Volga Gas PLC Conclusion of FSP and Operational Update (2389D)

TIDMVGAS

RNS Number : 2389D

Volga Gas PLC

27 January 2015

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

27 January 2015

Volga Gas plc

("Volga Gas", the "Company" or the "Group")

CONCLUSION OF FORMAL SALE PROCESS AND

OPERATIONAL UPDATE

Conclusion of Formal Sale Process

Following the announcement by the Company of a formal sale process on 5 June 2014 a number of proposals were received from interested parties. However none of the proposals have been deemed by the Board to represent a fair value for the Company. In light of the more recent economic developments, the Board has concluded that there is unlikely to be an acceptable proposal in the immediate future. As a result, Volga Gas announces that the formal sale process has been concluded with immediate effect and, as such, Volga Gas is no longer in an offer period for the purposes of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers.

The Board remains confident in the outlook for the Company and its potential to continue delivering value to shareholders. Considerable progress has been made in recent years to bring the Company's main assets into production, which has resulted in strong cash generation and profitability. On 10 July 2014 the Company announced a policy to pay up to 50% of net profits as a cash dividend, the first payment under which was made to shareholders on 24 October 2014. The Company has a robust balance sheet with no debt and the Board is confident that it can continue to operate profitably in spite of the recent strong downturn in oil and gas prices and the economic conditions currently prevailing in Russia, and will be capable of continuing with the development of its assets to the benefit of shareholders.

Operational Update

Group production during 2014 was 4,244 boepd reflecting continued steady production from the Vostochny Makarovskoye ("VM") field offset by declines in oil production in the second half and some plant maintenance downtime during October and December 2014. Declines in international oil prices during the period have been accompanied by a similar drop in the US dollar/Ruble exchange rate, so that while the revenues, as reported in US dollars would be expected to decline, the major part of the Group's costs, being in Rubles, have commensurately declined in US dollar terms. During December 2014 the selling price of its oil and condensate averaged US$31.50 per barrel compared to the average US$48.00 per barrel achieved in H1 2014. Gas sales prices, while they have been steady in Ruble terms have fallen in US dollar terms to US$59.00 per thousand cubic metres.

Certain changes to the taxes applied to oil and gas in Russia announced during 2014 have come into effect. The major change relevant to Volga Gas is the significant increase in the rate of Mineral Extraction Tax ("MET") that applies to gas condensate, which has now been brought in line with the MET on crude oil. The MET formula rate on crude oil also has increased although the actual rate charged will reflect significantly lower international oil prices which are used to calculate the rates. Another change coming into effect in Russia is a significant reduction in oil export tax rates. While Volga Gas would not directly benefit from this as it sells all production in domestic markets, it can be expected that domestic prices would adjust to reflect these lower export taxes, albeit in the light of the currently lower international oil prices.

Volga Gas is confident that with its competitive cost base and strong balance sheet it can continue to operate and provide positive cash flow and develop its assets with its existing resources. Having converted much of its cash balances from Rubles to US dollars, the Group's liquidity position remains healthy.

VM Well #3

Further to the announcement of 11 November 2014, Volga Gas agreed with the drilling contractor a cost effective means of completing the VM#3 production well. Operations have recommenced with the aim of completing it in time to commence production during the first half of 2015. In addition, a rig is being mobilized to drill a sidetrack to the VM#4 well which is currently not producing. Since the drilling contracts are in Roubles, the cost to the Company of these wells in US Dollars will be significantly lower than previously budgeted.

The existing wells on the VM field continue to produce strongly and maintain current group production capacity at a level of approximately 4,500 boepd.

LPG Project

The Group in undertaking front end engineering and design work on a further enhancement to the Dobrinskoye Gas Plant to enable it to extract propane and butane ("LPG") as a separate product stream. Initial studies suggest that the estimated US$30 million capital cost could be recovered within 2 to 3 years from the incremental profits from this project. Further announcements on this project will be made as it progresses towards a final investment decision.

For further information, please contact:

 
 Volga Gas plc 
                                                [phone] 
 Mikhail Ivanov, Chief Executive Officer         [phone] 
  Tony Alves, Chief Financial Officer            4451 
 
 Oriel Securities Limited (Nominated Adviser    [phone] 
  and Broker)                                    7600 
 Michael Shaw, Ashton Clanfield 
 
                                                [phone] 
 FTI Consulting                                  1000 
 Edward Westropp, Alex Beagley 
 

Editors' notes:

Volga Gas is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company operating in the Volga region of Russia. The company has 100% interests in its four licence areas.

The information contained in this announcement has been reviewed and verified by Mr. Mikhail Ivanov, Director and Chief Executive Officer of Volga Gas plc, for the purposes of the Guidance Note for Mining, Oil and Gas companies issued by the London Stock Exchange in June 2009. Mr. Mikhail Ivanov holds a M.S. Degree in Geophysics from Novosibirsk State University. He also has an MBA degree from Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University). He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Glossary

   bbl               Barrel 
   Bopd            Barrels of oil per day 
   Bpd             Barrels per day 

Boepd Barrels of oil equivalent per day, in which 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas is equated to one barrel of oil

   mmcf/d        Millions of standard cubic feet per day 

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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