Keras Res Regulatory News (KRS)

24 June 2021

Keras Resources plc ('Keras' or the 'Company')

Interim Results

Keras Resources plc (AIM: KRS) announces its interim results for the six months ended 31 March 2021.

Highlights

Utah - Diamond Creek Phosphate Mine ("Diamond Creek") - one of the highest grade organic phosphate mines in the US, a fully integrated mine to market asset

· Diamond Creek milling plant currently being commissioned will produce premium organic phosphate products for sale into the North American organic fertiliser market

· Milling plant enables in-house production which will reduce operating costs

· 2020 mining season completed during October 2020 exceeding management's targets for stockpiling of feed material for the new milling plant

· 2021 mining season to begin during July 2021

· Marketing campaign will now be expanded to take into account additional sized products and increased capacity from the new processing plant - sales targets remain achievable and further guidance to be provided on 2021/2 schedule

· Granulator plant being shipped to the Spanish Fork processing site will further bolster our in-house beneficiation capacity and product range to include sized granulated organic fertiliser products

· 51% controlling interest secured in Diamond Creek with payment of the final tranche of the agreed US$2.5m loan to Falcon Isle Resources in December 2020

Togo - Nayéga Manganese Project, production ready on receipt of the exploitation permit

· Appointment of Mr Blaise Gozan as Country Manager who brings a range of international project management experience to bolster Keras's in-country presence

· Continuing to engage with Togolese authorities regarding the permitting of the Nayéga manganese project

Financial

· Successfully raised £550,000 and £1,000,000 (before expenses) in December 2020 and January 2021 respectively through new and existing investors - both placings were subscribed to and supported by the Directors

Russell Lamming, Keras Resources CEO commented, "Considerable progress has been made at our integrated Diamond Creek phosphate operation during the period. With the new milling plant constructed and commissioning underway we are now in a position to ramp up the marketing campaign for our premium organic phosphate products for sale into the North American fertiliser market. Having our own plant allows us to increase the amount of saleable product due to increased plant capacity and better control on the product split. This will be further accentuated with the construction of a downstream granulator plant which has been delayed due to the ongoing worldwide shipping container imbalance.

"We have one of the highest-grade organic phosphate mines in the US producing six different fully certified organic products. Our job now, in addition to mining and processing, is to create and cultivate our place in the burgeoning US organic phosphate industry and build our market share turning our initial customers into long-term sales partners. We can adapt our premium, higher-grade phosphate resources to deliver customised products for the specific needs of local soil, climate, and crops with the ultimate aim of generating higher crop yields for our customers.

"As noted, we are making significant in-roads in this respect, with 21 customers already on our books, however unlike selling direct into an established bulk commodity marketplace, building market share in the organic phosphate/fertiliser arena will take time. That said with our premium product already gaining traction we remain confident that this will be achieved.

"In Togo, we are delighted to welcome Blaise Gozan as Togo Country Manager. Blaise joins from Rio Tinto and will play a pivotal role in the progression of our manganese project in the country. As previously noted, we look forward to updating shareholders on the progress of the Exploitation Permit approval process.

"Finally, despite the many challenges experienced during the period, due to the ongoing Covid pandemic, travel restrictions and the knock-on effects this has had, when I look at our portfolio of assets, I remain more excited than ever for the future of Keras and would like to thank the team for their commitment and dedicated work, and our shareholders for their continued support."

The information contained within this Announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (as amended) as it forms part of the domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended). Upon the publication of this Announcement via the Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

For further information please visit www.kerasplc.com, follow us on Twitter @kerasplc or contact the following:

CHAIRMAN'S REVIEW

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

I am pleased to report on our activities over the past six months. The team in Utah has worked very hard on the installation of the milling plant for the Diamond Creek mine. This had its challenges but it is great to see the plant being commissioned. We now have the in-house capacity to produce a range of high quality products that we can tailor for customers and will now process the remainder of the run-of-mine ore from our 2020 mining season. The plant will also reduce our operating costs as no third-party tolling will be required going forward. Work will now focus on ensuring full road access and maintenance is complete so that we can commence our 2021 mining schedule. Production from our mining season is expected to commence in July and will run through to October.

Management has also continued to engage with the Togolese Authorities on the final permitting for the Nayéga manganese project in Togo and we are very pleased to welcome Blaise Gozan, previously employed by Rio Tinto in Canada, as Country Manager who further bolsters our presence and expertise in country and will continue to progress discussions on our behalf.

Diamond Creek Phosphate Mine (Diamond Creek) - Utah, US

Diamond Creek is a fully permitted, high grade organic phosphate mine and Keras now holds a 51% controlling interest having paid the final tranche of a US$2.5m loan to Falcon Isle Resources, the owner of the Diamond Creek mine, at the end of December 2020. Work throughout the period at Diamond Creek focussed on the installation of the milling plant at Spanish Fork, Utah, which is being commissioned during June 2021, and provides the in-house capacity to beneficiate products on site and sell a range of premium organic phosphates directly into the high demand US fertiliser markets. This capacity will be further enhanced once the granulator plant is brought online. Delivery had been delayed due to shipping container constraints but this is now en route to site and will be commissioned later this year. The 2020 mining campaign - when we can carry out our physical mining activities and produce our target run-of-mine tonnages for the year - was completed in October 2020 with a total of 7,620 ore tons extracted. As previously announced, we plan to mine 10,000 tons during the 2021 mining season commencing during July 2021 - to ensure that sufficient material is available for planned sales, while maintaining the phased increase to the Year 5 target of 48,000 tons of commercial production.

Sales from the 2020 mining campaign up to 31 March 2021 were 1,297 tons, and the year-to-date total sales are 2,483 tons, at an average sales price of $267 per ton, representing approximately 50% of forecast sales to 31 December 2021. To date we have sold six different products in both 1 ton and 50lb bags to 21 different customers with several repeat orders, all produced through toll treating agreements. The majority of the orders have been for testwork to benchmark our products against their current producers and with the recent commissioning of our milling plant in Spanish Fork we can now not only guarantee high grade products in North America but can also guarantee tonnages.

Falcon Isle Resources only became a Keras subsidiary on 31 December 2020, as such only the Q1 2021 sales (241 tons) are reported as Revenue in the Income Statement.

With the milling plant now in production, sales of our #100 and #350 mesh product will be our key focus as we increase our production and are now able to deliver products on demand. We expect our granulated products to be available for sale in the first quarter of 2022 to meet the new season's demand. Further improvements to the plant are envisaged in order to widen our product range, and the Company has ample funds in hand to finance its 51% share of the cost.

Nayéga Manganese Project - Togo

Management remains in close communication with the Togolese Ministry of Mines & Energy on the Exploitation Permit for the Nayéga Manganese Project and whilst this remains pending, we are very pleased to announce the appointment of Blaise Gozan as Togo Country Manager for Keras Resources Plc. Blaise is a Togolese national, and he joins the Company from Rio Tinto in Canada bringing a wealth of experience in mining and project management to this role. We look forward to updating shareholders on the Exploitation Permit when we have additional information to share.

Financial Review

The current financial period for Keras has been extended to 15 months and will end on 31 December 2021, enabling the accounts of all subsidiaries to terminate on the same date. As a result, Keras will publish a second interim statement for the six months ending 30 September 2021.

The loss for the six months to 31 March 2021 was £506,000 compared with £809,000 for the comparable period in 2020. As explained above there was no material revenue in the period, but increasing sales are expected to be reflected in the next interim statement to 30 September 2021.

Management was very pleased to complete two placings during the period through to the end of March 2021. These funds have in part been utilised to fund Falcon Isle Resources working capital requirements, and to finance our 51% of the plant expansion in Utah. In addition, they have allowed us to bolster our management team and to provide additional working capital. Our Directors all supported these placings, and we welcomed a number of new holders to our register.

Focus on Sustainability

We are aware of our responsibility as an employer and a mining company and we are committed to upholding best practice across our business. We care about all our stakeholders and are focused on looking to create value and benefits for all whilst seeking to manage and mitigate the potential impacts that our operations may have. Our assets are diverse in commodity and location but have important similarities - mining essential resources that can contribute to a more sustainable future, running simple operations with minimal processing requirements and looking to maintain a low carbon footprint. We are focused on meeting our commitments across the ESG space and will continue to be proactive in this area as we look to develop and sustain a positive legacy.

Looking Forward

There was a range of challenges experienced during the period, notably the ongoing travel and quarantine restrictions due to the Covid pandemic which limited interactions between the business units and stopped key consultants and original equipment manufacturers from travelling and the knock-on effects resulting in the global imbalance of shipping containers, but we look forward to the coming months. Mining will be underway in Utah soon and we will continue to process and sell premium organic phosphate from Diamond Creek whilst we also pursue the Exploitation Permit in Togo. Whilst securing the final grant has continued to take time, we remain confident in the process and continue to work hard to look to unlock this.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the rest of the board and management for their ongoing hard work and shareholders for their continuing support.

Brian Moritz

Chairman

23 June 2021

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 MARCH 2021

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2020

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (CONTINUED) FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

1. Reporting entity

Keras Resources plc (the "Company") is a company domiciled in England and Wales. The condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the Company as at and for the six months ended 31 March 2021 comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the "Group") and the Group's interests in associates and jointly controlled entities. The Group currently operates as an explorer and developer.

2. Basis of preparation

(a) Statement of compliance

This condensed consolidated interim financial report has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting. Selected explanatory notes are included to explain events and transactions that are significant to an understanding of the changes in financial performance and position of the Group since the last annual consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended 30 September 2020. This condensed consolidated interim financial report does not include all the information required for full annual financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.

This condensed consolidated interim financial report was approved by the Board of Directors on 23 June 2021.

(b) Judgements and estimates

Preparing the interim financial report requires Management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expense. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

In preparing this condensed consolidated interim financial report, significant judgements made by Management in applying the Group's accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty were the same as those that applied to the consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended 30 September 2020.

3. Significant accounting policies

The accounting policies applied by the Group in this condensed consolidated interim financial report are the same as those applied by the Group in its consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended 30 September 2020.

4. Financial instruments

Financial risk management

The Group's financial risk management objectives and policies are consistent with those disclosed in the consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended 30 September 2020.

5. Segment information

The Group considers that it operates in two distinct business areas, manganese mining in West Africa and phosphate mining in Utah, USA. These business areas form the basis of the Group's operating segments. For each segment, the Group's Managing Director (the chief operating decision maker) reviews internal management reports on at least a quarterly basis.

Other operations relate to the group's administrative functions conducted at its head office and by its intermediate holding company together with consolidation adjustments.

Information regarding the results of each reportable segment is included below. Performance is measured based on segment profit before tax, as included in the internal management reports that are reviewed by the Group's Managing Director. Segment results are used to measure performance as Management believes such information is the most relevant in evaluating the performance of certain segments relative to other entities that operate within the exploration industry.

For the six months ended 31 March 2021 (unaudited)

For the six months ended 31 March 2021 (unaudited)

6. Seasonality of operations

The Group is not considered to be subject to seasonal fluctuations.

7. Intangible assets

Intangible assets comprise the fair value of prospecting and exploration rights.

8. Property, plant and equipment

Acquisitions and disposals

During the six months ended 31 March 2021 the Group acquired assets with a cost of £263,000 (six months ended 31 March 2020: £nil, twelve months ended 30 September 2020: £nil).

Assets with a carrying amount of £nil were disposed of during the six months ended 31 March 2021 (six months ended 31 March 2019: £nil; twelve months ended 30 September 2020: £nil), resulting in a loss on disposal of £nil (six months ended 31 March 2019: £nil; twelve months ended 30 September 2020: £nil), which is included in 'administrative expenses' in the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

9. Investments

The interest in Falcon Isle was acquired for nominal consideration under a binding heads of terms dated 28 July 2020. Under this agreement the Company agreed to provide US$2.5m in loans to Falcon Isle payable in agreed tranches. Falcon Isle is the 100% owner of the Diamond Creek phosphate mine located in in Utah (USA) which is a fully permitted, high grade direct shipping ore organic phosphate operating mine.

At 30 September 2020 the Company had advanced US$1.9m to Falcon Isle, resulting in an equity interest of 40% and bringing the cost of the investment in the associate to £1,626,000.

On 31 December 2020 the Company advanced the balance of $0.6m and its equity interest has increased to 51%.

The initial acquisitions were accounted for under the equity method of accounting but upon achieving control on 31 December 2020, the acquisition method of accounting has been applied.

The details of the business combination are as follows: