Interim Results

BISICHI MINING PLC 27 September 1999 BISICH MINING PLC Interim Results for the period ending 30 June 1999 Highlights Turnover £1,610,000 1998: £1,590,000 Pre-tax(loss)/profit (£176,000) 1998: £307,000 Loss)/profit for the financial period (£119,000) 1998: £245,000 Mining losses arising from major geological fault at Black Wattle Colliery New mineable reserves acquired by Black Wattle Colliery Sale of 37.5% of Black Wattle Colliery to local industrialist UK retail property investment portfolio performing strongly Commenting on the results, Michael Heller, chairman of Bisichi Mining PLC said: 'The action that we have taken to reverse the setback at Black Wattle, and the continuing strength of our underlying UK investments, gives me the confidence to predict a return to profitability and growth in 2000.' For further information, please call: Michael Heller, Robert Corry or Andrew Heller Bisichi Mining PLC 0171 415 5000 CHAIRMAN'S REVIEW Financial results Turnover for the 6 months ending 30th June, at £1,610,000 was ahead of the comparable period in 1998 although the mix was different. Income from our UK investments rose from £315,000 to £497,000 but income from our direct mining activities in South Africa fell from £1,275,000 to £1,113,000. Operating profits reflected this with an increase in UK profit to £180,000 (1998: £113,000) but a loss of £194,000 (1998: £104,000 profit) in South Africa. Taken together with a write down of £80,000 on our direct mining investment and net interest payable, Bisichi Mining has made a pre-tax loss in the period of £176,000. The loss for the financial period after taxation and minority interest was £119,000 (1998: £245,000 profit). The reasons for this temporary reversal in our profit record, and the action we have taken to correct the situation, are detailed below. Direct Mining As shareholders know, it is the Group's strategy to use the surplus cash flow generated from our investments in UK retail property to finance the development and management of direct mining assets. Our principal mining investment is in Black Wattle Colliery (Pty) Limited, a coal mine located 120 miles from Johannesburg in the Middleburg region. In our Annual Report & Accounts for 1998, we drew shareholders attention to the fact that we had encountered a major geological problem at the mine in the shape of a 'mud wash' that had not shown up in previous borehole results. It has become apparent during the first half of this year that this 'mud wash' is located diagonally across the entire mine and it has completely blocked the line of advance. We have made several attempts to tunnel through the 'mud wash' but this has proved to be commercially unviable. As a direct result of these problems, each of the mining sections encountered poor production and our overall yield was 15% lower than we were achieving in the past. Taken together with inflation driven costs and no increase in world coal prices this has resulted in the loss at Black Wattle Colliery. Shareholders should be aware that, in the light of these events, your Board gave serious consideration to every available option. One of these options was to acquire adjacent reserves. I am now pleased to be able to inform shareholders that we have signed a mining agreement with the owner of an adjacent property with such mineable reserves. These reserves consist of up to 1.5 million tons of good quality coal for which we will be paying as the coal is mined. This agreement will enable Black Wattle Colliery to return to profitability in the near future. We are already locating one of our sections in the new reserve and we anticipate that this will see a return to full production before the end of this financial year. In a further development, I can also inform shareholders that we have sold 37.5% of Black Wattle Colliery to Mr Sipho Dube, a leading black South African industrialist. Mr Dube will be joining the Board of Black Wattle Colliery. Mr Dube's involvement in Black Wattle greatly strengthens our position. In addition to our direct mining activities, our wholly owned share dealing subsidiary, Mineral Products Ltd, has continued to manage an equity portfolio with a weighting in mineral and natural resources stocks. The market value at 30 June 1999 was £672,000. This portfolio complements our position in the mining and natural resources sector, and provides us with an easily accessible cash reserve. Bisichi Mining has additional mining investments in Western Australia, the United States and Europe. UK investments Our retail property investment portfolio, which is fully let with an increasing rent roll, will be professionally valued at 31 December 1999 and, in line with the UK property market, we expect this valuation to show further growth. The future The action that we have taken to reverse the setback at Black Wattle, and the continuing strength of our underlying UK investments, gives me the confidence to predict a return to profitability and growth in 2000. MICHAEL HELLER Chairman BISICHI MINING PLC Consolidated profit and loss account six months ended 30th June 1999 6 months 6 months Year ended ended ended 30th June 30th June 31st December 1999 1998 1998 Note £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover 1 1,610 1,590 3,053 Operating costs 1 (1,624) (1,373) (2,839) Operating (loss)/profit 1 (14) 217 214 Exceptional items 2 (80) 164 166 Income from interests in joint venture 5 9 15 Interest receivable 10 13 24 Interest payable (97) (96) (210) (Loss)/Profit on ordinary activities before taxation (176) 307 209 Taxation 3 (19) (30) (44) (Loss)/Profit after taxation (195) 277 165 Minority interest 76 (32) 6 (Loss)/Profit for the financial period (119) 245 171 Earnings per share 4 (1.14)p 2.35p 1.64p Dividends per share - - 1.00p Cost of net dividend - - 105 The turnover and operating profit for the period derive from continuing operations and are made up as follows: Turnover Mining 1,113 1,275 2,403 Rent receivable 314 286 571 Share dealing 179 24 74 Other 4 5 5 1,610 1,590 3,053 Operating (Loss)/Profit Mining (194) 104 (69) Property 104 92 233 Share Dealing 72 16 49 Other 4 5 1 (14) 217 214 Consolidated balance sheet 30th 30th 31st June June December 1999 1998 1998 Note £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Intangible assets 428 548 412 Properties and other tangible assets 5 7,874 7,196 7,267 Investments 558 606 608 8,860 8,350 8,287 Current assets Stocks 82 78 86 Debtors 374 410 238 Investments (Market value £672,000) 6 461 356 389 Bank balances 74 148 85 991 992 798 Creditors - falling due within one year (2,332) (1,418) (1,503) Net current liabilities (1,341) (426) (705) Total assets less current liabilities 7,519 7,924 7,582 Creditors - falling due after one year (1,248) (1,346) (1,267) Provisions for liabilities and charges (19) (15) (19) Minority interests (65) (200) - Net assets 6,187 6,363 6,296 Financed by: Equity shareholders' funds 6,187 6,363 6,296 Statement of total recognised gains and losses six months ended 30th June 1999 6 months 6 months Year ended ended ended 30th 30th 31st June June December 1999 1998 1998 £'000 £'000 £'000 The company (76) 154 167 Subsidiaries and joint venture (43) 91 4 (Loss)/profit for the period (119) 245 171 Revaluation of investment properties -company - - 106 Exchange adjustments 10 (105) (99) Total gains and losses recognised in the period (109) 140 178 Group cash flow statement six months ended 30th June 1999 6 months 6 months Year ended ended ended 30th 30th 31st June June December 1999 1998 1998 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities Operating (loss)/profit (14) 217 214 Depreciation charges and goodwill amortised 127 112 237 Profit on sale of current asset investments (74) (14) (47) Decrease in current assets 86 150 145 125 465 549 Returns on investments and servicing of finance (87) (82) (186) Taxation 22 (3) (24) Capital expenditure and financial investment (611) (193) (316) Equity dividends paid - - (94) Cash (outflow)/inflow before financing (551) 187 (71) Financing 409 (16) (12) (142) 171 (83) Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt (Decrease)/increase in cash in the period (142) 171 (83) Net cash flow changes in debt (409) 16 (12) Movements in net debt the period (551) 187 (71) Net debt at 1 January 1999 (1,953) (1,882) (1,882) Net debt at 30 June 1999 (2,504) (1,695) (1,953) Analysis of net debt Bank balances 74 148 85 Bank overdrafts (755) (440) (625) Debt due within one year (575) (57) (146) Debt due after one year (1,248) (1,346) (1,267) (2,504) (1,695) (1,953) Notes to the interim results six months ended 30th June 1999 6 months 6 months Year ended ended ended 30th 30th 31st June June December 1999 1998 1998 £'000 £'000 £'000 1. Geographical analysis Gross income United Kingdom 497 315 650 Southern Africa 1,113 1,275 2,403 1,610 1,590 3,053 Operating profit United Kingdom 180 113 283 Southern Africa (194) 104 (69) (14) 217 214 2. Exceptional items Arising in respect of fixed asset investments -write down (80) - - -gains from disposals - 164 166 (80) 164 166 3. Taxation Company and subsidiaries (18) (28) (41) Joint venture (1) (2) (3) (19) (30) (44) 4. Earnings per share Earnings per share have been calculated on the issued share capital of 10,451,506 shares throughout the period under review. 5. Properties are included at valuation at 31st December 1998. 6. Investments held as current assets Listed Investments Portfolio at lower of cost or net realisable value 461 356 389 Listed Investment Portfolio at market value 672 627 560 Unrealised surplus of market value over cost 211 271 171 7. The above financial information does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The figures for the year ended 31 December 1998 are based upon the latest statutory accounts which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies: the report of the auditors on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 237 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The six month figures are unaudited. 8.Posting to shareholders The interim statement will be posted to shareholders shortly. Copies are available from the Company Secretary at the Registered Office,telephone number 0171 415 5000 and will also be available on the company's Web Site at www.bisichi.co.uk. Registered office:8-10 New Fetter Lane, London, EC4A 1AF Company registration number:12155(England)

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