Final Results
African Consolidated Resources Plc ('African Consolidated' or the
'Company')
Final Results
African Consolidated is pleased to announce its final results for the
year ended 29 February 2008.
The Company's Annual Report is available for download from the
Company's website www.acrplc.com. Copies will be distributed to
shareholders shortly.
Chief Executive Officer's report
Considerable progress has been made with our on-going exploration
since the publication of our interim report in November. I will not
dwell on this in any detail in this report however in view of our
recent technical 'Exploration Update' which was published on 8 April
2008 and is available to download from the Investor Relations section
of our website (www.acrplc.com).
ZIMBABWE
General
Politics continues to be the overriding factor affecting the
perception of Zimbabwe particularly following the recent events
associated with the Parliamentary and Presidential elections. We
have no control over this factor and it is a reality we have lived
with to date. As always I will point out that we work with the
Government of the day.
The lead-up to the elections, while initially quiet, created some
unrest and violent activity in parts of Zimbabwe although our latest
information is that this is subsiding in most areas. These problems
had the effect of disrupting some of our operations particularly in
the north of the country where we suspended exploration and
infrastructural work in the interests of employee and contractor
safety as well as the security of company assets. We have now
reviewed the situation on the ground and I am pleased to say that as
of this week we now feel secure to return to all areas.
More specifically the problems created a delay in the
road-development work taking place at the Snakes Head PGE project
which was being prepared for the development of a sample-gathering
decline adit for metallurgy testing purposes. Likewise, considering
its proximity, sampling work at the Horseshoe nickel laterite project
was postponed. We are now returning to site.
In Chakari, electromagnetic survey of the Perseverance Nickel project
was suspended for 10 days in early May. It was possible to
re-commence work for several weeks but work was suspended again until
very recently. Geochemical sampling for gold and base metals in
southern Zimbabwe near Zaka was also postponed.
The hyper-inflationary environment presents difficulties and the
company is making every effort to minimise the negative effects
thereof on the company and its staff. However the bulk of the
Company's expenditure is incurred by reference to Sterling, United
States dollars or other hard currencies. Therefore the on-going
inflation-driven devaluation of the Zimbabwe dollar has only a modest
effect on the Sterling budget of ACR and the risk is being
satisfactorily managed by our financial department.
I commend all our staff and management for their stoically successful
effort to retain the highest possible degree of normality and morale
in trying circumstances.
We continue to support the local communities in which we work in
terms of infrastructural development and practical assistance.
Exploration
As noted above an 'Exploration Update' was published in April. Since
then reverse circulation ("RC") drilling has commenced and continues
at the Blue Rock gold prospect while rotary air blast ("RAB")
exploration drilling continues elsewhere on the Gadzema gold belt.
In-fill electromagnetic survey over the five already-defined
conductors at Perseverance should be complete within two to four
weeks. Post interpretation, these results will enable final
drill-target definition for the exploratory intersection of these
conductors and we hope to commence diamond-core drilling in late
July. Negotiations for the contracting of a suitable drill-rig are
under way. Detailed, closely-spaced airborne magnetic survey lines
will most likely be flown over the Perseverance region in a
July/August timeframe. This will provide additional data for further
target definition.
Discussions continue on the resumption of activities in the Marange
diamond field and I remain hopeful of an outcome that satisfies both
national and corporate interests. The related legal dispute over
claim ownership still awaits a court hearing date.
Throughput at both in-house and independent assay / sorting labs has
improved and we are processing some 5,000 samples per month. In
addition, we have increased our sampling teams and hence are
constantly looking for ways to improve throughput even further.
ZAMBIA & MOZAMBIQUE
It remains the Company's philosophy to ameliorate political risk by
being active in other regional countries.
Progress has been made on the application for significant exploration
ground in Zambia and ACR is hopeful of a successful outcome on
several of these applications. Legalities for formation in
Mozambique are nearing finality and the company anticipates imminent
discussions with the Mozambique Government at a high level.
First-pass evaluation is complete over large tracts of ground in both
countries, much of which is unallocated or due for relinquishment in
the not too distant future. This is very much a work-in-progress
which I expect will gather momentum in the second half of the year.
GENERAL
The Company's cash resources remain adequate at current spend rates
especially since our exploration expenditure is discretionary.
However, should the political situation allow and the Board elects to
commence further drilling programmes, we would expect to need to
raise further funds before the end of 2008.
We hope for a sustainable and equitable solution to the current
political impasse in Zimbabwe.
Andrew N. Cranswick
CEO
Consolidated income statement
for the year ended 29 February 2008
2008 2007
Group Group
£ £
Notes
Revenue - -
Administrative expenses (1,152,861) (1,809,334)
Operating loss (1,152,861) (1,809,334)
Finance income 160,813 102,077
Loss before and after taxation (992,048) (1,707,257)
Loss attributable to the equity (992,048) (1,707,257)
holders of the parent company
Loss per share - basic and diluted 2 (0.48) pence (0.96) pence
All amounts above relate to continuing operations.
Group Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 29 February 2008
Share Share Share Available Retained
capital premium option for sale earnings/ Total
Group account account reserve reserve (losses)
£ £ £ £ £ £
At 28 1,456,270 2,442,790 53,000 - (340,719) 3,611,341
February
2006
Available - - - (10,866) - (10,866)
for sale
investments
-
valuation
losses
Net income - - - (10,866) - (10,866)
recognised
directly in
equity
Loss for - - - - (1,707,257) (1,707,257)
the year
Total - - - (10,866) (1,707,257) (1,718,123)
recognised
income and
expense for
the year
Share - - 434,194 - - 434,194
options
Issue of
share
capital 443,671 3,991,863 - - - 4,435,534
(net of
issue costs
of
£336,831)
At 28 1,899,941 6,434,653 487,194 (10,866) (2,047,976) 6,762,946
February
2007
Available - - - 16,157 - 16,157
for sale
investments
-
valuation
gain
Net income - - - 16,157 - 16,157
recognised
directly in
equity
Loss for - - - - (992,048) (992,048)
the year
Total 16,157 (992,048) (975,891)
recognised
income and
expense for
the
year
Share - - 244,458 - - 244,458
options
Issue of
share
capital 310,345 4,054,655 - - - 4,365,000
(net of
issue costs
of
£135,000)
At 29 2,210,286 10,489,308 731,652 5,291 (3,040,024) 10,396,513
February
2008
Group balance sheet
As at 29 February 2008
29 February 2008 28 February 2007
Note Group Group
£ £
Assets
Non-current assets
Intangible assets 3 5,841,604 4,962,150
Property, plant and equipment 403,419 372,749
Available for sale investments 34,655 6,606
Investment in subsidiaries - -
6,279,678 5,341,505
Current assets
Inventory 25,499 32,608
Receivables 162,945 84,632
Available for sale investments 37,038 20,891
Cash and cash equivalents 4,142,105 1,514,548
Total current assets 4,367,587 1,652,679
Total Assets 10,647,265 6,994,184
Equity and Liabilities
Capital and reserves
attributable to equity holders
of the company
Called-up share capital 4 2,210,286 1,899,941
Share premium account 4 10,489,308 6,434,653
Available for sale reserve 5,291 (10,866)
Share option reserve 731,652 487,194
Retained earnings (3,040,024) (2,047,976)
Total equity 10,396,513 6,762,946
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 250,752 231,238
Total current liabilities 250,752 231,238
Total Equity and Liabilities 10,647,265 6,994,184
Group cash flow statement
for the year ended 29 February 2008
2008 2007
Group Group
£ £
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITES
Loss for the year (992,048) (1,707,257)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation 116,861 59,910
Write-off of deferred 31,984 -
expenditure/intangible assets
Finance income (160,813) (102,077)
Profit on sale of available for 2,186 (38,607)
sale investments
Profit on sale of property, plant (353) -
and equipment
Share option charges 244,458 409,461
234,323 328,687
Changes in working capital:
Increase in receivables (78,313) (30,647)
Decrease in inventories 7,109 18,167
Increase/(Decrease) in payables 19,514 (752,207)
(51,690) (764,687)
Cash generated from operations (809,415) (2,143,257)
Investing activities:
Payments to acquire intangible (911,438) (2,632,939)
assets
Payments to acquire property, plant (152,248) (305,279)
and equipment
Payments to acquire available for (59,432) (120,000)
sale investments
Payments to acquire investment in - -
subsidiaries
Proceeds on disposal of property, 5,070 14,996
plant and equipment
Proceeds on disposal of available 29,207 163,517
for sale investments
Interest received 160,813 102,077
(928,028) (2,777,628)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from the issue of ordinary 4,365,000 4,460,267
shares, net of issue costs
(Decrease)/Increase in cash and cash 2,627,557 (460,618)
equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at 1,514,548 1,975,166
beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of 4,142,105 1,514,548
year
Notes to preliminary report
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| 1 | Basis of preparation |
|---+---------------------------------------------------------------|
| | The financial information for the year ended 29 February 2008 |
| | and for the year ended 28 February 2007 contained in this |
| | statement do not constitute statutory accounts within the |
| | meaning of section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. It is, |
| | however, derived from the statutory accounts for those years. |
| | The auditors' report for both 2007 and 2008 was unqualified, |
| | but draws attention by way of emphasis without qualifying to |
| | the political and economic instability in Zimbabwe, and did |
| | not contain statements under section 235 or sections 237 (2) |
| | or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts for the |
| | year ended 28 February 2007 have been approved by members in |
| | General Meeting and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
2 Loss per share 2008 2007
Group Group
Loss per Ordinary Share has been calculated
using the weighted average number of
Ordinary Shares in issue during the
relevant financial period.
The weighted average number of Ordinary 208,614,788 177,289,260
Shares in issue for the year is.
Losses for the Group for the year are (992,048) (1,707,257)
(£)
Loss per share basic and diluted (0.48p) (0.96p)
The effect of all potentially dilutive
share options is anti-dilutive.
3 Intangible Deferred exploration Mining Licence Total
assets costs options acquisition
Group costs
£ £ £ £
Cost at 28 2,882,595 47,661 2,031,894 4,962,150
February 2007
Additions 891,041 - 20,397 911,438
during the
year
Disposals (1,873) (30,111) - (31,984)
during the
year
Cost at 29 3,771,763 17,550 2,052,291 5,841,604
February 2008
Group
Cost at 28 554,689 14,178 1,760,344 2,329,211
February 2006
Additions 2,327,906 33,483 271,550 2,632,939
during the
year
Cost at 28 2,882,595 47,661 2,031,894 4,962,150
February 2007
4 Share capital Number of Nominal Share
shares value premium
£ £
Authorised
Ordinary shares of £0.01 each 1,000,000,000 10,000,000 -
Issued
Called up, allotted and fully
paid
As at 28 February 145,626,980 1,456,270 2,442,790
2006
Issued during the year 44,367,118 443,671 3,991,863
As at 28 February 2007 189,994,098 1,899,941 6,434,653
Issued during the year 31,034,482 310,345 4,054,655
As at 29 February 2008 221,028,580 2,210,286 10,489,308
5 Contingent liabilities and capital commitments
There is a contingent liability, which in the opinion of the
directors is not likely to exceed £63,650, in respect of the Giant
acquisition made in the period to 28 February 2006 relating to
resource ounces still in the process of being quantified.
6 Litigation
Amongst intangible assets for the Group is included £256,314 (2007
: £95,307) representing costs of title acquisition and of
exploration over a diamond deposit near Marange. On 28 September
2006, the Group received notification from the Zimbabwe Minister of
Mines that he intended to challenge the group's legal title with
respect to Marange. The Group has initiated proceedings in the
Zimbabwe High Court in order to confirm this title. Counsel has
advised that in his opinion the Group's title is good and therefore
no provision against loss of this asset has been made.
There is no other litigation involving any group company.
Enquiries:
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| African Consolidated Resources plc | |
| Andrew Cranswick | +44 7920 189010 |
| Roy Tucker | +44 1622 816918 / +44 7920 |
| | 189012 |
|------------------------------------+------------------------------|
| Ambrian Partners Limited | |
| Richard Brown | +44 20 7634 4700 |
| Richard Greenfield | |
| | |
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