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Zephyr Energy Plc

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FY2021 Annual Report · Zephyr Energy Plc
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Zephyr Energy plc

Annual Report and Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 

Contents
Overview
01 
03 
15 

 Strategic Report

 Directors’ Report

 Chairman’s Statement

Governance
18 
25 
26 

 Corporate Governance Statement

 Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

 Independent Auditor’s Report

 Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

 Consolidated Income Statement

Financial Statements
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 

 Consolidated Balance Sheet

 Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

 Company Balance Sheet

 Company Statement of Changes in Equity

 Company Cash Flow Statement

 Notes to the Financial Statements

 Important information regarding the Annual General Meeting

Other Information
77 
78  Notice of Annual General Meeting
84  Directors, Advisers and Officers

01

Chairman’s Statement

Overview
The period under review was a time of substantial 
progress in the ongoing transformation of Zephyr. 
During this period the Group evolved from a single 
project exploration group into a self‑sustaining, cash 
generating, oil producing group with a balanced 
portfolio of both operated and non‑operated assets 
located in two established oil producing basins 
in the U.S.

I am incredibly proud of what was achieved during 
the period, and we remain fully committed to our 
primary goal of opening up the next prolific onshore 
U.S. oil and gas play through the systematic 
development of our flagship project in the Paradox 
Basin, Utah, U.S. (the “Paradox project”).

The 2022 fiscal year promises to be an equally 
exciting time for our Shareholders as we aim to bring 
our State 16‑2LN‑CC well into commercial production 
and commence our proposed three well drill 
programme on the Paradox project. A successful 
drilling programme will see the Group further 
defining the Paradox project, will deliver significant 
cashflows, and will see the Group materially 
increasing its reserve base in the project. This 
activity will be fully funded by cashflows from our 
non‑operated asset portfolio in the Williston Basin, 
North Dakota, U.S. (the “non‑operated portfolio”), 
which was established during the period under 
review, and since, through a number of discrete 
acquisitions with the main purpose of funding our 
proposed activity on the Paradox project.

Our forthcoming activity across all our operations will 
be carried out consistent with our core values of 
being responsible stewards of investors’ capital and 
responsible stewards of the environment.

Background
Our goals for 2021 were simple but ambitious. 
We were determined to transform the Group into 
a well‑capitalised hydrocarbon producer, with 
healthy cashflows and significant growth potential. 
I am delighted to report that 2021 saw us deliver on 
all these key objectives.

Our results are even more remarkable when one 
considers that they were achieved in spite of the 
backdrop of the second year of the global 
pandemic. I was thoroughly impressed that our 
management team and contractors dealt with the 
extraordinary circumstances in such a positive and 

effective way, and always with a view to ensuring 
the welfare of our people and the minimal disruption 
to our announced timeframes. That we achieved so 
much during a time of significant market instability, 
particularly for energy companies, is testament to 
their abilities and performance and I am extremely 
grateful for their efforts.

Operational activity
After many years of investment in the Paradox 
project, it was gratifying that the Group was able to 
make material progress towards unlocking the 
potential considerable value of the project during the 
period. In particular, we saw the first flowing 
hydrocarbons at the State 16‑2LN‑CC well from the 
Cane Creek reservoir target during our highly 
successful well test. This well test exceeded 
management’s pre‑drill estimates and achieved a 
proven rate‑constrained production high of 1,083 
barrels of oil equivalent per day (“boepd”), with 
internal modelling indicating potential flow rates of 
2,100 boepd once it is no longer rate‑constrained. 
The well test clearly demonstrated that 16‑2LN‑CC is 
both a sizeable and potentially profitable well, and it 
endorsed Zephyr’s strategy of the proposed wider 
development of the Paradox project.

Zephyr’s position within the Paradox Basin was also 
given a significant boost in 2021 when the United 
States Bureau of Land Management (the “BLM”) 
approved the formation of a new 25,000‑acre 
Federal Unit, known as the White Sands Federal Unit 
(the “WSU”), which incorporated all of the Group’s 
leases covered by its historic 3D seismic survey. This 
provides us with increased security of tenure and an 
excellent long‑term framework for the development 
of our lease acreage, including the lease on which 
the State 16‑2LN‑CC well is situated.

The ultimate scale and resource potential of the Paradox 
project was further demonstrated with the completion of 
an updated independent reserves and resource 
evaluation, conducted by Sproule International Limited 
(“Sproule”), the key findings of which were published in 
April 2022 (the “CPR”). Following the success of the 
State 16‑2LN‑CC well, the CPR saw the first proven 
reserves booked for the Paradox project, with a 2P 
figure of 2.1 million net barrels of oil equivalent (“boe”). 
In addition, the CPR saw the doubling of our 2C 
resource estimates across the Cane Creek reservoir 
with 27 million net boe, up from 12.3 million boe reported 
in the Group’s previous CPR on the Paradox project that 
was carried out in 2018.

OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC02

Chairman’s Statement

The plan for the Paradox project for the remainder of 
the current financial year is to recommence 
production from the State 16‑2LN‑CC well, with gas 
volumes produced being utilised by a co‑located 
crypto‑mining facility, and to commence our 
proposed three well drilling campaign to further 
delineate the scale and production potential of the 
project. At the time of writing, we expect to have the 
State 16‑2LN‑CC in production by the end of 
September, and we are making final preparations for 
our fully funded three well campaign which is due to 
commence in the coming weeks.

A key accomplished objective for 2021 was to grow 
production and positive cash flow for the Group via a 
combination of our existing portfolio and acquisitions. 
The rapid growth of our portfolio of non‑operated 
production assets in the Williston Basin, through a 
number of discrete acquisitions, was a major 
development in helping us achieve this objective. 
Our ability to self‑fund the upcoming Paradox drilling 
campaign is the result of successfully executing this 
strategy of building out our cash generative 
non‑operated portfolio to ensure the organic 
development of the Paradox project.

Our non‑operated portfolio, which currently consists 
of working‑interests in 219 wells (the vast majority of 
which are currently in production), is expected to 
provide US$35‑40 million of revenue, net to Zephyr, in 
2022. In Q1 2022, Zephyr’s revenues from the 
non‑operated portfolio were US$11.5 million, resulting 
in operating cashflows to the Group of US$9.8 million, 
demonstrating our ability to self‑finance the 
operational activity across our portfolio.

Environmental, Social and Governance 
(“ESG”)
In a year that saw COP26 hosted in Glasgow bringing 
The Paris Agreement on climate change into ever 
sharper focus, Zephyr demonstrated its commitment to 
play its part in this essential global effort. We will always 
aspire to have ESG credentials that are amongst best in 
class. This was no more evident than when we 
achieved, ahead of schedule, our stated target of 
“net‑zero” operational carbon impact. This was done 

primarily through our programme of purchasing Verified 
Emission Reduction credits (“VERs”), designed to 
mitigate all Scope 1 carbon emissions and was an 
initiative that was unanimously supported by the 
Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”).

Followers of Zephyr will be familiar with our 
commitment to stewardship of both the natural 
environment and Shareholder capital at the core of 
all our activity. Prudent and careful cash management 
and ESG focus were clearly in evidence during the 
period under review and remain the central tenet of 
our philosophy. The Board firmly believes this is not 
only the right way to run the Group but the approach 
that will ensure our ongoing success on behalf of all 
stakeholders. Good environmental and operational 
performance, supported by the appropriate levels of 
governance is the optimal way to drive superior 
investor returns. The progress made in 2021 was a 
clear sign of our firm intent to operate within these 
key principals and we intend to ensure that they 
remain embedded at the heart of the Group.

Conclusion
On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank 
everyone within Zephyr for their unswerving hard 
work and commitment during this transformational 
period. I would also like to extend my heartfelt 
gratitude to our Shareholders and advisers for their 
continued support. Due to the achievements of 2021, 
we can look to the future with a high degree of 
confidence and excitement as we continue in our 
pursuit of building a Group of which all our 
stakeholders can be proud.

RL Grant
22 June 2022

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Strategic Report

The Directors present their Strategic Report on the 
Group for the year ended 31 December 2021.

Principal Objectives and Strategies
Zephyr Energy plc is an Oil & Gas (“O&G”) 
exploration and production group operating in the 
Rocky Mountain region of the U.S.

The Group’s stated mission is to open up the next 
prolific onshore U.S. oil and gas play through the 
development of its flagship Paradox project. The two 
core values of the Group are to be responsible 
stewards of investors’ capital and responsible 
stewards of the environment.

To achieve this mission, the Group has prioritised:

•  constructing a team with significant experience in 

the U.S./Rocky Mountain O&G sector, with a 
particular focus on operations, development, 
governance, finance, merger and acquisition and 
turnaround experience;

•  a sharpening of focus – we are wholly focused on 
responsible Exploration and Production (“E&P”) 
investment in the Rocky Mountain region and have 
exited all other legacy sectors and geographies;

•  the development of a non‑operated asset portfolio 

that provides cashflow to be reinvested in the 
Paradox project;

•  the redoubling of ESG efforts, including corporate 

governance compliance, ensuring 
carbon‑neutrality across our operations, and 
proactive engagement with the communities in 
which we operate;

•  the leveraging of partnerships (such as the U.S. 

Department of Energy, experienced operators in 
the Basins in which we operate, and private 
equity investors);

•  the design and build of a technology‑led acquisition 
process which can rapidly assess opportunities of 
further interests through acquisition, farm‑in 
agreements or joint venture arrangements; and

•  tight financial control and cash conservation.

03

Review of Operations and  
Future Developments
Background
As outlined in the Chairman’s Statement, the period 
under review has been one of extraordinary progress 
and transformation for Zephyr.

During this period the Group has achieved multiple 
operational milestones, most notably with the first 
flowing hydrocarbons from our flagship Paradox 
project and with the construction of our cash 
generating non‑operated portfolio.

The Group’s operated asset is in the Paradox Basin 
where it holds a 37,613‑acre leasehold and, following 
the initial drilling success during the year, the Group is 
expecting its first commercial production from its State 
16‑2LN‑CC well by the end of the third quarter of this 
year, with gas volumes produced being utilised by a 
co‑located crypto‑mining facility which is currently 
under development. The Group is also well underway 
with the planning of a three‑well drill programme which 
will commence in the coming weeks to further delineate 
the scale and production potential of the project.

The Group’s non‑operated production comes from 
working‑interests in wells across the Bakken and 
Three Forks formations in the Williston Basin, North 
Dakota. Zephyr currently has working‑interests in 
219 wells and Q1 2022 sales from the non‑operated 
portfolio was circa 1,600 boepd (net to Zephyr) 
resulting in corresponding revenues for Zephyr from 
the portfolio of circa US$11.5 million for the quarter.

The Board’s strategy is to recycle the considerable 
cashflows expected to be generated from the 
non‑operated Williston Basin portfolio into the 
proposed Paradox development programme, and this 
organic growth strategy is expected to enable the 
Group to fully fund the three‑well drilling programme 
on the Paradox project planned for later this year.

In the Board’s opinion the Group’s asset portfolio 
is ideally positioned, with the cash generating, 
non‑operating portfolio providing Shareholders with 
an engine that can drive the development of the 
Paradox project and help unlock its potential 
considerable upside. Set out below is a detailed 
summary of the progress made across both our 
operated and non‑operated portfolios during the 
period under review.

OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC04

Strategic Report

(continued)

Paradox project – operated asset
Background
Having completed the comprehensive restructuring 
of the Paradox project in 2020, which primarily 
involved overhauling the existing joint venture 
partnership and securing additional tenure for the 
most attractive project acreage, the key task for the 
2021 financial year was to commence operations on 
the ground and to finally begin the process of 
delivering value from the project after many years of 
significant investment.

The securing of a US$2 million U.S. Government 
grant in late 2020 enabled us to proceed with the 
drilling of the State 16‑2 well and this was the catalyst 
for the considerable progress on the project in the 
period under review.

The State 16‑2 well was completed in January 2021 
having been successfully drilled to a measured depth 
of 9,745 feet total depth (“TD”). Drilling operations 
were safe and effective, conducted in accordance with 
Covid‑19 related guidance and restrictions, and were 
completed well within the Group’s forecast timeframe.

The objective was to drill and set casing at 6,450 feet 
measured depth (“MD”) in order to provide a host 
wellbore for a future horizontal side track. This goal 
was achieved within thirteen days from spud which 
represented a marked improvement over historical 
drilling efforts in this part of the Paradox Basin. This 
reduction in drilling time represented a major 
operational success and demonstrated that the cost 
of future development wells could be materially 
reduced from our earlier estimates, thereby 
improving the overall potential value of the Paradox 
project for Shareholders.

Our secondary objective was to acquire a significant 
amount of new data to improve our understanding 
of our Paradox acreage. We were pleased to report 
that Zephyr’s data acquisition programme secured 
the following:

•  approximately 113 feet of continuous whole core 
across the historically productive Cane Creek 
reservoir interval – the first whole Cane Creek 
core ever to be retrieved in the northern part of 
the Paradox Basin;

Paradox Basin
Recent Progress

Q4 2020

2021

H1 2022

State 16‑2
Spud

WSU
Application

Data
Analysis

State 16‑2 LN‑CC
Flow Back

WSU
Approved

State 16‑2 LN‑CC
Flow Back

Initial site selection
& well planning complete

DOE
$2mm grant

State 16‑2
TD

State 16‑2 LN‑CC
APD

State 16‑2 LN‑CC
TD

State 16‑2 LN‑CC
Stimulation

State 16‑2 LN‑CC
End Test

APD
Submission

CPR

2022 Milestones to Date

•  CPR completed – with first booked reserves, significant increase to contingent resources and 

maiden prospective resources released

•  Upcoming 3 well drilling programme – locations and well designs completed

•  Drilling permits submitted and on‑site surveys completed

•  First liquid sales from Paradox Basin production test volumes

ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202105

Strategic Report

(continued)

•  rotary side wall cores in eleven shallower exploration 

targets; and

•  gamma ray, neutron density, resistivity, formation 

litho scanner and sonic wireline log data across the 
bulk of the Paradox Formation, which secured 
significant additional petrophysical data.

Following the completion of drilling and data 
acquisition operations, the State 16‑2 well was 
temporarily plugged at 6,450 feet TD, and left stable 
and for future re‑use as a lateral wellbore host.

Decision to proceed with State 16‑2LN‑CC lateral well
The core and log data acquired from the State 16‑2 
Cane Creek reservoir both corroborated and 
supported the Board’s long‑held view that the 
Paradox project has the potential to be a project of 
considerable scale.

On 15 March 2021, Zephyr announced a detailed 
update on the Paradox project, which included 
confirmation of evidence of hydrocarbon saturation 
across the entirety of the continuous core acquired 
from the Cane Creek reservoir. When integrated with 
the recently acquired log data, existing 3D seismic 
data, and geologic and regional analogue analysis, 
the resulting analysis gave the Board strong 
justification for advancement to the next phase of the 
project. The Board therefore elected to proceed with 
detailed planning for the near‑term drilling of the 
lateral well, and following the successful completion 
of a US$13.9 million fundraise in April 2021, the Group 
was fully funded to commence the drilling of the 
lateral portion of the well.

Drilling of the State 16‑2LN‑CC lateral well
Drilling operations commenced in July 2021, ahead of 
Zephyr’s forecast timeline and, in August 2021 the 
Group announced that the well was successfully drilled 
to a TD of 14,370 feet at which point a full suite of 
wireline logs was run and production casing was set.

Drilling operations achieved their main objective of 
hitting the Cane Creek reservoir target and staying 
within that reservoir across the entire lateral portion of 
the well. In addition, there was evidence of 
hydrocarbon charge across the entirety of the Cane 
Creek lateral, as well as in multiple overlying reservoirs.

With the setting of production casing, we were 
confident of having secured an excellent well bore 
platform from which to complete the well and test 
production from the Cane Creek reservoir.

Results from the State 16‑2LN‑CC data evaluation 
and diagnostic fracture injection test (“DFIT”)
Following the completion of the lateral well, the 
Group reported its results from the interpretation of 
the data acquired during drilling operations and the 
Board was particularly pleased that wireline data 
suggested that 85 per cent of the lateral had the 
potential to be completed for well testing and 
production, with additional positive data suggesting 
porosity and permeability estimates equivalent to 
other producing basins with prolific hydraulic 
stimulated resource potential (“HSRP”) development, 
as well as mud gas mass spectrometry evidence 
suggesting the presence of oil, gas and condensate 
with corresponding apparent low water saturations.

Based on the positive data received, the Board 
therefore elected to initiate a DFIT to provide 
additional insight into the potential for successful 
hydraulic stimulation on our acreage position. As the 
State 16‑2LN‑CC is the first horizontal well in this part 
of the Paradox Basin, the ability to develop a strong 
understanding of reservoir mechanical properties 
was crucially important to help assess the series of 
options for wider potential development.

In early September 2021, the Group announced the 
results from the DFIT, during which a 3 feet interval 
at the toe of the lateral was perforated and 
hydraulically stimulated.

The results from the DFIT were highly encouraging and 
suggested high formation pressure (a strong positive 
indicator of reservoir drive), permeability consistent with 
other prolific resource plays, and demonstrable 
evidence of hydrocarbons flowing into the well after 
stimulation. In addition, the DFIT provided rock 
mechanical data (including lithostatic gradient, effective 
stress and fracture propagation data) which was 
subsequently interpreted and provided valuable insight 
to assist with completion design.

In all, the results of the DFIT, combined with the 
significant amount of data previously gathered from 
the well, indicate that the State 16‑2LN‑CC had the 
potential to be an excellent “proof of concept” 
location for an HSRP test.

On that basis, the Board unanimously approved 
proceeding with a HSRP completion at the State 
16‑2LN‑CC.

OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC06

Strategic Report

First hydrocarbons produced from Paradox project
The HSRP completion commenced on 18 October 
2021 and the Group subsequently announced that 
the operation was successfully completed. The well 
was stimulated in fourteen separate stages across 
4,020 feet of horizontal lateral wellbore. The 
stimulation utilised a total of 40,000 barrels of water, 
2.4 million pounds of sand and a cross linked gel 
fluid, all in line with pre‑completion forecasts.

On 11 November 2021, the Board was delighted to 
announce the first flowing hydrocarbons from the 
State 16‑2 LN‑CC well which represented a significant 
historical and operational milestone for the Group, 
particularly as this was the first horizontal well in the 
wider Paradox Basin to flow hydrocarbons using a 
modern hydraulically stimulated completion.

The Group carried out 23 days of safe and successful 
production testing on the well and it demonstrated 
the potential to drain a larger hydrocarbon resource 
and with stronger economics than initially forecast by 
the Group.

Key conclusions from State 16‑2 LN CC completion
•  During the test, the well averaged rate‑constrained 
daily rates of 716 boepd, with rate‑constrained highs 
of 1,083 boepd achieved with limited pressure 
drawdown which was incredibly encouraging.

•  Initial simulation modelling suggests possible 

plateau rates of 2,100 boepd are possible when 
the well is fully equipped and no longer 
rate‑constrained. The test was rate‑constrained 
to minimise flow assurance issues from salt 
deposition in the well bore. Future flow assurance 
issues are expected to be mitigated when the 
well’s final completion equipment is installed.

•  Gas rates are substantially higher than expected, 
with modelling suggesting the well is capable of 
production plateau rates of 10 million square cubic 
feet of gas per day and 500 boepd of liquids.

•  Initial data from the production test suggests the 

State 16‑2LN‑CC has a single well potential 
Estimated Ultimate Recovery (“EUR”) of 2.65 million 
barrels of oil equivalent (“mmboe”), significantly 
higher than the Group’s pre‑drill estimates of up 
to 0.85 mmboe.

•  Not only does this successful production test 

indicate the potential for a highly profitable single 
well, but the Board also believes the test will lead 
to a substantial reduction in development risk 
across our acreage while allowing for a future 
systematic development of the project – one with 
relatively predictable well distribution within both 
the Cane Creek reservoir as well as across the 
multiple overlying reservoirs.

Following the completion of the production testing, 
Zephyr commissioned the independent reserve 
consulting firm Sproule to complete a Competent 
Persons Report (“CPR”) to assess the Group’s 
reserves across both the Cane Creek reservoir and 
the eight overlying reservoirs.

Competent Persons Report
The previous CPR on the Paradox project was 
completed in 2018 by Gaffney Cline & Associates 
(“2018 CPR”). In April 2022, the Group announced 
the results from Sproule’s CPR.

Sproule audited the crude oil, natural gas, and field 
condensate reserves and contingent resources and 
the associated future net revenue attributable to the 
WSU and Cane Creek DSU (“CC DSU”) with an 
effective date of March 31, 2022. Sproule also 
conducted an audit of the Prospective Resources 
attributable to the WSU on the same date.

The Board was delighted with the conclusions drawn 
by Sproule, which both demonstrate the impact of 
our recent drilling success and which further highlight 
the substantial potential scale and profitability of the 
Paradox project.

The key findings were as follows:

•  2P Reserves: First Paradox Basin Proved Reserves 
of 2.1 million boe, based on the State 16‑2 LN‑CC

•  2C Resources: 27 million boe – more than double 

the 2C Resources in the 2018 CPR

•  Prospective resources from overlying reservoirs: 
203 million net unrisked boe (68 million boe 
risked with a weighted‑average 33% chance 
of success (“CoS”))

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202107

Strategic Report

Updated CPR: Significant Increase from 2018 CPR

Net Attributable to Zephyr

Paradox Basin

2018: Developed & Undeveloped Reserves (MBOE)

1P

–

2P

–

3P

–

2022: Developed & Undeveloped Reserves (MBOE)

537

2,123

6,811

Net Attributable to Zephyr

Paradox Basin

2018: Contingent Resources (MBOE)

2022: Contingent Resources (MBOE)

1C

361

2C

3C

12,330

29,540

–

26,870

81,130

Net Attributable to Zephyr

Paradox Basin

2018: Unrisked Prospective Resources (MBOE)

1U

–

2U

–

3U

–

2022: Unrisked Prospective Resources (MBOE)

57,500

203,000

419,000

Combined with Zephyr’s Williston Basin 
non‑operated portfolio, Zephyr’s total 2P Proved 
Reserves now have an estimated net present value 
at a ten per cent discount rate (“NPV‑10”) of over 
US$111 million (up from zero value ascribed in 2018) 
with substantial multiples of additional upside 
potential from success cases related to its contingent 
and prospective resources.

In determining the NPV‑10 for the reserves and 
resources, Sproule utilised its March 31, 2022 price 
forecast for both oil and gas which includes a West 
Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) oil price forecast of 
US$93/barrel (“bbl”) in 2022, US$83/bbl in 2023, and 
US$73/bbl in 2024, with a further US$5.00 per barrel 
deduction for price differential. For the gas price 
forecast, Sproule used a Henry Hub gas price of 
US$5.00/per million British thermal units (“mmbtu”) in 
2022, US$4.25/mmbtu in 2023, and US$3.25/mmbtu, 
with a further gas price differential of US$1.25 
per million standard cubic feet (“mscf”) reduction 
from Henry Hub, a heating value of 1000 btu per 
mscf and a shrinkage of 5% for losses due to surface 
facilities. Prices and costs are escalated at 2.0% per 
annum until the price doubles, and are then held flat.

The CPR marked a key milestone for the Group, 
further outlining the potential value in the Paradox 
project and due to the success of the State 16‑2 
LN‑CC well, and our acquisition of proved reserves 
around the Cane Creek field, the Group was able to 
book Proved Reserves on the Paradox project for 
the first time.

Due to the early‑stage nature of the Paradox Basin 
resource play, the range of outcomes for Zephyr’s 
Utah assets remains large. Both Zephyr and Sproule 
identified uncertainties due to limited data across the 
areas planned for development by the Group. These 
include fluid composition and compressibility, water 
production, continuity of geomechanical properties 
across the reservoir and their impact on hydraulic 
fracture characteristics, and stimulated area around a 
well (well drainage area). The Group plans to utilise 
its upcoming three well drilling campaign to further 
quantify both the risks and upside presented by 
these uncertainties.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC08

Strategic Report

Formation of the WSU Federal Unit
Following the successful State 16‑2 LN‑CC drilling 
programme, the Group was also thrilled to report that 
the BLM had approved the formation of a new 
25,000‑acre Federal Unit to be operated by Zephyr. 
The new unit, the WSU, incorporates the Group’s 
existing leases covered by its historic 3D seismic 
survey, including the lease on which the State 
16‑2LN‑CC well is situated.

The WSU approval, effective October 2021, was 
another key milestone in the Group’s ongoing 
development of the Paradox project. By 
consolidating over twenty separate leases into one 
overarching land agreement, Zephyr can focus on an 
optimal long‑term development plan for the project 
as a whole, rather than maintaining its lease position 
in an ad‑hoc fashion.

If the State 16‑2 LN CC well is determined to be 
capable of delivering paying quantities of 
hydrocarbons, or if a second well is drilled on the 
WSU acreage within the next twelve months, the 
WSU will be extended beyond the initial 36‑month 
extension currently approved by the BLM.

Next steps
Following the successful completion of State 
16‑2LN‑CC well test and after taking into account the 
conclusions of the CPR, the Group intends to 
commence a high impact three‑well drilling 
programme later this year to further delineate the 
scale of the project. This will include:

•  one delineation/development well targeting the 
Cane Creek reservoir in Zephyr’s 25,000‑acre 
WSU (the “State 36‑2 LNW‑CC” well);

•  one exploration well targeting Clastic 9 to see the 
zones potential to host a resource play (the “State 
36‑3 LN‑C9 well); and

•  one delineation/development well in the 

historically prolific Cane Creek Field (new acreage 
south of the WSU)

Drilling permits for the drilling programme have been 
submitted, all necessary on‑site surveys have been 
completed and negotiations continue with rig vendors.

Zephyr has also commenced work to equip the State 
16‑2LN‑CC well for commercial production, and on 
7 June 2022, the Group announced its plans to 

recommence production by the end of September 
2022. Liquid volumes produced from the well will be 
trucked and sold to refineries in Utah, and produced 
gas volumes will be sold to fuel onsite power 
generators which in turn will provide electricity for 
the co‑located crypto‑mining facility.

The Group plans to fund the initial investment 
required to launch the initial 1 megawatt (“MW”) 
crypto‑mining facility (capital expenditure forecast to 
be less than US$2 million) from existing cash 
resources or via third party investment, with facility 
capital payback expected in under two years at 
current crypto‑currency prices. CryptoKnight Energy, 
an experienced operator of oil industry co‑located 
crypto mining operations, will serve as the general 
contractor for the construction and operation of the 
mining facility.

Following the testing of the 1MW facility, Zephyr may 
elect to build up to 4MW of power generation and 
crypto‑mine facilities on the pad. Zephyr is evaluating 
a range of third‑party investment options in the event 
it elects to expand the crypto‑mining infrastructure.

Over the longer‑term, the Group expects to tie its 
gas production from the Paradox project into the 
nearby gas export infrastructure recently purchased 
by Dominion Energy Inc. (“Dominion”) a Fortune 500 
Company which currently services over seven million 
customers in the U.S. Dominion has made public its 
plans to refurbish and expand the natural gas 
infrastructure running across Zephyr’s acreage, and 
is expected to be available to accept gas volumes 
from Zephyr’s wells in 2023.

Williston Project – Non‑operated asset
In January 2021, Zephyr stated that one of its key 
goals for the year was to establish production and 
positive cashflow either through its existing portfolio 
(the Paradox project), via acquisition, or through a 
combination of both. In the period under review, and 
since, the Group has delivered on this goal and the 
Board is incredibly proud that, following a series of 
acquisitions, the Group now has a non‑operated 
portfolio that delivered sales of over 1,600 boepd, 
net to Zephyr, in Q1 2022, with corresponding 
revenues of US$11.5 million for the quarter.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202109

Strategic Report

The establishment of our non‑operated portfolio 
began in March 2021, during a period of lower 
commodity prices, and with the integration of our 
recent US$36 million acquisition (completed in 
February 2022), our non‑operated portfolio is 
expected to have a turnover of US$35‑40 million 
in 2022, providing the Group with free cash flow to 
support of Paradox project development plans.

In order to lock in cashflow to develop our Paradox 
asset and meet our funding commitments, in April 
2022, the Group hedged just under half of its 
forecast 2022 production at more than US$98 per 
barrel of oil.

Zephyr currently has working‑interests in 219 wells, 
the vast majority of which are currently in production 
with multiple additional wells expected to be put  
in production over the next six months. The 
working‑interests are in prime locations, and the 
majority of the wells are operated by Whiting 
Petroleum Corporation (“Whiting”), a leading Williston 
Basin producer.

Williston production
Non‑Operated portfolio quarterly production (BOE/day)

1,800
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0

981% Year on Year Increase

Q1 2021 Q2 2021 Q3 2021 Q4 2021 Q1 2022

Acquisitions
The non‑operated portfolio has been carefully 
crafted and has been achieved through five discrete 
acquisitions, culminating in the completion of a 
transformative US$36 million acquisition (the 
“acquisition”) in February 2022. This acquisition 
nearly tripled the Group’s existing non‑operated 
production from its four previous acquisitions.

The US$36 million acquisition was a game‑changer 
for the Group, providing a stable foundation of 
low‑decline production and cash flows from 163 
gross producing wells. In addition, 18 drilled but 

uncompleted wells (“DUCs”) are expected to be 
brought online in the near term and 47 additional 
gross undeveloped locations are expected to 
provide meaningful upside for many years to come. 
The acreage is also highly complementary to the 
Group’s other interests in the Williston Basin.

The key benefits of the Acquisition are as follows:

•  A diversified, low‑decline production base with 

established history and stable cash flows

•  Near term growth from DUC wells currently being 

brought online

•  Potential to hedge a significant portion of the 

existing production at attractive prices to lock in 
returns and provide downside protection

•  Excellent complement to (and funding source for) 
the less mature, higher upside Paradox Basin 
development

In order to fund the Acquisition, in January 2022, 
the Group undertook an equity fundraise of 
£12.8 million and secured a US$28 million senior debt 
facility from a long‑established North Dakota‑based 
commercial bank.

The Group’s non‑operated portfolio continues to 
perform well ahead of the Board’s forecasts and 
expectations, in part due to the current high 
commodity price environment.

Production update
Q1 2022 sales from the Group’s non‑operated 
portfolio averaged circa 1,600 boepd net to Zephyr, 
up from 548 boepd in Q4 2021.

During Q1 2022, Zephyr sold 144,540 boe and net 
sales to Zephyr were as follows:

Oil:

109,940 barrels (“bbls”) at an average 
sales price of US$90.11/bbl

Natural Gas: 

114,096 million cubic feet (“mmcf”) at 
an average sales price of US$5.40/mcf

Natural Gas 
Liquids:

15,584 bbls at an average sales price 
of US$64.19 per bbl

Q1 2022 revenues totalled US$11.5 million net to 
Zephyr, and Q1 2022 average operating expenditure 
was US$11.87 boe demonstrating the high profit 
margin realised from the hydrocarbons sold during 
the period.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC 
10

Strategic Report

16 new producing wells from Zephyr’s existing 
portfolio are expected to be brought online over  
the next six months.

Hedging
In April 2022, the Group hedged just under half of its 
forecast non‑operated production over the next two 
years. Using an average hedged production price of 
US$98 for the remainder of the year and US$90 flat 
for the remainder of its anticipated production, the 
Group forecasts a range of US$35‑40 million in 
revenue from production for FY 2022 from its 
non‑operated portfolio based on forecast production 
range of 500,000 – 550,000 boe during the year.

Environmental, Social and Governance 
(“ESG”)
The Board is unanimously committed to ensuring that 
every action and investment decision the Group’s 
makes is in line with our core values of being 
responsible stewards of investors’ capital and 
responsible stewards on the environment. This 
includes the following points of focus:

•  we will continue to protect the Group, safeguard its 
existing asset base and position it for attractive 
growth opportunities;

•  we will continue to seek creative and beneficial 

funding opportunities in an effort to unlock value 
from our existing asset portfolio, as evidenced by 
the U.S. Government funding we received for our 
recent drilling programme on the Paradox project;

•  we will continue to adopt a disciplined focus on 

growth via the acquisition of producing or near‑term 
development opportunities in the Rocky Mountain 
region. Even in this unusual economic environment, 
we believe that attractive, value‑additive 
acquisitions are available and may be acquired 
using non‑traditional funding structures;

•  we will continue with our programme of tight 

financial controls and cash preservation which will 
enable the Group to continue trading effectively; 
and

•  we will continue to ensure management and the 
Board are aligned with our Shareholders through 
significant ownership of shares.

The Board is proud of how Zephyr conducted its 
operations in the period under review and we will 
always strive to adhere to our core values.

A major milestone was achieved when the Zephyr 
announced carbon‑neutrality across its operational 
footprint prior to its published goal of 30 September 
2021.As an integral part of this undertaking, Zephyr is 
collaborating with the Prax Group (“Prax”), a British 
multinational independent oil refining, trading, storage, 
distribution and retail conglomerate dealing in crude 
oil, petroleum products and bio‑fuels, headquartered 
in London, United Kingdom. Prax, which has trading 
offices in London, Singapore and the U.S., worked with 
Zephyr to measure, reduce and mitigate greenhouse 
gas (“GHG”) emissions across Zephyr’s businesses, 
with mitigation efforts primarily focused on the 
purchase of VERs from reputable pre‑vetted 
developers of sustainable projects. This exercise 
includes Zephyr’s current corporate activity, its 
non‑operated production assets in the Williston Basin, 
North Dakota, U.S., and Paradox project activity.

In addition to the environmental benefits that will 
result from Zephyr’s efforts to reach 
carbon‑neutrality, the Group anticipates that this 
approach will also yield economic benefits including 
expanded access to a wider group of potential 
institutional investors, as total ESG‑focused assets 
under management are currently estimated to be 
over US$30 trillion globally. Moreover, the average 
cost of capital for companies with committed ESG 
and decarbonisation initiatives has been shown to be 
demonstrably less than that of traditional resource 
companies. The Board believes that incremental 
regulatory benefits may also materialise from 
Zephyr’s actions.

Partnership with Purified Resources (“Purified”)
In September 2021, the Group announced the 
formation of a partnership with Purified for the 
identification and execution of additional 
non‑operated acquisitions. Purified’s principals have 
substantial experience in the Williston Basin, a basin 
in which they previously helped assemble and close 
over US$70 million of non‑operated asset 
acquisitions and associated CAPEX for a private 
equity‑backed vehicle.

Purified has assisted and/or co‑invested with Zephyr 
in all its Williston acquisitions that it has closed in the 
period under review, and their team will have the 
right to continue to co‑invest in future transactions. 
The newly formed partnership provides Zephyr with 
significant land and business development expertise 
directly in Zephyr’s geographic region of focus.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202111

In February 2022, the Company announced that it 
had raised a further US$17.4 million (before expenses) 
through the placing of new Ordinary Shares in the 
Company, along with raising US$28 million through a 
senior debt facility. The proceeds from these debt 
and equity instruments was used to complete the 
Group’s US$36 million acquisition of non‑operated 
assets in the Williston Basin and to fund further 
activity on the Paradox project.

At 31 May 2022, the Group had cash and cash 
equivalents of US$11.9m (this includes cash receipts 
from the non‑operated portfolio for the month of May 
2022 which were received in early June 2022).

Key Performance Indicators
The Board monitors the performance of the Group in 
delivering its key corporate and operational 
milestones for a given period. In particular, the Board 
monitors the completion of milestones against 
allocated time, resources and budget in respect of its 
O&G development activities.

As part of Zephyr’s ongoing transition to an oil 
production company, the Board is in the process of 
developing an appropriate set of key performance 
indicators (“KPIs”) against which to benchmark how it 
performs against the operational, health and safety 
and ESG standards that will be put in place by the 
Board. The Board is absolutely committed to 
ensuring that the Group operates to the highest 
standards of sustainability and responsibility.

Principal Risks and Uncertainties and  
Risk Management
There are a number of key potential risks and 
uncertainties which the Board believes could have a 
material impact on Zephyr’s long‑term performance 
and could cause actual results to differ from 
expected and historical results. The Board considers 
these risks during its regular meetings and 
discussions.

Strategic Report

Commencement of trading on OTCQB Venture Market
In July 2021, the Group’s announced that its Ordinary 
Shares had been approved to trade on the OTCQB 
Venture Market (“OTCQB”) in the U.S.

The Board believes that cross‑trading on the OTCQB 
will increase liquidity and significantly enhance the 
ability of U.S. based investors to access and trade 
Zephyr shares during a period in which the Company 
is actively expanding its U.S. asset base.

Financial Review
Income statement
The Group reports a net profit after tax of 
US$0.8 million or a profit of 0.08 cents per Ordinary 
Share for the year ended 31 December 2021 (2020: 
net loss after tax of US$2.3 million or 0.66 cents per 
Ordinary Share). The Group generated revenue of 
US$6 million from its non‑operated asset portfolio 
(2020: nil), and made a gross profit of US$3.3 million 
(2020: nil).

Administrative expenses for the year were 
US$2.7 million (2020: $1.6 million) highlighting the 
ramp up of the Group’s operations following the 
pandemic, and the expansion of operations to 
provide the capacity and capability to develop both 
he operated and non‑operated asset portfolios.

Balance sheet
Total investment in the Group’s exploration and 
evaluation assets as at 31 December 2021 was 
US$22.8 million (2020: US$13.9 million) reflecting 
continuing investment in the Paradox project.

Total investment in property, plant and equipment as 
at 31 December 2021 was US$11.2 million (2020: 
US$0.03  million) reflecting the acquisition of the 
Group’s non‑operated assets in the Williston Basin.

Cash and cash equivalents as at 31 December 2021 
were US$1.8 million (2020: US$3.9 million). During 
the year, the Company raised gross proceeds of 
US$13.9 million (2020: US$2.9 million) through the 
placing of new Ordinary Shares in the Company. In 
November 2021 the Group secured debt funding of 
US$4.1 million (2020: nil) to enable it to pay a 
US$3 million deposit in respect of a proposed 
acquisition which subsequently completed in 
February 2022.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC12

Strategic Report

The principal risks and uncertainties that the Group faces are:

Non‑Financial Risks
•  Changes in government law or regulatory policy in 
the U.S. could materially affect the rights and title 
to the interests held by the Group, and the 
operations and financial condition of the Group 
could be adversely affected. The Group is in 
continual proactive dialogue with both its UK and 
U.S. regulators to ensure ongoing compliance with 
its obligations.

•  Zephyr is dependent on the continued services 
and performances of its core management team. 
The loss of key personnel could have an impact on 
our ability to meet our strategic objectives. The 
Remuneration Committee reviews the employment 
terms for executives and key operational 
management with the aim of attracting, motivating 
and retaining key personnel for the Group.

•  The proposed 2022 drilling campaign on the 

Paradox project will have a significant impact for 
the Group. Poor results from the wells could have 
wider implications on the future development of 
the project. The Board is ensuring that the wells 
are meticulously planned and the technical team 
has undertaken a thorough review of geological 
and technical risks.

•  There is execution and geological risk on the 

Paradox wells. The wells are deep, drilled in over 
pressure reservoirs, and have to be hydraulically 
stimulated to deliver commercial production. The 
Group’s technical team has considerable 
experience of working on this project and has 
achieved good results to date in identifying and 
mitigating geological and execution risks. In 
addition, the service industry is very well 
developed in the U.S. and the Group will only 
engage with experienced contractors and service 
providers with detailed knowledge of relevant 
hydraulic stimulation techniques.

Financial Risks
•  There is a risk that the carrying value of the 

Group’s assets will not be recovered through 
future revenues, leading to impairment losses. 
The Group manages the recoverability of its assets 
and assesses the economic viability throughout 
the exploration, development and production 
phases.

•  The activities of the Group are subject to 

fluctuations in prices and demand for commodities, 
which are volatile and cannot be controlled. 
Fluctuating commodity prices could have a 
significant impact on the Group’s operations. 
During 2022, the Group has implemented a 
hedging programme to manage the potential 
downside risks in fluctuating commodity pricing. 
This hedging programme is expected to enable 
the Group to meet its ongoing funding obligations.

•  Funds are maintained by the Group in Great Britain 
Pounds sterling (“GBP”) and US$. There is a risk 
that purchasing power in the U.S. is lost through 
foreign exchange translation. The Group considers 
its foreign exchange risk to be a normal and 
acceptable business exposure and does not 
hedge against the risk at present.

•  There is a risk that there will be insufficient access 
to funding to meet all corporate, development and 
production obligations and activities. The Group 
manages liquidity risk by maintaining adequate 
cash reserves and monitoring forecast and actual 
cash flows. The Board reviews the Group’s cash 
flow projections and forecasts on a monthly basis.

•  The Group has financial and operational 

obligations in order to keep licences, leases and 
permits related to its projects in good standing. If 
the Group does not have sufficient funds to 
develop its portfolio of projects and to keep the 
projects in good standing there is a risk that 
underlying leases, licences and permits may expire 
potentially leading to a loss of the underlying 
assets and a subsequent impairment of the assets 
in the Group’s financial statements. The cashflows 
generated by the Group’s non‑operated asset 
portfolio are sufficient to enable the Group to keep 
its leases in good standing.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202113

Strategic Report

Corporate and Social Responsibility
Health and Safety
It is the objective of the Group to ensure the health 
and safety of its employees and of any other persons 
who could be affected by its operations. It is the 
Group’s policy to provide working environments 
which are safe and without risk to health and provide 
information, instruction, training and supervision to 
ensure the health and safety of its employees.

The Board is taking all necessary steps to protect its 
people against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Significant Relationships
The Group enjoys good relationships with all of its 
suppliers, professional advisers and operational 
partners.

Statement by the Directors in Performance 
of their Statutory Duties in accordance 
with S172(1) Companies Act 2006
The Board of Directors of Zephyr Energy plc, both 
individually and together, have acted in good faith, in 
a way they consider would be most likely to promote 
the success of the Company for the benefit of its 
members as a whole (having regard to the 
stakeholders and matters set out in S172 of 
Companies Act 2006).

The Board considers its stakeholders to be the 
individuals and organisations that are affected by the 
Group’s operations and with whom the Company 
seeks to proactively engage on a regular basis. The 
Company strives to maintain productive, mutually 
beneficial relationships with each stakeholder group 
by treating all stakeholders with fairness and respect 
and by providing timely and effective responses and 
information. Engaging our stakeholders informs our 
decision‑making, including consideration of our 
long‑term strategic objectives and the activities that 
support these aims, such as merger and acquisition 
diligence and the management of risk. Further details 
on our stakeholder engagement is set out below.

Stakeholder Engagement
Shareholders
The Board seeks to understand and meet Shareholder 
needs and expectations. It has established a strategy 
and business model which it believes will promote 
long term value to Shareholders. The Company’s 
details are displayed on its website allowing 

Shareholders to contact the Company if they so wish. 
The Board attaches great importance to providing 
Shareholders with clear and transparent information 
on the Group’s activities and strategy. Details of all 
Shareholder communications are provided on the 
Company’s website, including historical annual 
reports, press releases, company presentations and 
governance related material.

The major interests in the Company’s Ordinary 
Shares are set out in the Directors’ report. Key 
metrics for our Shareholders includes the Company’s 
share price and earnings per share. Through our 
regulatory updates and the publication of our half 
and full year financial reports, we inform 
Shareholders regarding the status of their Company. 
Further Shareholder engagement includes the 
Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) (although 
attendance may be affected due to restrictions 
imposed as a result of the pandemic) and discussions 
with investors when questions are asked.

Employees
Our employees are essential to the Group’s success 
and growth. We recognise that we need a skilled and 
committed workforce, with a diverse range of 
experience and perspectives, and we value the 
diversity and the contribution that it affords

The Board believes that the Group’s success is 
reliant on the commitment of our employees. We 
pride ourselves on our friendly and safe working 
environment. Employee feedback is sought through 
formal review processes and via the head of each 
department. Training is provided where necessary.

Governments and regulators
We seek to develop and maintain positive 
relationships and regular dialogue with various 
stakeholder groups within the federal, state and local 
governments in our areas of operation.

Executive and operational management are active in 
their engagement with governments and regulators 
to address legislative, regulatory and operational 
matters important to our business.

Joint operating partners
As an operator of assets, Zephyr works on behalf of 
our industry partners to safely and efficiently manage 
our assets.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC14

Strategic Report

We fulfil our duties as operator by carefully managing 
our responsibilities including prompt payment of 
expenses and keeping leases in good standing.

Environment
The Group fully recognises its obligation to minimise 
its impact on the environment and to be responsible in 
all its activities. This is currently achieved by 
complying with the IS014001 quality standard and 
support of certain environmentally focussed charities.

More information on how the Company considers 
and discharges its obligations in respect of S172 
Companies Act 2006 in respect of its stakeholders 
can be found in the Corporate Governance section 
of this document (page 18) and in respect of the 
environment at the relevant section above

Significant decisions made
During the year under review and post year end, the 
Directors completed four discrete acquisitions of 
non‑operated assets. The decisions to proceed with 
the acquisitions and the corresponding debt and 
equity funding were logical decisions made to ensure 
the advancement of the Paradox project and were 
unanimously deemed by Board members to be in the 
best interests of the Company. Details of the 
acquisitions can be found in the relevant sections of 
this Annual Report.

In addition, and to facilitate the drilling of the State 
16‑2 well, the Company completed an equity 
fundraise through the issue of Ordinary Shares in the 
Company. In arriving at the decision to proceed with 
the fundraise the Directors considered the cash 
position of the Group, the dilution impact that the 
respective fundraises would have on the existing 
Shareholders of the Company and the importance of 
progressing the Paradox project. After due 
consideration, the Directors unanimously considered 
the fundraise to be in the best interests of the 
Company and its Shareholders.

We would like to thank all Shareholders for their 
continued support.

On behalf of the Board

JC Harrington
Chief Executive Officer

22 June 2022

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202115

Directors’ Report

The Directors present the Annual Report and financial statements of the Group for the year ended 
31 December 2021.

Review of Future Developments
A review of future developments is given in the Strategic Report.

Dividends
The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend for the year ended 31 December 2021  
(2020: US$nil).

Directors
The Directors who held office during the year, and since the year end are as follows:

JC Harrington
RL Grant
TH Reynolds
GB Stein
CJ Eadie

Directors’ Remuneration
Remuneration paid to Directors during the year was as follows:

Executive Directors
JC Harrington
CJ Eadie

Non‑Executive Directors
RL Grant
TH Reynolds
GB Stein

(1) Salaries include benefits‑in‑kind

Executive Directors
JC Harrington
CJ Eadie

Non‑Executive Directors
RL Grant
TH Reynolds
GB Stein

(1) Salaries include benefits‑in‑kind

2021

Salaries(1)
taken
US$’000

Bonus
US$’000

Pension
US$’000

Total
US$’000

406
184

65
50
50

755

88
41

–
–
–

129

2020

24
17

–
–
–

41

518
242

65
50
50

925

Salaries(1)
taken
US$’000

Salaries(1)
not taken
US$’000

Pension
US$’000

Total
US$’000

282
120

51
35
35

523

74
30

15
11
11

141

15
13

–
–
–

28

371
163

66
46
46

692

OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC16

Directors’ Report

(continued)

On 29 May 2020, the Company issued nil‑cost 
options to its Non‑Executive Directors to compensate 
them for salaries deferred in the year ended 
31 December 2019. The Company issued 2,717,000 
options which are exercisable at the Ordinary Share’s 
nominal value of 0.1 pence and were calculated 
based on the emoluments deferred, divided by 
1.1 pence, being the price at which Ordinary Shares 
were issued in the Company’s placing in November 
2019. The options can be exercised for a period of 
seven years from the date of issue. If a Non‑Executive 
Director leaves the Company, the options can be 
exercised within three years of the date of leaving 
unless otherwise agreed with the Company. No 
options had been exercised at 31 December 2021. 
See note 26.

The options were issued as follows:

RL Grant
TH Reynolds
GB Stein

Options
Number
‘000

1,353
818
546
2,717

As outlined in the Company’s 2020 Annual Report and 
in the Interim results for the period to 30 June 2021, it is 
the Company’s intention to issue nil‑cost options to 
certain Directors and employees to compensate them 
for salaries sacrificed during the Covid‑19 pandemic. 
The options will be issued when the Board is permitted 
to do so and in line with its regulatory responsibilities. It 
has not been possible to issue these nil‑cost options to 
date due to the Company’s activity which has precluded 
transactions involving the Company’s securities..

The remuneration of Directors and key executives is 
decided by the remuneration committee having 
regard to comparable market statistics.

Directors’ interests in Shares and Share Options
The Directors who held office at 31 December 2021 had the following interests, including family interests, in the 
Ordinary Shares of the Company as follows:

CJ Eadie
JC Harrington
TH Reynolds
GB Stein
RL Grant

Number of Ordinary Shares 

31 December 2021

1 January 2021

6,775,095
138,590,300(1)
1,000,000
2,350,000
1,500,0001

5,275,095
134,636,364(1)
1,000,000
1,850,000
–

(1)   JC Harrington is indirectly the controlling Shareholder of Origin Creek Energy LLC which is beneficial owner of 134,636,364 shares. RL 

Grant is a 19% Shareholder of Origin Creek Energy LLC.

ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202117

Directors’ Report

(continued)

Directors’ interests in share options of the Company, including family interests, as at 31 December 2021 were 
as follows:

Date of grant

No. of shares 

Exercise price

Option exercise period

CJ Eadie

CJ Eadie

CJ Eadie

CJ Eadie

JC Harrington

TH Reynolds

TH Reynolds

RL Grant

RL Grant

GB Stein

GB Stein

13 Feb 2015

24 Mar 2017

6 April 2018

29 May 2020

29 May 2020

29 May 2020

29 May 2020

29 May 2020

29 May 2020

29 May 2020

29 May 2020

100,000

500,000

1,300,000

6,000,000

12,000,000

2,000,000

818,181

3,000,000

1,353,363

2,000,000

545,455

182.5p

13/03/16 to 12/03/25

14.0p

24/04/17 to 23/04/27

3.5p

0.6p

0.6p

0.6p

0.1p

0.6p

0.1p

0.6p

0.1p

06/04/19 to 05/04/28

29/05/21 to 28/05/31

29/05/21 to 28/05/31

29/05/21 to 28/05/31

29/05/21 to 28/05/27

29/05/21 to 28/05/31

29/05/21 to 28/05/27

29/05/21 to 28/05/31

29/05/21 to 28/05/27

Third party Indemnity Provision  
for Directors
The Company currently has in place, and had for the 
year ended 31 December 2021, Directors and 
Officers liability insurance for the benefit of all 
Directors of the Company.

Corporate Governance
Corporate governance matters are set out on 
pages 18 to 24.

Substantial Shareholdings
Other than the Directors’ interests shown above, the 
Company has been notified of the following 
substantial interests as at 21 June 2022:

Number of 
shares

Percentage 
of issued 
share capital

Disclosure of information to the Auditor
The Directors who held office at the date of approval 
of this Directors’ report confirm that, so far as they 
are each aware, there is no relevant audit information 
of which the Company’s auditor is unaware; and each 
Director has taken all the steps that he ought to have 
taken as a Director in order to make himself aware of 
any relevant audit information and to establish that 
the Company’s auditor is aware of that information.

Auditor
During the year BDO LLP was appointed as the 
Group’s external auditor in succession to RSM UK 
Audit LLP.

The Directors resolved that BDO LLP be re‑appointed 
as auditor. BDO LLP has indicated its willingness to 
continue in office.

Origin Creek Energy LLC
Tyndall Investment 
Management

148,418,576

9.5%

137,136,364

8.8%

On behalf of the Board

CJ Eadie
Finance Director

22 June 2022

Post Balance Sheet Events
Events after the balance sheet date have been 
disclosed in note 29 to the financial statements.

Financial Instruments
During the year the Company and its subsidiary 
undertakings applied financial risk management 
policies as disclosed in note 27 to the financial 
statements.

OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC18

Corporate Governance Statement

Zephyr is committed to achieving the highest 
standards of corporate governance and follows the 
requirements of the QCA Corporate Governance 
Code (the “Code”) published by the Quoted 
Companies Alliance in April 2018, a full version of 
which is available at http;//www.theqca.com.

All members of the Board believe strongly in the value 
and importance of good corporate governance and in 
our accountability to all of Zephyr stakeholders, 
including Shareholders, staff, clients, suppliers and the 
Governments and regulators of the countries in which 
we operate.

The corporate governance framework which the 
Group operates, including Board leadership and 
effectiveness, Board remuneration, and internal 
control is based upon practices which the Board 
believes are proportional to the size, risks, complexity 
and operations of the business and is reflective of the 
Group’s values.

The Board continually assesses its corporate 
governance processes to ensure that Zephyr 
continues to comply with best practice as outlined 
in the Code.

As Chairman of the Company, I have overall 
responsibility for corporate governance and 
promoting high standards throughout the Group. No 
key corporate governance matters have occurred 
during the year.

The Code is constructed around ten broad principles 
and a set of disclosures. The Code states what it 
considers to be appropriate arrangements for 
growing companies and asks companies to provide 
an explanation about how they are meeting the 
principles through the prescribed disclosures. We 
have considered how we apply each principle to the 
extent that the Board judges these to be appropriate 
in the circumstances, and we provide an explanation 
of the approach taken in relation to each principle on 
our website and a summary is set out below.

RL Grant
Non‑Executive Chairman

The Board and its Committees
Formal Board meetings are scheduled, on average, 
every four to six weeks with regular contact between 
meetings as required. During the year there were 
nine formal Board meetings, in addition to regular 
informal Board discussions, and each of these nine 
meetings was attended by every Director. The 
meetings are held to monitor and implement strategy, 
to review performance (including cash forecasts, ESG 
compliance), potential acquisitions, fundraising 
activity and to consider communications to the 
London Stock Exchange and Shareholders.

The matters reserved for the Board include, amongst 
others, approval of the Group’s long‑term objectives, 
policies and budgets, changes relating to the Group’s 
management structure, approval of the Group’s 
financial statements and ensuring maintenance of 
good systems of internal control. Procedures are 
established to ensure that appropriate information is 
communicated to the Board in a timely manner to 
enable it to fulfil its duties.

There is also an established procedure for all 
Directors to take independent professional advice, if 
necessary, at the Group’s expense. Additionally, all 
Directors have access to the advice of the Group’s 
advisers. The Group maintains Directors’ and Officers’ 
liability insurance.

The Board members are mindful of the need to keep 
skills and experience up to date which is done 
through a combination of training, continuing 
professional development through professional 
bodies, reading and on the job experience.

All Directors are expected to devote such time as 
is necessary for the proper performance of their 
duties. Directors are expected to prioritise and attend 
Board meetings and any additional meetings 
wherever possible.

Details of Directors who served during the year are 
set out in the Directors’ Report. The Board is currently 
comprised of two Executive Directors and three 
Non‑Executive Directors, one of whom acts as 
Chairman. There are separate roles for the Chairman 
and the Chief Executive Officer.

ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202119

Corporate Governance Statement

The Board has established an Audit Committee, 
which comprises of two Non‑Executive Directors. The 
Audit Committee meets two or three times a year and 
the Group’s external auditor is invited to meetings 
where appropriate. The main responsibilities of the 
Audit Committee are to review and report to the 
Board on matters relating to:

•  the integrity of the financial statements of the 

Group, including its annual and interim accounts;

•  the effectiveness of the Group’s internal controls 

and risk management systems;

•  the accounting policies and practices of the Group;

•  audit plans and auditor’s report, including any 

significant concerns the external auditor may have 
arising from their audit work; and

•  the terms of appointment, remuneration and 

independence of the auditor.

The Board also has an established Remuneration 
Committee, which comprises the Non‑Executive 
Chairman and one Non‑Executive Director. The 
Remuneration Committee meets at least twice a year 
and reviews the performance of the Executive 
Directors and the scale and structure of their 
remuneration having due regard to the interests of 
our Shareholders. The Committee is also responsible 
for awards under the Group’s share option plans. No 
Director is involved in any decision relating to their 
own remuneration.

The remuneration of the Non‑Executive Directors is 
determined by the Board.

Communication with Shareholders
The Board encourages regular and transparent 
dialogue with the Group’s Shareholders. All 
Shareholders are invited to the Annual General 
Meeting at which Directors are available for 
questioning. The notice of AGM is sent to all 
Shareholders at least 21 clear days before the meeting. 
The number of proxy votes received for and against 
each resolution is disclosed at the AGM and a 
separate resolution is proposed on each item. 
Financial and other information about the Group is 
available on the Group’s website www.zephyrplc.com.

Internal Controls
The Board is responsible for establishing the Group’s 
system of internal controls and for reviewing its 
effectiveness. Reflecting the size of the Group, a key 
control procedure is the close day‑to‑day supervision 
of the business by the Executive Directors, supported 
by the senior management with responsibility for key 
tasks and operations.

The key procedures that have been established, and 
which are designed to provide effective internal 
control are as follows:

•  each of the Group’s subsidiaries is managed by an 
Executive Director and there is a management 
reporting process in place to enable the Board 
to monitor the performance of the Group on a 
regular basis;

•  Monthly cash forecasts are prepared and formally 

adopted by the Board;

•  the Board reviews the major business risks faced 
by the Group and determines the appropriate 
course of actions required to manage those risks;

•  the Board approves proposals for the acquisition of 

new businesses and sets guidelines for the 
development of new properties. Capital 
expenditure is regulated and written proposals 
must be submitted to the Board for any 
expenditure above specified levels;

•  consolidated management information is prepared 

on a regular basis; and

•  The Board has regular briefing from the Company’s 

Nominated Adviser and Legal Counsel.

The Board reviews the effectiveness of the system of 
internal controls and the control environment. No 
significant control deficiencies were reported during 
the year and no weaknesses in internal controls have 
resulted in any material losses, contingencies or 
uncertainty which would require disclosure as 
recommended by the guidance for Directors on 
reporting on internal controls. The Board has 
reviewed the need for an independent internal audit 
function and has concluded that, at the current time, 
the Group is not yet large enough to warrant this.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC20

Corporate Governance Statement

As outlined above, the Board adopted the Code in April 2018. An overview of the extent of the Group’s 
compliance with the ten principles that comprise the Code, are set out below.

Extent of 
current 
compliance

Fully 
Compliant

Fully 
Compliant

Principle

Establish a strategy 
and business 
model which 
promote long‑term 
value for 
Shareholders

Seek to understand 
and meet 
Shareholder needs 
and expectations

Fully 
Compliant

Fully 
Compliant

Take into account 
wider stakeholder 
and social 
responsibilities and 
their implications 
for long‑term 
success

Embed effective 
risk management, 
considering both 
opportunities and 
threats, throughout 
the organisation

Commentary

A summary of the Group’s business model and 
strategy can be found in the Strategic Report 
within this Annual Report.
Key risks and mitigating actions are detailed in 
the Principal risks section of the Strategic Report 
within this Annual Report

The Group remains committed to listening and 
communicating openly with its Shareholders to 
ensure that its strategy, business model and 
performance are clearly understood. 
Understanding what stakeholders think about the 
Group, and in turn, helping these audiences 
understand our business, is a key part of driving 
our business forward and we actively seek 
dialogue with all stakeholders. We do so via 
investor roadshows, presenting at investor 
conferences/webinars and our regular reporting 
and at the Group’s Annual General Meeting. The 
Group also makes regular operational 
announcements to keep Shareholders and the 
market updated on operational activity and 
progress. The Group also makes available 
corporate presentations on the ‘corporate 
documents’ page on the ‘investors’ area on the 
Group’s website. The CEO is responsible for 
shareholder liaison.

Directors and employees adopt a broad view 
during decision making to take meaningful 
account on of the impact of the business on all 
key stakeholder groups. The Board recognises 
that Zephyr’s long‑term success is reliant on good 
relationships with its key stakeholders.

The Board operates a comprehensive system of 
internal controls designed (to the extent 
considered appropriate) to safeguard the Group’s 
assets and protect the business from identified 
risks, including reputational risk.
As well as tight oversight exercised by the 
Executive Directors, and appropriately trained 
and qualified staff, the Board engages 
appropriate auditors and consultants to assist in 
identifying and managing risk.

Further disclosure(s)

Strategic Report

www.zephyrplc.com;
Regulatory updates, 
Annual General 
Meeting, Investor 
presentations and full 
contact details on the 
Group’s website.

See section on 
Stakeholder 
engagement in the 
Strategic Report

Principal risk section of 
the Strategic Report 
within the Annual 
Report.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202121

Further disclosure(s)

See Corporate 
Governance section of 
Annual Report for full 
details on the Board 
structure

See Corporate 
Governance section of 
Annual Report for full 
details on the Board 
structure

Corporate Governance Statement

Extent of 
current 
compliance

Fully 
Compliant

Principle

Maintain the  
Board as a 
well‑functioning, 
balanced team led 
by the Chair

Fully 
Compliant

Ensure that 
between them the 
Directors have the 
necessary 
up‑to‑date 
experience, skills 
and capabilities

Commentary

The Board comprises the Non‑Executive 
Chairman, two Executive Directors and two 
Non‑Executive Directors (both of which are 
considered by the Company to be independent). 
One of the Non‑Executive Directors, GB Stein 
acts as the Group’s Senior Independent Director.
The Board is constantly reviewing its make up to 
ensure that it has a sufficient blend between 
independence on the one hand, and knowledge 
of the Group 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. The 
Chairman holds regular update meetings with 
each Director to ensure they are performing as 
they are required. Board meetings take place, on 
average, every 4 to 6 weeks, normally held by 
telephone conference owing to the diverse 
geographic locations of the Board members.

The Board is satisfied that, between the Directors, 
it has an effective and appropriate balance of 
skills and experience, including in the areas of 
exploration, development and production of oil 
and gas assets. 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. All Directors retire by rotation at regular 
intervals in accordance with the Group’s Articles 
of Association.
The Board makes decisions regarding the 
appointment and removal of Directors, and there 
is a formal, rigorous procedure for appointments. 
The Group’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.
All Directors are able to take independent 
professional advice in the furtherance of their 
duties, if necessary, at the Group’s expense. In 
addition, the Directors have direct access to the 
advice and services of the Company Secretary 
and Finance Director.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC22

Corporate Governance Statement

(continued)

Extent of 
current 
compliance

Fully 
Compliant

Principle

Evaluate Board 
performance based 
on clear and 
relevant objectives, 
seeking continuous 
improvement

Promote a culture 
that is based on 
ethical values and 
behaviours

Fully 
Compliant

Commentary

The Chairman continually assesses the 
contribution of each member of the Board to 
ensure that:

•  Their contribution is relevant and effective

Further disclosure(s)

Key Performance 
indicators in the 
Strategic Report

•  That they have a commitment to progressing 
the Group’s objectives in order to increase 
Shareholder value

•  Where relevant, they have maintained their 

independence

Over the next few months, as a result of the 
Group’s ongoing restructuring and expansion, we 
intend to implement a programme to review the 
performance and structure of the team as a unit 
and to ensure that the members of the Board 
collectively function in an efficient and productive 
manner.

The Board aims to lead by example and do what is 
in the best interests of the Group.
The Board spends a significant amount of time 
formulating and agreeing on the core principles 
and values under which Zephyr will operate. In 
short, Zephyr’s team will always strive to be 
responsible stewards of its investors’ capital and 
responsible stewards of the environment in which 
we work. We believe that good environmental 
performance, together with good governance 
practices, will translate into good business 
performance and therefore are focused on 
delivering strong economic returns in the most 
environmentally responsible manner practical. 

Chairman’s Statement,
Strategic Report
Corporate Governance 
Statement

ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202123

Further disclosure(s)

Corporate Governance 
Statement

Corporate Governance Statement

Extent of 
current 
compliance

Fully 
Compliant

Principle

Maintain 
governance 
structures and 
processes that  
are fit for purpose 
and support good 
decision‑making  
by the Board

Commentary

The Board meets regularly for both formal Board 
meetings and for informal discussions.
The Board sets direction for the Group through a 
schedule of matters reserved for its decision. The 
Board and its Committees 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 Group’s 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. Any 
specific actions arising from such meetings are 
agreed by the Board or relevant Committee and 
then followed up by the Group’s management.
The Executive Team consists of the Chief 
Executive Officer and the Financial Director with 
input from the other Directors. 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. It also manages and oversees key risks, 
management development and corporate 
responsibility programmes. The Chief Executive 
Officer reports to the plc 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.
The Board is supported by the Audit and 
Remuneration Committees. Each Committee has 
access to such resources, information and advice 
as it deems necessary, at the cost of the Group, to 
enable the committee to discharge its duties.
The Audit Committee is Chaired by the Senior 
Independent Director, GB Stein. The 
Non‑Executive Director, TH Reynolds, is the other 
member of the Committee.
The Remuneration Committee is Chaired by the 
Senior Independent Director, GB Stein. The 
Non‑Executive Chairman, RL Grant, is the other 
member of the Committee.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC24

Corporate Governance Statement

Extent of 
current 
compliance

Fully 
Compliant

Principle

Communicate how 
the Group is 
governed and is 
performing by 
maintaining a 
dialogue with 
Shareholders and 
other relevant 
stakeholders

Further disclosure(s)

www.zephyrplc.com

Commentary

The Group communicates with Shareholders 
through the Annual Report and Accounts, full‑year 
and half‑year announcements, the AGM and 
one‑to‑one meetings with large existing or potential 
new Shareholders. The Group also keeps 
Shareholders updated on progress and 
developments through its regular market 
announcements. The CEO remains a key part of 
encouraging Shareholder interaction and listening to 
feedback. A range of corporate information 
(including all Group announcements and 
presentations) is also available to Shareholders, 
investors and the public on the Company’s website; 
www.zephyrplc.com.
The Board receives regular updates on the views of 
Shareholders through briefings and reports from the 
Chief Executive Officer, Finance Director and the 
Group’s brokers. The Group 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.
The Group’s website includes the following:

•  Disclosure of any instances where a significant 
proportion of votes (e.g. 20% of independent 
votes) have been cast against a resolution at any 
general meeting, an explanation of what actions 
the Group intends to take to understand the 
reasons behind that vote result, and, where 
appropriate, any different action it has taken, or 
will take, as a result of the vote.

•  Historical annual reports and other 

governance‑related material, including notices 
of all general meetings over the last five years.

Going Concern
The Directors have prepared cash flow forecasts for the Group for the period to 31 December 2023 based on their 
assessment of both the discretionary and the non‑discretionary cash requirements of the Group during this period 
and based on a range of sensitivities and scenarios. These cash flow forecasts include the forecast revenues from, 
and the operating costs of, the Group’s operations, together with all committed development expenditure, including 
the impact of the acquisition completed in February 2022.

The Directors are confident that the Group has, or has access to, sufficient resources to enable it to continue in 
operation for at least the next twelve months.

The Directors therefore continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

JC Harrington
Chief Executive Officer

22 June 2022

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202125

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

in respect of the Strategic Report, the Directors’ Report and the Financial Statements

The Directors are responsible for preparing the 
Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report and the 
financial statements in accordance with applicable 
law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare group 
and company financial statements for each financial 
year. The Directors have elected under company law 
and the AIM Rules of the London Stock Exchange to 
prepare group financial statements in accordance 
with International Accounting Standards in conformity 
with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 
and have elected under company law to prepare the 
Company financial statements in accordance with 
International Accounting Standards in conformity with 
the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and 
applicable law.

The Group and the Company financial statements are 
required by law and International Accounting 
Standards in conformity with the requirements of the 
Companies Act 2006 to present fairly the financial 
position of the Group and the Company and the 
financial performance of the Group. The Companies 
Act 2006 provides in relation to such financial 
statements that references in the relevant part of that 
Act to financial statements giving a true and fair view 
are references to their achieving a fair presentation.

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 the Company and of the profit or loss 
of the Group for that period.

In preparing each of the Group and Company 
financial statements, the Directors are required to:

a. 

b. 

c. 

d. 

 select suitable accounting policies and then 
apply them consistently;

 make judgements and accounting estimates that 
are reasonable and prudent;

 state whether they have been prepared in 
accordance with International Accounting 
Standards in conformity with the requirements of 
the Companies Act 2006; and

 prepare the financial statements on the going 
concern basis unless it is inappropriate to 
presume that the Group and the Company will 
continue in business.

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

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and 
integrity of the corporate and financial information 
included on the Zephyr Energy plc website. Legislation 
in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and 
dissemination of financial statements may differ from 
legislation in other jurisdictions.

OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC26

Independent Auditor’s Report

to the members of Zephyr Energy 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 2021 and of the Group’s profit for the year then ended;

•  the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK adopted international 

accounting standards;

•  the Parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK adopted 

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 Zephyr Energy plc (the ‘Parent Company’) and its subsidiaries (the 
‘Group’) for the year ended 31 December 2021 which comprise the consolidated income statement, the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the consolidated balance sheet, the consolidated 
statement of changes in equity, the consolidated cash flow statement, the company balance sheet, the 
company statement of changes in equity, the company cash flow statement and the 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 UK adopted international accounting standards 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.

Conclusions relating to Going Concern
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.

Given of the judgements made by the Directors, and the significance of this area, we have determined going 
concern to be a key area of focus for the audit. 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 and response to the 
key audit matter is included in the “Key Audit Matters” section below.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or 
conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Group’s or Parent Company’s 
ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements 
are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Directors with respect to going concern are described in the 
relevant sections of this report.

ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202127

Independent Auditor’s Report

Overview

Coverage(1)

98% of Group profit before tax

100% of Group revenue

90% of Group total assets

Key audit matters

Carrying value of oil and gas assets 
Going concern 

2021



(1) These are areas which have been subject to a full scope audit by the group engagement team.

Materiality

Group financial statements as a whole

$600,000 based on 1.5% of total assets.

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.

Identification of significant components
The Group’s exploration and producing assets are based in North Dakota, USA. Our Group audit scope 
focused on the Group’s producing and exploration assets to gain sufficient coverage over the Group’s total 
assets, total revenue and profit before tax while considering the audit risks identified.

As a result, we determined two significant components which were subjected to a full scope audit: Zephyr 
Energy plc and the US based subsidiary Rose Petroleum (US) LLC.

The financial information of the remaining non‑significant components were principally subject to analytical 
review procedures.

All audit work was undertaken by the Group audit team. 

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC 
28

Independent Auditor’s Report

Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit 
of the financial statements of the current year 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. We have determined 
the matters below to be the key audit matters to be communicated in our report.

Key audit matter

Carrying value of oil 
and gas assets in 
North Dakota and 
Montana, USA

Refer to notes 3  
and 14.

The oil and gas development 
and producing assets form a 
significant part of the Group’s 
statement of financial position. 
Management is required to 
consider if there are any facts 
or circumstances (potential 
impairment indicators) that 
would suggest that the oil and 
gas producing and 
development assets would be 
impaired in accordance with 
IAS 36 Impairment of assets. 
Where indicators of impairment 
are identified, impairment 
testing is required to ensure 
that the Group’s assets are 
carried at no more than their 
recoverable amount. Following 
their assessment, Management 
have not identified any 
impairment indicators on its oil 
and gas properties and they 
have concluded that the 
producing assets form a single 
cash generating unit (CGU).

We consider this area to be a 
key audit matter due to the 
level of judgement and 
estimation required to be 
exercised.

How the scope of our audit addressed the key audit matter

Our specific audit procedures in this regard 
included:

•  Reviewing and assessing Management’s 

allocation of assets to the cash generating unit 
(“CGU”) against the requirements of accounting 
standards for the purpose of the impairment 
assessment;

•  Examining management’s assessment of 

impairment indicators against the requirements 
of the applicable accounting standards;

•  Assessing performance since acquisition in the 
financial year 2021 for the oil and gas fields, 
included in the CGU by reviewing the production 
volumes, operating and transportation costs 
against the forecasts prepared as part of 
Competent Person’s Report;

•  Performing a review of Management’s economic 

model assumptions, challenging the 
appropriateness of estimates with reference to 
historical data and external evidence where 
available;

•  Assessing the consistency of the reserves and 
resources and related future cash flows as per 
the Management’s impairment indicators’ 
assessment with the economic forecasts as per 
the latest Competent Person’s Report;

•  Assessing the Management’s experts preparing 
the Competent Person’s Report on the reserves, 
particularly focused on the competency of the 
expert and the scope of their work to ensure the 
Competent Person’s Report was prepared under 
the required guidelines and is appropriate for its 
intended purpose.

Key observations
Based on procedures performed we found the 
judgements and estimates applied by Management in 
assessing for potential triggers for impairment of the 
oil and gas development and producing assets were 
appropriate and that their conclusion that there was no 
impairment as of 31 December 2021 to be supportable 
and appropriate.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Independent Auditor’s Report

29

Key audit matter

Going concern

Refer to note 3

The Directors are required to 
make an assessment of the 
Parent Company’s and the 
Group’s ability to continue as a 
going concern. Where material 
uncertainties are identified 
these are required to be 
disclosed.

As detailed in note 3, the 
Directors have concluded that 
the going concern basis of 
preparation is appropriate and 
no material uncertainties exist.

We consider this area to be a 
key audit matter due to the 
level of judgement and 
estimation required to be 
exercised with respect to the 
going concern assessment and 
the related disclosures.

How the scope of our audit addressed the key audit matter

Our specific audit procedures in this regard included:

•  Obtaining and evaluating the Board papers 

assessing going concern and viability for the 
forecast period, the assessment of risks and 
uncertainties and the supporting cash flow 
forecasts prepared by Management. We formed 
our own assessment of risks and uncertainties 
based on our understanding of the business and 
oil and gas sector;

•  Performing a detailed review of the cash flow 

forecasts prepared by Management and 
assessing the appropriateness of the period over 
which going concern is being assessed;

•  Assessing Management’s base case cash flow 
forecast and the underlying key assumptions 
which have been approved by the Board and the 
mathematical accuracy of such. In doing so, we 
considered metrics affecting the future cash 
flows, such as operating costs, production, 
forecast oil prices and capital expenditure 
approved by the Board against actual 
performance for the year 2021 and the forecasts 
presented in the Competent Person’s Report 
both for the assets of the Group as of year‑end 
as well as Competent Person’s Report for the oil 
and gas properties acquired after the year‑end in 
February 2022;

•  Agreeing the latest available cash position to 

bank statements;

•  Agreeing the debt service costs and repayments 
schedule to third party loan agreements to verify 
completeness and timing of the related cash 
outflows in the model and assessing forecast for 
covenant compliance;

•  Obtaining and reviewing Management’s 

sensitivity analysis reflecting adverse scenarios 
by applying a lower than forecast oil price or 
lower than forecast production;

•  Reviewing post year end press releases, RNS 

announcements and board minutes for any indicators 
of obligations or significant adverse issues;

•  Reviewing and evaluating the adequacy and 
completeness of disclosures in the financial 
statements in respect of going concern.

Key observations:
Refer to the ‘Conclusion relating to going concern’ 
section above.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC30

Independent Auditor’s Report

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:

Materiality

Basis for determining 
materiality

Rationale for the 
benchmark applied

Group (US$)

600,000

1.5% of total assets

Parent Company (US$)

400,000

1.1% of total assets

Company is responsible for 
management of the investments in oil 
and gas exploration and production 
assets. Given focus on exploration and 
recent acquisition of producing assets 
during the year, an asset‑based 
benchmark is considered appropriate. 

The Group is an oil and gas 
exploration and production focused 
business with production started 
mid‑year due to the acquisition of 
producing assets during the year. 
Given the Group has not been trading 
during the whole year and is at an 
early stage of production from its 
producing asset base acquired during 
the year as well as taking into account 
the prominence of exploration assets 
on the balance sheet, an asset‑based 
benchmark is considered to be 
appropriate.

Performance materiality

390,000

260,000

Basis for determining 
performance materiality

65% of materiality for the financial statements as a whole. This is the first year of 
audit by BDO LLP, hence a lower level of performance materiality

Component materiality
We set materiality for each significant component of the Group based on a percentage of between 67% and 
79% of Group materiality dependent on the size and our assessment of the risk of material misstatement of that 
component. Component materiality ranged from $400,000 to $472,000. In the audit of each component, we 
further applied performance materiality levels of 65% 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 
$12,000. We also agreed to report differences below this threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on 
qualitative grounds.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202131

Independent Auditor’s Report

Other Information
The Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information 
included in the Annual Report and Accounts 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 and 
Directors’ report

Matters on which 
we are required to 
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.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC32

Independent Auditor’s Report

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 obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the Group. We 
determined that the most significant which are directly relevant to specific assertions in the financial 
statements are those related to the reporting framework (UK adopted international accounting standards, the 
Companies Act 2006, the AIM rules and the QCA Corporate Governance Code), local taxation legislation in 
the countries where the Group operates, and the terms and requirements included in the Group’s operating 
and exploration licences.

Our procedures included the following:

•  We gained an understanding of how the Group is complying with those legal and regulatory frameworks by 

making inquiries of Management, and those responsible for legal and compliance procedures. We 
corroborated our inquires through our review of board minutes and other supporting documentation; and

•  We reviewed the financial statement disclosures and tested to supporting documentation to assess 

compliance with relevant laws and regulations noted above.

We assessed the susceptibility of the financial statements to material misstatement, including fraud and 
considered the fraud risk areas to be management override of controls and revenue recognition (refer to the 
Key Audit Matters set out above).

Our procedures included:

•  Holding discussions with the audit engagement team as to how and where fraud might occur in the financial 
statements and where any potential indicators of fraud may arise in the Group in order to consider how our 
audit strategy should reflect our considerations;

•  Testing the appropriateness of journal entries made throughout the year, to supporting documentation, by 

applying specific criteria to detect possible irregularities or fraud;

•  We assessed and challenged key areas of judgement and estimation made by management, including their 

assessment of the going concern position of the Parent Company and Group, and their assessment of 
indicators of impairment to the Group’s oil and gas assets (refer to the Key Audit Matters set out above);

•  We enquired of Management and the Audit Committee of known or suspected instances of fraud, potential 

litigation and claims. We read minutes of meetings of those charged with governance, and reviewed 
correspondence with local tax and regulatory authorities;

•  We obtained an understanding of the design and implementation of relevant controls surrounding the 

financial reporting close process such as controls over the posting of journals and the consolidation process 
and obtained an understanding of the segregation of duties in these processes; and

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202133

Independent Auditor’s Report

•  We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and identified fraud risks to all engagement 
team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non‑compliance with laws and regulations 
throughout the audit.

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.

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.

Jack Draycott (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of BDO LLP,  
Statutory Auditor  
London,  
United Kingdom

22 June 2022

BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC305127).

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC34

Consolidated Income Statement

For the year ended 31 December 2021

Revenue
Operating and transportation expenses
Production taxes
Depreciation, depletion and amortisation

Gross profit

Administrative expenses
Share‑based payments
Foreign exchange gains/(losses)
Other income
Finance costs

Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation
Taxation charge

Profit/(loss) for the year attributable to owners of the parent company

Profit/(loss) per Ordinary Share
Basic, cents per share

Diluted, cents per share

Notes

16

6

7

8

11

12

12

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

6,005
(396)
(543)
(1,755)
3,311

(2,687)
(93)
461
–
(144)
848
–
848

0.08

0.07

–
–
–
–
–

(1,573)
(79)
(705)
13
–
(2,344)
–
(2,344)

(0.66)

(0.66)

The notes on pages 42 to 76 form part of the financial statements.

ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202135

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the year ended 31 December 2021

Profit/(loss) for the year attributable to owners of the parent company

Other comprehensive income
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss
Foreign currency translation differences on foreign operations

Total comprehensive profit/(loss) for the year attributable to owners  
of the parent company

2021
US$’000

848

2020
US$’000

(2,344)

(554)

747

294

(1,597)

The notes on pages 42 to 76 form part of the financial statements.

OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC36

Consolidated Balance Sheet

As at 31 December 2021  

Company No 04573663

Non‑current assets
Exploration and evaluation assets
Property, plant and equipment

Current assets
Trade and other receivables
Prepayments and deposits
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Leases
Borrowings

Non‑current liabilities
Provisions

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity
Share capital
Share premium account
Warrant reserve
Share‑based payment reserve
Cumulative translation reserve
Retained deficit

Equity attributable to owners of the parent company

Notes

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

13

14

16

17

18

19

20

22

23

25

24

25

25

25

22,773
11,156

33,929

1,263
3,573
1,811

6,647

40,576

(5,414)
–
(4,060)

(9,474)

(508)

(9,982)

30,594

42,065
52,875
89
3,065
(9,779)
(57,721)

30,594

13,914
28

13,942

88
47
3,940

4,075

18,017

(2,464)
(8)
–

(2,472)

(7)

(2,479)

15,538

41,221
39,638
227
3,762
(9,225)
(60,085)

15,538

The financial statements on pages 34 to 41 were approved by the Directors and authorised for issue on 
22 June 2022 and are signed on its behalf by:

CJ Eadie
Finance Director

The notes on pages 42 to 76 form part of the financial statements.

ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202137

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

For the year ended 31 December 2021

As at 1 January 2020
Transactions with owners in their 
capacity as owners:
Issue of equity shares
Expenses of issue of equity shares
Transfer to retained deficit in respect  
of lapsed warrants
Share‑based payments
Transfer to retained deficit in respect  
of lapsed options
Effect of foreign exchange rates

Total transactions with owners in their 
capacity as owner
Loss for the year
Other comprehensive income:
Currency translation differences

Total other comprehensive income  
for the year

Total comprehensive income for  
the year

As at 31 December 2020

Transactions with owners in their 
capacity as owners:
Issue of equity shares
Expenses of issue of equity shares
Transfer to retained deficit in respect  
of exercised warrants
Share‑based payments
Transfer to retained deficit in respect  
of expired options

Total transactions with owners in their 
capacity as owner
Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income:
Currency translation differences

Total other comprehensive income  
for the year

Total comprehensive income for  
the year

Share 
capital
US$’000

Share 
premium 
account
US$’000

Warrant 
reserve
US$’000

Share‑
based 
payment
reserve
US$’000

Cumulative
translation 
reserve
US$’000

Retained 
deficit
US$’000

Total
US$’000

40,688

37,975

568

3,748

(9,972)

(58,737)

14,270

533
–

2,401
(738)

–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

(341)
–

–
–

533

1,663

(341)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–
594

(251)
79

(404)
(4)

14

–

–

–

–

–
–

–
–

–
–

–

–

–
–

592
–

404
–

2,934
(144)

–
79

–
(4)

996

(2,344)

2,865

(2,344)

747

747

–

–

747

(747)

747

(2,344)

(1,597)

41,221

39,638

227

3,762

(9,225)

(60,085)

15,538

816
–

–
28

–

14,679
(1,442)

–
–

–

–
–

(138)
–

–
616

(629)
65

–

(749)

844

13,237

(138)

(697)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–

–
–

–

–

–

–
–

15,495
(826)

767
–

749

–
93

–

1,516

848

14,762

848

(554)

(554)

–

–

(554)

(554)

(554)

848

294

As at 31 December 2021

42,065

52,875

89

3,065

(9,779)

(57,721)

30,594

The notes on pages 42 to 76 form part of the financial statements.

OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC38

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

For the year ended 31 December 2021

Operating activities
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation

Adjustments for:
Finance costs
Depreciation and depletion of property, plant and equipment
Share‑based payments
Unrealised foreign exchange (gain)/loss
Operating cash inflow/(outflow) before movements in working capital
Increase in trade and other receivables
(Increase)/decrease in prepayments and deposits
Increase in trade and other payables
Cash generated from/(used in) operations
Income tax paid

Net cash inflow generated from/(used in) operating activities

Investing activities
Additions to exploration and evaluations assets
Acquisition of oil and gas properties
Additions to oil and gas properties
Deposits paid
Increase in capital expenditure related payables
Additions to plant and machinery
Grant funds received

Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities

Financing activities
Net proceeds from issue of shares
Repayment of lease liabilities
Proceeds from borrowings
Interest paid on borrowings
Increase in prepayments and deposits

Net cash generated from financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

The notes on pages 42 to 76 form part of the financial statements.

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

848
848

144
1,778
93
(451)
2,412
(1,079)
(572)
172
933
–

933

(9,083)
(5,443)
(7,031)
(3,000)
2,773
(4)
290

(21,498)

14,669
(8)
4,060
(124)
(50)

18,547

(2,018)
3,940
(111)

1,811

(2,344)
(2,344)

–
49
79
739
(1,477)
(57)
37
147
(1,350)
–

(1,350)

(2,165)
–
–
(3)
1,813
–
1,800

1,445

2,790
(45)
–
–
–

2,745

2,840
1,084
16

3,940

ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Company Balance Sheet

As at 31 December 2021  

Non‑current assets
Investments
Property, plant and equipment

Current assets
Trade and other receivables
Prepayments
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Leases
Borrowings

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity
Share capital
Share premium account
Warrant reserve
Share‑based payment reserve
Cumulative translation reserve
Retained deficit

Total equity

39

Company No 04573663

Notes

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

15

14

16

17

18

19

20

23

25

24

25

25

25

35,063
9

35,072

33
31
1,574

1,638

36,710

(457)
–
(4,060)

(4,517)

(4,517)

32,193

42,065
52,875
89
3,065
(8,247)
(57,654)

32,193

16,923
28

16,951

22
13
2,245

2,280

19,231

(316)
(8)
–

(324)

(324)

18,907

41,221
39,638
227
3,762
(7,743)
(58,198)

18,907

As permitted by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Parent Company’s Income Statement and 
Statement of Other Comprehensive Income have not been included in these financial statements.

The loss for the Company for the year ended 31 December 2021 is US$972,000 (2020: loss of US$326,000).

The financial statements on pages 34 to 41 were approved by the Directors and authorised for issue on 
22 June 2022 and are signed on its behalf by:

CJ Eadie
Finance Director

The notes on pages 42 to 76 form part of the financial statements.

OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC40

Company Statement of Changes in Equity

For the year ended 31 December 2021

Share 
capital
US$’000

Share 
premium 
account
US$’000

Warrant 
reserve
US$’000

Share‑
based 
payment
reserve
US$’000

Cumulative
translation 
reserve
US$’000

Retained 
deficit
US$’000

Total
US$’000

Transactions with owners in  
their capacity as owners:
Issue of equity shares
Expenses of issue of equity shares
Transfer in respect of lapsed options
Share‑based payments
Transfer to capital contribution in 
respect of lapsed options
Effect of foreign exchange rates

Total transactions with owners in  
their capacity as owner
Loss for the year
Other comprehensive income:
Currency translation differences

Total other comprehensive income 
for the year

Total comprehensive income for  
the year

As at 31 December 2020

Transactions with owners in their 
capacity as owners:
Issue of equity shares
Expenses of issue of equity shares
Transfer to retained deficit in respect  
of exercised warrants
Share‑based payments
Transfer to retained deficit in respect  
of expired options

Total transactions with owners in  
their capacity as owner
Loss for the year
Other comprehensive income:
Currency translation differences

Total other comprehensive income  
for the year

Total comprehensive income for  
the year

40,688
533
–
–
–

37,975
2,401
(738)
–
–

–
–

–
–

568
–
–
(341)
–

–
–

533

1,663

(341)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3,748
–
594
(251)
79

(404)
(4)

14

–

–

–

–

(8,344)
–
–
–
–

(58,464)
–
–
592
–

–
–

592

(326)

–

–

–
–

–

–

601

601

601

16,171
2,934
(144)
–
79

(404)
(4)

2,461

(326)

601

(601)

(326)

(275)

41,221

39,638

227

3,762

(7,743)

(58,198)

18,907

816
–

–
28

–

14,679
(1,442)

–
–

–

–
–

(138)
–

–
616

(629)
65

–

(749)

844

13,237

(138)

(697)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–

–
–

–

–

–

–
–

15,495
(826)

767
–

749

–
93

–

1,516

(972)

14,762

(972)

(504)

(504)

–

–

(504)

(504)

(504)

(972)

(1,476)

As at 31 December 2021

42,065

52,875

89

3,065

(8,247)

(57,654)

32,193

The notes on pages 42 to 76 form part of the financial statements.

ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Company Cash Flow Statement

For the year ended 31 December 2021

Operating activities
Loss before taxation
Finance income
Finance costs
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Share‑based payments

Unrealised foreign exchange
Operating cash outflow before movements in working capital

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables
(Increase)/decrease in prepayments and deposits
Increase in trade and other payables

Net cash used in operating activities

Investing activities
Loans to subsidiary undertakings
Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Net cash used in investing activities

Financing activities
Net proceeds from the issue of shares
Repayment of lease liabilities
Proceeds from borrowings
Interest paid on borrowings

Net cash generated from financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

41

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

(972)
(370)
137
–
23
93

(332)
(1,421)

(11)
(18)
128

(1,322)

(17,930)
(4)

(17,934)

14,669
(8)
4,060
(124)

18,597

(659)

2,245

(12)

1,574

(326)
(273)
–
152
39
85

113
(362)

8
46
102

(206)

(1,390)
–

(1,390)

2,790
(35)
–
–

2,755

1,159

1,070

16

2,245

The notes on pages 42 to 76 form part of the financial statements.

OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC42

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2021

1.  Corporate Information
Zephyr Energy plc (the “Company” and, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) is domiciled and incorporated 
in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act 2006 and is limited by shares. The address of the registered 
office is 20‑22 Wenlock Road, London, N1 7GU.

In July 2021, the Company’s Ordinary Shares were approved to trade on the OTCQB Venture Market 
(“OTCQB”) in the U.S. under the ticker ZPHRF. The ability to trade in the Company’s existing Ordinary Shares 
on AIM is not affected by the OTCQB facility.

Zephyr Energy plc is a technology‑led Evaluation & Production (“E&P”) company focused on the delivery of 
superior economic returns through responsible resource development from its carbon‑neutral portfolio of 
operated and non‑operated assets in the Rocky Mountain region of the U.S.

2.  Adoption of New and Revised Standards
Standards adopted furing the year
The Group has adopted all of the new or amended Accounting Standards and interpretations issued by the 
International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) that are mandatory and relevant to the Group’s activities  
for the current reporting period.

The following new and revised Standards have been adopted but have not had any material impact on the 
amounts reported in these financial statements:

•  Amendment to IFRS 16 – Covid‑19 related rent concessions beyond 30 June 2021

•  Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 – Interest rate benchmark reform phase 2

Standards issued but not yet effective
Any new or amended Accounting Standards or interpretations that are not yet mandatory (and in some cases, 
had not yet been endorsed by the UK Endorsement Board) have not been early adopted by the Group for the 
year ended 31 December 2021. They are as follows:

•  Amendments to IAS 1 – Classification of liabilities as current or non‑current

•  Amendments to IFRS 17 – Insurance contracts

•  Amendments to IFRS 17 – Initial application of IFRS 17 and IFRS 9 – comparative information

•  Amendments to IFRS 3 – Reference to the conceptual framework

•  Amendments to IFRS 12 – Deferred tax related assets and liabilities arising from a single transaction

•  Amendments to IAS 16 – Property, plant and equipment – proceeds before intended use

•  Amendments to IAS 37 – Onerous contracts – cost of fulfilling a contract

•  Amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS practice statement 2 – Disclosure of accounting policies

•  Amendments to IAS 8 – Definition of accounting estimates

•  Annual improvements to IFRS standards 2018‑2020

The Directors do not expect that the adoption of these Standards or Interpretations in future periods will have 
a material impact on the financial statements of the Company or the Group.

ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202143

Notes to the Financial Statements

(continued)

3.  Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Preparation
On 31 December 2020, IFRS as adopted by the European Union at that date was brought into UK law and 
became UK‑adopted International Accounting Standards, with future changes being subject to endorsement 
by the UK Endorsement Board. The Group transitioned to UK‑adopted International Accounting Standards in 
the Group’s consolidated financial statements and the Company financial statements on 1 January 2021. This 
change constitutes a change in accounting framework. However, there is no impact on recognition, 
measurement or disclosure in the period reported as a result of the change in framework.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK‑adopted International Accounting 
Standards and with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies reporting under 
those standards.

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis. Historical cost is generally based on 
the fair value of the consideration given in exchange for assets.

The financial statements are presented in United States dollars (“US$”). All amounts have been rounded to the 
nearest thousand, unless otherwise indicated.

As described below, the Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the consolidated 
financial statements.

The accounting policies set out below have, unless otherwise stated, been applied consistently to all periods 
presented in these financial statements.

The preparation of the financial statements in compliance with UK‑adopted international accounting standards 
requires management to make estimates and exercise judgement in applying the Group’s accounting policies. 
The significant judgments made by the Directors in the application of these accounting policies that have 
significant impact on the financial statements and the key sources of estimation uncertainty, are disclosed in 
note 4.

Going concern
The Directors have prepared cash flow forecasts for the Group for the period to 31 December 2023 based on 
their assessment of both the discretionary and the non‑discretionary cash requirements of the Group during 
this period and based on a range of sensitivities and scenarios.

These cash flow forecasts include its normal operating costs for operations together with all committed 
development expenditure, including the impact of the acquisition completed in February 2022. The forecasts 
also take account of the Company’s recent fundraise and borrowings in February 2022, and the near‑term 
CAPEX requirements for, and the forecast revenues from, the Paradox project and the non‑operated portfolio 
of assets, together with proposed committed development expenditure. The cash flow forecasts indicate that 
the Group currently has sufficient cash resources to service these costs over the forecast period.

The Group will meet its working capital requirements and financing costs from existing cash resources and 
future cash flows generated from its producing assets. At the year end, the Group had cash and cash 
equivalents amounting to US$1.8 million (2020: US$3.9 million).

The Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiary 
undertakings (together, “the Group”) made up to 31 December each year.

OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC44

Notes to the Financial Statements

3.  Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Subsidiary undertakings are those entities controlled directly or indirectly by the Company. Control is achieved 
when the Company is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has 
the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity.

The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated income 
statement from the date on which control is transferred to the Group or, up to the date that control ceases, as 
appropriate. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring 
accounting policies used into line with those used by the Group.

The Group applies the acquisition method to account for business combinations. The consideration for each 
acquisition is measured at the aggregate of the fair values (at the date of exchange) of assets given, liabilities 
incurred or assumed, and equity instruments issued by the Group in exchange for control of the acquire.

All intra‑group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.

Business combinations and asset acquisitions
In accordance with the requirements of IFRS 3 Business combinations, the Group performs an assessment of 
each acquisition to determine whether the acquisition should be accounted for as an asset acquisition or a 
business combination. For each transaction, the Group may elect to apply the concentration test as permitted 
by the amendment to IFRS 3 to determine if the fair value of assets acquired is substantially concentrated in a 
single asset (or a group of similar assets). If this concentration test is met, the acquisition qualifies as an 
acquisition of a group of assets and liabilities, and not of a business.

The requirements of IFRS 3 are applied once it is determined that a business has been acquired. Under IFRS 3, 
a business is defined as an integrated set of activities and assets conducted and managed for the purpose of 
providing a return to investors. A business generally consists of inputs, processes applied to those inputs, and 
resulting outputs that are, or will be, used to generate revenues.

When less than the entire interest of an entity is acquired, the choice of measurement of the non‑controlling 
interest, either at fair value or at the proportionate share of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets, is determined 
on a transaction by transaction basis.

Investments in subsidiary undertakings
Long term investments representing interests in subsidiary undertakings are stated at cost less any provision 
for impairment in the value of the non‑current investment.

Exploration and evaluation assets
The Group applies the full cost method of accounting for Exploration and Evaluation (“E&E”) costs, having 
regard to the requirements of IFRS 6 Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources. Under the full cost 
method of accounting, costs of exploring for and evaluating mineral resources are accumulated by reference to 
appropriate cost centres being the appropriate licence area but are tested for impairment on a cost pool basis 
as described below.

E&E assets comprise costs of (i) E&E activities that are on‑going at the balance sheet date, pending 
determination of whether or not commercial reserves exist and (ii) costs of E&E that, whilst representing part of 
the E&E activities associated with adding to the commercial reserves of an established cost pool, did not result 
in the discovery of commercial reserves.

Costs incurred prior to having obtained the legal rights to explore an area are expensed directly to the income 
statement as they are incurred.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202145

Notes to the Financial Statements

3.  Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
All costs of E&E are initially capitalised as E&E assets. Payments to acquire the legal right to explore, costs of 
technical services and studies, seismic acquisition, exploratory drilling and testing are capitalised as intangible 
E&E assets.

Intangible costs include directly attributable overheads together with the cost of other materials consumed 
during the exploration and evaluation phases.

Treatment of E&E assets at conclusion of appraisal activities
Intangible E&E assets related to each exploration licence/project are carried forward until the existence (or 
otherwise) of commercial reserves has been determined. If commercial reserves have been discovered, the 
related E&E asset are assessed for impairment on a cost pool basis as set out below and any impairment is 
recognised in the income statement. The carrying value, after any impairment loss, of the relevant E&E assets 
is then reclassified as development and production assets.

Intangible E&E assets that related to E&E activities that are determined not to have resulted in the discovery of 
commercial reserves remain capitalised as intangible E&E assets at cost less accumulated amortisation, 
subject to meeting a pool‑wide impairment test in accordance with the accounting policy for impairment of E&E 
assets set out below. Such E&E assets are amortised on a unit‑of‑production basis over the life of the 
commercial reserves of the pool to which they relate.

Impairment of exploration and evaluation assets
E&E assets are assessed for impairment when facts and circumstances suggest that the carrying amount may 
exceed its recoverable amount. Such indicators include, but are not limited to, those situations outlined in 
paragraph 20 of IFRS 6 Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources and include the point at which a 
determination is made as to whether or not commercial reserves exist.

Where there are indications of impairment, the E&E assets concerned are tested for impairment. Where the 
E&E assets concerned fall within the scope of an established full cost pool, the E&E assets are tested for 
impairment together with all development and production assets associated with that cost pool, as a single 
cash generating unit.

The aggregate carrying value is compared against the expected recoverable amount of the pool, generally by 
reference to the present value of the future net cash flow expected to be derived from production of commercial 
reserves. Where the E&E assets to be tested fall outside the scope of any established cost pool, there will 
generally be no commercial reserves and the E&E assets concerned will generally be written off in full.

If the recoverable amount of a cash‑generating unit is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the 
carrying amount of the cash‑generating unit is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is 
recognised immediately in profit or loss.

When an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the cash‑generating unit is increased 
to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed 
the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the 
cash‑generating unit in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

The Group considers each area of oil and gas exploration, on a geographical basis to be a separate cost pool 
and therefore aggregates all specific assets for the purposes of determining whether impairment of E&E assets 
has occurred.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC46

Notes to the Financial Statements

3.  Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Grant income
Government grants are recognised only when there is a reasonable assurance that the Group will comply with 
any conditions attached to the grant, and that the grant will be received.

Claims under government grant programmes related to income are deducted in reporting the related expense. 
If the grants are specific to exploration projects, the Group records grants receivable by deducting the funds 
received from the carrying value of the Group’s exploration and evaluation assets.

Property, plant and equipment
Oil and gas properties
Oil and gas properties are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment 
losses. The initial cost of an asset comprises its purchase price or construction cost, any costs directly 
attributable to bringing the asset into operation, and the initial estimate of the asset retirement obligation. The 
purchase price or construction cost is the aggregate amount paid and the fair value of any consideration given 
to acquire the asset.

Production and development assets are depleted using the unit‑of‑production method based on production 
for the period divided by the Group’s estimated total proved and probable reserve volumes (before royalties) 
of the geographic region concerned. Production and reserves volumes for natural gas are converted at the 
energy equivalent of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil. Estimates of future development 
costs for developing the proved and probable reserves are included in the depletion base.

Plant and machinery and right‑of‑use assets
Plant and machinery and right‑of‑use assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any 
accumulated impairment losses. The cost of an item of property, plant and equipment comprises its purchase 
price and any costs directly attributable to bringing the asset into use.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost of assets less their residual values over their useful lives 
at the following rates:

Plant and machinery straight‑line over 5 years

Right‑of‑use assets

straight‑line over the shorter of the lease term and the useful life of the underlying asset

The estimated useful lives, residual value and depreciation method are reviewed at the end of each reporting 
period, with the effect of any changes in estimate accounted for on a prospective basis.

An item of property, plant and equipment is derecognised upon disposal or when no future economic benefits 
are expected to arise from the continued use of the asset. Any gain or loss arising on the disposal or 
retirement of an item of property, plant and equipment is determined as the difference between the sales 
proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset and is recognised in profit or loss.

Impairment of property, plant and equipment
In accordance with the requirements of IAS 16 Impairment of assets at each reporting date, the Directors 
assess whether indications exist that the carrying value of an asset may be impaired. If there are indicators of 
impairment the Directors estimate the asset’s recoverable amount. An assets recoverable amount is the higher 
of an asset’s, or cash generating unit’s, fair value less costs to sell and its value‑in‑use, and is determined on a 
portfolio basis, based on geographical location.

Where the carrying amount of an asset or cash‑generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount, the Directors 
consider the asset impaired and writes it down to its recoverable amount. In assessing value‑in‑use, the 
Directors discount the estimated future cash flows to their present value using a pre‑tax discount rate that 
reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset.  
In determining fair value less costs to sell, the Directors consider recent market transactions, if available.  
If no such transactions can be identified, the Directors will utilise an appropriate valuation model.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202147

Notes to the Financial Statements

3.  Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Joint arrangements
The Company is party to a joint arrangement when there is a contractual agreement that sets out the terms of 
the relationship over the relevant activities of the Company and at least one other party.

Management has a legal degree of control over these joint operating arrangements through Joint Operating 
Agreements.

The Company classifies its interests in joint arrangements as joint operations where the Company has both the 
right to assets and obligations for the liabilities of the joint arrangement. It accounts for its interests in joint 
operations by recognising its share of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses in accordance with its 
contractually conferred rights and obligations.

The Company accounts for its own assets, liabilities and cash flows measured in accordance with the terms of 
the Joint Operating agreement and the accounting treatment reflects the agreement’s commercial effect.

Where the percentage ownership in joint arrangements changes during a reporting period, the arrangement is 
reassessed to ensure it is still appropriately classified, and the Company’s share of income and expenses is 
adjusted prospectively from the date of change.

Foreign currencies
For the purpose of the consolidated financial statements, the results and financial position are expressed in 
United States dollar, which is the presentation currency for both company and consolidated financial statements.

In preparing the financial statements of the individual companies, transactions in currencies other than the 
functional currency of each group company (“foreign currencies”) are translated into the functional currency at 
the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. At each reporting date, monetary assets and 
liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated into the functional currency at the rates 
prevailing on the reporting date. Non‑monetary assets and liabilities carried at fair value that are denominated 
in foreign currencies are translated at the rates prevailing at the date when the fair value was determined. 
Non‑monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated.

Foreign exchange differences are recognised in the profit or loss in the period in which they arise, except for 
foreign exchange differences on monetary items receivable from or payable to a foreign operation for which 
settlement is neither planned nor likely to occur and which, therefore, form part of the net investment in the 
foreign operation. Foreign exchange differences arising on the translation of the Group’s net investment in 
foreign operations are recognised as a separate component of Shareholders’ equity via the statement of other 
comprehensive income. On disposal of foreign operations and foreign entities, the cumulative translation 
differences are recognised in the income statement as part of the gain or loss on disposal.

For the purpose of presenting company and consolidated financial statements, the assets and liabilities of the 
Company, and the Group’s subsidiaries, which have a functional currency other than United States dollar, are 
translated using exchange rates prevailing at the end of each reporting period. Income and expense items are 
translated at the average exchange rates for the period, unless exchange rates fluctuate significantly during 
that period, in which case the exchange rates at the date of transactions are used. Foreign exchange 
differences arising are recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity. Equity items are 
translated at the exchange rates at the date of transactions and foreign exchange differences arising are 
accumulated directly in equity.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC48

Notes to the Financial Statements

3.  Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
On the disposal of a foreign operation (i.e. a disposal of the Group’s entire interest in a foreign operation, a 
disposal involving loss of control over a subsidiary that includes a foreign operation or loss of joint control over 
a jointly controlled entity that includes a foreign operation), all of the accumulated exchange differences in 
respect of that operation attributable to the Group are reclassified to profit or loss. Where there is no change in 
the proportionate percentage interest in an entity then there has been no disposal or partial disposal and 
accumulated exchange differences attributable to the Group are not reclassified to profit or loss.

Fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of a foreign operation are treated as assets and liabilities of 
the foreign operation and translated at the rate of exchange prevailing at the end of each reporting period. 
Exchange differences arising are recognised in equity.

Retirement benefits
The Group makes contributions to the personal pension schemes for some of its employees and Directors. 
Payments to these schemes are charged as an expense in the income statement in respect of pension costs 
payable in the year.

Taxation
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable for the year and deferred tax.

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from profit as reported in 
the consolidated income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or 
deductible in other years and items that are never taxable or deductible. The Group’s liability for current tax is 
calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date.

Deferred tax is recognised on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in 
the consolidated 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 generally recognised for all deductible temporary differences to the extent that it is probable that 
taxable profits will be available against which those deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such 
deferred tax assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises from goodwill or from 
the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of other assets and liabilities in a transaction which 
affects neither the taxable profit nor the accounting profit.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences associated with investments in 
subsidiaries and interests in joint ventures, except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the 
temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. 
Deferred tax assets arising from deductible temporary differences associated with such investments and interest 
are only recognised to the extent that it is probable that there will be sufficient taxable profits against which to 
utilise the benefits of the temporary differences and they are expected to 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 assets to be recovered.

Deferred tax liabilities and assets are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period in 
which the liability is settled or the asset realised, based on tax rates that have been enacted or substantively 
enacted at the reporting date.

Current and deferred tax are recognised in profit or loss, except when they relate to items that are recognised 
in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, in which case, the current and deferred tax are also 
recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity respectively. Where current tax or deferred tax 
arises from the initial accounting for a business combination, the tax effect is included in the accounting for the 
business combination.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202149

Notes to the Financial Statements

3.  Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
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.

Investments and other financial instruments
Recognition of financial assets and financial liabilities
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised on the Group’s Balance Sheet when the Group 
becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument, and are initially measured at fair value. 
Transaction costs are included as part of the initial measurement, except for financial assets at fair value 
through profit or loss.

Investments and other financial assets are subsequently measured at either amortised cost or fair value 
depending on their classification. Classification is determined based on both the business model within which 
such assets are held and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset unless an accounting 
mismatch is being avoided.

Financial liabilities are subsequently measured at either amortised cost or fair value.

Derecognition of financial assets and financial liabilities
The Group derecognises a financial asset only when the contractual rights to cash flows from the asset expire, 
or it transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the asset to another 
entity. If the Group neither transfers nor retains substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership and 
continues to control the transferred asset, the Group recognises its retained interest in the asset and an 
associated liability for the amount it may have to pay. If the Group retains substantially all the risks and rewards 
of ownership of a transferred financial asset, the Group continues to recognise the financial asset and also 
recognises a collateralised borrowing for the proceeds received.

On derecognition of a financial asset and financial liability a gain or loss is recognised in profit or loss.

Impairment of financial assets
The Group recognises a loss allowance for expected credit losses on financial assets which are measured at 
amortised cost. The measurement of the loss allowance depends upon the Group’s assessment at the end of each 
reporting period as to whether the financial instrument’s credit risk has increased significantly since initial recognition, 
based on reasonable and supportable information that is available without undue cost or effort to obtain.

Where there has not been a significant increase in exposure to credit risk since initial recognition, a 12‑month 
expected credit loss allowance is estimated. This represents a portion of the asset’s lifetime expected credit 
losses that is attributable to a default event that is possible within the next 12 months. Where a financial asset 
has become credit impaired or where it is determined that credit risk has increased significantly, the loss 
allowance is based on the asset’s lifetime expected credit losses. The amount of expected credit loss 
recognised is measured on the basis of the probability weighted present value of anticipated cash shortfalls 
over the life of the instrument discounted at the original effective interest rate.

Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables are measured at initial recognition at fair value, and are subsequently measured at 
amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any allowance for expected credit losses.

The Group has applied the simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses which uses a lifetime 
expected loss allowance. To measure the expected credit losses, trade receivables are grouped on the basis 
of days overdue.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC50

Notes to the Financial Statements

3.  Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash‑in‑hand and on‑demand deposits.

Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are initially measured at their fair value, and are subsequently measured at 
amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.

Equity instruments
An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Group after 
deducting all of its liabilities. Equity instruments issued by the Group are recognised at the proceeds received, 
net of direct issue costs.

The costs of an equity transaction are accounted for as a deduction from equity to the extent they are 
incremental costs directly attributable to the equity transaction that would otherwise have been avoided.

Warrants
Warrants issued are classified within Shareholders’ equity and are valued at fair value on issuance. The Group 
uses the Black‑Scholes model to estimate fair value. Upon exercise, the consideration received is recorded as 
an increase in share capital.

Leases
The Group assesses whether a contract is or contains a lease, at inception of the contract. The Group 
recognises a right‑of‑use asset and a corresponding lease liability with respect to all lease agreements in 
which it is the lessee, except for short‑term leases (defined as leases with a lease term of 12 months or less) 
and leases of low value assets. For these leases, the Group recognises the lease payments as an operating 
expense on a straight‑line basis over the term of the lease.

The lease liability is presented as a separate line in the Balance Sheet and is subsequently measured by 
reducing the carrying amount to reflect the lease payments made.

The right‑of‑use assets comprise the initial measurement of the corresponding lease liability, lease payments 
made at or before the commencement day and any initial direct costs. They are subsequently measured at 
cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses.

Right‑of‑use assets are depreciated over the shorter of the period of the lease term and the useful life of the 
underlying asset.

The right‑of‑use assets are presented within property, plant and equipment in the consolidated and company 
Balance Sheet.

The Group applies IAS 36 Impairment of assets to determine whether a right‑of‑use asset is impaired.

Borrowings
Borrowings are recognised initially at fair value, net of any transaction costs incurred. Borrowings are 
subsequently carried at amortised cost. Any difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) and 
the redemption value is recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Income over the period of the 
borrowings using the effective interest method, if applicable.

Interest on borrowing is accrued as applicable to each class of borrowing.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202151

Notes to the Financial Statements

3.  Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a legal or constructive obligation, as a result of past events, for 
which it is probable that an outflow of economic resources will result and that outflow can be reliably 
measured.

The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present 
obligation at the end of the reporting period, considering the risks and uncertainties surrounding the 
obligation. When a provision is measured using the cash flow estimated to settle the present obligation, its 
carrying amount is the present value of those cash flows.

Decommissioning
Where a liability for the retirement of a well, removal of production equipment and site restoration at the end of 
the production life of a well exists, the Group recognises a liability for asset retirement. Provision for asset 
retirement is recognised in full when the related assets are installed or acquired, and are then reassessed at 
the end of each reporting period.

The provision recognised is calculated as the net present value of the Group’s share of the expenditure 
expected to be incurred at the end of the life of the asset. The cost of recognising the decommissioning 
provision is included as part of the cost of the relevant asset and is, therefore, charged to the income 
statement in accordance with the Group’s policy for depreciation of property, plant and equipment or for 
impairment of exploration and evaluation assets, depending upon the stage of the assets at the time of 
retirement.

The unwinding of the discount on the decommissioning liability is included as accretion of the provision and is 
presented in finance costs in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

The Group recognises changes in estimates prospectively, with corresponding adjustments to the liability and 
the associated non‑current asset.

Share‑based payments
The Group has applied the requirements of IFRS 2 Share‑based Payment for all grants of equity instruments.

The Group operates an equity‑settled share option plan and a share‑based compensation plan in respect of 
certain Directors, employees and consultants. The Group also issues warrants to certain advisors which are 
classed as share‑based payments. Equity‑settled share‑based payments are measured at fair value (excluding 
the effect of non‑market based vesting conditions) at the date of grant. The fair value of the service received in 
exchange for the grant of options/warrants and equity is recognised as an expense. The fair value determined 
at the grant date of equity‑settled share‑based payment is expensed on a straight‑line basis over the vesting 
period, based on the Group’s estimate of shares that will eventually vest and adjusted for the effect of 
non‑market based vesting conditions.

The fair value of option and warrant grants are measured using the Black Scholes model for 
non‑performance‑based options. The expected life used in the model has been adjusted, based on 
management’s best estimate, for the effect of non‑transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural 
considerations.

The grant by the Company of options and share‑based compensation plans over its equity instruments to the 
employees of subsidiary undertakings in the Group is treated as a capital contribution. The fair value of 
employee services received, measured by reference to the grant date fair value, is recognised over the vesting 
period as an increase to investment in subsidiary undertakings, with a corresponding credit to equity in the 
parent entity accounts.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC52

Notes to the Financial Statements

3.  Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Revenue recognition
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil
Revenue is comprised of the fair value of the consideration received or receivable from the sale of natural gas 
and crude oil products in the ordinary course of the Group’s activities and is recognized when control is 
transferred to the purchaser. This is generally met when title passes from the Group to its customer. Revenue 
from oil and gas production represents the Group’s share.

The Group sells its petroleum and natural gas revenue pursuant to variable‑price contracts with terms of 
generally one year or less. The transaction price is based on the commodity index price at the point of title 
transfer and may include adjustments for quality, location or other factors depending on the contract terms. 
The Group delivers volumes of petroleum and natural gas product to the respective counterparty throughout 
the contract period. The Group evaluates its arrangements with third parties and partners to determine if the 
Group acts as the principal or as an agent. In making this evaluation and concluding that it acts as a principal, 
management considers if the Group obtains control of the product delivered, which is indicated by the Group 
having the primary responsibility for the delivery of the product, having the ability to establish prices or having 
inventory risk.

Revenue is recognized when a customer obtains legal title to the product, which is when volumes are 
physically transferred to the contract counterparty at a point of sale.

Segmental reporting
Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief 
operating decision maker. The chief operating decision maker, who is responsible for allocating resources and 
assessing performance of the operating segments and making strategic decisions, has been identified as the 
Board of Directors.

4.  Critical Accounting Judgements and Key Sources of Estimation Uncertainty
In the application of the Group’s accounting policies, which are described in note 3, the Directors are required 
to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities that 
are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical 
experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an on‑going basis. Revisions to accounting 
estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or 
in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both the current and future periods.

The following are the critical judgements and estimations that the Directors have made in the process of 
applying the Group’s and Company’s accounting policies and that have the most significant effect on the 
amounts recognised in the financial statements:

Critical judgements
Exploration and evaluation assets – Group
The decision to transfer assets from exploration and evaluation assets to property, plant and equipment is 
based on the estimated proved and probable reserves which are in part, used to determine a project’s 
technical feasibility and commercial viability.

There has been no transfer of exploration and evaluation assets during the year ended 31 December 2021.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202153

Notes to the Financial Statements

4.  Critical Accounting Judgements and Key Sources of Estimation Uncertainty (continued)
Business combinations and asset acquisitions – Group
The determination of whether a transaction is a business combination or an asset acquisition is based on 
management’s assessment of each individual transaction based on the criteria of IFRS 3 Business combination.

If the initial concentration test is met, then the acquisition is accounted for as an asset acquisition and no 
further analysis is required. If the initial test is not met, the acquisition is considered to be a business 
combination and the Group applies the acquisition method to account for the recognition and measurement of 
identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, any non‑controlling interest and, if applicable, goodwill or 
a gain on the transaction.

During the year ended 31 December 2021, the Group acquired non‑operated working interests in a number of 
wells in the Williston Basin, North Dakota, U.S. The Directors consider that the acquisitions meet the 
requirements of the concentration test and, therefore, each of the transactions have been accounted for as an 
acquisition of assets and are presented within property, plant and equipment. See note 14.

Estimations
Impairment and impairment reversals – Group
The recoverable amounts of CGUs and individual assets have been determined based on the higher of 
value‑in‑use calculations and fair values less costs to dispose. These calculations require the use of estimates 
and assumptions including information on forecasted oil and gas commodity prices, expected production 
volumes, quantity of reserves, discount rates, as well as future development costs, operating costs and royalty 
costs. Key assumptions in the determination of cash flows from reserves include reserves estimated by the 
Group’s independent third party reserve evaluators. It is possible that any or all of these key assumptions may 
change, which may then impact the estimated values of the oil and gas properties and then require a material 
adjustment to the carrying value of E&E assets and property, plant and equipment. Significant management 
judgement is required to analyse internal and external indicators of impairment or historical impairment 
reversals. The Group monitors internal and external indicators of impairment relating to its tangible and 
intangible assets.

Recoverability of loans to subsidiary undertakings – Company only
The Company has outstanding loans from its directly held subsidiaries which have then made a number of 
loans to indirectly held subsidiaries as the primary method of financing the activity of those subsidiaries. The 
principal loans are shown in the Company balance sheet on the basis that the loans incur interest at a 
commercial rate according to the Group’s inter‑company loan policy, which is being rolled up until such time as 
the subsidiaries are in a position to settle.

In accordance with IFRS 9 Financial instruments, as the subsidiary undertakings cannot repay the loans at the 
reporting date, the Board has made an assessment of expected credit losses (“ECL”). The Group has not made 
any provision for impairment of its U.S. non‑current assets and is expecting to generate profits in the future. As 
a result, the Board do not consider that any further provision for ECL is required and, therefore, subject to the 
recognition of exchange differences, a cumulative lifetime ECL of US$31.8 million has been recognised at 
31 December 2021 (2020: US$32.1 million).

At 31 December 2021, the Company has total loans in its directly held subsidiaries of US$66.9 million (2020: 
US$49 million). See note 15.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC54

Notes to the Financial Statements

4.  Critical Accounting Judgements and Key Sources of Estimation Uncertainty (continued)

Reserve estimates
Reserves are estimates of the amount of natural gas, NGLs and oil product that can be economically and 
legally extracted from the Group’s properties. To calculate the reserves, significant estimates and assumptions 
are required about a range of geological, technical and economic factors, including quantities, production 
techniques, recovery rates, production costs, transport costs, commodity demand, commodity prices and 
exchange rates.

Estimating the quantity and/or grade of reserves requires the size, shape and depth of fields to be determined 
by analysing geological data, such as drilling samples. This process may require complex and difficult 
geological judgments and calculations to interpret the data.

Given the economics used to estimate reserve changes from year to year and, because additional geological 
data is generated during the course of operations, estimates of reserves may change from time to time.

Decommissioning
Decommissioning costs will be incurred by the Group at the end of the operating life of certain facilities and 
properties. The ultimate decommissioning costs are uncertain and cost estimates can vary in response to 
many factors including changes to relevant regulatory requirements, the emergence of new restoration 
techniques or experience at other production sites. The expected timing and amount of expenditures can also 
change, for example in response to changes in reserves or changes in laws and regulations or their 
interpretation. In addition, the Group determines the appropriate discount rate at the end of each reporting 
period. The Group uses a risk‑free discount rate to determine the present value of the estimated future cash 
outflows to settle the obligation and may change in response to numerous market factors. As a result, there 
could be significant adjustments to the provisions established which would affect future financial results.

5.  Segmental Information
When considering the requirements of IFRS 8 Operating segments, the Board of Directors have determined 
that the Group has one main operating segment, the exploration, development and production of O&G 
resources based in the U.S. As a result, no segmental information is presented.

6.  Other Income

COVID‑19 business rates grant

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

–

13

During the year ended 31 December 2020, the Group was in receipt of the business rates grant introduced by 
the UK government to provide financial support to businesses during the COVID‑19 pandemic. No further 
support has been required or received by the Group during the year ended 31 December 2021.

7.  Finance Costs

Loan interest and fees
Unwinding of discount on decommissioning

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

137
7

144

–
–

–

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202155

Notes to the Financial Statements

8.  Profit/(Loss) before Taxation
The profit/(loss) before taxation for the year has been arrived at after charging/(crediting):

Other income
Depreciation and depletion of property, plant and equipment
Staff costs excluding share‑based payments
Share‑based payments
Expense relating to short‑term leases
Net foreign exchange (gains)/losses

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

–
1,778
892
93
7
(461)

(13)
49
649
79
–
705

9.  Auditor’s Remuneration
Amounts payable to the external auditors and their associates in respect of both audit and non‑audit services:

Audit of these financial statements

Amounts receivable by the Company’s auditor and its associates in respect of:
Audit of financial statements of subsidiaries of the Company
Taxation services – compliance

10.  Staff Costs
The average monthly number of employees (including Executive Directors) was:

BDO LLP 
2021
US$’000

RSM UK 
Audit LLP 
2020
US$’000

103

–
–

103

49

5
3

57

Office and management
Operations

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs
Share‑based payments

Group

Company

2021
Number

2020
Number

2021
Number

2020
Number

2
1

3

2
1

3

1
1

2

1
1

2

Group

Company

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

945
60
53
49

1,107

673
42
30
51

796(1)

452
53
28
26

559

317
36
15
33

4011

(1) A proportion of staff costs were deferred during the year ended 31 December 2020. See note 28.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC56

Notes to the Financial Statements

10.  Staff Costs (continued)
Included within Group wages and salaries is US$0.15 million (2020: US$0.1 million) capitalised to exploration 
and evaluation assets, and US$ 0.02 million (2020: US$ nil) capitalised to property, plant and equipment.

Included within Company wages and salaries is US$0.27 million (2020: US$0.2 million) which relates to the 
activities of its subsidiary entities.

Refer to the Directors’ Report for details regarding the remuneration of the highest paid Director.

11.  Taxation

Current tax:
Current year

Deferred tax:
Origination and reversal of temporary differences

Tax charge on loss for the year

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

–

–

–

–

–

–

The charge for the year can be reconciled to the profit/(loss) per the income statement as follows:

Profit/(loss) before tax

Profit/(loss) multiplied by the rate of corporation tax for UK companies of 19%  
(2020: 19%)

Effects of:
Share‑based payments
Utilised tax losses brought forward
Unrelieved tax losses carried forward

Tax charge on profit/(loss) for the year

2021
US$’000

848

2020
US$’000

(2,344)

161

(445)

17
(346)
168

–

15
–
430

–

The Group did not have any tax payable in the U.S. due to the utilisation of prior year tax losses.

There has been no impact due to changes in UK taxation rates during the years reported. The enacted UK 
corporation tax rate of 25% forms the basis for the UK element of the deferred tax calculation, following the UK 
budget in 2021 when the chancellor announced an increase to the main rate of corporation tax in the UK to 
25% from April 2023.

Unrelieved tax losses carried forward, as detailed in note 21, have not been recognised as a deferred tax asset as 
the Group has not yet shown sustainable profitability and there is currently insufficient evidence that the asset will 
be recoverable in the foreseeable future. The losses must be utilised in relation to the same operations.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202157

Notes to the Financial Statements

12.  Profit/(Loss) per Ordinary Share
Basic profit/(loss) per Ordinary Share is calculated by dividing the net profit/(loss) for the year by the weighted 
average number of Ordinary Shares in issue during the year. Diluted profit/(loss) per Ordinary Share is 
calculated by dividing the net profit/(loss) for the year by the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in 
issue during the year adjusted for the dilutive effect of potential Ordinary Shares arising from the Company’s 
share options and warrants.

Due to the losses incurred in the year ended 31 December 2020, there was no dilutive effect from the share 
options or warrants.

At 31 December 2021, 2.8 million share options and 15 million warrants were excluded from the diluted number 
of shares as they were anti‑dilutive.

The calculation of the basic and diluted profit/(loss) per Ordinary Share is based on the following data:

Profits/(losses)
Profits/(losses) for the purpose of basic and diluted profit/(loss)  
per Ordinary Share being net profit/(loss) for the year

Number of shares
Weighted average number of shares for the purpose of basic  
profit/(loss) per Ordinary Share

Number of shares
Weighted average number of shares for the purpose of basic  
profit/(loss) per Ordinary Share

Dilutive share options

Dilutive warrants

Weighted average number of shares for the purpose of diluted  
profit/(loss) per Ordinary Share

Basic, cents per share

Diluted, cents per share

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

848

(2,344)

Number
000

Number
’000

1,116,414

357,951

1,116,414

42,510

100,033

357,951

–

–

1,258,957

357,951

0.08

0.07

(0.66)

(0.66)

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC58

Notes to the Financial Statements

13.  Exploration and Evaluation Assets

Cost
At 1 January 2020
Additions
Grant funds received
At 1 January 2021
Additions
Grant funds received

At 31 December 2021

US$’000

13,549
2,165
(1,800)
13,914
9,149
(290)

22,773

In July 2021, the Group announced that it had acquired an additional 12,260 acres in the Paradox Basin at a 
cost of US$ 0.1 million, following which, the Group will operate a total of 37,613 gross acres in the Paradox 
Basin, the majority of which the Group holds as operator with a 75% working interest.

In October 2021, the Group announced that the BLM had approved the formation of a new 25,000‑acre 
Federal Unit to be operated by the Group. The new unit, the White Sands Federal Unit (“WSU”) incorporates all 
the Group’s existing leases, including the lease on which the State 16‑2 LN CC well is situated. The entire 
25,000‑acre land position around the State 16‑2 LN CC well will now be held for a minimum of 36 months from 
25 October 2021, without any lease expiry.

U.S. Department of Energy Funding
During the year, the Group received grant funding of US$0.3 million (2020: US$1.8 million), together with an 
additional agreed sum of US$0.1 million, from the EGI as described above. In accordance with IAS 20, the 
carrying value of the Group’s exploration and evaluation assets have been presented net of the funds 
received.

The Group is the operator of the well and is responsible for all planning and drilling activity. The Group and 
its 25 per cent partner RSOC continue to be the sole working interest owners in the leasehold and of the 
vertical well.

Impairment
The Directors considered the indicators of impairment as set out in IFRS 6 and have satisfied themselves that 
there was no requirement to perform an impairment test at 31 December 2021 and, as a result, no provision for 
impairment has been made in respect of these assets at 31 December 2021 (2020: US$ nil). See note 4.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202159

Notes to the Financial Statements

14.  Property, Plant and Equipment

Cost
At 1 January 2020
Disposal
Exchange differences
At 1 January 2021
Acquisitions
Additions
De‑recognition
At 31 December 2021

Accumulated depreciation
At 1 January 2020
Charge for the year
Disposal
Exchange differences
At 1 January 2021
Charge for the year
De‑recognition

At 31 December 2021

Carrying amount
At 31 December 2021

At 31 December 2020

At 1 January 2020

Group

Company

Oil and gas 
properties
US$’000

Plant and 
machinery
US$’000

Right‑of‑use
assets
US$’000

Total
US$’000

Plant and 
machinery
US$’000

Right‑of‑use
assets
US$’000

Total
US$’000 

–
–
–
–
5,443
7,459
–

12,902

–
–
–
–
–
1,755
–

1,755

11,147
–

–

159
(39)
9
129
–
4
(106)

27

142
5
(39)
9
117
7
(106)

18

9
12

17

90
(34)
1
57
–
–
(57)

–

30
44
(34)
1
41
16
(57)

–

–
16

60

249
(73)
10
186
5,443
7,459
(163)

12,929

172
49
(73)
10
158
1,778
(163)

1,773

11,156
28

77

22
–
1
23
–
4
–

27

5
5
–
1
11
7
–

18

9
12

17

55
–
2
57
–
–
(57)

–

5
34
–
2
41
16
(57)

–

–
16

50

77
–
3
80
–
4
(57)

27

10
39
–
3
52
23
(57)

18

9
28

67

The Group depreciation and depletion charge has been allocated to the income statement as follows: 

Cost of sales
Administrative expenses

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

1,755
23

1,778

–
49

49

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC60

Notes to the Financial Statements

14.  Property, Plant and Equipment (continued)

Acquisitions
During the year ended 31 December 2021, the Group acquired non‑operated working interests in a number of 
projects located in the Williston Basin, North Dakota, U.S.

Williston‑Whiting acquisition
In March 2021, the Group completed the acquisition of non‑operated working interests, ranging from 16.8% to 
27.2% in five wells, one producing and 4 DUCs. The wells are operated by Whiting Petroleum and target the 
middle Bakken reservoir in Mountrail County, North Dakota U.S. The initial cost of the acquisition was 
US$350,000, with an additional payment of US$3.9 million being paid to the operator in respect of historical 
CAPEX obligations on the project.

All five wells were in put in production with first revenues having been received during the year.

Continental acreage
In May 2021, the Group completed the acquisition of 11.6 acres in the Williston Basin which gave it a 
non‑operating working interest in a Drilling Space Unit (“DSU”) operated by Continental Resources Inc., 
the largest operator in the Williston Basin. The cost of the acquisition was US$ 170,000.

Continental had already commenced drilling two initial wells on the DSU with up to an additional 22 future 
wells to drilled by 2023. The first two initial wells had been completed and put in production with first revenues 
having been received during the year.

Williston‑Prima acquisition
In September 2021, the Group completed the acquisition of 72.5 acres resulting in an average 5.6% 
non‑operated working interest in four DUC wells. The wells are operated by Prima Exploration Inc in the middle 
Bakken reservoir in Richland County, Montana. The cost of the acquisition was US$80,000.

All four well had been completed with first revenues having been received from three wells during the year.

Slawson‑Whiting acquisition
In September 2021, the Group completed the acquisition of an average 3.1% non‑operating working interest in 
11 wells, one currently being drilled and 10 DUC wells. The wells are operated by Whiting Petroleum and target 
the middle Bakken reservoir in Mountrail County, North Dakota. The cost of the acquisition was US$888,000.

Two wells had been completed with first revenues having been received during the year.

IFRS 3 Business combinations
As permitted by the amendment to IFRS 3, the Group elected to apply the concentration test to each of the 
acquisitions made during the year. The Board considers that each acquisition individually meets the 
requirements of the concentration test and they have, therefore, been accounted for as an acquisition of assets 
rather than a business combination. See note 4.

The fair value of the assets acquired is deemed to be equal to the fair value of the consideration transferred 
and the asset acquisitions have been presented within property, plant and equipment. In the year ended 
31 December 2021, the Group added USD 5.4 million related to acquisitions and US$0.4 million in respect of 
the Group’s asset retirement obligations. The remaining additions are primarily attributable to recurring capital 
expenditures.

Impairment
At 31 December 2021, the Directors considered the requirements of IAS 36 Impairment of assets in respect of 
its production and development assets. They have satisfied themselves that there were no indicators of 
impairment and, therefore, there was no requirement to perform an impairment test. As a result, no provision 
for impairment has been made in respect of these assets at 31 December 2021 See note 4.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Notes to the Financial Statements

61

15.  Investments

Cost
At 1 January 2020
Additions
Exchange differences
At 1 January 2021
Additions
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2021

Impairment
At 1 January 2020
Exchange differences

At 1 January 2021
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2021

Carrying amount
At 31 December 2021

At 31 December 2020

Company

Shares in
subsidiary
undertakings
US$’000

Loans to
subsidiary
undertakings
US$’000

5,161
–
148
5,309
–
(46)

5,263

5,160
149

5,309
(46)

5,263

46,370
1,252
1,366
48,988
18,299
(436)

66,851

31,170
895

32,065
(277)

31,788

Total
US$’000

51,531
1,252
1,514
54,297
18,299
(482)

72,114

36,330
1,044

37,374
(323)

37,051

–
–

35,063
16,923

35,063
16,923

Company
The Company has outstanding loans made to its subsidiaries which incur interest at a commercial rate, 
according to the Group’s inter‑company loan policy. The loans are due for repayment once the subsidiaries are 
generating surplus cash flows from their revenue‑generating activities, having met their operating, 
administrative and capital expenditure. This is not anticipated to happen within the next twelve months and, 
therefore, the loans are presented within non‑current assets. The Board has assessed the recoverability of the 
loans and investments based on the expected future cash flows arising to the Company from its subsidiary 
entities and consider that no additional provision (2020: US$ nil) should be recognised in the period.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC62

Notes to the Financial Statements

15.  Investments (continued)
The Company had investments in the following subsidiary undertakings as at 31 December 2021:

Place of incorporation 
(or registration) and 
operation

Proportion of 
ownership 
interest

Proportion
 of voting 
power held

Principal activity

Directly owned:
VANE Minerals (UK) Limited
Rose Petroleum (UK) Limited

Indirectly owned:
Minerales VANE S.A. de C.V.
Rose Petroleum (US) LLC
Rose Petroleum (Utah) LLC

Zephyr Bakken LLC

Zephyr Williston LLC

UK
UK

Mexico
U.S.
U.S.

U.S.

U.S.

100%
100%

100%
100%
100%

100%

100%

100%
100%

Holding company
Holding company

100%
100%
100%

100%

100%

Dormant 
Holding company
Exploration and 
development
Production and 
development 
Production and 
development 

The registered office address for all companies incorporated in the United Kingdom is 20‑22 Wenlock Road, 
London, N1 7GU.

The registered office address for Minerales VANE S.A. de C.V. is Humboldt No. 121, Colonia del Valle, C.P. 
78200, San Luis Potosi, S.L.P.

The registered office address for all companies registered in the U.S. is 1 Shipwright Street, Annapolis, MD 21401.

16.  Petroleum and Natural Gas Revenue and Trade and Other Receivables
Revenue
Petroleum and natural gas revenue earned by the Group is disaggregated by commodity, as follows:

Crude oil

Natural gas liquids

Natural gas

Trade and Other Receivables

Trade receivables
VAT recoverable
Other receivables

2021
US$’000

5,359

391

255

6,005

2020
US$’000

–

–

–

–

Group

Company

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

1,227
32
4

1,263

–
28
60

88

–
33
–

33

–
22
–

22

Trade receivables are due from third‑party working interest operators. The Group consistently assesses the 
collectability of these receivables and at 31 December 2021 do not consider that any allowance for credit 
losses is required.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202163

Notes to the Financial Statements

16.  Petroleum and Natural Gas Revenue and Trade and Other Receivables (continued)
The Group has an outstanding amount due of US$0.2 million in respect of a loan made during the year ended 
31 December 2017, relating to the sale of its Mexico ore processing mill to Magellan. The loan is non‑interest 
bearing and due for repayment when Magellan recovers indirect tax incurred in Mexico. In accordance with IFRS 
9 Financial instruments, whilst the Board intends to pursue repayment of the loan in full, it has assessed expected 
credit losses (“ECL”) and, having considered the current trading position of Magellan within Mexico, a cumulative 
lifetime ECL of US$ 0.2 million continues to be recognised at 31 December 2021 (2020: US$0.2 million).

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates to their fair value, 
and represents the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk.

17.  Prepayments and Deposits

Prepaid deposit
Prepayments and accrued income

Group

Company

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

3,000
573

3,573

–
47

47

–
31

31

–
13

13

The prepaid deposit represents a non‑refundable deposit paid in respect of an agreement, subject to 
conditions precedent, with Kaiser Acquisition and Development to acquire a portfolio of non‑operated working 
interest in wells located in the Williston Basin. The acquisition completed in February 2022. See note 29.

18.  Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents held by the Group and the Company as at 31 December 2021 were US$1.8 million 
and US$1.6 million respectively (2020: US$3.9 million, US$2.2 million). The Directors consider that the carrying 
amount of these assets approximate to their fair value and do not believe that the Group is exposed to any 
significant credit risk on its cash.

19.  Trade and Other Payables

Trade payables
Taxes and social security
Other payables
Accruals

Group

Company

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

3,524
20
116
1,754

5,414

1,949
16
124
375

2,464

137
20
–
300

457

55
16
–
245

316

Trade payables and accruals principally comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and on‑going costs.

Other payables primarily represent the potential liability due to the German licencing authorities in respect of the 
relinquished hydrocarbon licences in south‑western Germany. The Group has continued to recognise the remaining 
potential liability although it continues to negotiate further reductions with the German licencing authorities.

No interest is generally charged on balances outstanding.

The Group has financial risk management policies to ensure that all payables are paid within the credit time frame.

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other payables approximates to their fair value.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC64

Notes to the Financial Statements

20. Borrowings

Current

Maturity analysis
Amounts due within one year

Group

Company

2021
US$’000

4,060

2020
US$’000

–

2021
US$’000

4,060

2020
US$’000

–

Group

Company

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

4,060

–

4,060

–

On 22 November 2021, the Group announced that it had drawn down a bridge loan facility of US$4 million 
(£3 million) provided by a number of sources, including certain Directors and Shareholders, which were 
primarily to fund payment of the non‑refundable deposit due in respect of an agreement with Kaiser 
Acquisition and Development to acquire a portfolio of non‑operated working interest in wells located in the 
Williston Basin. See note 17 and note 28.

The terms of these loan agreements include payment of a 2 per cent arrangement fee and interest payable at 
the rate of 1 per cent per month payable monthly in arrears. These loans are due for repayment on 22 May 
2022 but can be repaid earlier at the Group’s discretion subject to a 3 per cent early repayment charge.

On 22 February 2022, the Group repaid US$2.2 million plus a 3 per cent early repayment charge. Repayment 
of the remaining loans was extended to 21 November 2022 and the rate of interest increased to 1.25 per cent 
per month.

21.  Deferred Tax
There are unrecognised deferred tax assets in relation to:

UK tax losses
US Tax losses
Mexican tax losses

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

6,734
7,373
–

14,107

5,622
9,120
397

15,139

The enacted UK corporation tax rate of 25% forms the basis for the UK element of the deferred tax calculation, 
following the UK budget in 2021 when the chancellor announced an increase to the main rate of corporation 
tax in the UK to 25% from April 2023.

A deferred tax asset has not been provided in respect of these losses as the Group has not yet shown 
sustainable profitability and there is currently insufficient evidence that the asset will be recoverable in the 
foreseeable future.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Notes to the Financial Statements

22.  Provisions 

At 1 January
Provision utilised
Additional provisions
Change in estimates
Accretion interest

At 31 December

Non‑current provision

65

Group Decommissioning 

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

7
–
400
94
7

508

508

57
(57)
7
–
–

7

7

In accordance with the Group’s environmental policy and applicable legal requirements, where a liability for 
the retirement of a well, removal of production equipment and site restoration at the end of the production life 
of a well exists, the Group recognises a liability for decommissioning.

During the year ended 31 December 2021, the Group made a provision for the decommissioning of the wells 
acquired during the year as at the date of acquisition, and recognised any changes in estimates in respect of 
all relevant assets at 31 December 2021. See note 4.

The relevant rates used by the Group in calculation the provision for decommissioning are:

Inflation factor

Risk free rate

31 December
2021
%

31 December
2020
%

2.46

1.94

1.36‑2.28

1.45‑2.24

The cost of recognising the decommissioning provision is included as part of the cost of the relevant asset and 
the provision at 31 December 2021 has been recognised as follows:

Exploration and evaluation assets
Production and development assets
Unwinding of discount rate

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

73
428
7

508

7
–
–

7

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC66

Notes to the Financial Statements

23.  Share Capital

Authorised
Ordinary Shares of 0.1p each
Deferred Shares of 9.9p each

Allotted, issued and fully paid
Ordinary Shares of 0.1p each
Deferred Shares of 9.9p each

2021

Number
‘000

Group and Company

2020

US$’000

Number
‘000

US$’000

7,779,297
227,753

8,007,050

10,528
30,515

41,043

7,779,297
227,753

8,007,050

1,304,746
227,753

1,532,499

1,760
40,305

42,065

696,202
227,753

923,955

10,620
30,781

41,401

916
40,305

41,221

The Deferred Shares are not listed on AIM, do not give the holders any right to receive notice of, or to attend 
or vote at, any general meetings, have no entitlement to receive a dividend or other distribution or any 
entitlement to receive a repayment of nominal amount paid up on a return of assets on a winding up nor to 
receive or participate in any property or assets of the Company. The Company may, at its option, at any time 
redeem all of the Deferred Shares then in issue at a price not exceeding £0.01 from all Shareholders upon 
giving not less than 28 days’ notice in writing.

Due to the difference in functional and presentation currencies of the parent company, foreign exchange 
differences can arise between the authorised share capital which is restated at each period end, and the 
allotted, issued and fully paid share capital which is presented at historical rates of exchange.

Issued Ordinary Share Capital
On 23 October 2020, the Company issued 200,000,000 Ordinary Shares of 0.1p each at a price of 0.55p  
per share, raising gross proceeds of US$1.4 million (£1.1 million).

On 3 November 2020, the Company issued 209,090,909 Ordinary Shares of 0.1p each at a price of 0.55p  
per share, raising gross proceeds of US$1.5 million (£1.15 million).

On 30 March 2021, the Company issued 200,000,000 Ordinary Shares of 0.1p each at a price of 2 per share, 
raising gross proceeds of US$5.5 million (£4 million).

On 19 April 2021, the Company issued 300,000,000 Ordinary Shares of 0.1p each at a price of 2 per share, 
raising gross proceeds of US$8.4 million (£6.0 million).

On 19 April 2021, the Company issued 2,428,885 Ordinary Shares of 0.1p in lieu of professional fees due to a 
service provider engaged by the Company. See note 26.

Between 26 January 2021 and 30 June 2021, the Company issued 48,973,418 Ordinary Shares of 0.1p each at 
a price of 0.6875p per share, raising gross proceeds of US$0.47 million (£0.34 million), in respect of the 
exercise of warrants. See note 26.

On 30 June 2021, the Company issued 19,868,455 Ordinary Shares of 0.1p each at a price of 0.55p per share, 
raising gross proceeds of US$0.15 million (£0.11 million), in respect of the exercise of warrants. See note 26.

On 29 October 2021, the Company issued 2,727,273 Ordinary Shares of 0.1p each at a price of 1.32p per share, 
raising gross proceeds of US$49,227 (£36,000), in respect of the exercise of warrants. See note 26.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202167

Notes to the Financial Statements

23.  Share Capital (continued)
Between 1 February 2021 and 9 November 2021, the Company issued 34,545,455 Ordinary Shares of 0.1p 
each at a price of 2p per share, raising gross proceeds of US$0.95 million (£0.69 million), in respect of the 
exercise of warrants. See note 24.

At 1 January 2020
Allotment of shares
At 1 January 2021
Allotment of shares

At 31 December 2021

Ordinary 
Shares
Number
‘000

287,112
409,090
696,202
608,544

Deferred 
Shares
Number
‘000

227,753
–
227,753
–

1,304,746

227,753

24.  Warrant Reserve
In November 2019, the Company undertook a fundraise which resulted in the issue of 113,636,364 Ordinary 
Shares of 0.1 pence each. Subscribers were issued warrants to subscribe for 56,818,182 new Ordinary Shares, 
representing one warrant for every two placing shares. The warrants were exercisable at a price of 2 pence per 
Ordinary Share for a period of two years from the date of issue. In November 2021, the Company announced 
that it had extended the exercise date in respect of 22,272,727 outstanding warrants to 30 June 2022. There 
was no resulting impact on the fair value charge on these warrants as a result of the extension.

At 1 January 2020
Lapsed
At 1 January 2021
Exercised

At 31 December 2021

Warrants
Number
‘000

91,159
(34,341)
56,818
(34,545)

22,273

Between 1 February 2021 and 9 November 2021, a total of 34,545,455 warrants were exercised at a price of 
2 pence per share, raising gross proceeds of US$0.95 million (£0.69 million). See note 23.

The fair value of the warrants exercised during the year was US$0.14 million (Lapsed 2020:US$ 0.3 million) and 
this has been recognised as a movement between equity reserves.

No warrants have been issued to subscribers during the year ended 31 December 2021 (2020: US$ nil).

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC68

Notes to the Financial Statements

25.  Reserves
The share premium account represents the sum paid, in excess of the nominal value, of shares allotted, net of 
the costs of issue.

The warrant reserve represents accumulated charges made in respect of the issue of warrants to 
Shareholders. See note 24.

The share‑based payment reserve represents accumulated charges made under IFRS 2 in respect of 
share‑based payments.

The cumulative translation reserve represents foreign exchange differences arising on the translation of 
foreign operations and any net gain/(loss) on the hedge of net investment in foreign subsidiaries. The 
cumulative translation reserve also represents the net effect of the fact that the functional currency of the 
parent undertaking is GBP, whilst its reporting currency is US$, resulting in exchange differences on translation 
of the parent undertakings equity.

The retained deficit includes all current and prior period retained losses.

26.  Share‑Based Payments
Equity Settled Share Option Plan
The Company has a Share Option Plan, 2013 Share Option Plan Part A (employees) and 2013 Share Option 
Plan Part B (non‑employees), under which options to subscribe for the Company’s shares have been granted to 
certain Directors and to selected employees and consultants.

On 29 May 2020, the Company issued 32 million share options with an exercise price of 0.6 pence per 
Ordinary Share, which vest in three equal tranches on 29 May 2021, 2022 and 2023. The options have no 
performance conditions attached and can be exercised up until the tenth anniversary of the grant date.

On 29 May 2020, the Company issued 2,717,000 nil‑cost options to its Non‑Executive Directors to compensate 
them for salaries deferred in the year ended December 2019. The options are exercisable at the Ordinary 
Share’s nominal value of 0.1 pence and the number of options issued was based upon the emoluments 
deferred, divided by 1.1 pence, being the price at which Ordinary Shares were issued in the Company’s placing 
in November 2019. The options can be exercised for a period of seven years from the date of issue. If a 
Non‑Executive Director leaves the Company, the options can be exercised within three years of the date of 
leaving unless otherwise agreed with the Company.

At 31 December 2021, 45.3 million share options had been granted under the terms of the Share Option Plans 
and not exercised.

The Company has no legal or constructive obligation to repurchase or settle the options in cash. The latest 
date for exercise of the options is 28 May 2030 and, unless otherwise agreed, the options are forfeited if the 
employee or consultant leaves the Group before the options vest, or if those options which have vested are 
not exercised within three months of leaving.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202169

Notes to the Financial Statements

26.  Share‑Based Payments (continued)
Details of the share options outstanding at the end of the year were as follow:

Outstanding at 1 January
Granted
Forfeited
Expired
Outstanding at 31 December
Exercisable at 31 December

2021

2020

Number of 
options
‘000

45,434
–
–
(153)
45,281
23,948

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price

5.93p
–
–
112.5p
5.57
10.0p

Number of 
options
‘000

11,267
34,717
(550)
–
45,434
10,800

Weighted 
average
exercise 
price

25.75p
0.56p
0.73p
–
5.93
22.32p

The options outstanding at 31 December 2021 had an estimated weighted average remaining contractual life 
of 8 years (2020: 9 years), with an exercise price ranging between 0.1p and 342.5p.

There were no options issued during the year ended 31 December 2021 (2020: 34,717,000).

The fair value of the options granted during the year was US$ nil (2020: US$ 137,000) in respect of the share 
options and US$ nil (2020: US$ 17,000l) in respect of the nil‑cost options.

Share‑based compensation
On 19 April 2021, the Company issued 2,428,885 Ordinary Shares of 0.1p in lieu of professional fees due to a 
service provider engaged by the Company.

The fair value of the services provided can be measured directly, and accordingly an expense of US$27,502 
(2020: US$ nil) has been recognised in the year ended 31 December 2021.

In the year ended 31 December 2021, the Company recognised a total expense of US$93,104 (2020: 
US$79,000) in respect of share‑based payments, being US$65,602 (2020: US$62,000) in respect of the 
Share Option Plan, US$ nil (2020: 17,000) in respect of the nil‑cost options and US$27,502 (2020: US$ nil)  
in respect of share‑based compensation.

Warrants
On 3 November 2020, the Company issued 70,201,873 warrants to TPI, in respect of broker services provided 
by them in relation to the placing of the Company’s Ordinary Shares. 19,868,455 of the warrants permit the 
holder to subscribe for one new Ordinary Share at a price of 0.55 pence per Ordinary Share, the remaining 
50,333,418 warrants permit the holder to subscribe for one Ordinary Share at a price of 0.6875 pence per 
share and all warrants are exercisable at any time for a period of two years from issue.

The fair value of the services provided to the Company can be measured directly and, therefore, the fair value 
of the warrants issued during the year to TPI has been made with reference to the terms of the agreement 
which stated that the number of warrants issued should be based on a percentage of the equity proceeds 
raised by TPI. 19,868,455 warrants were issued on the basis of 6 per cent of the equity proceeds raised by  
TPI and 50,333,418 were issued on the basis of 19 per cent of the equity proceeds raised by TPI.

On 19 April 2021, the Company issued 32,350,000 warrants to TPI, in respect of broker services provided by 
them in relation to the placing of the Company’s Ordinary Shares. The warrants permit the holder to subscribe 
for one new Ordinary Share at a price of 3 pence per Ordinary Share and are exercisable at any time for a 
period of three years from the date of issue.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC70

Notes to the Financial Statements

26.  Share‑Based Payments (continued)
The fair value of the warrants issued during the year has been calculated using the Black‑Scholes model. The 
significant inputs into the model for the IFRS 2 valuation were as follows:

Exercise price (pence)
Expected volatility (%)
Expected life (years)
Risk free rates (%)
Expected dividends
Performance condition

Grants in year
32,350,000
Warrants

3
78
2.5 years
0.89
–
None

The fair value of the warrants issued during the year was US$0.6 million (2020: US$ 0.6 million).

Between 26 January 2021 and 30 June 2021, a total of 48,973,418 warrants were exercised at a price of 
0.6875p per share, raising gross proceeds of US$0.47 million (£0.34 million). See note 23.

On 30 June 2021, 19,868,455 warrants were exercised at a price of 0.55p per share, raising gross proceeds of 
US$0.15 million (£0.11 million). See note 23.

On 29 October 2021, 2,727,273 warrants were exercised at a price of 1.32p per share, raising gross proceeds 
of US$49,227 (£36,000). See note 23.

The fair value of the warrants exercised during the year was US$0.63 million (Lapsed 2020:US$ 0.25 million) 
and this has been recognised as a movement between equity reserves.

In accordance with the Group’s accounting policy, the costs of an equity transaction are accounted for as a 
deduction from equity to the extent that they are incremental costs directly attributable to the equity 
transaction that would otherwise have been avoided. As a result, there is no impact on the Group’s income 
statement during the year ended 31 December 2021.

Details of the warrants included in share‑based payments and outstanding at the end of the year were as follow:

At 1 January 2020
Granted
Lapsed
At 1 January 2021
Granted
lapsed

At 31 December 2021

Warrants
Number
‘000

7,891
70,202
(5,164)
72,929
32,350
(71,569)

33,710

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202171

Notes to the Financial Statements

27.  Financial Instruments
Financial Risk Management Objectives
Management provides services to the business, co‑ordinates access to domestic and international financial 
markets and monitors and manages the financial risks relating to the operations of the Group. These risks 
include cash flow interest risk, foreign currency risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and cash flow interest rate risk.

The policies for managing these risks are regularly reviewed and agreed by the Board who aim to minimise 
potential adverse effects on the Group’s financial performance on a continuous basis.

The Group’s principal financial assets are comprised of cash and cash equivalents and trade and other 
receivables derived from its operations. The Group’s principal financial liabilities are comprised of borrowings 
and trade and other payables. and equity attributable to equity holders of the parent, comprising issued 
capital, reserves and retained earnings.

The Group does not enter into or trade financial instruments, including derivative financial instruments, for 
speculative purposes.

Capital Risk Management
The Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue as going concerns, 
while maximising the return to Shareholders through the optimisation of the debt and equity balance. The 
Group’s overall strategy is to minimise costs and liquidity risk.

The Group is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements.

The capital structure of the Group consists of cash and cash equivalents and equity attributable to owners of 
the parent company, comprising issued capital, reserves and retained earnings.

The Group plans its capital requirements on a regular basis and as part of this review the Directors consider 
the cost of capital and the risks associated with each class of capital.

Significant Accounting Policies
Details of the significant accounting policies and methods adopted, including the criteria for recognition, the 
basis of measurement, the basis on which income and expenses are recognised, in respect of each class of 
financial asset, financial liability and equity instrument are disclosed in note 3.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC72

Notes to the Financial Statements

27.  Financial Instruments (continued)
Categories Of Financial Instruments

Financial assets measured at amortised cost
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade receivables
Other receivables
Loans to subsidiary undertakings

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost
Trade payables
Other payables
Accruals
Lease liabilities
Borrowings

Group

Company

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

1,811
1,227
4
–

3,042

3,940
–
60
–

4,000

1,574
–
–
35,063

36,637

2,245
–
–
16,923

19,168

Group

Company

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

3,524
116
1,754
–
4,060

9,454

1,949
124
375
8
4,060

2,456

137
–
300
–
–

4,497

55
–
245
8
43

308

Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Directors consider that the carrying amount of its financial instruments approximates to their fair value.

Foreign Exchange Risk and Foreign Currency Risk Management
The Group undertakes certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies, with the result that exposure to 
exchange rate fluctuations arise.

The Group does not normally hedge against the effects of movements in exchange rates. The Group policy is 
not to repatriate any currency where there is the requirement or obligation to spend in the same denomination. 
When foreign exchange is required the Group purchases using the best spot rate available. As a result, there is 
limited currency risk within the Group other than cash and cash equivalents whose functional currency is 
different to presentation currency.

The carrying amounts of the Group’s foreign currency denominated monetary assets and monetary liabilities at 
the reporting date are as follows:

GBP

Liabilities

Assets

2021
US$’000

116

2020
US$’000

124

2021
US$’000

169

2020
US$’000

189

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202173

Notes to the Financial Statements

27.  Financial Instruments (continued)
Foreign currency sensitivity analysis
The financial statements of the Group’s foreign subsidiaries are denominated in foreign currencies.

The Group is exposed primarily to movements in US$ in respect of foreign currency risk arising from 
recognised assets.

Sensitivity analysis has been performed to indicate how the profit or loss would have been affected by 
changes in the exchange rate between GBP and US$. The analysis is based on the weakening and 
strengthening of US$ by five per cent. A movement of five per cent reflects a reasonably positive sensitivity 
when compared to historical movements over a three to five‑year timeframe. The sensitivity analysis includes 
only outstanding foreign currency denominated monetary items and adjusts their translation at the period end 
for a five per cent change in foreign currency rates.

The table below details the Group’s sensitivity to a five per cent decrease in US$ against GBP. A positive 
number below indicates an increase in profit where US$ strengthens five per cent against GBP. For a five per 
cent weakening of US$ there would be an equal and opposite impact on the profit, and the balance below 
would be negative. The sensitivity calculated below is primarily attributable to the restatement of GBP 
denominated intercompany loans in the Group’s U.S. subsidiaries.

Income statement

2021
US$’000

(2,196)

2020
US$’000

(1,246)

Interest Rate Risk Management
The Group’s policy on interest rate management is agreed at Board level and is reviewed on an on‑going basis.

The Group has no substantial exposure to fluctuating interest rates on its liabilities. The Group’s 
interest‑bearing loans incur a fixed interest rate charge and, therefore, the Group is not exposed to significant 
interest rate fluctuations.

Accordingly, no sensitivity analysis has been presented.

Liquidity Risk Management
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations when they fall due. 
Ultimate responsibility for liquidity risk management rests with the Board of Directors, which has built an 
appropriate liquidity risk management framework for the management of the Group’s short, medium and 
long‑term funding and liquidity management requirements. The Group manages liquidity risk by maintaining 
adequate cash reserves and by continuously monitoring forecast and actual cash flow.

Credit Risk Management
Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial 
loss to the Group.

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date to recognised financial assets is the carrying 
amount, net of any provisions for impairment of those assets. The Group does not hold any collateral. 
Generally, financial assets are written off when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery.

The Group does not have any significant credit risk exposure on trade and other receivables, which are current 
and collectible.

The credit risk on liquid funds (cash) is considered to be limited because the counterparties are financial 
institutions with high and good credit ratings assigned by international credit‑rating agencies.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC74

Notes to the Financial Statements

28.  Related Party Transactions
Amounts Due From Subsidiaries
Group
Other than foreign exchange gains/(losses) attributable to the restatement of GBP denominated intercompany 
loans in the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries, balances and transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries 
which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation and are not disclosed in this note. A foreign 
exchange gain of US$0.4 million (2020: loss of US$0.7 million) has been recognised in the Consolidated 
Income Statement for the year ending 31 December 2021.

Company
The Company has entered into a number of unsecured related party transactions with subsidiary undertakings. 
The most significant transactions carried out between the Company and their subsidiary undertakings are 
management charges for services provided to the subsidiary company and long‑term financing. Details of 
these transactions are as follows:

Loans
Management charges
Interest (1% over UK base rate)
Capital contribution

2021

2020

Transactions
in the year
US$’000

Amounts
owing
US$’000

Transactions
in the year
US$’000

17,467
462
370
–

53,870
6,019
6,321
641

1,061
309
273
(396)

Amounts
owing
US$’000

36,720
5,613
6,009
646

Remuneration of Key Management Personnel
The remuneration of key management personnel of the Group is set out below in aggregate for each of the 
categories specified in IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures. 

Short‑term employee benefits
Post‑employment benefits
Share‑based payments

2021

2020

Purchase of
services
US$’000

Amounts
owing
US$’000

Purchase of 
services
US$’000

Amounts
owing
US$’000

928
42
48

1,018

–
28
–

28

657
28
60

745

148
13
–

161

The amounts outstanding are unsecured and will be settled in cash. No guarantees have been given or received.

All transactions with related parties have been conducted on an arm’s length basis.

Directors’ pensions 

The number of Directors to whom retirement benefits  
are accruing under money purchase schemes was

2021
No

2

2020
No

1

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202175

Notes to the Financial Statements

28.  Related Party Transactions (continued)
Transactions with Related Parties
Services
During the year ended 31 December 2021, the Group received services from Origin Creek Energy LLC which is 
a related party as JC Harrington is indirectly the controlling Shareholder and RL Grant is also a shareholder. 

Office services

2021
US$’000

2020
US$’000

18

2

Interest bearing loans
During the year ended 31 December 2021, the Group received loans from a number of sources, including 
certain Directors and Shareholders. See note 20.

As at 31 December 2021, there were outstanding loans due to Directors of the Company (including family 
interests and those entities in which Directors have a controlling interest), and payments have been made as 
follows: 

RL Grant
CJ Eadie
Origin Creek Energy LLC(1)

Loans 
outstanding
US$’000

Arrangement 
fee
US$’000

Interest 
paid
US$’000

Total
US$’000

169
41
101

311

3
1
2

6

2
–
1

3

5
1
3

9

(1) JC Harrington is indirectly the controlling Shareholder of Origin Creek Energy LLC

On 22 February 2022, these loans were repaid in full together with a 3 percent early repayment charge.

Share transactions
On 29 March 2021, the Company announced a Placing to raise £10 million by the issue of 500,000,000 new 
Ordinary Shares of 0.1p each at a price of 2 per Ordinary Share (“Placing Price”). Several Directors participated 
in the Placing as follows:

•  OCE subscribed for 2,500,000 new Ordinary Shares, equivalent to £50,000 at the Placing Price. RL Grant 

and JC Harrington are both Shareholders and Directors of OCE, and JC Harrington is indirectly the 
controlling Shareholder of OCE.

•  JC Harrington subscribed for 750,000 new Ordinary Shares, equivalent to a total of £15,000 at the Placing 

Price.

•  CJ Eadie and RL Grant each subscribed for 1,500,000 new Ordinary Shares, equivalent to a total of £30,000 

at the Placing Price.

•  GB Stein subscribed for 500,000 new Ordinary Shares, equivalent to a total of £10,000 at the Placing Price.

Warrant extension
On 22 November 2021, the Company announced that it had extended the exercise period of warrants issued 
to OCE and CJ Eadie as a result of their participation in an equity placing carried out by the Company in 
November 2019. In the Placing, OCE invested £480,000 and was issued with 21,818,182 warrants. CJ Eadie 
invested £10,000 and was issued 454,545 warrants. The expiry of the exercise period of the warrants was 
extended from 22 November 2021 until 30 June 2022.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC76

Notes to the Financial Statements

29.  Post Balance Sheet Events

Equity Fundraise
In February 2022, the Company raised gross proceeds of US$16.3 million (£12 million) by way of a placing of 
240 million Ordinary Shares of 0.1p each at a price of 5 pence per Ordinary Share.

In February 2022, the Company also raised gross proceeds of US$1.1 million (£0.8 million) by way of a placing 
of 16 million Ordinary Shares of 0.1p each at a price of 5 pence per Ordinary Share by means of a broker option 
which allowed existing, qualifying shareholders to participate on the same terms as the placing.

Debt facility
In February 2022, received approval from a North Dakota based commercial bank for a US$28 million senior 
debt facility, consisting of a fully amortising US$18 million term loan for a period of 48 months (“Term Loan”) and 
a US$10 million revolving credit facility (“RCF”). The Term Loan and RCF both incur interest at a fixed rate of 
6.74%.

Acquisition
In February 2022, the Group completed the acquisition of 1,960 net acres of non‑operated working interests at 
a cost of US$36 million.

The purchase resulted in the acquisition of non‑operated working interests in 163 currently producing wells 
with an average working interest of 4%, 18 DUC wells, and 47 proved but undeveloped locations for future 
drilling, in the Williston Basin, North Dakota, U.S. The wells are operated by Whiting Petroleum, an active and 
highly experienced operator in the Williston Basin, which serves as the operator of a number of the Group’s 
existing non‑operated wells.

Hedging programme
In April 2022, the Group announced the implementations of a hedging programming related to oil productions 
form its non‑operated asset portfolio in the Williston Basin over the following two years. The programme has 
been implemented with BP Energy Company (“BP”) one of the world’s leading energy trading houses, as the 
hedge counterparty.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Important information regarding  
the Annual General Meeting

77

THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt  
as to what action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own financial advice from your 
stockbroker or other independent adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000  
(as amended). If you have recently sold or transferred all of your shares in Zephyr Energy Plc, please forward 
this document, together with the accompanying documents, as soon as possible either to the purchaser  
or transferee or to the person who arranged the sale or transfer, so they can pass these documents to the 
person who now holds the shares.

You will not receive a hard copy form of proxy for the 2022 annual general meeting in the post. Instead, you will 
be able to vote electronically using the link www.signalshares.com. You will need to log into your account or 
register if you have not previously done so. To register you will need your investor code, which is detailed on your 
share certificate or available from our registrar, Link Group.

Voting by proxy prior to the annual general meeting does not affect your right to attend the annual general meeting 
and vote in person should you so wish. Proxy votes must be received no later than 10 a.m. on 19 July 2022.

If you need help with voting online, please contact our Registrar, Link Group, on 0371 664 0391 if calling from  
the United Kingdom, or +44 (0) 371 664 0391 if calling from outside of the United Kingdom or email Link at 
enquiries@linkgroup.co.uk. Calls will be charged at local rates. Calls made outside the United Kingdom will be 
charged at the applicable international rate. The lines are open between 09:00 and 17:30 Monday to Friday, 
excluding public holidays in England and Wales.

OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC78

Notice of Annual General Meeting

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders of the Company will be held 
at the offices of Zephyr Energy plc, First Floor, Newmarket House, Market Street, Newbury, Berks, RG14 5DP 
on 21 July 2022 at 10.00 a.m. for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing the following 
resolutions, of which Resolutions 1 to 5 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and Resolution 6 will be 
proposed as a special resolution:

Ordinary Resolutions
1. 

 To receive and adopt the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021, together with 
the reports of the Directors and the auditor thereon.

2. 

 To appoint BDO LLP as auditor to act as such until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of 
the Company at which the requirements of section 437 of the Companies Act 2006 (“CA 2006”) are 
complied with and to authorise the Directors of the Company to fix its remuneration.

3. 

 To re‑elect Richard Lee Grant, who retires by rotation, as a Director.

4. 

 To re‑elect Christopher John Eadie, who retires by rotation, as a Director.

5. 

 That the Directors be generally and unconditionally authorised in accordance with section 551 of the CA 
2006 to issue and allot Ordinary Shares of £0.001 each in the share capital of the Company (“Ordinary 
Shares”) or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares in the Company (together 
“Rights”) up to a maximum nominal amount of £515,046.18 (representing approximately 33 per cent. of the 
issued share capital of the Company), to such persons at such times and on such terms as they think 
proper, provided that this authority shall, unless renewed, varied or revoked by the Company, expire on 
the date falling 15 months from the date of the passing of this Resolution, or if earlier, at the conclusion of 
the annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2023, save that the Company may at any time 
before such expiry make an offer or agreement which might require Ordinary Shares to be allotted or 
Rights to be granted after such expiry and the Directors may allot Ordinary Shares or grant Rights in 
pursuance of such offer or agreement notwithstanding that the authority hereby conferred has expired.

 This authority revokes and replaces all unexercised authorities previously granted to the Directors but 
without prejudice to any allotment of shares or grant of Rights already made or offered or agreed to be 
made pursuant to such authorities.

Special Resolution
6. 

 THAT, subject to the passing of Resolution 5 above, the Directors be generally empowered pursuant to 
section 570 of the Act to allot equity securities (as defined in section 560 of the Act) for cash as if section 
561(1) of the CA 2006 did not apply to any such allotment pursuant to the general authority conferred on 
them by Resolution 5 above (as varied from time to time by the Company in general meeting) PROVIDED 
THAT such power shall be limited to:

a. 

 the allotment of equity securities in connection with a rights issue or any other offer to:

i. 

ii. 

 holders of Ordinary Shares in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their respective 
holdings; and

 to holders of other equity securities as required by the rights of those securities or as the 
Directors otherwise consider necessary,

  but subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or 
expedient in relation to treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal or practical 
problems in or under the laws of any territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or stock 
exchange; and

ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
79

Notice of Annual General Meeting

b. 

c. 

 the allotment of equity securities pursuant to the terms of any share scheme for Directors and 
employees of the Company or any of the subsidiaries;

 the allotment otherwise than pursuant to sub paragraph (a) to (b) (inclusive) above of equity securities 
up to an aggregate nominal amount of £156,074.60 representing approximately 10 per cent. of the 
issued share capital of the Company,

and the power hereby conferred shall operate in substitution for and to the exclusion of any previous power 
given to the Directors pursuant to section 570 of the CA 2006 and shall expire on whichever is the earlier of the 
conclusion of the annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2023 or the date falling 15 months from 
the date of the passing of this Resolution (unless renewed varied or revoked by the Company prior to or on that 
date) save that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require 
equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of such 
offer or agreement notwithstanding that the power conferred by this Resolution has expired.

By order of the Board

CJ Eadie
Company Secretary

Registered office:
20‑22 Wenlock Road
London
England
N1 7GU

Date: 28 June 2022

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC 
 
80

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Notes to the Notice of Annual General Meeting
Pursuant to Part 13 of the Companies Act 2006 and to Regulation 41 of the Uncertificated Securities 
Regulations 2001 (as amended), only those members registered in the register of members of the Company  
at the close of business on 19 July 2022 (or if the AGM is adjourned, 48 hours before the time fixed for the 
adjourned AGM,) shall be entitled to attend and vote at the AGM in respect of the number of shares registered 
in their name at that time. Any changes to the register of members after such time shall be disregarded in 
determining the rights of any person to attend or vote at the AGM.

Appointment of proxies
•  A shareholder is ordinarily entitled to appoint another person as his or her proxy to exercise all or any of his 

or her rights to attend and to speak and vote at the meeting. A proxy need not be a member of the 
Company.

•  Your proxy appointment form must be received by Link Group, PXS 1, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, 
Leeds, LS1 4DL, United Kingdom not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the meeting or any 
adjourned meeting.

•  A vote withheld is not a vote in law which means that the vote will not be counted in the calculation of votes 
for or against the Resolution. If no voting indication is given, your proxy will vote or abstain from voting at his 
or her discretion. Your proxy will vote (or abstain from voting) as he or she thinks fit in relation to any other 
matter which is put before the annual general meeting.

•  You can vote either:

•  by logging on to www.signalshares.com and following the instructions; or via the Link Group shareholder 
app, LinkVote+. The app is free to download and use and is available to download on both the Apple App 
Store and Google Play;

•  by requesting a hard copy form of proxy directly from our Registrars, Link Group on telephone number: 

0371 664 0300. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside 
the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. The Registrars are open between 
9:00 am – 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales; or

•  in the case of CREST members, by utilising the CREST electronic proxy appointment service in 

accordance with the procedures set out below.

•  In each case the appointment of a proxy must be received by Link Group at PXS 1, Link Group, Central 

Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL, United Kingdom by 10a.m. on 19 July 2022.

•  Under the Company’s articles of association, the return of a form of proxy or any CREST Proxy Instruction 
will not preclude a member from attending and voting at the meeting in person if he/she wishes to do so.

•  CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies by utilising the CREST electronic proxy 

appointment service may do so for the annual general meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof by utilising 
the procedures described in the CREST manual. CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored 
members, and those CREST members who have appointed a voting service provider(s), should refer to their 
CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s), who will be able to take the appropriate action on their behalf.

•  In order for a proxy appointment made by means of CREST to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a 

CREST Proxy Instruction) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland 
Limited’s (EUI) specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in 
the CREST manual. The message must be transmitted so as to be received by the issuer’s agent (Link 
Group, ID RA10) not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the meeting or any adjourned meeting. 
For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to 
the message by the CREST applications host) from which the issuer’s agent is able to retrieve the message 
by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202181

Notice of Annual General Meeting

•  CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that 
EUI does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular messages. Normal system 
timings and

•  limitations will therefore apply in relation to the input of CREST proxy instructions. It is the responsibility of 

the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member or sponsored 
member or has appointed a voting service provider(s), to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting service 
provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of 
the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their 
CREST sponsors or voting service providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST 
manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.

•  The Company may treat as invalid a CREST proxy instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)

(a) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.

•  In the case of joint holders, where more than one of the joint holders purports to appoint a proxy, only the 
appointment submitted by the most senior holder will be accepted. Seniority is determined by the order in 
which the names of the joint holders appear in the Company’s register of members in respect of the joint 
holding (the first‑named being the most senior).

Changing proxy instructions
•  To change your proxy instructions simply submit a new proxy appointment using the methods set out above. 

Note that the cut‑off time for receipt of proxy appointments (see above) will also apply in relation to 
amended instructions; any amended proxy appointment received after the relevant cut‑off time will be 
disregarded.

•  Where you have appointed a proxy using the hard‑copy proxy form and would like to change the 

instructions using another hard‑copy proxy form, please contact Link Group on 0371 664 0391 if calling  
from the United Kingdom, or +44 (0) 371 664 0391 if calling from outside of the United Kingdom or email  
Link at enquiries@linkgroup.co.uk. Calls will be charged at local rates. Calls made outside the United 
Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. The lines are open between 09:00 and  
17:30 Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays in England and Wales.

•  If you submit more than one valid proxy appointment, the appointment received last before the latest time 

for the receipt of proxies will take precedence.

Termination of proxy appointments
•  In order to revoke a proxy instruction, you will need to inform the Company by sending a signed hard copy 
notice clearly stating your intention to revoke your proxy appointment to Link Group, PXS 1, Central Square, 
29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL,

•  United Kingdom. In the case of a member which is a company, the revocation notice must be executed 

under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an officer of the Company or an attorney for the Company. 
Any power of attorney or any other authority under which the revocation notice is signed (or a duly certified 
copy of such power or authority) must be included with the revocation notice. The revocation notice must be 
received by Link Group, PXS 1, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL, United Kingdom no 
later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

•  If you attempt to revoke your proxy appointment but the revocation is received after the time specified then, 

subject to the paragraph directly below, your proxy appointment will remain valid.

•  Appointment of a proxy does not preclude you from attending the annual general meeting and voting in 
person. If you have appointed a proxy and attend the annual general meeting in person, your proxy 
appointment will automatically be terminated.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC82

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Corporate representatives
•  A corporation which is a member can appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise, on 
its behalf, all its powers as a member provided that no more than one corporate representative exercises 
powers over the same share.

Issued shares and total voting rights
•  As at close of business on 27 June 2022, the Company’s issued share capital comprised 1,560,746,001 

Ordinary Shares of £0.001 each. Each Ordinary Share carries the right to one vote at a general meeting of 
the Company and, therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company as at close of business on 
27 June 2022 is 1,560,746,001.

Communication
•  Except as provided above, members who have general queries about the annual general meeting should 

contact the Company Secretary at Zephyr Energy plc, 20‑22 Wenlock Road, London N1 7GU or on  
+44 (0) 207 225 4590 (no other methods of communication will be accepted). You may not use any 
electronic address provided either:

•  in this notice of annual general meeting; or

•  any related documents (including the Chairman’s letter and proxy form), to communicate with the 

Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.

(continued)ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 202183

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Explanatory Notes To The Notice Of Annual General Meeting

The notes on the following pages give an explanation of the proposed Resolutions.

Resolutions 1 to 5 are proposed as ordinary resolutions. This means that for each of those Resolutions to be 
passed, more than half of the votes cast in person or by proxy must be in favour of the Resolution. Resolution 6 
is proposed as a special resolution. This means that for this Resolution to be passed, at least three‑quarters of 
the votes cast must be in favour of the Resolution.

Resolution 1
This Resolution is to receive and adopt the Directors’ reports and accounts for the year ended 31 December 
2021, which accompany this document.

Resolution 2
This is a Resolution to appoint BDO LLP as auditor of the Company for the financial year ending 31 December 
2022 and to authorise the Directors to fix their remuneration.

Resolutions 3 to 4
Mr Richard Lee Grant is retiring as a Director by rotation at the annual general meeting in accordance with the 
provisions of the Company’s articles of association and is standing for re‑appointment.

Mr Christopher John Eadie is retiring as a Director by rotation at the annual general meeting in accordance 
with the provisions of the Company’s articles of association and is standing for re‑appointment.

If each of these Resolutions are separately passed, the respective individual will be re‑appointed as a Director 
of the Company.

Resolution 5
This Resolution, if passed, would authorise the Directors to allot Ordinary Shares or grant Rights to subscribe 
for or convert any securities into Ordinary Shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of £515,046.18 
representing approximately 33 per cent. of the current issued share capital.

The authority being sought in Resolution 5 replaces the authority granted on 30 June 2021.

The authority will expire on the earlier of 15 months from the date the Resolution is passed or the conclusion of 
the Company’s annual general meeting in 2023.

Resolution 6
This Resolution, which is conditional upon Resolution 5 being passed, would give the Directors the authority to 
allot Ordinary Shares (or sell any Ordinary Shares which the Company elects to hold in treasury) for cash 
without first offering them to existing Shareholders in proportion to their existing shareholding.

This authority would be limited to an aggregate nominal amount of £156,074.60 (representing approximately 10 
per cent of the issued Ordinary Share capital of the Company as at 27 June 2022, being the latest practical 
date prior to the publication of the notice of the annual general meeting).

As with Resolution 5, the authority being sought pursuant to Resolution 6, replaces the authority granted on 
30 June 2021.

The authority and power pursuant to Resolution 6 will expire on the earlier of 15 months from the date of 
Resolution 6 being passed or the conclusion of the Company’s annual general meeting in 2023.

(continued)OverviewGovernanceFinancial StatementsOther InformationANNUAL REPORT 2021 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC84

Directors, Advisers and Officers

Non‑Executive Chairman

Directors
RL Grant 
TH Reynolds  Non‑Executive Director
GB Stein 
Non‑Executive Director
JC Harrington  Chief Executive Officer
CJ Eadie 

Finance Director

Secretary
CJ Eadie

Registered Office
20‑22 Wenlock Road
London
N1 7GU

Auditor 
BDO LLP 
55 Baker Street 
London 
W1U 7EU 

Registrar 
Link Group 
29 Wellington Street 
Leeds 
LS1 4DL 

Bankers 
Barclays Bank Plc 
Level 27 
1 Churchill Place 
London 
E14 5HP 

Solicitors
RBG Legal Services Limited, trading as Memery Crystal
165 Fleet Street
London
EC4A 2DY

Nominated Adviser
Allenby Capital Limited
5 St Helen’s Place
London
EC3A 6AB

Broker
Turner Pope Investments Ltd
3rd Floor
8 Fredericks Place
London
EC2R 8AB

ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Registered Office:
20‑22 Wenlock Road, London, N1 7GU

www.zephyrplc.com