RNS Number:4912I
Peter Hambro Mining PLC
10 March 2003
PETER HAMBRO MINING PLC
Announces upgrading of resources at Pioneer Deposit
Signing of Confidentiality Agreements with Rio Tinto
Proposed acquisition of new 8.1 million ounce Tokur Deposit
and Preliminary Results for the year ended 31 December 2002
Peter Hambro Mining PLC ("PHM" or "the Company") today announces:
* 5.8 million ounce increase in Russian Category C & P reserves and
resources at the Company's Pioneer deposit
* Signing of confidentiality agreements with Rio Tinto PLC to enable
evaluation of specific properties
* Proposed acquisition of the Tokur gold deposit in the Far East of
Russia with 8.1 million ounces of resources
* Preliminary Results for the year ended 31 December 2002
Pioneer Deposit
Russian Category C and P reserves and resources 9.4 million ounces
Russian Category C2 reserves 1.78 million ounces
The Company has recently received independent confirmation, from the State
geological consultancy company Dalgeophysica, of the Group Chief Geologist's
revised estimation of 9.4 million ounces of category C and P reserves and
resources at Pioneer.
When the Group acquired Pioneer in 2000 the stated resources were approximately
1.5 million ounces in the P category. In September 2002 the Company announced
that its exploration activities had increased this figure to 3.59 million (at a
0.6 gram per tonne cut-off grade) and that sufficient drilling had been done to
place 1.62 million ounces in the C2 reserve category.
Since September 2002 receipt of more assay results from the exploration drilling
campaign have increased the reserves and resources still further. As at 25
February 2003 the Company estimates that the C2 component of the reserves and
resources is now 1.78 million ounces. These exploration activities have enabled
the reclassification of category P resources to C2 reserves.
C2 category reserves require no further drilling or sample analysis work for
ounces to be categorised as mineable reserves. The only additional work
required is economic assessment and approval thereof by the Russian mining
authorities.
Table 1: Pioneer Resources (millions of ounces)
April 2002 September 2002 February 2003
Main orebody - C2 category reserves - 1.62 1.78
Main orebody - P1 + P2 category resources 1.5 1.97 1.84
Oreshoots - P1 + P2 category resources - - 5.80
Total P + C 1.5 3.59 9.42
Part of the increase in the C2 category reserves comes from the discovery of a
high-grade 120m oreshoot (known as "Apophysis No.1") of the Bakhmut part of the
deposit. Calculation of resources based around 50m blocks and to a maximum
depth of 282m, suggests C2 category reserves of 635,000 ounces. The following
table outlines 4 key intersections of the oreshoot.
Table 2: Drill Results from Bakhmut-Apophysis No.1
Grade (g/t) Thickness (m)
Hole c-69 17.5 35.0
Hole c-203 15.3 11.2
Hole c-204 9.6 15.9
Hole c-47 7.4 5.9
The geochemical signature extends significantly beyond the drilled area (for a
further 1.02km) to an area where artisanal mining has taken place in the past.
Grab samples taken in this area, which is believed to be on the same structure
as Apophysis 1, have returned grades of 20-30 grams per tonne. Dalgeophysica
has postulated that the structure has the potential to host possible resources
of over 51 tonnes of gold at similar grades, applying a factoring of 40-70%
reduction coefficient.
As described in the AIM admission document, under the Group Reserves Bonus
Scheme, certain executives, as scheme participants, are entitled to receive from
JSCP an aggregate US$5 per ounce in respect of new C2 reserves assessed on an
annual basis. These are only taken into account for the purposes of this scheme
when confirmed by the Russian mining authorities. The Scheme also provides that
on termination of the scheme in the event of, among other circumstances, a
disposal of the Pioneer deposit, the scheme participants are entitled to an
aggregate of US$1 per ounce of resources not covered by prior payments. It is
not anticipated that any confirmation of C2 reserves will be received until
2004. Payments under the Scheme, at the Company's option, may be settled in the
Company's shares.
Confidentiality Agreements signed with Rio Tinto
Peter Hambro Mining has, for some months, been in discussion with Rio Tinto PLC
which has recently re-appraised the climate for mining investment in Russia. As
a consequence of this it has agreed to share with Rio Tinto, on a confidential
basis, geological and other data so as to enable it to evaluate the potential of
specific properties and the way in which Peter Hambro Mining has operated
successfully in Russia.
The agreements that the two companies have signed do not commit Rio Tinto to
become involved in any way with Peter Hambro Mining nor do they give Rio Tinto
any exclusivity to collaborate on, or acquire an interest in, any of the
properties.
Peter Hambro Mining views this expression of interest by a major mining company
as a positive step in the development of mining in Russia. The improvement in
the broader investment climate in Russia was also recently demonstrated by BP's
decision to invest c.US$6.7 billion in the country's oil & gas sector.
Proposed acquisition of the Tokur Deposit
PHM announces that it has agreed heads of terms to acquire from OJSC Far East
Mining, OOO Tokur Rudnik a company which holds the licence for the Tokur deposit
in the Amur region of Russia, subject inter alia to contract and to satisfactory
due diligence and an independent verification exercise.
Independent resource estimates for the deposit, which is located some 450kms
north east of PHM's Pokrovskiy operation, indicate approximately 8.1 million
ounces. Completion of this acquisition would on this basis take the Group's
estimated total Category P and C resources and reserves for the Group to circa.
19 million ounces.
The Directors believe that Tokur has a developed infrastructure, including
roads, electricity, housing and an airport and that there is also an experienced
labour force. The Directors believe that the existence of this infrastructure
greatly enhances the value of the resources.
Initial investigation by the Directors suggest that production from the plant
was halted when the previous owners ran into financial difficulties but
management from Peter Hambro Mining's Pokrovskiy mine believe that small scale
production can be resumed by mid 2003 at a cost of approximately US$500,000.
Directors also understand that there is an existing plan to develop the Tokur
deposit by means of an adit which would allow the commencement of bulk mining.
This plan was never fully implemented due to the lack of capital of the previous
owners. If successful in the acquisition, Peter Hambro Mining intends to
commission a feasibility study to evaluate the potential of this plan in
relation to the entire mineralised zone. As part of the due diligence process,
the Company will review appropriate mining methods.
Peter Hambro Mining believes that much of the administration of the mine can be
undertaken from the Group's Amur Region offices at Tygda and Blagoveshensk.
Tokur is one of the interests that are covered by the Rio Tinto confidentiality
agreements.
The consideration for the acquisition, payment of which will be conditional, is
expected to be up to US$30 million, to be satisfied by the payment of up to US$6
million in cash and the issue of new shares of the Company for the balance at a
deemed price of #2 per share. However the Company would have the right to elect
to pay up to a maximum of US$30 million in cash in place of the share element of
the consideration if the share price is then trading above #2.50 per share.
Appointment of New Executive Director
The Company also announces that it has appointed G. Jay Hambro (aged 28), who
has served on its Board as a Non-Executive Director since Admission, as an
Executive Director with immediate effect. Jay, who has considerable experience
in the mining finance industry, joins PHM from HSBC Investment Bank, where he
was a Manager of the Metals & Mining corporate finance and advisory team. Prior
to that, he spent 3 years at NM Rothschild & Sons, based in both London and the
US. Whilst at Rothschild, Jay focused on bullion trading, project finance and
corporate lending to the metals & mining industry, and helped to re-establish
the Rothschild Resources Banking Department in Denver. Jay then moved to the
investment banking division of HSBC where he spent three years as a corporate
financier, advising major precious metal, base metal and steel companies.
In view of this appointment, the Board is intending to appoint a further
Non-Executive Director.
Preliminary Results
Highlights of the results are as follows:
* Consolidated profit after tax for the year US$5.1 million
(US$4.4 Million 2001)
* Operating costs (including depreciation and interest) during the year
were RuR 38.08 (US$1.20) per tonne processed and RuR 139.19 per gram
(US$136 per ounce) of gold produced
* Gold sold in 2002 was 71,960 Ounces (2001 irca.90,000 ounces.)
Unaudited Preliminary Results
Highlights of the results are as follows:-
Unaudited Consolidated Profit and Loss Account for the year ended 31 December
2002
2002 2001
$'000 $'000
Turnover 22,774 23,722
Net operating expenses (12,212) (13,622)
---------- ----------
Operating profit 10,562 10,100
Interest payable and similar charges (1,640) (1,613)
Loss on disposal of fixed assets (100) -
Other income 613 199
---------- ---------
Profit on ordinary activity before Taxation 9,435 8,686
Taxation (639) -
Profit on ordinary activity after Taxation 8,796 8,686
Minority Interest (3,692) (4,283)
--------- ---------
Retained profit for the year 5,104 4,403
====== ======
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2002
31/12/02 31/12/01
$'000 $'000
Fixed Assets
Goodwill 17,790 (5,209)
Intangible assets 3,743 4,071
Tangible assets 37,737 34,131
Capitalised expenditure 1,154 -
Assets under construction and Equipment to be
installed 8,261 1,177
Investments 637 2
------- -------
69,322 34,172
Current Assets
Stock and work in progress 7,501 321
Debtors 4,868 3,046
Cash in bank and in hand 1,388 1,361
-------- -------
13,757 4,728
Creditors, amounts falling due within one year (25,769) (8,952)
Net Current Liabilities (12,012) (4,224)
Creditors, amounts falling due after more than one
year
Long-term borrowings (7,578) (10,991)
Finance lease liabilities falling due with one to
three years (1,121) (403)
---------- ----------
(8,699) (11,394)
--------- -----------
48,611 18,554
===== =====
Net Assets
Capital and Reserves
Share Capital 751 391
Share Premium 43,391 8,755
Share Option Reserve 40 -
Profit and loss account 3,889 (1,215)
-------- --------
Equity shareholders' funds 48,071 7,931
Minority interest 540 10,623
-------- ---------
48,611 18,554
===== =====
Unaudited Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 December 2002
31/12/02 31/2/01
$'000 $'000
Net Cash Inflow from Operating activities 6,638 15,215
Returns on Investments and Servicing of Finance
Interest received 21 -
Interest paid (1,183) (1,718)
--------- ---------
Net cash outflow from returns on investments and
servicing finance
(1,162) (1,718)
Taxation paid (639) -
Capital Expenditure and Financial Investment
Purchase of tangible assets (12,817) (16,447)
Purchase of intangible assets - (3)
Investment acquired (637) -
Proceeds on disposal of tangible assets 16 -
Net movement in loans to subsidiaries - 668
Loans issued (76) (224)
-------- --------
Net Cash outflow on capital expenditure and financial
investment (13,514) (16,006)
Acquisitions and Disposals
Purchase of subsidiary undertaking - (1)
Cash Outflow before use of Liquid Resources and
Financing (8,677) (2,510)
Financing Activities
Capital element of finance lease (1,344) (287)
Net movement in loans 6,449 2,748
Share capital issue 3,599 1,000
Cash inflow from Financing Activity 8,704 3,461
-------- --------
Increase in cash at bank and in hand 27 951
-------- -------
Chairman's Comments
Commenting on the announcement, Peter Hambro, Executive Chairman, Peter Hambro
Mining, said:
"We could scarcely have dared to hope at the time of Admission that we would be
able to bring 1.78 million ounces of resources into the C2 category reserves and
that our independent consultant would confirm more than 9 million ounces of
resources. We have done this and it is good news for our shareholders.
The high grade oreshoot known as Apophysis 1 is of particular interest because
its high grades will permit faster gold extraction rates than that currently
being achieved at Pokrovskiy. When added together Pokrovskiy, Pioneer and the
possible Tokur acquisition would give the Company total reserves and resources
of more than 19 million ounces. We announced in February our agreement to form
a joint venture company to acquire gold mining assets in Magadan and we intend
that this will bid for the 38% stake in the Matrosov Mine that is to be
auctioned later this year.
We continue to focus on exploration of existing license areas and further
drilling will be done at Pioneer which is "open" in all directions.
We currently anticipate that Pokrovskiy production will be in the region of
120,000 ounces in 2003.
The consolidated profit for the year reflects the gradual increase in our
ownership of Pokrovskiy Rudnik from 55% to 97.69%. The performance of the
operating subsidiary is in line with our earlier announcement to the market that
lower grades and longer residence times on the heap leach, combined with
teething troubles on the new mill, would be offset by higher gold sale values.
I believe that Russia has enormous potential as a gold producer and it is
gratifying to see that the potential for investment in Russia, both in the
mining sector and more broadly, is now being appreciated by a number of
international blue chip companies like BP."
Enquiries:
Peter Hambro +44 77 7415 3498
Peter Hambro Mining +44 20 7393 0102
David Simonson/Nicola Davidson +44 20 7606 1244
Merlin Financial +44 7711 70 91 70
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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