Interim Results

Metals Exploration plc ("Metals Ex" or "the Company") Unaudited interim results for the six months to 31st March 2007 The Directors of Metals Exploration plc (AIM: MTL), the UK based precious and base metals exploration company with a focus on the Pacific Rim region, are pleased to announce its unaudited interim results for the 6 months ended 31 March 2007. Operational Highlights: * October 2006 - £5m raised through an institutional placing of 20m new ordinary shares of 1 pence each at 25 pence per ordinary share. * December 2006 - The Runruno asset revised to an Inferred Mineral Resource (as defined by the JORC¹ Code) of 28.3 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.23 grams per tonne gold and 0.06% molybdenum, containing a total of 2.03 million ounces of gold and 34.4 million pounds of molybdenum. * January 2007 - Preliminary metallurgical test results demonstrated gold recoveries of 92% on a fresh composite sample from Runruno using a combination of gravity concentration followed by flotation. * January 2007 - The Company withdrew from the Masapelid Joint Venture in order to focus on its projects in northern Luzon. * March 2007 - Drill hole MXD055, drilled to test for vertical structures in the northern part of the Runruno deposit, produced a total combined intercept of 21.45 metres at 3.74 grams per tonne gold. * March 2007 - Applications lodged for Exploration Permits over the Sulong, Dupax, and Capaz projects in northern Luzon. All three properties comprise gold and copper-zinc mineralization identified by previous explorers and offer the potential for the delineation of economically viable deposits of gold and/or base metals. * May 2007 - Jonathan Pearson, an experienced international banker, was appointed as a non-executive director. Commenting on the results, Jonathan Beardsworth, CEO of Metals Exploration plc said: "This has been a period of steady achievement for the Company. We anticipate being in a position to update shareholders on the progress of drilling at Runruno in the next few weeks, and are confident of achieving our objective of providing a revised resource statement towards the end of the third quarter of 2007. We were also pleased to note the statement by DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) Secretary Angelo Reyes at the 7th Asia Pacific Mining Conference and Exhibition in Manila earlier this month in which he outlined plans to simplify and streamline procedures for mining applications, including "the delegation of the approval of new exploration permits to the Regional Directors of the MGB (Mines and GeoSciences Bureau)". This statement suggests that we will soon be able to add further value to the Company by working up our five EP Applications at Sulong, Dupax, Capaz, Worldwide and Puray". J Beardsworth Chief Executive Officer ¹JORC - Joint Ore Resources Committee QUALIFIED PERSON Gary Powell (a Director of the Company) has been involved in the mining and exploration industry for more than 20 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in geology and is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Australasian Institute of Geoscientists. He has compiled, read and approved the technical disclosure in this regulatory announcement. For more information: Jonathan Beardsworth CEO + 44 (0) 20 7927 6690 Jonathan Anderson Investor Relations + 44 (0) 20 7927 6690 Adrian Hadden Collins Stewart Europe +44 (0) 20 7523 Limited 8350 Candice Sgroi Pelham pr +44 (0) 20 7743 6376 Consolidated Profit and Loss Account for the 6 months ended 31 March 2007 - Unaudited Note 6 months 6 months Year ended ended 31 ended 31 30 September 2006 March 2007 March 2006 (audited-restated) (unaudited) (unaudited) £ £ £ Turnover - - - Administrative (659,591) (226,319) (2,588,059) expenses OPERATING LOSS (659,591) (226,319) (2,588,059) Interest 71,943 18,705 30,875 Receivable Interest Payable (1,028) (784) (478) LOSS ON ORDINARY (588,676) (208,398) (2,557,662) ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION Tax on loss on - - - ordinary activities LOSS FOR THE (588,676) (208,398) (2,557,662) FINANCIAL PERIOD AFTER TAXATION Minority Interest 110,752 - (3,564) LOSS FOR THE YEAR (477,924) (208,398) (2,561,226) Loss per ordinary 2 (0.65p) (0.42p) (5.02p) share - basic and fully diluted Consolidated Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses 6 months Year ended ended 31 March 2007 30 September 2006 (unaudited) (audited) £ £ Loss for the period (477,924) (1,121,650) Prior year adjustment (1,432,448) - Currency translation (1,189) - difference Total recognised losses for (1,121,650) the period (1,911,561) Consolidated Balance Sheet 31 March 2007 - Unaudited At 31 At 31 At 30 September March 2007 March 2006 2006 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited-restated) Note £ £ £ FIXED ASSETS Intangible fixed 5 2,631,995 1,675,932 2,011,023 assets Tangible fixed 128,148 202,443 95,524 assets 2,760,143 1,878,375 2,106,547 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 193,873 19,596 107,776 Cash at bank and 4,077,432 962,171 371,501 in hand 4,271,305 981,767 479,277 CURRENT LIABILITIES Creditors: (396,539) (216,196) (234,554) amounts falling due within one year NET CURRENT 3,874,766 765,571 244,723 ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS 6,634,909 2,643,946 2,351,270 CURRENT LIABILITIES TOTAL NET ASSETS 6,634,909 2,643,946 2,351,270 CAPITAL AND RESERVES Called up share 7 776,856 510,064 556,953 capital Share premium 7,346,423 2,291,000 2,696,623 Shares to be 1,417,497 101,000 1,524,448 issued Profit and loss (3,320,877) (385,312) (2,731,012) account EQUITY 6,219,899 2,516,752 2,047,012 SHAREHOLDERS FUNDS Minority 415,010 127,194 304,258 interests 6,634,909 2,643,946 2,351,270 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the 6 months ended 31 March 2007 - Unaudited 6 months 6 months Year ended 30 ended 31 ended 31 September 2006 March 2007 March 2006 (audited-restated) (unaudited) (unaudited) Note £ £ £ Net cash outflow 3 (457,570) (211,536) (2,298,411) from operating activities Returns on 70,915 17,921 30,397 investment Capital expenditure (670,166) (609,011) (863,242) - Exploration and development costs and purchase of tangible fixed assets Cash outflow before (1,056,821) (802,626) (3,131,256) financing Financing: Issue of shares 4,762,752 586,110 2,324,070 Increase/(Decrease) 3,705,931 (216,516) (807,186) in cash Notes to the Half Yearly Report for the Period ended to 31 March 2007 - Unaudited 1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES Accounting convention The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards generally accepted in the United Kingdom and with the policies which the company will adopt for its annual accounts and which are detailed below. The figures and the financial information for the year ended 30 September 2006 is derived from the statutory accounts for that period and have been delivered to the Registrar and included the auditors' report which was unqualified and did not contain a statement either under section 237(2) or 237(3) of the Companies Act 1985. The accounting policies are consistent with those applied in the preparation of the statutory accounts for year ended 30 September 2006. Basis of Accounting The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention. Prior year adjustment The year ended 30 September 2006 figures have been restated to comply with the provisions of FRS20. The directors have calculated the fair value of all share options and warrants which has resulted in the loss increasing by £1,432,448. Basis of Consolidation The group accounts consolidate those of the company and its subsidiary undertakings using the acquisition method of accounting. Exploration and development costs Costs relating to the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties are capitalised until such time as an economic reserve is defined and mining commences or the mining property is abandoned. Once mining commences the asset is amortised on a depletion percentage basis. Provision is made for impairments to the extent that the asset's carrying value exceeds its net recoverable amount. Investments Investments are stated at cost less provision for any impairment. Deferred tax Deferred tax is provided for on a full provision basis on all timing differences which have arisen but not reversed at the balance sheet date. A deferred tax asset is not recognized to the extent that the transfer of economic benefit in future is uncertain. Any assets and liabilities recognized have been discounted. Foreign currencies Monetary assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rate of exchange ruling at the date of transaction. Exchange differences are taken into account in arriving at the operating result. Going concern The Company is in the early stages of development and has limited cash resources, its success will depend largely upon the outcome of future mining exploration and development programmes in the Far East and in particular the Philippines. The directors believe they have considered all relevant information and have concluded that it is appropriate to prepare these financial statements on the going concern basis. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that may be required if the funds are not available or if the trading plans were not materially achieved. 2. LOSS PER ORDINARY SHARE The basic loss per share has been calculated on the basis of loss after taxation of £477,924 (31 March 2006: £208,398) divided by the weighted average number of shares in the year of 73,453,674 (31 March 2006: 48,734,058). The diluted loss per share calculation is identical to that used for basic earnings per share as the exercise of warrants and share options would have the effect of reducing the loss per ordinary share and therefore is not dilutive under the terms of the FRS22 "Earnings per share". 3. RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING LOSS TO OPERATING CASH FLOWS £ Operating loss (659,591) Depreciation 16,569 (Increase) in debtors (86,097) Increase in creditors 161,985 Minority Interest 110,752 Foreign exchange (1,188) Net cash outflow from operating activities (457,570) 4. MOVEMENT IN CASH BALANCES £ Net cash balances as at 30 September 2006 371,501 Movement in 6 months ended 31 March 2007 3,705,931 Net cash balances as at 31 March 2007 4,077,432 5. EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS - INTANGIBLE ASSETS £ Cost At 30 September 2006 2,011,023 Additions 620,972 At 31 March 2007 2,631,995 On 1 February 2005 Metals Exploration plc signed an agreement on the Runruno Project with Filminera Resources Corporation, Christian Mining Inc and FCF Mining Corporation. The agreement allows Metals Exploration plc to acquire an immediate 40% interest in FCF Mining Corp, which in turn owns the Exploration Permit (EP-11-000013) covering the Runruno project, subject to the payment schedule below. The agreement further provides for Metals Exploration plc to earn a further 30% interest in FCF Mining Corp, taking the Company's total interest in FCF Mining Corp under the agreement to 70%, by completion of a bankable feasibility study. The following payment schedule has been agreed: Cash Shares in Metals Exploration US$ plc Feb 05 On completion 100,000 400,000 Feb 06 1 year after completion 30,000 400,000 Feb 07 2 years after completion 40,000 400,000 Feb 08 3 years after completion 40,000 400,000 In February 2007, the company issued 400,000 new 1p ordinary shares to satisfy a share issue obligation of the company pursuant to the above agreement with Christian Mining Inc and Filminera Resources Corporation. On 23 November 2005, the company signed an option agreement with Christian Mining Inc to acquire an additional 15% shareholding in FCF Mining Corp, which if exercised would give the company an 85% interest. The Company shall pay an annual option fee of US$65,000 until the option is either exercised or withdrawn, although the company has sole discretion to terminate the option. The exercise price of the option is US$400,000 for each additional 1% shareholding, subject to a maximum fee of US$6 million. The exercise period of the option is indefinite. Exploration and development costs included in the balance sheet represent the completion payments on the above project together with the costs incurred on due diligence, concluding the contracts and subsequent exploration. 6. WARRANTS IN ISSUE Exercisable Exercisable Exercisable Exercisable Exercisable at £0.0325 at £0.08 at £0.12 at £0.20 at £0.40 At 30 8,000,000 500,000 1,300,000 5,722,297 2,000,000 September 2006 Issued in - - - - - the period Exercised (1,000,000) - (100,000) (490,379) - in period At 31 7,000,000 500,000 1,200,000 5,231,918 2,000,000 March 2007 Warrants held by the directors as at 31 March 2007 were as follows: Exercise Price Exercise period Number of from issue shares G Powell 12p Up to 7 years 1,000,000 40p Up to 7 years 500,000 Reef Securities Ltd 3.25p Up to 7 years 1,000,000 * 20p Up to 7 years 1,000,000 40p Up to 7 years 500,000 * Reef Securities Limited is a company controlled by SM Smith. No directors exercised warrants in the period. On 30 April 2007, the Company granted Jonathan Beardsworth 1,000,000 warrants at 26.25 pence exercisable one year from the grant date, 1,000,000 warrants at 39.375 pence exercisable two years from the grant date and 500,000 warrants at 52.5 pence exercisable three years from the grant date. 7. SHARES IN ISSUE The company has the following ordinary shares of 1p each in issue: Date of issue Number Nominal Value £ At 30 September 2006 55,695,248 556,953 18 October 2006 166,919 1,669 24 October 2006 20,000,000 200,000 6 November 2006 282,500 2,825 12 February 2006 50,000 500 5 February 2007 400,000 4,000 26 March 2007 1,090,960 10,909 At 31 March 2007 77,685,627 776,856 The directors held the following 1p ordinary shares at 31 March 2007: GR Powell - 1,000,000 Ordinary Shares of 1p each Reef Securities Limited * - 1,500,000 Ordinary Shares of 1p each * Reef Securities Limited is a company controlled by SM Smith. On 2 April 2007, Jonathan Beardsworth held 250,000 ordinary shares of 1p each. At 31 March 2007, there were 1,200,000 (2006: 1,200,000) unapproved share options under the Unapproved Share Option Scheme. At 31 March 2007 the company was committed to issue directors share options which were subsequently granted on 30 April 2007 to Jonathan Beardsworth of 2,000,000 share options at 26.25 pence per share exercisable three years from date of grant. 8. POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS Warrants, Options and Shares On 2 April 2007, the Company received notice the Jonathan Beardsworth had purchased a total of 250,000 ordinary shares of 1p each in the capital of the Company. On 12 April 2007, 200,000 warrants were exercised at 12 pence per share. On 30 April 2007, the Company granted Jonathan Beardsworth 1,000,000 warrants at 26.25 pence exercisable one year from the grant date, 1,000,000 warrants at 39.275 pence exercisable two years from the grant date and 500,000 warrants at 52.5 pence exercisable three years from the grant date. On 30 April 2007, the company granted Jonathan Beardsworth 2,000,000 share options at 26.25 pence per share exercisable three years from date of grant. On 21 May 2007, 31,250 warrants were exercised at 20 pence per share. On 11 June 2007, 9,500 shares were issued and allotted following an exercise of 9,500 warrants at 20 pence per share. On 20 June 2007, 220,960 shares were issued and allotted following an exercise of 220,960 warrants at 20 pence per share. On 25 June 2007, 100,000 shares were issued and allotted following an exercise of 100,00 warrants at 20 pence per share. New Directorships On 1 May 2007, the board was pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Pearson as non executive director. 9. THE INTERIM REPORT The Interim Report was approved by the Directors' on 27 June 2007. Copies of the Interim Report may be obtained on written request to the Company Secretary, Metals Exploration plc, 7 Savoy Court, Strand, London WC2R 0ER. ---END OF MESSAGE---
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