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IGas Energy
Annual Report 2009

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FY2009 Annual Report · IGas Energy
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Registered Office
International House
1-6 Yarmouth Place
London
W1J 7BU

+44 (0)20 7993 9899
www.igasplc.com

Financial and Public Relations
Kreab & Gavin Anderson and Company
Scandinavian House
2-6 Cannon Street
London 
EC4M 6XJ
United Kingdom 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7074 1800

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Delivering 
secure gas, 
onshore

IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

IGas Energy is a domestic 
gas producer and a leading 
independent company 
dedicated to unconventional 
gas in the UK.

Independent estimates show that IGas Energy currently has enough gas to supply 
electricity to over 7 per cent of the UK’s household’s for 15 years and is the largest 
independent CBM (coal bed methane) producer in the UK. The Company’s 
licences are in the country’s industrial heartland, close to customers. IGas Energy 
is currently selling electricity generated from CBM at its pilot site in the North 
West – a first for the UK – and plans to start full-scale production next year.

The Company has now moved from identifying and appraising the CBM 
potential of its acreage to the production phase with one pilot site having 
come on stream in early 2009 and two more planned for 2010. The Company 
has also been investigating the potential to produce hydrocarbons both 
conventionally and from the extensive shale resources within its acreage – with 
the next stage being an independent assessment of the shale.

IGas Energy has applications pending to operate acreage which contains more 
than half its gas and has the financial capacity to realise its objective of having 
its first full production site next year.

Now that the UK’s supplies of gas from conventional sources are in decline, having 
domestic resources is becoming increasingly important. Unconventional gas 
including CBM, which is a well established industry in other parts of the world, 
such as the US and Australia, offers a significant alternative resource for the UK.

Overview
01  Our highlights
02 

IGas Energy at a glance

Business Review
04  Chairman’s statement
05  Our strategy
06  Chief Executive’s statement
07  Our activity
08   Our licences
13  Key financial highlights

Corporate Governance
14  Directors
16  Corporate governance
17  Directors’ remuneration report
19  Directors’ report

Financial Statements
Consolidated financial statements
21 

 Directors’ statement of responsibilities in 
respect thereof
22 
Independent auditor’s report
23  Consolidated income statement
24 

 Statement of consolidated comprehensive 
income

25  Consolidated balance sheet
26  Consolidated statement of changes in equity
27  Consolidated cash flow statement
28  Consolidated financial statements - notes

Parent financial statements
40 

 Directors’ statement of responsibilities in 
respect thereof
Independent auditor’s report
 Parent company statement of  
comprehensive income

41 
42 

 Parent company statement of changes in equity

43  Parent company balance sheet
44 
45  Parent company cash flow statement
46  Parent company financial statements – notes

Annual General Meeting
54 

 Proposed business of the Annual General 
Meeting

58  Notice of Annual General Meeting

61   Glossary
IBC  General information

General information

– Executive Chairman
– Chief Executive Officer
– Executive Technical Director

Directors
F R Gugen 
A P Austin 
B Cheshire 
R J Armstrong  – Non-Executive
– Non-Executive
J Bryant 
– Non-Executive
J Hamilton 

Company Secretary
Mofo Secretaries Limited
Citypoint
One Ropemaker Street
London EC2Y 9AW

Nominated Adviser and Broker
Cenkos Securities Plc
6.7.8 Tokenhouse Yard
London EC2R 7AS

Registrars
Computershare Investor Services plc
The Pavilions
Bridgwater Road
Bristol BS13 8AE

Auditors
Ernst & Young LLP
1 More London Place
London SE1 2AF

Public Relations
Kreab Gavin Anderson
Scandinavian House
2 – 6 Cannon Street
London
EC3M 6XJ

Bankers
HSBC
3rd Floor, HSBC Floor
Mitchell Way
Eastleigh
Hampshire SO18 2XU

Lloyds TSB Bank Plc
Beech House
28 – 30 Wimborne Road
Poole
Dorset
BH15 2BL

Registered Office
International House
1 – 6 Yarmouth Place
London W1J 7BU

Copies of Reports and Accounts
Further copies of this Annual report and accounts can be obtained from the Registered Office of IGas Energy plc (IGas Energy).

Our 
Highlights

01
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Operational
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More than a year of pilot production  
– A UK first
Two more pilots planned for 2010
Full scale production at one site planned to 
start 2011 
Two farm-ups raised resources and IGas 
Energy now has applications pending for 
operatorship on half its gas
GIIP* – Mid case up 76% to 3.82Tcf and high 
case 8.10Tcf
CBM Contingent Recoverable Resource – High 
case 1.18Tcf (200mmboe**)
Conventional/potentially significant shale gas 
identified; appraisal underway
Land bank developing with three multi-well 
production site permits secured

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*  Gas Initially In Place ; 
** Millions of Barrels of Oil Equivalent

Financial
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Revenue – £828 thousand
Operating loss – £515 thousand
Loss for the year – £504 thousand
Cash – £17.5 million at 31 December 2009
2 fundraisings raised £17.21 million gross;  
each funding accretive farm-ups 
Funding now in place for production sites 
planned for 2010 and 2011

Gas Initially In Place (GIIP)
Net Mid Case

09

08

07

06

893

607

3,823

2,169

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02
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

IGas Energy at a glance

IGas Energy produces gas in the UK from CBM. 
CBM is a naturally occurring gas, similar to 
North Sea gas, trapped in virgin coal seams. 
IGas Energy has also identified a significant 
potential shale resource within its acreage.

Regional Focus

1. Northwest

3. Point of Ayr

PEDL 145, PEDL 116, PEDL 184, PEDL 190, 
PEDL 193

PEDL 107, 110/18, 110/19 and 110/23

Areal Extent 211 km2

Areal Extent 784 km2

Net Risked GIIP Range Low – 735 Bcf,  
Mid – 1265 Bcf, High – 3043 Bcf

Wells Drilled 3 wells (2007(2), 2008)

Net Risked GIIP Range Low – 1,057 Bcf,  
Mid – 1,553 Bcf, High – 3,199 Bcf

Wells Drilled 1 well (2007)

Point of Ayr

2. Swallowcroft 

PEDL 40-1 and 56-1, PEDL 78-1, PEDL 78-
2, PEDL 115-1, PEDL 115-2

Areal Extent 463 km2

Net Risked GIIP Range Low – 424 Bcf,  
Mid – 875 Bcf, High – 1,623 Bcf

Wells Drilled 2 wells (2008)

4. Drax

PEDL 92-1

Areal Extent 200 km2

Net Risked GIIP Range Low – 77 Bcf,  
Mid – 130 Bcf, High – 227 Bcf

Wells Drilled 1 well (2007)

Northwest

Swallowcroft

03
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

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Well positioned for growth

3c
Bcf

09
08

2c
Bcf

09
08

1c
Bcf

09
08

1,176

817

551

733

503

346

Drax

GIIP

3
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04
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Chairman’s statement

2009 has been a year of transition. The Company 
has now had a full year of pilot production at 
rates that exceed our modelled threshold for 
commerciality. In 2009 IGas Energy raised funds 
sufficient to enable it to undertake two 2010 pilot 
projects and to establish a full scale production 
site the following year. 

2009 also saw IGas Energy strengthen its 
shareholder base and deliver on the objectives 
set last year. By the end of 2009 the Company 
had raised its CBM, (Coal Bed Methane), 
Contingent Recoverable Resources to a level that 
is now material not just for IGas Energy but for 
the security of supply of the UK. Additionally 
the Company has identified conventional and 
potentially significant shale gas. 

The Company’s primary goal remains 
to be the UK’s leading independent 
unconventional gas producer and to see 
unconventional gas production in the UK 
become as important as it is in the USA 
and is becoming in Australia. 2009 has 
seen IGas Energy take the first critical steps 
in achieving this goal with a full year of 
pilot production at rates that exceed our 
modelled threshold for commerciality and 
with fund raisings to accelerate production 
activity in 2010 (two pilot projects planned) 
and 2011 (planned full scale production 
site). 2009 has also seen IGas Energy apply 
for operatorship of more than 50% of 
its gas and begin building independent 
operational capability under the leadership 

of a recently appointed Chief Operating 
Officer (COO). 

The two fundraisings in 2009 in addition 
to raising the finance needed for 
production sites planned for 2010 and 
2011, have also materially strengthened 
IGas Energy’s shareholder base. Levine 
Capital Management BVI became a 
cornerstone investor and a number of well 
respected institutions have also become 
holders. As a result of this process the 
aggregate shareholding of the Company’s 
original founders has decreased from 
81% to 57%, thereby improving the IGas 
Energy’s free float. 

I am particularly pleased to report that we 
have now delivered all our stated near-term 
objectives as set out in my statement to 
you of last year.

A 60% increase in CBM Contingent 
Recoverable Resources, taking the 
high case (3C) to 1.18Tcf and the mid 
case (2C) to 0.81Tcf, resulted from two 
accretive (in terms of gas per share) farm-
ins completed in 2009.  The mid case 
numbers alone being sufficient to supply 
electricity to over 7% of UK households 
for 15 years. Additionally, preliminary 
work has shown that the Company 
has conventional gas and potentially 
significant shale gas. IGas Energy’s shale 
acreage extends over 1,195 km2, has an 
expected average thickness of 250m and 
is understood to have a very high potential 
to be hydrocarbon bearing. These 
findings have led IGas Energy to retain 
independent consultants to evaluate the 
potential of these shales, utilising currently 
available data.

I would like to welcome John Hamilton 
to the team as non-executive director. 
John’s experience and background will 
undoubtedly add to the strength of 
the board.  I would also like to offer 
my sincere thanks to Peter Redmond 
whose assistance over the years has 
been invaluable in the restructuring and 
refinancing of the Company prior to IGas 
Energy’s listing and subsequently.

I remain confident that the Company is 
well placed to be the most successful 
independent unconventional gas producer 
in the UK and that 2010 and 2011 will be 
critical years for seeing IGas Energy grow 
to consistently deliver secure gas, onshore.

Francis Gugen
Executive Chairman

05
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

“The mid case 
numbers alone  
being sufficient to 
supply electricity 
to over 7% of UK 
households for  
15 years.”

Our strategy

2009 
Now 
delivered

At the beginning of 2009 our 
immediate objectives were:

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Doe Green
Carry out long-term production test and 
continue commercial gas sales
Swallowcroft
Establish a fully permitted production site
Point of Ayr
Assess potential for a conventional gas  
play to supplement CBM Contingent 
Recoverable Resource 
Land bank
Establish a bank of permitted drill sites 
Reserves
Establish a long-term plan for the conversion 
of Contingent Recoverable Resource to 
commercially recoverable reserves 

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2010

“The Company is 
well placed to be 
the most successful 
independent 
unconventional gas 
producer in the UK.”

Our Strategy is now to deliver 
commercial production as soon 
as practicable, to which end our 
objectives for 2010 are:

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Pilot production 
Continue Pilot Production operations  
at Doe Green
Establish Pilot Production site at Keele in 
Staffordshire
Commence Pilot Production site at Point  
of Ayr in North Wales
Progress towards full scale production 
Recruitment of additional technical capability
Further technical and commercial evaluation 
for first full production site in 2011
Reserves
Update independent evaluation of Contingent 
Recoverable Resources/Reserves 
Independently evaluate the shale potential 
based on currently available data
Land Bank
Increase number of permitted drill sites 

 
06
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Chief Executive’s statement

capability. In response to this evolution in 
activity from appraising and identifying 
assets towards developing them, we are 
establishing an operations division under 
the leadership of a new COO, who is 
now actively recruiting key personnel 
to complement the technical team. This 
additional technical capability will enable 
IGas Energy to take greater control of its 
assets and their rapid commercialisation.    
We are further growing our ability to 
deliver by working with suppliers and 
contractors with whom we have previously 
had relationships through joint operations. 
We are also fostering relationships with 
expertise in other more developed markets 
for unconventional gas such as the USA 
and Australia. I am also happy to report 
that we have also recently strengthened 
the finance function.

2009 was also a critical year for resource 
acquisition and identification, with the 
successful farm-ups and independent 
resource assessments as referred to in 
the accompanying Our activity table. It is 
these successes that have positioned the 
Company for the accelerated production 
activity now planned for 2010 and 2011.  

We continue to make good progress 
in building a land bank of multi-well 
production sites. In addition to our 
permitted production sites at Doe Green 
and Brancote, we were granted planning 
permission at a site at Ellesmere port in 
January of this year and have recently been 
granted two more planning permissions, 
at M6 Junction 21, and Ince Marshes. 
A further two planning permissions are 
under consideration at the present time.  
Several of these sites have been agreed 
under our framework agreement with Peel 
Environmental Limited and we continue 
to work with them on the identification of 
further sites. We had a strong response to 
our advertising campaign earlier in the year 
where we invited large local energy users 
to engage with us in looking at developing 
drill sites on their own land and supplying 
them with energy directly. We are now 
processing a number of high quality leads 
arising from this campaign.

I am also able to report that costs in 
2009 were again kept under strict 
control leading to an operating loss 
of £0.52 million for 2009 (2008 – 
£0.46million). Costs will continue to be 
actively managed in 2010 but will increase 
with the accelerated production plans 
now that we are responsible for financing 
and operating a much greater part of 

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Leading independent company dedicated to 
unconventional gas in the UK
More than a year of pilot production  
– A UK first
Applications made to operate more than 50% 
of our gas
Operations division now being established 
More than 1.18Tcf of gas (200Mmboe)  
– high case (3C)
Access to land, planning, routes to market  
and customers proven
No Bank Debt and £17.5 million of cash for 
2010 and 2011 production expansion plans

2009 has seen the beginning of a 
transition at IGas Energy, which will 
continue in 2010 as IGas Energy moves 
from identification of resource to Pilot 
production 

Through the period the Company 
has taken critical steps in achieving a 
major transition. IGas Energy has now 
demonstrated that wells including 
horizontal sections can be successfully 
drilled in UK coals. The pilot production 
site at Doe Green has been in operation 
for more than a year and we continue to 
be encouraged by the production rates 
we are experiencing. At Doe Green it has 
been further demonstrated that a UK well 
can be dewatered and steady production 
maintained. 2009 has also seen the 
activity necessary to enable us in 2010 to 
establish two more pilot production sites, 

thus demonstrating further the productive 
capacity of the coals in these areas. The 
first site will be at Keele University science 
park (Swallowcroft). We have commenced 
groundworks at the location and expect 
to be on site with a rig in the next couple 
of months.  At Point of Ayr, our third pilot 
production location, we have identified 
a number of suitable sites and are in 
discussions with landowners to secure 
access. For further details of our activity 
see the accompanying Our activity table.

IGas Energy has applications pending to 
operate acreage which contains more than 
50% of its gas. In addition it is responsible 
for the electricity generation and other 
downstream activities on its jointly 
operated assets. In order to be able to 
deliver the substantial activity now planned 
the Company has increased its operational 

07
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

“IGas Energy is now 
operator of acreage 
which contains more 
than 50% of its gas.”

our activities. Pilot operations are not 
expected to generate significant revenues 
in 2010 and the Company will now be 
devoting its efforts to operational rather 
than rechargeable service activity. During 
the year the Company raised £17.21 
million, before expenses, which ensures 
the Company is well placed to execute 
its production sites planned for 2010 and 
2011. 

It gives me great pleasure to welcome John 
Blaymires to the team as COO, who will 
be responsible for all of our operated and 
non-operated assets. John has 27 years of 
international experience in the oil and gas 
industry gained with both Shell International 
and Hess Corporation. John has held 
a variety of senior technical roles with 
particular emphasis on field development 
activity (subsurface, drill and operation) in 
the North Sea, North Africa and the Middle 
East.  More recently he was Technical 
Director for Hess operations in West Africa 
and subsequently South East Asia with 
responsibility for major gas developments.  
Prior to joining IGas Energy he was Director 
of Technology Development for Hess based 
in Houston, where he helped develop 
a global engineering and geoscience 
technology group responsible for 
supporting the E&P business ranging from 
deepwater to unconventional resources.  
John has a B.Sc and PhD in Mining 
Engineering from Leeds University.

In 2010 the focus is on delivery. Firstly 
we will be further demonstrating the 
ability to deliver gas from our assets with 
additional pilot production. Secondly we 
will be equipping ourselves for our first 
full production site in 2011. With the 
clear production plans we now have, this 
is about building team and execution 
capability and I am confident we will be 
ready to deliver!

Andrew Austin
CEO

Our activity

01 
Production

02 
Asset 
growth

03 
Financial 
flexibility

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At Doe Green, we continue to carry out pilot production 
and in addition to drilling new laterals in our DG2 well we 
have also perforated a number of coal seams and carried 
out a trial hydraulic frac and tested DG1. The results of 
this activity are currently being analysed and lessons learnt 
for future pilot production sites. We continue to generate 
electricity for sale to the grid.
At Swallowcroft we have now commenced site 
construction at Keele University’s science park. This will 
be our first pilot production well in Staffordshire and is 
the key to determining the deliverability of the high gas 
content coal resources in that area.
At Point of Ayr we have re-interpreted 790 km of 
pre-existing 2D seismic data, which has given us 
greater confidence in the extent of the coal and other 
hydrocarbon resources in the area. This has resulted in a 
removal of the risk factors previously applied by Equipoise 
in their GIIP calculations and a significant tightening of 
the gas in place range. A pilot production site is planned 
for 2010.

Two farm-up transactions carried out in 2009 have 
resulted in an increase in our Equity ownership in 
Swallowcroft and the Northwest from 20% to 35%. At 
Point of Ayr we have increased our holding from 50% to 
75% in an area where we see significant potential from 
shale gas as well as from CBM.
Independent verification of mid case GIIP has been revised 
upwards by 76% to 3.8 Tcf, high case 8.1 Tcf, based on 
latest data and equity holdings; source Equipoise Solutions 
Ltd and all net to IGas Energy.
DeGolyer and MacNaughton’s report on our Contingent 
Recoverable Resources has been updated to reflect changes 
in the Equity holdings of IGas Energy and now provides 
independent confirmation of a high case (3C) of 1.18 Tcf, 
with a mid case (2C) of 0.81 Tcf; all net to IGas Energy.
The framework agreement with Peel Environmental 
Limited has now resulted in three permitted multi-well 
production sites within their land bank and a number 
more under consideration.

On 30 August 2009 we closed a fund raising of £3.46 
million, before expenses, at 60p per share. This was 
accompanied by an accretive farm-up agreement that 
increased our holding in our Swallowcroft acreage. 
In November we closed a larger fundraising of £13.75 
million, before expenses, which has significantly 
developed and widened our shareholder base. The farm-
up agreement that accompanied this was also accretive 
and progressed our ownership of the Point of Ayr assets 
to 75% and our Northwest acreage to 35%.
In total we raised £17.21 million, before expenses, and 
grew the assets significantly, while equipping ourselves 
with the funding needed for the production sites planned 
for 2010 and 2011.

 
08
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Our licences
Northwest (782 sq km; IGas Energy interest 35%)

Wigan

PEDL193

Manchester

Liverpool

PEDL116

PEDL145

Northwich

Macclesfield

PEDL184

PEDL190

Chester

10km

Wrexham

Crewe

Our Northwest acreage has been the centre of much 
of our activity to date. The productive capacity of the 
coals has been established by our pilot production 
site at Doe Green and the ongoing energy export 
activities at this site. In addition to continuing to assess 
and model the subsurface we have now obtained 
planning permission for five production sites in the 
area ranging from Ellesmere Port in the west in PEDL 
190 to the Trafford Centre in the east within PEDL 193. 
A significant proportion of this acreage is now also 
considered to have shale that has a very high potential 
to be hydrocarbon bearing.

Four oaks – PEDLs 145 and 116
This area is located both north and south 
of the Mersey, between Liverpool and 
Warrington. 

Geologically, the area under licence is 
formed by strata of Carboniferous and 
Permo-Triassic age, gently dipping to 
the south and south-east. The British 
Geological Society maps show that these 
strata are cut by a number of north-
south striking normal faults, throwing 
to the east and west, creating a number 
of normal fault blocks and horsts. The 
Carboniferous Westphalian coal measures 
sequence outcrops to the north of the 
licences and were the principal coal 
measures exploited in the Lancashire 
coalfields. The dip of the strata places the 
Westphalian at depths greater than 6,500 
feet to the very south of the licence. This 

1,265
Mid case GIIP

depth has been adopted as the maximum 
depth for CBM exploitation in the 
independent GIIP estimates.

In PEDL 145 activity has been concentrated 
at Doe Green, a drill site located between 
Warrington and Widnes between the 
A562 and the Liverpool-to-Manchester 
railway line. Two wells were drilled at this 
site in the last quarter of 2006: one was 
extensively cored and logged, and a lateral 
leg was drilled from the other. Additional 
lateral legs have since been drilled and the 
well has been on long term production 
test for over a year with the gas being 
used to generate electricity which is 
exported via the grid. In 2009 the first well 
on the site was perforated and fracced. 
There are no commitments outstanding in 
relation to this licence and in January 2009 
IGas Energy was granted an unconditional 
FDP (field development plan) covering 
much of the licence area, permitting 
commercial gas production and further 
securing licence interests. 

In PEDL 116 in April 2008, an assay well 
was spudded at Fox Hill Farm. The well 
achieved its objective to both core and 
log the coal sequence, and has been 
plugged and abandoned. The drilling of 
this well has satisfied the commitments 
under the licence and extended it into its 
second term.

Parkside – PEDL 193
This area is located in South Lancashire, to 
the southeast of the old Parkside Colliery 
area of the South Lancashire coalfields and 
northeast of Warrington. Geologically, the 

Northwest (782 sq km; IGas Energy interest 35%)

09
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

licence is on the southern margin of the 
Rossendale anticline and on the western 
margin of the Pennine Axis, and targets 
the unworked CBM potential of the 
southern extension of the South Lancashire 
coalfield which is proven, by prior National 
Coal Board (“NCB”) boreholes, to extend 
for at least 5 km to the south east. The 
oldest rocks present in the area belong 
to the upper part of the Millstone Grit 
Series of Upper Carboniferous age and 
are followed conformably by the Lower 
and Middle coal measures. These geologic 
strata consist of alternating shales, 
sandstones and coal seams. The northern 
and western area of the licence includes 
part of the underground workings of the 
abandoned South Lancashire Coalfield. 
The workings demonstrate the presence of 
multiple thick (>3 feet) coal seams within 
the Upper Carboniferous, Westphalian and 
Pennine coal measures. Exploration work 
carried out by the former NCB confirms the 
regional structure of the Coal Measures as 
gently dipping to the south (at depths up 
to and exceeding 4,000 feet) and being 
broken up by a series of normal faults.

It is IGas Energy’s intention to confirm the 
CBM production potential of the licence 
by drilling a well into the application area, 
contingent upon achieving the required 
planning permission; which well would 
satisfy the licence commitment which is 
due by July 2014. Identification of potential 
well sites is ongoing.

North Dee – PEDLs 184 and 190 
The area is located in North Dee, including 
around Ellesmere Port and Runcorn. The 
area extends between the tidal estuary 
of the Dee and the Mersey, with the 
peninsula of the Wirral (Cheshire) lying 
between them. 

These licences target the unworked CBM 
potential of the eastern extension of the 
North Wales coalfields and the south 
western extension of the Lancashire 
coalfields. These coals are proven to 
extend eastwards for at least 20 kilometres 
in the North Dee area from Buckley to 
Chester, and southwards from the Wirral 
to Wrexham.

Geologically the licence area lies on the 
south eastern margin of the East Irish Sea 
Basin and on the north western margin 
of the Permo-Triassic Cheshire basin, 
forming part of the larger Pennine coal 
measures basin. The Westphalian Pennine 
coal measures group of the Pennine basin 
extends at outcrop or at subcrop across 
northern England, to the west and east of 
the Pennines, central England and north 
Wales. The licence area forms part of the 
south westerly edge of this basin.

The south western area of PEDL 190 
includes the Collinge Borehole drilled 
by the NCB as part of an old coalfield 
exploration program. The Collinge 
borehole demonstrates the presence of 
multiple thick (>3 feet) coal seams within 
the Upper Carboniferous and Westphalian 
coal measures. An NCB depth structure 
map confirms the regional structure of 
the coal measures as dipping gently to the 
south east toward the Cheshire basin.

It is the intention of the partnership to 
confirm the CBM production potential 
of these licences by drilling two wells 
into the application area, contingent 
upon achieving the required planning 
permissions; which wells would satisfy the 
licence commitments which are due by July 
2014. Identification of potential well sites 
is ongoing.

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10
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Our licences continued
Swallowcroft (563 sq km; IGas Energy interest  
35%, except PEDL 78-2 100%)

Chester

Crewe

PEDL40-1

Wem

PEDL78-2

Shrewsbury

Telford

Stoke-on-Trent

PEDL56-1

PEDL78-1

PEDL115-1

10km

Wolverhampton

PEDL115-2

Swallowcroft in Staffordshire offers a very intensively 
located resource with a large number of potentially 
drillable seams within the coal. We have now commenced 
the site preparation at Keele science park in PEDL 56-1 and 
will spud a pilot production well here shortly. In addition in 
2009 we acquired PEDL 78-2 and now own 100% of this 
licence, which we operate. The GIIP on this licence was 
independently assessed as 78 bcf mid case.

875
Mid case GIIP

The Swallowcroft area includes PEDLs 40-1, 
56-1, 78-1, 78-2, 115-1 and 115-2. The 
area extends from Newcastle-under-Lyme 
in the West across to Lichfield in the East 
and towards Telford in the South, all within 
the county of Staffordshire.

Swallowcroft Central (PEDLs 40-1 and 
56-1): Geologically, the area is formed 
by a series of open, westward-plunging 
anticlines and synclines, with rocks of 
Triassic to Carboniferous age outcropping 
at surface and with the Carboniferous 
Westphalian coal measures sequence 
outcropping to the north of the licences; 
where they were worked as part of the 
Staffordshire coalfields. A large fault, the 
Wem Fault, downthrows Carboniferous 
strata to the very westerly edge of the 
licences and although quantification of 
this throw is uncertain, it is likely that the 
Carboniferous strata to the west of this 
fault are too deep for CBM exploration 
at present. There are no commitments 
outstanding relating to the Central 
Swallowcroft licences, which are now both 
in their second terms. 

Greater Swallowcroft (PEDLs 78-1, 78-2 and 
115-1, 115-2): Geologically, the area under 
licence is formed by strata of Carboniferous 
and Permo-Triassic age. Solid geological 
maps show the area other than PEDL 78-2 
to be generally dipping from south to north.

Extensive work has now been undertaken 
to select appropriate sites from which to 
drill, using the Group’s existing geological 
data. In July 2008, a well was spudded at 
Willoughbridge in PEDL 78-1. The drilling 
of this well satisfies the commitments 
under the first term of the licence and 
extends both PEDLs 78-1 and 78-2 into 
their second terms. A well was spudded at 
Fradley in October 2008 and this fulfilled 
the licence obligations for PEDL 115-2 and 
ensures the extension of both PEDLs 115-1 
and 115-2 into their second terms.

In PEDL 56-1, under an agreement struck 
with Keele University, a production site 
will be established at the Keele science 
park and the university will be a customer 
for gas produced from this site. During 
2009 planning permission was obtained 
for a pilot production well for which site 
preparation has already commenced and 
which is expected to spud shortly. 

PEDL 78-2 was acquired 100% by IGas 
Energy in June 2009 and is operated by 
the Company

In March 2010 IGas Energy was granted 
an unconditional FDP covering part of the 
Swallowcroft area, permitting commercial 
gas production and further securing 
licence interests. 

Point of Ayr (211 sq km; IGas Energy interest 75%)

11
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Wigan

110/18a

Liverpool

110/19a

110/23

PEDL107

Denbigh

Chester

Mold

Ruthin

10km

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Point of Ayr is a particularly interesting area for IGas 
Energy as here we see potential for both conventional 
and unconventional (from coal and also shale) gas 
production. In 2009 790km of 2D seismic was 
reinterperated in the area and an independent 
report by Equipoise Solutions put the conventional 
gas potential at up to 37 bcf unrisked within the 
licence area. A number of leads were identified at the 
Namurian and Collyhurst levels. Several sites for drilling 
have been identified onshore in the area and we are 
looking to progress one of these in 2010. 

Onshore the acreage comprises PEDL 107, 
which lies to the west of the Dee estuary, 
approximately 15 miles west-south-west 
of the City of Liverpool and immediately to 
the east of the town of Prestatyn, within 
the county of Flintshire. Westphalian A 
and B age strata are present in the east 
of this licence, where they have been 
extensively mined within the Point of Ayr 
and Mostyn collieries, which are now 
abandoned. PEDL 107 has limited potential 
for CBM as a result. Offshore the acreage 
comprises SPPL 1481, which is contiguous 
with the onshore licence, and includes 
offshore blocks 110/18 (part), 110/19 
(part) and 110/23 (part). The Westphalian 
A and B strata mined in PEDL 107 are 
proven in Block 110/19 (part) by a series 
of exploration boreholes. 2D seismic lines 
from a number of sources cover this area 
and support the presence of coal away 

1,553
Mid case GIIP

from borehole penetrations. As a result, 
IGas see CBM potential within the offshore 
blocks. Collectively these licences are 
referred to as Point of Ayr. 

Geologically, the area under licence is 
formed by strata of Carboniferous and 
Permo-Triassic  age, deformed as an 
upthrown anticlinal structure, plunging 
northwards. For the most part, the 
onshore outcrop (within PEDL 107) 
is composed of strata older than the 
Westphalian coal measures. Mining in the 
area focussed on Westphalian coals, which, 
from the available borehole data, are at 
depths of approximately 650 feet to 2,300 
feet below datum. Areas of the licence 
have been extensively mined, and are not 
prospective for CBM as a result.

PEDL 107 is now in its second term and there 
are no outstanding licence commitments.

SPPL 1481 was acquired by IGas Energy as 
part of the 24th UK Offshore Licensing Round. 
and carries a contingent obligation to drill one 
well before March 2011. The first term of this 
licence expires on 31 March 2011, when a 
50% relinquishment may be required. 

IGas has applied for operatorship of Point 
of Ayr when it increased its interest in the 
licence to 75%. 

IGas Energy has already taken a preliminary 
look at the shale potential of the Point of 
Ayr acreage. Initial indications are that the 
shale extends over the whole acreage and 
has an expected average thickness of over 
800 feet and is understood to have a very 
high potential to be hydrocarbon bearing.

 
12
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Our licences continued
Drax (200 Sq km; IGas Energy Interest 20%)

Wetherby

York

Leeds

Selby

PEDL92-1

Doncaster

Barnsley

Rotherham

Sheffield

10km

The Drax area is located in Yorkshire, around 15 miles 
south and east of York itself. The licence is PEDL 92-1.

Geologically, the area under licence is 
formed by strata of Carboniferous and 
Permo-Triassic age, gently dipping to the 
south and south-east. Prior mining to 
the south and west of the area focused 
on Westphalian B coals, which, from the 
available borehole data, are at depths 
of approximately 650 feet to 3,000 feet 
below surface within PEDL 92. Although 
the area had been licensed historically for 
CBM exploration, no boreholes had been 
drilled on the licence for this purpose prior 
to IGas Energy acquiring the acreage.

A well was spudded at Mill Farm in August 
2007 and drilled to a depth of 2,718 feet. 
This well was used to log and core the coal 
sequence. The drilling of this well fulfilled 
the licence commitments and the licence is 
now in its second term.

130
Mid case GIIP

13
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

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The Group is exposed to capital risk 
resulting from its capital structure. 
Currently the Group has no borrowings 
and is solely equity funded. However, 
the capital structure is continually 
monitored to ensure it is in line with 
the business needs and ongoing asset 
development. Further details of the 
Group’s capital management policy are 
disclosed in note 14 to the consolidated 
financial statements.

The Group is also exposed to a variety 
of other risks including those related to:
operational matters (including cost 
 –
increases, availability of equipment 
and successful project execution);
Nexen operating agreements 
(including their pursuit of projects);
competition;
key personnel; and
litigation.

 –

 –

 –

 –

 >

 >

Environment, Health and Safety
The Group is committed to preserving the 
environment and to ensuring we provide 
safe and healthy work conditions for all 
our employees and contractors. Nexen, 
which operates many of our assets, also 
has strict Environmental and Health and 
Safety policies.

Key financial highlights

Income statement

£000 

Revenue 
Operating loss 
Loss for the year 

2009 

828 
(515) 
(504) 

Total licence expenditure

Cumulative to end (£000) 

Incurred by Group 
Carried by Nexen  

2009 

1,334 
5,113 

2008

992
(458)
(386)

2008

476
4,072

Cash position
 >

The Group manages its cash and 
other sources of finance, including 
its agreements with Nexen, so as to 
have access to adequate funds to 
meet the costs of future exploration 
and development programmes. At 
31 December 2009, the Group’s net 
current assets amounted to £16.8 million 
(2008: £2.1 million) all financed by 
equity, as the Group has no borrowings.

Principal risks and uncertainties
 >

The Group is exposed, through its 
operations, to liquidity risk, which is 
managed by the Board who regularly 
review the Group’s cash forecasts and 
the adequacy of available facilities to 
meet the Group’s cash requirements. 
At the Group’s current stage of 
development, the Board does not 
consider foreign currency and credit 
risks to be material.

 >

As at 31 December 2009 the Group 
had a consolidated cash position of 
£17.5 million (2008: £2.3 million). 
The Group also has access to carry 
agreements with Nexen under which, 
as at 31 December 2009, a further 
£0.6 million (2008: £1.7 million) of the 
Group’s share of certain costs of future 
licence work programmes (which have 
to be approved by the Group) will be 
carried by Nexen.

 >

Accordingly, at 31 December 2009, in 
total, the Group had access to in excess 
of £18.1 million (2008: £4.5 million) 
of funding.

 >

 >

 >

The Group is exposed to market 
price risk through variations in the 
wholesale prices of gas and electricity 
in the context of its future production 
volumes. Currently the Group has not 
entered into any forward contracts to 
fix the prices of these commodities. 
The Board will continue to monitor the 
benefit of entering into such contracts.

The Group is exposed to risks 
associated with geological uncertainty. 
No guarantee can be given that gas 
can be produced from any or all of 
the Group’s assets or that gas can be 
delivered economically.

The Group is exposed to planning, 
environmental, licensing and other 
permitting risks associated with its 
operations and, in particular, with 
drilling and production operations. 
To date, authorities have appeared 
supportive but there can be no 
guarantee this will continue.

 
14
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Directors

01

03

05

02

04

06

15
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

05. Richard Armstrong
Non-Executive Director
Richard is an associate with Fiske plc, the 
AIM quoted stockbrokers. He is a former 
equity analyst with extensive experience 
in reconstructing and raising capital for 
turnaround situations especially in the 
quoted microcap sector. He is currently a 
Director of CityPoint Investments Plc and 
PLUS quoted Petrocapital Resources plc.

06. John Andrew Hamilton – 
appointed 10 December 2009 
Non-Executive Director
John is the Managing Director of Levine 
Capital management Advisors Limited, a 
UK incorporated company and a non-
executive director at President Petroleum 
Corporation Plc. John was previously the 
Group Finance Director of Imperial Energy 
Corporation Plc. Prior to joining Imperial 
Energy, John held senior positions at ABN 
AMRO.

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01. Francis Gugen
Executive Chairman
Francis is a founder, largest shareholder 
and Executive Chairman and has over thirty 
year’s oil and gas industry experience. 
Between 1982 and 2000 he helped grow 
Amerada Hess in north west Europe, 
ultimately becoming CEO. He is a member 
of the CBI’s Economic Affairs Committee. 
Francis is also a past president of the UK 
Offshore Operators Association, past chair 
of the industries representation on the UK 
Government Oil & Gas Task Force (Pilot) 
and past chair of the CBI’s Environmental 
Affairs Committee.

Francis is a chartered accountant having 
worked for Arthur Andersen for eight years 
until 1982, principally as an oil and gas 
specialist. Currently he is non-executive 
Chairman of Petroleum Geophysical 
Services ASA and of Chrysaor Limited. 
Until 2006 he served as Chairman of 
North Sea gas fields and pipelines operator 
CH4 Energy Limited before it was acquired 
in 2006 by Venture Petroleum Plc for 
Euro 224 million. 

Francis devotes such time to the Group as 
is required to discharge his duties.

02. Andrew Austin
Chief Executive Officer
Andrew is one of the founders and the 
Chief Executive Officer and previously he 
specialised in energy projects in the gas, 
electricity and renewables sector. Andrew 
has been an Executive Director since 2004 
and for the last four years has been CEO 
with full time responsibility for day to day 
operations and business development.

Prior to joining IGas Andrew has been 
involved in ventures as principal and has 
also raised substantial funds from private 
and public equity for clients during the 
course of his career to date. Andrew spent 
17 years working in investment banking 
in the City of London with Merrill Lynch, 
Nomura, Citibank and Barclays Capital. 
Latterly he was general manager of 
Creditanstalt Investment Bank in London. 
He also has six years of management and 
consultancy experience with clean tech 
companies including Generics Group and 
Whitfield Solar.

03. Brent Cheshire
Executive Technical Director
Brent is one of the founders and is the 
Technical Director. After 14 years at 
Shell working both Internationally and 
in the U.K. in petroleum engineering 
roles, he joined Amerada Hess in 1991, 
where he had a range of technical 
management positions, culminating in 
Senior VP E&P Worldwide Technology 
and CEO Scandinavia. Brent has 
significant experience in petroleum 
engineering, drilling technology and 
project management and is Managing 
Director of DONG E&P (UK) Limited, under 
arrangements that allow him to devote 
appropriate time to IGas.

Brent is a geology graduate of Durham 
University where he is currently a member 
of the Durham University Energy Institute’s 
advisory and development boards.

04. John Bryant
Senior Independent Non-Executive 
Director
John is the Senior Independent Director of 
Weatherly plc, quoted on AIM. He is also a 
board member of the Attiki Gas Company, 
which supplies natural gas to Athens and 
the surrounding districts.

John previously served as president 
of Cinergy Global Resources Corp, 
responsible for all international business 
and global renewable power operations 
of this US-based electricity and gas utility 
provider. Before joining Cinergy, John was 
executive director with Midlands Electricity 
plc. He has been involved in developing a 
number of large gas fired power stations 
both in the UK and overseas, together 
with both electricity and gas distribution 
in Europe and Africa, renewable power in 
Europe and North America and gas and 
electricity trading. His prior experience 
was at British Sugar plc, Drexel Limited, 
the British Oxygen Company and Unilever 
plc. Drexel, where he was president, 
was a global oil and gas equipment 
manufacturing and servicing company.

John is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors 
and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

 
16
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Corporate governance

The Board of Directors support high standards of corporate governance and the guidance set out in the Combined Code on Corporate Governance 
(the “Combined Code”). As a Company that is quoted on AIM, it is not required to comply with the Combined Code but all the Directors intend to 
comply with its main provisions as far as is practicable having regard to the size and composition of the Group.

The Board and its committees
The Board of the Company consists of three Executive Directors and three Non-Executive Directors; with Mr Armstrong and Mr Bryant being 
considered to be independent. The Senior Independent Non-Executive Director is John Bryant and biographies of all the Directors are included on 
page 15.

The Board retains full and effective control over the Group. The Board meets regularly, at least eight times a year to consider reports on the 
operational and financial performance of the Group and to decide on matters reserved unto itself, which include formulating, reviewing and 
approving the Group’s strategy, budgets, major items of capital expenditure and senior personnel appointments.

The Directors have established separate committees each chaired by a Non-Executive Director as follows:

Audit committee
The committee comprises only Non-Executive Directors; being chaired by Richard Armstrong and having as other members: John Bryant, Peter 
Redmond (resigned 10 December 2009) and John Hamilton (appointed 10 December 2009). The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer may attend 
only at the invitation of the committee.

The committee receives and reviews reports from management and the Group’s auditors relating to the Group’s annual report and accounts 
and from management relating to interim results announcements. The committee focuses particularly on compliance with legal requirements, 
accounting standards and the AIM Rules and on ensuring that effective systems of internal financial and non-financial controls (including for the 
management of risk and whistle-blowing) are maintained. However, the ultimate responsibility for reviewing and approving the annual report 
and accounts remains with the Board of Directors. The committee is also responsible for making recommendations to the Board of Directors on 
the appointment of the external auditors and their remuneration. The committee keeps under review the external auditors’ independence and 
considers the nature, scope, and results of the auditor’s work and develops policy on and reviews (reserving the right to approve) any non-audit 
services that are provided by the external auditors.

The committee normally meets at least three times a year and meets the external auditors at least annually without the presence of the 
Executive Directors.

Remuneration committee
The committee comprises only Non-Executive Directors; being chaired by John Bryant and having as other members Richard Armstrong, Peter 
Redmond (resigned 10 December 2009) and John Hamilton (appointed 10 December 2009). The committee, which normally meets at least twice 
a year, has responsibility for making recommendations to the Board of Directors on the Company’s policy on the remuneration of the Chairman, 
Executive Directors and other senior executives (as are delegated to the committee to consider) and for determining, within agreed terms of 
reference, specific remuneration packages for each of them, including pension rights, any compensation payments and the implementation of 
executive incentive schemes. In accordance with the committee’s terms of reference, no Director may participate in discussions relating to their own 
terms and conditions of service or remuneration.

Nomination committee
The Nomination committee is chaired by the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, John Bryant, and its other members are the Non-
Executive Director, Richard Armstrong, and the Chairman, Francis Gugen. The committee, which meets as required throughout the year, has 
responsibility for considering the size, structure and composition of the Board of Directors, retirements and appointments of additional and 
replacement Directors and making appropriate recommendations to the Board of Directors. The committee is also tasked with ensuring that 
plans are in place for orderly succession to the Board of Directors and senior management positions, so as to maintain an appropriate balance of 
skills and experience within the Group and the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer of the Company is invited to attend meetings of 
the committee when the committee is discussing matters related to executive management and such other matters as the committee chairman 
deems appropriate.

At each Annual General Meeting at least one-third of the Directors shall retire from office by rotation. The Directors to retire by rotation shall 
include, firstly, any Director who wishes to retire at the meeting and not offer himself for re-election and, secondly, those Directors who have been 
longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment, provided always that each Director shall be required to retire and offer himself for 
re-election at least every three years. Directors appointed by the Board hold office only until the dissolution of the Annual General Meeting of the 
Company next following such appointment.

Internal control
The Board acknowledges that it is responsible for establishing and maintaining the Group’s system of internal controls and reviewing its 
effectiveness. The procedures that include, inter alia, financial, operational and compliance matters and risk management are reviewed on an 
ongoing basis. The internal control system can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss. The 
Board has considered the need for a separate internal audit function but, bearing in mind the present size and composition of the Group, does not 
consider it necessary at the current time.

Relations with shareholders
Communications with shareholders are considered important by the Directors. The primary contact with shareholders, investors and analysts is 
the Chief Executive Officer. The other Executive Directors, however, regularly speak to investors and analysts during the year. Company circulars 
and press releases have also been issued throughout the year in relation to various proposals and for keeping investors informed about the 
Group’s progress.

The Company also maintains a website on the internet (www.igasplc.com) that is regularly updated and contains a wide range of information 
about the Group.

17
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Directors’ remuneration report

This report explains how decisions regarding Directors’ pay are taken.

Remit of the Remuneration committee
The committee comprises only Non-Executive Directors; being chaired by John Bryant and having as other members Richard Armstrong, 
Peter Redmond (resigned 10 December 2009) and John Hamilton (appointed 10 December 2009). The committee, which normally 
meets at least twice a year, has responsibility for making recommendations to the Board of Directors on the Company’s policy on 
the remuneration of the Chairman, Executive Directors and other senior executives (as are delegated to the committee to consider) 
and for determining, within agreed terms of reference, specific remuneration packages for each of them, including pension rights, 
any compensation payments and the implementation of executive incentive schemes. In accordance with the committee’s terms of 
reference, no Director may participate in discussions relating to their own terms and conditions of service or remuneration.

Nature of remuneration
The Remuneration committee considers the following as potential elements of reward:

•	
•	
•	
•	

Annual Salary.
Annual Bonus.
Long-Term Incentive.
Other Benefits, including Pension.

These elements are considered in aggregate when assessing competitiveness against the market.

With the Company now expanding rapidly to accelerate production and with its application to assume operatorship of more than 
50% of its gas, the Remuneration committee is of the view that it is now appropriate to fully review the Company’s remuneration 
policies, particularly since salaries have remained unchanged since before the reverse takeover on 31 December 2007 (the “Reverse”) 
and because there is no long-term incentive plan (“LTIP”) in place including for staff currently being recruited. The Remuneration 
Committee has retained independent advisors to assist them with the design and implementation of any new arrangements, including 
the establishment of any LTIP, which if implemented is expected to be effective as of 1 January 2010.

Current arrangements
Executive Directors
As part of the reverse, the Company chose to take over the employment arrangements that had applied to the three Executive 
Directors, except that their contracts of employment, which are evergreen, were extended from one month to twelve months’ notice; 
as deemed appropriate for an AIM listed company. Under these arrangements, the three Executive Directors currently have no long-
term incentive plan (“LTIP”), are not entitled to any other benefits (including pension) and received salary and bonuses, all earned as 
Directors, as follows:

F Gugen – Executive Chairman 
A Austin – Chief Executive Officer 
B Cheshire – Executive Technical Director 

Total – Executive Directors 

Salary 
£000 

Bonus 
£000 

100 
200 
100 

400 

50 
100 
50 

200 

2009 
Total 
£000 

150 
300 
150 

600 

Salary 
and fees 
£000 

100 
200 
100 

400 

Bonus 
£000 

– 
75 
20 

95 

2008 
Total 
£000

100
275
120

495

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Each of the Executive Directors devotes such time as is required to discharge his duties, which in the case of Andrew Austin is full time.

Each Executive Director is entitled to receive a bonus dependent on the achievement of various objective targets and milestones as set 
by the Remuneration Committee.

In view of the success of the Company in delivering its stated objectives for the year and in securing significant new equity funding 
during the year, which enabled the Company to apply for operatorship of over 50% of its gas and to adopt a materially more ambitious 
development programme, the Committee determined that exceptional performance had been achieved which merited the payment of 
a maximum bonus.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Directors’ remuneration report continued

Non-Executive Directors
The Non-Executive Directors are employed under evergreen contracts subject to three months notice, under which they are not entitled 
to any pension, benefits or bonuses and received fees all earned as Directors, as follows:

J Bryant – Senior Independent  
R Armstrong 
P Redmond – Resigned 10 December 2009 
J Hamilton – Appointed 10 December 2009 

Total – Non-Executive Directors 

2009 
  Fees/Salary 
Total 
£000 

20 
20 
29 
1* –

70 

2008 
Total 
£000

17
17
17

51

* 

 Of the £1 thousand paid in respect of John Hamilton’s services, 50% is paid to Mr Hamilton under his personal appointment letter to act as a non-executive of the 
Company and the other 50% is paid to Levine Capital Management Advisors Limited under a separate consultancy agreement in respect of the provision of Mr Hamilton’s 
services to the Company

John Bryant
Chairman Remuneration Committee
5 May 2010 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Directors’ report

The Directors present their report together with the Group and Parent Company financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2009.

Business review and future developments
A review of the business and the future developments of the Group are presented in the Chairman’s statement (including  Our strategy) on 
pages 4 and 5, the Chief Executive’s statement (including Our activity) on pages 6 to 7 and in the Operational review on pages 8 to 12.

Results and dividends
The Group’s loss for the year after taxation £504 thousand (2008: loss £386 thousand). The Directors do not recommend the payment 
of a dividend for the year.

Going Concern
After reviewing the Group’s budgets and cash flow projections for 2010 and 2011 and taking into consideration the current operating 
environment, the risks outlined in note 14 to the consolidated financial statements and the Group’s liquidity risk management as set out 
under Cash position in the Business review on page 13, the Directors are satisfied that the Group has adequate resources to continue in 
business for the foreseeable future. It is therefore appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial  statements.

Principal activity
The Group’s principal area of activity is unconventional gas including coal bed methane (“CBM”), intended to result in the production 
and marketing of methane gas for industrial and domestic use from virgin seams within its UK acreage. This requires acreage to be 
explored, appraised and developed and in connection with which the Group also provides technical and other related services details of 
which are outlined in note 2 of the consolidated financial statements.

Share Capital
Details of changes to share capital in the period are set out in note 15 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Directors and their interests
The Directors who served during the year were as follows:

F R Gugen 
A P Austin 
B Cheshire 
J Bryant 
R J Armstrong 
P Redmond 
J A Hamilton 

 Executive Chairman
 Chief Executive Officer
 Executive Technical Director
 Non-Executive
 Non-Executive
 Non-Executive – Resigned 10 December 2009
 Non-Executive – Appointed 10 December 2009  

The interests of the Directors in the shares of the Company at 31 December 2009 were as follows:

F R Gugen 
A P Austin 
B Cheshire 
J Bryant 
R J Armstrong 
P Redmond – Resigned 10 December 2009 
J Hamilton – Appointed 10 December 2009 

31 December 2009   
Ordinary 50p Shares  
% 

Number 

31 December 2008 
Ordinary 50p Shares 

 31 December  31 December 
2008

2009 

Number 

%  Warrants*  Warrants*

 27,615,764  
 11,429,253 
 11,429,253 
50,370 
58,460 
*** 
   85,000** 

30.34 27,419,097 
12.56 11,429,253 
12.56 11,429,253 
50,370 
58,460 
50,770 
– 

0.06 
0.06 
*** 
0.09 

43.99 
18.34 
18.34 
0.08 
0.09 
 0.08 
– 

– –
– –
– –
110,000 
110,000 
*** 
– –

110,000
110,000
110,000

*  

 Of the warrants issued to Non-Executive Directors, for each Director to whom warrants were issued 82,500 are exercisable into Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 55p per 
Ordinary Share and 27,500 are exercisable at a price of 75p per Ordinary Share.

**    J Hamilton is beneficially interested in 85,000 Ordinary Shares out of a total of 11,720,000 held by Peter Levine and Levine Capital Management BVI, the latter of whom he 

is deemed to be associated for these purposes. 

*** P Redmond still held the same shares and warrants as at 31 December 2009 but these are not reported as he was no longer a Director as at this date

Rotation and re-election of Directors
In accordance with the Articles of Association F R Gugen and B Cheshire retire by rotation and being eligible offer themselves for 
re-election.

Directors’ insurance and indemnity provisions
Subject to the conditions set out in the Companies Act 2006, the Company has arranged appropriate directors and officers Insurance to 
indemnify the directors and officers against liability in respect of proceedings brought by third parties. Such provision remains in force at 
the date of this report.

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20
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Directors’ report continued

The Company indemnifies the Directors against actions they undertake or fail to undertake as Directors or officers of any Group 
company, to the extent permissible for such indemnities to meet the test of a qualifying third party indemnity provision as provided 
for by the Companies Act 2006. The nature and extent of the indemnities is as described in Section 60 of the Company’s Articles of 
Association as adopted on 10 July 2009. These provisions remained in force throughout the year and remain in place at the date of 
this report.

Substantial shareholders
Apart from the Directors’ holdings, the only other holding in excess of 3% of the share capital of the Company at the date of this 
report was:

Peter Levine & Levine Capital Management BVI  
Schroders 
Artemis 

Number 
 of Shares 

 11,720,000 
   3,666,667 
   2,750,000 

%

12.88
 4.03
 3.02

Financial instruments
The Group’s principal financial instruments comprise cash balances and other debtors and creditors that arise through the normal 
course of business as set out in notes 10 to 12 to the consolidated financial statements. The Group’s financial risk management 
objectives are set out in note 14 to the consolidated financial statements and the Business review on page 13.

Employment policy
It is the policy of the Group to operate a fair employment policy. No employee or job applicant is less favourably treated than another 
on the grounds of their sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, religion, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, colour or disability 
and all appointments and promotions are determined solely on merit. The Directors encourage employees to be aware of all issues 
affecting the Group and place considerable emphasis on employees sharing in its success.

Creditor payment policy and practice
It is the Group’s normal practice to agree payment terms with its suppliers and abide by such terms. Payment becomes due when it can 
be confirmed that goods and/or services have been provided in accordance with the relevant contractual conditions. The amount owed 
by the Company to trade creditors at the end of the financial year represented 17 days of daily purchases for the Company  
(2008: 22 days).

Charitable and political contributions
During the year, the Group made no donations (2008: nil).

Status
The Company is not a close company as defined in the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.

The Company is domiciled in the UK and incorporated and registered in England.

Board committees
Information on the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination committees is included in the Corporate Governance section of the annual 
report on page 16.

Auditors
A resolution to reappoint Ernst & Young LLP as auditor will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting at a fee to be agreed in due 
course by the Audit Committee and the Board.

Directors’ statement as to disclosure of information to the auditors
So far as each person who was a Director at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant audit information, being 
information needed by the auditor in connection with preparing its report, of which the auditor is unaware. Having made enquiries of 
fellow Directors, each Director has taken all the steps that a Director might reasonably be expected to have taken as a Director in order 
to make himself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditor is aware of that information.

Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting will be held on 7 June 2010 as stated in the Notice of Meeting which accompanies this Annual Report. 

By order of the Board

Mofo Secretaries Limited
Secretary
5 May 2010  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Consolidated financial statements – Directors’ statement of 
responsibilities in respect thereof

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and Group financial statements in accordance with applicable United 
Kingdom law and those International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (“IFRSs”).

The Directors are required to prepare Group financial statements for each financial year which present fairly the financial position of the 
Group and the financial performance and cash flows of the Group for that period. In preparing those Group financial statements the 
Directors are required to:

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

select suitable accounting policies in accordance with IAS 8: Accounting policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors and 
then apply them consistently;
present information, including accounting policies, in a manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and understandable 
information;
provide additional disclosures when compliance with the specific requirements in IFRSs is insufficient to enable users to understand 
the impact of particular transactions, other events and conditions on the Group’s financial position and financial performance;
state that the Group has complied with IFRSs, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial 
statements; and 
prepare the accounts on a going concern basis unless, having assessed the ability of the Group to continue as a going concern, 
management either intends to liquidate the entity or to cease trading, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

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

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22
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Independent auditor’s report to the members of  
IGas Energy plc

We have audited the group financial statements of IGas Energy plc for the year ended 31 December 2009 which comprise the 
Consolidated Income Statement, the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Balance Sheet, the 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement and the related notes 1 to 19. 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.

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

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Statement of Responsibilities set out on page 23, the directors are responsible for the 
preparation of the group financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit the 
group financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards 
require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s (APB’s) Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Scope of the audit of the financial statements
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable 
assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an 
assessment of: whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the group’s circumstances and have been consistently applied and 
adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the directors; and the overall presentation of the 
financial statements.

Opinion on financial statements
In our opinion the group financial statements:

•	
•	
•	

give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s affairs as at 31 December 2009 and of its loss for the year then ended;
have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union; and
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion the information given in the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is 
consistent with the group financial statements. 

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in 
our opinion:

•	
•	

certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Other matter
We have reported separately on the parent company financial statements of IGas Energy plc for the year ended 31 December 2009.

Gary Donald
(Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of Ernst & Young LLP, Statutory Auditor
London
5 May 2010

Consolidated income statement
For the year ended 31 December 2009

Revenue 
Cost of sales 

Gross profit 
Administrative expenses 

Operating loss 
Finance income 

Loss on ordinary activities before tax 
Tax on loss on ordinary activities 

Loss from continuing operations attributable to equity shareholders of the Group 

23
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Notes 

2 

3 
6 

7 

2009 
£000 

828 
(671) 

157 
(672) 

(515) 
11 

(504) 
– –

(504) 

2008 
£000

992
(826)

166
(624)

(458)
72

(386)

(386)

Basic and diluted (loss) per share (£/share) 

8 

(0.0076) 

(0.0064)

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24
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
For the year ended 31 December 2009

Loss for the year  
Other comprehensive income for the year 

Total comprehensive loss for the year 

2009 
£000 

 (504)  
 –

 (504) 

2008 
£000

(386)

 (386)

 –

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated balance sheet
As at 31 December 2009

Non-current assets
Intangible exploration and evaluation assets 
Property plant and equipment 

Current assets
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 

Net current assets 

Total assets less current liabilities   

Net assets 

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 
Share premium account 
Share warrant reserve 
Retained earnings/(accumulated deficit) 

Shareholders’ funds 

25
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Notes 

9 

2009 
£000 

2008 
£000

1,334 
– –

1,334 

476

476

10 
11 

258 
17,501 

17,759 

666
2,278

2,944

12 

(931) 

(843)

16,828 

18,162 

2,101

2,577

18,162 

2,577

15 
17 
16 

18,617 
2,203 
131 
(2,789) 

18,162 

4,275
420
167
(2,285)

2,577

These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on 5 May 2010 and are signed on its behalf by:

Francis Gugen 
Chairman 

Andrew Austin
Chief Executive Officer

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26
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Consolidated statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 December 2009

Balance at 1 January 2008 

Changes in equity for 2008
Loss for the year 
Issue of shares during year 
Share issue costs 

Balance at 31 December 2008 

Changes in equity for 2009
Loss for the year 
Transfer to Share premium account 
Issue of shares during year 
Share issue costs 

Balance at 31 December 2009 

Called up 
share capital 
(Note 15) 
£000 

Share 
premium 
account 
£000 

Share 
warrant 
reserve 
£000 

Retained 
earnings/ 
(accumulated 
deficit) 
£000 

2,664 

44 

167 

(1,899) 

Total 
£000

976

– 
1,611 
– 

4,275 

– 
– 
14,342 
– 

18,617 

– 
484 
(108) 

420 

– 
36 
2,868 
(1,121) 

2,203 

– 
– 
– 

(386) 
– 
– 

167 

(2,285) 

(386)
2,095
(108)

2,577

– 
(36) 
– 
– 

(504) 
– 
– 
– 

(504)
–
17,210 
(1,121)

131 

(2,789) 

18,162

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
27
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Consolidated cash flow statement
For the year ended 31 December 2009

Operating activities:
Loss for the year  
Finance income 
Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables   
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables, net of accruals related to investing activities 
Decrease in current taxation liabilities   
Decrease in non–current liabilities 

Net cash used in operating activities 

Investing activities
Acquisition of exploration and evaluation assets 
Interest received 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Financing activities
Cash proceeds from issue of Ordinary Share Capital 
Share issue costs 

Net cash from financing activities   

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents in the year 
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 

Notes 

2009 
£000 

2008 
£000

(504) 
(11) 
408 
(338) 
– 
– 

(445) 

(432) 
11 

(421) 

17,210 
(1,121) 

16,089 

15,223 
2,278 

17,501 

6 

6 

15 
17 

11 

(386)
(72)
(383)
92
(1)
(78)

(828)

(367)
72

(295)

2,095
(108)

1,987

864
1,414

2,278

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28
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Consolidated financial statements – notes
As at 31 December 2009

1  Accounting policies
(a)  Basis of preparation of financial statements
On 11 December 2009, the Company changed its name from Island Gas Resources plc to IGas Energy plc. The consolidated financial 
statements of IGas Energy plc (the “Company”) and subsidiaries (the “Group”) have been prepared under the historical cost convention 
in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, adopted for use by the European Union (“IFRSs”) as they apply to the 
Group for the year ended 31 December 2009, and with the Companies Act 2006. The accounts were approved by the board and 
authorised for issue on 5 May 2010. IGas Energy plc is a public limited company incorporated and registered in England and Wales.

The Group financial statements are presented in Sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand (£000) except when 
otherwise indicated.

During the year, the Group adopted the following new and amended IFRS which were applicable to the Group’s activities as of 
1 January 2009. 

International Accounting Standards (IFRS/IAS):

IFRS 2 

IFRS 3 

IFRS 7 

IFRS 8 

IAS 1 

 Amendment to IFRS 2 – Vesting Conditions and Cancellations – This amendment is applicable from 1 January 2009. 
This standard clarifies that only service conditions and performance conditions are vesting conditions and other 
features of a share-based payment are not vesting conditions. In addition, it specifies that all cancellations, whether 
by the entity or by other parties, should receive the same accounting treatment. The Group has considered the 
effect of this interpretation and has concluded that there is no impact on the financial statements.

 Business Combinations (revised January 2008) – This is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2009 
but has been early adopted by the Group. This standard introduces a number of changes in the accounting for business 
combinations occurring after this date and will impact the amount of goodwill recognised, the reported results in the 
period that an acquisition occurs, and future reported results. IAS 27R requires that a change in the ownership interest of 
a subsidiary (without loss of control) is accounted for as an equity transaction. Therefore, such transactions will no longer 
give rise to goodwill, nor will they give rise to gain or loss. Furthermore, the amended standard changes the accounting 
for losses incurred by partially-owned subsidiaries as well as the loss of control of a subsidiary. Other consequential 
amendments were made to IAS 7 “Statement of Cash Flows”, IAS 12 “Income Taxes”, IAS 21 “The Effects of Changes 
in Foreign Exchange Rates” IAS 28 “Investment in Associates” and IAS 31 “Interests in Joint Ventures”. The changes 
to IFRS 3R and IAS 27R will affect future acquisitions or loss of control and transactions with minority interests. This 
standard has no effect on the financial statements as the Group has not entered into any business combinations since its 
adoption.

 Improving Disclosures about Financial Instruments – This is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 
January 2009. The amendments require enhanced disclosures about fair value measurements and liquidity risk. The 
Group has considered the effect of this amendment and has provided additional disclosures where relevant. 

 Operating Segments – This is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009. This standard 
introduces the “management approach” to segment reporting. IFRS 8, which is mandatory for the Group’s 
2009 financial information requires the disclosure of segment information based on the internal reports regularly 
reviewed by the Group’s Chief Operating Decision Maker in order to assess each segment’s performance and to 
allocate resources to them. The Group currently only has one reportable business segment, and so the adoption of 
this standard does not have any effect on the reported results or the state of affairs of the Group but does give rise 
to additional disclosures.

 Presentation of Financial Statements (revised September 2007) – The standard requires the separation of owner 
and non-owner changes in equity. The statement of changes in equity shall include only details of transactions 
with owners, with non-owner changes in equity presented as a single line. In addition, the standard introduces the 
statement of comprehensive income: it presents all items of recognised income and expense, either in one single 
statement, or in two linked statements. The Group has elected to produce two separate statements which does 
not have any impact on the financial position of the Group but gives rise to additional disclosures.

29
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

1  Accounting policies continued
Certain new standards, interpretations and amendments to existing standards have been published and are mandatory only for the 
Group’s accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2010 or later periods but which the Group has not adopted early. Those 
that may be applicable to the Group in future are as follows: 

International Accounting Standards (IFRS/IAS)

IFRS 2

Amendment to IFRS 2 – Group Cash-settled Share-based Payment Transactions – This amendment 
clarifies that there shall now be included transactions where the transfer of cash or other assets 
is based on the price (or value) of the equity instruments of another group entity. The Group has 
considered the effect of this interpretation and has concluded that it is not expected to have any 
impact on the financial statements. 

  Effective date

1 January 2010

The Directors do not anticipate that the adoption of these standards and interpretations will either individually or collectively have a 
material impact on the Group’s financial statements in the period of initial application. The Group does not anticipate adopting these 
standards and interpretations ahead of their effective date.

Improvements to IFRS
In May 2008 and April 2009 the IASB issued an omnibus of amendments to its standards, primarily with a view to removing 
inconsistencies and clarifying wording. There are separate transitional provisions for each standard. All applicable and effective 
amendments were adopted, the majority of which did not have any impact on the accounting policies, financial position or 
performance of the Group. The adoption of the following amendment resulted in changes to accounting policies but did not have any 
impact on the financial position or performance of the Group:

•	

IAS 23 Borrowing costs: The definition of borrowing costs is revised to consolidate the two types of items that are considered 
components of “borrowing costs” into one, whereby the interest expense is calculated in accordance with IAS 39. 

None of the amendments that are effective for the year beginning 1 January 2010 are expected to have any impact on the accounting 
policies, financial position or performance of the Group.

(b)  Going concern 
After reviewing the Group’s budgets and cash flow projections for 2010 and 2011, and taking into consideration the current operating 
environment, the risks outlined in note 14 and the Group’s liquidity risk management as set out under Cash position in the Business 
review on page 13, the Directors are satisfied that the Group has adequate resources to continue in business for the foreseeable future. 
It is therefore appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

(c)  Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements present the results of IGas Energy plc and its subsidiaries as if they formed a single entity. The 
financial statements of subsidiaries used in the preparation of consolidated financial statements are based on consistent accounting 
policies to the parent. All intercompany transactions and balances between Group companies, including unrealised profits arising from 
them, are eliminated in full.

On 31 December 2007 the Company completed a reverse takeover whereby a private company, Island Gas Limited (“IGL”), became a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company but with IGL’s shareholders acquiring 94% of the Ordinary Share capital of the combined 
entity (the “Reverse”); these arrangements, being more fully described in an admission document dated 27 November 2007 (the 
“Admission Document”). As a result of the Reverse and in accordance with IFRS the Group’s results up to the date of the Reverse 
became those of IGL. 

At 31 December 2009 the Group comprised the Company and its subsidiaries IGL and KP Renewables (Operations) Limited.

(d)  Joint ventures
The Group’s licence interests are all held jointly with others under arrangements whereby unincorporated and jointly controlled joint 
ventures are used to explore, evaluate and ultimately develop and produce from its gas interests. Accordingly, the Group accounts for 
its share of assets, liabilities, income and expenditure of these jointly controlled assets, classified in the appropriate balance sheet and 
income statement headings, except where its share of such amounts remain the responsibility of another party in accordance with 
the terms of the carried interests as described at (h) below. Where the Group enters into a farm-up agreement involving a licence in 
the exploration and evaluation phase, the Group records all costs that it incurs under the terms of the joint operating agreement as 
amended by the farm-up agreement as they are incurred.  

(e)  Significant accounting judgements and estimates
Critical judgements in applying the Group’s accounting policies
The Group invests in the exploration, evaluation, development and production of gas from the UK. The assessment of the production 
rates to be derived from such expenditure is a matter of judgement, as is the forecasting of the future economic benefit that may be 
derived from such production. Finally, the period of time over which the economic benefit associated with the expenditure incurred 
will arise is also a matter of judgement. These judgements affect the carrying value of non-current assets and impairment calculations 
related to such assets.

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IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Consolidated financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2009

1  Accounting policies continued
Estimates and assumptions:
The key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the balance sheet date, that have a 
significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are 
discussed below:

•	

Carrying value of intangible exploration and evaluation assets:

 The Group has capitalised intangible exploration and evaluation assets in accordance with IFRS 6, which are evaluated for 
impairment as described at (h) below. Any impairment reviews, where required, involve significant judgement related to matters 
such as recoverable reserves; production profiles; gas and electricity prices; development, operating and off-take costs; nature of 
land access agreements and planning permissions; application of taxes; and other matters. Where the final outcome or revised 
estimates related to such matters differ from the estimates used in any earlier impairment reviews, the results of such differences, 
to the extent that they actually affect any impairment provisions, are accounted for when such revisions are made. Details of the 
Groups Intangible exploration and evaluation assets are disclosed in note 9.

(f)  Exceptional items
Exceptional items are material items of income or expenditure which, in the opinion of the Directors, due to their nature and 
infrequency require separate identification on the face of the income statement to allow a better understanding of the financial 
performance in the year. A full explanation of such items is given in the notes to the financial statements.

(g)  Revenue
Revenue comprises the invoiced value of goods and services supplied by the Group, net of value added tax and trade discounts. Revenue is 
recognised in the case of gas and electricity sales when goods are delivered and title has passed and in the case of services rendered only 
once a legally binding contract is in place. Amounts billed for services where the contract provides for their delivery over a period of time 
are recognised evenly over the relevant period; amounts due for all other services are recognised as the services are provided.

(h)  Non-current assets (intangible exploration and evaluation assets and property plant and equipment)
Intangible exploration and evaluation assets
The Group accounts for exploration and evaluation costs in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 6 “Exploration for and Evaluation 
of Mineral Resources” as follows:

•	
•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

Exploration and evaluation assets are carried at cost less any impairment and are not depreciated or amortised.
Expenditures recognised as exploration and evaluation assets comprise those related to acquisition of rights to explore; 
topographical, geological, geochemical and geophysical studies; exploratory drilling (including coring and sampling); activities in 
relation to evaluating the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting gas (including appraisal drilling and production 
tests); any land rights acquired for the sole purpose of effecting these activities.
Any costs incurred prior to obtaining the legal rights to explore an area are expensed immediately to the Income statement. 
Expenditures related to development and production activities are not recognised as exploration and evaluation assets.
Tangible assets acquired for use in exploration and evaluation activities are classified as property, plant and equipment, interests in 
oil and gas properties. However, to the extent that such tangible assets are consumed in developing an intangible exploration and 
evaluation asset, the amount reflecting that consumption is recorded as part of exploration and evaluation asset costs.
Expenditures recognised as exploration and evaluation assets are initially accumulated and capitalised by reference to appropriate 
geographic areas (cash generation units or CGU), which may not be larger than a business segment, currently the entirety of the 
Group’s UK gas business.
Expenditure recognised as exploration and evaluation assets are transferred to property plant and equipment, interests in oil and gas 
properties when technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting gas is demonstrable. Exploration and evaluation assets are 
assessed for impairment (on the basis described below), and any impairment loss recognised, before reclassification.
Expenditures recognised as exploration and evaluation assets are tested for impairment whenever facts and circumstances suggest 
that they may be impaired, which includes when a licence is approaching the end of its term and is not expected to be renewed; 
there are no substantive plans for continued exploration or evaluation of an area; the Group decides to abandon an area; whilst 
development is likely to proceed in an area there are indications that the exploration and evaluation asset costs are unlikely to be 
recovered in full either by development or through sale.
Net proceeds from any disposal of exploration and evaluation assets are initially credited against previously capitalised costs, with any 
surplus proceeds being credited to the consolidated Income Statement.

Property plant and equipment, interests in oil and gas properties
Property plant and equipment, interests in oil and gas properties are those assets which have been assessed for economic recoverability 
and are accounted for as follows:

•	

•	

Expenditure relating to evaluated properties is depleted on a unit-of-production basis, commencing at the start of commercial 
production. The depletion charge is calculated according to the proportion that production bears to the recoverable reserves for 
each property.
The Group’s property plant and equipment, interests in oil and gas properties are assessed for indications of impairment whenever 
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable, when impairment is 
computed on the basis as set out below. Any impairment in value is charged to the Income Statement as additional depreciation.

 
31
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

1  Accounting policies continued
•	

Net proceeds from any disposal of development/producing assets are compared to the previously capitalised costs for the relevant 
asset or group of assets. A gain or loss on disposal of a development/producing asset is recognised in the Income Statement to the 
extent that the net proceeds exceed or are less than the appropriate portion of the net capitalised costs of the asset or group of 
assets.

Impairment
Impairment reviews, when required as described above, are carried out on the following basis:

•	

•	

•	

By comparing the sum of any amounts carried as exploration and evaluation assets and as property plant and equipment, interests in 
oil and gas properties as compared to the recoverable amount.
The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. The Group generally relies on fair 
value less cost to sell assessed either by reference to comparable market transactions between a willing buyer and a willing seller or 
on the same basis as used by willing buyers and sellers in the oil industry. When assessing value in use, the estimated future cash 
flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of 
money and the risks specific to the asset or CGU.
Where there has been a charge for impairment in an earlier period that charge will be reversed in a later period where there has 
been a change in circumstances to the extent that the recoverable amount is higher than the net book value at the time. In reversing 
impairment losses, the carrying amount of the asset will be increased to the lower of its original carrying value or the carrying value 
that would have been determined (net of depletion) had no impairment loss been recognised in prior periods.

Decommissioning
Where a liability for the removal of production facilities or site restoration exists, a provision for decommissioning is recognised. The 
amount recognised is discounted to its present value and is reflected in the Group’s non-current liabilities. A corresponding asset is 
included in the appropriate category of the Group’s Non-current assets (intangible exploration and evaluation assets and property plant 
and equipment), depending on the accounting treatment adopted for the underlying operations/asset leading to the decommissioning 
provision. The asset is assessed for impairment and or depleted in accordance with the Group’s policies as set out above.

Carried interests
Where the Group has entered into carried interest agreements, no amounts are recorded in the financial statements where expenditure 
incurred under such agreements is not refundable. Where expenditure is refundable, out of what would but for the carry agreements 
have been the Company’s share of production, the Company records amounts as non-current assets, with a corresponding offset 
in current liabilities or non-current liabilities, as appropriate, but only once it is apparent that it is more likely than not that future 
production will be adequate to result in a refund under the terms of any carry agreement; when the Group records refunds only to the 
extent that they are expected to be repayable.

Non oil and gas related property plant and equipment
Other property plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to 
write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual values, over their estimated useful lives at the following rates, with any 
impairment being accounted for as additional depreciation:

Computer equipment 
Furniture and fixtures 
Leasehold property improvements 

– over three years on a straight line basis
– over five years on a straight line basis
– over the period of the lease

The Group does not capitalise amounts considered to be immaterial. 

(i)  Financial instruments
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and cash held on current account or on short-term deposits at variable interest rates 
with maturity periods of up to three months. Any interest earned is accrued monthly and classified as interest income within finance 
income.

Trade and other receivables
Trade receivables are initially recognised at fair value when related amounts are invoiced, then carried at this amount less any allowances 
for doubtful debts or provision made for impairment of these receivables.

Trade and other payables
These financial liabilities are all non interest bearing and are initially recognised at the fair value of the consideration payable.

Impairment of financial assets 
In relation to trade receivables, a provision for impairment is made when there is objective evidence (such as the probability of 
insolvency or significant financial difficulties of the debtor) that the Group will not be able to collect all of the amounts due under the 
original terms of the invoice. The carrying amount of receivables is reduced through use of an allowance account. Impaired debts are 
derecognised when they are assessed as uncollectible.

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32
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Consolidated financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2009

1  Accounting policies continued
(j)  Leases
The determination of whether an arrangement is, or contains a lease is based on the substance of the arrangement at inception date 
including whether the fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of a specific asset or assets or the arrangement conveys a 
right to use the asset.

Operating leases
Rentals are charged to the Income Statement on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

(k)  Taxation
The tax expense represents the sum of current tax and deferred tax.

Current income tax assets and liabilities for the current and prior periods are measured at the amount expected to be recovered or paid 
to the tax authorities. Taxable (loss)/profit differs from the (loss)/profit before taxation as reported in the Income Statement because it 
excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable 
or deductible. The Group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the 
balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all temporary differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date. 
Temporary differences arise from the inclusion of items of income and expenditure in taxation computations in periods different 
from those in which they are included in the financial statements. Deferred tax liabilities are not discounted. Deferred tax assets are 
recognised to the extent that it is regarded as more likely than not that they will be recovered.

(l)  Share based payments
Where share options or warrants are awarded to employees (including Directors), the fair value of the options or warrants at the 
date of the grant is recorded in equity over the vesting period. Non-market vesting conditions, but only those related to service and 
performance, are taken into account by adjusting the number of equity instruments expected to vest at each balance sheet date so that, 
ultimately, the cumulative amount recognised over the vesting period is based on the number of options that eventually vest. All other 
vesting conditions, including Market vesting conditions, are factored into the fair value of the options or warrants granted. As long as 
all other vesting conditions are satisfied, the amount recorded is computed irrespective of whether the Market vesting conditions are 
satisfied. The cumulative amount recognised is not adjusted for the failure to achieve a Market vesting condition; although equity no 
longer required for options or warrants may be transferred to another equity reserve.

Where the terms and conditions of options or warrants are modified before they vest, the increase in the fair value of the options, 
measured immediately before and after the modification, is also recorded in equity over the remaining vesting period.

Where equity instruments are granted to persons other than employees, the amount recognised in equity is the fair value of goods and 
services received. 

Charges corresponding to the amounts recognised in equity are accounted for as a cost against the profit and loss unless the services 
rendered (and discharged by share based payments) relate to an issuance of equity or qualify for capitalisation as a non-current asset. 
In the case of an issuance of equity, the charge is to the same equity reserve as cash costs related to such an issuance would be 
charged. Costs may be capitalised within non-current assets in the event of services being rendered in connection with an acquisition or 
intangible exploration and evaluation assets or property plant and equipment.

(m) Equity
Equity instruments issued by the Company are usually recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs, and allocated 
between called up share capital and share premium accounts as appropriate.

(n) Foreign currency 
Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency UK pound sterling are translated at the exchange rate ruling 
at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are re-translated at the rate of exchange 
ruling at the balance sheet date. All differences that arise are recorded in the income statement.

2  Revenue and segment information
IFRS 8 requires operating segments to be identified on the basis of internal reports about components of the Group that are regularly 
reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and 
assess its performance, and for which financial information is available. In the case of the Group the CODM are the Chief Executive 
Officer and the Board of Directors and all information reported to the CODM is based on the consolidated results of the Group as a 
single operating segment as the Group’s activities all relate to unconventional gas, including CBM in the UK. Therefore the Group has 
only one operating and reportable segment as reflected in the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

All revenue which represents turnover arises within the United Kingdom and relates to external parties. The revenue for 2009 related to 
the supply of CBM services and expertise under management service contracts, to the supply of electricity generation services and to sales 
of electricity associated with CBM production. Revenue for 2008 related exclusively to the supply of CBM services and expertise under 
management service contracts. £816 thousand of the Group’s revenue was derived from a single customer (2008: £992 thousand).

All the Group’s non-current assets are in the United Kingdom.

3  Operating loss

Operating loss is stated after charging:
Staff Costs (see notes 4 and 5) 
Auditor’s remuneration:
Audit of the financial statements 
Other fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP – Audits of subsidiaries   
Other fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP – Relating to taxation 

4  Employee information

Staff costs comprised:
Wages and salaries 
Social Security Costs 

Average number of employees in the period:
Operations, including services 
Administrative 

5  Directors’ emoluments
The remuneration of the Directors for the year was as follows:

Directors’ emoluments and benefits comprised:
Fees 
Emoluments 
Social Security Costs 
Pension contributions 

The highest paid Director received emoluments and benefits as follows:
Emoluments 
Social Security Costs 
Pension contributions 

33
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

2009 
£000 

2008 
£000

807 

558

35 
43 

 5

25
13

 –

2009 
£000 

2008 
£000

718 
89 

807 

495
63

558

No. 

No.

3 2
2 1

5 3

2009 
£000 

2008 
£000

70 
600 
76 
– –

746 

300 
38 
– –

338 

51
495
63

609

275
35

310

A proportion of the Group’s remuneration costs related to Directors has been capitalised in accordance with the Group’s 
accounting policy.

Directors’ warrants
At 31 December 2009 the Directors held warrants over the Ordinary Shares of 50p each of the Company as follows; for which they paid 
£nil and all of which were granted on 27 December 2007:

R J Armstrong 

J Bryant 

P Redmond (Resigned 10 December 2009) 

2008  Exercise price 
(p/share) 

Number 

Exercisable 
at any time up to 

2009 
Number

82,500 
27,500 
82,500 
27,500 
82,500 
27,500 

55 
75 
55 
75 
55 
75 

31 December 2010 
31 December 2010 
31 December 2010 
31 December 2010 
31 December 2010 
31 December 2010 

82,500
27,500
82,500
27,500
*
*

*  P Redmond still held the same warrants as at 31 December 2009 but these are not reported as he was no longer a Director as at this date.

The share price at 31 December 2009 was 63.50p (2008: 37.50p).

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34
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Consolidated financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2009

6  Finance income

Interest receivable comprised:
Bank interest 

Bank interest represents the total interest income on bank deposits.

7  Tax on loss on ordinary activities

UK corporation tax:
Current tax on income for the year 

Total UK taxation 

Tax on loss on ordinary activities 

2009 
£000 

2008 
£000

11 

72

2009 
£000 

2008 
£000

– –

– –

– –

Factors affecting the tax charge
The tax assessed for the year does not reflect a credit equivalent to the loss on ordinary activities multiplied by the standard rate of 
corporation tax in the United Kingdom of 21% (2008: 20.75%). A reconciliation of the UK small companies statutory corporation tax 
rate applicable to the Group’s loss before tax to the Group’s total tax charge is as follows:

(Loss) on ordinary activities before tax  

(Loss) on ordinary activities multiplied by the standard rate of corporation tax 
 in the UK for small companies of 21% (2008: 20.75%) 
Tax effect of expenses not allowable for tax purposes 
Net increase in unrecognised losses carried forward 

Tax on loss on ordinary activities 

Tax losses 
The Group’s tax losses amount to:

Not considered sufficiently certain of utilisation to set up deferred tax assets*:

Company:
Excess management expenses 

IGL:
Petroliferous – Trading loss 

KP Renewables (Operations) Limited (“KPRO”):
Trading loss 

Not affecting deferred taxes, as they relate to undepreciated capitalised costs**:

Company:
Petroliferous – Minerals extraction allowances 

2009 
£000 

2008 
£000

(504) 

(386)

 1

(106) 
 1

105 

– –

(81)

80

2009 
£000 

2008 
£000

3,488 

2,998

17 

17

1,200 

1,200

1,386 

548

*  

 Deferred tax losses have not been recognised in respect of temporary differences of Group companies whose future profits are not considered sufficiently certain to offset 
these temporary differences. 

**    As at 31 December 2009 no temporary difference arises as a result of these Minerals Extraction Allowances as they have not been claimed and depreciation of the related 

capitalised costs has not commenced (2008: nil).

In 2009 IGL was awarded a Field Development Plan and so commenced a Petroliferous Trade (as defined for tax purposes), which will 
enable it to offset its losses against any future Petroliferous Trade profits. KPRO’s losses may only be offset against future profits of 
KPRO, if any. The tax losses have no expiry date.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
35
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

8  Earnings per share (EPS)
Basic EPS amounts are calculated by dividing the loss for the year attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent by the weighted 
average number of Ordinary Shares outstanding during the year.

Diluted EPS amounts are calculated by dividing the loss attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the parent by the weighted 
average number of shares outstanding during the year plus the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares that would be issued on 
the conversion of all the dilutive potential Ordinary Shares into Ordinary Shares.

The following reflects the income and share data used in the basic and diluted earnings per share computations:

Basic EPS – Ordinary Shares of 50p each (£) 
Diluted EPS – Ordinary Shares of 50p each (£) 
(Loss) for the year attributable to equity holders of the parent – £000 
Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in the year – basic EPS 
Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in the year – diluted EPS 

2009 

2008

(0.0076) 
(0.0076) 
(504) 
 66,412,564 
 66,412,564 

(0.0064)
(0.0064)
(386)
60,780,044
60,780,044

There are 440,850 potentially dilutive warrants and options over the Ordinary Shares at 31 December 2009 (2008: 525,280), which are 
not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive for the year as their conversion to Ordinary 
Shares would decrease the loss per share.

There have been no other transactions involving Ordinary Shares or potential Ordinary Shares between the reporting date and the date 
of completion of these financial statements.

9 

Intangible exploration and evaluation assets

Cost
At 1 January  
Additions 

At 31 December  

Amortisation
At 1 January  
Charge for the year, including impairment 

At 31 December  

Net book amount
At 31 December  

At 1 January  

2009 
£000 

2008 
£000

476 
858 

1,334 

109
367

476

– –
– –

– –

1,334 

476 

476

109

Under certain agreements which the Group has in place with Nexen Exploration U.K. Limited (“Nexen” and the “Nexen Carry 
Agreements”), Nexen will provide 100% of the funding required for work programmes up to a gross spend of £26.5 million. The 
repayment to Nexen of any amounts carried under these arrangements is dependent, on a licence by licence basis, on successful 
operations yielding sufficient production to support repayment in accordance with terms of the Nexen Carry Agreements. At 
31 December 2009 £5.1million had been carried (2008: £4.1 million), which has not been recorded as either non-current assets or 
liabilities, since to date expenditure has been mainly related to appraisal work and repayment is currently sufficiently uncertain.

On 5 August 2009 and 11 December 2009 the Group entered into farm-up agreements with Nexen (the “Farm-up Agreements”), 
under which the Group has agreed to meet 100% of certain costs incurred in relation to certain licences, thereby discharging what, but 
for these agreements, would have been Nexen’s share of such licence costs. The Group’s commitment is for up to £2 million of gross 
costs in the case of the agreement of 5 August 2009 and for £5 million of gross costs in the case of the agreement of 11 December 
2009. In return the Group’s interest in the Swallowcroft licences in Staffordshire (excluding Pedl 78-2) rose from 20% to 35%, in the 
Point of Ayr licences from 50% to 75% and in Northwest licences from 20% to 35%.

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36
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Consolidated financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2009

10  Trade and other receivables

VAT recoverable 
Trade debtors 
Other debtors 
Prepayments 

2009 
£000 

99 
114 
3 –
42 

258 

2008 
£000

126
504

36

666

The carrying value of each of the Group’s financial assets as stated above is considered to be a reasonable approximation of its fair value.

All of the Group’s financial assets as stated above are from debtors of good credit standing and have been reviewed for indicators of 
impairment and no impairment provision was found to be required (2008: £nil).

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each class of assets listed in the table above.

The trade debtor balance reported above is from one customer which represents a concentration of credit risk.

Of the Group’s financial assets as stated above £114 thousand (2008: £127 thousand) were past due but not impaired at the reporting 
date, of which the ageing was:

Not more than three months 
More than three months but not more than six months 
More than six months but not more than one year  

11  Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and in hand 

2009 
£000 

50 
64 
– 

114 

2009 
£000 

17,501 

17,501 

2008 
£000

35
77
15

127

2008 
£000

2,278

2,278

The carrying value of the Group’s cash and cash equivalents as stated above is considered to be a reasonable approximation of their fair value.

The Group only deposits cash surpluses with major banks that have acceptable credit ratings of “AA” or better, except that the Group 
will make deposits with banks where the UK government is the major shareholder.

12  Current liabilities

Trade and other payables:
Trade creditors 
Taxation and social security 
Deferred revenue 
Accruals and other creditors 

Corporation tax 

2009 
£000 

2008 
£000

109 
102 
89 
631 

931 

– –

931 

244
62
210
327

843

843

The carrying value of each of the Group’s financial liabilities as stated above is considered to be a reasonable approximation of its fair 
value. All creditors are payable within one month and no creditors have been outstanding for longer than three months (2008: all 
within one month). 

Information regarding the Group’s tax losses is presented in note 7.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13  Commitments
The Group’s capital and lease commitments comprised:

Capital Commitments: 
Obligation under 13th licensing round   
Decommissioning  
Less: Amounts covered by Nexen Carry Agreements 

Obligation under the second farm-up agreement with Nexen   

Total capital commitments 

37
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

2009 
£000 

2008 
£000

1,000 
26 
(637) 

389 
5,000 

5,389 –

1,000
26
(1,026)

–
–

The Nexen Carry Agreements and the farm-up agreements are as further described in note 9, including the up to £2 million provided 
for by the first farm-up agreement, which is not a firm binding commitment. 

Operating lease commitments:
Minimum lease payments under operating leases recognised in income for the year 

At the balance sheet date the Group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments  
under non cancellable operating leases, all falling due in under one year 

35 

64 

40

35

14  Financial instruments
The Group’s financial instruments principally comprise cash at bank, and various items such as trade debtors and creditors that arise 
directly from operations. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to provide finance for the Group’s operations.

Financial assets and liabilities
The Group’s policy is to ensure that adequate cash is available and the Group does not trade in financial instruments and has not 
entered into any derivative transactions.

Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk arises from the Group’s management of working capital and is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial 
obligations as they fall due. Cash forecasts and plans are updated frequently and reviewed regularly by management and the Board. 
The Groups liquidity requirements have been met principally through the Nexen Carry Agreements and internal cash resources. The 
Group has no long-term borrowings, and based on current projections the Group has sufficient funds to meet current obligations as 
they fall due. Details of the maturity dates of the Group’s financial liabilities are provided in note 12.

Interest rate risk profile of financial assets
Cash at bank earns interest at floating rates related to the published rate of the bank.

Interest rate sensitivity analysis
The Group is exposed to interest rate risk from changes in interest rates impacting future cash flows arising from its financial 
instruments, principally cash balances held at the balance sheet date. A sensitivity analysis has been performed to demonstrate the 
sensitivity of financial assets and financial liabilities to a reasonably possible change in interest rates applied to a full year from the 
balance sheet date, assuming the amount of the assets at balance sheet date are available for the whole year. An increase/ decrease 
in interest rates of 0.5 basis points, with all other variables held constant, results in an decrease/ increase in the Group’s loss before tax 
of £88 thousand /£(88) thousand respectively (2008: decrease/ increase of £11 thousand /£(11) thousand). There is no effect on the 
Group’s equity other than the equivalent effect to that on loss before tax. This is wholly attributable to the Group’s exposure to interest 
rates on its variable rate cash and cash equivalents.

Credit risk
The maximum exposure to credit risk is equal to the balances as disclosed for trade debtors in note 10 and for cash in note 11.

Cash and Treasury
Cash and treasury credit risks are mitigated through the exclusive use of institutions that carry published grade “AA” or better 
credit ratings so as to minimise counterparty risk, except that the Group will make deposits with banks where the United Kingdom 
government is the major shareholder. £16 milion of cash and cash equivalents is deposited with a single institution.

Trade receivables
Trade receivables credit risks are mitigated by only dealing with institutions that have investment grade credit ratings. £111 thousand of 
trade receivables are due from a single counterparty.

Capital management
The Group considers its capital to comprise its Ordinary Share capital and share premium. In managing its capital, the Group’s primary 
objective is to ensure its continued ability to provide a return to equity shareholders, principally through capital growth. The Group 
currently has no borrowings. The Group’s principal cash source has been the issuance of share capital and information regarding the 
Group’s management of cash is provided in the Business review under the heading “Cash position” on page 13. 

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38
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Consolidated financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2009

15  Share capital 
On 31 December 2007 the Company completed a reverse takeover whereby IGL became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company 
but with IGL’s shareholders acquiring 94% of the Ordinary Share capital of the combined entity (the “Reverse”).

In accordance with the required accounting for a reverse, the nominal value of the Company’s share capital is not reflected in the 
Group’s consolidated equity. For the purposes of the consolidated accounts share capital was recorded at the date of the Reverse at a 
value equal to the deemed cost of the Reverse, being the adjusted market value of the Company as last quoted immediately prior to the 
announcement of the Reverse, plus the equity of IGL; the effective acquiring company.

Accordingly, share capital and the share capital account comprised:

Ordinary Shares  
£000 
Nominal 
value 

No. 

Deferred shares
£000 
Nominal 
value

No. 

Authorised
1 January 2008, Ordinary Shares of 50p each  
1 January 2008, Deferred Shares of .95p each  

89,114,796 

44,557

 46,589,662 

443

31 December 2008 

89,114,796 

44,557 

 46,589,662 

 443

10 December 2009 new Ordinary Shares created   

22,916,667 

11,459

31 December 2009 

112,031,463 

56,016 

 46,589,662 

443

Ordinary Shares  
£000 
Nominal 
value 

No. 

Deferred shares
£000 
Nominal 
value

No. 

Issued and fully paid
1 January 2008, Ordinary Shares of 50p each  
25 June 2008 shares issued for cash 

31 December 2008, Ordinary Shares of 50p each 
14 July 2009 shares issued for cash 
10 December 2009 shares issued for cash 

31 December 2009, Ordinary Shares of 50p each 

59,107,182 
3,222,460 

29,554 
1,611 

62,329,642 
5,766,666 
22,916,667 

 91,012,975 

31,165 
2,883
11,459

45,507 

Share capital account
At 1 January 2008 
Shares issued during the year 

At 31 December 2008 
Shares issued during the year 

At 31 December 2009 

– 

– 

–

–

£000

2,664
1,611

4,275
14,342

18,617

The following share transactions took place since 1 January 2008:

•	
•	
•	

25 June 2008 – The Company issued 3,222,460 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 65p each;
14 July 2009 – The Company issued 5,766,666 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 60p each; and
10 December 2009 – The Company issued 22,916,667 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 60p each;

Deferred shares have no voting rights and shall not be entitled to any dividends or any other right or participation in the profits of 
the Group.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
39
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

16  Share warrant reserve
The Company has made equity settled share based payments, all valued using Black-Scholes, as follows:

Directors:
Balance 1 January 
Transfer to Share premium account 

Balance 31 December  

2009 
£000 

2008 
£000

167 
(36) –

131 

167

167

All warrants vested on grant and accordingly the key assumptions made in arriving at the Black–Scholes valuations were: share price 
on date of grant, adjusted for subsequent consolidations where appropriate and the length of time for which the warrants will remain 
exercisable. A long-term risk free interest rate of 5% and an implied volatility of 20% were used in valuing the warrants at the time of 
granting. It was also assumed that no dividends would be paid during the life of the warrants.

Movement in the Share warrant reserve during the year was as follows:

At 1 January 
Granted in Period 
Lapsed in Period 

Outstanding at 31 December 

Exercisable at 31 December 

2009 
  Weighted 
average 
exercise  
price 
(pence) 

2009 
No 

2008 
Weighted 
average  
exercise 
price 
(pence)

2008 
No 

523,830 
– 
(83,830) 

440,000 

440,000 

58 
– 
50 

60 

60 

523,830 
– 
– 

523,830 

523,830 

58
–
–

58

58

The weighted average remaining contractual life for the equity settled share options outstanding as at 31 December 2009 is 12 months 
(2008: 21 months) with the maximum remaining term of options granted being 12 months (2008: 24 months). The range of exercise 
prices for options outstanding at the end of the year was 55p to 75p (2008: 50p to 75p). In 2007, the Company received services from 
certain professional advisers in exchange for the Company’s shares. These warrants lapsed on 10 April 2009. Details of share options 
granted to Directors are disclosed in note 5.

17  Other reserves
•	

Share premium account – The share premium account of the Group arises from the capital that the Company raises upon issuing 
shares that are in excess of the nominal value of the shares net of the costs of issuing the new shares and from transfers from Share 
warrant reserve, when warrants lapse . During the year the Company issued 28,683,333 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 60p each 
(2008: 3,222,460 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 65p each). The cost of the issue was £1,121 thousand (2008: £108 thousand). 
Also during the year the effect of warrants lapsing was to transfer to Share premium reserve £36 thousand (2008: £nil). Together 
these events resulted in a net movement in the Share Premium reserve of £1,783 thousand (2008: £376 thousand). 
Retained Earnings – This represents the historic accumulated losses less profits made by the Group accounted for under reverse 
accounting as explained in note 1(m).

•	

18  Related party transactions
Key management personnel
There are no key management personnel other than Directors of the Company; details of whose remuneration is set out in note 5.

19  Subsequent events
On 23 April 2010, 82,500 share warrants were exercised at an average of price of 55p per share, leading to an increase in the total 
number of shares in issue to 91,095,475.

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40
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Parent Company financial statements – Directors’ 
statement of responsibilities in respect thereof

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and Parent Company financial statements in accordance with applicable 
United Kingdom law and those International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (“IFRSs”).

The Directors are required to prepare the Parent Company financial statements for each financial year which present fairly the financial 
position of the Parent Company and its financial performance and cash flows for that period. In preparing the Parent Company financial 
statements the Directors are required to:

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

Accounting policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors and 

select suitable accounting policies in accordance with IAS 8: 
then apply them consistently;
present information, including accounting policies, in a manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and understandable 
information;
provide additional disclosures when compliance with the specific requirements in IFRSs is insufficient to enable users to understand 
the impact of particular transactions, other events and conditions on the Parent Company’s financial position and financial 
performance;
state that the Parent Company has complied with IFRSs, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the  
financial statements; and 
prepare the accounts on a going concern basis unless, having assessed the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern, 
management either intends to liquidate the entity or to cease trading, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

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

 
 
41
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Independent auditor’s report to the members of  
IGas Energy plc

We have audited the parent company financial statements of IGas Energy plc for the year ended 31 December 2009 which comprise the 
Parent Company Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Parent Company Balance Sheet, the Parent Company Statement of Changes 
in Equity, the Parent Company Cash Flow Statement and the related notes 1 to 12. 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 
and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

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

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement set out on page 40, the directors are responsible for the preparation 
of the parent company financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit the 
parent company financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those 
standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s (APB’s) Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Scope of the audit of the financial statements
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable 
assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an 
assessment of: whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the parent company’s circumstances and have been consistently 
applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the directors; and the overall 
presentation of the financial statements.

Opinion on financial statements
In our opinion the parent company financial statements:

•	
•	

•	

give a true and fair view of the state of the company’s affairs as at 31 December 2009;
have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union and as applied in accordance with the 
provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion the information given in the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is 
consistent with the parent company financial statements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in 
our opinion:

•	

•	
•	
•	

adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received 
from branches not visited by us; or
the parent company financial statements and are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Other matter
We have reported separately on the group financial statements of IGas Energy plc for the year ended 31 December 2009.

Gary Donald
(Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of Ernst & Young LLP, Statutory Auditor
London
5 May 2010

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42
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Parent Company statement of comprehensive income
For the year ended 31 December 2009

Loss for the year 
Other comprehensive income for the year 

Total comprehensive loss for the year 

2009 
£000 

(500) 
– –

(500) 

2008 
£000

(457)

(457)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
43
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Parent Company balance sheet
As at 31 December 2009

Non-current assets
Investments in subsidiaries 

Current assets
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 

Net current assets 

Total assets less current liabilities   

Net assets 

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 
Merger reserve 
Share premium account 
Share warrant reserve 
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) 

Shareholders’ funds 

Notes 

2009 
£000 

2008 
£000

2 

3 
4 

5 

50,512 

50,512 

50,512

50,512

538 
17,485 

18,023 

364
2,210

2,574

(112) 

(112) 

17,911 

68,423 

68,423 

(252)

(252)

2,322

52,834

52,834

9 
11 
11 
10 

45,507 
22,222 
6,095 
131 
(5,532) 

31,165
22,222
4,312
167
(5,032)

68,423 

52,834

These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on 5 May 2010 and are signed on its behalf by:

Francis Gugen 
Chairman 

Andrew Austin
Chief Executive Officer

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44
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Parent Company statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 December 2009

Called up 
share capital 
£000 

Merger 
reserve 
£000 

Share 
premium 
account 
£000 

Share 
warrant 
reserve 
£000 

Retained  
earnings 
(accumulated 
deficit) 
£000 

Total 
£000

Balance at 1 January 2008 

29,554 

22,222 

3,936 

167 

(4,575) 

51,304

Changes in equity for 2008
Loss for the year 
Issue of shares: 
Share issue costs 

– 
1,611 
– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
484 
(108) 

– 
– 
– 

(457) 
– 
– 

(457)
2,095
(108)

Balance at 31 December 2008 

31,165 

22,222 

4,312 

167 

(5,032) 

52,834

Changes in equity for 2009
Loss for the year 
Transfers to Share premium account 
Issue of shares 
Share issue costs 

Balance at 31 December 2009 

– 
– 
14,342 
– 

45,507 

– 
– 
– 
– 

22,222 

– 
36 
2,868 
(1,121) 

6,095 

– 
(36) 
– 
– 

(500) 
– 
– 
– 

(500)
–
17,210
(1,121)

131 

(5,532) 

68,423

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
45
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Parent Company cash flow statement
For the year ended 31 December 2009

Operating activities: 
Loss for the year 

Finance income 
Increase in trade and other receivables  
Decrease in trade and other payables   
Decrease in creditors due after one year 

Net cash used in operating activities 

Investing activities 
Interest received 

Net cash from investing activities   

Financing activities 
Cash proceeds from issue of Ordinary Share Capital 
Share issue costs 

Net cash from financing activities   

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents in the year 
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 

Notes 

2009 
£000 

2008 
£000

(500) 

(457)

(11) 
(174) 
(140) 
– 

(825) 

(62)
(283)
(264)
(78)

(1,144)

11 

11 

62

62

9 
11 

4 

17,210 
(1,121) 

16,089 

15,275 
2,210 

17,485 

2,095
(108)

1,987

905
1,305

2,210

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46
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Parent Company financial statements – notes
As at 31 December 2009

1  Accounting policies
(a)  Basis of preparation of financial statements
On 11 December 2009, the Company changed its name from Island Gas Resources plc to IGas Energy plc. The Parent Company 
financial statements of IGas Energy plc (the “Company”) have been prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards, adopted for use by the European Union (“IFRSs”) as they apply to the Company for the year 
ended 31 December 2009, and with the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the 
Board of Directors on 5 May 2010. IGas Energy plc is a public limited company incorporated and registered in England and Wales.

The Company’s financial statements are presented in Sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand (£000) except when  
otherwise indicated. 

As a Consolidated income statement is published in this Annual Report, a separate income statement for the Company is not presented 
within these financial statements as permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.

During the year, the Company adopted the following new and amended IFRS which were applicable to the Company’s activities as of 
1 January 2009.

International Accounting Standards (IFRS/IAS):

IFRS 1 and  
IAS 27

IFRS 2

IFRS 3

IFRS 7

IFRS 8

IAS 1

Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements (revised January 2008), certain amendments are effective for 
financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2009 and certain for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 
2009 but have been early adopted by the Company – The amendments to IFRS 1 allows an entity to determine 
the cost of investment in subsidiaries, jointly controlled entities or associates in its opening IFRSs financial 
statements in accordance with IAS 27 or using a deemed cost. The amendment to IAS requires all dividends 
from subsidiary, jointly controlled entity or associate to be recognised in the income statement. The Company 
has considered the effect of this interpretation and has concluded that there is no impact on the financial 
statements as no subsidiaries paid dividends during the year.

Amendment to IFRS 2 – Vesting Conditions and Cancellations – This amendment is applicable from 1 January 
2009. This clarifies that only service conditions and performance conditions are vesting conditions and other 
features of a share-based payment are not vesting conditions. In addition, it specifies that all cancellations, 
whether by the entity or by other parties, should receive the same accounting treatment. The Company has 
considered the effect of this interpretation and has concluded that there is no impact on the financial statements.

Business Combinations (revised January 2008). This is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2009 
but has been early adopted by the Company – This standard introduces a number of changes in the accounting for 
business combinations occurring after this date and will impact the amount of goodwill recognised, the reported 
results in the period that an acquisition occurs, and future reported results. IAS 27R requires that a change in the 
ownership interest of a subsidiary (without loss of control) is accounted for as an equity transaction. Therefore, 
such transactions will no longer give rise to goodwill, nor will they give rise to gain or loss. Furthermore, the 
amended standard changes the accounting for losses incurred by partially-owned subsidiaries as well as the loss of 
control of a subsidiary. Other consequential amendments were made to IAS 7 “Statement of Cash Flows”, IAS 12 
“Income Taxes”, IAS 21 “The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates”, IAS 28 “Investment in Associates” 
and IAS 31 “Interests in Joint Ventures”. The changes to IFRS 3R and IAS 27R will affect future acquisitions or loss 
of control and transactions with minority interests. This standard has no effect on the financial statements as the 
Company has not entered into any business combinations since its adoption.

Improving Disclosures about Financial Instruments – This is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 
1 January 2009. The amendments require enhanced disclosures about fair value measurements and liquidity risk. 
The Company has considered the effect of this amendment and has provided additional disclosures where relevant.

Operating Segments – This is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009. This standard 
introduces the “management approach” to segment reporting. IFRS 8, which becomes mandatory for the 
Company’s 2009 financial statements, require the disclosure of segment information based on the internal 
reports regularly reviewed by the Group’s Chief Operating Decision Maker in order to assess each segment’s 
performance and to allocate resources to them. The adoption of this standard does not impact the Company’s 
financial statements as segmental information is provided in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Presentation of Financial Statements (revised September 2007) – The Standard separates owner and non-owner 
changes in equity. The statement of changes in equity will include only details of transactions with owners, with 
non-owner changes in equity presented as a single line. In addition, the Standard introduces the statement of 
comprehensive income: it presents all items of recognised income and expense, either in one single statement, 
or in two linked statements. The Company has elected to produce two separate statements which does not 
have any impact on the financial position of the Company but gives rise to additional disclosures. 

47
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

1  Accounting policies continued
Certain new standards, interpretations and amendments to existing standards have been published and are mandatory for the 
Company’s accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009 or later periods but which the Company has not adopted early. 
Those that may be applicable to the Company in future are as follows:

International Accounting Standards (IAS/IFRSs)

IFRS 2

Amendment to IFRS 2 – Group Cash-settled Share-based Payment Transactions – This 
amendment clarifies that there shall now be included transactions where the transfer of 
cash or other assets is based on the price (or value) of the equity instruments of another 
group entity. The Company has considered the effect of this interpretation and has 
concluded that it is not expected to have any impact on the financial statements.

  Effective date

1 January 2010 

The Directors do not anticipate that the adoption of these standards and interpretations will either individually or collectively have a 
material impact on the Company’s financial statements in the period of initial application. The Company does not anticipate adopting 
these standards and interpretations ahead of their effective date.

Improvements to IFRS
In May 2008 and April 2009 the IASB issued an omnibus of amendments to its standards, primarily with a view to removing 
inconsistencies and clarifying wording. There are separate transitional provisions for each standard. None of the amendments that are 
effective for the year ended 31 December 2009 had any impact on the accounting policies, financial position or performance of the 
Company. None of the amendments that are effective for the year beginning 1 January 2010 are expected to have any impact on the 
accounting policies, financial position or performance of the Company.

(b)  Going concern 
After reviewing the Company’s budgets and cash flow projections for 2010 and 2011, and taking into consideration the current 
operating environment, the risks outlined in note 8 and the company’s liquidity risk management as set out under Cash position in 
the Business review on page 13, the Directors are satisfied that the Company has adequate resources to continue in business for the 
foreseeable future. It is therefore appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

(c)  Significant accounting judgements and estimates
Critical judgements in applying the Company’s accounting policies
The principal activity of the Company’s major subsidiary, IGL, which has been accounted for at fair value at acquisition less provision 
for impairment, is Coal Bed Methane (“CBM”). The testing of the Company’s investment in subsidiary for impairment involves the 
assessment of IGL’s CBM business, including IGL’s production rates which are a matter of judgement, as is the forecasting of the future 
economic benefit that may be derived from such production. Finally, the period of time over which the economic benefit associated 
with the investment in subsidiary might arise is also a matter of judgement. These judgements affect the carrying value of non-current 
assets and impairment calculations related to such assets. 

Estimates and assumptions:
The key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the balance sheet date, that have a 
significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are 
discussed below: 

•	

Carrying value of investment in subsidiaries:

The Company evaluates investments in subsidiaries, that have been accounted for at fair value at acquisition less provision for 
impairment as described at (e) below. Any impairment reviews, where required, involve significant judgement related to matters 
such as recoverable reserves; production profiles; gas and electricity prices; development, operating and offtake costs; nature of 
land access agreements and planning permissions; application of taxes; and other matters. Where the final outcome or revised 
estimates related to such matters differ from the estimates used in any earlier impairment reviews, the results of such differences, 
to the extent that they actually affect any impairment provisions, are accounted for when such revisions are made. Details of the 
Company’s Investments are disclosed in note 2.

(d)  Non-current assets (investments in subsidiaries)
Investments in subsidiaries
Investments held as non-current assets are held at cost less provision for impairment unless the investments were acquired in exchange 
for the issue or part issue of shares in the Company, when they are initially recorded in the Company’s balance sheet at the fair value of 
the shares issued together with the fair value of any consideration paid, including costs of acquisition less any provision for impairment 
which may subsequently be required.

The Company’s investments held as non-current assets are assessed for indications of impairment whenever events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable, when impairment is calculated on the basis as set out 
below. Any impairment in value is charged to the income statement as additional depreciation. 

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48
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Parent Company financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2009

1  Accounting policies continued
Impairment
Impairment reviews, when required as described above, are carried out on the following basis:
•	
•	

By comparing any amounts carried as investments held as non-current assets with the recoverable amount.
The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. The Company generally relies on 
fair value less cost to sell assessed either by reference to comparable market transactions between a willing buyer and a willing seller 
or on the same basis as used by willing buyers and sellers in the oil industry. When assessing value in use, the estimated future cash 
flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of 
money and the risks specific to the asset or cash-generating unit.

Where there has been a charge for impairment in an earlier period that charge will be reversed in a later period where there has 
been a change in circumstances to the extent that the recoverable amount is higher than the net book value at the time. In reversing 
impairment losses, the carrying amount of the asset will be increased to the lower of its original carrying value or the carrying value that 
would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised in prior periods.

(e)  Financial Instruments
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and cash held on current account or on short-term deposits at variable interest rates 
with original maturity periods of up to three months. Any interest earned is accrued monthly and classified as interest income within 
finance income.

Trade and other receivables
Trade receivables are initially recognised at fair value when related amounts are invoiced, less any allowances for doubtful debts or 
provision made for impairment of these receivables. 

Trade and other payables
These financial liabilities are all non interest bearing and are initially recognised at the fair value of the consideration received. 

Impairment of financial assets 
In relation to trade receivables, a provision for impairment is made when there is objective evidence (such as the probability of 
insolvency or significant financial difficulties of the debtor) that the Company will not be able to collect all of the amounts due under 
the original terms of the invoice. The carrying amount of the receivable is reduced through use of an allowance account. Impaired debts 
are derecognised when they are assessed as uncollectible.

(f)  Leases
The determination of whether an arrangement is, or contains a lease is based on the substance of the arrangement at inception date 
including whether the fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of a specific asset or assets or the arrangement conveys a 
right to use the asset.

Operating leases
Rentals are charged to the Income Statement in the year on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

(g)  Taxation
The tax expense represents the sum of current tax and deferred tax.

Current income tax assets and liabilities for the current and prior periods are measured at the amount expected to be recovered or paid 
to the tax authorities. Taxable (loss)/profit differs from the (loss)/profit before taxation as reported in the Income Statement because it 
excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or 
deductible. The Company’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the 
balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all temporary differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date. 
Temporary differences arise from the inclusion of items of income and expenditure in taxation computations in periods different 
from those in which they are included in the financial statements. Deferred tax liabilities are not discounted. Deferred tax assets are 
recognised to the extent that it is regarded as more likely than not that they will be recovered. 

(h)  Share based payments
Where share options or warrants are awarded to employees (including Directors), the fair value of the options or warrants at the 
date of the grant is recorded in equity over the vesting period. Non-market vesting conditions, but only those related to service and 
performance, are taken into account by adjusting the number of equity instruments expected to vest at each balance sheet date so that, 
ultimately, the cumulative amount recognised over the vesting period is based on the number of options that eventually vest. All other 
vesting conditions, including Market vesting conditions, are factored in to the fair value of the options or warrants granted. As long as 
all other vesting conditions are satisfied, the amount recorded is computed irrespective of whether the market vesting conditions are 
satisfied. The cumulative amount recognised is not adjusted for the failure to achieve a market vesting condition; although equity no 
longer required for options or warrants may be transferred to another equity reserve.

 
 
 
 
49
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

1  Accounting policies continued
Where the terms and conditions of options or warrants are modified before they vest, the increase in the fair value of the options, 
measured immediately before and after the modification, is also recorded in equity over the remaining vesting period.

Where equity instruments are granted to persons other than employees, the amount recognised in equity is the fair value of goods and  
services received.

Charges corresponding to the amounts recognised in equity are accounted as a cost against the profit and loss which will usually be to 
the parent company Income Statement unless the services rendered (and discharged by share based payments) relate to an issuance of 
equity or qualify for capitalisation as a non-current asset. In the case of an issuance of equity, the charge is to the same equity reserve 
as cash costs related to such an issuance would be charged. Costs may be capitalised within non-current assets in the event of services 
being rendered in connection with an acquisition or intangible exploration and evaluation assets or property, plant and equipment.

(i)  Equity
Equity instruments issued by the Company are usually recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs, and allocated 
between called up share capital, share premium accounts or merger reserve as appropriate.

(j) Foreign Currency
Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency UK pound sterling are translated at the exchange rate 
ruling at the date of the transaction.  Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are re-translated at the rate of 
exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. All differences that arise are recorded in the income statement.

2  Non-current assets – investments in subsidiaries
Investments in subsidiaries comprises:

At 1 January 2008 
Acquisition in the year, at fair value 
Disposals in the year 

At 31 December 2008 

At 31 December 2009 

£000

50,512
_
–

50,512

50,512

The subsidiary undertakings of the Company at 31 December 2009 and 2008 which are all 100% owned directly by the Company and 
are all incorporated in England and Wales, were:

Name 

Island Gas Limited 

KP Renewables (Operations) Limited 

3  Trade and other receivables

VAT recoverable 
Other debtors 
Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings 
Prepayments 

 Principal activity

 Production and marketing of unconventional gas ,  
 including Coal Bed Methane
 Electricity Generation

2009  
£000 

59 
3 –
436 
40 

538 

2008 
£000

125

225
14

364

The carrying value of each of the Company’s financial assets as stated above is considered to be a reasonable approximation of its fair value.

All of the Company’s financial assets as stated above are from debtors of good credit standing and have been reviewed for indicators of 
impairment and no impairment provision was found to be required (2008: £nil).

Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings result from services provided by and payments on behalf of IGL. Payment of amounts 
outstanding, which are payable on demand, are made to meet the Company’s liquidity management requirements.

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50
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Parent Company financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2009

3  Trade and other receivables continued
Of the Company’s financial assets as stated above, other than amounts due from subsidiary undertakings (whose ageing is as explained 
in the previous paragraph), £59 thousand (2008: £112 thousand) were past due but not impaired at the reporting date, the ageing of 
which was:

Not more than three months 
More than three months but not more than six months 

4  Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and in hand 

2009  
£000 

32 
27 

59 

2008 
£000

35
77

112

2009  
£000 

2008 
£000

17,485 

17,485 

2,210

2,210

The carrying value of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents as stated above is considered to be a reasonable approximation of their 
fair value.

The Company only deposits cash surpluses with major banks that have acceptable credit ratings of ”AA” or better, except that the 
Company will make deposits with banks where the UK government is the major shareholder.

5  Current liabilities

Trade and other payables: 
Trade creditors 
Taxation and social security 
Accruals and other creditors 

2009  
£000 

2008 
£000

32 
– –
80 

112 

89

163

252

The carrying value of each of the Company’s financial liabilities as stated above is considered to be a reasonable approximation of its 
fair value. All creditors are payable within one month and no creditor has been outstanding for longer than three months (2008 – no 
creditor was outstanding for more than three months). 

6  Taxation
Tax losses, none of which is considered sufficiently certain of utilisation to set up deferred tax assets, amount to:

Trading loss 

Excess management expenses 

2008 
£000

2009  
£000 

– –

3,488 

2,998

Excess management expenses may only be offset against future profits, if any, of the Company generated in its capacity as a Group  
holding company.

7  Commitments
At the balance sheet date the Company had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non cancellable 
operating leases, all falling due in under one year of £48 thousand (2008: £nil).

8  Financial instruments
The Company’s financial instruments principally comprise cash at bank, and various items such as trade debtors and creditors that arise 
directly from operations. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to provide finance for the Company’s operations.

Financial assets and liabilities
The Company’s policy is to ensure that adequate cash is available and the Company does not trade in financial instruments and has not 
entered into any derivative transactions.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
51
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

8  Financial instruments continued
Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk arises from the Company’s management of working capital and is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its 
financial obligations as they fall due. Cash forecasts and plans are updated frequently and reviewed regularly by management and the 
Board. The Company’s liquidity requirements have been met principally through internal cash resources. The Company has no long-term 
borrowings, and based on current projections the Company has sufficient funds to meet current obligations as they fall due. Details of 
the maturity dates of the Company’s financial liabilities are provided in note 5. 

Interest rate risk profile of financial assets
Cash at bank earns interest at floating rates related to the published rate of the bank.

Interest rate sensitivity analysis
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk from changes in interest rates impacting future cash flows arising from its financial 
instruments, principally cash balances held at the balance sheet date. A sensitivity analysis has been performed to demonstrate the 
sensitivity of financial assets and financial liabilities to a reasonably possible change in interest rates applied to a full year from the 
balance sheet date, assuming the amount of the assets at balance sheet date are available for the whole year. An increase/ decrease 
in interest rates of 0.5 basis points, with all other variables held constant, results in a decrease/ increase in the Company’s loss before 
tax of £87 thousand /£(87) thousand respectively (2008: decrease/ increase of £11 thousand /£(11) thousand). There is no effect on the 
Company’s equity other than the equivalent effect to that on loss before tax. This is wholly attributable to the Company’s exposure to 
interest rates on its variable rate cash and cash equivalents.

Credit risk
The maximum exposure to credit risk is equal to the balances as disclosed for amounts due from subsidiary undertakings in note 3 and 
cash in note 4.

Cash and Teasury
Cash and treasury credit risks are mitigated through the exclusive use of institutions that carry published grade “AA” or better credit 
ratings so as to minimise counterparty risk, except that the Company will make deposits with banks where the United Kingdom 
government is the major shareholder. £16 million of cash and cash equivalents is deposited with a single institution.

Trade receivables
Trade receivables credit risks are mitigated by only dealing with institutions that have investment grade credit ratings or that are 
subsidiaries where risks are managed as explained under Capital management below.

Capital management
The Company considers its capital to comprise its ordinary share capital and share premium. In managing its capital, the Company’s 
primary objective is to ensure its continued ability to provide a return to equity shareholders, principally through capital growth. The 
Company currently has no borrowings. The Company’s principle cash sources have been the issuance of share capital, and information 
regarding the Company’s management of cash is provided in the Business review under the heading “Cash position” on page 13. 

9  Share capital

Ordinary Shares 
£000 
Nominal 
value 

No. 

Deferred shares
£000 
Nominal 
value

No. 

Authorised
1 January 2008, Ordinary Shares of 50p each  
1 January 2008, Deferred shares of .95p each 

  89,114,796 

44,557

  46,589,662 

31 December 2008 

  89,114,796 

44,557  46,589,662 

443

443

10 December 2009 new Ordinary Shares created   

  22,916,667 

11,459

31 December 2009 

 112,031,463 

56,016  46,589,662 

443

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IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Parent Company financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2009

9  Share capital continued

Issued and fully paid
1 January 2008, Ordinary Shares of 50p each  
25 June 2008 shares issued for cash 

31 December 2008, Ordinary Shares of 50p each 
14 July 2009 shares issued for cash 
10 December 2009 shares issued for cash 

31 December 2009, Ordinary Shares of 50p each 

Ordinary Shares 
£000 
Nominal 
value 

No. 

Deferred shares
£000 
Nominal 
value

No. 

  59,107,182 
  3,222,460 

29,554
1,611

  62,329,642 
  5,766,666 
  22,916,667 

  91,012,975 

31,165
2,883 
11,459

45,507 

– 

– 

–

–

The following share transactions took place since 1 January 2008: 

•	
•	
•	

25 June 2008 – The Company issued 3,222,460 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 65p each;
14 July 2009 – The Company issued 5,766,666 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 60p each;
10 December 2009 – The Company issued 22,916,667 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 60p each;

The costs of all share issues have all been charged to the share premium account and are as disclosed in the parent company statement 
of changes in equity.

Deferred shares have no voting rights and shall not be entitled to any dividends or any other right or participation in the profits of 
the Company.

10  Share warrant reserve
The Company has made equity settled share based payments, all valued using Black-Scholes, as follows:

Directors:
Balance 1 January 
Transfers to Share Premium 

Balance 31 December 

2009 
£000  

2008 
£000

167 
(36) –

131 

167

167

All warrants vested on grant and accordingly the key assumptions made in arriving at the Black-Scholes valuations were: share price 
on date of grant, adjusted for subsequent consolidations where appropriate and the length of time for which the warrants will remain 
exercisable. A long-term risk free interest rate of 5% and an implied volatility of 20% were used in valuing the warrant at the time of 
granting. It was also assumed that no dividends would be paid during the life of the warrants.

Movements in the Share warrant reserve during the year were as follows:

At 1 January 
Granted in Period 
Lapsed in Period 

Outstanding at 31 December 

Exercisable at 31 December 

2009 
  Weighted 
average  
exercise  
price 
(pence) 

2009 
No 

2008 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
(pence)

2008 
No 

523,830 
– 
(83,830) 

440,000 

440,000 

58 
– 
50 

60 

60 

523,830 
– 
– 

523,830 

523,830 

58
–
–

58

58

The weighted average remaining contractual life for the equity settled share options outstanding as at 31 December 2009 is 12 months 
(2008: 21 months) with the maximum remaining term of options granted being 12 months, (2008: 24 months). The range of exercise 
prices for options outstanding at the end of the year was 55p to 75p (2008: 50p to 75p). In 2007, the Company received services from 
certain professional advisors in exchange for the Company’s shares. A share-based payment was recognised with respect to the fair 
value of the services received. These lapsed on 10 April 2009.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
53
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

11  Other reserves
•	

Merger reserve – The merger reserve arose as a result of a reverse acquisition on 31 December 2007 whereby IGL became a wholly 
owned subsidiary of the Company but with IGL’s shareholders acquiring 94% of the Ordinary Share Capital of the Company. The 
reserve represents the difference in the fair value and the nominal value of the shares issued. The reserve is not distributable.
Share Premium account – The share premium account of the Company arises from the capital that the Company raises upon issuing 
shares that are in excess of the nominal value of the shares net of the costs of issuing the new shares and from transfers from Share 
warrant reserve, when warrants lapse. During the year the Company issued 28,683,333 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 60p each 
(2008: 3,222,460 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 65p each). The cost of the issue was £1,121 thousand (2008: £108 thousand). 
Also during the year the effect of warrants lapsing was to transfer to Share premium reserve £36 thousand (2008; £nil). Together 
these events resulted in a net movement in the Share Premium reserve of £1,783 thousand (2008: £376 thousand). 
Retained Earnings – This represents the historic accumulated losses made by the Company.

•	

•	

12  Related party transactions
(a) With Group companies
A summary of the transactions in the year is as follows:

Subsidiaries:
Amounts due from/(to) subsidiary:

Island Gas Limited:
Balance 1 January 
Services performed by subsidiary 
Net cash advances 
Services performed for subsidiary 

Balance 31 December 

KPR (Operations) Limited:
Balance 1 January and 31 December 

A summary of year end balances is as follows:

Amounts due from Subsidiary:
Island Gas Limited 

Payment terms are as mutually agreed between the Group’s companies.

2009 
£000  

2008 
£000

(30)
(264)
519

225

225 –
(112) 
(196) 
519 

436 

– –

436 

225

(b) With Directors
Key management are those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, controlling and directing the activities of the 
Group. In the opinion of the Board, the Group’s key management are the Directors of the Company. Information regarding their 
compensation is given in note 5 to the consolidated accounts.

Of the total emoluments in 2009 disclosed in note 5 to the consolidated accounts, £66 thousand (2008: £39 thousand) is directly 
related to services provided to the Company, with the remainder relating to services provided to Island Gas Limited. 

13  Subsequent events
On 23 April 2010, 82,500 share warrants were exercised at an average of price of 55p per share, leading to an increase in the total 
number of shares in issue to 91,095,475.

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54
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Proposed business of the Annual General Meeting

Introduction
You will find set out at the end of this document the formal Notice of the Annual General meeting of IGas Energy plc. This section 
provides some additional information on the Resolutions being proposed at the Annual General Meeting. The following definitions 
apply throughout this session of the document unless the context requires otherwise:

“1985 Act” 

the Companies Act 1985

“2006 Act” 

the Companies Act 2006

“Accounts” 

the audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2009

“Annual General  
Meeting” or “AGM” 

the annual general meeting of the Company convened for  Monday 7 June 2010 pursuant to the Notice
of Annual General Meeting which appears at the end of this document

“Articles” 

the articles of association of the Company in force at the date of this document

“Board” or “Directors” 

the board of directors of the Company

“Form of Proxy” 

the form of proxy accompanying this document for use at the Annual General Meeting

“New Articles” 

the new Articles of Association of the Company proposed to be adopted at the AGM

“Ordinary Shares” 

ordinary shares of 50p each in the capital of the Company

“Resolutions” 

the resolutions set out in the Notice of Annual General Meeting which appears at the end of this document

“Shareholders” 

holders of Ordinary Shares 

Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at the offices of Mofo Secretaries Limited, Citypoint, One Ropemaker, 
London EC2Y 9AWat 10:30am on Monday 7 June, at which resolutions will be proposed:

1.  to receive and adopt the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year ended on 31 December 2009, and the 

Directors’ Report and the Independent Auditors’ Report on those accounts;

2.  to receive and approve the Remuneration Report of the Directors for the financial year ended on 31 December 2009 and the 

Independent Auditors’ Report on the auditable part of the Remuneration Report;

3.  to reappoint as a Director Francis Gugen who, in accordance with the Articles, is required to retire by rotation at the Annual General 

Meeting and, being eligible, offers himself for reappointment;

4.  to reappoint as a Director Brent Cheshire who, in accordance with the Articles, is required to retire by rotation at the Annual 

General Meeting and, being eligible, offers himself for reappointment;

5.  to reappoint as a Director John Hamilton who, in accordance with the Articles, having been appointed since the last annual general 

meeting is required to retire at the Annual General Meeting and, being eligible, offers himself for reappointment;

6.  to reappoint Ernst & Young LLP as the auditors of the Company until the next annual general meeting;

7.  to authorise the Directors to determine the level of the remuneration of the auditors;

8.  to grant the Directors authority to allot shares in the capital of the Company;

9.  to grant the Directors the power to disapply the statutory pre-emption rights for certain shares;

10. to adopt the New Articles.

Resolutions 1 and 2 and 6 and 7 are self explanatory. Information on the other Resolutions is provided below. Resolutions 1 – 8 are 
ordinary resolutions which require to be passed the approval of a simple majority of Shareholders present and voting in person or by 
proxy or authorised representative. On a show of hands each Shareholder so present has one vote, but should a poll be demanded each 
such Shareholder has one vote for each share held by him or her. Resolutions 9 and 10 are special resolutions that require to be passed 
the approval of 75% of such Shareholders, determined in the same way as for the ordinary resolutions.

55
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Resolution No 3 – reappointment of Francis Gugen as a Director
Mr Gugen is liable to retire by rotation at the Annual General Meeting under the Articles, and offers himself for re-election. Having 
considered his re-election, the Nomination Committee considers that his performance remains effective, particularly having regard to his 
responsibilities as Executive Chairman. 

Mr Gugen is one of the founders and Executive Chairman of the Company and has over thirty year’s oil and gas industry experience. 
Between 1982 and 2000 he helped grow Amerada Hess in North West Europe, ultimately becoming CEO. He is a member of the 
CBI’s Economic Affairs Committees and is also a past President of the UK Offshore Operators Association, past chair of the industries 
representation on the UK Government Oil & Gas Task Force (Pilot) and the chair of the CBI’s Environmental Affairs Committee. Mr 
Gugen is a chartered accountant having worked for Arthur Andersen for eight years until 1982, principally as an oil & gas specialist. 
Currently he is Chairman of the board of Petroleum Geophysical Services ASA and a non-executive director and member of the audit 
committee of the Britannia Building Society. Mr Gugen is also the non executive chair of Chrysaor Limited, focused on developing North 
Sea oil and gas fields of Fraudscreen Limited, a new financial services business. Mr Gugen devotes such time to the Group as is required 
to discharge his duties.

Resolution No 4 – reappointment of Brent Cheshire as a Director
Mr Cheshire is liable to retire by rotation at the Annual General Meeting under the Articles, and offers himself for re-election. Having 
considered his re-election, the Nomination Committee considers that his performance remains effective, particularly having regard to his 
responsibilities as Executive Technical Director.

Mr Cheshire is one of the founders and is the Technical Director of the Company. After 14 years at Shell, he joined Amerada Hess 
in 1991, where he had a range of roles culminating in Senior VP E&P Worldwide Technology and CEO Scandinavia. Mr Cheshire has 
significant experience in geology, drilling technology and project management and is managing director of DONG E&P (UK) Limited, 
under arrangements that allow him to devote appropriate time to the Company. Mr Cheshire is a petroleum engineer having graduated 
as a geologist from Durham University. Since leaving Amerada, he has been a senior adviser to the Danish Oil and Natural Gas 
Company, assisting it with the design and implementation of its growth strategy. 

Resolution No 5 – reappointment of John Hamilton as a Director
Mr Hamilton was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 10 December 2009, which was subsequent to the last annual general 
meeting and, in accordance with the Articles, he must retire at this Annual General Meeting, but he offers himself for re-appointment. 
Upon appointment the Board considered that his experience made him a suitable candidate to compliment the board. The Nomination 
Committee has considered his re-appointment and considers that his performance remains effective, particularly having regard to his 
responsibilities as a Non-Executive Director.

Mr Hamilton is the Managing Director of Levine Capital Management Advisors Limited, a UK incorporated company and a non-
executive director at President Petroleum Corporation Plc. Mr Hamilton was previously the Group Finance Director of Imperial Energy 
Corporation PLC, the Russia-focused oil exploration and production company. Prior to joining Imperial Energy, Mr Hamilton held senior 
positions at ABN AMRO.

Resolution No 8 – authority to issue shares
At the Annual General Meeting held on 10 July 2009, the Directors were authorised, in accordance with section 80 of the 1985 Act, 
to allot Ordinary Shares, grant rights to subscribe for shares or to convert any security into Ordinary Shares up to an aggregate nominal 
amount of £10,388,273. This authority expires at the conclusion of this Annual General Meeting.

In addition, at the General Meeting held on 10 December 2009, the Directors were authorised, in accordance with section 551 
of the 2006 Act, to allot Ordinary Shares, grant rights to subscribe for shares or to convert any security into Ordinary Shares up to 
an aggregate nominal amount of £11,458,333.50 (in addition to the existing authority conferred on the Directors by the ordinary 
resolution passed by the Company on 10 July 2009). This authority expires, if not previously revoked, on 10 December 2010.
It is therefore proposed to revoke the existing authorities and replace them with a new authority, granted under section 551 of the 
2006 Act, which will allow the Directors to allot Ordinary Shares and to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any securities into 
Ordinary Shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of £15,168,829 representing approximately one third of the issued ordinary share 
capital of the Company as at 31 December 2009 and a further aggregate nominal amount of £15,168,829 representing approximately a 
further third of such issued share capital, which will be available only for rights issues and other pre-emptive issues of equity shares. 

The proposal that the authority to allot new Shares shall extend to a further third of the issued share capital is in accordance with the 
guidelines issued by the Association of British Insurers (“ABI”) which confine the use of this amount to rights issues only. The Directors 
have no present intention of exercising this authority. However, if they do exercise the authority, the Directors intend to follow the 
emerging best practice as regards its use (including as regards Directors standing for re-election) as recommended by the ABI and the 
National Association of Pension Funds.

Assuming the passing of the resolution, the new authority will expire fifteen months from the date of the passing of the resolution or 
until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting, if earlier, and will revoke all previous authorities to the extent that they have 
not already been utilised apart from other specific authorities taken in respect of outstanding warrants and options which will continue 
unaffected. The Directors have no present intention of issuing any share capital of the Company, but the passing of this Resolution will 
enable the Directors to take advantage of any opportunities which may arise. 

56
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Proposed business of the Annual General Meeting continued

Resolution No 9 – disapplication of pre-emption rights
Section 561 of the 2006 Act contains pre-emption rights that require all equity shares which it is proposed to allot for cash to be 
offered to existing shareholders in proportion to existing shareholdings, unless a special resolution is passed to disapply such rights. 
Such rights do not apply to an issue otherwise than for cash, such as an issue in consideration of an acquisition. The Directors believe 
that these requirements are too restrictive and, it is proposed that the Directors should be able to allot shares amounting to no more 
than an aggregate nominal amount of £6,825,975 representing approximately 15 per cent. of the equity share capital of the Company 
(including treasury shares) at the date of the Accounts otherwise than on a pre-emptive basis. 

In addition, it is customary to disapply the statutory pre-emption rights altogether, and substitute similar non-statutory provisions 
because, for technical reasons, the statutory rights are difficult to apply in certain circumstances. The proposed resolution therefore 
provides that all allotments for cash in excess of the 15 per cent. limit, must be in the form of rights issues, open offers or other pre-
emptive issues except for the one third of the existing issued share capital reserved only for rights issues in accordance with the previous 
resolution, and free of the statutory constraints. The broadening of the proposed resolution to include pre-emptive issues other than 
rights issues is a departure from the strict wording of the ABI guidelines which is limited to rights issues, which the Directors regard 
as too restrictive, especially as AIM companies normally make open offers and not rights issues. The above departures in resolutions 8 
and 9 from the strict wording of the ABI guidelines should not be taken to indicate that they are being disregarded, but rather that the 
proposed resolutions are designed to provide greater flexibility for the Directors to determine the form of any future pre-emptive issues 
in the light of market conditions and practice, at the time such an issue may be proposed. 

Resolution No 10 – adoption of the New Articles
On 1 October 2009, all the provisions of the memorandum of association of the Company other than the subscription clause, including 
the objects clause and share capital clause became incorporated into the Company’s Articles of Association, pursuant to the 2006 
Act. Companies incorporated under the 2006 Act will not, unless special provision is made have any objects clause (their activities 
being unrestricted) or any limitation on the number of shares they may issue, and the prevailing market practice is for pre-2006 Act 
incorporated companies to follow suit. Notwithstanding that the share capital is unlimited, the Directors cannot allot any shares without 
authority from the shareholders to do so, except pursuant to any employee share scheme. The proposed resolution therefore deletes 
from the Articles all the provisions carried over from the memorandum of association, except those provisions setting out the name of 
the company, and adopts the New Articles which comply fully with the Companies Act 2006. An explanation of the principal changes 
made in the New Articles appears on page 55 of this document. The New Articles, showing all the changes from the previous Articles 
shall be available for inspection 15 minutes prior to and during the AGM and at the offices of the Company’s solicitors, Morrison & 
Foerster, CityPoint, One Ropemaker Street, London EC2Y 9AW from the date of circulation of the notice of AGM.

Action to be Taken
A Form of Proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting is enclosed. If you are a Shareholder you are advised to complete and return the 
form in accordance with the instructions printed on it so as to arrive at the Companyis registrars, Computershare Investor Services plc, 
The Pavilions, Bridgewater Road, Bristol BS1 8AE, as soon as possible, but in any event no later than 10:30am on Thursday 3 June 2010. 
Alternatively, you may e–mail or fax your completed proxy form by following the instructions in note (3) to the Notice of Meeting.

Such an electronic appointment must also be made no later than 10:30am on Thursday 3 June 2010.

The return of a Form of Proxy or the electronic appointment of a proxy does not preclude you from attending and voting at the Annual 
General Meeting if you so wish.

Recommendation
The Directors consider the Resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting to be in the best interests of the Company and its 
Shareholders. Accordingly, the Directors unanimously recommend Shareholders to vote in favour of all the Resolutions, as they intend to 
do in respect of their own beneficial holdings comprising 50,668,100 Ordinary Shares, representing 55.62% of the issued share capital.

57
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Explanation of the changes between the existing and 
proposed new articles

1.  The Company’s objects
On 1 October 2009 the objects clause and all other provisions contained in the Company’s memorandum were henceforth deemed 
to be contained in the Company’s articles of association but the Company can remove these provisions by Special Resolution. The 
Company’s memorandum contains, amongst other things, the objects clause which sets out the scope of the activities which the 
Company may undertake. This is drafted in very wide terms.

The Companies Act 2006 states that unless a company’s articles provide otherwise a company’s objects are unrestricted. This abolishes 
the need for companies to have objects clauses. For this reason the Company is proposing to remove it objects clause together with 
all other provisions of its memorandum which on 1 October 2009 become part of the Company’s articles of association, except the 
provision specifying the name of the Company. Resolution 10 will achieve this. As this resolution will also remove the statement in the 
memorandum regarding limited liability, the New Articles contain an express statement as to the limited liability of the shareholders.

2.  The Company’s share capital
Resolution 10 will also remove from the existing articles of association the statement of the Company’s former authorised share capital 
which on 1 October 2009 became a provision of the articles limiting the nominal amount of shares which the Directors can allot. The 
New Articles do not contain such a limit, so the share capital of the Company will be unlimited. The Directors will still however require 
an authority from the shareholders to allot shares, as contained in the proposed resolution No 8 except that no such authority is 
required to allot shares pursuant to an employee share scheme.

58
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of IGas Energy plc will be held at the offices of Mofo Secretaries Limited, 
Citypoint, One Ropemaker, London EC2Y 9AW on Monday 7 June 2010 at 10:30am to consider, and if thought fit, pass the 
following resolutions of which resolutions 1 – 8 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolutions 9 and 10 will be proposed as 
special resolutions.

Ordinary business
1.  To receive and adopt the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2009 and the 

Directors’ Report, and the Independent Auditors’ Report on those accounts.

2.  To receive and approve the Remuneration Report of the Directors for the financial year ended on 31 December 2009 and the 

Independent Auditors’ Report on the auditable part of the Remuneration Report.

3.  To reappoint as a Director, Francis Gugen, who is retiring by rotation in accordance with Article 38 of the Company’s Articles of 

Association and who being eligible is offering himself for reappointment.

4.  To reappoint as a Director, Brent Cheshire, who is retiring by rotation in accordance with Article 38 of the Company’s Articles of 

Association and who being eligible is offering himself for reappointment.

5.  To reappoint as a Director, John Hamilton, who having been appointed since the last annual general meeting is retiring in 

accordance with Article 33 of the Company’s Articles of Association and who being eligible is offering himself for reappointment;

6.  To reappoint Ernst & Young LLP as auditors of the Company from the conclusion of this Meeting until the conclusion of the next 

annual general meeting of the Company at which accounts are laid.

7.  To authorise the Directors to determine the remuneration of the auditors.

Special business
8.  That in substitution for all existing authorities for the allotment of shares by the Directors, which are hereby revoked but without 
prejudice to any allotment, offer or agreement already made pursuant thereto, the Directors of the Company be and are hereby 
generally and unconditionally authorised, pursuant to section 551 of the 2006 Act to exercise all the powers of the Company to:

(A)  allot shares in the Company and to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into such shares (all of which transactions 

are hereafter referred as an allotment of “relevant securities”) up to an aggregate nominal amount of £15,168,829; and

(B)  allot equity securities (within the meaning of section 560(1) of the 2006 Act) up to an aggregate nominal amount of 

£15,168,829 in connection with a rights issue or other pre-emptive offer which satisfies the conditions and may be subject to all 
or any of the exclusions specified in paragraph (B)(1) of the next following resolution 

in each case for a period expiring (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in general meeting) 15 months 
after the date of the passing of this resolution or at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company following 
the passing of this resolution, whichever occurs first, provided that the Company may before such expiry, variation or revocation 
make an offer or agreement which would or might require such relevant or equity securities to be allotted after such expiry, 
variation or revocation and the Directors may allot relevant or equity securities pursuant to such an offer or agreement as if the 
authority conferred hereby had not expired or been varied or revoked.

9.  That, subject to and conditionally upon the passing of resolution No 8, the Directors are hereby empowered pursuant to section 
570 of the 2006 Act to allot equity securities (as defined by section 560 of the 2006 Act) for cash pursuant to the authority 
conferred by resolution No 8 as if section 561 of the 2006 Act did not apply to any such allotment provided that such power:

(A)  shall, subject to the continuance of the authority conferred by resolution No 8, expire fifteen months after the passing of this 

resolution or at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company following the passing of this resolution, 
whichever occurs first, but may be previously revoked or varied from time to time by Special Resolution but so that the 
Company may before such expiry, revocation or variation make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity 
securities to be allotted after such expiry, revocation or variation and the Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of 
such offer or agreement as if such power had not expired or been revoked or varied; and

 
59
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

(B)  shall be limited to:

(1)  the allotment of equity securities of up to an aggregate nominal amount of £15,168,829 pursuant to a rights issue, open 
offer, scrip dividend scheme or other pre-emptive offer or scheme which is in each case in favour of holders of Ordinary 
Shares and any other persons who are entitled to participate in such issue, offer or scheme where the equity securities 
offered to each such holder and other person are proportionate (as nearly as may be) to the respective numbers of Ordinary 
Shares held or deemed to be held by them for the purposes of their inclusion in such issue, offer or scheme on the record 
date applicable thereto, but subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem fit or expedient 
to deal with fractional entitlements, legal or practical problems under the laws of any overseas territory, the requirements 
of any regulatory body or stock exchange in any territory, shares being represented by depositary receipts, directions from 
any holders of shares or other persons to deal in some other manner with their respective entitlements or any other matter 
whatever which the Directors consider to require such exclusions or other arrangements with the ability for the Directors to 
allot equity securities and sell relevant shares not taken up to any person as they may think fit; and

(2)  the allotment of equity securities for cash otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) up to an aggregate maximum 

nominal amount of £6,825,975. 

10. That with effect from the passing of this resolution:

(A)  the existing Articles of Association of the Company are hereby amended by deleting all the provisions of the Company’s former 

Memorandum of Association which, by virtue of section 28 of the 2006 Act, are to be treated as provisions of the Company’s 
Articles of Association, other than the provisions specifying the name of the Company; and

(B)  the New Articles of Association produced to the meeting and initialled by the Chairman thereof for the purpose of identification 

are hereby adopted as the Articles of Association of the Company in substitution for, and to the exclusion of, the existing 
Articles of Association.

5 May 2010

By Order of the Board
MoFo Secretaries Limited
International House  
1-6 Yarmouth Place  
London  
W1J 7BU 
Registered in England & Wales
Company No: 04981279

60
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Notice of Annual General Meeting continued

Notes
(1)  A Shareholder entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is also entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend, speak and vote on a show of hands and on a poll 

instead of him or her. A proxy need not be a member of the Company. Where a Shareholder appoints more than one proxy, each proxy must be appointed in respect 
of different shares comprised in his or her shareholding which must be identified on the proxy form. Each such proxy will have the right to vote on a poll in respect of 
the number of votes attaching to the number of shares in respect of which the proxy has been appointed. Where more than one joint Shareholder purports to appoint 
a proxy in respect of the same shares, only the appointment by the most senior Shareholder will be accepted as determined by the order in which their names appear in 
the Company’s register of members. If you wish your proxy to speak at the meeting, you should appoint a proxy other than the chairman of the meeting and give your 
instructions to that proxy.

(2)  A corporation which is a Shareholder may appoint one or more corporate representatives who have one vote each on a show of hands and otherwise may exercise on 

behalf of the Shareholder all of its powers as a shareholder provided that they do not do so in different ways in respect of the same shares.

To be effective an instrument appointing a proxy and any authority under which it is executed (or a notarially certified copy of such authority) must be deposited at the 
offices of Computershare Investor Services plc, at PO Box 1075, The Pavilions, Bridgewater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZZ not later than 10:30am on 3 June 2010 except that, 
(a) should the meeting be adjourned, such deposit may be made not later than 48 hours before the time of the adjourned meeting and (b) in the case of a poll taken 
more than 48 hours after it was demanded, such deposit may be made not later than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll. In calculating the 
said periods of 48 and 24 hours for deposit of a proxy, there is to be excluded any part of a day which is a Saturday or Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank 
holiday in England. A Form of Proxy is enclosed with this notice. Shareholders who intend to appoint more than one proxy can obtain additional Forms of Proxy from 
Computershare Investor Services plc by telephoning them on 0870 707 1106. Alternatively, the form provided may be photocopied prior to completion. The Forms of 
Proxy should be returned in the same envelope and each should indicate that it is one of more than one appointments being made. Alternatively you may e–mail your 
completed proxy form as an attachment to an e–mail headed “Appointment of proxy for AGM of IGas Energy plc on 7 June 2010” addressed to the Company Secretary 
at igas@mofo.com or faxing it to the registrars with a cover sheet similarly endorsed on 020 7496 8564 in each case with evidence of the authority of the person 
submitting it, where required. A notice of a revocation of a proxy’s authority can only be accepted electronically by this method and if using this method the heading or 
cover sheet should read “Revocation of proxy appointment for AGM of IGas Energy plc on 7 June 2010”.

A proxy form or a revocation of a proxy’s authority submitted by any of these electronic means must be received by the same deadline as applies to proxy forms submitted 
by post or by hand. 

Completion and return of the Form of Proxy or the electronic appointment of a proxy will not preclude Shareholders from attending and voting in person at the meeting. 

(3)   An abstention (or “vote withheld”) option has been included on the Form of Proxy and in the available options for electronic proxy voting. The legal effect of choosing 

the abstention option on any resolution is that the Shareholder concerned will be treated as not having voted on the relevant resolution. The number of votes in respect 
of which there are abstentions will however be counted and recorded, but disregarded in calculating the number of votes for or against each resolution.

(4)  

In accordance with Regulation 41 of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001, the Company specifies that only those Shareholders registered in the register of 
members of the Company as at 10:30am on 3 June 2010 or, in the event that the meeting is adjourned, in such register not later than 48 hours before the time of the 
adjourned meeting, shall be entitled to attend, or vote (whether in person or by proxy) at the meeting in respect of the number of shares registered in their names at the 
relevant time. Changes after the relevant time will be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote at the meeting.

(5)  None of the e–mail addresses and Fax Numbers referred to in this document may be used for any purpose other than those specified.

 
 
 
61
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Glossary

£ 

1C 

2C 

3C 

AIM 

Bcf 

CBM 

The lawful currency of the United Kingdom

Low estimate or low case of Contingent Recoverable Resource quantity

Best estimate or mid case of Contingent Recoverable Resource quantity

High estimate or high case of Contingent Recoverable Resource quantity

AIM market of the London Stock Exchange

Billions of standard cubic feet

Coal bed methane

Contingent 
Recoverable 
Resource  

Contingent Recoverable Resource estimates are prepared in accordance with the Petroleum Resources  
Management System (PRMS), an industry recognised standard. A Contingent Recoverable Resource is defined  
 as discovered potentially recoverable quantities of hydrocarbons where there is no current certainty that it will be 
commercially viable to produce any portion of the contingent resources evaluated. Contingent Recoverable Resources 
are further divided into three status groups: marginal, sub-marginal, and undetermined. IGas’ Contingent Recoverable 
Resources all fall into the undetermined group. Undetermined is the status group where it is considered premature to 
clearly define the ultimate chance of commerciality.

All amounts shown in this annual report have been compiled by statistical aggregation

DECC 

Department of Energy and Climate Change

GIIP 

IGL 

Gas initially in place

Island Gas Limited. The Company’s subsidiary holding all its licences

MMboe 

Millions of barrels of oil equivalent

MMscfd 

Millions of standard cubic feet per day

PEDL 

United Kingdom petroleum exploration and development licence

Scf 

Tcf 

UK  

Standard cubic feet

Trillions of standard cubic feet of gas

United Kingdom

 
62
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Notes

Notes

63
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

64
IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

Notes

IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009

IGas Energy is a domestic 
gas producer and a leading 
independent company 
dedicated to unconventional 
gas in the UK.

Independent estimates show that IGas Energy currently has enough gas to supply 
electricity to over 7 per cent of the UK’s household’s for 15 years and is the largest 
independent CBM (coal bed methane) producer in the UK. The Company’s 
licences are in the country’s industrial heartland, close to customers. IGas Energy 
is currently selling electricity generated from CBM at its pilot site in the North 
West – a first for the UK – and plans to start full-scale production next year.

The Company has now moved from identifying and appraising the CBM 
potential of its acreage to the production phase with one pilot site having 
come on stream in early 2009 and two more planned for 2010. The Company 
has also been investigating the potential to produce hydrocarbons both 
conventionally and from the extensive shale resources within its acreage – with 
the next stage being an independent assessment of the shale.

IGas Energy has applications pending to operate acreage which contains more 
than half its gas and has the financial capacity to realise its objective of having 
its first full production site next year.

Now that the UK’s supplies of gas from conventional sources are in decline, having 
domestic resources is becoming increasingly important. Unconventional gas 
including CBM, which is a well established industry in other parts of the world, 
such as the US and Australia, offers a significant alternative resource for the UK.

Overview
01  Our highlights
02 

IGas Energy at a glance

Business Review
04  Chairman’s statement
05  Our strategy
06  Chief Executive’s statement
07  Our activity
08   Our licences
13  Key financial highlights

Corporate Governance
14  Directors
16  Corporate governance
17  Directors’ remuneration report
19  Directors’ report

Financial Statements
Consolidated financial statements
21 

 Directors’ statement of responsibilities in 
respect thereof
22 
Independent auditor’s report
23  Consolidated income statement
24 

 Statement of consolidated comprehensive 
income

25  Consolidated balance sheet
26  Consolidated statement of changes in equity
27  Consolidated cash flow statement
28  Consolidated financial statements - notes

Parent financial statements
40 

 Directors’ statement of responsibilities in 
respect thereof
Independent auditor’s report
 Parent company statement of  
comprehensive income

41 
42 

 Parent company statement of changes in equity

43  Parent company balance sheet
44 
45  Parent company cash flow statement
46  Parent company financial statements – notes

Annual General Meeting
54 

 Proposed business of the Annual General 
Meeting

58  Notice of Annual General Meeting

61   Glossary
IBC  General information

General information

– Executive Chairman
– Chief Executive Officer
– Executive Technical Director

Directors
F R Gugen 
A P Austin 
B Cheshire 
R J Armstrong  – Non-Executive
– Non-Executive
J Bryant 
– Non-Executive
J Hamilton 

Company Secretary
Mofo Secretaries Limited
Citypoint
One Ropemaker Street
London EC2Y 9AW

Nominated Adviser and Broker
Cenkos Securities Plc
6.7.8 Tokenhouse Yard
London EC2R 7AS

Registrars
Computershare Investor Services plc
The Pavilions
Bridgwater Road
Bristol BS13 8AE

Auditors
Ernst & Young LLP
1 More London Place
London SE1 2AF

Public Relations
Kreab Gavin Anderson
Scandinavian House
2 – 6 Cannon Street
London
EC3M 6XJ

Bankers
HSBC
3rd Floor, HSBC Floor
Mitchell Way
Eastleigh
Hampshire SO18 2XU

Lloyds TSB Bank Plc
Beech House
28 – 30 Wimborne Road
Poole
Dorset
BH15 2BL

Registered Office
International House
1 – 6 Yarmouth Place
London W1J 7BU

Copies of Reports and Accounts
Further copies of this Annual report and accounts can be obtained from the Registered Office of IGas Energy plc (IGas Energy).

Registered Office
International House
1-6 Yarmouth Place
London
W1J 7BU

+44 (0)20 7993 9899
www.igasplc.com

Financial and Public Relations
Kreab & Gavin Anderson and Company
Scandinavian House
2-6 Cannon Street
London 
EC4M 6XJ
United Kingdom 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7074 1800

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IGas Energy plc
Annual report and accounts 2009