12 Apr 2017 07:00
Minco Plc - Audited Financial Results 2016
Dublin, 12 April 2017 - Minco Plc (AIM-"MIO") (the "Company"), is pleased to announce that its Audited Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended 31 December 2016 have been published and filed on SEDAR and will be posted to shareholders.
Copies of these documents are available on the Company's website www.mincoplc.com or under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and will also be available on request for one month from 12 April, 2017, free of charge, from the Company's registered office at 27 Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
In his Chairman's Letter to Shareholders, John F. Kearney Chairman & Chief Executive, said:
"Sale of Curraghinalt Royalty
On 21 March, 2017, Minco announced that it is in discussions with Dalradian Resources Inc. regarding the possible disposal of its 2% net smelter return royalty on the Curraghinalt gold deposit (the "Royalty Disposal") in return for the issue of a total of 15,490,666 new Dalradian Shares valued at C$20,000,000, in total, based on the volume weighted average price of Dalradian shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the five trading day period ending on the day prior to 21 March, 2017.
It is proposed that the Royalty Disposal would be structured as an offer by Dalradian for the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Minco (the "Possible Offer"). It is intended that the Possible Offer would be implemented by means of a scheme of arrangement, under Section 450 of the Companies Act 2014 of Ireland ("Scheme"). As part of the Scheme, it is proposed that Minco would undertake a demerger of its wholly owned subsidiary Buchans Resources Limited ("Buchans"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Minco, by way of a transfer in specie of the shares of Buchans to Minco Shareholders (the "Demerger").
Following the Demerger Minco shareholders would be issued 11,618,000 new Dalradian Shares which would represent 75% of the total shares to be issued by Dalradian in connection with the Royalty Disposal. The balance of 3,872,666 new Dalradian Shares, being 25% of the total, would be issued directly to Buchans, which would then be wholly owned by Minco Shareholders.
FINANCIAL RESULTS 2016
For the year ended 31 December, 2016, Minco recorded a loss of US$775,000 compared to a loss of US$118,000 for the same period ended 31 December, 2015. The loss for the year ended 31 December, 2016 included an income tax expense of US$87,000, and a foreign exchange gain of US$16,000, compared to a foreign exchange gain of US$648,000 for the same period ended 31 December, 2015.
During the year ended 31 December, 2016 Minco invested US$831,000 on exploration of its mineral properties, of which the largest amounts were expended on the Buchans zinc lead project in central Newfoundland.
At 31 December, 2016, Minco held US$2,351,000 (2015- US$3,974,000) in cash and cash equivalents and had a working capital surplus of US$1,935,000, compared to a working capital surplus of US$3,628,000 at 31 December, 2015.
CENTRAL NEWFOUNDLAND BASE METAL PROJECTS - METALLURGICAL STUDIES
During 2016, Minco, through its wholly owned subsidiary Buchans Minerals Corporation ("Buchans Minerals), in a collaboration agreement with Canadian Zinc Corporation (TSX:CZN), successfully completed a research programme to evaluate the metallurgical characteristics of their respective volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag-Au base metal deposits in central Newfoundland .
The metallurgical research study demonstrated that the ore from Minco's Lundberg, Daniels Pond and Bobbys Pond deposits can be successfully processed in a central mill using a sequential flotation flowsheet, and that selective zinc, lead and copper concentrates at marketable grades can be produced from these deposits.
The economic assessment portion of the program applied a conceptual assessment to evaluate and identify the key factors impacting the operating economics of centralized processing for the production of the base metal concentrates. The economic assessment completed various scenarios that considered three possible processing locations, the possible benefits of dense media separation ("DMS") and three alternative tonnage throughput rates for the processing facility.
Multiple conceptual economic scenarios at three potential sites were developed to simulate the proposed centralized milling concept. The variables assessed included the different potential mill sites, with or without DMS, new or used process equipment, mining rate, and processing feedstock composition for each deposit. Lundberg, being the largest but lowest grade deposit, was considered the main plant feed and Lemarchant, Boomerang, Daniels Pond and Bobbys Pond were treated as satellite deposits.
The positive results of the research project provide valuable direction to guide future exploration on Minco's central Newfoundland volcanogenic massive sulphide Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag-Au base metal deposits and the conceptual economic modelling provided key information on which to focus future economic studies and development plans for advancing the development of the Lundberg and satellite deposits using a central milling facility.
BUCHANS BASE METAL EXPLORATION - NEWFOUNDLAND
During 2016, Minco focussed its exploration efforts near the former Lucky Strike mine to explore for high-grade resources that may positively impact open pit and underground development of the Company's Lundberg deposit.
In 2015, Minco initiated a program of relogging of historic archived drill cores to assess potential for discovery of additional high-grade resources near the Lundberg deposit. This program is ongoing and to date has relogged 319 surface and underground drill holes totaling 51,137 metres of archived drill core previously drilled within 2 kilometres of the former Lucky Strike mine, and a further 49,100 metres in 141 holes from other prospects located less than 4 kilometres from the Lundberg deposit. Several target areas have been identified and will be considered for possible drill testing in 2017.
LAKE DOUGLAS GOLD, NEWFOUNDLAND
In October of 2016, Minco, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Buchans Minerals Corporation, competitively staked 2,075 hectares in central Newfoundland, known as the Lake Douglas project.
Minco's property covers a 3.5 km segment of the prospective trend that is located northeast, along strike of Marathon Gold Corporation's (MOZ.TO) Valentine Lake project where Marathon has announced a Measured and Indicated mineral resource estimate of 21.8 million tonnes at an averaged grade of 1.84 grams of gold per tonne containing 1,292,800 ounces of gold and an Inferred mineral resource of 8.8 million tonnes of at an averaged grade of 1.98 grams of gold per tonne containing 562,600 ounces of gold (Marathon press release dated February 21, 2017) as a potential open pit resource development.
LEAD-ZINC EXPLORATION, MOATE, COUNTY WESTMEATH, IRELAND
In November 2015 Minco was granted three new Prospecting Licences PLs 1228, 1229 and 3981, at Moate in County Westmeath, centered on a specific geological target identified by Minco, with potential for zinc-lead mineralisation of Tynagh Mine type.
Minco's 2016-2017 drill programme at Moate consisted of 13 holes completed between September 2016 and January 2017 for a total of 1299 metres. Drilling was concentrated in two areas centred on the townlands of Knockanea-Fardrum (Pl 1229) and Tully (Pl 1228). 942 metres were drilled on Pl 1229 and 357 metres on Pl 1228.
Minco's drilling programme initially focused within PL 1229 on the southwestern three kilometers of the target area, adjacent the ENE striking Moyvoughly Fault where five holes (1229-35 to 1229-39) were drilled for a total of 700 metres. Reef-derived breccias comparable to those at Tynagh were intersected confirming the geological model, and in Holes 1229-38, 39 and 40 the breccias contain widespread trace amounts of disseminated sphalerite.
The 2016-2017 drill programme at Moate has confirmed the geological model and enhanced exploration potential. A second phase of drilling (13 holes for a total of 2600 metres) has been recommended to explore these targets in 2017.
ZINC EXPLORATION - NAVAN, MEATH, IRELAND - JOINT VENTURE WITH TARA BOLIDEN
Minco, through its wholly owned subsidiary Westland Exploration Ltd, holds a 20% interest in Prospecting Licence 1440R (Tatestown), which is being explored under a Joint Venture agreement with Boliden Tara Mines Limited (80%), and which hosts part of the Tatestown-Scallanstown zinc lead mineral deposit.
During 2016, Tara Boliden, Operator of the JV, completed an infill drilling programme of four drill holes between and peripheral to existing resource blocks on Pl 1440R. Potentially economic grades and widths were intersected in all four of these holes. The drilling confirms the continuity of the resource and the widespread nature of mineralisation in this area. A continuation of the infill-step out drilling is proposed by Boliden Tara for 2017 with an additional four or six holes planned.
At the adjacent Tara Mine, which is one of the larger zinc mines in the world, successful exploration by Boliden has recently identified new mineralisation, Tara Deep, and Boliden has decided to launch a programme to extend the life-of-mine. Boliden reported in January 2017 that the new Tara Deep deposit has inferred mineral resources totalling 10 Million tonnes with a zinc grade of 8.5% and a lead grade of 1.8%. The mineralisation resembles Tara's main ore body, but has a more complicated structure and is at a greater depth of between 1,200 and 1,900 metres.
MINERAL EXPLORATION AT NORTHERN PENNINES, ENGLAND
Minco plans to resume exploration in the Northern Pennines where it is negotiating extensions or amendments to certain of the exploration licences and option agreements and expects to conclude acceptable option agreements in due course.
Minco's 2012-2015 drill programme in the Nenthead area, the most productive and zinc rich area within the Northern Pennine Orefield, has established a significant stratiform component to the mineralisation within the Great Limestone which had not been previously recognised. In total fifteen kilometres of mineralised structures have been outlined by previous mining with at least five kilometres of this considered to have comparable potential for straiform mineralisation. Minco believes that, in the areas drilled, previous lead mining only extracted approximately 20% of the total mineralisation believed to be present.
XTIERRA INC.
Minco holds approximately 30 million shares in Xtierra Inc. ("Xtierra"), a company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "XAG", representing an approximate 26% interest.
Xtierra holds mineral properties located in the State of Zacatecas in the Central Mineral Belt of Mexico. The Bilbao Project is a polymetallic sulphide and oxide replacement silver-lead-zinc-copper deposit located approximately 500km northwest of Mexico City in the southeastern part of the State of Zacatecas. Xtierra also holds an extraction licence for the silver-rich La Laguna tailings deposit located near the city of Zacatecas in Mexico.
METAL PRICES
Metal prices impact Minco's ability to finance the exploration and development of the Company's various lead-zinc properties. In 2016, base metal prices posted strong gains, driven by resilience in the global economy, investment speculation, supply disruptions and inventory depletion.
Zinc was one of the strongest performing metals throughout 2016 and into 2017, rising from the US$0.70 per pound level at the end of 2015 to a high of US$1.30 per pound in the first part of 2017. Lead also performed well in 2016, rising from US$0.75 per pound at the end of 2015 to US$0.95 per pound during the third quarter and continuing to stay in the US$0.90 to US$1.12 per pound range into early 2017, despite gradually increasing inventories for most of the year.
The broad trend of improving commodity prices is prevailing and to date in 2017 both base metals and precious metals are continuing on an upward trend."
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ABOUT MINCO PLC
Minco Plc, incorporated in the Republic of Ireland and listed on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange ("MIO"), is an exploration and development company currently engaged in zinc-lead exploration in Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and is also evaluating its Woodstock manganese project in New Brunswick, Canada.
Minco also holds an approximate 26% shareholding in Xtierra Inc. (TSXV- "XAG"), which holds mineral properties in Mexico, and a 2% NSR royalty on the Curraghinalt gold property in Northern Ireland, currently being explored by Dalradian Resources Inc. (TSX-"DNA").
For further information contact:
John F. Kearney: Chairman +1 416 362 6686
Danesh Varma: CFO & Company Secretary +44 (0) 8452 606 034
Peter McParland: Director - Ireland +353 (0) 46 907 3709
John Frain: Davy (NOMAD) +353 (0)1 6796363
Saif Janjua: (Corporate Advisor) (Broker, Beaufort Securities) +44 (0) 20 7382 8415
Website: www.mincoplc.com
Cautionary Statement - Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains certain forward-looking information, including, among other things, the expected exploration of mineral properties. This forward looking information includes, or may be based upon, estimates, forecasts, and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, among other things, the timing of exploration, development and mining activities, the size and quality of mineral resources, progress in development of mineral properties, demand and market outlook for metals, future metal prices and treatment and refining charges, future trends for the company, and the financial results of the company. Mineral exploration and development is a speculative business including, among other risks, the failure to discover mineral deposits but also from finding mineral deposits that, though present, are insufficient in quantity and quality to return a profit from development and production. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Inferred mineral resources are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that mineral resources will be converted into mineral reserves.