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Strategic Minerals PLC

Strategic Minerals - Interim Results - Half Year to 30 June 2019

RNS Number : 1693O
Strategic Minerals PLC
30 September 2019
 

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement.

 

30 September 2019

 

Strategic Minerals plc

("Strategic Minerals", "SML", the "Group" or the "Company")

Interim Results - Half Year to 30 June 2019

 

Strategic Minerals plc (AIM: SML; USOTC: SMCDY),  a producing mineral company actively developing projects prospective for battery materials, is pleased to announce its unaudited interim results for the half year ended 30 June 2018.

 

Financial Highlights:

·     Accounting after tax loss of US$1,182,000 (H1 2018 profit of US$2,406,000). Cash after tax loss of US$256,000 (H1 2018 profit of US$35,000).

·     Pre-tax profit of US$675,000 (H1 2018: US$1,246,000) from the Company's Cobre operation, prior to intercompany management charges, continues to underpin corporate cash flow. The contracted profit level reflects the impact of the major Cobre client suspending shipments and maintenance works conducted at other client operations.  While sales from other clients have begun to rebound, it is not anticipated that the major client will resume taking shipments and the Company has initiated legal proceedings against the major client. In line with anticipated lower sales levels, cost reduction measures have been implemented in the second half of 2019.

·      Directors exercised 17.5m options (John Peters, 16m and Alan Broome, 1.5m) and acquired further stock in the company.

·     Investment of US$39,784 into Cornwall Resources Limited ("CRL"), the owner of the Redmoor Tin-Tungsten project.

·     Issue of 2,866,730 SML shares, in March 2019, at a deemed price of 1.9067 pence per share as part payment for the acquisition of Leigh Creek Copper Mine Pty Ltd ("Leigh Creek" or "LCCM").

·     In September 2019, the Board of SML undertook a review of the CARE tenements and those at Hanns Camp.  In light of this review, the Company is considering exiting its involvement and, in anticipation of this, an impairment of US$760,000 has been included in the six month period to 30 June 2019.

·     In June 2019, the Company undertook an equity fundraising that saw it issue 63,571,425 shares at 1.40 pence per share and netting US$1,059,000. Only US$91,000 of this amount was received prior to 30 June 2019 with the balance, US$968,000, received post 30 June 2019.

·     Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents at 30 June 2019 were US$319,000 (31 Dec 2018: US$1,988,000).  The reduction in cash balances reflects the lower than expected cash flows from Cobre and the cost of re-commencing operations at Leigh Creek.

 

 

 

Corporate Highlights:

·     Leigh Creek successfully brought back into production, involving:

retreatment of leach pads;

US$1,834,000 spent on refurbishment of plant, testing and preparing the site for full time operations; and

activation of the off-take agreement.

·     Entering into contracts for the acquisition of the balance of the Redmoor Tin-Tungsten project.  This was subsequently settled on 25 July 2019.

·     Access to the Cobre magnetite stockpile was rolled over in mid-January ahead of the normal roll over at the end of February.

·     Redmoor scoping study update completed indicating NPV (@8%) of US $94m, IRR 19.4% Life of Mine Operating Margin 46% and payback in less than 4 years.

 

Commenting, John Peters, Managing Director of Strategic Minerals, said:

"The first half of 2019 has offered some challenges, with the major client at Cobre suspending payments, affecting cash reserves.  However, the Company has shown resilience and remains on track to deliver the Board's strategy.

"During the period, significant investment has been made in restarting treatment of leach pads at Leigh Creek Copper Mine.  This was critical in demonstrating the Company's ability to resurrect operations ahead of expected government approval to mine the larger Paltridge North deposit.  Additionally, funding which was originally allocated for exploration of the Hanns Camp site, that has not proved as prospective for nickel sulphide as expected, has now been redirected towards the development of Leigh Creek.

"Also during the period, the Company entered into arrangements to acquire the balance of the Redmoor Tin-Tungsten project.  Full ownership of Redmoor will allow SML to gain control on project timing and investment in this potentially world class mining opportunity.

"The Board has been mindful of the change in expected cash flow and has been putting into place strategies to provide for continuity of progress on the Company's key projects.  It is expected that the working capital position will be addressed in 2020 once regular sales commence at Leigh Creek.  In the meanwhile, the Board continues to exercise strict financial and technical discipline.  Furthermore, the Company now believes that it has consolidated three excellent operating/near-operating/brownfields projects, all likely to significantly add to the Companies perceived net value."

 

For further information, please contact:

 

 

 

Strategic Minerals plc

+61 (0) 414 727 965

John Peters

 

Managing Director

 

Website:

www.strategicminerals.net

Email:

info@strategicminerals.net

 

 

Follow Strategic Minerals on:

 

Vox Markets:

https://www.voxmarkets.co.uk/company/SML/

Twitter:

@SML_Minerals

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategic-minerals-plc

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=strategic%20minerals%20plc

     
 

 

 

 

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP

+44 (0) 20 3470 0470

Nominated Adviser and Broker

 

Ewan Leggat

 

Lindsay Mair

 

Stephen Wong

 

 

Notes to Editors

Strategic Minerals plc is an AIM-quoted, operating minerals company actively developing projects prospective for battery materials. It has an operation in the United States of America and Australia along with development projects in the UK and Australia. The Company is focused on utilising its operating cash flows, along with capital raisings, to develop high quality projects aimed at supplying the metals and minerals being sought in the burgeoning electric vehicle/battery market.

In September 2011, Strategic Minerals acquired the distribution rights to the Cobre magnetite tailings dam project in New Mexico, USA, a cash-generating asset, which it brought into production in 2012 and which continues to provide a revenue stream for the Company. This operating revenue stream is utilised to cover company overheads and invest in development projects orientated to supplying the burgeoning electric vehicle/battery market.

In January 2016, the portfolio was expanded with the acquisition of shares in Central Australian Rare Earths Pty Ltd, which holds tenements in Western Australia prospective for cobalt, nickel sulphides and rare earth elements. The Company has since acquired all shares in Central Australian Rare Earths Pty Ltd. In September 2018, the Company entered contracts for the sale of certain CARE tenements identified as gold targets.

In May 2016, the Company entered into an agreement with New Age Exploration Limited and, in February 2017, acquired 50% of the Redmoor Tin-Tungsten project in Cornwall, UK. The bulk of the funds from the Company's investment were utilised to complete a drilling programme that year. The drilling programme resulted in a significant upgrade of the resource. This was followed in 2018 with a 12-hole 2018 drilling programme has now been completed and the resource update that resulted was announced in February 2019. In March 2019, the Company entered into arrangements to acquire the balance of the Redmoor Tin-Tungsten project in Cornwall. This was completed on 24 July 2019

In March 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of the Leigh Creek Copper Mine situated in the copper rich belt of South Australia and brought the project into limited production in April 2019, with full production expected in 2020.

 

 

Chairman's Statement

I am satisfied with the Company's achievements, in what has been a particularly challenging period.

Financial results

The results for the first half of 2019 reflect a tougher stage of development for the Company, as difficulties with our major client at Cobre emerged and projects took longer to develop.  It is not expected that these conditions will change dramatically over the remainder of 2019.  However, despite these obstacles, I am confident in the ability of the Board and management team to deliver the Company's strategy.  In 2020, the Company expects cash flow and profitability to improve dramatically, as full scale production commences at Leigh Creek Copper Mine.

As at 30 June 2019, unrestricted cash on hand was US$319,000, prior to the receipt of a further US$968,000 from the late June equity raise.  In the interests of preserving cash and ensuring that each of our projects are appropriately funded, the Board has been actively developing a capital plan and allocation policy to move the Company forward.

Operating profit of US$675,000 from the Cobre magnetite stockpile, prior to intercompany management fees, marked a significant decrease from the first half of 2018 (US$1,246,000) and reflected the drop in sales volumes associated with Cobre's major client not purchasing product in accordance with its contract.

Corporate overheads of US$1,211,000 were down on the same period last year (H1 2018 US$1,386,000) and the Board has implemented a series of cost-reduction initiatives in light of reduced sales at Cobre.

 

Strategic Focus

The continued profitability of the Cobre operations, even without the sales associated with the major client, provides comfort in relation to coverage of operating costs and allowed the Company to continue its three-pronged approach to diversified materials concentrating on:

1.         Coal and Bulk Materials- potential projects in this sector that are tied to current contracts and further offtake arrangements at attractive prices.

2.         Advanced Materials- considering project opportunities in materials where it expects demand to increase over the coming years (such as Rare Earths, Lithium and Graphite).

3.         Metals- identifying those projects exposed to metals that it expects to have price improvements over the next three to five years such as Cobalt, Nickel, Gold, Copper and Tin/Tungsten.

On the back of this strategy, the Company continues to invest in development programmes, particularly those associated with Leigh Creek Copper Mine (copper) and Redmoor (tin/tungsten/copper focused).

 

Cobre Operations

During 2018, the major client at Cobre ceased taking material and entered into arrangements that compensated the Company in lieu of delivery.  However, in 2019, the Company has received no payment from the client and is currently undertaking legal recourse.

The first half of the year's sales at Cobre were also impacted by plant maintenance works by a further two clients, although this now appears to have been cleared and non-major client sales now appear to have been restored to previous levels.

 

Leigh Creek Copper Mine

Significant resources have been funnelled into testing and preparing the site for full scale operation.  The restarting of the heaps, while not providing the flow of copper hoped for, was a strategically important occurrence. It demonstrated the ability of the existing plant to treat the planned production from the Paltridge North Deposit with the Company seeking to develop this project in 2020.

In preparing to fund this production, the Company has entered discussions with various funding sources and is confident that 2020 will see full scale production commence at Leigh Creek.

 

 

 

Redmoor Tin-Tungsten Project

2018 saw a full drilling program and a substantial increase in the inferred resource base.  In this half year, a scoping/mining plan study was completed which highlighted how potentially lucrative the project could be.

With this in mind, the Company negotiated to acquire the other half of the project, with completion taking place in July 2019.  Control of the full project places the Company in an ideal position to direct the timing and funding of the Redmoor Tin-Tungsten project.

 

CARE

During the first half of 2019, development at Hanns Camp was minimised to ensure availability of cash for the Leigh Creek Copper Mine project.

After further desktop review, the suspected nickel sulphide anomalies do not appear as strong as thought and the Company has taken a conservative approach in these financials and written down the value of the Hanns Camp tenements.

 

Issue of Capital

During the half year, the Company issued a total of 63,571,425 shares at 1.40 pence per share and netting US$1,059,000.
 

Safety

The Company continues to maintain a high level of safety performance with SML and its subsidiaries having no reportable environmental or personnel incidents recorded in the period.

 

This year marks a pace change for the organisation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow Directors, our management and staff in New Mexico, South Australia, Cornwall and Western Australia, along with our advisers, for their support and hard work on our behalf during the period. Additionally, I would like to thank our clients, contractors, suppliers and partners for their continued backing. I look forward to further progressing our key strategic goals in 2020.

 

Alan Broome AM

Non-Executive Chairman

30 September 2019

 

 

STRATEGIC MINERALS PLC

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 months to

6 months to

Year to

 

30 June

30 June

31 December

 

2019

2018

2018

 

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

 

$'000

$'000

$'000

Continuing operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

1,395

2,120

3,355

Cost of sales

(229)

(391)

(650)

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

1,166

1,729

2,705

 

 

 

 

Bargain purchase gain on LCCM Acquisition

-

2,464

2,162

 

 

 

 

Administrative expenses

(1,211)

(1,386)

(2,569)

Depreciation

(19)

(36)

(64)

Share based payment

(163)

(92)

(268)

Share of net losses of associates and joint ventures

(38)

1

(27)

Profit on financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss

1

-

-

Impairment charge

(760)

-

-

Foreign exchange gain/(loss)

(2)

7

(6)

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

(Loss)/ profit from operations

(1,026)

2,687

1,933

 

 

 

 

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

(Loss)/ profit before taxation

(1,026)

2,687

1,933

 

 

 

 

Income tax (expense)/credit

(156)

(281)

(460)

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) for the period

(1,182)

2,406

1,473

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

Exchange gains/(losses) arising on translation

of foreign operations

(62)

(93)

(685)

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive (loss)/ Income

(1,244)

2,313

788

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

(Loss)/ profit  for the period attributable to:

 

 

 

Owners of the parent

(1,244)

2,313

788

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to:

 

 

 

Owners of the parent

(1,244)

2,313

788

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

(Loss)/ profit  per share attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the parent:

$

$

$

Continuing activities - Basic

(0.08)

0.19

0.11

                                    -- Diluted

(0.08)

0.17

0.11

 

STRATEGIC MINERALS PLC

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

AS AT 30 JUNE 2019

 

 

 

30 June

30 June

31 December

 

 

 

2019

2018

2018

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

 

 

 

$'000

$'000

$'000

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible Asset

562

-

564

 

 

Deferred Exploration and evaluation costs

342

6,174

1,037

 

 

Other Receivables

140

111

141

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

7,026

295

5,170

 

 

Investments in joint ventures- equity accounted

2,264

1,755

2,248

 

 

Restricted cash

-

100

100

 

 

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

10,334

8,435

9,260

 

 

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Inventories

7

3

4

 

 

Financial Assets held at fair value through profit and loss

21

-

20

 

 

Trade and other receivables

1,302

1,204

285

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

319

1,988

1,840

 

 

Prepayments

119

81

32

 

 

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

1,768

3,276

2,181

 

 

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

12,102

11,711

11,441

 

 

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity and liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Share capital

2,202

2,087

2,095

 

 

Share premium reserve

48,454

47,118

47,205

 

 

Merger reserve

20,240

20,240

20,240

 

 

Foreign exchange reserve

(956)

(302)

(894)

 

 

Share options reserve

431

(29)

330

 

 

Other reserves

(23,023)

(23,023)

(23,023)

 

 

Accumulated loss

(37,752)

(35,515)

(36,632)

 

 

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

Total Equity

9,596

10,576

9,321

 

 

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for Mining Royalties

435

-

435

 

 

Environmental Liability

361

-

361

 

 

 

 

________

 

        ________

 

 

 

 

796

-

796

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Consideration

-

74

70

 

 

Trade and other payables

1,029

356

354

 

 

Environmental Liability

-

111

-

 

 

Deferred revenue

525

594

900

 

 

Income Tax Payable

156

-

-

 

 

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

1,710

1,135

1,324

 

 

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

Total Liabilities

2,506

1,135

2,120

 

 

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Equity and Liabilities

12,102

11,711

11,441

 

          ________ ________ ________  

 

 

STRATEGIC MINERALS PLC

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 19

 

 

 

 

 

6 months to

6 months to

Year to

 

30 June

30 June

31 December

 

2019

2018

2018

 

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

 

$'000

$'000

$'000

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss)/profit after tax

(1,182)

2,406

1,473

Adjustments for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bargain purchase of Leigh Creek Copper Mine Pty Ltd

-

(2,464)

(2,162)

Loss on sale of tenements

-

-

245

Gain on financial assets held at fair value through profit and loss

(1)

-

12

Impairment charge

760

-

-

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

19

36

64

Share of net loss / (profit) losses from associates

38

(1)

27

Non Cash Director Remuneration

-

213

-

(Increase) / decrease in inventory

(3)

4

3

(Increase) / decrease in trade and other receivables

(50)

(193)

690

Increase / (decrease) in trade and other payables

251

(91)

119

(Increase) / decrease in prepayments

(87)

(69)

(20)

Increase /(decrease) in deferred revenue

(375)

594

900

(Decrease)/ Increase in income tax payable

156

(648)

(648)

Share based payment expense

163

92

268

 

_________

_________

_________

Net cash flows from operating activities

(311)

(121)

971

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

Investing activities

 

 

 

Acquisition of PPE Development Asset

-

-

(1,214)

Increase in PPE Development Asset

(1,212)

-

(797)

Increase in deferred exploration and evaluation

(91)

(1,443)

(237)

Sale of tenements

-

-

70

Investment in joint arrangements

(40)

(107)

(639)

Acquisition of PPE

(57)

(26)

-

 

_________

_________

_________

Net cash used in investing activities

(1,400)

(1,576)

(2,817)

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

Financing activities

 

 

 

Net proceeds from issue of equity share capital

91

-

-

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

Net cash from financing activities

91

-

-

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

(1,620)

(1,697)

(1,846)

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

1,840

3,706

3,706

Release of restricted cash

100

-

-

Exchange gains / (losses) on cash and cash equivalents

(1)

(21)

(20)

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

319

1,988

1,840

 

_________

_________

_________

 

 

STRATEGIC MINERALS PLC

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2019

 

 

 

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

     $'000

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

Balance at

1 January 2018 - audited

2,009

45,935

20,240

137

(23,023)

(209)

(38,180)

6,909

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

Gain/(Loss) for the period

-

-

-

-

-

-

1,473

1,473

Foreign exchange translation

-

-

-

-

-

(685)

-

(685)

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

Total comprehensive income for the year

-

-

-

-

-

(685)

1,473

788

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares issued in the year

86

1,270

-

-

-

-

-

1,356

Expenses of share issue

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Transfer

-

-

-

(75)

-

-

75

-

Share based payments

-

-

-

268

-

-

-

268

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

Balance at

31 December 2018- audited

2,095

47,205

20,240

330

(23,023)

(894)

(36,632)

9,321

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

Profit for the period

-

-

-

-

-

-

(1,182)

(1,182)

Foreign exchange translation

-

-

-

-

-

(62)

-

(62)

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income for the half year

-

-

-

-

-

(62)

(1,182)

(1,244)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares issued in the year

107

1,322

-

-

-

-

-

1,429

Expenses of share issue

-

(73)

-

-

-

-

-

(73)

Transfer

-

-

-

(62)

-

-

62

-

Share based payments

-

-

-

163

-

-

-

163

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

Balance at

30 June 2019 - Unaudited

2,202

48,454

20,240

431

(23,023)

(956)

(37,752)

9,596

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

 

 

All comprehensive income is attributable to the owners of the parent.

 

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements

 

STRATEGIC MINERALS PLC

 

NOTES FORMING PART OF THE CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2019

 

1.   General information

Strategic Minerals Plc ("the Company") is a public company incorporated in England and Wales.  The consolidated interim financial statements of the Company for the six months ended 30 June 2019 comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the "Group").

 

 

2.   Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

 

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared using policies based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS and IFRIC interpretations) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") as adopted for use in the EU. IAS 34 is not required to be adopted by the Company and has not been applied in the preparation of this interim information. The consolidated financial statements do not include all disclosures that would otherwise be required in a complete set of financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the 2018 Annual Report. The financial information for the half years ended 30 June 2019 and 30 June 2018 does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434(3) of the Companies Act 2006 and is unaudited.

 

The annual financial statements of Strategic Minerals Plc are prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. The comparative financial information for the year ended 31 December 2018 included within this report does not constitute the full statutory accounts for that period. The statutory Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2018 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The Independent Auditors' Report on that Annual Report and Financial Statement for 2018 was unqualified, and included an emphasis on matter paragraph regarding the Group's ability to continue as a going concern and did not contain a statement under 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

 

Going concern basis

These financial statements have been prepared on the assumption that the Group is a going concern.

When assessing the foreseeable future, the Directors have looked at the Group's working capital requirements for the period to October 2020 being the period for which projections have been prepared and the minimum period the Directors are required to consider.

The Directors have reviewed the Group's current cash resources, funding requirements and ongoing trading of the operations. As the Group has lost a key customer, the directors have been required to raise further funding through debt and cut the spending on the other group assets as appropriate.  As at the date of this report, there is no certainty regarding the group's ability to execute these transactions.  These conditions indicate the existence of material uncertainties which may cast significant doubt as to the Group and Company's ability to continue as a going concern. In the event that the Group is unable to raise sufficient funds, the Group may be unable to realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. The financial statements do not include the adjustments that would result if the Group and Company was unable to continue as a going concern.

The same accounting policies, presentation and methods of computation are followed in these condensed consolidated financial statements as were applied in the Group's latest annual audited financial statements except for policies stated below.

 

Joint arrangements

 

Under IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements, investments in joint arrangements are classified as either joint operations or joint ventures. The classification depends on the contractual rights and obligations of each investor, rather than the legal structure of the joint arrangement. Strategic Minerals Limited has one joint operation at 30 June 2019.

 

 

Joint operations

A joint operation is a joint arrangement whereby the parties have joint control of the arrangement have rights to the assets and obligations for the liabilities, relating to the arrangement. Strategic Minerals Plc recognises its direct right to the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the joint operations and its share of any jointly held or incurred assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses.

 

Joint Ventures

A joint venture is a joint arrangement whereby the parties that have joint control of the arrangement have the rights to the net assets of the joint arrangement. Interests in joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method, after initially being recognised at cost in the consolidated statement of financial position.

 

Business Combinations

Business Combinations occur where an acquirer obtains control over one or more businesses. A business combination is accounted for by applying the acquisition method unless it is a combination involving entities or businesses under common control. The business combination will be accounted for from the date that control is obtained, whereby the fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities (including contingent liabilities assumed) is recognised.

 

All transaction costs incurred in relation to business combinations, other than those associated with the issue of a financial instrument are recognised as expenses in profit and loss when incurred

 

The acquisition of a business may result in the recognition of goodwill or gain from a bargain purchase.

 

 

New, revised or amending accounting standards and interpretations

 

IASB has issued a number of IFRS and IFRIC amendments or interpretations since the last annual report was published. It is not expected that any of these will have a material impact on the Group.

 

IFRS "16 Leases" (effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019) requires lessees to use single on-balance sheet model and recognise all lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. Management have completed an internal review of existing leases and operating contracts. All existing arrangements are short-term in nature and as such have not been accounted for under IFRS 16. The adoption of IFRS 16 does not have an impact on the Group's financial statements.

 

 

3.   Critical accounting estimates and judgements

 

The Group makes certain estimates and assumptions regarding the future. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.  In the future, actual experience may differ from these estimates and assumptions.  The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below.

 

Judgements

 

(a)  Joint arrangement and joint operation

The Company holds a 50% interest in Cornwall Resources Limited ("CRL") which owns the Redmoor Tin-Tungsten project in the United Kingdom with the other shareholder being New Age Exploration Limited ("NAE").  Under the shareholders agreement with NAE, CRL is operated as a 50:50 joint venture with each party being entitled to appoint one Director. Based on this, the Group considers that they have joint control over the arrangement. Under IFRS 11, this joint arrangement is classified as a joint venture and has been included in the consolidated financial statements using the equity method.

 

 

 

Estimates and assumptions

 

 

(a)  Carrying value of intangible assets

 

In assessing the continuing carrying value of the exploration and evaluation costs carried the Company has made an estimation of the value of the underlying tenements and exploration licenses held.

 

(b)  Share based payments, warrants and options

 

The fair value of share-based payments recognised in the statement of comprehensive income is measured by use of the Black Scholes model after taking into account market based vesting conditions and conditions attached to the vesting and exercise of the equity instruments. The expected life used in the model is adjusted based on management's best estimate, for the effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations. The share price volatility percentage factor used in the calculation is based on management's best estimate of future share price behaviour based on past experience.

 

(c)  Carrying value of amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings

 

IFRS9 requires the parent company to make assumptions when implementing the forward- looking expected credit loss model. This model is required to be used to assess the intercompany loan receivables from its subsidiaries for impairment. Arriving at an expected credit loss allowance involved considering different scenarios for the recovery of the intercompany loan receivables, the possible credit losses that could arise and probabilities for these scenarios.

The following were considered; the exploration project risk, the future sales potential of product, value of potential reserves and the resulting expected economic outcomes of the project.

 

 

 

4.  Segment information

 

The Group has four main segments during the period:

·     Southern Minerals Group LLC (SMG) - This segment is involved in the sale of magnetite to both the US domestic market and historically transported magnetite to port for onward export sale. 

·     Head Office - This segment incurs all the administrative costs of central operations and finances the Group's operations.  A management fee is charged for completing this service and other certain services and expenses. The investment in the Redmoor project in Cornwall, United Kingdom is held by this segment.

·     Australia - This segment holds the Central Australian Rare Earths Pty Ltd tenements in Australia and incurs all related operating costs.

·     Development Asset - This segment holds the Leigh Creek Copper Mine Development Asset in Australia and incurs all related operating costs.

Factors that management used to identify the Group's reportable segments

The Group's reportable segments are strategic business units that carry out different functions and operations and operate in different jurisdictions.

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-maker. The chief operating decision maker has been identified as the board and management team which includes the Board and the Chief Financial Officer.

Measurement of operating segment profit or loss, assets and liabilities

The Group evaluates segmental performance on the basis of profit or loss from operations calculated in accordance with EU Adopted IFRS but excluding non-cash losses, such as the effects of share-based payments.

Segment assets exclude tax assets and assets used primarily for corporate purposes. Segment liabilities exclude tax liabilities. Loans and borrowings are allocated to the segments in which the borrowings are held. Details are provided in the reconciliation from segment assets and liabilities to the Group's statement of financial position.

 

6 Months to 30 June 2019 (Unaudited)

Head Office

SMG

Australia

Development Asset

Inter

Segment Elimination

Total

 

 

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

-

1,395

-

-

-

1,395

 

Cost of sales

-

(229)

-

-

-

(229)

 

 

_______

______

_______

_______

_______

_______

 

 

Gross Profit

-

1,166

-

-

-

1,166

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

-

(16)

(3)

-

-

(19)

 

Overhead expenses

(552)

(475)

(184)

-

-

(1,211)

 

Management fee

100

(100)

-

-

-

 

 

Impairment Charge

-

-

(760)

-

-

(760)

 

Share based expense

(163)

-

-

-

-

(163)

 

Write back of provisions

1,744

 

-

-

(1,744)

-

 

Equity accounting profit(loss)

(38)

-

-

-

-

(38)

 

Foreign Exchange

-

-

(2)

-

 

-

(2)

 

Gain on Shares available for resale

-

-

1

-

-

1

 

 

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

 

Segment profit/(loss) from operations

1,091

575

(948)

-

(1,744)

(1,026)

 

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

 

Segment profit/(loss) before taxation

1,091

575

(948)

-

(1,744)

(1,026)

 

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 Months to 30 June 2018 (Unaudited)

Head Office

SMG

Australia

UK

Inter

Segment

Elimination

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

2

2,118

-

-

-

2,120

Cost of sales

-

(391)

-

-

-

(391)

 

_______

______

_______

_______

_______

_______

 

Gross Profit

2

1,727

-

-

-

1,729

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income

-

-

2,464

-

-

2,464

Depreciation

-

(36)

-

-

-

(36)

Overhead expenses

(838)

(445)

(103)

-

-

(1,386)

Management fee

200

(200)

-

-

-

-

Share based expense

(92)

-

-

-

-

(92)

Write back of provisions

(379)

-

-

-

379

-

Equity accounting loss

1

-

-

-

-

1

Foreign Exchange

8

-

-

-

(1)

7

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

 

(1,098)

1,046

2,361

-

378

2,687

Segment profit/(loss) from operations

(1,098)

1,046

2,361

-

378

2,687

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

Segment profit/(loss) before taxation

(1,098)

1,046

2,361

-

-

2,687

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

 

 

Year to 31 December 2018(Audited)

Head

Office

SMG

Australia

Development

Asset

Intra

Segment

Elimination

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

3

3,350

2

-

-

3,355

 

Cost of sales

-

(650)

-

-

-

(650)

 

 

________

_______

________

________

________

________

 

 

Gross profit

3

2,700

2

-

-

2,705

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income

-

-

-

2,162

-

2162

 

Depreciation

-

(64)

-

-

-

(64)

 

Overhead expenses

(1,250)

(850)

(224)

-

-

(2,324)

 

Management fee

380

(380)

-

-

-

-

 

Loss on available for sale assets

-

-

(12)

-

-

(12)

 

Loss on sale of tenements

-

-

(245)

-

-

(245)

 

Share-based payments charge

(268)

-

-

-

-

(268)

 

(Loss)/ gain on intercompany loans

1,899

-

-

-

(1,899)

-

 

Share of net loss from associates

(27)

-

-

-

-

(27)

 

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

(149)

-

-

-

155

6

 

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

 

Segment profit / (loss) from operations

588

1406

(479)

 

2,162

(1,744)

1,933

 

 

________

________

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

As at 30 June 2019  (Unaudited)

Head Office

SMG

Development Asset

Australia

Total

 

 

$'000    

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

 

Additions to non-current assets (excluding deferred tax)

37

-

1,272

91

1,400

 

 

________

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reportable segment assets (excluding deferred tax)

3,324

579

5,849

2,350

12,102

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reportable segment liabilities

108

762

1,528

108

2,506

 

 

________

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Group Liabilities

 

 

 

 

2,506

 

 

 

 

 

 

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at 30 June 2018 (Unaudited)

Head Office

SMG

Development Asset

Australia

Total

 

 

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

 

Additions to non-current assets (excluding deferred tax)

107

-

-

1,469

1,576

 

 

________

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reportable segment assets (excluding deferred tax)

3,098

2053

-

6,560

11,711

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reportable segment liabilities

189

680

-

266

1,135

 

 

________

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Group Liabilities

 

 

 

 

1,135

 

 

 

 

 

 

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at 31 December 2018(Audited)

Head Office

SMG

Development Asset

Australia

Total

 

 

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additions to non-current assets (excluding deferred tax)

639

-

2,011

237

2,887

 

 

________

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reportable segment assets (excluding deferred tax)

2,576

1,511

5,722

1,632

11,441

 

 

________

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reportable segment liabilities

129

978

901

112

2,120

 

 

________

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Group liabilities

 

 

 

 

2,120

 

 

 

 

 

 

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

External revenue by
location of customers

Non-current assets
by location of assets

 

 

2019

2018

2019

2018

 

 

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

1,395

2,118

177

395

 

United Kingdom

-

2

2,264

1,755

 

Australia

-

-

7,893

6,285

 

 

_______

_______

_______

_______

 

 

1,395

2,120

10,334

8,435

 

 

_______

_______

_______

_______

 

Revenues from Customer A totalled $351,140 (2018: $362,051), which represented 25% (2018: 17%) of total domestic sales in the United States, Customer B totalled $563,945 (2018: $627,977) which represented 40% (2018: 30%) of total sales and Customer C totalled $375,000 (2018: $506,186) which represented 27% (2018: 24%).  There were no export sales in the year (2018: Nil).

 

5.

Operating loss

 

Administration costs by nature

 

 

6 months to

6 months to

Year to

 

 

30 June

30 June

31 December

 

 

2019

2018

2018

 

 

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

 

 

$'000

$'000

$'000

 

Operating gain/loss is stated after charging/(crediting):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directors' fees and emoluments

401

414

665

 

Depreciation

19

36

64

 

Equipment rental

145

130

248

 

Equipment maintenance

26

34

46

 

Share of net loss (profit) from joint operations

38

(1)

27

 

Auditors' remuneration

13

8

76

 

Salaries, wages and other staff related costs

274

276

514

 

Insurance

15

11

-

 

Legal, professional and consultancy fees

178

329

476

 

Loss on sale of tenements

-

-

245

 

Impairment charge

760

-

-

 

Loss (gain)on financial assets held at fair value through profit and loss

(1)

-

12

 

Travelling and related costs

51

69

95

 

Foreign exchange

2

(7)

(6)

 

Share based payments

163

92

268

 

Other expenses

108

126

204

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.

Intangible Assets

 

 

 

Exploration/

 

 

evaluation

 

 

costs

 

 

 

 

Cost

$'000

 

 

 

 

At 1 January 2018

1,242

 

Additions  to 30 June 2018*

4,932

 

 

 

 

At 30 June 2018 ( unaudited)

6,174

 

 

Reallocation to Development Asset*

(4,932)

Disposals

(347)

Additions in the year

Foreign exchange difference

237

(95)

 

 

At 31 December 2018 ( audited)

1,037

 

 

Additions to 30 June 2019

 91

Foreign exchange difference

(26)

Impairment Charge*

(760)

At 30 June 2019 (unaudited)

342

       

 

At 30 June 2019, the Group has raised an impairment assessment based on its decision to exit a number of CARE tenements.

 

7.

Investments in Associates

Investments

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

Cost

$'000

 

 

 

 

At 1 January 2019

        2,248

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of joint venture interests

 40

 

Share of equity  (loss)profit in joint ventures

(38)

 

Foreign exchange difference

14

 

 

 

 

As at 30 June 2019

2,264

 

On 25 July 2019, the Company settled the acquisition of New Age Exploration Limited's ("NAE") 50% holding in Cornwall Resources Ltd ("CRL"). Details of the settlement are included in Note 12.

 

 

8.  Property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Railway

Development

Plant and

 

 

 

infrastructure

Asset

Machinery

Total

 

Group

 

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

Cost

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 January 2018

 

3,498

-

199

3,697

Additions for period

 

-

-

190

190

Acquired in business combination

 

-

-

74

74

 

 

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 30 June 2018

 

3,498

-

463

3,961

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired in business combination

 

-

4,559

-

4,559

Additions

 

-

797

-

797

Disposals

 

(3,498)

-

-

(3,498)

Foreign exchange difference

 

-

(449)

(2)

(451)

 

 

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 31 December 2018

 

-

4,907

461

5,368

 

 

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additions

 

-

1,834

57

1,891

Disposals

 

-

-

-

-

Foreign exchange difference

 

-

(16)

-

(16)

 

 

________

________

________

________

At 30 June 2019

 

-

6,725

518

7,243

 

 

________

________

________

________

 

Depreciation

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 January 2018

 

(3,498)

-

(132)

(3,630)

Charge in the six months

 

-

-

(36)

(36)

 

 

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 30 June 2018

 

(3,498)

-

(168)

(3,666)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charge in the year

 

-

-

(28)

(28)

Disposals

 

3,498

-

-

3,498

Foreign exchange difference

 

-

-

(2)

(2)

 

 

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 31 December 2018

 

-

-

(198)

(198)

 

 

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charge for the period

 

-

-

(19)

(19)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at 30 June 2019

 

-

-

(217)

(217)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying Value

 

 

 

 

 

At 30 June 2018

 

-

-

295

295

 

 

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 31 December 2018

 

-

4,907

263

5,170

 

 

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 30 June 2019

 

-

6,725

301

7,026

 

 

________

________

________

________

 

 

 

9.

Dividends

 

    No dividend is proposed for the period. 

 

 

10.

Earnings per share

 

   Earnings per ordinary share have been calculated using the weighted average number of shares in issue    during the relevant financial year as provided below.

 

 

 

6 months to

6 months to

Year to

 

 

 

30 June

30 June

31 December

 

 

 

2019

2018

2018

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares-Basic

1,391,249,064

1,275,230,925

1,366,949,045

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss)/earnings for the period

($1,182,000)

$2,406,000

$1,473,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss)/earnings per share in the period-Basic

($0. 0008)

$0.0019

 $0.0011

             

 

 

 

11.

Share capital and premium

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019

2019

2018

2018

 

 

No

$'000

No

$'000

 

Allotted, called up and fully paid

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinary shares

1,467,631,282

50,656

1,376,193,127

49,205

 

 

__________

__________

__________

__________

 

In February 2019, the Company issued 17,500,000 ordinary shares due to options being exercised at an exercise price of 1 pence.

 

In March 2019, the Company issued 2,866,730 ordinary shares at a price of GBP 0.19 to Resilience Mining Australia Ltd, in respect of its acquisition of Leigh Creek Copper Mine Pty Ltd.

 

As a result of a placement in June 2019 the Company issued 63,571,425 ordinary shares at a price of GBP 0.14. The total proceeds of the placement after fees was GBP 834,375 ($1,059,000). Of this amount $91,000 was received in June 2019, with the balance $968,000 received in July 2019.

 

Share options and warrants

 

The number of options and warrants as at 30 June 2019 and a reconciliation of the movements during the half year are as follows:

 

 

Date of Grant

 

Granted as at 31 December 2018

Exercised

Granted as at 30 June 2019

Exercise price

Date of vesting

Date of expiry

10.04.15

8,000,000

(8,000,000)

-

1.00p

19.05.17

30.06.19

06.01.17

9,500,000

(9,500,000)

-

1.00p

19.05.17

30.06.19

15.02.18

72,000,000

-

72,000,000

2.75p

01.04.20

30.06.20

15.02.18

38,500,000

-

38,500,000

3.75p

01.01.21

30.06.21

15.02.18

17,500,000

-

17,500,000

     5.00p

01.01.22

30.06.22

 

 

09.08.18

35,250,000

-

35,250,000

2.75p

01.04.20

30.06.20

 

09.08.18

10,750,000

-

10,750,000

3.75p

01.01.21

30.06.21

3030

09.08.18

4,750,000

-

4,750,000

5.00p

01.01.22

30.06.22

 

19,250,000

(17,500,000)

178,750,000

 

 

 

 

 

12.

Post balance date events

 

On 25 July 2019, the Company settled the acquisition of New Age Exploration Limited's ("NAE") 50% holding in Cornwall Resources Ltd ("CRL"). Details of the settlement are:

 

·      An initial A$290,000 payment, taking total cash paid to A$300,000 and agreeing an 11 month payment schedule for the balance of A$2,700,000.

·      Payments of A$300,000 to made quarterly before 31 October 2019, 31 January 2020 and 30 April 2020 with balance to be paid on or before 26 June 2020.

·      The interest rate on the balance of A$2,700,000 is 5% pa, calculated on a daily balance basis, payable at the end of each calendar quarter to allow for early repayment.

·      SML has provided NAE with a charge over the Company's shares in CRL, a debenture charge over CRL's property and, in the event of default, NAE has the option to convert any outstanding balances to SML shares at 90% of the VWAP for SML shares in the 10 trading days prior to the issue of the conversion notice.

 

Copies of this interim report will be made available on the Company's website, www.strategicminerals.net.


This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
 
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