UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549


FORM 8-K


CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                            Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): August 31, 2007 (September 4, 2007)

Magellan Petroleum Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

                1-5507                                                                                06-0842255
                        (Commission File Number)                                                                  IRS Employer Identification No.)


                        10 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT                                                                                                06106
                        (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                                                                                         (Zip Code)

860-293-2006
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

þ                 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o                 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o                 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o                 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 
 
 
 


 

Table of Contents
 
 
 
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition
 Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
 SIGNATURES
 EXHIBIT INDEX
 EX-99.1: COMPANY RELEASE
 
 
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Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Conditions
 
    On August 30, 2007, Magellan Petroleum Corporation (the "Company") filed with the Australian Securities and investments Commission and Australian Stock Exchange  ("ASX) in Australia a release and a report of preliminary, unaudited financail information with respect to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007on Appendix 4E, in accordance with ASX rules & regulations.
 
    Copies of the Company's release and Appendex 4E report dated September 4, 2007 are furnished herewith as Exhibits 99.01 and are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 9.01 Financial Statement and Exhibit 
 
    The following documents are furnished together as an Exibit pursuant to Item 2.02 hereof:
 
        (c) Exhibits
 
99.01 Company release and attached Appendix 4E filing of the Company, dated September 4, 2007  
 
 
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SIGNATURES
 
 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the unsigned, hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
                                MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION
 
 
                                By: /s/ Daniel J. Samela
                                    Name:  Daniel J. Samela
                                    Title:     President, Chief Executive Officer 
 
Dated: September 4, 2007
 
 
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Exhibit No.                         Description                                                                                              Page No.        
99.1              Company release and attached Appendex 4E fining of the Company, dated September 4, 2007.                             6
 
 
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MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION PROFIT REPORT
For the Year Ended June 30, 2007
(Dollars quoted are US$)

Magellan Petroleum Corporation recorded net income of $670,000 for the year ended June 30, 2007, compared to $749,000 for the previous fiscal year.

Revenues were up for the year by $4.1 million or 15.5%.

Oil sales increased approximately $1.3 million due to an increase in sales volume offset by a decrease in prices. Sales volume from the Nockatunga and Mereenie fields increased by 30,139 barrels, which was offset by a decrease in the Cooper Basin sales of 5,439 barrels.

Gas sales were up $2.3 million over 2006. This was essentially due to a 5% increase in sales to 5.988 Bcf in 2007 from 5.726 Bcf in 2006 and a 7% increase in the average price per MCF of A$3.24 in 2007 from A$3.04 in 2006.

Total costs and expenses increased $6.3 million over 2006 to $30 million.

Production costs decreased $1.2 million to $7 million in 2007. This was primarily due to expenditures for the Mereenie workover program which was completed in 2006.

Exploration and dry hole costs increased approximately $2.3 million to $5.5 million in 2007. The primary reason for the increase in 2007 was the higher drilling costs related to the Cooper Basin drilling program.

Depletion, depreciation and amortization increased $4.4 million to $10.7 million in 2007.  This increase was mostly due to depletion of the higher book value of MPAL’s oil and gas properties acquired during fiscal 2006, increased depletion in the Nockatunga project due to increased production and capitalized costs and increased depreciation on revised asset retirement obligations.

Auditing, accounting and legal expenses increased $230,000 in 2007 primarily because of increased legal fees related to the Australian Tax Office (ATO) audit (see Item 12) and required filings with the Australian stock exchange.  In addition, audit costs were higher in 2007 because of certain 2006 audit costs recorded in 2007.

Accretion expense increased $93,000 to $518,000 in 2007.  This was due mostly to accretion of the revised asset retirement obligations recorded in fiscal 2006.

There were no asset retirement settlement losses recorded in 2007. During the third quarter of 2006, the Company recorded an asset retirement settlement loss of $445,000 related to the Mereenie field.

An impairment loss of $984,000 was recorded in 2007 relating to the decreased value of the Kiana field in the Cooper Basin.  The net book value of the Kiana oil and gas property was written down to its future estimated discounted cash flow.

Other administrative expenses decreased $139,000 to $2.7 million in 2007 primarily due to a non-cash charge for directors’ stock option expense ($365,539) recorded in 2006 partially offset by increased directors fees ($32,778), insurance ($58,468) and office rent ($75,710) in 2007.

Further details are provided in the Preliminary Final Report to the Australian Stock Exchange, a copy of which is attached.

For further information, please contact Daniel Samela at (860) 293-2006.
 
 
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MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION
ARBN 117 452 454
 
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
Hartford Square North
10 Columbus Blvd – 10th Floor
HARTFORD CT 06106, USA
TELEPHONE (+1) 860 293 2006
FACSIMILE (+1) 860 293 2349
WEBSITE www.magpet.com



 
Rules 4.3A
 
Appendix 4E

 
Preliminary Final Report
 


Name of entity
MAGELLAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION

ABN
       
Financial Year Ended (‘Current Period’)
 
 
1.
     
117 452 454
 
30 June 2007
               
 
2.         Results for Announcement to the Market
 
$US'000
2.1           Revenues from Ordinary Activities
up
15%
to
30,675
         
2.2Profit from Ordinary Activities after Income Tax attributable to Members
down
11%
to
670
 
2.3Net Profit for the period attributable to Members
down
11%
to
670
         
2.4Dividends (distributions)
Amount per security
Franked amount per security
Final dividend
N/A
N/A
Interim dividend
N/A
N/A
   
2.5Record date for determining entitlements to the dividend,
(in the case of a trust, distribution)
N/A
 
   
2.6Brief explanation of any of the figures in ‘For Announcement to the Market’ section necessary to enable the figures to be understood:
 
 
 
 
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3. Consolidated Statement of Financial Performance for the Financial Year Ended 30 June


             
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
Unaudited
       
Revenues:
           
Oil sales
  $
11,922,574
    $
10,615,761
 
Gas sales
   
16,396,334
     
14,060,968
 
Other production related revenues
   
2,356,317
     
1,885,706
 
Total revenues
   
30,675,225
     
26,562,435
 
Costs and expenses:
               
Production costs
   
6,965,641
     
8,220,013
 
Exploratory and dry hole costs
   
5,520,460
     
3,264,837
 
Salaries and employee benefits
   
1,549,277
     
1,448,004
 
Depletion, depreciation and amortization
   
10,693,415
     
6,308,608
 
Auditing, accounting and legal services
   
628,114
     
398,514
 
Accretion expense
   
517,856
     
425,254
 
Shareholder communications
   
459,298
     
449,561
 
Loss on settlement of asset retirement obligation
   
     
444,566
 
Gain on sale of field equipment
    (10,346 )     (119,445 )
Impairment loss
   
984,171
     
 
Other administrative expenses
   
2,656,615
     
2,795,387
 
Total costs and expenses
   
29,964,501
     
23,635,299
 
Operating income
   
710,724
     
2,927,136
 
Interest income
   
1,669,798
     
1,268,641
 
Income before income taxes and minority interests
   
2,380,522
     
4,195,777
 
Income tax expense
   
1,710,974
     
1,678,980
 
Income before minority interests
   
669,548
     
2,516,797
 
Minority interests
   
      (1,768,023 )
Net income
  $
669,548
    $
748,774
 
Average number of shares:
               
Basic
   
41,500,325
     
28,353,463
 
Diluted
   
41,500,325
     
28,453,270
 
Per share (basic and diluted) Net income
  $
.02
    $
.03
 

Notes to the financial statements will be contained in Item 8 of the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007.
 
 
 
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4.         Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as at 30 June


   
June 30,
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
Unaudited
       
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $
29,113,271
    $
21,882,882
 
Accounts receivable — Trade
   
1,994,376
     
4,809,051
 
Accounts receivable — Working Interest Partners
   
     
413,786
 
Marketable securities
   
2,242,909
     
539,675
 
Inventories
   
702,356
     
734,887
 
Other assets
   
337,805
     
317,496
 
Total current assets
   
34,390,717
     
28,697,777
 
Deferred income taxes
   
2,525,881
     
1,129,719
 
Marketable securities
   
1,400,000
     
 
 
Property and equipment, net:
               
Oil and gas properties (successful efforts method)
   
112,499,389
     
87,831,709
 
Land, buildings and equipment
   
2,846,433
     
2,448,790
 
Field equipment
   
912,396
     
789,921
 
     
116,258,218
     
91,070,420
 
Less accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization
    (84,172,522 )     (63,287,726 )
Net property and equipment
   
32,085,696
     
27,782,694
 
Intangible exploration rights
   
5,323,347
     
5,323,347
 
Goodwill
   
5,086,301
     
5,646,747
 
Total assets
  $
80,811,942
    $
68,580,284
 
                 
LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTERESTS AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $
2,130,234
    $
1,856,515
 
Accounts payable-working interest partners
   
179,132
     
 
Accrued liabilities
   
1,482,898
     
1,919,739
 
Income taxes payable
   
1,647,137
     
101,746
 
Total current liabilities
   
5,439,401
     
3,878,000
 
Long term liabilities:
               
Deferred income taxes
   
1,716,102
     
1,435,583
 
Asset retirement obligations
   
9,456,088
     
7,147,261
 
Total long term liabilities
   
11,172,190
     
8,582,844
 
Commitments
   
     
 
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Common stock, par value $.01 per share:
               
Authorized 200,000,000 shares Outstanding 41,500,325 and 41,500,138
   
415,001
     
415,001
 
Capital in excess of par value
   
73,153,002
     
73,145,577
 
Total capital
   
73,568,003
     
73,560,578
 
Accumulated deficit
    (13,743,140 )     (14,412,688 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
4,375,488
      (3,028,450 )
Total stockholders’ equity
   
64,200,351
     
56,119,440
 
Total liabilities, minority interests and stockholders’ equity
  $
80,811,942
    $
68,580,284
 
                 
Notes to the financial statements will be contained in Item 8 of the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007.
 
 
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 5.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the Financial Year Ended 30 June

 
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
Unaudited
       
Operating Activities:
           
Net income
  $
669,548
    $
748,774
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Gain from sale of field equipment
    (10,346 )     (119,445 )
Depletion, depreciation and amortization
   
10,693,415
     
6,308,608
 
Accretion expense
   
517,856
     
425,254
 
Deferred income taxes
    (940,104 )     (157,300 )
Director’s options expense
   
7,425
     
375,439
 
Minority interests
   
     
1,768,023
 
Exploration and dry hole costs
   
4,871,865
     
2,997,026
 
Loss on settlement of asset retirement obligation
   
     
444,566
 
Impairment loss
   
984,171
     
 
Increase (decrease) in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
   
3,289,598
      (774,696 )
Other assets
    (20,309 )    
209,207
 
Inventories
   
143,951
      (170,664 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    (509,665 )     (368,724 )
Income taxes payable
   
1,426,310
     
74,416
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
21,123,715
     
11,760,484
 
Investing Activities:
               
Additions to property and equipment
    (9,461,909 )     (5,694,791 )
Proceeds from sale of field equipment
   
10,346
     
119,445
 
Oil and gas exploration activities
    (4,871,865 )     (2,997,026 )
Acquisition of minority interest in MPAL
    (88,432 )     (3,630,374 )
Marketable securities matured
   
1,855,609
     
5,044,574
 
Marketable securities purchased
    (4,958,843 )     (2,367,707 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (17,515,094 )     (9,525,879 )
Financing Activities:
               
Dividends to MPAL minority shareholders
   
      (765,641 )
Net cash used in financing activities
   
      (765,641 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
   
3,621,768
      (1,319,457 )
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
   
7,230,389
     
149,507
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
   
21,882,882
     
21,733,375
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $
29,113,271
    $
21,882,882
 
Cash Payments:
               
Income taxes
   
1,441,326
     
1,773,727
 
Interest
   
     
 

For 2006, non-cash charges to oil & gas properties ($4,336,896), intangible exploration rights ($5,323,347), goodwill
($7,243,751), deferred tax liabilities ($2,898,073), minority interests ($18,583,046) and equity ($28,601,582) resulted from
the acquisition of the minority MPAL shares.

In addition, non-cash asset retirement obligations increased as a result of a revision in estimates by $1,667,877 in 2006.



Notes to the financial statements will be contained in Item 8 of the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007.

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6.         Dividends

No dividends paid

7.         Details of Dividend or Distribution Reinvestment Scheme

   N/A

8.         Consolidated Accumulated Deficit
 


June 30, 2006
  $ (14,412,688 )
Net income
   
669,548
 
June 30, 2007
  $ (13,743,140 )


9.         Net Tangible Assets per Security

Not required

10.      Control Gained over Entities having Material Effect

N/A

Loss of Control of Entities having Material Effect

N/A

11.      Details of Associate and Joint Venture Entities

N/A

12.       Other Significant Information

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 is an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 “Accounting for Income Taxes” and must be adopted by the Company July 1, 2007. FIN 48 prescribes a comprehensive model for recognizing, measuring, presenting, and disclosing in the financial statements uncertain tax positions that the company has taken or expects to take in its tax returns.  Under FIN 48, the Company is able to recognize a tax position based on whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position.  In evaluating whether a tax position has met the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Company has presumed that its positions will be examined by the appropriate taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information.  The second step of FIN 48 adoption is measurement. A tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements.  The tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it does not meet the more-likely-than-not threshold.


MPAL, the Company’s wholly-owned Australian subsidiary, has been notified that the Australian Taxation Office (“ATO”) is conducting an audit of the Australian income tax returns of MPAL and its wholly owned subsidiaries for the years 1997- 2005. The ATO inquiry is focused on certain income tax deductions claimed by Paroo Petroleum Pty. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MPAL. MPAL has been and will continue to cooperate with the ATO’s inquiry, has retained the services of experienced Australian tax counsel and will also be represented by its Australian tax advisors. MPAL was previously advised to expect to receive a position paper from the ATO setting forth the ATO’s position with respect to these previous deductions.  However, as of June 30, 2007 and the date of filing hereof, MPAL has not received the ATO’s position paper.  As a result, the Company is unable at this time to determine whether an assessment will result from the ATO’s audit or the magnitude of any possible assessment, if any such assessment is issued.  However, the Company believes that if an assessment is issued by the ATO and if such assessment is upheld, it could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.   Regardless of the receipt of the position paper, pursuant to the requirements of FIN 48 discussed above, the Company is currently reviewing what amounts related to the ATO tax matter will be disclosed in the Company’s financial statements and footnotes for its annual report on Form 10-K (to be filed with the SEC and the ASX on or before September 28, 2007) and what amounts, if any, related to the ATO tax matter will be recorded in the Company’s financial statements upon the Company’s adoption of FIN 48 as of July 1, 2007, when the Company files its quarterly results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008.   As of June 30, 2007, the Company is currently evaluating its remaining tax positions and management does not believe that the remaining tax positions will have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
 
11

13.       Accounting Standards for Foreign Entities

US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

14.           Commentary on Results for the Period

See attached Media Release.

15.
Impact of Adopting Australian Equivalents to IFRS

 
  N/A

16.  Audited Accounts

This Report is based on accounts which are in the process of being audited.


17.           Likely Dispute or Qualification

N/A


Date:     _August 31,2007________________________________
 
      By:   /s/ Daniel J. Samela                                                                     
                 Daniel J. Samela
               President, Chief Executive Officer and
               Chief Accounting and Financial Officer