Final Results
Amur Minerals Corporation
31 March 2008
31 March 2008
Amur Minerals Corporation
(AIM: AMC)
RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2007
Amur Minerals Corporation ('Amur' or the 'Company'), an exploration and mineral
resource development company focused on East Russia, announces its Final Results
for the year ended 31 December 2007.
Highlights:
•Pre-feasibility demonstrates Kun-Manie project economic at $16,500 per
tonne nickel (post-tax NPV is projected to be approximately USD 800 million
at today's nickel price)
•Over 5,000 metres of new diamond core drill holes at Kun-Manie
•Resource estimate increased to 341,000 tonnes Ni and 95,500 tonnes Cu.
•Maly Krumkon deposit resource on the Kun-Manie licence increased by 140%
•First filings with Russian government to obtain production licence for
Kun-Manie
•Acquired 25 year exploration and production licence at Kustak,
immediately east of Kun-Manie
•Exploration reconnaissance and soil sampling programme completed on
Anadjakan, a copper-gold project
Chairman Robert W. Schafer commented:
'During the year Amur Minerals made significant advances on its flagship
Kun-Manie project, in addition to encouraging exploration results at the
Anadjakan copper-gold project and acquiring the Kustak nickel property next to
Kun-Manie.
'The pre-feasibility study showed that the project is economic at a nickel price
of USD 7.50/lb. For every USD 1 above this, USD 100 million is added to the NPV.
At today's price of USD 14/lb the NPV is in excess of USD 800 million.
'Our successes continue to encourage us to move Kun-Manie forward with continued
resource drilling, aiming towards a bankable study, and by obtaining a mining
licence.'
Enquiries:
Company Co-Broker Nomad and Public Relations
Co-Broker
Amur Minerals Fox-Davies Capital RBC Capital Bankside
Corp. Limited Markets
Robin Young Daniel Fox-Davies Andrew Smith Michael Padley
CEO Martin Eales Louise Davis
+7(495) 629 4418 +44(0) 20 7936 5200 +44(0) 20 7029 7881 +44(0) 20 7367 8881
Chairman's Statement
I am pleased to present the annual report and results for Amur Minerals
Corporation for the year ended 31 December 2007. During the year Amur Minerals
made significant advances on its flagship Kun-Manie project, and, in addition to
having encouraging exploration results from the Anadjakan copper-gold project,
we also acquired the Kustak nickel property immediately to the east of
Kun-Manie.
We look back on 2007 as a year of considerable consolidation in the nickel
industry. We saw the acquisition of LionOre by Norilsk, as well as Inco by Vale
(as CVRD is now called). Xstrata bought the rest of Falconbridge it did not
already own, meaning that for the first time since 1928 none of the major nickel
producers are headquartered in Canada. As we enter the second quarter of 2008,
BHP-Billiton is bidding to acquire Rio Tinto and Rusal is attempting to acquire
Norilsk Nickel.
While Amur was not part of the global cross border takeovers of 2007, it was
certainly a year in which the Company made significant progress in the
development of its projects. Whilst in previous years the focus had been on
resource expansion, in 2007 we focused on upgrading the understanding of the
resources we had previously identified. We are thus very pleased that, in the
course of our work, we carried out a major expansion of resources in the Maly
Krumkon area of our Kun-Manie licence. We are also pleased that independent
consultant SRK Consulting completed a pre-feasibility study showing that the
resources defined to date at Kun-Manie are economic using both conservative
operating considerations and market assumptions.
Financial Results
For the year ended 31 December 2007, Amur Minerals Corporation capitalised USD
5.2 million of exploration and development expenditure, the overwhelming
majority of which was related to the Kun-Manie project. Amur had consolidated
administrative expenses of USD 1.8 million and the Company's net loss widened to
just under USD 2 million. However, Amur Minerals Corporation remains debt-free.
Investing in People
During the year we added two senior production based staff to the team.
Recognising that we are moving towards becoming a mining company, we hired Mr
Jack Swanson, a mining engineer with over 40 years' experience, including work
at Nezdaninskoe in Yakutia and Suzdal in Kazakhstan. He is also a former vice
president of operations of Bunker Hill Mining Company, as well as having mine
management positions with several operations located worldwide. Jack's primary
responsibility is to co-ordinate the multitude of activities associated with
completing a feasibility study in addition to supporting our Khabarovsk
operations. The other senior appointment was Mr Alex Evlasyev. Alex was
previously the mine manager for the Condor platinum-palladium mine in Khabarovsk
. Last year, he managed field operations at Kun-Manie and has now been appointed
the General Director of ZAO Kun-Manie, our Russian subsidiary. Dr. Vladimir
Prikhodko has become the Chairman of ZAO Kun-Manie and will continue to be a key
senior executive of the Company.
Kun-Manie Nickel Copper Sulphide Project
The principal focus of the Group's activities is the Kun-Manie nickel-copper
sulphide project situated approximately 235 kilometres north-east of the
Baikal-Amur railroad in the province of Amur. During 2007, we significantly
advanced this project with successes in exploration and development:
• we more than doubled the resource of the Maly Krumkon deposit from
50,000 tonnes of contained nickel in the inferred category to 136,500 tonnes
of contained nickel, 54% of which is in the indicated category;
• we received a positive independent pre-feasibility study on the Maly
Krumkon, Vodorzdelny and Ikenskoe deposits on the Kun-Manie licence. The
study indicates an $84 million post-tax NPV at a 10% discount rate with
significant upside potential;
• we conducted an infill drilling programme at Ikenskoe and Vodorazdelny;
and
• we undertook the first of a series of filings to obtain a mining permit
at Kun-Manie.
The above successes have encouraged us to ultimately move this project forward
by continued resource drilling, aiming towards a bankable study and proceeding
through the Russian licensing system, resulting in a mining licence.
Anadjakan Copper-Gold Project
Our first full field season at Anadjakan was dedicated to a soil geochemical
sampling programme to verify some of the Soviet era data we inherited with the
property. We implemented the programme internally and used third and fourth year
geology students from leading universities in Russia to staff the field work. It
was a strong learning opportunity for them. To date, the preliminary field
results are encouraging, although we have not yet received the finalised
analytical results for copper and gold assays. Once this data is received, we
will define our future commitments and related work programmes at Anadjakan.
Kustak Nickel Copper Molybdenum Project
We acquired this 25 year exploration and production licence in February, giving
Amur Minerals control over the newly discovered nickel district. It is located
immediately to the east of Kun-Manie and the southern half of the licence
contains an on-strike extension of the Krumkon trend. We completed limited field
reconnaissance during the 2007 field season but did identify several structures
meriting further investigation.
Nickel and Metal Prices
We are fortunate to be developing a large project where mineral assets are
predominately in nickel. Nickel is still enjoying historically strong pricing
despite its retreat from highs over $50,000 per tonne mid-year. This boom is
being fuelled primarily by Chinese demand and limiting factors on the supply of
nickel. The fundamentals for nickel in general, in particular for sulphide
nickel concentrates, appear to remain robust well into the next decade.
Funding
We began 2007 with just under $3 million in the bank from our Placing and
Admission to AIM in 2006. We supplemented this with a $5.6 million placement
(gross proceeds) in April 2007. It had been our plan to complete an additional
placement on the back of the pre-feasibility study. Contractor delays on
delivering the study meant that that fundraising had to be put off until 2008.
Nonetheless, we were able to complete a new $5 million placing at a slight
premium to market in early 2008, a time of exceptional market volatility.
The continuing development of the highly prospective Kun-Manie property is
dependent on the Company's ability to raise further funds during 2008 and
beyond. Results will drive the project requirements both technically and
financially and fund raising will be conducted as needed.
Outlook
Amur Minerals is planning a significant drilling campaign at the Kun-Manie
Nickel project, which we believe will add shareholder value and advance the
project towards mine development. We will also build on the positive results of
the pre-feasibility study to realise the upside potential and to advance the
project to a bankable stage. We will also continue with the permitting process.
Additionally, we will continue exploration work at Kustak to build additional
potential for resource development in the future. Shareholders will be updated
as results flow from these programmes on a regular basis during 2008.
I would like to thank management and staff at our base in Khabarovsk for their
excellent contribution towards the Company's solid performance this past year.
Many thanks are also extended to my fellow Directors. Finally, I would like to
welcome John Haskell, who joined the Board on 5 March 2008. John is currently
Executive Chairman of Troika Agro, which owns and manages agricultural land in
central Russia. John is also the former CEO of the Vostok Fund LP, which was one
of the founding investors in the Company, and has extensive experience in Russia
Robert W Schafer
Chairman
31 March 2008
Copies of audited accounts will be sent to shareholders by 28 April 2006. Copies
of the annual report and accounts will be made available on the Company's
website www.amurminerals.com.
AMUR MINERALS CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
AS OF 31 DECEMBER 2007
(Amounts in '000s US Dollars)
31 December 2007 31 December 2006
------------ ------------
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Capitalised exploration costs 11,465 6,275
Property, plant and equipment 94 12
------------ ------------
Total non-current assets 11,559 6,287
------------ ------------
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents 1,729 2,999
Other receivables 68 61
------------ ------------
Total current assets 1,797 3,060
------------ ------------
Total assets 13,356 9,347
============ ============
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Trade and other payables 349 15
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 349 15
------------ ------------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Share capital 12,719 7,143
Share premium 8,310 8,838
Share options 1,084 472
Accumulated losses (9,106) (7,121)
------------ ------------
Total shareholders' equity 13,007 9,332
------------ ------------
Total liabilities and shareholders'
equity 13,356 9,347
============ ============
Authorised on behalf of the Board on 31 March 2008 by Robin Young and David
Wood.
AMUR MINERALS CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2007
(Amounts in '000s US Dollars)
Note Year ended Year ended
31 December 31 December
2007 2006
--------------- --------------
Administrative expenses (1,797) (1,388)
--------------- --------------
Operating loss (1,797) (1,388)
Investment provision - (110)
Share based payments (412) (224)
Foreign currency exchange gain 88 143
Bank interest received 136 71
--------------- --------------
Loss before tax (1,985) (1,508)
Taxation - -
--------------- --------------
Loss after taxation for the year (1,985) (1,508)
=============== ==============
Loss per share: basic & diluted 3 USD (0.02) USD (0.02)
AMUR MINERALS CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2007
(Amounts in '000s US Dollars)
------------ ------------
Year ended Year ended
31 December 31 December
2007 2006
------------ ------------
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net Loss before Taxation (1,985) (1,508)
Adjustments to reconcile loss before tax to net cash
used in operating activities:
Depreciation 9 9
Share based payment 412 224
Investment income (136) (71)
Investment provision - 110
Increase in accounts receivable (7) (60)
Increase/(decrease) in accounts payable 334 (660)
------------ ------------
Net cash used in operating activities (1,373) (1,956)
------------ ------------
Cash flow from investing activities:
Exploration expenditure (5,190) (2,581)
Purchase of property, plant and
equipment (91) (10)
Interest received 136 71
Investment - (110)
------------ ------------
Net cash used in investing activities (5,145) (2,630)
------------ ------------
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issue of share capital 5,283 6,433
(Repayment of) proceeds from prepaid
share capital - (125)
Financing costs associated with share
issues * (35) (765)
------------ ------------
Net cash from financing activities 5,248 5,543
------------ ------------
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (1,270) 957
Cash and cash equivalents brought
forward 2,999 2,042
------------ ------------
Cash and cash equivalents carried
forward 1,729 2,999
============ ============
Material non-cash transactions
Proceeds from issue of shares retained
by broker 293 686
Expenses paid by broker (293) (686)
============ ============
* Includes commissions paid on financing raised and costs associated with
listing
AMUR MINERALS CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2007
(Amounts in '000s US Dollars)
-------- --------- ----------- -------- ------
Share Share Accumulated Options Total
capital premium losses Reserve
account
-------- --------- ----------- -------- ------
Balance at 31
December 2005 15 10,108 (5,613) - 4,510
Net loss for
the year - - (1,508) - (1,508)
Shares issued 7,128 - - - 7,128
Premium on
shares issued - 316 - - 316
Issue of share
options - - - 472 472
Costs
associated with
issue of share
capital - (1,586) - - (1,586)
-------- --------- --------- -------- -------
Balance at 31
December 2006 7,143 8,838 (7,121) 472 9,332
-------- --------- --------- -------- -------
Net loss for
the year - - (1,985) - (1,985)
Shares issued 5,576 - - - 5,576
Costs
associated with
issue of share
capital - (328) - - (328)
Issue of share
options - (200) - 612 412
-------- --------- --------- -------- -------
Balance at 31
December 2007 12,719 8,310 (9,106) 1,084 13,007
======== ========= ========= ======== =======
Notes to the preliminary statement of results for the year ended 31 December
2007
1. Basis of preparation
The financial information has been prepared in thousands of United States
Dollars in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS').
The accounting policies applied in preparing the financial information are
consistent with those adopted and disclosed in the Group's accounts for the year
ended 31 December 2006.
2. Going Concern
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern
basis. The Group is engaged in the exploration and development of mineral
deposits in Eastern Russia and has no trading revenues. For the foreseeable
future the Group will remain dependent on its ability to raise further funds and
ultimately develop and successfully exploit commercial reserves.
The Group raised a further USD 5 million in March 2008 through the issue of new
shares, which the directors consider to be sufficient to allow the Group to meet
its obligations over the next twelve months. The consolidated financial
statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects
on the recoverability and classification of assets and liabilities that may
result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
3. Loss per share
Basic loss per share is based on a loss of $1,985 thousand (2006: loss of $1,508
thousand) and a weighted average number of shares in issue of 96,905,308 (2006:
80,796,286). The diluted loss per share has been calculated on the same basis as
basic loss per share because the effect of the potential ordinary shares (share
options) reduces the net loss per share and is therefore anti-dilutive.
4. Annual General Meeting
The Company's Annual General Meeting will be held at the offices of Bankside
Consultants, 1 Fredericks Place, London EC2R 8AE on 19 May 2008 at 15:00.
5. Dividends
The directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend for the period.
6. Qualified person review
The information contained in this announcement has been reviewed and approved by
the CEO of Amur, Robin Young. Mr. Young is a Geological Engineer (cum laude) who
is a qualified person for the purposes of the AIM Guidance Note for Mining, Oil
and Gas Companies. Mr. Young is Chief Executive Officer of Amur Minerals
Corporation and has over 31 years' experience in mineral exploration, resource
management and mining. Mr. Young is a Qualified Professional Geologist, as
defined by the Toronto and Vancouver Stock Exchanges.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange