Anglesey Mining plc
A UK mining company listed on the London Stock Exchange
Projects:
100% of the Parys Mountain underground zinc-copper-lead-silver-gold deposit in North Wales, UK where an updated Scoping Study was completed in 2017. The results of this Study are positive and provide a route to develop the project through to production.
12% of Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited which holds direct shipping iron ore deposits in Labrador and Quebec.
A 6% interest in, and management rights to, the Grangesberg Iron project in Sweden, together with a right of first refusal to increase its interest to 57%.
Chairman’s statement
To Anglesey Shareholders
The improvement in base metal prices, which began in 2016, continued in 2017 and into 2018. The zinc price increased from US$1.00 per pound in January 2017 to a 10-year high of US$1.63 per pound in February 2018. From January 2016, the zinc price more than doubled making it one of the better performing metals over the two-year period. Expectations of an increase in the supply of zinc concentrates towards the end of 2018 have led to the recent decline in the zinc price to the $1.15 per pound range.
The price of copper increased substantially in the second half of 2017 and ended the year at US$3.25 per pound, a 30% increase from the end of 2016. Lead also performed well in 2017, rising from US$0.92 per pound in January 2017 to US$1.22 per pound in January 2018. Although all metal prices softened in mid -summer 2018 in response to global geopolitical uncertainty, there is a strong expectation of a continued positive outlook for base metals, particularly for zinc and copper.
Parys Mountain - 2017 Scoping Study
In July 2017 a new Scoping Study on the Parys Mountain copper-lead-zinc project in North Wales, was prepared by Micon International Limited (Micon) and Fairport Engineering Ltd. The Scoping Study envisages a mining rate of 1,000 tonnes per day, to produce an average annual output of 14,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate at 57% Zn, 7,200 tonnes of lead concentrate at 52% Pb and 4,000 tonnes of copper concentrate at 25% Cu, over an initial mine life of eight years.
The Scoping Study demonstrates a viable mine development and a healthy financial rate of return. For example, using assumptions of longer term metal price projections of $1.35 per pound for zinc and $3.00 per pound for copper, and using an 8% discount rate, to reflect the relatively low political risk in the UK, the indicated NPV would be $52 million or £42 million, with an IRR of 30%.
Path towards Production
Following completion of the positive 2017 Scoping Study, Anglesey has been working to progress the Parys Mountain project towards production. We have previously described four key steps in the development of the project which are: the conversion of the Scoping Study to a Definitive Feasibility Study, the commencement of an Environmental Impact Assessment, the recruitment of key corporate staff and securing project finance. Whilst a Definitive Feasibility Study to develop the project to a suitable status for bank debt financing might be the ideal course, the Parys Mountain project is not yet at the stage to undertake a Definitive Feasibility Study.
A Definitive Feasibility Study can be defined as a comprehensive technical and economic study to demonstrate that development of a mine is reasonably justified. The results of the study may serve as the basis for a decision by a financial institution to finance the development of the project. However, a Preliminary Feasibility Study is an intermediate step in the engineering process to evaluate the technical and economic viability of a mining project, occurring between a Scoping Study and a DFS.
The 2017 Scoping Study recommended further work as interim steps towards undertaking a PFS, including more detailed mine planning and design, more engineering studies, additional metallurgical test work and a review of tailings management and environmental and planning permissions, all of which will require new and further financing. During the year the Scoping Study has been subject to detailed examination and review with the aim of enhancing the economics of the project to attract the capital financing necessary to achieve our target of getting the Parys Mountain Mine into production at the earliest date possible.
Optimisation Studies
The 2017 Scoping Study was based on mining only the 2.1 million tonnes of indicated resources reported by Micon in 2012. Micon had reported a further 4.1 million tonnes of inferred resources which were not incorporated into the Scoping Study. Of the inferred resources currently estimated, the Engine Zone, which lies at depths up to 600m, is of higher grade in most areas.
Development of even half of these inferred resources, which were not included in the Scoping Study, would significantly increase the projected life of the Parys Mountain mine from the initial eight years to perhaps double the projected mine-life to 15 or 18 years with potential positive outcomes on the project economics.
Anglesey is working on a revised mine model with the objective of incorporating some of the inferred resources, including part of the higher-grade Engine Zone inferred resources, into the earlier years of the mine plan and thereby increasing the project life of the mine to at least 10 years. In parallel, the cut-off grade used to determine the resources included in the Scoping Study can be tested to determine if this cut-off grade can be lowered to increase the mineable tonnage and thereby further extend the projected mine life.
The Scoping Study also recommended further metallurgical investigation to improve recoveries and minimise metal losses from the DMS plant, particularly for gold and silver via the gravity concentration circuit. The proposed metallurgical work would help to confirm the design and selection of key process items such as the grinding circuit and the flotation cells and finalise the process flow sheet and mass balance before carrying out any detailed engineering works. A preliminary proposal for additional laboratory test work, with an estimated cost of £100,000, has been obtained which requires representative samples of the ore which currently may not be available. The recommended metallurgical review will be carried out to the extent possible using existing data and technical information.
Environmental Studies
Completion of a feasibility study requires an evaluation of the planning and environmental aspects of the proposed development. An external review of the planning permissions and associated licence requirements has confirmed that the planning permissions previously granted remain valid and in force and that development and operation of the Parys Mountain Mine will require various environmental assessments and permits granted by Natural Resources Wales. It is proposed that some further environmental baseline and investigative work be carried out to bring the database up to date and to comply with the current level of requirements.
Financing and Marketing
Based on the positive results of the Scoping Study, we have commenced discussions with potential financiers for the development of the Parys Mountain project. It is expected that this development will occur in stepped progressions, to be followed by sequential financings to move towards mine construction.
The Parys Mountain Mine will produce three separate marketable concentrates for each of the base metals to be mined: zinc, lead and copper. In addition, a small quantity of gravity concentrate containing silver and gold will be produced. The concentrates are likely be sold to one or more of the smelting and refining operations in Europe. Anglesey has also commenced preliminary discussions with potential end-purchasers of the concentrates with a view to entering long-term supply contracts provided these can be linked to investment or other funding or commercial arrangements as part of the financing for the development of the project.
Iron Ore
The group’s investments in Grangesberg Iron and in Labrador Iron are heavily dependent on the future price of iron ore. In 2017 the price of 62% Fe iron ore ranged from US$55 to US$97, while averaging US$71 per tonne, and during the first six months of 2018 ranged from US$65 to US$80 per tonne. Over the past two years there has been a substantial shift in the iron ore market favouring higher grade quality (+65% Fe) product, with premiums paid for 65% Fe exceeding 30% of the 62% Fe spot price. As a result, high grade iron ore products are currently commanding high premiums to this spot price while sub-commodity grades (<60% Fe) with high impurities are suffering increasing penalties, resulting in a widening divergence in actual market sale prices. These market conditions and the resultant strong premium for ~65% Fe products are expected to continue in the medium term based on the current global project pipeline, to the potential benefit of our projects.
Grangesberg Iron
Anglesey continues to manage the Grangesberg iron ore project in Sweden. The high-quality product expected to be produced from Grangesberg, together with the potential for sales within Sweden’s domestic markets, make Grangesberg more attractive than many other undeveloped iron ore projects. Although Grangesberg will benefit from extensive existing infrastructure the project will still require high levels of capital expenditure. Together with the other shareholders and stakeholders in Grangesberg we continue to evaluate all options to develop a viable way forward for the project.
Labrador Iron
The group holds a 12% interest in Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited (LIM) which owns extensive iron ore resources and facilities in its Schefferville Projects in Labrador and Quebec, Canada. LIM has not undertaken mining operations since 2013, primarily due to the low iron ore price environment, but maintains its iron ore assets on a stand-by care and maintenance basis and, subject to securing financing, is positioned to resume mining operations as soon as economic conditions warrant.
Outlook
The 2017 Scoping Study demonstrated a viable mine development at Parys Mountain with a healthy financial rate of return. The outlook for metal prices, particularly zinc, copper and lead, which form the basis of the Parys Mountain revenue, remains very positive.
Our objective is to phase the development and financing of Parys Mountain in logical, sequential and parallel steps by undertaking the various optimisations studies and programmes, completing a prefeasibility or feasibility study and progressing Parys Mountain towards production as quickly as the necessary financing and technical timelines allow.
As well as maintaining a watching brief on the iron ore projects in Canada and Sweden, Anglesey also plans to pursue new opportunities for mineral exploration and development projects, in the context of the current resource cycle, with a focus on advanced copper exploration or development projects. We plan to enhance our board and small management team by recruiting experienced executives to help execute our plans and deliver our objectives.
We believe that given the world’s continuing demand for metals and the shortage of attractive advanced projects, the strong technical base and political stability associated with all of Anglesey’s projects, particularly Parys Mountain, finance for project development will become available.
Once again, I would like to thank all our shareholders for their patience and continuing support.
John F. Kearney
Chairman
31 July 2018
Strategic report - operations
Principal activities and business review
Anglesey Mining is engaged primarily in the evaluating and developing its wholly owned Parys Mountain zinc, lead, copper project in North Wales. In 2017 a new Scoping Study demonstrated a viable mine development and a healthy financial rate of return. Site activities during the year have continued to be limited to care and maintenance, though the Scoping Study has been subject to detailed examination and review with the aim of further optimising the development of the Parys Mountain project.
In addition, under various agreements the group participates in the management of the Grangesberg iron ore property in Sweden in which it has a 6% holding and a right of first refusal to acquire a further 51% ownership interest. The group also has a 12% holding in the Labrador Iron Mines in eastern Canada, currently in care and maintenance.
The group’s objective is to phase the development and financing of the Parys Mountain project by undertaking various optimisation programmes, completing a prefeasibility or feasibility study and progressing the Parys Mountain Mine towards production.
Parys Mountain
The Parys Mountain property hosts a significant polymetallic zinc, copper, lead, silver and gold deposit. The site has a head frame, a 300m deep production shaft and planning permission for operations. The group has freehold ownership of the minerals and surface land. Infrastructure is good, political risk is low and the project enjoys the support of local people and government.
An independent JORC resource estimate completed in 2012 by Micon International Limited reported a resource of 2.1 million tonnes at 6.9% combined base metals in the indicated category and 4.1 million tonnes at 5.0% combined base metals in the inferred category, with substantial exploration potential.
In July 2017 a new Scoping Study using the 2012 resource estimate was prepared by Micon and Fairport Engineering Ltd. The Scoping Study demonstrates a viable development mining 1,000 tpd to produce lead, zinc and copper concentrates and yielding a healthy financial rate of return.
Development Plan
During the period 2006-2010 Anglesey Mining carried out a detailed drilling programme on the White Rock Zone which lies adjacent to the existing 300m deep Morris Shaft and largely overlies the deeper Engine Zone deposits, but which extends to surface. As a result of this drilling the 2012 resource estimate by Micon included both the White Rock Zone and the Engine Zone.
A new mining plan based on a surface decline to access the White Rock zone was prepared. It proposed that a decline would be developed by mining contractors and would be used as the initial means of access to the resource for development and mining. During the initial production phase from the White Rock zone the decline would continue to be driven to reach the current bottom of the Morris Shaft and beyond. The shaft would then be dewatered and deepened by approximately 150 metres and recommissioned as a hoisting shaft for the remnant White Rock ore and for the deeper and more valuable Engine Zone ore. Mining would be carried out initially from the main decline using rubber-tyred equipment including drill jumbos, load-haul-dump machines and trucks to remove development waste to surface and production ore to the planned adjacent processing plant. The existing hoist and headframe would be refurbished and used to bring ore to the surface for delivery to the processing plant through the deepened shaft.
The 2017 Scoping Study concluded that the preferred development option for Parys Mountain is a 1,000 tpd mine and plant with a Dense Media Separation (DMS) section and that after an initial ramp-up period, the higher production level can be maintained. This would result in a mine life of approximately eight years based only on the indicated resources.
Metal Production
The proposed processing plant will consist of crushing and grinding followed by conventional three stage flotation to produce copper, zinc and lead concentrates to be shipped to smelters in Europe. Metallurgical performance and recovery is based on the large volume of information available from test work on Parys Mountain ores over the years. Total base metal recovery to each of the three copper, zinc and lead concentrates is forecast to be 89.8% and taking into account the DMS losses overall recovery will be approximately 85.7%. Significant amounts of silver and gold will report to each of the concentrates. Some free gold will be recovered by gravity methods and will be sold as Welsh gold.
Smelter payment terms and penalties have been based on indicative treatment charges currently prevailing from European smelters.
On average 14,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate at 57% Zn, 7,200 tonnes of lead concentrate at 52% Pb and 4,000 tonnes of copper concentrate at 25% Cu, will be produced annually. These figures will vary somewhat during the life of the mine as mine feed varies depending upon the particular ore bodies being mined at any time. Life of mine average annual metal production into concentrates is forecast at 17.6 million pounds of zinc, 8.3 million pounds of lead and 2.2 million pounds of copper.
Using estimated shipping costs, smelter terms and penalties, the overall NSR for the three concentrates, including the precious metals, is expected to total in excess of $270 million at the metal prices used for the base case. This would represent net smelter revenue of approximately 72% of the metal value in concentrates delivered to the smelters.
Project Financial Results
The pre-production capital cost of the base case including mining, DMS, concentrator and infrastructure is estimated at $56 million, including a $4 million contingency. The initial capital cost for mine development is estimated to be $16 million, the concentrator $29.5 million including $3 million for the DMS plant, and infrastructure $10 million. Operating costs were developed by Micon and Fairport based on current knowledge and experience which at the higher levels of production are forecast at around $47 per tonne of ore treated.
The base case yields a pre-tax net present value of $33 million, or £26 million, at a conservative 10 per cent discount rate, using metal prices of $1.25 per pound for zinc, $1.00 per pound for lead, $2.50 per pound for copper, $17.50 per ounce for silver and $1,275 per ounce for gold and at an exchange rate of £1.00 = $US1.25. With an estimated pre-production capital cost of $56 million, or £45 million, this results in an indicated internal rate of return (IRR) of 26%.
At an 8% discount rate, used to reflect the relatively low risks of the project given its advanced level of development and low political risk in the UK, the NPV8 would be enhanced to $40 million, or £32 million, for the base case metal price scenario. The project is sensitive to metal prices and exchange rates. Using metal price projections of $1.35 per pound for zinc and $3.00 per pound for copper the NPV10 would be $43 million, or £35 million and the NPV8 $52 million, or £42 million, with an IRR of 30%.
The pre-tax net present values, at 10% and 8% discount rates, and internal rates of return, are illustrated in the table below, all at a sterling:US dollar exchange rate of £1.00 = $US1.25.
Metal Prices | Pre-Tax Cash Flows | |||||||
Zinc US$/lb |
Lead US$/lb | Copper US$/lb |
Silver US$/oz |
Gold US$/oz |
Undiscounted $M |
NPV10% $M |
NPV8% $M |
IRR |
1.25 | 1.00 | 2.50 | 17.50 | 1,275 | 91.2 | 33.2 | 40.2 | 26 |
1.35 | 1.00 | 3.00 | 17.50 | 1,275 | 110.8 | 43.5 | 52.3 | 30 |
Mineral Resources and Exploration Potential
The 2017 Scoping Study utilises the Micon 2012 JORC Code compliant resource estimate of 2.1 million tonnes at 6.9% combined base metals in the indicated category. Micon had also reported a further 4.1 million tonnes at 5.0% combined base metals in the inferred category. These inferred mineral resources are not included in the Scoping Study but if utilised would significantly extend the projected operating life of the mine with a consequential increase in the resultant estimated valuation.
While the inclusion of inferred resources does not meet the strict criteria for feasibility studies used by banks for loan evaluation, given the detailed geological knowledge of Parys Mountain now available it would be acceptable to utilise some of this inferred resource for comparative financial modelling. To evaluate potential optimisation of the project some additional mine planning and scheduling will be carried out on the inferred resource and the results input to the financial model.
As reported in 2012, the resource estimate was made using a gross metal product value cut-off of $80 per tonne. The 2017 Scoping Study estimated the cash operating cost, prior to royalties and taxes, at $47 per tonne. Use of a lower cut-off grade would increase the tonnes in the indicated category, but with some reduction in grade, and increase the projected mine life. Further optimisation studies are required to determine the optimum cut-off grade that would provide the maximum increased return. These studies are being carried out initially on the base financial model, i.e. using the indicated resources only, and this will be followed by the extended resources using some of the inferred resources as detailed previously. These optimisation studies are of necessity an on-going process. As more detailed mine costings are developed, and as the increased tonnage potentially changes not just mine life but also the grade of ore processed, a series of iterations will be required to reach that optimum forecast result.
In addition to the indicated and inferred resources reported by Micon, the Parys Mountain area, over which the group holds the mineral rights, contains numerous indications of mineralisation across several kilometres many of which have been disclosed in earlier releases and reports. As most of these indications have been encountered in drilling at some depth, further exploration would be more effective from underground locations once mining operations commence.
Further work on Parys Mountain
The Scoping Study recommended further work to optimise and enhance the project as the next step ahead of mine development, including more detailed mine and stope design, underground geotechnical studies, additional infill drilling, more detailed engineering studies, additional metallurgical test work including work to improve recovery of specific metals to their own concentrate, and review of tailings management and paste fill processes. Several opportunities for cost reduction or productivity improvement have been identified.
Metallurgical Studies
Fairport has recommended that additional metallurgical testwork be carried out to increase confidence in a number of key areas including the performance of the DMS plant, regrind work in the lead circuit to improve concentrate quality, in the paste backfill section to confirm geotechnical characteristics, and in improving the overall water balance to reduce operating costs and discharge requirements. There is insufficient ore of a representative nature currently available to carry out all of this programme.
Environmental Studies
A conditional planning permission was issued by Gwynedd County Council in 1988 for ‘the development of a mining and milling complex for the extraction and processing of metalliferous ores and disposal of waste rock and slurry at Parys Mountain, Amlwch, Gwynedd. In 1991 a second planning permission was granted to develop a ‘Mine portal and spiral decline to access upper levels of the ore body to provide a second means of egress’. Both these planning permissions remain in force.
In the United Kingdom, industrial and other development proposals, including mineral development projects, are subject to two different processes: a) a planning process through which a planning authority grants permission for a specific development and, b) the environmental permitting process through which permission is granted (in this case by Natural Resources Wales) for the operation of an installation or activity that could have an environmental impact.
For planning purposes Parys Mountain is currently considered a dormant site which cannot commence permitted activity until the mineral planning authority has agreed conditions. An application may need to be accompanied by an environmental statement under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations. The regulations specify what type of developments should be subject to EIA. Underground mineral workings require an EIA only if the development is likely to have significant effects on the environment. The planning authority may require an EIA as part of the review process and has the responsibility for deciding if an EIA is required.
Several environmental studies have been undertaken within the Parys Mountain area, dating back prior to 1988, when the first planning permission for a new mine was obtained by Anglesey. Baseline monitoring of environmental conditions was carried out at various times in the 1980s and 1990s. There has also been an extensive monitoring programme for water quality carried out by the Environment Agency to assess the impacts of historic mining activities in the area.
It is now proposed that some further environmental baseline and investigative work be carried out to bring the database up to date and to comply with the now current level of regulations. During the year a report was prepared on the details of the work that will be needed to meet these requirements and planning for commencement of this work is advanced. It is stressed that the original planning permissions that have been in place for a number of years remain intact.
Grangesberg Iron AB
The Grangesberg iron ore mine is situated in the mineral-rich Bergslagen district of central Sweden about 200 kilometres north-west of Stockholm. Until its closure in 1989 due to prevailing market conditions, Grangesberg had mined in excess of 150 million tonnes of iron ore.
The group holds a direct 6% interest in Grangesberg Iron AB (GIAB) and, until June 2021, a right of first refusal over 51% of the share capital of GIAB. This right has been granted in exchange for the group continuing to co-manage GIAB on a cost recovery basis. The group also has shareholder and cooperation agreements such that it holds operatorship of GIAB subject to certain conditions and appoints three out of five directors to the board of GIAB.
GIAB is a private Swedish company founded in 2007 which in 2014 completed (with assistance from the group) a financial and capital restructuring of the mine. GIAB holds a 25-year exploitation permit covering the previously mined Grangesberg underground mining operations granted by the Swedish Mining Inspectorate in May 2013.
In September 2014 an NI 43-101 Technical Report was prepared by Roscoe Postle Associates Inc showing a compliant resource estimate for the Grangesberg Mine of 115.2 million tonnes at 40.2% Fe in the indicated category and 33.1 million tonnes at 45.2% Fe in the inferred category. RPA concluded that the Grängesberg iron ore deposit hosts a significant iron resource that has excellent potential for expansion at depth.
Over the past two years there has been a substantial shift in the iron ore market favouring higher grade quality (+65% Fe) product, with premiums paid for 65% Fe exceeding 30% of the reported 62% reported spot price. The high-quality product expected to be produced from Grangesberg would attract such premium pricing and, together with the potential for sales within Sweden’s domestic markets, make Grangesberg more attractive than many other undeveloped iron ore projects. Although Grangesberg benefits from extensive existing infrastructure, development of the project will still require high levels of capital expenditure.
Labrador Iron
The group has an investment holding of 12% (2017 - 12%) in Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited. LIM owns extensive iron ore resources and facilities in its exploration properties in Labrador and in Quebec, Canada, one of the major iron ore producing regions in the world.
In the three-year period of 2011 to 2013 LIM produced a total of 3.6 million dry metric tonnes of iron ore, all of which was sold in 23 cape-size shipments into the China spot market. LIM has not undertaken mining operations since 2013, primarily due to the low iron ore price environment, but maintains its properties on a stand-by care and maintenance basis and, subject to securing financing, is positioned to resume mining operations as soon as economic conditions warrant.
Other activities
The directors continue to seek out new properties suitable for development within a relatively short time frame and within the financing capability likely to be available to the group. The directors have identified copper projects as the most potentially attractive and the group is currently evaluating a number of early stage opportunities.
Performance
The directors expect to be judged by results of project development and/or exploration and by their success in creating long term value for shareholders. The group holds shares in mineral companies and has interests in exploration and evaluation properties and, until economically recoverable reserves can be identified, there are no standardised performance indicators which can usefully be employed to gauge the performance of the group, other than the market price of the company’s shares.
The chief external factors affecting the ability of the group to move forward are primarily the demand for metals and minerals, levels of metal prices and exchange rates; these and other factors are dealt with in the risks and uncertainties section below.
Financial results and position
The group has no revenues from the operation of its properties. The loss for the year ended 31 March 2018 after tax was £278,189 compared to a loss of £307,968 in the 2017 fiscal year. The administrative and other costs excluding investment income and finance charges were £109,677 compared to £141,022 in the previous year.
During the year there were no additions to fixed assets (2017 - nil) and £100,319 (2017 - £84,196) was capitalised in respect of the Parys Mountain property as mineral property exploration and evaluation.
At 31 March 2018 the group held mineral property exploration and evaluation assets with a carrying value of £15.0 million. These carrying values are supported by the results of the 2017 Scoping Study may not reflect the realizable value of the properties if they were offered for sale at this time.
The group’s cash balance at 31 March 2018 was £137,113 (2017 - £392,293) the reduction being due to ongoing operating and capital expenses. The foreign exchange loss of £42 (2017 – gain £178) shown in the income statement arises on cash balances held in Swedish Krona (in 2017 there was also a Canadian dollar balance).
At 31 March 2018 the company had 177,608,051 ordinary shares in issue, unchanged from the previous year.
Financial instruments
The group’s use of financial instruments is described in note 24.
Employment, community and donations
The group is an equal opportunity employer in all respects and aims for high standards from and for its employees. At 31 March 2018 the company had five male directors; there were no female directors or employees. It also aims to be a valued and responsible member of the communities which it operates in or affects. There are no social, community or human rights issues which require the provision of further information in this report.
Environment
The group currently has no operations and consequently its effect on the environment is very slight, being limited to the operation of two small offices, where recycling and energy usage minimisation are encouraged. It is not practical or useful to quantify the effects of these measures.
Risks and uncertainties
The directors have carried out a robust assessment of the principal risks facing the group, including those that would threaten its business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity. In conducting its business the group faces a number of risks and uncertainties some of which have been described above in regard to particular projects. The board believes the principal risks facing the group are adequately disclosed in these financial statements and that there are no other risks of comparable magnitude which need to be disclosed. In reviewing the risks facing the group, the board considers it is sufficiently close to the group’s operations and aware of its activities to be able to adequately monitor risk without the establishment of any formal process. The group may become subject to risks against which it cannot insure or against which it may elect not to insure because of high premium costs or other reasons. However, there are also risks and uncertainties of a nature common to all mineral projects and these are summarised below.
General mining risks
Actual results relating to, amongst other things, mineral reserves, mineral resources, results of exploration, capital costs, mining production costs and reclamation and post closure costs, could differ materially from those currently anticipated by reason of factors such as changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets, changes in demand and prices for minerals that the group expects to produce, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments in areas in which the group operates, technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with the group’s activities, labour relations, costs and changing foreign exchange rates and other matters.
The mining industry is competitive in all of its phases. There is competition within the mining industry for the discovery and acquisition of properties considered to have commercial potential. The group faces competition from other mining companies in connection with the acquisition and retention of properties, mineral claims, leases and other mineral interests as well as for the recruitment and retention of qualified employees and other personnel.
Development and liquidity risk
At March 31, 2018, the group had limited working capital and had not achieved profitable operations and will need to generate additional financial resources to fund its planned optimization and development programmes at Parys Mountain. The group has relied primarily on equity financings to fund its working capital requirements and on previous occasions has also relied on its largest shareholder, Juno Limited, for financial support and may be required to do so in the future to ensure the group will have adequate funds for its current activities. There is a risk that additional funding may not be available on a timely basis or on acceptable terms. Development of the Parys Mountain project will be dependent on raising further funds from various sources.
Exploration and development risk
Exploration for minerals and development of mining operations involve risks, many of which are outside the group’s control. Current operations are in politically stable environments and hence unlikely to be subject to expropriation but exploration by its nature is subject to uncertainties and unforeseen or unwanted results are always possible.
Metal price risks
The prices of metals fluctuate widely and are affected by many factors outside the group’s control. The relative prices of metals and future expectations for such prices have a significant impact on the market sentiment for investment in mining and mineral exploration companies. Metal price fluctuations may be either exacerbated or mitigated by currency fluctuations which affect the amount which might be received in sterling.
Foreign exchange risk
LIM is a Canadian company; Angmag AB and GIAB are Swedish companies. Accordingly, the value of the holdings in these companies is affected by exchange rate risks. Operations at Parys Mountain are in the UK and exchange rate risks are minor. Most of the cash balance at the year end was held in sterling – see notes 17 and 24.
Permitting, environment and social risk
The group holds planning permissions for the development of the Parys Mountain property but further consents will be required to carry out proposed activities and these may be subject to various operational conditions and reclamation requirements.
Employee and personnel risk
The group is dependent on the services of a small number of key executives specifically the chairman, chief executive and finance director. The loss of these persons or the group’s inability to attract and retain additional highly skilled and experienced employees for any areas in which the group might engage may adversely affect its business or future operations.
This report was approved by the board of directors on 31 July 2018 and signed on its behalf by:
Bill Hooley
Chief executive officer
Directors report
The directors are pleased to submit their report and the audited accounts for the year ended 31 March 2018.
The corporate governance statement which follows forms part of this report. The principal activities of the group and other information is set out in the strategic report section preceding this report. Certain matters relating to financial performance, risk exposure and management, and future developments which are required to be disclosed in the directors report have instead been included within the strategic report.
Directors
The names of the directors are shown in the directors’ remuneration report and biographical details are shown on the inside rear cover. All directors remain in office. It is the company’s procedure to submit re-election resolutions for all directors at the annual general meeting. The company maintains a directors’ and officers’ liability policy on normal commercial terms which includes third party indemnity provisions. The powers of the directors are described in the Corporate Governance Report.
With regard to the appointment and replacement of directors, the company is governed by its Articles, the Corporate Governance Code, the Companies Act and related legislation. The Articles themselves may be amended by special resolution of the shareholders. Under the Articles, any director appointed by the board during the year must retire at the AGM following his appointment. In addition, the Articles require that one-third of the remaining directors retire by rotation at each general meeting and seek re-appointment. However it is now the company’s practice to submit re-election resolutions for all directors at each AGM.
Directors’ interests in material contracts
Juno Limited (Juno), which is registered in Bermuda, holds 32.6% of the company’s ordinary share capital. The company has a controlling shareholder agreement and working capital agreement with Juno. Advances made under the working capital agreement are shown in note 19. Apart from these advances and interest charges there were no transactions between the group and Juno or its group during the year. An independent committee reviews and approves any transactions and potential transactions with Juno. Danesh Varma is a director and, through his family interests, a significant shareholder of Juno.
Bill Hooley and Danesh Varma are directors of Grangesberg Iron AB and of the special purpose vehicle Eurmag AB. Danesh Varma has been associated with the Grangesberg project since 2007 when he became a director of Mikula Mining Limited, a company subsequently renamed Eurang Limited, previously involved in the Grangesberg project. He did not take part in the decision to enter into the Grangesberg project when this was approved by the board. The group has a liability to Eurmag AB, a subsidiary of Eurang, amounting to £280,835 at the year end (2017 – £297,570). See also note 25.
There are no other contracts of significance in which any director has or had during the year a material interest.
Substantial shareholders
At 20 July 2018 the following shareholder had advised the company of an interest in the issued ordinary share capital:
Juno Limited notified an interest in 57,924,248 shares representing 32.6% of the issued ordinary shares.
Shares
Allotment authorities and disapplication of pre-emption rights
The directors would usually wish to allot any new share capital on a pre-emptive basis, however in the light of the group’s potential requirement to raise further funds for the acquisition of new mineral ventures, other activities and working capital, they believe that it is appropriate to have a larger amount available for issue at their discretion without pre-emption than is normal or recommended for larger listed companies. At this year's annual general meeting, the directors will seek a renewal and replacement of the company's existing share allotment authorities.
The authority sought in resolution 11 of the notice of the AGM is to enable the directors to allot new shares and grant rights to subscribe for, or convert other securities into shares, up to a nominal value of £590,000 (59,000,000 ordinary shares) which is approximately one third of the total issued ordinary share capital of the company as at 20 July 2018. The directors will consider issuing shares if they believe it would be appropriate to do so in respect of business opportunities that arise consistent with the company's strategic objectives. The directors have no present intention of exercising this general authority, other than in connection with the potential issue of shares pursuant to the company's employee share and incentive plans.
The purpose of resolution 12 is to authorise the directors to allot new shares pursuant to the general authority given by resolution 11 in connection with a pre-emptive offer or offers to holders of other equity securities if required by the rights of those securities or as the board otherwise considers necessary, or otherwise up to an aggregate nominal amount of £440,000 (44,000,000 ordinary shares). This aggregate nominal amount represents approximately 25% of the issued ordinary share capital of the company at 20 July 2018. Whilst such authority is in excess of the 5% of existing issued ordinary share capital which is commonly accepted and recommended for larger listed companies, it will provide additional flexibility which the directors believe is in the best interests of the group in its present circumstances. The authority sought under resolution 12 will expire on 31 December 2018. The directors intend to seek renewal of this authority at future annual general meetings.
Rights and obligations attaching to shares
The rights and obligations attaching to the ordinary and deferred shares are set out in the Articles of Association. Details of the issued share capital are shown in note 21. Details of employee share schemes are set out in the Directors Remuneration Report and in note 22.
Each ordinary share carries the right to one vote at general meetings of the company. Holders of deferred shares, which are of negligible value, are not entitled to attend, speak or vote at any general meeting of the company, nor are they entitled to receive notice of general meetings.
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act 2006, the rights attached to any class may be varied with the consent of the holders of three-quarters in nominal value of the issued shares of the class or with the sanction of an extraordinary resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of the class.
There are no restrictions on the transfer of the company’s shares.
Voting rights
Votes may be exercised at general meetings in relation to the business being transacted either in person, by proxy or, in relation to corporate members, by corporate representative. The Articles provide that forms of proxy shall be submitted not less than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a working day) before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting.
No member shall be entitled to vote at any meeting unless all monies presently payable in respect of their shares have been paid. Furthermore, no member shall be entitled to attend or vote at any meeting if he has been served with a notice after failing to provide the company with information concerning interests in his shares.
Significant agreements and change of control
There are no agreements between the company and its directors or employees that provide for compensation for loss of office or employment that may occur because of a takeover bid. The company’s share plans contain provisions relating to a change of control. Outstanding awards and options would normally vest and become exercisable on a change of control, subject to the satisfaction of any performance conditions.
Dividend
The group has no revenues and the directors are unable to recommend a dividend (2017 – nil).
Going concern
The directors have considered the business activities of the group as well as its principal risks and uncertainties as set out in this report. When doing so they have carefully applied the guidance given in the Financial Reporting Council’s documents ‘Going concern and liquidity risk: Guidance for directors of UK companies 2009’ and ‘Guidance on Risk Management, Internal Control and Related Financial and Business Reporting’ issued in September 2014.
The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis. The validity of the going concern basis is dependent on finance being available for the continuing working capital requirements of the group for the foreseeable future, being a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of the accounts. During the year the group depleted its working capital. At 31 March 2018, the group had cash and cash equivalent reserves of £137,000 and net assets of £12 million and will need to generate additional financial resources to fund its planned optimization and development programmes. Based on the current cash reserves and committed support from its largest shareholder, Juno Limited, the group has sufficient finance available for the continuing working capital requirements of the group on a status quo basis for at least twelve months from the date of the financial statements.
The group will need to generate additional financial resources to meet its planned business objectives, progress the ongoing development of the Parys Mountain project and continue as a going concern. The plans to phase the development of the project by undertaking the various optimisation programmes and completing a prefeasibility or feasibility study to progress the Parys Mountain Mine towards production require interim funding to finance the further studies and optimisation programmes and, in the longer term, senior financing to fund the capital and development costs to put the Parys Mountain Mine into production.
The group has relied primarily on equity financings to fund its working capital requirements and on previous occasions the group has relied on its largest shareholder, Juno Limited, for financial support and may be required to do so in the future to ensure the group will have adequate funds for its current activities and to continue as a going concern.
The directors recognise that the continuing operations of the group are dependent upon its ability to raise adequate financing and that there is a risk that additional funding may not be available on a timely basis or on acceptable terms. The directors are actively pursuing various financing options with certain shareholders and financial institutions regarding proposals for financing and have engaged in discussions with a range of investors, including a number of private equity funds. Whilst these discussions are not finalised the directors have reasonable expectations that these financing discussions will be successful and therefore the financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis. However, given the limited financial resources currently available, and that there is no guarantee that such funding will be available in the short term, there is a risk that the group will not have sufficient financial resources to fund its short-term project funding requirements, and therefore there exists a material uncertainty concerning the ability of the group and the company to continue as a going concern.
Greenhouse gas emissions
The group does not itself undertake any activities or processes which lead to the production of greenhouse gases. The extent to which its administrative and management functions result in greenhouse gas emissions is slight and the directors do not believe that any useful purpose would be served by attempting to quantify the amounts of these emissions.
Report on payments to governments
The group is required to disclose payments made to governments in countries where exploration or extraction activities are undertaken and hereby reports that any such payments made in the year were below the minimum disclosable level.
Post balance sheet events
There are no post balance sheet events to report.
Statement of directors’ responsibilities
The directors are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements. The directors are required to prepare the financial statements for the group in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (“IFRSâ€) and have also elected to prepare financial statements for the company in accordance with IFRS. Company law requires the directors to prepare group and parent company financial statements for each financial year. Under that law they are required to the prepare the financial statements in accordance with IFRS, the Companies Act 2006 and, in relation to the group financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation.
Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the group and parent company financial statements and of their profit and loss for that period.
In preparing the financial statements the directors are required to:
The directors confirm that they consider the annual report and accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the company and group’s performance, business model and strategy.
The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the parent company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the parent company and the group and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the parent company and the group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Under applicable law and regulations the, the directors are also responsible for preparing a Strategic Report, Directors’ Report, Remuneration Report and Corporate Governance Statement that comply with that law and those regulations.
The directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the group website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Each of the directors, whose names and functions are listed on the inside rear cover, confirm that, to the best of their knowledge:
Auditor
Each of the directors in office at the date of approval of the annual report confirms that so far as they are aware there is no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditor is unaware and that each director has taken all of the steps which they ought to have taken as a director in order to make themselves aware of that information and to establish that the company’s auditor is aware of that information. This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of s418 of the Companies Act 2006.
During the year the company invited tenders from three firms including Mazars in respect of the audit and decided to retain Mazars as auditor, consequently a resolution to reappoint Mazars LLP as auditor and to authorise the directors to fix their remuneration will be proposed at the annual general meeting.
This report was approved by the board of directors on 31 July 2018 and signed on its behalf by:
Danesh Varma
Company Secretary
Independent auditor’s report to the members of Anglesey Mining plc
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Anglesey Mining plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 March 2018 which comprise the Group Income Statement, the Group Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Group and Company Statements of Financial Position, the Group and Company Statements of Changes in Equity, the Group and Company Statements of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union and, as regards the parent company financial statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.
In our opinion:
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, as applied to listed entities and public interest entities and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Material uncertainty related to going concern
We draw attention to Note 2 in the financial statements concerning the applicability of the going concern basis of preparation. As detailed in the financial statements and the Strategic Report, the parent company and group are not generating revenue. Its business model requires generation of additional financial resources to meet its planned business objectives and to progress the ongoing development of the Parys Mountain project.
At 31 March 2018 the group and parent company had net assets of £12m and £11m respectively and cash and cash equivalent reserves of £137k and £133k. During the year, the group has depleted their remaining cash balance and will need to generate additional financial resources to fund its planned optimization and development programs. The group is reliant on equity financings or further support from the major shareholder, Juno Limited.
In Note 2, the directors explain that to date they have successfully raised funds to finance ongoing expenditure and that they are in the process of securing additional funding sufficient to finance the next steps in order to progress the development of the Parys Mountain project. As the directors are confident that the group will raise the additional funding, they have prepared the accounts on the going concern basis. However, until the group secures sufficient investment to fund the short-term project funding requirements as described in Note 2, there is a material uncertainty that casts a significant doubt about the group’s and parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.
Conclusions relating to principal risks, going concern and viability statement
Other than as above under ‘Material uncertainty related to going concern’, we have nothing to report in respect of the following information in the annual report, in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you whether we have anything material to add or draw attention to:
Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) we identified, including those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
Key audit matter | Our response |
Impairment of exploration and evaluation asset (group and company) The group has rights to explore and mine the Parys Mountain site for a number of years and have recently completed a further scoping study reaffirming the facts from old reports. As indicated in the new study reports, there are further studies required to optimise and enhance the project ahead of development. There is a risk that accounting criteria associated with the capitalisation of exploration and evaluation expenditure may no longer be appropriate and that capitalised costs exceed the value in use. Any assessment of the value in use is highly judgemental based on a combination of independent experts studies and directors’ assessment of long term metal commodity prices, the estimated mineral deposits, costs associated with mineral extraction and sale, discount rates , exchange rate factors and group’s ability to raise finances. |
Our audit procedures included, but were not limited to: - Review of the new scoping study report, consideration of the independence and qualifications of experts used by management to perform these studies; - Challenge the consistency of management’s assumptions and forward looking information included in the impairment model; - Performing a sensitivity analysis on key assumptions used by the management in their assessment; - An arithmetic review of the impairment model prepared by management; and - Assessment of adequacy and completeness of the relevant financial statement disclosures. Based on the work performed above, no impairment to the exploration and evaluation asset was noted. |
Impairment of investment in subsidiary (company) The cost of the investment in and loan due from the subsidiary, Parys Mountain Mines Limited, held in the balance sheet of the company, is supported by the future cash flows associated with the recovery of the exploration and evaluation assets following the development of the Parys Mountain site held by Parys Mountain Mines Limited. If there were impairment in the exploration and evaluation assets included above, this would have a direct impact on the carrying value of the investment in and the loan due from the subsidiary. Under the accounting policy included in Note 2 of the financial statements, investments are held at cost less accumulated impairments therefore there is a risk that the investment in subsidiary undertaking is impaired as a result of indicators within the underlying assets of the subsidiary, the exploration and evaluation asset discussed above. |
Our audit procedures included, but were not limited to: - Consideration of the results of the impairment review of the underlying exploration and evaluation asset held within the subsidiary; and - Assessment of the completeness and accuracy of the disclosures in the financial statements, using our financial reporting advisory team where necessary Based on the work performed, no impairment to the investment in subsidiary undertakings was noted. |
Our application of materiality
We apply the concept of materiality in planning and performing our audit, in evaluating the effect of identified misstatements on the financial statements, and in forming our audit opinion. The level of materiality we set is based on our assessment of the magnitude of misstatements that, individually or in aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have influence on the economic decisions of the users of the financial statements.
We established materiality based on:
We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to that committee all identified corrected and uncorrected audit differences in excess of £11,000 for the group and in excess of £7,000 for the parent company (representing 3% of financial statement materiality) together with differences below that threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds.
The range of performance materiality used within the components for the purposes of the group audit was £3,000 to £224,000.
An overview of the scope of our audit
We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed sufficient work to be able to give an opinion on the financial statements as a whole, taking into account the group’s and parent company’s accounting processes and controls, and the industry in which it operates. We used the outputs of a risk assessment, our understanding of the group and the parent company, and we also considered qualitative factors in order to ensure that we obtained sufficient coverage across all financial statement line items.
Our audit involved obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. The risks of material misstatement that had the greatest effect on our audit, including the allocation of our resources and effort, are discussed under “Key audit matters†within this report.
The legal entities within the group account for 100% of the group’s operating loss, 100% of net assets and 100% of total assets, all of which were subject to full scope audits for the year ended 31 March 2018. The audit of all the entities within the group was undertaken by the group audit team.
Other information
The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
In this context, we also have nothing to report in regard to our responsibility to specifically address the following items in the other information and to report as uncorrected material misstatements of the other information where we conclude that those items meet the following conditions:
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, the part of the directors’ remuneration report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in:
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
Responsibilities of Directors
As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 12, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the group or the parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Other matters which we are required to address
Following the recommendation of the audit committee, we were reappointed by the Board of Directors on 21 February 2018 to audit the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2018 and subsequent financial periods. The period of total uninterrupted engagement since reappointment is 1 year, covering the year ended 31 March 2018.
The non-audit services prohibited by the FRC’s Ethical Standard were not provided to the group or the parent company and we remain independent of the group and the parent company in conducting our audit.
Our audit opinion is consistent with the additional report to the audit committee.
Use of the audit report
This report is made solely to the company’s members as a body in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members as a body for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Robert Neate (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of Mazars LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor
Tower Bridge House, St. Katharine’s Way, London, E1W 1DD
31 July 2018
Group income statement
All attributable to equity holders of the company
Notes | Year ended 31 March 2018 | Year ended 31 March 2017 | ||
All operations are continuing | £ | £ | ||
Revenue | - | - | ||
Expenses | (109,677) | (141,022) | ||
Equity-settled employee benefits | 22 | (9,324) | (9,479) | |
Investment income | 6 | 121 | 146 | |
Finance costs | 7 | (159,267) | (157,791) | |
Foreign exchange movement | (42) | 178 | ||
Loss before tax | 4 | (278,189) | (307,968) | |
Taxation | 8 | - | - | |
Loss for the period | (278,189) | (307,968) | ||
Loss per share | ||||
Basic - pence per share | 9 | (0.2)p | (0.2)p | |
Diluted - pence per share | 9 | (0.2)p | (0.2)p | |
Group statement of comprehensive income
Loss for the period | (278,189) | (307,968) | ||
Other comprehensive income | ||||
Items that may subsequently be reclassified to profit or loss: | ||||
Exchange difference on translation of foreign holding |
31,489 | (35,053) | ||
Total comprehensive loss for the period | (246,700) | (343,021) | ||
Group statement of financial position
31 March 2018 | 31 March 2017 | |||
Notes | £ | £ | ||
Assets | ||||
Non-current assets | ||||
Mineral property exploration and evaluation | 10 | 15,111,141 | 15,010,822 | |
Property, plant and equipment | 11 | 204,687 | 204,687 | |
Investments | 14 | 86,660 | 86,660 | |
Deposit | 15 | 123,227 | 123,118 | |
15,525,715 | 15,425,287 | |||
Current assets | ||||
Other receivables | 16 | 19,790 | 23,603 | |
Cash and cash equivalents | 17 | 137,113 | 392,293 | |
156,903 | 415,896 | |||
Total assets | 15,682,618 | 15,841,183 | ||
Liabilities | ||||
Current liabilities | ||||
Trade and other payables | 18 | (65,870) | (114,557) | |
(65,870) | (114,557) | |||
Net current assets | 91,033 | 301,339 | ||
Non-current liabilities | ||||
Loans | 19 | (3,543,236) | (3,415,738) | |
Long term provision | 20 | (50,000) | (50,000) | |
(3,593,236) | (3,465,738) | |||
Total liabilities | (3,659,106) | (3,580,295) | ||
Net assets | 12,023,512 | 12,260,888 | ||
Equity | ||||
Share capital | 21 | 7,286,914 | 7,286,914 | |
Share premium | 10,171,986 | 10,171,986 | ||
Currency translation reserve | (42,021) | (73,510) | ||
Retained losses | (5,393,367) | (5,124,502) | ||
Total shareholders' funds | 12,023,512 | 12,260,888 | ||
The financial statements of Anglesey Mining plc which include the notes to the accounts on pages 33 to 48 were
approved by the board of directors, authorised for issue on 31 July 2018 and signed on its behalf by:
John F. Kearney, Chairman
Danesh Varma, Finance Director
Company statement of financial position
31 March 2018 | 31 March 2017 | ||||
Notes | £ | £ | |||
Assets | |||||
Non-current assets | |||||
Investments | 13 | 14,325,116 | 14,228,552 | ||
14,325,116 | 14,228,552 | ||||
Current assets | |||||
Other receivables | 16 | 5,772 | 12,759 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents | 17 | 132,589 | 388,880 | ||
138,361 | 401,639 | ||||
Total assets | 14,463,477 | 14,630,191 | |||
Liabilities | |||||
Current liabilities | |||||
Trade and other payables | 18 | (54,121) | (107,571) | ||
(54,121) | (107,571) | ||||
Net current assets | 84,240 | 294,068 | |||
Non-current liabilities | |||||
Loan | 19 | (3,262,401) | (3,118,168) | ||
(3,262,401) | (3,118,168) | ||||
Total liabilities | (3,316,522) | (3,225,739) | |||
Net assets | 11,146,955 | 11,404,452 | |||
Equity | |||||
Share capital | 21 | 7,286,914 | 7,286,914 | ||
Share premium | 10,171,986 | 10,171,986 | |||
Retained losses | (6,311,945) | (6,054,448) | |||
Shareholders' equity | 11,146,955 | 11,404,452 | |||
The company reported a loss for the year ended 31 March 2018 of £266,821 (2017 - £295,855). The financial statements
of Anglesey Mining plc registered number 1849957 which include the notes to the accounts were approved by the
board of directors and authorised for issue on 31 July 2018 and signed on its behalf by:
John F. Kearney, Chairman
Danesh Varma, Finance Director
Statements of changes in equity
All attributable to equity holders of the company.
Group | Share capital |
Share premium |
Currency translation reserve | Retained losses | Total | |
£ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
Equity at 1 April 2016 | 7,116,914 | 9,848,949 | (38,457) | (4,826,013) | 12,101,393 | |
Total comprehensive loss for the year: | ||||||
Loss for the year | - | - | - | (307,968) | (307,968) | |
Exchange difference on translation of foreign holding |
- | - | (35,053) | - | (35,053) | |
Total comprehensive loss for the year | - | - | (35,053) | (307,968) | (343,021) | |
Transactions with owners: | ||||||
Shares issued | 170,000 | 365,200 | - | - | 535,200 | |
Share issue expenses | - | (42,163) | - | - | (42,163) | |
Equity-settled employee benefits | - | - | - | 9,479 | 9,479 | |
Equity at 31 March 2017 | 7,286,914 | 10,171,986 | (73,510) | (5,124,502) | 12,260,888 | |
Total comprehensive loss for the year: | ||||||
Loss for the year | - | - | - | (278,189) | (278,189) | |
Exchange difference on translation of foreign holding |
- | - | 31,489 | - | 31,489 | |
Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year | - | - | 31,489 | (278,189) | (246,700) | |
Transactions with owners: | ||||||
Equity-settled employee benefits | - | - | - | 9,324 | 9,324 | |
Equity at 31 March 2018 | 7,286,914 | 10,171,986 | (42,021) | (5,393,367) | 12,023,512 | |
Company | Share capital |
Share premium |
Retained losses |
Total | ||
£ | £ | £ | £ | |||
Equity at 1 April 2016 | 7,116,914 | 9,848,949 | (5,768,072) | 11,197,791 | ||
Total comprehensive loss for the year: | ||||||
Loss for the year | - | - | (295,855) | (295,855) | ||
Total comprehensive loss for the year | - | - | (295,855) | (295,855) | ||
Transactions with owners: | ||||||
Shares issued | 170,000 | 365,200 | - | 535,200 | ||
Share issue expenses | - | (42,163) | - | (42,163) | ||
Equity-settled employee benefits | - | - | 9,479 | 9,479 | ||
Equity at 31 March 2017 | 7,286,914 | 10,171,986 | (6,054,448) | 11,404,452 | ||
Total comprehensive loss for the year: | ||||||
Loss for the year | - | - | (266,821) | (266,821) | ||
Total comprehensive loss for the year | - | - | (266,821) | (266,821) | ||
Transactions with owners: | ||||||
Equity-settled employee benefits | - | - | 9,324 | 9,324 | ||
Equity at 31 March 2018 | 7,286,914 | 10,171,986 | (6,311,945) | 11,146,955 | ||
Group statement of cash flows
Notes | Year ended 31 March 2018 | Year ended 31 March 2017 | ||
£ | £ | |||
Operating activities | ||||
Loss for the period | (278,189) | (307,968) | ||
Adjustments for: | ||||
Investment income | 6 | (121) | (146) | |
Finance costs | 7 | 159,267 | 157,791 | |
Equity-settled employee benefits | 22 | 9,324 | 9,479 | |
Foreign exchange movement | 42 | (178) | ||
(109,677) | (141,022) | |||
Movements in working capital | ||||
Decrease in receivables | 3,813 | 9,156 | ||
Decrease in payables | (53,730) | (9,632) | ||
Net cash used in operating activities | (159,594) | (141,498) | ||
Investing activities | ||||
Investment income | 12 | 106 | ||
Mineral property exploration and evaluation | (95,556) | (96,034) | ||
Net cash used in investing activities | (95,544) | (95,928) | ||
Financing activities | ||||
Loans | - | 125,000 | ||
Share issue proceeds net of expenses | - | 493,037 | ||
Net cash generated from financing activities | - | 618,037 | ||
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents | (255,138) | 380,611 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents at start of period | 392,293 | 11,504 | ||
Foreign exchange movement | (42) | 178 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 17 | 137,113 | 392,293 | |
Company statement of cash flows
Notes | Year ended 31 March 2018 | Year ended 31 March 2017 | ||
£ | £ | |||
Operating activities | ||||
Loss for the period | 23 | (266,821) | (295,855) | |
Adjustments for: | ||||
Equity-settled employee benefits | 9,324 | 9,479 | ||
Finance costs | 144,234 | 140,967 | ||
(113,263) | (145,409) | |||
Movements in working capital | ||||
Decrease in receivables | 6,987 | 2,674 | ||
Decrease in payables | (53,451) | (9,864) | ||
Net cash used in operating activities | (159,727) | (152,599) | ||
Investing activities | ||||
Investments and long term loans | (96,564) | (84,425) | ||
Net cash used in investing activities | (96,564) | (84,425) | ||
Financing activities | ||||
Loans | - | 125,000 | ||
Share issues net of expenses | - | 493,037 | ||
Net cash generated from financing activities | - | 618,037 | ||
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents | (256,291) | 381,013 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents at start of period | 388,880 | 7,867 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 17 | 132,589 | 388,880 | |
Notes to the financial statements
1 General information
Anglesey Mining plc is domiciled and incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act. The nature of the group’s operations and its principal activities are set out in note 3 and in the strategic report. The registered office address is as shown on the rear cover.
These financial statements are presented in pounds sterling because that is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the group has been operating. Foreign operations are included in accordance with the policies set out in note 2.
2 Significant accounting policies
Basis of Accounting
The group and company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union and therefore the group financial statements comply with Article 4 of the EU IAS Regulation.
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis except for the fair valuation of certain financial assets. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
Going concern
The directors have considered the business activities of the group as well as its principal risks and uncertainties as set out in this report. When doing so they have carefully applied the guidance given in the Financial Reporting Council’s documents ‘Going concern and liquidity risk: Guidance for directors of UK companies 2009’ and ‘Guidance on Risk Management, Internal Control and Related Financial and Business Reporting’ issued in September 2014.
The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis. The validity of the going concern basis is dependent on finance being available for the continuing working capital requirements of the group for the foreseeable future, being a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of the accounts. During the year the group depleted its working capital. At 31 March 2018, the group had cash and cash equivalent reserves of £137,000 and net assets of £12 million and will need to generate additional financial resources to fund its planned optimization and development programmes. Based on the current cash reserves and committed support from its largest shareholder, Juno Limited, the group has sufficient finance available for the continuing working capital requirements of the group on a status quo basis for at least twelve months from the date of the financial statements.
The group will need to generate additional financial resources to meet its planned business objectives, progress the ongoing development of the Parys Mountain project and continue as a going concern. The plans to phase the development of the project by undertaking the various optimisation programmes and completing a prefeasibility or feasibility study to progress the Parys Mountain Mine towards production require interim funding to finance the further studies and optimisation programmes and, in the longer term, senior financing to fund the capital and development costs to put the Parys Mountain Mine into production.
The group has relied primarily on equity financings to fund its working capital requirements and on previous occasions the group has relied on its largest shareholder, Juno Limited, for financial support and may be required to do so in the future to ensure the group will have adequate funds for its current activities and to continue as a going concern.
The directors recognise that the continuing operations of the group are dependent upon its ability to raise adequate financing and that there is a risk that additional funding may not be available on a timely basis or on acceptable terms. The directors are actively pursuing various financing options with certain shareholders and financial institutions regarding proposals for financing and have engaged in discussions with a range of investors, including a number of private equity funds. Whilst these discussions are not finalised the directors have reasonable expectations that these financing discussions will be successful and therefore the financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis. However, given the limited financial resources currently available, and that there is no guarantee that such funding will be available in the short term, there is a risk that the group will not have sufficient financial resources to fund its short-term project funding requirements, and therefore there exists a material uncertainty concerning the ability of the group and the company to continue as a going concern.
Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the company and entities controlled by the company (its subsidiaries) made up to 31 March each year. Control is achieved where the company has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an investee entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
On acquisition, the assets and liabilities and contingent liabilities of a subsidiary are measured at their fair values at the date of acquisition. Any excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired is recognised as goodwill. Any deficiency of the cost of acquisition below the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired (i.e. discount on acquisition) is credited to the income statement in the period of acquisition. The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the group income statement from the effective date of acquisition or up to the effective date of disposal, as appropriate.
Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by the group. All intra-group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.
Revenue recognition
Interest income is accrued on a time basis, by reference to the principal outstanding and at the effective interest rate applicable, which is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the financial asset to that asset’s net carrying amount.
Foreign currencies
Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. At the end of each reporting period, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the period end date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rates prevailing at the date when the fair value was determined. Gains and losses arising on retranslation are included in net profit or loss for the period.
On consolidation, the assets and liabilities of the group’s overseas operations are translated at exchange rates prevailing on the period end date. Exchange differences arising, if any, are classified as items of other comprehensive income and transferred to the group’s translation reserve within equity.
Such translation differences are reclassified to profit or loss, and recognised as income or as expense, in the period in which there is a disposition of the operation.
Segmental analysis
Operating segments are identified on the basis of internal reports about components of the group that are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision-maker.
Retirement benefit costs
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due. There are no defined benefit retirement schemes.
Equity-settled employee benefits
The group provides equity-settled benefits to certain employees. Equity-settled employee benefits are measured at fair value at the date of grant. The fair value determined at the grant date is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on the group’s estimate of shares that will eventually vest and adjusted for the effect of non-market based vesting conditions.
Fair value is measured by use of a Black-Scholes model.
Taxation
Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the period end liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.
Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, and interests in joint ventures, except where the group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
The carrying amount of any deferred tax assets is reviewed at each period end date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered.
Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.
The charge for current tax is based on the results for the year as adjusted for items which are non-taxable or disallowed. It is calculated using rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.
Property, plant and equipment
The group’s freehold land is stated in the statement of financial position at cost. The directors consider that the residual value of buildings, based on prices prevailing at the date of acquisition and at each subsequent reporting date as if the asset were already of the age and in the condition expected at the end of its useful life, is such that any depreciation would not be material.
Plant and office equipment are stated in the statement of financial position at cost, less depreciation. Depreciation is charged on a straight line basis at the annual rate of 25%. Residual values and the useful lives of these assets are also reviewed annually.
Intangible assets - mineral property exploration and evaluation costs
Intangible assets are stated in the statement of financial position at cost, less accumulated amortisation and provisions for impairment.
Costs incurred prior to obtaining the legal rights to explore a mineral property are expensed immediately to the income statement. Mineral property exploration and evaluation costs are capitalised until the results of the projects, which are usually based on geographical areas, are known; these include an allocation of administrative and management costs as determined appropriate to the project by management.
Where a project is successful, the related exploration costs are amortised over the life of the estimated mineral reserve on a unit of production basis. Where a project is terminated, the related exploration costs are expensed immediately. Where no internally-generated intangible asset can be recognised, development expenditure is recognised as an expense in the period in which it is incurred.
Impairment of tangible and intangible assets
The values of mineral properties are reviewed annually for indications of impairment and when these are present a review to determine whether there has been any impairment is carried out. They are written down when any impairment in their value has occurred and are written off when abandoned. Where a provision is made or reversed it is dealt with in the income statement in the period in which it arises.
Investments
Investments in subsidiaries are shown at cost less provisions for impairment in value. Income from investments in subsidiaries together with any related withholding tax is recognised in the income statement in the period to which it relates.
Investments which are not subsidiaries are shown at cost unless there is a practical method of determining a reliable fair value, in which case that fair value is used.
Impairment of investment
Financial assets are assessed for indicators of impairment at the end of each reporting period. Financial assets are considered to be impaired when there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows of the investment have been affected.
For financial assets carried at amortised cost, the amount of the impairment loss recognised is the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at the financial asset's original effective interest rate.
For an equity instrument that does not have a quoted price in an active market, and that is not carried at fair value because its fair value cannot be reliably measured, the amount of the impairment loss is measured as the difference between the carrying amount of the financial asset and the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the current market rate of return for a similar financial asset.
Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the group has a present obligation as a result of a past event and it is probable that the group will be required to settle that obligation. Provisions are measured at the directors’ best estimate of the expenditure required to settle that obligation at the end of the reporting period and are discounted to present value where the effect is material.
Financial instruments
Financial assets and liabilities are initially recognised and subsequently measured based on their classification as “loans and receivablesâ€, “available for sale financial assets†or “other financial liabilitiesâ€.
Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. They are included in current assets, except where they mature more than 12 months after the period end date: these are classified as non-current assets.
(a) Trade and other receivables. Trade and other receivables are measured at initial recognition at fair value and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. Appropriate allowances for estimated irrecoverable amounts are recognised in the income statement when there is objective evidence that the asset is impaired.
(b) Cash and cash equivalents. The group considers all highly liquid investments which are readily convertible into known amounts of cash and have a maturity of three months or less when acquired to be cash equivalents. The management believes that the carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these financial instruments.
(c) Available for sale financial assets. Unlisted shares held by the group that are classified as being AFS are stated at cost on the basis that the shares are not quoted and a reliable fair value is not able to be estimated. Dividends on AFS equity instruments are recognised in profit or loss when the group’s right to receive the dividends is established. The fair value of AFS monetary assets denominated in a foreign currency is determined in that foreign currency and translated at the spot rate at the balance sheet date. The foreign exchange gains and losses that are recognised in profit or loss are determined based on amortised cost of the monetary asset. Other foreign exchange gains and losses are recognised in other comprehensive income.
(d) Trade and other payables. Trade payables are not interest bearing and are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.
(e) Deposits. Deposits are recognised at fair value on initial recognition and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.
(f) Loans. Loans are recognised at fair value on initial recognition and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.
Equity instruments
Equity instruments issued by the company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.
Leases
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee. All other leases are classified as operating leases.
Mining lease payments are recognised as an operating expense in the income statement on a straight line basis over the lease term unless they relate to mineral property exploration and evaluation in which case they are capitalised. There are no finance leases or other operating leases.
New accounting standards
Standards, amendments and interpretations adopted in the current financial year:
The adoption of the following standards, amendments and interpretations in the current year has not had a material impact on the financial statements of the group or the company:
IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows: Amendment in respect of the disclosure initiative
IAS 12 Income Taxes: Amendment in relation to the recognition of deferred tax assets for unrealised losses
Annual Improvements to IFRSs (2014 - 2016): Clarification of the scope of IFRS 12 Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities.
Standards, amendments and interpretations in issue but not yet effective:
Effective date | |
IAS 19 Employee Benefits: Amendment in relation to plan amendment, curtailment or settlement. | 1 January 2019. |
IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures: Amendment in relation to Long-term interests in Associates and Joint Ventures. | 1 January 2018. |
IFRS 2 Share-based Payment: Amendment in relation to classification and measurement of share-based payment transactions. | 1 January 2019. |
IFRS 9 Financial Instruments. | 1 January 2018. |
IFRS 9 Financial Instruments: Amendment in relation to Prepayment features with negative compensation. | 1 January 2019. |
IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers. | 1 January 2018. |
IFRS 16 Leases. | 1 January 2019. |
Annual Improvements to IFRSs (2014 - 2016). | 1 January 2018. |
Annual Improvements to IFRSs (2015 - 2017). | 1 January 2019 pending endorsement. |
Conceptual Framework (Revised) and amendments to related references in IFRS Standards | 1 January 2020 pending endorsement. |
IFRIC 22 Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration. | 1 January 2018. |
IFRIC 23 Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments. | 1 January 2019 pending endorsement. |
The directors’ impact assessment indicates that the adoption of the above pronouncements (with the possible exception of IFRS16) will have no material impact on the financial statements in the period of initial application other than disclosure. The group is not yet generating any revenue consequently the implementation of IFRS15 will have no impact until revenues begin. The directors have not yet fully assessed the impact IFRS16 on these financial statements but believe that since the group is a lessee in respect of mineral leases only, the standard will not be applicable to the group’s financial statements. IFRS 16 takes effect for financial years beginning after 1 January 2019.
There have been no other new or revised International Financial Reporting Standards, International Accounting Standards or Interpretations that are in effect since that last annual report that have a material impact on the financial statements.
Judgements made in applying accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty
The following critical judgements have been made in the process of applying the group’s accounting policies:
(a) In determining the treatment of exploration and evaluation expenditures the directors are required to make estimates and assumptions as to future events and circumstances. There are uncertainties inherent in making such assumptions, especially with regard to: ore resources and the life of a mine; recovery rates; production costs; commodity prices and exchange rates. Assumptions that are valid at the time of estimation may change significantly as new information becomes available and changes in these assumptions may alter the economic status of a mining unit and result in resources or reserves being restated. Operation of a mine and the receipt of cashflows from it are dependent on finance being available to fund the development of the property.
(b) In connection with possible impairment of assets the directors assess each potentially cash generating unit annually to determine whether any indication of impairment exists. The judgements made when doing so are similar to those set out above and are subject to the same uncertainties. See note 10 for further detail.
Nature and purpose of equity reserves
The share premium reserve represents the consideration that has been received in excess of the nominal value of shares on issue of new ordinary share capital, less any direct costs of issue. The currency translation reserve represents the variations on revaluation of overseas foreign subsidiaries and associates. The retained earnings reserve represents profits and losses retained in previous and the current period.
3 Segmental information
The group is engaged in the business of exploring and evaluating the wholly-owned Parys Mountain project in North Wales, managing its interest in the Grangesberg properties and has an investment in the Labrador iron project in eastern Canada. In the opinion of the directors, the group’s activities comprise one class of business which is mine exploration, evaluation and development. The group reports geographical segments; these are the basis on which information is reported to the board. As yet there have been no site expenses incurred in respect of the group’s interest in Grangesberg and management expenses are included in the UK total.
Income statement analysis | ||||||||
2018 | 2017 | |||||||
UK | Sweden | Canada | Total | UK | Sweden | Canada | Total | |
£ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
Expenses | (109,677) | - | - | (109,677) | (141,022) | - | - | (141,022) |
Equity-settled employee benefits | (9,324) | - | - | (9,324) | (9,479) | - | - | (9,479) |
Investment income | 121 | - | - | 121 | 146 | - | - | 146 |
Finance costs | (144,234) | (15,033) | - | (159,267) | (140,967) | (16,824) | - | (157,791) |
Exchange rate loss | (16) | (26) | - | (42) | 136 | 42 | - | 178 |
Loss for the year | (263,130) | (15,059) | - | (278,189) | (291,186) | (16,782) | - | (307,968) |
Assets and liabilities | ||||||||
31 March 2018 | 31 March 2017 | |||||||
UK | Sweden | Canada | Total | UK | Sweden | Canada | Total | |
£ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
Non-current assets | 15,439,055 | 86,659 | 1 | 15,525,715 | 15,338,627 | 86,659 | 1 | 15,425,287 |
Current assets | 155,792 | 1,111 | - | 156,903 | 414,655 | 1,241 | - | 415,896 |
Liabilities | (3,378,271) | (280,835) | - | (3,659,106) | (3,282,725) | (297,570) | - | (3,580,295) |
Net assets/liabilities | 12,216,576 | (193,065) | 1 | 12,023,512 | 12,470,557 | (209,670) | 1 | 12,260,888 |
4 Loss before taxation
The loss before taxation for the year has been arrived at after charging/(crediting): | ||||
2018 | 2017 | |||
£ | £ | |||
Fees payable to the group's auditor: | ||||
for the audit of the annual accounts | 22,000 | 22,000 | ||
for the audit of subsidiaries' accounts | 3,000 | 3,000 | ||
for other services - taxation compliance | - | 2,000 | ||
for other services | - | 800 | ||
Directors' remuneration | - | - | ||
Foreign exchange movement | 42 | (178) | ||
5 Staff costs
The average monthly number of persons employed (including executive directors) was: | ||||
2018 | 2017 | |||
Administrative | 3 | 3 | ||
3 | 3 | |||
Their aggregate remuneration was: | £ | £ | ||
Wages and salaries | 16,425 | 12,630 | ||
Social security costs | 1,422 | 1,325 | ||
Other pension costs | - | - | ||
17,847 | 13,955 | |||
The directors did not receive any remuneration during the year. Further details are provided in the directors’ remuneration report together with information on share options.
6 Investment income
2018 | 2017 | ||||
Loans and receivables | £ | £ | |||
Interest on bank deposits | 12 | 6 | |||
Interest on site re-instatement deposit | 109 | 140 | |||
121 | 146 | ||||
7 Finance costs
2018 | 2017 | ||||
Loans and payables | £ | £ | |||
Loan interest to Juno Limited | 144,234 | 140,967 | |||
Loan interest to Eurmag AB | 15,033 | 16,824 | |||
159,267 | 157,791 | ||||
For both loans the interest shown is accrued and will be repaid together with the loan principal.
8 Taxation
Activity during the year has generated trading losses for taxation purposes which may be offset against investment income and other revenues. Accordingly no provision has been made for Corporation Tax. There is an unrecognised deferred tax asset at 31 March 2018 of £1.4 million (2017 - £1.3 million) which, in view of the group’s trading results, is not considered by the directors to be recoverable in the short term. There are also capital allowances, including mineral extraction allowances, of £12.5 million unclaimed and available at 31 March 2018 (2017 - £12.5 million). No deferred tax asset is recognised in respect of these allowances.
2018 | 2017 | |||
£ | £ | |||
Current tax | - | - | ||
Deferred tax | - | - | ||
Total tax | - | - | ||
Domestic income tax is calculated at 19% of the estimated assessed profit for the year. | ||||
In 2017 the rate used was 20%. | ||||
Taxation for other jurisdictions is calculated at the rates prevailing in the relevant jurisdictions. | ||||
The total charge for the year can be reconciled to the accounting profit or loss as follows: | ||||
Loss for the year | (278,189) | (307,968) | ||
Tax at the domestic income tax rate of 19% (2017 - 20%) |
(52,856) | (61,594) | ||
Tax effect of: | ||||
Expenses that are not deductible in determining taxable result: |
- | - | ||
Equity-settled employee benefits | 1,772 | 1,896 | ||
Unrecognised deferred tax on losses | 51,084 | 59,698 | ||
Total tax | - | - | ||
9 Earnings per ordinary share
2018 | 2017 | |||
£ | £ | |||
Earnings | ||||
Loss for the year | (278,189) | (307,968) | ||
Number of shares | ||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of basic earnings per share | 177,608,051 | 164,276,544 | ||
Shares deemed to be issued for no consideration in respect of employee options |
||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of diluted earnings per share |
177,608,051 | 164,276,544 | ||
Basic earnings per share | (0.2)p | (0.2)p | ||
Diluted earnings per share | (0.2)p | (0.2)p | ||
As the group has a loss for the year ended 31 March 2018 the effect of the outstanding share options is anti-dilutive and diluted earnings are reported to be the same as basic earnings.
10 Mineral property exploration and evaluation costs - group
Parys Mountain | |
Cost | £ |
At 31 March 2016 | 14,926,626 |
Additions - site | 60,886 |
Additions - rentals & charges | 23,310 |
At 31 March 2017 | 15,010,822 |
Additions - site | 64,856 |
Additions - rentals & charges | 35,463 |
At 31 March 2018 | 15,111,141 |
Carrying amount | |
Net book value 2018 | 15,111,141 |
Net book value 2017 | 15,010,822 |
Included in the additions are mining lease expenses of £11,208 (2017 - £16,366).
Potential impairment of mineral property
Accumulated exploration and evaluation expenditure in respect of the Parys Mountain property is carried in the financial statements at cost less any impairment provision, the need for which is reviewed each year.
This year the directors carried out an impairment review with an effective date of 26 March 2018. The directors determined that value-in-use was the appropriate methodology for calculating the recoverable amount of the Parys project, as they consider the asset to be at the development stage from a project perspective, given the ongoing scoping study work, the existence of site infrastructure, the existing 300 metre shaft, 900 metres of horizontal underground development, completed metallurgical testing and current valid planning permission and as they are considering various options regarding developing the asset further which will lead to expected future cash inflows.
In calculating the value in use, the directors have included the cash outflows that are expected to be incurred before the asset is ready for use. The calculation of the recoverable amount was based on the pre-tax discounted future cash flows from the development and operation of the project at a throughput of 1000 tonnes per day over the initial projected mine life of 9 years during which time the indicated resources of 2.1 million tonnes would be mined. The financial model included an assumption of a two year delay before construction activities commence. There may be unexpected further delays due to adverse changes in future mineral prices or delays in respect of financing.
The directors used past experience and an assessment of future conditions, together with external sources of information, to determine the assumptions which were adopted in the preparation of the financial model used to estimate the cashflows.
Key assumptions
These assumptions are unchanged from those used in the impairment assessment of the previous year, except that the exchange rate used in 2017 was US$1.25/£1.00.
Sensitivities
The sensitivity of the assumptions used in the cashflow model which would significantly affect the pre-tax discounted net present value of the projected Parys cashflows were tested. The sensitivities which follow are the variation expressed in percent of each specific assumption which would, on its own, reduce the calculated net present value to the carrying value of the intangible asset in the accounts: copper price -32%, zinc price -8%, lead price -20%, capital expenditure +12%, operating costs +10%, the discount rate +21% (that is a 21% increase in the discount rate applied, not an increase of 16 percentage points) and a reduction in tonnage mined of 10%. The effect of an increased delay before the commencement of project development would be to decrease the net present value by 10% (a decrease in rate, as earlier) for each year of delay. The directors consider the sensitivities resulting from the changes in assumptions stated above to be reasonably possible.
Other than the typical mining industry risk factors already taken into consideration in the mine plan underlying the net present value calculation the directors are not aware of any other risks which it would be reasonable to consider when reviewing these sensitivities.
There are significant inferred resources available to the project, the value of which is not included in the cash flow model as the inferred resources were not incorporated in the underlying mine plan. It is expected that a high proportion of these inferred resources will be converted to indicated resources, or probable reserves, once exploration drilling from underground takes place. Development and mining of these additional resources would increase the projected life of the mine.
Conclusion
Based on the above parameters the directors concluded that no impairment provision is necessary or appropriate to the carrying value of the exploration and evaluation expenditure in respect of the Parys Mountain project. However estimates of the net present value of any project, and particularly one like Parys Mountain, are always subject to many factors and wide margins of error. The directors believe that the estimates and calculations supporting their conclusions have been carefully considered and represent a fair representation of value in use of the property.
11 Property, plant and equipment
Group | Freehold land & property | Plant & equipment | Office equipment | Total |
Cost | £ | £ | £ | £ |
At 31 March 2016, 2017 and 2018 | 204,687 | 17,434 | 5,487 | 227,608 |
Depreciation | ||||
At 31 March 2016, 2017 and 2018 | - | 17,434 | 5,487 | 22,921 |
Carrying amount | ||||
At 31 March 2016, 2017 and 2018 | 204,687 | - | - | 204,687 |
Company | Freehold land & property | Plant & equipment | Office equipment | Total |
Cost | £ | £ | £ | £ |
At 31 March 2016, 2017 and 2018 | - | 17,434 | 5,487 | 22,921 |
Depreciation | ||||
At 31 March 2016, 2017 and 2018 | - | 17,434 | 5,487 | 22,921 |
Carrying amount | ||||
At 31 March 2016, 2017 and 2018 | - | - | - | - |
12 Subsidiaries - company
The subsidiaries of the company at 31 March 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
Name of company | Country of incorporation | Percentage owned | Principal activity |
Parys Mountain Mines Limited1 | England & Wales | 100% | Development of the Parys Mountain mining property |
Parys Mountain Land Limited1 | England & Wales | 100% | Holder of part of the Parys Mountain property |
Parys Mountain Heritage Limited1 | England & Wales | 100% | Holder of part of the Parys Mountain property |
Labrador Iron plc2 | Isle of Man | 100% | Holder of the company’s investment in Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited |
Angmag AB3 | Sweden | 100% | Holder of the company’s investment in GIAB |
Anglo Canadian Exploration (Ace) Limited1 | England & Wales | 100% | Dormant |
Registered office addresses:
1. - Parys Mountain, Amlwch, Anglesey, LL68 9RE
2. - Fort Anne, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 5PD
3. - Box 1703, 111 87 Stockholm, Sweden
13 Investments - company
Shares at cost | Capital contributions | Total | ||||
£ | £ | £ | ||||
At 1 April 2016 | 104,025 | 14,040,102 | 14,144,127 | |||
Advanced | - | 84,425 | 84,425 | |||
At 31 March 2017 | 104,025 | 14,124,527 | 14,228,552 | |||
Advanced | - | 96,564 | 96,564 | |||
At 31 March 2018 | 104,025 | 14,221,091 | 14,325,116 |
The realisation of investments is dependent on finance being available for development and on a number
of other factors. Interest is not charged on capital contributions.
14 Investments - group
Labrador | Grangesberg | Total | |
£ | £ | £ | |
At 1 April 2016 | 1 | 86,659 | 86,660 |
Addition during period | - | - | - |
At 31 March 2017 | 1 | 86,659 | 86,660 |
Addition during period | - | - | - |
At 31 March 2018 | 1 | 86,659 | 86,660 |
LIM
The group’s investment in LIM is now classified as ‘unquoted’. Based on the difficulty of determining a fair market value the directors decided in 2015 to write down the value of the LIM shares to a nominal value of £1.
Grangesberg
The group has, through its Swedish subsidiary Angmag AB, a 6% ownership interest in GIAB, a Swedish company which holds rights over the Grangesberg iron ore deposits. This investment has been initially recognised and subsequently measured at cost, on the basis that the shares are not quoted and a reliable fair value is not able to be estimated. The group has until June 2021 a right of first refusal over a further 51% of the equity of GIAB together with management direction of the activities of GIAB, subject to certain restrictions. The group has significant influence over certain relevant activities of GIAB however equity accounting has not been applied in respect of this influence as the directors consider this would not have any material affect.
15 Deposit
Group | ||||||||
2018 | 2017 | |||||||
£ | £ | |||||||
Site re-instatement deposit | 123,227 | 123,118 | ||||||
This deposit was required and made under the terms of a Section 106 Agreement with the Isle of Anglesey County Council which has granted planning permissions for mining at Parys Mountain. The deposit is refundable upon restoration of the permitted area to the satisfaction of the Planning Authority. The carrying value of the deposit approximates to its fair value.
16 Other receivables
Group | Company | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||
£ | £ | £ | £ | |||||
Other | 19,790 | 23,603 | 5,772 | 12,759 | ||||
The carrying value of the receivables approximates to their fair value.
17 Cash and cash equivalents
Group | Company | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||
£ | £ | £ | £ | |||||
Held in sterling | 136,001 | 389,734 | 132,589 | 388,880 | ||||
Held in Canadian dollars | 1 | 1,318 | - | - | ||||
Held in US dollars | 417 | 467 | - | - | ||||
Held in Swedish krona | 694 | 774 | - | - | ||||
137,113 | 392,293 | 132,589 | 388,880 | |||||
The carrying value of the cash approximates to its fair value.
18 Trade and other payables
Group | Company | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||
£ | £ | £ | £ | |||||
Trade payables | (17,631) | (46,557) | (11,383) | (46,572) | ||||
Other accruals | (48,239) | (68,000) | (42,738) | (60,999) | ||||
(65,870) | (114,557) | (54,121) | (107,571) | |||||
The carrying value of the trade and other payables approximates to their fair value.
19 Loans
Group | Company | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||
£ | £ | £ | £ | |||||
Loan from Juno Limited | (3,262,401) | (3,118,168) | (3,262,401) | (3,118,168) | ||||
Loan from Eurmag AB | (280,835) | (297,570) | - | - | ||||
(3,543,236) | (3,415,738) | (3,262,401) | (3,118,168) | |||||
Juno: There has been no change in the loan principal during the year. The loan is provided under a working capital agreement, denominated in sterling, unsecured and carries interest at 10% per annum on the principal only. It is repayable from any future financing undertaken by the company, or on demand following a notice period of 367 days. The terms of the facility were approved by an independent committee of the board. The carrying value of the loan approximates to its fair value.
Eurmag: There has been no change in the loan principal during the year. The loan arose in connection with the acquisition of the investment in Grangesberg. It is the subject of a letter agreement, denominated in Swedish Krona, is unsecured and carries interest at 6.5% per annum on the principal only. It is repayable from any future financing undertaken by the company, or on demand following a notice period of 367 days. The terms of the facility were approved by an independent committee of the board. The carrying value of the loan approximates to its fair value.
Changes in liabilities arising from financing activities
1 April 2017 | Cash flows | Non cash movements | 31 March 2018 | |
£ | £ | £ | £ | |
Loan from Juno Limited | (3,118,168) | - | (144,233) | (3,262,401) |
Loan from Eurmag AB | (297,570) | - | 16,735 | (280,835) |
(3,415,738) | - | (127,498) | (3,543,236) | |
The Juno loan relates to the group and company. The Eurmag loan relates to the group only. The non cash movements in loans represent accrued interest together with a foreign exchange gain of £31,722 in respect of the loan from Eurmag AB.
20 Long term provision
Group | ||||||||
2018 | 2017 | |||||||
£ | £ | |||||||
Provision for site reinstatement | (50,000) | (50,000) | ||||||
The provision for site reinstatement covers the estimated costs of reinstatement at the Parys Mountain site of the work done and changes made by the group up to the date of the accounts. These costs would be payable on completion of mining activities (which is estimated to be more than 20 years after mining commences) or on earlier abandonment of the site. The provision has not been discounted because the impact of doing so is not material to the financial statements. There are significant uncertainties inherent in the assumptions made in estimating the amount of this provision, which include judgements of changes to the legal and regulatory framework, magnitude of possible contamination and the timing, extent and costs of required restoration and rehabilitation activity.
21 Share capital
Ordinary shares of 1p | Deferred shares of 4p | Total | ||||
Issued and fully paid |
Nominal value £ |
Number | Nominal value £ |
Number | Nominal value £ |
|
At 31 March 2016 | 1,606,081 | 160,608,051 | 5,510,833 | 137,770,835 | 7,116,914 | |
Shares issued for cash | 170,000 | 17,000,000 | - | - | 170,000 | |
At 31 March 2017 and 31 March 2018 |
1,776,081 | 177,608,051 | 5,510,833 | 137,770,835 | 7,286,914 |
The deferred shares are non-voting, have no entitlement to dividends and have negligible rights to return of capital on a winding up.
No shares were issued during the year.
22 Equity-settled employee benefits
The group has two share-based employee remuneration plans: the 2004 Unapproved share option plan which plan has now closed; (all the options outstanding in respect of this plan lapsed during the year and no options were granted or forfeited in the year) and the current 2014 Unapproved share option plan. The terms of these are very similar; each plan provides for a grant price equal to or above the average quoted market price of the ordinary shares for the three trading days prior to the date of grant. All options granted to date have carried a performance criterion, namely that the company's share price performance from the date of grant must exceed that of the companies in the top quartile of the FTSE 100 index. The vesting period for any options granted since 2004 has been one year. Options are forfeited if the employee leaves employment with the group before the options vest.
2018 | 2017 | |||||
Options | Weighted average exercise price in pence | Remaining contractual life in years | Options | Weighted average exercise price in pence | Remaining contractual life in years | |
Outstanding at beginning of period | 8,000,000 | 11.72 | 4,500,000 | 19.27 | ||
Granted during the period | - | - | 3,500,000 | 2.00 | ||
Forfeited during the period | - | - | - | - | ||
Exercised during the period | - | - | - | - | ||
Expired during the period | 3,800,000 | - | - | - | ||
Outstanding at the end of the period | 4,200,000 | 2.50 | 3.1 | 8,000,000 | 11.72 | 2.5 |
Exercisable at the end of the period | 4,200,000 | 2.50 | 3.1 | 4,500,000 | 19.27 | 0.9 |
There were expenses in respect of equity-settled employee remuneration for the year ended 31 March 2018 of £9,324 (2017 – £9,479). This represents the remainder of the charge in relation to options granted in September 2016.
A summary of options granted and outstanding, all of which are over ordinary shares of 1 pence, is as follows:
Scheme | Number | Nominal value £ | Exercise price | Exercisable from | Exercisable until |
2004 Unapproved | 700,000 | 7,000 | 5.00p | 27 March 2010 | 27 March 2019 |
2014 Unapproved | 3,500,000 | 35,000 | 2.00p | 30 September 2017 | 30 September 2021 |
Total | 4,200,000 | 42,000 |
23 Results attributable to Anglesey Mining plc
The loss after taxation in the parent company amounted to £266,821 (2017 loss £295,855). The directors have taken advantage of the exemptions available under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and not presented an income statement for the company alone.
24 Financial instruments
Capital risk management
There have been no changes during the year in the group’s capital risk management policy.
The group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the group will be able to continue as going concerns while optimising the debt and equity balance. The capital structure of the group consists of debt, which includes the borrowings disclosed in note 19, the cash and cash equivalents and equity comprising issued capital, reserves and retained earnings.
The group does not enter into derivative or hedging transactions and it is the group's policy that no trading in financial instruments be undertaken. The main risks arising from the group's financial instruments are currency risk and interest rate risk. The board reviews and agrees policies for managing each of these risks and these are summarised below.
Interest rate risk
The amounts advanced under the Juno loans are at a fixed rate of interest of 10% per annum and those from Eurmag are at a fixed rate of 6.5% per annum. As a result the group is not exposed to interest rate fluctuations. Interest received on cash balances is not material to the group’s operations or results.
The company (Anglesey Mining plc) is exposed to minimal interest rate risks.
Liquidity risk
The group has ensured continuity of funding through a mixture of issues of shares and the working capital agreement with Juno Limited.
Trade creditors are payable on normal credit terms which are usually 30 days. The loans due to Juno and Angmag carry a notice period of 367 days. Juno, in keeping with its practice since drawdown commenced more than 10 years ago, has
indicated that it has no current intention of demanding repayment. No such notice had been received by 20 July 2018 in respect of either of the loans and they are classified as having a maturity date between one and two years from the period end.
Currency risk
The presentational currency of the group and company is pounds sterling. The loan from Juno Limited is denominated in pounds sterling. As a result, the group has no currency exposure in respect of this loan. Currency risk in respect of the book value of the investment in LIM is no longer significant.
In respect of the investment in Grangesberg in Sweden if the rate of exchange between the Swedish Krona and sterling were to weaken against sterling by 10% there would be a loss to the group of £8,686 (2017 - £9,138) and if it were to move in favour of sterling by a similar amount there would be a gain of £10,616 (2017 - £11,168). Regarding liabilities denominated in Krona if the rate of exchange between the Swedish Krona and sterling were to weaken against sterling by 10% there would be a gain to the group of £25,530 (2017 - £27,052) and if it were to move in favour of sterling by a similar amount there would be a loss of £31,204 (2017 - £33,063). These gains or losses would be recorded in other comprehensive income.
Potential exchange variations in respect of other foreign currencies are not material.
Credit risk
The directors consider that the entity has limited exposure to credit risk as the entity has immaterial receivable balances at the year-end on which a third party may default on its contractual obligations. The carrying amount of the group’s financial assets represents its maximum exposure to credit risk. Cash is deposited with BBB or better rated banks.
Group | Available for sale assets | Loans & receivables | ||
31 March 2018 | 31 March 2017 | 31 March 2018 | 31 March 2017 | |
£ | £ | £ | £ | |
Investments | 1 | 1 | - | - |
Deposit | - | - | 123,227 | 123,118 |
Other receivables | - | - | 19,790 | 23,603 |
Cash and cash equivalents | - | - | 137,113 | 392,293 |
- | - | |||
1 | 1 | 280,130 | 539,014 | |
Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost | ||||
31 March 2018 | 31 March 2017 | |||
£ | £ | |||
Trade payables | (17,631) | (46,557) | ||
Other payables | (48,239) | (68,000) | ||
Loans | (3,543,236) | (3,415,738) | ||
(3,609,106) | (3,530,295) | |||
Company | ||||
Loans & receivables | Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost | |||
31 March 2018 | 31 March 2017 | 31 March 2018 | 31 March 2017 | |
£ | £ | £ | £ | |
Other receivables | 5,772 | 12,759 | - | - |
Cash and cash equivalents | 132,589 | 388,880 | - | - |
Trade payables | - | - | (11,383) | (46,572) |
Other payables | - | - | (42,738) | (60,999) |
Loan | - | - | (3,262,401) | (3,118,168) |
138,361 | 401,639 | (3,316,522) | (3,225,739) | |
25 Related party transactions
Transactions between Anglesey Mining plc and its subsidiaries are summarised in note 13.
Juno Limited
Juno Limited (Juno) which is registered in Bermuda holds 32.6% of the company’s issued ordinary share capital. The group has the following agreements with Juno: (a) a controlling shareholder agreement dated September 1996 and (b) a consolidated working capital agreement of 12 June 2002. Interest payable to Juno is shown in note 7 and the balance due to Juno is shown in note 19. There were no transactions between the group and Juno or its group during the year. Danesh Varma is a director and, through his family interests, a significant shareholder of Juno.
Grangesberg
Bill Hooley and Danesh Varma are directors of Grangesberg Iron AB and of the special purpose vehicle Eurmag AB; Danesh Varma has been associated with the Grangesberg project since 2007 when he became a director of Mikula Mining Limited, a company subsequently renamed Eurang Limited, previously involved in the Grangesberg project. He did not take part in the decision to enter into the Grangesberg project when this was approved by the board. The group has a liability to Eurmag AB a subsidiary of Eurang amounting to £280,835 at the year end (2017 – £297,570) – see note 19.
Key management personnel
All key management personnel are directors and appropriate disclosure with respect to them is made in the directors’ remuneration report.
There are no other contracts of significance in which any director has or had during the year a material interest.
26 Mineral holdings
Parys
(a) Most of the mineral resources delineated to date are under the western portion of Parys Mountain, the freehold and minerals of which are owned by the group. A royalty of 6% of net profits after deduction of capital allowances, as defined for tax purposes, from production of freehold minerals is payable. The mining rights over and under this area, and the leasehold area described in (b) below, are held in the Parys Mountain Mines Limited subsidiary.
(b) Under a lease from Lord Anglesey dated December 2006, the subsidiary Parys Mountain Land Limited holds the eastern part of Parys Mountain, formerly known as the Mona Mine. An annual certain rent of £11,208 is payable for the year beginning 23 March 2017; the base part of this rent increases to £20,000 when extraction of minerals at Parys Mountain commences; this rental is index-linked. A royalty of 1.8% of net smelter returns from mineral sales is also payable. The lease may be terminated at 12 months’ notice and otherwise expires in 2070.
(c) Under a mining lease from the Crown dated December 1991 there is an annual lease payment of £5,000. A royalty of 4% of gross sales of gold and silver from the lease area is also payable. The lease may be terminated at 12 months’ notice and otherwise expires in 2020.
Lease payments
All the group’s leases may be terminated with 12 months’ notice. If they are not so terminated, the minimum payments due in respect of the leases and royalty agreement are analysed as follows: within the year commencing 1 April 2018 - £17,126; between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2024 - £91,076. Thereafter the payments will continue at proportionate annual rates, in some cases with increases for inflation, for so long as the leases are retained or extended.
27 Material non cash transactions
There were no material non-cash transactions in the year.
28 Commitments
Other than commitments under leases (note 26) there is no capital expenditure authorised or contracted which is not provided for in these accounts (2017 - nil).
29 Contingent liabilities
There are no contingent liabilities (2017 - nil).
30 Events after the period end
There are no events after the period end to report.
Notice of Annual General Meeting
Notice is given that the 2018 annual general meeting of Anglesey Mining plc will be held at the offices of the company's lawyers, DLA Piper UK LLP, 3 Noble Street, London, EC2V 7EE on 20 September 2018 at 11.00 a.m. to consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolutions. Resolutions 1 to 11 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolution 12 will be proposed as a special resolution:
As ordinary business
As special business
11. That, pursuant to section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 ("Act"), the directors be and are generally and unconditionally authorised to exercise all powers of the Company to allot shares in the Company or to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares in the Company up to an aggregate nominal amount of £590,000, provided that (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed) this authority shall expire on 31 December 2019, save that the Company may make an offer or agreement before this authority expires which would or might require shares to be allotted or rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares to be granted after this authority expires and the directors may allot shares or grant such rights pursuant to any such offer or agreement as if this authority had not expired.
This authority is in substitution for all existing authorities under section 551 of the Act (which, to the extent unused at the date of this resolution, are revoked with immediate effect).
12. That pursuant to section 570 of the Act, the directors be and are generally empowered to allot equity securities (within the meaning of section 560 of the Act) for cash pursuant to the authority granted under section 551 of the Act pursuant to resolution 11 above as if section 561(1) of the Act did not apply to any such allotment, provided that this power shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities:
(a) in connection with an offer of equity securities (whether by way of a rights issue, open offer or otherwise) (i) to holders of ordinary shares in the capital of the company in proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the respective numbers of ordinary shares held by them; and (ii) to holders of other equity securities in the capital of the company, as required by the rights of those securities or, subject to such rights, as the directors otherwise consider necessary but subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates or any legal or practical problems under the laws of any territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange; and
(b) otherwise than pursuant to paragraph 12(a) above, up to an aggregate nominal amount of £440,000
and (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed) this power shall expire on 31 December 2019, save that the company may make an offer or agreement before this power expires which would or might require equity securities to be allotted for cash after this power expires and the directors may allot equity securities for cash pursuant to any such offer or agreement as if this power had not expired. This power is in substitution for all existing powers under section 570 of the Act which, to the extent effective at the date of this resolution, are revoked with immediate effect.
By order of the board
Danesh Varma
Company secretary
31 July 2018
Notes to the notice of AGM
Entitlement to attend and vote
1. The right to vote at the meeting is determined by reference to the register of members. Only those shareholders registered in the register of members of the Company as at the close of business on 17 September 2018 (or, if the meeting is adjourned, 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a working day) before the date and time of the adjourned meeting) shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting in respect of the number of shares registered in their name at that time. Changes to entries in the register of members after that time shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote (and the number of votes they may cast) at the meeting.
Proxies
2. A shareholder is entitled to appoint another person as his or her proxy to exercise all or any of his or her rights to attend and to speak and vote at the meeting. A proxy need not be a member of the Company. A shareholder may appoint more than one proxy in relation to the meeting, provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share or shares held by that shareholder. Failure to specify the number of shares each proxy appointment relates to or specifying a number which when taken together with the numbers of shares set out in the other proxy appointments is in excess of the number of shares held by the shareholder may result in the proxy appointment being invalid. A proxy may be appointed only in accordance with the procedures set out in note 3 and the notes to the proxy form. The appointment of a proxy will not preclude a shareholder from attending and voting in person at the meeting.
3. A form of proxy is enclosed. When appointing more than one proxy, complete a separate proxy form in relation to each appointment. Additional proxy forms may be obtained by contacting the Company's registrar Capita Asset Services, Proxies, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Kent BR3 4TU or the proxy form may be photocopied. State clearly on each proxy form the number of shares in relation to which the proxy is appointed. To be valid, a proxy form must be received by post or (during normal business hours only) by hand at the offices of the Company's registrar, Capita Asset Services, Proxies, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Kent BR3 4TU, no later than 11.00 a.m. on 17 September 2018 (or, if the meeting is adjourned, no later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a working day) before the time of any adjourned meeting).
Corporate representatives
4. A shareholder which is a corporation may authorise one or more persons to act as its representative(s) at the meeting. Each such representative may exercise (on behalf of the corporation) the same powers as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual shareholder, provided that (where there is more than one representative and the vote is otherwise than on a show of hands) they do not do so in relation to the same shares.
Total voting rights
5. As at 20 July 2018 (being the last practicable date before the publication of this notice), the issued share capital consists of 177,608,051 ordinary shares of £0.01 each, carrying one vote each and 21,529,451 Deferred A Shares and 116,241,384 Deferred B Shares which do not carry any rights to vote. Therefore, the total voting rights as at 20 July 2018 are 177,608,051.
Nominated Persons
6. Where a copy of this notice is being received by a person who has been nominated to enjoy information rights under section 146 of the Companies Act 2006 ("Act") ("Nominated Person"):
(a) the Nominated Person may have a right under an agreement between him/her and the shareholder by whom he/she was nominated, to be appointed, or to have someone else appointed, as a proxy for the meeting; or
(b) if the Nominated Person has no such right or does not wish to exercise such right, he/she may have a right under such an agreement to give instructions to the shareholder as to the exercise of voting rights. The statement of the rights of shareholders in relation to the appointment of proxies in note 2 does not apply to a Nominated Person. The rights described in such notes can only be exercised by shareholders of the Company.
Shareholders' right to require circulation of resolutions to be proposed at the meeting
7. A shareholder or shareholders meeting the qualification criteria set out in note 10 below may require the Company to give shareholders notice of a resolution which may properly be proposed and is intended to be proposed at the meeting in accordance with section 338 of the Act. A resolution may properly be proposed unless (i) it would, if passed, be ineffective (whether by reason of inconsistency with any enactment or the Company's constitution or otherwise), (ii) it is defamatory of any person, or (iii) it is frivolous or vexatious. The business which may be dealt with at the meeting includes a resolution circulated pursuant to this right. Any such request must (i) identify the resolution of which notice is to be given, by either setting out the resolution in full or, if supporting a resolution requested by another shareholder, clearly identifying the resolution which is being supported (ii) comply with the requirements set out in note 11 below, and (iii) be received by the Company no later than six weeks before the meeting.
Shareholders' right to have a matter of business dealt with at the meeting
8. A shareholder or shareholders meeting the qualification criteria set out in note 10 below may require the Company to include in the business to be dealt with at the meeting any matter (other than a proposed resolution) which may properly be included in the business in accordance with section 338A of the Act. A matter may properly be included unless (i) it is defamatory of any person, or (ii) it is frivolous or vexatious. Any such request must (i) identify the matter to be included in the business, by either setting out the matter in full or, if supporting a matter requested by another shareholder, clearly identifying the matter which is being supported (ii) set out the grounds for the request (iii) comply with the requirements set out in note 11 below and (iv) be received by the Company no later than six weeks before the meeting.
Website publication of audit concerns
9. A shareholder or shareholders who meet the qualification criteria set out in note 10 below may require the Company to publish on its website a statement setting out any matter that such shareholders propose to raise at the meeting relating to either the audit of the Company's accounts (including the auditors' report and the conduct of the audit) that are to be laid before the meeting or any circumstances connected with an auditor of the Company ceasing to hold office since the last annual general meeting of the Company in accordance with section 527 of the Act. Any such request must (i) identify the statement to which it relates, by either setting out the statement in full or, if supporting a statement requested by another shareholder, clearly identify the statement which is being supported (ii) comply with the requirements set out in note 11 below and (iii) be received by the Company at least one week before the meeting. Where the Company is required to publish such a statement on its website (i) it may not require the shareholders making the request to pay any expenses incurred by the Company in complying with the request (ii) it must forward the statement to the Company's auditors no later than the time when it makes the statement available on the website and (iii) the statement may be dealt with as part of the business of the meeting.
Notes 7, 8 and 9 above: qualification criteria and methods of making requests
10. In order to require the Company (i) to circulate a resolution to be proposed at the meeting as set out in note 7, (ii) to include a matter in the business to be dealt with at the meeting as set out in note 8, or (iii) to publish audit concerns as set out in note 9, the relevant request must be made by (i) a shareholder or shareholders having a right to vote at the meeting and holding at least five per cent of the total voting rights of the Company or (ii) at least 100 shareholders having a right to vote at the meeting and holding, on average, at least £100 of paid up share capital. For information on voting rights, including the total voting rights of the Company, see note 5 above and the website referred to in note 15 below.
11. Any request by a shareholder or shareholders to require the Company (i) to circulate a resolution to be proposed at the meeting as set out in note 7 (ii) to include a matter in the business to be dealt with at the meeting as set out in note 8 or (iii) to publish audit concerns as set out in note 9 may be made either (a) in hard copy, by sending it to Anglesey Mining plc, Tower Bridge, St Katharine's Way, London E1W 1DD (marked for the attention of the Company Secretary); or (b) in electronic form, by sending an email to danesh@angleseymining.co.uk; and must state the full name(s) and address(es) of the shareholder(s) and (where the request is made in hard copy form) must be signed by the shareholder(s).
Questions at the meeting
12. Shareholders have the right to ask questions at the meeting relating to the business being dealt with at the meeting in accordance with section 319A of the Act. The Company must answer any such question unless: (a) to do so would interfere unduly with the preparation for the meeting or would involve the disclosure of confidential information; (b) the answer has already been given on a website in the form of an answer to a question; or (c) it is undesirable in the interests of the Company or the good order of the meeting that the question be answered.
Documents available for inspection
13. The following documents will be available for inspection during normal business hours at the registered office of the Company from the date of this notice until the time of the meeting. They will also be available for inspection at the place of the meeting from at least 15 minutes before the meeting until it ends: (a) copies of the service contracts of the executive directors, (b) copies of the letters of appointment of the non-executive directors and (c) the Articles of Association of the Company.
Biographical details of directors
14. Biographical details of all those directors who are offering themselves for reappointment at the meeting are set out in the annual report and accounts.
Website providing information about the meeting
15. The information required by section 311A of the Act to be published in advance of the meeting, which includes the matters set out in this notice and information relating to the voting rights of shareholders, is available at www.angleseymining.co.uk.
Directors
John F. Kearney |
Irish, aged 67, chairman, is a mining executive with more than 40 years’ experience in the mining industry and is chairman and CEO of Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited. He is also chairman of Canadian Zinc Corporation, Buchans Resources Limited, Xtierra plc and Conquest Resources Limited. He is a director of the Mining Association of Canada and has degrees in law and economics from University College Dublin and an MBA from Trinity College Dublin. He is a member of the nomination committee. He is resident in Canada. |
Bill Hooley |
aged 71, chief executive, is a mining engineering graduate from the Royal School of Mines and has extensive experience in many countries including the UK and Australia. He is vice-chairman and a director of Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited and since May 2014 a director of Grangesberg Iron AB and Eurmag AB. He has been a director of a number of other companies involved in the minerals industry. He is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. |
Danesh Varma |
Canadian, aged 68, finance director and company secretary is a chartered accountant and a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. He is a director of Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited and since May 2014 has been a director of Grangesberg Iron AB and Eurmag AB. He is also chief financial officer of Buchans Resources Limited, Xtierra Inc. and Conquest Resources Limited. |
David Lean |
Australian, aged 71, non-executive director, is a chartered accountant. He has over 30 years’ experience in the commercial aspects of the mining industry most of which was with major base and precious metal mining houses. Currently he is involved in trading mineral products. He is a member of the audit, remuneration and nomination committees. |
Howard Miller |
aged 74, non-executive director, a lawyer with over 40 years’ experience in the legal and mining finance sector in Africa, Canada and the UK. He has extensive experience in the financing of resource companies. He is a member of the remuneration, audit and nomination committees and the senior independent director. |
Glossary
AGM - the annual general meeting to be held on 20 September 2018
DFS - Definitive Feasibility Study
DMS - dense media separation, a process for the elimination of low-density waste from crushed ore
EIA - environmental impact assessment
GIAB - Grangesberg Iron AB, a privately owned Swedish company
JORC - Australasian Joint Ore Reserves Committee - a set of minimum standards for public reporting and displaying information related to mineral properties
IRR - internal rate of return
LIM - Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited and its group of companies
mtpa - million tonnes per annum
NPV - net present value
NSR - net smelter return
PFS - Preliminary Feasibility Study
tonne - metric tonne of 2,204.6 pounds avoirdupois
SEK - Swedish Krona
tpd - tonnes per day
Anglesey Mining plc, Parys Mountain, Amlwch, Anglesey, LL68 9RE
Phone 01407 831275
mail@angleseymining.co.uk
London office
Painters’ Hall Chambers
8 Little Trinity Lane, London, EC4V 2AN
Phone 07740 932766
Registrars
Link Asset Services
The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road,
Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU
Share dealing phone 0371 664 0445
Helpline phone 0371 664 0300
Calls cost 12p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge. If you are outside the United Kingdom, please call +44 371 664 0300. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between 9.00am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales
Registered office
Tower Bridge House, St. Katharine’s Way, London, E1W 1DD
www.angleseymining.co.uk
Company registered number 01849957