Half-year Report

RNS Number : 9219H
Aura Energy Limited
16 March 2018
 

TO VIEW THE FULL PDF VERSION OF THIS REPORT CLICK HERE

 http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/9219H_-2018-3-16.pdf

 

AURA ENERGY LIMITED

 

("Aura" or the "Company")

 

Half-Year for Financial Period Ended 31 December 2017

 

Aura Energy Limited (ASX: AEE/AIM: AURA) is pleased to inform the market that its Half-Year Report for the six months ended 31 December 2017 is now available at www.aurenergy.com. An abridged version of the Half-Year Report is attached for shareholders and investors to review.

 

During the Half-Year, the Company continued to progress the Tiris project feasibility study and resolved to pursue a separate listing by way of an IPO for its vast Haggan polymetallic property which contains significant quantities of Battery Metals including vanadium, cobalt and nickel.

 

Whilst the uranium price has shown modest recovery during the Half-Year, following cutbacks by large producers, the Tiris project remains the Company's best near-term cashflow project with C1 cash costs of US$19.40/pound U3O8. This estimated cash cost per pound is below both spot and contract prices at this time.

 

The key milestone achieved during the Half-Year for the development of the Tiris project was the approval by Mauritanian authorities of the Environmental Permit. The company has discussed the delay to the grant of gold tenement with the government. During the most recent meetings with the government, in regards to this delay, the Company was informed that the tenement will be granted soon. A key diversification strategy for the Company is gold and base metals and the ground subject to the tenement applications is highly prospective.

 

The Haggan Battery Metals strategy has evolved from the Company's desire to maximise the output of the vast polymetallic resource. The board of directors resolved towards the end of the Half-Year to list the Haggan Battery Metals project as a separate vehicle and therefore, provide this separate vehicle with management, funding and technical drive to ensure that outcome. The rapid development of the battery sector and the significant vanadium content of the Haggan Battery Metals project have created significant opportunities for Aura. The Company completed a small working capital raising of AU$1.1 million during the Half-Year.

 

 

For more information please visit www.auraenergy.com.au or contact the following:

 

Aura Energy Limited

Peter Reeve (Executive Chairman and CEO)

 

Telephone: +61 (3) 9516 6500

Email: info@auraenergy.com.au

 

WH Ireland Limited

Adrian Hadden

James Sinclair-Ford

 

Telephone: +44 (0) 207 220 1666

 

Yellow Jersey

Charles Goodwin

Joe Burgess

 

Telephone: +44 (0) 77693 25254 

 

 

 

 

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS

AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME





593

1,784







Administrative expenses


(423,428)

(324,543)

Depreciation expense


(7,398)

-

Employee benefits expense


(300,932)

(320,014)

Exchange fluctuation


(53,990)

(72,191)

Listing costs on AIM market


-

(683,121)

Share-based payments


(113,864)

(120,458)

Other


(32,661)

(4,177)


(931,680)

(1,514,366)




Income tax (expense)/benefit


-

-





(931,680)

(1,514,366)







Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss




Exchange fluctuation


62,718

(237,156)

Total other comprehensive income/(loss) for the period


62,718

(237,156)


 

(914,336)

 

(1,751,522)










Basic earnings/(loss) per share (cents)


(0.12)

(0.25)

Diluted earnings/(loss) per share (cents)


(0.12)

(0.25)

The condensed notes on pages 6 to 13 are an integral part of these consolidated interim financial statements

31 DEC 2017

$

30 JUNE 2017

$







Current assets




Cash and cash equivalents

8

616,434

2,652,960

Trade and other receivables

9

24,794

62,854

Other

10

56,360

53,930


697,588

2,769,744




Exploration and evaluation

11

16,907,457

14,851,820

Property, plant and equipment


13,103

18,905


16,920,560

14,870,469


17,618,148

17,640,469










Trade and other payables

12

240,343

576,605

Provisions

13

43,572

118,948

Financial Liabilities


-

47,803


283,915

743,356


283,915

743,356





17,334,233

16,897,113







Issued and paid-up capital

14

40,751,161

39,558,943

Reserves


683,569

841,671

Accumulated losses


(24,100,497)

(23,503,501)


17,334,233

16,897,113

The condensed notes on pages 6 to 13 are an integral part of these consolidated interim financial statements







Share issues

5,157,183

-

-

-

5,157,183

Equity raising costs

(318,167)

-

-

-

(318,167)

Exercise of options over ordinary shares

127,041

-

-

-

127,041

Expiry of options over ordinary shares

-

(44,698)

-

44,698

-

Cancellation of options over ordinary shares

-

-

-

-

-

Transfer to share-based payments reserve

-

-

-

-

-

Transfer to option-based payments reserve

-

143,247

-

-

143,247

Loss after tax for the period

-

-

-

(1,514,366)

(1,514,366)

Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the period

-

-

(237,156)

-

204,758

37,750,260

594,200

296,735

(21,442,707)

17,198,488






39,558,943

457,481

384,190

(23,503,501)

16,897,113

Share issues

1,239,881

-

-

-

1,239,881

Equity raising costs

(54,330)

-

-

-

(54,330)

Exercise of options over ordinary shares

6,667

-

-

-

6,667

Expiry of options over ordinary shares

-

-

-

-

-

Cancellation of options over ordinary shares

-

(334,684)

-

334,684

-

Transfer to share-based payments reserve

-

-

-

-

-

Transfer to option-based payments reserve

-

113,864

-

-

113,864

Loss after tax for the period

-

-

-

(931,680)

(931,680)







Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the period

-

-

62,718

-

62,718

40,751,161

236,661

446,908

(24,100,497)

17,334,233

The condensed notes on pages 6 to 13 are an integral part of these consolidated interim financial statements




Payments to suppliers and employees


(801,477)

(1,533,891)

Interest received


593

1,784


(800,884)

(1,532,107)







Exploration and evaluation payments


(2,338,684)

(253,339)

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment


(1,596)

(20,808)


(2,340,280)

(274,147)







Share issues


1,169,049

5,129,719

Equity raising costs


(10,421)

(137,624)


1,158,628

4,992,095





(1,982,536)

3,185,841

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period


2,652,960

317,758

Exchange fluctuation


(53,990)

(70,845)


616,434

3,432,754

The condensed notes on pages 6 to 13 are an integral part of these consolidated interim financial statements

 

Aura Energy Limited (the "Company") is a Company incorporated and the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of Australia.

 

The address of the Company's registered office is Level 1, 34-36 Punt Road, Windsor. The consolidated interim financial statements as at and for the six-month period ended 31 December 2017 comprises the Company and its controlled entities (together referred to as the "Group" and individually as "Group entities"). The Group undertakes the exploration for and evaluation of uranium and gold opportunities in Mauritania and Battery Metals in Sweden.

 

The consolidated annual financial statements of the Group as at and for the year ended 30 June 2017 are available upon request from the Company's registered office or at www.auraenergy.com.

The consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards, AASB 134 Interim Financial Reporting, and the Corporations Act 2001.

 

Selected explanatory notes are included to explain events and transactions that are significant to an understanding of the changes in financial position and performance of the Group since the last annual consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended 30 June 2017. The consolidated interim financial statements do not include all of the information required for full annual financial statements, and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated annual financial statements of the Group as at and for the year ended 30 June 2017.

 

These consolidated interim financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 15 March 2017.

The accounting policies applied by the Group in preparing the condensed consolidated interim financial statements are the same as those applied by the Group in its consolidated annual financial statements as at and for the year ended 30 June 2017.

The preparation of the consolidated interim financial statements 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.

 

In preparing these consolidated interim financial statements, the significant judgements made by management in applying the Group's accounting policies and the key sources of estimation uncertainty were the same as those applied to the condensed consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended 30 June 2017.

 

Exploration and evaluation expenditure is carried forward where right of tenure of the area of interest is current. These expenditures are carried forward in respect of areas that have not, at the reporting date, reached a stage that permits reasonable assessment of the existence of economically recoverable reserves. The carrying value of capitalised exploration and evaluation expenditure at the reporting date is $16,907,457.

 

For the six-month period to the 31 December 2017, the Group completed an assessment of its tenement assets and decided that there was no need to recognise any impairment of its exploration and evaluation expenditure carried forward.

The consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which envisages the continuity of normal business activity and the realisation of assets and the settlement of liabilities in the ordinary course of business.

 

The group incurred a loss after tax for the six-month period ended 31 December 2017 of $931,680 (2016: loss after tax $1,514,366) and net cash outflows from operating and investing activities of $3,141,164 (2016: $1,806,254 ). As at 31 December 2017, the Group had working capital of $413,673 (June 2017: $2,026,388).

 

The Company has also raised $190,917 since balance date with holders of options over ordinary shares exercising their rights.

 

The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is principally dependent upon the ability of the Company to secure funds by raising capital from equity markets and managing cashflow in line with available funds. These conditions indicate a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern.

In the event the above matters are not achieved, the Company will be required to raise funds for working capital from debt or equity sources.

 

The directors have prepared a cash flow forecast, which indicates that the Company will have sufficient cash flows to meet all commitments and working capital requirements for the 12 month period from the date of signing this financial report.

 

Based on the cash flow forecasts and other factors referred to above, the directors are satisfied that the going concern basis of preparation is appropriate. In particular, given the Company's history of raising capital to date, the directors are confident of the Company's ability to raise additional funds as and when they are required.

 

Should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern it may be required to realise its assets and extinguish its liabilities other than in the normal course of business and at amounts different to those stated in the financial statements.

 

The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of asset carrying amounts or to the amount and classification of liabilities that might result should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern and meet its debts as and when they fall due.

The Group has adopted all of the new and revised Standards and Interpretations issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (the AASB) that are relevant to their operations and effective for the current half-year.

 

There was no material impact.

 

The Group conducts mineral exploration in two geographical segments being Mauritania and Sweden and operates in one industry mineral exploration and mining. Non-reportable segment financial information is reported as Corporate.

 

SEGMENT INFORMATION

For the half year ended 31 December 2017

 

 

MAURITANIA

$

SWEDEN

$

CORPORATE

$

TOTAL

$

 

 

 

 

 

Segment revenue

-

-

593

593

Segment result

-

-

593

593

Expenses attributable to Corporate

 

 

 

 

Administrative expense

 

 

(423,428)

(423,428)

Depreciation expense

 

 

(7,398)

(7,398)

Employee benefits expense

 

 

(300,932)

(300,932)

Exchange fluctuation

 

 

(53,990)

(53,990)

Share-based payments

 

 

(113,864)

(113,864)

Other

 

 

(32,661)

(32,661)

Loss after tax

 

 

 

(931,680)

 

 

 

 

 

As at 31 December 2017

 

 

 

 

Segment assets

11,054,050

5,853,407

710,691

17,618,148

 

 

 

 

 

Segment liabilities

25,164

-

258,751

283,915

 

 

 

 

 

Segment asset movements for the period

 

 

 

 

Additions

1,832,589

184,339

1,596

2,018,524

less Impairment

-

-

-

-

 

1,832,589

184,339

1,596

2,018,524

 

SEGMENT INFORMATION

For the half year ended 31 December 2016

 

 

MAURITANIA

$

SWEDEN

$

CORPORATE

$

TOTAL

$

 

 

 

 

 

Segment revenue

-

-

1,784

1,784

Segment result

-

-

1,784

1,784

Expenses attributable to Corporate

 

 

 

 

Administrative expense

 

 

(390,243)

(390,243)

Depreciation expense

 

 

-

-

Employee entitlements

 

 

(254,314)

(254,314)

Exchange fluctuation

 

 

(72,191)

(72,191)

AIM listing costs

 

 

(683,121)

(683,121)

Share-based payments

 

 

(145,293)

(145,293)

Other

 

 

(120,458)

(120,458)

Government rebate on research and development

 

 

(4,177)

(4,177)

Loss after tax

 

 

 

(1,514,366)

 

 

 

 

 

As at 30 June 2017

 

 

 

 

Segment assets

9,383,768

5,685,455

2,571,246

17,640,469

 

 

 

 

 

Segment liabilities

225,765

24,608

492,983

743,356

 

 

 

 

 

Segment asset movements for the period

 

 

 

 

Additions

2,030,513

206,431

-

2,236,944

less Impairment

(495,453)

(897,367)

(4,802)

(1,397,602)

 

1,535,080

(690,936)

(4,802)

839,342

 

31 DEC 2017

$

30 JUN 2017

$



Cash at bank

616,434

2,614,749

Short-term bank deposits

-

38,211


616,434

2,652,960

31 DEC 2017

$

30 JUN 2017

$




Trade debtors

7,353

-

Value-added taxes receivable

8,207

62,854

Other receivables

9,234

-

24,794

62,854

Value-added taxes receivable is a generic term for broad-based consumption taxes that the Group is exposed to in the various countries in which it conducts its exploration activities - Australia (goods-and-service tax, Mauritania (value-added tax) and Sweden (value-added taxes).


31 DEC 2017

$

30 JUN 2017

$

Other financial assets

56,360

53,930

31 DEC 2017

$

30 JUN 2017

$



Exploration and evaluation expenditure carried-forward in



respect of minerals exploration areas of interest



Exploration and evaluation phases

16,907,457

14,851,820




Opening balance

14,851,820

14,137,710

Additions

2,016,928

2,305,058

Impairments

-

(1,397,602)

Foreign exchange fluctuation

38,709

(193,346)

Closing balance

16,907,457

14,851,820

The recoverability of the carrying amounts of exploration and evaluation assets is dependent on the continuation of the Group's right to tenure, future exploration and successful development and commercial exploitation of the respective area of interest or alternatively by their sale.


31 DEC 2017

$

30 JUN 2017

$




Trade payables

49,231

333,684

Accrued expenses

128,210

165,282

Other payables

62,902

77,639


240,343

576,605

Trade and other payables are unsecured and non-interest bearing obligations of the Company which arise from the business activities. Trade payables and other accruals, with the exception of amounts due to directors of the Company, are settled within the lower of terms or 30 days.

31 DEC 2017

$

30 JUN 2017

$




Employee benefits

43,572

118,948

(I)     MOVEMENT IN SHARES ON ISSUE

 

The Company has shares on issue of 854,318,646 (30 June 2017: 792,808,124) and paid-up capital of $40,751,161 (30 June 2017: $39,558,943). All shares on issue are fully paid ordinary shares at no par value.

 


DATE OF ISSUE

NUMBER OF

SHARES

ISSUE PRICE/$

$







457,048,412


32,784,203

Shares issued during the period:





AIM listing

12-Sep-16

196,883,849

0.0200

3,937,679

WHI Ireland

12-Sep-16

3,937,677

0.0200

78,754

Australian Placement

16-Sep-16

52,350,000

0.0200

1,065,000

Martin Place Securities

16-Sep16

200,000

0.0200

4,000

Exercise of options

5-Oct-16

4,581,633

0.0250

114,541

Exercise of options

19-Oct-16

500,000

0.0250

12,500

Directors remuneration

21-Dec-16

871,335

0.0154

13,375

Directors remuneration

21-Dec-16

559,623

0.0239

13,375

Consultants

21-Dec-16

1,882,845

0.0239

45,000

Equity raising costs




(318,167)


719,715,374


37,750,260







792,808,124


39,558,943

Shares issued during the period:





Directors remuneration

10-Aug-17

377,732

0.0350

13,375

Directors remuneration

10-Aug-17

550,034

0.0240

13,375

Share Placement

15-Nov-17

55,425,000

0.0200

1,108,500

Share Placement

15-Nov-17

400,000

0.0200

8,000

Exercise of options

21-Dec-17

333,333

0.0200

6,667

Contractors

21-Dec-17

2,653,934

0.0204

54,140

Consultants

21-Dec-17

1,770,489

0.0240

42,491

Equity raising costs




(54,330)


854,318,646


40,751,161

 

(II)   MOVEMENT IN SHARES ON ISSUE

 

The Company has options over ordinary shares granted on issue of 64,664,924 (30 June 2017: 89,553,189 options over ordinary shares).

 

18,608,333 options over ordinary shares were granted to shareholders or employees for the six-month period ended 31 December 2017 (31 December 2016: nil options over ordinary shares were granted).

 


DATE OF ISSUE

NUMBER OF OPTIONS

EXERCISE PRICE/$

EXPIRY DATE

Opening balance at 1 July 2016


197,349,702



Options granted:


-

-

-

Options exercised:

5-Feb-16

(4,581,633)

0.025

5-Feb-18


5-Feb-16

(500,000)

0.025

5-Feb-18

Options lapsed

20-Dec-13

(6,625,000)

0.200

13-Jul-16


4-Dec-12

(26,424,005)

0.200

4-Dec-16

Closing balance at 31 December 2016


185,443,069








Opening balance at 1 July 2017


89,553,189



Options granted:

15-Nov-17

18,608,333

0.0200

14 Nov-18

Options exercised:

15-Nov-17

(333,333)

0.025

14-Nov-18

Options cancelled

10-Jun-15

(35,000,000)

0.10-0.15

9-Jun-18

Options lapsed:

20-Dec-15

(8,163,265)

0.0250

23-Dec-17

Closing balance at 31 December 2017


64,664,924



 

On 30 November 2017, shareholders approved the awarding of 35,000,000 performance rights to Mr PD Reeve, the Executive Chairman/Managing Director of the Company, with 20,000,000 vesting on 30 November 2018 and 15,000,000 vesting on 30 November 2019.

The Group's financial instruments consist of financial assets and liabilities which are measured at amortised cost including trade and other receivables and trade and other payables and convertible notes.

 

The carrying amount of the financial assets and liabilities included in these condensed consolidated interim financial statements approximate their fair value.

 

On 15 October 2010, the Company and Global Coal Management plc entered into a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement which resulted in the Company acquiring all the shares on issue in GCM Africa Uranium, the entity which held the beneficial interest of GCM in the above-mentioned research permits in Mauritania.

 

The Company paid GCM US$100,000 on execution of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement; US$472,183 in cash plus 2,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares in the Company on completion (due diligence); and, US$500,000 on the first anniversary of completion. The Company also agreed to pay a contingent consideration:

·     US$2,000,000 (in cash and shares as determine by the Company) on the delineation of 75 million pounds or more Initial Resource (not defined in the Letter Agreement) under the Australasian Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves; and

·     US$400,000 in cash and 400,000 fully paid ordinary shares in the Company for each Subsequent Resource of 6,500,000 pounds up to a maximum of US$4,000,000 in cash and 4,000,000 in fully paid ordinary shares.

 

The obligations to make the contingent consideration payments are held by the Company and the contingent consideration is only payable if the Initial Resource and Subsequent Resource are achieved within 10 years of the date of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement. Accordingly, the obligation to pay the contingent consideration expires on 15 October 2020.

 

There are no other contingent liabilities as at 31 December 2017.

Shareholders exercised 8,045,833 options over ordinary shares during the course of February 2017 with an exercise price of between 2.0 and 2.5 cents per option over ordinary share. The proceeds from the exercise of options over ordinary shares total $190,917 and will be dedicated to the advancement of the Company's gold projects in Mauritanian.

COUNTRY

NO

 

NAME

DATE OF GRANT

EXPI

SQ KMS

HOLDER

EQUITY INTEREST

Mauritania

561

Oum Ferkik

16-Apr-08

20-Nov-17

60

Aura Energy Limited

100%


563

Oued El Foule Est

16-Apr-08

24-Mar-18

313

Aura Energy Limited

100%


564

Ain Sder

16-Apr-08

09-Jun-18

330

Aura Energy Limited

100%


1482

Oum Ferkik Sud

17-Jan-17

17-Jan-20

476

Aura Energy Limited

100%


2002

Aguelet

17-Jan-17

17-Jan-20

100

Aura Energy Limited

100%


2365

Oued El Foule Sud

21-Dec-17

20-Dec-20

224

Aura Energy Limited

100%


2366

Agouyame

21-Dec-17

20-Dec-20

34

Aura Energy Limited

100%


2357

Hadeibet Beella

1-Mar-16

(Application)

41

TIMCO

100%


2458

Touerig Taet

1-Mar-16

(Application)

134

TIMCO

100%

Sweden

2007:243

Haggan nr 1

28-Aug-07

28-Aug-17

18.3

Aura Energy Sweden

100%


2009:23

Koborgsmyren

nr 1

23-Jan-09

23-Jan-19

5.4

Aura Energy Sweden

100%


2017:7

Skallbole nr 1

20-Jan-16

20-Jan-19

7.8

Aura Energy Sweden

100%


2017:9

Mockelasen nr 1

21-Jan-16

21-Jan-19

17.6

Aura Energy Sweden

100%

100PPM U3O8 CUT-OFF

TONNES (MT)

GRADE

MLBS U3O8

Indicated

2

300

2

Inferred

64

335

47

Total

66

334

49

100PPM U3O8 CUT-OFF

TONNES (BT)

U3O8 (PPM)

MO (PPM)

V (PPM)

NI (PPM)

ZN (PPM)

Inferred

2.35

155

207

1,519

316

431

Uranium                                  803 Million/pounds

Nickel                                       1,640 Million/pounds

Zinc                                           2,230 Million/pounds

Molybdenum                           1,070 Million/pounds


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
IR EQLBFVXFLBBQ
UK 100

Latest directors dealings