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RPT Regal Petroleum Plc

15.325
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Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Regal Petroleum Plc LSE:RPT London Ordinary Share GB0031775819 ORD 5P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 15.325 14.75 15.90 0.00 00:00:00
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
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Regal Petroleum PLC 2018 Audited Results - Amendment (6563X)

01/05/2019 7:00am

UK Regulatory


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TIDMRPT

RNS Number : 6563X

Regal Petroleum PLC

01 May 2019

1 May 2019

REGAL PETROLEUM PLC

The following amendment has been made to the announcement titled "2018 Audited Results" released on 30 April 2019 at 07.00 under RNS number 4613X:

The Group's cash and cash equivalents at 25 April 2019 are $63.7 million and not $54.2 million as previously stated. As a result, the sixth bullet point under Finance in the Highlights section is now as follows:

"Cash and cash equivalents held at 31 December 2018 were $53.2 million (31 December 2017: $14.2 million cash and cash equivalents and $16.0 million other short-term investments). The Group's cash and cash equivalents balance at 25 April 2019 was $63.7 million, held as to $24.2 million equivalent in Ukrainian Hryvnia, $30.0 million equivalent predominantly in US Dollars, Euros and Pounds Sterling, and $9.5 million in short-term Ukrainian Government bonds."

The eighteenth paragraph of the Finance Review is also restated in these terms.

All other details remain unchanged and the full amended text is set out below.

REGAL PETROLEUM PLC

2018 AUDITED RESULTS

Regal Petroleum plc (the "Company", and with its subsidiaries, the "Group"), the AIM-quoted (RPT) oil and gas exploration and production group, today announces its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2018.

Highlights

Ukraine Operations

 
 --   Aggregate average daily production from the MEX-GOL, SV and VAS fields over the year to 31 
       December 2018 of 3,391 boepd, which compares with an aggregate average daily production rate 
       of 2,235 boepd during 2017, an increase of nearly 52%. 
 --   Aggregate 2018 year end production of approximately 4,377 boepd, compared with approximately 
       2,811 boepd at 2017 year end, representing an increase of nearly 56% during the year, largely 
       as a result of the significant contributions from the MEX-109 and SV-2 wells, which were operational 
       for the full year, and additional contributions coming on stream during the year from the 
       SV-12 and VAS-10 wells 
 --   Reserves upgrade at MEX-GOL and SV fields announced in July 2018, approximately quadrupling 
       2P reserves to 50.0 MMboe, enabling an enhanced development programme for these fields 
 --   Workover of SV-12 well successfully completed and brought on production in July 2018 
 --   VAS-10 well successfully completed and brought on production in November 2018 
 

Finance

 
 --   Revenue for the year to 31 December 2018 up 88.3% to $66.1 million (2017: $35.1 million) 
 --   Gross profit for the year up 216.7% to $34.2 million (2017: $10.8 million) 
 --   Cash generated from operations during the year of $36.8 million (2017: $18.0 million) 
 --   Net profit for the year of $54.3 million (2017: $2.3 million), including a one-off item of 
       $36.1 million relating to impairment reversal of oil and gas development and production asset 
       (as a result of reassessment of the remaining reserves and resources at the MEX-GOL and SV 
       fields as at 31 December 2017) 
 --   Average realised gas, condensate and LPG prices in Ukraine for the year to 31 December 2018 
       of $312/Mm(3) (UAH8,528/Mm(3) ), $72/bbl and $64/bbl respectively (2017: $241/Mm(3) (UAH6,412/Mm(3) 
       ) gas, $67/bbl condensate and $56/bbl LPG) 
 --   Cash and cash equivalents of $53.2 million at 31 December 2018 (31 December 2017: cash resources 
       of $30.2 million comprising cash and cash equivalents of $14.2 million and short-term investments 
       of $16.0 million), with cash and cash equivalents at 25 April 2019 of $63.7 million, held 
       as $24.2 million equivalent in Ukrainian Hryvnia, $30.0 million equivalent predominately in 
       US Dollars, Euros and Pounds Sterling, and $9.5 million in short-term Ukrainian Government 
       bonds. 
 

Outlook

 
 --   Development work for 2019 at MEX-GOL and SV fields: completion of geophysical studies on existing 
       seismic data and refinement of new geological model; completion of MEX-119 well; commencement 
       of new well in SV field; planning for further new well in SV field; hydraulic fracturing of 
       MEX-120 well; assessment and workover of existing wells; installation of compression equipment; 
       and continued investment in gas processing facilities, pipeline network and other infrastructure 
 --   Development work for 2019 at VAS field: completion of processing and interpretation of new 
       3D seismic data; development of new geological model; reassessment of remaining reserves and 
       resources; planning for a new well; installation of compression equipment; and continued investment 
       in gas processing facilities, pipeline network and other infrastructure 
 --   2019 development programme expected to be funded from existing cash resources and operational 
       cash flow 
 

The Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2018, together with the Notice of Annual General Meeting, will be posted to shareholders and published on the Company's website during May/June 2019.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.

For further information, please contact:

 
 Regal Petroleum plc                         Tel: 020 3427 3550 
 Chris Hopkinson, Chairman 
 Sergii Glazunov, Chief Eexecutive Officer 
 
 Strand Hanson Limited                       Tel: 020 7409 3494 
 Rory Murphy / Richard Tulloch 
 
 Citigate Dewe Rogerson                      Tel: 020 7638 9571 
 Nick Hayns / Elizabeth Kittle 
 

Dmitry Sazonenko, MSc Geology, MSc Petroleum Engineering, Member of AAPG, SPE and EAGE, Director of the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained within this press release in his capacity as a qualified person, as required under the AIM Rules.

 
 Definitions 
 
 bbl           barrel 
 Bm(3)         thousands of millions of cubic metres 
 boe           barrels of oil equivalent 
 Bscf          thousands of millions of scf 
 boepd         barrels of oil equivalent per day 
 HSES          health, safety, environment and security 
 km            kilometre 
 km(2)         square kilometre 
 LPG           liquefied petroleum gas 
 MEX-GOL       Mekhediviska-Golotvshinska 
 m(3)          cubic metres 
 m(3)/d        cubic metres per day 
 Mm(3)         thousand cubic metres 
 MMm(3)        million cubic metres 
 Mtonnes       thousand tonnes 
 MMbbl         million barrels 
 MMboe         million barrels of oil equivalent 
 %             per cent 
 scf           standard cubic feet measured at 20 degrees 
                Celsius and one atmosphere 
 SV            Svyrydivske 
 $             United States Dollar 
 UAH           Ukrainian Hryvnia 
 VAS           Vasyschevskoye 
 VED           Vvdenska 
 

Chairman's Statement

I am delighted to introduce the 2018 Annual Report and Financial Statements. This year has been an exceptional year for the Group, with excellent progress in the development of the MEX-GOL, SV and VAS gas and condensate fields in north-eastern Ukraine and an extremely strong financial performance during the year. As announced on 31 July 2018, a reassessment of reserves and resources at the MEX-GOL and SV fields as at 31 December 2017 resulted in a significant reserves upgrade, and operational successes have resulted in significantly higher production levels.

At the MEX-GOL and SV fields, production was stable during the first half of 2018, with much higher production volumes compared with the same period last year following completion of the MEX-109 and SV-2 wells in June and August 2017 respectively. In July 2018, the workover of the SV-12 well was successfully completed and the well was put on production, with the well now producing at approximately 824 boepd, providing a further significant boost to production from the field. During the year, the VAS field continued to produce consistently, and in November 2018, the VAS-10 well was brought into production, providing a significant production increase at the VAS field.

Aggregate average daily production from the MEX-GOL, SV and VAS fields during 2018 was approximately 3,391 boepd, which compares with an aggregate daily production rate of approximately 2,235 boepd during 2017, an increase of nearly 52%.

The Group's strong production performance is reflected in the Group's financial performance for the year ended 31 December 2018, which was also extremely strong and a significant improvement on the prior year. During 2018, the Group grew its net profit to $54.3 million (2017: $2.3 million), predominantly as a result of improved revenues of $66.1 million (2017: $35.1 million) from higher production volumes and hydrocarbon prices, and a significant reversal of an impairment of the Group's oil and gas production assets of $36.1 million, which arose as a result of the reassessment of the reserves and resources at the MEX-GOL and SV fields, and which was a one-off item. Gross profits were much higher at $34.2 million (2017: $10.8 million) and cash generated from operations during the year was also much higher at $36.8 million (2017: $18.0 million).

The fiscal and economic situation in Ukraine has improved during 2018, with a better economic outlook, GDP growth, reduced inflation and reasonable stability in the Ukrainian Hryvnia exchange rates. Nevertheless, there are still fiscal and economic stresses in Ukraine and a continued weakness in the Ukrainian banking sector.

The Ukrainian Government has implemented a number of reforms in the oil and gas sector in recent years, which include the deregulation of the gas supply market in late 2015, and more recently, reductions in the subsoil tax rates relating to oil and gas production and a simplification of the regulatory procedures applicable to oil and gas exploration and production activities in Ukraine.

The deregulation of the gas supply market, supported by electronic gas trading platforms and improved pricing transparency, has meant that the market gas prices in Ukraine now broadly correlate with the imported gas prices. During 2018, gas prices were reasonably stable, allowing for some seasonal variation, and were higher than in 2017. Furthermore, condensate and LPG prices were also higher by comparison with last year.

Board and Management Changes

At the end of September 2018, there were a number of changes to the management and Board of Directors of the Company. Yevhen (Gene) Palyenka left his position as Chief Financial Officer to pursue another opportunity, Phil Frank stepped down from the Board and Dmitry Sazonenko joined the Board as Non-Executive Director.

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank both Gene and Phil for their valued contributions during their respective tenures with the Company, and to welcome Dmitry to the Board.

Outlook

Whilst there are still challenges in the business environment in Ukraine, the situation is improving gradually. After the operational successes of 2018 and the increased production output during the year, we are looking forward to achieving further successes in the development activities planned for 2019 and delivering a steadily increasing production and revenue stream in the future.

In conclusion, on behalf of the Board, I would like to thank all of our staff for the continued dedication and support they have shown during the year.

Chris Hopkinson

Chairman

Chief Executive Officer's Statement

Introduction

The Group made excellent progress at its Ukrainian fields during 2018, with the increase in development activity at the MEX-GOL and SV fields resulting in the successful workover of the SV-12 well, which came on production in July 2018, and at the VAS field, resulting in the successful drilling of the VAS-10 well, which came on production in November 2018. These successes have provided a significant boost to overall production rates.

During the year, the Group continued its work on the subsurface analysis of the MEX-GOL and SV fields, utilising the results of P.D.F Limited's comprehensive re-evaluation study to plan additional development of these fields. Other work during the year included interpretation of the reprocessed existing 3D seismic data and the workover of the SV-12 well, as well as the upgrading of the gas processing facilities and pipeline network, and undertaking remedial work on existing wells.

At the VAS field, drilling of the VAS-10 well was completed in July 2018, and after testing of different zones, the well was hooked up to the gas processing facilities and put onto production in November 2018. Planning for the acquisition of the remaining coverage of 3D seismic over the field was undertaken after some local access issues had caused delays, and the acquisition work was completed in early 2019.

Health, Safety, Environment and Security ("HSES")

The Group is committed to maintaining the highest HSES standards and the effective management of these areas is an intrinsic element of the overall business ethos. Through strict enforcement of the Group's HSES Management System, together with regular management meetings, training and the appointment of dedicated safety professionals, the Group strives to ensure that the impact of its business activities on its staff, contractors and the environment is as low as is reasonably practicable. The Group reports safety and environmental performance in accordance with industry practice and guidelines.

I am pleased to report that during 2018, a total of 398,773 man-hours of staff and contractor time were recorded without a Lost Time Incident occurring. The total number of safe man-hours now stands at over 2,277,175 man-hours without a Lost Time Incident. No environmental incidents were recorded during the year.

Production

Average daily production from the MEX-GOL and SV fields over the year ended 31 December 2018 was 341,216 m(3)/d of gas, 70 m(3)/d of condensate and 36 m(3)/d of LPG (2,717 boepd in aggregate) (2017: 197,961 m(3) /d of gas, 47 m(3) /d of condensate and 24 m(3)/d of LPG (1,629 boepd in aggregate). Production rates improved significantly following the commencement of production from the SV-12 well in July 2018.

Average daily production of gas and condensate from the VAS field for the year ended 31 December 2018 was 94,752 m(3) /d of gas and 8.2 m(3) /d of condensate (674 boepd in aggregate) ( 2017: 86,010 m(3) /d of gas and 6.5 m(3) /d of condensate (606 boepd in aggregate)). Production rates were boosted significantly following commencement of production from the VAS-10 well in November 2018.

The Group's average production for the period from 1 January 2019 to 25 April 2019 from the MEX-GOL and SV field was 402,245 m(3)/d of gas, 87 m(3)/d of condensate and 45 m(3)/d of LPG (3,245 boepd in aggregate) and from the VAS field was 139,900 m(3)/d of gas and 15 m(3)/d of condensate (1,012 boepd in aggregate).

Operations

The much improved fiscal and economic conditions in Ukraine, coupled with reasonable stability in the Ukrainian Hryvnia, higher hydrocarbon prices, reductions in the subsoil tax rates and improvements in the regulatory procedures in the oil and gas sector in Ukraine over the last year, gave the Board the confidence to expand and accelerate the Group's development programme at its Ukrainian fields during 2018.

At the MEX-GOL and SV fields, the Group continued to work with P.D.F. Limited to utilise their re-evaluation study of these fields, which involved analysis of all available geological, geophysical, petroleum engineering and well performance data. The continuing work included interpretation of newly reprocessed existing 3D seismic data, with the intention of utilising this data to update the new geological subsurface model of the fields. This work, undertaken in conjunction with P.D.F. Limited, is enabling the Group to refine its strategies for the further development of the fields, including the timing and level of future capital investment required to exploit the hydrocarbon resources.

In early 2017, the Group entered into an agreement with NJSC Ukrnafta, the majority State-owned oil and gas producer, relating to the SV-2 well, which is a suspended well owned by NJSC Ukrnafta located within the Group's SV licence area. Under the agreement, the Group agreed to undertake a workover of the well, which was successful, and resulted in the well being brought back into production in August 2017. Pursuant to the agreement, the gas and condensate produced from the well is sold under an equal net profit sharing arrangement between the Group and NJSC Ukrnafta, with the Group accounting for the hydrocarbons produced and sold from the well as revenue, and the net profit share due to NJSC Ukrnafta being treated as a lease expense in cost of sales.

Following on from the success of the SV-2 well operations, in November 2017, the Group entered into a similar agreement with NJSC Ukrnafta, in relation to the SV-12 well, which is also a suspended well owned by NJSC Ukrnafta located within the SV licence area. The terms of this agreement are fundamentally consistent with the agreement relating to the SV-2 well, including the equal net profit sharing arrangement between the Group and NJSC Ukrnafta. Workover operations were undertaken on this well during the first half of 2018, which were successfully concluded in July 2018 and the well was put on production from two intervals in the B-22 Visean formation. The well is a strong producer, with stable production rates of approximately 94,000 m(3) /d of gas, 27 m(3) /d of condensate and 9 m(3) /d of LPG, which has significantly increased production at the SV field.

In addition at the MEX-GOL and SV fields, the Group upgraded the gas processing facilities and pipeline network, and undertook remedial work on existing wells.

At the VAS field, planning took place for the acquisition of new 3D seismic data over the field, which was finally completed in January 2019, after the seismic contractor experienced some local access issues which delayed the acquisition field work. The data acquired is now being processed and interpreted.

The VAS-10 well was spudded in March 2018 and drilled to a depth of 3,380 metres. The well is located to the north-west of the VAS field, at an offset of approximately 1 km from the nearest producing well, and targeted two reservoir zones in the Visean formation: the B-16/17 and the deeper B-25/26. The B-16/17 reservoir is currently the main production horizon in the VAS field. In July 2018, one interval in the B-25/26 Visean formation was perforated and short-term initial flow testing was undertaken, and whilst there was gas flow, a stabilised flow rate was not established. As a result, the shallower B-16/17 reservoir was tested and flowed strongly. Accordingly, this interval was put on production during November 2018, and is producing steadily at rates of approximately 50,000 m(3) /d of gas and 8 m(3) /d of condensate.

However, as announced on 12 March 2019, a regulatory issue did arise when the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine issued an order for suspension (the "Order") of the production licence for the VAS field. Under the applicable legislation, the Order would lead to a shut down of production operations at the VAS field, but the Group has issued legal proceedings to challenge the Order, and has obtained a ruling suspending operation of the Order pending a hearing of the substantive issues. The Group does not believe that there are any grounds for the Order, and intends to pursue its challenge to the Order through the Ukrainian Courts.

Reserves Update

In early 2018, the Group commissioned DeGolyer and MacNaughton ("D&M") to prepare an updated assessment of the remaining reserves and resources at the MEX-GOL and SV fields as at 31 December 2017, in order to update the Group's reserves and resources since the previous reserves estimation undertaken by ERC Equipoise Limited ("ERCE") as at 31 December 2013.

D&M's report estimated the Proved (1P) reserves at 27.8 MMboe and the Proved + Probable (2P) reserves at 50.0 MMboe as at 31 December 2017, showing a material increase in these categories of remaining reserves from the ERCE 2013 estimates, which were 1.9 MMboe and 11.7 MMboe respectively. These increases reflect a higher level of confidence in the understanding of the subsurface at the fields as a result of the re-evaluation study and new data obtained since 2013, which has led to a revision of the development plan for the fields, including an increase in the number of new wells (from 10 to 24) and an acceleration of the phasing of these new wells.

Further details of the D&M assessment are set out in the Company's announcement dated 31 July 2018.

Outlook

During 2019, the Group will continue to develop the MEX-GOL, SV and VAS fields. At the MEX-GOL and SV fields, the development programme includes revision of the geological model utilising the newly interpreted reprocessed seismic data, completing the drilling of the new development well, MEX-119, which was spudded in February 2019 and is designed to accelerate production from the B-20 Visean reservoirs in the MEX-GOL field, commencement of a new well in the SV field, planning for a further well in the SV field, investigating workover opportunities for other existing wells, installation of compression equipment, further upgrading of the gas processing facilities and pipeline network, and remedial and upgrade work on existing wells, pipelines and other infrastructure.

At the VAS field, the processing and interpreting of the new 3D seismic data will be completed, a new geological model will be developed, and planning for a new well will be undertaken. It is also intended to undertake further evaluation of the VED area of the licence, which appears highly prospective on the current 2D seismic data and will benefit from the improved imaging of the new 3D seismic data. Work is also planned to install compression equipment, and upgrade the gas processing facilities, pipeline network and other infrastructure.

The Group has also commissioned an updated assessment of the remaining reserves and resources at the VAS field, which is being undertaken by D&M. It is anticipated that the updated reserves and resources assessment will be completed in mid-2019.

There has also been encouraging new legislation relating to the oil and gas sector in Ukraine, demonstrating the Ukrainian Government's stated intention to promote and support the domestic oil and gas production industry. These new measures include reductions in the subsoil taxes applicable to the production of hydrocarbons, which became effective for gas production from new wells drilled after 1 January 2018 and came into effect for condensate production from all wells from 1 January 2019. Furthermore, new legislation was introduced earlier this year to simplify a number of the regulatory procedures relating to oil and gas exploration and production activities in Ukraine.

These measures, and the general improvement in the business climate in Ukraine, are encouraging and supportive of the independent oil and gas producers in Ukraine.

Finally, I would like to add my thanks to all of our staff for the continued hard work and dedication they have shown over what has been a very successful year for the Group.

Sergii Glazunov

Chief Executive Officer

Overview of Assets and Reserves

Assets

   1.         MEX-GOL and SV fields 

Regal Petroleum Corporation Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary in the Group) holds a 100% working interest in and is the operator of the MEX-GOL and SV fields. The production licences extend over a combined area of 269 km(2), approximately 200 km east of Kiev. The two licences are adjacent and the interests are operated and managed as one field. The licences were granted in July 2004 and have a duration of 20 years.

The fields are located, geologically, towards the middle of the Dnieper-Donets sedimentary basin which extends across the majority of north-east Ukraine. The vast majority of Ukrainian gas and condensate production comes from this basin. The reservoirs comprise a series of gently dipping Carboniferous sandstones of Visean age ("B-Sands") inter-bedded with shales at approximately 4,700 metres below the surface, with a gross thickness between 800 metres and 1,000 metres. Analysis suggests that these deposits range from fluvial to deltaic in origin, and much of the trapping at these fields is stratigraphic in nature. Below these reservoirs is a thick sequence of shale above deeper, similar, sandstones which are encountered at a depth of around 5,800 metres. These sands are of Tournasian age ("T-Sands") and may offer additional gas potential. Deeper sandstones of Devonian age ("D-Sands") have also been penetrated in the fields.

   2.         VAS field 

LLC Prom-Enerho Produkt (a wholly owned subsidiary in the Group) holds a 100% working interest in and is the operator of the VAS field. The production licence extends over an area of 33.2 km(2) and is located approximately 17 km south-east of Kharkiv. The licence was granted in August 2012 and has a duration of 20 years.

The field is also located, geologically, towards the middle of the Dnieper-Donets sedimentary basin in the north-east of Ukraine. The field is trapped in an anticlinal structure broken into several faulted blocks, which are gently dipping to the north, stretching from the north-east to south-west along a main bounding fault. The gas is located in Carboniferous sandstones of Bashkirian, Serpukhovian and Visean age at depths of 2,900 - 3,400 metres below the surface.

Reserves

   1.         MEX-GOL and SV fields 

The Group's estimates of the remaining Reserves and Resources at the MEX-GOL and SV licence areas are derived from an assessment undertaken by independent petroleum consultants, DeGolyer and MacNaughton ("D&M"), as at 31 December 2017 (the "D&M Report"), which was announced on 31 July 2018. During the period from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018, the Group has produced 1.0 MMboe from these fields.

The D&M Report estimated the remaining Reserves as at 31 December 2017 in the MEX-GOL and SV fields as follows:-

 
                     Proved        Proved + Probable   Proved + Probable 
                      (1P)                (2P)          + Possible (3P) 
                121.9 Bscf / 3.5   218.3 Bscf / 6.2    256.5 Bscf / 7.3 
   Gas                Bm(3)              Bm(3)               Bm(3) 
               -----------------  ------------------  ------------------ 
                4.3 MMbbl / 514     7.9 MMbbl / 943     9.2 MMbbl / 110 
   Condensate        Mtonne              Mtonne              Mtonne 
               -----------------  ------------------  ------------------ 
                2.8 MMbbl / 233     5.0 MMbbl / 418     5.8 MMbbl / 491 
   LPG               Mtonne              Mtonne              Mtonne 
               -----------------  ------------------  ------------------ 
                   27.8 MMboe         50.0 MMboe          58.6 MMboe 
   Total 
               -----------------  ------------------  ------------------ 
 

The D&M Report estimated the Contingent Resources as at 31 December 2017 in the MEX-GOL and SV fields as follows:-

 
                Contingent Resources   Contingent Resources   Contingent Resources 
                        (1C)                   (2C)                   (3C) 
                  14.7 Bscf / 0.42       38.3 Bscf / 1.08      105.9 Bscf / 3.00 
   Gas                  Bm(3)                  Bm(3)                  Bm(3) 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
                  1.17 MMbbl / 144       2.8 MMbbl / 343        6.6 MMbbl / 812 
   Condensate          Mtonne                 Mtonne                 Mtonne 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
                     3.8 MMboe              9.6 MMboe              25.3 MMboe 
   Total 
               ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 
   2.         VAS field 

The Group's estimates of the remaining Reserves and Resources at the VAS field and the Prospective Resources at the VED prospect are derived from an assessment undertaken by independent petroleum consultants, Senergy (GB) Limited, as at 1 January 2016 (the "Senergy Report"), which was announced on 5 July 2016. During the period from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2018, 0.7 MMboe were produced from the field.

The Senergy Report estimates the remaining Reserves as at 1 January 2016 in the VAS field as follows:-

 
                   Proved      Proved + Probable   Proved + Probable 
                     (1P)             (2P)          + Possible (3P) 
 
   Gas           91.5 MMm(3)     251.5 MMm(3)        448.6 MMm(3) 
                ------------  ------------------  ------------------ 
                 6.90 Mtonne      19.0 Mtonne        33.82 Mtonne 
   Condensate 
                ------------  ------------------  ------------------ 
                 0.66 MMboe       1.80 MMboe          3.21 MMboe 
   Total 
                ------------  ------------------  ------------------ 
 

The Senergy Report estimates the Contingent Resources as at 1 January 2016 in the VAS field as follows:-

 
                 Contingent Resources   Contingent Resources   Contingent Resources 
                         (1C)                   (2C)                   (3C) 
 
   Gas               153.0 MMm(3)           280.3 MMm(3)           515.4 MMm(3) 
                ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 
   Condensate         6.3 Mm(3)              11.4 Mm(3)             20.7 Mm(3) 
                ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 
   Total             158.6 MMm(3)           294.5 MMm(3)           538.0 MMm(3) 
                ---------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 

The Senergy Report estimates the Prospective Resources as at 1 January 2016 in the VED prospect as follows:-

 
                     Low             Best             High             Mean 
 
   Gas and 
   Condensate    441.8 MMm(3)   1,078.9 MMm(3)   2,582.6 MMm(3)   1,234.7 MMm(3) 
                -------------  ---------------  ---------------  --------------- 
 

Finance Review

The Group achieved a very strong financial performance during 2018, with a significantly improved net profit of $54.3 million (2017: $2.3 million) during the year ended 31 December 2018, mainly as a result of improved revenue from combined higher production volumes and hydrocarbon prices, and a significant reversal of an impairment of the Group's oil and gas development and production assets of $36.1 million as a result of the reassessment of the remaining reserves and resources at the MEX-GOL and SV fields as at 31 December 2017, which was a one-off item.

Gross profit for the year ended 31 December 2018 more than trebled to at $34.2 million (2017: $10.8 million), predominantly as a result of higher production volumes and hydrocarbons prices, and a decrease in the depreciation charge arising from the revision of the depletion calculation following the positive re-assessment of the Group's reserves at the MEX-GOL and SV fields as at 31 December 2017, which took place during the year.

During 2018, there was a significant reversal of an impairment of the Group's oil and gas assets of $36.1 million. The amount of the reversal was determined as $39.8 million, being the total amount of the previous impairment accumulated on the MEX-GOL and SV fields up to 30 June 2018, net of depreciation, that would have been incurred had the fields not been previously impaired, less $3.7 million of previous impairment allowance for the SV-69 well. The Group did not reverse the previous impairment allowance relating to the SV-69 well for the reasons explained in Note 4 to the financial statements, and additionally the Group impaired the remaining carrying value of this well to nil on the individual basis and recorded the respective impairment loss of $1.6 million as an expense during the year.

The reversal of impairment of the Group's oil and gas assets also led to a consequential reversal of impairment of intra-group loans of $10.9 million in the Company's financial statements as a result of an increase in the present value of estimated future cash flows following the reassessment of the carrying value of the Group's oil and gas assets.

Revenue for the year, derived from the sale of the Group's Ukrainian gas, condensate and LPG production, was also significantly higher at $66.1 million (2017: $35.1 million). Similarly, cash generated from operations during the year was much higher at $36.8 million (2017: $18.0 million) as a result of higher production volumes and hydrocarbon prices.

The average realised gas, condensate and LPG prices during the 2018 year were $312/Mm(3) (UAH8,528/Mm(3) ), $72/bbl and $64/bbl respectively (2017: $241/Mm(3) (UAH6,412/Mm(3) ), $67/bbl and $56/bbl respectively).

During the period from 1 January 2019 to 25 April 2019, the average realised gas, condensate and LPG prices were $279/Mm(3) (UAH7,597/Mm(3) ), $52/bbl and $47/bbl respectively. The current realised gas price is $287/Mm(3) (UAH7,712/Mm(3) ).

Since the deregulation of the gas supply market in Ukraine in October 2015, the market price for gas has broadly correlated to the price of imported gas, which generally reflects trends in European gas prices. Gas prices are also subject to seasonal variation. During the 2018 year, gas prices were reasonably stable, allowing for some seasonal variation, and were higher than in 2017, as were condensate and LPG prices by comparison with 2017.

The subsoil tax rates applicable to gas and condensate production were stable during the year at 29% for gas produced from deposits at depths above 5,000 metres and 14% for gas produced from deposits below 5,000 metres, and 45% for condensate produced from deposits above 5,000 metres and 21% for condensate produced from deposits below 5,000 metres.

However, new subsoil rates have been implemented, under which (i) for new wells drilled after 1 January 2018, the subsoil tax rates were reduced from 29% to 12% for gas produced from deposits at depths above 5,000 metres and from 14% to 6% for gas produced from deposits below 5,000 metres for the period between 2018 and 2022, and (ii) with effect from 1 January 2019 and applicable to all wells, the subsoil tax rates for condensate were reduced from 45% to 31% for condensate produced from deposits above 5,000 metres and from 21% to 16% for condensate produced from deposits below 5,000 metres.

In addition, with effect from 1 January 2019, a transmission tariff of UAH91.87/Mm(3) ($3.23/Mm(3) ) for use of the Ukrainian national pipeline system became applicable to oil and gas producers in Ukraine, including the Group.

Cost of sales for the year ended 31 December 2018 was higher at $31.9 million (2017: $24.3 million), mainly due to higher production of hydrocarbons resulting in higher production taxes and lease expenses relating to the profit share in respect of the SV-2 and SV-12 wells, offset by a decrease in the depreciation charge arising from the revision of the depletion calculation following the re-assessment of the Group's reserves at the MEX-GOL and SV fields as at 31 December 2017, which took place during the year.

Administrative expenses for the year were slightly higher at $5.7 million (2017: $5.3 million), primarily as a result of an increase in payroll and related taxes.

The tax charge for the year of $12.5 million (2017: $4.3 million charge) comprises a current tax charge of $6.5 million (2017: $3.0 million charge) and a deferred tax charge of $6.0 million (2017: $1.3 million charge). A significant deferred tax charge was incurred in the year as a result of the reversal of the impairment of the carrying value of the Group's MEX-GOL and SV development and production asset, and the reversal of the impairment of intra-group loans receivable by the Company.

The Group has recognised a deferred tax asset of $3.3 million at 31 December 2018 (31 December 2017: $9.3 million). This comprises a deferred tax asset of $2.1 million (31 December 2017: $2.6 million) in relation to UK tax losses carried forward, and $1.2 million (31 December 2017: $0.1 million) which is recognised on the tax effects of the temporary differences of the provision for decommissioning and the carrying value of the Group's oil and gas development and production assets, and their tax bases.

A deferred tax liability relating to the development and production asset at the VAS field of $0.5 million (31 December 2017: $0.8 million) was recognised at 31 December 2018 on the tax effect of the temporary differences between the carrying value of the development and production asset at the VAS field, and its tax base.

Increased capital investment of $9.6 million reflects investment in the Group's oil and gas development and production assets during the year (2017: $4.0 million), primarily relating to the expenditure associated with the drilling of the VAS-10 well.

Cash and cash equivalents held at 31 December 2018 were $53.2 million (31 December 2017: $14.2 million cash and cash equivalents and $16.0 million other short-term investments). The Group's cash and cash equivalents balance at 25 April 2019 was $63.7 million, held as to $24.2 million equivalent in Ukrainian Hryvnia, $30.0 million equivalent predominantly in US Dollars, Euros and Pounds Sterling, and $9.5 million in short-term Ukrainian Government bonds.

Since early 2014, the Ukrainian Hryvnia has devalued significantly against the US Dollar, falling from UAH8.3/$1.00 on 1 January 2014 to UAH27.7/$1.00 on 31 December 2018, which resulted in substantial foreign exchange translation losses for the Group over that period, and in turn adversely impacted the carrying value of the MEX-GOL and SV asset due to the translation of two of the Group's subsidiaries from their functional currency of Ukrainian Hryvnia to the Group's presentation currency of US Dollars. However in 2018, the exchange rate between the Ukrainian Hryvnia and the US Dollar has been reasonably stable averaging UAH27.2/$1.00 during the period (average rate during 2017: UAH26.6/$1.00). Nevertheless, further devaluation of the Ukrainian Hryvnia against the US Dollar may affect the carrying value of the Group's assets in the future.

Cash from operations has funded the capital investment during the year, and the Group's current cash position and positive operating cash flow are the sources from which the Group plans to fund the development programmes for its assets in 2019.

The Group manages its revenue, cash from operations and production volumes as key performance indicators. The achieved results for 2018 were as follows:

   --               revenue of $66.1 million (2017: $35.1 million) 
   --               cash from operations of $36.8 million (2017: $18.0 million) 

-- daily production volumes from the MEX-GOL and SV fields for the year of 341,216 m(3)/d of gas, 70 m(3)/d of condensate and 36 m(3)/d of LPG (2,717 boepd in aggregate) (2017: 197,961 m(3) /d of gas, 47 m(3) /d of condensate and 24 m(3)/d of LPG (1,629 boepd in aggregate))

-- daily production volumes from the VAS field for the year of 94,752 m(3)/d of gas and 8.2 m(3)/d of condensate (674 boepd in aggregate) (2017: 86,010 m(3) /d of gas and 6.5 m(3) /d of condensate (606 boepd in aggregate))

-- aggregate production volumes from the MEX-GOL and SV fields for the year of 124,534,684 m(3) of gas, 25,414 m(3) of condensate and 13,052 m(3) of LPG, equating to a combined total oil equivalent of 991,611 boe (2017: 72,255,906 m(3) of gas, 17,014 m(3) of condensate and 8,763 m(3) of LPG (594,577 boe in aggregate))

-- aggregate production volumes from the VAS field for the year of 34,584,524 m(3) of gas and 2,995 m(3) of condensate, equating to a combined total oil equivalent of 246,070 boe (2017: 31,393,518 m(3) of gas and 2,374 m(3) of condensate (221,202 boe in aggregate)).

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

The Group has a risk evaluation methodology in place to assist in the review of the risks across all material aspects of its business. This methodology highlights external, operational and technical, financial and corporate risks and assesses the level of risk and potential consequences. It is periodically presented to the Audit Committee and the Board for review, to bring to their attention potential risks and, where possible, propose mitigating actions. Key risks recognised and mitigation factors are detailed below:-

 
 Risk                                             Mitigation 
 External risks 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Risk relating to Ukraine 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Ukraine is an emerging market and                The Group minimises this risk by 
  as such the Group is exposed to                  continuously monitoring the market 
  greater regulatory, economic and                 in Ukraine and by maintaining a 
  political risks than it would be                 strong working relationship with 
  in other jurisdictions. Emerging                 the Ukrainian regulatory authorities. 
  economies are generally subject                  The Group also maintains a significant 
  to a volatile political and economic             proportion of it cash holdings in 
  environment, which makes them vulnerable         international banks outside Ukraine. 
  to market downturns elsewhere in 
  the world, and could adversely 
  impact the Group's ability to operate 
  in the market. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Regional conflict 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Ukraine continues to have a strained             As the Group has no assets in Crimea 
  relationship with Russia, following              or the areas of conflict in the 
  Ukraine's agreement to join a free               east of Ukraine, nor do its operations 
  trade area with the European Union,              rely on sales or costs incurred 
  which resulted in the implementation             there, the Group has not been directly 
  of mutual trade restrictions between             affected by the conflict. However, 
  Russia and Ukraine on many key                   the Group continues to monitor the 
  products. Further, the conflict                  situation and endeavours to procure 
  in parts of eastern Ukraine has                  its equipment from sources in other 
  not been resolved to date, and                   markets. The disputes and interruption 
  Russia continues to occupy Crimea.               to the supply of gas from Russia 
  This conflict has put further pressure           has indirectly encouraged Ukrainian 
  on relations between Ukraine and                 Government support for the development 
  Russia, and the political tensions               of the domestic production of hydrocarbons 
  have had an adverse effect on the                since Ukraine imports a significant 
  Ukrainian financial markets, hampering           proportion of its gas, which has 
  the ability of Ukrainian companies               resulted in legislative measures 
  and banks to obtain funding from                 to improve the regulatory requirements 
  the international capital and debt               for hydrocarbon extraction in Ukraine. 
  markets. This strained relationship 
  between Russia and Ukraine has 
  also resulted in disputes and interruptions 
  in the supply of gas from Russia. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Banking system in Ukraine 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The banking system in Ukraine has                The creditworthiness and potential 
  been under great strain in recent                risks relating to the banks in Ukraine 
  years due to the weak level of                   are regularly reviewed by the Group, 
  capital, low asset quality caused                but the geopolitical and economic 
  by the economic situation, currency              events since 2013 in Ukraine have 
  depreciation, changing regulations               significantly weakened the Ukrainian 
  and other economic pressures generally,          banking sector. In light of this, 
  and so the risks associated with                 the Group has taken and continues 
  the banks in Ukraine have been                   to take steps to diversify its banking 
  significant, including in relation               arrangements between a number of 
  to the banks with which the Group                banks in Ukraine. These measures 
  has operated bank accounts. However,             are designed to spread the risks 
  following remedial action imposed                associated with each bank's creditworthiness, 
  by the National Bank of Ukraine,                 and the Group endeavours to use 
  Ukraine's banking system has improved            banks that have the best available 
  moderately. Nevertheless, Ukraine                creditworthiness. Nevertheless, 
  continues to be supported by funding             and despite some recent improvements, 
  from the International Monetary                  the Ukrainian banking sector remains 
  Fund under a 14-month Stand-By                   weakly capitalised and so the risks 
  Arrangement aggregating $3.9 billion             associated with the banks in Ukraine 
  approved in December 2018, which                 remain significant, including in 
  replaced a previous funding programme            relation to the banks with which 
  from the International Monetary                  the Group operates bank accounts. 
  Fund. An initial tranche of $1.4                 As a consequence, the Group also 
  billion has been disbursed, and                  maintains a significant proportion 
  the disbursement of further tranches             of its cash holdings in international 
  is dependent on semi-annual reviews              banks outside Ukraine. 
  of the status of fiscal, economic 
  and regulatory reforms in Ukraine. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Geopolitical environment in Ukraine 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Although there have been some improvements       The Group continually monitors the 
  in recent years, there has not                   market and business environment 
  been a final resolution of the                   in Ukraine and endeavours to recognise 
  political, fiscal and economic                   approaching risks and factors that 
  situation in Ukraine and its ongoing             may affect its business. In addition, 
  effects are difficult to predict                 the involvement of Lovitia Investments 
  and likely to continue to affect                 Limited, as an indirect major shareholder 
  the Ukrainian economy and potentially            with extensive experience in Ukraine, 
  the Group's business. Whilst not                 is considered helpful to mitigate 
  materially affecting the Group's                 such risks. 
  production operations, the instability 
  has disrupted the Group's development 
  and operational planning for its 
  assets. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Operational and technical risks 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Health, Safety, Environment and 
  Security ("HSES") 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The oil and gas industry, by its                 The Group maintains an HSES management 
  nature, conducts activities which                system and requires that management, 
  can cause health, safety, environmental          staff and contractors adhere to 
  and security incidents. Serious                  this system. The system ensures 
  incidents can not only have a financial          that the Group meets Ukraine legislative 
  impact but can also damage the                   standards in full and achieves international 
  Group's reputation and the opportunity           standards to the maximum extent 
  to undertake further projects.                   possible. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Industry risks 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The Group is exposed to risks which              The Group has well qualified and 
  are generally associated with the                experienced technical management 
  oil and gas industry. For example,               staff to plan and supervise operational 
  the Group's ability to pursue and                activities. In addition, the Group 
  develop its projects and development             engages with suitably qualified 
  programmes depends on a number                   local and international geological, 
  of uncertainties, including the                  geophysical and engineering experts 
  availability of capital, seasonal                and contractors to supplement and 
  conditions, regulatory approvals,                broaden the pool of expertise available 
  gas, oil, condensate and LPG prices,             to the Group. Detailed planning 
  development costs and drilling                   of development activities is undertaken 
  success. As a result of these uncertainties,     with the aim of managing the inherent 
  it is unknown whether potential                  risks associated with oil and gas 
  drilling locations identified on                 exploration and production, as well 
  proposed projects will ever be                   as ensuring that appropriate equipment 
  drilled or whether these or any                  and personnel are available for 
  other potential drilling locations               the operations, and that local contractors 
  will be able to produce gas, oil                 are appropriately supervised. 
  or condensate. In addition, drilling 
  activities are subject to many 
  risks, including the risk that 
  commercially productive reservoirs 
  will not be discovered. Drilling 
  for hydrocarbons can be unprofitable, 
  not only due to dry holes, but 
  also as a result of productive 
  wells that do not produce sufficiently 
  to be economic. In addition, drilling 
  and production operations are highly 
  technical and complex activities 
  and may be curtailed, delayed or 
  cancelled as a result of a variety 
  of factors. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Production of hydrocarbons 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Producing gas and condensate reservoirs          In 2016, the Group engaged external 
  are generally characterised by                   technical consultants to undertake 
  declining production rates which                 a comprehensive review and re-evaluation 
  vary depending upon reservoir characteristics    study of the MEX-GOL and SV fields 
  and other factors. Future production             in order to gain an improved understanding 
  of the Group's gas and condensate                of the geological aspects of the 
  reserves, and therefore the Group's              fields and reservoir engineering, 
  cash flow and income, are highly                 drilling and completion techniques, 
  dependent on the Group's success                 and the results of this study and 
  in operating existing producing                  further planned technical work is 
  wells, drilling new production                   being used by the Group in the future 
  wells and efficiently developing                 development of these fields. The 
  and exploiting any reserves, and                 Group has established an ongoing 
  finding or acquiring additional                  relationship with such external 
  reserves. The Group may not be                   technical consultants to ensure 
  able to develop, find or acquire                 that technical management and planning 
  reserves at acceptable costs. The                is of a high quality in respect 
  experience gained from drilling                  of all development activities on 
  undertaken to date highlights such               the Group's fields. 
  risks as the Group targets the 
  appraisal and production of these 
  hydrocarbons. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Risks relating to further development 
  and operation of the Group's gas 
  and condensate fields in Ukraine 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The planned development and operation            The Group's technical management 
  of the Group's gas and condensate                staff, in consultation with its 
  fields in Ukraine is susceptible                 external technical consultants, 
  to appraisal, development and operational        carefully plan and supervise development 
  risk. This could include, but is                 and operational activities with 
  not restricted to, delays in delivery            the aim of managing the risks associated 
  of equipment in Ukraine, failure                 with the further development of 
  of key equipment, lower than expected            the Group's fields in Ukraine. This 
  production from wells that are                   includes detailed review and consideration 
  currently producing, or new wells                of available subsurface data, utilisation 
  that are brought on-stream, problematic          of modern geological software, and 
  wells and complex geology which                  utilisation of engineering and completion 
  is difficult to drill or interpret.              techniques developed for the fields. 
  The generation of significant operational        With operational activities, the 
  cash is dependent on the successful              Group ensures that appropriate equipment 
  delivery and completion of the                   and personnel is available for the 
  development and operation of the                 operations, and that operational 
  fields.                                          contractors are appropriately supervised. 
                                                   In addition, the Group performs 
                                                   a review of its oil and gas assets 
                                                   for impairment on an annual basis, 
                                                   and considers whether an assessment 
                                                   of its oil and gas assets by a suitably 
                                                   qualified independent assessor is 
                                                   appropriate or required. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Drilling and workover operations 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Due to the depth and nature of                   The utilisation of detailed sub-surface 
  the reservoirs in the Group's fields,            analysis, careful well planning 
  the technical difficulty of drilling             and engineering design in designing 
  or re-entering wells in the Group's              work programmes, along with appropriate 
  fields is high, and this and the                 procurement procedures and competent 
  equipment limitations within Ukraine,            on-site management, aims to minimise 
  can result in unsuccessful or lower              these risks. 
  than expected outcomes for wells. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Maintenance of facilities 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 There is a risk that production                  The Group's facilities are operated 
  or transportation facilities can                 and maintained at standards above 
  fail due to non-adequate maintenance,            the Ukraine minimum legal requirements. 
  control or poor performance of                   Operations staff are experienced 
  the Group's suppliers.                           and receive supplemental training 
                                                   to ensure that facilities are properly 
                                                   operated and maintained. Service 
                                                   providers are rigorously reviewed 
                                                   at the tender stage and are monitored 
                                                   during the contract period. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Financial risks 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Exposure to cash flow and liquidity 
  risk 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 There is a risk that insufficient                The Group maintains adequate cash 
  funds are available to meet the                  reserves and closely monitors forecasted 
  Group's development obligations                  and actual cash flow, as well as 
  to commercialise the Group's oil                 short and longer-term funding requirements. 
  and gas assets. Since a significant              The Group does not currently have 
  proportion of the future capital                 any loans outstanding, internal 
  requirements of the Group is expected            financial projections are regularly 
  to be derived from operational                   made based on the latest estimates 
  cash generated from production,                  available, and various scenarios 
  including from wells yet to be                   are run to assess the robustness 
  drilled, there is a risk that in                 of the liquidity of the Group. However, 
  the longer term insufficient operational         as the risk to future capital funding 
  cash is generated, or that additional            is inherent in the oil and gas exploration 
  funding, should the need arise,                  and development industry and reliant 
  cannot be secured.                               in part on future development success, 
                                                   it is difficult for the Group to 
                                                   take any other measures to further 
                                                   mitigate this risk, other than tailoring 
                                                   its development activities to its 
                                                   available capital funding from time 
                                                   to time. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Ensuring appropriate business practices 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The Group operates in Ukraine,                   The Group maintains anti-bribery 
  an emerging market, where certain                and corruption policies in relation 
  inappropriate business practices                 to all aspects of its business, 
  may, from time to time occur, such               and ensures that clear authority 
  as corrupt business practices,                   levels and robust approval processes 
  bribery, appropriation of property               are in place, with stringent controls 
  and fraud, all of which can lead                 over cash management and the tendering 
  to financial loss.                               and procurement processes. In addition, 
                                                   office and site protection is maintained 
                                                   to protect the Group's assets. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Hydrocarbon price risk 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The Group derives its revenue principally        The Group sells a proportion of 
  from the sale of its Ukrainian                   its hydrocarbon production through 
  gas, condensate and LPG production.              long-term offtake arrangements, 
  These revenues are subject to commodity          which include pricing formulae so 
  price volatility and political                   as to ensure that it achieves market 
  influence. A prolonged period of                 prices for its products, as well 
  low gas, condensate and LPG prices               utilising the electronic market 
  may impact the Group's ability                   platforms in Ukraine to achieve 
  to maintain its long-term investment             market prices for its remaining 
  programme with a consequent effect               products. However, hydrocarbon prices 
  on growth rate, which in turn may                in Ukraine are implicitly linked 
  impact the share price or any shareholder        to world hydrocarbon prices and 
  returns. Lower gas, condensate                   so the Group is subject to external 
  and LPG prices may not only decrease             price trends. 
  the Group's revenues per unit, 
  but may also reduce the amount 
  of gas, condensate and LPG which 
  the Group can produce economically, 
  as would increases in costs associated 
  with hydrocarbon production, such 
  as subsoil taxes and royalties. 
  The overall economics of the Group's 
  key assets (being the net present 
  value of the future cash flows 
  from its Ukrainian projects) are 
  far more sensitive to long term 
  gas, condensate and LPG prices 
  than short-term price volatility. 
  However, short-term volatility 
  does affect liquidity risk, as, 
  in the early stage of the projects, 
  income from production revenues 
  is offset by capital investment. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Currency risk 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Since the beginning of 2014, the                 The Group's sales proceeds are received 
  Ukrainian Hryvnia has significantly              in Ukrainian Hryvnia, and the majority 
  devalued against major world currencies,         of the capital expenditure costs 
  including the US Dollar, where                   for the current investment programme 
  it has fallen from UAH8.3/$1.00                  will be incurred in Ukrainian Hryvnia, 
  on 1 January 2014 to UAH27.7/$1.00               thus the currency of revenue and 
  on 31 December 2018, although it                 costs are largely matched. In light 
  was relatively stable during 2018.               of the previous devaluation and 
  This devaluation was a significant               volatility of the Ukrainian Hryvnia 
  contributor to the imposition of                 against major world currencies, 
  the banking restrictions by the                  and since the Ukrainian Hryvnia 
  National Bank of Ukraine over recent             does not benefit from the range 
  years. In addition, the geopolitical             of currency hedging instruments 
  events in Ukraine over recent years,             which are available in more developed 
  are likely to continue to impact                 economies, the Group has adopted 
  the valuation of the Ukrainian                   a policy that, where possible, funds 
  Hryvnia against major world currencies.          not required for use in Ukraine 
  Further devaluation of the Ukrainian             be retained on deposit in the United 
  Hryvnia against the US Dollar will               Kingdom, principally in US Dollars. 
  affect the carrying value of the 
  Group's assets. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Counterparty and credit risk 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The challenging political and economic           The Group monitors the financial 
  environment in Ukraine means that                position and credit quality of its 
  businesses can be subject to significant         contractual counterparties and seeks 
  financial strain, which can mean                 to manage the risk associated with 
  that the Group is exposed to increased           counterparties by contracting with 
  counterparty risk if counterparties              creditworthy contractors and customers. 
  fail or default in their contractual             Hydrocarbon production is sold on 
  obligations to the Group, including              terms that limit supply credit and/or 
  in relation to the sale of its                   title transfer until payment is 
  hydrocarbon production, resulting                received. 
  in financial loss to the Group. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Financial markets and economic 
  outlook 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The performance of the Group is                  The Group's sales proceeds are received 
  influenced by global economic conditions         in Ukrainian Hryvnia and a significant 
  and, in particular, the conditions               proportion of investment expenditure 
  prevailing in the United Kingdom                 is made in Ukrainian Hryvnia, which 
  and Ukraine. The economies in these              minimises risks related to foreign 
  regions have been subject to volatile            exchange volatility. However, hydrocarbon 
  pressures in recent periods, with                prices in Ukraine are implicitly 
  the global economy having experienced            linked to world hydrocarbon prices 
  a long period of difficulties,                   and so the Group is subject to external 
  and more particularly the events                 price movements. The Group holds 
  that have occurred in Ukraine over               a significant proportion of its 
  recent years. This has led to extreme            cash reserves in the United Kingdom, 
  foreign exchange movements in the                mostly in US Dollars, with reputable 
  Ukrainian Hryvnia, high inflation                financial institutions. The financial 
  and interest rates, and increased                status of counterparties is carefully 
  credit risk relating to the Group's              monitored to manage counterparty 
  key counterparties.                              risks. Nevertheless, the risks that 
                                                   the Group faces as a result of these 
                                                   risks cannot be predicted and many 
                                                   of these are outside of the Group's 
                                                   control. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Corporate risks 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Ukraine production licences 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The Group operates in a region                   The Group ensures compliance with 
  where the right to production can                commitments and regulations relating 
  be challenged by State and non-State             to its production licences through 
  parties. During 2010, this manifested            Group procedures and controls or, 
  itself in the form of a Ministry                 where this is not immediately feasible 
  Order instructing the Group to                   for practical or logistical considerations, 
  suspend all operations and production            seeks to enter into dialogue with 
  from its MEX-GOL and SV production               the relevant Government bodies with 
  licences, which was not resolved                 a view to agreeing a reasonable 
  until mid-2011. In 2013, new rules               time frame for achieving compliance 
  relating to the updating of production           or an alternative, mutually agreeable 
  licences led to further challenges               course of action. Work programmes 
  being raised by the Ukrainian authorities        are designed to ensure that all 
  to the production licences held                  licence obligations are met and 
  by independent oil and gas producers             continual interaction with Government 
  in Ukraine, including the Group,                 bodies is maintained in relation 
  which may result in requirements                 to licence obligations and commitments. 
  for remediation work, financial 
  penalties and/or the suspension 
  of such licences, which, in turn, 
  may adversely affect the Group's 
  operations and financial position. 
  In March 2019, a Ministry Order 
  was issued instructing the Group 
  to suspend all operations and production 
  from its VAS production licence. 
  The Group is challenging this Order 
  through legal proceedings, during 
  which production from the licence 
  is continuing, but this matter 
  remains unresolved. All such challenges 
  affecting the Group have thus far 
  been successfully defended through 
  the Ukrainian legal system. However, 
  the business environment is such 
  that these types of challenges 
  may arise at any time in relation 
  to the Group's operations, licence 
  history, compliance with licence 
  commitments and/or local regulations. 
  In addition, these licences carry 
  ongoing compliance obligations, 
  which if not met, may lead to the 
  loss of a licence. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Extension of MEX-GOL and SV licences 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The Group's production licences                  The Group monitors legislation in 
  for the MEX-GOL and SV fields currently          Ukraine which is likely to affect 
  expire in 2024. However, in the                  its licences and the obligations 
  estimation of its reserves, it                   associated therewith, and ensures 
  is assumed that licence extensions               that its licence compliance obligations 
  will be granted in accordance with               are monitored and maintained as 
  current Ukrainian legislation and                such compliance is a likely to be 
  that consequently the fields' development        a factor in the extension of the 
  will continue until the end of                   licences in 2024. 
  the fields' economic life in 2038 
  for the MEX-GOL field and 2042 
  for the SV field. Despite such 
  legislation, it is possible that 
  licence extensions will not be 
  granted, which would affect the 
  achievement of full economic field 
  development and consequently the 
  carrying value of the Group's MEX-GOL 
  and SV asset in the future. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 Risks relating to key personnel 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 The Group's success depends upon                 The Group periodically reviews the 
  skilled management as well as technical          compensation and contractual terms 
  expertise and administrative staff.              of its staff. In addition, the Group 
  The loss of service of critical                  has developed relationships with 
  members from the Group's team could              a number of technical and other 
  have an adverse effect on the business.          professional experts and advisers, 
                                                   who are used to provided specialist 
                                                   services as required. 
                                                 ----------------------------------------------- 
 

Consolidated Income Statement

 
 
                                                         2018      2017 
                                               Note      $000      $000 
 
Revenue                                         6      66,098    35,053 
Cost of sales                                   7    (31,875)  (24,272) 
---------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Gross profit                                           34,223    10,781 
Administrative expenses                         8     (5,709)   (5,311) 
Reversal of impairment/(impairment) of 
 property, plant and equipment                  17     34,469     (180) 
Other operating gains, (net)                    11      3,387     1,109 
---------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Operating profit                                       66,370     6,399 
Finance income                                  12        641       383 
Finance costs                                   13      (140)     (112) 
Net impairment (losses) / gains on financial 
 assets                                                    60      (31) 
Other losses (net)                                      (140)      (50) 
---------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Profit before taxation                                 66,791     6,589 
Income tax expense                              14   (12,485)   (4,301) 
---------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Profit for the year                                    54,306     2,288 
---------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
 
  Earnings per share (cents) 
Basic and diluted                               16      16.9c      0.7c 
---------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
 

The Notes set out below are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

 
 
                                                       2018     2017 
                                                       $000     $000 
 
Profit for the year                                  54,306    2,288 
 
Other comprehensive expense: 
Items that may be subsequently reclassified 
 to profit or loss: 
 
 Equity - foreign currency translation              (1,329)  (1,247) 
Items that will not be subsequently reclassified 
 to profit or loss: 
Re-measurements of post-employment benefit 
 obligations                                          (142)      (1) 
 
 
Total other comprehensive expense                   (1,471)  (1,248) 
 
 
Total comprehensive income for the year              52,835    1,040 
--------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 

Company Statement of Comprehensive Income

 
                                          Note    2018    2017 
                                                  $000    $000 
 
Profit for the year                         15  12,057  12,239 
----------------------------------------  ----  ------  ------ 
 
Total comprehensive income for the year         12,057  12,239 
----------------------------------------  ----  ------  ------ 
 

The Notes set out below are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Balance Sheet

 
 
                                           2018       2017 
                                Note       $000       $000 
Assets 
Non-current assets 
Property, plant and equipment    17      50,192     14,962 
Intangible assets                18       4,880      5,590 
Corporation tax receivable                   27         37 
Deferred tax asset               25        3283      9,261 
------------------------------  ----  ---------  --------- 
                                         58,382     29,850 
 
Current assets 
Inventories                      20       1,605      1,394 
Trade and other receivables      21      10,130      6,536 
Other short-term investments     22           -     16,000 
Cash and cash equivalents        22      53,222     14,249 
------------------------------  ----  ---------  --------- 
                                         64,957     38,179 
 
Total assets                            123,339     68,029 
------------------------------  ----  ---------  --------- 
 
Liabilities 
Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables         23     (4,836)    (2,423) 
Corporation tax payable                 (1,297)    (1,116) 
                                        (6,133)    (3,539) 
 
Net current assets                       58,824     34,640 
------------------------------  ----  ---------  --------- 
 
Non-current liabilities 
Provision for decommissioning    24     (3,137)    (3,027) 
Defined benefit liability                 (468)      (275) 
Deferred tax liability           25       (504)      (820) 
                                        (4,109)    (4,122) 
 
Total liabilities                      (10,242)    (7,661) 
------------------------------  ----  ---------  --------- 
 
Net assets                              113,097     60,368 
------------------------------  ----  ---------  --------- 
 
Equity 
Called up share capital          26      28,115     28,115 
Share premium account                   555,090    555,090 
Foreign exchange reserve         27   (102,261)  (100,932) 
Other reserves                   27       4,273      4,273 
Accumulated losses                    (372,120)  (426,178) 
Total equity                            113,097     60,368 
------------------------------  ----  ---------  --------- 
 

The Notes set out below are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

 
 
                            Called     Share                   Capital         Foreign 
                          up share   premium    Merger   contributions        exchange     Accumulated 
                           capital   account   reserve         reserve        reserve*          losses  Total equity 
                              $000      $000      $000            $000            $000            $000          $000 
 
As at 1 January 
 2017                       28,115   555,090   (3,204)           7,477        (99,684)       (428,466)        59,328 
Profit for the 
 year                            -         -         -               -               -           2,288         2,288 
Other 
 comprehensive 
 expense 
 - exchange 
 differences                     -         -         -               -         (1,247)               -       (1,247) 
 - 
  re-measurements 
  of 
  post-employment 
  benefit 
  obligations                    -         -         -               -             (1)               -           (1) 
-----------------  ---------------  --------  --------  --------------  --------------  --------------  ------------ 
Total 
 comprehensive 
 income/(expense)                -         -         -               -         (1,248)           2,288         1,040 
-----------------  ---------------  --------  --------  --------------  --------------  --------------  ------------ 
As at 31 December 
 2017                       28,115   555,090   (3,204)           7,477       (100,932)       (426,178)        60,368 
-----------------  ---------------  --------  --------  --------------  --------------  --------------  ------------ 
 
                            Called     Share                   Capital         Foreign 
                          up share   premium    Merger   contributions        exchange     Accumulated 
                           capital   account   reserve         reserve        reserve*          losses  Total equity 
                              $000      $000      $000            $000            $000            $000          $000 
 
As at 1 January 
 2018                       28,115   555,090   (3,204)           7,477       (100,932)       (426,178)        60,368 
Change in 
 accounting 
 policy (Note 5)                 -         -         -               -               -           (106)         (106) 
-----------------  ---------------  --------  --------  --------------  --------------  --------------  ------------ 
Retained total 
 equity at the 
 beginning of the 
 financial year             28,115   555,090   (3,204)           7,477       (100,932)       (426,284)        60,262 
Profit for the 
 year                            -         -         -               -               -          54,306        54,306 
Other 
 comprehensive 
 expense 
 - exchange 
 differences                     -         -         -               -         (1,329)               -       (1,329) 
 - 
  re-measurements 
  of 
  post-employment 
  benefit 
  obligations                    -         -         -               -               -           (142)         (142) 
-----------------  ---------------  --------  --------  --------------  --------------  --------------  ------------ 
Total 
 comprehensive 
 income/(expense)                -         -         -               -         (1,329)          54,164        52,835 
-----------------  ---------------  --------  --------  --------------  --------------  --------------  ------------ 
As at 31 December 
 2018                       28,115   555,090   (3,204)           7,477       (102,261)       (372,120)       113,097 
-----------------  ---------------  --------  --------  --------------  --------------  --------------  ------------ 
 
  * Predominantly as a result of exchange differences on non-monetary assets and liabilities 
  where the subsidiaries' functional currency is not the US Dollar. 
 
 

The Notes set out below are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

 
                                                                 2018      2017 
                                                       Note      $000      $000 
 
Operating activities 
Cash generated from operations                          29     36,342    17,982 
Equipment rental income                                             8         - 
Income tax paid                                               (6,316)   (2,133) 
Interest received                                               3,038       906 
-----------------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Net cash inflow from operating activities                      33,072    16,755 
-----------------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
 
Investing activities 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment                    (10,001)   (6,151) 
Purchase of intangible assets                                    (95)     (121) 
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment                74         8 
Proceeds from disposal/(acquisition) of other 
 short-term investments                                 22     16,000  (16,000) 
-----------------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities             5,978  (22,264) 
-----------------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
 
 
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents           39,050   (5,509) 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                 14,249    19,966 
Change in accounting policies                           5         (9)         - 
ECL of cash and cash equivalents                                 (13)         - 
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes                          (55)     (208) 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                22     53,222    14,249 
-----------------------------------------------------  ----  --------  -------- 
 

The Notes set out below are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Notes forming part of the financial statements

1. Statutory Accounts

The financial information set out above does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2018 or 2017, but is derived from those accounts. The Auditor has reported on those accounts, and its reports were unqualified and did not contain statements under sections 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.

The statutory accounts for 2018 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's Annual General Meeting.

While the financial information included in this preliminary announcement has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union ("IFRS"), this announcement does not itself contain sufficient information to comply with IFRS. The Company expects to distribute the full financial statements that comply with IFRS in May/June 2019.

2. General Information and Operational Environment

Regal Petroleum plc (the "Company") and its subsidiaries (the "Group") is a gas, condensate and LPG production group.

The Company is a public limited company quoted on the AIM Market of London Stock Exchange plc and incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 2006. The Company's registered office is at 16 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP, United Kingdom and its registered number is 4462555. The principal activities of the Group and the nature of the Group's operations are set out in the Directors' Report.

As of 31 December 2017 the Company's immediate parent company was Energees Management Limited, which is 100% owned by Pelidona Services Limited. On 11 December 2018, Energees Management Limited transferred 100% of its shares in the Company to Pelidona Services Limited. As at 31 December 2018, the Company's immediate parent company was Pelidona Services Limited, which is 100% owned by Lovitia Investments Limited, which is 100% owned by Mr V Novynskyi. Accordingly, the Company was ultimately controlled by Mr V Novynskyi.

The Group's gas, condensate and LPG extraction and production facilities are located in Ukraine. The ongoing political and economic instability in Ukraine, which commenced in late 2013, has led to a deterioration of Ukrainian State finances, volatility of financial markets, illiquidity on capital markets, higher inflation and a depreciation of the national currency against major foreign currencies, although there have been some gradual improvements recently.

The Ukrainian economy is showing signs of stabilisation after the previous years of political and economic tensions. The year-on-year inflation rate in Ukraine decreased to 9.8% during 2018 (as compared to 13.7% in 2017), while GDP grew at 3.3% (after 2% growth in 2017).

The National Bank of Ukraine ("NBU") continued its inflation targeting policy and periodically raised its key policy rate from 12.5% in May 2017 to 18% in September 2018. This has helped restrain inflation below 10%, although the cost of domestic funding has increased significantly. The NBU adhered to a floating Ukrainian Hryvnia exchange rate, which finished the 2018 year at UAH27.69/$1.00, compared to UAH28.07/$1.00 as at 31 December 2017. Among the key mitigating factors for the relative stability of the Ukrainian Hryvnia were the agreement on the International Monetary Fund ("IMF") programme, strong revenues of agricultural exporters, tight Ukrainian Hryvnia liquidity and a growth in remittances from labour migrants.

In December 2018, the IMF approved a 14-month Stand-By Arrangement ("SBA") programme for Ukraine, totalling $3.9 billion. In December 2018, Ukraine received $2 billion from the IMF and the European Union ("EU"), as well as $750 million credit guarantees from the World Bank. The approval of the IMF programme significantly increases the chance of Ukraine meeting its foreign currency obligations in 2019, and thus will support the financial and macroeconomic stability of the country. The IMF will decide on further tranches in May and November 2019, depending on Ukraine's success in fulfilling the terms of the Memorandum on Economic and Financial Policies, which Ukraine plans to follow during the SBA programme's implementation.

In 2019-2020, Ukraine faces major public debt repayments, which will require the arrangement of substantial domestic and external financing in an increasingly challenging financing environment for emerging markets. In addition, presidential elections held in March and April 2019 resulted in the election of a new President, and parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 2019. As a consequence of these elections, a degree of political uncertainty will remain for the foreseeable future. Despite certain improvements in 2018, the outcome of these matters and the ongoing effects of the political and economic situation are difficult to predict, but they may have further severe effects on the Ukrainian economy and the Group's business.

Further details of risks relating to Ukraine can be found within the Principal Risks and Uncertainties section of the Strategic Report.

3. Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Basis of Preparation

The Group has prepared its consolidated financial statements and the Company's financial statements under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRSs") and interpretations issued by the IFRS Interpretations Committee ("IFRS IC"), as adopted by the European Union. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies using IFRS. The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are set out below. Apart from the accounting policy changes resulting from the adoption of IFRS 9 and IFRS 15 effective from 1 January 2018, these policies have been consistently applied to all the periods presented, unless otherwise stated (refer to Notes 5 and 34). The principal accounting policies in respect of financial instruments and revenue recognition applied until 31 December 2017 are presented in Note 34.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group's accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements are disclosed in Note 4.

Going Concern

Based on the positive operational and financial performance of the Group and for the reasons outlined in the Principal Risks and Uncertainties section of the Strategic Report, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future regarded as at least 12 months after the date of signing of these financial statements. Accordingly, the going concern basis has been adopted in preparing its consolidated financial statements and the Company's financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2018. The use of this basis of accounting takes into consideration the Company's and the Group's current and forecast financing position, additional details of which are provided in the Principal Risks and Uncertainties section of the Strategic Report. The Group does not foresee any positive or negative impact on its operations as a result of the ongoing Brexit negotiations or any outcome from those negotiations.

New and amended standards adopted by the Group

The Group has applied the following new and revised standards and interpretations for the first time for its annual reporting period commencing 1 January 2018. The Group had to change its accounting policies as a result of adopting the following standards:

   --        IFRS 9 Financial Instruments; 
   --        IFRS 15 Revenue from contracts with customers. 

The impact of the adoption of these standards and the new accounting policies are disclosed in Note 5 below.

The following amended standards became effective for the Group from 1 January 2018, but did not have any material impact on the Group:

-- Amendments to IFRS 2 Share-based Payment (issued on 20 June 2016 and effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018).

-- Amendments to IFRS 4 - Applying IFRS 9 Financial Instruments with IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts (issued on 12 September 2016 and effective, depending on the approach, for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018 for entities that choose to apply temporary exemption option, or when the entity first applies IFRS 9 for entities that choose to apply the overlay approach).

-- Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2014-2016 cycle -- Amendments to IFRS 1 an IAS 28 (issued on 8 December 2016 and effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018).

-- IFRIC 22 Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration (issued on 8 December 2016 and effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018).

-- Amendments to IAS 40 - Transfers of Investment Property (issued on 8 December 2016 and effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018).

Impact of standards issued but not yet applied by the Group

Certain new accounting standards and interpretations have been published that are not mandatory for the annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019 or later, and which the Group has not early adopted. The Group's assessment of the impact of these new standards and interpretations is set out below.

I) IFRS 16 Leases (issued on 13 January 2016 and effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019)

The new standard sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases. All leases result in the lessee obtaining the right to use an asset at the start of the lease and, if lease payments are made over time, also obtaining financing. Accordingly, IFRS 16 eliminates the classification of leases as either operating leases or finance leases as is required by IAS 17 and, instead, introduces a single lessee accounting model. Lessees will be required to recognise: (a) assets and liabilities for all leases with a term of more than 12 months, unless the underlying asset is of low value; and (b) depreciation of lease assets separately from interest on lease liabilities in the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income. IFRS 16 substantially carries forward the lessor accounting requirements in IAS 17. Accordingly, a lessor continues to classify its leases as operating leases or finance leases, and to account for those two types of leases differently.

The Group decided that it will apply the standard from its mandatory adoption date of 1 January 2019 using the modified retrospective method, without restatement of comparatives. Right-of-use assets for property leases are measured on transition as if the new rules had always applied. All other right-of-use assets are measured at the amount of the lease liability on adoption (adjusted for any prepaid or accrued expenses).

As at 31 December 2018, the Group has non-cancellable lease commitments of $1,884,000. Of these commitments, approximately $10,000 relate to low values leases and $85,000 to short-term leases which will both be recognised on a straight-line basis as expenses in profit or loss, leaving a balance of $1,789,000.

A reconciliation of the operating lease commitments disclosed in Note 28 to the recognised liability is as follows:

 
                                                                                     1 January 2019 
                                                                                               $000 
Group 
Total future minimum lease payments for non-cancellable operating leases (Note 28)            1,789 
- effect of discounting to present value                                                      (667) 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------- 
Total lease liabilities                                                                       1,122 
 
 

The Company has only short-term leases in the amount of $85,000 which will be recognised as expenses in profit or loss.

For the remaining lease commitments, the Group expects to recognise right-of-use assets of approximately $1,122,000 on 1 January 2019, and lease liabilities of $1,122,000 (after adjustments for prepayments and accrued lease payments recognised as at 31 December 2018). Overall net current assets will be approximately $371,000 lower due to the presentation of a portion of the liability as a current liability. The Group expects that net profit for the year ending 31 December 2019 will increase by approximately $64,000 as a result of adopting the new rules. Operating cash flows will increase and financing cash flows decrease by approximately $406,000 as repayment of the principal portion of the lease liabilities will be classified as cash flows from financing activities.

II) IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts (issued on 18 May 2017 and effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2021)

IFRS 17 replaces IFRS 4, which has given companies dispensation to carry on accounting for insurance contracts using existing practices. As a consequence, it was difficult for investors to compare and contrast the financial performance of otherwise similar insurance companies. IFRS 17 is a single principle-based standard to account for all types of insurance contracts, including reinsurance contracts that an insurer holds. The standard requires recognition and measurement of groups of insurance contracts at: (i) a risk-adjusted present value of the future cash flows (the fulfilment cash flows) that incorporates all of the available information about the fulfilment cash flows in a way that is consistent with observable market information; plus (if this value is a liability) or minus (if this value is an asset), and (ii) an amount representing the unearned profit in the group of contracts (the contractual service margin). Insurers will be recognising the profit from a group of insurance contracts over the period they provide insurance coverage, and as they are released from risk. If a group of contracts is or becomes loss-making, an entity will be recognising the loss immediately.

III) IFRIC 23 "Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments" (issued on 7 June 2017 and effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019)

IAS 12 specifies how to account for current and deferred tax, but not how to reflect the effects of uncertainty. The interpretation clarifies how to apply the recognition and measurement requirements in IAS 12 when there is uncertainty over income tax treatments. An entity should determine whether to consider each uncertain tax treatment separately or together with one or more other uncertain tax treatments based on which approach better predicts the resolution of the uncertainty. An entity should assume that a taxation authority will examine amounts it has a right to examine and have full knowledge of all related information when making those examinations. If an entity concludes it is not probable that the taxation authority will accept an uncertain tax treatment, the effect of uncertainty will be reflected in determining the related taxable profit or loss, tax bases, unused tax losses, unused tax credits or tax rates by using either the most likely amount or the expected value, depending on which method the entity expects to better predict the resolution of the uncertainty. An entity will reflect the effect of a change in facts and circumstances or of new information that affects the judgments or estimates required by the interpretation as a change in accounting estimate. Examples of changes in facts and circumstances or new information that can result in the reassessment of a judgment or estimate include, but are not limited to, examinations or actions by a taxation authority, changes in rules established by a taxation authority or the expiry of a taxation authority's right to examine or re-examine a tax treatment. The absence of agreement or disagreement by a taxation authority with a tax treatment, in isolation, is unlikely to constitute a change in facts and circumstances or new information that affects the judgments and estimates required by the interpretation.

IV) Prepayment Features with Negative Compensation - Amendments to IFRS 9 (issued on 12 October 2017 and effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019)

The amendments enable measurement at amortised cost of certain loans and debt securities that can be prepaid at an amount below amortised cost, for example at fair value or at an amount that includes a reasonable compensation payable to the borrower equal to present value of an effect of increase in market interest rate over the remaining life of the instrument. In addition, the text added to the standard's basis for conclusion reconfirms existing guidance in IFRS 9 that modifications or exchanges of certain financial liabilities measured at amortised cost that do not result in the derecognition will result in a gain or loss in profit or loss. Reporting entities will thus in most cases not be able to revise the effective interest rate for the remaining life of the loan in order to avoid an impact on profit or loss upon a loan modification.

V) Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2015-2017 cycle - amendments to IFRS 3, IFRS 11, IAS 12 and IAS 23 (issued on 12 December 2017 and effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019)

The narrow scope amendments impact four standards. IFRS 3 was clarified that an acquirer should re-measure its previously held interest in a joint operation when it obtains control of the business. Conversely, IFRS 11 now explicitly explains that the investor should not re-measure its previously held interest when it obtains joint control of a joint operation, similarly to the existing requirements when an associate becomes a joint venture and vice versa. The amended IAS 12 explains that an entity recognises all income tax consequences of dividends where it has recognised the transactions or events that generated the related distributable profits, e.g. in profit or loss or in other comprehensive income.

It is now clear that this requirement applies in all circumstances as long as payments on financial instruments classified as equity are distributions of profits, and not only in cases when the tax consequences are a result of different tax rates for distributed and undistributed profits. The revised IAS 23 now includes explicit guidance that the borrowings obtained specifically for funding a specified asset are excluded from the pool of general borrowings costs eligible for capitalisation only until the specific asset is substantially complete.

VI) Amendments to IAS 19 "Plan Amendment, Curtailment or Settlement" (issued on 7 February 2018 and effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019)

The amendments specify how to determine pension expenses when changes to a defined benefit pension plan occur. When a change to a plan - an amendment, curtailment or settlement - takes place, IAS 19 requires to remeasure net defined benefit liability or asset. The amendments require to use the updated assumptions from this remeasurement to determine current service cost and net interest for the remainder of the reporting period after the change to the plan. Before the amendments, IAS 19 did not specify how to determine these expenses for the period after the change to the plan. By requiring the use of updated assumptions, the amendments are expected to provide useful information to users of financial statements. The Group is currently assessing the impact of the amendments on its financial statements.

VII) Amendments to the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting (issued on 29 March 2018 and effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2020)

The revised Conceptual Framework includes: a new chapter on measurement; guidance on reporting financial performance; improved definitions and guidance - in particular the definition of a liability; and clarifications in important areas, such as the roles of stewardship, prudence and measurement uncertainty in financial reporting.

VIII) Definition of a business - Amendments to IFRS 3 (issued on 22 October 2018 and effective for acquisitions from the beginning of annual reporting period that starts on or after 1 January 2020).

The amendments revise definition of a business. A business must have inputs and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. The new guidance provides a framework to evaluate when an input and a substantive process are present, including for early stage companies that have not generated outputs. An organised workforce should be present as a condition for classification as a business if are no outputs. The definition of the term "outputs" is narrowed to focus on goods and services provided to customers, generating investment income and other income, and it excludes returns in the form of lower costs and other economic benefits. It is also no longer necessary to assess whether market participants are capable of replacing missing elements or integrating the acquired activities and assets. An entity can apply a "concentration test". The assets acquired would not represent a business if substantially all of the fair value of gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single asset (or a group of similar assets).

IX) Definition of materiality - Amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 8 (issued on 31 October 2018 and effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2020)

The amendments clarify the definition of material and how it should be applied by including in the definition guidance that until now has featured elsewhere in IFRS. In addition, the explanations accompanying the definition have been improved. Finally, the amendments ensure that the definition of material is consistent across all IFRS Standards. Information is material if omitting, misstating or obscuring it could reasonably be expected to influence the decisions that the primary users of general purpose financial statements make on the basis of those financial statements, which provide financial information about a specific reporting entity.

The Group is currently assessing the impact of the interpretation and amendments on its financial statements.

There are no other IFRSs or IFRIC interpretations that are not yet effective that would be expected to have a material impact on the Group in the current or future reporting periods and on foreseeable future transactions.

Exchange differences on intra-group balances with foreign operation

The Group has certain inter-company monetary balances of which the Company is the beneficial owner. These monetary balances are payable by a subsidiary that is a foreign operation and are eliminated on consolidation.

In the consolidated financial statements, exchange differences arising on such payables because the transaction currency differs from the subsidiary's functional currency are recognised initially in other comprehensive income if the settlement of such payables is continuously deferred and is neither planned nor likely to occur in the foreseeable future.

In such cases, the respective receivables of the Company are regarded as an extension of the Company's net investment in that foreign operation, and the cumulative amount of the abovementioned exchange differences recognised in other comprehensive income is carried forward within the foreign exchange reserve in equity and is reclassified to profit or loss only upon disposal of the foreign operation.

When the subsidiary that is a foreign operation settles its quasi-equity liability due to the Company, but the Company continues to possess the same percentage of the subsidiary, i.e. there has been no change in its proportionate ownership interest, such settlement is not regarded as a disposal or a partial disposal, and therefore cumulative exchange differences are not reclassified.

The designation of inter-company monetary balances as part of the net investment in a foreign operation is re-assessed when management's expectations and intentions on settlement change due to a change in circumstances.

Where, because of a change in circumstances, a receivable balance, or part thereof, previously designated as a net investment into a foreign operation is intended to be settled, the receivable is de-designated and is no longer regarded as part of the net investment.

In such cases, the exchange differences arising on the subsidiary's payable following de-designation are recognised within finance costs / income in profit or loss, similar to foreign exchange differences arising from financing.

Basis of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial information of the Company and entities controlled by the Company (and its subsidiaries) made up to 31 December each year.

Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are all entities (including structured entities) over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when the Group 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. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group. They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases.

The Group applies the acquisition method to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair value of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred to the former owners of the acquiree and the equity interests issued by the Group. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. The Group recognises any non-controlling interest in the acquiree on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis at the non-controlling interest's proportionate share of the recognised amounts of the acquiree's identifiable net assets.

Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.

If the business combination is achieved in stages, the acquisition date carrying value of the acquirer's previously held equity interest in the acquiree is re-measured to fair value at the acquisition date; any gains or losses arising from such re-measurement are recognised in profit or loss.

Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the Group is recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequent changes to the fair value of the contingent consideration that is deemed to be an asset or liability is recognised in accordance with IFRS 9 in profit or loss.

Inter-company transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated. Unrealised losses are also eliminated. When necessary, amounts reported by subsidiaries have been adjusted to conform with the Group's accounting policies.

Segment reporting

The Group's only class of business activity is oil and gas exploration, development and production. The Group's primary operations are located in Ukraine, with its head office in the United Kingdom. The geographical segments are the basis on which the Group reports its segment information to management. Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the Board of Directors.

Commercial Reserves

Proved and probable oil and gas reserves are estimated quantities of commercially producible hydrocarbons which the existing geological, geophysical and engineering data show to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs. Proved reserves are those quantities of petroleum that, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be commercially recoverable from known reservoirs and under defined technical and commercial conditions. Probable reserves are those additional reserves which analysis of geoscience and engineering data indicate are less likely to be recovered than proved reserves but more certain to be recovered than possible reserves. The proved and probable reserves conform to the definition approved by the Petroleum Resources Management System.

Oil and Gas Exploration/Evaluation and Development/Production Assets

The Group applies the successful efforts method of accounting for oil and gas assets, having regard to the requirements of IFRS 6 "Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources".

Exploration costs are incurred to discover hydrocarbon resources. Evaluation costs are incurred to assess the technical feasibility and commercial viability of the resources found. Exploration, as defined in IFRS 6 'Exploration and evaluation of mineral resources', starts when the legal rights to explore have been obtained. Expenditure incurred before obtaining the legal right to explore is generally expensed; an exception to this would be separately acquired intangible assets such as payment for an option to obtain legal rights.

Expenditures incurred in exploration activities should be expensed unless they meet the definition of an asset. An entity recognises an asset when it is probable that economic benefits will flow to the entity as a result of the expenditure. The economic benefits might be available through commercial exploitation of hydrocarbon reserves or sales of exploration findings or further development rights. Exploration and evaluation ("E&E") assets are recognised within property, plant and equipment in single field cost centres.

The capitalisation point is the earlier of:

(a) the point at which the fair value less costs to sell of the property can be reliably determined as higher than the total of the expenses incurred and costs already capitalised (such as licence acquisition costs); and

(b) an assessment of the property demonstrates that commercially viable reserves are present and hence there are probable future economic benefits from the continued development and production of the resource.

E&E assets are reclassified from Exploration and Evaluation when evaluation procedures have been completed. E&E assets that are not commercially viable are written down. E&E assets for which commercially viable reserves have been identified are reclassified to Development and Production assets. E&E assets are tested for impairment immediately prior to reclassification out of E&E.

Once an E&E asset has been reclassified from E&E, it is subject to the normal IFRS requirements. This includes impairment testing at the cash-generating unit ("CGU") level and depreciation.

Abandonment and Retirement of Individual Items of Property, Plant and Equipment

Normally, no gains or losses shall be recognised if only an individual item of equipment is abandoned or retired or if only a single lease or other part of a group of proved properties constituting the amortisation base is abandoned or retired as long as the remainder of the property or group of properties constituting the amortisation base continues to produce oil or gas. Instead, the asset being abandoned or retired shall be deemed to be fully amortised, and its costs shall be charged to accumulated depreciation, depletion or amortisation. When the last well on an individual property (if that is the amortisation base) or group of properties (if amortisation is determined on the basis of an aggregation of properties with a common geological structure) ceases to produce and the entire property or group of properties is abandoned, a gain or loss shall be recognised. Occasionally, the partial abandonment or retirement of a proved property or group of proved properties or the abandonment or retirement of wells or related equipment or facilities may result from a catastrophic event or other major abnormality. In those cases, a loss shall be recognised at the time of abandonment or retirement.

Intangible Assets other than Oil and Gas Assets

Intangible assets other than oil and gas assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and any provision for impairment. These assets represent exploration licences. Amortisation is charged so as to write off the cost, less estimated residual value on a straight-line basis of 20-25% per annum.

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortisation

All expenditure carried within each field is amortised from the commencement of commercial production on a unit of production basis, which is the ratio of gas production in the period to the estimated quantities of commercial reserves at the end of the period plus the production in the period, generally on a field by field basis. In certain circumstances, fields within a single development area may be combined for depletion purposes. Costs used in the unit of production calculation comprise the net book value of capitalised costs plus the estimated future field development costs necessary to bring the reserves into production.

Impairment

At each balance sheet date, the Group reviews the carrying amount of oil and gas development and production assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. This includes exploration and appraisal costs capitalised which are assessed for impairment in accordance with IFRS 6. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss.

For oil and gas development and production assets, the recoverable amount is the greater of fair value less costs to dispose and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using an expected weighted average cost of capital. If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognised as an expense immediately.

Should an impairment loss subsequently reverse, the carrying amount of the asset 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 asset in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised as income immediately.

Decommissioning Provision

Where a material liability for the removal of existing production facilities and site restoration at the end of the productive life of a field exists, a provision for decommissioning is recognised. The amount recognised is the present value of estimated future expenditure determined in accordance with local conditions and requirements. The cost of the relevant property, plant and equipment is increased with an amount equivalent to the provision and depreciated on a unit of production basis. Changes in estimates are recognised prospectively, with corresponding adjustments to the provision and the associated fixed asset. The unwinding of the discount on the decommissioning provision is included within finance costs.

Property, Plant and Equipment other than Oil and Gas Assets

Property, plant and equipment other than oil and gas assets (included in Other fixed assets in Note 17) are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any provision for impairment. Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of assets on a straight-line basis over their useful lives as follows:

Useful lives in years

 
 Buildings and constructions   10 to 20 years 
 Machinery and equipment         2 to 5 years 
 Vehicles                             5 years 
 Office and other equipment     4 to 12 years 
 

Spare parts and equipment purchased with the intention to be used in future capital investment projects are recognised as oil and gas development and production assets within property, plant and equipment.

Inventories

Inventories typically consist of materials, spare parts and hydrocarbons, and are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost of finished goods is determined on the weighted average bases. Cost of other than finished goods inventory is determined on the first in first out basis. Net realisable value represents the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is income arising in the course of the Group's ordinary activities. Revenue is recognised in the amount of transaction price. Transaction price is the amount of consideration to which the Group expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring control over promised goods or services to a customer, excluding the amounts collected on behalf of third parties.

Revenue is recognised net of indirect taxes and excise duties.

Sales of gas, condensate and LPG are recognised when control of the good has transferred, being when the goods are delivered to the customer, the customer has full discretion over the goods, and there is no unfulfilled obligation that could affect the customer's acceptance of the goods. Delivery occurs when the goods have been shipped to the specific location, the risks of obsolescence and loss have been transferred to the customer, and either the customer has accepted the goods in accordance with the contract, the acceptance provisions have lapsed, or the Group has objective evidence that all criteria for acceptance have been satisfied.

A receivable is recognised when the goods are delivered as this is the point in time that the consideration is unconditional because only the passage of time is required before the payment is due.

The Group normally uses standardised contracts for the sale of gas, condensate and LPG, which define the point of control transfer. The price and quantity of each sale transaction are indicated in the specifications to the sales contracts.

The control over gas is transferred to a customer when the respective act of acceptance is signed by the parties to a contract upon delivery of gas to the point of sale specified in the contract, normally being a certain point in the Ukrainian gas transportation system. Acts of acceptance of gas are signed and the respective revenues are recognised on a monthly basis.

The control over condensate and LPG is transferred to a customer when the respective waybill is signed by the parties to a contract upon shipment of goods at the point of sale specified in the contract, which is normally the Group's production site.

Foreign Currencies

The Group's consolidated financial statements and those of the Company are presented in US Dollars. The functional currency of the subsidiaries which operate in Ukraine is Ukrainian Hryvnia. The remaining entities have US Dollars as their functional currency.

The functional currency of individual companies is determined by the primary economic environment in which the entity operates, normally the one in which it primarily generates and expends cash. In preparing the financial statements of the individual companies, transactions in currencies other than the entity's functional currency ("foreign currencies") are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. At each balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the balance sheet date. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the Income Statement. 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 which are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated. Gains and losses arising on retranslation are included in net profit or loss for the period, except for exchange differences arising on balances which are considered long term investments where the changes in fair value are recognised directly in other comprehensive income.

On consolidation, the assets and liabilities of the Group's subsidiaries which do not use US Dollars as their functional currency are translated into US Dollars as follows:

(a) assets and liabilities for each Balance Sheet presented are translated at the closing rate at the date of that Balance Sheet;

(b) income and expenses for each Income Statement are translated at average monthly exchange rates (unless this average is not a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which case income and expenses are translated at the rate on the dates of the transactions); and

   (c)      all resulting exchange differences are recognised in other comprehensive income. 

The principal rates of exchange used for translating foreign currency balances at 31 December 2018 were $1:UAH27.7 (2017: $1:UAH28.1), $1:GBP0.8 (2017: $1:GBP0.7), $1:EUR0.9 (2017: $1:EUR0.8).

None of the Group's operations are considered to use the currency of a hyperinflationary economy, however this is kept under review.

Pensions

The Group contributes to a local government pension scheme in Ukraine and defined benefit plans. The Group has no further payment obligations towards the local government pension scheme once the contributions have been paid.

Defined benefit plans define an amount of pension benefit that an employee will receive on retirement, usually dependent on one or more factors such as age, years of service and compensation.

The Group companies participate in a mandatory Ukrainian State-defined retirement benefit plan, which provides for early pension benefits for employees working in certain workplaces with hazardous and unhealthy working conditions. The Group also provides lump sum benefits upon retirement subject to certain conditions. The early pension benefit (in the form of a monthly annuity) is payable by employers only until the employee has reached the statutory retirement age. The pension scheme is based on a benefit formula which depends on each individual member's average salary, his/her total length of past service and total length of past service at specific types of workplaces ("list II" category).

The liability recognised in the Balance Sheet in respect of defined benefit pension plans is the present value of the defined benefit obligation at the end of the reporting period less the fair value of plan assets. The defined benefit obligation is calculated annually by independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. The present value of the defined benefit obligation is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows using interest rates of high-quality corporate bonds that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits will be paid, and that have terms to maturity approximating to the terms of the related pension obligation. Since Ukraine has no deep market in such bonds, the market rates on government bonds are used.

The current service cost of the defined benefit plan, recognised in the Income Statement in employee benefit expense, except where included in the cost of an asset, reflects the increase in the defined benefit obligation resulting from employee service in the current year, benefit changes curtailments and settlements. Past-service costs are recognised immediately in the Income Statement.

The net interest cost is calculated by applying the discount rate to the net balance of the defined benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets. This cost is included in employee benefit expense in the Income Statement.

Actuarial gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are charged or credited to equity in other comprehensive income in the period in which they arise.

Leases

Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee. All other leases are classified as operating leases.

Rentals payable / receivable under operating leases are charged / credited to the Income Statement on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant lease. Benefits received or given as an incentive to enter into an operating lease are also spread on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Taxation

The tax expense represents the sum of the current tax and deferred tax.

Current tax, including UK corporation and overseas tax, is provided at amounts expected to be paid (or recovered) using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such 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 that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, 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 is calculated at the tax rates which are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the Income Statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

Other taxes which include recoverable value added tax, excise tax and custom duties represent the amounts receivable or payable to local tax authorities in the countries where the Group operates.

Financial Instruments

Financial instruments - key measurement terms. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The best evidence of fair value is the price in an active market. An active market is one in which transactions for the asset or liability take place with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

Fair value of financial instruments traded in an active market is measured as the product of the quoted price for the individual asset or liability and the number of instruments held by the entity. This is the case even if a market's normal daily trading volume is not sufficient to absorb the quantity held and placing orders to sell the position in a single transaction might affect the quoted price.

A portfolio of financial derivatives or other financial assets and liabilities that are not traded in an active market is measured at the fair value of a group of financial assets and financial liabilities on the basis of the price that would be received to sell a net long position (i.e. an asset) for a particular risk exposure or paid to transfer a net short position (i.e. a liability) for a particular risk exposure in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. This is applicable for assets carried at fair value on a recurring basis if the Group: (a) manages the group of financial assets and financial liabilities on the basis of the Group's net exposure to a particular market risk (or risks) or to the credit risk of a particular counterparty in accordance with the Group's documented risk management or investment strategy; (b) it provides information on that basis about the group of assets and liabilities to the Group's key management personnel; and (c) the market risks, including duration of the Group's exposure to a particular market risk (or risks) arising from the financial assets and financial liabilities are substantially the same.

Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow models or models based on recent arm's length transactions or consideration of financial data of the investees are used to measure fair value of certain financial instruments for which external market pricing information is not available. Fair value measurements are analysed by level in the fair value hierarchy as follows: (i) level one are measurements at quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities, (ii) level two measurements are valuations techniques with all material inputs observable for the asset or liability, either directly (that is, as prices) or indirectly (that is, derived from prices), and (iii) level three measurements are valuations not based on solely observable market data (that is, the measurement requires significant unobservable inputs). Transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy are deemed to have occurred

Transaction costs are incremental costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition, issue or disposal of a financial instrument. An incremental cost is one that would not have been incurred if the transaction had not taken place. Transaction costs include fees and commissions paid to agents (including employees acting as selling agents), advisors, brokers and dealers, levies by regulatory agencies and securities exchanges, and transfer taxes and duties. Transaction costs do not include debt premiums or discounts, financing costs or internal administrative or holding costs.

Amortised cost ("AC") is the amount at which the financial instrument was recognised at initial recognition less any principal repayments, plus accrued interest, and for financial assets less any allowance for expected credit losses ("ECL"). Accrued interest includes amortisation of transaction costs deferred at initial recognition and of any premium or discount to the maturity amount using the effective interest method. Accrued interest income and accrued interest expense, including both accrued coupon and amortised discount or premium (including fees deferred at origination, if any), are not presented separately and are included in the carrying values of the related items in the consolidated statement of financial position.

The effective interest method is a method of allocating interest income or interest expense over the relevant period, so as to achieve a constant periodic rate of interest (effective interest rate) on the carrying amount. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash payments or receipts (excluding future credit losses) through the expected life of the financial instrument or a shorter period, if appropriate, to the gross carrying amount of the financial instrument. The effective interest rate discounts cash flows of variable interest instruments to the next interest repricing date, except for the premium or discount which reflects the credit spread over the floating rate specified in the instrument, or other variables that are not reset to market rates. Such premiums or discounts are amortised over the whole expected life of the instrument. The present value calculation includes all fees paid or received between parties to the contract that are an integral part of the effective interest rate. For assets that are purchased or originated credit impaired ("POCI") at initial recognition, the effective interest rate is adjusted for credit risk, i.e. it is calculated based on the expected cash flows on initial recognition instead of contractual payments.

Financial instruments - initial recognition. Financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss ("FVTPL") are initially recorded at fair value. All other financial instruments are initially recorded at fair value adjusted for transaction costs. Fair value at initial recognition is best evidenced by the transaction price. A gain or loss on initial recognition is only recorded if there is a difference between fair value and transaction price which can be evidenced by other observable current market transactions in the same instrument or by a valuation technique whose inputs include only data from observable markets. After the initial recognition, an ECL allowance is recognised for financial assets measured at AC and investments in debt instruments measured at fair value through other comprehensive income ("FVOCI"), resulting in an immediate accounting loss.

All purchases and sales of financial assets that require delivery within the time frame established by regulation or market convention ("regular way" purchases and sales) are recorded at trade date, which is the date on which the Group commits to deliver a financial asset. All other purchases are recognised when the entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets - classification and subsequent measurement - measurement categories. The Group classifies financial assets in the following measurement categories: FVTPL, FVOCI and AC. The classification and subsequent measurement of debt financial assets depends on: (i) the Group's business model for managing the related assets portfolio and (ii) the cash flow characteristics of the asset. The Group's financial assets include cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, loans to subsidiary undertakings, all of which are classified as AC in accordance with IFRS 9.

Financial assets - classification and subsequent measurement - business model.The business model reflects how the Group manages the assets in order to generate cash flows - whether the Group's objective is: (i) solely to collect the contractual cash flows from the assets ("hold to collect contractual cash flows",) or (ii) to collect both the contractual cash flows and the cash flows arising from the sale of assets ("hold to collect contractual cash flows and sell") or, if neither of (i) and (ii) is applicable, the financial assets are classified as part of "other" business model and measured at FVTPL.

Business model is determined for a group of assets (on a portfolio level) based on all relevant evidence about the activities that the Group undertakes to achieve the objective set out for the portfolio available at the date of the assessment. Factors considered by the Group in determining the business model include past experience on how the cash flows for the respective assets were collected.

The Group's business model for financial assets is to collect the contractual cash flows from the assets ("hold to collect contractual cash flows").

Financial assets - classification and subsequent measurement - cash flow characteristics. Where the business model is to hold assets to collect contractual cash flows or to hold contractual cash flows and sell, the Group assesses whether the cash flows represent solely payments of principal and interest ("SPPI"). Financial assets with embedded derivatives are considered in their entirety when determining whether their cash flows are consistent with the SPPI feature. In making this assessment, the Group considers whether the contractual cash flows are consistent with a basic lending arrangement, i.e. interest includes only consideration for credit risk, time value of money, other basic lending risks and profit margin.

Where the contractual terms introduce exposure to risk or volatility that is inconsistent with a basic lending arrangement, the financial asset is classified and measured at FVTPL. The SPPI assessment is performed on initial recognition of an asset and it is not subsequently reassessed.

Financial assets - reclassification. Financial instruments are reclassified only when the business model for managing the portfolio as a whole changes. The reclassification has a prospective effect and takes place from the beginning of the first reporting period that follows after the change in the business model. The Group did not change its business model during the current and comparative period and did not make any reclassifications.

Financial assets impairment - credit loss allowance for ECL. The Group assesses, on a forward-looking basis, the ECL for debt instruments measured at AC and FVOCI and for the exposures arising for contract assets. The Group measures ECL and recognises Net impairment losses on financial and contract assets at each reporting date. The measurement of ECL reflects: (i) an unbiased and probability weighted amount that is determined by evaluating a range of possible outcomes, (ii) time value of money and (iii) all reasonable and supportable information that is available without undue cost and effort at the end of each reporting period about past events, current conditions and forecasts of future conditions.

Debt instruments measured at AC and contract assets are presented in the consolidated statement of financial position net of the allowance for ECL. For loan commitments and financial guarantees, a separate provision for ECL is recognised as a liability in the consolidated statement of financial position.

The Group applies a three stage model for impairment, based on changes in credit quality since initial recognition. A financial instrument that is not credit-impaired on initial recognition is classified in Stage 1. Financial assets in Stage 1 have their ECL measured at an amount equal to the portion of lifetime ECL that results from default events possible within the next 12 months or until contractual maturity, if shorter ("12 Months ECL"). If the Group identifies a significant increase in credit risk ("SICR") since initial recognition, the asset is transferred to Stage 2 and its ECL is measured based on ECL on a lifetime basis, that is, up until contractual maturity but considering expected prepayments, if any ("Lifetime ECL"). If the Group determines that a financial asset is credit-impaired, the asset is transferred to Stage 3 and its ECL is measured as a Lifetime ECL. For financial assets that are purchased or originated credit-impaired ("POCI Assets"), the ECL is always measured as a Lifetime ECL.

Financial assets - write-off. Financial assets are written-off, in whole or in part, when the Group exhausted all practical recovery efforts and has concluded that there is no reasonable expectation of recovery. The write-off represents a derecognition event. The Group may write-off financial assets that are still subject to enforcement activity when the Group seeks to recover amounts that are contractually due, however, there is no reasonable expectation of recovery.

Financial assets - derecognition. The Group derecognises financial assets when (a) the assets are redeemed or the rights to cash flows from the assets otherwise expire or (b) the Group has transferred the rights to the cash flows from the financial assets or entered into a qualifying pass-through arrangement whilst (i) also transferring substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the assets or (ii) neither transferring nor retaining substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership but not retaining control.

Financial assets - modification. If the modified terms are substantially different, the rights to cash flows from the original asset expire and the Company derecognises the original financial asset and recognises a new asset at its fair value. The date of renegotiation is considered to be the date of initial recognition for subsequent impairment calculation purposes, including determining whether a SICR has occurred. Any difference between the carrying amount of the original asset derecognised and fair value of the new substantially modified asset is recognised in profit or loss, unless the substance of the difference is attributed to a capital transaction with owners. If the modified asset is not substantially different from the original asset and the modification does not result in derecognition. The Group recalculates the gross carrying amount by discounting the modified contractual cash flows by the original effective interest rate (or credit-adjusted effective interest rate for POCI financial assets), and recognises a modification gain or loss in profit or loss.

Financial liabilities - measurement categories. Financial liabilities are classified as subsequently measured at AC, except for (i) financial liabilities at FVTPL: this classification is applied to derivatives, financial liabilities held for trading (e.g. short positions in securities), contingent consideration recognised by an acquirer in a business combination and other financial liabilities designated as such at initial recognition and (ii) financial guarantee contracts and loan commitments. The Group's financial liabilities include trade and other payables, all of which are classified as AC in accordance with IFRS 9.

Financial liabilities - derecognition. Financial liabilities are derecognised when they are extinguished (i.e. when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires).

Trade Receivables

Trade receivables are amounts due from customers for goods sold in the ordinary course of business. If collection is expected in one year or less, they are classified as current assets. If not, they are presented as non-current assets.

Trade receivables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Investments in subsidiaries

Investments made by the Company in its subsidiaries are stated at cost in the Company's financial statements and reviewed for impairment if there are indications that the carrying value may not be recoverable.

Loans issued to subsidiaries

Loans issued by the Company to its subsidiaries are initially recognised in the Company's financial statements at fair value and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less credit loss allowance. Net change in credit losses and foreign exchange differences on loans issued are recognised in the Company's statement of profit or loss in the period when incurred.

Trade Payables

Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Trade payables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Equity Instruments

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Equity instruments issued by the Company and the Group are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. Any excess of the fair value of consideration received over the par value of shares issued is recorded as share premium in equity.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and deposits held at call with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments which are readily convertible to a known amount of cash with no significant loss of interest. Cash and cash equivalents are carried at amortised cost. Interest income that relates to cash and cash equivalents on current and deposit accounts is disclosed within operating cash flow.

Other short-term investments

Other short-term investments include current accounts and deposits held at banks, which do not meet cash and cash equivalents definition. Current accounts and deposits held at banks, which do not meet cash and cash equivalents definition are measured initially at fair value and subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Interest received on other short-term investments is disclosed within operating cash flow.

The Group classifies its financial assets as at amortised cost only if both of the following criteria are met:

- The asset is held within a business model whose objective is to collect the contractual cash flows, and

- The contractual terms give rise to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest.

Interest income

Interest income is recognised as it accrues, taking into account the effective yield on the asset. Interest income on current bank accounts and on demand deposits or term deposits with the maturity less than three months recognised as part of cash and cash equivalents is recognised as other operating income. Interest income on term deposits other than those classified as cash and cash equivalents is recognised as finance income.

4. Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments

The Group makes estimates and judgments concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and judgments which have a risk of causing material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below.

Recoverability of Oil and Gas Development and Production Assets in Ukraine

According to the Group's accounting policies, costs capitalised as assets are assessed for impairment at each balance sheet date if impairment indicators exist. In assessing whether an impairment loss has occurred, the carrying value of the asset or cash-generating unit ("CGU") is compared to its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the greater of fair value less costs to dispose and value in use and is determined for an individual asset, unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that are largely independent of those from other assets or groups of assets. If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its recoverable amount and the respective impairment loss is recognised as an expense immediately. A previously recognised impairment loss is reversed only if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the asset's recoverable amount since the last impairment loss was recognised. If that is the case, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation, had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset in prior years. Such reversals are recognised as income immediately.

MEX-GOL and SV gas and condensate fields

As at 31 December 2017, no impairment indicators were identified by the Group, and therefore no impairment test was performed for the MEX-GOL and SV fields. In addition, at that date the Group considered whether there were any triggers to reverse any impairment loss recognised in prior years and concluded that there was insufficient information to be able to do so.

Over the last two years, the Group has been undertaking certain projects on the MEX-GOL and SV fields with the purpose of refining its field development strategy, including the interpretation of a reprocessed 3D seismic dataset, analysis of technical and economic data and ongoing revision of the geological model. The new information and understanding obtained as a result of the comprehensive re-evaluation study of the geology, geophysics, petroleum engineering and well performance of the fields, together with the recent successful drilling and workover projects implemented with enhanced drilling technologies, resulted in a boost to production in the second half of 2017, and led to a revision of the field development plan. The revised field development plan for these fields prepared in 2018 assumes an increase in the number of new wells from 10 to 24 and an acceleration of the phasing of these new wells.

Following the successful outcomes of the recent drilling and workover projects and subsequent revision of the field development plan in 2018, the Group considered it appropriate to undertake a reassessment of the reserves and resources at the MEX-GOL and SV fields. Accordingly, the Group engaged independent petroleum consultants DeGolyer and MacNaughton ("D&M") to prepare an updated estimate of remaining reserves and resources as of 31 December 2017. The final report issued by D&M in July 2018 provided an estimate of the Group's proved plus probable ("2P") reserves of 50.0 MMboe based on the Group's revised field development plan and other relevant information available at the date of the assessment. The report represents an update on the Group's reserves and resources since the previous estimation undertaken by ERC Equipoise Limited ("ERCE") as at 31 December 2013. Further details of the updated reserves report are set out in the Chief Executive Officer's Statement above and in the Company's announcement made on 31 July 2018.

In accordance with its accounting policy, at the end of each reporting period, the Group assesses whether there is any indication that an impairment loss recognised in prior periods for its oil and gas development and production assets may no longer exist or may have decreased. Given that the 2P reserves remaining as at 31 December 2017, as estimated in the 2018 D&M report, significantly exceeded the previous 2P reserves estimated by ERCE (11.7 MMboe remaining as at 31 December 2013), the Group considered that such a change in reserves estimate reflected a substantial increase in the potential of the MEX-GOL and SV fields and therefore triggered the re-assessment of the recoverable amount of oil and gas development and production assets related to these fields. As such, as at 30 June 2018, the Group determined the recoverable amount based on the Fair Value Less Costs of Disposal ("FVLCD") approach using a discounted cash flow methodology. The discounted after tax cash flows for the CGU were derived based on estimates that a typical market participant would use in valuing such assets. The Group has determined that the MEX-GOL and SV fields are a single CGU, being the smallest group of assets that generate independent cash inflows, as the investment decisions are not based on a single well, but on the expected production of the fields, and these fields are dependent on common infrastructure. The estimate of FVLCD meets the definition of Level 3 fair value measurements as it is determined mostly from unobservable inputs. For the discounted cash flows to be calculated, the Group has used a production profile based on the best estimate of 2P reserves and a range of assumptions, including gas price, economic life of the fields, future capital expenditures and a discount rate which, taking into account other assumptions used in the calculation, are considered to be reflective of the risks. These assumptions are further described in Note 17.

The FVLCD determined by the Group as at 30 June 2018 amounted to $311,100,000, mostly as a result of a substantial increase in the forecasted volume of 2P reserves, accelerated production schedule, growth in gas price and decrease in production tax rates for the wells drilled after 1 January 2018. This resulted in the reversal of the impairment loss of $36,117,000 being recorded as income for the year ended 31 December 2018 in these consolidated financial statements. The amount of the reversal was determined as $39,773,000, being the total amount of the previous impairment accumulated on the MEX-GOL and SV fields up to 30 June 2018, net of depreciation, that would have been incurred had the fields not been previously impaired, less $3,656,000 of previous impairment attributed to the SV-69 well, net of depreciation, which was assessed for impairment purposes separately as at 30 June 2018. This development-type well has not resulted in any production for the Group due to mechanical issues which occurred during its drilling and the well was plugged back with initial plans for a side track at a later stage. Since

then, no side-tracking of this well or drilling of an alternative well targeting the same location has been performed and no information was obtained from this well that could be applied to the development of the targeted area of the field, which could lead to future production. No commercial reserves were assigned to the respective field area in the reserves and resources estimation by D&M in 2018 and the Group completed abandonment of the well by the end of 2018. As such, as at 30 June 2018, the Group did not reverse the previous impairment allowance related to this well and additionally the Group impaired the remaining carrying value of the well to nil on the individual basis and recorded the respective impairment loss of $1,648,000 as an expense for the year ended 31 December 2018.

VAS gas and condensate field

At 31 December 2018, the Group performed an assessment of external and internal indicators to ascertain whether there was any indication of potential impairment. Based on the analysis performed, the Group concluded that no external or internal impairment indicators existed as at 31 December 2018, and accordingly no impairment testing was required as at that date.

Depreciation of Oil and Gas Development and Production Assets

Oil and gas development and production assets held in property, plant and equipment are depreciated on a unit of production basis at a rate calculated by reference to proven and probable reserves at the end of the period plus the production in the period, and incorporating the estimated future cost of developing and extracting those reserves. Future development costs are estimated using assumptions about the number of wells required to produce those reserves, the cost of the wells, future production facilities and operating costs, together with assumptions on oil and gas realisations, and are revised annually. The reserves estimates used are determined using estimates of gas in place, recovery factors, future hydrocarbon prices and also take into consideration the Group's latest development plan for the associated oil and gas development and production assets. Additionally, the latest development plan and therefore the inputs used to determine the depreciation charge, assume that the current licences for the MEX-GOL and SV fields, which are due to expire in July 2024, can be extended until the end of the economic life of the fields.

In light of the revision of the field development plan for the MEX-GOL and SV fields and the re-assessment of the 2P reserves at these fields performed in 2018 by D&M as described above, the Group has revised the estimate of 2P reserves and future cost of developing and extracting those reserves used for the depletion calculation. The effect of the change in estimates made in the current reporting period was appropriately recognised in profit or loss in the period of the change and amounted to a decrease of $11,290,000 in depletion charge for the year 2018.

Provision for Decommissioning

The Group has decommissioning obligations in respect of its Ukrainian assets. The full extent to which the provision is required depends on the legal requirements at the time of decommissioning, the costs and timing of any decommissioning works and the discount rate applied to such costs.

A detailed assessment of gross decommissioning cost was undertaken on a well-by-well basis using local data on day rates and equipment costs. The discount rate applied on the decommissioning cost provision at 31 December 2018 was 8.14% (31 December 2017: 4.70%). The discount rate is calculated in real terms based on the yield to maturity of Ukrainian Government bonds denominated in the currency in which the liability is expected to be settled and with the settlement date that approximates the timing of settlement of decommissioning obligations.

The change in estimate applied to calculate the provision as at 31 December 2018 resulted from the revision of the estimated costs of decommissioning (increase of $1,133,000 in provision), the increase in the discount rate applied (decrease of $1,003,000 in provision) and the extension of the economic life of the MEX-GOL and SV fields as a result of the revision of the field development plan in 2018 (decrease of $180,000 in provision). The increase in discount rate at 31 December 2018 resulted from the increase in Ukrainian Eurobonds yield and the respective increase of country risk premium. The costs are expected to be incurred by 2038 on the MEX-GOL field, by 2042 on the SV field, and by 2024 on the VAS field (31 December 2017: by 2036 on the MEX-GOL and SV fields and 2024 on the VAS field respectively), which is the end of the estimated economic life of the respective fields. If the costs on the MEX-GOL and SV fields were to be incurred at the current expiry of the production licences in 2024, the provision for decommissioning at 31 December 2018 would be $6,268,000 (31 December 2017: $2,613,000).

Net Carrying Amount of Inter-Company Loans Receivable by the Company from a Subsidiary

The Company has certain inter-company loans receivable from a subsidiary, which are eliminated on consolidation. For the purpose of the Company's financial statements, these receivable balances are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less credit loss allowance. Measurement of lifetime expected credit losses on inter-company loans is a significant judgment that involves models and data inputs including forward-looking information, current conditions and forecasts of future conditions impacting the estimated future cash flows that are expected to be recovered, time value of money, etc. In previous years, significant impairment charges were recorded against the carrying amount of the loans issued to subsidiaries as the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the original effective interest rate was less than carrying amount of the loans, and the resulting impairment losses were recognised in profit or loss in the Company's financial statements.

For the purpose of assessment of the credit loss allowance as at 31 December 2018, the Company considered all reasonable and supportable forward looking information available as of that date without undue cost and effort, which includes a range of factors, such as estimated future net cash flows to be generated by the subsidiaries operating in Ukraine, upcoming planned changes in the Group's structure, cash flow management and planned debt structuring between Group entities. All these factors have significant impact on the amounts subject to repayment on the loans. The estimated future discounted cash flows generated by the subsidiaries operating in Ukraine, which are considered as a primary source of repayment on the loans, have significantly increased following the revision of the field development plan and reassessment of mineral reserves at the MEX-GOL and SV fields in 2018 as described above in this Note. For the purpose of this assessment, these cash flows were taken for a period of five years, as management believes there is no reasonably available information to build reliable expectations and demonstrate the ability to settle the loans in a longer perspective, especially in light of the anticipated changes in the Group's legal structure and reassignment of the loans to another subsidiary. As of 31 December 2018, the present value of future net cash flows to be generated by the subsidiaries operating in Ukraine during 2019 - 2023, adjusted for the subsidiaries' working capital as at 31 December 2018 and estimated amounts reserved by the Group for investment projects in the 5-years horizon was calculated. The resulting amount, net of the carrying value of the Company's investments in subsidiaries, was compared to the carrying value of the loans issued to subsidiaries as at 31 December 2018. As such, the Company has recorded $10,923,000 of gain, being the net change in credit loss allowance for loans issued to subsidiaries in the Company's statement of profit or loss for the year ended 31 December 2018.

As with any economic forecast, the projections and likelihoods of occurrence are subject to a high degree of inherent uncertainty, and therefore the actual outcomes may be significantly different to those projected. The Company considers these forecasts to represent its best estimate of the possible outcomes.

Exchange Differences on Intra-group Balances with Foreign Operations

As at 31 December 2017, a Group subsidiary, Regal Petroleum Corporation (Ukraine) Limited, planned to settle $6,000,000 of intra-group liability, of which $4,200,000 was settled in the period. A further amount of $9,000,000 (including $1,800,000 not paid during 2018) is planned to be settled by the end of 2019. As such, a foreign exchange difference of $488,000 accumulated on the intra-group balance of $13,200,000 since the date of de-designation of this balance as part of the Company's net investment in the foreign operation up to 31 December 2018 was recognised in profit or loss in these consolidated financial statements. No reclassification of the foreign exchange difference accumulated in equity prior to de-designation was made as there has been no change in the Company's proportionate ownership interest in the foreign operation and therefore no disposal or partial disposal of the foreign operation. There were no changes in management's plans or intentions regarding the payment of intra-group balances unsettled as at 31 December 2018, other than the above-mentioned amount of $9,000,000, and as such, a foreign exchange difference related to the balance designated as net investment in a foreign operation was recognised in other comprehensive income in the Company Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year ended 31 December 2018.

Recognition of Deferred Tax Asset

The recognition of deferred tax assets is based upon whether it is more likely than not that sufficient and suitable taxable profits will be available in the future against which the reversal of temporary differences can be deducted. This requires judgement for forecasting future profits. Further details of the deferred tax assets recognised can be found in Note 25.

5. Changes in accounting policies

This note explains the impact of the adoption of IFRS 9 'Financial Instruments' and IFRS 15 'Revenue from contracts with customers' on the Group's financial statements and also discloses the new accounting policies that have been applied from 1 January 2018, where they are different to those applied in prior periods.

Impact on the financial statements

The Group adopted IFRS 9, Financial Instruments, from 1 January 2018. The Group elected not to restate comparative figures and recognised any adjustments to the carrying amounts of financial assets and liabilities in the opening retained earnings as of the date of initial application of the standards, 1 January 2018.

The following table reconciles the carrying amounts of each class of financial assets as previously measured in accordance with IAS 39 and the new amounts determined upon adoption of IFRS 9 on 1 January 2018.

 
                    Measure-ment       Carrying                         Effect                         Carrying 
                      category         value per                                                       value per 
                                        IAS 39                                                          IFRS 9 
                                       (closing                                                        (opening 
                                      balance at                                                        balance 
                                      31 December                                                    at 1 January 
                                         2017)                                                           2018) 
                    IAS      IFRS                     Remeasure-ment         Reclassification 
                     39        9 
 Group                                                ECL***    Other    Manda-tory     Volunta-ry 
                                              $000     $000     $000        $000           $000                 $000 
 
 Cash and 
  cash 
  equivalents        L&R*     AC**          14,249        (9)       -               -            -            14,240 
 Other 
  short-term 
  investments        L&R*     AC**          16,000       (35)       -               -            -            15,965 
 Trade and 
  other 
  accounts 
  receivable         L&R*     AC**           2,542       (62)       -               -            -             2,480 
---------------  --------  -------  --------------  ---------  ------  --------------  -----------  ---------------- 
 Total financial 
  assets                                    32,791      (106)       -               -            -            32,685 
 
 

*L&R - Loans and receivables

**AC - Amortised cost

***ECL - Expected credit losses

 
                      Measure-ment        Carrying                         Effect                         Carrying 
                        category          value per                                                       value per 
                                       IAS 39 (closing                                                 IFRS 9 (opening 
                                         balance at                                                        balance 
                                         31 December                                                    at 1 January 
                                            2017)                                                           2018) 
                      IAS      IFRS                       Remeasure-ment       Reclassification 
                       39        9 
 Company                                                  ECL      Other    Manda-tory   Volunta-ry 
                                                  $000     $000      $000         $000         $000               $000 
 
 Cash and 
  cash 
  equivalents          L&R*     AC**             4,411      (2)         -            -            -              4,409 
 Other short-term 
  investments          L&R*     AC**            16,000     (35)         -            -            -             15,965 
 Trade and 
  other accounts 
  receivable           L&R*     AC**               464        -         -            -            -                464 
 Loans to 
  subsidiary 
  undertakings         L&R*     AC**            38,225        -         -            -            -             38,225 
-----------------  --------  -------  ----------------  -------  --------  -----------  -----------  ----------------- 
 Total financial 
  assets                  -        -            59,100     (37)         -            -            -             59,063 
 

*L&R - Loans and receivables

**AC - Amortised cost

The Group has two types of financial assets that are subject to IFRS 9's new expected credit loss ("ECL") model:

   --      trade and other receivables, 
   --      other financial assets carried at amortised cost. 

The Group was required to revise its impairment methodology under IFRS 9 for each of these classes of financial assets. The impact of the change in impairment methodology on the Group's accumulated losses and equity is disclosed in the table above.

Under IFRS 9, loss allowances are measured on either of the following bases:

-- 12-month ECLs: these are ECLs that result from possible default events within the 12 months after the reporting date; and

-- lifetime ECLs: these are ECLs that result from all possible default events over the expected life of a financial instrument.

The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses which uses a lifetime expected loss allowance for all trade receivables. To measure the expected credit losses, trade and other receivables have been grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics and ageing.

The lifetime expected credit loss for loans issued to subsidiaries is based on a forward-looking information, reflects the amount that is considered to be the most probable outcome to be recovered, takes into account current conditions, forecasts of future conditions and time value of money

When determining whether the credit risk of a financial asset has increased significantly since initial recognition and when estimating expected credit losses, the Group considers reasonable and supportable information that is relevant and available without undue cost or effort. The calculation of expected credit losses is carried out on an individual basis taking into account agreement terms, expected repayment period and debtors` credit rating. This includes both quantitative and qualitative information and analysis based on the publicly available observable information, including the information published by the credit ratings agencies and the National Bank of Ukraine, used as benchmarks for expected credit losses and taking into account forward-looking information. For individually insignificant debtors, the Group calculates the expected credit losses based on the Group's historical default rates over the expected life of the financial assets and adjusted for forward-looking estimates.

Impairment losses related to financial assets are presented as part of other operating expenses in the statement of profit or loss.

The total impact on the Group's accumulated losses as at 1 January 2018 is represented by the increase in impairment provision on respective line items as presented in the above table, and is based on estimated rates of expected loss amounts for receivables from related parties and third parties.

Trade and other receivables

To measure the expected credit losses, trade and other receivables have been grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics. The loss allowances for trade and other receivables as at 31 December 2017 reconcile to the opening loss allowances on 1 January 2018 as follows:

 
                                                                        Group 
                                                                         $000 
 
At 31 December 2017 - calculated under IAS 39                              90 
Amounts restated through opening accumulated losses                        62 
----------------------------------------------------------------------  ----- 
Opening loss allowance as at 1 January 2018 - calculated under IFRS 9     152 
 

The loss allowance decreased by a further $53,000 to $99,000 for trade and other receivables during 2018.

Other financial assets at amortised cost

Other financial assets at amortised cost include cash and cash equivalents and other short-term investments. Applying the expected credit risk model resulted in the recognition of a loss allowance of $44,000 on 1 January 2018 (previous loss allowance was nil) and a further decrease in the allowance by $5,000 in 2018 due to the decrease in other short-term investments.

IFRS 15 'Revenue from contracts with customers' - Impact of adoption

Starting from 1 January 2018, the Group is obliged to apply IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The new standard recognition requirements provide more advanced guidance on complex transactions, such as accounting for multiple-element arrangements. The new standard introduces the core principle that revenue must be recognised when the goods or services are transferred to the customer, at the transaction price. Any bundled goods or services that are distinct must be separately recognised, and any discounts or rebates on the contract price must generally be allocated to the separate elements. When the consideration varies for any reason, minimum amounts must be recognised if they are not at significant risk of reversal. Costs incurred to secure contracts with customers have to be capitalised and amortised over the period when the benefits of the contract are consumed.

IFRS 15 also includes a cohesive set of disclosure requirements that would result in an entity providing users of financial statements with comprehensive information about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from the entity's contracts with customers.

Based on management's assessment, the adoption of this standard had no significant impact on these financial statements.

6. Segmental Information

In line with the Group's internal reporting framework and management structure, the key strategic and operating decisions are made by the Board of Directors, who review internal monthly management reports, budget and forecast information as part of this process. Accordingly, the Board of Directors is deemed to be the Chief Operating Decision Maker within the Group.

The Group's only class of business activity is oil and gas exploration, development and production. The Group's operations are located in Ukraine, with its head office in the United Kingdom. These geographical regions are the basis on which the Group reports its segment information. The segment results as presented represent operating profit before depreciation, amortisation and impairment of non-current assets.

 
                                      Ukraine  United Kingdom    Total 
                                         2018            2018     2018 
                                         $000            $000     $000 
 
Revenue 
Gas sales                              49,668               -   49,668 
Condensate sales                       12,772               -   12,772 
Liquefied Petroleum Gas sales           3,658               -    3,658 
------------------------------------  -------  --------------  ------- 
Total revenue                          66,098               -   66,098 
 
Segment result                         41,311         (1,509)   39,802 
Depreciation and amortisation 
 of non-current assets                (7,901)               -  (7,901) 
Reversal of impairment/(impairment) 
 of property, plant and equipment      34,469               -   34,469 
Operating profit                                                66,370 
 
Segment assets                         95,782          27,557  123,339 
 
Capital additions*                      9,552               -    9,552 
 

*Comprises additions to property, plant and equipment (Note 17)

There are no inter-segment sales within the Group and all products are sold in the geographical region in which they are produced. The Group is not significantly impacted by seasonality. Revenue is recognised at a point in time.

During 2017-2018, the Group sold all of its gas production to its related party, LLC Smart Energy ("Smart Energy"). Smart Energy has oil and gas operations in Ukraine and is part of the PJSC Smart-Holding Group, which is ultimately controlled by Mr V Novynskyi, who through an indirect 54% majority shareholding, ultimately controls the Group. This arrangement came about in 2017 as a consequence of the Ukrainian Government introducing a number of new provisions into the Ukrainian Tax Code over the last two years, including transfer pricing regulations for companies operating in Ukraine. The introduction of the new regulations has meant that there is an increased regulatory burden on affected companies in Ukraine who must prepare and submit reporting information to the Ukrainian Tax Authorities. Due to the corporate structure of the Group, a substantial proportion of its gas production is produced by a non-Ukrainian subsidiary of the Group, which operates in Ukraine as a branch, or representative office as it is classified in Ukraine. Under the current tax regulations, this places additional regulatory obligations on each of the Group's potential customers who may be less inclined to purchase the Group's gas and/or may seek discounts on sales prices. As a result of discussions between the Company and Smart Energy, Smart Energy agreed to purchase all of the Group's gas production and to assume responsibility for the regulatory obligations under the Ukrainian tax regulations. Furthermore, Smart Energy has agreed to combine the Group's gas production with its own gas production, and to sell such gas as combined volumes, with the intention to achieve higher sales prices due to the larger sales volumes. In order to cover Smart Energy's sales, administration and regulatory compliance costs, the Group has agreed to sell its gas to Smart Energy at a small discount to the gas sales prices achieved by Smart Energy, who sell the combined volumes in line with market prices. The terms of sale, effective from June 2017, for the Group's gas to Smart Energy are (i) payment for one third of the estimated monthly volume of gas by the 20th of the month of delivery, and (ii) payment of the remaining balance by the 10th of the month following the month of delivery.

 
                                            United 
                                 Ukraine   Kingdom     Total 
                                    2017      2017      2017 
                                    $000      $000      $000 
 
Revenue 
Gas sales                         24,936         -    24,936 
Condensate sales                   7,957         -     7,957 
Liquefied Petroleum Gas sales      2,160         -     2,160 
------------------------------  --------  --------  -------- 
Total revenue                     35,053         -    35,053 
 
Segment result                    20,168   (1,773)    18,395 
Depreciation and amortisation 
 of non-current assets          (11,816)         -  (11,816) 
Impairment of property, plant 
 and equipment                     (180)         -     (180) 
Operating profit                                       6,399 
 
Segment assets                    44,630    23,399    68,029 
 
Capital additions*                 4,024         -     4,024 
 

*Comprises additions to property, plant and equipment (Note 17)

7. Cost of Sales

 
                                                  2018    2017 
                                                  $000    $000 
 
Production taxes                                14,902   7,856 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment    6,863  10,796 
Rent expenses (Note 28)                          4,474     707 
Staff costs (Note 10)                            2,084   1,867 
Cost of inventories recognised as an expense     1,414   1,063 
Amortisation of mineral reserves                   804     822 
Impairment of inventory                              -     179 
Other expenses                                   1,334     982 
----------------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
                                                31,875  24,272 
 

The increase in production taxes in 2018 is mainly represented by the increase in the volume of production on existing wells and the introduction of the new wells, MEX-109 and VAS-10, and the leased well, SV-12.

As described in Note 4, as a result of the revision of the field development plan and re-assessment of the Group's 2P reserves at the MEX-GOL and SV fields in 2018, the Group has revised the estimate of 2P reserves and future capital expenditure associated with developing and extracting those reserves used for the depletion calculation, which resulted in a significant decrease in depreciation expenses.

8. Administrative Expenses

 
                                                        2018    2017 
                                                        $000    $000 
 
 Staff costs (Note 10)                                 3,620   3,473 
 Consultancy fees                                        509     520 
 Auditors' remuneration                                  403     349 
 Rent expenses (Note 28)                                 323     266 
 Depreciation of other fixed assets                      180      94 
 Amortisation of other intangible assets                  54     104 
 Other expenses                                          620     505 
----------------------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
                                                       5,709   5,311 
 
 
 
                                                        2018    2017 
                                                        $000    $000 
 
 
 Audit of the Company and subsidiaries                   166     234 
 Audit of subsidiaries in Ukraine                         95       - 
 Audit related assurances services - interim review       70      51 
----------------------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 Total assurance services                                331     285 
 
 Tax compliance services                                  33      63 
 Legal services                                           25       - 
 Tax advisory services                                    14       1 
 Total non-audit services                                 72      64 
----------------------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 
 Total audit and other services                          403     349 
 

All amounts shown as auditors' remuneration in 2018 and 2017 were payable to the Group auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and other member firms of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

9. Remuneration of Directors

 
                        2018  2017 
                        $000  $000 
 
Directors' emoluments    810   940 
----------------------  ----  ---- 
 

The emoluments of the individual Directors were as follows:

 
                                 Total        Total 
                            emoluments   emoluments 
                                  2018         2017 
                                  $000         $000 
Executive Directors: 
Sergii Glazunov                    437          174 
Keith Henry                          -          432 
 
Non-executive Directors: 
Chris Hopkinson                    133           31 
Alexey Pertin                       60           58 
Yuliia Kirianova                    60           58 
Bruce Burrows                       60           19 
Philip Frank                        45           12 
Dmitry Sazonenko                    15            - 
Alastair Graham                      -           88 
Adrian Coates                        -           68 
                                   810          940 
 

Sergii Glazunov was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in August 2017, and is paid $252,000 per annum. During the 2018 year, he was also paid a bonus of $124,000.

Philip Frank stepped down as Non-Executive Director in September 2018. He was paid GBP45,000 per annum for the period from January 2018 to September 2018.

Dmitry Sazonenko was appointed as Non-Executive Director in September 2018, and is paid GBP45,000 per annum.

The emoluments include base salary, bonuses and fees. According to the Register of Directors' Interests, no rights to subscribe for shares in or debentures of the Group companies were granted to any of the Directors or their immediate families during the financial year, and there were no outstanding options to Directors.

   10.   Staff Numbers and Costs 
 
                             Number of employees 
 
                                 2018       2017 
Group 
Management / operational          146        130 
Administrative support             66         66 
-------------------------  ----------  --------- 
                                  212        196 
 

The average monthly number of employees on a full time equivalent basis during the year (including Executive Directors) was as follows:

The aggregate staff costs of these employees were as follows:

 
                         2018   2017 
                         $000   $000 
 
Wages and salaries      4,969  4,739 
Other pension costs       661    540 
Social security costs      74     61 
                        5,704  5,340 
 
   11.   Other operating gains, (net) 
 
                                                2018   2017 
                                                $000   $000 
 
Interest income on cash and cash equivalents   3,024    924 
Contractor penalties applied                     225      1 
Gain on sales of current assets                   26    117 
Other operating income, net                      112     67 
                                               3,387  1,109 
 
   12.   Finance Income 

During 2018, the Group recorded interest income of $153,000 (2017: $32,000) from placement of cash on long-term deposit accounts and recognised foreign exchange gains less losses of $488,000 (2017: $351,000).

   13.   Finance Costs 

During 2018, the Group recorded an unwinding of a discount on provision for decommissioning of $140,000 (2017: $112,000) (Note 23).

   14.   Income tax expense 
   a)       Income tax expense and (benefit): 
 
 
 
                                 2018   2017 
                                 $000   $000 
Current tax 
Overseas - current year         6,478  3,037 
 
Deferred tax (Note 25) 
UK - current year               5,519  (603) 
UK - prior year                   821  1,516 
Overseas - current year         (333)    351 
Income tax expense             12,485  4,301 
 
   b)       Factors affecting tax charge for the year: 

The tax assessed for the year is different from the blended rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19.00%. The expense for the year can be reconciled to the profit as per the Income Statement as follows:

 
 
                                                        2018     2017 
                                                        $000     $000 
 
 
Profit before taxation                                66,791    6,589 
---------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Tax charge at UK tax rate of 19.00% (2017: 19.25%)    12,690    1,268 
 
Tax effects of: 
Lower foreign corporate tax rates in Ukraine 
 (18%)                                                  (58)     (33) 
Disallowed expenses and non-taxable income               543  (2,905) 
Changes in tax losses previously not recognised 
 as deferred tax asset                               (1,511)    4,455 
Adjustments in respect of prior periods                  821    1,516 
---------------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
Total tax expense for the year                        12,485      4,301 
 

The tax effect of disallowed expenses and non-taxable income are mainly represented by foreign exchange differences of Regal Petroleum Corporation (Ukraine) Limited.

The tax effect losses not recognised as deferred tax assets are mainly represented by accumulated losses of Regal Petroleum Corporation (Ukraine) Limited.

   15.   Profit for the Year 

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption allowed under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not presented its own Income Statement in these financial statements. The Group profit for the year includes Parent Company profit after tax of $12,057,000 for the year ended 31 December 2018 (2017: $12,239,000).

   16.   Earnings per Share 

The calculation of basic profit per ordinary share has been based on the profit for the year and 320,637,836 (2017: 320,637,836) ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue for the year. There are no dilutive instruments.

17. Property, Plant and Equipment

 
                                                 2018                                            2017 
                            Oil and Gas 
                            Development      Oil and Gas                             Oil and Gas 
                         and Production      Exploration                             Development 
                                 assets   and Evaluation  Other fixed             and Production  Other fixed 
                                Ukraine           Assets       assets     Total   assets Ukraine       assets    Total 
  Group                            $000             $000         $000      $000             $000         $000     $000 
 
  Cost 
  At beginning of year          101,927                -        1,104   103,031          100,490          902  101,392 
  Additions                       7,967            1,259          326     9,552            3,749          275    4,024 
  Change in 
   decommissioning 
   provision                       (66)                -            -      (66)            1,119            -    1,119 
  Disposals                        (23)                -        (125)     (148)             (48)         (13)     (61) 
  Write-off of assets           (6,328)                -            -   (6,328)                -            -        - 
  Exchange differences            1,332                -         (12)     1,320          (3,383)         (60)  (3,443) 
----------------------  ---------------  ---------------  -----------  --------  ---------------  -----------  ------- 
  At end of year                104,809            1,259        1,293   107,361          101,927        1,104  103,031 
----------------------  ---------------  ---------------  -----------  --------  ---------------  -----------  ------- 
 
 Accumulated depreciation and 
 impairment 
  At beginning of year           87,591                -          478    88,069           79,649          389   80,038 
  Charge for year                 6,818                -          169     6,987           10,812          119   10,931 
  Reversal of 
   impairment                  (36,117)                -            -  (36,117)                -            -        - 
  Impairment charged 
   for individual 
   assets                         1,648                -            -     1,648              180            -      180 
  Disposals                         (7)                -         (42)      (49)             (21)         (11)     (32) 
  Write-off of assets           (6,328)                -            -   (6,328)                -            -        - 
  Exchange differences            2,962                -          (3)     2,959          (3,029)         (19)  (3,048) 
----------------------  ---------------  ---------------  -----------  --------  ---------------  -----------  ------- 
  At end of year                 56,567                -          602    57,169           87,591          478   88,069 
----------------------  ---------------  ---------------  -----------  --------  ---------------  -----------  ------- 
Net book value at 
 beginning 
 of year                         14,336                -          626    14,962           20,841          513   21,354 
----------------------  ---------------  ---------------  -----------  --------  ---------------  -----------  ------- 
Net book value at end 
 of 
 year                            48,242            1,259          691    50,192           14,336          626   14,962 
----------------------  ---------------  ---------------  -----------  --------  ---------------  -----------  ------- 
 
 

MEX-GOL and SV gas and condensate fields

As described in Note 4, as at 30 June 2018, the Group determined the recoverable amount of its oil and gas development and production assets at the MEX-GOL and SV fields based on a FVLCD approach using a discounted cash flow methodology, where the cash flows were derived based on estimates that a typical market participant would use in valuing such assets. This resulted in the reversal of the previously accumulated impairment loss of $36,117,000 recorded as income in 2018.

The key assumptions on which the Group has based its determination of FVLCD for its oil and gas development and production assets at the MEX-GOL and SV fields and to which this CGU's recoverable amount is most sensitive are described below:

(i) Commodity prices - the model assumes a gas price of $278/Mm(3) (UAH7,290/Mm(3) ) during 2018 - 2042 for the MEX-GOL and SV fields. The prices were estimated based on the price of recent Group transactions and the forecast of natural gas price dynamics for Europe published by the World Bank.

(ii) Discount rate - reflects the current market assessment of the time value of money and risks specific to the assets. The discount rate has been determined as the post-tax weighted average cost of capital based on observable inputs and inputs from third party financial analysts. For 2018 and onwards, the discount rate applied was 15.1% (13.8% during previous measurement of the recoverable amount as at 31 December 2016). The discount rate and future cash flows are determined in real terms, i.e. they do not take into account the impact of the estimated commodity price index during the period of projection.

(iii) Production levels and Reserves - production levels at the MEX-GOL and SV fields are derived from the estimate of remaining proven plus probable reserves of 50.0 MMboe assessed in the report prepared by D&M as at 31 December 2017. This report includes estimated production volumes, including from new wells, over the remaining economic life of the MEX-GOL and SV fields. The estimated production is based on the Group's revised field development plan, which includes the drilling of 24 new wells. Estimating oil and gas reserves is a complex process requiring the knowledge and experience of a reservoir engineer. The quality of the estimate of proved plus probable reserves depends on the availability, completeness, and accuracy of data needed to develop the estimate, including production history available, and on the experience and judgement of the reservoir engineer. Estimates of proved plus probable reserves inevitably change over time as additional data become available and are taken into account. The magnitude of changes in these estimates is often substantial.

(iv) Production taxes - for existing wells, the Group assumed production tax rates of 29% for gas and 45% for condensate extracted from deposits up to depths of 5,000 metres and 14% for gas and 21% for condensate extracted from deposits deeper than 5,000 metres. From 1 January 2019, production tax rates for condensate produced from all wells was reduced from 45% to 29% for condensate produced from deposits above 5,000 metres and from 21% to 14% for condensate produced from deposits below 5,000 metres. For new wells drilled after 1 January 2018, production tax rates were reduced to 12% for gas produced from deposits at depths above 5,000 metres and to 6% for gas produced from deposits below 5,000 metres, effective for the period 2018 - 2022.

(v) Capital expenditure - the Group assumed that capital expenditure of $229,774,000 will be incurred during the period from the second half of 2018 - 2042 under the revised field development plan for the MEX-GOL and SV fields.

(vi) Life of field - the current licences for the MEX-GOL and SV fields, which are due to expire in July 2024, can be extended under applicable legislation in Ukraine until the end of the economic life of the fields, which is assessed to be 2038 for the MEX-GOL field and 2042 for the SV field, based on the assessment contained in the D&M report. No application for such extensions have been made at the date of this report, but the Group considers the assumptions to be reasonable based on its intention to seek such extensions in due course and that the Group is legally entitled to request such extensions. However, if the extensions were not to be granted, it would result in a further reduction of $128,953,000 in the recoverable amount for these fields.

There are no reasonably possible changes in key assumptions on which the Group has based its determination of the MEX-GOL and SV CGU's recoverable amount, which could cause a change in the amount of the reversal of previously accumulated impairment recorded in the first half of 2018.

As described in Note 4, the Group has also recorded a $1,648,000 impairment loss on an individual basis in respect of the SV-69 well in 2018.

Notwithstanding the reversal of impairment recorded at 30 June 2018, at 31 December 2018, the Group performed an assessment of external and internal indicators to ascertain whether there was any indication of potential impairment. Based on the analysis performed, the Group concluded that no external or internal impairment indicators existed as at 31 December 2018, and accordingly no impairment testing was required as at that date.

During the 2018 year, the SV-69 well was abandoned, and was fully depreciated and its cost of $6,328,000 was charged to accumulated depreciation and impairment.

VAS gas and condensate fields

At 31 December 2018, the Group performed an assessment of external and internal indicators to ascertain whether there was any indication of potential impairment. Based on the analysis performed, the Group concluded that no external or internal impairment indicators existed as at 31 December 2018, and accordingly no impairment testing was required as at that date.

During the 2018 year, the Group commenced acquisition of new 3D seismic over the VAS field which will assist in the evaluation of the VAS licence, and particularly the VED area of the licence. Since no commercially viable reserves have been identified in the VED area as yet, the costs of the seismic over this area were capitalised within property, plant and equipment as exploration and evaluation assets.

18. Intangible Assets

 
                                        2018                             2017 
                          Mineral                             Mineral        Other 
                          reserve  Other intangible           reserve   intangible 
                           rights            assets   Total    rights       assets   Total 
  Group                      $000              $000    $000      $000         $000    $000 
 
  Cost 
  At beginning of year      6,618               257   6,875     6,832          144   6,976 
  Additions                     -               107     107         -          150     150 
  Disposals                     -              (36)    (36)         -         (26)    (26) 
  Exchange differences         91                 2      93     (214)         (11)   (225) 
-----------------------  --------  ----------------  ------  --------  -----------  ------ 
  At end of year            6,709               330   7,039     6,618          257   6,875 
-----------------------  --------  ----------------  ------  --------  -----------  ------ 
 
 Accumulated amortisation and 
  impairment 
  At beginning of year      1,161               124   1,285       393           53     446 
  Charge for year             804               105     909       822          104     926 
  Disposals                     -              (35)    (35)         -         (26)    (26) 
  Exchange differences          -                 -       -      (54)          (7)    (61) 
-----------------------  --------  ----------------  ------  --------  -----------  ------ 
  At end of year            1,965               194   2,159     1,161          124   1,285 
-----------------------  --------  ----------------  ------  --------  -----------  ------ 
Net book value at 
 beginning of year          5,457               133   5,590     6,439           91   6,530 
-----------------------  --------  ----------------  ------  --------  -----------  ------ 
Net book value at 
 end of year                4,744               136   4,880     5,457          133   5,590 
-----------------------  --------  ----------------  ------  --------  -----------  ------ 
 
 

Intangible assets consist mainly of the hydrocarbon production licence relating to the VAS gas and condensate field which is owned by LLC Prom-Enerho Produkt. The Group amortises this intangible asset using the straight-line method over the term of the licence until 2024.

In accordance with the Group's accounting policies, intangible assets are tested for impairment at each balance sheet date as part of the impairment testing of the Group's oil and gas development and production assets if impairment indicators exist. As at 31 December 2018, no impairment indicators were identified.

19. Investments and Loans to Subsidiary Undertakings

 
                                           Shares in       Loans to 
                                          subsidiary     subsidiary 
                                        undertakings   undertakings     Total 
                                                $000           $000      $000 
Company 
At 1 January 2017                             17,279         35,669    52,948 
Additions including accrued interest               -          3,886     3,886 
Repayment of interests and loans                   -       (12,450)  (12,450) 
Reversal of impairment of loans 
 to subsidiary                                     -          6,360     6,360 
Exchange differences                               -          4,760     4,760 
-------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  -------- 
At 31 December 2017                           17,279         38,225    55,504 
-------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  -------- 
 
At 1 January 2018                             17,279         38,225    55,504 
Additions including accrued interest               -          6,301     6,301 
Repayment of interests and loans                   -        (4,200)   (4,200) 
Reversal of impairment of loans 
 to subsidiary                                     -         10,923    10,923 
Exchange differences                               -        (3,697)   (3,697) 
-------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  -------- 
At 31 December 2018                           17,279         47,552    64,831 
-------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  -------- 
 

The Company has recorded a gain of $10,923,000, being the net change in credit loss allowance for loans issued to subsidiaries in the Company's statement of profit or loss for the year ended 31 December 2018 (Note 4).

The table presented below discloses the changes in the gross carrying amount and credit loss allowance between the beginning and the end of the reporting period for loans to subsidiary undertakings carried at amortised cost and classified within a three stage model for impairment assessment.

 
                                         Credit loss allowance                                      Gross carrying amount 
                                Stage          Stage           Stage          Total             Stage       Stage       Stage     Total 
                                    1              2               3                                1           2           3 
                                                                      -------------                                            -------- 
                           (12-months      (lifetime       (lifetime                       (12-months   (lifetime   (lifetime 
                                 ECL)            ECL         ECL for                             ECL)     ECL for     ECL for 
                                                 for          credit                                        SICR)      credit 
                                               SICR)       impaired)                                                impaired) 
-----------------  ------------------  -------------  --------------  -------------  ----------------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 
                                 $000           $000            $000           $000              $000        $000        $000      $000 
 
 At 1 January 
  2018                              -              -       (191,678)      (191,678)                 -           -     229,903   229,903 
-----------------  ------------------  -------------  --------------  -------------  ----------------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 
 Movements with 
 impact on credit 
 loss allowance 
 charge for the 
 period: 
 
 Transfers: 
 - to                               -              -               -              -                 -           -           -         - 
 credit-impaired 
 (from Stage 1 
 and Stage 2 to 
 Stage 3) 
 Additions 
  including 
  accrued 
  interest                          -              -               -              -                 -           -       6,301     6,301 
 Repayment of 
  interest                          -              -               -              -                 -           -     (1,400)   (1,400) 
 Repayment of 
  loans                                                                                                               (2,800)   (2,800) 
 Exchange 
  difference                        -              -           2,830          2,830                 -           -     (6,527)   (6,527) 
 Changes to ECL 
  measurement 
  model 
  assumptions                       -              -          10,923         10,923                 -           -           -         - 
-----------------  ------------------  -------------  --------------  -------------  ----------------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 
 Total movements 
  with impact on 
  credit loss 
  allowance 
  charge for the 
  period                                           -          13,753         13,753                 -           -     (4,426)   (4,426) 
-----------------  ------------------  -------------  --------------  -------------  ----------------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 
 At 31 December 
  2018                              -              -       (177,925)      (177,925)                 -           -     225,477   225,477 
-----------------  ------------------  -------------  --------------  -------------  ----------------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 

ECL - Expected credit losses

SICR - Significant increase in credit risk

Subsidiary undertakings

At 31 December 2018, the Company's subsidiary undertakings, all of which are included in the consolidated financial statements, were:

 
                     Registered address     Country of     Country of operation  Principal activity   % of shares held 
                                           incorporation 
 
Regal Petroleum      26 New Street, St 
 Corporation          Helier, Jersey,                                            Oil & Natural Gas 
 Limited              JE2 3RA             Jersey           Ukraine                Extraction          100% 
 
                     16 Old Queen 
Regal Group           Street, London, 
 Services Limited     SW1H 9HP            United Kingdom   United Kingdom        Service Company      100% 
 
                     26 New Street, St 
Regal Petroleum       Helier, Jersey, 
 (Jersey) Limited     JE2 3RA             Jersey           United Kingdom        Holding Company      100% 
 
                     162 Shevchenko 
                      Str., Yakhnyky 
                      Village, 
Regal Petroleum       Lokhvytsya 
 Corporation          District, Poltava 
 (Ukraine) Limited    Region, 37212       Ukraine          Ukraine               Service Company      100% 
 
LLC Prom-Enerho      3 Klemanska Str.,                                           Oil & Natural Gas 
 Produkt              Kiev, 02081         Ukraine          Ukraine                Extraction          100% 
 
                     162 Shevchenko 
                      Str., Yakhnyky 
                      Village, 
                      Lokhvytsya 
                      District, Poltava 
Refin Limited         Region, 37212       Ukraine          Ukraine               Service Company      100% 
 

The Parent Company, Regal Petroleum plc, holds direct interests in 100% of the share capital of Regal Petroleum (Jersey) Limited and Regal Group Services Limited, with all other companies owned indirectly by the Parent Company. Regal Petroleum Corporation Limited is controlled through its 100% ownership by Regal Petroleum (Jersey) Limited. Regal Petroleum Corporation (Ukraine) Limited is controlled through its 100% ownership by Regal Petroleum (Jersey) Limited and Regal Group Services Limited, Refin Limited is controlled through its 100% ownership by Regal Petroleum (Jersey) Limited and Regal Petroleum Corporation (Ukraine) Limited, and LLC Prom-Enerho Produkt is controlled through its 100% ownership by Regal Petroleum Corporation (Ukraine) Limited.

Regal Group Services Limited, company number 5252958, has taken advantage of the subsidiary audit exemption allowed under section 479A of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2018.

20. Inventories

 
                                       Group 
                                2018     2017 
                                $000     $000 
Current 
Materials and spare parts      1,437    1,178 
Finished goods                   168      216 
--------------------------  --------  ------- 
                               1,605    1,394 
 

Inventories consist of materials, spare parts and finished goods. Materials and spare parts are represented by spare parts that were not assigned to any new wells as at 31 December 2018, production raw materials and fuel at the storage facility. Finished goods as at 31 December 2018 consist of produced condensate and LPG held at the processing facility prior to sale (2017: consist of produced gas held in underground gas storage facilities and condensate and LPG held at the processing facility prior to sale).

All inventories are measured at the lower of cost or net realisable value. There was no write down of inventory as at 31 December 2018 (2017: $179,000).

21. Trade and Other Receivables

 
                                                Group               Company 
                                         2018     2017       2018       2017 
                                         $000     $000       $000       $000 
 
Trade receivables                       5,012    2,582          -          - 
Other financial receivables               202       50          -        464 
Less credit loss allowance               (99)     (90)          -          - 
----------------------------------  ---------  -------  ---------  --------- 
Total financial receivables             5,115    2,542          -        464 
 
Prepayments and accrued 
 income                                 4,771    3,633         64         31 
Other receivables                         244      361         74         52 
----------------------------------  ---------  -------  ---------  --------- 
Total trade and other receivables      10,130    6,536        138        547 
 

Due to the short-term nature of the current trade and other receivables, their carrying amount is assumed to be the same as their fair value. All trade receivables except provided for are considered to be of high credit quality.

At 31 December 2018, the Group's total trade receivables amounted to $4,918,000 and 100% were denominated in Ukrainian Hryvnia (31 December 2017: $2,492,000 and 100% were denominated in Ukrainian Hryvnia). Further description of financial receivables is disclosed in Note 30.

The majority of the trade receivables are from a related party, LLC Smart Energy, that purchases all of the Group's gas production (see Note 32). The applicable payment terms are payment for one third of the estimated monthly volume of gas by the 20th of the month of delivery, and payment of the remaining balance by the 10th of the month following the month of delivery. The trade receivables were paid in full after the end of the period.

Prepayments and accrued income mainly consist of prepayments of $3,988,000 relating to the development of the MEX-GOL field (31 December 2017: $3,130,000 relating to the development of the VAS field).

Analysis by credit quality of financial trade and other receivables and expected credit loss allowance as at 31 December 2018 is as follows:

 
                            Loss rate   Gross carrying   Life-time   Carrying                Basis 
                                                amount         ECL     amount 
                                                  $000        $000       $000 
 
 Trade receivables                                                              financial position 
  from related                                                                      of related 
  parties                          5%            4,918         (7)      4,911          party 
 
                                                                                  number of days 
 Trade receivables                                                                the asset past 
  - credit impaired              100%               92        (92)          -           due 
 
                                                                                    historical 
 Trade receivables                                                                 credit losses 
  - other                       0.36%                2         (0)          2       experienced 
 
 Other financial                                                                    individual 
  receivables             0.92%-2.05%              202         (0)        202      default rates 
 
 Total trade and 
  other receivables 
  for which individual 
  approach for 
  ECL is used                                    5,214        (99)      5,115 
 

ECL - Expected credit losses

The following table explains the changes in the credit loss allowance for trade and other receivables under the simplified ECL model between the beginning and the end of the annual period:

 
                                             Credit loss   Total 
                                               allowance 
                                                    $000    $000 
 Trade receivables 
 Balance at 1 January 2018 (adjusted)                152     152 
 New originated or purchased                           7       7 
 Financial assets derecognised during the 
  period                                             (3)     (3) 
 Changes in estimates and assumptions               (59)    (59) 
 Foreign exchange movements                            2       2 
------------------------------------------  ------------  ------ 
 Balance at 31 December 2018                          99      99 
 

Analysis by credit quality of financial trade and other receivables as at 31 December 2017 is as follows:

 
                                                   Group 
                                                    2017 
                                                    $000 
 Neither past due nor impaired 
 Trade receivables                                 2,492 
 Other financial receivables                          62 
------------------------------------------------  ------ 
 Total neither past due nor impaired               2,542 
 
 Individually determined to be impaired (gross) 
 
   *    over 360 days overdue                         90 
------------------------------------------------  ------ 
 Total individually impaired                          90 
 
 Less impairment provision                          (90) 
------------------------------------------------  ------ 
 Total trade receivables at 31 December 2017       2,542 
 

Movements in the impairment provision for trade receivables during 2017 are as follows:

 
                                                    Group 
                                                     2017 
                                                     $000 
 
 Provision for impairment at 1 January 2017            64 
 Provision charge for impairment during the year       31 
 Exchange differences                                 (5) 
-------------------------------------------------  ------ 
 Provision for impairment at 31 December 2017          90 
 

22. Cash and Cash Equivalents and Other Short-term Investments

 
                                        Group          Company 
                                      2018    2017    2018    2017 
                                      $000    $000    $000    $000 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents 
Cash at bank and on hand            24,462   1,736  23,990     332 
Demand deposits and term deposits 
 with maturity less than 3 months   24,791  12,513       -   4,079 
Short-term government bonds          3,969       -       -       - 
                                    53,222  14,249  23,990   4,411 
 
Other short term investments 
Term deposits with maturity more 
 than 3 months                           -  16,000       -  16,000 
                                         -  16,000       -  16,000 
 

Cash at bank earns interest at fluctuating rates based on daily bank deposit rates. Demand deposits are made for varying periods depending on the immediate cash requirements of the Group and earn interest at the respective short-term deposit rates. The terms and conditions upon which the Group's demand deposits are made allow immediate access to all cash deposits, with no significant loss of interest.

In December 2018, the Group acquired 4,000 short-term government bonds from the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine with a nominal value $1,000 each, at a discount for $996.06, which were held to maturity at the end of January 2019.

The credit quality of cash and cash equivalents balances and other short-term investments may be summarised based on Moody's ratings as follows at 31 December:

 
                      Demand deposits 
                             and term 
                             deposits                              Term deposits 
             Cash at    with maturity   Short-term    Total cash   with maturity   Total other 
            bank and        less than   government      and cash       more than    short term 
             on hand         3 months        bonds   equivalents        3 months   investments 
                2018             2018         2018          2018            2018          2018 
                $000             $000         $000          $000            $000          $000 
 
A- to A+ 
 rated        23,948                -            -        23,948               -             - 
B- to B+ 
 rated            62            7,492        3,969        11,523               -             - 
Unrated          452           17,299            -        17,751               -             - 
              24,462           24,791        3,969        53,222               -             - 
 
 
                      Demand deposits 
                             and term 
                             deposits                              Term deposits 
             Cash at    with maturity   Short-term    Total cash   with maturity   Total other 
            bank and        less than   government      and cash       more than    short term 
             on hand         3 months        bonds   equivalents        3 months   investments 
                2017             2017         2017          2017            2017          2017 
                $000             $000         $000          $000            $000          $000 
 
A- to A+ 
 rated           691            4,079            -         4,770          16,000        16,000 
B- to B+ 
 rated             -            7,241            -         7,241               -             - 
Unrated        1,045            1,193            -         2,238               -             - 
               1,736           12,513            -        14,249          16,000        16,000 
 

For cash and cash equivalents, the Group assessed ECL based on the Moody's rating for rated banks and based on the sovereign rating of Ukraine defined by Fitch as "B-" as of 31 December 2018 for non-rated banks. Based on this assessment, the Group concluded that the identified impairment loss was immaterial.

23. Trade and Other Payables

 
                                2018   2017 
                                $000   $000 
 
Accruals and other payables    2,314  1,369 
Taxation and social security   2,312    965 
Trade payables                   105     67 
Advances received                105     22 
                               4,836  2,423 
 
 

Accruals and other payables mainly consist of payables of $773,000 relating to the rent of the SV-2 and SV-12 wells (31 December 2017: $232,000 relating to the rent of the SV-2 well).

The carrying amounts of trade and other payables are assumed to be the same as their fair values, due to their short-term nature. A description of financial payables is disclosed in Note 30.

24. Provision for Decommissioning

 
                                  2018    2017 
                                  $000    $000 
Group 
At beginning of year             3,027   1,915 
Amounts (utilised)/provided       (16)     139 
Unwinding of discount              140     112 
Change in estimate                (50)     980 
Effect of exchange difference       36   (119) 
------------------------------  ------  ------ 
At end of year                   3,137   3,027 
 
 

The provision for decommissioning is based on the net present value of the Group's estimated liability for the removal of the Ukraine production facilities and well site restoration at the end of production life.

The non-current provision of $3,137,000 (31 December 2017: $3,027,000) represents a provision for the decommissioning of the Group's MEX-GOL, SV and VAS production facilities, including site restoration.

The change in estimates applied to calculate the provision as at 31 December 2018 is explained in Note 4.

The principal assumptions used are as follows:

 
                                               31 December 2018   31 December 2017 
 
 Discount rate, %                                         8.14%              4.70% 
 Average cost of restoration per well, $000                 357                179 
--------------------------------------------  -----------------  ----------------- 
 

The sensitivity of the restoration provision to changes in the principal assumptions is presented below:

 
                                                                      31 December 2018   31 December 2017 
                                                                                  $000               $000 
 
 Discount rate (increase)/decrease by 1%                                     (313)/371          (344)/403 
 Change in average cost of restoration increase/ (decrease) by 10%           219/(219)          197/(197) 
-------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------------  ----------------- 
 

25. Deferred Tax

 
 
 
                                                          2018      2017 
                                                          $000      $000 
Deferred tax asset recognised on tax 
 losses - Company and Group 
At beginning of year                                     2,567     3,717 
Charged to Income Statement - current 
 year                                                    (433)   (1,150) 
-----------------------------------------------------  -------  -------- 
At end of year                                           2,134     2,567 
 
                                                          2018      2017 
                                                          $000      $000 
Deferred tax (liability)/asset recognised 
 relating to oil and gas development and 
 production assets and provision for decommissioning 
 - Group 
At beginning of year                                     6,694     7,404 
(Charged)/credited to Income Statement 
 - current year                                        (5,086)     1,051 
Charged to Income Statement - prior year                 (821)   (1,516) 
Effect of exchange difference                              362     (245) 
-----------------------------------------------------  -------  -------- 
At end of year                                           1,149     6,694 
 
                                                          2018      2017 
                                                          $000      $000 
Deferred tax liability recognised relating 
 mainly to oil and gas development and 
 production assets - Group 
At beginning of year                                     (820)   (1,187) 
Credited to Income Statement - current 
 year                                                      333       351 
Effect of exchange difference                             (17)        16 
-----------------------------------------------------  -------  -------- 
At end of year                                           (504)     (820) 
 
 

At 31 December 2018, the Group recognised a deferred tax asset of $2,134,000 in relation to UK tax losses carried forward (31 December 2017: $2,567,000). There was a further $85 million (31 December 2017: $83 million) of unrecognised UK tax losses carried forward for which no deferred tax asset has been recognised. These losses can be carried forward indefinitely, subject to certain rules regarding capital transactions and changes in the trade of the Company. The Directors consider it appropriate to recognise deferred tax assets resulting from accumulated tax losses at 31 December 2018 to the extent that it is probable that there will be sufficient future taxable profits.

The deferred tax asset relating to the Group's provision for decommissioning at 31 December 2018 of $161,000 (31 December 2017: $127,000) was recognised on the tax effect of the temporary differences on the Group's provision for decommissioning at the MEX-GOL and SV gas and condensate fields, and its tax base. The deferred tax asset relating to the Group's oil and gas development and production assets at 31 December 2018 of $988,000 (31 December 2017: $6,567,000) was recognised on the tax effect of the temporary differences between the carrying value of the Group's oil and gas development and production assets at the MEX-GOL and SV gas and condensate fields, and its tax base.

The deferred tax asset relating to the Group's provision for decommissioning at 31 December 2018 of $271,000 (31 December 2017: $277,000) was recognised on the tax effect of the temporary differences on the Group's provision for decommissioning at the VAS gas and condensate fields, and its tax base. The deferred tax liability relating to the Group's oil and gas development and production assets at 31 December 2018 of $775,000 (31 December 2017: $1,097,000) was recognised on the tax effect of the temporary differences between the carrying value of the Group's oil and gas development and production asset at the VAS gas and condensate fields, and its tax base.

The impact of the UK losses surrendered to the Ukrainian operating subsidiary in relation to losses was $4,649,000 for 2015. There were no UK losses surrendered for the years ended 31 December 2016-2018.

Losses accumulated in a Ukrainian subsidiary service company of UAH2,856,563,453 ($103,168,745) at 31 December 2018 and UAH3,130,112,486 ($111,521,999) at 31 December 2017 mainly originated as foreign exchange differences on inter-company loans and for which no deferred tax asset was recognised as this subsidiary is not expected to have taxable profits to utilise these losses in the future.

As at 31 December 2018 and 2017, the Group has not recorded a deferred tax liability in respect of taxable temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries as the Group is able to control the timing of the reversal of those temporary differences and does not intend to reverse them in the foreseeable future.

UK Corporation tax change

A change to the UK corporation tax rate was announced in the Chancellor's Budget on 16 March 2016. The change announced is to reduce the main tax rate to 17% from 1 April 2020. Changes to reduce the UK corporation tax rate to 19% from 1 April 2017 and to 18% from 1 April 2020 were substantively enacted on 26 October 2015. Changes to reduce the UK corporation tax rate to 17% from 1 April 2020 were substantively enacted on 6 September 2016 and the effect of these changes are included in the consolidated financial statements.

26. Called Up Share Capital

 
                                                        2018                       2017 
                                            Number      $000           Number      $000 
Allotted, called up and 
 fully paid 
Opening balance at 1 January           320,637,836    28,115      320,637,836    28,115 
Issued during the year                           -         -                -         - 
-------------------------------  -----------------  --------  ---------------  -------- 
Closing balance at 31 December         320,637,836    28,115      320,637,836    28,115 
 
 

There are no restrictions over ordinary shares issued.

27. Other Reserves

The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared and are entitled to one vote per share at general meeting of shareholders. Distributable reserves are limited to the balance of retained earnings. The share premium reserves are not available for distribution by way of dividends.

Other reserves, the movements in which are shown in the statements of changes in equity, comprise the following:

Capital contributions reserve

The capital contributions reserve is non-distributable and represents the value of equity invested in subsidiary entities prior to the Company listing.

Merger reserve

The merger reserve represents the difference between the nominal value of shares acquired by the Company and those issued to acquire subsidiary undertakings. This balance relates wholly to the acquisition of Regal Petroleum (Jersey) Limited and that company's acquisition of Regal Petroleum Corporation Limited during 2002.

Foreign exchange reserve

Exchange reserve movement for the year attributable to currency fluctuations. This balance predominantly represents the result of exchange differences on non-monetary assets and liabilities where the subsidiaries' functional currency is not the US Dollar.

28. Operating Lease Arrangements

The Group as Lessee

 
                                               Group               Company 
                                        2018     2017       2018       2017 
                                        $000     $000       $000       $000 
 
Lease payments under operating 
 leases recognised as an expense 
 for the year                          4,797      973        125        120 
---------------------------------  ---------  -------  ---------  --------- 
 

Lease payments under operating leases recognised as an expense for year ended 31 December 2018 amounted to $4,797,000 (year ended 31 December 2017: $973,000) and were mainly represented by the leases of land and wells in Ukraine of $4,474,000 (year ended 31 December 2017: $707,000) and rentals of office properties in Ukraine and the UK of $323,000 (year ended 31 December 2017: $266,000). The increase in lease expenses during the year ended 31 December 2018 is mainly attributable to the profit share of NJSC Ukrnafta relating to the SV-2 and SV-12 wells of $2,650,000 and $1,803,000 respectively. The agreements for the lease of these wells are concluded for the entire SV licence term, which expires in 2024, but can be extended under applicable legislation in Ukraine until the end of the economic life of the field, which is assessed to be 2042 based on the assessment contained in the D&M report. However, it is impracticable to estimate the outstanding off-balance sheet commitments related to the lease of wells as at 31 December 2018 as lease payments under these agreements are determined monthly and are linked to the changes in benchmark prices and future production from the leased wells. At the balance sheet date, the Group had outstanding off-balance sheet commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases mostly for office properties of $1,884,000 (31 December 2017: $103,000).

At the balance sheet date, the Group had outstanding off-balance sheet commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases which fall due as follows:

 
                          Land and buildings 
                              2018      2017 
Group and Company             $000      $000 
Amounts payable due: 
    - Within one year          492       103 
    - After one year         1,392         - 
----------------------  ----------  -------- 
                             1,884       103 
 

29. Reconciliation of Operating Profit to Operating Cash Flow

 
 
                                                       2018     2017 
                                                       $000     $000 
Group 
Operating profit                                     66,370    6,399 
(Reversal of impairment)/impairment of property, 
 plant and equipment                               (34,469)      180 
Depreciation and amortisation                         7,901   11,816 
Less interest income recorded within operating 
 profit                                             (3,024)    (924) 
Fines and penalties received                          (225)        - 
Gain on sales of current assets, net                   (26)    (117) 
Reversal of loss allowance on other financial 
 assets                                                (18)        - 
Gain from write off of non-current assets              (21)     (15) 
Impairment of inventory                                   -      179 
Decrease in provisions                                 (11)      (5) 
Increase in inventory                                  (76)    (182) 
Increase in receivables                             (2,487)    (403) 
Increase in payables                                  2,428    1,054 
Cash generated from operations                       36,342   17,982 
 
 
                                                   2018     2017 
                                                   $000     $000 
Company 
Operating profit                                  9,374    4,588 
Movement in provisions (including impairment 
 of subsidiary loans)                          (10,923)  (6,360) 
Increase/(decrease) in receivables                  409      (8) 
Decrease/(increase) in payables                       7     (59) 
---------------------------------------------  --------  ------- 
Cash used in operations                         (1,133)  (1,839) 
 

30. Financial Instruments

Capital Risk Management

The Group's objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group's and the Company's ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

The Group defines its capital as equity. The primary source of the Group's liquidity has been cash generated from operations.

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets.

The capital structure of the Group consists of equity attributable to the equity holders of the parent, comprising issued share capital, share premium, reserves and retained deficit.

There are no capital requirements imposed on the Group.

The Group's financial instruments comprise cash and cash equivalents and various items such as debtors and creditors that arise directly from its operations. The Group has bank accounts denominated in British Pounds, US Dollars, Euros, Canadian Dollars and Ukrainian Hryvnia. The Group does not have any borrowings. The main future risks arising from the Group's financial instruments are currently currency risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and credit risk.

The Group's financial assets and financial liabilities, measured at amortised cost, which approximates their fair value comprise the following:

 
 Financial Assets 
                                   2018     2017 
                                   $000     $000 
 Group 
 Cash and cash equivalents       53,222   14,249 
 Other short-term investments         -   16,000 
 Trade and other receivables      5,115    2,542 
                                 58,337   32,791 
 
 
                                       2018     2017 
                                       $000     $000 
 Company 
 Cash and cash equivalents           23,990    4,411 
 Other short-term investments             -   16,000 
 Trade and other receivables              -      464 
 Loans to subsidiary undertakings    47,552   38,225 
                                     71,542   59,100 
 
 
 Financial Liabilities 
                           2018   2017 
                           $000   $000 
 Group 
 Trade payables             105     67 
 Accruals                 1,284    653 
-----------------------  ------  ----- 
                          1,389    720 
 
                           2018   2017 
                           $000   $000 
 Company 
 Accruals                    97     90 
-----------------------  ------  ----- 
                             97     90 
 

All assets and liabilities of the Group where fair value is disclosed are level 2 in the fair value hierarchy and valued using the current cost accounting technique.

Currency Risk

The functional currencies of the Group's entities are US Dollars and Ukrainian Hryvnia. The following analysis of net monetary assets and liabilities shows the Group's currency exposures. Exposures comprise the monetary assets and liabilities of the Group that are not denominated in the functional currency of the relevant entity.

 
                                         2018   2017 
 Currency                                $000   $000 
 
 British Pounds                           256    373 
 Euros                                    112      5 
 Canadian Dollars                           -      2 
 Net monetary assets less liabilities     368    380 
 

The Group's exposure to currency risk at the end of the reporting period is not significant due to immaterial balances of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies.

Interest Rate Risk Management

The Group is not exposed to interest rate risk on financial liabilities as none of the entities in the Group have any external borrowings. The Group does not use interest rate forward contracts and interest rate swap contracts as part of its strategy.

The Group is exposed to interest rate risk on financial assets as entities in the Group hold money market deposits at floating interest rates. The risk is managed by fixing interest rates for a period of time when indications exist that interest rates may move adversely.

The Group's exposure to interest rates on financial assets and financial liabilities are detailed in the liquidity risk section below.

Interest Rate Sensitivity Analysis

The sensitivity analysis below has been determined based on exposure to interest rates for non-derivative instruments at the balance sheet date. A 0.5% increase or decrease is used when reporting interest rate risk internally to key management personnel and represents management's assessment of a reasonably possible change in interest rates.

If interest rates earned on money market deposits had been 0.5% higher / lower and all other variables were held constant, the Group's:

-- profit for the year ended 31 December 2018 would increase by $92,000 in the event of 0.5% higher interest rates and decrease by $92,000 in the event of 0.5% lower interest rates (decrease of loss for the year ended 31 December 2017 by $55,000 in the event of 0.5% higher interest rates and increase by $55,000 in the event of 0.5% lower interest rates). This is mainly attributable to the Group's exposure to interest rates on its money market deposits; and

   --      other equity reserves would not be affected (2017: not affected). 

Interest payable on the Group's liabilities would have an immaterial effect on the profit or loss for the year.

Liquidity Risk

The Group's objective throughout the year has been to ensure continuity of funding. Operations have primarily been financed through revenue from Ukrainian operations.

Details of the Group's cash management policy are explained in Note 22.

Liquidity risk for the Group is further detailed under the Principal Risks and Uncertainties section of the Strategic Report.

Credit Risk

Credit risk principally arises in respect of the Group's cash balance and other short-term investments. In the UK, where $24 million of the overall cash and cash equivalents is held (31 December 2017: $4.8 million cash and cash equivalents and $16 million other short-term investments), the Group only deposits cash surpluses with major banks of high quality credit standing (Note 22). As at 31 December 2018, the remaining balance of $25.3 million of cash and cash equivalents and $4 million of other short-term investments was held in Ukraine (31 December 2017: $9.4 million). In April 2018 Standard & Poor's affirmed Ukraine's sovereign credit rating of "B-/B", Outlook Stable. There is no international credit rating information available for the specific banks in Ukraine where the Group currently holds its cash and cash equivalents.

The significant historic devaluation of the Ukrainian Hryvnia has resulted in the National Bank of Ukraine, among other measures, imposing comprehensive restrictions on the processing of client payments by banks, on the purchase of foreign currency on the inter-bank market and on the remittance of funds outside Ukraine. These restrictions, and the many other economic issues in Ukraine, have put great strain on the Ukrainian banking system, with increasing risks in the capital strength, liquidity and creditworthiness of a large number of Ukrainian banks, and very high rates in the wholesale and overnight markets. In addition, there have been significant deposit outflows from the banking system and widespread restructuring of bank clients' maturing liabilities. Furthermore, as a result of recommendations from the International Monetary Fund, significant reforms to the Ukrainian banking sector are being implemented, which are intended to strengthen the capitalisation of the Ukrainian banks.

In light of the deterioration in the banking sector in Ukraine, the Group has taken steps to diversify its banking arrangements between a number of banks in Ukraine. These measures are designed to spread the risks associated with each bank's creditworthiness, but the Ukrainian banking sector remains weakly capitalised and so the risks associated with the banks in Ukraine remain significant, including in relation to the banks with which the Group operates bank accounts.

Interest Rate Risk Profile of Financial Assets

The Group had the following cash and cash equivalent and other short-term investments balances which are included in financial assets as at 31 December 2018 with an exposure to interest rate risk:

 
                               Floating       Fixed             Floating       Fixed 
                                   rate        rate                 rate        rate 
                              financial   financial            financial   financial 
Currency              Total      assets      assets    Total      assets      assets 
                       2018        2018        2018     2017        2017        2017 
                       $000        $000        $000     $000        $000        $000 
 
Canadian Dollars          -           -           -        2           2           - 
Euros                    44          44           -        5           5           - 
British Pounds          215         215           -      536         536           - 
Ukrainian Hryvnia    25,264           -      25,264    9,479           -       9,479 
US Dollars           27,699      23,730       3,969   20,227       4,227      16,000 
                     53,222      23,989      29,233   30,249       4,770      25,479 
 

Cash deposits included in the above balances comprise short-term deposits.

As at 31 December 2018, cash and cash equivalents of the Company of $24 million are held in US Dollars at a floating rate (2017: $4 million).

Interest Rate Risk Profile of Financial Liabilities

As at 31 December 2018 and 2017, the Group had no interest bearing financial liabilities at the year end.

Maturity of Financial Liabilities

The maturity profile of financial liabilities, on an undiscounted basis, is as follows:

 
                        2018  2017 
                        $000  $000 
Group 
In one year or less    1,389   720 
---------------------  -----  ---- 
                       1,389   720 
 
                        2018  2017 
                        $000  $000 
Company 
In one year or less       97    90 
---------------------  -----  ---- 
                          97    90 
 
 

Borrowing Facilities

As at 31 December 2018 and 2017, the Group did not have any borrowing facilities available to it at the year end.

Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities

The fair value of all financial instruments is not materially different from the book value.

31. Contingencies and Commitments

Amounts contracted in relation to the Group's 2018 investment programme in the MEX-GOL, SV and VAS gas and condensate fields in Ukraine, but not provided for in the financial statements at 31 December 2018, were $2,607,000 (2017: $3,151,000).

During 2010 - 2018, the Group has been in dispute with the Ukrainian tax authorities in respect of VAT receivables on imported leased equipment, with a disputed liability of up to UAH 8,487,000 ($302,000) inclusive of penalties and other associated costs. There is a level of ambiguity in the interpretation of the relevant tax legislation, and the position adopted by the Group has been challenged by the Ukrainian tax authorities, which has led to legal proceedings to resolve the issue. The Group had been successful in three court cases in respect of this dispute in courts of different levels. On 20 September 2016, a hearing was held in the Supreme Court of Ukraine of an appeal of the Ukrainian tax authorities against the decision of the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine, in which the appeal of the Ukrainian tax authorities was upheld. As a result of this appeal decision, all decisions of the lower courts were cancelled, and the case was remitted to the first instance court for a new trial. On 1 December 2016 and 7 March 2017 respectively, the Group received positive decisions in the first and second instance courts, but further legal proceedings may arise. Since as at the end of the year, the Group had been successful in previous court cases in respect of this dispute in courts of different levels, the date of the next legal proceedings has not been set and as management believes that adequate defences exist to the claim, no liability has been recognised in these consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2018 (31 December 2017: nil).

32. Related Party Disclosures

Key management personnel of the Group are considered to comprise only the Directors. Details of Directors' remuneration are disclosed in Note 9.

During the year, Group companies entered into the following transactions with related parties who are not members of the Group:

 
                                       2018      2017 
                                       $000      $000 
 
 Sale of goods / services            49,691    25,030 
 Purchase of goods / services           508       369 
 Amounts owed by related parties      4,912     2,509 
 Amounts owed to related parties         35        30 
---------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

All related party transactions were with subsidiaries of the ultimate Parent Company, and primarily relate to the sale of gas (see Note 6 for more details), the rental of office facilities and a vehicle and the sale of equipment. The amounts outstanding were unsecured and will be settled in cash.

As of 31 December 2018, the Company's immediate parent company was Pelidona Services Limited, which is 100% owned by Lovitia Investments Limited, which is 100% owned by Mr V Novynskyi. Accordingly, the Company was ultimately controlled by Mr V Novynskyi.

The Group operates bank accounts in Ukraine with a related party bank, Unex Bank, which is ultimately controlled by Mr V Novynskyi. There were the following transactions and balances with Unex Bank during the year:

 
                                             2018   2017 
                                             $000   $000 
 
 Interest income                                1      - 
 Bank charges                                  21     56 
 Closing cash balance (as at 31 December)      20      6 
 
 

The bank charges represent cash transit fees.

At the date of this report, none of the Company's controlling parties prepares consolidated financial statements available for public use.

33. Post Balance Sheet Events

New legislation relating to the oil and gas sector in Ukraine has been introduced over the last year, and in this regard, with effect from 1 January 2019, the subsoil tax rates for condensate were reduced from 45% to 31% for condensate produced from deposits above 5,000 metres and from 21% to 16% for condensate produced from deposits below 5,000 metres.

On 21 February 2019, the Group announced the spud of the MEX-119 well at the MEX-GOL field. The well has a target depth of 4,850 metres, with drilling operations scheduled to be completed by September 2019 and, subject to successful testing, production hook-up during the fourth quarter of 2019.

The Group has commenced reassessment of the remaining reserves and resources at the VAS field as at 1 January 2019, which reassessment is being undertaken by an independent petroleum reserves consultant.

On 4 March 2019, the Group disposed of its 100% shareholding in Refin LLC to a company under common control.

On 12 March 2019, the Group announced the publication of an Order for suspension (the "Order") by the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine affecting the production licence for the VAS gas and condensate field. The Group is confident there are no violations of the terms of the licence or in relation to the operational activities of the Group that would justify the Order or the suspension of the licence. The Group has issued legal proceedings in the Ukrainian Courts to challenge the validity of the Order, and in these proceedings, on 18 March 2019, the Court made a Ruling on interim measures to suspend the Order pending a hearing of the substantive issues of the case to be held in due course. The effect of this Ruling is that the suspension of operational activities at the VAS licence is deferred until the result of the legal proceedings is determined. The Group considers that the Order is groundless and that the outcome of the legal proceedings challenging the Order will ultimately be in favour of the Group, and consequently, the Group does not anticipate any negative effects on its operations in respect of the matter.

34. Accounting policies before 1 January 2018

Accounting policies applicable to the comparative period ended 31 December 2017 that were amended by IFRS 9 and IFRS 15, are as follows:

Classification of financial assets. The Group classifies its financial assets into loans and receivables.

Loans and receivables include financial receivables created by the Group by providing money, goods or services directly to a debtor, other than those receivables which are created with the intention to be sold immediately or in the short term, or which are quoted in an active market. Loans and receivables comprise primarily loans, trade and other accounts receivable.

Classification of financial liabilities. The Group classifies its financial liabilities as other financial liabilities carried at amortised cost.

Initial recognition of financial instruments. The Group's principal financial instruments comprise trade debtors and trade creditors, loans and borrowings and cash and cash equivalents. The Group's financial assets and liabilities are initially recorded at fair value plus transaction costs. Fair value at initial recognition is best evidenced by the transaction price. A gain or loss on initial recognition is only recorded if there is a difference between fair value and transaction price which can be evidenced by other observable current market transactions in the same instrument or by a valuation technique whose inputs include only data from observable markets.

All purchases and sales of financial instruments that require delivery within the time frame established by regulation or market convention ("regular way" purchases and sales) are recorded at trade date, which is the date that the Group commits to deliver a financial instrument. All other purchases and sales are recognised on the settlement date with the change in value between the commitment date and settlement date not recognised for assets carried at cost or amortised cost.

Subsequent measurement of financial instruments. Subsequent to initial recognition, the Group's financial liabilities, loans and receivables are measured at amortised cost. Amortised cost is calculated using the effective interest rate method and, for financial assets, it is determined net of any impairment losses. Premiums and discounts, including initial transaction costs, are included in the carrying amount of the related instrument and amortised based on the effective interest rate over the expected life of the instrument. The face values of financial assets other than non-interest bearing loans, and of financial liabilities with a maturity of less than one year, less any estimated credit adjustments, are assumed to be their fair values. The fair value of financial liabilities is estimated by discounting the future contractual cash flows at the current market interest rate available to the Group for similar financial instruments.

In assessing the fair value of financial instruments, the Group uses a variety of methods and makes assumptions based on market conditions existing at the reporting date. A provision for impairment of loans and accounts receivable is established when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms. The amount of the provision is the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the financial asset's original effective interest rate. The amount of the provision is recognised in the profit or loss.

The effective interest method is a method of allocating interest income or interest expense over the relevant period, so as to achieve a constant periodic rate of interest (effective interest rate) on the carrying amount. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash payments or receipts (excluding future credit losses) through the expected life of the financial instrument or a shorter period, if appropriate, to the net carrying amount of the financial instrument. The present value calculation includes all fees paid or received between parties to the contract that are an integral part of the effective interest rate.

Derecognition of financial assets. The Group derecognises financial assets when (i) the assets are redeemed or the rights to cash flows from the assets have otherwise expired, or (ii) the Group has transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the assets, or (iii) the Group has neither transferred nor retained substantially all risks and rewards of ownership but has not retained control. Control is retained if the counterparty does not have the practical ability to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party without needing to impose additional restrictions on the sale.

Revenue recognition. Revenues from sales of goods are recognised at the point of transfer of risks and rewards of ownership of the goods, normally when the goods are shipped. If the Group agrees to transport goods to a specified location, revenue is recognised when the goods are passed to the customer at the destination point. Sales of services are recognised in the accounting period in which the services are rendered, by reference to stage of completion of the specific transaction assessed on the basis of the actual service provided as a proportion of the total services to be provided.

Revenues from natural gas and condensate are stated gross of production taxes. Sales are shown net of VAT and discounts. Revenues are measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable. When the fair value of goods received in a barter transaction cannot be measured reliably, the revenue is measured at the fair value of the goods or service given up.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

END

FR URURRKVASOUR

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