s
principal activities can be found in the Directors’ Report. 

The financial information contained in this announcement does not constitute the Company’s statutory financial statements for the
year ended 31 March 2019 but has been extracted from them. The auditors have reported on these financial statements, and their
report was unqualified but the report highlights a material uncertainty in relation to going concern as follows:

Material Uncertainty Related to Going concern

In forming our opinion on the financial statements, which is not modified, we have considered the adequacy of the disclosures made
in Notes 1 b) and 2 in the financial statements concerning the Group’s and Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within
the adopted Viability horizon. As set out in note 1 b), the Groups pursuit of strategic objectives and the financing of on-going
overheads will require additional funding, with the directors identifying how that funding may be sourced. 

These conditions indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt about the Group’s and
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include the adjustments that would result if the
Group and Company were unable to continue as a going concern.

These financial statements are for the year ending 31 March 2019.

a)  Basis of measurement

Hardy prepares its financial statements on a historical cost basis except as otherwise stated.

b)  Going Concern

The financial information has been prepared assuming the Group will continue as a going concern. Under the going concern
assumption, an entity is ordinarily viewed as continuing in business for the foreseeable future with neither the intention nor the
necessity of liquidation, ceasing trading or seeking protection from creditors pursuant to laws or regulations. As at the 31 March
2019 the Group had cash and short-term investments of US $4.2 million. The Group recognises that it is faced with challenges
isolated within India which are symptomatic of its ongoing dispute with the Union of India including a claim against the UOI
amounting to $80 million. Having regard for this, the Group’s pursuit of strategic objectives and the financing of on-going overhead
will require additional funding. This funding may be sourced through collection from joint venture partners, collection of tax refund,
share issues, private equity litigation funding, sale of certain assets or other means. The Board has formed its view on Going
Concern assuming that the Group will satisfy the outstanding amount due to Samson Maritime ($5.3 million) once outstanding
amounts from PY-3 uJV partners ($11.0 million) have been collected. Projections provided for further cost control measures and the
continuing pursuit of several litigation matters. These conditions indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast
doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within the adopted Viability horizon. The financial statements do
not include the adjustments that would result if the Group and Company were unable to continue as a going concern. The Directors
have formed a judgement considering a review of the strategic options available to the Group, that the going concern basis should
be adopted in preparing the financial statements.

c)  Basis of Preparation

Hardy prepares its financial statements in accordance with applicable International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and
interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board as adopted by the European Union. 

The Group adopted IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’ and IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’ for the year commencing
1 April 2018. IFRS 9 addresses the classification, measurement and recognition of financial assets and financial liabilities and
introduces a new impairment model for financial assets, as well as new rules for hedge accounting, this did not have a material
impact on the financial statements. The Group has no revenue from customers which falls to be accounted for under the new IFRS
15 standard and the introduction of the standard has no effect on current or prior year results, assets or liabilities shown in these
financial statements.

At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, a number of Standards and Interpretations were in issue but not yet
effective. The adoption of these standards and interpretations, or any of the amendments made to existing standards as a result of
the annual improvements cycle, including the introduction of IFRS 16, will not have a material effect on the financial statements in
the year of initial application nor will require restatement of prior year results, assets or liabilities.

54

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued
For the year ended 31 March 2019

1.  Accounting Policies continued

d)  Presentational currency

These financial statements are presented in US dollars. All financial information presented is rounded to the nearest US dollar, with
some disclosures rounded to the nearest million. The functional currency for Group’s Indian operations are Indian Rupees and for
the UK operations it is British Pound.

e)  Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the results of Hardy Oil and Gas plc and its subsidiary undertaking. The Group
comprises of the parent company, Hardy Oil and Gas plc, and the wholly owned subsidiary Hardy Exploration & Production (India)
Inc. (‘HEPI’) which is incorporated under the Laws of State of Delaware, United States of America. The members of the Group are
engaged in the business of exploration and production of oil and gas and all are included in the consolidated financial statements.

The Group participates in several unincorporated joint arrangements which involve the joint control of assets used in the Group’s oil
and gas exploration and production activities. The Group accounts for all its joint arrangements as joint operations by recognising its
share of assets, liabilities, income and expenditure of joint arrangement in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position and
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income as appropriate.

f)  Revenue 

Revenue represents the sale value of the Group’s share of oil (which excludes the profit oil sold and paid to the Government of India
as a part of profit sharing). Revenues are recognised when crude oil has been lifted and title has been passed to the buyer.

g)  Oil and gas assets

i)  Exploration and evaluation assets

Hardy has adopted the successful efforts based accounting policy for its oil and gas assets.

Costs incurred prior to acquiring the legal rights to explore an area are expensed immediately in the income statement.

Expenditure incurred in connection with, and directly attributable to, the acquisition, exploration and appraisal of oil and gas assets
are capitalised for each licence granted and are held within intangible exploration assets and not depleted.

Exploration drilling costs are initially capitalised on a well-by-well basis until the success or otherwise of the well has been
established. The success or failure is assessed on a well-by-well basis. Exploration well costs are written off on completion of the
well unless the results indicate the presence of hydrocarbons which have reasonable commercial potential.

Following appraisal of such wells, if commercial reserves are established and technical feasibility for extraction is demonstrated, the
related capital intangible exploration and appraisal costs are transferred into a cost centre within the Property Plant and Equipment –
development assets after testing for impairment, if any. Where exploration well results indicate the presence of hydrocarbons which
are ultimately not considered commercially viable, all related costs will be written-off to the income statement.

ii)  Oil and gas development and producing assets

Development and production assets are accumulated on a field-by-field basis. These comprise the cost of developing commercial
reserves discovered to put them into production and the exploration and evaluation costs transferred from intangible exploration and
evaluation assets, as stated in the policy above. In addition, interest payable incurred on borrowings directly attributable to
development projects, if any, and assets acquired for the production phase, as well as cost of recognising provision for future
restoration and decommissioning, are capitalised.

iii)  Decommissioning

At the end of the producing life of a field, costs are incurred in removing and decommissioning facilities, plugging and abandoning
wells. The full discounted cost of decommissioning is estimated and considered as an asset and liability. The decommissioning cost
is included within the cost of property, plant and equipment development assets. Any revision in the estimated cost of
decommissioning which alters the provisions required is also adjusted in the cost of asset. The amortisation of the asset, calculated
on a unit of production basis based on proved reserves, is shown as within the depletion charge on oil and gas assets in the
Statement of Comprehensive Income and unwinding of the discount on the provision is included in the finance costs.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

55

1.  Accounting Policies continued

iv)  Disposal of assets

Proceeds from any disposal of assets are credited against the specific capitalised costs included in the relevant cost pool and any
loss or gain on disposal is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

h)  Depletion and impairment 

i)  Depletion

The net book values of the producing assets are depreciated on a field by field basis using the unit of production method, based on
proved and probable reserves. Hardy periodically obtains an independent third-party assessment of reserves which is used as a
basis for computing depletion. 

ii)  Impairment

Exploration assets are reviewed regularly for indications of impairment following the guidance in IFRS 6 Exploration and Evaluation of
Mineral Resources, where circumstances indicate that the carrying value might not be recoverable, an impairment review is
performed. In such circumstances, if the exploration asset has a corresponding development / producing cost pool, then the
exploration costs are transferred to the cost pool and depleted on unit of production. In cases where no such
development/producing cost pool exists, the impairment of exploration costs is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive
Income. 

Impairment reviews on development / producing oil and gas assets for each field are carried out when indicators of impairment exist
by comparing the net book value of the cost pool with the associated discounted future cash flows.If there is any impairment in a
field representing a material component of the cost pool, an impairment test is carried out for the cost pool. If the net book value of
the cost pool is higher than the associated discounted future cash flows, the excess amount is recognised in the Statement of
Comprehensive Income as impairment and deducted from the pool value. 

i)  Investments

Investments by the parent company in its subsidiary are stated at cost less any impairment provisions.

j)  Short term investments

Short term investments are regarded as “financial assets at fair value through profit or loss” and are carried at fair value. In practice,
the nature of these investments is such that all income is remitted and recognised as interest and investment income and the fair
value equates to the value of initial outlay and therefore, in normal circumstances, no fair value gain or loss is recognised in the
Statement of Comprehensive Income.

k)  Inventory

Inventory of crude oil is valued at the lower of average cost or net realisable value. Average cost is determined based on actual
production cost for the year. Inventories of drilling stores are recorded at cost including taxes, duties and freight. Provision is made
for obsolete or defective items where appropriate, based on technical evaluation.

l)  Financial instruments

Financial assets and financial liabilities are initially recognised at fair value in the Group’s Statement of Financial Position based on
the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Trade receivables are not interest bearing and their fair value is deemed to be their nominal value as reduced by any necessary
provisions for estimated irrecoverable amounts. Trade payables are not interest bearing and their fair value is deemed to be their
nominal value.

m)  Equity

Equity instruments issued by Hardy are recorded at net proceeds after direct issue costs.

56

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued
For the year ended 31 March 2019

1.  Accounting Policies continued

n)  Taxation

The tax expense represents the sum of current tax and deferred tax. Current tax is based on the taxable profit of the year. Taxable
profit differs from net profit as reported in the Statement of Comprehensive Income as it excludes certain items of income or
expenses that are taxable or deductible in years other than the current year and it further excludes items that are never taxable or
deductible. The current tax liability is calculated using the tax rates that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the year end
date.

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities
in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using
the liability method.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it
is probable that taxable profits will be available in the future against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured on an undiscounted basis at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the periods
in which temporary differences reverse, based on tax rates and laws enacted at the year-end date.

o)  Foreign currencies

Foreign currency transactions are accounted for at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of the transaction. At the year-end date,
all foreign currency monetary assets and monetary liabilities are restated at the closing exchange rate. Exchange difference arising
from transactions during the year and from the year end retranslation are reflected in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

Rate of exchanges were as follows:

US$ to £1

Indian Rupees to US$1

p)  Share based payments

31 March
2019

1.32

69.18

31 March
2018

1.40

64.89

Hardy issues share options to Directors and employees, which are measured at fair value at the date of grant. The fair value of the
equity settled options determined at the grant date is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. In performing the
valuation of these options, only market conditions are considered. Fair value is derived by use of the binomial model. The expected
life used in the model is based on management estimates and considers non-transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural
considerations. In case of lapsed vested options, the amount recognised in the shares option reserve is adjusted to retained
earnings as a reserve movement.

q)  Contingent assets

Contingent assets are disclosed but not recognised where the receipt of income is probable but not virtually certain. The asset and
related income is only recognised in the year when the receipt becomes virtually certain.

2.  Critical accounting estimates and judgments

The preparation of the Group’s financial statements requires the use of estimates and judgements that affect the carrying value of
assets and liabilities at the reporting date and the reported amounts of revenue and expenditure for the year. These estimates and
judgements are made based on management’s knowledge of the facts, taking into account historical experiences and expectations
of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the particular circumstances. By definition the actual results will most likely
differ from the estimates made. The estimates and assumptions that could have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to
the carrying value of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are addressed below:

i)  Going Concern 

The financial information has been prepared assuming the Group will continue as a going concern. The basis to which the Directors
have formed this Critical accounting estimates and judgment is further outlined in note 1.b of the Group’s consolidated accounts.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

57

2.  Critical accounting estimates and judgments continued

ii)  Intangible assets- exploration

Intangible assets comprise of capitalised exploration expenditures associated with a natural gas discovery on the CY-OS/2
exploration licence. The GOI had notified the Group of the relinquishment of the licence to which Hardy and the GOI entered
arbitration to resolve the dispute. The arbitration tribunal ruled in favour of HEPI and ordered the reinstatement of the licence. The
GOI has subsequently appealed the award at several levels of the Indian judicial system. Full details are disclosed in note 14 to
these financial statements. This is regarded as a significant area of judgment and Management having considered that the
arbitration tribunal has confirmed that the relinquishment was illegal, the appeal by the GOI was dismissed by the District Bench of
the High Court of Delhi, and legal advice maintains a legal right to the licence. As a result, it has been adjudged that there is an
indication of impairment and fully written-down.

iii)  Recoverability of Receivables from PY-3 Joint Venture Partners

Where the Group is the operator of, or is the largest owner in, a field it recovers a percentage of the costs incurred from its joint
arrangement partners in accordance with the levels of participating interests. Partners may either be Indian state-owned companies
or private enterprises. Cash calls on partners are usually made in advance of incurring field expenditure. However these have not
been paid, pertaining to period from 2011 to 2018 and the Group commenced arbitration against PY-3 partners in FY17 seeking
$8.36 million (plus interest). The Group has strong legal advice that its claim is valid and it will continue to pursue this amount by all
legal means. Due however to the length of time the amounts have been outstanding prudent provision has been made against the
sums due totalling US$ 5.3 million (2018: US$ 5.1 million). There is always uncertainty associated with any arbitration process and
the amount recovered may therefore materially differ both from that claimed and from the amount recognised. This is regarded as a
significant estimate and Management have considered the correspondence between the Group and the Debtors, standing of the
individual organisations and legal advice.

iv)  Provisions

The Group records provisions where it considers it has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is
probable that the Group will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate of the amount thereof can be made. The
recording of provisions is an area which requires the exercise of management’s judgement relating to the nature, timing and
probability of the liability. The Group’s balance sheet includes provisions for liquidated damages on minimum work programmes,
Indian taxes, and contractual disputes.

v)  Decommissioning

The liability for decommissioning is reviewed based on cost estimates which are predominated by the charter hire charges of drill
ships and supply boats. Accordingly, the provision made in the books will reflect the risk free discounted estimated future cost for
decommissioning. Further details are contained in note 20.

vi)  Carrying value of Oil & Gas and Exploration assets

Management has fully impaired the Group’s oil and gas assets due to ongoing uncertainty of likelihood of development and the
availability of extension at the end of the current Production Sharing Agreement in 2019. If a development was sanctioned the
calculation of the recoverable amount would require the estimation of future cash flows. Previously Management’s key assumptions
and estimates in the impairment models related to: commodity prices that are based on forward commodity price estimates, fiscal
structuring specific to individual assets, commercial reserves and the related cost profiles. On approval of development plan by
Government of India we will review the economic model to determine the appropriate asset value. If circumstances change the total
impairment recognised in FY16 and FY17 of $5.8m could be written back. Further details are contained in note 13.

3.  Segment analysis

The Group is organised into two business units: India and United Kingdom. The Indian business unit is operated by the wholly
owned subsidiary, Hardy Exploration & Production (India) Inc. and Hardy Oil and Gas plc operates in the United Kingdom. 

The India business unit focuses on exploration and production of oil and gas assets in India. The United Kingdom business unit is
the holding company. Management monitors these business units separately for resource allocation, decision making and
performance assessment.

58

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued
For the year ended 31 March 2019

3.  Segment analysis continued

Revenue

Other income

Operating loss

Interest income

India

Inter-segment 
eliminations

UK

2019
US$ Total

-

-

(55,326,687)

(1,429,754)

332,719

123,972

-

-

-

-

(56,756,441)

456,691

Interest income on inter-corporate loan 

Impairment of investment in & loan to Subsidiary

-

-

3,332,366

(3,332,366)

(55,561,950)

55,561,950

Interest expense on inter-corporate loan 

(3,332,366)

-

3,332,366

-

-

-

Loss before taxation

Taxation 

Loss for the period 

Non-current assets

Current assets

Total Segment assets 

Inter-corporate loan (net of impairment)

Non-current liabilities

Current liabilities

Total Segment liabilities 

Inter-corporate borrowings

Capital expenditure

Depreciation, depletion and amortisation 

(58,326,334)

(53,535,366)

55,561,950

(56,299,750)

-

-

-

-

(58,326,334)

(53,535,366)

55,561,950

(56,299,750)

5,086,852

6,766

5,557,062

4,110,908

10,643,914

4,117,674

-

(3,854,995)

-

-

(9,217,487)

(128,767)

(13,072,482)

(128,767)

-

-

-

-

(122,909,635)

-

122,909,635

2,821

6,755

1,471

4,091

-

-

5,093,618

9,667,970

14,761,588

-

(3,854,995)

(9,346,254)

(13,201,249)

-

4,292

10,846

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

59

3.  Segment analysis continued

Revenue

Other income

Operating loss

Interest income

India

-

UK

-

(3,637,805)

(1,582,499)

339,700

144,417

Inter-segment 
eliminations

2018
US$ Total

-

-

-

-

(5,220,304)

484,117

Interest income on inter-corporate loan 

Impairment of investment in & loan to Subsidiary

-

-

2,288,570

(2,288,570)

(5,586,675)

5,586,675

Interest expense on inter-corporate loan 

(2,288,570)

-

2,288,570

-

-

-

Loss before taxation 

Taxation 

Loss for the period 

Non-current assets

Current assets

Total Segment assets 

(5,586,675)

(4,736,187)

5,586,675

(4,736,187)

-

-

-

-

(5,586,675)

(4,736,187)

5,586,675

(4,736,187)

56,201,774

9,386

5,354,740

9,221,139

61,556,514

9,230,525

56,211,160

14,575,879

70,787,039

Inter-corporate loan (net of impairment)

-

48,120,580

(48,120,580)

-

Non-current liabilities

Current liabilities

Total Segment liabilities 

Inter-corporate borrowings

Capital expenditure

Depreciation, depletion and amortisation 

(3,854,995)

-

(8,885,544)

(186,411)

(12,740,539)

(186,411)

-

-

-

(3,854,995)

(9,071,955)

(12,926,950)

(115,827,839)

-

115,827,839

2,982

7,480

6,211

5,462

-

-

-

9,193

12,942

The Group is engaged in one business activity, the exploration, development and production of oil and gas. Other income relates to
technical services to third parties, overhead recovery from joint arrangement operations and miscellaneous receipts, if any. 

4.  Production costs

Production costs, related to PY-3, included in the cost of sales consist of:

Production costs 

Write down of inventories

Change in decommissioning estimate

Cost of Sales

2019
US$

227,707

639,656

2018
US$

293,533

282,709

-

(597,921)

867,363

(21,679)

As the PY-3 asset has been fully impaired the change in the value of the decommissioning provision has been recognised
immediately in production costs.

60

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued
For the year ended 31 March 2019

5.  Operating loss 

Operating loss is stated after charging:

Depreciation and amortisation

Impairment of Block CY-OS/2

Operating lease costs - Land and buildings

External auditors’ remuneration

- Fees payable to the Group’s auditors for the audit of the Group’s annual accounts

- Audit related assurance services 

Exchange loss

2019
US$

10,846

51,128,272

2018
US$

12,942

-

152,761

159,142

72,600

10,958

349,320

75,205

11,234

15,423

The Group has a policy in place which requires approval of the Audit Committee for the award of non-audit services to be provided
by the auditors. No non-audit services were provided during the year or in the prior year.

6.  Reconciliation of operating loss to operating cash flows

Operating loss

Impairment of Block CY-OS/2

Depletion, amortisation and depreciation

Decrease in inventory

Increase in trade and other receivables

Increase in trade and other payables

Cash (used in) operating activities

The only movement in debt during the year was arising from cash flows.

7.  Staff costs

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

2019
US$

2018
US$

(56,756,441)

(5,220,304)

51,128,272

-

10,846

12,942

(5,617,323)

(5,207,362)

639,656

282,709

(744,864)

(877,492)

274,299

373,675

(5,448,232)

(5,428,470)

2019
US$

974,440

170,340

2018
US$

1,032,506

186,564

1,144,780

1,219,070

Staffs costs, including executive Directors’ salaries, fees, benefits and share based payments, are shown gross before amounts
recharged to joint arrangements. 

The average monthly number of employees, including executive Directors, employed by the Group are as follows:

Management and administration

Operations

The number of permanent employees of the Group as at 31 March 2019 is 12 (2018: 13).

2019

2018

8

5

13

8

5

13

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

61

8.  Share based payments

Share options have been granted to subscribe for Ordinary Shares of US$0.01 each in the capital of the Company, which are
exercisable between 2018 and 2024 at prices of £0.65 to £7.69 per Ordinary Share.

Hardy has an unapproved share option scheme for the Directors and employees of the Group. Options are exercisable at the
quoted market prices of the Company’s shares on the date of grant. The vesting period is three years with a stipulation, subject to
compounded share price growth. The options are exercisable for a period of 10 years from the date of grant. Details of the share
options outstanding during the years are as follows:

Number of
options

2019
Weighted
average
price

Number of
options

2018
Weighted
average
price 

Outstanding at beginning of the year

675,000

£1.74

675,000

£1.74

Granted during the year

Lapsed during the year

Outstanding at the end of the year

Exercisable at the end of the year

-

425,000

250,000*

-

-

£2.37

£0.65

-

-

-

675,000

100,000

-

-

£1.74

£7.69

Details of outstanding options at the end of the year with the weighted average exercise (WAEP) price as follows:

FY

2009

2013

2014

2015

Total

Number

100,000

50,000

275,000

250,000*

675,000

1 April 2018

WAEP

7.69

1.19

0.66

0.65

1.74

Lapsed FY 2019

31 March 2019

Number

100,000

50,000

275,000

-

-

WAEP

Number

WAEP

7.69

1.19

0.66

-

-

-

-

-

250,000

250,000

-

-

-

0.65

0.65

The weighted average contractual life of options outstanding is 5 years (2018: 4.82 years).

* - These options expired on 11 April 2019 due to non-vesting

9.  Directors’ emoluments

Details of each Director’s remuneration and share options are set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report that forms part of the
Company’s Annual report. Directors’ emoluments are included within the remuneration of the key management personnel in note
26.

10.  Interest and investment income

Bank interest

Other interest income

Dividend

2019
US$

2018
US$

331,035

339,198

1,684

123,972

456,691

502

144,417

484,117

62

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued
For the year ended 31 March 2019

11.  Taxation

a)  Analysis of taxation charge / (credit) for the year

Current tax charge

UK corporation Tax

Foreign Tax – India

Minimum alternate tax

Foreign tax – USA

Total current tax charge

Deferred tax charge 

Taxation charge 

Charge in respect of change in tax rates

Losses incurred during the year

Origination and reversal of temporary differences

De-recognition due to potential non-reversal of deferred tax asset

Deferred tax charge

b)  Factors affecting tax charge for the year

2019
US$

2018
US$

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2019
US$

-

2018
US$

-

(23,220,650)

(1,659,847)

562,381

75,409

22,658,269

1,584,438

-

2018
US$

2019
US$

Loss before taxation from continuing operations

(56,360,802)

(4,736,187)

Loss before taxation multiplied by the appropriate rate of tax in respective countries (2018: 41.2%)

(23,220,650)

(1,951,309)

Adjustment for expired carried forward losses

Others

De-recognition due to potential non-reversal of deferred tax asset

Total tax charge

-

562,381

291,462

75,409

22,658,269

1,584,438

-

-

Indian operations of the Group are subject to a tax rate of 41.2 per cent which is higher than UK and US corporations tax rates. To
the extent that the Indian profits are taxable in the US and/or the UK, those territories should provide relief for Indian taxes paid,
principally under the provisions of double taxation agreements. When considering deferred tax assets, the Group considers the
highest and best use of the losses available, this is considered to be in India. Based on the current expenditure plans, the Group
anticipates that the tax allowances will continue to exceed the depletion charge of each year, though the timing of related tax relief is
uncertain.

No deferred tax asset has been recognised in FY19.

12.  Loss per share

Loss per share is calculated on a loss of US$56,299,750 for the year ended 31 March 2019 (2018: US$4,736,187) on a weighted
average of 73,764,035 Ordinary Shares for the year ended 31 March 2019 (2018: 73,764,035). No diluted loss per share is
calculated.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

63

13.  Property, plant and equipment 

Oil and gas assets represent interest in producing oil and gas assets falling under the India cost pool. Other fixed assets consist of
office furniture, computers, workstations and office equipment.

Cost

At 1 April 2017

Additions

Disposals

At 31 March 2018

Additions

Disposals

At 31 March 2019

Depletion, depreciation and amortisation

At 1 April 2017

Charge for the year

Disposals

At 31 March 2018

Charge for the year

Disposals

At 31 March 2019

Net book value at 31 March 2019

Net book value at 31 March 2018

14.  Intangible assets

Costs and net book value

At 1 April 2017

Amortisation for the year

At 31 March 2018

Impairment of Block CY-OS/2

Amortisation for the year

At 31 March 2019

Oil and gas
assets
US$

Other fixed
assets
US$

Total
US$

35,465,279

1,786,498

37,251,777

-

-

9,193

-

9,193

-

35,465,279

1,795,691

37,260,970

-

-

4,292

-

4,292

-

35,465,279

1,799,983

37,265,262

35,465,279

1,761,613

37,226,892

-

-

11,215

11,215

-

-

35,465,279

1,772,828

37,238,107

-

-

10,344

10,344

-

-

35,465,279

1,783,172

37,248,451 

-

-

Exploration US$

16,811

22,863

Others
US$

16,811

22,863

Total
US$

51,128,272

2,229

51,130,501

-

(1,727)

(1,727)

51,128,272

(51,128,272)

-

-

502

51,128,774

-

(51,128,272)

(502)

-

(502)

-

Legal proceedings concerning block CY-OS/2

In March 2009, HEPI was informed by the Government of India (GOI) that the block CY-OS/2, in which HEPI holds a 75 per cent
participating interest, was relinquished as HEPI had failed to declare commerciality within the two years from the date of discovery
which is applicable to an oil discovery. HEPI disputed this ruling believing that the discovery was a gas discovery and consequently
that it was entitled to a period of five years from the date of discovery to declare commerciality. As no agreement was reached the
dispute was referred to arbitration under the terms of the PSC.

64

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued
For the year ended 31 March 2019

14.  Intangible assets continued

The arbitrators ruled on 2 February 2013 that the discovery was a gas discovery and consequently that the order for the
relinquishment of the block was illegal. The arbitrators have ordered the Government of India to restore the block to HEPI and its
partners and to allow them a period of three years from the date of restoration to complete the appraisal programme. In addition,
the arbitrators awarded costs of $0.2 million and interest on the exploration expenditure incurred to date. As at 30 September 2018,
HEPI’s 75 per cent share of the interest awarded is approximately $71.6 million.

On 2 August 2013, the GOI filed an appeal, against the arbitration award, with the High Court (HC) Delhi. On 27 July 2016, the
GOI’s second appeal to the Delhi HC was dismissed based on jurisdiction. The GOI subsequently filed a Special Leave Petition with
the Supreme Court of India (SC) challenging the Delhi HC ruling. On 25 September 2018, the SC overruled the HC ruling and
ordered that India Courts did have jurisdiction and that the GOI could recommence its appeal of the Arbitration award. HEPI had
filed a Review Petition with the SC and this was dismissed without an open hearing. Based on the SC ruling and past performance
in the matter it is uncertain how long the judiciary will take to conclude the appeal process. As the GOI is the appellant, impartiality
of the India judiciary may not be assured.

While the CY-OS/2 award remains valid, having considered that it has been over five years since the tribunal issued the award and
the GOI allowed appeal in the Delhi High Court is expected to take considerable amount of time, the intangible asset associated
with the CY-OS/2 block has been provided against.

15.  Inventories

Drilling and production stores and spares

2019
US$

20,000

20,000

2018
US$

659,656

659,656

An amount of US$282,709 was recognised as an expense in the previous year relating to a write down in the carrying value of
inventory.

16.  Trade and other receivables

Amounts due from joint venture partners

Other receivables and prepayments

17.  Short term investments

HSBC US$ Liquidity Fund

HSBC £ Liquidity Fund

2019
US$

2018
US$

5,332,406

4,533,773

154,325

206,375

5,486,731

4,740,148

2019
US$

2018
US$

3,956,841

8,933,870

238

253

3,957,079

8,934,123

The above investments are in liquid funds which can be converted into cash at short notice. The book value of these investments
approximates to their fair values. The fair value is determined based on quoted market prices and is a level 1 valuation under IFRS
13.

Income will increase or decrease by US$39,571 (2018: US$89,341) for every one percent change in interest rates.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

65

18.  Share Capital

Authorised Ordinary Shares

At 1 April 2018

At 31 March 2019

Allotted, issued and fully paid Ordinary Shares

At 1 April 2017

At 1 April 2018

At 31 March 2019

Number
$0.01 Ordinary
Shares 

US$

200,000,000

2,000,000

200,000,000

2,000,000

73,764,035

737,641

73,764,035

737,641

73,764,035

737,641

Ordinary Shares issued have equal voting and other rights with no guarantee to dividend or other payments.

19.  Reserves

Hardy holds the following reserves, in addition to share capital and retained earnings:

Share premium account

The share premium account is the additional amount over and above the nominal share capital that is received for shares issued
less any share issue costs.

Share option reserve

The share option reserve represents the fair value of share options issued to Directors and employees.

20.  Provision for decommissioning

At 1 April 2017

Change in decommissioning estimate

At 1 April 2018

Change in decommissioning estimate

At 31 March 2019

US$

4,452,916

(597,921)

3,854,995

-

3,854,995

A provision for the decommissioning of the PY-3 field has been made by estimating the cost of abandonment of existing wells and
any required reclamation of the area at current prices using existing technology. The projected costs comprise primarily of the cost
of a drillship to abandon the field’s existing wells the provision has been calculated using a drillship day-rate of US$143,000. The
estimate is calculated based on decommissioning occurring after the end of the current Production Sharing Contract in December
2019. These underlying assumptions are reviewed on a regular basis. A 5 per cent change in the underlying assumption for the
drillship rate would result in an adjustment of approximately $0.14 million to the Decommissioning Provision.

An amount of Rs. 351,213,465 (US$5,076,807) (2018: Rs. 328,312,446 (US$5,059,523)) is on deposit with State Bank of India for
site restoration obligations. This amount has been treated as a non-current asset as this deposit has end use restriction for site
restoration.

66

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued
For the year ended 31 March 2019

21.  Trade and other payables

Trade payables

Accruals and other payables

Trade and other payables are unsecured.

22.  Financial risk management

2019
US$

2018
US$

7,162,319

7,231,255

2,183,935

1,840,700

9,346,254

9,071,955

Hardy finances its operations through a mixture of equity and retained earnings. Finance requirements are reviewed by the Board
when funds are required for acquisition, exploration and development of projects.

Hardy’s objective is to maintain a strong financial position to sustain future development of the business. There were no changes to
the Group’s capital management approach during the year.

Hardy’s treasury functions are responsible for managing fund requirements and investments which include banking, cash flow
management, interest and foreign exchange exposure to ensure adequate liquidity to meet cash requirements.

Hardy’s principal financial instruments are cash, deposits, short term investments, receivables and payables and these instruments
are only for the purpose of meeting its requirement for operations. 

Hardy’s main financial risks are foreign currency risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk and credit risks. Set out below are policies that
are used to manage such risks:

Foreign currency risk

The Group reports in US dollars and the majority of its business is conducted in US dollars. All revenues from oil sales are received
in US dollars and the majority of costs except a portion of expenses for overhead are incurred in US dollars. For currency exposure
other than US dollars, a portion of the cash is kept on deposit in other currencies to meet its payments as required. No forward
exchange contracts were entered into during the period.

Liquidity risk

The Group currently has cash which has been placed in deposits and short-term investments which can be converted into cash at
short notice, ensuring sufficient liquidity to meet the Group’s expenditure requirements. Hardy has no outstanding loan obligations at
period end dates.

Interest rate risk

Surplus funds are placed in deposits and short-term investments at fixed or floating rates. Hardy’s policy is to place deposits only
with well-established banks or financial institutions that offer competitive interest rates. Further details are disclosed in note 17.

Credit risk

Where the Group is the operator of, or is the largest owner in, a field it recovers a percentage of the costs incurred from its joint
arrangement partners in accordance with the levels of participating interests. Partners may either be Indian state-owned companies
or private enterprises. Cash calls on partners are usually made in advance of incurring field expenditure. The Group is currently
engaged in arbitration proceeding against partners in respect of unpaid cash calls; further details are disclosed in note 2.

Deposits and other money market instruments, as a general rule, are placed with banks and financial institutions that have ratings of
not less than AA or equivalent, which are verified before placing the deposits. Cash surpluses are also invested in short-term
investments in certain liquid funds. These funds are primarily invested in terms deposits and graded commercial papers of not less
than AA or equivalent.

The Board will continue to assess the strategies for managing credit risk and is satisfied with the existing policies. At the year-end
credit risk existed in respect of unpaid cash calls as disclosed in note 2. The maximum financial risk exposure relating to the financial
assets is the carrying value of such financial assets as at the year-end date.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

67

22.  Financial risk management continued

Capital Management

The objective of the Group’s capital management is to ensure that there is sufficient liquidity within the Group to carry out the
committed work programme requirements of all its production sharing contracts. The Group monitors the long-term cash flow
requirements of the business in order to assess the requirement for changes to the capital structure to meet that objective and to
maintain flexibility. The Group considers its capital to consist of share capital only.

The Board manages the structure of its capital and makes necessary adjustments to accommodate the changes in the economic
conditions. To maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Board may issue new shares for cash. No significant changes were made
in the objectives, policies or processes during the year ended 31 March 2019.

Maturity of financial liabilities

The maturity of financial liabilities, which consists of trade and other payables and the decommissioning provision as at 31 March
2019 and 31 March 2018 are as follows:

Within one year

In more than one year but not more than two years

In more than two years but not more than five years

In more than five years 

2019
US$

2018
US$

9,346,254

9,071,955

3,854,995

3,854,995

-

-

-

-

Included within current liabilities is an amount of $4.9m on which interest of 5 per cent per annum is charged until payment.

Interest rate risk profile of financial assets

The interest rate risk profile of the financial assets of the Group as at 31 March 2019 is as follows: 

2019

US Dollars

Pound Sterling

Indian Rupees

Short term investments

Cash and cash equivalents

2018

US Dollars

Pound Sterling

Indian Rupees

Short term investments

Cash and cash equivalents

Fixed rate
Financial
assets US$

Floating rate
Financial
assets
US$

-

-

-

-

-

9,636

74

-

3,957,079

3,966,789

Fixed rate
Financial
assets US$

Floating rate
Financial
assets
US$

-

-

-

-

-

8,324

95

-

8,934,123

8,942,542

Financial
assets -
no interest
is earned
US$

61,527

85,311

47,612

Total
US$

71,163

85,385

47,612

-

3,957,079

194,450

4,161,239

Financial
assets -
no interest
is earned
US$

32,682

195,701

5,150

Total
US$

41,006

195,796

5,150

-

8,934,123

233,533

9,176,075

68

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued
For the year ended 31 March 2019

22.  Financial risk management continued

An amount of Rs. 351,213,465 (US$5,076,807) (2018: Rs. 328,312,446 (US$5,059,523)) deposited with State Bank of India for site
restoration obligation is treated as a non-current asset. The interest rate of this deposit is based on the highest rate of interest as
applicable for the period paid by the State Bank of India.

Interest income will increase or decrease by US$39,668 (2018: US$89,425) for every one percent change in interest rates.

Currency exposures

The currency exposures of the monetary assets denominated in currencies other than US dollars of the Group as at 31 March 2019
are as follows: 

2019

US$

2018

US$

Indian
Rupees
US$

Pound
Sterling
US$

Total
US$

5,124,419

85,385

5,209,804

Indian
Rupees
US$

Pound
Sterling
US$

Total
US$

5,064,673

195,796

5,260,469

An amount of US$ 73,835 was recognised as foreign exchange loss (2018: exchange gain of US$74,140) because of exchange
rate fluctuations on bank balances and investments made in currencies other than US dollars.

Exchange gains will increase by US$52,619 (2018: US$53,131) for every one percent appreciation of Indian rupee and sterling and
loss of US$51,577 (2018: US$52,079) for one percent depreciation of Indian rupee and sterling.

23.  Financial instruments

Book values and fair values of Hardy’s financial assets and liabilities are as follows:

Financial assets

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Book value
2019
US$

Fair value
2019
US$

Book value
2018
US$

Fair value
2018
US$

Short term investments

3,957,079

3,957,079

8,934,123

8,934,123

Financial assets – loans and receivables

Cash and short term deposits

Trade and other receivables

Site restoration deposits

Financial liabilities

204,160

204,160

241,952

241,952

5,486,731

5,486,731

4,740,148

4,740,148

5,076,807

5,076,807

5,059,523

5,059,523

14,724,777

14,724,777

18,975,746

18,975,746

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost

Book value
2019
US$

Fair value
2019
US$

Book value
2018
US$

Fair value
2018
US$

Accounts payable

9,346,254

9,346,254

9,071,955

9,071,955

All the above financial assets (except site restoration deposits) and liabilities are current at the period end dates.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

69

24.  Other financial commitments under operating leases

The Group entities have entered into commercial leases for land and building and office equipment. These leases have an average
life of one to five years and there are no restrictions placed on the lessee by entering into these leases. The minimum future lease
payments for the non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

Land and buildings:

One year

Two to five years

25.  Contingent liabilities

Liquidated Damages

2019
US$

33,000

46,750

2018
US$

15,707

-

The Group has minimum work commitments associated with various exploration licences granted by sovereign authorities through
joint arrangements. A number of these commitments have not been fulfilled and consequently the Group is liable to pay liquidated
damages. When a liquidated damage payment is probable a provision is created based on management’s best judgement. In some
instances, there may be a high degree of uncertainty. In such instances, an additional contingent liability is recognised. Currently a
contingent liability exists estimated at $1.7 million associated with unfinished minimum work programme liquidated damages.
Management does not expect this to be resolved in the next twelve months.

Litigation and taxation

In the normal course of business, the Group may be involved in legal and tax disputes which may give rise to claims. Provision is
made in the financial statements for all claims where a cash outflow is considered probable. No separate disclosure is made of the
detail of claims as to do so could seriously prejudice the position of the Group.

Others

Disputed claims amounting to approximately $0.4 million by the suppliers to the Group have not been acknowledged as debt.

26.  Related party transactions

The aggregate remuneration of Directors and the key management personnel, including its subsidiary undertaking, of the Group is
as follows:

Short term employee benefits

Share based payments

2019
US$

2018
US$

945,950

1,095,593

-

-

945,950

1,095,593

Key management personnel include the Directors and members of the Management Committee of the Group as set out in the
overview of the Board of Directors in the business review. Further information about the remuneration of individual Directors is
provided in the Director’s Remuneration Report which forms part of the Group’s 2018 Annual Report.

70

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Parent Company Statement of Changes in Equity
For the year ended 31 March 2019

Share
capital
US$

Share
premium
US$

Share
option
reserve
US$

Retained
earnings
US$

Total
US$

At 1 April 2017

737,641

120,936,441

764,489

(59,842,289)

62,596,282

Total comprehensive loss for the year

-

-

-

(4,736,185)

(4,736,185)

At 31 March 2018

737,641

120,936,441

764,489

(64,578,476)

57,860,097

Total comprehensive loss for the year

Adjustment of lapsed vested options

-

-

-

-

-

(53,535,376)

(53,535,374)

(659,546)

323,725

(335,821)

At 31 March 2019

737,641

120,936,441

104,943

(117,790,123)

3,988,902

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

71

Parent Company Statement of Financial Position
As at 31 March 2019

Assets

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Investments

Total non-current assets

Current assets

Trade and other receivables

Short term investments

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Equity and liabilities

Equity attributable to the owners

Equity

Called-up share capital

Share premium

Share option reserve

Retained earnings

Total equity

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Total liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

Approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 26 June 2019. 

31 March
2019
US$

31 March
2018
US$

Notes

9

10

11

12

15

6,766

9,386

-

48,815,982 

6,766

48,825,368

71,038

79,720 

3,957,079

8,934,123 

82,791

207,297 

4,110,908

9,221,140

4,117,674

58,046,508

13

737,641

737,641

120,936,441

120,936,441

104,943

764,489

(117,790,123)

(64,578,474)

3,988,902

57,860,097

14

128,772

128,772

186,411

186,411

4,117,674

58,046,508

72

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Parent Company Statement of Cash Flows
For the year ended 31 March 2019

Operating activities

Cash flow (used in) operating activities

Net Cash (used in) operating activities

Investing activities

Expenditure on other fixed assets

Short term investments

Net cash from investing activities

Financing activities

Investment income

Inter corporate loan

Net cash (used in) financing activities

Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

Cash and cash equivalent at the end of the year

16

Year ending 
31 March
2019
US$

Year ending 
31 March
2018
US$

Notes

4

(1,474,628)

(1,542,237) 

(1,474,628)

(1,542,237)

(1,471)

(6,212) 

4,977,044

5,244,903

4,975,573

5,238,691

123,972

144,417

(3,749,423)

(3,790,918)

(3,625,451)

(3,646,501) 

(124,506)

207,297

82,791

49,953

157,344

207,297

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

73

Notes to the Parent Company Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 March 2019

1.  Accounting Policies

The company follows the accounting policies of the Group.

2.  Revenue

The Directors do not consider there to be more than one class of business or geographic segment for the purposes of reporting.
The Company operates in one geographical area, the United Kingdom and the Company’s activity is one class of business as
holding company for the Group.

3.  Statement of comprehensive Income

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption provided under section 3 of the Isle of Man Companies Act 1982 not to
publish its statement of comprehensive income and related notes. The Company’s loss for the year was US$ 53,535,374 (2018:
US$4,736,185).

4.  Reconciliation of operating loss to operating cash flows

Operating loss

Depreciation

Increase in trade and other receivables

Increase /(decrease) in trade and other payables

Cash flow (used in) operating activities

5.  Staff costs

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

2019
US$

2018
US$

(1,429,754)

(1,582,500)

4,091

5,462

(1,425,663)

(1,577,037) 

8,682

(57,647)

(4,838) 

39,639

(1,474,628)

(1,542,237) 

2019
US$

701,007

152,681

853,688

2018
US$

714,865

166,143

881,008

Staff costs include executive Directors’ salaries, fees, benefits and share based payments. The company has no pension
commitments as at the year end dates.

The weighted average monthly number of employees, including Directors employed by the company, are as follows:

Management and administration

6.  Share based payments

Share based payments are disclosed in note 8 to the consolidated financial statements.

2019

5

2018

5

7.  Audit fees

Audit fees payable to the Company’s auditors for the audit of the parent company financial statements for the year ended 31 March
2019 is US$ 10,000 (2018: US$10,000 ).

74

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Notes to the Parent Company Financial Statements continued
For the year ended 31 March 2019

8.  Interest and investment income

Interest on inter corporate loan

Dividend

9.  Property, plant and equipment

Cost

At 31 March 2017

Additions

At 31 March 2018

Additions

At 31 March 2019

Depreciation

At 31 March 2017

Charge for the year

At 31 March 2018

Charge for the year

At 31 March 2019

Net book value at 31 March 2019

Net book value at 31 March 2018

10.  Investments

Carrying value at 31 March 2017

Additional investment during the year

Impairment of investment in subsidiary

Carrying value at 31 March 2018

Additional investment during the year

Impairment of investment in subsidiary

Carrying value at 31 March 2019

2019
US$

2018
US$

3,332,366

2,288,570

123,972

144,417

3,456,338

2,432,987

Total
US$

196,907

6,212

203,119

1,471

204,590

188,271

5,462

193,733

4,091

197,824

6,766

9,386

Shares in
subsidiary
US$

Loan to
subsidiary
US$

695,402

47,627,764

- 

-

6,079,490

(5,586,674)

695,402

48,120,580

-

7,081,789

(695,402)

(55,202,369)

-

-

Shares in subsidiary represent the investment made as at 31 March 2019 in Hardy Exploration & Production (India) Inc. (“HEPI”), the
wholly owned subsidiary of Hardy Oil and Gas plc. Further details of this subsidiary are given in note 1(e) of the consolidated
financial statements. During the year HEPI fully wrote down investment in Block CY-OS/2 and had previously written down
investment in the PY-3 and GS-01 assets. HEPI’s ongoing challenges in India are expected to continue and as a result the
petroleum assets are not expected to generate cashflow in the foreseeable future. The Company’s strategic review remains ongoing
and the outcome remains uncertain. Considering these aspects, Hardy Oil & Gas Plc continues to impair its investment and the loan
collectible from HEPI to the extent of the net asset value of HEPI.

Loan to subsidiary at 31 March 2019 consists of US$ 122,909,628 to Hardy Exploration & Production (India) Inc. This loan is long
term and is repayable on commercial production of the ongoing exploration projects. Interest on these loans is LIBOR plus 1 percent.

11.  Trade and other receivables

Other receivables

Prepayments and accrued income

12.  Short term investments

HSBC US$ Liquidity Fund

HSBC £ Liquidity Fund

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

75

2019
US$

13,750

57,288

71,038

2018
US$

11,180

68,540 

79,720

2019
US$

2018
US$

3,956,841

8,907,081

238

27,042

3,957,079

8,934,123

The above investments are in liquid funds which can be converted into cash at short notice. Fair value of these investments
approximates book values as at 31 March 2019 and 31 March 2018.

13.  Share capital

Authorised Ordinary Shares

At 1 April 2017

At 31 March 2018

At 31 March 2019

Allotted, issued and fully paid ordinary shares

At 1 April 2017

Restricted shares issued

At 31 March 2018

Restricted shares issued

At 31 March 2019

Number $0.01
Ordinary shares
’000

200,000

200,000

200,000

US$

2,000,000

2,000,000

2,000,000

73,764,035

737,641

-

-

73,764,035

737,641

-

-

73,764,035

737,641

Ordinary Shares issued have equal voting and other rights with no guarantee to dividend or other payments.

14.  Trade and other payables

Trade payables

Accruals

2019
US$

38,697

90,075

128,772

2018
US$

88,989

97,422

186,411

76

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Notes to the Parent Company Financial Statements continued
For the year ended 31 March 2019

15.  Financial risk management

The company follows the risk management policy stipulated in note 22 to the consolidated financial statements.

Interest rate risk profile of financial assets

The interest rate risk profile of the financial assets of the company as at 31 March 2019 is as follows:

2019

US Dollars

Pound Sterling

Short term investments

Cash and cash equivalents

Fixed rate
Financial
assets
US$

Floating rate Financial asset
no interest
is earned
US$

Financial
asset
US$

-

-

- 

-

-

74

3,957,079

3,957,153

Total
US$

13,021

69,770

13,021

69,696

-

3,957,079

82,717

4,039,870

The interest rate risk profile of the financial assets of the company as at 31 March 2018 is as follows:

2018

US Dollars

Pound Sterling

Cash and cash equivalents

Fixed rate
Financial
assets
US$

Floating rate
Financial
asset
US$

Financial asset
no interest
is earned
US$

-

-

-

-

95

95

20,956

186,246

207,202

Total
US$

20,956

186,341

207,297

Financial asset include cash and deposits and the floating interest rates are based on the base rate of the relevant central bank.

Currency exposures

The currency exposures of the monetary assets denominated in currencies other than US$ of the company are as follows:

US$

Pound sterling in equivalent US$

2019

69,770

2018

186,588

Foreign exchange loss recognised on account of exchange rate for the year ended 31 March 2019 is US$ 20,961 (2018: gain of
US$ 74,170).

16.  Financial instruments

Book values and fair values of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities as follows:

Financial assets

Primary financial instruments

Loan to subsidiary

Short term investments

Cash and short term deposits

Trade and other receivables

Book value
2019
US$

Fair Value
2019
US$

Book value
2018
US$

Fair Value
2018
US$

-

-

48,120,580

48,120,580

3,957,079

3,957,079

8,934,123

8,934,123

82,791

71,038

82,791

71,038

207,297

79,720

207,297

79,720

4,110,908

4,110,908

57,341,720

57,341,720

With the exception of loan to subsidiary, all of the above financial assets are current and unimpaired as at 31 March 2019. Please
see Note 10 for further details in relation to the impairment of loan to subsidiary.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

77

16.  Financial instruments continued

Financial liabilities

Primary financial instruments

Accounts Payable

Book value
2019
US$

Fair Value
2019
US$

Book value
2018
US$

Fair Value
2018
US$

(128,772)

(128,772)

(186,411)

(186,411)

All of the above financial liabilities are current as at 31 March 2019.

17.  Other financial commitments under operating leases

The company has entered into commercial leases for land and building and office equipment. These leases have an average life of
one to five years and there are no restrictions placed on the lessee by entering into these leases. The minimum future lease
payments for the non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

Land and buildings

One year

Two to five years

18.  Related party transactions

2019
US$

33,000

46,750

2018
US$

15,707

-

a) The company’s wholly owned subsidiary is Hardy Exploration & Production (India) Inc. The following table provides the details of

balances outstanding with subsidiary company at year end dates:

Amount owed from subsidiary undertaking

2019
US$

2018
US$

-

48,120,580

During FY19, HEPI has fully impaired in investment in Block CY-OS/2. Monetising the other assets of HEPI may entail additional
investments and may also take more time. Considering these aspects, Hardy Oil & Gas Plc has fully impaired its investment and the
loan collectible from HEPI to the extent of the net asset value of HEPI. Please see Note 10 for further details in relation to the
impairment of loan to subsidiary.

b) The following table provides the details of the transactions with subsidiary company:

Inter-company interest income

2019
US$

2018
US$

3,332,366

2,288,570

78

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Additional Information
Reserves and Resources

To comply with the GOI extension policy for Pre-NELP PSC’s the PY-3 uJV commissioned Gaffney Cline & Associates to perform an
audit of the PY-3 uJV Resource estimates provided for in an PY-3 Operating Committee recommended revised full field development
plan. Due to limited activity the Company did not and does not plan to commission a competent person’s report until further data is
acquired. The estimates provided in the Company’s 2011 CPR are provided below.

Contingent Resources (2C)

Net 2C gas Contingent Resources are bcf.

PY-34

GS-01

CY-OS/22, 3

GS-01

Total Contingent Resources1 (2C)

Suspended

Oil

mmbbl

B1 (Dhirubhai 33) Gas

Ganesha-1

Gas

bcf

bcf

B1 (Dhirubhai 33) Oil

mmbbl

Gas

Oil

bcf

mmbbl

31 December 2017

Gross

15.8

31 December 2010

83.0

130.0

1.9

213.0

17.7

Net

2.84

8.3

97.5

0.2

105.8

3.0

1 GCA has used the Petroleum Resources Management System published by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, World Petroleum Council, American
Association of Petroleum Geologists and Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers in March 2007 (SPE PRMS) as the basis for its classification and
categorisation of hydrocarbon volumes.

2 With respect to Ganesha-1 (CY-OS/2) non-associated natural gas discovery, in 2010 the Group formally commenced arbitration proceedings pursuant to

dispute resolution provisions of the governing PSC regarding a licence extension request.

3

In the event of a commercial development of a discovery, ONGC has the option to back-into the CY-OS/2 licence at an interest of 30 per cent.

4 Net entitlement determined via participating interest of 18 per cent and not a true representation of economic entitlement which will not be materially

different.

Prospective Resources

Net Best Estimate Risked Prospective Resources are 494 bcf.

Risked Prospective Resources (Best Estimate)1, 2

CY-OS/23, 4

GS-01

Prospects

Prospects

Total Risked Prospective Resources (Best Estimate)1, 2

Gas

Gas

Gas

bcf

bcf

bcf

31 December 2010

Gross

113

142

255

Net

84

14

98

1 Aggregated risked Prospective Resources have been derived by Hardy and are not aggregated or provided as risked volumes by GCA.

2

The GCA has used the Petroleum Resources Management System published by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, World Petroleum Council, American
Association of Petroleum Geologists and Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers in March 2007 (SPE PRMS) as the basis for its classification and
categorisation of hydrocarbon volumes.

3 With respect to Ganesha-1 (CY-OS/2) non-associated natural gas discovery, in 2010 the Group formally commenced arbitration proceedings pursuant to

dispute resolution provisions of the governing PSC regarding a licence extension request.

4

In the event of a commercial development of a discovery, ONGC has the option to back-into the CY-OS/2 licence at an interest of 30 per cent.

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

79

Asset Description

Block CY-OS90/1 (PY-3): Oil Field (HEPI 18 per cent interest- Operator)

The PY-3 field is located off the east coast of India, 80 km south of Pondicherry in water depths between 40 m and 450 m. The
Cauvery Basin was developed in the late Jurassic/early Cretaceous period and straddles the present-day east coast of India. The
licence, which covers 81 km2, produces high quality light crude oil (49° API).

Block GS-OSN-2000/1 (GS-01): Appraisal (HEPI 10 percent interest)

In 2011, the GS-01 joint venture secured the GOI’s approval for a DOC proposal for the Dhirubhai 33 discovery (GS01-B1, drilled in
2007) which flow-tested at a rate of 18.6 mmscfd gas with 415 bbld of condensate through a 56/64 inch choke at flowing tubing
head pressure of 1,346 psi. The GS-01 licence is located in the Gujarat-Saurashtra offshore basin off the west coast of India,
northwest of the prolific Bombay High oil field, with water depths varying between 80 m and 150 m. The retained discovery area
covers 600 km2.

Block CY-OS/2: Appraisal (HEPI 75 per cent interest - Operator)

Hardy is the operator of the CY-OS/2 exploration block and holds a 75 per cent participating interest1, through its wholly owned
subsidiary Hardy Exploration & Production (India) lnc and Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) holds the remaining 25 per cent
participating interest. The block is located in the northern part of the Cauvery Basin immediately offshore from Pondicherry, India
and covers approximately 859km. The licence comprises of two retained areas with the Ganesha-1 natural gas discovery located in
the northern area, which comprises an area of approximately 300 km2.

Ganesha-1 - The natural gas discovery Ganesha-1, announced in January 2007, was drilled to a depth of 4,089 m, encountering a
sandstone reservoir within the Cretaceous section. The well flow tested at a peak rate of 10.7 mmscfd. The Company published a
competent person report, prepared by Gaffney, Cline & Associates, dated March 2011, which estimates gross 2C Contingent
Resources of approximately 130 BCF.

A brief summary of the Hon’ble Tribunal’s award is provided below:

Dispute - Hardy along with GAIL and ONGC are a party and operator to a PSC for the CY-OS/2 block. Hardy holds 75 per cent
participating interest in the block. Hardy and GAIL declared a gas discovery on 8 January 2007 which discovery qualified as Non
Associated Natural Gas (NANG) under the terms of the PSC. The GOI, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG) however,
stated that the discovery being oil and the commerciality of the block not having been declared within 24 months from the date of
the notification of the discovery, the block stood relinquished. Hardy had disputed the characterisation of the discovery as oil and
the consequential relinquishment.

Hon’ble Tribunal -This dispute was referred to Arbitration under the PSC to a Tribunal consisting of 3 Arbitrators who were former
Chief Justices of India. The Hon’ble Tribunal passed the award on 2 February 2013 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Award summary - The Hon’ble tribunal has awarded and directed as follows:

• The Ganesha-1 discovery made by HEPi and GAIL is NANG

• The order of relinquishment by the MOPNG was illegal, being on the erroneous impression that the discovery was oil

• That the parties shall be immediately relegated to the position in which they stood prior to the order of relinquishment and the

block shall be restored to Hardy and GAIL

• Hardy shall be entitled to a period of three years from the date on which the block is restored to it, to carry out further appraisal

• MOPNG shall pay to Hardy and GAIL interest at the simple rate of 9 per cent per annum on the amount of Rs. 5.0 billion spent

by them on the block, from the date of relinquishment till the date of the award (as at 31 December 2013 - US$22.2 million net to
Hardy)

• From the date of award interest will accrue at a rate of 18 per cent per annum on the amount of Rs. 5.0 billion until such time as

the block is restored to the parties.

1 In the event of a declaration of commerciality, the GOI’s nominee is entitled to assume a 30 per cent participating interest in the
block. As a result, Hardy’s participating interest would be 52.5 percent.

80

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Definitions and Glossary of Terms

%:

$:

tCO2e:

tCO2e/FTE:

2D/3D:

2P:

AGM:

AIM:

AOGO:

API°:

Per cent

United States dollars 

Tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent

Tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent for full time equivalent

Two dimensional/three dimensional 

Proven plus probable 

Annual General Meeting

Alternative Investment Market of the LSE

Association of oil and gas operators

American Petroleum Institute gravity 

the CY-OS/2 Award:

CY-OS/2 international arbitration award as described on page 81

bbl: 

bbld: 

bcf:

Board: 

the Code:

Barrel

Barrel per day

Billion cubic feet

The Board of Directors of Hardy Oil and Gas plc 

Hardy’s Code of Business Conduct

the Company:

Hardy Oil and Gas plc 

Contingent Resources:

Those quantities of petroleum estimates, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from known
accumulations by application of development projects, but which are not currently considered to be
commercially recoverable due to one or more contingencies: 

CNG:

CPR: 

CY-OS/2:

D3: 

D9:

DOC:

DGH: 

Compressed natural gas

Competent persons report 

Offshore exploration licence CY-OS/2 located on the east coast of India

Offshore Licence KG-DWN-2003/1 awarded in NELP V 

Offshore Licence KG-DWN-2000/1 awarded in NELP III 

Declaration of commerciality

Directorate General of Hydrocarbons of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Dhirubhai 33:

Gas discovery on GS01-B1 on pages 15 and 81

ExSOP:

FDP:

FFDP: 

FRC

FY:

GAIL: 

A structured option plan

Field development plan

Full field development plan 

Financial Reporting Council

Financial year ended 31 March

Gas Authority of India Limited 

Ganesha: 

Gas discovery on Fan-A1 well located in CY-OS/2 

GCA: 

GDP:

GOI:

the Group: 

GS-01: 

Hardy: 

HC:

HDY:

HEPI: 

HSE: 

IFRS: 

IPO: 

IAS:

ISA:

Gaffney, Cline & Associates Ltd 

Gross Domestic Product

Government of India

The Company and its subsidiaries 

Offshore Licence GS-OSN-2000/1 awarded under NELP II 

Hardy Oil and Gas plc 

High Court

LSE trading symbol for the Company

Hardy Exploration & Production (India) Inc. 

Health, safety and environment 

International Financial Reporting Standards 

Initial public offering 

International accounting standard

International Standards on Auditing

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

81

Joint Arrangement

Krishna Godavari sedimentary basin comprising an area on the south east India continental shelf 

Kilometre 

Kilometre squared 

Key performance indicator

London Stock Exchange plc 

Liquefied natural gas

Long-term incentives

Metre 

JA:

KG Basin: 

km:

km2:

KPI:

LSE: 

LNG:

LTI:

m:

Management Committee: 

As per India PSCs the Management Committee comprises representatives of each participating
interest holder, DGH and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India 

MC:

mmscfd:

mmscmd:

mmbbl:

mmbtu

MOPNG:

MWP:

NANG:

NCV:

NELP:

OC:

ONGC:

OPEC:

Management Committee

Million standard cubic feet per day 

Million standard cubic metres per day 

Million stock tank barrels per day 

Million British thermal units

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Minimum work programme

Non-associated natural gas 

Net calorific value

New Exploration Licensing Policy of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India 

Operating Committee

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited

Organization of the Petroleum Expanding Countries 

Operating Committee: 

As per India PSCs the Operating Committee comprises representatives of the various participating
interest holders in the licence 

Ordinary Share: 

The Ordinary Share of US$0.01 each in the capital of the Company 

Prospective Resources:

Those quantities of petroleum which are estimated, on a given date, to be potentially recoverable from
undiscovered accumulations 

PSC: 

psi:

PY-3: 

Production sharing contract 

Pounds per square inch 

Offshore Licence CY-OS-90/1 

Reliance: 

Reliance Industries Limited 

Rs.:

RNS:

scf:

scfd:

TRI:

UK: 

Indian rupee

Regulatory news service

Standard cubic feet 

Standard cubic feet per day 

Total recordable injuries

United Kingdom 

The UK Code:

UK Corporate Governance Code 2014

UMWP:

uJV:

US: 

US$:

WAEP:

Unfinished minimum work programme

Unincorporated joint venture

United States of America 

United States dollars

Weighted average exercise price

82

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Company Information
Directors and Advisors

Hardy Oil and Gas plc
16 North Silver Street 
Aberdeen AB10 1RL 
Tel: +44 (0)1224 612900 
Fax: +44 (0)1224 633995 
Email: ir@hardyoil.com 
Website: www.hardyoil.com

Board of Directors
Alasdair Locke (Chairman) 
Ian MacKenzie (Chief Executive Officer) 
Peter Milne (Senior Non-Executive)

Executive Officer
Richard Galvin (Treasurer & Corporate Affairs
Executive)

Hardy Exploration & Production (India) Inc.
5th Floor, Westminster Building 
108, Dr Radhakrishnan Salai 
Chennai, India, 600 004 
Phone: +91 44284 71990 
Fax: +91 44284 71064 
Email: info@hardyoil.co.in

Directors of HEPI
Ian MacKenzie 
(President and Chief Executive Officer)
Richard Galvin

Executive Officers
Sankalpa Mitra (Senior Vice President
Production of HEPI)
Ch. V. Satya Sai 
(Vice President Geoscience of HEPI)

Auditor
Crowe UK LLP
St Bride’s House 
10 Salisbury Square 
London EC4Y 8EH

Broker
Arden Partners plc
125 Old Broad Street 
London EC2N 1AR

Financial PR
Tavistock Communications
1 Cornhill 
London EC3V 3ND

Company Secretary
Ms Jacqueline Fergusson
Fort Anne, 
Douglas,
Isle of Man. lMI 5PD

Principal bankers
HSBC Holdings plc
8 Canada Square 
London E14 5HQ

Barclays Bank plc
54 Lombard Street 
London EC3P 3AH

UK solicitors
Dorsey & Whitney (Europe) LLP
199 Bishopsgate 
London EC2M 3UT

Brodies LLP
Brodies House
31-33 Union Grove
Aberdeen AB10 6SD

USA solicitors
Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP
One Battery Park Plaza 
New York 10004-1482 
USA

Indian solicitors
J Sagar Associates
29 Bannari AmmanTowers 
2nd Floor, Block A 
Dr Radhakrishnan Salai 
Chennai, India, 600 004

Naik Naik & Co
116-8 Mittal Towers 
Nairman Point 
Mumbai, India, 400 021

Isle of Man legal advisor
IQ EQ (Isle of Man) Limited
First Names House, 
Victoria Road, Douglas,
Isle of Man IM1 5PD

Registrars
IQ EQ (Isle of Man) Limited
Registered office
First Names House, 
Victoria Road, Douglas, 
Isle of Man IM2 4DF

CREST agent
Computershare Investor Services 
(Channel Islands) Limited
Ordnance House 
31 Pier Road, 
St. Helier Jersey JE4 8PW

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

83

Notes

84

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

Notes

Hardy Oil and Gas plc Annual Report and Accounts FY2019

85

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Hardy

H A R D Y   O I L   A N D   G A S   P L C

16 North Silver Street, Aberdeen AB101RL