Interim Statement for period ended 30 June 2014

RNS Number : 8493R
Connemara Mining Company plc
17 September 2014
 



17 September 2014

 

Connemara Mining Company

Interim Statement for the period ended 30 June 2014

 

 

Connemara has continued to examine, select and apply for exploration acreage in Ireland.  This despite a private buyers strike on the AIM Market for junior exploration companies.  Lack of buying and investing interest makes funding very difficult even at very low prices.  One has to believe that investors at current prices will do very well when the cycle turns and explorers, once again, become fashionable.  A low share price, a reasonable balance sheet, good projects and an AIM listing underpin the investment case for shareholders in Connemara. 

 

Connemara does very well with limited resources.  Our two joint ventures with Teck, in Stonepark Limerick and Oldcastle, allows us to participate at minimal cost in big exploration programmes.  Teck has reduced zinc exploration in Ireland.  In Stonepark, Teck are spending €140,000 to refine what they know.  Connemara is contributing 23% towards this budget.  In the Oldcastle area, active geophysics and geochemical programmes have led to the identification of drill targets.  We are hoping that at least one hole will be drilled this year.  Teck have to spend a further €750,000 to earn a 75% interest - this before we have to contribute.

 

There are signs of activity in the gold sector in Ireland.  Dalradian have raised $20 million for trial mining in Tyrone.  Galantas are looking for funds to expand their small mine near Omagh.  Hendricks, our partner in Wicklow/Wexford, continues to do geophysics to better define drill targets.  Here too, we are hopeful of some drilling by year end.  Hendricks are spending €1 million on our ground to earn a 75% interest.  They have spent about €400,000.

 

We have been active in obtaining new ground.  The gold licences in Donegal looked good on paper but the results to date are not exciting.  We actively sought licences in the Lisheen/Galmoy zinc mines area.  We were awarded one.  This block is prospective for zinc.

 

We continue to review other opportunities as they become available. Recent proposals have not been pursued for differing reasons.  Connemara will raise fresh funds to cover overhead and essential working capital to keep the company operating. 


 

The cycle is slowly turning in our favour.  Zinc demand now exceeds supply thus putting pressure on zinc prices which are rising.  Investors are buying into producers or near producers.  The explorers turn is later in the cycle.  We are ready.

 

 

 

John Teeling

Chairman

 

 

17 September 2014

 

 

 

Connemara is a diversified exploration company with principal assets in base metal zinc/lead exploration licences as well as shear hosted gold exploration licences in Ireland.  The company holds interests in 29 licences covering an area of approximately 1,115 sq km.

 

This announcement has been reviewed and approved by the Company's technical director Graham Reid (P.Geo) in his capacity as the Qualified Person for the purposes of the AIM Guidance Note for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies issued by the London Stock Exchange.  Mr Reid is a Professional Member of The Institute of Geologists of Ireland (IGI) and The Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and has over 30 years' experience in mineral exploration and site investigation fields.

 

 

 

 

Enquiries:

Connemara Mining Company Plc


John Teeling, Chairman

+353 1 833 2833

Jim Finn, Director


Westhouse Securities Limited


Martin Davison

+44 (0) 20 7601 6100

Robert Finlay


Blytheweigh

+44 (0) 20 7138 3204

Tim Blythe

+44 (0) 7816 924 626

Halimah Hussain

+44 (0) 7725 978 141

Camilla Horsfall

+44 (0) 7817 841 793

Pembroke Communications


Natalie Tennyson

+353 1 649 6486

Alan Tyrrell

+353 1 649 6486

 

www.connemaramining.com


 

Connemara Mining Company plc


Financial Information (Unaudited)



















Six Months Ended


Year Ended







30 June 14


30 June13


31 Dec 13







unaudited


unaudited


audited

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income


€'000


€'000


€'000












Continuing Operations











Administrative expenses






(141)


(191)


(349)












OPERATING LOSS






(141)


(191)


(349)

Investment revenue






1


1


1












LOSS BEFORE TAXATION






(140)


(190)


(348)

Income tax expense






-


-


-












LOSS FOR THE PERIOD AND TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME


(140)


(190)


(348)












LOSS PER SHARE - basic and diluted






(0.39c)


(0.64c)


(1.06c)


































Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet






30 June 14


30 June13


31 Dec 13







unaudited


unaudited


audited







€'000


€'000


€'000

NON-CURRENT ASSETS











Intangible Assets






2,328


2,273


2,290












CURRENT ASSETS











Other receivables






28


13


25

Cash and cash equivalents






37


409


65







65


422


90












TOTAL ASSETS






2,393


2,695


2,380












LIABILITIES











CURRENT LIABILITIES











Trade and other payables






(333)


(337)


(180)

NET CURRENT (LIABILITIES)/ASSETS






(268)


85


(90)












NET ASSETS






2,060


2,358


2,200












EQUITY











Share Capital






357


357


357

Share Premium






4,525


4,525


4,525

Reserves






(2,822)


(2,524)


(2,682)












TOTAL EQUITY






2,060


2,358


2,200













































Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders Equity




















Called-up




Share Based







Share


Share


Payment


Retained





Capital


Premium


Reserves


Deficit


Total



€'000


€'000


€'000


€'000


€'000












As at 1 January 2013


257


4,105


56


(2,390)


2,028

Shares issued


100


438






538

Share issue expenses




(18)






(18)

Options exercised






(6)


6


0

Loss for the period








(190)


(190)

As at 30 June 2012


357


4,525


50


(2,574)


2,358












Loss for the period








(158)


(158)

As at 31 December 2013


357


4,525


50


(2,732)


2,200












Loss for the period








(140)


(140)

As at 30 June 2014


357


4,525


50


(2,872)


2,060





























Six Months Ended


Year Ended







30 June 14


30 June13


31 Dec 13

Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow






Unaudited


unaudited


audited







€'000


€'000


€'000

CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES











Loss for the year






(140)


(190)


(348)

Investment revenue






(1)


(1)


(1)

Exchange movements






(1)


2


4







(142)


(189)


(345)












Movements in working capital






150


(66)


(235)

CASH USED BY OPERATIONS






8


(255)


(580)












Investment revenue






1


1


1

NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES






9


(254)


(579)












CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES











Payments for exploration and evaluation






(38)


(20)


(37)

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES






(38)


(20)


(37)












CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES











Proceeds from issue of equity shares






-


538


538

Share issue costs






-


(18)


(18)

NET CASH FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES






-


520


520












NET (DECREASE)/INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS


(29)


246


(96)












Cash and Cash Equivalents at beginning of the period




65


165


165

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash held in foreign currencies


1


(2)


(4)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF THE PERIOD




37


409


65

 

 

 

Notes:

 

1.     INFORMATION

The financial information for the six months ended June 30th, 2014 and the comparative amounts for the June 30th, 2013 are unaudited. The financial information above does not constitute full statutory accounts within the meaning of section 148 of the Companies Act 1963.


The interim financial report has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as adopted by the European Union. The accounting policies and methods of computation used in the preparation of the interim financial statements are consistent with those used in the Group 2013 Annual Report, which is available at
www.connemaramining.com


The interim financial statements have not been audited or reviewed by the auditors of the Group pursuant to the Auditing Practices board guidance on Review of Interim Financial Information.

 

 

2.     No dividend is proposed in respect of the period.

 

 

3.     LOSS PER SHARE


30 June 14


30 June 13


31 Dec 13




Loss per share - Basic and Diluted

(0.39c)


(0.64c)


(1.06c)







Basic loss per share






The earnings and weighted average number of ordinary shares used in the calculation of basic loss per share are as follows:

 

Loss for the year attributable to equity holders of the parent

 

(140,436)


 

(190,457)


 

(348,199)







Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of basic earnings per share

 

35,739,711


 

29,578,588


 

32,700,369



















Basic and diluted loss per share are the same as the effect of the outstanding share options is anti-dilutive.

 

4.     INTANGIBLE ASSETS


30 June 14


30 June 13


31 Dec 13

Exploration and evaluation assets:

€'000


€'000


€'000

Cost at 1 January

2,290


2,253


2,253

Additions

38


20


37

Closing Balance

2,328


2,273


2,290




 



 

               The above represents expenditure on projects in Ireland. Included in the Group intangible assets is €5,000 of directors' remuneration which was capitalised during the period.

 

In 2012 the Group entered into an agreement with Teck Ireland Limited ("Teck"), a subsidiary of Teck Resources Limited, which gives Teck the option of earning a 75% interest in licences held by the Group in Cavan/Meath. Teck have to spend €1.35 million on the licences by 2018 in order to earn the option to acquire the total 75% interest. As per the agreement the licences have been transferred into a new company, Oldcastle Zinc Limited, which at 30 June 2014 was owned 100% by Connemara Mining Company of Ireland Limited.

 

                In 2007 the Group entered into an agreement with Teck Cominco which gave Teck Cominco the option to earn a 75% interest in a number of other licences held by the Group.  Teck Cominco had to spend CAD$3m to earn the interest. During 2012 the relevant licences were transferred to a new company, TILZ Minerals Limited, which at 30 June 2014 was owned 23.79% (2013: 23.79%) by Limerick Zinc Limited and 76.21% (2013: 76.21%) by Teck Ireland Limited. The Group's share of expenditure on the licences continues to be capitalised as an exploration and evaluation asset. The Group is subject to cash calls from Teck Ireland Limited in respect of the financing of the ongoing exploration and evaluation of these licences. In the event that the Group decides not to meet these cash calls its interest in TILZ Minerals Limited may be diluted accordingly. As a result of the Group's decision not to meet cash calls in 2012, its interest in TILZ Minerals Limited was diluted from 25% to 23.79%.

 

               The realisation of the intangible asset is dependent on the successful development of economic reserves which is subject to a number of risks as outlined below.  Should this prove unsuccessful the value included in the balance sheet would be written off to the statement of comprehensive income.

 

               The group's activities are subject to a number of significant potential risks including;

               - Uncertainties over development and operational risks;

               - Compliance with licence obligations;

               -Liquidity risks; and

               - Going concern risks.

                                                                                                                                                                      

               The directors are aware that by its nature there is an inherent uncertainty in such exploration and evaluation expenditure as to the value of the asset.  Having reviewed the deferred development expenditure at 30 June 2014, the directors are satisfied that the value of the intangible asset is not less than carrying value.

 

 

 5.            SHARE CAPITAL AND SHARE PREMIUM


30 June 14


30 June 13


31 Dec 13


€'000


€'000


€'000

Authorised:






200,000,000 ordinary shares of €0.01 each

2,000


2,000


2,000













Allotted, Called Up and Fully Paid:

 

Number


Share Capital

€'000


Share Premium

€'000

Balance at 1 January 2013

25,709,711


257


4,105

Issued during period

10,030,000


100


438

Less share issue expenses

-


-


(18)

Balance at 30 June 2013

35,739,711


357


4,525








-


-


-

Balance at 31 December 2013

35,739,711


357


4,525








-


-


-

Balance at 30 June 2014

35,739,711


357


4,525







 

               On 8 April 2013, 1,000,000 options were exercised at a price of 1 cent per share.

 

               On 22 April 2013, 9,030,000 shares were issued at a price of 5p per share to provide additional working capital and fund development costs.

 

 

6.    The Interim Report for the six months to June 30th 2014, was approved by the Directors on 16th September 2014.

 

 

7.    Copies of the interim report will be sent to shareholders and will be available for inspection at the Companies Registered Office at 162 Clontarf Road, Dublin 3, Ireland. The Interim Report will also shortly be available for viewing on Connemara Mining Company Plc's website at www.connemaramining.com


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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