Last checked at 26 Feb 2009 07:00
Regulatory announcement Company Pan African Resources plc TIDM PAF Headline Unaudited Interim Results Released 26 February 2009 Pan African Resources PLC (`Pan African' or the `Company')
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales under Companies Act 1985 with
registered number 3937466 on 25 February 2000) Share code on AIM: PAF Share code on JSE: PAN ISIN: GB0004300496 Unaudited Interim Results For the six months ended 31 December 2008
Pan African Resources PLC (AIM: PAF, Altx: PAN), the African gold mining company, is pleased to report its unaudited interim results for the six-months ended 31 December 2008.
Highlights
* Gross gold production up 7.8% to 51,186 oz (2007: 47,486 oz) * Cash-flow positive with gold sales of £24.9m up 71%. * EBITDA up 114% to £8.5 million (2007: £4.0m) * Headline earnings of £3.9 million (2007: £1.29m), an increase of 202% * Headline EPS 0.36 pence (2007: 0.13 pence), an increase of 173% * Total cash cost of US$451/oz sold (2007: US$514/oz sold), down 12% * Significant improvement in safety * Total Manica resource increased to 2.571Moz (2007 : 1.701Moz), an increase of 51% * Dividend of 0.2555 pence per share declared
Financial review for six-months ending 31 December 2008
Six months Six months ended ended 31 December 31 December 2007 2008 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Revenue (GBP**) 24,940,383 14,596,037 EBITDA (GBP**) 8,552,011 4,000,872 Attributable profit (GBP**) 2,569,804 1,294,286 EPS (pence) 0.23 0.13 HEPS* (pence) 0.36 0.13 Weighted average number of 1,100,517,684 965,777,998shares in issue * HEPS - Headline Earnings Per Share (refer to calculation under Consolidated Income Statement) **GBP - Pounds Sterling Nature of the business
Pan African is a self-funding, unhedged gold mining and development company increasingly focusing on mining and near-term-production assets that will yield low-cost, high-margin projects on the African continent.
In addition to its 74% stake in Barberton (Shanduka Resources is a 26% shareholder), Pan African has been exploring and developing concessions in Mozambique, the Central African Republic and Ghana.
Financial Results
We were pleased that for the six months under review EBITDA increased by 114% up to £8.5 million. This resulted in a profit after tax of £4.2 million despite a £1.3 million impairment arising from the decision to terminate exploration activity in Ghana. The Company's profit is a result of higher grades and a robust gold price achieved at Barberton Mines.
The Company's tax charge increased from £1.3 million to £3.7 million, equating to an effective tax rate of 37%.
Capital expenditure increased by 49% to £2.2 million and exploration costs increased by 32% to £1.7 million.
Safety and Training
We are pleased to report no fatalities were recorded in the period under review, with the operations achieving 556,669 (2007: 95,226) fatality-free shifts. Reportable incidents for the period were zero (2007: 4). This improvement resulted from more active communication and training for employees and a more determined focus by management on accountability across the mines.
In addition, the Presidential Safety Audit was completed and the mine has addressed all outstanding issues.
Overview
MINING
Review of the Barberton Mining Operations
Production at Barberton Mines remained unhedged and an average spot gold price of US$824/oz was received (2007: US$721/oz). Total cash cost of US$451/oz* was down 12% (2007: US$514). Tons milled were slightly down on plan and an unsustainable, exceptionally high grade was achieved. Recovered grade is expected to be more in line with the historic average going forward.
The three operating mines in the Barberton area, Fairview, Sheba and New Consort, together with final production from the calcine dump retreatment operation produced 51,186 oz of gold, an improvement on the previous comparable period. Gold production from underground mining resulted in 47,634 oz and surface operations delivering 3,545 oz.
\* Total cash cost excludes depreciation and capital expenditure
Reserve replacement projects
Sheba - Southwell adit
The capital project was completed during the period and is now at the working-cost development stage.
Sheba - 35 ZK Decline
The winder installation has been completed and the decline was advanced 17.9 meters from the uppermost level - sinking continues.
Sheba - Edwin Bray to Thomas & Joe's Luck area
Total development on the two ends amounted to 385 metres. The target area of Joe's Luck requires a further 600 meters advance on each end.
Consort - 50 Level Declines
Development and equipping of the two declines totalled 55.3 metres below the uppermost level. The installation and commissioning of the winders was completed in the previous reporting period. The project remains on schedule.
Fairview - MRC development
Total development of 376.5 metres was completed, enabling access to the 62-level ore bodies. Forty metres of the 3 sub-incline shaft bottom, below 62 level has been cleaned out, on completion of the cleaning this shaft will be deepened to 68 level to provide future access to the MRC ore-body.
Production Summary 6months 6monthsended 6monthsended 6monthsended 6monthsended ended 31-Dec-08 31-Dec-07 31-Dec-06 31-Dec-05 31-Dec-04 TonsMilled (t) 159,919 161,455 166,377 157,452 161,980 Headgrade (g/t) 11.40 9.05 9.24 11.44 10.24 OverallRecovery (%) 91 92 92 92 91 Production: (oz) 47,634 43,145 45,332 53,369 48,547Underground Production: (oz) 3,545 3,601 - - -CalcineDump Sold (USD/ 51,186 47,486 45,749 52,983 50,186 oz) AveragePrice:Spot (USD/ 824 721 567 464 412 oz) AveragePrice:Hedge (USD/ - 460 406 430 502 oz) TotalCashcostUSD/ (USD/ 451 514 450 394 434ozsold oz) EBITDA GBP 8,552 4,001 3,049 2,153 1,157 (000) Depreciation GBP 1,066 806 1,077 1,042 1,011 (000) Capital Expenditure GBP 2,282 1,532 867 569 452 (000 Exchange rate - 15.13 14.05 13.68 11.48 11.38average Exchange rate - 13.78 13.77 13.78 11.06 11.00closing
* 74% of the 2007 & 2008 results are attributable to the equity shareholders of Pan African; 2004 - 2006 results were attributable to Metorex Limited
EXPLORATION PROJECTS
Due to the global economic uncertainty and disappointing drilling results in Ghana, the management and board of Pan African have decided not to exercise the Company's rights to the Kyereboso and U&N projects and are negotiating the sale and retention of a free-carry of the Akrokerri project. The termination of these projects results in a £1.3 million impairment on the balance sheet.
In the Central African Republic (`CAR'), at Bogoin, two targets have been identified. The shear zone target and the banded-iron formation target. A gold-in-soil sampling programme was completed on the shear zone target which was followed up by an RC drilling programme totalling 16,213m. No significant gold intersections were made. Adjacent to the shear-zone target, 12 kilometres of banded-iron formation still remain untested and a gold-in-soil sampling programme has been initiated over this target. At Dekoa, also in the Central African Republic, infill gold and soil sampling has confirmed the presence of gold anomalies presenting a strike-length in excess of 25 kilometres. A bulk-sampling programme is being initiated over these anomalies.
Pan African has increased its stake in the CAR projects to a significant majority as a result of the JV partner not contributing to the project funding. The final dilution percentage is currently being audited and will be released once finalised. Future planned expenditure in the CAR has declined for the next six months to £173,600 on both projects as a result of the nature of exploration work being carried out.
At Manica in Mozambique, preliminary work completed on the pre-feasibility study indicates that the project is extremely sensitive to capital expenditure and requires additional ore to be mined in the first 2 years to address this issue. The resource estimate has been upgraded from 1.70Moz (11.5Mt @ 4.61g/t) to 2.57Moz (33.8Mt @ 2.36g/t) encouraging a drive to try to consolidate further oxide resources adjacent to the project, in an effort to make it more robust. £ 1.04 million has been allocated for this consolidation process over the next 10 months, after which the viability of the project will be reviewed.
After the period under review, the company acquired an exclusive, non-refundable option to purchase 100% of the shares in Phoenix Platinum Mining (Pty) Limited (`Phoenix') from Metorex Limited (`Metorex'). This is a platinum dump retreatment project. Test work is progressing and is expected to be completed within the allocated four month period.
Estimates show the capital expenditure is expected to be £6.9 million, resulting in a pay-back of less than one year; life of operation is estimated to be between five and seven years from existing surface tailings, which can be extended to 18 years with the addition of underground arisings. 4PGE* production is anticipated at between 10,000 - 15,000 oz/annum, assuming conservative 4PGE basket prices.
* PGE = Platinum Group Elements (4PGE = Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium and Gold)
Capital expenditure and commitments
Capital expenditure at Barberton mines totalled £2.28 million (this excludes surface exploration costs at Barberton Mines) of which roughly half was spent on underground development and the rest on engineering, maintenance and repair.
Exploration expenditure on all our projects totalled £1.68 million.
There were no material contracted capital commitments at the end of the period.
Operating lease commitments, which fall due within the next year, amount to £ 48,010.
Shares Issued July 2008 - December 2008
722,274 shares were issued to Goldiam SARL at 5.5 pence per share for the acquisition of gold exploration licences in the Central African Republic.
Directorship Change
Mr Simon Malone retired from the Pan African Board on 20 January 2009. The Company would like to thank him for his valued efforts and assistance and wishes him all the best for his retirement.
Accounting Policies
The financial information set out in this announcement does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the half year ended 31 December 2008.
The financial information included in this preliminary announcement has been prepared in accordance with the recognition and measurement criteria of IFRS. This announcement does not itself contain sufficient disclosure information to comply fully with IFRS.
The unaudited interim results have been prepared and presented in accordance with, and containing the information required by IFRS on Interim Financial Reporting, IAS 34.
Dividend declaration
Dividend No 1 of 0.2555 pence per share has been declared in respect of the six months ended 31 December 2008. The last day to trade ("cum" the dividend) on the JSE in order to participate in the dividend will be Friday, 13 March 2009. The shares will commence trading "ex" the dividend from the commencement of business on Wednesday, 18 March 2009 on the LSE and on Monday, 16 March 2009 on the JSE. The record date on the LSE and JSE will be Friday 20 March 2009.
The dividend is declared in the currency of the United Kingdom and will be paid on Wednesday, 8 April 2009. Shareholders whose shares are held on the United Kingdom register will receive payment in sterling. Shareholders whose shares are held on the South African register will receive payment in South African rand at the ruling rate on Thursday, 5 March 2009.
Share certificates may not be lodged with the South African transfer secretaries for dematerialisation / rematerialisation from Monday, 16 March 2009 to Friday, 20 March 2009, both dates inclusive.
Future Prospects
The focus of Pan African continues to move up the value chain to projects at the point of pre-feasibility to assets near / in production. The Company's mining operations at Barberton provide funding to find and develop new projects and advanced-staged mining opportunities.
The Directors believe global macroeconomic fundamentals support a favourable gold price in the medium-term and the combination of activities at our mining, and more advanced exploration assets are expected to deliver satisfactory results for the next reporting period. Production plan is sustainable and the Company remains on track to produce 100,000 oz/annum.
The Company continues to evaluate and acquire projects that will deliver high margins and low costs with significant upside potential and believe that in the current environment of tight credit, the strong balance sheet compares Pan African favourably to its peers.
By order of the BoardK C Spencer J P Nelson Chairman Chief Executive Officer 26 February 2009Consolidated Income Statement 6 months ended 6 months ended 31 Dec 08 31 Dec 07 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) £ £ Revenue Gold sales 24,940,383 14,596,037 Realisation costs 63,532 70,630 On - mine revenue 24,876,851 14,525,407 Cost of production 14,099,512 9,995,471 Depreciation 1,065,720 806,369 Mining Profit 9,711,619 3,723,567 Other (expenses) / income (885,413) (529,064) Operating income before finance costs 8,826,206 3,194,503 Finance income 434,700 99,479 Finance costs (6,007) (9,696) Impairment of Intangible Asset (1,339,915) Profit before taxation 7,914,984 3,284,286 Taxation 3,705,065 1,347,912 Profit after taxation 4,209,919 1,936,374 Attributable to: Equity holders of the parent 2,569,804 1,294,286 Minority interests 1,640,115 642,088 4,209,919 1,936,374 Earnings per share (pence) 0.23 0.13 Diluted earnings per share (pence) 0.23 0.11
Weighted average number of shares in issue 1,100,517,684 965,777,998
Diluted number of shares in issue 1,111,517,684 1,136,689,165Headline earnings per share is calculated using the following : Headline earnings 3,909,719 1,294,286 Headline earnings per share (pence) 0.36 0.13 Diluted headline earnings per share (pence) 0.35 0.11Consolidated Balance Sheet 6 months ended Year ended 31 December 2008 30 June 2008 (Unaudited) (Audited) £ £ ASSETS Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 24,031,808 20,069,814 Rehabilitation trust fund 1,964,278 1,739,522 Intangible assets 13,311,565 12,837,045 Goodwill 21,000,714 21,000,714 60,308,365 55,647,095 Current assets Inventories 374,345 377,974 Trade and other receivables 3,138,027 2,972,776 Cash and cash equivalents 7,717,725 5,419,489 11,230,097 8,770,239 Total Assets 71,538,462 64,417,334 EQUITY AND LIABILITIES Capital and reserves Share capital 11,005,891 10,998,664 Share Premium 37,299,997 37,267,475 Translation Reserve 1,046,373 -1,118,262 Share Option Reserve 363,812 285,312 Retained income 12,515,825 9,946,021 Merger Reserve (10,705,308) (10,705,308) Equity attributable to equity holders of 51,526,590 46,673,902parent Minority interest 4,444,153 3,694,869 Total Equity 55,970,743 50,368,771 Non - Current liabilities Long term liabilities - Interest bearing - 16,822 Long term Provisions 2,500,017 2,219,954 Deferred Taxation 6,150,434 5,201,245 Total Non-Current Liabilities 8,650,451 7,438,021 Current liabilities Trade and other payables ,048,417 2,754,795 Short term liabilities - Interest bearing 48,010 89,269 Short term Provisions 1,011,417 711,085 Financial Instruments - Current Tax Liabilities 2,809,425 3,055,393 Total Current Liabilities 6,917,269 6,610,542 TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 71,538,463 64,417,334
Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
Six months ended Six months ended 31 December 2008 31 December 2007 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) £ £ Cash Generated by operations 10,401,503 4,604,148 Minorities Distributions (890,831) (49,379) Taxation Paid (4,240,562) (607,085) Finance Cost, net 428,693 89,783 Cash inflow from operating activities 5,698,803 4,037,467 Cash outflow from investing activities (4,056,420) (3,982,702) Cash (outflow) from finance activities (44,374) (69,668) Net Increase/ (Decrease) in cash 1,598,009 (14,903)equivalents Cash at the beginning of period 5,419,489 326,847 Reverse Acquisition - 733,101 Effect of Foreign Currency rate changes 700,227 - Cash at end of year 7,717,725 1,045,045
Condensed Statement of Changes in Equity
Six months ended Six months ended 31 December 2008 31 December 2007 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Shareholders equity at start of period 50,368,771 5,906,749 Share Issue 39,749 - Reverse Acquisition - 24,818,679 Translation and Share Option Reserve 2,243,135 - 313,850 Net Income for the period 2,569,804 1,294,286 Minorities Interest 749,284 2,632,217 Total Equity 55,970,743 34,338,081 ENDS
Martin Bevelander: a registered competent person with the South African Council for Natural Science Professions (`SACNASP'), signed off on the resource statement for Manica.
Deon van der Heever: an independent competent person registered with SACNASP, signed off on the block and geostatistical model for Manica
Frans Chadwick: a professional surveyor and registered with the Professional Land and Technical Surveyors (`PLATO') signed off on the resource statement for Barberton Mines Limited.
For further information on Pan African Resources plc, please visit the website at www.panafricanresources.com
Enquiries:Pan African ResourcesJan Nelson, CEO+27 (0) 11 243 2900Keith Spencer, Chairman+27 (0) 11 880 3155
Nicole Spruijt, Public Relations
+27 (0) 11 243 2900RBC Capital MarketsMartin Eales+44 (0) 20 7029 7881
Macquarie First South Advisers (Pty) Limited
Thato Morojele+27 (0) 11 583 2379Annerie Britz+27 (0) 11 583 2328Melanie de Nysschen+27 (0) 11 583 2316
St James's Corporate Services Limited
Phil Dexter
+44 (0) 20 7499 3916
FDBeachhead Media & Investor Relations
Jennifer Cohen+27 (0) 11 214 2401Louise Brugman+27 (0) 83 504 1186
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