BRD.L Regulatory News (BRD)

30 September 2015

BLUEROCK DIAMONDS PLC

("BlueRock" or the "Company")

Interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2015

Introduction

BlueRock Diamonds (AIM: BRD) is pleased to announce its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2015. The interims will be available [today] for download from www.bluerockdiamonds.co.uk.

Chairman's Statement

I am pleased to report that we have made considerable progress since the beginning of the period and we outline below our expansion and funding plans for BlueRock.

New plant

As reported in earlier announcements, our new plant began operating in May 2015. Following the expected running in period and initial problems with the VSI crusher, we began operating at planned capacity (80 tonnes an hour) at the end of July 2015. In total we have invested approximately £320,000 in new machinery for the new plant, some of which was acquired in 2014.

Processing results

We have begun by processing the ground stockpiled during the time that the old plant was closed and the new plant was being established and commissioned.

Since the new plant began operating we have produced 607 carats at an average of 2 carats per hundred tonnes. Initially, the results from the new plant were at the expected grade, but since we have begun to process an older stock pile, which contains a mixture of ground excavated from various levels including top level calcrete up to 22m depth, recovery grades have been much lower. These recent results have been lower than we would have hoped, but variability is to be expected at relatively low levels of production and Z*, which acts as our competent person, has confirmed to us that the variability we have experienced is consistent with the findings contained in their Competent Person Report prepared at the time of admission to AIM in August 2013 ("CPR").

However, whilst results are within the expected variability of our deposit it is clear that our current stock pile is of lower than expected average grade and not economic to process at this stage on its own. We have recently processed 170 tonnes of material which we had previously liberated at a level below 22m and achieved grades in excess of the expected average 5c/ht.

Update from Z*

We asked Z* to review its findings based on the production from the new plant up until the end of August as the mine has now produced in excess of 1,000 carats. In general the results obtained since the new plant was in operation support the CPR. However, it was noted that a) fewer fine diamonds (smaller stones) were being recovered by the new plant and b) there is still significant variability at the coarser end of the sample which is largely due to the relatively small parcel sizes that we have produced so far. In relation to a) we have recently installed a tailings audit plant at the mine to assess on a continuous basis our tailings to ensure that we are not losing a material amount of the smaller diamonds, although these, in any event will not contribute significantly to overall revenues. In relation to b) It will only be possible to fine tune these findings as production levels increase.

Z* have amended their revenue estimate to USD232 per carat. This compares to the original estimate in the CPR of USD 183 per carat and the updated estimate of USD 242 in 2014. Given the variability in quality at the coarser end, Z*continue to classify their revenue estimate as inferred and we will seek a further update from Z* once production has reached an appropriate level.

Subcontracting Agreement

We have reached agreement, subject to contract, with Diacar Mining and Plant Hire (Pty) (Diacar) Limited to act as our subcontractor. Under the terms of this agreement Diacar will establish a second processing plant at the Kareevlei site at Diacar's cost in order to process kimberlite of over 70mm in size ("Oversize Material"). Diacar is required to process Oversize Material (>70mm), which we currently do not have the machinery to process, at a rate of over 40 tonnes an hour.

The agreement is for a period of five years although it is reviewable by BlueRock on an annual basis based on the performance of Diacar in the preceding 12 months. Under the terms of the agreement Diacar is responsible for all costs other than the mining of the Oversize Material and diesel. Diacar is responsible for producing concentrate to be sorted by BlueRock.

BlueRock retains ownership of and is responsible for the marketing of all diamonds recovered from the concentrate. Bluerock is entitled to 60% of all revenues arising from the Diacar operations net of licence fee, taxes and selling costs.

This agreement will enable us to increase production at no capital investment cost. It is expected that once Diacar is fully operational this will effectively double our processing throughput.

Future plans and funding

Now that we have our new plant operational, we want to maximise our production levels. By subcontracting the Oversize material to Diacar we expect to double our throughput and, therefore, in order to supply kimberlite to our operations and Diacar's we will need to embark on a more aggressive drilling, blasting and excavation programme in K1 and K2 to ensure that not only do we have sufficient head feed material for both operations but also to ensure that we process the kimberlite at lower levels, which we expect to be of a higher grade. The board has decided that it is currently uneconomic to process the existing stockpile and it will be blended with higher grade material from lower in the pit.

We also anticipate that in the near future that we and our subcontractor will move to a double shift hence quadrupling throughput from its current levels, which will require us to further expedite our drilling and blasting programme.

We have always operated BlueRock on a very limited budget in order to maximise returns to shareholders. The low levels of recovery that we have experienced recently have significantly depleted our cash resources. Accordingly, in the interests of ensuring that we have certainty over funding to enable us to continue operations and to implement our expansion plans, the Board intends to extend by £400,000 the convertible loan note ("CLN") entered into last year with Mark Poole, this remains subject to executing final documentation and is expected to be announced shortly as a related party transaction.

The CLN expires on 16 October 2019, carry a zero coupon and are not listed and benefit from a charge over the Company's interest in Kareevlei Mining (Pty) Limited ("Kareevlei Mining"). If the Company disposes of its interest in Kareevlei Mining then the charge will be released subject to early repayment of the Convertible Loan Notes at a premium of 20%. The Convertible Loan Notes will be convertible a) at the holder's option at any time up to the end of the term into ordinary shares of 1 pence each in the capital of the Company ("Ordinary Shares") at a conversion price (the "Conversion Price") of 11 pence; and b) at the Company's option after the second anniversary of initial subscription provided that the one month volume weighted average price of the Company's Ordinary Shares is in excess of 120% of the Conversion Price and that the closing mid-market price on the date prior to the Company opting to convert exceeds 120% of the Conversion Price.

Following the expected extension of the CLN by £400,000 the amount outstanding will be £850,000.

Further drilling and blasting is scheduled to start on Monday 5 October and we expect that BlueRock and the Diacar plant will be processing lower level kimberlite by the end of October 2015.

I look forward to providing a further update later on this year.

Paul Beck

Non-executive Chairman

Enquiries:BlueRock Diamonds plcRiaan Visser, CEOwww.bluerockdiamonds.co.uk 

+27 (0) 84 431 0118

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP

Nominated Adviser & BrokerDavid Facey/Stuart Gledhill

+44 (0) 20 3470 0470

John Kilham, Chief Technical Officer of BlueRock Diamonds plc, has reviewed this announcement and the information contained herein for the purposes of the Note for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies issued by the London Stock Exchange in June 2009. Mr Kilham is a member of the Geological Society of South Africa, a certified professional of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) and is qualified as a competent person. He holds a Master's degree in Geology, has dual South African and British nationality and is based in Kimberley, South Africa.

CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 30 JUNE 2015

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

1. General information and basis of preparation

The condensed interim consolidated financial statements (the "interim financial statements") are for the six month period ended 30 June 2015.

These interim financial statements have not been audited nor have they been reviewed by the auditors under ISRE 2410 of the Auditing Practices Board. The financial information set out in this report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined by the Companies Act 2006. The comparative figures for the year ended 31 December 2014 were derived from the statutory accounts for the year to 31 December 2014 which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. Those accounts received an unqualified audit report which did not contain statements under sections 498(2) or (3) (accounting records or returns inadequate, accounts not agreeing with records and returns or failure to obtain necessary information and explanations) of the Companies Act 2006.

The interim financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the December 2014 financial statements of BlueRock Diamonds Plc and on a going concern basis. They are presented in sterling which is also the functional currency of the parent company. They do not include all of the information required in annual financial statements in accordance with IFRS and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Group for the period ended 31 December 2014.

BlueRock Diamonds PLC ("BlueRock") is the Group's ultimate parent company. The ordinary shares of BlueRock Diamonds PLC are quoted on the AIM Market and the address of the registered office is 4th Floor, Reading Bridge House, George Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 8LS.

The interim financial statements have been approved for issue by the Board of Directors on [28] September 2015.

2. Accounting policies

The interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies adopted in the Group's most recent annual financial statements for the period ended 31 December 2014 except for the application of new mandatory standards listed below.

There have been no standards, amendments or interpretations issued which are relevant or effective in these financial statements.

Standards, amendments and interpretations which are effective for reporting periods beginning after the date of these financial statements which have not been adopted early:

The implementation of these standards is not expected to have a material effect on the Group.

3. Estimates

In the application of the Group's accounting policies the Directors are required to make estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The judgements, estimates and assumptions applied in the interim financial statements including the key sources of estimation uncertainty were the same as those applied in the financial statements for the period ended 31 December 2014.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

4. Significant events and transactions

During the period, Kareevlei Mining's new plant began operating in May 2015 and following a running in period was at planned capacity at the end of July 2015.

The low levels of recovery experienced recently have significantly depleted the Group cash resources. Accordingly, in the interests of ensuring certainty over funding to enable continued operations and to implement expansion plans, the Board of Directors of Bluerock intends to extend by £400,000 the convertible loan note ("CLN") entered into last year with one of its shareholders.

The group also intends to enter into a subcontracting agreement with Diacar Mining and Plant Hire PTY (Diacar) who will establish a second processing plant at the Kareevlei site which will eventually double the mine processing throughput.

5. Property, plant and equipment

Reconciliation of property, plant and equipment

6. Inventories

7. Trade and other receivables

The carrying value of all trade and other receivables is considered a reasonable approximation of fair value.

8. Cash and cash equivalents

9. Share based payments

The Directors were granted Share Options under the Share Option Agreements dated 19 August 2013, conditional upon admission to AIM. The Share Options were divided into three equal portions of Ordinary Shares, each amounting to one third of the total number of Share Options, to which differing exercise prices are applied. On 30 September 2014, the Company amended the conversion terms of the options granted to Riaan Visser and John Kilham such that the option exercise prices were reduced to 14 pence (Tranche 1), 22 pence (Tranche 2) and 40 pence (Tranche 3). No other changes were made to the terms of the share options.

The share options held by each Director as at 30 June 2015 and the exercise prices were as follows:

Options are valued at date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value per option of options granted during the period and the assumptions used in the calculation are shown below:

Share options in issue at the period-end under the various schemes are personal to the Option Holder and are not transferable, or assignable. They shall not be exercisable on or after the fifth anniversary of the grant date.

On 27 July 2015, Paul Beck exercised 157,625 share options at an exercise price of 18 pence per Ordinary Share and Riaan Visser exercised 450,000 share options at an exercise price of 14 pence per Ordinary Share.

Following the exercise of the above options, as at the date of this report the Company has the following share options in issue, exercisable until 4 September 2018:

There was no charge recorded for the period relating to share based payments on the grounds of materiality.

10. Share capital and share premium

11. Trade and other payables

The carrying value of all trade and other payables is considered a reasonable approximation of fair value.

12. Borrowings

13. Provisions

The provision was initially calculated by the surveyor employed by the previous owner of the Kareevlei tenements prior to the Group purchase. This calculation was submitted and accepted by DMR.

During the period, the subsidiary submitted a new calculation to DMR for approval taking into account the specificities of the Group mining operations.

14. EPS (Earnings per share)

Share options granted to directors could potentially dilute EPS in the future but are not included in a dilutive EPS calculation because they are antidilutive for the period.