Independent Oil and Gas plc
Report and Audited Financial Statements
Year Ended
31 December 2020
Company Number 07434350
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2020
Contents
Page
Chief Executive’s Review ............................................................................................................. 2
Strategic Report ............................................................................................................................ 5
2020 Highlights .................................................................................................................. 5
Post Year End Developments ........................................................................................... 5
Statement of Reserves & Resources .............................................................................. 10
Corporate Governance Statement .................................................................................. 26
Report of the Directors ............................................................................................................... 34
Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities ................................................................................... 36
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income ................................................................ 45
Consolidated and Company Statements of Changes in Equity ............................................... 46
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position .......................................................................... 47
Company Statement of Financial Position ................................................................................ 48
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement ........................................................................................... 49
Company Cash Flow Statement ................................................................................................. 50
Notes forming part of the financial statements ......................................................................... 51
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 1 of 100
Annual Report 2020
CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
Chief Executive’s Review
2020 Review
2020 was another year of real progress for Independent Oil and Gas plc (IOG), paving the way for first gas production
from our Core Project in 2021, despite the challenges of Covid-19. With a strong financial footing in place after the
Farm-out and Bond issue in 2019, our challenge in 2020 was to progress the safe, efficient and timely delivery of Phase
1 whilst also building out the organisation to deliver successive phases of growth. I am proud of our efforts on both
these fronts.
IOG’s value proposition remains compelling: a focused portfolio that leverages our ownership and operatorship of key
infrastructure, delivering gas at low cost and with low carbon intensity directly into a heavily import-dependent UK
market, to generate strong shareholder returns. Our infrastructure position both onshore and offshore is a critical
differentiator, saving substantial time and cost in accessing the market.
We see Phase 1 as the springboard to execute an efficient hub strategy with successive phases of growth,
commercialising gas assets across the full life cycle. We can enhance returns both via capital efficient development of
nearby discovered gas but also, via advanced subsurface imaging, selecting the best step-out exploration and appraisal
opportunities to feed our production system. We will continue to evaluate such growth opportunities through the lens of
risked internal rates of return and value per share, rather than pure asset size or production volumes. We also view
acquisition opportunities, whether asset level or otherwise, through the same disciplined lens of risk-adjusted value
accretion versus our existing portfolio.
Through the combined expertise of our people, our purpose is to build a differentiated energy company, with a dynamic
culture of continuous improvement and effective collaboration, underpinned by fundamental respect for people and the
environment. By late 2020 we had completed our process of bringing in house all discipline lead positions and other
specialist staff, from technical, operational and HSE to finance, legal, commercial and contracts and procurement. This
comprehensive team strengthening is important not only for Phase 1 but for our wider strategic plans to generate and
execute successive phases of growth. This process culminated in early 2021 with the appointment of David Gibson as
our new Chief Operating Officer following Mark Hughes’ retirement in late 2020.
While delivering strong financial returns to shareholders, we also believe these phases of growth will enable IOG to
play a meaningful role in the UK’s journey to Net Zero by 2050. Gas is a key fuel in the Energy Transition and domestic
gas is especially impactful versus imported sources in reducing the carbon intensity of UK energy supply. Our Climate
Change and Sustainability Policy adopted in 2020 reaffirms our ambition to be a safe, efficient, low-carbon intensity gas
producer, delivering reliable domestic energy resources to UK homes and businesses.
Our goal is to establish IOG as one of the lowest carbon intensity operators in the North Sea. To that end we have
commissioned an independent assessment of projected Phase 1 emissions, which benefit from existing infrastructure,
low-impact normally unmanned platforms, automated operations and shallow-water drilling. This assessment will
provide the baseline for further improvements, development of a carbon neutrality target and analysis of potential
emissions mitigants. We also plan to integrate emissions benchmarks into future investment decisions, enabling further
projects to be better by design, capturing both carbon and cost savings from the outset.
In 2020 we made important operational strides in successful Phase 1 execution, signing major contracts with recognised
contractors for key workstreams. We aim to work with contractors with deep experience in their field, a strong value
proposition, and who share our ethos of safe, efficient and responsible operatorship.
HSM, the Dutch contractor with extensive platform construction experience, won the engineering, procurement,
construction and installation (EPCI) contract for the Blythe and Southwark normally unmanned installation (NUI)
platforms, which we expect to operate in a low cost and low carbon way. We will shortly reach mechanical completion
on both platforms and installation at their field locations is scheduled for Q2 2021. Operated by IOG and co-owned with
our partner CalEnergy Resources (UK) Limited (CER), they form part of our infrastructure-led strategy, as potential
hosts for further IOG-CER joint venture assets as well as a conduit into the Thames Pipeline for tariffed third-party gas.
The Phase 1 Subsea, Umbilicals, Risers and Flowlines (SURF) contract, incorporating key subsea project management,
engineering, procurement, construction and installation activities, was awarded to leading contractor Subsea 7 in Q2
2020. An important element of this scope was then delivered with the welding, reeling and installation of the Blythe 12-
inch and Elgood 6-inch lines during Q3 and Q4.
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
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Annual Report 2020
CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
We also progressed the key objective of recommissioning the Thames Pipeline and associated Thames Reception
Facilities (TRF) at Bacton. With its inherent capital cost savings and scope for both owned and third-party gas, this
recommissioning is a fundamental enabler of our strategy. We safely and successfully completed all planned tie-ins to
the onshore Perenco Lancelot Area Pipeline System (LAPS) facilities during the Bacton scheduled maintenance
shutdown in Q4, and undertook rigorous clean-out and inspection of the TRF slugcatchers to prepare for their re-use.
We are working closely with onshore EPC contractor ODE and Bacton operator Perenco UK Limited (PUK) to complete
recommissioning works for first gas, and are also seeing healthy levels of interest in our gas sales tender process.
In 2020 we also accepted a 32nd Round offer as operator in 50:50 partnership with CER for the new licence P2589
containing the Panther and Grafton discoveries with initial management estimated recoverable gas resources of 46
BCF and 35 BCF respectively. This award reflects our good relationship with CER, who remain a strong and supportive
Core Project partner. We also continue to operate the business development efforts across our Area of Mutual Interest
(AMI) with CER, which may open up further opportunities for synergistic acquisitions.
We continue to assess our portfolio against rigorous technical and commercial standards, enabling us to focus our
acreage position and deploy capital where it creates most value for shareholders. This philosophy underpins our
extensive seismic reprocessing and remapping work over the past year, which is giving us the best possible subsurface
understanding to progress our hopper of incremental investment opportunities. This has enabled us to recently update
our resource estimates for the Goddard and Abbeydale licences.
From a finance perspective, through 2020 we continued to use the proceeds of our major 2019 funding transactions,
the £165 million Farm-out and €100 million Bond issue. We benefitted from the £60 million Phase 1 partner development
carry, which lasted into early 2021, with a further €66 million in undrawn Bond funds remaining at the year end.
In terms of the wider business risk environment, the Covid-19 pandemic and the UK’s withdrawal from the EU were two
major issues affecting the UK. Fortunately, Brexit is unlikely to significantly impact IOG given that our Phase 1 contracts
are largely in place and relate to offshore UK or domestic activities. By contrast, Covid-19 presented obvious logistical
challenges throughout 2020 and beyond, requiring effective closure of our offices for extended periods. Our three
priorities have remained the same throughout: protect our people, deliver the project and ensure business continuity.
We moved quickly to ensure a safe operating environment and minimise virus transmission risks, and implemented
effective remote working practices with robust communication systems to ensure the team could continue to deliver our
objectives effectively. The team’s resilience and adaptability in these circumstances enabled us both to deliver our
intended organisational growth in 2020 and maintain progress towards first gas by Q3 2021. I am pleased to say we
have not furloughed or released any staff in light of Covid-19. However, as we ramp up our operational activities, notably
development drilling, we remain very mindful of the challenges it continues to pose for our business. We are taking all
reasonable precautions to manage these risks, and with the calibre of our people, our portfolio and our partnerships, I
have never been more confident of our ability to overcome them.
2021 Outlook
We continue our strenuous efforts to deliver our Core Project in a safe, timely and cost-effective manner with a low
carbon footprint. Over Q1 2021, with all major Phase 1 contracts in place or underway, we have undertaken a rigorous
cost and schedule review, assessing progress against project budget and target timeline. This has reaffirmed our
guidance on expected first gas by late Q3 2021, likely in September, to come initially from the Blythe hub fields.
Delivering on this demanding timeline will be testament to our team’s tireless efforts in testing external circumstances.
Our cost and schedule review has indicated a final Phase 1 capex out-turn within 10% of the original £306 million (gross)
budget. Most importantly, that means we expect to deliver Phase 1 within our existing resources, without requiring
supplementary funding. While we continue to make every effort to manage cost across the project, we have seen cost
increases in certain areas of the project although partially mitigated by savings in other areas. In particular, the highly
mobile seabed sand waves on the route from the 24-inch Thames Pipeline extension to the Southwark platform location
have made this a challenging installation environment. This operation is scheduled for early 2022 in parallel with batch
drilling of the three Southwark development wells. Operating offshore in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic has also
led to incremental costs. At this stage of project delivery, with the five-well drilling programme starting imminently,
scope naturally remains for further cost variations but our team is very focused on managing those risks.
Looking forward, I believe we have the right vision and right team for success. Getting into production will be a major
milestone for IOG, but we believe it will be just one step in a greater journey, with a series of high-value, low-carbon
gas projects delivering material shareholder returns and maximising the value of our Core Project infrastructure. We
have demonstrated the growth potential within our current portfolio, including recent licensing additions, to achieve
this.
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
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Annual Report 2020
CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
Equally, we continue to work in a structured and disciplined way to capture genuinely value-adding inorganic
opportunities to grow the portfolio. Fundamental to this strategy is our low-carbon operating philosophy that will enable
IOG to contribute to the UK’s Energy Transition.
I would like to thank the whole IOG team and board for all their continued hard work to realise our ambitions. I also
thank our shareholders, both institutional and individual, for their continued support. We will continue to do our very
best to fulfil your belief in us.
Andrew Hockey
Chief Executive Officer
17 March 2021
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 4 of 100
Annual Report 2020
STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
Strategic Report
2020 Highlights
Corporate and Operational
• Phase 1 development works extensively progressed across all four key project elements: platforms, subsea,
drilling and onshore, with a view to safely and successfully delivering first gas in Q3 2021
• EPCI contract signed with HSM for the Phase 1 Blythe and Southwark normally unmanned installation platforms
o Engineering and fabrication activities progressed through 2020 at HSM’s yard in the Netherlands
• Phase 1 SURF scope EPCI contract signed with Subsea
o Fabrication, transportation, preparation and installation of Blythe 12” and Elgood 6” lines completed
• Extensive preparation, contracting and procurement undertaken for the five-well Phase 1 drilling programme
o Rig contract awarded to Noble Corporation’s Noble Hans Deul jack-up following a competitive selection
process
o Petrofac was awarded a well management contract and approved as Well Operator for Phase 1
o Detailed Well Design initiated and extensive Tier 1, 2 and 3 services and tangibles contracts awarded
• Engineering, procurement and construction work progressed at the Thames Reception Facilities (TRF) onshore
at the Bacton Gas Terminal (BGT), where IOG’s gas will land to shore
o Tie-ins to LAPS facilities successfully completed and TRF slugcatchers cleaned out for reuse
• Phase 1 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Field Development Plan (FDP) approved in April 2020
• Portfolio expanded via award of new licence P2589 (Panther and Grafton), operated by IOG (50%) with CER
as non-operating partner (50%), in 32nd Offshore Licensing Round
• Reprocessing of 3D seismic to PSDM across full portfolio to enhance subsurface understanding and optimise
development planning
• New Climate Change and Sustainability Policy and Social Policy adopted; Health, Safety and Environment
(HSE) Policy updated
• Adapted to Covid-19 restrictions throughout the year, maintaining three fundamental priorities: protecting our
people, delivering the project and ensuring business continuity
Financial
• Cash balance at period end of £80.4 million (2019: £98.3 million), including restricted cash of £67.0 million
(2019: £82.0 million)
• Post tax loss for the year of £19.3 million (2019: Profit £15.0 million)
• Group net debt1 at year end £14.1 million (2019: £9.0 million net cash)
• £43.8 million of partner development carry from CER utilised in the period under Farm-out agreement, and
£48.3 million in total since FID, out of a total of £60 million available
• €11.7 million (£10.0 million) drawn down from Bond escrow account in the period, leaving a balance of €66
million (£59.2 million) in escrow at year end, to be drawn at further milestones as laid out in Bond terms
• €9.7 million (£7.7 million) in Bond interest payments made from Debt Service Retention Account (DSRA)
Board and Management
• Operational and technical teams significantly strengthened, with all key discipline leads brought in-house, to
optimise Phase 1 execution and prepare the way for further phases of growth
• Mark Hughes stepped down as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Executive Director
Post Year End Developments
• Appointment of David Gibson as Chief Operating Officer in February 2021
• Guidance reaffirmed for first gas by late Q3 2021, with Phase 1 gross capex outturn projected to come within
10% of initial £306 million budget
• Phase 1 platforms set for mechanical completion in early Q2 ahead of installation later in Q2
1 Net debt is defined as total loans, less restricted cash and cash equivalents, adding back the financial asset being the
Company’s holding of its own bonds.
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
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Annual Report 2020
STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
• Detailed well design, final contracting and permitting being concluded before first of five development wells
spuds in early Q2
• Further drawdown of €27.3 million (£23.7 million) from the Bond escrow account made in Q1
o The two final Bond drawdowns are expected to be made early in Q2
• Management estimated resources upgraded for the P2438 (Goddard) and P2442 (Abbeydale) licences based
on interpretations of newly reprocessed seismic data
• Phase 1 gas sales tender process initiated, with Energy Contract Company as advisor, and over 10 integrated
energy firms, utilities and trading houses formally expressing interest
Independent emissions assessment for Phase 1 initiated in Q1, with initial results expected later in Q2
•
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 6 of 100
Annual Report 2020
STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
Business Strategy
IOG’s strategy is to be a safe, efficient and low-carbon developer and producer of high-value gas. The Company deploys
a focused infrastructure-led gas hub strategy as a cost-effective path to creating maximum value for shareholders,
leveraging off its co-ownership of the Thames Pipeline gas export route and associated onshore reception facilities.
These midstream assets are key pieces of infrastructure providing direct access to the UK gas market via the Bacton
Gas Terminal. Along with operatorship of its diversified portfolio of eight 50%-owned and one 100%-owned gas assets
in the UK Southern North Sea, this provides both substantial economic benefits and a clear competitive advantage for
further business development in the area.
The Company’s first focus is the successful development execution of Phase 1, targeting first gas in Q3 2021. Delivering
Phase 1 is expected to realise significant inherent value and pave the way for Phase 2 and other incremental business
development opportunities. These opportunities fall into several categories, all focused on monetising the upside
potential created by the existing infrastructure, with significant spare capacity in the Thames Pipeline. These categories
are: discoveries within IOG acreage (such as Harvey and Abbeydale); low-cost addition of further discovered gas assets
via Licensing Rounds (most recently the Company picked up the P2589 licence containing Panther and Grafton in the
32nd Round); acquisitions from third-parties of undeveloped assets within the wider catchment area of the Thames
Pipeline; tariffing opportunities for third-party owned assets; and finally re-development of nearby shut-in or previously
developed fields where commercial potential remains.
The strategy focuses on prioritising the highest return opportunities and delivering them in successive phases, whilst
maximising development and operating synergies. The objective is to achieve the best risk-adjusted overall returns to
investors, rather than reach particular reserves or production targets. This strategy has the potential to commercialise
relatively small gas assets that would otherwise be stranded, marginal or sub-economic on a standalone basis.
Furthermore, the Company’s strategy is to continue wherever possible to operate its assets, drawing on its in-house
technical and operational expertise – this is an important differentiator for business development and enhanced returns.
The Company has a strategic focus on gas, the cleanest hydrocarbon which is fundamental to security of energy supply
in the UK. With over half of UK gas consumption imported, stable domestic gas supply is of strategic importance for the
country’s power generation, industrial and domestic heating requirements. Given its relatively low production and
transportation costs, IOG’s domestically produced gas has economic and environmental advantages over pipeline and
LNG imports, and importantly also benefits from a lower carbon footprint than other hydrocarbons. As such, maximising
economic recovery from domestic North Sea gas resources is expected to remain a core government objective over
the lifetime of IOG’s assets.
In 2020 the world economy was severely impacted by the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant
adjustments rapidly became necessary in respect of IOG’s operating procedures, the Group’s business strategy has
not been fundamentally changed as a result. Since the pandemic emerged, the Group has consistently articulated and
followed three key priorities: protect our people, deliver the project and ensure business continuity. At the time of writing,
the UK remains under a government lockdown and the Group has continued to follow government guidelines at all
times. As an organisation IOG moved quickly to implement the necessary remote working practices, supported by
robust communication systems, and made all reasonable efforts to ensure a safe operating environment and minimise
virus transmission risks. Ultimately, the risks around Covid-19 are among a wide array of risks to be effectively managed
by the Group in pursuit of successful execution of its strategy. That said, the Group remains highly conscious and
vigilant in respect of Covid-19-related risks given the criticality of Phase 1 development progress and the requirement
for significant periods of offshore activity over 2021-22.
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 7 of 100
Annual Report 2020
STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)
The Company continues to maintain and develop its capability and capacity to undertake its role as appointed Licence
Holder and Field Operator of the fields for which it holds a licence interest, and to do so in a responsible manner that
protects people and the environment from harm. We see compliance with all applicable HSE laws, regulations and
obligations as essential for our long-term sustainable success.
As laid out in our HSE Policy, which can be read in full on the IOG website, the Company aims to design and plan all
its activities to ensure that HSE risks are identified and managed to be as low as reasonably practicable. It seeks to
implement all reasonable measures to ensure the health and safety of our people and other personnel directly involved
in its operations. It aims to maintain rigorous environmental management processes and to achieve the highest
standards in environmental performance. Along with promoting a culture of speaking up internally on any HSE concerns
or risks, it also actively seeks the same HSE standards from consultants, contractors, partners, duty holders and other
personnel acting in the Company’s name or working on IOG premises or assets. The Company also maintains, and
where necessary will exercise, suitable Crisis Management Plans and facilities.
The HSE and Technical Committee of the Board continued to convene throughout 2020 and provide oversight and
direction for strategy and conduct across the broad spectrum of HSE considerations for the business.
In April 2020, the Phase 1 EIA was approved by the BEIS Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and
Decommissioning (OPRED) and the Phase 1 Field Development Plan was approved by the OGA. Accordingly,
construction and installation of the Phase 1 SURF infrastructure commenced in 2020 and continues into 2021 with no
lost time incidents.
Safety Cases for Southwark and Blythe (including Elgood) were prepared by our appointed Installation Operator and
submitted to the UK HSE Executive in Q4 2020 for review and acceptance.
In addition to support of the Company’s acquisition of further licence interests and offshore field developments, the
focus in 2021 will be the ongoing safe and environmentally responsible construction, installation and commissioning of
Phase 1 infrastructure coupled with the drilling of offshore production wells at Elgood, Blythe and Southwark.
ESG Policies and Priorities
In 2020, in keeping with its organisational development and intention to be a safe and responsible operator, the
Company adopted two important new policies, the Climate Change and Sustainability Policy and the Social Policy.
The expected low carbon footprint of the Company’s portfolio, achieved in large part through the use of shallow-water
minimum facilities offshore platforms and the re-use of existing pipeline infrastructure, is an increasingly integral and
valued element of our sustainability credentials. Furthermore, a key objective of the Company is to continually embed
a mindset of sustainability, responsibility, strong ethics and respect for people and the environment throughout
management decisions, operations and investments.
By establishing itself as a safe and efficient developer and producer of high-value, low-carbon gas, IOG aims to
contribute positively to the UK’s energy transition by helping to supply stable and affordable energy to UK homes and
businesses as part of a lower-carbon energy supply mix.
The Climate Change and Sustainability Policy adopted in 2020 outlines a number of steps designed to corroborate and
reinforce this position. The Policy acknowledges that limiting climate change and transitioning to a more sustainable
economy are critical challenges of our time. In that context, it recognises the importance of the UK’s 2050 Net Zero
target as part of global efforts to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris Accord.
The initial activities mandated by this policy include the commissioning of an independent exercise to identify and
evaluate the existing and projected Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions from sanctioned development assets
(i.e. Phase 1) and ongoing corporate activities. Work towards this independent assessment was initiated in Q1 2021.
In turn this baseline assessment will enable the Company to evaluate the efficacy of methods to mitigate or offset these
existing and projected emissions and look to implement the most effective methods as far as reasonably practicable. In
addition, these emissions projections and mitigation methods are intended to be used to calculate a meaningful
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
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Annual Report 2020
STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
corporate Carbon Neutrality target and to derive appropriate benchmarks to be integrated into future investment
decisions, along with any other relevant market factors.
In addition, IOG will seek opportunities to collaborate with relevant partners, associations and industry bodies as part
of a wider industry effort to mitigate emissions and help meet the UK’s Net Zero target, and to ensure relevant
stakeholders remain suitably informed on progress with its ESG objectives.
In its Social Policy the Company also laid out a number of key principles and commitments, based around the belief
that all personnel have a responsibility to act in the interests of the society in which we operate. These include acting
with the highest ethical standards at all times and holding each other to these standards; fostering an open, inclusive
and equal opportunity culture; respecting diversity; promoting constructive collaboration, effective communication,
knowledge sharing and critical thinking, listening to colleagues and supporting their wellbeing; and looking for
opportunities to positively impact external communities.
Licences
The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries IOG North Sea Limited (IOGNSL) and IOG UK Ltd (IOGUKL) is
currently a licensee on four Traditional Licences, two Promote Licences and four Innovate Licences all in the UK North
Sea:
Licence
Blocks
Subsidiary
Interest
Discovery
Name
Licence Type
Southwark
P1915
49/21c ALL
IOG UK Ltd
50%
Southwark [1]
Traditional
Blythe and Elgood
P1736
48/22b ALL and
48/23a ALL
IOG North Sea Limited
P2260
48/22c ALL
IOG North Sea Limited
Elland and Nailsworth
P039
49/21a J
IOG UK Ltd
P2342
48/25a ALL
IOG UK Ltd
P130
48/25b NW
IOG UK Ltd
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
Blythe
Elgood
Traditional
Promote
Elland [2]
Traditional
Nailsworth [3]
Innovate C
Nailsworth [3]
Traditional
Harvey
P2085
Goddard
P2438
Abbeydale
48/23c ALL and
48/24b ALL
48/11c and
48/12b
IOG North Sea Limited
100%
Harvey [4]
Promote
IOG North Sea Limited
50%
Goddard
Innovate C
P2442
53/1b
IOG North Sea Limited
50%
Abbeydale
Innovate A/C
Panther and Grafton
P2589
49/21e ALL and
49/22b ALL
[1] Formerly Vulcan South
[2] Formerly Vulcan East
[3] Formerly Vulcan North West
IOG North Sea Limited
50%
Panther,
Grafton, Isca
Innovate A/C
[4] Harvey Licence P2085 partially relinquished on 10 March 2021
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
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Annual Report 2020
STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
2020 Licence Update
Further to approval of the Phase 1 FDP in April 2020, Licence P1936 (Blythe), Licence P2260 (Elgood) and Licence
P1915 (Southwark) will progress into their Production terms, with no extensions required.
On 23 July 2020, the Initial Term of Licence P2342 (Nailsworth) was extended to the 31 December 2021 to allow Phase
2 Field Development Plan preparation to continue.
On 14 September 2020 the OGA confirmed an extension to Phase A of the Initial Term of Licence P2442 (Abbeydale)
until 30th September 2021 to allow the completion of 3D seismic reprocessing and interpretation.
On 1 December 2020 the first term of Licence P2589, which contains the Panther and Grafton discoveries and was
awarded in the 32nd Offshore Licensing Round, formally commenced.
On 20 December 2020 following the fulfilment of all Initial Term commitments, Licence P2085 (Harvey) proceeded into
the Second Term. The formal process with the OGA of partial relinquishment of non-prospective acreage in the licence
completed on 10 March 2021. Likewise, surrender of Licence P2441 also completed on 10 March 2021.
Statement of Reserves & Resources
Reserves (net to IOG)
Field
Gas Reserves (BCF)
Condensate Reserves (MMBbls)
Blythe¹
Elgood¹
Nailsworth²
Elland²
Southwark²
Total*
Total MMBoe*
1P
10.3
10.1
30.2
20.0
30.6
101.2
17.5
2P
20.6
13.8
49.7
27.5
47.1
3P
26.1
17.0
73.6
36.5
68.9
158.7
222.0
27.3
38.3
1P
0.0
0.1
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.4
0.4
2P
0.1
0.1
0.5
0.0
0.0
0.7
0.7
3P
0.1
0.1
0.8
0.0
0.1
1.1
1.1
Source: ¹ Management Estimates: January 2021, ² ERC Equipoise Competent Person’s Report 11 October 2017
Contingent Resources (net to IOG)
Discovery
Contingent Gas Resources (BCF)
Goddard¹
Abbeydale¹
Panther²
Grafton²
Total*
Total MMBoe*
1C
28.3
9.5
19.0
12.0
68.8
11.9
2C
66.0
11.5
23.0
17.5
118.0
20.3
3C
129.0
12.5
27.5
23.0
192.0
33.1
Source: ¹ Management estimates March 2021, ² Management estimates November 2020
Prospective Resources (net to IOG)
Prospect
Prospective Gas Resources (BCF)
Kelham (Cador)¹
Low
11.0
Best
15.5
High
18.0
Geological Chance of Success
80%
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 10 of 100
Annual Report 2020
STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
Thornbridge¹
Harvey²
Goddard Flank 1¹
Goddard Flank 2¹
Southsea¹
Total*
Total MMBoe*
27.0
12.0
7.0
4.0
6.5
67.5
11.6
33.0
21.0
14.0
9.5
15.5
108.5
18.7
36.5
35.0
34.0
22.0
38.0
183.5
31.6
Source: ¹ Management estimates March 2021, ² Management estimates December 2020
*Arithmetic Total for comparison only
Operational Update
32%
81%
71%
71%
48%
Phase 1: Thames Pipeline and Thames Reception Facilities (TRF)
IOG owns a 50% operated share in the Thames Pipeline and associated onshore TRF, with CER holding the other 50%
non-operated stakes. This follows the acquisition of both assets from Perenco UK Limited, Tullow Oil SK Limited and
Spirit Energy Resources Limited in 2019 and the subsequent Farm-out transaction to CER which completed on 28
October 2019.
IOG Infrastructure Limited is the owner, user, holder and operator of the pipeline under the Pipeline Works Authority
(PWA). On acquisition of the TRF, £2.0 million of security was posted and at completion of the Farm-out the £0.5 million
pipeline security paid to Perenco in April 2019 was transferred to a Law Debenture Trust account for our benefit.
Subsequently, 50% of these amounts were settled to IOG leaving a total of £1.25 million security now held against the
TRF for IOG’s share.
In 2020, an in-line inspection (ILI) was undertaken on the 60km length of the Thames Pipeline, which has a predominant
wall thickness of 15.88mm, is concrete coated and trenched. The line was originally decommissioned in 2015 and is
presently filled with inhibited seawater. This operation was in addition to the 150 bar strength test undertaken in 2018.
Analysis of the ILI results by Baker Hughes indicated that all identified internal metal loss features in the pipeline are
tolerable at the planned Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) of 129 bar. Further work is ongoing to refine
this analysis, estimate mean rates of future internal corrosion and identify the corrosion protection management required
to ensure a 15-year minimum pipeline operating life. IOG plans to run a further ILI two years after the pipeline goes
back into operation which at that time will provide an updated understanding of the new economic life of the pipeline
based on actual operating data pertaining to internal corrosion rates.
Key aspects of the onshore TRF refurbishment works undertaken in 2020 included the clean-out and inspection of the
slugcatchers in order for them to be reused, and the tie-in activities to the LAPS facilities which were safely and
successfully completed during the scheduled Bacton terminal shutdown in Q4 2020.
Preparations were also made in late 2020 for a competitive tendering process for the earlier years of the Phase 1 gas
sales arrangements, which subsequently commenced post-year end.
Phase 1: Blythe, Elgood and Southwark
The Blythe gas discovery in the Rotliegend Leman Formation, straddles Blocks 48/22b and 48/23a in the SNS in licence
P1736 in which IOGNSL has a 50% working interest and is operator. Blythe is planned to be developed with a single
well tied back to the Thames Pipeline via an unmanned platform. In their 2017 CPR, ERC Equipoise assessed gross
1P/2P/3P Blythe gas reserves to be 23.3/33.4/46.8 BCF.
IOGNSL has 50% working interest in and is operator of Licence P2260 (Block 48/22c), which was awarded in the 28th
Licensing Round. The licence, which lies immediately to the north-west of the Blythe licence, contains the Elgood
discovery in the Rotliegend Leman Sandstone. Elgood is being developed with a single well tied back subsea to the
Thames Pipeline via the Blythe platform. In their 2017 CPR, ERC Equipoise assessed gross 1P/2P/3P Elgood gas
reserves to be 13.3/21.4/34.4 BCF.
The Southwark gas discovery in the Rotliegend Leman Formation sits in Block 49/21c in licences P1915 in which
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IOGUKL has a 50% working interest and is the operator. Southwark is planned to be developed by three wells tied back
to the Thames Pipeline via the Southwark unmanned platform. Reprocessing of seismic data undertaken in 2020 across
the field has improved the structural imaging and aided development well planning. The Southwark development wells
are expected to be batch drilled as part of the Phase 1 drilling campaign. In their 2017 CPR, ERC Equipoise assessed
gross 1P/2P/3P Southwark gas reserves to be 55.2/93.3/144.1 BCF.
Following Phase 1 FID in October 2019, the Phase 1 FDP, comprising the Blythe, Elgood and Southwark fields, was
approved by the OGA in April 2020, targeting first gas in Q3 2021. Intensive work continued in 2020 across all key
elements of the Phase 1 development, with a view to successful start-up targeted in Q3 2021. In addition to the onshore
works described above, the Company accelerated its offshore focused activities, i.e. Platform, SURF and Drilling.
Fabrication of the Southwark and Blythe platforms at HSM’s yard in Schiedam progressed substantially, working through
Covid-19 restrictions, and remained on track to be installed offshore in Q2 2021. A key part of the Phase 1 Subsea,
Umbilicals, Risers and Flowlines (SURF) scope was completed over the course of 2020 with the fabrication,
transportation, welding, spooling and offshore installation of the 6-inch Elgood and Blythe 12-inch lines connecting to
the Blythe platform and 24-inch Thames Pipeline respectively.
In November 2020 the Company signed a contract with Noble Corporation for the Noble Hans Deul jack-up rig to drill
the five Phase 1 development wells (one at Blythe, one at Elgood, three at Southwark), with options for up to two further
wells on favourable terms. Over the second half of 2020, detailed well design and permitting work continued to progress
with a view to spudding the first development well by early Q2 2021, and a number of awards were made for drilling
services and tangibles. The contract for Phase 1 well management was awarded to Petrofac in June 2020 and Petrofac
was also subsequently approved as Phase 1 Well Operator by the OGA.
Pre-Development Assets (PDAs)
Nailsworth and Elland
IOGUKL has a 50% working interest and is operator of the P039, P130 and P2342 licences, which contain the Elland
and Nailsworth gas discoveries. These fields are intended to be part of Phase 2 of the Core Project. In their 2017
Competent Persons Report (CPR), ERC Equipoise assessed 1P/2P/3P gas reserves to be 20.0/27.5/36.5 BCF in Elland
and 30.2/49.7/73.6 BCF in Nailsworth (net to IOG).
The discoveries are now under evaluation in stage two of IOG’s Project Governance Process, which assesses the
optimal development concept for the fields within the context of the Phase 1 Core Project infrastructure and the wider
PDA portfolio. Based on this work, the Company will seek to submit and obtain approvals for the FDP and EIA for these
fields at the earliest opportunity. The remaining work programme commitment under the licences with the OGA is the
submission of a Field Development Plan prior to the end of 2021.
Further to the Elland suspended well 49/21-10A decommissioning paper, prepared by Acona in April 2015, IOGUKL
has revisited the decommissioning provision. It is envisaged that the decommissioning can be completed at a gross
cost of £2.4 million due to savings with synergies associated with the Elland development drilling programme.
Goddard and Southsea
IOGNSL has a 50% working interest and is operator of Licence P2438, which contains the Goddard field, an
undeveloped gas discovery, part of the planned Phase 2 of the Core Project.
In their 2018 CPR, ERC Equipoise assessed gross 1C/2C/3C contingent resources to be 54.3/107.8/202.8 BCF within
Goddard (27.4/53.9/101.4 BCF net to IOG) with Low/Best/High gross unrisked prospective resources of 41.8/73.0/121.4
BCF (20.9/36.9/60.8 BCF net to IOG). The chance of development of Goddard was estimated by ERC Equipoise as
being 75%, and the geological chance of success of the prospective gas resources was 48%.
In light of the relative maturity of Goddard’s contingent resources, and to improve structural imaging of the field as much
as possible, further reprocessing to PSDM of 3D seismic data was initiated in 2020 over the Goddard area. This
reprocessing was completed in Q1 2021 and substantially enhanced the Company’s technical view of the Goddard
discovery and surrounding area, with a clearer image indicating a larger structure than previously mapped. As a result
of this work, the updated gross management resource estimate based on the new PSDM reinterpretation is
57.0/132.0/258.0 BCF, representing a 22% increase in the 2C number versus the 2018 CPR.
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The two Goddard flank structures adjacent to the main discovery were estimated in the 2018 CPR as having
Low/Mid/High gross unrisked prospective resources of 28/49/82 BCF and 14/24/40 BCF respectively, with GCOS for
48% in each case. The 2020-21 mapping of these two structures initially indicates gross unrisked prospective resource
range of Low/Mid/High 7/16/35 BCF and 13/27/54 BCF, with 71% GCOS in each case.
The new seismic reinterpretation has also identified an additional prospect close to the south-east of Goddard, which
the Company has named Southsea. Mapping of this structure indicates gross prospective resources of Low/Mid/High
13/31/76 BCF, with a 48% GCOS. Further technical work will be required to confirm these initial estimates and an
exploration well would be required to prove gas in the structure.
The next technical priorities for the P2438 licence are to update the static and dynamic reservoir models with the
interpretations of the reprocessed seismic which may further revise the resource range, ensuring that an FDP for
Goddard is based on the most accurate technical understanding.
In addition to seismic reprocessing, the terms of the licence include a firm work programme commitment to drill an
appraisal well on the Goddard structure to 3,140m TD by 30 September 2021. In early 2021, IOGNSL formally requested
a 12-month extension to the well commitment to 30 September 2022, in order that sufficient analysis and planning can
be undertaken based on the new seismic interpretation, prior to drilling. The outcome of the extension request is pending
at the time of this report.
Abbeydale, Thornbridge and Kelham
IOGNSL has a 50% working interest and is operator of Licence P2442, which formally commenced on 1 October 2018
and contains the Abbeydale undeveloped gas discovery. Under the terms of the licence, a firm work programme
commitment was made to reprocess 150 km2 of seismic data within two years, and to either drill an appraisal well on
the Abbeydale structure before the 30th September 2023 or relinquish the licence.
The seismic reprocessing work commenced in 2020 and was completed in Q1 2021. New interpretation and mapping
based on the reprocessed seismic data has enhanced the Company’s view of the potential across the licence. The
updated deterministic management estimate of gross 1C/2C/3C contingent resources at Abbeydale has increased to
19/23/25 BCF. The tight resource range reflects a well-defined structure with good well control from well 51/13a-13.
In addition to Abbeydale, several further prospects and leads have been identified across the P2442 licence. To the
immediate north of Abbeydale lies the Camelot Complex, comprising several fields developed and produced by Mobil
(and later Perenco). One of these is the Cador field, the western extension of which IOG proposes to rename Kelham.
The new seismic work combined with available production data indicates recoverable gas volumes in Kelham of
Low/Mid/High 22/31/36 BCF, with an 80% GCOS. As more detailed mapping and reservoir modelling is required to
further clarify the potential, the Company has classified Kelham as a prospect.
IOG has also identified another prospect west of Abbeydale which it has named Thornbridge, with gross prospective
resources of Low/Mid/High 54/66/73 BCF, and 32% GCOS. Again, further detailed mapping is required, with the key
geological risk considered to be the quality of the Zechstein seal.
The technical work to date on P2442 has therefore demonstrated initial scope for a hub development that could be tied
in to the Thames Pipeline. Any potential development will be assessed within the context of IOG’s development
opportunities hopper and Project Governance Process, to optimise the development concept within the context of the
Phase 1 Core Project infrastructure and the wider PDA portfolio.
Panther and Grafton
IOG NSL has a 50% working interest and is operator of Licence P2589, which contains the Panther and Grafton gas
discoveries. The licence was awarded in the 32nd Licensing Round, formally commencing on 1 December 2020, with a
firm work programme commitment to reprocess 79km2 of seismic data within three years, and to drill an appraisal well
on the licence by 30 November 2025 or to relinquish the licence. In 2020, IOG management initially estimated gross
Most Likely contingent gas resources to be 46 BCF (net 23 BCF) in Panther and 35 BCF (net 17.5 BCF) in Grafton,
respectively. Reprocessing of seismic data is targeted to commence in 2021, in line with IOG’s Project Governance
Process.
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Harvey
IOGNSL has a 100% working interest and is operator of Licence P2085, which contains the Harvey structure, an
undeveloped gas discovery. The licence was awarded in the 27th Licensing Round, formally commencing on the 20th
December 2013. A firm work programme commitment was fulfilled by the reprocessing of seismic data over the licence
and drilling of the 48/24b-6 Harvey appraisal well in 2019. The remaining work programme commitment under the
licence is to submit a Field Development Plan by 19 December 2021 or to relinquish the licence.
Reprocessing of seismic data in 2020 across the field has improved structural imaging, with reinterpretation aided by
the integration of data from the 48/24b-6 well. IOG management currently estimate gross Minimum, Most Likely and
Maximum contingent gas resources in Harvey at 12/21/35 BCF. As a low relief structure, the field remains challenging
to evaluate due to its variability in size and structural configuration depending upon the seismic depth conversion
methodology employed.
IOGNSL retained the core field area, the “Harvey-2 structure” and on 10 March 2021 completed the process of formally
relinquishing the remainder of the P2085 licence to minimise future costs. The Company will undertake a detailed
commercial assessment of Harvey-2 in 2021, in particular, evaluating a potential "Elgood lookalike" development
concept. This entails a single well tied back subsea to the Blythe platform, which has been designed to have a spare
10-inch riser and j-tube. Harvey will then be assessed in line with IOG’s Project Governance Process and ranked against
the wider opportunities in the PDA portfolio for further evaluation and investment.
Acquisitions
The Company regularly screens for and evaluates possible acquisitions to add to its existing UK Southern North Sea
asset portfolio, to help generate further development potential and increased shareholder value over time. This is an
important element of the corporate strategy. There are a number of different types of possible acquisition opportunities
that the Company pursues, but underlying each one is the potential to extract operating and economic synergies with
the existing asset base. We look to add to our portfolio via both acquisitions and licensing activities, whether in formal
licence rounds or by separation engagement with the OGA, which offers a low-cost and well established path to adding
suitable incremental assets. The most recent example of this was the licensing of the Panther and Grafton gas
discoveries in Licence P2589 which were awarded in the 32nd Offshore Licensing Round. Further, there may at any
given time be a number of possible acquisitions from other operators in the basin, who may be interested in selling or
farming-out assets at various stages of maturity, including appraisal, development or also previously developed shut-in
or decommissioned assets. We assess such opportunities under the primary criterion of its potential to add significant
value relative to the Company’s existing assets. Finally, the Company also regularly assesses potential gas
transportation tariffing opportunities and engages with parties who may be seeking access to export infrastructure as
part of their own development planning.
Key Performance Indicators
The Group’s main business is the acquisition, development and production of gas reserves and resources in a safe,
efficient and environmentally responsible manner. This is undertaken by assembling and managing a carefully selected
portfolio of licence interests containing a range of prospective, contingent and proven reserves, working these up from
a technical perspective, planning, designing and executing appropriate appraisal, pre-development and development
activities and, in due course, ensuring effective ongoing production operations.
Non-financial performance is tracked through the calibration of progress on these activities on an ongoing basis. The
Company also carefully monitors its HSE performance in light of its two main KPIs, to sustain no Lost Time Incidents
or environmental releases, and to manage all licence commitments relating to its portfolio during the year. These
objectives were met in 2020. Other non-financial performance indicators which were successfully met in 2020 included
securing all relevant environmental approvals, delivering a verified Environmental Management System (EMS),
delivering effective relationships at all levels with JV partners with compliant Joint Operating Agreements (JOAs),
implementing appropriate governance and HR policies, improving organisational diversity and ensuring all corporate
legal obligations are met. The enactment of new ESG policies was a specific 2020 objective for the Group which was
also achieved during the year.
Financial performance is tracked against established value metrics and budgets which are set according to carefully
assessed cost estimates and the availability of funds raised from capital providers, with the overriding objective of
creating value per share. Financial KPIs also include maintaining full compliance with terms of debt facilities and
maintaining constructive relationships with debt providers and equity investors – again, these objectives were met in
2020. Specific finance-related objectives which were met in 2020 also included delivering half and full year results on
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time, building a fully resourced finance team fit for growing corporate and JV purposes, designing and implementing
appropriate finance systems, updating relevant financial and corporate policies and delivering approved budgets for
2021.
Corporate Hedging Policy
The fundamental principle of the Group’s hedging policy is to take a prudent approach to mitigating exposure to
fluctuations in commodity prices or currencies to best protect cash flows. The Group enters into hedging transactions
only to manage genuine risks to cash flows, factoring in relevant economic data and reasonable projections of its
production, costs and debt service profile, and never for the purposes of investment or speculation. Commodity and
foreign exchange (FX) exposures are overseen by a Risk Management Committee (RMC) and hedging decisions are
taken by a quorum of this RMC, which must include the CFO (with a second Executive Director also required to approve
transactions with a nominal value over a certain threshold).
No commodity hedging instruments were utilised in 2020, in view of the excessive costs and risks of expending capital
for this purpose before Group production is established. Once production has been established, the Group expects to
follow an appropriate “wedge” commodity hedging strategy, with a higher proportion of P90 forecast production hedged
over earlier periods reducing to a lower proportion hedged over later periods, on a rolling basis, in order to reduce
cashflow volatility whilst allowing shareholders to retain an appropriate degree of gas price exposure.
The Group expects to use simple structures with a limited range of outcomes for its commodity hedging programme,
executed only with approved market counterparties. Where more complex structures (involving combinations of swaps,
puts and call options) may be proposed, specific Board approvals are required. Under its hedging policy, the Group
may take positions to protect against the risks associated with specific additional investments or transactions.
Details of the risks arising from the Group’s use of financial instruments can be found in Note 24 to the financial
statements.
Insurance
The Group insures the risks it considers appropriate for the Group’s needs and circumstances. However, the Group
may elect not to have insurance for certain risks, due to the high premium costs associated with insuring those risks or
for various other reasons, including an assessment that the risks are remote.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The Group operates in the oil and gas industry, an environment subject to a range of inherent risks and uncertainties.
Key risks and associated mitigation are set out below.
Finance: Management seeks to generate shareholder returns by developing and producing a portfolio of offshore
gas assets. This primarily entails construction and installation of production, transportation and processing
infrastructure and drilling of production wells. These activities entail a number of associated financial risks.
Risk
Mitigation
Investor support may reduce, impacting the
Company’s market value and potentially
hindering any necessary or desired
fundraising activities
Volatility in macroeconomic conditions may
hinder delivery of the Company’s business
plan
• Management has a clear strategy for value realisation and
creation, which is regularly communicated to shareholders
• The Company’s asset portfolio has robust inherent
economics as well as substantial incremental value, as
attested by third-party analyst reports
• CER’s credit risk is low and kept under review
• The Company funded its Phase 1 development prior to Final
Investment Decision in 2019, to ensure sufficient funding
available for planned activities
• The Company seeks to actively manage its costs and has
an appropriate hedging policy which it is planning to execute
at the appropriate time to mitigate the risks of commodity
price volatility
• As a buyer of products and services, the Company faces
both risks and opportunities from fluctuations in these costs
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Each asset carries a range of potential
values
The Company may not be able to raise
funds to develop its assets
• The Company has a healthily diversified portfolio of 6
proven gas fields in its Core Project, plus further assets
which could potentially be added, therefore there is limited
financial dependence on a single asset.
• The Company makes consistent efforts to keep its cost base
•
as low as reasonably possible.
In addition, the Company has been undertaking further
technical work to help narrow the range of potential values.
• The Company successfully undertook equity, debt and farm-
out funding in 2019 to fund its Phase 1 activities. It
anticipates that cash flows from Phase 1 will help to fund
further phases of development, with Phase 2 also benefitting
from an agreed £65.0 million of partner development carry.
The Company may breach the terms of its
Bond funding
• The Company makes consistent efforts to be fully aware of
its responsibilities and obligations under the Bond terms.
The administrators of London Oil and Gas
Ltd (LOG) may be obliged to divest its
holding, creating downward pressure on the
Company’s market value
• The Company makes consistent efforts to manage the
business within budget.
• Management calibrates key project and corporate
commitments against bond conditions and covenants to
ensure avoidance of any breach.
• The Company notes that the administrators of London
Capital & Finance (LCF), with respect to LOG’s holding in
IOG, have stated publicly in December 2019 that they saw
the market value of the Company at the time as a
“significant discount to IOG’s estimated net asset value”.
Management continues to have a positive engagement with
the administrators and believe they intend to maximise the
value of the LOG holding in IOG.
Operations: Operations may not go to plan, leading to damage, pollution, cost overruns and poor outcomes
Risk
Mitigation
There are a range of potential performance
outcomes for each reservoir
Developments may deviate from expected
schedule and budget
Market conditions for rig and marine vessel
procurement may harden
• Thorough subsurface mapping and reservoir modelling
• High quality well design
•
Lessons learned during early wells applied to subsequent
wells
• The Company has hired competent, experienced personnel
throughout the organisation
• The Company awards contracts to competent, experienced
contractors
• Rigorous checks and controls are applied to schedule and
budget
• The Company follows gate process for project governance
and utilises peer reviews at appropriate project stages
Installation costs for platforms and subsea equipment are in
EPCI contracts
•
• Competitive tendering processes are used for all such
requirements
• Where possible, incentivisation clauses are used contracts in
order to minimise delivered cost
Scope creep in required works at the Thames
Reception Facilities and Bacton Terminal
• FEED scope is defined and stress tested
• Any scope changes need to go through the Management of
Change process
• The Company makes consistent efforts to apply rigorous cost
and schedule controls in onshore works
Cyber Security risks
• The Company has developed an enhanced IT security plan
and supporting procedures, including in particular:
Improved access right to systems and protocols
•
• Enhanced onboarding and leaving processes
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Resource estimates may be misleading
curtailing actual reserves recovered
•
The Company employs competent, experienced personnel,
and also commissions independent third-party reports where
appropriate
• A prudent range of possible outcomes are considered within
planning processes
Regulatory and Legal: The Group may be unable to meet its licence and regulatory obligations
Risk
Mitigation
Delay in obtaining relevant regulatory
consents, approvals and permits
Deficiency in Corporate Governance
•
•
The Company has established solid relationships at all levels
with relevant government and regulatory bodies, including
OGA, BEIS / OPRED and HSE
There is frequent and detailed liaison with these authorities to
minimise issues and delays in approvals
• Relevant applications are reviewed in detail and submitted
promptly
• The Company has developed and implemented a suitable
suite of corporate policies and procedures, covering Financial
Operations, Anti-Bribery and Corruption, Travel and
Expenses, Climate Change and Sustainability, etc
• All contracts must be authorised by the Contracts and
Procurement function, Finance, General Counsel and above
certain thresholds are subject to Tender Committee and Board
approval
Human Resources: The Company relies upon a pool of experienced and motivated personnel to identify and
execute successful investment strategies
Risks
Mitigation
Key personnel may be lost to other
companies
Difficulty in attracting the necessary talent as
the Group moves into development of its
projects
•
•
•
•
The Company has established a competent, experienced
team across all key disciplines, which mitigates the risk of
losing any one key person
The Remuneration Committee regularly evaluates
incentivisation schemes to ensure they remain competitive
The Company has established a competent, experienced
team across all key disciplines
The Company continues to review and adopt appropriate
packages for both staff and contractors
HSE and Sustainability: The Company faces a number of Health, Safety and Environmental risks as an operator,
and relies on several experienced in-house HSE practitioners and suitable consultants to ensure it meets all its
related obligations
Risks
Mitigation
Personal harm to those that may be affected
by our undertakings
• Compliance with the UK regulatory goal setting regime for
safety is established, implemented and maintained through the
Company leadership HSE and Technical Committee, culture
and management systems for safety
• The Company continually reviews and updates its HSE Policy,
which can be read in full on its website
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Adverse environmental effects of our activities
including, in particular, contributing to Climate
Change
• The Company has established a Climate Change and
Sustainability Policy, which can be read in full on its website
• Strategic focus on domestic natural gas resources as a key
fuel for the Energy Transition with lower carbon content than
other hydrocarbons (including imported gas)
• Use of low carbon intensity facilities, including re-use of
existing infrastructure
Commercial environment: World and regional markets continue to be volatile with fluctuations and infrastructure
access issues that might hinder the Company’s business success
Risk
Mitigation
Stakeholder misalignment
• Regular discussions and meetings with key stakeholders, to
Volatility in commodity prices, particularly gas
Risks arising from Brexit
build and maintain relationships
• Understand stakeholders’ priorities, drivers and risk tolerance
•
•
levels
The Company has an established hedging policy which it
intends to execute as it moves into production
The policy revolves around prudent management of
commodity price risks with the proportionate use of sensible
hedging structures
• Hedging strategies may also be employed to derisk major
incremental capital commitments
• Budget planning considers a range of commodity pricing and
advice is taken from independent third-party market experts
• Major contracts for Phase 1 were awarded in 2020.
• There is no clear exposure to customs-related risks to cross-
border movement of goods through the supply chain.
• The Company has primary exposure to only three currencies,
GBP, EUR and USD, and has raised finance in both GBP and
EUR.
• The Company proactively assesses and manages FX risks.
The Company may not be able to get access,
at reasonable cost, to infrastructure and
product markets when required
•
The Company is undertaking a competitive gas sales
tendering process in 2021 with a substantial number of
interested parties
Covid-19 Pandemic: The pandemic has created severe economic upheaval and unforeseeable disruptions to
normal working practices around the world
Risks
Mitigation
Covid-19 Pandemic and associated economic
volatility materially disrupts the Company’s
ability to deliver its key corporate objectives
• The Company has already secured Phase 1 funding prior to
the pandemic
• The Company has implemented logistical and organisational
changes to underpin its resilience to severe economic
disruption driven by Covid-19, with the key focus being
protecting all personnel, minimising impact on critical
workstreams and ensuring business continuity.
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S172 statement
Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 requires Directors to take into consideration the interests of stakeholders and
other matters in their decision making. The Directors continue to have regard to the interests of the Company’s
employees and other stakeholders, the impact of its activities on the community, the environment and the Company’s
reputation for good business conduct, when making decisions. The Company seeks to manage its operations and
assets in a safe and efficient way, and acknowledges that limiting climate change and transitioning to a more sustainable
economy are critical challenges of our time. In that context, it recognises the importance of the UK’s 2050 Net Zero
target as part of global efforts to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris Accord. It has also taken particular steps to mitigate
Covid-19 risks. In this context, acting in good faith and fairly, the Directors consider what is most likely to promote the
success of the Company for all its stakeholders in the long term. We explain in this annual report, and referenced below,
how the Board engages with key stakeholders which are typical of an offshore gas development company and which
include investors (both shareholders and bond investors), employees, regulators, contractors, suppliers and other
operators in the southern North Sea.
Likely consequence of any decision in the long term
The CEO Review on pages 2 to 4, Business Strategy on page 7 and principle 1 of the Company’s QCA Statement,
which is available in full via www.iog.co.uk/investors/aim-rule-26/, collectively set out the Company’s long term rationale
and strategy, with the business decisions that these entail.
Key decisions over the past year have included the selection and management of contractors for substantial parts of
the Phase 1 development project. These included contractors for platforms, drilling, well management, SURF and
numerous tier 2 contracts. These decisions have been taken off the back of competitive selection processes in each
case and in the interests of achieving best value for shareholders as their primary driver. The Board will always take all
relevant factors into consideration when making such decisions, including the track record and operational and
environmental competence of each party. Other key decisions have included a number of technical and operational
decisions relating to Phase 1 which are each designed ultimately to maximise project value and minimise project risks.
Interests of Employees
Covid-19 presented obvious challenges throughout 2020 and beyond, requiring effective closure of our offices for
extended periods. Faced with these challenges, and in the interests of protecting employees as well as other
stakeholders in the Company, we identified three fundamental priorities at the outset of the pandemic which have
remained the same throughout: protect our people, deliver the project and ensure business continuity. We moved
quickly to ensure a safe working and operating environment and minimise virus transmission risks, and implemented
effective remote working practices with robust communication systems to ensure the team could continue to deliver our
objectives effectively. The team’s resilience and adaptability in these circumstances enabled us both to deliver our
intended organisational growth in 2020 and maintain progress towards first gas by Q3 2021.
The Company has upgraded its employee processes and personnel. A new Employee Handbook has been developed
to reflect the expansion of employee numbers over the past two years and covers employment matters including
maternity and paternity leave arrangements, equal opportunities and dignity at work, anti-harassment and bullying, IT
and communication systems, social media, flexible working, disciplinary procedure, grievance procedure, code of
conduct/ anti-corruption and bribery, whistleblowing, data protection and HSE. This is intended to improve the
communication of the Company’s principles and policies with our staff and contractors. It encapsulates the Company’s
Code of Conduct with which all staff and contractors are expected to comply.
The Board believes that it is important that employees (including Executive Directors) are appropriately incentivised,
given that the Group’s success is highly dependent on their performance. Accordingly, it has in place a Company Share
Option Plan (CSOP) which allows the Company to grant options over ordinary shares to all employees as set out on
page 27.
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 19 of 100
Annual Report 2020
STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
The Company’s position with regard to the interests of its employees is also covered in the IOG Social Policy adopted
in 2020, which is laid out in full on the website and includes the following principles and commitments which the
Company expects all its personnel to uphold:
• Act with the highest ethical standards at all times and hold each other to these standards
• Foster an open, inclusive and equal opportunity culture
• Respect our diversity as people
• Promote an ethos of constructive collaboration, effective communication and knowledge sharing
• Promote critical thinking and a problem-solving mindset to overcome challenges and capitalise on opportunities
• Take a dynamic and agile approach to our decisions and activities, and consider their external impacts
• Help our colleagues to further their professional ambitions by contributing to our shared progress, supported
by training and development where appropriate
• Listen to our colleagues and support their wellbeing as far as possible
• Look for opportunities to positively impact communities around us
Foster business relationships with suppliers, customers and others
The Company’s policies and procedures relating to suppliers and all stakeholders are set out in principle 3 of the QCA
Statement. Engaging with all our stakeholders, whether the joint venture partner, investors (both equity and bond),
regulators or contractors, strengthens our relationships and helps us make better business decisions to deliver on our
commitments. The Board is regularly updated on wider stakeholder management to stay abreast of insights into the
issues that matter most to these various stakeholders and our business, to enable the Board to understand and consider
these issues in decision-making.
Potential suppliers are considered in light of their relevant experience and commercial attractiveness, but also their
suitability to comply with the Company’s HSE and other policies. We aim to work with contractors with deep experience
in their field, a strong value proposition, and who share our ethos of safe, efficient and responsible operatorship.
Through the competitive process of selecting contractors to deliver respective parts of the Phase 1 project over the
course of 2020 and through the initiation and progress of work under the resulting contracts, the Company has
deepened its relationships with key contractors including HSM, Petrofac, Noble Corporation, Subsea 7 and ODE among
others. As part of its process of submitting Field Development Plans to the OGA, the Company has also developed a
Supply Chain Action Plan.
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to some changes to operating procedures among suppliers and there are risks of
increased costs as a result, and it has also entailed some changes to commercial or contractual terms with suppliers.
The relationship with the joint venture partner, CER, is a fundamentally important one for the Company given the shared
ownership of almost all the licences in its portfolio and the alignment on the Core Project in particular. The farm-out
transaction with CER in 2019 established the basis of this relationship and the Company’s funding strategy, with
development carries agreed for both Phase 1 and Phase 2. The Company maintains a very close and active relationship
with CER at all levels, from a board/principal level down through the various layers of management, administered by
Operating Committee and Technical Committee meeting, down to daily operational interactions. Given the Core Project
arrangement as well as the Area of Mutual Interest agreement in respect of joint business development efforts, and
notwithstanding that IOG is Operator of the relevant licences, there is a fundamental conjunction of interests and
activities between IOG and CER, reflected in active collaboration across technical, financial, commercial and
operational domains. The Company makes all due effort to understand the strategic and financial objectives of its
partner and take these into account as far as reasonably possible in progressing the Core Project and wider portfolio
activities.
The Company expends significant time and resources developing and maintaining its relationships with all relevant
regulatory bodies, notably the OGA, OPRED and UK HSE Executive, the importance of which was reflected in the
approval in 2020 of the Phase 1 FDP and EIA.
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 20 of 100
Annual Report 2020
STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
Community and Environment
IOG aims to contribute positively to the UK’s energy transition by helping to supply stable and affordable energy to UK
homes and businesses as part of a lower-carbon energy supply mix. The Company’s approach to the community and
environment is set out in more detail both in principle 3 of the QCA Statement and ESG policies, both available in full
on its website. In respect of its environmental responsibilities, the HSE and Climate Change and Sustainability (CC&S)
policies are most relevant, clearly laying out the Company’s commitments in these areas. In the latter policy, which was
formally adopted by the Board in 2020 in recognition of the importance of establishing clear principles in relation to
climate change and sustainability matters, the Company declares its ambition to manage its assets in a safe and efficient
way, and acknowledges that limiting climate change and transitioning to a more sustainable economy are
critical challenges of our time. In that context, it recognises the importance of the UK’s 2050 Net Zero target as part of
global efforts to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris Accord. The Board and quarterly HSE and Technical Committee
review HSE issues as a standing agenda items. Further details of the specific commitments in the policy can be read
in full on the Company website at www.iog.co.uk/esg and post-period end in Q1 2021 the Company has completed a
competitive selection process and initiated its independent Phase 1 emissions assessment which is a key objective as
laid out under the CC&S Policy.
Maintain high standards of business conduct
The Company operates a corporate culture that is based on ethical values and behaviours. It maintains policies and
processes that are appropriate to do this for a Company of its size. The Executive Directors communicate regularly with
staff through town hall meetings and other smaller meetings. The Board has implemented a robust governance
framework including a Code of Conduct, which includes the Company’s Compliance with Anti-bribery and Corruption
Policy that is incorporated in an updated Employee Handbook and is communicated to all employees. The Code
provides clear guidance on how the members of staff are expected to behave towards other colleagues, suppliers,
customers, shareholders and on our wider responsibility to the communities within which we operate. All employees
are expected to comply with the Code and any violations of it may be reported to management or Group HR. Under its
Anti-bribery and Corruption Policy, the Company’s policy is to conduct all its business in an honest and ethical manner.
The Company and Group apply a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption and is committed to acting
professionally, fairly and with integrity in all its business dealings and relationships wherever it operates by implementing
and enforcing effective systems to counter bribery. These systems include both detailed financial approval procedures
and Tender Committee processes, whereby contracts recommended by the Contracts and Procurement function are
reviewed by the Tender Committee to confirm a robust selection process, value and operational appropriateness and
the rationale minuted and reported by the General Counsel and Company Secretary to the Board on both an ongoing
and annual summary report basis. The Social Policy adopted in 2020 has added a further layer of guidance for
employees in respect of how the Company expects them to conduct themselves, as detailed above.
Act fairly between shareholders
The Company remains committed to listening and to communicating openly with its shareholders to ensure that its
strategy, business model and performance are clearly understood. Understanding what analysts and investors think
about the Company and in turn, helping these audiences understand our business, is a key part of driving the business
forward and Company representatives maintain active dialogue with market participants in line with expectations of a
listed company. This is done via investor roadshows and meetings, attending investor conferences, delivering
presentations, hosting capital markets days, updating our website and our regular reporting and corporate and project
update announcements.
The AGM is the main forum for dialogue with shareholders and the Board. The Notice of Meeting is sent to shareholders
at least 21 days before the meeting. The Directors routinely attend the AGM and are available to answer questions
raised by shareholders in the form of a question and answer session after an update presentation. For each vote, the
number of proxy votes received for, against and withheld is announced at the meeting. The outcome of the resolutions
proposed at the AGM are subsequently published on the Company’s corporate website.
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 21 of 100
Annual Report 2020
STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
The Company actively upholds its relationships with institutional shareholders as well as ensuring that private
shareholders are also attended to as far as reasonably possible. Shareholder relations are managed primarily by the
Head of Corporate Finance and Investor Relations supported by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and
others in the Executive Team, as appropriate. The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer make
presentations to analysts throughout each year and immediately following the release of the full-year and half-year
results. The Board is kept informed of the views and concerns of major shareholders by briefings from the Executive
Team. Any significant investment reports from analysts are also circulated to the Board. The Non-Executive Chair and
Senior Independent Director are available to meet with major shareholders if required to discuss issues of importance
to them.
The Company makes regular updates to the market on its commercial, technical and operational progress at all stages
of executing on its strategy.
Besides its shareholders, the Company has a separate class of financial investors, which are the institutional holders
of the €100 million senior secured Bond, who are effectively lenders to the Company. While there is less transparency
in this market as to which institutions hold the bonds, the Company does maintain an active dialogue with those who
do identify themselves and also maintains relationships with the Nordic investment banks who are active in this market.
Finance Review
From a financial as well as operational perspective 2020 was a year focused on utilising the proceeds of the significant
funding transactions undertaken in 2019, in particular the Farm-out and the €100 million senior secured Bond which
provided the capital for continued investment in Phase 1 of the Core Project.
Over the course of 2020, a total of £109.5 million was invested in the Phase 1 development. Of this, our partner CER
funded £54.8 million for their 50% non-operating share in each asset and a further £43.8 million as Phase 1 development
carry for the Company’s benefit under the terms of the Farm-out.
The post-tax loss for the year was £19.3 million (2019: Profit £15.0 million), which included a £12.6 million (2019: £nil)
write down of the Harvey and Redwell assets following technical evaluation in 2020 of the data from the appraisal well
and the decision in Q4 2020 to partially redetermine the P2085 licence.
The Company ended the year with a cash balance of £13.4 million plus £67.0 million of restricted cash relating to the
Bond issue, held in the Bond escrow and DSRA. A total of £48.3 million of partner Phase 1 development carry had
been utilised from Phase 1 FID in October 2019 to 31 December 2020, leaving a remaining Phase 1 carry balance of
£11.7 million, in addition to a Phase 2 development carry of £65 million. Group net debt at the end of the year was £14.1
million (see note 21).
In November 2020, the Company signed a contract for Noble Corporation’s Noble Hans Deul jack-up drilling rig to drill
a five-well programme during 2021 and 2022. Under IFRS 16, IOG is responsible for capitalising 100% of the lease
cost to its statement of financial position. Based on the minimum contract duration and day-rate, IOG has therefore
recognised £17.6 million upon initial recognition in fixed assets.
No new equity or debt capital was raised in 2020 subsequent to the transactions completed in the previous year. The
£11.6 million long-term, unsecured, non-interest-bearing Loan Note Instrument, convertible at 19p into 60,872,631
Ordinary Shares, remained in place, with a maturity date of October 2024.
Finally, in keeping with its growing status as operator of a significant development project, the Company made suitable
investments in its systems during the course of 2020 which have ensured more robust, efficient and reliable corporate
and joint venture accounting and procurement processes.
Income Statement
The Group made a loss for the year of £19.3 million (2019: £15.0 million gain, resulting from the CER Farm-out
transaction), driven primarily by a £12.6 million (2019: £nil) impairment charge on the Harvey and Redwell assets.
Net administration expenses were £3.4 million (2019: £2.6 million) reflecting a lean corporate operation and the
allocation of a proportion of overheads to project assets.
The foreign exchange loss of £0.7 million (2019: £0.2 million gain) reflects realised and unrealised foreign exchange
movements on non-GBP denominated loans, provisions and trade creditors and loans.
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 22 of 100
Annual Report 2020
STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
Finance expense of £2.2 million (2019: £7.9 million) includes accrued interest payable on loans (net of capitalised
interest of £8.7 million (2019: £1.5 million)). These expenses relate to fees and interest incurred on both loan finance
facilities and those trade creditors subject to deferred payment and equity conversion terms.
Statement of financial position
The Goddard, Abbeydale and Harvey exploration and evaluation (‘E&E’) assets represent the majority of the E&E
portfolio at 31 December 2020, with a net book value of £1.3 million (2019: £13.1 million) to the Group at that date
following the write down of Harvey by £12.6 million (2019: £nil).
Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE) oil and gas assets increased to £53.4 million (2019: £28.9 million) during the
year, representing capital expenditure activities on the Core Project assets.
Total assets have increased to £154.2 million (2019: £146.5 million), including cash resources of £80.4 million (2019:
£98.3 million) of which £67.0 million is restricted (£82.0 million).
Total liabilities have increased to £131.1 million (2019: £106.0 million), with the Bond representing long-term loans of
£87.8 million (2019: £82.4 million). Liabilities also include trade creditors £1.0 million (2019: £3.9 million), other creditors
£7.4 million (2019: £1.4 million), deferred consideration in relation to acquisitions of £2.3 million (2019: £3.1 million).
Decommissioning provisions decreased to £6.2 million (2019: £7.2 million), including the Elland suspended well
decommissioning provision of £1.2 million, the Thames Pipeline decommissioning provision of £1.0 million (2019: £1.0
million) and the Thames Reception Facilities at Bacton of £3.1 million and the addition of further subsea pipelines laid
in 2020 of £0.9 million. There were accruals of £3.1 million (2019: £1.6 million) due to increased volume of work as the
Phase 1 development progresses. Lease liabilities recognised under IFRS 16 were £17.6 million (2019 £0.9 million)
predominantly driven by the inclusion of the contract for the Noble Hans Deul drilling rig.
The Group ended the year with a net debt position of £14.1 million (2019: £9.0 million net cash), primarily driven by the
ongoing expenditure on Phase 1. Net debt is defined as total loans, less restricted cash and cash equivalents, adding
back the financial asset being the IOG Norwegian bonds which are held by the Company.
Cash Flow
Net cash inflows of £8.0 million (2019: £15.9 million outflow) from operations, £1.2 million (2019: £83.3 million used in)
generated from investing activities and £10.5 million (2019: £109.0 million generated from) used in financing activities.
There were no loan repayments (2019: £17.1 million). At the end of the year £67.0 million (2019: £82.0 million) of funds
were held as restricted cash in the Bond escrow and DSRA accounts.
An amount of £0.6 million was received during the year pursuant to the exercise of warrants over ordinary shares in the
Company.
The Directors do not recommend payment of a dividend (2019: nil).
€100 million Bond
The Group’s €100 million 5-year senior secured Bond, issued in 2019 in the name of Independent Oil and Gas plc to a
range of institutional investors across the Nordic region, Europe, UK and Asia, remains listed on the Oslo Børs with the
ISIN NO0010863236. It has a bullet repayment structure, with a maturity date of 20 September 2024, and an interest
rate, payable quarterly, of 9.5 per cent per annum over the three-month EURIBOR rate (with a floor of zero when this
rate is negative, as it is at the time of writing). The Bond has a senior secured position over the Group’s licences and
infrastructure assets, as well as any further licence in which the Group takes an ownership interest during the tenure of
the Bond, such as the newly acquired P2589 Panther-Grafton licence. Bond funds can be used to fund Phase 1 capital
expenditure, financing costs and general corporate purposes.
At settlement of the Bond in September 2019, the first eight quarterly payments were set aside in a Debt Service
Reserve Account (DSRA). Over the course of 2020, a total of €9.7 million was drawn down quarterly as planned from
the DSRA to fund the four coupon payments in March, June, September and December. Further to this the DSRA
balance at the end of the period was €7.2 million (£6.5 million).
As laid out in the Bond terms, drawdown from the Bond escrow account is subject to a series of progress milestones.
In Q1 2020, a drawdown of €11.7 million (£10.0 million) was made, further to the operational milestone of start of Phase
1 platform fabrication. At the year end there was a balance of €66.0 million (£59.2 million) in the Bond escrow account,
to be drawn down subject to three remaining milestones, all of which were expected to occur in 1H2021. Post-period
end, a €27.3 million (£23.7 million) drawdown was made in February 2021, leaving two further drawdowns to be made
in 2021.
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 23 of 100
Annual Report 2020
STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
The Bond is callable from 3 years after issuance, i.e. in September 2022, with an initial call premium of 50% of the
coupon (i.e. repayable at a cost of €104.75 million (£91.9 million) if the 3month EURIBOR is at zero or lower), declining
by 10% every six months thereafter.
The Company has the option, subject to conditions and investor commitments, to issue additional amounts up to a
maximum aggregate of €30 million (£26.3 million) (“Tap Issues”). Tap Issues carry identical terms to the initial €100
million issue, but may be issued at different prices.
Funding & Liquidity
The Board has reviewed the Group’s cash flow forecasts having regard to its current financial position and operational
objectives.
The Consolidated Statement of Financial Position at 31 December 2020 details a net debt position for the Group of
£14.1 million (2019: net cash 9.0 million). Net debt is defined as total loans, less restricted cash and cash equivalents,
adding back the financial asset being the Company’s holding in its own bonds.
In assessing the Group’s and Parent Company’s current financial position and reaching its conclusion as to going
concern status up until September 2022, as laid out in the Annual Report, the Board has, by necessity, utilised a set of
reasonable assumptions around activities, costs, timings, asset performance and other relevant economic factors
including the potential impact of Covid-19, in order to develop an accurate perspective. These assumptions are
summarised in this paper.
The Phase 1 capital cost and schedule assumptions underlying the going concern assessment flow from the baseline
project plan as recently reviewed and reaffirmed by the various lead project managers and the COO, which has led to
a revised risked mid-case forecast of final outturn Phase 1 capital expenditure profile finishing in mid-2022. Each key
discipline area within the project has undertaken an exercise of rebasing the Phase 1 cost estimates based on existing
commitments and better definition of future spend as the project reaches its final stages of execution. These updated
cost estimates have in turn been interrogated and subsequently approved at both executive and Board level. Similarly,
operating cost assumptions, which include both offshore Operations and Maintenance (O&M) costs, onshore Thames
Reception Facilities operation costs and Bacton processing tariff costs, have been established using the latest and most
accurate available estimates provided by internal operational personnel and relevant external parties, including IOG’s
designated O&M contractor ODE and Bacton terminal operator Perenco UK Limited. Decommissioning cost
assumptions are drawn directly from the independent Competent Persons Report (CPR) undertaken by reserve auditor
ERC Equipoise in 2017.
In terms of project performance and timing assumptions, based on the latest re-baselined management assessments
of project readiness and current expectations of the five-well development drilling programme, the timing of field start-
ups for Phase 1 are as follows: Elgood and Blythe in September 2021, and Southwark in May 2022. The Phase 1
schedule has also been reviewed and approved by the executive and the Board based on detailed planning schedules
managed by our dedicated project planner who has the full collaboration and oversight of the wider project team.
The gas price assumptions underlying the base case economic assessment is based on an average realised price of
45p/therm, which management confirms to be a sensible baseline in the context of average realised UK gas prices over
the past decade, having taken advice from independent market experts engaged by the Group. The price assumption
is seasonally adjusted based on a recent forward curve, to more accurately replicate the actual seasonal fluctuations
in the UK gas market (higher prices over October-March, lower prices over April-September), rather than use an
unrealistic flat price assumption.
For pre-development assets and General and Administrative (G&A) costs, all assumptions are based on approved
internal budgets, which in turn are based on reasonable estimates derived from comparable activities and relevant past
actual costs. G&A budgets are constructed with an iterative methodology that factors in historical expenditure trends
adjusted with appropriate forward looking modifications and expected trends in underlying activity (e.g. changes in
organisation headcount). Forecasts are reviewed by the senior finance team and the CFO on a monthly basis in order
to assess the appropriateness of budget versus actual outturn and reviewed and discussed at Board level. The Group’s
holding of its own bonds, which have a nominal value of €1.7 million, are assumed to be sold by the end of 2021 at a
price no higher than the current market value. Since its listing the bond has seen active trading and therefore the Board
consider this to be a reasonable assumption. Finally, prudent assumptions have been taken in respect of the Group’s
treasury management, including the policy of minimising foreign exchange exposures as far as possible.
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 24 of 100
Annual Report 2020
STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
Foreign exchange exposures are forecast and compared to the available currency held as cash balances, JV cash calls
and Bond drawdowns which allows any exposure to be actively managed.
As demonstrated above, the Group uses prudent assumptions to develop its view of most likely outcomes. In its detailed
financial modelling it also stress tests a number of different possible future scenarios to evaluate the likely impacts of
potential schedule and cost overruns. The stress test scenarios run by Management and reviewed by the Board, include
changes in the timing of first gas, changes in the gas pricing assumptions and changes in expected production levels.
These stress test scenarios may individually and in combination impact the Group’s available cash resources and ability
to remain within its bond covenants. Under the forecast scenarios the Group is expected to be able to stay within its
current cash resources until May 2022 after which a potential breach of one of the bond covenants may occur.
The nature of the Group’s operations inherently involves a range of potential outcomes and in that context the Group
has identified mitigation measures to mitigate or eliminate potential risks that may affect cash flows.
Conclusions
After a review of these forecasts the Board have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to
continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and to deliver Phase 1 on time. Accordingly, the Directors
continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the consolidated financial statements. However, the Directors
acknowledge that at the date of approval of these consolidated financial statements, the potential future impact of the
reverse stress test scenarios noted above, indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant
doubt about the Group’s and Parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern and therefore it may be unable
to realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.
The financial statements do not include any adjustments that would result if the Group and the Parent Company were
unable to continue as a going concern.
Rupert Newall
Chief Financial Officer
17 March 2021
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 25 of 100
Annual Report 2020
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
Corporate Governance Statement
Board of Directors
The Company is led by a strong, disciplined Board with extensive experience in all aspects of the Company’s business
supported by a capable and experienced management team. Their experience covers both ends of the investment spectrum
from private equity backed start-up companies to London Stock Exchange listed companies. The Board is supported by a
capable and experienced management team.
Fiona MacAulay – Non-Executive Chair
A Chartered Geologist with over 30 years’ experience in the upstream oil and gas sector including key roles in a number of
leading oil and gas firms across the large, mid and small cap space including Mobil, British Gas, Amerada Hess and
Rockhopper. Non-Executive Director at Coro Energy plc, EPI Group Ltd, Ferrexpo PLC and Chemring PLC. Past president
of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Europe. Fiona chairs the Company’s Remuneration and Nominations
Committee and is a member of the Audit Committee.
Andrew Hockey – Chief Executive Officer
Having worked in the industry for 38 years, Andrew Hockey has significant sector experience. He has a technical background
with a BA in geology from Oxford University, and an MSc in petroleum geology from Imperial College. Until the end of 2015
Andrew was General Manager of Business Development at UKCS oil and gas exploration and production company Fairfield
Energy Limited. Andrew led the team to acquire Clipper South as an undeveloped gas discovery and then subsequently
managed its development via farm down and funding through to first gas. Andrew is a Non-Executive Director of Fairfield
Energy Ltd and also of Chariot Oil and Gas Plc, a company with gas interests in Morocco.
Rupert Newall – Chief Financial Officer
Rupert has over 25 years of corporate finance experience in the upstream oil and gas industry, primarily in Investment Banking
where he has provided strategic, transactional and financing advice to broad range of E&P companies and majors. Rupert’s
Investment Banking career included Deutsche Bank, Bank of America and BMO Capital Markets where he was Co-Head of
Investment & Corporate Banking EMEA. Rupert’s extensive upstream experience includes corporate and asset transactions,
strategic advisory, equity and debt capital markets and restructuring. Prior to joining IOG full time, Rupert was CEO of Edimis
Energy Limited, an oil & gas advisory boutique - Edimis Energy Limited advised IOG on its strategic options and the farm-out
transaction. Rupert has a BA in Economics from Cambridge University.
Esa Ikaheimonen – Senior Independent Non-Executive Director
Esa has over 25 years of oil and gas industry experience and strong board level expertise. He is currently the CFO and
Executive Director of London listed E&P company Genel Energy plc and a Non-Executive Chairman of Lamor Corporation, a
leading environmental service company. Esa’s previous non-executive experience includes roles at Ahlstrom Corporation,
global supplier of fibre-based products, and at Vantage Drilling International, a major offshore drilling contractor. Previously,
in addition to these non-executive roles, Esa was Executive Vice President and CFO of Transocean, the world’s largest
offshore drilling company. Prior to Transocean, Esa enjoyed a 20-year career at Royal Dutch Shell, culminating in the role of
Vice President Finance for Shell Africa E&P. He holds a master’s degree in Law from the University of Turku, specialising in
tax law and tax planning. Esa is Senior Independent Non-Executive Director and chairs the Company’s Audit Committee.
Neil Hawkings – Non-Executive Director
Neil Hawkings has over 35 years' experience in the upstream oil and gas sector. At ConocoPhillips, Neil played key roles in
the successful development of both their Southern North Sea gas business, and their gas business in Indonesia. His final role
was as Managing Director at Britannia Operator Limited (BOL), where he led production, development and commercial
activities at the Britannia gas condensate field. Neil then served as Operations Director at Premier Oil Plc, responsible for
operational and development activities across their global portfolio. He holds a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering from
Cambridge University. Neil chairs the Company’s HSE and Technical Committee.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 26 of 100
Annual Report 2020
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
Remuneration Policy
Remuneration comprises a mix of salary and bonus payments and equity incentives.
In December 2020 the Company asked FIT Remuneration Consultants to carry out a benchmarking review of its
executive, senior team and Non-Executive Director remuneration arrangements. The work covered Board and
Executive Committee – Board Chair, NEDs, CEO, CFO, COO, Head of Corporate Finance and the General Counsel
and Company Secretary and included a full salary, benefits and incentives review and a view of general structure of
benefits and incentives across the Company. The benchmarking review concluded that the remuneration and benefits
structure comprising salary, discretionary cash bonus and long-term incentive options along with health, life assurance
and death in service benefits was appropriate for the senior team and Executive Directors. The Remuneration
Committee is considering what adjustments to quantum it may make for the above elements based on the benchmarking
review and to fees for Non-Executive Directors.
Options and Long-Term Incentive Plan Policy
The Board believes that it is important that employees (including Executive Directors) are appropriately incentivised,
given that the Group’s success is highly dependent on their performance. Accordingly, it has in place a Company Share
Option Plan (CSOP) which allows the Company to grant options over ordinary shares to all employees. The CSOP is
administered by the Remuneration Committee and the maximum aggregate awards, together with any other employee
share schemes (excluding the Salary Sacrifice Arrangements mentioned below), cannot exceed ten per cent of the
issued share capital of the Company at the time of grant. Under this scheme, a total of 10,009,486 long-term
incentivisation options were awarded to employees in 2020, vesting three years from the date of grant subject to a
compound annual Total Shareholder Return of 10% being achieved.
Salary Sacrifice Arrangements
During the year, in order to enhance alignment between IOG personnel and shareholders, the service agreements of
certain personnel were varied such that cash payments were reduced, and the difference settled by options granted
with a strike price of 1p. The number of options granted is determined by the Company’s volume weighted average
share price for each six-month period of salary or fee sacrifice. Further details can be found in Notes 4 and 26 to the
financial statements.
Corporate Governance Statement
The Directors recognise the importance of sound corporate governance. The Company has adopted the Quoted
Companies Alliance (QCA) Corporate Governance Code 2019 (the Code) to the extent considered appropriate for a
company of its size.
Details of how the Company complies with the ten ‘Principles of the Code’ and explanations of why if it does not can be
found in the QCA Statement, which can be accessed via www.iog.co.uk/investors/aim-rule-26/, and are also discussed
below.
Commentary relating to Principles 1-3 of the Code, which state the following, are covered in the Strategic Report and
Section 172 above, and the Company’s QCA statement on the website.
1. Establish a strategy and business model which promote long-term value for shareholders
2. Seek to understand and meet shareholder needs and expectations
3. Take into account wider stakeholder and social responsibilities and their implications for long-
term success
Principle 4 of the Code states
MAINTAIN A DYNAMIC MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK
4. Embed effective risk management, considering both opportunities and threats, throughout the
organisation
Audit, risk and internal control
The Board of Directors are aware of their responsibility for establishing and communicating a system to manage risk
and implement internal controls.
Operational risks are identified and assessed by management and any significant risks are reported to the Board.
Financial and commercial risks are reviewed by the Board.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 27 of 100
Annual Report 2020
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
The Board have reviewed the work of the executive management, which synthesised the key risks from a far broader
assessment of all operational and corporate risks considered as part of the day to day operational and commercial
management of the Company.
The Board and HSE and Technical Committee Chair were circulated with summaries of the risk analysis and discussed
these informally before formal review at Board meetings.
The Company’s internal control systems are designed to provide the directors with reasonable assurance that any
problems are identified on a timely basis and dealt with appropriately. The Board considers the internal controls to be
effective, but no system of internal control can provide absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss.
The Company will effectively review the risks faced by the business, considering both opportunities and threats and
identify these in its annual report.
Further disclosures on risk and internal controls are set out below.
Financial Controls
The Company has an established framework of internal financial controls, the effectiveness of which is regularly
reviewed by the Executive Management, the Audit Committee and the Board in light of an ongoing assessment of
significant risks facing the Company.
–
In 2020 the Group updated and refreshed its Financial Operating Policy (FOP) in line with its growth and
development. The FOP is the framework to regulate the financial processes of the Group; from the concept of
Group strategy through to the payment of invoices. The key objectives of the FOP are to:
-
-
-
provide a clear framework for internal financial control;
define the levels of financial authority for Staff, Contractors, Directors and the Board; and
set out the processes for budgeting and financial reporting.
– The Board is responsible for reviewing and approving overall Company strategy, approving revenue and capital
budgets and plans, and for determining the financial structure of the Company including treasury and tax.
– The Audit Committee assists the Board in discharging its duties regarding the financial statements, accounting
policies and the maintenance of proper internal business and operational and financial controls, including the
review of results of work performed by the Group controls function.
– There are comprehensive procedures for budgeting and planning, for monitoring and reporting to the Board
business performance against those budgets and plans and for forecasting expected performance over the
remainder of the financial period. These cover profits, cash flows, capital expenditure and net asset statements.
– The Company has a consistent system of prior appraisal for investments, overseen by the Chief Financial
Officer and Chief Executive Officer, with defined financial controls and procedures with which each business
area is required to comply in order to be granted investment funds for development.
Non-financial Controls
The Board recognises that maintaining sound controls and discipline is critical to managing the downside risks to our
plan.
The Board has ultimate responsibility for the Group’s system of internal control and for reviewing its effectiveness.
However, any such system of internal control can provide only reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material
misstatement or loss. The Board considers that the internal controls in place are appropriate for the size, complexity
and risk profile of the Group. The principal elements of the Group’s internal control system include:
– Close management of the day-to-day activities of the Group by the Executive Directors.
– An organisational structure with defined levels of responsibility, which promotes entrepreneurial decision-
making and rapid implementation while minimising risks.
– A comprehensive annual budgeting process.
– Detailed monthly reporting of performance against budget.
– Central control over key areas such as capital expenditure authorisation and banking facilities.
The Group continues to review its system of internal control to ensure compliance with best practice, while also having
regard to its size and the resources available. As part of the Group’s review a number of non-financial controls covering
areas such as regulatory compliance, business integrity, health and safety, risk management, business continuity and
corporate social responsibility have been assessed. The key elements of those non-financial controls are set out below.
Standards and Policies
The Board is committed to maintaining appropriate standards for all the Company’s business activities and ensuring
that these standards are set out in written policies and kept under review.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 28 of 100
Annual Report 2020
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
Approval Process
Contracts are required to be reviewed and signed off functionally by the CFO and General Counsel and signed by a
Director of the Company. Major contracts require the internal sign off from two or more directors according to the
Financial Operating Policy of the Company.
Re-assessment
The Company has a Business Risk Register with business continuity plans to address key risks that have an immediate
impact. Risks facing the business are re-assessed and potential mitigating actions are considered and implemented to
help protect against those risks.
Sections 5-10 of the Code state:
5. Maintaining the Board as a well-functioning, balanced team led by the Chair
The Board currently comprises the Non-Executive Chair, three Executive Directors and two further Non-Executive
Directors.
The Board considers that Fiona MacAulay (Chair), Esa Ikaheimonen (Senior Independent Director) and Neil Hawkings
its current three Non-Executive Directors, bring independent judgement to bear. Fiona MacAulay was previously the
Company’s Senior Independent Director.
Non-Executive Directors are expected to devote such time as necessary for proper performance of their duties. This
includes regular attendance at Board, AGM, shareholder and committee meetings.
The Board is satisfied that it has a suitable balance between independence on the one hand and knowledge of the
Company on the other to enable it to discharge its duties and responsibilities effectively.
All Directors are encouraged to use their independent judgement and to challenge all matters, whether strategic or
operational. During the year at least six scheduled Board meetings take place and a number of additional meetings as
may be required. These are held at IOG’s head office in London (or by video conference in exceptional circumstances
due to government restrictions relating to Covid-19).
Key Board activities include:
– Considering our financial and non-financial policies.
– Discussing strategic priorities.
– Discussing the Group’s capital structure and financial strategy, including capital investments and shareholder
returns.
– Discussing internal governance processes.
Directors’ Conflict of Interest
The Company has effective procedures in place to monitor and deal with conflicts of interest. The Board is aware of
the other commitments and interests of its Directors and changes to these commitments interests are reported, minuted
and where appropriate, agreed with the rest of the Board.
Directors’ Attendance:
Director
Board
Audit Committee
Remuneration and
Nominations Committee
HSE and Technical
Committee
Meetings
17
Fiona MacAulay
Chair 17
Andrew Hockey
Rupert Newall
Mark Hughes1
Esa Ikaheimonen
Neil Hawkings
17
17
15
13
17
5
5
-
-
-
Chair 5
-
2
Chair 2
-
-
-
2
-
4
-
-
1
3
-
Chair 4
1. Mark Hughes resigned on 11 November 2020. Rupert Newall attended the December HSE and Technical Committee meeting as Interim Project Director and David
Gibson was appointed as a new committee member on 8 February 2021.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 29 of 100
Annual Report 2020
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
6. Ensure that between them the Directors have the necessary up-to-date experience, skills and
capabilities
The Board is satisfied that, between the Directors, it has an effective and appropriate balance of skills and experience,
including in the areas of technical Oil and Gas subsurface, project management, drilling and facilities experience and
in the areas of banking, financial and commercial skills and experience. All Directors receive regular and timely
information on the Group’s operational and financial performance. Relevant information is circulated to the Directors
by the Company Secretary in advance of meetings. The business reports monthly on its headline performance against
its agreed budget and the Board reviews the monthly update on performance and any significant variances are reviewed
at each meeting.
Relevant updates are provided by the General Counsel, external counsel, NOMAD and Brokers as required.
Two Non-Executive Directors are active in other companies in Executive and Non-Executive capacities.
All Directors retire by rotation at regular intervals in accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association.
Appointment, removal and re-election of Directors
The Board makes decisions regarding the appointment and removal of Directors and there is a formal, rigorous and
transparent procedure for appointments. The Company’s Articles of Association require that one-third of the Directors
must stand for re-election by shareholders annually in rotation; that all Directors must stand for re-election at least once
every three years; and that any new Directors appointed during the year must stand for election at the AGM immediately
following their appointment.
The Board of Directors has a mix of experience, skills and personal qualities that help deliver the strategy of the
Company. The Company will ensure that between them the Directors have the necessary up-to-date experience, skills
and capabilities to deliver the Company strategy and targets. Each Director is listed on the website and in the annual
report along with a clear description of their role and experience.
The Board also evaluates the balance of skills, knowledge and experience on the Board and considers all new Board
appointments and re-appointments against this evaluation.
Independent Advice
All Directors are able to take independent professional advice in the furtherance of their duties, if necessary, at the
Company’s expense. In addition, the Directors have direct access to the advice and services of the General Counsel
and Company Secretary, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer.
Experience, Skills and Capabilities
Biographical details of the Directors and their relevant experience can be found on the Company website at the following
link www.iog.co.uk/about-us/board-and-management/.
7. Evaluate Board performance based on clear and relevant objectives, seeking continuous
improvement.
The Chair will continue to informally assess the individual contributions of each of the members of the team to ensure
that Company strategy is effectively implemented, and that:
-
-
-
Their contribution is relevant and effective
That they are committed
Where relevant, they have maintained their independence
Each year the board team completes an internal review of individual and collective effectiveness and identifies a number
of actions to ensure that the members of the Board collectively function in an efficient and productive manner as
possible. This takes the form of an adapted standard form questionnaire that is circulated by the Company Secretary,
the results of which were summarised and discussed with the Chair. The results were collated under a traffic light
system, together with suggested actions, which were circulated to the Board and then discussed in a full Board meeting,
with agreed actions being minuted. These actions included the introduction of strategic sessions to compliment the
usual format of board meetings, adjusting board meetings into longer and also some shorter update sessions, updated
processes to manage risk registers between the Board and Committees, improved employee communication through
town hall and virtual town hall meetings.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 30 of 100
Annual Report 2020
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
8. Promote a culture that is based on ethical values and behaviours
The Board aims to lead by example and do what is in the best interests of the Company.
The Company operates a corporate culture that is based on ethical values and behaviours. It maintains policies and
processes that are appropriate to do this for a Company of its size. The Executive Directors communicate regularly with
staff through town hall meetings and the move in January 2020 to new offices has greatly improved internal
communication.
The Board has implemented a robust governance framework including a Code of Conduct, which includes the
Company’s Compliance with Anti-bribery and Corruption Policy that is incorporated in an updated Employee Hand Book
and is communicated to all employees. The Code provides clear guidance on how the members of staff are expected
to behave towards other colleagues, suppliers, customers, shareholders and on our wider responsibility to the
communities within which we operate. All employees are expected to comply with the Code and any violations of it
may be reported to local management or Group HR.
Anti-bribery and Corruption Policy
Company policy is to conduct all its business in an honest and ethical manner. The Company and Group apply a zero-
tolerance approach to bribery and corruption and is committed to acting professionally, fairly and with integrity in all its
business dealings and relationships wherever it operates by implementing and enforcing effective systems to counter
bribery.
9. Maintain governance structures and processes that are fit for purpose and support good
decision-making by the Board
Board programme
The Board meets at least six times each year in accordance with its scheduled meeting calendar.
The Board sets direction for the Company through a formal schedule of matters reserved for its decision. Prior to the
start of each financial year, a schedule of dates for that year’s Board meetings is compiled to align as far as reasonably
practicable with the Company’s financial calendar while also ensuring an appropriate spread of meetings across the
financial year. This may be supplemented by additional meetings as and when required.
During 2020, the Board met for its six scheduled meetings and a further eleven ad-hoc meetings, giving a total of
seventeen meetings. The Board and its subcommittees receive appropriate and timely information prior to each
meeting; a formal agenda is produced for each meeting and Board and Committee papers are distributed several days
before meetings take place. Any Director may challenge Company proposals and decisions are taken democratically
after discussion. Any Director who feels that any concern remains unresolved after discussion may ask for that concern
to be noted in the minutes of the meeting, which are then circulated to all Directors by the Company Secretary. Any
specific actions arising from such meetings are agreed by the Board or relevant Committee and then followed up by the
Company’s executive management.
Roles of the Board, Chair and Chief Executive Officer.
The Board is responsible for the long-term success of the Company. There is a formal schedule of matters reserved to
the Board. It is responsible for overall Group strategy; approval of major investments (whether Capex or Opex);
approval of the annual and interim results; annual budgets and Board structure. It monitors the exposure to key
business risks and reviews the strategic direction of all trading subsidiaries, their annual budgets and their performance
in relation to those budgets. There is a clear division of responsibility at the head of the Company as the roles of Chair
and Chief Executive Officer are split. The Chair is responsible for running the business of the Board and for ensuring
appropriate strategic focus and direction. The Chair leads a Board of Non-Executive Directors with significant industry
experience, in order to provide an effective challenge to the Executive Directors and to foster high quality debate and
effective business decisions in an open and ethical culture. The Chair considers the Code principles of Company
strategy, shareholder, stakeholder, societal, environmental and risk management responsibilities. The Chair, together
with the Company Secretary ensures that all Directors are aware and updated on their duties. The Chair assesses the
Board’s effectiveness on an annual basis and identifies actions to improve the functioning of the Board. The Chief
Executive Officer is responsible for proposing the strategic focus to the Board, implementing it once it has been
approved and overseeing the management of the Company through the Executive Team.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 31 of 100
Annual Report 2020
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
All Directors receive regular and timely information on the Group’s operational and financial performance. Relevant
information is circulated to the Directors in advance of meetings. The business reports monthly on its headline
performance against its agreed budget and the Board reviews the monthly update on performance and any significant
variances are reviewed at each meeting. Senior executives below Board level attend Board meetings where appropriate
to present business updates. Board meetings throughout the year are held at the Company’s head office or virtually.
Executive Team
The Executive Team comprises Andrew Hockey the Chief Executive Officer, Rupert Newall the Chief Financial Officer
(and Interim Project Director from 11 November 2020 to 8 February 2021), David Gibson the Chief Operating Officer
(following his appointment on 8 February 2021), James Chance the Head of Corporate Finance and Investor Relations
and Robin Storey, General Counsel and Company Secretary. They are responsible for formulation of the proposed
strategic focus for submission to the Board, the day-to-day management of the Group’s businesses and its overall
trading, operational and financial performance in fulfilment of that strategy, as well as plans and budgets approved by
the Board of Directors. The Executive Team also manages and oversees key risks, management development and
corporate responsibility programmes. The Chief Executive Officer reports to the Board on issues, progress and
recommendations for change. The controls applied by the Executive Team to financial and non-financial matters are
set out earlier in this document and the effectiveness of these controls is regularly reported to the Audit Committee and
the Board.
Board Committees
The Board is supported by the Audit Committee, Remuneration and Nomination Committee and the HSE and Technical
Committee. Each subcommittee has access to such resources, information and advice as it deems necessary, at the
cost of the Company, to enable the committee to discharge its duties. The terms of reference of each committee are
as follows:
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee comprises Esa Ikaheimonen (Chair) and Fiona MacAulay. The Audit Committee has primary
responsibility for monitoring the quality of internal controls and ensuring that the financial performance of the Group is
properly measured and reported on. In addition, it receives, and reviews reports from the Company’s management and
auditors. The Audit Committee met five times during the year. It has unrestricted access to the Company’s Auditors.
Remuneration and Nominations Committee
The Remuneration and Nominations Committee comprises Fiona MacAulay (Chair) and Esa Ikaheimonen. The
Remuneration Committee determines the remuneration of the Executive Directors and grants share options and any
other equity incentives pursuant to any share option scheme or LTIP in operation from time to time. The Committee
leads the process for Board appointments and makes recommendations for maintaining an appropriate balance of skills
on the Board. The Remuneration & Nominations Committee met twice during the year as planned.
Other Directors, including the Chief Executive, are invited to attend as appropriate and only if they do not have a conflict
of interest. The Committee was also assisted by executive and industry remuneration consultants during the year.
HSE and Technical Committee
The HSE and Technical Committee comprises Neil Hawkings (Chair), Andrew Hockey and David Gibson, who was
appointed on 8 February 2021. Mark Yates, the Company’s Head of HSE, acts as Secretary to the Committee. The
HSE and Technical Committee determines the Company’s Environmental Management Policy, its Health and Safety
Management Policy and directs the overall governance of the Company’s Subsurface and Technical Management
policies. The HSE and Technical Committee met four times during the year.
BUILD TRUST
10. Communicate how the Company is governed and is performing by maintaining a dialogue with
shareholders and other relevant stakeholders
The Company communicates with shareholders through the Annual Report and Accounts, full-year and half-year interim
announcements, the Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’), General Meetings (‘GMs’) and one-to-one meetings with large
existing or potential new shareholders. Investor Relations are managed by the Executive Team and email queries from
private individual shareholders are handled with responses limited to clarifying information that is already in the public
domain.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 32 of 100
Annual Report 2020
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
In regard to a general meeting of the Company, once the meeting has concluded the results of the meeting are released
through a regulatory news service and a copy of the announcement is posted on the Company’s website. If it became
relevant an explanation of actions where a significant proportion of votes (e.g. 20% of votes received) is cast against a
resolution would be provided.
A range of corporate information (including all Company announcements, third party reports, summaries of key assets
and presentations) is also available to shareholders, investors and the public on the Company’s corporate website,
https://www.iog.co.uk.
The Board receives regular updates on the views of shareholders from the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer and
the Chief Financial Officer. The Company’s PR consultants Vigo Communications provides monthly reports on public
forum comments about the Company and the Company’s Nominated Advisor finnCap provides weekly reports on share
price performance and comparisons with our peer group. The Company communicates with institutional investors
frequently through briefings with management. In addition, analysts’ notes and brokers’ briefings are reviewed to
achieve a wide understanding of investors’ views. All annual reports and interim statements since the Company was
formed are available on the Company’s website at https://www.iog.co.uk/investors/results-reports-and-presentations/.
Website AIM Rule 26 Page
The AIM Rule 26 page of the website includes this Corporate Governance Statement and information or links to the
statutory information regarding:
• Description of the business
• Details and biographies of the Board of Directors
• Description of main Board committees and their responsibilities
• Details of any restrictions on the transfer of AIM securities
• Number of securities in issue
•
Identity and percentage holding of significant shareholders, including Directors’ shareholdings and
shareholders with more than 3% of the stock
• Current Annual Report & Accounts
• Current constitutional documents
• Admission Document
The Company website is updated regularly.
On behalf of the Board
Robin Storey
General Counsel and Company Secretary
17 March 2021
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 33 of 100
Annual Report 2020
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
Report of the Directors
The Directors present their report and audited financial statements of Independent Oil and Gas plc (“the Company”)
and its subsidiaries ("the Group") for the year ended 31 December 2020. All amounts are shown in Pounds Sterling,
unless otherwise stated.
The Company has its headquarters in London and its oil and gas interests are in the UK sector of the North Sea.
Information about the principal activities of the business, statement of reserves and resources, operational and financial
updates, the principal risks and uncertainties faced by the business, the Group’s KPIs and the Directors’ going concern
assessment can be found in the Strategic Report / Finance Review.
Dividend
The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend (2019: £nil).
Political contributions
No payments to political parties have been made during the year (2019: £nil).
Future Developments
The Group is now primarily focused on delivering the Phase 1 project to commence gas delivery in Q3 2021, full details
of which are included in the Strategic Report.
Directors and their Interests
The Directors who held office during the year, and at the date of this report, were: -
Fiona MacAulay
Andrew Hockey
Rupert Newall
Mark Hughes (resigned 11 November 2020)
Esa Ikaheimonen
Neil Hawkings
Directors’ biographies and committee memberships are set out in the Corporate Governance Report from pages 26 to
33.
The Group has provided the Directors with third party indemnity insurance of £25 million for 2020 (2019: £25 million).
Directors who held office during the financial year had the following interests in shares of the Company:
Ordinary shares of 1p each At 31 December 2020
Andrew Hockey
790,729
Rupert Newall 1
3,767,050
693,770
Mark Hughes
200,000
Fiona MacAulay
500,000
Esa Ikaheimonen
-
Neil Hawkings
At 31 December 2019
710,729
3,667,050
593,770
200,000
500,000
-
1 Also includes people related to, or persons closely associated to Rupert Newall.
Details of Directors’ emoluments and share options are set out in Note 4 to the financial statements.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 34 of 100
Annual Report 2020
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
Substantial Shareholdings
Except for the holdings of ordinary shares listed below, the Company has not been notified by or become aware of any
persons holding 3% or more of the 488,384,043 issued ordinary shares of 1p each of the Company at 17 March 2021.
Shareholder
London Oil and Gas Limited (in administration)
Lombard Odier Asset Management (Europe) Limited
Richard Griffiths and controlled undertakings
Azvalor Asset Management S.G.I.I.C., S.A.
Remainder
Total
Number
145,888,669
123,980,066
29,997,380
25,037,785
163,480,143
%
29.87%
25.39%
6.14%
5.13%
33.47%
488,384,043
100%
Risk Management
Information on the financial and operational risks faced by the Group and the risk management objectives and policies
is included in the Strategic Report.
Financial Instruments
Information on financial instruments can be found in Note 24 to the financial statements.
Related Parties
Information on related party transactions can be found in Note 26 to the financial statements.
Subsequent Events
Information on subsequent events can be found in Note 28 to the financial statements.
Shareholder Communications
The Company has a website, www.iog.co.uk, to provide information to shareholders.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 35 of 100
Annual Report 2020
STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic Report and the Report of the Directors and the financial
statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that legislation the
Directors have elected to prepare the Group and Company financial statements in accordance with International
Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRSs’) as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.
Under company law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a
true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and Company and of the profit or loss of the Group for that period.
The Directors are also required to prepare financial statements in accordance with the rules of the London Stock
Exchange for companies trading securities on the Alternative Investment Market (‘AIM’).
In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to: -
• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
• make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
• state whether they have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs applied in accordance with the provisions of the
Companies Act 2006, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group
and Company will continue in business.
The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain
Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and
enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. They
are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the
prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Website publication
The Directors are responsible for ensuring the Annual Report and the financial statements are made available on a
website. Financial statements are published on the Company's website in accordance with legislation in the United
Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements, which may vary from legislation in other
jurisdictions. The maintenance and integrity of the Company's website is the responsibility of the Directors. The
Directors' responsibility also extends to the ongoing integrity of the financial statements contained therein.
Directors' confirmation
Each person who is Director at the time when this report is approved has confirmed that:
a. So far as each Director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company's auditor is unaware;
and
b. Each Director has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a Director, including making appropriate
enquiries of fellow Directors and the Company's auditor for that purpose, to be aware of any information needed by
the Company's auditor in connection with preparing their report and to establish that the Company's auditor is aware
of that information.
Auditor
BDO LLP have expressed their willingness to continue in office and a resolution to re-appoint them will be proposed at
the annual general meeting.
On behalf of the Board
Andrew Hockey
Chief Executive Officer
17 March 2021
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 36 of 100
Annual Report 2020
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF INDEPENDENT OIL AND GAS PLC
Opinion on the financial statements
In our opinion:
•
•
•
•
the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs
as at 31 December 2020 and of the Group’s loss for the year then ended;
the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with International Accounting
Standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006;
the Parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with International
Accounting Standards and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and
the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
We have audited the financial statements of Independent Oil & Gas Plc (the ‘Parent Company’) and its subsidiaries (the
‘Group’) for the year ended 31 December 2020 which comprise the consolidated statement of comprehensive income,
the consolidated and company statements of changes in equity, the consolidated statement of financial position, the
company statement of financial position, the consolidated cash flow statement, the company cash flow statement and
notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting
framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International Accounting Standards in
conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and, as regards the Parent Company financial statements,
as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs
(UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We believe that the audit evidence
we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Independence
We remain independent of the Group and the Parent Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are
relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to listed
entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.
Material uncertainty related to going concern
We draw attention to note 1 in the financial statements which sets out the Directors’ considerations of the Group’s ability
to continue as a going concern and its ability to remain within the terms of its facility, including bond covenants. As
stated in note 1, these events or conditions, along with the other matters as set out in note 1, indicate that a material
uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s and the Parent Company’s ability to continue as a
going concern. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.
We consider this area to be a key audit matter.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting
in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Our evaluation of the Directors’ assessment of the Group
and the Parent Company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting included:
• Obtaining, challenging and assessing the Group and Parent Company’s base case cash flow forecasts and the
underlying assumptions which have been approved by the Board.
• Challenging Management on the reasonableness of forecast price assumptions applied in the model and
benchmarking these to market and other broker consensus pricing ranges.
• Challenging and obtaining audit evidence to ensure that key inputs applied in the cash flow forecasts relating
to future capital costs and production were consistent with other financial and operational information obtained
during the course of the audit.
• Obtaining, reviewing and challenging Management’s reverse stress testing analysis which was performed to
determine the point at which liquidity and bond covenants are breached. Our testing considered whether such
scenarios, including significant reductions in gas prices and delays to production were possible given the level
of uncertainty and the potential impacts of Covid-19.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 37 of 100
Annual Report 2020
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF INDEPENDENT OIL AND GAS PLC (CONT’D)
• Discussing and seeking views from Management and the Audit Committee on the potential impacts of Covid-
19 including their assessment of risks and uncertainties with areas such as the Group’s offshore workforce and
supply chain.
• Comparing the Group’s actual results for the year ended 31 December 2020 to the planned budgeted out turn
for 2020 to assess the quality of Management’s budgetary process.
• Performing retrospective analysis on the planned capital and developmental expenditure included in the prior
year going concern assessment to 2020 actuals.
• Comparing the level of capital and developmental expenditure committed by the Group and Parent Company
to the level of such expenditure included in the going concern model. We agreed a sample of such expenditure
to underlying source documentation such as contracts.
• Reviewing and considering the adequacy of the disclosure within the financial statements relating to the
Directors’ assessment of the going concern basis of preparation.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant
sections of this report.
Overview
Coverage2
100% (2019: 100%) of Group loss before tax
100% (2019: 100%) of Group revenue
100% (2019: 100%) of Group total assets
2020
2019
Key audit matter
KAM 1
Accounting
IFRS 16
for
leases under
✓
KAM 2
Accounting
for
CalEnergy Resources Limited
farm-out
to
n/a2
KAM 3
Accounting for the conversion of
and restructuring of debt due to
London Oil & Gas Limited
KAM 4 Going concern
n/a2
✓
n/a
✓
✓
n/a
Materiality
Group financial statements as a whole
£2.2m (2019: £2.3m) based on 1.4% (2019: 1.6%) of total assets.
Parent company standalone financial statements
£1.9m (2019: £1.7m) based on 1.4% of total assets and restricted to 90% of
Group materiality (2019: restricted to 75% of Group materiality).
An overview of the scope of our audit
Our Group audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the Group and its environment, including the Group’s
system of internal control, and assessing the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements. We also
addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including assessing whether there was evidence of
bias by the Directors that may have represented a risk of material misstatement.
1 These are areas which have been subject to a full scope audit by the group engagement team
2 These are not identified as key audit matters as they related to one-off events in 2019
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 38 of 100
Annual Report 2020
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF INDEPENDENT OIL AND GAS PLC (CONT’D)
We determined that there were three significant components and all of these were subject to a full scope audit. Together
with the parent company and its Group consolidation, which were both also subject to a full scope audit, these represent
the significant components of the Group.
The remaining components of the Group were considered non-significant and these components were principally
subject to analytical review procedures, together with additional substantive testing over the risk areas detailed above
where applicable to that component.
The audits of each of the significant components were performed in the UK. All of the audit work was conducted by
BDO LLP.
Key audit matter
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the
financial statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement
(whether or not due to fraud) that we identified, including those which had the greatest effect on the overall audit
strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit, and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were
addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we
do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. In addition to going concern, described in the material uncertainty
related to going concern section above, we determined the matters described below to be the key audit matters to be
communicated in our report.
Key audit matter
How the scope of our audit addressed the key
audit matter
Accounting
leases
for
IFRS
under
(Please
16
refer to note
11 & 23 of the
financial
statements
for
further
information.)
in
During the development of the
Phase 1 projects
the
preparation for first gas in Q3
2021, the Group has entered
into a number of significant
contracts with suppliers
for
platform construction, subsea,
drilling and onshore activities.
the complexities and
Given
judgements
from
required
Management in performing the
in
IFRS 16 assessment,
ensuring completeness of lease
arrangements identified as well
as
financial
required
statement disclosures and,
given the materiality of the new
contracts entered into in the
period, we consider this area to
be a significant focus area for
our audit.
the
• We obtained,
reviewed and
challenged
Management’s accounting analysis and contract
impact assessment including their consideration
of the impact on lease liabilities and right of use
asset recognition.
• We
reviewed
the underlying
supporting
to ensure Management had
agreements
identified and
the appropriate
reflected
accounting for all relevant clauses impacted by
the application of IFRS 16 such as renewal
option clauses.
• We recalculated Management’s determination of
the right of use asset and lease liability for the
new lease identified. We also recalculated the
depreciation and associated finance cost.
• We challenged the incremental borrowing rate
assumption made by Management. Our work
focussed on benchmarking Management’s
assumptions and along with the assistance from
our internal valuations experts we assessed the
reasonableness of the rate applied.
• We obtained a listing of suppliers used by the
Group in the year and obtained an understanding
of the services provided by each through review
to
of supporting documentation
determine the completeness of Management’s
IFRS 16 assessment.
in order
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 39 of 100
Annual Report 2020
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF INDEPENDENT OIL AND GAS PLC (CONT’D)
• We further analysed the general ledger to assess
whether the supplier listing was complete, for
for
example searching entry descriptions
previously unidentified suppliers, and also to
identify any material recurring costs to determine
any unidentified leases as these could be
indicative of a lease payment in substance.
• We have assessed during the audit of other
areas of the financial statements whether any
costs incurred may indicate the existence of a
lease arrangement.
• We reviewed the adequacy of the disclosures in
the financial statements.
Key observations:
Based on the work performed we did not identify any
instances which suggests that the accounting for the
leases to be materially incorrect. We found the
disclosures
to be
appropriate compared to the accounting policies and
relevant accounting framework.
financial statements
the
in
Our application of materiality
We apply the concept of materiality both in planning and performing our audit, and in evaluating the effect of
misstatements. We consider materiality to be the magnitude by which misstatements, including omissions, could
influence the economic decisions of reasonable users that are taken on the basis of the financial statements.
In order to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that any misstatements exceed materiality, we use a
lower materiality level, performance materiality, to determine the extent of testing needed. Importantly, misstatements
below these levels will not necessarily be evaluated as immaterial as we also take account of the nature of identified
misstatements, and the particular circumstances of their occurrence, when evaluating their effect on the financial
statements as a whole.
Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the financial statements as a whole and
performance materiality as follows:
company
financial
Group financial statements
2020
£m
2.2
1.4%
assets
of
total
2019
£m
2.3
1.6%
assets
of
total
Materiality
Basis for determining
materiality
Rationale
benchmark applied
for
the
Total Assets was determined as an
appropriate basis as the principal focus
of the Group, remains fundamentally
focussed on the development of its oil
and gas assets. As such, we consider
the
the shareholders will
statement of financial position and total
assets of
to
in order
the Group
understand the level of investment.
look
to
Parent
statements
2020
£m
1.9
Restricted
to
90% of Group
materiality
The Company
is a holding
company which
performs
fund
raising activities
and incurs other
administrative
expenditure. As
the
strategic
focus of the
2019
£m
1.7
Restricted to 75% of
Group materiality
Company
The
materiality
was
restricted to 75% of
Group materiality in
order to ensure that
the materiality was
at a lower level than
Group
the
materiality
in
accordance with the
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 40 of 100
Annual Report 2020
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF INDEPENDENT OIL AND GAS PLC (CONT’D)
is
Company
monetising
its
asset base we
have
determined that
an asset based
is
materiality
correct
the
basis
of
materiality. The
materiality was
restricted
to
90% of Group
materiality
in
order to ensure
the
that
materiality was
at a lower level
than the Group
in
materiality
accordance
with
auditing
standards.
1.4
the
auditing standards.
The
materiality
before
assessed
the restriction was
applied was based
on Total Assets.
1.3
1.6
1.7
Performance materiality was set at 75%
of the above materiality level as all the
work on the significant components and
components of
the Group was
undertaken by BDO LLP and the level of
prior year adjustments was immaterial.
Performance materiality was set at
75% of the above materiality level as a
full substantive audit is completed by
BDO LLP and the level of prior year
adjustments was immaterial.
Performance
materiality
Basis for determining
performance
materiality
Specific materiality
We also determined that for items in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, a misstatement of less than
materiality for the financial statements as a whole could influence the economic decisions of users. As a result, we
determined specific materiality for these items based on 5% of loss before tax for each component of the Group. Specific
materiality ranged from £310,000 to £960,000. We further applied a performance materiality level of 75% of specific
materiality to ensure that the risk of errors exceeding specific materiality was appropriately mitigated.
Component materiality
We set materiality for each component of the Group based on 1.4% of the individual total assets of each component.
Component materiality ranged from £200,000 to £310,000. In the audit of each component, we further applied
performance materiality levels of 75% of the component materiality to our testing to ensure that the risk of errors
exceeding component materiality was appropriately mitigated.
Reporting threshold
We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them all individual audit differences in excess of £43,000
(2019: £44,000). We also agreed to report differences below this threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on
qualitative grounds.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 41 of 100
Annual Report 2020
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF INDEPENDENT OIL AND GAS PLC (CONT’D)
Other information
The Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the
Report and Audited Financial Statements other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our
opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly
stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other
information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial
statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we
identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this
gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed,
we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Other Companies Act 2006 reporting
Based on the responsibilities described below and our work performed during the course of the audit, we are required
by the Companies Act 2006 and ISAs (UK) to report on certain opinions and matters as described below.
Strategic
report
Directors’
report
and
Matters
on
which we are
to
required
report
by
exception
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
•
the information given in the Strategic report and the Directors’ report for
the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is
consistent with the financial statements; and
the Strategic report and the Directors’ report have been prepared in
accordance with applicable legal requirements.
•
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and Parent
Company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not
identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the Directors’ report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to
which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
• adequate accounting records have not been kept 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 are not in agreement with the
accounting records and returns; or
certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not
made; or
•
•
• we have not received all the information and explanations we require for
our audit.
Responsibilities of Directors
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities, the Directors are responsible for the preparation
of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the
Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the Group’s and the Parent Company’s
ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going
concern basis of accounting unless the Directors either intend to liquidate the Group or the Parent Company or to cease
operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 42 of 100
Annual Report 2020
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF INDEPENDENT OIL AND GAS PLC (CONT’D)
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion.
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with
ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and
are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic
decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Extent to which the audit was capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line
with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.
We considered the laws and regulations of the UK to be the most relevant to the audit given the Geographical area of
focus of the Group. As part of our audit work we reviewed and held meetings with the relevant internal Management to
form our own opinion on the extent of the Group wide compliance.
In addition, our testing also included, but was not limited to:
• Testing the financial statement disclosures to supporting documentation, performing substantive testing on
account balances which were considered to be a greater risk of susceptibility to fraud
• Making enquiries of Management as to whether there was any correspondence from regulators in so far as the
correspondence related to the financial statements
• Performing targeted journal entry testing based on identified characteristics the audit team considered could be
indicative of fraud, for example capitalisation entries to development and production assets without a
corresponding entry to cash or trade payables
• Critically assessing areas of the financial statements which include judgement and estimates, as set out in note
1 to the financial statements
• Testing consolidation entries to ensure consistency and appropriateness of application
• Performing an assessment of the Group’s IT and the wider control environment and included within this testing
we assessed the process for management approval and Board sanction of cost requisitions.
These procedures are designed to address the risk of material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud,
but do not provide absolute assurance as to the non-existence of any such misstatements.
Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the financial statements,
recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting
one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, misrepresentations or
through collusion. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed and the further removed non-
compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less
likely we are to become aware of it.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at:
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 43 of 100
Annual Report 2020
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF INDEPENDENT OIL AND GAS PLC (CONT’D)
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the Parent 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 Parent 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 Parent Company and the
Parent Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Anne Sayers (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of BDO LLP, Statutory Auditor
London, UK
17 March 2021
BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC305127).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 44 of 100
Annual Report 2020
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
Administration expenses
Impairment of oil and gas properties
Project, pre-licence and exploration expenses
Profit on farm-down of assets
Foreign exchange (loss) / gain
Operating (loss)/profit
Finance expense
Finance income
Gain on loan modification
Fair value loss
(Loss)/profit for the year before taxation
Taxation
(Loss)/Profit and total comprehensive (loss)/profit for the year
attributable to equity holders of the parent
(Loss)/earnings for the year per ordinary share – basic
(Loss)/earnings for the year per ordinary share – diluted
Notes
2020
£000
2019
£000
(3,410)
(12,598)
(180)
-
(701)
_________
(2,622)
-
(4,027)
24,340
238
_________
(16,889)
17,929
(2,203)
20
-
(265)
_________
(7,939)
34
5,005
-
_________
(19,337)
15,029
-
_________
-
_________
(19,337)
15,029
_________
_________
(4.0p)
(4.0p)
5.1p
3.7p
10
6
3
5
7
14
8
9
9
9
The (loss) for the year £19.3 million (2019: Profit £15.0 million) arose from continuing operations.
The Notes on pages 51 to 96 form part of these financial statements.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 45 of 100
Annual Report 2020
CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
Consolidated and Company Statements of Changes in Equity
Share capital
Share
premium
Share-based
payment
reserve
Accumulated
Total equity
losses
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
Group:
At 1 January 2019
Profit for the year
Total comprehensive loss attributable to
owners of the parent
Issue of share capital
Lapse of warrants
Issue of share options
Exercise of share options
At 31 December 2019
Loss for the year
Total comprehensive loss attributable to
owners of the parent
Lapse of warrants
Exercise of warrants
Issue of share options
Expiry of share options
Exercise of share options
At 31 December 2020
Company:
At 1 January 2019
Loss for the year
Total comprehensive profit attributable
to owners of the parent
Issue of share capital
Lapse of warrants
Issue of share options
Exercise of share options
At 31 December 2019
Loss for the year
Total comprehensive loss attributable to
owners of the parent
Lapse of warrants
Exercise of warrants
Issue of share options
Expiry of share options
Exercise of share options
At 31 December 2020
1,269
-
_____
-
3,483
-
-
50
_____
4,802
22,337
-
________
6,308
-
________
(35,690)
15,029
________
-
27,086
-
-
-
________
49,423
-
-
(31)
676
(601)
________
6,352
15,029
-
31
-
601
________
(20,029)
(5,776)
15,029
_______
15,029
30,569
-
676
50
_______
40,548
-
_____
-
________
-
________
(19,337)
________
(19,337)
_______
-
-
78
-
-
2
_____
4,882
_____
1,269
-
_____
-
3,483
-
-
50
_____
4,802
-
-
566
-
-
-
______
49,989
________
-
(401)
(727)
941
(1)
(10)
________
6,154
_______
(19,337)
401
727
-
1
10
________
(38,227)
________
22,337
-
________
6,308
-
________
(5,157)
(7,010)
________
-
27,086
-
-
-
________
49,423
-
-
(31)
676
(601)
________
6,352
(7,010)
-
31
-
601
________
(11,535)
(19,337)
-
644
941
-
2
_______
22,798
_______
24,757
(7,010)
_______
(7,010)
30,569
-
676
50
_______
49,042
-
_____
-
________
-
________
(6,285)
________
(6,285)
_______
-
-
78
-
-
2
_____
4,882
______
-
-
566
-
-
-
________
49,989
________
-
(401)
(727)
941
(1)
(10)
_______
6,154
_______
(6,285)
401
727
-
1
10
_______
(16,681)
________
(6,285)
-
644
941
-
2
_______
44,344
_______
Share capital - Amounts subscribed for share capital at nominal value.
Share premium - Amounts received on the issue of shares, in excess of the nominal value of the shares.
Share-based payment reserve - Amounts reflecting fair value of options and warrants issued.
Accumulated losses - Cumulative net losses recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income net of amounts recognised directly in equity.
The Notes on pages 51 to 96 form part of these financial statements.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 46 of 100
Annual Report 2020
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AT 31 DECEMBER 2020
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
Non-current assets
Intangible assets: exploration & evaluation
Intangible assets: other
Property, plant and equipment: development & production assets
Property, plant and equipment: other
Restricted cash
Current assets
Financial asset
Other receivables and prepayments
Restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents
Total assets
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Non-current liabilities
Loans
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
NET ASSETS
Capital and reserves
Share capital
Share premium
Share-based payment reserve
Accumulated losses
Notes
2020
£000
2019
£000
10
10
11
11
21
14
16
21
21
17
22,23
18,23
20
20
1,309
170
53,422
16,541
-
_________
71,442
_________
1,260
1,099
67,049
13,389
_________
82,797
_________
13,099
80
28,921
1,071
49,230
_________
92,401
_________
-
5,092
32,836
16,197
_________
54,125
_________
154,239
146,526
(22,131)
_________
(22,131)
_________
(95,813)
(13,497)
_________
(109,310)
_________
(131,441)
_________
22,798
_________
4,882
49,989
6,154
(38,227)
_________
22,798
_________
(7,231)
_________
(7,231)
_________
(89,243)
(9,504)
_________
(98,747)
_________
(105,978)
_________
40,548
_________
4,802
49,423
6,352
(20,029)
_________
40,548
_________
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 17 March 2021 and were
signed on its behalf by:
Rupert Newall
Chief Financial Officer
17 March 2021
The Notes on pages 51 to 96 form part of these financial statements.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 47 of 100
Annual Report 2020
COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AT 31 DECEMBER 2020
Company Statement of Financial Position
Company Number: 07434350
Non-current assets
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment: Development & Production
Property, plant and equipment: Other
Investments
Amounts due from subsidiaries
Restricted cash
Current assets
Financial asset
Other receivables and prepayments
Restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents
Total assets
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Non-current liabilities
Loans
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
NET ASSETS
Capital and reserves
Share capital
Share premium
Share-based payment reserve
Accumulated losses
Notes
2020
£000
2019
£000
10
11
11
13
13
21
14
16
21
21
170
1,959
16,541
15,486
44,906
-
_________
79,062
_________
1,260
2,466
65,699
13,389
_________
82,814
_________
161,876
80
-
1,071
15,486
28,710
49,230
_________
94,577
_________
-
2,513
31,586
16,197
_________
50,296
_________
144,873
17
(16,138)
(5,944)
22,23
18,23
20
20
(95,813)
(5,581)
_________
(101,394)
_________
(117,532)
_________
44,344
_________
4,882
49,989
6,154
(16,681)
_________
44,344
_________
(89,243)
(644)
_________
(89,887)
_________
(95,831)
_________
49,042
_________
4,802
49,423
6,352
(11,535)
_________
49,042
_________
The Company has taken advantage of the exemption allowed under Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has
not presented its own Statement of Comprehensive Income in these financial statements.
The Company loss for the year was £6.3 million (2019: loss £7.0 million).
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 17 March 2021 and were
signed on its behalf by: -
Rupert Newall
Chief Financial Officer
17 March 2021
The Notes on pages 51 to 96 form part of these financial statements.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 48 of 100
Annual Report 2020
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
(Loss)/profit for the year
(19,337)
15,029
Notes
2020
£000
2019
£000
Depreciation, depletion and amortisation
Exploration asset write off
Share based payments
Fair value loss
Profit on disposal of fixed assets
Interest received
Gain on loan modification
Finance expense
Effect of exchange rate changes on Bond
Movement in trade and other receivables
Movement in trade and other payables
11
10
14
6
7
5
559
12,598
941
265
-
(20)
-
2,203
4,792
244
-
675
-
(24,340)
(35)
(5,005)
7,939
(5,366)
3,993
1,974
_________
(4,420)
(620)
_________
Net cash generated/(used) in operating activities
7,968
(15,899)
Investing activities
Purchase of intangible and tangible assets
Movement in restricted cash
Interest received
Increase in Financial assets
Deferred consideration payments
Farm out proceeds received 1
Initial Thames Reception Facilities (“TRF”) decommissioning security
Farm out proceeds received in respect of (“TRF”) decommissioning
security
Initial Thames Pipeline decommissioning security
Lease liability payments
(11,735)
15,017
20
(1,260)
(875)
-
-
(17,048)
(87,646)
35
-
-
22,389
(2,000)
-
-
-
_________
1,000
250
(236)
_________
Net cash generated by / (used in) investing activities
1,167
(83,256)
Financing activities
Proceeds from issue of equity instruments of the Group
Proceeds from issue of warrant instruments of the Group
Issue costs in relation to issue of equity
Proceeds from issue of Norwegian Bond
Cash received from loans
Finance fees paid
2
644
-
-
-
(11,116)
_________
18,675
-
(1,288)
90,439
3,925
(2,705)
_________
Net cash (used in) / generated from financing activities
(10,470)
109,046
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
(1,335)
9,891
16,197
(1,473)
_________
702
5,604
_________
21
13,389
_________
16,197
_________
1 Proceeds from the farm out were received net of funds which were settled to LOG for loans and interest totalling £17,139k and legal fees £472k
The Notes on pages 51 to 96 form part of these financial statements.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 49 of 100
Annual Report 2020
COMPANY CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
Company Cash Flow Statement
Loss for the year
Depreciation charges
Exploration asset write off
Share based payments
Fair value loss
Inter-company service charge uplift
Interest received
Finance expenses
Gain on loan modification
Effect of exchange rate changes in Bond
Movement in trade and other receivables
Movement in trade and other payables
Notes
2020
£000
2019
£000
7
(6,285)
(7,010)
559
180
941
265
-
(20)
2,137
-
4,792
47
2,879
244
-
675
-
(165)
(35)
6,596
(5,005)
(5,366)
(1,841)
(2,205)
Net cash used in operating activities
5,495
(14,112)
Investing activities
Purchase of intangible and tangible assets
Movement in restricted cash
Loans to subsidiary undertakings
Proceeds from subsidiary undertakings
Interest received
Increase in financial assets
Deferred consideration payments
Lease liability payments
(629)
17,979
(11,681)
-
20
(1,260)
(875)
(129)
(297)
(87,646)
(19,339)
22,389
35
-
-
(236)
Net cash used in investing activities
3,425
(85,094)
Financing activities
Proceeds from issue of equity instruments of the Company
Issue costs in relation to issue of equity
Proceeds from issue of Norwegian Bond (net of costs)
Cash received from loans
Finance fees paid
Net cash generated from financing activities
Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
Equivalents
646
-
-
-
(11,116)
18,675
(1,288)
90,439
3,925
(2,705)
(10,470)
109,046
(1,550)
16,197
(1,258)
9,840
702
5,655
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
21
13,389
16,197
The Notes on pages 51 to 96 form part of these financial statements.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 50 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
Notes forming part of the financial statements
1 Accounting policies
General information
Independent Oil and Gas plc is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in England and Wales. The
Group’s and Company’s financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 were authorised for issue by the
Board of Directors on 17 March 2021 and the balance sheets were signed on the Board’s behalf by the CFO, Rupert
Newall.
Basis of preparation and accounting
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below. The policies
have been consistently applied to all years presented, unless otherwise stated. The consolidated financial statements
are presented in GBP Sterling, which is also the functional currency of the Company and its subsidiaries. Amounts are
rounded to the nearest thousand, unless otherwise stated.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards applied
in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006, International Accounting Standards and Interpretations
(collectively ‘IFRSs’) and with those parts of Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies preparing their accounts
under IFRS.
The preparation of financial statements in compliance with adopted IFRSs requires the use of certain critical accounting
estimates. It also requires Group management to exercise judgment in applying the Group's accounting policies. The
areas where significant judgments and estimates have been made in preparing the financial statements and their effect
are disclosed within this Note 1 on pages 61 and 62.
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis.
The Company has reclassified certain items in the prior year consolidated and company cash flow statement to align
with the current year disclosure.
Going concern
In assessing the Group’s and Parent Company’s current financial position and reaching its conclusion as to going
concern status up until September 2022, as laid out in the Annual Report, the Board has, by necessity, utilised a set of
reasonable assumptions around activities, costs, timings, asset performance and other relevant economic factors
including the potential impact of Covid-19, in order to develop an accurate perspective. These assumptions are
summarised in this paper.
The Phase 1 capital cost and schedule assumptions underlying the going concern assessment flow from the baseline
project plan as recently reviewed and reaffirmed by the various lead project managers and the COO, which has led to
a revised risked mid-case forecast of final outturn Phase 1 capital expenditure profile finishing in mid-2022. Each key
discipline area within the project has undertaken an exercise of rebasing the Phase 1 cost estimates based on existing
commitments and better definition of future spend as the project reaches its final stages of execution. These updated
cost estimates have in turn been interrogated and subsequently approved at both executive and Board level. Similarly,
operating cost assumptions, which include both offshore Operations and Maintenance (O&M) costs, onshore Thames
Reception Facilities operation costs and Bacton processing tariff costs, have been established using the latest and most
accurate available estimates provided by internal operational personnel and relevant external parties, including IOG’s
designated O&M contractor ODE and Bacton terminal operator Perenco UK Limited. Decommissioning cost
assumptions are drawn directly from the independent Competent Persons Report (CPR) undertaken by reserve auditor
ERC Equipoise in 2017.
In terms of project performance and timing assumptions, based on the latest re-baselined management assessments
of project readiness and current expectations of the five-well development drilling programme, the timing of field start-
ups for Phase 1 are as follows: Elgood and Blythe in September 2021, and Southwark in May 2022. The Phase 1
schedule has also been reviewed and approved by the executive and the Board based on detailed planning schedules
managed by our dedicated project planner who has the full collaboration and oversight of the wider project team.
The gas price assumptions underlying the base case economic assessment is based on an average realised price of
45p/therm, which management confirms to be a sensible baseline in the context of average realised UK gas prices over
the past decade, having taken advice from independent market experts engaged by the Group. The price assumption
is seasonally adjusted based on a recent forward curve, to more accurately replicate the actual seasonal fluctuations in
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 51 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
Going concern (cont’d)
the UK gas market (higher prices over October-March, lower prices over April-September), rather than use an unrealistic
flat price assumption.
For pre-development assets and General and Administrative (G&A) costs, all assumptions are based on approved
internal budgets, which in turn are based on reasonable estimates derived from comparable activities and relevant
past actual costs. G&A budgets are constructed with an iterative methodology that factors in historical expenditure
trends adjusted with appropriate forward looking modifications and expected trends in underlying activity (e.g.
changes in organisation headcount). Forecasts are reviewed by the senior finance team and the CFO on a monthly
basis in order to assess the appropriateness of budget versus actual outturn and reviewed and discussed at Board
level. The Group’s holding of its own bonds, which have a nominal value of €1.7 million, are assumed to be sold by
the end of 2021 at a price no higher than the current market value. Since its listing the bond has seen active trading
and therefore the Board consider this to be a reasonable assumption. Finally, prudent assumptions have been taken
in respect of the Group’s treasury management, including the policy of minimising foreign exchange exposures as far
as possible.
Foreign exchange exposures are forecast and compared to the available currency held as cash balances, JV cash calls
and Bond drawdowns which allows any exposure to be actively managed.
As demonstrated above, the Group uses prudent assumptions to develop its view of most likely outcomes. In its detailed
financial modelling it also stress tests a number of different possible future scenarios to evaluate the likely impacts of
potential schedule and cost overruns. The stress test scenarios run by Management and reviewed by the Board, include
changes in the timing of first gas, changes in the gas pricing assumptions and changes in expected production levels.
These stress test scenarios may individually and in combination impact the Group’s available cash resources and ability
to remain within its bond covenants. Under the forecast scenarios the Group is expected to be able to stay within its
current cash resources until May 2022 after which a potential breach of one of the bond covenants may occur.
The nature of the Group’s operations inherently involves a range of potential outcomes and in that context the Group
has identified mitigation measures to mitigate or eliminate potential risks that may affect cash flows.
Conclusions
After a review of these forecasts the Board have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to
continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and to deliver Phase 1 on time. Accordingly, the Directors
continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the consolidated financial statements. However, the Directors
acknowledge that at the date of approval of these consolidated financial statements, the potential future impact of the
reverse stress test scenarios noted above, indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant
doubt about the Group’s and Parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern and therefore it may be unable
to realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.
The financial statements do not include any adjustments that would result if the Group and the Parent Company were
unable to continue as a going concern.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 52 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
1 Accounting policies (continued)
New and revised accounting standards
(i) New and amended standards adopted by the Group:-
The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the previous financial year. New or amended financial
standards or interpretations adopted during the year and that have a significant impact upon the financial statements
are detailed below.
(ii) The following standards, amendments and interpretations, which are effective for reporting periods beginning after
the date of these financial statements, have not been adopted early: -
Standard
IAS 1
IAS 8
IFRS 3
IFRS 16
IFRS 17
Description
Presentation of Financial Statements
Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting
Estimates and Errors (Amendment – Disclosure
Initiative - Definition of Material)
Business Combinations (Amendment – Definition
of Business)
Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting
(Revised)
IBOR Reform and its Effects on Financial
Reporting – Phase 1
Covid-19-Related Rent Concessions
Insurance Contracts
Effective date
1 January 2020
1 January 2020
1 January 2020
1 January 2020
1 January 2020
1 June 2020
1 January 2021
In reviewing the above standards, the Company does not believe that there will be a material impact on the financial
statements.
Basis of consolidation
Where the Company has control over an investee, it is classified as a subsidiary. The Company controls an investee if
all three of the following elements are present: power over the investee, exposure to variable returns from the investee,
and the ability of the investor to use its power to affect those variable returns. Control is reassessed whenever facts
and circumstances indicate that there may be a change in any of these elements of control.
The consolidated financial statements present the results of the Company and its subsidiaries as if they formed a single
entity. Inter-company transactions and balances between Group companies are therefore eliminated in full. The
financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the Group's financial statements from the date that control
commences until the date that control ceases.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 53 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
1 Accounting policies (continued)
Asset Acquisition
In the event of an asset acquisition, the cost of the acquisition is assigned to the individual assets and liabilities based
on their relative fair values. All directly attributable costs are capitalised. Contingent consideration is accrued for when
these amounts are considered probable and are discounted to present value based on the expected timing of payment.
Oil and gas exploration, development and producing assets
The Group adopts the following accounting policies for oil and gas asset expenditure, based on the stage of
development of the assets:-
1) Pre-Licence
Expenditure incurred prior to the acquisition and/or award of a licence interest is expensed to the Statement of
Comprehensive Income as ‘Exploration Expenses’.
2) Exploration and evaluation (‘E&E’)
Capitalisation
Costs incurred after rights to explore have been obtained, such as geological and geophysical surveys, drilling and
commercial appraisal costs, and other directly attributable costs of exploration and appraisal including technical and
administrative overheads, are capitalised as intangible exploration and evaluation (‘E&E’) assets. The assessment of
what constitutes an individual E&E asset is based on technical criteria but essentially either a single licence area or
contiguous licence areas with consistent geological features are designated as individual E&E assets. Costs relating
to the exploration and evaluation of oil and gas interests are carried forward until the existence, or otherwise, of
commercial reserves have been determined.
E&E costs are not amortised prior to the conclusion of appraisal activities. Once active exploration is completed the
asset is assessed for impairment. If commercial reserves are discovered then the carrying value of the E&E asset is
reclassified as a development and production (‘D&P’) asset, within property, plant and equipment (‘PPE’), following
development sanction by the Board, but only after the carrying value is assessed for impairment at point of transfer and,
where appropriate, its carrying value adjusted. Following development sanction by the Board, a Field Development
Plan (‘FDP’) may be submitted. If it is subsequently assessed that commercial reserves have not been discovered, the
E&E asset is written off to the Statement of Comprehensive Income. The Group’s definition of commercial reserves for
such purpose is proven and probable (‘2P’) reserves on an entitlement basis.
Intangible E&E assets that relate to E&E activities that are not yet determined to have resulted in the discovery of
commercial reserves remain capitalised as intangible E&E assets at cost, subject to impairment assessments as set
out below.
Borrowing costs
Borrowing costs directly attributable to the construction of qualifying assets, which are assets that necessarily take a
substantial period of time to prepare for their intended use, are added to the cost of those assets, until such time as the
assets are substantially ready for their intended use. All other borrowing costs are recognised as interest payable in the
statement of comprehensive income in accordance with the effective interest method.
Impairment
The Group’s oil and gas assets are analysed into cash generating units (‘CGU’) for impairment reporting purposes, with
E&E asset impairment testing being performed at an individual asset level. E&E assets are reviewed for impairment
when circumstances arise which indicate that the carrying value of an E&E asset exceeds the recoverable amount.
Such indicators would include but not limited to:
(i) adequate and sufficient data exists that render the resource uneconomic and unlikely to be developed;
(ii) title to the asset is compromised;
(iii) budgeted or planned expenditure is not expected in the foreseeable future, and
(iv) insufficient discovery of commercially viable resources leading to the discontinuation of activities
(v) Rights to explore in an area have expired or will expire in the near future without renewal
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 54 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
1 Accounting policies (continued)
Oil and gas exploration, development and producing assets (continued)
The recoverable amount of the individual asset is determined as the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and value
in use. Impairment losses resulting from an impairment review are separately recognised and written off to the
Statement of Comprehensive Income.
Impaired assets are reviewed annually to determine whether any substantial change to their fair value amounts
previously impaired would require reversal.
A previously recognised impairment loss is reversed if the recoverable amount increases because of a change in the
estimates used to determine the recoverable amount, but not to an amount higher than the carrying amount that would
have been determined (net of depletion or amortisation) had no impairment loss been recognised in prior periods.
Reversal of impairments and impairment charges are credited/(charged) to a separate line item within the Statement of
Comprehensive Income.
3) Development and production (‘D&P’)
Capitalisation
Costs of bringing a field into production, including the cost of facilities, wells and sub-sea equipment together with E&E
assets reclassified in accordance with the above policy, are capitalised as a D&P asset within PPE. Normally each
individual field development will form an individual D&P asset but there may be cases, such as phased developments,
or multiple fields around a single production facility when fields are grouped together to form a single D&P asset. The
cost of development and production assets also include the cost of acquisitions and purchases of such assets, directly
attributable overheads, applicable borrowing costs and the cost of recognising provisions for future consideration
payments - see Note 11. The discounted cost for future decommissioning is also added to the D&P asset.
Depreciation and depletion
All costs relating to a development are accumulated and not depreciated/depleted until the commencement of
production. Depletion is calculated on a UOP basis based on the 2P reserves of the asset. Any re-assessment of
reserves affects the depletion rate prospectively. Significant items of plant and equipment will normally be fully
depreciated over the life of the field; however, these items are assessed to consider if their useful lives differ from the
expected life of the D&P asset and should this occur a different depreciation rate may be charged. The key areas of
estimation regarding depletion and the associated unit of production calculation for oil and gas assets are recoverable
reserves and future capital expenditures.
Impairment
A review is carried out for any indication that the carrying value of the Group’s D&P assets may be impaired. If any
indicators are identified, a review of D&P assets is carried out on an asset by asset basis and involves comparing the
carrying value with the recoverable value of an asset. The recoverable amount of an asset is determined as the higher
of its fair value less costs to sell and value in use. The value in use is determined from estimated future net cash flows,
being the present value of the future cash flows expected to be derived from production of commercial reserves.
Impairment resulting from the impairment testing is charged to a separate line item within the Statement of
Comprehensive Income.
The pre-tax future cash flows are adjusted for risks specific to the CGU and are discounted using a pre-tax discount
rate. The discount rate is derived from the Group’s post-tax weighted average cost of capital and is adjusted where
applicable to consider any specific risks relating to the country where the CGU is located, although other rates may be
used if appropriate to the specific circumstances. The discount rates applied in assessments of impairment are
reassessed each year. The Company uses a risk adjusted discount rate of 10%, unless otherwise stated.
The CGU basis is generally the field, however, oil and gas assets, including infrastructure assets may be accounted for
on an aggregated basis where such assets are economically inter-dependent.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 55 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
1 Accounting policies (continued)
Oil and gas exploration, development and producing assets (continued)
4) Offshore Pipelines
Capitalisation
Costs of commissioning an offshore pipeline to transport hydrocarbons, including the cost of related onshore facilities
and subsea equipment are capitalised as a tangible asset within PPE. Each contiguous pipeline will form an exclusive
individual asset but there may be cases, such as phased developments, when pipelines are grouped together to form
a single tangible pipeline asset. The cost of offshore pipeline assets also includes the cost of acquisitions and
purchases of such assets, directly attributable overheads, applicable borrowing costs and the discounted cost of
future decommissioning.
Depreciation
All costs relating to pipeline commissioning are not depreciated until the commencement of transportation of
hydrocarbons. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the period in which transportation is likely to take
place. Any re-assessment of this timeline will impact on the depreciation rate prospectively. The key areas of estimation
regarding depreciation are future capital expenditures and recoverable reserves for those fields where such pipelines
are utilised for the transportation of oil and gas production.
Impairment
A review is carried out for any indication that the carrying value of the pipeline asset may be impaired. If any indicators
are identified, such as the pipeline’s inability to continue to operate safely and effectively in its current environment, a
review of the pipeline asset is carried out. Impairment resulting from the impairment review is charged to a separate
line item within the Statement of Comprehensive Income.
Assets other than oil and gas interests
Assets other than oil and gas interests are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and any provision for
impairment. Depreciation is provided at rates estimated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each
asset over its expected useful life as follows: -
• Computer and office equipment: 33% straight line, with one full year’s depreciation in year of acquisition; and
• Tenants improvements: 20% straight line, with one full year’s depreciation in year of acquisition.
• Right of use assets: Straight line over the term of the lease
Provisions
Provisions are recognised when:-
• the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation resulting from past events;
• it is more likely than not that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation; and
• the amount can be reliably estimated.
Decommissioning
Provisions for decommissioning costs are recognised in accordance with IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and
Contingent Assets. Provisions are recorded at the present value of the expenditures expected to be required to settle
the Group’s future obligations.
Provisions are reviewed at each reporting date to reflect the current best estimate of the cost at present value. Any
change in the date on which provisions fall due will change the present value of the provision. These changes are
treated as an administration expense. The unwinding of the discount is reflected as a finance expense.
In the case of a D&P and/or pipeline asset, since the future cost of decommissioning is regarded as part of the total
investment to gain access to future economic benefits, this is included as part of the cost of the relevant D&P and/or
pipeline asset.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 56 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
1 Accounting policies (continued)
Disposals
Net proceeds from any disposal of an E&E, D&P or pipeline asset are initially credited against the previously capitalised
costs of that asset and any surplus or shortfall proceeds are credited or debited to the Statement of Comprehensive
Income.
For the Farm down of an E&E, D&P or pipeline asset, proceeds from the farm-down are credited against the previously
capitalised costs of the asset and any surplus or shortfall proceeds above or below the representative percentage of
the carrying value of the asset or assets being farmed down are credited or debited to the Statement of Comprehensive
Income accordingly.
Foreign currencies
The Group’s presentational currency is GBP Sterling and has been selected based on the currency of the primary
economic environment in which the Group operates. The Group’s primary product is generally traded by reference to
its pricing in GBP Sterling. The functional currency of all companies in the Group is also considered to be GBP Sterling.
Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency of a company are recorded at a rate of exchange
approximating to that prevailing at the date of the transaction. At each balance sheet date, monetary assets and
liabilities that are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated at the amounts prevailing
at the balance sheet date and any gains or losses arising are recognised in the Consolidated Statement of
Comprehensive Income.
Taxation
Current Tax
Tax is payable based upon taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the Statement
of Comprehensive Income because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible on other years
and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. Any Group liability for current tax is calculated using
tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date.
Deferred Tax
Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets
and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit.
Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are
recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary
differences can be utilised.
Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries, except
where the Group can control the reversal of the temporary differences and it is probable that the temporary difference
will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting date and reduced to the extent that it is no
longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered.
Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled, or the
asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the Statement of Comprehensive Income, except when it relates
to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax
assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax
liabilities and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends to settle its
current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.
The amount of the asset or liability is determined using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by
the reporting date and are expected to apply when the deferred tax liabilities/(assets) are settled/(recovered). Deferred
tax balances are not discounted.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 57 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
1 Accounting policies (continued)
Investments & Loans (Company)
Non-current investments in subsidiary undertakings are shown in the Company’s Statement of Financial Position at
cost less any provision for permanent diminution of value.
Loans to subsidiary undertakings are stated at amortised cost and recognised in accordance with IFRS 9. The loans
have no maturity date and are not repayable until the respective subsidiary entity has sufficient cash to repay the loan,
however they are technically due on demand.
Leases
IOG adopted IFRS 16 Leases (‘IFRS 16’) with effect from 1 January 2019. IFRS 16 was issued in January 2016 to
replace IAS 17 Leases.
IFRS 16 sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases and requires
lessees to account for all leases, with limited exceptions, under a single on-balance sheet model similar to the
accounting for finance leases under IAS 17. Under IFRS 16, at the commencement date of a lease, a lessee is required
to recognise a liability to make lease payments (‘lease liability’) and an asset representing the right to use the underlying
asset during the lease term (‘right-of-use asset’, ‘ROU’). Lease liabilities are measured at the present value of future
lease payments over the reasonably certain lease term. Variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or a
rate are not included in the lease liability. Such payments are expensed as incurred throughout the lease term.
Lessees are required to separately recognise the interest expense associated with the unwinding of the lease liability
and the depreciation expense on the right-of-use asset. These costs replace amounts previously recognised as
operating expenditure in respect of operating leases in accordance with IAS 17.
The Group adopted IFRS 16 on 1 January 2019 using the modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective
approach does not require restatement of prior period financial information, instead recognising the cumulative effect
as an adjustment to opening retained earnings and the Group applied the standard prospectively.
The Group has elected to apply the following optional practical expedients under the standard:
•
•
Short-term leases – those with terms of 12 months or less at date of adoption
Low-value leases – those with a value less than £5,000
On 1 January 2019, the Group recognised a cumulative increase to ROU assets of £1.1 million for leases previously
classified as operating leases, directly offset to the lease obligations. The weighted average incremental borrowing rate
used to determine the lease obligation at adoption was approximately 11.5%. In 2020 the Noble Hans Deul drilling rig
contract was accounted for as a lease using an incremental borrowing rate of approximately 9.6%. The ROU assets
and lease obligations related to the adoption of IFRS 16, relate to office leases, the Thames Pipeline permission to
cross the foreshore and the Noble Hans Deul drilling rig contract.
The Group has elected to utilise the practical expedient when accounting for the Noble Rig contract to not separate
non-lease components from lease components, and instead account for each lease component and any non-lease
component as a single component.
The Company depreciates the ROU assets on a straight-line basis over the length of the lease unless management
determines this is not representative of the useful life, in which case, management will estimate the useful life of the
asset to be used.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 58 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
1 Accounting policies (continued)
Financial Instruments
Financial instruments are recognised when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument
and are subsequently measured at amortised cost.
Classification and measurement of financial assets
The initial classification of a financial asset depends upon the Group’s business model for managing its financial assets
and the contractual terms of the cash flows. The Group’s financial assets are measured at amortised cost and are held
within a business model whose objective is to hold assets to collect contractual cash flows and its contractual terms
give rise on specified dates to cash flows that represent solely payments of principal and interest.
The Group’s cash and cash equivalents and other receivables are measured at amortised cost. Other receivables are
initially measured at fair value. The Group holds other receivables with the objective to collect the contractual cash flows
and therefore measures them subsequently at amortised cost.
The Group has financial assets measured at FVOCI (Fair Value Through Other Comprehensive Income) or FVTPL (Fair
Value Through the Statement of Profit or Loss).
Fair value measurement
A number of assets and liabilities included in the Group’s financial statements require measurement at, and/or
disclosure of, fair value.
The fair value measurement of the Group’s financial and non-financial assets and liabilities utilises market observable
inputs and data as far as possible. Inputs used in determining fair value measurements are categorised into different
levels based on how observable the inputs used in the valuation technique utilised are (the ‘fair value hierarchy’):
- Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical items (unadjusted)
- Level 2: Observable direct or indirect inputs other than Level 1 inputs
- Level 3: Unobservable inputs (i.e. not derived from market data).
The classification of an item into the above levels is based on the lowest level of the inputs used that has a significant
effect on the fair value measurement of the item. Transfers of items between levels are recognised in the period they
occur
Restricted cash
Restricted cash includes cash balances that are subject to access restrictions or have conditions attached to their
drawdown. Included in this are monies raised from its Norwegian bond placing held in escrow and subject to defined
drawdown conditions. Also included are balances held as collateralised security in the Group’s name for future
expenditures such as Decommissioning.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash includes cash on hand and demand deposits with any bank or other financial institution. Cash equivalents are
short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash which are subject to an
insignificant risk of changes in value.
Impairment of financial assets
The Group recognises loss allowances for expected credit losses (‘ECL’s) on its financial assets measured at amortised
cost. Due to the nature of its financial assets, the Group measures loss allowances at an amount equal to the lifetime
ECLs. Lifetime ECLs are the anticipated ECLs that result from all possible default events over the expected life of a
financial asset. ECLs are a probability-weighted estimate of credit losses. The Company has carried out an analysis of
the balances outstanding at the end of the period and assessed the likelihood of repayment from its subsidiaries. It
believes that there is no significant increase in credit risk from the prior year and, if anything, the position is strengthened
with the sanction of the phase 1 project resulting in future cashflows for its subsidiaries.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 59 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
1 Accounting policies (continued)
Financial instruments (continued)
Classification and measurement of financial liabilities
A financial liability is initially classified as measured at amortised cost or FVTPL. A financial liability is classified as
measured at FVTPL if it is held-for-trading, a derivative or designated as FVTPL on initial recognition.
The Group’s accounts payable, accrued liabilities and long-term debt are measured at amortised cost.
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities are initially measured at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised
cost. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities are presented as current liabilities unless payment is not due within 12
months after the reporting period.
Long-term debt is initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. The contractual cash flows of the
long-term debt are made up of solely principal and interest, therefore long-term debt is subsequently measured at
amortised cost. Long-term debt is classified as current when payment is due within 12 months after the reporting period.
Where warrants are issued in lieu of arrangement fees on debt facilities, the fair value of the warrants are measured at
the date of grant as determined through the use of the Black-Scholes technique. The fair value determined at the grant
date of the warrants is recognised in the Group’s warrant reserve and is amortised as a finance cost over the life of the
facility.
The Group has financial assets in the form of €1.7 million (£1.3 million) Norwegian bonds measured at FVTPL.
The outstanding LOG loans are unsecured against any assets or Company of the Group.
Convertible loan notes
Upon issue, convertible notes are assessed as to whether it is necessary to separate the loan into an equity and liability
component at the date of issue. If the bifurcation is considered material the liability component is recognised initially at
its fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition, it is carried at amortised carrying value using the effective interest
method until the liability is extinguished on conversion or redemption of the notes. The equity component is the residual
amount of the convertible note after deducting the fair value of the liability component. This is recognised and included
in equity and is not subsequently re-measured.
During the prior year, the Company re-negotiated the terms of is February 2019 convertible loan. The loan was
considered to have been redeemed under the provisions of IFRS 9 and the resulting improvement in terms created a
£5.0 million gain on loan redemption. The loan redemption gain was assessed by reference to the fair value of the
remaining cashflows of the 2019 convertible loan note. The gain reflected the improvement in terms between the 2019
and the replacement 2020 loan due to the zero coupon rate attached to the 2020 loan and the extended maturity date
to redemption.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 60 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
1 Accounting policies (continued)
Financial instruments (continued)
Equity
Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs, allocated
between share capital and share premium.
Share issue expenses and share premium account
The costs of issuing new share capital are written off against the share premium account arising out of the proceeds of
the new issue.
Share-based payments
The Company and Group have applied the requirements of IFRS 2 Share-based payments. The Company issues
equity share options, to certain employees and contractors, as direct compensation for both salary and fees sacrificed
in lieu of such share options. Other Long-Term Incentive Plan (‘LTIP’) and Company Share Ownership Plan (‘CSOP’)
share options may be awarded to incentivise and reward successful corporate and individual performance. The fair
value of these awards has been determined at the date of the grant of the award allowing for the effect of any market-
based performance conditions.
The fair value of share options awarded, in lieu of salary sacrifice, is expensed on the effective date of grant, with no
vesting conditions applied. The fair value is deemed to be the actual salary sacrificed.
For LTIP and CSOP share option awards, based upon incentive and performance, the fair value, adjusted by the
estimate of the number of awards that will eventually vest because of non-market conditions, is expensed uniformly
over the vesting period and is charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Income, together with an increase in equity
reserves, over a similar period. The fair values are calculated using an option pricing model with suitable modifications
to allow for early exercise. The inputs to the model include: the share price at the date of grant; exercise price; expected
volatility; expected dividends; risk-free rate of interest; and patterns of exercise of the plan participants. Where the
terms and conditions of options are modified before they vest, the increase in the fair value of the options, measured
immediately before and after the modification, is also charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Income over the
remaining vesting period. No expense is recognised for options that do not ultimately vest except where vesting is only
conditional upon a market condition.
The fair value of warrants issued to third parties is calculated by reference to the service provided, or if this is not
considered possible, calculated in the same way as for LTIP share options as detailed above. Typically, these amounts
have related to debt issues and are included in the effective interest rate calculation of borrowings.
Earnings or Loss per share
Earnings or Loss per share is calculated as profit/loss attributable to shareholders divided by the weighted average
number of ordinary shares in issue for the relevant period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated using the
weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue plus the weighted average number of ordinary shares that
would be in issue on the conversion of all relevant potentially dilutive shares to ordinary shares adjusted for any
proceeds obtained on the exercise of any options and warrants. Where the impact of converted shares would be anti-
dilutive, they are excluded from the calculation.
Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgements, estimates
and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and
expenses. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and factors that are believed
to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of making judgements about carrying
values of assets and liabilities that are not clear from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The following are the critical judgements that management has made in the process of applying the entity’s accounting
policies and that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in financial statements.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 61 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
1 Accounting policies (continued)
Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty (continued)
Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The Group makes certain estimates and assumptions regarding the future. Estimates and judgements are continually
evaluated based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to
be reasonable under the circumstances. In the future, actual experience may differ from these estimates and
assumptions. The estimates and assumptions 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.
Judgements
Where judgements have been applied, these can effect the outcome and results within the Financial Statements. An
area that carries significant judgement is around the accounting for the IFRS 16 assumptions for the Noble Hans Deul
rig contract. The contract has been assessed to fall within the scope of IFRS 16 and judgements around the initial
contract length and the incremental borrowing rate have been made by Management.
Estimates and assumptions
− Impairment Exploration assets – Estimate of future cash flows and determination of the discount rate (see note 10).
− The determination of lease term for some lease contracts in which the Group is a lessee, including whether the
Company is reasonably certain to exercise lessee options (note 23)
− The determination of the incremental borrowing rate used to measure lease liabilities (note 1)
Impairment of assets
Management is required to assess oil and gas assets for indicators of impairment and has considered the economic
value of individual E&E and D&P assets. The carrying value of oil and gas assets is disclosed in Notes 11. The carrying
value of related investments in the Company Statement of Financial Position is disclosed on page 48. E&E assets are
subject to a separate review for indicators of impairment, by reference to the impairment indicators set out in IFRS 6,
which is inherently judgmental.
Rights to explore in an area have expired or will expire in the near future without renewal
No further exploration or evaluation is planned or budgeted
A decision to discontinue exploration and evaluation in an area because of the absence of commercial
Indicators of impairment include, but are not limited to:
•
•
•
reserves
•
and production.
Sufficient data exists to indicate that the book value will not be fully recovered from future development
Key estimates used in the assessment of value in use and fair value less costs to sell assessments
As noted in the accounting policy the carrying value of the assets is assessed against the higher of a value-in-use
calculation and a fair value less costs to sell assessment.
The calculation of value-in-use for oil and gas assets under development or in production is most sensitive to the
following assumptions:
• Commercial reserves;
• production volumes/recoverable reserves;
•
•
•
• discount rates
commodity prices;
fixed and variable operating costs;
capital expenditure; and
In assessing value in use, estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a discount rate
appropriate to the specific asset or cash generating unit. If the recoverable amount of an asset or cash-generating unit
is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset or cash-generating unit is reduced to
its recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognised immediately in the statement of comprehensive income.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 62 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
1 Accounting policies (continued)
Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty (continued)
Commercial Reserves
Commercial reserves are proven and probable (‘2P’) oil and gas reserves, calculated on an entitlement basis. Estimates
of commercial reserves underpin the calculation of depletion and amortisation on a UOP basis, oil and gas asset
impairments, as well as the valuation of assets in use. Estimates of commercial reserves include estimates of the
amount of oil and gas in place, assumptions about reservoir performance over the life of the field and assumptions
about commercial factors which, in turn, will be affected by the future oil and gas price.
Production volumes/recoverable reserves
Annual estimates of oil and gas reserves are generated internally by the Group with external input from operator profiles
and/or a Competent Person. These are reported annually by the Board. The self-certified estimated future production
profiles are used in the life of the fields which in turn are used as a basis in the value-in-use calculation.
Commodity prices
A seasonally adjusted long-term assumption for natural UKNBP gas and Brent oil are used for future cash flows in
accordance with the Group’s corporate assumptions. Field specific discounts and prices are used where applicable.
Fixed and variable operating costs
Typical examples of variable operating costs are pipeline tariffs, treatment charges and freight costs. Commercial
agreements are in place for most of these costs and the assumptions used in the value-in-use calculation are sourced
from these where available. Examples of fixed operating costs are platform costs and operator overheads. Fixed
operating costs are based on operator and/or third-party duty holder budgets.
Capital expenditure
Field development is capital intensive and future capital expenditure has a significant bearing on the value of an oil and
gas development asset. In addition, capital expenditure may be required for producing fields to increase production
and/or extend the life of the field. Cost assumptions are based on operator and/or service contractor cost estimates or
specific contracts where available.
Discount rates
Discount rates reflect the current market assessment of the risks specific to the oil and gas sector and are based on
the weighted average cost of capital for the Group. Where appropriate, the rates are adjusted to reflect the market
assessment of any risk specific to the field for which future estimated cash flows have not been adjusted. The Group
has applied a risk adjusted discount rate of 10% for the current year (2019: 10%).
Sensitivity to changes in assumptions
A potential change in any of the above assumptions may cause the estimated recoverable value to be lower than the
carrying value, resulting in an impairment loss. The assumptions which would have the greatest impact on the
recoverable amounts of the fields are production volumes (linked to recoverable reserves) and commodity prices.
Investments in subsidiaries
If circumstances indicate that impairment may exist, investments in and the value of any loans to subsidiary
undertakings of the Company are evaluated using market values, where available, or the discounted expected future
cash flows of the investment. If these cash flows are lower than the Company’s carrying value of the investment or
loan amount due, an impairment charge is recorded in the Company. Evaluation of impairments on such investments
involves significant management judgement and may differ from actual results.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 63 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
1 Accounting policies (continued)
Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty (continued)
Decommissioning
At 31 December 2020, the Group has obligations in respect of decommissioning a suspended well on the Southwark,
Nailsworth and Elland D&P assets, together with the offshore Thames Pipeline and the acquired Thames Reception
Facilities at Bacton.
The extent to which a provision is recognised depends on the legal requirements at the date of decommissioning,
regulatory activity required to ensure such infrastructure meets safety and environmental requirements, the estimated
costs and timing of the work and the discount rate applied.
A full decommissioning estimate for the Southwark, Nailsworth and Elland D&P assets remains uncertain until all
development infrastructure has been installed and production volumes and time to decommissioning has been
considered. Until all development infrastructure has been installed and production volumes and time to abandonment
has been considered, there is significant estimation uncertainty when providing a decommissioning estimate.
On acquisition of the Thames Pipeline, the Group assumed the decommissioning liability for the pipeline, which is based
upon a regulatory framework determined by the OGA. The expected useable life of the pipeline, along with the structural
integrity were assessed when calculating the provision. A discounted cost estimate provision has been made in the
financial statements as at 31 December 2020 and this provision will continue to be reviewed on an annual basis, given
the regulatory framework is subject to constant change and is inherently uncertain over future years.
On acquisition of the Thames Reception Facilities at Bacton, the Group assumed the initial decommissioning liability
for the asset which was cash collateralised, which is based upon a contractual obligation with Perenco. A provision has
been made in the financial statements as at 31 December 2020. This provision will be reviewed on an annual basis and
reassessed once the development has been completed. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on
an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised, if
the revision only affects that period, or, in the period of revision and future periods, if the revision affects both current
and future periods.
Fair value of share options and warrants
The fair value of options and warrants is calculated using appropriate estimates of expected volatility, risk free rates of
return, expected life of the options/warrants, the dividend growth rate, the number of options expected to vest and the
impact of any attached conditions of exercise. See above for further details of these assumptions.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 64 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
2 Segmental information
The Group complies with IFRS 8, Operating Segments, which requires operating segments to be identified based upon
internal reports about components of the Group that are regularly reviewed by the Directors to allocate resources to the
segments and to assess their performance. In the opinion of the Directors, the operations of the Group comprise one
class of business, being the exploration and development of oil and gas opportunities in the UK Southern North Sea.
3 Operating (loss) / profit
The Group’s operating loss (2019: profit) is stated after charging/(crediting) the following:
Fees payable to the Company’s auditor:
-
for the audit of the Group’s financial statements
Non-audit services
Of which
for the audit of the Company’s financial statements
Depreciation, depletion and amortisation
Project, pre-licence and exploration expenses
Impairment of oil and gas properties
Profit on farm-down of assets
Personnel costs – direct expenses 1
Effect of exchange rate changes on Bond
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
2020
£000
2019
£000
99
24
62
559
180
12,598
-
5,700
(4,792)
5,493
80
-
50
244
4,027
-
(24,340)
2,060
5,366
(5,655)
1 Personnel costs are shown gross, before the reallocation via the time writing process of the costs to the specific assets to which they relate in Intangible assets and PP&E.
4 Personnel costs and directors' remuneration
During the year, the average number of personnel, including contract personnel, for both the Company and Group was:
Management / technical / operations
of which: Directors
2020
Number
52
6
2019
Number
26
6
Personnel costs Group and Company
£000
£000
Wages, salaries, fees and other direct costs
Social security costs
Pension costs
Share-based payments
4,018
509
232
941
________
5,700
2,440
344
3
675
________
3,462
________
________
Note that project contract personnel, capitalised directly to project cost centres, are excluded from the above personnel
cost figures.
Key management personnel are deemed to be Directors, General Counsel & Company Secretary and the Head of
Corporate Finance & Investor Relations. Subsequent to the year end the Chief Operating Officer joined in a non-Board
capacity on 8th February 2021 and is considered to be part of the key management personnel.
Of the total personnel costs of £5,700k, £3,107k was capitalised to the balance sheet under PP&E £2,889k and
Intangibles £218k.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 65 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
4
Personnel costs and directors' remuneration (continued)
Directors’
remuneration
Salary/
Fees
Salary/Fees
Sacrificed
Bonus
Benefits
(1)
Share-
based
payments
2020
Total
Salary/
Fees
Salary/Fees
Sacrificed
Bonus
Share-
based
payment
2019
Total
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
113
-
42
308
234
7
50
3
22
16
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
38
29
-
-
-
-
-
120
50
45
368
279
171
-
-
-
______
868
______
15
-
-
-
_______
113
_______
-
-
-
-
_____
-
_____
23
-
-
-
_____
90
_____
-
-
-
-
______
-
______
209
-
-
-
______
1,071
______
125
-
25
211
13
144
-
-
5
_____
523
_____
-
34
4
57
-
39
-
13
12
_______
159
_______
-
-
-
266
-
181
-
-
-
____
447
____
-
-
-
94
-
125
34
29
628
13
31
159
-
-
______
284
______
395
159
13
17
______
1,413
______
399
21
40
45
12
517
691
80
363
12
1,146
1,267
134
40
135
12
1,588
1,214
239
810
296
2,559
Fiona MacAulay2
Esa Ikaheimonen
Neil Hawkings
Andrew Hockey
Rupert Newall
Mark Hughes3
Mark Routh
Martin Ruscoe
Charles Hendry
Other key
management
personnel
Total key
management
personnel
1 Benefits includes pension contributions, healthcare and life cover.
2 Fiona MacAulay sacrifices £10,000 of her fees to a personal pension plan, paid directly into by the company.
3 Mark Hughes resigned on 11 November 2020
Short term benefits are deemed to be salary/fees, salary/fees sacrificed, bonus and benefits. No post-employment, long
term or termination payments were made during the year.
The salary amounts are those cash amounts paid to Directors and key management personnel during the year.
Social security costs for the year for key management personnel were £189k (2019 - £240k).
The share-based payment amounts represent the gains on options exercised in the year.
For the current Directors at 31 December 2020, the service agreements provide that the full contractual amount will be
paid in cash. In addition, there is the option to voluntarily elect to sacrifice up to 100% cash and receive the equivalent
amount in share options. The salary sacrifice option was reintroduced for all Directors with effect from May 2020, except
for Esa Ikaheimonen who has sacrificed all his fees for share options since joining the Company.
The average proportions of monthly salaries paid in cash and share options in 2020 for all Directors is as follows:
Fiona MacAulay
Andrew Hockey
Mark Hughes
Rupert Newall
Esa Ikaheimonen
Neil Hawkings
Cash
94%
94%
92%
94%
0%
93%
Shares
6%
6%
8%
6%
100%
7%
For each six-month interval, ending on 28 (or 29) February and 31 August respectively, the Company settles the
difference between the reduced rate and the full rate through the granting of options over ordinary shares of the
Company at the volume-weighted average share price over the period to which they relate.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 66 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
4 Personnel costs and directors' remuneration (continued)
Amounts of salary and/or fees outstanding at 31 December 2020 to which these terms relate totalled £43k (31
December 2019 – £34k) for Directors and key management personnel and £16k (2019 - £17k) for other personnel.
These share options are yet to be issued.
Directors’ interests in options on 1p ordinary shares of the Company at 31 December 2020 were as follows:
Granted
Type
Total
31 Dec 2019
Awarded
in 2020
(Exercised)
in 2020
Total
31 Dec 2020
Exercise
price
Expiry date
Andrew Hockey
Mark Hughes
Rupert Newall
LTIP
CSOP
01-Mar-18
01-May-19
31-Aug-19 Salary Sacrifice
02-Jan-20
01-Apr-20 Salary Sacrifice
31-Aug-20 Salary Sacrifice
CSOP
LTIP
CSOP
27-Jul-18
01-May-19
31-Aug-19 Salary Sacrifice
02-Jan-20
01-Apr-20 Salary Sacrifice
31-Aug-20 Salary Sacrifice
CSOP
CSOP
01-May-19
31-Aug-19 Salary Sacrifice
02-Jan-20
01-Apr-20 Salary Sacrifice
31-Aug-20 Salary Sacrifice
CSOP
Esa Ikaheimonen
LTIP
01-May-19
31-Aug-19 Salary Sacrifice
29-Feb-20 Salary Sacrifice
01-Apr-20 Salary Sacrifice
31-Aug-20 Salary Sacrifice
Fiona MacAulay
01-May-19
31-Aug-20 Salary Sacrifice
LTIP
Neil Hawkings
24-May-19
31-Aug-19 Salary Sacrifice
31-Aug-20 Salary Sacrifice
LTIP
1,600,000
1,600,000
267,740
-
-
-
3,467,740
1,000,000
1,000,000
183,063
-
-
-
2,183,063
1,200,000
240,966
-
-
-
1,440,966
600,000
136,606
-
-
-
736,606
1,000,000
-
1,000,000
600,000
18,061
-
618,061
-
-
-
2,256,410
62,460
103,248
2,422,118
-
-
-
1,572,650
42,473
71,961
1,687,084
-
-
1,709,402
56,214
78,218
1,843,834
-
-
114,152
39,974
234,627
388,753
-
34,416
34,416
-
-
14,079
14,079
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,600,000
1,600,000
267,740
2,256,410
62,460
103,248
5,889,858
1,000,000
1,000,000
183,063
1,572,650
42,473
71,961
3,870,147
1,200,000
240,966
1,709,402
56,214
78,218
3,284,800
600,000
136,606
114,152
39,974
234,627
1,125,359
1,000,000
34,416
1,034,416
600,000
18,061
14,079
632,140
20p
12.75p
1p
1p
1p
1p
35p
12.75p
1p
1p
1p
1p
12.75p
1p
1p
1p
1p
12.75p
1p
1p
1p
1p
28-Feb-28
30-Apr-29
31-Aug-24
01-Jan-30
01-Apr-25
05-Oct-25
27-Jul-28
30-Apr-29
31-Aug-24
01-Jan-30
01-Apr-25
05-Oct-25
30-Apr-29
31-Aug-24
01-Jan-30
01-Apr-25
05-Oct-25
30-Apr-29
31-Aug-24
31-Mar-25
01-Apr-25
05-Oct-25
12.75p
1p
30-Apr-29
05-Oct-25
13.5p
1p
1p
28-Feb-24
31-Aug-24
05-Oct-25
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 67 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
5 Finance expense
Interest on loans
Interest on deferred payment creditors
Amortisation of loan finance charges
Current year loan finance charges
Current year finance charges on deferred payment creditors
Unwinding of discount on convertible loan
Unwinding of deferred consideration provisions
Unwinding of discount on lease liability
Interest on bonds
Capitalisation of interest on bonds1
2020
£000
2019
£000
103
-
2
540
19
1,027
158
354
8,668
(8,668)
________
2,203
________
1,928
140
4,357
566
54
258
636
-
2,545
(2,545)
________
7,939
_________
1 During the Phase 1 development, all interest paid in the Norwegian bonds is capitalised to the Phase 1 assets proportionately based on their capital expenditure during the year
During 2020 there were no interest bearing loans outstanding, excluding the Bond. The interest associated with the
Bond is capitalised to project costs as the bond drawdowns are purposefully used for the project.
6 Profit on Farm-down of assets
Proceeds
Disposals:
Intangible Assets
Property, plant & equipment
Profit on Farm-down of assets
7 Gain on loan modification
2020
£000
2019
£000
-
40,000
-
-
________
(150)
(15,510)
________
-
24,340
________
_________
In October 2019, the Company completed a restructuring of its remaining debt with London Oil and Gas Limited. The
convertible debt and interest (£11.6 million) pertaining to the £10.0 million facility dated 21 February 2018 was
restructured into a new convertible loan which allows for the conversion of the loan into 60,872,631 shares at a strike
price of 19 pence until maturity. The new loan had an extended maturity date of 23 September 2024, was unsecured,
subordinated to other debt the Group holds and incurred interest at the rate of zero percent. The Company calculated
the gain reflecting the improvement in terms between the 2018 and 2019 loan under the provisions of IFRS 9 to be £5.0
million, using an effective interest rate of 11.5%, and had recognised this gain in the Statement of Comprehensive
Income.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 68 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
8 Taxation
a) Current taxation
There was no tax charge during the year as the Group loss was not chargeable to corporation tax. Applicable
expenditures to-date will be accumulated for offset against future tax charges.
The reasons for the difference between the actual tax charge for the year and the standard rate of corporation tax in
the United Kingdom applied to profits for the year are as follows:
Profit/ (loss) for the year
Income tax expense
Loss before income taxes
Expected tax expense/(credit) based on the standard rate of United
Kingdom corporation tax at the domestic rate of 40%1 (2019: 40%)
Difference in tax rates
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
Income not taxable
Disposal
Unrecognised taxable losses carried forward
Total tax expense
2020
£000
2019
£000
(19,337)
-
_________
(19,337)
15,029
-
_________
15,029
(7,735)
6,012
1,952
260
(4,590)
-
10,113
_________
-
_________
1,892
1,552
(4,199)
(22,722)
17,465
_________
-
_________
1 The standard rate of corporation tax of 40% (2019: 40%) , including the supplemental corporation tax charge of 10% (2019:10%) is levied in respect of UK ring fence
profit. Non-ring fenced profits are taxed at the standard rate of corporation tax of 19%. Given that the group’s activities are primarily focused on activities which will
generate income within the UK ring fence the 40% has been regarded as the appropriate rate for the reconciliation above.
b) Deferred taxation
Due to the nature of the Group's exploration activities there is a long lead time in either developing or otherwise realising
exploration assets. The amount of deductible temporary differences, unused tax losses and unused tax credits for which
no deferred tax asset is recognised in the statement of financial position is £122.7 million (2019: £124.7 million). There
are also accelerated capital allowances of £35.7 million (2019: £33.4 million)
The Group has not recognised a deferred tax asset at 31 December 2020 on the basis that the Group would expect the
point of recognition to be when the Group has some level of production history showing that the Group is making profits
in line with the underlying economic model which would support the recognition.
The group has carried forward ring fence tax losses of £111.5 million (2019: £ 82.3 million) and non-ring fence tax
losses of £13.4 million (2019: £ 7.9 million). In addition the group has pre- trading revenue expenditure of £2.9 million (
2019: £1.3 million) (to the extent that the company commences a trade within seven years from the time the expenditure
was incurred) and pre-trading capital expenditure of £5.2 million (2019: £3.9 million) that would be available upon
commencement of the trade in the respective group company.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 69 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
9 Earnings/(loss) per share
2020
£000
2019
£000
(Loss) / Earnings for the year attributable to shareholders (Numerator)
(19,337)
15,029
___________
___________
Weighted average number of ordinary shares: basic (Denominator)
488,211,155
297,560,956
Add potentially dilutive shares:
Convertible loan notes
Salary/Fee sacrifice options
LTIP/CSOP
Warrants
Loss / Earnings per share in pence:
diluted
basic
diluted
60,872,631
4,480,836
20,809,486
20,000,000
60,872,631
3,511,871
10,900,000
33,277,310
594,374,108
___________
406,122,768
___________
(4.0p)
(4.0p)
5.1p
3.7p
Diluted loss per share is calculated based upon the weighted average number of ordinary shares plus the weighted
average number of ordinary shares that would be issued upon conversion of potentially dilutive share options,
convertible loan notes and warrants into ordinary shares.
As the current year result for the year was a loss, the options and warrants outstanding would be anti-dilutive. Therefore,
the dilutive loss per share is considered as the same as the basic loss per share.
In 2019, there were no anti-dilutive instruments that were not included in the calculations that would have had a material
impact on the basic earnings per share.
There are no significant ordinary share issues post the reporting date, save for those disclosed in note 28 that would
materially affect this calculation.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 70 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
10 Intangible assets
Group
At cost
At beginning of the year
Additions
Disposals
At end of the year
Exploration
&
evaluation
assets
Company
& IT
software
assets
Total
Exploration
& evaluation
assets
Company &
IT software
assets
Total
2020
£000
35,466
808
-
2020
£000
120
201
-
2020
£000
35,586
1,009
-
2019
£000
24,719
10,897
(150)
2019
£000
7
113
-
2019
£000
24,726
11,010
(150)
_________ _________ ________
_________ _________
________
36,274
36,595
_________ _________ ________
321
35,466
120
_________ _________
35,586
________
Impairments and write-downs
At beginning of the year
(22,367)
(40)
(22,407)
(22,367)
Amortisation
Impairment
At end of the year
Net book value
At 31 December 2020
At 1 January 2020
At 1 January 2019
(4)
(36)
-
(22,371)
(36)
-
-
(111)
(111)
(12,598)
-
(12,598)
-
-
________
________ ________
________
________
________
(34,965)
(35,116)
_________ _________ ________
(151)
(22,367)
________
(40)
________
(22,407)
________
1,309
13,099
2,352
170
80
3
1,479
13,179
2,355
Exploration and evaluation assets at 31 December 2020 comprise the Group’s reduced interest in the Harvey licence
following partial relinquishment, Abbeydale appraisal and the Goddard pre-development prospects.
The affected E&E assets are tested for impairment once indicators have been identified.
After completing the technical analysis of Harvey, IOG has impaired the drilling costs of Harvey well and proportionally
reduced the accumulated capitalised cost for the Harvey licence. The Redwell licence, which was fully determined in
March 2021, has been fully impaired in the period as no further investment on this licence is planned.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 71 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
11 Property, plant and equipment
Group
D&P
assets
Phase 1
D&P
assets
Phase 2
Pipeline
assets
Right of
use
assets
Admin
assets
Total
D&P
assets
Phase 1
D&P
assets
Phase 2
Pipeline
assets
Right of
use assets
Admin
assets
Total
At cost
At beginning of the year
On transition
Additions
Change in estimate of
decommissioning asset (note 18)
Decommissioning asset (note 18)
Disposals
Thames Pipeline decommissioning
security
2020
2020
2020
2020
2020
2020
2019
2019
2019
2019
2019
2019
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
13,847
4,062
11,012
1,054
258
30,233
22,444
8,136
10,947
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
703
74
-
41,601
703
19,828
3,088
2,499
17,496
379
43,290
3,521
869
668
351
184
5,593
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1,850)
936
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1,850)
936
-
-
-
-
(1,198)
-
-
10,000
(12,118)
(3,745)
(10,353)
-
-
(250)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1,198)
10,000
(26,216)
(250)
______
______
______
______
______
_____
______
______
______
______
______
_____
At end of the year
33,675
7,150
12,597
18,550
637
72,609
13,847
4,062
11,012
1,054
258
30,233
______
______
______
______
______
_____
______
______
______
______
_____
Accumulated depreciation
At beginning of the year
DD&A
-
-
-
-
-
-
(145)
(96)
(241)
(2,231)
(174)
(2,405)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(33)
(33)
(145)
(63)
(208)
______
______
______
______
______
_____
______
______
______
______
______
_____
At end of the year
-
-
-
(2,376)
(270)
(2,646)
-
-
-
(145)
______
______
______
______
______
_____
______
______
______
(96)
_____
(241)
_____
Net book value
At 31 December 2020
At 1 January 2020
At 1 January 2019
33,675
7,150
12,597
16,174
13,847
4,062
11,012
22,444
8,136
10,947
909
-
367
162
41
69,963
29,992
41,568
Phase 1 development and production assets received Final Investment Decision in October 2019 and are awaiting
approval of the final Field Development Plan from the OGA, expected by 30 April 2020
Phase 2 development and production assets are currently scheduled for Final Investment Decision in Q3 2021.
The £200k paid as decommissioning security guarantees in 2018 in respect of both the Elland P039 Licence suspended
well and the Initial Thames Pipeline Decommissioning Security were classified as fixed assets at 31 December 2019.
In 2019, a further £2.0 million was paid upon acquisition as security against the Thames Reception Facilities
Decommissioning Security.
Following the farm-down to CER, the above amounts were reduced by 50% resulting in £100k held against the Elland
P039 licence, £250k against the Thames Pipeline, and £1.0 million against the Thames Reception Facilities. At the
year end, £1.25 million for the Thames Pipeline and Thames Reception Facilities classified as Restricted cash on the
balance sheet.
In 2020, due to the 12” and 6” pipeline laying campaign, a further £0.9 million was recognised as a decommissioning
liability. A re-assessment of the Thames Reception Facilities decommissioning liability was also conducted and the
amount reduced to £3.2 million.
All assets were assessed for impairment under IAS 36, but no impairment indicators were identified and therefore no
impairment has been recognised during the year (2019: nil).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 72 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
11 Property, plant and equipment (continued)
Company
At cost
At beginning of the year
On transition
Additions
D&P assets
Phase 1
Right of
use assets
Admin
assets
Total
D&P assets
Phase 1
Right of use
assets
Company &
admin
assets
Total
2020
£000
-
-
2020
£000
1,054
-
1,959
17,496
2020
£000
258
-
379
2020
£000
1,312
-
19,834
2019
£000
-
-
-
2019
£000
-
703
351
2019
£000
74
-
184
______
______
______
_____
______
______
______
At end of the year
1,959
18,550
637
21,146
-
1,054
258
______
______
______
_____
______
______
______
Accumulated depreciation
At beginning of the year
DD&A
At end of the year
Net book value
At 31 December 2020
At 1 January 2020
At 1 January 2019
-
-
(145)
(96)
(241)
(2,231)
(174)
(2,405)
-
-
-
(145)
(33)
(63)
______
______
______
_____
______
______
______
-
______
(2,376)
______
(270)
______
(2,646)
_____
-
______
(145)
______
(96)
_____
1,959
-
-
16,174
909
-
367
162
-
18,500
1,071
41
2019
£000
74
703
535
_____
1,312
_____
(33)
(208)
_____
(241)
_____
Phase 1 assets for the Company relate to the depreciation of the right of use asset in relation to the Noble Hans Deul
rig contract.
All assets were assessed for impairment, but no impairment indicators were identified.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 73 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
12 Restructuring and Farm-out
Debt Restructuring of Loans and Convertible Loans
At the beginning of 2019, the following loans were outstanding.
Loan Facility
Entity
Effective Date
£2.75 million facility
IOG North Sea Limited
7 December 2015
£0.80 million facility
IOG North Sea Limited
11 December 2015
£10.00 million facility
IOG North Sea Limited
5 February 2016
£10.00 million facility
£15.00 million facility
IOG plc
IOG plc
21 February 2018
13 September 2018
Capitalised fees
Principal
£000
Accumulated
interest
£000
31 December 2019
£000
2,750
800
10,000
10,000
7,150
654
192
1,671
672
142
3,404
992
11,671
10,672
7,292
(4,213)
29,818
In April 2019 the Group restructured its debt with the Company's main creditor London Oil and Gas Limited (“LOG”)
with a Debt Repayment and Discharge Agreement (‘DRDA’) to defer each 2020 maturity by 12 months.
LOG also converted £1.6 million of the outstanding balance of the February 2016 loan in to 20,497,204 ordinary shares.
On 28 October 2019, at the completion of the Farm-out, £17.1 million of cash proceeds were used to repay in full all
non-convertible loans and £79,000 of the February 2016 convertible loan, with the balance of the latter loan being
converted into 135,464,155 new Ordinary Shares.
The 2019 secured convertible loan which accrued interest at 9% above LIBOR was restructured into a £11.6 million
Convertible Loan Note Instrument. This instrument was unsecured, subordinated to other Group debt, accrued no
interest, had a maturity date of 23 September 2024 and was convertible at 19p into 60,872,361 Ordinary Shares.
The table below sets out the opening, movement and closing position of the LOG loans in 2019.
Loan Facility
2019 B/fwd
Balance
2019
Drawdown
2019
Interest
2019 Cash
Settlement
£2.75 million facility
£0.80 million facility
£10.00 million facility
£10.00 million facility
£15.00 million facility
Capitalised Fees
£000
3,404
992
11,671
10,672
7,292
(4,213)
£000
£000
-
-
-
-
252
82
885
894
£000
(3,656)
(1,074)
(79)
-
3,925
-
1,113
(12,330)
-
-
2019
Converted
to ordinary
shares
£000
-
-
(12,477)
-
-
-
2019 Gain on
loan
modification3
2019
Other
£000
£000
Carrying
Value at 31
December
2019
£000
-
-
-
(5,005)
-
-
-
-
-
2581
-
4,2132
4,471
-
-
-
6,819
-
6,819
3,925
2019 unwinding discount of the convertible loan
29,818
3,226
(17,139)
(12,477)
(5,005)
Fees expensed to Statement of Comprehensive Income in 2019
See note 7
1
2
3
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 74 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
12 Restructuring & Farm-out (continued)
The table below sets out the opening, movement and closing position of the LOG loans in 2020.
Loan Facility
2020 B/fwd
Balance
2020
Drawdown
2020
Interest
2020 Cash
Settlement
£10.00 million facility
£000
6,819
6,819
£000
£000
£000
-
-
-
-
-
-
2020
Converted
to ordinary
shares
£000
-
-
2020 Gain on
loan
modification
£000
-
-
2020
Unwinding
discount
£000
1,218
1,218
Carrying
Value at 31
December
2020
£000
8,037
8,037
Share Placing, Open Offer and Subscription
In April 2019, the Group raised gross proceeds of £18.9 million through the issue of ordinary shares at 10 pence. The
three components of shares were issued:
Placement
Subscription
Open Offer
Ordinary Shares
165,795,050
3,250,000
20,141,129
189,186,179
£000
16,580
325
2,014
18,919
Farm-out and Phase 1 FID
On 28 October 2019 the Company announced that it completed the farm-out of 50 per cent of its SNS Assets (excluding
Harvey) to CalEnergy Resources Limited (“CER”). IOG and CER took Phase 1 FID and submitted confirmation of full
funding to the OGA in support of the Phase 1 FDP approval.
CER paid the initial cash consideration of £40m to IOG under the terms of the farm-out. CER will also pay for up to
£125m of IOG's development costs, usable against 80 per cent of IOG's 50 per cent share of Core Project costs, up to
caps of £60m for Phase 1 and £65m for Phase 2. IOG will pay CER a royalty of 20.2 per cent of its net revenues from
the Phase 1 fields only (i.e. 10.1 per cent of gross Phase 1 revenues, net of National Transmission System entry charges
and applicable marketing fees), up to a cap of £91m over field life.
In addition, IOG will receive an effective royalty interest equating to £0.50/MCF on CER's 50 per cent share of
production from certain sections of the Goddard Field after 70 BCF gross has been produced from the field, up to a
maximum royalty of £9.75m. With its experienced SNS development team, IOG has retained Operatorship of the Core
Project.
CER also had the option to acquire 50 per cent of the Harvey licences within three months of completion of the Harvey
appraisal well 48/24b-6. The Company announced that this option expired on 27 February 2020.
Upon completion of the Farm-out, the company settled three of its outstanding LOG loans including interest with £17.1
million of the £40 million proceeds received.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 75 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
13 Investments
Company
At cost
At 1 January 2019
Disposals
At 31 December 2019
Additions
At 31 December 2020
Net book value
At 1 January 2019
At 1 January 2020
At 31 December 2020 1
Shares
in Group
companies
Loans
to Group
companies
£000
£000
Total
£000
17,197
(1,711)
_________
15,486
-
_________
15,486
29,526
(816)
_________
28,710
16,196
_________
44,906
46,723
(2,527)
_________
44,196
16,196
_________
60,392
17,197
15,486
15,486
29,526
28,710
44,906
46,723
44,196
60,392
1 There were no impairments in the 2020 period. Although the Harvey (P2085) licence was impaired during the period by IOG North Seal Limited, the Company has assessed the
subsidiaries ability to repay its loans and believes there is sufficient cash flow from other assets held by the subsidiary to fulfil its obligation.
The Company has undertaken not to seek repayment of loans from other Group subsidiary companies until each
subsidiary has sufficient funds to make such payments, however they are technically due on demand. The repayment
of the subsidiary loans is expected to begin once each entity generates revenues from gas sales and transportation.
The Company expects these loans to begin to be repaid in 2022 and is supported by its detailed cash flow modelling.
These loans are non-interest bearing.
The Company's subsidiaries, all registered at 60 Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 0HR, are as follows:
Directly held
IOG Infrastructure Limited
IOG North Sea Limited
IOG UK Ltd
Avalonia Energy Limited (dormant)
Held by Avalonia Energy Limited
Avalonia Goddard Limited (dormant)
Avalonia Abbeydale Limited (dormant)
Avalonia Energy Appraisal Limited (dormant)
Country of
incorporation
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Area of
operation
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
%
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
All three active subsidiaries are engaged in the business of oil and gas appraisal, development and/or operations in the
UK North Sea.
The four dormant companies were incorporated in 2018 and 2019 and have been made available to support any
potential Group restructure following refinancing of the Group.
The financial reporting periods for each subsidiary entity are consistent with the Company and end on 31 December.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 76 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
14 Financial Asset
IOG holds €1.7 million (£1.3 million) of its Norwegian bonds, which are classed as a financial asset.
At 31 December 2020 the bonds were valued at 82.5% of their par value.
At 1 January
Additions1
Fair value adjustment
At 31 December
1 In 2019 the bonds were disclosed within other debtors as title had not transferred to the Group.
2020
£000
-
1,525
(265)
________
1,260
2019
£000
-
-
________
-
________
_________
15 Interests in production licences
At 31 December 2020, all eleven Group UK Offshore Production Licences, apart from Harvey and Redwell (100%),
were owned 50% by either IOG North Sea Limited or IOG UK Ltd. The Thames Pipeline PL370 and Bacton Gas
Terminal assets are owned 50% by IOG Infrastructure Limited.
Subsequent to the year end (10 March 2021), the Redwell licence, held by IOG North Sea Limited was determined and
returned to the OGA.
16 Other receivables and prepayments
Group
VAT recoverable
Prepayments
Operator advance accounts
Other receivables
Company
VAT recoverable
Prepayments
Other receivables
2020
£000
2019
£000
869
205
-
25
_________
1,099
_________
2,236
205
25
_________
2,466
_________
759
257
2,579
1,497
_________
5,092
_________
759
257
1,497
_________
2,513
_________
The 2020 prepayments relate to rental charges for its 10 Arthur Street and 189 Endeavour House office space in London
and general administration.
The debtors balance of £25k represents an amount receivable from Chrysaor. The reduction in other receivables
resulted from a reclassification to financial assets, being the €1.7m (£1.3 million) Norwegian bonds held in IOG plc by
the Company.
The Company has considered the carrying value of Debtors in the context of IFRS 9 and has assessed the debtors
ability to repay the amount due. In assessing the expected credit loss (‘ECL’) of the receivables, the Company
considered future cash flows from the entities and concluded there is no material ECL provision required.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 77 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
17 Current liabilities
Group
Trade payables
Lease liabilities
Accruals
Operator advance accounts
Tax payable
Contingent consideration payable
Company
Trade payables
Lease liabilities
Accruals
Tax Payable
Contingent consideration payable
2020
£000
2019
£000
979
13,781
3,106
4,100
165
-
_________
22,131
_________
979
13,781
1,213
165
-
_________
16,138
_________
3,856
939
1,588
-
-
848
_________
7,231
_________
3,856
939
301
-
848
_________
5,944
_________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 78 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
18 Non-current liabilities
Group
Long-term loans
Lease liability
Contingent consideration payable
Decommissioning provision
Company
Long-term loans
Lease liability
Contingent consideration payable
2020
£000
95,813
4,968
2,302
6,227
_________
109,310
_________
95,813
4,968
613
_________
101,394
_________
2019
£000
89,243
-
2,267
7,237
_________
98,747
_________
89,243
-
644
_________
89,887
_________
Long-term loans:
The Nordic bond issued in 20 September 2019 represents £87.8 million (2019: 82.4 million) of the long-term loans
balance with the LOG loan of £8.0 million being the balance of the total of £95.8 million. See note 22 for further details
of the Nordic bond.
The amounts drawn on LOG loans at 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2019 were as follows:
Loan Facility
£11.6 million
convertible loan,
5 year facility
Entity
Effective Date
Maturity Date
Principal
Interest
IOG plc
28 September 2019
23 September 2024
£11.6 million
Nil
See note 12 for information relating to the outstanding LOG loan.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 79 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
18 Non-current liabilities (continued)
Contingent consideration payable:
The Group is required under certain terms its acquisitions to make further amounts payable upon first gas.
As disclosed in the 2019 financial statements, these milestone events triggering deferred consideration payments are
now considered to be more certain than not and a non-current amount of £2.3 million is recognised. These amounts
have been provided for and the payments discounted to the point where the Board expect the milestones to be achieved
based on the current development programme.
The movements in the year are as follows:
At 1 January
Disposal to CER
Prospective adjustment for change in payment dates
Settlement of liability 1
Foreign exchange
Unwinding of discount
At 31 December
1 Payment made following the FDP approval of Phase 1 by the OGA.
2020
£000
3,114
-
-
(875)
(96)
159
2,302
2019
£000
6,187
(3,092)
(493)
-
30
482
3,114
Given the timing of the expected payments, the total balance is split between current and non-current as set out below:
Current contingent consideration payable (FDP
approval)
Non-Current contingent consideration payable (first gas)
2020
£000
-
2,302
2,302
2019
£000
847
2,267
3,114
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 80 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
18 Non-current liabilities (continued)
Decommissioning provision:
At 1 January
Revision in estimates
Discount unwinding
Additions
Disposals
At 31 December
2020
£000
7,239
2019
£000
5,640
(1,850)
(1,130)
(99)
936
-
6,226
(32)
10,000
(7,239)
7,239
The Group has regulatory and financial obligations in respect of decommissioning for a suspended well on the Elland
Licence P039 – Gross £2.4 million (2019: £2.4 million), net to the Company £1.2 million. Decommissioning the Thames
Pipeline - £2.0 million (2019: £2.0 million). For the Thames Reception Facilities at Bacton the company holds further
decommissioning liabilities totalling £3.15 million net to the Company. The Company, as a result of it’s work program
in 2020 has decommissioning liabilities of £0.9 million (net) for the additional 12” and 6”pipelines it has laid on the sea
bed in 2020.
A full decommissioning estimate for the Elland suspended well remains uncertain until an appropriate drilling
programme has been reviewed and considered for the Elland development, which may include the decommissioning
of that particular well. The timing and thus payment of this decommissioning program remains inherently uncertain.
The £1.0 million provision for the Thames Pipeline decommissioning obligation has been calculated on a discounted
cash flow basis, whereby the present value of the regulatory marine surveys has been inflated at 2% and then
discounted at the risk-free discount rate of 1.8%. It has been estimated that the Thames Pipeline has a useful life over
the next 25 years; however, the judgements made on this and other variables, currently provided by the OGA, are
inherently uncertain.
The initial £10.0 million provision for the Thames Reception Facilities decommissioning obligation has been recognised
on the basis of the SPA, then reduced to reflect the Farm-out to CER (£5.0 million net). Resulting in a net £5.0 million
liability. An initial payment of £2.0 million was made by the Company as security for the liability on completion of the
Thames Reception Facilities transaction which was then reduced for CER’s 50% share to £1.0 million. The Group is
due to pay a further eight quarterly payments of £0.5 million as security six months after the start of gas production.
The Group has chosen to recognise the full amount of the liability represented in the SPA as there is no material
difference of discounting the payments back to the balance sheet date.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 81 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
19 Net (Debt) / Cash
IOG uses the following definition of net (debt)/cash - restricted cash and cash equivalents plus the financial asset,
less total loans.
Restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents
Fair value asset
Loans
Net (debt)/cash
20 Share capital
2020
£000
67,049
13,389
1,260
2019
£000
82,066
16,197
-
(95,813)
(89,243)
(14,115)
9,020
Number
Share
capital
£000
Share
premium
£000
Total
£000
126,868,156
1,269
22,337
23,606
209,670,834
2,097
17,173
19,270
135,464,155
1,355
9,482
10,837
3,147,139
5,022,961
31
50
431
-
462
50
_________
_________
_________
_________
480,173,245
4,802
49,423
54,225
Authorised, allotted, issued and fully
paid
At 1 January 2019
- Ordinary shares of 1p each
Equity issued:
- April 2019, Ordinary shares of 1p –
Placing, Open offer, Subscription and
LOG conversion
- October 2019, Ordinary shares of 1p –
London Oil & Gas Ltd debt conversion
- October 2019, Ordinary shares of 1p –
Edimis Energy Limited settlement 1
Equity issued 2
At 31 December 2019
- Ordinary shares of 1p each
Equity issued:
- December 2020, Ordinary shares of
1p, London Oil & Gas Ltd, Warrant
exercise 3
- Other LTIP and Salary sacrifice share
exercises
7,877,310
160,600
78
2
566
644
-
2
_________
_________
_________
_________
At 31 December 2020
- Ordinary shares of 1p each
488,211,155
4,882
49,989
54,871
_________
_________
_________
_________
1 For further details, see related party transactions note 26
2 During 2019, the Company issued 5,022,961 ordinary shares at a subscription price of 1p from the exercise of management and other personnel share options.
3 During 2020, London Oil & Gas Ltd exercised 7,500,000 of their warrants at 8 pence per share and 377,310 warrants at 11.9 pence per share.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 82 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
20 Share capital (continued)
Share options and warrants
During the current and prior year, the Company granted share options under its share option plans as follows:
Number
Price Date of Grant
Expiry
1 January 2019
10,282,725
9.11p
Salary/fee sacrifice options
LTIP options
LTIP options
CSOP options
Salary/fee sacrifice options
Options exercised
628,496
600,000
1,600,000
5,100,000
1,223,611
(5,022,961)
1p
13.25p
12.75p
12.75p
1p
28 Feb 2019
24 May 2019
1 May 2019
1 May 2019
31 Aug 2019
28 Feb 2024
23 May 2029
30 Apr 2029
30 Apr 2029
31 Aug 2024
31 December 2019
14,111,871
13.03p
Salary/fee sacrifice options
CSOP cancelled/expired
CSOP options
Salary/fee sacrifice options
Options exercised
31 December 2020
114,152
(395,279)
10,274,102
1,046,076
(160,600)
25,290,322
29 Feb 2020
1p
1p
1p Various dated in
2020
1p
31 Aug 2020
31 Mar 25
Various dated
in 2023
05 Oct 25
Of the remaining staff options, 10,282,725, outstanding at 31 December 2018, 4,519,233 were exercised during 2019.
Of those staff options granted during 2019, 503,728 were exercised during 2019. Total personnel options exercised in
2019 is thus 5,022,961.
Of the remaining staff options, 14,111,871 outstanding at 31 December 2019, 126,497 were exercised during the year.
Of those personnel options granted during 2020, 34,103 were exercised during 2020. Total personnel options exercised
in 2020 is thus 160,600.
The fair value of these options exercised was transferred from the Share-based Payment Reserve to Accumulated
Loss.
All salary/fee sacrifice options outstanding at 31 December 2020 were issued at an exercise price of 1p per share and
carry no additional performance conditions. These shares were issued at a volume calculated by taking the amount
owing and dividing by the volume weighted average price for the period to which the salary/fee sacrifice pertains.
CSOP Valuation
The 2020 CSOP valuation is based on a Log-normal Monte-Carlo stochastic model.
The valuation model assumes:-
- Share price at date of grant 15.63p
- Exercise price of 1.00p
- Option life of 10 years
- The risk-free rate and volatility of the underlying are known and constant (0.53%, 3 year UK government bond
at grant date)
- Share price volatility is 70.00%
-
10,000 iterations
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 83 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
20 Share capital (continued)
LTIP Valuation
There were no LTIP shares granted in 2020. The 2019 LTIP valuation is based on a Log-normal Monte-Carlo stochastic
model.
The valuation incorporates a forecast employee turnover to establish the number of options expected to vest, the charge
requires recalculation each year to take account of any revised estimates regarding employee turnover and any new
grants of share options.
- Efficient markets (i.e., market movements cannot be predicted)
- No commissions
-
10,000 iteration
- The risk-free rate and volatility of the underlying are known and constant (0.62%, 3 year UK government bond
at grant date)
- Share price volatility is 84.19%
All LTIP and CSOP options outstanding at 31 December 2020 were issued to option holders with, other than the target
price, several performance criteria including the delivery, measurement, control and management of an appropriate
HSE statement and policy together with a Group-wide HSE focussed culture.
The remaining average contractual life of the 25,290,322 options outstanding at 31 December 2020 (2019 – 14,111,871)
was 5.2 years at that date (2019: 7.7 years) of which 4,480,836 were exercisable at 31 December 2020 (2019:
1,062,893).
The weighted average exercise price of the options remaining was 7.8p at 31 December 2020 (2019 – 13.03p).
A further 593,735 options are due to be issued in 2020 relating to 2020 salary/fee sacrifice; however, these have not
been issued as at the date of this report.
The Company calculates the value of personnel salary/fee sacrificed share-based compensation as the actual value of
the sacrificed amount. This is deemed to be the fair value of such awards. The fair value of sacrificed salary/fee share
options granted in 2020 is calculated as £161k (2019: £299k) and this has been charged to the Statement of
Comprehensive Income. The exercise price of such awards was determined as 1p (2019: 1p).
The Company calculates the fair value of LTIP share-based compensation using a Log-normal Monte-Carlo stochastic
model. The fair value of LTIP options granted in 2020 is calculated as £nil (2019: £750k), of which £nil (2019: £166k)
has been charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Income, being the amortised amount over the vesting period
attributable to the current year. The exercise price of these options has been determined as 20p for those issued on 1
March 2019 and 35p for those issued on 27 July 2019. On 1 May 2019 the Company announced that it had cancelled
the future awards under the 2019 LTIP options scheme.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 84 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
20 Share capital (continued)
Further details for Directors are provided in Note 4.
The Company did not grant any warrants in the current year (2019: nil). Warrants for 7,877,310 were exercised during
the year (2019: nil) and warrants for 5,400,000 lapsed during the year (2019: 500,000) and are shown as follows:
Number
Price Date of Grant
Expiry
1 January 2019
33,777,310
22.98p
London Oil & Gas Ltd
(500,000)
8.0p
29 Mar 2016
31 Mar 2019
31 December 2019
33,277,310
23.21p
Exercised warrants
Exercised warrants
Lapsed warrants
(7,500,000)
(377,310)
(5,400,000)
8.0p
11.9p
11.9p
11 Dec 2015
4 Dec 2015
29 Mar 2016
31 Dec 2020
31 Dec 2020
31 Dec 2020
31 December 2020
20,000,000
32.18p
The Company calculates the value of share-based compensation using the Black-Scholes option pricing model to
estimate the fair value of warrants at the date of grant.
The fair value of 20,000,000 warrants granted to London Oil & Gas Limited on 13 September 2018 was calculated as
£4.2 million, all of which was recognised as an issue cost of the £15 million LOG loan facility, held at amortised cost
using the effective interest method. The exercise price of these warrants was determined as 32.18p.
The following assumptions were applied in the LOG warrant award calculation:
Risk free interest rate
Dividend yield
Weighted average life expectancy
Volatility factor
1.50%
nil
4 years
96.45%
A volatility of 96.45% has been applied based upon the Company’s share price over the period from the Company’s
listing on AIM on 30 September 2013 until 13 September 2019.
During the year 5,400,000 warrants granted to London Oil & Gas Limited lapsed,
The remaining average contractual life of the 20,000,000 warrants outstanding at 31 December 2020 (2019 –
33,277,310) was 2.66 years at that date (2019 – 2.23 years). All such warrants were exercisable at 31 December 2020.
The weighted average exercise price of the warrants remaining was 32.18p at 31 December 2020 (2019 – 23.21p). No
further warrants have been issued or exercised as at 17 March 2021.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 85 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
21 Restricted cash, Cash and cash equivalents
Group
Restricted cash
Cash at bank
Company
Restricted cash
Cash at bank
2020
£000
2019
£000
67,049
82,066
13,389
16,197
65,699
80,816
13,389
16,197
Restricted cash at 31 December 2020 includes £67.0 million (2019: £82.0 million) of restricted deposits in Euro
escrow and Debt Service Reserve Accounts following the Norwegian Bond issue and a £1.4 million (2019: £1.3
million) deposit secured against decommissioning provisions of its infrastructure assets. Total restricted cash
balances for £67.0 million for the Group and £65.7 million for the Company are available within 1 year. The restricted
cash balances are subject to agreed milestones set out in the Bond issue document and include;
• Fully utilising the CER Phase 1 carry of £60.0 million This was achieved subsequent to the year end in
February 2021
• Completion of construction of the Blythe and Southwark NUI platforms
• Arrival of the drilling rig at its first drilling location
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand, deposits and other short-term money market deposit accounts
that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents is £13.4 million
(2019: £16.2 million).
22 Bonds payable
On 20 September 2019, the Company issued €100 million Norwegian Bonds on the Oslo Børs to fund the Phase 1
development program.
Balance at the beginning of the year
Bonds Issued (€100m)
Transaction fees
Amortisation of transaction fees
Interest charged
Interest Paid
Currency revaluation
2020
£000
82,423
-
-
562
8,668
(8,668)
2019
£000
-
90,439
(2,793)
-
2,545
(2,545)
4,792
_________
87,777
_________
(5,223)
_________
82,423
_________
The secured callable bonds were issued on 20 September 2019 by Independent Oil and Gas plc at an issue price of
par. The bonds have a term of five years and will be repaid in full at maturity. The bonds carry a coupon of 9.5% plus 3
month EURIBOR with a EURIBOR floor of 0% and were issued at par.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 86 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
The Bond is callable 3 years after issuance with an initial call premium of 50% of the coupon (i.e. repayable at a cost of
€104.75 million if 3m EURIBOR is at zero or lower), declining by 10% every six months thereafter.
Bond covenants
• Minimum liquidity - €2 million up to, and including, 6 months from the first gas date and €5 million thereafter.
• Minimum leverage ratio – a minimum of 2.5 : 1 from the first reporting date following 6 months after the first gas
date.
• Minimum interest cover ratio – a minimum of 5 times cover of interest to EBITDA from the first reporting date
following 6 months after the first gas date.
As part of the original Bond issue, the Company has the option to issue a further €30 million of bonds, though these
would be at the prevailing market rate at the time of any issue and would not be on any carry any favourable terms to
the market pricing at the time.
Full terms and conditions of the Bonds can be seen in ‘Bond Terms’ document which is publicly available at:
https://www.iog.co.uk/media/1237/bond-terms-execution-version-190919.pdf
23 Lease liabilities
Current
At 1 January
Interest expenses
Lease payments
Additions
At 31 December
Long term
At 1 January
Additions
At 31 December
2020
£000
939
381
(192)
12,653
13,781
-
4,968
4,968
2020
£000
1,054
121
(236)
-
939
-
-
-
Lease payments represent the Group and Company’s share of office lease rental payments at 10 Arthur Street, London
and Endeavour House, 189 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, together with the Crown Estate lease for the rights for the
Thames Pipeline to cross the foreshore at Bacton. During 2020 the Company signed a drilling rig contract with Noble
Corporation for the Noble Hans Deul drilling rig for which payments will commence in 2021.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 87 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
24 Financial instruments
Significant accounting policies
Details of the significant accounting policies in respect of financial instruments are disclosed in Note 1 of the financial
statements.
Financial risk management
The Board seeks to minimise its exposure to financial risk by reviewing and agreeing policies for managing each
financial risk and monitoring them on a regular basis. At this stage, no formal policies have been put in place to hedge
the Group and Company's activities to the exposure to currency risk or interest risk and no derivatives or hedges were
entered during the year.
General objectives, policies and processes
The Board has overall responsibility for the determination of the Group and Company's risk management objectives
and policies and, whilst retaining ultimate responsibility for them, it has delegated the authority for designing and
operating processes that ensure the effective implementation of its objectives and policies to the Group's finance
function. The Board receives regular reports from the Chief Financial Officer through which it reviews the effectiveness
of the processes put in place and the appropriateness of the objectives and policies it sets.
The Group is exposed through its operations to the following financial risks:
• Liquidity risk;
• Credit risk;
• Commodity price risk;
• Cash flow interest rate risk; and
• Foreign exchange risk
The overall objective of the Board is to set policies that seek to reduce risk as far as possible without unduly affecting
the Group and Company's competitiveness and flexibility. Further details regarding these policies are set out below.
Principal financial instruments
The principal financial instruments used by the Group and Company, from which financial instrument risk may arise are
as follows:
• Cash and cash equivalents
• Restricted cash
• Loans
• Other financial assets
• Other receivables
• Trade and other payables
• Convertible loan notes
• Bonds
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 88 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
24 Financial instruments (continued)
Liquidity risk
The Group and Company's policy is to ensure that it will always have sufficient cash to allow it to meet its liabilities
when they become due. To achieve this aim, it seeks to maintain readily available cash balances supplemented by
borrowing facilities sufficient to meet expected requirements for a period of at least twelve to eighteen months for
personnel costs, overheads, working capital and as commitments dictate for capital spend.
Rolling cash forecasts, which are essentially the current budgeting and reforecasting process, identifying the liquidity
requirements of the Group and Company, are produced frequently. These are reviewed and approved regularly by
management and the Board to ensure that sufficient financial resources are made available. The Group’s oil and gas
exploration and development activities are currently funded through the Company with existing cash balances, Bond
proceeds in escrow and joint venture partner carry receipts from CER.
2020 Group
Current financial liabilities
Trade and other payables
Lease liability
Accruals
Non-current financial liabilities
Deferred Consideration
Loans
Lease liability
Bonds
2019 Group
Current financial liabilities
Trade and other payables
Lease liability
Deferred consideration
Accruals
Loans
Non-current financial liabilities
Deferred Consideration
Loans
Bonds
6 months
or less
£000
Greater than
6 months, less
than 12 months
£000
Greater
than
12 months
£000
Total
undiscounted
£000
Carrying
amount
£000
5,244
4,631
3,103
-
-
-
4,264
-
9,015
-
-
-
-
4,264
-
-
-
5,244
13,646
3,103
5,244
13,356
3,103
2,370
11,566
5,616
123,451
2,370
11,566
5,616
131,979
2,370
8,037
4,968
87,777
________
_________
________
_________
________
17,242
________
13,279
_________
143,003
________
173,524
_________
124,855
________
3,856
188
875
1,588
-
-
-
4,108
________
10,615
________
-
158
-
-
-
-
1,218
-
-
-
3,856
1,564
875
1,588
-
3,856
939
848
1,588
-
-
-
4,108
_________
2,674
11,566
113,179
________
2,674
11,566
121,395
_________
2,267
6,819
82,424
________
4,266
_________
128,637
________
143,518
_________
98,741
________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 89 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
24 Financial instruments (continued)
2020 Company
Current financial liabilities
Trade and other payables
Lease liability
Accruals
Non-current financial liabilities
Deferred Consideration
Loans
Lease liability
Bonds
2019 Company
Current financial liabilities
Trade and other payables
Deferred Consideration
Accruals
Non-current financial liabilities
Deferred Consideration
Loans
Bonds
6 months
or less
£000
Greater than
6 months, less
than 12 months
£000
Greater
than
12 months
£000
Total
undiscounted
£000
Carrying
amount
£000
1,145
4,631
1,216
-
-
-
4,264
________
11,256
________
3,856
848
1,240
-
-
4,108
________
10,052
________
-
9,015
-
-
-
-
1,145
13,646
1,216
1,145
13,356
1,216
-
-
-
4,264
_________
750
11,566
5,616
123,451
________
750
11,566
5,616
131,979
_________
681
8,037
4,968
87,777
________
13,279
_________
141,383
________
165,918
_________
117,180
________
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,856
848
1,240
3,856
848
1,240
-
-
4,108
_________
750
11,566
113,179
________
750
11,566
121,395
_________
644
6,819
82,424
________
4,108
_________
125,495
________
139,655
_________
95,831
________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 90 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
24 Financial instruments (continued)
Credit risk
Credit risk arises principally from the Group’s and Company’s other receivables, restricted cash, cash and cash
equivalents, and loans to subsidiaries (Company). It is the risk that the counterparty fails to discharge its obligation in
respect of the instrument. The credit risk on liquid funds is limited because the counterparties are banks with credit
ratings assigned by international credit rating agencies. The Group places funds only with selected organisations with
ratings of 'A' or above as ranked by Standard & Poor's for both long and short-term debt. Funds are currently placed
with the National Westminster Bank plc and DNB Bank ASA for the EUR Escrow and DSRA funds. Under IFRS 9 there
is no material impact for both the Group and Company when assessing expected credit losses of its receivables.
The Group made investments and advances into subsidiary undertakings during the year and these mostly relate to the
funding of the SNS Hub Development Projects, and the Company expects to recover these loans when these Projects
start to generate positive cash flows. Loans to subsidiary undertakings are recognised at amortised cost in accordance
with IFRS 9. The loans have no maturity date and are not repayable until the respective subsidiary entity has sufficient
cash to repay the loan. The Board has accordingly assessed the expected repayment dates based on the strategic
forecasts approved by the Board.
As at the reporting date, the Group and Company had £0.9 million external receivables (2019: £1.5 million).
IFRS 9 introduced a new impairment model that requires the recognition of ECLs on financial assets at amortised cost.
The ECL computation considers forward looking information to recognise impairment allowances earlier. Intercompany
exposures, where appropriate, are also in scope under IFRS 9. The Company assesses the loans made to subsidiary
undertakings on the basis of the relevant subsidiaries’ long-term strategic forecasts and alongside the Board’s
commercial rationale for providing the specific loan. The loans are not repayable on demand and are expected to be
repaid once the underlying assets progress into the production phase when cash inflows are generated. Based on the
methodology set out by the standard, the Board has for each intercompany loan, assessed the probability of the default,
the loss given default and the expected exposure to compute the ECLs. The Board has incorporated relevant medium
and long-term macroeconomic forecasts in their assessment which is included as a principle consideration in the entity’s
strategic forecasts. Such factors include oil price sensitivities, funding requirements, reserve and resource estimates.
The Board has concluded that any ECLs to be recognised are not material to these financial statements and that there
has been no significant increase in credit risk that would warrant the recognition of a material provision. Accordingly,
the Company has not recognised any expected credit loss for the balances owed by subsidiary undertakings recognised
on the Balance Sheet at amortised cost. The Group and Company do not hold any collateral as security for any external
financial instruments, or otherwise.
The maximum exposure to credit risk is the same as the carrying value of these items in the financial statements as
shown below.
Other receivables
Loans to subsidiaries
Restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents
Group
Company
2020
£000
2019
£000
2020
£000
2019
£000
1,099
1,497
1.099
1,497
-
67,049
13,389
-
45,196
28,710
82,066
16,197
65,699
80,816
13,389
16,197
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 91 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
24 Financial instruments (continued)
Commodity price risk
The Group currently has not entered into any commodity price hedging instruments.
Although there is no gas production, the Group’s asset valuations and cash flow modelling make assumptions on the
anticipated gas price for the period of expected production. The Group uses a seasonally adjusted flat pricing structure
that is not inflated over the expected production life of the asset.
Cash flow interest rate risk
Save for restricted EUR denominated cash held in escrow and DSRA accounts which attract a nominal negative cost
to hold, cash is essentially non-interest bearing. Loans and trade payables are subject only to fixed interest rates;
accordingly, commercial interest rates would have no significant impact upon the Group’s and Company’s result for the
year ended 31 December 2020 (nor 31 December 2019).
In relation to the EUR denominated cash held in escrow, which currently attracts a nominal negative cost to hold, a 10%
fluctuation in the cost to hold rate (currently 0.612%) would increase/reduce the charge by £52k per annum.
Foreign exchange risk
Save for restricted EUR denominated cash held in escrow and DSRA accounts which attract a nominal negative cost
to hold, cash is essentially non-interest bearing. Loans and trade payables are subject only to fixed interest rates;
accordingly, commercial interest rates would have no significant impact upon the Group’s and Company’s result for the
year ended 31 December 2020 (nor 31 December 2019).
In relation to the EUR denominated cash held in escrow, which currently attracts a nominal negative cost to hold, a 10%
fluctuation in the cost to hold rate (currently 0.612%) would increase/reduce the charge by £0.1 million per annum.
At 31 December 2020, the Group’s and Company’s monetary assets and liabilities are denominated in GBP Sterling
Euro and US Dollars, converted to GBP the functional currency of the Group and each of its subsidiaries.
The Company holds significant balances (€65.9 million) in EUR from proceeds of the Bond issue, held in escrow. The
remaining balances are held in GBP £10.8 million, EUR €2.9 million and USD $0.1 million. This exposure gives rise to
net currency gains and losses recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.
A 10% fluctuation in the GBP sterling rate compared to EUR would give rise to a £6.9 million gain or £5.6 million loss
in the Group and Company’s Statement of Comprehensive Income
The Group has no current revenues. The Group and the Company's cash balances are maintained primarily in GBP
Sterling (which is the functional and reporting currency of each Group company) and EUR for the Bond deposits with
small balances held in USD to settle any USD liabilities. No formal policies have been put in place to hedge the Group
and Company's activities to the exposure to currency risk. It is the Group's policy to ensure that individual Group entities
enter transactions in their functional currency wherever possible. The Group considers this minimises any foreign
exchange exposure.
Management regularly monitor the currency profile and obtain informal advice to ensure that the cash balances are
held in currencies which minimise the impact on the results and position of the Group and the Company from foreign
exchange movements.
Capital management
The primary objective of the Group’s capital management is to maintain appropriate levels of funding to meet the
commitments of its forward programme of appraisal and development expenditure, and to safeguard the entity’s ability
to continue as a going concern and create shareholder value. The Director’s consider capital to include equity as
described in the Statement of Changes in Equity, and loan notes, as disclosed in Notes 12 and 20. The Group raised
an additional £18.9 million of equity by way of a placement, open offer and subscription in 2019.
The Group manages compliance of the Bond and the covenants by reviewing on a monthly basis its cash flow modelling
which incorporates the bond terms and covenants. Norwegian advisors are also engaged to ensure that any regulatory
requirements are met. At each reporting date and milestone draw down the Directors provide representation that the
terms of the bond are satisfied.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 92 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
24 Financial instruments (continued)
Borrowing facilities
The Group had £95.8 million of borrowings outstanding at 31 December 2020 (2019: £85.0 million).
Hedges
The Group did not hold any hedge instruments at the reporting date (2019: none).
25 Financial commitments and contingent liabilities
The Group has contracted capital expenditure in the current period as part of the phase 1 development work program
for the licences in which it participates:
Authorised but not contracted
Contracted
2020
£000
2019
£000
118,000
56,758
_________
30,066
1,250
_________
174,758
_________
31,316
_________
All 2020 contracted amounts relate to contracted UKCS licence fees and associated OGA levy payments (estimate)
together with contracted service awards to suppliers procured for the development of the Group’s phase 1 project assets
(Blythe, Southwark, Elgood, Thames Reception Facilities and Thames Pipeline).
At the year end, authorised commitments (approved expenditure) to complete the phase 1 project totalled £174.8
million. £56.8 million of the authorised amount had been contracted at 31 December 2020 with the remaining
expenditures to be contracted during 2021. All expenditures are shown gross, 100% and have not been scaled back
for any joint venture share.
Thames Pipeline:
Security in the sum of £0.5 million, the Initial Thames Decommissioning Pipeline Security Amount, was provided on
completion of the Thames Pipeline SPA in April 2018. In October 2019, following the completion of the farm-out to CER,
this amount was reduced to £0.25 million.
Further security in the sum of £1.25 million, the Thames Decommissioning Pipeline Security Amount, is to be provided
on the earlier of:
• one month after the variation issued by the OGA to the Pipeline Works Authorisation to allow for the tie-in of
one or more of the Group’s fields; or
• at the date of sale or alternative use of the Thames Pipeline
Thames Reception Facilities (“TRF”):
Security in the sum of £2.0 million, the Initial TRF Decommissioning Security Amount, was provided on completion of
the TRF SPA in October 2019. Following the completion of the farm-out to CER, this amount was reduced to £1.0
million.
Further security in the sum of £4.0 million, the TRF Decommissioning Security Amount, is to be provided 2.5 years
following the announcement of ‘first gas’. This additional amount is payable in 8 quarterly instalments of £0.5 million
with the first instalment payable 6 months after the declaration of ‘first gas’.
Cross-Guarantees:
The Company acts as guarantor to its subsidiary IOG North Sea Limited and its facilities with LOG. These cross
guarantees are considered insurance contracts in accordance with IFRS4.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 93 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
26 Related party transactions
Details of Directors’ and key management personnel remuneration are provided in Note 4.
Andrew Hockey, CEO, at 31 December 2020 held 790,729 ordinary shares of 1p each in the capital of the Company.
Andrew is also the current holder of 5,456,410 share options at 31 December 2020 and a further 2,314,166 were granted
in February 2021. Andrew was also entitled to 443,448 share options through salary sacrifice at 31 December 2020
and a further 90,291 which at the date of this report have not yet been granted.
Rupert Newall, CFO, and persons closely associated, at 31 December 2020 held 3,767,050 ordinary shares of 1p each
in the capital of the Company. Rupert was also the current holder of 2,909,402 share options at 31 December 2020 and
a further 1,753,156 were granted in February 2021. Rupert is also entitled to 319,184 share options through salary
sacrifice at 31 December 2020 and a further 68,403 which at the date of this report have not yet been granted.
Fiona MacAulay, Chair, at 31 December 2020 held 200,000 ordinary shares of 1p each in the capital of the Company.
Fiona is also the current holder of 1,000,000 share options at 31 December 2020. Fiona is also entitled to 34,416 share
options through salary sacrifice at 31 December 2020 and a further 30,097 which at the date of this report have not yet
been granted.
Esa Ikaheimonen, Non-Executive Director, at 31 December 2020 held 500,000 ordinary shares of 1p each in the capital
of the Company. Esa is also the current holder of 600,000 share options at 31 December 2020. Esa is also entitled to
525,359 share options through salary sacrifice at 31 December 2020 and a further 138,805 which at the date of this
report have not yet been granted.
Neil Hawkings, Non-Executive Director, is also the current holder of 600,000 share options at 31 December 2020. Neil
is also entitled to 28,055 share options through salary sacrifice at 31 December 2020 and a further 12,312 which at the
date of this report have not yet been granted.
Details of loans and interest charged (only relevant to 2019) by LOG are detailed in Note 12. The relevant loans
outstanding at the end of the year related to the Company.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 94 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
27 Notes supporting statements of cash flows
Details of significant non-cash transactions
Equity consideration for settlement of liabilities
Group – Loans and borrowings
At 1 January 2019
Drawdowns (Repayments) -
Lease liability on transition
Amortisation of finance fees
Interest accruing in period
Debt converted into ordinary shares
Repayments
Gain on modification of convertible loan
Unwinding of discount
At 31 December 2019
At 1 January 2020
Lease Liability additions
Repayments
Unwinding of discount
At 31 December 2020
2020
£000
161
2019
£000
624
Current
loans and
borrowings
£000
Non-current
loans and
borrowings
£000
6,934
-
1,054
-
528
(3,644)
(4,054)
-
121
939
939
12,653
(192)
381
13,781
22,884
3,925
-
4,213
2,698
(8,833)
(13,321)
(5,005)
259
6,820
6,820
4,968
-
1,217
13,005
Total
loans and
borrowings
£000
29,818
3,925
1,054
4,213
3,226
(12,477)
(17,375)
(5,005)
380
7,759
7,759
17,621
(192)
1,598
26,786
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 95 of 100
Annual Report 2020
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (CONT’D)
27 Notes supporting statements of cash flows (continued)
Company – Loans and borrowings
Current
loans and
borrowings
£000
Non-current
loans and
borrowings
£000
Total
loans and
borrowings
£000
-
-
1,054
-
-
121
(236)
-
939
12,653
(192)
381
13,781
14,054
3,925
-
3,910
(5,005)
259
14,054
3,925
1,054
3,910
(5,005)
380
(12,330)
(12,566)
2,007
6,820
4,968
-
1,217
13,005
2,007
7,759
17,621
(192)
1,598
26,786
At 1 January 2019
Drawdowns (Repayments)
Lease liability on transition
Amortisation of finance fees
Gain on modification of convertible loan
Unwinding of discount
Repayments
Interest accruing in period
At 31 December 2019
Lease Liability additions
Repayments
Unwinding of discount
At 31 December 2020
28 Subsequent events
The key events after 31 December 2020 are as follows:
On 28 January 2021 the Company announced it had awarded 8,578,907 ordinary shares at 1p to Executive Directors
and staff under its Company Share Ownership Plan.
On 3 February 2021, the Company drew down €27.3 million from the escrow funds account after completing the third
milestone event (exhaustion of the Phase 1 CER carry) of the terms of the bond.
On 10 March 2021, OG North Sea Limited received confirmation from the OGA of partial relinquishment of the P2085
(Harvey) licence, maintaining 16.5 km2, and fully determining the P2441 (Redwell) licence.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 96 of 100
Annual Report 2020
GLOSSARY of KEY TERMS
“1C”
“2C”
“3C”
‘‘3D-seismic’’
“1P”
“2P”
“3P”
‘‘appraisal well’’
‘‘barrels’’ or ‘‘bbls’’ or “Bbls”
‘‘BCF’’ or “Bcfe” or “Bscf”
“BEIS”
‘‘best estimate’’
‘‘block’’
‘‘Boe’’ or “BOE”
‘‘Brent Crude’’
“Brexit”
“carbon footprint”
“Carboniferous”
‘‘contingent resources’’
“Covid-19”
“development carry”
‘‘discovery’’
‘‘farm-out’’
“FEED studies”
‘‘FDP’’
‘‘field’’
‘‘formation’’
‘‘ft’’
“G&A”
“GIIP”
the minimum estimate of Contingent Resources;
the Best Estimate of Contingent Resources;
the maximum estimate of Contingent Resources;
geophysical data that depicts the subsurface strata in three dimensions. 3D-
seismic typically provides a more detailed and accurate interpretation of the
subsurface strata than 2D seismic;
the Proved Reserves;
the sum of Proved Reserves + Probable Reserves;
the sum of Proved Reserves + Probable plus Possible Reserves;
a well drilled as part of an appraisal drilling programme which is carried out to
determine the physical extent, reserves and likely production rate of a field;
a unit of volume measurement used for petroleum and its products (for a typical
crude oil 7.3 barrels ≈ 1 tonne: 6.29 barrels ≈ 1 cubic metre);
billion (109) standard cubic feet; 1 BCF is approximately equal to 172,414 Boe
or 23,618 tonnes of oil equivalent, using a factor of 5.8 BCF per MMBbls;
Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy of the UK Government
the middle value in a range of estimates considered to be the most likely. If
based on a statistical distribution, can be the mean, median or mode depending
on usage;
an area subdivision of the UKCS of 10 minutes of latitude by 12 minutes of
longitude measuring approximately 10 by 20 kilometres, forming part of a
quadrant. Each quadrant is divided into a grid, five blocks wide and six blocks
deep, and numbered 1 to 30 from NW to SE e.g. Block 14/13 is the 13th block
in Quadrant 14;
barrels of oil equivalent. One barrel of oil is approximately the energy equivalent
of 5,800 cubic feet of natural gas;
an international benchmark comprising a mix of crude oil from 15 different oil
fields in the North Sea;
the UK’s exit from the European Union, which has taken place on 31 January
2020;
amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with all the activities of a
person or other entity (e.g., building, corporation, country, etc.). It includes direct
emissions, as well as emissions required to produce goods and services
consumed;
a geological period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian
Period, about 359 million years ago, to the beginning of the Permian Period,
about 299 million years ago;
those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially
recoverable from known accumulations by application of development projects,
but which are not currently considered to be commercially recoverable due to
one or more contingencies;
coronavirus disease 2020, is an infectious disease caused by severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the disease has spread
globally, causing the 2020-20 global coronavirus pandemic;
involves the farmer-in agreeing to bear some or all of the development costs
relating to the farmer out's retained interest in a development project;
an exploration well which has encountered hydrocarbons for the first time in a
structure;
to assign an interest in a licence to another party;
Front End Engineering Design studies
field development plan;
an area consisting of either a single reservoir or multiple reservoirs, all grouped
on or related to the same individual geological structural feature and/or
stratigraphic condition;
a layer or unit of rock. A productive formation in the context of reservoir rock;
foot/feet;
general and administrative;
gas initially in place;
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 97 of 100
Annual Report 2020
GLOSSARY of KEY TERMS (CONT’D)
‘‘gross resources’’
‘‘hydrocarbon’’
‘‘km’’
‘‘km2’’ or “sq. km”
‘‘licence’’
‘‘Mcf’’ or “mcf”
“Mcfd” or “mcfd”
“MMbbl” or “MMBbls”
“MMBO”
“MMBOE”
“MMcf”
“MMcfd”
“MMscf”
“MMscfd”
“net debt”
“NUI”
“OGA”
‘‘oil’’
‘‘oil equivalent’’
‘‘operator’’ or “operatorship”
“OPRED”
“Oslo Børs”
‘‘petroleum’’
‘‘probable reserves’’
‘‘promote licence’’
‘‘prospect’’
‘‘prospective resources’’
the total estimated petroleum that is potentially recoverable from a field or
prospect;
a compound containing only the elements hydrogen and carbon. May exist as
a solid, a liquid or a gas. The term is mainly used in a catch-all sense for oil, gas
and condensate;
kilometre;
square kilometres;
an exclusive right to search for or to develop and produce hydrocarbons within
a specific area. Usually granted by the State authorities and may be time limited;
thousand standard cubic feet;
thousand cubic feet per day;
millions (106) of barrels of oil;
million (106) barrels of oil;
million (106) barrels of oil equivalent;
million (106) cubic feet;
million (106) cubic feet per day;
million (106) standard cubic feet;
million (106) standard cubic feet per day;
total loans, less restricted cash and cash equivalents, adding back the financial
asset being the IOG Norwegian bonds which are held by the Company.
Normally Unmanned Installation;
UK Oil and Gas Authority
mixture of liquid hydrocarbons of different molecular weights;
international standard for comparing the thermal energy of different fuels;
the company that has legal authority to drill wells and undertake production of
hydrocarbons found. The operator is often part of a consortium and acts on
behalf of such consortium;
Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning, part of
the UK government Department for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy
(BEIS)
Oslo Stock Exchange
a generic name for hydrocarbons, including crude oil, natural gas liquids, natural
gas and their products;
those unproved reserves which analysis of geological and engineering data
suggests are more likely than not to be recoverable. In this context, when
probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 50% probability that
the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the sum of estimated
Proved + Probable reserves;
a specific type of licence awarded by DECC whereby licence holders are given
two years after an award, with low rental payments and obligations, in order to
attract the technical, environmental and financial capacity to complete an agreed
work programme. The licence will expire after two years if the licensee has not
made a firm commitment to DECC to complete the work programme;
a project associated with a potential accumulation of oil or natural gas that is
sufficiently well defined to represent a viable drilling target;
those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially
future
recoverable
development projects;
from undiscovered accumulations by application of
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 98 of 100
Annual Report 2020
GLOSSARY of KEY TERMS (CONT’D)
‘‘proven reserves’’
‘‘quadrant’’
‘‘reserves’’
‘‘reservoir’’
‘‘resources’’
“Rotliegendes” or
“Rotliegend”
‘‘scf’’
‘‘seismic survey’’
“UKCS”
those quantities of petroleum which, by analysis of geological and engineering
data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be commercially
recoverable, from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current
economic conditions, operating methods and government regulations. Proved
reserves can be categorised as developed or undeveloped. If deterministic
methods are used, the term reasonable certainty is intended to express a high
degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered. If probabilistic
methods are used, there should be at least a 90% probability that the quantities
actually recovered will equal or exceed the estimate;
an area subdivision of the UKCS of 1 degree of longitude by 1 degree of latitude
- typically around 6,600km2. On the UKCS each quadrant is further subdivided
into 30 blocks;
those quantities of petroleum anticipated to be commercially recoverable by
application of development projects to known accumulations from a given date
forward under defined conditions. Reserves must further satisfy four criteria:
they must be discovered, recoverable, commercial and remaining (as of the
evaluation date) based on the development project(s) being applied;
a subsurface body of rock having sufficient porosity and permeability to store
and transmit fluids. A reservoir is a critical component of a complete petroleum
system;
deposits of naturally occurring hydrocarbons which, if recoverable, include those
volumes of hydrocarbons either yet to be found (prospective) or if found the
development of which depends upon a number of factors (technical, legal and/or
commercial) being resolved (contingent);
a lithostratigraphic geological unit of early Permian age (beneath the Zechstein
and above the Carboniferous) that is found in the subsurface of large areas in
western and central Europe;
standard cubic feet;
a method by which an image of the earth’s subsurface is created through the
generation of shockwaves and analysis of their reflection from rock strata. Such
surveys can be done in two or three-dimensional form;
United Kingdom Continental Shelf.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 99 of 100
Annual Report 2020
INFORMATION & ADVISERS
INFORMATION AND ADVISERS
Country of incorporation of parent company
England and Wales
Legal form
Public limited company with share capital
Directors
Fiona MacAulay
Andrew Hockey
Rupert Newall
Esa Ikaheimonen
Neil Hawkings
General Counsel and Company Secretary
Robin Storey
Registered office
60 Gracechurch Street
London
EC3V 0HR
Company registered number
07434350
Auditors
BDO LLP
55 Baker Street,
London W1U 7EU
Legal advisors
Fieldfisher LLP
Riverbank House
2 Swan Lane
London EC4R 3TT
Nominated advisor
finnCap Ltd
1 Bartholomew Close
London EC1A 7BL
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Independent Oil and Gas plc
Page 100 of 100
Annual Report 2020