27 June 2024
Challenger Energy Group PLC
("Challenger Energy" or the "Company")
AUDITED ANNUAL RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
Challenger Energy (AIM: CEG), an Atlantic margin focused oil and gas company, is pleased to announce its audited Annual Results for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements will be posted to shareholders by 30 June 2023 along with the notice of the Company's Annual General Meeting to be held on 29 July 2024 at 11.00 a.m. British Summer Time at The Engine House, Alexandra Road, Castletown,
The 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements are set out in full below and are also available on the Company's website https://www.cegplc.com/.
For further information, please contact:
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Challenger Energy Group PLC Eytan Uliel, Chief Executive Officer |
Tel: +44 (0) 1624 647 882 |
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WH Ireland - Nomad and Joint Broker Antonio Bossi / Darshan Patel / Isaac Hooper |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7220 1666 |
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Zeus Capital - Joint Broker Simon Johnson |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3829 5000
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Tel: +44 (0) 20 3983 9263 |
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CAMARCO Billy Clegg / Hugo Liddy / Sam Morris |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3757 4980 |
Notes to Editors
Challenger Energy is an Atlantic-margin focused energy company, with production, development, appraisal, and exploration assets in the region. The Company's primary assets are located in
Chairman's Letter to the Shareholders
Dear Shareholders,
It is my pleasure to report to you as Chairman of your Company.
In my last report I commented on our strategic objectives for 2023: achieving value for our Uruguay AREA OFF-1 licence, and resetting our business in
In
In
In
Overall,
In April 2024, we reported on the strategic investment by Charlestown Energy Partners in the Company, and I look forward to working with Robert Bose on the Board.
Finally, and as always, I thank the staff of Challenger Energy for their efforts last year, the Board for their guidance and insight and, of course, our shareholders for their continued support.
Iain McKendrick
Chairman
26 June 2024
Chief Executive Officer's Report to the
Shareholders
Dear fellow Shareholders,
This is my fourth report to you, the owners of the Company, in my capacity as Chief Executive Officer.
The last 18 months has been a period of excellent progress for Challenger Energy. During this period, we did what we said we would do and we delivered most of what we promised we would deliver. The highlight event being the farm-out of our AREA OFF-1 block in
Strategic Context
In last year's Annual Report, I reported on several key developments in Challenger Energy's business during the 2022 period.
In summary, these were (i) the Company and its business had been successfully "reset", both operationally and financially;
(ii) significant exploration discoveries had been made in the Namibian conjugate margin, analogous to the Company's licenced
acreage in
As a result of these factors the Company responded during 2023 with a shift in strategy to place primary emphasis on our Uruguayan assets, and to deemphasise growth in
In a relatively short space of time, our interests in
Shareholders will recall that in 2020 we were awarded the licence for the AREA OFF-1 block, offshore
In this context we decided to strategically prioritise
(i) We accelerated our technical work program on AREA OFF-1, thereby rapidly enhancing the value of the asset. Our work program was thorough and focused, including reprocessing of legacy 2D seismic data, advanced amplitude variation with offset (AVO) analysis, seabed geochemical and satellite seep studies and full reinterpretation and remapping of all data, leading to lead and then prospect definition and an initial volumetric assessment. The result was delineation and high grading of three primary prospects, in aggregate representing an inventory of approximately 2 billion barrels (Pmean) and up to 5 billion barrels in an upside case (P10). This served to establish AREA OFF-1 as a high-quality asset of global scale and materiality. Focused technical work continued throughout 2023, in support of maximising the potential for securing a farm-out. This also meant that by the end of 2023 our minimum work program commitment for the first four-year period of the AREA OFF-1 licence - initially meant to be completed by August 2026 - had been completed, more than two years ahead of schedule.
(ii) To fully leverage the value of our acquired knowledge and understanding, the excellent working relationship established with the Uruguayan authorities and regulators, and the attractive conditions in that country for hydrocarbon industry activity, we decided to bid for a second licence. We were successful in this endeavour, and in June 2023 Challenger Energy was designated as the party to whom the AREA OFF-3 licence - the last available offshore acreage in
(iii) On the basis of our excellent technical results, in mid-2023 we launched a formal, adviser-led farm-out process for AREA OFF-1. The objective was to secure an industry heavyweight as a partner for the project, who could provide the further expertise and capital needed to rapidly take AREA OFF-1 forward to 3D seismic acquisition and ultimately exploration well drilling. Our target was to secure a farm-out by the end of 2023, and whilst ultimately the process took a few months longer than planned, in March 2024 we entered into a farm-out agreement with Chevron. Under the terms of that agreement, Chevron will assume a 60% operating interest in AREA OFF-1, will pay the Company US$12.5 million cash as an entry fee, will carry 100% of the costs of an agreed accelerated 3D seismic acquisition on the block (up to a total net cash value to the Company of US$15 million), and thereafter if the decision is made to proceed to drilling of an initial exploration well, carry 50% of the Company's share of costs associated with that well (up to a total net cash value to the Company of US$20 million). As at the date of this Annual Report, Chevron's entry into the project awaits approval from the Uruguayan regulatory authorities, a normal industry formality for any farm-out and one which we expect will be concluded in the coming months, well within the time needed to allow for Chevron's proposed 3D seismic acquisition to commence at the end of 2024/early 2025. We anticipate thereafter that we will see Chevron undertake significant activity on AREA OFF-1, and it is this activity which we believe will ultimately realise the considerable value we see in this asset.
In summary, the recap for 2023 insofar as our business in
However, before moving on to considering the rest of our business, I think it is worth making a brief, specific comment on the value and impact of this last item - the farm-out agreement with Chevron. As already noted, entry into this agreement was undoubtedly the highlight of the last 18 months for Challenger Energy, and represented the culmination of a huge amount of technical and commercial work, by many people over more than a year. It is thus an outcome we are extremely proud of, and is important for two reasons.
Firstly, the farm-out metrics achieved in this transaction are in our view, excellent. All CEOs will have you know that their Company is undervalued, but in this case, if properly analysed, the embedded value to our Company in the AREA OFF-1 farm-out arrangement is many multiples of our current share price - something I believe the equity market is yet to appreciate.
Secondly, over and above the mere numbers, the AREA OFF-1 farm-out is genuinely transformational for Challenger Energy's future, in that (i) our strategy and technical work has been validated by one of the world's leading energy companies - the resulting intangible benefit in terms of our industry "credentials" is immeasurable, (ii) going forward, operation of the AREA OFF-1 project will be in the hands of an operator and partner who has made a clear commitment to accelerating 3D seismic acquisition (and hopefully thereafter, exploration well drilling), and (iii) we will retain a material stake of 40% in the AREA OFF-1 licence, which will give us enormous flexibility when it comes time to consider how we participate in any future success case.
By the end of 2022 we had come to the conclusion that achieving a material increase in production from our Trinidadian onshore asset portfolio was not commercially viable, due to the age of the fields and the technical characteristics of the relevant reservoirs. We thus shifted our objective from production growth to achieving financial breakeven from core assets, and streamlining our operations by divesting any assets considered non-core to this objective.
Thus, in early 2023, we sold the small and geographically removed South Erin asset, and in late 2023 we completed the sale of the non-producing Cory Moruga appraisal asset. In both cases the sales not only realised cash, but also relieved the group of significant liabilities, work program commitments, and administrative burden and cost associated with management of those assets.
At the same time, we concentrated our operational efforts on our two primary producing assets - the Goudron and Inniss-Trinity fields in south-east
In terms of results, 2023 production from these two fields was generally constant (on a like-for-like basis almost identical to 2022 production), and total operating expenses and G&A were reduced considerably (33%) as compared to 2022. However, realised oil prices across 2023 were lower than across 2022, so many of the operational gains we made were offset by lower revenue, such that whilst we were successful in operating on a cashflow breakeven basis, we did record a (relatively small) net operating loss (as compared to a small positive operating cash surplus in 2022). This financial performance also necessitated us reconsidering the carrying value of the Trinidadian licences on our balance sheet, and at the end of 2023 we decided to write down both the goodwill and asset values associated with these licences.
Through 2023 we also spent a substantial amount of time and effort on trying to develop options to expand our
In summary therefore, insofar as our business in
Other Assets
In relation to the Company's licences in The
During 2023 we also undertook a detailed "economic basement to surface" technical review of the Weg Naar Zee project in Suriname, and concluded that the project did not offer the prospect of long-term commerciality (especially as compared to the better return potential we saw available from other assets in our portfolio). We thus made the decision to exit from the Suriname project, a process which was fully completed by the end of 2023.
Financial Performance
For the 2023 period under review, we recorded a loss of $13.4 million, although this includes the impact of various non-cash items, including non-cash losses arising from accounting impairments associated with the Trinidadian assets of approximately $12.9 million. Therefore, a more relevant metric to evaluate our financial performance during the period would, in my view, be a consideration of our "burn" - that is, cash used in running/sustaining our business across the period. In that respect, as noted, our Trinidadian operations operated on a largely self-sustaining basis through 2023 (thus requiring no cash support from the group), and the general and administration cost for the rest of our business was reduced to under US$200,000 per month (this being a reduction of 37% as compared to 2022). Based on benchmarking, we believe that this level of "burn" which represents the basic costs needed to stay in business as an AIM-listed vehicle, compares favourably with most of our peers. That said, we are always considering ways in which we can reduce our cost base further.
Capital Allocation and Funding
For a junior E&P company, effective capital allocation is one of management's most important tasks. This is because within any given portfolio of assets, there will almost always be more opportunities and activities in need of funding than there are funds available. With this in mind, prudently managing our available capital has always been a key priority, with the overriding goal being to strike a balance between advancing our business quickly and in the most advantageous way, but at the same time making the most out of every dollar spent, and avoiding to the greatest extent possible the need to seek additional funding by way of dilutive equity raisings.
Pleasingly, over the last 18 months we have largely been able to achieve this goal. Specifically, Challenger Energy's last equity capital raising was in March 2022 as part of a broader corporate restructure / recapitalisation. At that time, we raised an amount that was then estimated to be sufficient to sustain 12 months of future operations, but we have "stretched" the funds raised such that we have operated without needing to undertake an equity placing for more than two years now. We have done this by:
(i) keeping overheads lean and efficient: as mentioned, through the course of 2023 our corporate overhead was low, both in an absolute sense and as compared to 2022;
(ii) ensuring any incremental expenditure is very focused in its application: in 2023, we only allocated discretionary capital to value-adding technical work in
(iii) successfully selling non-core assets: the sales of the South Erin and Cory Moruga assets supplemented available working capital, and whilst a delay in regulatory approval for the sale of the Cory Moruga asset necessitated a bridge funding facility being put in place in mid-2023, we were eventually able to deliver on that transaction, which in addition to releasing capital back to the business also allowed for the bridge funding facility to be fully repaid and cancelled.
Subsequently, in May 2024 we secured a meaningful equity investment - at a premium price - from specialist E&P investor Charlestown Energy, and as previously noted, on closing of the farm-out for the AREA OFF-1 licence in
ESG
As I noted in last year's Annual Report, the broad category of activities generally referred to nowadays as Environment, Social and Governance, or ESG, are central to everything we do. It is a core value in our business to ensure that achieving our commercial objectives never comes at the expense of harm to people or the environment, and that our "social licence to operate" is maintained intact at all time. We want to be known as a responsible, reliable operator and a partner / employer of choice.
In 2023, our excellent track record in this all-important area was maintained. Across all of our operations there were no incidents of note - whether personal injury, property damage or environmental. We maintained productive and positive relationships with all relevant Governments and regulatory bodies, we continued our policy of investing considerably in Company-wide training programs and ESG awareness activities, and we made a number of targeted social and welfare contributions in the communities where we operate. A tangible expression of our record of achievement in this area was the considerable body of work undertaken in support of renewing our Safe-to-Work (STOW) accreditation in
In summary, the Company's excellent ESG performance record continued in 2023, and everyone at Challenger Energy is 100% aligned to ensure that this continues into the future.
Outlook
I believe that the outlook for our Company over the coming period is as strong as it has ever been.
In the next 12 months we will be looking to see a result from efforts to realise value from our assets in
There, we expect the AREA OFF-1 farm-out to be finalised in the coming months, following which we expect that Chevron will begin to rapidly take the project forward. 3D seismic acquisition may happen as soon as the end of 2024, meaning that we could see new data for AREA OFF-1 as soon as the middle of 2025, leading to a decision on exploration well drilling thereafter.
Meanwhile, we will shortly kick off our technical work program for AREA OFF-3, which will see reprocessing of legacy 2D and 3D seismic, as well as a number of other work streams similar to those we found leveraging for the AREA OFF-1 farm-out strategy. We will be looking to replicate our AREA OFF-1 farm-out success for AREA OFF-3, this time with a process we expect will commence in early-to-mid 2025, with a goal to secure a new partner during 2025/early 2026, and exploration well drilling thereafter. And, all of this activity in
In concluding my review of 2023, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our team. We may be a small company, but we have highly-skilled, committed, and fiercely loyal employees, whose hard work and dedication deserves recognition. I also wish to express my deep appreciation for the support we receive from our Board, stakeholders, regulators, suppliers, contractors and shareholders.
2023 was a period of great progress for Challenger Energy. Now, with the benefit of the excellent foundations put in place over the past few years, our task is to realise the value we see in our assets. All of us who work at Challenger Energy are very much looking forward to doing just that.
Eytan Uliel
Chief Executive Officer
26 June 2024
Challenger Energy Overview
Challenger Energy is an Atlantic-margin focused energy company, with a range of offshore and onshore oil and gas assets in the region. The Company's shares are traded on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM: CEG).
The following is a brief summary of key aspect of the Company's assets, operations and business. Additional information is available on the Company's website: www.cegplc.com.
Challenger Energy's Uruguay Assets
Challenger Energy principal area of focus is offshore
FIGURE 1: OFFSHORE LICENCE HOLDERS,
Recent conjugate margin discoveries offshore
As at the date of this Annual Report, all blocks offshore
AREA OFF-1
The AREA OFF-1 block is a large block covering approximately 14,557 km2 and located approximately 100 kms offshore
In late 2022, the Company made a decision to both accelerate and expand the work required to be completed during the first four-year exploration period. As a result, during the course of 2023 all first period minimum work obligations were completed, as well as a considerable body of additional discretionary work. The result of this technical work program was the identification, delineation and high grading of three materials prospects with significant resource potential. These prospects have been named Teru Teru, Anapero and Lenteja, and are summarised as follows:
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ESTIMATED EUR |
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STRATIGRAPHIC |
AERIEL EXTENT |
WATER |
RESERVOIR |
(mmboe) |
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PROSPECT |
DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT |
AGE |
P10/50/90 |
DEPTH |
DEPTH |
P10/Pmean/P50/P90 |
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TERU TERU |
Slope turbidite to shelf margin wave delta AVO supported - Class I to II |
Mid to Upper Cretaceous Albian to Campanian |
360/210/106 km2 |
~ 800m |
~3,800m |
1,627/740/547/158 |
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ANAPERO |
Outer shelf margin stacked sands |
Upper Cretaceous |
304/214/101 km2 |
~ 550m |
~3,400m |
1,627/670/445/88 |
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AVO supported - Class II |
Campanian |
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LENTEJA |
Lacustrine alluvial syn-rift sealed by regional unconformity |
Lower Cretaceous Neocomian |
246/85/14 km2 |
~ 85m |
~4,500m |
1,666/576/198/17 |
On 6th of March 2024, following a formal process, the Company announced that it has entered into a farm-out agreement with a subsidiary of Chevron for the AREA OFF-1 block. The key terms of the farm-out agreement are (i) Chevron will acquire a 60% participating interest in AREA OFF-1 and will take over operatorship of the block, (ii) Challenger Energy will retain a 40% non-operating interest in the block, (iii) Challenger Energy will receive US$12.5 million from Chevron as an entry fee, with these funds available to support the further development of the Company's business, (iv) Chevron will carry 100% of Challenger Energy's share of the costs associated with a 3D seismic campaign on AREA OFF-1 block, up to a maximum of US$15 million (net to Challenger Energy), and (v) following the 3D seismic campaign, should Chevron decide to drill an initial exploration well on the AREA OFF-1 block, Chevron will carry 50% of Challenger Energy's share of costs associated with that well, up to a maximum of US$20 million (net to Challenger Energy). As at the date of this Annual Report, formal approval of the farm-in from Uruguayan regulatory authorities is pending, and is expected to be concluded in the coming months, so as to facilitate commencement of a 3D seismic campaign on AREA OFF-1 towards the end of 2024 / early 2025.
AREA OFF-3
The AREA OFF-3 block is a large block covering an area of 13,252 km2 and located approximately 75 to 150kms offshore
There has been considerable prior technical work and seismic acquisition on and adjacent to the area of the AREA OFF-3 block (what is now AREA OFF-3 was previously held by BP until 2016). That prior activity had identified and mapped two primary prospects:
PROSPECT LOCATION ESTIMATED
P10/P50/P90
AMALIA Straddles the boundary with Shell's AREA OFF-2, an estimated 30% is contained within AREA OFF-3 EUR (mmbbl) gross
2,189/980/392
MORPHEUS Entirely contained within AREA OFF-3 EUR (TCF) gross
-8.96/2.69/0.84
The AREA OFF-3 licence has a modest work commitment in the initial four-year exploration period, comprising of reprocessing 1,000 kms of legacy 2D seismic data and undertaking two geotechnical studies. There is no drilling obligation in the initial four-year exploration period. However, similar to AREA OFF-1, Challenger Energy's plan during the initial four-year exploration period is to accelerate and expand the technical work program, with a primary objective being to reprocess existing 3D seismic data. This is because the Company considers that the geological prospectivity and petroleum system understanding has changed drastically since the 2022 Namibian discoveries specifically regarding the new Cretaceous petroleum system and seismic identification, and therefore the application of latest 3D reprocessing technology and amplitude analysis will assist to delineate the extent of the previously identified plays and their coverage onto AREA OFF-3. The Company is also planning to pursue an early partnering strategy in the form of a farm-out. As with AREA OFF-1, the objective is to secure cash and a significant carry in an accelerated work program.
Trinidad and Tobago Assets
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a Caribbean nation consisting of the two islands of Trinidad and Tobago, approximately 7 kms offshore from Venezuela. The nation has a long history of oil and gas activity, both onshore on the island of Trinidad, and offshore, with some of the world's oldest hydrocarbon producing fields located in the country.
Challenger Energy holds a 100% interest in, and is the operator of, three producing fields, all onshore Trinidad. Across these fields, there are a total of approximately 250 wells, of which approximately 60 are in production at any given time. Within the fields, regular well workover operations are undertaken on the existing productive well stock, including well stimulation operations, reperforations, reactivations and repairs to shut-in wells, as and when appropriate. Production from the three producing fields - Goudron, Inniss-Trinity and Icacos, averages approximately 275 - 300 bopd.
Other Assets
The Bahamas: Challenger Energy holds four exploration licences offshore The Bahamas. In early 2021, the Perseverance-1 exploration well was drilled in this licence area, but it did not result in a commercial discovery at that location. However, several other structures and drill targets across the licence areas remain prospective, and the technical findings from Perseverance-1 suggest potential in deeper Jurassic horizons. In March 2021, the Group notified the Government of The Bahamas of its intent to renew the licences for a third three-year exploration period. This renewal is still pending. Additionally, the Company is considering various other options for achieving value from these assets.
Suriname: during 2023, the Company relinquished the Weg Naar Zee licence held onshore Suriname, and completed a withdrawal from operations in that country.
People and Operations
The Group's registered office is in the Isle of Man. Additionally, the Group has operational offices in London (United Kingdom), Montevideo (Uruguay), and San Fernando (Trinidad). The business employs approximately 75 staff, with the majority being operational staff in Trinidad. To support its active field operations in Trinidad, the Group owns and operates two workover rigs, one swabbing rig, and various items of heavy field equipment.
The Company's Board, management team, and staff possess a wide range of skills and extensive technical and industry experience - profiles of Board and senior executive members can be found on the Company's website, www.cegplc.com.
The Company takes great pride in its exemplary HSE&S track record and strives to be an employer and partner of choice, and to make a valued contribution to the communities and nations in which it operates.
Environmental, Social & Governance
ESG Philosophy and Management
At Challenger Energy, we believe that pursuing our commercial objectives should never come at the cost of harm to people, communities, or the environment. We acknowledge our responsibility and duty of care to our employees, contractors, suppliers, and the broader communities where we operate. We take every possible step to ensure the health, wellbeing, and safety of everyone involved in our projects, with the goal of achieving zero lost time injuries or incidents.
Challenger Energy is committed to conducting business with integrity and high ethical standards, and fostering a respectful working environment for all employees. We support the personal and professional development of our people and recognise the importance of diversity in our business, including gender, nationality, faith, and personal background. We value how diversity benefits our business and how the unique experiences of our employees contribute to a positive environment within the Group.
Operating in various international locations, we both rely on and impact the people and institutions in these areas. Our business is part of the societies in which we operate, and we are committed to being a responsible business and good corporate citizen, making meaningful and valued contributions to these communities.
We are acutely aware of the natural environments we operate in and strive to minimize our impact. The Group is dedicated to responsible environmental stewardship and aims for zero environmental incidents, spills, or leaks.
Recognising ESG as a core business priority, the Group maintains a structured Health, Safety, Environment & Security (HSES) Management System. This system includes a documented set of policies, procedures, and practices, which are revised and updated regularly, with company-wide application designed to promote and foster excellence in all relevant HSES areas.
Governance
Challenger Energy operates in the energy sector, which is governed by stringent laws and regulations imposed by host Governments and international regulators, and is also subject to intense public scrutiny. Additionally, as the Group's shares are traded on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange, it is subject to various additional rules and regulations associated with being a publicly traded entity.
Consequently, the Board is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance at all times.
QCA Code
In accordance with the rules of the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange, the Group is required to apply a recognized corporate governance code and demonstrate its compliance with that code, including any deviations. Since the Group is not obligated to follow the UK Corporate Governance Code, its Directors have chosen to apply the QCA Corporate Governance Code (the "QCA Code") as their standard of measurement.
In accordance with the AIM Rules for Companies, Challenger Energy departs from the QCA Code in relation to Principle 7 - "Evaluate board performance based on clear and relevant objectives, seeking continuous improvement." Challenger Energy's board is small and extremely focused on implementing the Company's strategy. However, given the size and nature of the Company, the Board does not consider it appropriate to have a formal performance evaluation procedure in place, as described and recommended in Principle 7 of the QCA Code. The Board will closely monitor the situation as and when the Company grows.
The Board and its Committees
The Board meets regularly to discuss and review all aspects of the Group's activities. A Board Charter has been approved and adopted, outlining the membership, roles, and responsibilities of the Board. The Board is primarily responsible for formulating, reviewing, and approving the Group's strategy, budgets, major capital expenditures, acquisitions, and divestments. The Board currently consists of the Non-executive Chairman (Iain McKendrick), the Chief Executive Officer (Eytan Uliel), and three Non-executive Directors (Stephen Bizzell, Simon Potter and Robert Bose). Iain McKendrick and Stephen Bizzell are deemed independent by the Board. All Directors have access to the Company Secretary and the Group's professional advisers. Overall, the Board is responsible for the long-term success of the Company and providing leadership to the business including culture, values and ethics and ensuring effective corporate governance and succession planning. The Board operates in an accountable open and transparent environment where the views of all Directors and the actions of Executive Directors can be challenged. The Board is satisfied it has the appropriate balance of skills and experience on the one hand, and, independence and knowledge on the other, to enable it to discharge its respective duties and responsibilities effectively, and that all Directors have adequate time to fill their roles.
Iain McKendrick has over 30 years of industry experience, holding Board positions across several listed companies. He was previously with NEO Energy, was Chief Executive Officer of Ithaca Energy, was Executive Chairman of Iona Energy, and spent several years with Total, including acting as Commercial Manager of Colombia. Iain is the Chairman of the Company's Remuneration and Nomination Committee and a member of the Company's Audit Committee.
Eytan Uliel assumed the position as Chief Executive Officer from 27 May 2021, having previously served as the Company's Commercial Director since 2014. Eytan is a finance executive with significant oil and gas industry experience. He has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings, general corporate advisory work, oil and gas industry-specific experience in public market takeovers and transactions, private treaty acquisitions and farm-in / farm-out transactions. He has held executive roles in various ASX and SGX listed companies. Prior to working with Challenger Energy, from 2009 - 2014 Eytan was Chief Financial Officer and Chief Commercial Officer of Dart Energy Limited, an ASX listed company that had unconventional gas assets (coal bed methane and shale gas) in Australia, Asia and Europe, and Chief Commercial Officer of its predecessor company, Arrow International Ltd, a Singapore based company that had unconventional gas asset primarily in Asia and Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of New South Wales, and was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1997. Eytan is a member of the Company's Remuneration Committee, Nomination Committee and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee.
Simon Potter was previously the Chief Executive Officer of the Company for nearly 10 years and oversaw the safe drilling of the Perseverance-1 well in the Bahamas. Simon assumed the role of a Non-Executive Director in May 2021. Simon qualified as a geologist with an M.Sc. in Management Science, has over 30 years oil and gas industry and mining sector experience. From the Zambian Copperbelt to a 20-year career with BP he has held executive roles in companies managing oil and gas exploration, development and production; gas processing, sales and transport; LNG manufacture, marketing and contracting in Europe, Russia, America, Africa and Australasia. On leaving BP, having helped create TNK-BP, he took up the role of CEO at Hardman Resources where he oversaw growth of the AIM and ASX listed Company into an oil producer and considerable exploration success ahead of executing a corporate sale to Tullow Oil. Simon is a member of the Company's Remuneration Committee, Nomination Committee and the Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee.
Stephen Bizzell has over 25 years' corporate finance and public company management experience in the resources sector in Australia and Canada with various public companies. He is the Chairman of boutique corporate advisory and funds management group Bizzell Capital Partners Pty Ltd. He is also the Chairman of ASX listed MAAS Group Holdings Ltd and Savannah Goldfields Ltd, and a Non-executive Director of ASX listed Renascor Resources Limited and Strike Energy Ltd. He was an Executive Director of ASX listed Arrow Energy Ltd from 1999 until its acquisition in 2010 by Shell and PetroChina for A$3.5 billion. He was instrumental in Arrow's corporate and commercial success and its growth from a junior explorer to a large integrated energy company. He was also a founding director of Bow Energy Ltd until it's A$550 million takeover and was also a founding director of Stanmore Resources Ltd. Stephen qualified as a Chartered Accountant and early in his career was employed in the Corporate Finance division of Ernst & Young and the Corporate Tax division of Coopers & Lybrand. Stephen is also the Chairman of Challenger Energy Audit Committee.
Robert Bose is the Managing Member of Charlestown Energy Partners, a private investment company associated with a New York-based family office that has been making investments globally in the upstream business since 2016. Robert is also the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Sintana Energy, Inc., a Toronto Venture listed oil and gas exploration with a portfolio of licenses in Namibia. Robert is also a non-executive director of New Zealand Energy, Corp., a company providing gas, gas storage and liquids solutions to support the domestic energy economy and is also on the Board of Managers of Black Bayou Energy Hub, a private company developing a gas storage opportunity on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. Prior to joining Charlestown, Robert spent 17 years in the Investment Banking Group at Scotiabank, latterly as Managing Director and Industry Head, Global Power & Utilities. Effective 1 July 2024, Robert will replace Iain McKendrick as the member of the Company's Audit Committee.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee of the Board consists of Stephen Bizzell (Chair) and Iain McKendrick, with input from the Chief Financial Officer as needed. The Audit Committee is primarily responsible for ensuring the Group's financial performance is accurately reported and monitored, reviewing the scope and results of the audit, evaluating its cost-effectiveness, and maintaining the independence and objectivity of the auditor. Additionally, the Audit Committee oversees public reporting and the Group's internal controls. A Charter of the Audit Committee, which defines its membership, roles, and responsibilities, has been approved and adopted. All members of the Audit Committee have access to the Company Secretary and the Group's professional advisers, including direct access to the Group's auditor. The Audit Committee meets regularly and convened twice in 2023, with all members present at both meetings. Effective 1 July 2024, Robert Bose will replace Iain McKendrick on the Audit Committee.
Renumeration & Nomination Committee
The Remuneration & Nomination Committee consists of Simon Potter (Chair), Iain McKendrick, and Eytan Uliel. This committee is responsible for recommending executive remuneration packages, including bonus awards and share options, to the Board of Directors. It also assists the Board in identifying and evaluating potential new Directors, ensuring that the size, composition, and performance of the Board are suitable for the Group's and Company's activities. Shareholders of the Group ultimately have the responsibility for determining Board representation. The Remuneration & Nomination Committee meets as needed and convened once in 2023, with all members present.
Health, Safety, Environmental and Security Committee
The Board has a Health, Safety, Environmental, and Security (HSES) Committee, currently comprising Iain McKendrick (Chair), Simon Potter, and Eytan Uliel. The Committee's purpose is to assist the Directors in establishing ESG strategy, reviewing, reporting, and managing the Group's performance, assessing compliance with applicable regulations, internal policies, and goals, and contributing to the Group's risk management processes. The HSES Working Group reports to the HSES Committee, which meets regularly. In 2023, the HSES Committee met four times, with all members present at each meeting.
Record of the board meetings
There were 3 formal meetings of the board of the parent entity in the period 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023. In addition,
there were a number of other ad-hoc gatherings of the Board through the period.
Internal Control
The Directors acknowledge their responsibility for the Group's system of internal control and for reviewing its effectiveness.
The system of internal control is designed to manage the risk of failure to achieve the Group's strategic objectives. It cannot totally
eliminate the risk of failure but will provide reasonable, although not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss.
Going Concern
These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes that the Group will continue in
operation for the foreseeable future.
The Group has incurred an operating loss of $19.9 million for the financial year ended 31 December 2023 (2022: loss of $4.2 million) and the Group's current liabilities exceeded current assets by approximately $2.9 million as of 31 December 2023 (2022: $2.0 million), however this includes approximately $4.1m in respect of taxes and penalties owed in Trinidad and Tobago that the Group expects to settle by way of offset against future tax refunds or are derived from notional estimates of tax penalties dating back to 2021 that the Group does not expect will be levied or assessed with final resolution still pending with the local tax authorities (refer to note 18 for further details). At 31 December 2023, the Group had approximately $1.0 million (2022: $2.5 million) in unrestricted cash funding and at the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the Group continues to have approximately $1.5 million in unrestricted cash funding.
On 6 March 2024, the Group entered into a farm-out agreement with Chevron, a leading global energy super-major, in relation to the Group's AREA OFF-1 licence offshore Uruguay pursuant to which the Group will receive $12.5 million upfront payment at completion along with Chevron carrying the Group's share of certain future work programme costs (the "Farm-out"). The Farm-out is subject to Uruguayan regulatory approval. Management is highly confident that the requisite regulatory approvals will be forthcoming in the near-term, as Chevron meets all requirements to operate an energy project in Uruguay, and the submissions for regulatory approvals were made in consultation with ANCAP, the Uruguayan regulatory body. In addition, the Group expects $0.3 million of presently restricted cash (in support of AREA OFF-1 performance bond) to become unrestricted shortly after the Farm-out completion.
On 18 April 2024 the Group announced that it had entered into a legally binding term sheet for an investment by Charlestown Energy Partners LLC, whereby Charlestown will invest £1.5 million in the Group, initially in the form of a loan, This investment was completed on 28 May 2024 and provides the Group with finance in the medium term until the completion of the farm-out agreement with Chevron, and, on completion of the farm-out, the Charlestown investment will convert into a shareholding of approximately 8.7% in the Company.
The Directors have thus prepared these financial statements on a going concern basis, as based on the Group's cash flow forecasts (which include the proceeds from Charlestown investment and the Farm-out described above), the Group expects to have adequate financial resources to support its operations for the next 12 months (and well into the foreseeable future beyond that). In addition, the Directors note that the Company is a publicly listed company on a recognised stock exchange, thus affording the Company the ability to raise capital equity, debt and/or hybrid financing alternatives as and when the need arises. The Company has a robust track record in this regard, having raised in excess of US$100 million in equity and alternative financing in the recent past.
Anti-bribery and Corruption ('ABC')
Challenger Energy enforces a zero-tolerance policy for bribery, corruption, or unethical conduct in our business. Our policies mandate compliance with applicable anti-bribery and corruption (ABC) laws, particularly the UK Bribery Act 2010, as well as all relevant laws in the jurisdictions where we operate. We have implemented a documented system of ABC policies and procedures that provide a consistent framework across The Group, ensuring our employees are aware of potential threats and maintaining appropriate governance of ABC matters. In 2023, all employees were required to attend mandatory ABC training, focusing on the most relevant legislation for the Group.
Anti-Money Laundering ('AML')
Challenger is acutely aware of the risks posed by money laundering and terrorist financing. These criminal activities not only threaten society but also impact The Group, its partners, shareholders, and staff. The Group exercises the highest level of vigilance in all its operations to combat these threats. This vigilance also applies to third-party associates involved with The Group. Annual AML training is mandatory for all Group staff, and in 2023, various employees and contractors participated in money laundering training courses.
Taxation
Depending on the jurisdiction of operation, The Group is subject to various taxes, including corporate income tax, supplemental petroleum taxes, royalties, other fiscal deductions, VAT, and payroll taxes. As a responsible operator and corporate citizen, The Group is committed to complying with all relevant tax laws in every jurisdiction where we operate. Adhering to tax laws and regulations is fundamental to our license to operate, and we take this obligation seriously.
Risk Management
Understanding our principal risks and ensuring that Challenger Energy has the appropriate controls in place to manage those risks is critical to our business operations. Managing business risks and opportunities is a key consideration in determining and then delivering against the Group's strategy. The Group's approach to risk management is not intended to eliminate risk entirely, but provides the means to identify, prioritise and manage risks and opportunities. This, in turn, enables the Group to effectively deliver on its strategic objectives in line with its appetite for risk.
The Board's Responsibility for Risk Management
The board has overall responsibility for ensuring the Group's risk management and internal control frameworks are appropriate and are embedded at all levels throughout the organisation. Principal risks are reviewed by the board and are specifically discussed in relation to setting the Group strategy, developing the business plan to deliver that strategy and agreeing annual work programmes and budgets. See "Principal Risks and Uncertainties" section below and the mitigation steps taken to minimise these risks.
Principal risks and uncertainties
The principal risks facing the Group together with a description of the potential impacts, mitigation measures and the appetite for the risk are presented below. The analysis includes an assessment of the potential likelihood of the risks occurring and their potential impact. Identified risks are segregated between those that we can influence and those which are outside our control. Where we can influence risks, we have more control over outcomes. Where risks are external to the business, we focus on how we control the consequences of those risks materialising.
RISKS THAT WE CAN INFLUENCE
1. Health, safety and environment (HSE)
Oil and gas exploration, development and production activities can be complex and are physical in nature. HSE risks cover many
areas including major accidents, personal health and safety, compliance with regulations and potential environmental harm.
Potential impact: High Probability: Low
Risk Appetite
The Group has a very low appetite for risks associated with HSE and strives to achieve a zero-incident rate.
Mitigation
The Group strives to ensure the safety of its employees, contractors and visitors. We are very conscious of the natural
environment that we operate in and seek to minimise our environmental impact and footprint.
2. Exploration, development and production
The ultimate success of the Group is based on its ability to maintain and grow production from existing assets and to create value
through exploration activity across the existing portfolio together with selective acquisition activity to grow the asset portfolio.
Potential impact: High Probability: Moderate
Risk appetite
The Group's current production is derived from later-life production assets that are in the latter portion of the production decline curve. The development of later life assets can be complex and technically challenging. This can expose the Group to higher levels of risk, particularly in stimulating existing wells through workover or enhanced oil recovery techniques which may, due to their nature, not be successful or may compromise existing production. Identifying locations for optimal locations new infill wells that do not interfere with existing production can be challenging.
The Group has some tolerance for this risk and acknowledges the need to have effective controls in place in this area.
Mitigation
The production team responsible for operating the Group's assets is very experienced in the industry and in the management, workover and enhancement of the Group's assets. In addition, the Group has built a trusted network of service providers who are similarly familiar with the assets and who support production enhancing activity including targeted recompletions and other well interventions to further extend the productive life of the Group's well stock.
3. Reserves and resources
The estimation of oil and gas reserves and resources involves a high level of subjective judgment based on available geological, technical and economic information.
Potential impact: Medium Probability: Low
Risk appetite
The Group has a strong focus on subsurface analysis. We employ industry technical specialists and qualified reservoir engineers and geologists who work closely with our operational teams who are responsible for delivering asset performance.
The Group tolerates some risk related to the estimation of reserves and resources.
Mitigation
Reserve and resource volumes are assessed periodically using the Petroleum Resource Management System (PRMS) developed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers. An external assessment of reserve volumes may also be undertaken periodically by an independent petroleum engineering firm. CEG has staff and consultants who are qualified reservoir engineer with significant international experience.
4. Portfolio concentration
The Group's producing assets are concentrated in Trinidad and are principally characterised as later-life assets. This concentrates production risk in a single jurisdiction and in an asset group with a particular age and production profile
Potential impact: Medium Probability: High
Risk appetite
The principal location of the Group's producing assets and their age profile places emphasis on the Group's ability to successfully
maintain existing production in Trinidad. The Group has a moderate appetite for this risk.
Mitigation
The Group is continuously seeking to selectively add new development or production onshore Trinidad or elsewhere in the Atlantic margin through new licence applications, M&A activity or partnering arrangements with service providers.
Progressing exploration and eventual development of Uruguay, if successful, will similarly mitigate this risk over time.
5. Financing
Oil and gas exploration, development and production activity are capital intensive. The Group currently generates modest levels of cash from operations and relies on investment capital to enhance the asset base and, in turn, production and consequential cash generation.
Potential impact: High Probability: Moderate
Risk appetite
The Group has a low appetite for financing risk. The inability to fund financial commitments, including licence obligations, could significantly delay the development of the Group's assets and consequent value creation. Financial or operational commitments are often a pre-condition to the grant of a licence. The Group's inability to satisfy these could result in financial penalty and/or termination of licences.
Mitigation
The Group has a strong track record over many years of successfully raising finance to fund its activities as and when required.
6. Bribery and corruption
There is a risk that third parties or staff could be encouraged to become involved in corrupt or questionable practices. Transparency International's rankings (out of 180 countries) and respective scores (out of a maximum of 100 points) on their 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index for the jurisdictions where the Group has presence are as below:
|
Jurisdiction |
|
2023 (2022) Rank |
2023 (2022) score |
|
Uruguay |
|
16 (14) |
73 (74) |
|
Trinidad and Tobago |
|
76 (77) |
42 (42) |
|
The Bahamas |
|
30 (30) |
64 (64) |
|
United Kingdom |
|
20 (18) |
71 (73) |
|
Potential impact: High |
Probability: Moderate |
|
|
Risk appetite
The Group has a zero-tolerance policy regarding bribery and corruption.
Mitigation
The Group, its board and management have an established anti-bribery and corruption (ABC) policy that requires all new hires to confirm that they have read and understood the contents and personal requirements of the policy. The Group ensures that our third-party contractors and advisers follow our procedures and policies related to ABC. Annual ABC training and briefings are carried out.
RISKS BEYOND OUR INFLUENCE
7. Commodity prices
The Group is exposed to commodity price risk in relation to sales of crude oil.
Potential impact: High Probability: Moderate
Risk appetite
The Group has a moderate appetite for commodity price risk. A material decline in oil prices could adversely affect the Group's profitability, cash flow, financial position, and ability to invest.
Mitigation
All the Group's production in Trinidad is sold to Heritage under the terms of the respective production licences and the Group is fully exposed to adverse commodity price fluctuation (and also conversely benefits from favourable commodity price movement).
The Group does not currently use hedging instruments to mitigate oil price risk as the volumes are relatively small and significant volatility observed in crude prices in the recent years coupled with oil futures curve backwardation make it difficult to assess effectiveness of a hedge. The Group monitors the oil and gas benchmark prices, principally WTI and Brent Crude, and may consider enter hedging arrangements if market conditions and financial and risk analysis suggest that price risk is lowered by doing so.
8. Demand/ limited sales routes
All the Group's current production is derived from its Trinidad assets and sold to a single customer, Heritage Petroleum Company Limited, the state-owned oil and gas company.
Potential impact: High Probability: Low
Risk appetite
Demand can be negatively affected by economic conditions in Trinidad and globally. The Group accepts demand risk related to its crude oil production.
Mitigation
All the Group's production is sold to Heritage as required under the terms of the licence agreements with Heritage. There is no history of Heritage refusing delivery of crude produced by the Group. The Group accepts this potential risk.
9. Fiscal and political
The Group's operations are located in Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago, with legacy assets in The Bahamas, and the Group is therefore exposed to both in-country fiscal and political risk.
Potential impact: High Probability: Moderate
Appetite
The Group accepts a modest amount of fiscal risk. The Group is exposed to currency risk resulting from fluctuations between currencies in various jurisdictions of operation, and in particular between the US Dollar (in which most expenses are denominated) and the Pound Sterling (as a significant amount of the Group's cash holdings are denominated in Pound Sterling). Currency hedging instruments are not used.
Mitigation
The Group closely monitors fiscal and political situation in the jurisdictions it operates in with a view to identifying and minimising the downside risk presented by changes in fiscal and political circumstances. While the Group has not hedged its currency exposure in the past, the Group closely monitors currency fluctuations with a view to assessing potential downside risk vis-à-vis foreign currency requirements (and the timing thereof) so as to determine the efficacy of a potential hedge. The Group monitors political risk and political developments of the countries of its operations and considers the structure and operation of the respective governments in each of the jurisdictions of its operations to present low risk to the Group. Further, the Group interacts with relevant Governments, Government Ministries and Agencies, and the state-owned oil and gas companies in the jurisdictions in which it operates. The Group has no exposure to Russian oil production, and recently enacted sanctions have had no impact on the Group's business or operations.
Directors' Report
The Company's Directors present their report and audited financial statements of the Company and the consolidated group consisting of Challenger Energy Group PLC ("Challenger Energy" or "the Company") and the entities it controlled (the "Group") at the end of, or during, the financial year ended 31 December 2023.
Directors
The following persons were Directors of the Company during the financial year under review:
Iain McKendrick
Eytan Uliel
Simon Potter
Stephen Bizzell
On 28 May 2024 the Group announced that Mr Robert Bose joined the Board following the completion of the investment in the Company by Charlestown Energy Partners LLC.
Principal Activity
The principal activity of the Group and the Company consists of oil & gas exploration, appraisal, development and production, in Uruguay, Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas.
Results and dividends
The results of the Group for the year are set out on page 25 and show a loss for the year ended 31 December 2023 of $13,421,000 (2022: profit of $4,382,000). The total comprehensive loss for the year of $10,986,000 (2022: loss of $1,360,000) has been transferred to the retained deficit. The results include an impairment charge of intangible and tangible assets in Trinidad and Suriname totaling $12,957,000 (2022: $2,201,000) which includes a full write down of goodwill of $4,610,000 (2022: nil).
The Directors do not recommend payment of a dividend (2022: nil).
Significant Shareholders
The following tables represent shareholdings of 3% or more notified to the Company at 31 December 2023: Top shareholders (by parent company)
|
Shareholder |
31-Dec-23 |
% |
|
Hargreaves Lansdown Asset Management |
1,311,320,999 |
12.50 |
|
Bizzell Capital Partners |
914,633,600 |
8.72 |
|
Choice Investments (Dubbo) Pty Ltd |
837,000,000 |
7.98 |
|
Mr Eytan M Uliel |
606,121,613 |
5.78 |
|
Mr Mark Carnegie |
560,000,000 |
5.34 |
|
Rookharp Capital Pty Ltd |
528,000,000 |
5.03 |
|
Interactive Investor |
500,026,349 |
4.76 |
|
GP (Jersey) Ltd |
465,904,219 |
4.44 |
|
Merseyside Pension Fund |
417,350,000 |
3.98 |
|
Mr Baktash Manavi |
388,553,500 |
3.70 |
|
RAB Capital |
365,900,000 |
3.49 |
|
Halifax Share Dealing |
317,091,720 |
3.02 |
|
TOTAL |
7,211,902,000 |
68.74 |
Directors' Shareholding and Options
The interests in the Company at balance sheet date of all Directors who hold or held office on the Board of the Company at the year-end and subsequent to year end are stated below.
|
Director |
Number of Shares 31-Dec-23 |
Number of Options 31-Dec-23 |
|
Iain McKendrick |
50,000,000 |
112,000,000 |
|
Stephen Bizzell |
51,189,286 |
74,000,000 |
|
Simon Potter |
71,462,807 |
74,000,000 |
|
Eytan Uliel |
606,121,613 |
340,000,000 |
On 28 May 2024 the Group announced that Mr Robert Bose joined the Board following the completion of an investment in the Company by Charlestown Energy Partners [[C.
Record of Board Meetings
There were 3 board meetings of the parent entity of the Group during the financial year.
|
Director |
Number of Board Meetings Attended |
Number of Board Meetings Eligible to Attend |
|
Eytan Uliel |
3 |
3 |
|
Simon Potter |
3 |
3 |
|
Stephen Bizzell |
3 |
3 |
|
Iain McKendrick |
3 |
3 |
In addition to the Board Meetings, there were a number of informal gatherings of the Board to discuss various items during the period.
Statement of Directors' Responsibilities in
respect of the financial statements
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the Financial Statements in accordance with applicable Isle of Man law and regulation.
Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. The Directors have elected to prepare the Group and Company financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRSs").
The financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and the Company and of the profit or loss of the Group for that period.
In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are required to:
· select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
· state whether IFRSs have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
· make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
· prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group and the Company will continue in business.
The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Group and Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Group and the Company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Isle of Man Companies Acts 1931 to 2004. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Company's website. Legislation in the Isle of Man governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
On behalf of the Board
Eytan Uliel
Director
26 June 2024
Independent auditor's report to the members of Challenger Energy Group PLC
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Challenger Energy Group PLC (the "Company") and its subsidiaries (the "Group"), which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, Consolidated and Company Statements of Financial Position, Consolidated and Company Statements of Cash Flows and Consolidated and Company Statements of Changes in Equity for the year ended 31 December 2023, and the related notes to the financial statements, including a summary of material accounting policies.
The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the financial statements is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
In our opinion, Challenger Energy Group PLC's consolidated and company financial statements:
· give a true and fair view in accordance with IFRS of the assets, liabilities and financial position of the Group and Company as at 31 December 2023, and of the Group's financial performance and the Group and Company cash flows for the year then ended; and
· have been properly prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Isle of Man Companies Acts of 1931 to 2004.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) ('ISAs (UK)') and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the 'Responsibilities of the auditor for the audit of the financial statements' section of our report. We are independent of the Group and Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the Isle of Man, including the FRC's Ethical Standard and the ethical pronouncements established by Chartered Accountants Ireland, applied as determined to be appropriate in the circumstances for the entity. We have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors' use of going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Our evaluation of the validity of the directors' assessment of the Group and Company's ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting included:
· verifying the mathematical accuracy of management's cash flow forecast and agreeing the opening cash position;
· assessing management's underlying cash flow projections for the Group for the period to December 2025 and evaluating and challenging the assumptions including production, prices and operating expenditure. In doing so we compared production forecasts to historical trends and considered the price assumptions against consensus market prices and historical prices. We compared forecast costs with historical expenditure and to other external and internal sources, including the impairment assessments, where appropriate;
· assessing and validating the impact of post year end cash inflow sources including the proceeds from capital raising and farm-out payment related to a 60% interest in the Area Off-1 block;
· assessing management's ability to take mitigating actions, if required; and
· assessing the completeness and appropriateness of management's going concern disclosures in the financial statements.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Group and Company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
We have nothing material to add or draw attention to in relation to the directors' statement in the financial statements about whether the directors considered it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements of the current financial period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) we identified, including those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit, and the directing of efforts of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and therefore we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
Overall audit strategy
We designed our audit by determining materiality and assessing the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements. In particular, we looked at where the directors made subjective judgements, for example, in respect of significant accounting estimates that involved making assumptions and considering future events that are inherently uncertain. We also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including evaluating whether there was any evidence of potential bias that could result in a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.
Based on our considerations as set out below, our areas of focus included:
· Valuation of the Group's intangible exploration and evaluation assets;
· Going concern; and
· Valuation of the Group's tangible oil and gas assets.
How we tailored the audit scope
Challenger Energy Group Plc is the holders of several oil & gas exploration and production licences located in Uruguay, Trinidad &
Tobago and The Bahamas.
Our Group audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the Group and its environment, including the Group's system of internal control and assessing the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements. We also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including assessing whether there was evidence of bias by the directors that may have represented a risk of material misstatement.
We performed an audit of the complete financial information of four components, audit of one or more classes of transactions of two components which includes the assessment of impairment of intangible exploration and evaluation assets and performed audit procedures on specific balances for a further four components. The remaining components of the Group were considered non-significant and these components were subject to analytical review procedures.
Components represent business units across the Group considered for audit scoping purposes.
Materiality and audit approach
The scope of our audit is influenced by our application of materiality. We set certain quantitative thresholds for materiality. These, together with qualitative considerations, such as our understanding of the entity and its environment, the history of misstatements, the complexity of the Group and the reliability of the control environment, helped us to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures and to evaluate the effect of misstatements, both individually and on the financial statements as a whole.
Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the Group and Company at 0.75% of total assets at 31 December 2023. We have applied this benchmark because the main objective of the Group is to utilise its existing oil and gas assets and exploration and evaluation assets to provide investors with returns on their investments.
We have set performance materiality for the Group and Company at 65% of materiality, having considered business risks and fraud risks associated with the entity and its control environment. This is to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and undetected misstatements in the financial statements exceeds materiality for the financial statements as a whole.
We agreed with the audit committee and directors that we would report to them misstatements identified during our audit above 2.5% of Group materiality and 3% of Company materiality, as well as misstatements below that amount that, in our view, warranted reporting for qualitative reasons.
Significant matters identified
The risks of material misstatement that had the greatest effect on our audit, including the allocation of our resources and effort, are set out below as significant matters together with an explanation of how we tailored our audit to address these specific areas in order to provide an opinion on the financial statements as a whole. This is not a complete list of all risks identified by our audit.
We completed our planned audit procedures, with no exceptions noted.
Other information
Other information comprises information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon, including the Chief Executive Officer's Report to the Shareholders and Directors' Report. The directors are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies in the financial statements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Acts 1931 to 2004 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:
· the Group and Company has not kept proper books of account, or if proper returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
· the financial statements are not in agreement with the books of account and returns; or
· the financial statements do not contain particulars as to loans to, and remuneration of, Directors; or
· we have not received all the information and explanations which are necessary for the purposes of our audit.
Responsibilities of management and those charged with governance for the financial statements
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors' Responsibilities, management is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements which give a true and fair view in accordance with IFRS, and for such internal control as directors determine necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the Group and Company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management either intends to liquidate the Group or Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
Those charged with governance are responsible for overseeing the Group and Company's financial reporting process.
Responsibilities of the auditor for the audit of the financial statements
The objectives of an auditor are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes their opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
A further description of an auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that material misstatement in the financial statements may not be detected, even though the audit is properly planned and performed in accordance with the ISAs (UK). The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.
Based on our understanding of the Group and industry, we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to compliance with AIM Listing Rules, Data Privacy law, Employment Law, Environmental Regulations, Health & Safety, and we considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the local law, Isle of Man Companies Act 1931 to 2004 and local tax legislations. The Audit engagement partner considered the experience and expertise of the engagement team to ensure that the team had appropriate competence and capabilities to identify or recognise non-compliance with the laws and regulation. We evaluated management's incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to posting inappropriate journal entries to manipulate financial performance and management bias through judgements and assumptions in significant accounting estimates, in particular in relation to significant one-off or unusual transactions. We apply professional scepticism through the audit to consider potential deliberate omission or concealment of significant transactions, or incomplete/inaccurate disclosures in the financial statement.
The group engagement team shared the risk assessment with the component auditors so that they could include appropriate audit procedures in response to such risks in their work.
In response to these principal risks, our audit procedures included but were not limited to:
· enquiries of management, board and audit committee on the policies and procedures in place regarding compliance with laws and regulations, including consideration of known or suspected instances of non-compliance and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud;
· inspection of the Group and Company's regulatory and legal correspondence and review of minutes of board and audit committee meetings during the year to corroborate inquiries made;
· gaining an understanding of the entity's current activities, the scope of authorisation and the effectiveness of its control environment to mitigate risks related to fraud;
· discussion amongst the engagement team in relation to the identified laws and regulations and regarding the risk of fraud, and remaining alert to any indications of non-compliance or opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of financial statements throughout the audit;
· identifying and testing journal entries to address the risk of inappropriate journals and management override of controls;
· designing audit procedures to incorporate unpredictability around the nature, timing or extent of our testing;
· challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in their significant accounting estimates, including impairment assessment of intangible exploration and evaluation assets, tangible oil and gas assets, investment in subsidiaries and amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings;
· review of the financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation and inquiries of management; and
· requesting information from component auditors on instances of non-compliance with laws or regulations that could give rise to a material misstatement of the group financial statements.
The primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of irregularities including fraud rests with those charged with governance and management. As with any audit, there remains a risk of non-detection or irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations or override of internal controls.
The purpose of our audit work and to whom we owe our responsibilities
This report is made solely to the company's members, as a body, in accordance with Section 15 of the Companies Act 1982. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Grant Thornton
Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors
13-18 City Quay
Dublin 2
Ireland
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive
Income
For the year ended 31 December 2023
|
|
Note |
Year ended 31 December 2023 $ 000's |
Year ended 31 December 2022 $ 000's |
|
Continuing operations |
|
|
|
|
Net petroleum revenue |
2 |
3,588 |
4,266 |
|
Cost of sales |
|
(4,162) |
(4,737) |
|
Gross loss |
|
(574) |
(471) |
|
Administrative expenses |
3 |
(4,362) |
(8,027) |
|
Impairment |
3/10/11 |
(12,957) |
(2,201) |
|
Operating foreign exchange (losses)/gains |
|
(1,969) |
6,458 |
|
Operating loss |
|
(19,862) |
(4,241) |
|
Other income |
|
429 |
8,743 |
|
Finance (costs)/income, net |
9 |
(99) |
1,675 |
|
(Loss)/profit before taxation |
|
(19,532) |
6,177 |
|
Income tax expense |
5 |
(30) |
(28) |
|
(Loss)/profit for the year from continuing operations |
|
(19,562) |
6,149 |
|
Discontinued operations |
|
|
|
|
Profit/(loss) after tax for the year from discontinued operations |
14 |
6,141 |
(1,767) |
|
(Loss)/profit for the year attributable to equity holders of the parent company |
|
(13,421) |
4,382 |
|
Other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations |
|
2,435 |
(5,742) |
|
Other comprehensive income/(expense) for the year net of taxation |
|
2,435 |
(5,742) |
|
Total comprehensive expense for the year attributable to |
|
(10,986) |
(1,360) |
|
(Loss)/earnings per share (cents) |
8 |
|
|
|
Basic (loss)/earnings per share |
|
|
|
|
- From continuing operations |
|
(0.20) |
0.08 |
|
- From discontinued operations |
|
0.06 |
(0.03) |
|
Total |
|
(0.14) |
0.05 |
|
Diluted earnings (loss) per share |
|
|
|
|
- From continuing operations |
|
- |
0.07 |
|
- From discontinued operations |
|
- |
(0.02) |
|
Total |
|
- |
0.05 |
The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements. Refer to note 28 for the Company's comprehensive income/(expense) for the year.
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
At 31 December 2023
|
|
Note |
At 31 December 2023 $ 000's |
At 31 December 2022 $ 000's |
|
Assets Non-current assets |
|
|
|
|
Intangible exploration and evaluation assets |
10 |
95,726 |
94,660 |
|
Goodwill |
10 |
- |
4,610 |
|
Tangible assets |
11 |
9,734 |
19,556 |
|
Right of use assets |
12 |
- |
- |
|
Escrow and abandonment funds |
15 |
1,601 |
1,532 |
|
Deferred tax asset |
5 |
4,637 |
7,375 |
|
Total non-current assets |
|
111,698 |
127,733 |
|
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
Trade and other receivables |
15 |
3,202 |
2,721 |
|
Inventories |
16 |
280 |
165 |
|
Restricted cash |
17 |
825 |
824 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
20 |
1,005 |
2,453 |
|
Total current assets |
|
5,312 |
6,163 |
|
Assets held for sale |
14 |
- |
2,591 |
|
Total assets |
|
117,010 |
136,487 |
|
Liabilities Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Provisions |
21 |
(5,669) |
(5,545) |
|
Deferred tax liability |
5 |
(4,707) |
(7,415) |
|
Total non-current liabilities |
|
(10,376) |
(12,960) |
|
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Trade and other payables |
18 |
(8,182) |
(8,099) |
|
Lease liabilities |
19 |
- |
(22) |
|
Borrowings |
20 |
- |
- |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
(8,182) |
(8,121) |
|
Liabilities directly associated with the assets held for sale |
14 |
- |
(6,449) |
|
Total liabilities |
|
(18,558) |
(27,530) |
|
Net assets |
|
98,452 |
108,957 |
|
Shareholders' equity |
|
|
|
|
Called-up share capital |
22 |
2,753 |
2,540 |
|
Share premium reserve |
22 |
180,507 |
180,240 |
|
Share based payments reserve |
23 |
5,636 |
5,635 |
|
Retained deficit |
|
(109,672) |
(96,999) |
|
Foreign exchange reserve |
|
(4,056) |
(5,743) |
|
Convertible debt option reserve |
20 |
- |
- |
|
Other reserves |
22 |
23,284 |
23,284 |
|
Total equity attributable to equity holders of the parent company |
|
98,452 |
108,957 |
The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements. Refer to note 28 for the Company's comprehensive income/(expense) for the year.
These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 26 June 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
Eytan Uliel Iain McKendrick
Director Director
Company Statement of Financial Position
At 31 December 2023
|
|
Note |
At 31 December 2023 $ 000's |
At 31 December 2022 $ 000's |
|
Assets Non-current assets |
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment |
11 |
5 |
47 |
|
Right of use assets |
12 |
- |
- |
|
Investment in subsidiaries |
13 |
43,650 |
50,940 |
|
Trade and other receivables |
15 |
114,903 |
113,600 |
|
Total non-current assets |
|
158,558 |
164,587 |
|
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
Trade and other receivables |
15 |
165 |
292 |
|
Restricted cash |
17 |
525 |
524 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
594 |
2,174 |
|
Total current assets |
|
1,284 |
2,990 |
|
Total assets |
|
159,842 |
167,577 |
|
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Borrowings |
20 |
|
|
|
Total non-current liabilities |
|
- |
- |
|
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Trade and other payables |
18 |
(1,978) |
(1,124) |
|
Lease liabilities |
19 |
- |
- |
|
Borrowings |
20 |
- |
- |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
(1,978) |
(1,124) |
|
Total liabilities |
|
(1,978) |
(1,124) |
|
Net assets |
|
157,864 |
166,453 |
|
Shareholders' equity |
|
|
|
|
Called-up share capital |
22 |
2,753 |
2,540 |
|
Share premium reserve |
22 |
180,507 |
180,240 |
|
Share based payments reserve |
23 |
5,266 |
5,265 |
|
Retained deficit |
|
(60,197) |
(51,127) |
|
Convertible debt option reserve |
20 |
- |
- |
|
Other reserve |
22 |
29,535 |
29,535 |
|
Total equity attributable to equity holders of the parent company |
|
157,864 |
166,453 |
The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements.
These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 26 June 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
Eytan Uliel Iain McKendrick
Director Director
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Company Statement of Cash Flows
For the year ended 31 December 2023
|
|
Year ended 31 December 2023 $ 000's |
Year ended 31 December 2022 $ 000's |
|
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
(Loss)/Profit before taxation |
(9,070) |
1,330 |
|
Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables |
127 |
(540) |
|
Decrease in trade and other payables |
(155) |
(1,473) |
|
Depreciation (notes 11 and 12) |
12 |
35 |
|
Provision for doubtful/(recovery) of intercompany receivable |
(161) |
1,948 |
|
Impairment of investment in subsidiaries |
7,300 |
- |
|
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment |
35 |
- |
|
Share settled payments |
102 |
1,173 |
|
Other income |
- |
(6,639) |
|
Finance (income)/costs, net |
94 |
(1,735) |
|
Foreign exchange loss on operating activities |
(217) |
786 |
|
Share based payments (note 23) |
1 |
323 |
|
Net cash outflow from operating activities |
(1,932) |
(4,792) |
|
Cash flows from investing activities |
|
|
|
Payments to acquire tangible assets (note 11) |
(5) |
(9) |
|
Increase in restricted cash |
(1) |
(467) |
|
Proceeds from disposal of subsidiaries (note 14) |
1,900 |
- |
|
Advances to and payments on behalf of group companies (note 26) |
(1,750) |
(2,527) |
|
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities |
144 |
(3,003) |
|
Cash flows from financing activities |
|
|
|
Issue of ordinary share capital |
- |
9,114 |
|
Principle elements of lease payments (note 19) |
- |
(14) |
|
Payment of finance costs |
(6) |
(2) |
|
Proceeds of borrowings (note 20) |
636 |
- |
|
Repayment of borrowings (note 20) |
(432) |
- |
|
Net cash inflow from financing activities |
198 |
9,098 |
|
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(1,590) |
1,303 |
|
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
10 |
(43) |
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
2,174 |
914 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |
594 |
2,174 |
|
The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements. |
|
|
Statement of Changes in Equity - the Company
For the year ended 31 December 2023
|
|
Called up share capital $ 000's |
Share premium reserve $ 000's |
Share based payments reserve $ 000's |
Retained deficit $ 000's |
Convertible reserve $ 000's |
Other |
Total |
|
Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 January 2022 |
218 |
171,734 |
4,942 |
(52,457) |
114 |
29,535 |
154,086 |
|
Profit for the year |
- |
- |
- |
1,330 |
- |
- |
1,330 |
|
Total comprehensive expense |
- |
- |
- |
1,330 |
- |
- |
1,330 |
|
Share capital issued |
2,322 - |
8,506 - |
- - |
- - |
- (114) |
- - |
10,828 (114) |
|
Share based payments |
- |
- |
323 |
- |
- |
- |
323 |
|
Total contributions by |
2,322 |
8,506 |
323 |
- |
(114) |
- |
11,037 |
|
At 31 December 2022 |
2,540 |
180,240 |
5,265 |
(51,127) |
- |
29,535 |
166,453 |
|
Loss for the year |
- |
- |
- |
(9,070) |
- |
- |
(9,070) |
|
Total comprehensive expense |
- |
- |
- |
(9,070) |
- |
- |
(9,070) |
|
Share capital issued |
213 |
267 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
480 |
|
Share based payments |
- |
- |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
|
Total contributions by |
213 |
267 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
481 |
|
At 31 December 2023 |
2,753 |
180,507 |
5,266 |
(60,197) |
- |
29,535 |
157,864 |
|
Notes to the financial statements for the year
ended 31 December 2023
1 Summary of material accounting policies
1.01 General information and authorisation of financial statements
Challenger Energy Group PLC (the "Company") and its subsidiaries (together, the "Group") is the holders of several oil & gas
exploration and production licences located in Uruguay, Trinidad & Tobago and The Bahamas.
The Company is a limited liability company incorporated and domiciled in the Isle of Man. The address of its registered office is The Engine House, Alexandra Road, Castletown, Isle of Man IM9 1TG. The Company's review of operations and principal activities is set out in the Directors' Report. See note 13 to the financial statements for details of the Company's principal subsidiaries.
The accounting reference date of the Company is 31 December.
1.02 Statement of compliance with IFRS
The Group's financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The Company's financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Isle of Man Companies Acts 1931 to 2004. As permitted by part 1 Section 3(5) of the Isle of Man Companies Act 1982, the Company has elected not to present its own Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year. The principle accounting policies adopted by the Group and Company are set out below.
New standards, interpretations and amendments adopted without an impact on the Group's consolidated financial statements
Amendments to IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements and IFRS Practice Statement 2: Disclosure of Accounting policies require the disclosures of material accounting policies rather than significant accounting policies.
Amendments to IAS 8 Accounting policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors: Definition of Accounting Estimates replace the definition of change in accounting estimates with the definition of accounting estimates as monetary amounts subject to measurement uncertainty following accounting policies requirements.
Amendments to IAS 12 Income Taxes: Deferred Tax related to Assets and Liabilities arising from a Single Transaction clarify that the recognition exemption in paragraphs 15 and 24 of IAS 12 does not apply to transactions that, on initial recognition, give rise to equal taxable and deductible temporary differences.
Amendments to IAS 12 International Tax Reform - Pillar Two Model Rules introduce disclosure requirements related to pillar two income taxes. The Group is not in scope of the Pillar Two model rules as its revenue is less than 750 million Euros per year.
New and revised standards and interpretations not applied
Certain new accounting standards and interpretations have been published that are not mandatory for 31 December 2023 reporting period and have not been early adopted by the Group and the Company. These standards are not expected to have a material impact on the Group and the Company in the current or future reporting periods and on foreseeable future transactions.
1.03 Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, except for the measurement of certain assets and
financial instruments at fair value as described in the accounting policies below.
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, refer to note 1.29 for more details.
The financial statements are presented in United States Dollars ($) and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand dollars (