Half-yearly report
24 September 2007
AIM / PLUS Markets: AAU
INTERIM REPORT FOR SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2007
Ariana Resources plc ("Ariana" or "the Company"), the gold
exploration company focused on Turkey, today released its interim
report for the six months ended June 30, 2007.
Highlights:
* 135,000 oz JORC resource established on Arzu South, Kiziltepe
prospect
* Exclusivity agreement on the 130,000 oz Tavsan gold project
* Successful drill-testing of the Kinik prospect
* Board restructured and enhanced
Post Period:
* Positive metallurgical results for Arzu South, Kiziltepe prospect
* Drilling recommenced at the Sindirgi gold project
* Acquisition of the Ardala Cu-Au porphyry prospect
* Shares admitted to PLUS markets, in addition to existing quote on
AIM
Michael Spriggs, Chairman, commented:
"Our strategy through a process of regional opportunity
identification and intelligent exploration, is to define resources
that can be developed rapidly into profitable gold mines in Turkey.
The objective is to achieve an aggregate resource of 1 million ozs of
gold (Au).
"With 135,000 oz Au equivalent defined to date at our flagship
Kiziltepe prospect and, with additional resource potential in the
vicinity, we expect before long to reach our baseline target of
250,000 oz Au. Phase Two drilling at the Kiziltepe prospect, coupled
with the possible purchase of the 130,000 oz Tavsan project, will
help establish the foundations of a viable resource base for the
Company.
"We are determined to capitalise on our 'first mover' advantage
through the establishment of an economic resource at Kiziltepe, from
which a small gold producing operation may be initiated. With this
in mind, the Company will pursue a formal scoping study for Kiziltepe
at the end of the year, from which our options for the development of
the prospect will be clarified."
For further information, please contact:
Ariana Resources plc Tel: 020 7407 3616
Michael Spriggs, Chairman
Kerim Sener, Managing Director
Beaumont Cornish Limited Tel: 020 7628 3396
Roland Cornish
Bankside Consultants Tel: 020 7367 8888
Michael Padley / Louise Davis
City Capital Corporation Limited Tel: 020 7842 5867
Charles Dampney
King & Shaxson Capital Limited Tel: 020 7426 5986
Nick Bealer
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT:
During the six months to the 30th June 2007 Ariana continued its
exploration and resource development strategy in the WAVE Project
Area and advanced its generative exploration programmes. The Company
has also undergone corporate and management streamlining in both the
UK and Turkey to increase efficiency. Our activity during the period
can be summarised as follows:
WAVE Project Area
The Company has dedicated much of its exploration effort to the
Western Anatolian Volcanic and Extensional (WAVE) Province in western
Turkey. This province hosts the largest operating gold mines in
Turkey and remains highly prospective for new porphyry and epithermal
deposits. Ariana is exploring three principal projects within the
WAVE Province: Sindirgi, Ivrindi and Demirci. The region surrounding
these projects is named the WAVE Project Area, with our base of
operations at Sindirgi located strategically at its core.
Sindirgi exhibits many of the hallmarks of a potential one million
ounce gold system, containing over 45km of mapped gold-silver bearing
epithermal quartz veins and widespread alteration across four
prospect areas, including our flagship Kiziltepe prospect. This
prospect hosts at least 20km in strike length of silver-rich gold
bearing quartz veins across an area of at least 3km by 1km.
The majority of exploration work to date at Kiziltepe has focused on
the Arzu vein system, which represents approximately 5% of the mapped
veins on the prospect. Previous intersections on Arzu include 7.5
g/t Au over 10.5m and 13.1 g/t Au over 6.6m. Other veins on the
Kiziltepe prospect have yielded positive surface and drilling results
including 4.62 g/t Au over 2.0m from Banu Vein, 2.90 g/t Au over
10.5m from Vein 4 and 2.45 g/t Au over 9.5m from Aybor Vein. Silver
grades at the prospect range from 25 to 250 g/t Ag, which boost the
gold equivalent grade by 0.5g/t to 5g/t and enhance the economic
fundamentals of the project significantly.
Independent technical consultants SRK (UK) Limited have prepared a
JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate of 135,000 ounces gold
equivalent on the Arzu vein, based on cut-off grade of 3 g/t Au and a
modelled depth limit of approximately 125m (see News Release dated
10/05/06). The calculated grade of the mineralisation on Arzu is
approximately 6 g/t of gold and 2 g/t of gold equivalent of silver.
Post period, Ariana announced encouraging metallurgical results for
Arzu 'ore', with very high gold and silver recoveries, and the
recommencement of drilling at the Kiziltepe prospect.
Elsewhere within the WAVE Project Area, Ariana has continued
exploration activity and drill-testing at the Ivrindi and Demirci
gold projects, in addition to commencing due diligence of the Tavsan
gold project. The latter contains an NI43-101 compliant gold
resource of 130,000 oz and Ariana is considering the purchase of this
project from its current owners, Odyssey Resources Limited.
Generative Exploration
In eastern Turkey, Ariana continued its generative exploration
programmes in the three months prior to the start-up of drilling in
western Turkey. This work culminated in the acquisition, post
period, of the Ardala Cu-Au porphyry prospect in July. This project
represents an advanced exploration opportunity for the Company and a
focus for further exploration activity in the Artvin area of
northeastern Turkey. Discussions with potential joint venture
partners are underway on this project and other exploration
properties that we hold under licence in eastern Turkey.
Testing of the Company's pipeline of drill-targets, which include
four additional gold prospects, will also be necessary and our
exploration properties, which total 1,820 km2, also need to be
investigated further. As a means of progressing our exploration on
several fronts, we are assessing several potential partnerships with
international companies.
Corporate
In March 2007, we announced that Steven Poulton had stepped down from
the Board. Following his departure, the Board was restructured and
our Exploration Director, Dr. Kerim Sener appointed Managing
Director. At the same time, Michael Spriggs took on the role of
interim Executive Chairman and William Payne was appointed as
part-time CFO.
Post period, the Company admitted its shares for trading on the PLUS
markets to help improve liquidity and exposure of the Company to the
investment community in London. Following its Annual General Meeting
in August, the Company changed its primary broker to City Capital
Corporation Limited.
Outlook
In August 2007, we announced the commencement of a 6,000m reverse
circulation drilling programme with 40 holes planned at the Kiziltepe
prospect. The programme has been designed to test the depth and
grade continuity of seven veins and to increase the initial JORC
compliant gold resource of 135,000 oz Au equivalent for the Arzu
Vein.
Following the establishment of an increased resource we aim to
capitalise on our 'first mover' advantage at Kiziltepe by commencing
a formal scoping study towards the end of the year. This will help
identify our options for the economic development of the prospect,
and will form the basis of an enhanced strategy of resource growth in
the WAVE Project Area.
During the period Ariana has successfully completed its transition
from greenfields explorer to resource developer. It is now the
intention to establish an economic resource at Kiziltepe and to join
the ranks of producers in as short a timeframe as possible.
Michael Spriggs
Chairman
24 September 2007
Editors' note:
About Ariana Resources
Ariana is a dynamic exploration company focused on the discovery and
development of epithermal gold-silver and porphyry copper-gold
deposits with multi-million ounce potential within the Tethyan
metallogenic belt of Turkey. The Company has a portfolio of
prospective licences covering 1,820km2, selected on the basis of its
advanced in-house remote sensing database.
The Company's flagship asset is the 235km2 Sindirgi Gold Project,
which targets a series of prospects, within a prolific mineralised
district in western Turkey. The project hosts over 45km of
gold-silver bearing epithermal quartz veins.
City Capital Corporation Limited and King & Shaxson Capital Limited
are joint brokers to the Company and Beaumont Cornish Limited is the
Company's nominated adviser.
For further information on Ariana you are invited to visit the
Company's website at www.arianaresources.com.
Ends
Consolidated interim statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 December 2006 and the six months ended 30 June
2007
Share Share Merger Translation Retained
capital premium reserve reserve earnings Total
£,000 £,000 £,000 £,000 £,000 £,000
Balance at 31
December 2005 315 966 720 - (636) 1,365
Changes in equity
to 30 June 2006
Loss for the
period - - - - (198) (198)
Total recognised
income and
expenditure for
the period - - - - (198) (198)
Issue of share
capital 154 1,846 - - - 2,000
Expenses offset
against share
premium - (65) - - - (65)
Balance at 30 June
2006 469 2,747 720 - (834) 3,102
Changes in equity
to 31 December
2006
Exchange
differences on
retranslation of
foreign operations - - - (11) - (11)
Loss for the
period - - - - (157) (157)
Total recognised
income and
expenditure for
the period - - - (11) (157) (168)
Issue of share
capital 1 8 - - - 9
Expenses offset
against share
premium - (17) - - - (17)
Share based
payments - - - - 7 7
Balance at 31
December 2006 470 2,738 720 (11) (984) 2,933
Share Share Merger Translation Retained
capital premium reserve reserve earnings Total
£,000 £,000 £,000 £,000 £,000 £,000
Balance at 31
December 2006 470 2,738 720 (11) (984) 2,933
Changes in equity
to 30 June 2007
Exchange
differences on
retranslation of
foreign operations - - - 13 - 13
Loss for the
period - - - - (229) (229)
Total recognised
income and
expenditure for
the period - - - 13 (229) (216)
Balance at 30 June
2007 470 2,738 720 2 (1,213) 2,717
Consolidated balance sheet
As at 30 June 2007
31 December
30 June 2007 30 June 2006 2006
Note Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited
£,000 £,000 £,000
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and
equipment (4) 57 41 42
Intangible assets (5) 1,641 689 1,297
Total non-current assets 1,698 730 1,339
Current assets
Trade and other
receivables 308 113 252
Cash and cash equivalents 888 2,313 1,547
Total current assets 1,196 2,426 1,799
Total assets 2,894 3,156 3,138
EQUITY
Issued capital (6) 470 469 470
Share premium (6) 2,738 2,747 2,738
Other reserves 720 720 720
Translation reserve 2 - (11)
Retained earnings (1,213) (834) (984)
Total equity 2,717 3,102 2,933
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 177 54 205
Total current liabilities 177 54 205
Total equity and liability 2,894 3,156 3,138
Consolidated interim income statement
For the six months ended 30 June 2007
6 months to 6 months to 12 months to
30 June 30 June 31 December
2007 2006 2006
Note Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited
£,000 £,000 £,000
Administrative costs (256) (213) (424)
Investment income 27 15 69
Loss before tax (229) (198) (355)
Income tax expense - - -
Loss for the period (229) (198) (355)
Earnings per share:
Basic and diluted loss per
share (pence) 0.49 0.55 0.86
Consolidated interim cash flow statement
For the six months ended 30 June 2007
6 months to 6 months to 12 months to
30 June 30 June 31 December
2007 2006 2006
Note Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited
£,000 £,000 £,000
Cash flows from operating
activities
Loss for the period (256) (213) (424)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation and
amortisation of non-current
assets 2 5 6
Share based payments - - 7
Increase/decrease in
trade and other receivables (43) 18 (119)
Increase in trade
payables (28) (14) 137
Net cash outflow from
operations (325) (204) (393)
Cash flows from investing
activities
Purchase of property, plant
and equipment (17) (18) (26)
Payments for intangible
assets (344) (186) (788)
Interest received 27 15 56
Net cash used in investing
activities (334) (189) (758)
Cash flows from financing
activities
Proceeds from issue of
share capital - 1,935 1,927
Net cash proceeds from
financing activities - 1,935 1,927
Net increase/decrease in
cash and cash equivalents (659) 1,542 776
Cash and cash equivalents
at beginning of period 1,547 771 771
Cash and cash equivalents
at end of period 888 2,313 1,547
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
For the six months ended 30 June 2007
1. General information
Ariana Resources Plc (the "Company") is a public limited company
incorporated and domiciled in Great Britain. The addresses of its
registered office and principal place of business are disclosed
below. The Company's shares are listed on the Alternative Investment
Market of the London stock Exchange. The principal activities of the
Company and its subsidiaries (the "Group") are related to the
exploration for and development of gold and other minerals in Turkey.
Ariana Resources Plc's consolidated interim financial statements are
presented in Pounds Sterling (£), which is also the functional
currency of the parent company.
The financial information set out in this interim report does not
constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 240 of the
Companies Act 1985. The Group's statutory financial statements for
the year ended 31 December 2006, prepared under UK GAAP, have been
filed with the Registrar of Companies. The auditor's report on those
financial statements was unqualified and did not contain a statement
under Section 237(2) of the Companies Act 1985.
Copies of this report are available from the Companies registered
office at Bridge House, London Bridge, London, United Kingdom, SE1
9QR or the company's website:
www.arianaresources.com.
2. Basis of preparation
Prior to 2007, the Group prepared its audited financial statements
and unaudited interim financial statements under UK Generally
Accepted Accounting principles (UK GAAP). From 1 January 2007, the
Group is required to prepare annual consolidated financial statements
in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
as adopted by the European Union. As the 2007 annual financial
statements will include comparatives for 2006, the Group's date of
transition to IFRS is 1 January 2006 with the 2006 comparatives
restated to IFRS. Thus these interim financial statements for the
period ended 30 June 2007 have been prepared by applying the
recognition and measurement provisions of IFRS and the accounting
policies to be adopted for the annual accounts. These policies are
summarised in note 3 below.
An exercise to assess the full impact that the change to IFRS has had
on the Group's reported equity, reported losses and accounting
policies, has been completed. In preparing its opening IFRS balance
sheet, the Group has adjusted amounts reported previously in
financial statements prepared in accordance with its previous basis
of accounting (UK GAAP). Adoption of IFRS resulted in no changes in
the reported numbers from UK GAAP, and no reconciliations are
therefore presented.
The financial information for the twelve months ended 31 December
2006 has been derived from the group's audited financial statements
for the period as filed with the Registrar of Companies and adjusted
for the transition to IFRS. It does not constitute the financial
statements for that period. The auditor's report on the statutory
financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2006 was
unqualified and did not contain any statement under Section 237(2) or
(3) of the Companies Act 1985.
These financial statements have been prepared under the historical
cost convention, and the accounting policies have been applied
consistently throughout the Group for the purposes of preparation of
these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
3. Significant accounting policies
Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial
statements of the Company and entities controlled by the Company.
Control is achieved where the Company has the power to govern the
financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain
benefits from its activities.
The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of are included in
the consolidated income statement from the effective date of
acquisition or up to the effective date of disposal, as appropriate.
Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of
subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies into line with those
used by other members of the Group. All intra-group transactions,
balances, income and expenses are eliminated in full on
consolidation.
Income and expense recognition
The Group's only income is interest receivable from bank deposits.
Operating expenses are recognised in the income statement upon
utilization of the service or at the date of their origin. Interest
received is recognised using the effective interest method which
calculates the amortised cost of a financial asset and allocates the
interest income over the relevant period. The effective interest rate
is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts
through the expected life of the financial asset to the net carrying
amount of the financial asset. All other income and expenses are
reported on an accrual basis.
Foreign currency translation
* Functional and presentation currency
Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group's
entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic
environment in which the entity operates (the 'functional
currency'). The consolidated financial statements are presented
in Sterling, which is the Group's presentation currency.
* Transactions and balances
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional
currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the
transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from
the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at
year end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities
denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the income
statement.
* Group companies
The results and financial position of all the Group entities
(none of which has the currency of a hyperinflationary economy)
that have a functional currency different from the presentation
currency are translated into the presentation currency as
follows:
* assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented are
translated at the closing rate at the date of that balance sheet;
* income and expenses for each income statement are translated at
average exchange rates (unless this average is not a reasonable
approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on
the transaction dates, in which case income and expenses are
translated at the dates of the transaction); and
* all resulting exchange differences are recognised as a separate
component of equity. On consolidation, exchange differences
arising from the translation of monetary items receivable from
foreign subsidiaries for which settlement is neither planned nor
likely to occur in the foreseeable future are taken to
shareholders' equity. When a foreign operation is sold, such
exchange differences are recognised in the income statement as
part of the gain or loss on sale.
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated
depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses.
Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost or valuation of
assets over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line
method. The estimated useful lives, residual values and depreciation
method are reviewed at each year end, with the effect of any changes
in estimate accounted for on a prospective basis.
The gain or loss arising on the disposal or retirement of an item of
property, plant and equipment is determined as the difference between
the sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset and is
recognised in the income statement.
Intangible assets
Intangible assets represent the cost of acquisition by the Group of
rights, licences and know how. Such expenditure requires the
immediate write-off of exploration and development expenditure that
the Directors do not consider to be supported by the existence of
commercial reserves.
All costs associated with mineral exploration and investments are
capitalised on a project-by-project basis, pending determination of
the feasibility of the project. Costs incurred include appropriate
technical and administrative expenses but not general overheads. If
an exploration project is successful, the related expenditures will
be transferred to mining assets and amortised over the estimated life
of the commercial ore reserves on a unit of production basis. Where a
licence is relinquished or a project abandoned, the related costs are
written off. Where the Group maintains an interest in a project, but
the value of the project is considered to be impaired, a provision
against the relevant capitalised costs will be raised.
The recoverability of all exploration and development costs is
dependent upon the discovery of economically recoverable reserves,
the ability of the Group to obtain necessary financing to complete
the development of reserves and future profitable production or
proceeds from the disposition thereof.
Impairment of tangible and intangible assets
At each balance sheet date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of
its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any
indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any
such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is
estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if
any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of
an individual asset, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of
the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. Where a
reasonable and consistent basis of allocation can be identified,
corporate assets are also allocated to individual cash-generating
units, or otherwise they are allocated to the smallest group of
cash-generating units for which a reasonable and consistent
allocation basis can be identified.
Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives and intangible assets
not yet available for use are tested for impairment annually, and
whenever there is an indication that the asset may be impaired.
Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and
value in use. 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 which the estimates of
future cash flows have not been adjusted.
If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is
estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of
the asset (cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable
amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in the income
statement, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount,
in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation
decrease.
Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount
of the asset (cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised
estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased
carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have
been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset
(cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment
loss is recognised immediately in the income statement, unless the
relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the
reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents in the balance sheet comprise cash on hand
and demand deposits together with other short term, highly liquid
investments that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash
and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.
4. Property, plant and equipment
Six months ended 30 June 2006 £,000
Opening net book amount 1 January 2006 33
Additions 18
Depreciation, impairment and other movements (10)
Closing net book amount 30 June 2006 41
Six months ended 31 December 2006
Opening net book amount 1 July 2006 41
Additions 8
Depreciation, impairment and other movements (7)
Closing net book amount 31 December 2006 42
Six months ended 30 June 2007
Opening net book amount 1 January 2007 42
Additions 17
Depreciation, impairment and other movements (2)
Closing net book amount 30 June 2007 57
5. Additions and disposals of intangible assets
Exploration, evaluation and development of mineral resources
Six months ended 30 June 2006 £,000
Opening net book amount 1 January 2006 498
Additions 191
Capitalised depreciation -
Closing net book amount 30 June 2006 689
Six months ended 31 December 2006
Opening net book amount 1 July 2006 689
Additions 597
Capitalised depreciation 11
Closing net book amount 31 December 2006 1,297
Six months ended 30 June 2007
Opening net book amount 1 January 2007 1,297
Additions 344
Capitalised deprecation -
Closing net book amount 30 June 2007 1,641
6. Capital
Authorised share capital of the company is 500,000,000 ordinary
shares at 1 pence each
Details of issued capital are as follows:
Number of Nominal Share
shares value premium
£,000 £,000
Opening balance 1 January 2006 31,466,865 315 966
Share issues in the period (net of
expenses) 15,384,617 154 1,781
At 30 June 2006 46,851,482 469 2,747
Share issue in the period (net of
expenses) 105,880 1 (9)
Balance 31 December 2006
and 30 June 2007 46,957,362 470 2,738
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