Quarterlytics / Energy / Oil & Gas Equipment & Services / IGas Energy / FY2010 Annual Report

IGas Energy
Annual Report 2010

IGAS · LSE Energy
Claim this profile
Ticker IGAS
Exchange LSE
Sector Energy
Industry Oil & Gas Equipment & Services
Employees 51-200
← All annual reports
FY2010 Annual Report · IGas Energy
Loading PDF…
Delivering 
secure gas,
onshore

I

G
a
s
E
n
e
r
g
y
p
l
c

A
n
n
u
a
l

R
e
p
o
r
t
a
n
d
A
c
c
o
u
n
t
s
2
0
1
0

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

IGas Energy plc
Annual Report and  
Accounts 2010

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Focused on delivering 
commercial production.

 100% ownership and operatorship

/ 
/  Resources more than doubled
 Funds in place for accelerated  
/ 
drilling programme
/  Team in place to deliver

/ General information

– Non-Executive Chairman
– Chief Executive Officer
– Chief Operating Officer

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

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

Nominated Adviser and Broker
RBS Hoare Govett Limited
250 Bishopsgate
London EC2M 4AA

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).

Overview
01  Our highlights
02  IGas Energy at a glance

Business Review
04  Chairman’s statement
06  Chief Executive’s statement
08  Corporate social responsibility 

report

Corporate Governance
10  Directors
12  Corporate governance
14  Directors’ remuneration report
17  Directors’ report

Financial Statements
Consolidated financial statements
20   Directors’ statement of 

responsibilities in respect thereof
Independent auditor’s report
21 
22  Consolidated income statement
23   Consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income
24  Consolidated balance sheet
25   Consolidated statement  
of changes in equity
26   Consolidated cash flow 

27 

statement
 Consolidated financial 
statements – notes

Parent financial statements
43   Directors’ statement of 

Annual General Meeting
59   Proposed business of the  

responsibilities in respect thereof

Annual General Meeting

62    Notice of Annual General Meeting
65   Glossary
IBC General information

44  Independent auditor’s report
45   Parent company statement  

of comprehensive income
46  Parent company balance sheet
 Parent company statement  
47 
of changes in equity
48   Parent company cash  

flow statement

49   Parent company financial 
statements – notes

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

/ Our highlights

Strategic
Gained control
 /
 >
Secured 100% 
ownership of assets and 
operatorship through 
acquisition of Nexen 
Exploration UK Ltd

 /
Secured funding
 >

Completed fundraising 
to ensure cash resources 
in place for accelerated 
drilling programme

Built execution 
 /
capability
 >

Substantial increase  
in personnel
Investment in rig 
capacity through 
Meehan Drilling JV

 >

Operational
HSESQS
 /
 >

OSPAR accreditation 
achieved

Financial
 >

Revenue – £656k  
(2009 £828k)

 >

Operating Loss – 
£1,713k (2009 £515k 
loss)

 >

Loss for the year – 
£1,543k (2009 £504k 
loss)

 /
Cash
 >

£12.08m at  
31 December 2010 
(2009 £17.5m)
Capital raise in February 
2011 of £20.6m gross
£30.6m at  
30 April 2011

 >

 >

 /
Exploration and 
appraisal
 >

DECC approval for 
License extension at 
Point of Ayr
Planning in place for 
two additional sites

 >

Development Plans
 /
Established generic 
 >
production site plan
FEED study for full 
production facilities 
on-going

 >

Pilot Production
 /
 >

Continued at Doe Green 
with 94% up-time  
2H 2010
2nd pilot site completed 
at Keele, work over 
under evaluation

 >

 /
Resources
 >

Initial evaluation of shale 
potential at up to 4.6tcf

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

01 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

/ At a glance

IGas’ unique position offers 
more than 1.7Tcf (290 MMboe) 
of technically recoverable gas 
with customers on our doorstep

24,106 Bcf
GIIP (high-case 
including shale)

1,736 Bcf
Contingent 
recoverable 
resource (P50) 

432,000 acres
Areal extent of 
licensed areas

GIIP (mid-case)
10,246 Bcf  NOW
2009
3,823 Bcf
2008
2,169 Bcf
2007
893 Bcf

Contingent recoverable resource (P50) 
1,736 Bcf NOW
2009
807 Bcf
2008
503 Bcf

/ 02

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

4. Drax

1. Northwest

3. Point of Ayr

Regional focus

2. Swallowcroft

1. Northwest
PEDL 145, PEDL 116, PEDL 184,  
PEDL 190, PEDL 193

3. Point of Ayr
PEDL 107, SPL 1481 (110/18,  
110/19, 110/23)

Areal extent 
784 km2

Areal extent 
211 km2

Net risked 
GIIP Range Low – 2,096 Bcf,  
Mid – 3,616 Bcf, High – 8,694 Bcf

Net risked 
GIIP Range Low – 1,410 Bcf,  
Mid – 2,070 Bcf, High – 4,261 Bcf

Wells drilled 
Three wells (2007(2), 2008)

Wells on production test
Doe Green

Permitted sites
Six

Wells drilled 
One well (2007)

Wells on production test
None

Permitted sites
On-going

2011 plans
New wells at Doe Green, Barton, 
Ellesmere Port and Ince Marshes

2011 plans
Commence work on pilot 
production site

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 – 1,266 Bcf,  
Mid – 2,769 Bcf, High – 5,370 Bcf

Wells drilled 
Three wells (2008(2), 2010)

Wells on production test
Keele

Permitted sites
Two

2011 plans
Potential work over of KP-1 
Potential drilling of KP-2

4. Drax
PEDL 92-1

Areal extent  
200 km2

Net risked  
GIIP Range Low – 383 Bcf,  
Mid – 652 Bcf, High – 1,134 Bcf

Wells drilled 
One well (2007)

Wells on production test
None

Permitted sites
None

2011 plans
Evaluate options

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

03 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

/ Chairman’s statement

Francis Gugen
Non-Executive Chairman

Looking at the wider energy market in the 
UK we have been seeing rising prices for 
gas and electricity and an increasing focus 
on security of supply. Against this backdrop, 
IGas’ portfolio of domestic assets, close 
to customers and distribution networks, is 
uniquely positioned. Security of supply is a 
growing political issue in the UK and it is my 
view that gas fired power generation will be 
an increasingly material part of the mix. 
With a growing demand for gas and the 
UK increasingly relying on importing gas, 
the benefits of supplying local gas to local 
consumers, via existing infrastructure, are 
considerable. Our gas also has a lower 
carbon footprint as it does not suffer the 
high environmental penalty that comes from 
transporting gas over long distances.

2011 and beyond will see us concentrating 
on delivering secure gas onshore , 
commercially, using the assets, the team, 
the control and the funds that have now 
been put in place.

I would like to thank the whole IGas team for 
having brought the Company to the point 
of being able to now focus on demonstrating 
commercial production. I would also like to 
thank Brent Cheshire one of the founders 
who is now retiring from the Board but will 
continue his involvement  as an advisor to 
the Company.

Francis Gugen
Non-Executive Chairman

We have now completed the important 
step of taking control of day to day 
operations by acquiring Nexen Exploration 
UK Ltd, a transaction that closed on 9 
March 2011. As a consequence IGas is 
now 100% owner and operator of all of its 
assets and Nexen is a 24.77% shareholder 
in IGas.

In March 2011 we took the opportunity to 
strengthen our capital base. Following the 
acquisition of Nexen Exploration we placed 
27.5 million shares for gross proceeds of 
£20.6 million. In doing so we have also 
widened our institutional shareholder base.

These measures, being the increased asset 
base, the control afforded by operatorship 
and the additional funding, when taken 
together, put IGas in a strong position to 
pursue aggressively its primary goal, to 
demonstrate commercial production. To 
support this goal we have been recruiting 
a wider team and developing arrangements 
with key suppliers. We now have in-house 
capability supplemented by arrangements 
with quality service and equipment providers

/ 04

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

/ CEO’s report

Andrew Austin
Chief Executive Officer

The acquisition of Nexen Exploration Ltd 
transforms our business. During 2010 
we were already building the team and 
capacity to ensure we are able to deliver 
on our plans to demonstrate commercial 
production in 2011. To this end we 
recruited a team that has skills in drilling 
and completions, geology, and reservoir 
engineering, as well as land experts and 
facilities specialists; while additional 
knowledge and expertise is available via 
our secondment  agreement with Nexen 
Petroleum. In addition to this, we have a 
close knit team of contractors who work 
with our staff and assist in the execution of 
our plans. We are also in the process of 
establishing a joint venture with an Irish 
drilling contractor, Meehan Drilling, 
whereby we will jointly own drilling 
equipment and IGas will have preferential 
access to drilling capacity. The rig we are 
using is a Schramm TXD 200 which is a 
design of rig which has been extensively 
used in North America for drilling for 
unconventional gas.

As part of this transaction we have 
managed to secure ancillary equipment 
such as mud pumps, mud tanks, shakers 
and blow out preventers in continental 
Europe and this equipment is now being 
assembled in Market Rasen (Lincolnshire) in 
advance of beginning drilling operations in 
the second half of 2011. We are also 
signing up a second rig, the BDF Rig 28 for 
a four well programme. This is a rig and 
crew that we have worked successfully 
with before and look forward to working 
with again in our programme this year.

Since our last annual report, the most 
important change in our business has 
been the acquisition of Nexen Exploration 
Ltd and the consequential assumption of 
operatorship and 100% ownership of all 
of our assets. This highly accretive deal has 
increased our 2C contingent resource from 
893bcf to 1,736bcf.

Our financial results show an expected 
drop in revenue and an increase in our 
operating loss. The majority of our revenue 
since 2006 had resulted from a 
Management Services Agreement with 
Nexen, which expired at the end of 2009, 
though in the financial year under review 
we continued to generate revenues from 
Nexen for a range of services. In 2011 with 
the acquisition of Nexen Exploration Ltd we 
will, by definition, see a significant drop in 
revenue as these services will now all be 
in-house.

/ 06

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

well from offshore which will reduce 
the technical complexity of the well. 
A decision on this will be made before the 
end of 2011.

Finally I would like to thank all of the team 
at IGas, staff, contractors, the board and 
advisors for their hard work throughout 
2010, particularly in delivering the 
acquisition of Nexen Exploration. I am 
confident we have the right people, skills 
and relationships in place to operate our 
first commercial sites and to deliver secure 
gas, onshore.

Andrew Austin
Chief Executive Officer

Our operations at Doe green continue with 
a very encouraging 94% uptime in the 
second half of 2010, despite some very 
challenging weather conditions. We have 
also seen a significant increase in the price 
we are receiving for the electricity we are 
generating at the site though this will not 
have a material effect on our revenue since 
this is still a pilot production site.This has 
gone from £36 per megawatt hour in the 
summer of 2010 to a rate of £58 per mega 
watt hour this year. This translates into an 
effective gas price of $11.00 per mcf. Our 
ability to achieve high prices for our gas is a 
consequence of our proximity to the grid 
and customers which remains one of our 
key strengths. We are looking to drill two 
additional wells at Doe Green in the coming 
months. This will involve drilling a lateral and 
branches off that lateral into a different 
seam from that which is the source of the 
production at DG2z. Following site works 
which will begin shortly, where we will set 
two cellars and conductors, we will be 
upgrading the production facilities to deal 
with the increased production we expect 
from the site.

We will shortly be commencing ground 
works at our site at Barton having 
complied with planning conditions. This 
site within PEDL 193 is one of the sites that 
we have access to under our framework 
agreement with the Peel estate. Here we 
plan to initially drill two wells with lateral 
sections in the coals.

Site preparation will also begin shortly at 
both Ince Marshes and Ellesmere Port in 
PEDLs 190 and 184 respectively. We are 
looking to initially drill a single well on each 
site, which we will log and core in advance 
of committing to further drilling. At each 
site, however, we will ensure that the site 
construction and well configuration allows 
us the option to convert these exploration 
wells into production.

We drilled a pilot production well at Keele 
in July 2010 and put it into production 
test in September of last year. We have 
been de-watering and producing some gas 
from this test. While there have been some 
mechanical issues to overcome, which we 
believe have considerably constrained the 
productive section of the coal, we remain 
encouraged by the quality of the coal and 
are planning a work-over to re-enter the 
well. As part of this process, we are also 
considering drilling a second well at the 
site.

At Point of Ayr we had identified a 
suitable brown field site but unfortunately 
were unable to agree access terms with 
the owner of the business occupying the 
site. However, we continue to work with 
local landowners to secure access to a 
suitable site and have a number of 
negotiations on-going. In recognition of 
the difficulties we encountered, we have 
been granted an extension by DECC on the 
first term of this licence and now have until 
March 2012 to fulfill the obligation. We are 
also now considering drilling this obligation 

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

07 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

/ Corporate Social Responsibility report

Places and Environment
IGas has obtained permission to drill 
twenty-five wells at fourteen sites. To date 
we have drilled nine wells and have 
reinstated five sites. In all locations our 
objectives are to have as minimal impact as 
possible while operating and to leave the 
environment as we found it. To this end 
we have developed site construction 
techniques and practices that ensure 
our ability to deliver on this promise. 
Groundwater management and aquifer 
protection are always at the core of our site 
construction and well plans. Above are 
some images from our activities at Doe 
Green in Cheshire, showing our tree 
planting schemes, our ground water 
monitoring system and the hedges we are 
cultivating from natural indigenous species.
In total we have now planted 460 trees, 
75 Oaks, 50 Ash, 25 Birch, 110 Field Maple, 
100 Hazel and 100 Willow as well as more 
than 5,000 indigenous hedging plants.

We have also now established community 
liaison groups in areas where we are 
looking to establish production sites. As 
part of the permitting and well planning 
process we engage with groups including 
the Environment Agency, local and parish 
councils, the Countryside Commission of 
Wales, English Nature and many others. In 
all locations, whether we are only on site 
for a short period for an appraisal well or 
on sites where we will be producing for 
many years, our priority is to be a good 
neighbour and contribute to the 
environmental development of the area.

People, Health and Safety
Our people and our neighbours are central 
to our business, without the contribution 
of our staff and contractors and the 
support of the communities in which we 
operate we would be unable to deliver.

Providing healthy and safe working 
conditions for our employees and 
contractors is vital to our success. We have 
now instigated a Company Management 
System, which is there to ensure that all 
the activities we undertake are done so 
safely and with a minimal impact on 
the environment in which we operate. 
A summary of the principles and 
objectives of the system are given in 
the extract opposite.

In March 2011 IGas was awarded OSPAR 
accreditation which means that we have in 
place systems audited and acceptable to 
DECC and the HSE to operate both 
on-shore and offshore in the UK. We 
intend to apply for both ISO14001 
(environment) and ISO9001(quality) 
certification in the course of 2011; as a 
further step in demonstrating our 
commitment to Health, Safety, 
Environment, Social, Quality and 
Security performance.

/ 08

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

 
IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

09 /

5. John Hamilton
Non-Executive Director
John is the Managing Director of Levine 
Capital Management Advisors Limited,  
a UK incorporated company and Interim 
Chairman of 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.

6. 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, such as Weatherly 
International plc and Artilium plc. In most 
cases, he has joined the Board of these 
companies and has played a major role 
in helping them to acquire or establish 
operating businesses. He is currently 
a Director of a number of unquoted 
companies.

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

/ Directors

1. Francis Gugen
Non-Executive Chairman
Francis is a founder and Non-Executive 
Chairman and has over 30 year’s oil and 
gas industry experience. Between 1982 
and 2000 he helped grow Amerada 
Hess in North West Europe, ultimately 
becoming CEO. Currently he is also 
non-executive chairman of Petroleum 
Geophysical Services ASA, of Chrysaor 
Limited and of CEOC Limited; and a board 
member of SBM offshore NV all involved 
in conventional oil and gas. Until 2006 
he served as non-executive chairman of 
North Sea gas fields and pipelines operator 
CH4 Energy Limited before it was acquired 
in 2006 by Venture Petroleum Plc. He is 
a member of the CBI’s Economic Affairs 
Committee, 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.

2. John Bryant
Senior Independent  
Non-Executive Director
John is the Chairman of AIM listed 
Weatherly International plc. He was until 
recently 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.

3. 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.

4. John Blaymires
Chief Operating Officer
John has 27 years of international 
experience in the oil and gas industry 
gained with the Hess Corporation and 
Shell International. Before joining IGas he 
was director of Technology Development 
for Hess based in Houston, where he 
helped develop a global engineering and 
geoscience technology group responsible 
for providing support across the E&P 
(exploration and production) business, 
from deepwater to unconventional 
resources. Prior to that John was Technical 
Director for Hess’ operations in West 
Africa, and subsequently South East Asia 
with responsibility for several major oil 
and gas developments. John has a BSc 
and PhD in Mining Engineering from 
Leeds University.

/ 10

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

1

2

3

4

5

6

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

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 two Executive Directors and four 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 10.

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 
and John Hamilton. 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 
and John Hamilton. 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.

/ 12

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

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.

UK Bribery Act
IGas is aware of the draft legislation for the Bribery Act and is ensuring that it has in place appropriate policies, procedures and will be 
reporting in full in the 2011 Annual Report and Accounts.

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.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

13 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Directors’ remuneration report

This report explains our remuneration policy for Directors and sets out how decisions regarding Directors’ pay for the year under review 
have been taken.

Remit of the Remuneration committee
The remit of the Remuneration Committee is provided in the Corporate Governance section on page 12.

In 2010, the committee engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) to provide wholly independent advice on executive 
compensation and to assist the committee in the implementation of its long term incentive arrangements. There were no other services 
provided by PwC to the Group during the period.

Remuneration policy
The Company’s policy is to maintain levels of remuneration sufficient to attract, motivate and retain senior executives of the highest 
calibre who can deliver growth in shareholder value. Executive remuneration currently consists of basic salary, benefits, annual 
bonus (based on annually set targets), and long term incentives (to reward long term performance). The Company seeks to strike an 
appropriate balance between fixed and performance-related reward, therefore, the total remuneration package is structured so that 
a significant proportion is subject to the achievement of performance targets, forming a clear link between pay and performance. The 
performance targets are aligned to the key drivers of the business strategy, thereby creating a strong alignment of interest between 
executives and shareholders.

The committee has recently conducted a review of the Company’s remuneration arrangements, which has resulted in changes to the 
remuneration policy for 2010 in recognition that the Company has developed rapidly since its reverse in December 2007 and the farm-
ups in 2009. In this regard, a number of changes have been made to ensure that the policy is more compliant with best practice and 
institutional shareholder guidelines.

The committee does not intend to make further changes to the remuneration policy for 2011, however, the committee will continue 
to review the Company’s remuneration package and make amendments, if necessary, to ensure it remains fit for purpose for the 
Company, driving high levels of executive performance and remains competitive against the market.

Base salary
When setting the salary of the Directors, the committee has considered the following:

•	
•	
•	

levels of salary for similar positions in similar organisations (based on size, complexity and sector);
the performance of the individual Director; and
the individual Director’s experience and responsibilities.

Bonus
Executives and employees are eligible to participate in a discretionary bonus plan. The percentage of maximum bonus entitlement 
received is based on the achievement of challenging corporate and personal targets.

For 2011, the maximum potential bonus entitlement for certain Directors under the plan will be increased to up to 100% of base salary.

Benefits
The Company does not provide significant levels of benefits in kind.

Long Term Incentives
The review of the Company’s remuneration arrangements undertaken by the committee identified a gap in the Company’s 
remuneration structure compared to the market as the Company did not have a long term incentive in place. In October 2010, the 
Board approved the introduction of the IGas Energy Plc Super Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) and the IGas Energy Plc Share Option 
Plan (“Share Option Plan”) to fill this gap in the remuneration package and also to drive high long-term performance.

LTIP
The LTIP is intended to drive the performance of members of the executive team. Under the LTIP, participants can each be granted nil 
cost options over up to 1.5% of the issued share capital of the Company (subject to an overall plan limit of 7.5% of the issued share 
capital of the Company for all participants). The LTIP has a three year performance period and awards vest subject to the achievement 
of stretching share price targets. On a change of control prior to the third anniversary of the grant date, a revised share price target 
reflecting the reduction in the performance period shall instead be used to determine the extent to which LTIP options vest. Other than 
on a change of control, 50% of vested awards can be exercised and sold on vesting, with the remaining 50% becoming exercisable on 
the first anniversary of vesting.

/ 14

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

Share Option Plan
Both executives and employees may participate in the Share Option Plan. Typically each individual participant can be granted options 
under the Share Option Plan with a market value at grant of up to 100% of his base salary, although this limit can be exceeded in 
exceptional circumstances. Share options vest in three equal tranches over a three year period from the date of grant and vested options 
are exercisable subject to the attainment of a Company share price target.

2010 grants under the Share Option Plan are subject to an exercise price of 70p per share.

The Groups share price as at 31 December 2010 was 65.75p per share. The highest price during the period was 91p per share and the 
lowest share price during the period was 61p per share.

Current arrangements
Executive Directors
The Executive Directors are employed under evergreen contracts with notice periods of twelve months or less from the Company or 
executive.

Directors’ emoluments for the year were as follows:

Executive Directors

F Gugen – Executive Chairman (to 19 October 2010)
A Austin – Chief Executive Officer
B Cheshire – Executive Technical Director
J Blaymires – COO (Appointed 19 October 2010)

Total – Executive Directors

Salary 
£000

Bonus 
£000

Taxable 
Benefits 
£000

Pensions 
£000

83
235
100
29

447

–
117
25
9

151

–
1
–
1

2

–
–
–
–

–

2010 
Total 
£000

83
353
125
39

600

2009 
Total 
£000

150
300
150
–

600

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

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

As at 31 December 2010, the outstanding long term incentives held by the Directors who served during the year was as set out in the 
tables below:

Under the LTIP:

A Austin

J Blaymires

Under the Share Option Plan:

Date of 
Grant

19.10.10

19.10.10

At 1 
January 
2010

Granted

Exercised

Lapsed

As at 31 
December 
2010

–

–

700,000

375,000

–

–

–

–

700,000

375,000

Earliest vesting date

19 October 2013 

19 October 2013

J Blaymires

19.10.10

–

910,930

–

–

910,930

Date of 
Grant

At 1
January 
2010

Granted

Exercised

Lapsed

As at 31 
December 
2010

*Earliest vesting date

1/3rd 6 April 2011 
1/3rd 6 April 2012 
1/3rd 6 April 2013

*  Vested Options will become exercisable when the Company’s’ share price target has been achieved for an average of five consecutive days.

LTIPs and Share Options issued expire 10 years from date of grant.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

15 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Directors’ remuneration report continued

Non-Executive Directors
The Non-Executive Directors are employed under evergreen contracts with notice periods of twelve months or less, under which they 
are not entitled to any pension, benefits or bonuses.

2010
Emoluments
Total
£000

2009 
Emoluments
Total
£000

17
35
35
35
–

122

–
20
20
1
29

70

F Gugen – Non-Executive Chairman (from 19 October)
J Bryant – Senior Independent 
R Armstrong
J Hamilton
Former Directors*

Total – Non-Executive Directors

*  Relates to P Redmond.

Warrants held by Non-Executive Directors are detailed in Note 5 of the financial statements.

John Bryant
Chairman Remuneration Committee
20 May 2011 

/ 16

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

Directors’ report

The Directors present their report together with the Group and Parent Company financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2010.

Business review and future developments
A review of the business and the future developments of the Group are presented in the Chairman’s statement on page 4 and the  
Chief Executive’s report on pages 6 and 7.

Results and dividends
The Group’s loss for the year after taxation was £1.5 million (2009: loss £0.5 million). 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 2011 and 2012, and taking into consideration the acquisition of 
Nexen Exploration UK Ltd and the placing in March 2011, the current operating environment, the risks outlined in Note 15 and the 
Group’s liquidity risk management as set out below, the Directors are satisfied that the Group has adequate resources to continue 
as a going concern. It is therefore appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the 2010 Annual Report and 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 16 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 M Blaymires 
J Bryant 
R J Armstrong 
J A Hamilton  

Non-Executive Chairman
Chief Executive Officer
Executive Technical Director
Chief Operating Officer – Appointed 19 October 2010
Non-Executive
Non-Executive
Non-Executive 

The interests of the Directors in the shares of the Company at 31 December 2010 were as follows:

F R Gugen
A P Austin**
B Cheshire
J Bryant
R J Armstrong
J A Hamilton
Former Directors

31 December 2010  
Ordinary 50p Shares

31 December 2009  
Ordinary 50p Shares

Number

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

%

29.66
12.28
12.28
0.05
0.06
0.09
–

Number

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

%

30.34
12.56
12.56
0.06
0.06
 0.09
–

 31 
December 
2010 
Warrants*

–
–
–
–
–
–
–

31 
December 
2009 
Warrants*

–
–
–
110,000
110,000
–
****

On 31 December 2010 warrants issued to Non-Executive Directors lapsed.

* 
**  On 22 March 2011, A Austin disposed of 770,000 Shares.
*** 

J Hamilton is beneficially interested in 85,000 Ordinary Shares out of a total of 12,080,000 held by Peter Levine and Levine Capital Management Ltd, the latter of whom 
he is deemed to be associated for these purposes. 

****  Former Directors was in relation to P Redmond who still held the same shares and warrants as at 31 December 2009 but these were not reported as he was no longer 

a Director.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

17 /

 
/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Directors’ report continued

Rotation and re-election of Directors
In accordance with the Articles of Association A Austin, J Bryant, R Armstrong and J Blaymires 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.

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
At 20 May 2011 the company had received notification from the following institutions, in accordance with Chapter 5 of the
Disclosure and Transparency Rules, of interests in excess of 3 per cent of the company’s issued Ordinary Shares with voting rights:

Peter Levine and Levine Capital Management Ltd
Baillie Gifford & Co
Artemis Investment Management LLP

Principal risks and uncertainties

Number of Shares

14,429,135
8,088,217
5,298,333

 %

9.00
5.04
3.30

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

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.
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. 
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 15 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);
competition;
key personnel; and
litigation.

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 11 to 13 to the consolidated financial statements. The Group’s financial risk management 
objectives are set out in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.

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.

/ 18

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

 
 
 
 
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 15 days of daily purchases for the Company  
(2009: 17 days).

Charitable and political contributions
During the year, the Group made no donations (2009: 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.

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 20 June 2011 as stated in the Notice of Meeting which accompanies this Annual Report.

By order of the Board

Mofo Secretaries Limited
Secretary
20 May 2011

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

19 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

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”).

Under Company Law the Directors must not approve the Group financial statements unless they are satisfied that they 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
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

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.

The Directors confirm that they have complied with these requirements and, having a reasonable expectation that the Group has 
adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, will continue to adopt the going concern basis in 
preparing the accounts.

/ 20

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

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 2010 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 20. 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 20, 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 and 
express an opinion on 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. In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information in the Annual Report to identify material 
inconsistencies with the audited financial statements. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies 
we consider the implications for our report.

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 2010 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 2010.

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

20 May 2011

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

21 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Consolidated income statement
For the year ended 31 December 2010

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

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

Notes

2

6

7

8

2010 
£000

656
(589)

67
(1,780)

(1,713)
170

(1,543)
–

(1,543)

2009 
£000

828
(671)

157
(672)

(515)
11

(504)
–

(504)

(0.0169)

(0.0076)

/ 22

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

 
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
For the year ended 31 December 2010

Loss for the year
Other comprehensive income for the year

Total comprehensive loss for the year

2010 
£000

(1,543)
–

(1,543)

2009 
£000

(504)
 –

(504)

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

23 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Consolidated balance sheet
As at 31 December 2010

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 plan/warrant reserve
Treasury shares
Retained earnings/(accumulated deficit)

Shareholders’ funds

Notes

9
10

2010 
£000

2009 
£000

4,644
205

4,849

1,334
–

1,334

11
12

589
12,087

258
17,501

12,676

17,759

13

(797)

(931)

11,879

16,828

16,728

18,162

16,728

18,162

16
18
17
18

19,665
2,500
63
(1,299)
(4,201)

18,617
2,203
131
–
(2,789)

16,728

18,162

These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on 20 May 2011 and are signed on its behalf by:

Francis Gugen 
Non-Executive Chairman  

Andrew Austin
Chief Executive Officer

/ 24

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

 
 
 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 December 2010

Balance at 1 January 2009

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

Balance at 31 December 2009

Changes in equity for 2010
Total comprehensive loss for the year
Lapse of warrants
Employee share plans – cost under IFRS2 (note 17)
Issue of shares during year

Called up 
share capital 
(Note 16) 
£000

Share 
premium 
account 
£000

Share plan/
warrant 
reserve
£000

4,275

420

167

–
–
14,342
–

18,617

–
–
–
1,048

–
36
2,868
(1,121)

2,203

–
–
–
297

–
(36)
–
–

131

–
(131)
63
–

Retained 
earnings/ 
(accumulated 
deficit)  
£000

Treasury 
shares
£000

Total 
£000

–

–
–
–
–

–

(2,285)

2,577

(504)
–
–
–

(504)
–
17,210
(1,121)

(2,789)

18,162

–
–
–
(1,299)

(1,543)
131
–
–

(1,543)
–
63
46

Balance at 31 December 2010

19,665

2,500

63

(1,299)

(4,201)

16,728

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

25 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Consolidated cash flow statement
For the year ended 31 December 2010

Operating activities:
Loss for the year
Depreciation, depletion and amortisation
Share-based payment charge
Finance income
Increase in trade and other receivables
Increase in trade and other payables, net of accruals related to investing activities

Net cash used in operating activities

Investing activities
Acquisition of exploration and evaluation assets
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment
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

2009 
£000

(504)
–
–
(11)
(408)
338

(445)

(432)
–
11

(421)

Notes 

2010 
£000

(1,543)
9
37
(170)
(331)
196

(1,802)

(3,608)
(220)
170

(3,658)

3

6

6

16
18

46
–

46

17,210
(1,121)

16,089

Net (decrease)/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

(5,414)
17,501

15,223
2,278

12

12,087

17,501

/ 26

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

Consolidated financial statements – notes
As at 31 December 2010

1  Accounting policies
(a)  Basis of preparation of financial statements
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 2010, and with the Companies Act 2006. The accounts 
were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 20 May 2011. IGas Energy plc is a public limited company incorporated and 
registered in England and Wales.

The Group financial statements are presented in UK pound 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 2010. 

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

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 2011 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)

IAS 24

IFRS 9

Amendment to IAS 24 – Related Party Disclosures – This amendment clarifies the definition 
of a related party to simplify the identification of such relationships and to eliminate 
inconsistencies in its application. The revised standard introduces a partial exemption of 
disclosure requirements for government-related entities. The Group has considered the 
effect of this interpretation and has concluded that there is no impact on the financial 
statements.

IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments: Classification and Measurement – IFRS 9 as issued reflects the 
first phase of the IASB’s work on the replacement of IAS 39 and applies to classification and 
measurement of financial assets as defined in IAS 39. The standard is effective for annual 
periods beginning on or after January 2013. In subsequent phases, the IASB will address 
classification and measurement of financial liabilities, hedge accounting and derecognition. 
The adoption of the first phase of IFRS 9 will have an effect on the classification and 
measurement of the Group’s financial assets. The Group will quantify the effect in 
conjunction with the other phases, when issued, to present a comprehensive picture.

Effective date

1 January 2011

1 January 2013

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 2010 the IASB issued an omnibus of amendments to its standards. The amendments have not been adopted as they become 
effective for annual periods starting on or after either 1 July 2010 or 1 January 2011:

•	
•	
•	
•	

IFRS 3 Business Combinations
IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures
IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements
IAS 27 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements 

The Group, however, expects no impact from the adoption of the amendments on its financial position or performance.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

27 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Consolidated financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2010

1  Accounting policies continued
(b)  Going concern 
After reviewing the Group’s budgets and cash flow projections for 2011 and 2012, and taking into consideration the acquisition of 
Nexen Exploration UK Ltd and the placing in March 2011, the current operating environment, the risks and the Group’s liquidity risk 
managment outlined in Note 15, the Directors are satisfied that the Group has adequate resources to continue as a going concern. It is 
therefore appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the 2010 Annual Report and 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. Where shares are issued to an Employee Benefit Trust, and the Company is the sponsoring entity it is 
treated as an extension of the entity.

At 31 December 2010 the Group comprised the Company and its subsidiaries Island Gas Limited and Island Gas Operations Limited 
(formerly KP Renewables (Operations) Ltd).

(d)  Joint ventures
The Group’s licence interests are all held jointly with others under arrangements whereby unincorporated and jointly controlled 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 in the UK. Costs are capitalised in accordance with 
the accounting policy as described at (h). Initial capitalisation of costs is based on management’s judgement that capitalisation of such 
costs is in accordance to applicable standards and that over time there will be an economic benefit associated with such cost.

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, involves estimates and assumptions related 
to matters (when appropriate), such as recoverable reserves; production profiles; review of forward 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, where applicable, 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.

/ 28

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

 
1  Accounting policies continued
(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. These costs include employee remuneration, 
materials and consumables, equipment costs and payments made to contractors.
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. 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 the exploration and evaluation asset.
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 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.
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 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 and gas 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 and the carrying value 
that would have been determined (net of depletion) had no impairment loss been recognised in prior periods.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

29 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Consolidated financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2010

1  Accounting policies continued
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 and the Group’s interest is being carried by a third party, 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 Group’s share of production, the Group 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; 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 
Motor Vehicles 
Furniture and fixtures 
Equipment used for exploration and evaluation  – between six and twelve years on a straight line basis
Leasehold property improvements 

– over three years on a straight line basis
– over four 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 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, 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.

(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.

/ 30

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

1  Accounting policies continued
(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 differences at the balance sheet date between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying 
amounts for financial reporting purposes. 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 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.

Where shares are issued to an Employee Benefit Trust, and the Company is the sponsoring entity, the value of such shares at issue will 
be recorded in share capital and share premium account in the ordinary way, but will not affect shareholders’ funds since this same 
value will be shown as a deduction from shareholders’ funds by way of a separate component of equity (Treasury shares). 

(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.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

31 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Consolidated financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2010

2 Revenue and segment informationt continued
All revenue which represents turnover arises within the United Kingdom and relates to external parties. The revenue for 2010 and 2009 
related to the supply of CBM services and expertise under management service contracts (£536 thousand), to the supply of electricity 
generation services and to sales of electricity associated with CBM production (£120 thousand). £592 thousand of the Group’s revenue 
was derived from a single customer (2009: £816 thousand). 

£39 thousand of the Group’s remuneration costs has been capitalised in accordance with the Group’s accounting policy.

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)
Depreciation
Auditor’s remuneration:
Audit of the financial statements
Other fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP – Audits of subsidiaries

4  Employee information

Staff costs comprised:
Wages and salaries
Social Security Costs
Employee share based cost under IFRS 2

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

2010 
£000

2009 
£000

1,123
9

57
10

2010 
£000

923
137
63

1,123

807
–

35
43

2009 
£000

718
89
–

807

No.

No.

4
2

6

3
2

5

£39 thousand of the Group’s remuneration costs has been capitalised in accordance with the Group’s accounting policy.

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

Executive Directors

F Gugen – Executive Chairman (to 19 October)
A Austin – Chief Executive Officer
B Cheshire – Executive Technical Director
J Blaymires – COO (Appointed 19 October 2010)

Total – Executive Directors

Non-Executive Directors

F Gugen – Non-Executive Chairman (from 19 October)
J Bryant – Senior Independent
R Armstrong
J Hamilton – (Appointed 10 December 2009)
P Redmond (Resigned 10 December 2009)

Total – Non-Executive Directors

/ 32

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

Salary/Fees 
£000

Bonus  
£000

Taxable 
Benefits 
£000

Pensions 
£000

83
235
100
29

447

17
35
35
35
–

122

–
117
25
9

151

–
–
–
–
–

–

–
1
–
1

2

–
–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–
–

–

2010  
Total
£000

83
353
125
39

600

17
35
35
35
–

122

2009  
Total
£000

150
300
150
–

600

–
20
20
1
29

70

5  Directors’ emoluments continued
Directors’ share schemes/warrants
At 31 December 2010 the Executive Directors held the following awards under the Long Term Incentive Plan and the Share Option 
scheme as follows; 

Long Term Incentive Plan

A Austin
J Blaymires

Share Option Plan

J Blaymires

2010
Number

700,000
375,000

Exercise 
price 
(p/share)

–
–

2010 
Number

Exercise 
price 
(p/share)

910,930

70

2009
Number

–
–

2009
Number

–

Exercise 
price 
(p/share)

–
–

Exercise 
price 
(p/share)

–

Warrants
At 31 December 2010 the Directors held the following warrants over the Ordinary Shares of 50p each of the Company as follows; 

R J Armstrong

J Bryant

6  Finance income

Interest receivable comprised:
Interest on short-term 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  

Number

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

Exercise 
price 
(p/share)

55
75
55
75

Lapsed in 
year

(82,500)
(27,500)
(82,500)
(27,500)

2010  

Number

–
–
–
–

2010 
£000

2009 
£000

170

11

2010 
£000

2009 
£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 small profits rate of 
corporation tax in the United Kingdom of 21% (2009: 21%). 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 small profit rate of corporation tax in the UK for small 
companies of 21% (2009: 21%)
Tax effect of expenses not allowable for tax purposes
Net increase in unrecognised losses carried forward

Tax on loss on ordinary activities

2010 
£000

(1,543)

(324)
6
318

–

2009 
£000

(504)

(106)
1
105

–

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

33 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Consolidated financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2010

7 Tax on loss on ordinary activities continued
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
Related to share based payment transactions

IGL:
Petroliferous – Trading loss

Island Gas Operations Limited (“IGO”):
Trading loss

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

IGL:
Petroliferous – Mineral Extraction Allowances

2010 
£000

2009 
£000

4,830
13

3,488
–

156

17

1,200

1,200

4,644

1,386

*  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 2010 no temporary difference arises as a result of Minerals Extraction Allowances as they have not been claimed and depreciation of the related 

capitalised costs has not commenced (2009: 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. IGO’s losses may only be offset against future profits of IGO, if 
any. The tax losses have no expiry date.

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

2010

2009

(0.0169)
(0.0169)
(1,543)

(0.0076)
(0.0076)
(504)
91,070,160 66,412,564
91,070,160 66,412,564

There are 2,447,304 potentially dilutive warrants and options over the Ordinary Shares at 31 December 2010 (2009: 440,450), 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.

/ 34

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

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

2010 
£000

2009 
£000

1,334
3,310

4,644

476
858

1,334

–
–

–

–
–

–

4,644

1,334

1,334

476

Under certain agreements which the Group had in place with Nexen Exploration U.K. Limited (“Nexen” and the “Nexen Carry 
Agreements”) as at 31 December 2010, Nexen provides 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 was 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 2010 £5.6 million had been carried (2009: £5.1 million), which has not been recorded as either non-
current assets or liabilities, since to 31 December 2010 expenditure has been mainly related to appraisal work and repayment was not 
then sufficiently certain.

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 had 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 was 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%.

10  Property, plant and equipment

Cost
At 1 January 2009 and 1 January 2010
Additions
Disposals

At 31 December 2010

Accumulated depreciation
At 1 January 2009 and 1 January 2010
Charge for the year
Disposals

At 31 December 2010

Carrying amount
At 31 December 2010

At 31 December 2009

Used for 
exploration 
and 
evaluation 
£000

Fixtures, 
fittings and 
equipment 
£000

Motor 
vehicles 
£000

–
179
–

179

–
6
–

6

173

–

–
21
–

21

–
4
–

4

17

–

–
20
–

20

–
5
–

5

15

–

Total  
£000

–
220
–

220

–
15
–

15

205

–

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

35 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Consolidated financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2010

11  Trade and other receivables

VAT recoverable
Trade debtors
Accrued income
Other debtors
Prepayments

2010 
£000

375
61
73
–
80

589

2009 
£000

99
114
–
3
42

258

The carrying value of each of the Group’s financial assets being trade debtors is considered to be a reasonable approximation of its 
fair value.

All of the Group’s financial assets are from debtors of good credit standing and have been reviewed for indicators of impairment and no 
impairment provision was found to be required (2009: £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 £61 thousand (2009: £114 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

12 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and in hand

2010 
£000

61
–
–

61

2009 
£000

50
64
–

114

2010 
£000

2009 
£000

12,087

17,501

12,087

17,501

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.

13 Current liabilities

Trade and other payables:
Trade creditors
Employment related taxation
Deferred revenue
Accruals and other creditors

2010 
£000

2009 
£000

240
42
–
515

797

109
102
89
631

931

The carrying value of each of the Group’s financial liabilities being trade creditors 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 (2009: all 
within one month). 

/ 36

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

14  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 11 December 2009 farm-up agreement with Nexen

Total capital commitments

2010  
£000

2009  
£000

1,000
26
(141)

885
2,036

2,921

1,000
26
(637)

389
5,000

5,389

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

63

45

35

64

15  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 13.

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 50 basis points, with all other variables held constant, results in a decrease/increase in the Group’s loss before tax of 
£60 thousand/£(60) thousand respectively (2009: decrease/increase of £88 thousand/£(88) 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 11 and for cash in note 12.

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. £11.7 million (2009: £16 million) of cash and cash equivalents is deposited with a single institution.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

37 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Consolidated financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2010

15  Financial instruments continued
Trade receivables
Trade receivables credit risks are mitigated by only dealing with institutions that have investment grade credit ratings. £61 thousand 
(2009: £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.

16  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:

Authorised
1 January 2009, Ordinary Shares of 50p each
1 January 2009, Deferred Shares of .95p each

Ordinary Shares

Deferred shares

£000  
Nominal  
value

No.

£000 
Nominal 
value

No.

89,114,796

44,557

46,589,662

443

10 December 2009 new Ordinary Shares created

22,916,667

11,459

31 December 2009

31 December 2010

112,031,463

56,016 46,589,662

112,031,463

56,016 46,589,662

443

443

Ordinary Shares

Deferred shares

£000  
Nominal  
value

No.

£000 
Nominal 
value

No.

Issued and fully paid
1 January 2009, Ordinary Shares of 50p each
14 July 2009 shares issued
10 December 2009 shares issued

31 December 2009, Ordinary Shares of 50p each
23 April 2010 shares issued
26 October 2010 shares issued

31 December 2010, Ordinary Shares of 50p each

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

91,012,975
82,500
2,013,956

93,109,431

31,165
2,883
11,459

45,507
41
1,007

46,555

Share capital account
At 1 January 2009
Shares issued during the year

At 31 December 2009
Shares issued during the year

At 31 December 2010

/ 38

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

–

–

–

–

£000

4,275
14,342

18,617
1,048

19,665

16  Share capital continued
The following share transactions took place since 1 January 2009:

•	
•	
•	
•	

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;
23 April 2010  
26 October 2010 

– Company issued 82,500 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 55p each; and
– The Company issued 2,013,956 Ordinary 50p shares at a price of 64.5p 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.

17  Share plan/warrant reserve
The Company has made equity settled share-based payments, valued as follows:

Directors:
Balance 1 January
Transfer to retained earnings/(accumulated deficit) account re warrants
Employee share plans – cost under IFRS 2

Balance 31 December

2010  
£000

131
(131)
63

63

2009 
£000

167
(36)
–

131

Warrants
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 were expected 
to 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
Exercised in Period
Lapsed in Period

Outstanding at 31 December

Exercisable at 31 December

2010  
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price  

(pence)

60
55
60

2009  
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price  

(pence)

58
–
50

60

60

2009  
No.

523,830
–
(83,830)

440,000

440,000

2010  
No.

440,000
(82,500)
(357,500)

–

–

The weighted average remaining contractual life for the warrants outstanding as at 31 December 2010 is nil (2009: 12 months) with no 
maximum remaining term of options granted, (2009: 12 months).

Employee share plans – Equity settled
Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”)
In October 2010 the Company adopted a Long Term Incentive Plan scheme for certain key employees of the Group. Under the LTIP, 
participants can each be granted nil cost options over up to 1.5% of the issued share capital of the Company (subject to an overall plan 
limit of 7.5% of the issued share capital of the Company for all participants). The LTIP has a three year performance period and awards 
vest subject to the achievement of stretching share price targets. On a change of control prior to the third anniversary of the grant date, 
a revised share price target reflecting the reduction in the performance period shall instead be used to determine the extent to which 
LTIP options vest. Other than on a change of control, 50% of vested awards can be exercised and sold on vesting, with the remaining 
50% becoming exercisable on the first anniversary of vesting.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

39 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Consolidated financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2010

17  Share plan/warrant reserve continued
Details of the LTIPs outstanding during the year are as follows:

Outstanding at beginning of year
Granted during the year
Forfeited during the year
Exercised during the year

Outstanding at the end of the year

Exercisable at the end of the year

2010 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (in £)

Number of
LTIPs

2009 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (in £)

–
nil
–
–

nil

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

Number of 
LTIPs

–
1,125,000
–
–

1,125,000

–

There were no LTIPs exercised during the year. The LTIPs outstanding at 31 December 2010 had both a weighted average remaining 
contractual life and maximum remaining term of 9.75 years.

The total charge for the year was £6 thousand. Of this amount, £2 thousand was capitalised and £4 thousand was charged to the 
income statement in relation to the fair value of the awards granted under the LTIP scheme measured at grant date using a Monte Carlo 
Simulation Model. 

The inputs into the Monte Carlo model were as follows:

Weighted average share price
Weighted average exercise price
Expected volatility
Expected life
Risk-free rate
Expected dividends

2010

64.5p
Nil
35%
6.5 years
1.09%
0%

The expected life is the period from date of grant to the assumed exercise date. Expected volatility was determined by calculating the 
historical volatility of the Company’s share price. The weighted average fair value of the awards granted in 2010 was 6p (2009: nil).

Share option plan
In October 2010 the Company adopted a Share option plan for certain key employees of the Group. Both executives and employees 
may participate in the Share Option Plan. Typically each individual participant can be granted options under the Share Option Plan 
with a market value at grant of up to 100% of his base salary, although this limit can be exceeded in exceptional circumstances. Share 
options vest in three equal tranches over a three year period from the date of grant and vested options are exercisable subject to the 
attainment of a Company share price target.

2010 grants under the Share Option Plan are subject to an exercise price of 70p per share.

Details of the Share options outstanding during the year are as follows:

Outstanding at beginning of year
Granted during the year
Forfeited during the year
Exercised during the year

Outstanding at the end of the year

Exerciseable at the end of the year

/ 40

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

2010 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (in £)

2009 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (in £)

Number 
of share 
options

–
0.70
–
–

0.70

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

Number 
of share 
options

–
1,322,204
–
–

1,322,204

–

17  Share plan/warrant reserve continued
There were no Options exercised during the year. The unvested Options outstanding at 31 December 2010 had both a weighted 
average remaining contractual life and maximum remaining term of 9.75 years.

The total charge for the year was £57 thousand. Of this amount, £24 thousand was capitalised and £33 thousand was charged to the 
income statement in relation to the fair value of the awards granted under the Share Option scheme measured at grant date using a 
Monte Carlo Simulation Model. 

The inputs into the Monte Carlo model are as follows:

Weighted average share price
Weighted average exercise price
Expected volatility
Expected life
Risk-free rate
Expected dividends

2010

64.5p
Nil
35%
5–6.5 years
1.09%
0%

The expected life is the period from date of grant to to the assumed exercise date. Expected volatility was determined by calculating the 
historical volatility of the Company’s share price. The weighted average fair value of the awards granted in 2010 was 12p (2009: nil).

18  Other reserves
•	

Share premium account – The share premium account of the Group arises from the capital that the Company raises upon issuing 
shares for consideration in excess of the nominal value of the shares net of the costs of issuing the new shares. During the year 
the Company issued 82,500 and 2,013,956 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 55p and 64.5p each (2009: 28,683,333 Ordinary 
50p Shares at a price of 60p each). The cost of the issue was nil (2009: £1,121 thousand). Together these events resulted in a net 
movement in the Share Premium reserve of £297 thousand (2009: £1,783 thousand).
Treasury shares – The Treasury shares of the Group has arisen in connection with the shares issued to the IGas Employee Benefit 
Trust, of which the Company is the sponsoring entity. The value of such shares is recorded in share capital and share premium 
account in the ordinary way and is also shown as a deduction from equity in this separate other reserve account; and so there is not 
net effect on shareholders’ funds. During the period 2,013,956 shares were issued to the Employee Benefit Trust.
Retained earnings/(accumulated deficit) – This represents the historic accumulated losses less profits made by the Group 
accounted for under reverse accounting as explained in Note 1(m) and from transfers from the Share plan/warrant reserve, when 
warrants lapse.

•	

•	

19  Related party transactions
Key management personnel
There are no key management personnel other than Directors of the Company.

Short-term employee benefits
Share plan

2010 
£000

854
22

876

2009 
£000

746
–

746

Short-term employee benefits
These amounts comprise fees paid to the Directors in respect of salary and benefits earned during the relevant financial year, plus 
bonuses awarded for the year.

Share plan
This is the cost to the Group of Directors’ participation in LTIPs and Share Option plans, as measured by the fair value of LTIPs and 
options granted, accounted for in accordance with IFRS 2.

Further details regarding transactions with the Directors of the Group are disclosed in Note 5.

There are no other related party transactions.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

41 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Consolidated financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2010

20  Subsequent events
On 9 March 2011, the Company acquired the entire issued share capital of Nexen Exploration UK Limited (renamed IGas Exploration 
Limited) for a consideration of £25.6 million (the “Acquisition”). 39,714,290 new ordinary shares of 50p were allotted to Nexen 
Petroleum U.K. Limited credited as fully paid in consideration for the Acquisition. The acquisition is aligned with the Group’s strategy by 
securing 100% ownership of assets and operatorship through the purchase of Nexen Exploration UK Limited. 

The Company raised gross proceeds of £20.625 million for 27,500,000 new ordinary 50p shares when the Acquisition became 
unconditional on 9 March 2011.

Following completion of the Placing and the Acquisition, the Company’s current issued share capital is 160,323,721 Ordinary Shares.

On 22 March 2011, A Austin disposed of 770,000 shares.

/ 42

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

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”).

Under Company Law the Directors must not approve the Group financial statements unless they are satisfied that they 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:

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

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 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 
Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

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.

The Directors confirm that they have complied with these requirements and, having a reasonable expectation that the Group has 
adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, will continue to adopt the going concern basis in 
preparing the accounts.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

43 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

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 2010 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 14. 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 43, 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 and 
express an opinion on 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. In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information in the Annual Report to 
identify material inconsistencies with the audited financial statements. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or 
inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

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 2010;
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 2010.

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

20 May 2011

/ 44

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

Parent Company statement of comprehensive income
For the year ended 31 December 2010

Loss for the year
Other comprehensive income for the year

Total comprehensive loss for the year

2010  
£000

(1,401) 

–

(1,401) 

2009  
£000

(500)
–

(500)

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

45 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Parent Company balance sheet
As at 31 December 2010

Non-current assets
Investments in subsidiaries
Property, plant and equipment
Loans to 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 plan/warrant reserve
Treasury shares
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)

Shareholders’ funds

Notes

2010 
£000

2009 
£000

2
3
4

4
5

6

10
12
12
11
11

50,555
32
5,013

50,512
–
436

55,600

50,948

289
11,772

102
17,485

12,061

17,587

(530)

(530)

(112)

(112)

11,531

17,475

67,131

68,423

67,131

68,423

46,555
22,222
6,392
63
(1,299)
(6,802)

45,507
22,222
6,095
131
–
(5,532)

67,131

68,423

These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on 20 May 2011 and are signed on its behalf by:

Francis Gugen 
Non-Executive Chairman  

Andrew Austin
Chief Executive Officer

/ 46

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

 
 
 
Parent Company statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 December 2010

Called up 
share capital 
(Note 10) 
£000

Merger 
reserve 
£000

Share 
premium 
account 
£000

Share plan/
warrant 
reserve
£000

Retained 
earnings/ 
(accumulated 
deficit)  
£000

Treasury 
shares
£000

Total 
£000

Balance at 1 January 2009

31,165

22,222

4,312

167

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

–
–
14,342
–

–
–
–
–

–
36
2,868
(1,121)

–
(36)
–
–

Balance at 31 December 2009

45,507

22,222

6,095

131

–

–
–
–
–

–

(5,032)

52,834

(500)
–
–
–

(500)
–
17,210
(1,121)

(5,532)

68,423

Changes in equity for 2010
Loss for the year
Lapse of warrants
Employee share plans cost under IFRS2 (note 11)
Issue of shares

–
–
–
1,048

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
297

–
(131)
63
–

–
–
–
(1,299)

(1,401)
131
–
–

(1,401)
–
63
46

Balance at 31 December 2010

46,555

22,222

6,392

63

(1,299)

(6,802)

67,131

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

47 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Parent Company cash flow statement
For the year ended 31 December 2010

Operating activities:
Loss for the year

Depreciation, depletion and amortisation
Share-based payment charge
Finance income
(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables
Decrease in creditors due after one year

Net cash used in operating activities

Investing activities
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment
Loans granted to subsidiaries
Interest received

Net cash used investing activities

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

Net cash from financing activities

Net (decrease)/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

2010 
£000

2009 
£000

(1,401)

(500)

9
20
(170)
(86)
418
–

(1,210)

(41)
(4,678)
170

(4,549)

–
–
(11)
37
(140)
–

(614)

–
(211)
11

(200)

10
10

46
–

46

17,210
(1,121)

16,089

(5,713)
17,485

15,275
2,210

5

11,772

17,485

/ 48

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

Parent Company financial statements – notes
As at 31 December 2010

1  Accounting policies
(a)  Basis of preparation of financial statements
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 2010, and with the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements were approved and 
authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 20 May 2011. IGas Energy plc is a public limited company incorporated and registered 
in England and Wales.

The Company’s financial statements are presented in UK pound 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 2010.

International Accounting Standards (IFRS/IAS)

IFRS 2

Amendment to IFRS 2 – 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.

1 January 2010

Certain new standards, interpretations and amendments to existing standards have been published and are mandatory only for the 
Company’s accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2011 or later periods but which the Group has not adopted early. Those 
that may be applicable to the Company in future are as follows: 

Effective date

International Accounting Standards (IFRS/IAS)

Effective date

IAS 24

IFRS 9

Amendment to IAS 24 – Related Party Disclosures – This amendment clarifies the definition of a 
related party to simplify the identification of such relationships and to eliminate inconsistencies 
in its application. The revised standard introduces a partial exemption of disclosure requirements 
for government-related entities.

1 January 2011

IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments: Classification and Measurement – IFRS 9 as issued reflects the 
first phase of the IASBs work on the replacement of IAS 39 and applies to classification and 
measurement of financial assets as defined in IAS 39. The standard is effective for annual 
periods beginning on or after January 2013. In subsequent phases, the IASB will address 
classification and measurement of financial liabilities, hedge accounting and derecognition. The 
completion of this project is expected in early 2011. The adoption of the first phase of IFRS 9 
will have an effect on the classification and measurement of the Group’s financial assets. The 
Group will quantify the effect in conjunction with the other phases, when issued, to present a 
comprehensive picture.

1 January 2013

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.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

49 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Parent Company financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2010

1  Accounting policies continued
Improvements to IFRS
In May 2010 the IASB issued an omnibus of amendments to its standards. The amendments have not been adopted as they become 
effective for annual periods starting on or after either 1 July 2010 or 1 January 2011. 

•	
•	

IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures
IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements

None of the amendments that are effective for the year ended 31 December 2010 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 2011 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 2011 and 2012, and taking into consideration the acquisition of 
Nexen Exploration UK Ltd and the placing in March 2011, the current operating environment, the risks and the company’s liquidity risk 
management outlined in Note 9, the Directors are satisfied that the Company has adequate resources to continue in business as a going 
concern. It is therefore appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the 2010 Annual Report and Financial Statements.

(c)  Significant accounting estimates
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 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 in (d) below. Any impairment review, where required, involves estimates and associated assumptions 
related to matters (when appropriate), such as recoverable reserves; production profiles; review of forward gas and electricity prices; 
development, operational 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 affected 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 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 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 is charged to the income statement. 

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 and gas 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.

/ 50

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

 
1  Accounting policies continued
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 and the carrying value 
that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised in prior periods.

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  – over three years on a straight line basis
Motor Vehicles 
– over four years on a straight line basis 
Furniture and fixtures  – over five years on a straight line basis

(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.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

51 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Parent Company financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2010

1  Accounting policies continued
(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 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 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.

Where shares are issued to an Employee Benefit Trust, and the Company is the sponsoring entity, the value of such shares at issue will 
be recorded in share capital and share premium account in the ordinary way, but will not affect shareholders’ funds since this same 
value will be shown as a deduction from shareholders’ funds by way of a separate component of equity (Treasury shares).

(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 2009
Acquisition in the year, at fair value
Employee share based payment cost under IFRS 2
Disposals in the year

At 31 December 2009

At 31 December 2010

£000

50,512
–
43
–

50,555

50,555

The subsidiary undertakings of the Company at 31 December 2010 and 2009 which are all 100% owned directly by the Company and 
are all incorporated in England and Wales, were:

Name

Island Gas Limited

Island Gas Operations Limited

Principal activity

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

/ 52

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

3  Property, plant and equipment

Cost
At 1 January 2009 and 1 January 2010
Additions
Disposals

At 31 December 2010

Accumulated depreciation
At 1 January 2009 and 1 January 2010
Charge for the year
Disposals

At 31 December 2010

Carrying amount
At 31 December 2010

At 31 December 2009

4  Trade and other receivables

Amounts falling due within one year:
VAT recoverable
Other debtors
Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings
Prepayments

Amounts falling due after more than one year:
Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings

Fixtures, 
fittings and 
equipment 
£000

Motor 
vehicles 
£000

Total 
£000

–
21
–

21

–
4
–

4

17

–

–
20
–

20

–
5
–

5

15

–

–
41
–

41

–
9
–

9

32

–

2010 
£000

2009 
£000

131
2
101
55

289

5,013

5,013

59
3
–
40

102

436

436

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

All of the Company’s financial assets are from debtors of good credit standing and have been reviewed for indicators of impairment and 
no impairment provision was found to be required (2009: £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 financial assets reported above are from the Company’s subsidiary undertakings which represents a concentration of credit risk.

5  Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and in hand

2010 
£000

2009 
£000

11,772

17,485

11,772

17,485

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.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

53 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Parent Company financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2010

6  Current liabilities

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

2010 
£000

76
42
412

530

2009 
£000

32
–
80

112

The carrying value of each of the Company’s financial liabilities being trade creditors 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 (2009: all 
within one month). 

7  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

Related to share based payment transactions

2010 
£000

–

2009 
£000

–

4,830

3,488

13

–

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

8  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 £45 thousand (2009: £48 thousand).

9  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.

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 6. 

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 50 basis points, with all other variables held constant, results in a decrease/increase in the Company’s loss before 
tax of £59 thousand/£(59) thousand respectively (2009: decrease/increase of £87 thousand/£(87) 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 4 and 
cash in note 5.

/ 54

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

9  Financial instruments continued
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 Company will make deposits with banks where the United Kingdom 
government is the major shareholder. £11.7 million (2009: £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 in the Directors Report under the heading “Principal risks and uncertainties” on page 7.

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.

10  Share capital
Accordingly, share capital and the share capital account comprised:

Authorised
1 January 2009, Ordinary Shares of 50p each
1 January 2009, Deferred Shares of .95p each

Ordinary Shares

Deferred shares

£000  
Nominal  
value

No.

£000 
Nominal 
value

No.

89,114,796

44,557

46,589,662

443

10 December 2009 new Ordinary Shares created

22,916,667

11,459

31 December 2009

31 December 2010

Issued and fully paid
1 January 2009, Ordinary Shares of 50p each
14 July 2009 shares issued
10 December 2009 shares issued

31 December 2009, Ordinary Shares of 50p each
23 April 2010 shares issued
26 October 2010 shares issued

31 December 2010, Ordinary Shares of 50p each

112,031,463

56,016 46,589,662

112,031,463

56,016 46,589,662

443

443

Ordinary Shares

Deferred shares

£000  
Nominal  
value

No.

£000 
Nominal 
value

No.

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

91,012,975
82,500
2,013,956

93,109,431

31,165
2,883
11,459

45,507
41
1,007

46,555

–

–

–

–

The following share transactions took place since 1 January 2009: 

•	
•	
•	
•	

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 Company issued 82,500 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 55p each; and
23 April 2010  
– The Company issued 2,013,956 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 64.5p each
26 October 2010  

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.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

55 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Parent Company financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2010

11  Share plan/warrant reserve
The Company has made equity settled share based payments, valued as follows:

Balance 1 January
Transfers to Share Premium re: warrants
Employee share based payment cost under IFRS 2

Balance 31 December

2010 
£000

131
(131)
63

63

2009 
£000

167
(36)
–

131

Warrants
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.

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

At 1 January
Exercised in Period
Lapsed in Period

Outstanding at 31 December

Exercisable at 31 December

2010  
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price  

(pence)

60
55
60

2009  
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price  

(pence)

58
–
50

60

60

2009  
No.

523,830
–
(83,830)

440,000

440,000

2010  
No.

440,000
(82,500)
(357,500)

–

–

The weighted average remaining contractual life for the warrants outstanding as at 31 December 2010 is nil (2009: 12 months) with no 
maximum remaining term of options granted, (2009: 12 months).

Employee share plans – Equity settled
Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”)
In October 2010 the Company adopted a Long Term Incentive Plan scheme for certain key employees of the Group. Under the LTIP, 
participants can each be granted nil cost options over up to 1.5% of the issued share capital of the Company (subject to an overall plan 
limit of 7.5% of the issued share capital of the Company for all participants). The LTIP has a three year performance period and awards 
vest subject to the achievement of stretching share price targets. On a change of control prior to the third anniversary of the grant date, 
a revised share price target reflecting the reduction in the performance period shall instead be used to determine the extent to which 
LTIP options vest. Other than on a change of control, 50% of vested awards can be exercised and sold on vesting, with the remaining 
50% becoming exercisable on the first anniversary of vesting.

Details of the LTIPs outstanding during the year were as follows:

Outstanding at beginning of year
Granted during the year
Forfeited during the year
Exercised during the year

Outstanding at the end of the year

Exercisable at the end of the year

2010 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (in £)

–
nil
–
–

nil

–

Number of 
LTIPs

–
1,125,000
–
–

1,125,000

–

2009 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (in £)

–
–
–
–

–

–

LTIPs

–
–
–
–

–

–

There were no LTIPs exercised during the year. The LTIPs outstanding at 31 December 2010 had both a weighted average remaining 
contractual life and maximum remaining term of 9.75 years.

/ 56

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

11  Share plan/warrant reserve continued
The total charge for the year was £6 thousand. Of this amount, £3 thousand was charged to the subsidiary and £3 thousand was 
charged to the income statement in relation to the fair value of the awards granted under the LTIP scheme measured at grant date using 
a Monte Carlo Simulation Model. 

The inputs into the Monte Carlo model are as follows:

Weighted average share price
Weighted average exercise price
Expected volatility
Expected life
Risk-free rate
Expected dividends

2010

64.5p
Nil
35%
6.5 years
1.09%
0%

The expected life is the period from date of grant to the assumed exercise date. Expected volatility was determined by calculating the 
historical volatility of the Company’s share price. The weighted average fair value of the awards granted in 2010 was 6p (2009: nil).

Share option plan
In October 2010 the Company adopted a Share option plan for certain key employees of the Group. Both executives and employees 
may participate in the Share Option Plan. Typically each individual participant can be granted options under the Share Option Plan 
with a market value at grant of up to 100% of his base salary, although this limit can be exceeded in exceptional circumstances. Share 
options vest in three equal tranches over a three year period from the date of grant and vested options are exercisable subject to the 
attainment of a Company share price target.

2010 grants under the Share Option Plan are subject to an exercise price of 70p per share.

Details of the Share options outstanding during the year are as follows:

Outstanding at beginning of year
Granted during the year
Forfeited during the year
Exercised during the year

Outstanding at the end of the year

Exerciseable at the end of the year

2010 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (in £)

2009 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (in £)

Number 
of share 
options

–
0.70
–
–

0.70

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

Number 
of share 
options

–
1,322,204
–
–

1,322,204

–

There were no Options exercised during the year. The unvested Options outstanding at 31 December 2010 had both a weighted 
average remaining contractual life and maximum remaining term of 9.75 years.

The total charge for the year was £57 thousand. Of this amount, £40 thousand was charged to the subsidiary and £17 thousand was 
charged to the income statement in relation to the fair value of the awards granted under the Share Option scheme measured at grant 
date using a Monte Carlo Simulation Model. 

The inputs into the Monte Carlo model are as follows:

Weighted average share price
Weighted average exercise price
Expected volatility
Expected life
Risk-free rate
Expected dividends

2010

64.5p
Nil
35%
5–6.5 years
1.09%
0%

The expected life is the period from date of grant to the assumed exercise date. Expected volatility was determined by calculating the 
historical volatility of the Company’s share price. The weighted average fair value of the awards granted in 2010 was 12p (2009: nil).

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

57 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Parent Company financial statements – notes continued
As at 31 December 2010

12  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 for consideration in excess of the nominal value of the shares net of the costs of issuing the new. During the year 
the Company issued 82,500 and 2,013,956 Ordinary 50p Shares at a price of 55p and 64.5p each (2009: 28,683,333 Ordinary 
50p Shares at a price of 60p each). The cost of the issue was nil (2009: £1,121 thousand). Together these events resulted in a net 
movement in the Share Premium reserve of £297 thousand (2009: £1,783 thousand).
Treasury shares – The Treasury shares of the Company has arisen in connection with the shares issued to the IGas Employee Benefit 
Trust of which the Company is the sponsoring entity. The value of such shares is recorded in share capital and share premium 
account in the ordinary way and is also shown as a deduction from equity in this separate Treasury shares account; and so there is 
not net effect on shareholders’ funds.
Retained Earnings/(accumulated deficit) – This represents the historic accumulated losses made by the Company shares and from 
transfers from the Share plan/warrant reserve, when warrants lapse.

•	

•	

•	

13  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

Island Gas Operations Limited:

Balance 1 January
Net cash advances

Balance 31 December

A summary of year end balances is as follows:

Amounts due from Subsidiary:
Island Gas Limited
Island Gas Operations Limited

2010 
£000

2009 
£000

436
–
4,046
531

5,013

–
101

101

225
(112)
(196)
519

436

–
(519)

225

5,013
101

436
–

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

(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 Notes 5 and 19 to the consolidated accounts.

14 Subsequent events
On 9 March 2011, the Company acquired the entire issued share capital of Nexen Exploration UK Limited (renamed IGas Exploration 
Limited) for a consideration of £25.6 million (the “Acquisition”). 39,714,290 new ordinary shares of 50p were allotted to Nexen 
Petroleum U.K. Limited credited as fully paid in consideration for the Acquisition. The acquisition is aligned with the Group’s strategy by 
securing 100% ownership of assets and operatorship through the purchase of Nexen Exploration UK Limited. 

The Company raised gross proceeds of £20.625 million for 27,500,000 new Ordinary 50p Shares when the Acquisition became 
unconditional on 9 March 2011.

Following completion of the Placing and the Acquisition, the Company’s current issued share capital is 160,323,721 Ordinary Shares.

On 22 March 2011, A Austin disposed of 770,000 shares.

/ 58

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

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 section of the document unless the context requires otherwise:

“2006 Act” 

the Companies Act 2006

“Accounts” 

the audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2010

“Annual General 
Meeting” or “AGM” 

the annual general meeting of the Company convened for Monday 20 June 2011 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

“Company” 

IGas Energy plc

“Form of Proxy” 

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

“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 Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP, Citypoint, One Ropemaker 
Street, London EC2Y 9AW at 10:30 am on Monday 20 June 2011, at which the following resolutions will be proposed:

1.  to receive and adopt the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year ended on 31 December 2010, 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 2010 and the 

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

3.  to reappoint as a Director Richard Armstrong 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 Andrew Austin 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 Bryant who, in accordance with the Articles, is required to retire by rotation at the Annual General 

Meeting and, being eligible, offers himself for reappointment;

6.  to reappoint as a Director John Blaymires 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;

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

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

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

10. to grant the Directors the power to disapply the statutory pre-emption rights for certain shares in the capital of the Company.

Resolutions 1 and 2 and 7 and 8 are self explanatory. Information on the other Resolutions is provided below. Resolutions 1 to 9 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. Resolution 10 is a special resolution that requires to be passed 
the approval of 75% of such Shareholders, determined in the same way as for the ordinary resolutions.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

59 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Proposed business of the Annual General Meeting continued

Resolution 3 – reappointment of Richard Armstrong as a Director
Mr Armstrong 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 a Non-Executive Director.

As well as being a Non-Executive Director of the Company, Mr Armstrong 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, such as Weatherly International plc and Artilium plc. In most cases he has joined the Board of these companies 
and has played a major role in helping them to acquire or establish operating businesses. He is currenrly a Director of a number of 
unquoted companies. 

Resolution 4 – reappointment of Andrew Austin as a Director
Mr Austin 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 Chief Executive Officer.

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

Resolution 5 – reappointment of John Bryant as a Director
Mr Bryant 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 Senior Independent Non-Executive Director. 

Mr Bryant is the Chairman of AIM listed Weatherly International plc. He was until recently a board member of the Attiki Gas Company, 
which supplies natural gas to Athens and the surrounding districts. Mr Bryant 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, Mr Bryant 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. Mr Bryant is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Resolution 6 – reappointment of John Blaymires as a Director
Mr Blaymires was appointed as Chief Operating Officer in April 2010 and as a Director of the Company on 19 October 2010, 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 
complement the board. The Nomination Committee has considered his re-appointment and considers that his performance remains 
effective, particularly having regard to his responsibilities as Chief Operating Officer.

Mr Blaymires has 27 years of international experience in the oil and gas industry gained with the Hess Corporation and Shell 
International. Before joining the Company he was Director of Technology Development for Hess based in Houston, where he helped 
develop a global engineering and geoscience technology group responsible for providing support across the E&P business, from 
deepwater to unconventional resources. Prior to that, Mr Blaymires was Technical Director for Hess’ operations in West Africa, and 
subsequently South East Asia with responsibility for several major oil and gas developments. Mr Blaymires has a BSc and PhD in Mining 
Engineering from Leeds University.

Resolution 9 – authority to issue shares
At the Annual General Meeting held on 7 June 2010, the Directors were authorised, in accordance with section 551 of the 2006 Act, 
to allot Ordinary Shares, grant rights to subscribe or to convert any security into Ordinary Shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of 
£15,168,829. This authority expires at the conclusion of this Annual General Meeting.

In addition, at the General Meeting held on 4 March 2011, 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 

/ 60

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

nominal amount of £33,607,145 (in addition to the existing authority conferred on the Directors by the ordinary resolution passed by 
the Company on 7 June 2010). The Directors of the Company allotted Ordinary Shares to the extent of this authority pursuant to each 
of the acquisition of Nexen Exploration UK Limited and the placing of 27,500,000 Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company, as 
announced on 9 March 2011.

It is therefore proposed to revoke the existing authority and replace it 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 £26,720,620 representing approximately one third of the issued ordinary share capital of 
the Company and a further aggregate nominal amount of £26,720,620 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 Ordinary 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.

Resolution 10 – 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 £12,024,279 representing approximately 15 per cent. of the equity share capital of the Company 
(including treasury shares) 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 9 and 
10 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.

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 Company’s registrars, Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, 
Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY, as soon as possible, but in any event no later than 10:30 am on 16 June 2011. Alternatively, you may e-mail 
or fax your completed proxy form by following the instructions in Note (3) to the Notice of Annual General Meeting.

Such an electronic appointment must also be made no later than 10:30 am on 16 June 2011.

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 38,483,847 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 24% of the issued 
share capital.

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

61 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

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 Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP, 
Citypoint, One Ropemaker Street, London EC2Y 9AW at 10:30 am on Monday 20 June 2011 to consider, and if thought fit, pass the 
following resolutions of which resolutions 1 to 9 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolution 10 will be proposed as a 
special resolution.

Ordinary business
1.  To receive and adopt the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2010 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 2010 and the 

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

3.  To reappoint as a Director, Richard Armstrong, 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, Andrew Austin, 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 Bryant, 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.

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

accordance with Article 33.2 of the Company’s Articles of Association and who being eligible is offering himself for reappointment.

7.  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.

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

Special business
9.  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 Companies Act 2006 (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 £26,720,620; and

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

£26,720,620 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.

/ 62

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

 
10. That, subject to and conditionally upon the passing of resolution 9, 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 9 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 9, 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

(B)  shall be limited to:

(1)  the allotment of equity securities of up to an aggregate nominal amount of £26,720,620 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 (B)(1) up to an aggregate maximum 

nominal amount of £12,024,279.

20 May 2011

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

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

63 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

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.

(3)  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 The Pavilions, Bridgewater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY not later than 10:30am on 16 June 2011 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 Monday 20 June 2011” 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 Monday 20 June 2011”.

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.

(4)  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.

(5)  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 10:30 am on 16 June 2011 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.

(6)  No e-mail address or fax number referred to in this document may be used for any purpose other than as specified in this document.

(7)  Shareholders, proxies and authorised representatives may raise questions at the meeting concerning any business being dealt with at the meeting and will receive 

answers, except that a question need not be answered where it would interfere unduly with the preparation of the meeting, would involve the disclosure of confidential 
information, where the answer has already been given on a website in the form of an answer to a question or where it is undesirable in the interests of the Company or 
the good order of the meeting that the question be answered.

(8)  Please note that the Annual General Meeting is a private meeting for shareholders, proxies and any other duly authorised representatives. Other persons, including spouses 

and partners of those entitled to attend are not entitled as of right to admission to the meeting.

/ 64

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

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

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

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

65 /

/ Overview
/ Business review
/ Corporate governance
/ Financial statements

Notes

/ 66

IGas Energy plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

Focused on delivering 
commercial production.

 100% ownership and operatorship

/ 
/  Resources more than doubled
 Funds in place for accelerated  
/ 
drilling programme
/  Team in place to deliver

/ General information

– Non-Executive Chairman
– Chief Executive Officer
– Chief Operating Officer

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

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

Nominated Adviser and Broker
RBS Hoare Govett Limited
250 Bishopsgate
London EC2M 4AA

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).

Overview
01  Our highlights
02  IGas Energy at a glance

Business Review
04  Chairman’s statement
06  Chief Executive’s statement
08  Corporate social responsibility 

report

Corporate Governance
10  Directors
12  Corporate governance
14  Directors’ remuneration report
17  Directors’ report

Financial Statements
Consolidated financial statements
20   Directors’ statement of 

responsibilities in respect thereof
Independent auditor’s report
21 
22  Consolidated income statement
23   Consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income
24  Consolidated balance sheet
25   Consolidated statement  
of changes in equity
26   Consolidated cash flow 

27 

statement
 Consolidated financial 
statements – notes

Parent financial statements
43   Directors’ statement of 

Annual General Meeting
59   Proposed business of the  

responsibilities in respect thereof

Annual General Meeting

62    Notice of Annual General Meeting
65   Glossary
IBC General information

44  Independent auditor’s report
45   Parent company statement  

of comprehensive income
46  Parent company balance sheet
 Parent company statement  
47 
of changes in equity
48   Parent company cash  

flow statement

49   Parent company financial 
statements – notes

Delivering 
secure gas,
onshore

I

G
a
s
E
n
e
r
g
y
p
l
c

A
n
n
u
a
l

R
e
p
o
r
t
a
n
d
A
c
c
o
u
n
t
s
2
0
1
0

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

IGas Energy plc
Annual Report and  
Accounts 2010