Replacement: Final Results

RNS Number : 4370U
URU Metals Limited
15 October 2014
 



This announcement replaces the announcement made on 30 September 2014 under RNS number 0243T by correcting the historic nickel prices quoted in the section headed "The Nickel Market" and replacing the description of the Zebediela Nickel Sulphide Project in the section headed "About URU Metals" to be consistent with the project's description in "Operations Review". All other details remain unchanged. The full amended text is shown below.

 

URU Metals Limited / Index: AIM / Epic: URU / Sector: Natural Resources

30 September 2014

URU Metals Limited ("URU Metals" or "the Company")

Final Results

 

URU Metals, the multi-commodity exploration and development company, is pleased to announce its final results for the year ended 31 March 2014.  A copy of the full Report & Accounts will be available on the Company's website.

 

Chairman's Statement

 

I am pleased to present URU Metals Limited's Annual Report for the year to 31 March 2014.

 

Fiscal 2014 saw a change in the composition of the Board and the Management of your Company.  Mr Roger Lemaitre resigned in January 2014 to pursue other opportunities.  I acted in an executive capacity through to mid-June 2014, when Mr John Zorbas was appointed as CEO, a non-Board position.  Mr Zorbas is the CEO of NWT Uranium, URU's majority shareholder. He is a resource entrepreneur with a proven track record in the metals exploration and development industry, who will provide further expertise to the URU Metals team.  I take this opportunity to thank Mr Lemaitre for his hard work for the Company, and wish him well in his future endeavours. 

 

The Company maintains its core strategy to develop uranium and nickel assets, as there is a growing supply gap in the uranium market that cannot be filled by current and future planned production, and the Board anticipates growing demand and price appreciation for uranium and nickel in the short to medium term.

 

Sale of UrAmerica

On 4 April 2013, the Company elected to sell its entire holdings (4,421,000 shares) in UrAmerica, an Argentina-based private uranium exploration company, for GBP 200,000, resulting in a gain of USD 292,000.  This investment had previously been written off in the consolidated financial statements.

 

Acquisition of the Närke project

In May 2013, the Company purchased the entire share capital of Svenska Skifferoljetbolaget ("SSOAB"), a Swedish company that holds 100% interest in six mineral exploration licenses located in Central Sweden, known as the Närke project.  These licenses overlie the highly prospective Alum Shale, known to contain significant quantities of uranium, oil, and other metals.

 

Decision to close the Niger Operations

The assets and liabilities related to Niger Uranium Societe Anonyme ("NUSA") have been presented as discontinued operations following the approval of the Group's Board to close our operations there.  The closure of the Niger operations was completed effective 30 September 2013, and has been treated as a Discontinued Operation in the financial statements.  As NUSA was wound up, neither a gain nor a loss resulted from the closure. 

 

Putative Acquisition of Zebediela Licenses

On 25 November 2013, the Company announced that it had acquired all the outstanding ordinary shares of SAN Ltd, a private company incorporated in the BVI, from two private companies.

 

The acquisition was the first of a two-part plan to gain control of SAN Ltd's interests in various mineral prospecting rights in South Africa.  SAN Ltd had been party to two joint ventures in South Africa: a putative 74% interest in the Zebediela licenses (see Note 28a in relation to the transfer of the licenses), and, in a 50/50 ownership with URU, a 50% interest in the Burgersfort project (see Note 10 in both cases).  The terms of the purchase agreement stipulated that URU's joint venture with SAN Ltd would be terminated upon purchase.  As a result, URU now owns 100% of SAN Ltd, which in turn owns a putative 74% interest in the Zebediela licenses and a 50% interest in the Burgersfort project.

 

The second part of the plan was to acquire the remaining putative 26% interest in the Zebediela licenses.  This was held by Umnex Mineral Holdings Pty ("UMH"), which had putative title to the Zebediela licenses through its subsidiary, Umnex Minerals Limpopo Pty ("UML") as set out in Note 28a.  SAN Ltd and UMH had been in dispute since 2011, and arbitration had begun in August 2013.  On 10 April 2014, SAN Ltd and UMH agreed that SAN Ltd would purchase 100% of UML from UMH for consideration of 33,194,181 in URU shares.  The dispute between SAN Ltd and the holders of the Zebediela licenses was terminated after year-end as part of the purchase agreement.  This is a non-adjusting subsequent event as set out in Note 28a.

 

Post year-end financing

In May 2014, the Company issued shares for a value of GBP 815,000 at GBP 1.5 pence per share in a private placement to fund ongoing operations.

 

Nueltin Lake Project

In February 2013, the Company acquired an option to earn a 51% interest in the Nueltin Uranium-Gold project ("Nueltin") located in Nunavut, Canada, from the world's largest publicly-traded uranium producer, Cameco Corporation.  As a result of the Company's efforts as noted above, the Company agreed with Cameco on 28 August 2014 to defer the Nueltin project by extending our option through to 31 December 2016.

 

The Närke, Nueltin, and Zebediela projects are at the early stage of exploration, but with reduced exploration risk, as mineralisation has already been discovered.   The Company believes that with a modest investment, all projects can be progressed quickly to a preliminary economic assessment stage.

 

Year over year, URU Metals has raised capital and has upgraded its portfolio of exploration assets.  We are well positioned to take advantage of the expected positive movements in the uranium, nickel, and also oil and gas markets.

 

David Subotic,

Non-Executive Chairman

29th September 2014

 

Operations Review

 

From the CEO

 

The 2014 fiscal year has been one of tremendous change and activity by your Company:

 

2013

April

Disposal of the Company's holding in UrAmerica;


May

Acquisition of the Närke Uranium-Oil Project in Sweden;


September

Closure of the Company's operations in Niger;


November

Acquisition of its joint venture partner SAN Ltd, its 50% interest in the Burgersfort project, and its putative 74% interest (see Note 28a) in the Zebediela licenses, and terminating the associated SAN-URU joint venture in the process;

2014

April

Acquisition of SAN Ltd's former joint venture partner's putative 26% interest in the Zebediela licenses, and in the process extinguishing the arbitration between the two and terminating the joint venture;


May

Issuing shares for a value of GBP 815,000 in a private share placement;


August

Extending the Nueltin Lake option through to December 2016.

 

These projects represent a substantial upgrade to the Company's portfolio.  Unlike many early stage exploration projects, the discovery risk attached to the Nueltin, Närke, Zebediela, and Burgersfort projects have been reduced through the work of previous operators.  The presence of uranium or nickel mineralisation has already been confirmed on all our principal projects through historic exploration drilling.  However, we believe that previous work did not define the ultimate size of the deposits at these projects, and thus our shareholders can benefit from both reduced technical and financial risks associated with early stage exploration, and from value uplift as we advance the projects.  In 2015, the Company's focus will shift towards determining the ultimate size and economic viability of the Nueltin and Närke projects.

 

Nueltin project (Canada)

In February 2013, the Company secured an option to earn a 51% interest in Nueltin Lake Gold-Uranium Project from uranium giant Cameco Corporation by incurring CDN$2.5 million in exploration expenditures. The option term has since been extended, and now runs through to 31 December 2016.  If the Company satisfies the terms of the first option, URU has the right to trigger a second option to earn up to 70% of the project by sole funding an additional CDN$8.0 million in exploration expenditures on the project over the following seven years.

 

The Nueltin Project was known for decades through the work of prospectors to contain high grade gold and uranium-bearing glacially distributed boulders with gold grades ranging up to 2,060 g/t Au and uranium up to 13.68% U3O8.  In 2008, Cameco conducted the only drill programme ever undertaken on the property, and successfully identified the bedrock source of these mineralised boulders.  Three drill holes encountered impressive grades and intercepts of gold and uranium mineralisation: up to 8.98 g/t gold over 5.95 metres and 0.23%  U3O8 over 1.25 metres.

 

This mineralisation, named the Sandybeach Lake Zone, remains open in all directions, as Cameco declined to mount follow-up drill programs after the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008.  URU is looking forward to leading the next drilling programme on the property to determine the size of the Sandybeach Lake Zone.

 

Sale of UrAmerica

On 2 April, 2013, URU sold its entire 7.36% equity interest in private company UrAmerica Limited for GBP 200,000.  UrAmerica has been exploring for uranium in South America, principally in the Chubut Province of Argentina.  After reviewing UrAmerica's progress over the past three years, your Board felt that the unsolicited offer for URU's interest represented the best value for the UrAmerica interest that could be realistically achieved in the short to medium term.

 

Närke Project (Sweden)

On 23 May, 2013, URU announced the acquisition of SSOAB, holder of six exploration licenses in south-central Sweden known as the Närke Project.  The six licenses cover the Alum Shale formation which contains significant quantities of uranium, oil, nickel, zinc, molybdenum, and vanadium. 

 

Between 1941 and 1966, a Swedish government-owned company produced 61 tonnes of uranium (134,500 lbs) and established an oil-recovery plant on the project, which recovered approximately 159,100 m3 of petroleum (1 million barrels) and 418,400 m3 of fuel oil (2.6 million barrels).  This company extracted only a small portion of the total ore that is believed to exist at the Närke Project.

 

In the past, the government operator drilled 37 drill holes spread across the six licenses, confirming the presence and thickness of the host Alum Shale rocks, and proved the existence of oil and uranium within the current property boundaries.

 

URU's primary focus in its initial investigations will be on developing an economically viable metallurgical process to recover uranium and oil from the Alum Shale.  URU believes that with the significant technological developments in the recovery of oil from shale rocks and the improvements in uranium extraction technology over the last forty years, it can develop a financially viable project for our shareholders.

 

Zebediela Project and Burgersfort Projects (South Africa)

We are excited by the progress made surrounding the Zebediela licenses.

 

The Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on the Zebediela project was completed in June 2012, and indicated that with the extraction of 500 million tonnes of the 1.5 billion tonne total (non-JORC compliant) resource defined to date, the project has a Net Present Value ("NPV") of over USD 317M and a post-tax IRR of 18.6%.  (This valuation assumes a post-tax discount rate of 10%, nickel price of USD 8.50/lb, production of 20,000 tonnes of nickel per year over a 25 year mine life, a total capex cost of USD 708M, and an opex cost of USD 3.35/ lb Ni.)

 

Unfortunately, even with our extensive assistance, our two partners, Umnex Mineral Holdings ("Umnex"), and Southern African Nickel ("SAN") were unable to resolve their issues related to an underlying agreement to the SAN-Umnex  JV.  Their dispute, which started in mid-2012, moved to a formal arbitration process in March 2013.    The arbitration prevented any significant work from being performed on the Zebediela project.  Accordingly, the Company began a two-part plan to obtain 100% control over the Zebediela licenses.

 

The first part of the plan was completed on 26 November 2013, when the Company announced that it had acquired all the outstanding ordinary shares of SAN Ltd, a private company incorporated in the BVI, from two private companies.  This gave URU control of SAN Ltd's putative interests in various mineral prospecting rights in South Africa.  SAN Ltd had been party to two joint ventures in South Africa: a 74% interest in the Zebediela project ("SAN-Umnex"), and, in a 50/50 ownership with URU, a 50% interest in the Burgersfort project ("SAN-BSC"; see Note 10 to the financial statements in both cases).  The terms of the purchase agreement stipulated that the SAN-Umnex JV would be terminated upon purchase.  As a result, at year-end, URU owns 100% of SAN Ltd, which in turn owns a 74% putative interest in the Zebediela project and a 50% interest in the Burgersfort project.

 

The second part of the plan was to acquire the remaining 26% of the putative title to the Zebediela licenses.  This was held by Umnex Mineral Holdings Pty ("UMH"), which had title to the Zebediela licenses through its subsidiary, Umnex Minerals Limpopo Pty ("UML").  SAN Ltd and UMH had been in dispute since 2011, and arbitration had begun in August 2013.  On 10 April 2014, SAN Ltd and UMH agreed that SAN Ltd would purchase 100% of UML from UMH for consideration of 33,194,181 in URU shares.  The dispute between SAN Ltd and the holders of the Zebediela licenses was terminated after year-end as part of the purchase agreement.  This is a non-adjusting subsequent event as set out in Note 28a.

 

As a result of these acquisitions, URU now owns 100% of SAN, which in turn has a putative 100% of the Zebediela licenses and a 50% interest in the Burgersfort project.

 

Our plans for 2014/2015 include investigation of the occurrence of magnetite in both the Oxide and the Sulphide Zones.  Further work will be predicated on the results of this investigation.

 

Closure of Operations in Niger

With the acquisition of the Närke Project, the extension to the option over the Nueltin Project, its 50% interest in the Burgersfort project, and the acquisition of putative title to the Zebediela assets, URU has four high quality assets in its portfolio, which should be accretive to shareholder value as the commodity markets and investor sentiment in the mining industry recover in the coming months.

 

As a result, your Board determined that the uranium exploration assets in Niger, while considered to be good projects, not to be as prospective as the other projects in the Company's portfolio.  (The Company had provided for the value of the licenses in full in September 2012.)  An extensive search by Management to find partners to invest in these projects has not been successful.  Accordingly, the operations in Niger were closed effective September 2013, and treated as Discontinued Operations as set out in Note 23 b.

 

Strategy for 2014/2015 Consolidate and Invest

 

In the fiscal years 2012 and early 2013, your Company embarked on a process of diversification in its portfolio of exploration projects beyond the core holdings in the uranium sector.  This led the Company to invest in the Närke and Nueltin Lake projects, in addition to its investment in the SAN-URU JV and development of the Zebediela Nickel Project. 

 

URU remains committed to its three-prong strategy of acquiring mineral assets, through

·     direct investments in companies with prospects with medium-to-long term production potential;

·     partnership with other industry participants to develop projects with production forecast in the near-to-medium term; and

·     Investment of 100% equity in earlier-stage projects with the potential to develop world-class sized mineral resources that could be brought to market over the long-term.

 

A review by your Management team has led to the belief that investments in the uranium sector will be lucrative to investors in the short to medium term, as the future primary uranium market is clearly undersupplied, requiring significant increases in uranium prices to stimulate miners and explorers to make the necessary investments to meet future uranium demand.  Your Company has acquired quality uranium with by-product projects located in favourable, stable mining jurisdictions which will be expected to appreciate considerably when the uranium market rebounds.

 

URU would not rule out investing in longer-term, 100% equity projects, or in other prospective junior companies should the right opportunity arise.  However this would be dependent on investor appetite at the time.

 

The Uranium Market

 

URU acquired the Nueltin and Närke Projects for their development potential and medium-term production timelines, as well as their location in favourable mining jurisdictions.  Most importantly, the Company intentionally sought out opportunities to increase exposure to the upcoming increase in uranium prices and industry outlook.

 

The upcoming year will be a pivotal one for the uranium industry on several fronts.

 

With the termination in 2013 of the Highly Enriched Uranium deal ("HEU"), a multi-nation UN-sponsored decade-long programme, under which Russian nuclear-weapons grade uranium has been downgraded for use in US civilian nuclear power stations, approximately 16% of the world's annual uranium supply disappeared in fiscal 2014.

 

Today, HEU-sourced uranium is directly responsible for generating 10% of the United States' total electricity generation, and is a key uranium source, supplying more uranium than the combined top three uranium mines in the world.  HEU-uranium will not be available to the uranium market anytime in the foreseeable future.

 

The newly-elected and pro-nuclear Japanese government, highly aware of the need for cheap electricity to power its economic rebuilding programme, is in the process of re-starting its nuclear fleet of reactors and Japanese demand will return to the uranium market in the short to medium-term.  While the pace of the restarts has not yet met expectations, URU is convinced that a large proportion of the Japanese nuclear generating facilities will come back on line over the next year.

 

The International Atomic Energy Association ("IAEA"), in its 2013 survey, forecasts electricity demand to increase by as much as 76% between 2012 and 2030[1].

 

Even with slower-than-expected return to operation of the Japanese civilian nuclear plants, and the potential shut-downs (albeit unlikely to occur) in Germany, growth in the global nuclear generating capacity under the most conservative estimates is staggering, driven primarily by the building of new plants in the developing world.

 

The European Nuclear Society reports that, as of 11 March 2014,  there are 435 nuclear power plants in operation across 31 countries worldwide, with a total installed electrical net capacity of about 372 Gigawatts (855 MW average).  It also reports that there are 72 plants being built in 15 countries to produce 68 Gigawatts (949 MW average)[2].  In other words, the number of reactors will grow by 16%, and each of these on average will be 10% larger than their existing siblings.  The IAEA has similar statistics at 31 December 2012:  437 reactors connected to the grid and 67 reactors under construction, but - excitingly - 102 reactors planned[3].  (More than one-third of these are Chinese: the IAEA's figures show 38 of the 102 planned and 29 of the 67 under construction.)

 

Nuclear utility companies purchase uranium on long-term supply contracts to ensure stable supply of uranium to feed the nuclear fuel pellet production process.  The spike in uranium prices from 2005-2009 shows that the purchase of uranium by utility companies has more to do with supply security than price sensitivity.

 

While it is very clear that there is a growing demand under the most conservative assumptions for uranium, the ability for the mining industry to meet this growth with new supply is limited, as national regulations in most countries, and technical capacities of many operations, prohibit rapid changes in annual uranium output. 

 

It is difficult to ignore the facts. Demand for uranium is likely to increase, and the supply is diminishing. We remain positive on the outlook of uranium and have positioned ourselves to take advantage of the upside potential within the uranium sector.

 

The Nickel Market

 

Nickel prices have moved up slightly from USD $7.09/ lb in April 2013 to USD $7.19/ lb at year-end, and then up to USD $8.43 by mid-August 2014.  Nickel use is growing at about 4% each year while use of nickel-containing stainless steel is growing at about 6%. The fastest growth today is seen in the newly and rapidly industrializing countries, especially in Asia. Nickel-containing materials are needed to modernize infrastructure, for industry and to meet the material aspirations of their populations. [4]

 

Your Management believes that our current projects have the potential to deliver shareholder value in the short to medium term and look forward to updating shareholders on the development of our uranium projects, in Sweden and in Canada, and our Nickel projects in South Africa.

 

 

John Zorbas, CEO

 

 

Consolidated statements of financial position

 

USD '000

 

Note

As at

31 March

2014

As at

31 March

2013





Assets




Non-current assets




Plant and equipment

8

20

7

Intangible assets

9,10

3,415

1,527



3,435

1,534





Current assets




Receivables

11

116

31

Cash and cash equivalents

12

240

1,878



356

1,909





Assets of disposal group

24b

1

13

Total assets


3,792

3,456









Equity and liabilities




Equity




Share capital and premium                                                                 

13

47,524

46,857

Reserves

14

1,876

2,121

Accumulated deficit


(46,069)

(45,688)



3,331

3,290

Current liabilities




Trade and other payables

17

301

128





Non-current liabilities




Contingent consideration on SSOAB purchase

25

160

-





Liabilities of disposal group

24b

-

38

Total liabilities


461

166





Total equity and liabilities


3,792

3,456

 

Commitments and Contingencies                                                                     21

 



Consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss

 

USD '000

 

Note

Year

ended

31 March

2014

Year

ended

31 March 2013

Continuing Operations








Administrative expenses


(658)

(1,743)

Operating loss


 (658)

(1,743)





Financing costs


(22)

-

Impairment of jointly-controlled asset

10

-

(2,409)

Gain on disposal of investment

24a

292

-

Loss on disposal of plant and equipment

8

-

(10)





Profit (Loss) before income tax from continuing operations


(388)

(4,162)

Income tax expense

19

-

-





Profit (Loss) for the year




From continuing operations


(388)

(4,162)

From discontinued operations

24b i

 (183)

(4,918)

Profit (loss) for the year

20

(571)

(9,080)





Other comprehensive loss




Items that may be reclassified to profit and loss




Foreign currency translation differences:




On consolidation of foreign operations:




Operating subsidiaries


(74)

(63)

Items that will not be reclassified to profit and loss




Resulting from change in functional currency


-

(71)





Other comprehensive loss for the year, net of income tax

16

(74)

(134)

Attributable to continuing operations


(72)

(112)

Attributable to  discontinued operations


(2)

(22)





Total comprehensive loss for the year


(645)

(9,214)





Total comprehensive loss attributable to:




Owners of the Company


(645)

(9,214)





Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share (US cents)




From continuing operations

20

(0.29)

(3.67)

From discontinued operations

20

(0.14)

(4.35)

Total


(0.43)

(8.02)




 

Consolidated statements of changes in equity

 

USD '000

Note

Share capital

Share premium

Foreign currency translation reserve

Share option reserve

Accumulated deficit

Total









Balance at 1 April 2012


1,133

45,724

(125)

3,737

(38,185)

12,284

Comprehensive income for the year








Loss for the year


-

-

-

-

(9,080)

(9,080)

Other comprehensive income








Foreign currency translation differences

16

-

-

(134)

-

-

(134)

Total comprehensive income for the year


-

-

(134)

-

(9,080)

(9,214)

Transactions with owners, recognised directly in equity








Contributions by and distributions to owners








Issue of ordinary shares


-

-

-

-

-

-

Share-based payment transactions

15

-

-

-

(1,357)

1,577

220

Total transactions with owners, recognised directly in equity


-

-

-

(1,357)

1,577

220









Balance at 31 March 2013

13,14

1,133

45,724

(259)

2,380

(45,688)

3,290









Balance at 1 April 2013


1,133

45,724

(259)

2,380

(45,688)

3,290

Comprehensive income for the year


 

Loss for the year


-

-

-

-

 (571)

(571)

Other comprehensive income

16,18

-

-

(74)

-

-

(74)

Total comprehensive income for the year


-

-

(74)

-

(571)

(645)

Transactions with owners, recognised directly in equity








Contributions by and distributions to owners








Issue of ordinary shares

13

195

472

-

-

-

667

Share-based payment transactions


-

-

-

(171)

190

19

Total transactions with owners, recognised directly in equity


195

472

-

(171)

190

686









Balance at 31 March 2014

13,14

1,328

46,196

(333)

2,209

(46,069)

3,331

 



 

Consolidated statements of cash flows

 

USD '000

Note

Year

ended

31 March

2014

Year

ended

31 March

2013





Cash flows from operating activities

22

(813)

(1,913)





Cash flows from investing activities




Acquisition of plant and equipment

8

(20)

(3)

Cash paid to acquire SSOAB

25

(461)

-

Cash paid to acquire SAN Ltd

26

(219)

-

Capitalisation of exploration costs

9

(431)

(233)

Proceeds of sale of UrAmerica

24 a

292

-

Foreign exchange differences on consolidation of subsidiaries


(74)

(65)

Net cash (used)/generated by investing activities


(913)

(301)





Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents


(1,726)

(2,214)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year


1,882

4,035

Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held


84

61

Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March

12

240

1,882

Comprised of:




Continuing operations


239

1,878

Discontinued operations


1

4

 

 

Notes

 

1)   Reporting Entity

 

URU Metals Limited (the "Company", or "URU Metals"), formerly known as Niger Uranium Limited, and before that, as UraMin Niger Limited, was incorporated in the British Virgin Islands ("BVI") on 21 May 2007. The Company's shares were admitted to trading on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange on 12 September 2007.  The address of the Company's registered office is Intertrust, P.O. Box 92, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and its principal office is 702-85 Richmond Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5H 2C9.

 

The annual consolidated financial statements of the Company as at and for the year ended 31 March 2014 comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the "Group").  These annual consolidated financial statements (including the Notes thereto) of the Group were approved by the Board of Directors on Monday 29 September 2014.

 

The Group is primarily involved in seeking out mining opportunities around the world as an active investor and project developer.

 

2)   Nature of Operations and Liquidity

 

The business of mining and exploring for minerals involves a high degree of risk and there can be no assurance that planned exploration and development programs will result in profitable mining operations. The Company has not yet established whether its mineral properties contain reserves that are economically recoverable.  Changes in future conditions could require material write-downs of the carrying values of mineral properties.

 

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared using International Financial Reporting Standards applicable to a going concern, which assumes continuity of operations and realization of assets and settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business. In assessing whether or not there are material uncertainties that may lend doubt as to the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern, management takes into account all available information about the future, which is at least, but is not limited to, twelve months from the end of the reporting period. Management is aware, in making its assessment, of estimates and uncertainties related to events or conditions over the entity's ability to continue as a going concern, as described in the following paragraphs. These consolidated financial statements do not reflect the adjustments to the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the reported expenses and statement of financial position classifications that would be necessary were the going concern assumption inappropriate.

 

As at 31 March 2014, the Group reported a net loss for the year of $571,000 (2013 - $9.1 million), an accumulated deficit of $46.1 million (2013 - $45.7 million), and has liabilities of $461,000 (2013 - $166,000).  Although it has a cash balance of $240,000 (2013 - $1.9 million), and has issued GBP 815,000 in shares subsequent to year-end as set out in Note 28, the Group has not generated cash flow from operations. 

 

As part of the Group's normal procedures, the Board and management continually evaluate the going concern premise and as an exploration Group, use budgets and cash flow forecasts to evaluate requirements in ensuing periods.

 

The Company is in the exploration stage and is subject to the risks and challenges similar to other companies in a comparable stage of development. These risks include, but are not limited to:

·     dependence on key individuals,

·     receipt and maintenance of all required exploration permits and property titles;

·     successful development

·     and, as noted above, the ability to secure adequate financing to meet the minimum capital required to successfully develop the Company's projects and continue as a going concern.

 

There is no assurance that these initiatives will be successful.  However, in Management's opinion, based on its cash flow forecasts and the financing subsequent to year end, there is no significant doubt regarding the ultimate applicability of the going concern assumption.

 

3)   Basis of preparation

 

a)    Statement of compliance

 

The annual consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee ("IFRIC") interpretations.  The Company has consistently applied the same accounting policies throughout all periods presented.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates.  It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the group's accounting policies.  The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements are further disclosed within this note.

 

These consolidated financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors for issue on Wednesday 29 September 2014.

 

b)   Basis of measurement

 

The annual consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis except for available-for-sale financial assets which would be measured at fair value.

 

c)    Functional and presentation currency

 

Items included in the consolidated financial statements for each entity in the Group are measured using the currency that best reflects the economic substance of the underlying events and circumstances relevant to that entity (the "functional currency"; the Group, as a consolidated entity, does not have a functional currency).  Similarly, each entity reports its results in a specified currency (the "presentation currency").  The functional and presentation currencies are set out in the table below:

 

Entity

March 31, 2014

March 31, 2013


Functional

Presentation

Functional

Presentation

Group


USD


USD

Subsidiaries:





URU Metals Limited ("URU")

CAD


CAD


Niger Uranium Societe Anonyme ("NUSA")

CFA


CFA


8373825 Canada Inc ("Nueltin")

CAD


CAD


Svenska Skifferoljeaktiebolaget ("SSOAB")

SEK


-


Southern Africa Nickel Ltd ("SAN Ltd")

USD


-


 

URU Metals Limited's functional currency was changed to CAD effective 31 January 2013.  This change was made because the Company's function and strategic focus moved from South Africa to Canada as of that date.

 

The Group's annual consolidated financial statements are presented in US Dollars, rounded to the nearest thousand.

 

In accordance with IAS 21, Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates ("IAS 21"), company entities and operations whose functional currencies differ from the presentation currency are translated into US dollars as follows:

·      Assets and liabilities are translated at the closing rate as at the date of the statement of financial position;

·      Income and expenses are translated at the average rate of exchange for the reporting period;

·      Equity balances are initially translated at closing exchange rates and subsequent balances are translated at historical rates; and

·      Translation gains and losses are recognized in consolidated other comprehensive income (loss), and are reported as such in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

 

d)   Use of estimates and judgements

 

The preparation of the annual consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRSs requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

 

Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimates are revised and in any future periods affected. The Group makes estimations and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates may not equal the related actual results.

 

Information about significant areas of estimation uncertainty and critical judgements in applying accounting policies that have the most significant risk and effect on the carrying amounts recognised in the consolidated financial statements are included in the following Notes:

 

Note 3c        Determination of Functional currency

Note 9          Valuation of Intangible assets

Note 15        Measurement of share options

Note 21        Completeness of Contingent liabilities and commitments

 

e)    Change in accounting policies

 

Overview

The Company's listing on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market dictates the use of IFRS when adopted for use in the European Union.  The Group has adopted the new or amended accounting standards detailed below for the first time for the current financial year:

 

Standard

Impact

Effect on the Group

IAS 1, Financial statement presentation

The main change resulting from these amendments is a requirement for entities to group items presented in 'other comprehensive income' (OCI) on the basis of whether they are potentially reclassifiable to profit or loss subsequently (reclassification adjustments). The amendments do not address which items are presented in OCI.

URU has updated its disclosure accordingly.

IFRS 7, 'Financial instruments: Disclosures'

The amendments to IFRS 7 contain new disclosure requirements for financial assets and financial liabilities that are offset in the statement of financial position; or are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements. 

URU has updated its disclosure accordingly.

IFRS 10, Consolidated Financial Statements

IFRS 10 was issued in May 2011 and replaces the guidance on control and consolidation in IAS 27, Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements and SIC-12, Consolidation - Special Purpose Entities. IFRS 10 changes the definition of control under IFRS so that the same criteria are applied to all entities to determine control.

There has been no effect on URU's reporting.

IFRS 11, Joint Arrangements

IFRS 11 was issued in May 2011 and replaces IAS 31, Interests in Joint Ventures. IFRS 11 reduces the types of joint arrangements to two: joint ventures and joint operations. IFRS 11 requires the use of equity accounting for interests in joint ventures, eliminating the existing policy choice of proportionate consolidation for jointly controlled entities under IAS 31. Entities that participate in joint operations will follow accounting similar to that for jointly controlled assets and jointly controlled operations under IAS 31.

There has been no material impact on URU's financial statements in relation to the Zebedelia and Burgersfort properties.

IFRS 12, Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities

IFRS 12 was issued in May 2011 and sets out the disclosure requirements for entities reporting under IFRS 10 and IFRS 11.  It replaces the disclosure requirements previously found in IAS 28, Investments in Associates.

URU has updated its disclosure accordingly.

IFRS 13, Fair Value Measurement

IFRS 13 was issued in May 2011 and provides a single source of guidance on how to measure fair value where its use is already required or permitted by other IFRS and enhances disclosure requirements for information about fair value measurements.

There is no material impact on URU's financial statements.

IAS 28 (2011) Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures

IAS 28 (2011) supersedes IAS 28 (2008) and carries forward the existing accounting and disclosure requirements with limited amendments.  These include:

·      IFRS 5 is applicable to an investment, or a portion of an investment, in an associate or a joint venture that meets the criteria to be classified as held-for-sale; and

·      On cessation of significant influence or joint control, even if an investment in an associate becomes an investment in a joint venture or vice versa, the Company does not re-measure the retained interest.

There is no impact on URU's financial statements.

IAS  32 Financial Instruments: Presentation: Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

The amendments clarify that an entity currently has a legally enforceable right to set-off if that right is:

·      not contingent on a future event; and

·      enforceable both in the normal course of business and in the event of default, insolvency or bankruptcy of the entity and all counterparties

There is no impact on URU's financial statements.

 

4)   Significant accounting policies

 

The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently to all periods presented in these consolidated financial statements.

 

a)    Basis of consolidation

 

Subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries are all entities (including structured entities) over which the group has control. The group controls an entity when the group is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the group. They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases.

 

The group applies the acquisition method to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair values of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred to the former owners of the acquiree and the equity interests issued by the group. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. The group recognises any non-controlling interest in the acquiree on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis, either at fair value or at the non-controlling interest's proportionate share of the recognised amounts of acquiree's identifiable net assets.

 

Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.

 

If the business combination is achieved in stages, the acquisition date carrying value of the acquirer's previously held equity interest in the acquiree is re-measured to fair value at the acquisition date; any gains or losses arising from such re-measurement are recognised in profit or loss.

 

Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the group is recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequent changes to the fair value of the contingent consideration that is deemed to be an asset or liability is recognised in accordance with IAS 39 either in profit or loss or as a change to other comprehensive income.

 

Contingent consideration that is classified as equity is not re-measured, and its subsequent settlement is accounted for within equity.

 

Joint arrangements, joint operations, and joint ventures

 

As defined in IFRS 11, Joint Arrangements, a joint arrangement is a contractual arrangement in which two or more parties have joint control.  Control is defined by IFRS 10, Consolidated Financial Statements; joint control only exists when decisions require unanimous consent of the parties sharing that control.  A joint arrangement is either a joint operation, where the parties have rights to the assets and obligations of the operation and thus recognize its share of the assets, liabilities, and operations, or a joint venture, where the parties have rights to the net assets of the obligation, and thus recognize their interest as an investment using the equity method.  The group has applied IFRS 11 to all joint arrangements as of 1 April 2012.

 

Transactions eliminated on consolidation

 

Intra-group balances and transactions and any unrealised income and expenses arising from intra-group transactions, are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

 

b)   Foreign currency transactions

 

i)     Foreign currency transactions

 

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated to the respective functional currencies of Group entities at exchange rates at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in profit or loss.

 

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the reporting date are retranslated to the functional currency at the exchange rate at that date.  Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies that are measured at fair value are retranslated to the functional currency at the exchange rate at the date that the fair value was determined. Foreign currency differences arising on retranslation are recognised in profit or loss.

 

ii)   Foreign operations

 

The assets and liabilities of operations, including goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on acquisition, are translated to the presentation currency (where different) at exchange rates at the reporting date. The income and expenses of foreign operations are translated to the presentation currency at average exchange rates, unless this average is not a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the transaction rates, in which case income and expenses are translated at the rate on the dates of the transactions.  Equity balances are translated to presentation currency at historical exchange rates.

 

Foreign currency differences are recognised directly in other comprehensive income and such differences have been recognised in the foreign currency translation reserve (FCTR). When a foreign operation is disposed of, in part or in full, the relevant amount in the FCTR is transferred to profit or loss.

 

Foreign exchange gains and losses arising from a monetary item receivable from or payable to a foreign operation, the settlement of which is neither planned nor likely in the foreseeable future, are considered to form part of a net investment in a foreign operation and are recognised directly in other comprehensive income in the FCTR.

 

c)    Plant and equipment

 

Recognition and measurement

 

Items of plant and equipment are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. The cost of plant and equipment was determined by reference to the cost at the date of acquisition.

 

Cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset.

 

Gains and losses on disposal of an item of plant and equipment are determined by comparing the proceeds from disposal with the carrying amount of plant and equipment, and are recognised net within profit or loss.

 

Subsequent costs

 

The cost of replacing part of an item of plant and equipment is recognised in the carrying amount of the item if it is probable that the future economic benefits embodied within the part will flow to the Group and its cost can be measured reliably. The carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognised. The costs of the day-to-day servicing of plant and equipment are recognised in profit or loss as incurred.

 

Depreciation

 

Depreciation is calculated over the depreciable amount, which is the cost of the asset, less its residual value. If the useful lives and depreciation methods are the same for significant parts of assets, these are not depreciated on a component basis.

 

Depreciation is recognised in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of each part of an item of plant and equipment.

 

The estimated useful lives for the current and comparative periods are as follows:

exploration plant and equipment                    3 years

motor vehicles                                                         3 years

computer equipment                                            5 years

furniture and office equipment                        5 years

 

Depreciation methods, useful lives and residual values are reviewed at each reporting date and adjusted if appropriate.

 

d)   Exploration costs / Intangible assets

 

Exploration and evaluation costs are capitalized on a project-by-project basis, pending determination of the technical feasibility and the commercial viability of the project.  In accordance with IFRS 6, Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources, the Company allocates costs incurred to cash generating units(CGUs), which are projects, or groups of projects, which share a consistent profile and proximity. Exploration costs are presented in Intangible assets in the statement of financial position.

 

Capitalized costs include costs directly related to the exploration and evaluation activities in the CGU.

 

General and administrative costs are allocated to the exploration property to the extent that the costs are directly related to activities in the relevant areas of interest.  Costs incurred before the legal rights are obtained to explore an area and costs relating to a relinquished or abandoned license are recognized in profit or loss.

 

Exploration and evaluation assets shall be assessed for impairment at each reporting period in accordance with IFRS 6, and any impairment losses will be recognized before such reclassification.

 

Once technical feasibility and commercial viability have been established, exploration assets attributable to those projects are reclassified from exploration properties to development properties.  

 

Mineral property acquisition costs, and exploration and development expenditures incurred subsequent to the determination of the feasibility of mining operations and approval of development by the Company, are capitalised until the property to which they relate is placed into production, sold, allowed to lapse or abandoned.

 

Mineral property acquisition costs include cash consideration and deferred consideration.

 

e)    Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

In the consolidated statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents includes cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. In the consolidated balance sheet, bank overdrafts would be shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

 

f)    Financial instruments

 

A financial instrument is any contract that gives rise to a financial asset of one entity and a financial liability or equity instrument of another entity.

 

i)     Financial Assets

 

Financial assets are classified into one of four categories as summarised in the table below, and which are further discussed in the subsequent text:

 

Category

Derivative status

Initial measurement

Subsequent to initial recognition, held at:

URU's assets in that category

Loans and receivables

Non-derivative

Fair value

Amortised cost using the effective interest method

Receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Fair value through profit and loss

Non-derivative

Fair value

Fair value

nil

Derivative

Fair value

Fair value

nil

Held-to-maturity

Non-derivative

Fair value

Amortised cost using the effective interest method

nil

Available-for-sale

Non-derivative

Fair value

Fair value

nil

 

Neither the Group's investment in joint operation, nor its intangible assets, is considered to be a financial asset as defined in the relevant accounting standard.

 

The classification is determined at initial recognition and depends on the nature and the purpose of the financial asset. Financial assets are recognized when the Company becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

 

Loans and receivables

 

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets that have fixed or determinable payments and that are not quoted in an active market.  Loans and receivables are initially recognized at the fair value and subsequently carried at amortized cost less impairment losses.  If collection of other receivables is expected in one year or less, they are classified as current assets. If not, they are classified as non-current assets.

 

Financial assets at fair value

 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are financial assets held for trading.  A financial asset is classified in this category if acquired principally for the purpose of selling in the short term, or if it is a derivative financial instrument.  Assets in this category are classified as current assets if expected to be settled within 12 months, otherwise, they are classified as non-current.

 

Changes in fair values of financial assets through profit or loss are presented as:

·      fair value gain or loss on investment in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, and

·      within operating activities in the statement of cash flows.

 

Held to Maturity

 

Held-to-maturity investments are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments and fixed maturity that the Group has the positive intention and ability to hold to maturity.  They are initially recognized at the fair value and subsequently carried at amortized cost less impairment losses.  If they mature in one year or less, they are classified as current assets. If not, they are classified as non-current assets.

 

Available-for-sale financial assets

 

Available-for-sale financial assets are non-derivative financial assets that are designated as available-for-sale and that are not classified in any of the other categories. The Group's investments in equity securities would be classified as available-for-sale financial assets.  Subsequent to initial recognition, they would be measured at fair value and changes therein, other than impairment losses (see Note 4(g)(i)) and foreign currency differences on available-for sale equity instruments (see Note 4(b)(i)), are recognized in other comprehensive income and presented within equity in the fair value reserve. When an investment is derecognized, the cumulative gain or loss in other comprehensive income is reclassified to profit or loss.

 

For available-for-sale financial assets that are not monetary items, the gain or loss that is recognized in other comprehensive income excludes any foreign exchange related component. The fair values of quoted investments are based on current bid prices. When an investment is derecognized, the cumulative gain or loss in other comprehensive income is transferred to profit or loss.

 

ii)   Derecognition of financial assets

 

A financial asset is derecognized when the contractual right to the asset's cash flows expire or if the Company transfers the financial asset and substantially all risks and rewards of ownership to another entity.  Any interest in transferred financial assets that is created or retained by the Group is recognized as a separate asset or liability.

 

iii)  Financial Liabilities

 

Financial liabilities can be classified into several categories as summarised in the table below, and which are further discussed in the subsequent text:

 

Category

Derivative Status

Subsequent to initial recognition, held at:

URU's balances in that category

Held for trading

Derivative

Fair value through profit and loss

nil

Non

Fair value through profit and loss

Accounts Payable

Accrued Liabilities

Held to maturity

Non

Fair value through profit and loss

nil

Other financial liabilities

Non

Amortised cost using the effective interest method

Contingent Consideration

Financial liabilities designated as hedged items

Derivative

According to IAS 39

nil

Assets not fully derecognized/ continuing involvement maintained

Non

According to IAS 39

nil

 

The Group initially recognizes financial liabilities on the trade date at which the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

 

Financial liabilities are recognised initially at fair value plus any directly attributable transaction costs. 

 

The Group derecognizes a financial liability when its contractual obligations are discharged or cancelled or expire.

 

iv)  Offset

 

Financial assets and financial liabilities are offset and the net amount presented in the statement of financial position when, and only when, the Group has a legal right to offset the amounts and intends either to settle on a net basis or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

 

g)    Impairment of assets

 

i)     Financial assets

 

Financial assets are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting period end.  Financial assets are impaired when there is objective evidence that the estimated future cash flows of the financial assets have been affected by one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset.

 

The criteria used to determine if there is objective evidence of an impairment loss include:

·      significant financial difficulty of the issuer or counterparty;

·      default or delinquency in interest or principal payments; or

·      it has become probable that the borrower will enter bankruptcy or financial reorganization.

·      historical trends of the probability of default,

·      the timing of recoveries and the amount of the loss incurred.

 

The foregoing is adjusted for management's judgement as to whether current economic and credit conditions are such that the actual losses are likely to be greater or less than suggested by historical trends.

 

An impairment loss in respect of a financial asset measured at amortised cost is calculated as the difference between its carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash flows discounted at the assets original effective interest rate. Losses are recognised in profit or loss and reflected in an allowance account against receivables. Interest on the impaired asset continues to be recognised. When an event occurring after the impairment was recognised causes the amount of impairments loss to decrease, the decrease in impairment loss is reversed through consolidated statement of loss.

 

Impairment losses on available-for-sale financial assets are recognised by reclassifying the losses accumulated in the fair value reserve in equity, to profit or loss. The cumulative loss that is reclassified from equity to profit and loss is the difference between the acquisition cost, net of any principal repayment and amortisation, and the current fair value, less any impairment loss recognised previously in profit and loss.

 

An impairment loss is reversed, other than for available-for-sale financial assets, if the reversal can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognised.

 

ii)   Non-financial assets

 

The carrying amounts of the Group's non-financial assets are reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, then the asset's recoverable amount is estimated.

 

The recoverable amount of an asset or cash-generating unit is the greater of its value in use and its fair value less costs to sell. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. For the purpose of impairment testing, assets are grouped together into the smallest group of assets that generates cash inflows from continuing use that are largely independent of the cash inflows of other assets or groups of assets.

 

An impairment loss is recognised if the carrying amount of an asset or its CGU exceeds its estimated recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.

 

Impairment losses recognised in prior periods are assessed at each reporting date for any indications that the loss has decreased or no longer exists. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset's carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortisation, if no impairment loss had been recognised.

 

h)   Leased assets and lease payments

 

Leases in terms of which the Group assumes substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as finance leases. Other leases are considered to be operating leases and the leased assets are not recognised in the Group's statement of financial position.

 

Payments made under operating leases are recognised in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Lease incentives received are recognised as an integral part of the total lease expense, over the term of the lease.

 

i)     Income tax

 

Income tax expense comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax expense is recognised in the consolidated statement of loss except to the extent that it relates to items recognised directly in equity or other comprehensive loss.

 

Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.

 

Deferred tax is recognised in respect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. Deferred tax is not recognised for the following temporary differences: the initial recognition of assets or liabilities in a transaction that is not a business combination and that affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss, and differences relating to investments in subsidiaries  to the extent that it is probable that they will not reverse in the foreseeable future. In addition, deferred tax is not recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on the initial recognition of goodwill. Deferred tax is measured at the tax rates that are expected to be applied to temporary differences when they reverse, based on the laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax liabilities and assets, and they relate to income taxes levied by the same tax authority on the same taxable entity, or on different tax entities, but they intend to settle current tax liabilities and assets on a net basis or their tax assets and liabilities will be realised simultaneously.

 

A deferred tax asset is recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the associated unused tax losses and deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Deferred tax assets are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realised.

 

j)     Finance income

 

Finance income comprises interest income on funds invested. Interest income is recognised as it accrues in consolidated statement of loss.

 

k)   Loss per share

 

The Group presents basic and diluted loss per share ("EPS") data for its ordinary shares. Basic EPS is calculated by dividing the profit or loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Group by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings or loss per share is similar to basic earnings or loss per share, except that the denominator is adjusted to include the dilutive potential ordinary shares that would have been outstanding assuming that options and warrants with an average market price for the year greater than their exercise price are exercised and the proceeds used to repurchase ordinary shares.

 

l)     Segment reporting

 

An operating segment is a component of the Group that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses, including revenues and expenses that relate to transactions with any of the Group's other components. All operating segments' operating results are reviewed regularly by the Group's Chief Operating Decision Maker, the CEO, to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and for which discrete financial information is available.

 

m)  Employee benefits

 

Pension obligations and other post-employment benefits

 

The Group does not offer any pension and/or post-employment benefits to employees.

 

Short-term employee benefits

 

Short-term employee benefits obligations are measured on an undiscounted basis and are expensed as the related service is provided. A liability is recognised for the amount expected to be paid under short-term cash bonuses if the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation to pay this amount as a result of past service provided by the employee, and the obligation can be estimated reliably.

 

Share-based compensation

 

The Group operates an equity-settled, share-based compensation plan, The Niger Uranium Limited Share Option Plan 2008. The grant date fair value of the employee services received in exchange for the grant of the options is recognised as an expense with a corresponding increase in equity, over the period that the employees become unconditionally entitled to the awards. The total amount to be expensed over the vesting period is determined by reference to the fair value of the options granted, excluding the impact of any non-market vesting conditions. Non-market vesting conditions, such as forfeiture rates, are included in assumptions about the number of options that are expected to vest. At each reporting date, the entity revises its estimates of the number of options that are expected to vest. It recognises the impact of the revision of original estimates, if any, in profit or loss, with a corresponding adjustment to equity.

 

n)   Standards, amendments and interpretations, which are not yet effective for reporting periods beginning after the date of these financial statements which have not been adopted early:

 

There are new or revised Accounting Standards and Interpretations in issue that are not yet effective.  These include the following Standards and Interpretations that are applicable to the business of the entity and may have an impact on future financial statements:

 

Standard or Interpretation

Effective date for annual periods beginning on or after

Impact on the financial statements for the Group

IFRS 9 (2009) Financial Instruments

1 January 2015

Has not been estimated as at 31 March 2014

IFRS 9 (2010) Financial Instruments

Open/ tentatively 1 January 2018

Has not been estimated as at 31 March 2014

IAS 36, Impairment of assets

1 January 2014

Has not been estimated as at 31 March 2014

IFRIC 21, Levies

1 January 2014

Has not been estimated as at 31 March 2014

 

All Standards and Interpretations will be adopted at their effective date (except for those Standards and Interpretations that are not applicable to the entity).  There are no other IFRSs or IFRIC interpretations that are not yet effective that would be expected to have a material impact on the Company.

 

IFRS 9 (2009) Financial Instruments

IFRS 9 addresses the initial measurement and classification of financial assets and will replace the relevant sections of IAS 39.  It will be applied retrospectively, subject to transitional provisions.

Under IFRS 9 there are two options in respect of classification of financial assets, namely, financial assets measured at amortised cost or at fair value. Financial assets are measured at amortised cost when the business model is to hold assets in order to collect contractual cash flows and when they give rise to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal outstanding. All other financial assets are measured at fair value. Embedded derivatives are no longer separated from hybrid contracts that have a financial asset host.

The impact on the financial statements for the Group has not been estimated as at 31 March 2014.

 

IFRS 9 (2010) Financial Instruments

IFRS 9 (2010) addresses the measurement and classification of financial liabilities and will replace the relevant sections of IAS 39.  It will be applied retrospectively, subject to transitional provisions.

Under IFRS 9 (2010), the classification and measurement requirements of financial liabilities are the same as per IAS 39, except for the following two aspects:

·      fair value changes for financial liabilities (other than financial guarantees and loan commitments) designated at fair value through profit or loss, that are attributable to the changes in the credit risk of the liability will be presented in other comprehensive income (OCI). The remaining amount of the fair value change is recognised in profit or loss.

·      However, if this requirement creates or enlarges an accounting mismatch in profit or loss, then the whole fair value change is presented in profit or loss.

The determination as to whether such presentation would create or enlarge an accounting mismatch is made on initial recognition and is not subsequently reassessed.

Under IFRS 9 (2010) derivative liabilities that are linked to and must be settled by delivery of an unquoted equity instrument whose fair value cannot be reliably measured, are measured at fair value.

IFRS 9 (2010) incorporates, the guidance in IAS 39 dealing with fair value measurement and accounting for derivatives embedded in a host contract that is not a financial asset, as well as the requirements of IFRIC 9 Reassessment of Embedded Derivatives.

The impact on the financial statements for the Group has not been estimated as at 31 March 2014.

 

IAS 36, Impairment of assets

This amendment addresses the disclosure of information about the recoverable amount of impaired assets if that amount is based on fair value less costs of disposal.

 

IFRIC 21, Levies

IFRIC 21 sets out the accounting for an obligation to pay a levy that is not income tax. The interpretation addresses what the obligating event is that gives rise to pay a levy and when should a liability be recognised.

 

5)   Determination of fair values

 

A number of the Group's accounting policies and disclosures require the determination of fair value. Fair values have been determined for measurement and / or disclosure purposes based on the following method. When applicable, further information about the assumptions made in determining fair values is disclosed in the Notes specific to that asset or liability.

 

The actual disclosed values of the financial instruments all approximate the fair values of these instruments - refer Note 23.

 

6)   Financial risk management

 

The Group has exposure to Credit risk, Liquidity risk, and Market risk from its use of financial instruments.

 

This note presents information about the Group's exposure to each of the above risks, the Group's objectives, policies and processes for measuring and managing risk, and the Group's management of capital. Further quantitative disclosures are included throughout these consolidated financial statements.

 

a)    Risk management framework

The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the Group's risk management framework. Risk management is carried out by the CEO under policies approved by the Board of Directors and reports regularly to the Board of Directors.

 

The Group's risk management policies are established to identify and analyse the risks faced by the Group, to set appropriate risk limits and controls, and to monitor risks and adherence to limits. Risk management policies are reviewed regularly to reflect changes in market conditions and the Group's activities.

 

The CEO oversees and monitors compliance with the Group's risk management policies and procedures and reviews the adequacy of the risk management framework in relation to the risks faced by the Group. The Group does not have an Internal Audit department.

 

b)   Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations and arises principally from the Group's cash deposits and other receivables.

 

Cash, Deposits and other receivables

 

The Group has no allowance for impairment that might represent an estimate of incurred losses on deposits, prepayments or other receivables.

 

The Group held cash and cash equivalents of USD 240,000 on 31 March 2014 (2013 - USD 1.882 million) in Continuing and Discontinued operations, which represent the maximum credit exposure on these assets. At year-end, the majority of the cash and cash equivalents are held with Scotiabank.

 

c)    Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulty in meeting the obligations associated with its financial liabilities that are settled by delivering cash or another financial asset. The Group's approach to managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under both normal and stressed conditions, without incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to the Group's reputation.

 

Typically the Group ensures that it has sufficient cash on demand to meet expected operational expenses for a period of twelve months, including the servicing of financial obligations; this excludes the potential impact of extreme circumstances that cannot reasonably be predicted, such as natural disasters. Management monitors the rolling forecasts of the Group's liquidity reserve on the basis of expected cash flows.

 

d)   Market risk

Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as foreign exchange rates, interest rates and equity prices will affect the Group's income or the value of its holdings of financial instruments. The objective of market risk management is to manage and control market risk exposures within acceptable parameters, while optimising the return.

 

The Group does not apply hedge accounting in order to manage volatility in statements of loss.

 

e)    Currency risk

The Group, operating internationally, is exposed to currency risk on purchases that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the Group entities, primarily Pound Sterling (GBP), the Canadian Dollar (CAD), the Central African Franc (XOF), the South African Rand (ZAR), and the US Dollar (USD).

 

The Group does not hedge its exposure to currency risk.

 

In respect of other monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, the Group's policy is to ensure that its net exposure is kept to an acceptable level by buying or selling foreign currencies at spot rates when necessary to address short term imbalances.

 

The Group's investment in its subsidiaries are not hedged.

 

f)    Interest rate risk

The financial assets and liabilities of the Group are subject to interest rate risk, based on changes in the prevailing interest rate. The Group does not enter into interest rate swaps or derivative contracts.

 

The primary goal of the Group's investment strategy is to make timely investments in listed or unlisted mining and mineral development companies to optimise shareholder value. Where appropriate the Group will act as an active investor and will strive to advance corporate actions that deliver value adding outcomes. The Group will undertake joint ventures with companies that have the potential to realise value through mineral project development, and invest substantially in those joint ventures to advance asset development over the near term.

 

g)    Capital risk management

The Board's policy is to maintain a strong capital base so as to maintain investor, creditor and market confidence and to sustain future development of the business. The Board of Directors monitors the return on capital.  Capital consists of the following:

USD 000s

Note

31 March 2014

31 March 2013

Share capital and premium

13

47,524

46,857

Share option reserve

14

2,209

2,380

Foreign currency translation reserve

14

(333)

(259)

Accumulated deficit


(46,069)

(45,688)



3,331

3,290

 

 

The Board has set a target for all employees and Directors of the Group to hold a maximum of 10% of the Company's ordinary shares. At present current Directors and current employees hold 2.45% (2013 - 3.01%) of ordinary shares, or 3.03% (2013 - 3.91%) assuming that all outstanding options vest and are exercised. Directors and employees are awarded share options in terms of the Share Option Plan, 2008 as disclosed in Note 15.

 

The Group's income and operating cash flows are substantially independent of changes in market interest rates. At the year end the Group had no debt (2013: Nil).  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries are subject to externally imposed capital requirements.

 

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may issue new shares to generate cash.

 

There were no changes in the Group's approach to capital management during the year.

 

7)   Segment information

 

a)    Reportable Segments

 

The Group has three reportable segments, as described below, which are the Group's strategic business units.  All three are determined by the CEO, the Group's chief operating decision-maker, and have not changed year-over-year.  The strategic business units offer different services, and are managed separately because they require different strategies.

 

The following summary describes the operations in each of the Group's reportable segments:

Exploration               Includes obtaining licenses and exploring these license areas.

Investment                 Includes making investments based on Group investment criteria

Corporate office       Includes all Group administration and procurement

 

There are no other operations that meet any of the quantitative thresholds for determining reportable segments in 2014 or 2013.

 

There are varying levels of integration between the Exploration, Investment and Corporate Office reportable segments. This integration includes shared administration and procurement services. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as described in Notes 3 and 4.

 

Information regarding the results of each reportable segment is included below. Performance is measured based on segmented results.  Any inter-segment transactions would be determined on an arm's length basis.  Inter-segment pricing for 2014 and 2013 consisted of funding advanced from Corporate Office to Exploration.

 

b)   Operating Segments

 

USD '000                                                                                        Operating Segments

                                                                                Exploration     Corporate Office                   Total


2014

2013

2014

2013

2014

2013

Depreciation

2

11

5

38

7

49

Reportable segment profit (loss) before tax for:







continuing  operations

-

(4,162)

(388)

-

(388)

(4,162)

discontinued operations

(183)

(4,918)

-

-

 (183)

(4,918)


(183)

(9,080)

(388)

-

(571)

(9,080)

Material non-cash items in segment loss before tax:







Share-based payments expense

-

-

18

220

18

220

Impairment of intangibles

-

7,022

-

-

-

7,022

Reportable segment assets

3,468

1,540

324

1,916

3,792

3,456

Capital expenditure

20

1

-

2

20

3

Additions to mineral properties

1,909

233

-

-

1,909

233

Reportable segment liabilities

(15)

(38)

(446)

(128)

(461)

(166)

 

 

 

Exploration activities were funded by Corporate Office as set out in Note 27.

 

 

c)    Geographical segments               

 

For the year ended 31 March 2014, business activities took place in Sweden, Canada, South Africa, and (prior to closure as disclosed in Note 24) Niger.

 

For the year ended 31 March 2013, business activities took place in both South Africa and Niger.  During the year, the accounting and administration activities were transferred to new headquarters in Toronto, and accordingly the South African administration office was closed.

 

In presenting information based on the geographical segments, segment assets are based on the geographical location of the assets.

 

                                          Niger        South Africa           Sweden                         Canada                       Total

USD '000

2014

2013

2014

2013

2014

2013

2014

2013

2014

2013

Expenses











Share-based payments expense

-

-

-

-

-

-

18

220

18

220

Impairment of intangibles

-

4,613

-

2,409

-

-

-

-

-

7,022

Depreciation

1

11

-

38

-

-

6

-

7

49

Other

182

294

-

522

-

-

406

973

588

1,789

Total

183

4,918

-

2,969

-

-

430

1,193

613

9,080

Total Assets

1

14

1,942

1,527

1,426

-

520

1,915

3,889

3,456

Fixed asset expenditure

-

1

-

-

-

-

20

2

20

3

Additions to mineral properties

-

-

332

102

1,402

-

175

-

  1,909    

102

Total Liabilities

-

(38)

-

-

(15)

-

(446)

(128)

(461)

(166)












 

 

Exploration activities were funded by Corporate Office as set out in Note 27.

 

 

8)   Plant and equipment

 

USD '000



Cost

Accumulated depreciation

Carrying amount

31 March 2014





Exploration plant and equipment


50

31

19

Computer equipment


7

6

1

Continuing operations


57

37

20






31 March 2013










Exploration plant and equipment


29

23

6

Computer equipment


7

6

1

Continuing operations


36

29

7

 

Reconciliation of carrying amounts

 

USD '000

Exploration plant and equipment

Motor vehicles

Computer equipment

Furniture and office equipment

Total

31 March 2014






Balance at 1 April 2013

6

-

1

-

7

Additions

20

-

-

-

20

Disposals

-

-

-

-

-

Depreciation

(7)

-

-

-

(7)

Balance at 31 March 2014

19

-

1

-

20







Balance at 1 April 2012

8

-

36

-

44

Additions

-

-

2

-

2

Disposals

-

-

(10)

-

(10)

Depreciation

(2)

-

(27)

-

(29)

Balance at 31 March 2013

6

-

1

-

7







None of the plant and equipment is pledged to any third party, nor are there any restrictions as to title. At the reporting date there are no (2013: nil) capital commitments.

 

9)   Intangible assets

 

Exploration costs

 


South African Projects

NUSA / Discontinued Operations

SSOAB

Nueltin

Total


(Note 10, 26)

(Note 24 b)

Note 25

(Note 21)


Cost






Opening, 1 April 2013

3,872

4,758

-

-

8,630

Acquired

209

-

1,269

-

1,478

Foreign Exchange

(314)

-

36

-

(278)

Additions

123

-

133

175

431

Closing, 31 Mar 2014

3,890

4,758

1,438

175

10,261







Accumulated Amortisation






Opening, 1 April 2013

(2,345)

(4,758)

-

-

(7,103)

Foreign exchange

257

-

-

-

257

Provisions

-

-

-

-

-

Closing, 31 Mar 2014

(2,088)

(4,758)

-

-

(6,846)







Net Book Value, 31 Mar 2014

1,802

-

1,438

175

3,415







Net Book Value, 31 Mar 2013

1,527

-

-

-

1,527

 

As set out in Note 4d, the Company does not commence amortisation of exploration assets until they enter the development phase. 

 

NUSA Licenses

All of the Niger exploration licences were acquired from NWT Uranium Corporation ("NWT") and UraMin Inc. as part of the asset purchase agreement when URU Metals Limited was formed.  All the Niger licenses are considered to be a single project, and thus to be one Cash Generating Unit (CGU).

 

The Kamas 1, Kamas 2, Kamas 3, Kamas 4, Dabala 3 and Dabala 4 licences were initially registered in the name of UraMin, and carried at an acquisition cost of USD 120,000. These licences were impaired in full prior to fiscal 2012.

 

The Irhazer and Ingall licences were initially registered in the name of NWT, and were carried at a total acquisition cost of USD nil (2013: USD nil.)

 

The Group considers that it had fully complied with its commitments under the terms of the licences that it held.  The Group had been granted the extension for the Irhazer and Ingall licenses.  However, as a result of the delay in the granting of the extension and the deepening global economic crisis, management has decided not to continue work in Niger, and in fiscal 2013 impaired the cost for those licenses in full.

 

In fiscal 2014, the licenses were returned and the Group's operations in Niger were closed, and the latter are thus set out in Note 24b, Discontinued Operations.

 

SSOAB Licenses

SSOAB has 100% ownership of 6 exploration licenses near the town of Örebro, Sweden.    The Swedish licenses are considered to be a single project, and thus to be one CGU.

 

Nueltin License

Nueltin is party to an option agreement with Cameco Corporation, the holder of license located in the Nunavut Territory of Canada.  Under the agreement, Nueltin can earn 51% interest in the project from Cameco in return for exclusively funding CDN$2.5 million in exploration expenditures by 31December 2016.  The Cameco project is considered to be one CGU.

 

10) Investment in South African projects and purchase of SAN Ltd

 

USD '000

Note

Ownership in SAN-URU JV

Acquisition

Capitalised Costs

Accumulated amortisation and impairments

Carrying amount








1 April 2012


50%

-

3,703

-

3,703

Capitalised costs


-

-

233

-

233

Foreign Exchange


-

-

-

(64)

(64)

Impairment


-

-

-

(2,345)

(2,345)

31 March 2013


50%

-

3,936

(2,409)

1,527








Purchase of SAN Ltd

26

nil

209

-

-

209

Capitalised costs


-

-

123

-

123

Foreign exchange




(314)

257

(57)

31 March 2014


nil

209

3,745

(2,152)

1,802

 

Capital commitments SAN-URU Joint Venture

 

USD '000

31 March

2014

31 March

2013


Total

URU Share

Total

URU Share

URU Metals incurred

-

-

500

250

 

As set out in Note 26, the SAN-URU JV was dissolved with URU's purchase of SAN Ltd.

 

As set out in Note 4d, the Company does not commence amortisation of intangible assets until they enter the development phase. 

 

On 5 October 2010, the Group announced that it had entered into a joint venture (the "SAN-URU Joint Venture") with Southern African Nickel ("SAN Ltd"), the joint owner and current developer of a portfolio of large nickel projects in Southern Africa. Under the agreement, the Group committed to provide funding to the SAN-URU Joint Venture of, in aggregate, up to USD 3.6 million over a period of 20 months from 5 October 2010.  The SAN-URU Joint Venture's interests included a 50% interest in a joint arrangement to explore mineral rights near the town of Burgersfort in South Africa (the "Burgersfort Project") as well as the Zebediela Nickel Project as noted below. 

 

On 6 April 2011 the Group announced the satisfactory and successful conclusion of all due diligence activities between SAN Ltd and Umnex Mineral Holdings Pty ("Umnex"), in relation to the acquisition of the Zebediela Nickel Project close to the mining town of Mokopane in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The Zebediela project is a joint venture, structured exclusively between SAN Ltd and Umnex (the "SAN-Umnex Joint Venture", i.e.  not to be confused with the SAN-URU Joint Venture). The acquisition of an interest in the Zebediela rights via the SAN-Umnex Joint Venture involved no additional cash consideration to be made by either the Group or SAN and did not increase the Group's original committed contribution to the SAN-URU Joint Venture of USD 3.6 million.

 

In fiscal 2012, URU Metals satisfied all its obligations under the SAN-URU Joint Venture Agreement and thus had a fully vested 50% interest in the SAN-URU Joint Venture.  However, as announced on 6 April 2011, the SAN-URU Joint Venture sought to continue the development of the Zebediela Nickel Project.  Umnex, the vendor of the Zebediela Nickel Project, would receive a direct interest in the SAN-URU Joint Venture from both Southern African Nickel and URU Metals. Subsequent to that direct investment - and assuming that the arbitration (see below) was to have ruled in SAN's favour - the effective interest of each party in the SAN-URU Joint Venture would have been URU Metals 45%, SAN 40%, and Umnex 15%.

 

In fiscal 2013, a dispute arose between SAN and Umnex.  Both parties alleged that the other party had failed in its obligations under their SAN-Umnex Joint Venture agreement. Primarily, Umnex alleged that SAN has failed in its obligation to achieve a public listing for the SAN-Umnex Joint Venture by July 6, 2012, and thus Umnex had the ability to leave the Joint Venture with ownership of the mineral rights in exchange for payment of historical exploration costs, whereas SAN Ltd alleged that Umnex had not facilitated the required transfer of the mineral license into the correct corporate vehicle first, which was necessary to allow the public listing to proceed.  URU's interest in the Zebediela project was negotiated as an amendment to the SAN-URU Joint Venture; URU was never party to the dispute between SAN Ltd and Umnex.  As at 31 March 2013, URU had fulfilled all of its obligations under that separate agreement.  URU was in active discussions between Umnex and SAN Ltd to facilitate a resolution to the dispute. Unfortunately, discussion through to the end of calendar 2012 failed to resolve the dispute between Umnex and SAN Ltd, such that those two partners entered into a formal arbitration process.

 

URU acquired 100% of the shares of SAN Ltd in November 2013 as set out in Note 26.

 

The arbitration was ultimately settled as a condition of URU's acquisition in April 2014 of the Umnex subsidiary which held the Zebediela licenses (Note 28a).  The latter, post year-end, transaction resulted in the termination of the arbitration.

 

Accounting Treatment of SAN-URU Joint Venture / the Burgersfort properties

With URU's acquisition of SAN Ltd at year-end, the SAN-URU Joint Venture was dissolved, and SAN Ltd obtained ownership of the JV's former 50% interest in the Burgersfort properties. SAN Ltd's interest in the Burgersfort properties is a Joint Operation as set out in IFRS 11, Joint Arrangements.  Any disputes not resolved by management of SAN Ltd and its joint venture partner must go to arbitration, i.e. joint control over a contractual agreement.

 

Accounting Treatment of SAN-Umnex Joint Venture (the Zebediela properties)

The original agreement intended that SAN Ltd would have 74% ownership of the final agreement, i.e. did not intend joint control of the joint venture, so the JV is not a jointly controlled arrangement as set out in IFRS 11. Due to the arbitration, SAN Ltd had neither complete control (a requirement for consolidation) nor significant influence (requirement to treat as an an investment in associate).  Accordingly, at 31 March 2014, SAN Ltd's interest in Zebediela remains a Farm-in Agreement, and the Company capitalises 100% of the costs it incurs in relation to the SAN-Umnex Joint Venture to the extent that the costs are directly related to exploration and evaluation activities.

 

11) Receivables

 

USD '000

31 March

2014

31 March

2013




Deposits

63

23

Other prepayments

19

7

Other receivables

30

1

Payroll withholding taxes recoverable from Directors

4

-


116

31

 

12) Cash

 

USD '000

31 March

2014

31 March

2013




Petty Cash

-

1

Cash in Bank

240

1,877

Cash

240

1,878

 

13) Share capital and premium
 

Ordinary shares


Number of shares

Share capital

USD '000

Share premium

USD '000

Total

USD '000

Authorised share capital:





300,000,000 shares of USD 0.01 each

300,000,000

3,000

-

3,000






Issued share capital:





Balance at 31 March 2012 and
31 March 2013

113,276,722

1,133

45,724

46,857

Shares issued to purchase SSOAB

19,500,000

195

472

667

Balance at 31 March 2014

132,776,722

1,328

46,196

47,524

 

Issued shares

All issued shares are fully paid up.

 

Unissued shares

In terms of the BVI Business Companies Act the unissued shares are under the control of the Directors.

 

Dividends

Dividends declared and paid by the Group were $nil (2013 - $nil).

 

14) Reserves

 

USD 000

Note

31 March

2014

31 March

2013

Share option reserve

15

2,209

2,380

Foreign currency translation reserve

16

(333)

(259)



1,876

2,121

 

The Share Option Reserve comprises the accumulation of values assigned to option grants from inception of the Share Option Plan (Note 15a), net of cancellations, redemptions, and expiries transferred to retained earnings.

 

15) Share Option Reserve

 

a)    Share Options

The Share Option Plan is administered by the Board of Directors, which determines individual eligibility under the plan for optioning to each individual. Below is disclosure of the movement of the Group's share options as well as a reconciliation of the number and weighted average exercise price of the Group's share options outstanding on 31 March 2014.

 

The assessed fair value at grant date is determined using the Black-Scholes Model that takes into account the exercise price, the term of the option, the share price at grant date, the expected price volatility of the underlying share, the expected dividend yield and the risk-free interest rate for the term of the option.

 

i)     Terms and Conditions

All options are to be settled by physical delivery of shares, against payment to the Group of the option price:

 

Employees entitled

Grant Date

Number of options originally granted

Vesting conditions

Directors, Key management and Employees

21 October 2010

7,950,000

One third immediately, one third after one year, final third after two years

 

10 years

Directors, Key management and Employees

21 February 2012

1,850,000

10 years

Directors

27 February 2013

3,250,000

Immediate

3 years



13,050,000



 

ii)    Continuity and Exercise Price

 

The number and weighted average exercise prices of share options are as follows:

 


31 March 2014

31 March 2013


Number of options

Weighted average exercise price

(GBP)

Number of options

Weighted average exercise price

(GBP)






Outstanding at 1 April

11,483,334

0.05

10,735,734

0.16

Granted during the year

-

-

3,250,000

0.03

Exercised during the year

-

-

-

-

Cancelled during the year

-

-

-

-

Expired in the year

(4,000,000)

0.05

(2,502,400)

0.05

Outstanding at 31 March

7,483,334

0.04

11,483,334

0.05






Exercisable at 31 March

7,483,334

0.04

11,200,001

0.05

 

During the year, as part of various severance packages, a total of nil options (2013: 5,100,001) had their expiry dates accelerated to end two years after the employees' termination. 

 

 

iii)  Reconciliation of share options outstanding

 

31 March 2014

Options exercisable

 

Exercise prices (GBP)

Number outstanding

Weighted average remaining life (years)

Weighted average price (GBP)

Number exercisable

Weighted average exercise price (GBP)







0.033750

3,250,000

1.91

0.033750

3,250,000

0.033750

0.048800

750,000

0.78

0.048800

750,000

0.048800

0.048800

2,633,334

6.56

0.048800

2,633,333

0.048800

0.070000

350,000

0.78

0.070000

350,000

0.070000

0.070000

500,000

7.90

0.070000

500,000

0.070000








7,483,334

3.78

0.044672

7,483,334

0.044672

 

31 March 2013

Options exercisable

 

Exercise prices (GBP)

Number outstanding

Weighted average remaining life (years)

Weighted average price (GBP)

Number exercisable

Weighted average exercise price (GBP)







0.03375

3,250,000

2.91

0.03375

3,250,000

0.03375

0.04880

3,000,000

0.97

0.04880

3,000,000

0.04880

0.04880

750,000

1.78

0.04880

750,000

0.04880

0.04880

2,633,334

7.56

0.04880

2,633,333

0.04880

0.07000

1,000,000

0.97

0.07000

1,000,000

0.07000

0.07000

350,000

1.78

0.07000

350,000

0.07000

0.07000

500,000

8.90

0.07000

216,668

0.07000








11,483,334

3.45

0.04796

11,200,001

0.04739


iv)   Grants in the year - Inputs to Fair Values

 

The fair value of services received in return for share options granted is based on the fair value of share options granted, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, based on the closing share price at the close of business on the previous day, using the following inputs:

 


31 March 2014

31 March 2013

Fair value at grant date (GBP)

-

0.0136

Share price (GBP)

-

0.0338

Exercise price (GBP)

-

0.0338

Expected volatility

-

60.26%

Option life

-

3.00

Expected dividends

-

0.0%

Risk free interest rate

-

0.36%

 

Expected volatility is estimated by considering historic average share price volatility.

 

v)    Fair values

 

Share options expensed




USD '000

 

Note

31 March

2014

31 March

2013

Share options granted - current year


-

220

Share option cancellation


-

-

Total expense recognised in employee costs


-

220





The share options expense was as follows:




Directors

18

11

165

Current and Former Employees

18

7

55



18

220





Aggregate un-expensed fair value of options granted


-

18

 

 

b)   Warrant options

 

The following is a summary of the Group's warrant options granted under its Share Incentive Scheme. As at 31 March 2014, the following warrant options, issued in respect of capital raising, had been granted but not exercised.

 

Name

Date Granted

Date Vested

Number of warrants

Exercise Price (GBP)

Expiry Date

Fair Value at Grant Date (GBP)

Beaumont Cornish

9 Oct 2009

9 Oct 2009

100,000

0.345

9 Oct 2019

0.345

 

There were no movement in Warrant Options in either year.

 

 
16) Foreign currency translation reserve

 

The foreign currency translation reserve comprises all foreign currency differences arising from the translation of the financial results of foreign operations.

USD '000

31 March

2014

31 March

2013




Opening balance

(259)

(125)

Movement for the year

(74)

(134)

Closing balance

(333)

(259)

 

17) Trade and other payables

 

USD '000

31 March

2014

31 March

2013




Other payables

3

5

Unclaimed dividends

-

18

Accruals

298

105


301

128

 

During the year, pursuant to a Directors' Resolution and as permitted by its Articles of Incorporation, the Company reclaimed the dividends that had been unclaimed for more than three years.

 

18) Loss before income tax

 

The following items have been charged in arriving at the operating loss for the year:

USD '000

Note

31 March

2014

31 March 2013





Auditors' remuneration


70

85

Directors' fees


51

161

Legal fees


49

90

perating lease payments


96

69

Depreciation


7

49

Foreign exchange loss/(gain)




Realised


(80)

32

Unrealised


22

(3)

Staff remuneration:




Share options expensed - Directors (equity settled)

15 a

11

165

Share options expensed - Current and former staff (equity settled)

15 a

7

55

Staff cost - salaries


303

652

 

19) Income tax expense and deferred taxation

 

The Company is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).  The BVI under the Business Companies Act (BCA) imposes no corporate or capital gains taxes.  As such, the Company's losses will not result in an income tax recovery in the BVI.  However, the Company as a Group may be liable for taxes in the jurisdictions where it develops mining properties.

 

Effective 13 July 2012, the Company became resident in Canada, and is subject to income taxes at a combined federal and provincial statutory tax rate of 26.5% (2013 - 26.5%).

 

No deferred tax asset has been recognised because there is insufficient evidence of the timing of suitable future profits against which it can be recovered.  No deferred tax liability has been recognised as a result of the losses in the periods to date.

 

A reconciliation between tax expense and the product of accounting net loss, multiplied by the Company's tax rate for the years ended March 31, 2014 and 31 March 2013 is as follows:

 

USD '000

31 March

2014

31 March 2013




Net loss before tax from continuing operations

(388)

(4,162)

Tax at statutory rate of 26.5%

(103)

(1,103)

Foreign tax rate differences

-

311

Non-deductible/ non-taxable items

(54)

31

Benefit of losses not recognized

157

761

Tax expense

-

-

 

The group has tax losses in Canada of USD 575,000 expiring in 2034 and USD 7,645,000 expiring in 2033.

 

Given the closure of the Niger operations in the year (Note 24), the Group has not recognized deferred tax losses in respect of capitalized expenses in Niger. 

 

20) Basic and diluted loss per share


31 March

2014

31 March

2013

 

The basic and dilutive loss per share is calculated using:



 

Income (Loss) for the year (USD '000)

(571)

(9,080)

 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue

132,776,722

113,276,722

 

Basic earnings (loss) per share (US cents)



From continuing operations

(0.29)

(3.67)

From discontinued operations

(0.14)

 (4.35)

Total

(0.43)

(8.02)




Reconciliation of the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue:



Number of ordinary shares in issue at beginning of the year

113,276,722

113,276,722

Issuance of shares to purchase SSOAB

19,500,000

-


132,776,722

113,276,722

 

As the Group was in a loss position, inclusion of share and warrant options would be antidilutive, and thus the basic and fully diluted calculations are the same for both years.  Accordingly, at 31 March 2014, 7,483,334share options (2013: 11,483,333) and 100,000 warrant options (2013: 100,000) were excluded from the diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares calculations.

 

 

The following transactions subsequent to year-end, if occurring during the year, would have impacted the Earnings per Share calculation:

Note

Nature

Amount


28a

Shares

33,194,181


28d

Shares

54,333,334


28e

Shares

9,000,000


28f

Options

8,500,000


 

The average market value of the Group's shares for purposes of calculating the dilutive effect of share options would have been based on quoted market prices for the period during which the options were outstanding.

 

21) Contingent liabilities and commitments

 

Operating Lease Commitments

 

The future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases are: 

 

USD '000

31 March

2014

31 March

2013

Less than 1 year

21

41

Later than 1 year but less than 5 years

-

-


21

41

 

The Company had signed an operating lease for its former offices in South Africa which commenced in December 2010 and expired in November 2013. The initial lease payment amounted to USD 4,916 per month and escalated at 8% per annum.

 

In February 2014, the Company signed a lease with its majority shareholder, NWT Uranium ("NWT") based on the square footage it uses in NWT's office space.  The monthly rent is CAD 1,850; the lease runs through to 31 March 2015, and will be settled from time to time with NWT as URU's finances permit.

 

Nueltin Agreement

 

On 5 February, 2013, the Group signed an exclusive option agreement with Cameco Corporation ("Cameco") to earn a majority interest in Nueltin Lake Gold-Uranium Project ('the Project"), in the Kivalliq Region of the Territory of Nunavut, Canada.

 

Under the terms of the option agreement, URU Metals will fund a total of CAD 2.5 million on exploration expenditures over a three-year period in return for a 51% stake in the Project ("the First Option").  The Group is committed to spend a minimum of CAD 550,000 by 30 September 2015, at which point the Group has the ability to decide whether to meet the remaining exploration requirements of CAD 950,000 by 31 December 2015 and a further CAD 1 million by 31 December 2016 to satisfy the First Option in full.

 

On completion of the First Option, URU has the option to earn an additional 19% interest in the project by funding a further CAD 8.0 million in exploration over a four-year period ("the Second Option").

 

On successful completion of both options, the Company would have earned a 70% interest in the Project by completing CAD 10.5 million in exploration expenditures over a seven-year period. URU will be the project operator over the option earn-in period.

 

After URU completes its earn-in requirement under the Option Agreement, the parties will enter into a standard joint venture agreement, the form of which has already been agreed to and appended to the Option Agreement.

 

22) Cash Used by Operating Activities

 

USD '000

 


31 March

2014

31 March 2013





Loss for the year


(571)

(9,080)

Adjusted for:




Depreciation




Continuing operations

8

7

29

Discontinued operations


-

20

Share-based payments expense

15 a

18

220

Interest accretion on long-term liability


19

-

Gain on sale of investment held at cost

24 a

(292)

-

Loss on disposal of plant and equipment




Continuing operations

8

-

10

Discontinued operations

24 b

5

-

Impairment of intangible assets


-

4,613

Impairment of jointly-held asset


-

2,409

Foreign currency translation differences resulting from change in functional currency


-

(71)

Unrealised foreign exchange loss/(gain)


(57)

33



(871)

(1,817)

Movements in working capital:




(Increase) Decrease in receivables


(85)

59

(Decrease) Increase in trade and other payables


143

(155)



58

(96)

Cash flows utilised by operating activities


(813)

(1,913)

Comprised of:




Continuing operations


(602)

(1,486)

Discontinued operations

24 b i

(211)

 (427)



(813)

(1,913)

 

Cash flows from both Investing and Financing activities for Discontinued Operations were nil in 2013 and 2014.

 

23) Financial Instruments

 

a)    Credit risk

Exposure to credit risk

 

The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure.  The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date was:

 

USD '000

 

 

 

Note

Carrying amount

31 March

2014

Carrying amount

31 March

2013

Cash and Cash Equivalents (including Discontinued Operations)

12

240

1,882

Deposits and Other Receivables (including Discontinued Operations)

11

116

35

 

None of these financial assets is either past due or impaired.  The Deposits are with certain of the Group's vendors, and the Receivables are with statutory authorities.

 

b)   Liquidity risk

The following are the contractual maturities of financial liabilities, including estimated interest payments and excluding the impact of netting agreements:

 

USD '000

Carrying amount

Contractual cash flows

6 months or less

6-12 months

1-2 years

2-5 years

31 March 2014






Non-derivative financial liabilities, including Discontinued Operations






Trade and other payables

301

301

301

-

-

-

Contingent consideration

160

221

-

-

-

221








31 March 201

Non-derivative financial liabilities, including Discontinued Operations






Trade and other payables

166

166

166

-

-

-

 

c)    Market risk

As the Group has disposed of all its available-for-sale assets the exposure to market risk is limited to currency risk described herein.

 

i) Exposure to currency risk

 

The Group's exposure to foreign currency risk, based on notional amounts, was as follows:

 

USD '000's

US Dollars

British Pounds Sterling

South African Rand

Franc CFA

Swedish Kronor

Canadian Dollars

Total

31 March 2014








Cash

9

223

-

1

5

2

240

Deposits, Prepaids, and Receivables

65

25

-

-

12

14

116

Trade and other payables

(1)

(104)

(75)

-

(39)

(82)

(301)

Contingent consideration

(160)

-

-

-

-

-

(160)

Net exposure

(87)

144

(75)

1

(22)

(66)

(105)









31 March 2013








Cash

11

1,840

24

3

-

-

1,878

Deposits, Prepaids, and Receivables

13

-

18

4


-

35

Trade and other payables

(10)

(38)

(26)

(38)

-

(54)

(166)

Net exposure

14

1,802

16

(31)

-

(54)

1,747

 

The following significant exchange rates applied during the period:


31 March 2014


31 March 2013

From USD to:

Reporting date

Average rate


Reporting date

Average rate

Canadian Dollar

1.106

1.054


1.016

1.008

British Pounds Sterling

0.601

0.630


0.60

0.631

Swedish Kronor

6.500

6.523


6.390

6.558

Franc CFA

  476.96

474.49


505.66

510.27

South African Rand

10.576

10.118


8.421

8.401

 

 

 

(ii) Sensitivity analysis

 

A 10% strengthening of the US Dollar against the following currencies at 31 March 2014 would have increased/(decreased) equity and profit or loss by the amounts shown below.  This was determined by recalculating the USD balances held using a 10% greater exchange rate to the US Dollar.  This analysis assumes that all other variables, in particular interest rates, remain constant.

 

Effect in USD '000

31 March 2014


31 March 2013


Equity

Profit or loss


Equity

Profit or loss

US Dollar

-

-


-

-

British Pounds Sterling

-

(4)


-

180

South African Rand

-

(1)


-

2

Franc CFA

-

-


-

(3)

Swedish Kronor

-

-


-

-

Canadian Dollar

-

(9)


-

(5)

 

A 10% weakening of the US Dollar against the above currencies at 31 March 2014 and 31 March 2013 would have had the equal but opposite effect on the above currencies to the amounts shown above, on the basis that all other variables remain constant.

 

(iii) Fair values

 

Fair values versus carrying amounts

 

The fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities, together with the carrying amounts shown in the statement of financial position, are as follows:

 

USD '000

31 March

2014

31 March

2013


Carrying amount

Fair value

Carrying amount

Fair value

Assets and liabilities carried at amortised cost (including Discontinued Operations)





Receivables

116

116

35

35

Cash and cash equivalents

240

240

1,882

1,882

Trade and other payables

(301)

(301)

(166)

(166)

Long-term liabilities

(160)

(160)

-

-


(105)

(105)

1,751

1,751


 

The carrying amounts of receivables, cash and cash equivalents and trade and other payables approximate fair value due to the short maturities of these instruments. 

 

24) Disposed Investments and Discontinued Operations

 

a)    Sale of UrAmerica

 

On 4 April 2013, the Company elected to sell its entire holdings (4,421,000 shares) in UrAmerica, an Argentina-based private uranium exploration company, for GBP 200,000, resulting in a gain of USD 292,000.  This investment had previously been written off in the consolidated financial statements.

 

b)   Decision to close the Niger Operations

 

The assets and liabilities related to Niger Uranium Societe Anonyme ("NUSA") have been presented as discontinued operations following the approval of the Group's Board to close the Company's operations there.  The closure of the Niger operations was completed effective 30 September 2013, and has been treated as a Discontinued Operation in the financial statements.

 

i)     Income statement and cash flows

 

US$'000

Note

Period ended 31 March 2014

Period ended 31 March 2013





Operating Expenditures


178

305

Loss before income tax


(178)

(305)





Loss on disposal of assets


(5)

-

Impairment of intangible assets


-

(4,613)

Income tax expense


-


Loss for the period from discontinued operations


(183)

(4,918)





Cash flows from discontinued operations




Used in Operations

22

(178)

(293)

Change in working capital

22

(33)

(134)


26

(211)

(427)

 

ii)    Assets and Liabilities of Discontinued Operations

 

US$'000


Period ended 31 March 2014

Period ended 31 March 2013

Cash

1

3

Current Assets

-

4

Plant and Equipment

-

6

Total Assets of discontinued operations


1

13

Accounts Payable and accruals


-

38

Total Liabilities of discontinued operations


-

38

 

25) Purchase of Svenska Skifferoljeaktiebolaget ("SSOAB")

 

On 23 May, 2013, the Company announced that it had acquired all the outstanding ordinary shares of a Swedish company, Svenska Skifferoljeaktiebolaget ("SSOAB") from a private company.  The acquisition was made to obtain SSOAB's only significant assets: its title to six exploration licenses in Sweden, located in Örebro County.

 

URU paid the vendors USD 300,000 and issued 17 million ordinary shares as consideration to the vendors for the purchase of SSOAB.  An additional 2.5 million ordinary shares, plus a cash payment of USD 25,000, were paid as a finder's fee on the transaction.  A deferred payment of USD 200,000 will be paid by URU to the vendors upon the completion of the first exploration drill programme on the property in the future.  The agreement has not specified a drilling timetable; management's best estimate is that it will be on or about three years after acquisition (i.e. May 2016), although the drilling would be contingent on the Group's cash position.  Coincident with the deferred payment will be a return to the purchasers of cash and equivalents in the company at transfer of SEK 132,000 (USD 21,000 at date of purchase).  The payment terms offer a reduction to the extent of any claims for pre-acquisition liabilities not previously disclosed by the seller and identified by URU within one year of purchase, provided that any one claim is greater than USD 10,000 and the claims in aggregate are greater than USD 100,000.

 

The contingent consideration of USD 221,000 (comprising a purchase cost of USD 200,000 plus a return of assets of USD 21,000) has been discounted and recognized at fair value of USD 141,000 at issue, and will be amortized over the period to payment using the effective interest method:

 



As at

31 March

2014

As at

31 March

2013

Opening Balance


-

-

Amount recognised


141

-

Accretion


19

-

Closing Balance


160

-

 

As the Company owns all of SSOAB's outstanding ordinary shares, the Company has control over SSOAB as defined in IFRS 10, Business Combinations.  However, the Group has treated the transaction as a purchase of assets, as SSOAB does not meet the definition of a "business" as set out in IFRS 3.  As it was not a business combination, transaction costs have been capitalised, and, as the transaction affected neither accounting nor taxable profit, deferred taxes do not arise.

 

The following table summarises the consideration paid for SSOAB, and the amounts of the assets acquired at the acquisition date:

 

Consideration

Note

USD '000s

Cash


300

Cash-based acquisition costs


161

Total Cash-based costs


461

Shares issued to vendor


582

Shares issued as part of acquisition costs


85

Contingent consideration


141

Total Consideration

9

1,269




Exploration Licenses


1,269

Recognized amounts of identifiable assets assumed


1,269

 

 

26) Purchase of Southern Africa Nickel Limited ("SAN Ltd")

 

Purchase

 

On 25 November 2013, the Company announced that it had acquired all the outstanding ordinary shares of SAN Ltd, a private company incorporated in the BVI, from two private companies.

 

The acquisition was the first of a two-part plan to gain control of SAN Ltd's interests in various mineral prospecting rights in South Africa.  SAN Ltd had been party to two joint ventures in South Africa: a putative (see Note 28a) 74% interest in the Zebediela licenses, and, in a 50/50 ownership with URU, a 50% interest in the Burgersfort project (see Note 10 in both cases).  The terms of the purchase agreement stipulated that URU's joint venture with SAN Ltd would be terminated upon purchase.  As a result, URU now owns 100% of SAN Ltd, which in turn owns a putative 74% interest in the Zebediela licenses and a 50% interest in the Burgersfort project.  The dispute between SAN Ltd and the holders of the Zebediela licenses was terminated after year-end with the completion of the second part of the plan, which is set out in Note 28a.

 

URU paid consideration of USD 218,000, consisting of ZAR 1,907,977 (USD 187,000) to one of SAN Ltd's debtors, plus an additional USD 34,000 in purchase costs,

 

Accounting Treatment of SAN Ltd.

 

As the Company owns all of SAN Ltd's outstanding ordinary shares, the Company has control over SAN Ltd as defined in IFRS 10, Business Combinations.  However, Group has treated the transaction as a purchase of assets as SAN Ltd does not meet the definition of a "business" as set out in IFRS 3.  As it was not a business combination, transaction costs have been capitalised, and, as the transaction affected neither accounting nor taxable profit, deferred taxes do not arise.

 

Accounting Treatment of SAN Ltd Acquisition.

 

The following table summarises the consideration paid for SAN Ltd, and the preliminary allocation to the assets acquired at the acquisition date:

 

Consideration

USD '000s

Cash paid to third party

184

Cash-based acquisition costs

34

Total Consideration

218



Receivable from former owner

9

Exploration Licenses

209

Recognized amounts of identifiable assets assumed

218

 

 

27) Interest in Other Entities

 

The Group financial statements incorporate the assets, liabilities and results of the following subsidiaries in accordance with the accounting policies described in Note 3: 

 



Country

of

incorporation

31 March

2014

%

31 March

2013

%






Niger Uranium Societe Anonyme ("NUSA")


Niger

100

100

8373825 Canada Inc ("Nueltin")


Canada

100

100

Svenska Skifferoljeaktiebolaget ("SSOAB")


Sweden

100

-

Southern Africa Nickel Ltd ("SAN Ltd")


South Africa

100

-

URU (Management) Limited

*

British Virgin Islands

100

100

URU (Africa) Limited

*

British Virgin Islands

100

100

Namaqua Uranium (Proprietary) Limited

*

Namibia

100

100

URU Metals (Zambia) Ltd

*

Zambia

100

100

*- dormant





 

As the Company owns all of the issued ordinary shares of its investee company, the investee companies meet the definition of control as set out in IFRS 10, Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

The Company advanced the following amounts to its subsidiaries to fund their activities:

 

USD '000

 

31 March 2014

31 March 2013

 

 

 

 

NUSA

 

211

440

Nueltin

 

210

-

SSOAB

 

123

-

SAN Ltd

 

109

-

Total

 

653

440

 

No advances were made between any of the Company's subsidiaries in either 2014 or 2013.

 

28) Events after the reporting date
 
a)    Purchase of Umnex Minerals Limpopo Pty ("UML") and end of arbitration

 

In November 2013, the Company acquired 100% interest in SAN Ltd as set out in Note 26.  SAN Ltd in turn had a 74% interest in a joint operation (the "SAN-Umnex Joint Venture").  The remaining 26% was held by Umnex Mineral Holdings Pty ("UMH"), which had putative title to the Zebediela licenses through its subsidiary, Umnex Minerals Limpopo Pty ("UML").  SAN Ltd and UMH had been in dispute since 2011, and arbitration had begun in August 2013. As a result of this arbitration, in fiscal 2013 the Company had provided in full for the costs of the Zebediela project (USD 1,821,000). The reversal of the impairment will be assessed once the title to the licences has been completely transferred to the Group.

 

Purchase

 

On 10 April 2014, SAN Ltd and UMH agreed that SAN Ltd would purchase 100% of UML from UMH for consideration of 33,194,181 in new URU shares, issued in two tranches as follows:

 

Tranche

Date of issue

%age acquired

Shares

Price, pence

Value, USD

Conditions

First tranche

17 April 2014

49.0%

16,563,896

1.83

508,180

Free from trading restrictions

Second tranche

24 April 2014

51.0%

16,630,285

1.75

489,076

Lock-in agreement under which 3,326,057 shares will be released from lock-in at quarterly intervals




33,194,181


997,256


 

The Zebediela Nickel Project extends over three separate mining titles in the Limpopo Province.  As at the date of acquisition, title to all three rights were held by parties unrelated to UML, and transfer of the rights to UML's subsidiary Lesogo Platinum Uitloop Pty ("LPU") had not been completed.  The timing of the transfer is uncertain and regulatory approval of the transfer remains outstanding. 

 

 

Under the Heads of Terms agreement, UMH is permitted to return the shares and take back the licenses should URU:

·     fail to maintain adequate cash funds to meet its general and project expenditure obligations, or

·     fail to meet the purchased rights' minimum statutory expenditure obligations, or

·     raise equity capital at a valuation of below 1.5 pence per share

 

As at 29 September 2014, the "general and project expenditure obligations" and the "minimum statutory expenditure obligations" of the general and project expenditure obligations has not been determined.

 

Treatment as a non-adjusting Subsequent Event

 

The agreement between SAN Ltd and UMH specifies that the arbitration between SAN Ltd and UMH was terminated when the first shares are delivered, which took place on 17 April 2014.  SAN Ltd obtained control over UML on 24 April 2014, when the second tranche was issued.  Both the end of arbitration and control over UML thus took place after year-end.

 

Accordingly, the end of the arbitration is a non-adjusting subsequent event, i.e. one that is "indicative of conditions that arose after the reporting period".  The arbitrator did not come to a resolution (which would have suggested the provision of "evidence of conditions that existed at the end of the reporting period", which in turn would have been an adjusting event), but rather that the arbitration was terminated by mutual consent when the first tranche of shares were delivered to UMH.  The first share transfer took place after year-end, and it follows that the resolution of the arbitration (which is predicated on the share transfer) only related to conditions that took place after year-end.

 

Accounting Treatment of the UML purchase

 

As the Company owns all of UML's outstanding ordinary shares, the Company has control over UML as defined in IFRS 10, Business Combinations.  However, as UML does not meet the definition of a "business" as set out in IFRS 3, the Group has treated the transaction as a purchase of assets.  As it was not a business combination, transaction costs have been capitalised, and, as the transaction affected neither accounting nor taxable profit, deferred taxes do not arise.

 

The following table summarises the preliminary assessment of consideration paid for UML, and the amounts of the assets acquired at the acquisition date:

 

Consideration

USD '000s

Value of shares issued

997

Value of bonus shares awarded

225

Cash-based acquisition costs

127

Preliminary Consideration

1,349



Additionally, conditional consideration of 12,000,000 free-trading shares is payable if either 1) a transaction is consummated by URU to sell, farm-out, or similarly dispose of any portion of a mineral project on some or all of the mining titles, or 2) a mining right is obtained from the South African Department of Mines and Resources in respect of some or all of the rights, or 3) an effective change of control of URU occurs.

 

As at the reporting date, final details of the purchase agreement surrounding UML's existing liabilities to its former owners have not been resolved, and accordingly the calculation of recognized amounts of identifiable assets assumed cannot be completed.

 

b)   Appointment of new CEO

 

On 18 December 2013, the Company announced the resignation of Mr. Lemaitre, effective 10 January 2014.  On 2 June 2014, the Company announced the appointment of Mr John Zorbas as Chief Executive Officer (a non-Board appointment).  Mr Zorbas' appointment was approved by the Board on 14 July 2014. 

 

c)    Changes in Advisors

 

On 22 May 2014, URU announced the appointment of Northland Capital Partners Limited as the Company's Nominated Adviser ("Nomad") and Broker with immediate effect.

 

d)   Issuance of Shares to Fund Operations

 

On 2 May 2014, the Company announced the placing of 54,333,334 new shares at a price of 1.5 pence per share for a total of GBP 815,000.  Of the total, 19,283,335 shares were issued to Niketo Co Ltd, a company wholly owned by NWT Uranium, the Company's largest shareholder, bringing NWT's investment in URU to 30.83%.

 

e)    Issuance of Shares to Related Parties

 

On 1 May 2014, the Board approved the issuance of shares as follows:

Party

Relationship

Number of shares

D. Subotic

Director

3,000,000 (1)

J. Vieira

Director

2,000,000

Algena Holdings

Controlled by John Zorbas, now CEO

3,000,000

Total

 

8,000,000

 

The shares were issued in recognition for work done to complete the Zebediela acquisition, and dealing with other matters in the Group following the resignation of the former CEO of URU in December 2013, which required a significant amount of work, over and above that usually required of Non-Executive Directors, and which was not further remunerated.

 

(1)  Of the 3 million shares awarded to Mr. Subotic, 900,000 were simultaneously gifted by him to unrelated parties.

 

f)    Issuance of Options

 

On 22 May 2014, the company awarded a total of 8,500,000 options to directors and contractors:

 

Party

Relationship

Number of shares

David Subotic

Director

3,000,000

Jay Vieira

Director

2,000,000

Algena Holdings

Controlled by John Zorbas, now CEO

3,000,000

WH Ireland

Outgoing Nomad

500,000

Total

 

8,500,000

 

The options vest immediately, may not be exercised later than 23 May 2017, and are exercisable at 2 pence per share.

 

g)    Extension of Cameco Agreement

 

On 28 August 2014, the Group received confirmation from Cameco that the original term had been extended through to 31 December 2016.

 

 

29) Related party disclosure

 

Transactions with key management personnel

 

During the year ended 31 March 2014, share options totalling nil (2013: 3,250,000) were issued to Directors of the Company at an exercise price of nil (2013: GBP 0.03 each). The options were granted under recommendation of the Remuneration Committee.

 

Transactions carried out with Directors:

 

(i)   Share options outstanding and exercised:

 

Under IFRS 2 Share-based payments, the Company determines the fair value of options issued to Directors and employees as remuneration and recognises the amount as an expense in profit or loss with a corresponding increase in equity. The Remuneration Committee is responsible for the granting of options at its discretion.

 

Details of share options outstanding and exercised by Directors, and past Directors, are as follows: 

 


Balance at

31 March 2013

Granted during the period

Forfeited, cancelled or expired during the period

Balance at 31 March 2014

Allocated price of options on hand at 31 March 2014

(GBP)

First exercise date

Expiry Date

Executive Directors:







R. Lemaitre

1,250,000

              -

-

1,250,000

0.03375

27 Feb 13

27 Feb 16

R. Lemaitre

500,000

              -

-

500,000

0.07000

21 Feb 12

21 Feb 22









Non-Executive Directors:







J. Vieira

1,000,000

              -

-

1,000,000

0.03375

27 Feb 13

27 Feb 16

D. Subotic

1,000,000

              -

-

1,000,000

0.03375

27 Feb 13

27 Feb 16









Former Key Management







R. Swarts

500,000

              -

-

500,000

0.04880

21 Oct 10

21 Oct 20

R. Swarts

350,000

              -

-

350,000

0.07000

21 Feb 12

21 Feb 22









Past Directors








P. Loudon

1,500,000

              -

(1,500,000)

-

0.04880

21 Oct 10

21 Oct 20

P. Loudon

500,000

              -

(500,000)

-

0.07000

21 Feb 12

21 Feb 22

J. Lynch

1,500,000

              -

(1,500,000)

-

0.04880

21 Oct 10

21 Oct 20

J. Lynch

500,000

              -

(500,000)

-

0.07000

21 Feb 12

21 Feb 22


8,600,000

              -

(4,000,000)

4,600,000




 

Subsequent to year-end, as set out in Notes 28d, 28e, and 28f, Options and Shares were issued to Mr Zorbas, Mr Lemaitre's successor as CEO.

 

(ii) Directors' remuneration

 

Director and Executive remuneration is made on terms equivalent to those that prevail in arm's length transactions.

 

USD 000s

Fees for Service

Short term employee benefits

Share-based payment expense

Total

 

Executive Directors:





R. Lemaitre (resigned, 10 Jan 2014)

14

163

11

188






Non-Executive Directors





J. Vieira

17

-

-

17

D. Subotic

19

-

-

19






Total for the year ended 31 March 2014

50

163

11

224






Total for the year ended 31 March 2013

161

201

165

527

 

Mr Lemaitre resigned and waived his notice period. Accordingly, the Company was only liable for payment of accrued vacation.  The Board has confirmed that his options will remain in force for 18 months from the date of his resignation, i.e. until June 2015.

 

Transactions with Shareholders

 

In February 2014, the Company signed a lease with its majority shareholder, NWT Uranium ("NWT") based on the square footage it uses in NWT's office space.    The monthly rent is CAD 1,850; the lease runs through to 31 March 2015, and will be settled from time to time with NWT as URU's finances permit.


 

 

PUBLICATION OF NON STATUTORY ACCOUNTS AND AVAILABILITY OF ANNUAL REPORT

 

The financial information set out in this announcement does not constitute statutory accounts.

 

The financial information for the year ended 31 March 2014 has been extracted from the Group's financial statements to that date upon which the auditors' opinion is unqualified.

 

The Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014 will be available from the Company's website www.urumetals.com and will be posted to shareholders later today.

 

**ENDS**

 

For further information please visit www.urumetals.com or contact:

 

URU Metals Limited

 

John Zorbas

(Chief Executive Officer)

 

+1 416 504 3978

 

Northland Capital Partners Limited

(Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker)

 

Edward Hutton / Matthew Johnson

 

+ 44 (0) 207 382 1100

Beaufort Securities Limited

(Joint Broker)

 

Andrew Gutmann

 

+ 44 (0) 207 382 8300

St Brides Media & Finance Ltd

(Financial Public Relations)

 

Lottie Brocklehurst / Susie Geliher

 

+44 (0) 20 7236 1177

 

About URU Metals:

 

URU Metals is a multi-commodity explorer and developer with a diverse portfolio that includes:

 

·     Zebediela Nickel Sulphide Project, South Africa

·     100% ownership of a nickel sulphide project located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa hosting inferred and indicated resources (non-JORC) of over 1.5Bt with an estimated Net Present Value of over USD 317M and a post-tax IRR of 18.6% (assuming a post-tax discount rate of 10%, nickel price of USD 8.50/lb, production of 20,000 tonnes of nickel per year over a 25 year mine life, a total capex cost of USD 708M, and an opex cost of USD 3.35/ lb Ni.)

.

 

·     Burgersfort Nickel Sulphide Project, South Africa

50% ownership of Burgersfort, located in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa.  Previous exploration identified disseminated nickel targets and three deeper massive sulphide nickel targets.

 

·     The Närke Oil-Uranium Project, Sweden

100% interest in an oil shale asset located in the Alum Shale of Sweden. The project will involve the conversion of kerogen to oil and is one of the largest known uranium deposits worldwide.  The project has an exploration target of 1.47 billion tonnes potentially containing 303,000t of U3O8 and 525 million barrels of oil equivalent.

 



[1] Energy, Electricity and Nuclear Power Estimates for the Period up to 2050 (2013 Edition).  2012 demand 551.8 Exajoules; 2030 high forecast 980 EJ; 980/551.8 = 77.6%

[3] http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/RDS2-32_web.pdf.  Installed, p 46; under construction, p30; planned, 27.


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