Final Results

Bisichi Mining PLC 28 February 2000 28th February, 2000 Bisichi Mining PLC Preliminary Results for the year ending 31st December 1999 Turnover £3,132,000 (1998: £3,053,000) (Loss) profit before tax and after minority interests £(263,000) (1998: £ 215,000) Net assets per ordinary share 62.7p (1998: 61.9p) Dividend per share 1.0p (1998: 1.0p) *Geological fault at Black Wattle significantly impacts on direct mining income in 1999. *New reserves with good coal quality and reduced costs all signal major turnaround in performance at Black Wattle in 2000. *UK property portfolio fully let & now valued at £7.35 million (1998: £6.4 million). *Dividend maintained. Bisichi Mining's chairman, Michael Heller, comments: 'Black Wattle has, in previous years, made a good contribution to Bisichi Mining's profitability and cash flow. With the actions that we have taken it is anticipated to do so again. In the meantime, our property portfolio is increasing in value and provides a strong underpinning of the whole company. I am confident that Bisichi Mining will continue to provide shareholders with yields that are well above the mining sector average.' For further information: Michael Heller, Robert Corry or Andrew Heller Bisichi Mining PLC 020 7415 5000 BISICHI MINING PLC Chairman's review Financial results As shareholders were advised at the time of our Interim Statement, Bisichi Mining's results for the year ending 31st December 1999 have been significantly impacted by the geological problems that we encountered at our South African coal mining subsidiary Black Wattle Colliery (Pty) Ltd, which has made a loss of £445,000 before taxation but after minority interests. As a result Bisichi Mining PLC is showing a group loss, before tax but after minority interests in Black Wattle Colliery (Pty) Ltd, of £263,000. However, this position is mitigated by the 1999 revaluation surpluses on the UK shop portfolio of £495,000 and I am pleased to be able to report that, because of this surplus, the net assets of Bisichi Mining have increased by £60,000. During the year, the company's borrowings were restructured and shorter term facilities of £1.15 million and a bridging loan of £575,000 were replaced with a £2 million 10 year facility at a significantly better rate of interest. Mining Shareholders will recall that in previous years Black Wattle Colliery, which we acquired very economically, has made a good contribution to Bisichi Mining's profitability & cash flow. We believe that it will do so again. Whilst the problems at Black Wattle are a setback for your company, there are a number of factors which, when taken together, your Directors believe justify our continued support of the mine. These factors are: *the agreement that we have signed with Ingwe that gives the mine access to substantial additional reserves on the adjacent property *the quality of the coal that we have started to mine in the new reserves *the mining yields currently being achieved *the substantial reduction in underground mining costs arising from the fact that we are now mining in solid coal *the increased demand for the coal we are now mining *the increased production levels now being achieved on the mine In the Mining Report that follows this statement, shareholders will find more details of these factors. Mineral Products Limited Our wholly owned share-dealing subsidiary, Mineral Products Limited has continued to manage an equity portfolio with a weighting in mineral and natural resource stocks. The market value at 31 December 1999 was £621,000 (1998: £560,000). This portfolio complements our position in the mining and natural resources sector and provides us with an easily accessible cash reserve for investments in direct mining. Property Our property portfolio is made up exclusively of shopping centres located in town centres, all of which are currently fully let. The portfolio, which was professionally valued at the end of the 1999 financial year at £7.35 million (1998: £6.4 million), includes the purchase of a shop unit in Dudley for £575,000. This shop is adjacent to our existing investment in Dudley and presents us with significant 'marriage' value. The property portfolio continues to be actively managed by London & Associated Properties PLC, which has Group assets in excess of £100 million and continues to hold 42% of our equity. In addition, jointly with London & Associated Properties, Bisichi owns Dragon Retail Properties Ltd which holds a prime shopping mall in the centre of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. The current rental income from Bromsgrove is over £300,000 pa and the investment, although fully let, is still highly reversionary. Staff I would like to thank all the employees, particularly in South Africa, for their hard work during what has been an extremely difficult year. We rely on their dedication and support. Prospects and Dividend Your company is in a strong position as it enters the new Millennium. Our property portfolio is increasing in value and provides us with a solid cash flow and a strong underpinning of the whole company. Our indirect equity and mining investments are also in good shape. Your directors have given very considerable thought to the question of the dividend. Our decision to maintain it at last year's level is a reflection of the strong performance of the UK business and is the clearest possible demonstration of our confidence that Black Wattle will shortly return to profitability and positive cash flow. Accordingly, your directors are recommending a final dividend of 1p (1998: 1p per share). I am confident that Bisichi Mining will continue to provide shareholders with yields that are well above the mining sector average. MICHAEL HELLER Chairman MINING REVIEW Year ended 31 December 1999 BLACK WATTLE COLLIERY The Chairman has already made reference in his statement to the geological problems encountered at the mine and to the factors that give us the confidence to continue to support the mining operation. The purpose of the first part of this report is to provide shareholders with a full explanation of the geological problems and to expand on the positive factors. The 'mudwash' and its consequences Shareholders were alerted to the difficulties that the mine encountered when progress of the two mining sections were halted by an unexpected 'mudwash' that had not been evident in the boreholes. A number of attempts were made to mine through this comparatively thin zone of disturbance to reach the good quality coal situated on the other side. These attempts had to be abandoned for reasons of cost and safety and we have been obliged to defer mining of these reserves until later in the life of the mine. As the accessible part of our upper coal seams were now largely mined out, this meant having to drop down and commence mining the lower of the two seams with both sections. This complex operation was accomplished with commendable speed but inevitably resulted in a serious drop in production. Mining of the lower seams below the mined out upper seam necessitated the removal of the sandstone layer separating the two seams, before the lower seam could be mined. The need to mine this stone not only reduced the effort available to mine coal, but also considerably increased the wear and tear on the mining machinery resulting in breakdowns and further losses of production. As a result, production fell to a low of 32,600 tons in April against a target figure of 50,000 tons. To make matters worse, the yield in the areas adjacent to the mudwash fell to an unacceptably low figure resulting in large amounts of coal being discarded in the washing process. Every effort was made to increase production by the introduction of a third mining section operated by a contractor and by the purchase of additional mining equipment, but with only limited success and the mine continued to make losses. Positive factors The 'mudwash' and its consequences presented the mine with a possibly terminal situation. However, as a result of the prompt and decisive action of management, we are now faced with a new picture arising from a number of positive factors that radically alter the mine's prospects: Reserves After protracted negotiations, Black Wattle has acquired reserves situated immediately to the West of its existing concession. This has allowed the two company operated sections to be re-located to mine in the direction of the new reserves. An important element in our acquisition of additional reserves was our association with Mr Sipho Dube, a leading African industrialist, who acquired the 37.5% of Black Wattle previously owned by SouthWits. Coal quality The coal in the new seams being mined contains exceptionally low percentage of phosphorous and commands a premium price from certain specialist users. Mining yields The yield of the coal being mined near the 'mudwash' fell to unacceptably low levels. However, with the relocation to the new reserves and the qualities of the new coal, yields are at or above those reached by the mine when it was previously profitable. Mine operating costs Due to the relocation of the two company sections to the new reserves, the mine is now operating in solid coal for the first time in 18 months without having to lift stone to reach the coal. The result of this is that we have been able to substantially increase our production levels and reduce the mining costs, both having a positive effect on the profitability. Further reductions in the direct mining costs are also being pursued. The coal market As we have previously reported, the mine has not seen any increases in its coal prices for the last three years. However, we are now able to sell some 14.75% of our coal as Low Phosphorous at a substantial premium to the current prices. This means that an increase in the average selling price for our coal, even before any world market price increase. As a result of these factors there is an increase in the production levels, and due to the increased yields, we are able to sell considerably more coal at a higher average selling price than during last year. These positive aspects, combined with the opportunities to reduce the direct costs of mining, mean that the mine will return to profitability and supports your Directors decision to maintain its investment in the mine. Losses at Black Wattle were offset to a limited extent by profits from Bisichi Coal Mining Limited, our other company in South Africa. OTHER MINING INTERESTS In addition to Black Wattle, Bisichi continues to invest in a number of mining companies in various parts of the world. It is worth mentioning that, in 1999, Pima Mining NL in Australia completed the feasibility study of its South Australian Magnesium Project to produce 52,500 tons of magnesium metal using the Dow Chemicals process. During the year Bisichi sold it's remaining holding in Ocean Diamond Mining at a good profit. Bisichi had been a shareholder in Ocean Diamonds from its inception. PROSPECTS The ability of the management at Black Wattle to deal effectively with the various setbacks encountered during 1999 and their ability to achieve the production targets, together with the additional reserves of coal gives me cause for optimism for 2000. Bisichi Mining PLC Preliminary Consolidated Profits Statement Year Ended 31st December 1999 1999 1998 Note £000 £000 Turnover 3,132 3,053 Operating costs (3,416) (2,839) ----- ----- Operating (loss) profit (284) 214 Income from interests in joint venture 19 15 Exceptional items in respect of fixed assets 1 (65) 166 Investment income and interest receivable 7 24 Interest payable (207) (210) ---- ---- (Loss) Profit on ordinary activities before taxation (530) 209 Taxation on (loss) profit on ordinary activities 2 (63) (44) ---- ---- (Loss) Profit after taxation (593) 165 Minority interest 267 6 ---- ---- (Loss) Profit for the financial year (326) 171 Dividends (105) (105) ---- ---- Retained (loss) profits for the year (431) 66 ---- ---- Earnings per share 3 (3.12)p 1.64p Dividend per share 4 1.00p 1.00p Turnover and operating (loss) profit for the year derive from continuing operations, which are made up as follows: Turnover Operating(loss)profit 1999 1998 1999 1998 £000 £000 £000 £000 Mining 2,190 2,403 (667) (69) Property 665 571 267 233 Share dealing 268 74 110 49 Other investments 9 5 6 1 3,132 3,053 (284) 214 Bisichi Mining PLC Consolidated Balance Sheet At 31st December 1999 1999 1998 £000 £000 Fixed assets Intangible assets 386 412 Tangible assets 8,409 7,267 Investments 763 608 9,558 8,287 Current assets Stocks 111 86 Debtors 328 238 Investments at cost - market value £621,000 (1998: £560,000) 420 389 Bank balances 48 85 907 798 Creditors - amounts falling due within one year (2,071) (1,503) Net current liabilities (1,164) (705) Total assets less current liabilities 8,394 7,582 Creditors - amounts falling due after one year (2,155) (1,267) Deferred taxation (12) (19) Minority interest 129 - 6,356 6,296 Capital and reserves Share capital 1,045 1,045 Revaluation reserve 4,601 4,106 Other reserves . 101 101 Retained earnings 609 1,044 Shareholders' funds 6,356 6,296 Statement of total recognised gains and losses The company 6 167 Subsidiaries and associated undertaking (332) 4 (Loss) profit for the year (326) 171 Unrealised exchange losses (4) (99) Revaluation of investment properties - company 295 106 - Joint venture 200 - Total gains and losses recognised in year 165 178 Bisichi Mining PLC Consolidated Cash Flow Statement Year ended 31st December 1999 1999 1998 £000 £000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 270 549 Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest received 7 24 Interest paid (207) (210) (200) (186) Taxation Corporation tax paid (6) (24) Capital expenditure and financial investment Payments to acquire fixed asset (1,077) (585) Payments to acquire current asset investments (173) (46) Receipts from sale of fixed assets 106 241 Receipts from sale of current asset investments 251 74 (893) (316) Equity dividends paid (105) (94) Cash outflow before financing (934) (71) Financing New loans drawn (Repaid) 788 (12) ---- ---- (Decrease) in cash for the year (146) (83) ---- ---- Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt (Decrease) in cash in the year (146) (83) Net cash flows from changes in debt (788) 12 (934) (71) Net debt at 1st January 1999 (1,953) (1,882) Net debt at 31st December 1999 (2,887) (1,953) Reconciliation of operating (loss) profit to net cash inflow from operating activities 1999 1998 £000 £000 Operating (loss) profit (284) 214 Depreciation charges 188 152 Goodwill amortised 84 85 Profit on sale of current investments (109) (47) (Increase) decrease in stock (26) 48 (Increase) decrease in debtors (112) 91 Increase in creditors 529 6 270 549 Analysis of net debt At 1st At 31st January Exchange December 1999 Cash flow adjustment 1999 £000 £000 £000 £000 Bank balances 85 (36) (1) 48 Overdrafts (625) (110) - (735) (540) (146) (1) (687) Due within one year (146) 101 - (45) Debt due in after one year (1,267) (889) 1 (2,155) (1,953) (934) - (2,887) NOTES 1999 1998 £000 £000 1.Exceptional items Arising in respect of fixed asset investments - gains from disposals 15 166 - write down (80) - (65) 166 Taxation Based on results for the year: Corporation tax at 30.25 per cent (1998: 31 per cent) 67 33 Prior year adjustment (3) - Deferred taxation (7) 4 Tax attributable to franked investment income 2 4 59 41 Joint venture 4 3 63 44 3.Earnings per share Earnings per share have been calculated on the group (loss) on ordinary activities after taxation of £(326,000) (1998: profit £171,000) and the weighted number of shares in issue during the year of 10,451,506 (1998: 10,451,506). 4.Dividend The proposed final dividend of 1.00p will be paid on 24th August 2000 to shareholders registered at the close of business on 4th August 2000. 5.The figures for the year ended 31st December 1998 are based on the audited accounts for that year, which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and on which the Auditors gave an unqualified report. The statutory accounts for the year ended 31st December 1999, which have been prepared using the same accounting policies as in 1998, have been completed and an unqualified audit opinion will be issued. The figures in the preliminary announcement are an extract and do not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of the Companies Act 1985. The board approved this preliminary statement on 28th February, 2000.

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