Interim Results

Brancote Holdings PLC 25 October 2001 Date 25 October 2001 Contacts Richard Prickett, Chairman Bill Humphries, Managing Director Brancote Holdings PLC 020 7493 1002 David Bick / Chris Steele Holborn Public Relations 020 7929 5599 david.bick@holbornpr.co.uk chris.steele@holbornpr.co.uk BRANCOTE HOLDINGS PLC INTERIM RESULTS CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT In my Chairman's statement at the end of last year I stated that Brancote would be focusing all its resources on the Esquel Gold Project in Southern Argentina which at that time had already grown in size and quality to become one of the most significant epithermal gold deposits in the world. During 2001, we have made major advances in the development of the project with encouraging results from the Phase IV drilling programme, the commissioning of a pre-feasibility study and by reaching agreement to increase our interest in the project to 74%. Progress during the year is summarised as follows: * In August we announced the resource statement including Phase IV drilling results, which confirmed a resource in excess of 4 million ounces of gold. Included within that figure the measured and indicated resource had been significantly increased in the drilling programme bringing the totals in this category to 3,330,700 ounces of gold and 5,947,200 ounces of silver, equal to 89% of the total resources defined to date. 75% of these resources have a grade in excess of 10.9 g/t. * Further exploration drilling and infill drilling on the project commenced at the beginning of October, and as is our usual practice, a progress report will be issued shortly. * The pre-feasibility study which is being carried out by our consultant engineers Pincock, Allen and Holt, is nearing completion with results being collated and analysed at the date of this report. We anticipate being able to announce the results of the pre-feasibility study within the next ten days. * We announced on 1st October that we increased our interest in the project to 74% by having agreed terms with Kerry Packer's Consolidated Press group to acquire their direct 14% interest in Minera El Desquite SA. We are very pleased with the endorsement and support the Consolidated Press group and Kerry Packer have given to the Esquel Gold Project and to Brancote by agreeing to become the largest shareholder with a 19% stake. During the early part of this month we placed a further one million New Ordinary Shares through our brokers Seymour Pierce at £1.22 per share before expenses, in order to continue the funding requirement for feasibility study infill drilling on the project. As part of our strategy to develop the Esquel Gold Project we are currently looking to strengthen both our management team at Minera El Desquite SA and the board of Brancote Holdings Plc by appointing additional non-executive directors. We are pleased to announce that we have recently appointed Neil Herbert as Chief Finance Officer for the group. Neil brings many years of international finance experience to the group, most recently with the South American miner Antofagasta Plc, and he is a most welcome addition to the team. Our financial results are as anticipated and reflect the ongoing costs of developing the project at Esquel. Shareholders will be kept informed on a regular basis with progress reports as the project moves on its critical path through feasibility towards project financing. Richard O Prickett Chairman 25 October 2001 BRANCOTE HOLDINGS PLC UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT Six months Six months Year ended ended ended 31 July 31 July 31 January 2001 2000 2001 £ £ £ TURNOVER - 7,508 34,987 Cost of sales - (1,194) (8,305) GROSS PROFIT - 6,314 26,682 Administrative expenses (526,188) (326,283) (913,712) Amortisation of goodwill (61,944) (61,944) (123,888) OPERATING LOSS (588,132) (381,913) (1,010,918) Net loss on disposal of - - (135,312) investments Amounts written off - (340,461) - investments Strategic review costs (133,014) - (195,545) LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE INTEREST AND TAXATION (721,146) (722,374) (1,341,775) Interest receivable 53,953 32,728 107,973 LOSS ON ORDINARY (667,193) (689,646) (1,233,802) ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION TAX ON LOSS ON ORDINARY - - - ACTIVITIES LOSS ON ORDINARY (667,193) (689,646) (1,233,802) ACTIVITIES AFTER TAXATION Minority Interest 115,320 1,528 87,634 RETAINED LOSS FOR THE (551,873) (688,118) (1,146,168) PERIOD LOSS PER SHARE (0.85p) (1.11p) (1.86p) UNAUDITED STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES Six months Six months Year Ended ended ended 31 July 31 July 31 January 2001 2000 2001 £ £ £ Loss attributable to (551,873) (688,118) (1,146,168) shareholders of Brancote Holdings PLC Unrealised exchange rate 251,291 234,550 388,248 movements Unrealised gain on - 232,017 - investment TOTAL RECOGNISED LOSSES (300,582) (221,551) (757,920) FOR THE PERIOD BRANCOTE HOLDINGS PLC UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET At At At 31 July 31 July 31 January 2001 2000 2001 £ £ £ FIXED ASSETS Intangible fixed assets - deferred 12,707,406 4,815,979 7,300,916 exploration costs - goodwill 2,291,923 2,415,810 2,353,866 14,999,329 7,231,789 9,654,782 Tangible fixed assets 124,305 60,723 63,086 15,123,634 7,292,512 9,717,868 CURRENT ASSETS Investments - 730,333 - Debtors: amounts 40,678 407,177 44,916 falling due in less than one year amounts falling 832,947 - 517,012 due after one year 873,625 1,137,510 561,928 Cash at bank and in 1,595,424 3,383,517 2,851,077 hand 2,469,049 4,521,027 3,413,005 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS (1,626,117) (187,952) (383,570) FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR NET CURRENT ASSETS 842,932 4,333,075 3,029,435 TOTAL ASSETS LESS 15,966,566 11,625,587 12,747,303 CURRENT LIABILITIES PROVISIONS FOR - - (101,810) LIABILITIES AND CHARGES NET ASSETS 15,966,566 11,625,587 12,645,493 CAPITAL AND RESERVES Called up share 3,255,775 3,144,250 3,144,250 capital Share premium account 16,164,999 13,982,799 13,982,799 Special reserve 720,000 720,000 720,000 Profit and loss (8,928,345) (8,091,195) (8,627,764) account EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS' 11,212,429 9,755,854 9,219,285 FUNDS MINORITY INTEREST 4,754,137 1,869,733 3,426,208 15,966,566 11,625,587 12,645,493 Notes: This report is prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the most recent set of annual financial statements. The report was approved by the Board of Directors on 25 October 2001. The comparative figures for the financial period ended 31 January 2001 are not the group's statutory accounts for the financial year. Those accounts have been reported on by the group's auditors and delivered to the registrar of companies. The report of the auditors was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. - ENDS -
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