Final Results
Persian Gold PLC
27 June 2007
Persian Gold plc
Preliminary Results for the year ended 31 December 2006
Persian Gold plc, the AIM listed minerals explorer focused on Gold and Iran
(AIM:PNG), is pleased to announce Preliminary Results for the year ended 31
December 2006.
Highlights
• Significant progress made on evaluating the Chah-e-Zard gold discovery in
Iran.
• A second round of drilling and trenching will commence in weeks on
Chah-e-Zard.
• Discussions are at an advanced stage to acquire a majority interest in a
gold/porphyry late stage exploration project in Central Iran.
• Early stage prospecting has identified a gold in silica - alunite prospect
in North Western Iran. Persian Gold is negotiating a concession on the
area.
John Teeling, Executive Chairman of Persian Gold, Commented:
'We continue to make good progress in Iran. As one of the few companies
exploring in a highly prospective country we see a flow of projects. We are
building a portfolio of gold interests stretching from early to advanced stage
exploration. The potential is good.'
27th June 2007
For further information please contact
Persian Gold PLC
John Teeling, Executive Chairman +35318332833
College Hill
Paddy Blewer +44 (0) 20 7457 2020
Nick Elwes
Blue Oar Securities Plc
John Wakefield +44 (0) 1179 330 020
Chairman's Statement
The past year has seen solid progress in Iran. We drilled our Chah-e-Zard gold
property and recovered gold in thirteen of the sixteen holes. Three of the
holes produced particularly good results. The coming months will see a second
phase of drilling and trenching on the ground as we attempt to zero-in on a
commercial gold deposit. Our activities in Takestan, northwestern Iran, were
curtailed while we sought trenching and drilling permits but in the interim, we
evaluated a series of potential gold and precious metals projects. Some of
these have promise and I expect to be able to report on them in the near future.
Let me refresh your memory as to why we explore in Iran. The central volcanic
mineral belt of Iran is one of the last places on earth with the potential to
produce large multi-million ounce gold deposits. Exploration in Turkey and
Azerbaijan to the northwest and in Pakistan to the southeast has discovered new
large gold occurrences. Over the past 28 years, there has been little
exploration in Iran. World-class companies such as Rio Tinto, Anglo American
and BHP were active but they only covered a small area of the 2000 km x 100 km
belt, two thirds of which is desert. These companies have all but exited the
country.
In 2003 Persian Gold was established to prospect for large scale low grade '
Yanacocha type' gold deposits. Our first target was, and remains the one
billion ton alunite deposit in northwestern Iran. We currently hold four
licences covering 160 sq kms in the area. The work is early stage prospecting.
Our presence in Iran attracted other projects in Iran. The first project we
accepted was in Chah-e-Zard, about 350 kms south of Tehran near the city of
Yazd. We joint ventured the property with the local concession holder on a 70/
30 option basis where Persian Gold paid 100% of all costs up to Bankable
Feasibility Study. We undertook detailed sampling which outlined an anomalous
gold deposit of 1.25 km x 0.75 km. We trenched to estimate consistency across
the deposit and drilled to identify the depth of the deposit. We subsequently
tested the drill core to estimate the depth of the oxide and mixed oxide/
sulphide zone. The latter test estimated the suitability of the ore for large
scale heap leaching.
As the review of operations below shows, the overall results were positive.
While there was widespread gold the overall grade was below 1 gram per tonne (g/
t). The southwest section of the anomaly does contain good grades. Shallow
drilling and more trenching will be carried out in this area in the coming
months. We have re-negotiated the joint venture with our partner. The new
agreement involves no cash commitment until a decision to mine is made after
which Persian Gold will pay the first $6m of our partners' capital expenditure
on the mine. The percentage ownership remains 70/30 Persian Gold.
Other Projects:
We continue to evaluate other gold opportunities that have been offered to the
company. Currently we are analysing:
• A porphyry gold/copper project south of Tehran.
• A porphyry gold/copper project in northeast Iran.
• A volcanic hosted alunite gold project in northwest Iran.
We anticipate acquiring at least two of these projects. The first project is
similar to our Chah-e-Zard venture in that it is at an advanced stage. Earlier
work done by a multinational identified a significant zone of gold. Persian
Gold has sampled the ground and awaits results. If the results replicate the
earlier findings, we will endeavour to complete a deal with the concession
holder.
We have identified a large area in the northwest of Iran where soil sampling
some decades ago indicated a significant gold bearing anomaly. This area
contains significant quantities of silica-alunite. We are in discussions with
the relevant people to obtain a license over the area.
Operating in Iran
There is widespread ignorance and uncertainty about operating in Iran. The
country is very large (1.65m sq. kms) with a population of over 70 million
people. Tehran, the capital, has 14 million people. Infrastructure is
extremely good with plentiful power and transport links. People are well
educated with experienced geologists, engineers and miners available. The rule
of law operates while the terms for prospecting and exploration are clear.
Are there negatives? Certainly. Two thirds of the country is desert so water
can be a problem. We ship water by tanker to the drilling sites at Chah-e-Zard.
In the northern mountainous region snow is a problem in winter. There is an
extensive bureaucracy which takes time to navigate. Finding experienced
commercial managers is difficult. But explorers must go where discoveries can
be made. Iran is likely to contain many gold zinc copper and other deposits.
The trick is to find them.
Future
With some of the largest natural resource deposits in the world Iran is the
place to be for explorers. Persian Gold is building a team of professionals
both inside and outside Iran who can find, evaluate and analyse opportunities in
gold. The Chah-e-Zard project has real near term potential to become a
commercial gold mine. The Takestan, Zaajkan and Mashroom licences are at an
earlier stage of exploration but potential still exists. The new projects under
evaluation are exciting.
We believe that we are the only junior Western mining company currently active
in Iran. As such, we have an early mover advantage. The authorities are
welcoming and facilitating. The opportunities are there. It is up to us to grab
them.
John Teeling,
Chairman
27th June 2007
CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2006
2006 2005
£ £
TURNOVER - -
Cost of sales - -
GROSS PROFIT - -
Cost of admission to AIM - (100,474)
Administrative expenses (310,321) (75,343)
OPERATING LOSS - continuing operations (310,321) (175,817)
Interest receivable and similar income 25,057 14,395
Interest payable and similar charges (1,008) (782)
LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES
BEFORE TAXATION (286,272) (162,204)
Tax on loss on ordinary activities - -
LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES AFTER
TAXATION FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR (286,272) (162,204)
LOSS PER SHARE (0.51p) (0.30p)
LOSS PER SHARE - diluted (0.51p) (0.30p)
The group has no recognised gains or losses other than those disclosed in the
profit and loss account for the year. The results arise from continuing
activities.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2006
2006 2005
£ £
FIXED ASSETS
Intangible assets 819,203 258,606
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 3,529 3,283
Cash at bank 309,260 924,878
312,789 928,161
CREDITORS:
(Amounts falling due within one year) (199,855) (25,346)
NET CURRENT ASSETS 112,934 902,815
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 932,137 1,161,421
CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Called-up share capital 139,507 139,482
Share premium 1,246,034 1,244,359
Profit and loss account - (deficit) (508,692) (222,420)
Share based remuneration reserve 55,288 -
SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS - ALL EQUITY 932,137 1,161,421
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2006
2006 2005
£ £
NET CASH OUTFLOW FROM
OPERATING ACTIVITIES (136,057) (173,752)
RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS AND
SERVICING OF FINANCE
Interest paid and similar charges (1,008) (782)
Interest received and similar income 25,057 14,395
NET CASH INFLOW FROM
RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS
AND SERVICING OF FINANCE 24,049 13,613
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND
FINANCIAL INVESTMENT (112,008) (160,139)
Payments to acquire intangible assets (505,310) (177,187)
NET CASH OUTFLOW BEFORE FINANCING (617,318) (337,326)
FINANCING:
Issue of ordinary share capital for cash (net of expenses) 1,700 992,521
NET CASH INFLOW FROM FINANCING 1,700 992,521
(DECREASE)/INCREASE IN CASH (615,618) 655,195
Note:
1. The results set out above are not full accounts as defined in S.254 of the
Companies Act 1985. The auditors have made an unqualified non-standard
report on the accounts for each of the years ended 31 December 2005 and 2006
under S.236 of the Companies Act 1985 which have been and will be filed with
the registrar of Companies.
2. A copy of this announcement will be available at the offices of the Company
20 - 22 Bedford Row, London, WC1R 4J5 for 14 days from the date of this
announcement.
www.persiangoldplc.com
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