24 Jul 2014 07:00
Northern Petroleum Plc
("Northern Petroleum", "the Company" or "the Group")
Sale of UK assets for £1.5 million
Northern Petroleum, the AIM quoted oil company focusing on production led growth, announces that it has signed sale and purchase agreements to sell the Company's interests in all of its UK licences and assets for £1.5 million to UK Oil & Gas Investments PLC ("UKOG"). Completion of the sale is subject to the approval of UKOG becoming an operator for certain licences by the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the completion of an intra group transfer of certain asset interests within Northern Petroleum on or before 31st October 2014.
The consideration of £1.5 million is payable with a minimum of £1 million in cash and the remainder in either cash or UKOG ordinary shares at a price of 1.0938 pence per ordinary share at UKOG's election. In the event that Northern Petroleum receives ordinary shares in UKOG, the Company will consider the best way to monetise the holding in an orderly manner.
The UK assets and licences comprise the 10 and five per cent minority interests in the Horndean and Avington producing fields respectively, 50 per cent interests in the Markwells Wood and Baxters Copse discoveries, and a 65 per cent interest in a licence offshore the Isle of Wight. Net production to the Company during 2013 averaged approximately 20 barrels of oil per day and contributed €591,000 of revenue and €345,000 of gross profit to the Company for the 12 months ended 31 December 2013. The book value of the UK assets in the consolidated accounts for the Group as at 31 December 2013 was €300,000 and stated proven and probable reserves were 60,000 barrels of oil. The consideration from the sale will be reinvested in Northern Petroleum's production and redevelopment project in north west Alberta, Canada.
Keith Bush, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"The sale of the UK portfolio allows us to focus additional time and financial resource on operations that provide the best opportunity for value growth in a reasonable time frame.
"The Company continues to move forward with its production led growth strategy with operations on the three summer wells in Alberta due to commence in August. We expect the results of the wells to further de-risk the potential of the whole Albertan redevelopment and allow us to achieve our forecast year end exit production rate of 500 barrels of oil per day."
-Ends-
For further information please contact:
Northern Petroleum Plc Tel: +44 (0)20 7469 2900
Keith Bush, Chief Executive Officer
Nick Morgan, Finance Director
Westhouse Securities (Nomad and Broker) Tel: +44 (0)20 7601 6100
Alastair Stratton
Antonio Bossi
Camarco Tel: +44 (0)20 3757 4980
Billy Clegg
Georgia Mann
In Accordance with AIM Rules - Guidance for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies, the information contained in this announcement has been reviewed and signed off by the Exploration and Technical Director of Northern Petroleum, Mr Graham Heard CGeol. FGS, who has over 35 years' experience as a petroleum geologist. He has compiled, read and approved the technical disclosure in this regulatory announcement. The technical disclosure in this announcement complies with the SPE/WPC standard.
Note to Editors:
Northern Petroleum is an oil and gas company focused on production led growth. The Company is undertaking a redevelopment and production project in north west Alberta and has a broader portfolio of exploration and appraisal opportunities in countries of relatively low political risk, primarily Italy. Comprehensive information on Northern Petroleum and its oil and gas operations, including press releases, annual reports and interim reports are available from Northern Petroleum's website: www.northernpetroleum.com