APCO OIL AND GAS INTERNATIONAL INC. ARGENTINA BRANCH
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF APRIL 3, 2018, DECEMBER 31, 2017 AND JANUARY 1, 2017 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1, 2018 TO APRIL 3, 2018
AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017
(In thousands of U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise specified)
an operator at that time) for the years 2009, 2010 and 2011. The Company sold its participation in this concession at the end of 2010.
The D.G.R. has argued that the concession owed additional tariff in the amount of ARS 4,384,201 (approximately 218 at the exchange rate in force as of April 3, 2018). In this determination, the D.G.R. did not consider that certain portions of the original surface of the concession area were reverted to the province during the years 2009 and 2010.
Therefore, the Company, considering the opinion of their legal counsel, considers that the claim has no basis, and that the exploration tariff originally paid was correct. However, the appeal before the Ministry of Economy and Public Credit of the Province of Chubut was rejected. Subsequently, several actions were initiated at the provincial and national levels to continue appealing the claim of the D.G.R.
In March 2015, the Company (as an Operator of the joint operation) paid the claim as a mandatory requirement to continue advancing in the judicial system. As a result, the Company filed the claim before the Superior Court of Justice of Chubut. In May 2017, said court issued a decision concluding its lack of jurisdiction, arguing that the Company had not initiated the corresponding legal challenge. As of the date of issuance of these financial statements, the aforementioned challenge action is in process and if it is resolved in favor of the Company, it will allow the subsequent action to have the fee paid returned to it. As of April 3, 2018, December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2017, the Company had not recognized any receivable.
On the other hand, in October 2014, the Provincial Government of Chubut approved the reversals to the province made by the Company in 2009 and 2010. This approval became effective in April 2013 and the DGR understood that the join operation should also pay the additional exploration fees for the years 2012 and 2013, generating another claim from the DGR.
On August 28, 2016, APCO and Roch S.A. filed a complaint challenging Provincial Decree No. 1,191/14 whereby the Governor of the Province accepted the reversion on April 23, 2013 and ordered the DGR to revalue the exploration tariffs at that date. The claim was filed with the Supreme Court of Justice of the Province of Chubut (“STJ”).
APCO and Roch S.A. requested, as a precautionary measure, the suspension of all the effects of Decree No. 1,191/14 and the aggregation of this proceeding with the one in place before the STJ for contesting the exploration tariffs for the 2009-2011 periods. The lawsuit seeks to revoke the effects of Decree No. 1,191 / 14. In the event that the STJ revokes the Decree, this resolution will have effects on the law suit initiated for the 2009-2011 tariffs, now completed, and on the administrative record for the 2012-2013 tariffs. On February 2, 2017, the requested precautionary measure was rejected, without costs.
On February 2, 2018, the Company filed a brief with the STJ requesting the resolution of the case. On March 12, 2018, the Attorney General issued his opinion, under which he considers that the claim must be rejected. As of the date of these financial statements, the Company is awaiting resolution of this matter.
As of April 3, 2018, December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2017, the amounts corresponding to this claim amounted to ARS 2,814 thousands (US$ 140), ARS 2,814 thousands (US$ 151) and ARS 2,381 thousands (US$ 150), respectively, for the year 2012, and ARS 429 thousands (US$ 22), ARS 429 thousands (US$ 23) and
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