Final Results
Shanta Gold
Limited
("Shanta" or the "Company")
Results for the year to 31 December 2007
The Board of Shanta is pleased to announce its audited results for
the year ended 31 December 2007.
The preliminary audited results as this announcement are an abridged
version.
Chairman's address to shareholders
The company focused prominently on the discovery of a major
greenstone belt in the Singida project area. Major geological
discoveries of this size are rare, and for an exploration company
like ours, which has been active in the area for only three years,
this is a significant event in its life to date.
Singida therefore remains the primary focus of our activities in
Tanzania, where we have made further progress in proving up a
significant resource base with the completion, in the second quarter
of the 2007 financial year, of a resource estimate in terms of JORC
guidelines.
The total gold resource is estimated in excess of 543,000 ounces, of
which 330,000 ounces have been classified as measured and 127,000
ounces as an indicated resource (at a 0g/t cutoff). With the average
grade estimated at 1.42g/t, this approximates to a cost of
exploration of around $26 per resource ounce.
At the Chunya property in southern Tanzania, we have targeted three
areas on the property. Samples provided by an initial 3,000 metre
reverse circulation drilling programme confirm significant gold
mineralization. A fourth target is to be drilled during the course
of this year together with second phase drilling on the other target
areas. Three PMLs (Primary Mining Licenses), which fall within the
Chunya-Saza Prospecting License, were acquired by a joint venture
partner during the year, giving SMCL the right to exploit the full
property.
In our admission document an estimated resource of 741,000 ounces was
reported at the Mgusu project. Following the discovery of the
aforementioned greenstone deposit at Singida, company resources were
diverted from Mgusu to Singida. Access to Mgusu has been delayed
owing to the militant stance of artisanal miners currently operating
on our property. Their grievances stem from a claim against the
vendors of the property to SMCL. A court ruling made on 23 February
2008 in favour of the vendors leaves Shanta Mining Company Limited
(SMCL) with the option of removing the artisanal miners by legal
means. In the meantime, the company is working towards an amicable
solution between the vendors and artisanal miners to provide us
access in order to carry out the budgeted work on the property.
Our efforts in the past year have focused strongly on the proving up
of resources, and as the results become available, to report these to
the market and to our shareholders. In the interests of objectivity,
accountability and governance, we continue also to make use of world
class experts in endorsing the results of our work, and adding
integrity to the geological results.
It is my view, and that of the company, that perhaps the market has
not rewarded us adequately for the extensive work we have done and
the results we have reported in Tanzania, particularly when taking
into account the well-known prospectivity of the region, the
sustained investor-friendly climate, combined with a historic gold
price high at levels which have not been seen for more than 30 years.
This said however, a number of shareholders, altogether 61.17% of
shareholders exercised their warrants, indicating confidence in the
prospects of the company and providing the cash resources to continue
the ongoing exploration at selected projects within our property
portfolio. We have allocated an amount of $8.09m to be expensed
during the course of 2008 on ongoing geological work in Tanzania, of
which $5.02m will be spent on drilling, trenching and similar ground
based activities, $1.29m on analysis related to this work and $1.78m
on administrative and other activities. Excluding apportioned labour,
the anticipated spend is mainly allocated to the following projects:
¿ At Singida mechanized trenching has already begun, in
order to identify and delineate strike extensions to zones of known
mineralization and to generate future drill targets. A total of
$2.96m has been allocated to Singida.
¿ Chunya projects will be further explored through
additional drilling and airborne studies with a budget of $1.29m for
the year.
¿ Subject to our ability to access Mgusu, exploration
expenditure is estimated at $1.06m through additional drilling.
¿ The Songea project, like Mgusu, was subject to limited
geological work during the past year. We are planning to spend $0.29m
mainly on a regional heliborne magnetic survey covering the property
during 2008, which will provide us with baseline data and assist in
the development of targets.
We wish to reassure shareholders that our exploration activities are
focused on developing an inferred resource, and thereby moving the
company up the value curve. However, given the extent of our
holdings and the resources available, we are not always able to
develop all prospects at the same rate.
As exploration activities may not always be successful, expenditure
budgeted for the year may be curtailed where exploration results
indicate this to be the appropriate course of action. However,
assuming positive results from the drilling programme, the company
should have approximately $4.35m in cash on completion of the
proposed activities. This will provide a reserve to enable the
company to take appropriate strategic action to address funding
requirements or such other decisions as may be appropriate.
Shareholders' attention is drawn to the emphasis of matter in the
Auditors' Report and the going concern disclosures in note 4 to the
financial statements.
On behalf of my colleagues on the board I would like to thank Richard
Jonah for his contribution to the company. Richard resigned from the
board in September last year, to pursue other interests. In
addition, as at 10 March 2008, Richard Shead has resigned as Chief
Executive Officer and as a director. Richard has contributed
significantly to the development of the company since his appointment
and his efforts are much appreciated. On the other hand I must
welcome Mike Wuth and David Scott, who were appointed in November
2007. Both these gentlemen are qualified geologists and bring
considerable experience, particularly in Africa, to the board of your
company.
It has to be said that the heart of any exploration company lies in
the expertise, effort and skills of our exploration teams and staff
on the ground. My sincere gratitude goes to those who have worked
relentlessly in the best interests of the company.
Financial Results
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| | CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT |
|-----------------+-------------------------------------------------|
| Year ended 31 | | Year ended 31 |
| December 2006 | | December 2007 |
| US$000 | | US$000 |
|-----------------+------------------------------+------------------|
| - | Revenue | - |
|-----------------+------------------------------+------------------|
| - | Cost of sales | - |
|-----------------+------------------------------+------------------|
| - | Gross profit | - |
|-----------------+------------------------------+------------------|
| 2 | Other operating income | - |
|-----------------+------------------------------+------------------|
| (2 332) | Administration expenses | (2028) |
|-----------------+------------------------------+------------------|
| (7395) | Exploration costs | (3568) |
|-----------------+------------------------------+------------------|
| (9725) | Operating loss | (5596) |
|-----------------+------------------------------+------------------|
| 455 | Finance income | 660 |
|-----------------+------------------------------+------------------|
| (9270) | Loss before taxation | (4936) |
|-----------------+------------------------------+------------------|
| - | Taxation | - |
|-----------------+------------------------------+------------------|
| (9270) | Loss for the year | (4936) |
|-----------------+------------------------------+------------------|
| | | |
|-----------------+------------------------------+------------------|
| 12.27 | Basic loss per share (US | 5.02 |
| | cents) 1 | |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1. Based on 98 633 224 weighted average shares in issue (2006 -75 |
| 531 028) |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| | CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET |
|--------------------+----------------------------------------------|
| At 31 December | | At 31 December |
| 2006 | | 2007 |
| US$000 | | US$000 |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| | Assets | |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| | Non current assets | |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 3318 | Goodwill | 3318 |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 1431 | Intangible assets | 1446 |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 359 | Plant and equipment | 444 |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 5108 | | 5208 |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| | Current assets | |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 289 | Trade and other | 315 |
| | receivables | |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 15546 | Cash and cash | 12392 |
| | equivalents | |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 15835 | | 12707 |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 20943 | Total assets | 17915 |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| | | |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| | Equity and liabilities | |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| | Equity | |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 17 | Share capital | 18 |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 29557 | Share premium | 31715 |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 1148 | Share option reserve | 1384 |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 306 | Warrant reserve | 306 |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 400 | Translation reserve | 400 |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| (11798) | Retained earnings | (16568) |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 19630 | | 17255 |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| | | |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| | Non current liabilities | |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 340 | Loans from related | - |
| | parties | |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| | Current liabilities | |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 973 | Trade and other payables | 324 |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| - | Loans from related | 336 |
| | parties | |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 1313 | Total Liabilities | 660 |
|--------------------+--------------------------+-------------------|
| 20943 | Total equity and | 17915 |
| | liabilities | |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| | CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT | |
|-------------+---------------------------------------+-------------|
| Year ended | | Year ended |
| 31 December | | 31 December |
| 2006 | | 2007 |
| US$000 | | US$000 |
|-------------+---------------------------------------+-------------|
| (7680) | Net cash flows from operating | (4912) |
| | activities | |
|-------------+---------------------------------------+-------------|
| | Investing activities | |
|-------------+---------------------------------------+-------------|
| (312) | Purchase of plant and equipment | (249) |
|-------------+---------------------------------------+-------------|
| (884) | Purchase of intangible assets | (159) |
|-------------+---------------------------------------+-------------|
| (1205) | Net cash flows from investing | (408) |
| | activities | |
|-------------+---------------------------------------+-------------|
| | Financing activities | |
|-------------+---------------------------------------+-------------|
| 19238 | Proceed from the issue of ordinary | 2159 |
| | share capital | |
|-------------+---------------------------------------+-------------|
| (47) | Share issue expenses | - |
|-------------+---------------------------------------+-------------|
| (168) | Loans repaid | (5) |
|-------------+---------------------------------------+-------------|
| 19023 | Net cash flows from financing | 2154 |
| | activities | |
|-------------+---------------------------------------+-------------|
| 10138 | Net (decrease)/increase in cash and | (3166) |
| | cash equivalents | |
|-------------+---------------------------------------+-------------|
| 5301 | Cash and equivalents at the beginning | 15546 |
| | of year | |
|-------------+---------------------------------------+-------------|
| 107 | Foreign exchange adjustment | 12 |
|-------------+---------------------------------------+-------------|
| 15546 | Cash and equivalents at the end of | 12392 |
| | year | |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY |
|For the year ended 31 December 2007 |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |Share |Share |Share |Warrant|Translation|Accumulated| |
| |Capital|Premium|Options|Reserve|Reserve |Loss |TOTAL |
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Total equity as at 31| | | | | | | |
|December 2005 |11 |10 009 |422 |672 |119 |(2528) |8705 |
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Exchange difference on| | | | |281 | | |
|translating foreign| | | | | | |281 |
|operations | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Net income recognised| | | | | | | |
|directly in equity | | | | |281 | |281 |
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Loss for the year | | | | | |(9270) |(9270)|
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Total recognised income and| | | | | | | |
|expenses | | | | |281 |(9270) |(8989)|
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Shares issued |6 |19231 | | | | |19237 |
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Shares issue costs | |(49) | | | | |(49) |
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Share Option costs | | |726 | | | |726 |
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Transfer on exercise of| | | | | | | |
|warrants | |366 | |(366) | | |- |
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Total equity as at 31| | | | | | | |
|December 2006 |17 |29557 |1148 |306 |400 |(11798) |19630 |
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Loss for the year | | | | | |(4936) |(4936)|
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Total recognised income and| | | | | | | |
|expenses | | | | | |(4936) |(4936)|
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Shares issued |1 |2158 | | | | |2159 |
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Share Option costs | | |402 | | | |402 |
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Share Option expired | | |(166) | | |166 |- |
|---------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-----------+------|
|Total equity as at 31| | | | | | | |
|December 2007 |18 |31715 |1384 |306 |400 |(16568) |17255 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Notes to the financial statements at 31 December 2007
1. Accounting Policies
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with
International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").
2. Statutory Accounts
The financial information set out in this preliminary announcement
does not constitute statutory accounts. The figures included in the
above statements are an abridged version of Shanta's audited results
for the year ended 31 December 2007.
As exploration activities may not always be successful, expenditure
budgeted for the year may be curtailed where exploration results
indicate this to be the appropriate course of action. However,
assuming positive results from the drilling programme, the company
should have approximately $4.35m in cash on completion of the
proposed activities. This will provide a reserve to enable the
company to take appropriate strategic action to address funding
requirements or such other decisions as may be appropriate.
Shareholders' attention is drawn to the emphasis of matter in the
Auditors' Report and the going concern disclosures in note 4 to the
financial statements in the annual report and accounts for the year
ended 31 December 2007. The auditors' opinion was not qualified in
this respect.
Annual Report
The Annual Report will be sent to shareholders following this
announcement. Additional copies will be available to the public, free
of charge, from the Company's registered office at Suite A, St Peter
Port House, Sausmarez St, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 2PU.
Annual General Meeting
The Company's Annual General Meeting will be held on 15 May 2008 at
14.00 at the offices at Suite A, St Peter Port House, Sausmarez St,
St Peter Port, Guernsey.
Enquiries.
Shanta Gold Limited
WE Vorwerk +27 83 308 0080
GMP Europe LLC
James Hannon
Tel +44 (0) 20 7647 2803
Panmure Gordon
Edward Farmer
+44 (0) 20 7614 8384
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