Southern Arc Minerals (TSX VENTURE:SA)(OTCQX:SOACF) ("Southern Arc" or "the
Company") today provided the results of its fiscal year ended June 30, 2013,
along with an update on its portfolio of projects. Details of the Company's
financial results are described in the audited consolidated financial statements
and Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"), which are available on the
Company's website at www.southernarcminerals.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.
FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT
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June 30, 2013 June 30, 2012 June 30, 2011
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Total assets $ 18,192,286 $ 60,884,512 $ 62,706,114
Exploration properties 102,068 37,430,624 22,796,908
Working capital 16,060,362 21,035,112 37,957,778
Comprehensive loss (41,945,170) (4,312,411) (6,583,353)
Basic and diluted loss per share (0.38) (0.04) (0.08)
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RECENT EVENTS
-- Completed strategic investment in Eagle Hill Exploration Corporation
("Eagle Hill") (TSX VENTURE:EAG), owner of the high-grade Windfall Lake
Gold Deposit in Quebec, Canada
-- Invested $7.3 million to acquire a 26.14% interest in Eagle Hill
-- Southern Arc holds 97,654,000 common shares of Eagle Hill and
48,827,000 warrants, exercisable at $0.10 per share until August 14,
2017
-- Completed first resource estimate for the West Lombok Project
-- Inferred resource totalling 1.49 million ounces of gold, 1.82
million ounces of silver and 397.3 million pounds of copper from
three open-pittable epithermal gold deposits and one porphyry copper
deposit
-- Booked a $35.0 million write-down against West Lombok Project based on
management's assessment of International Financial Reporting Standards
("IFRS") requirements to impair assets
-- Renegotiated agreement for sale of Taliwang Project to $3.5 million all
cash (subject to certain conditions)
MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
At the end of 2012, Southern Arc's Board of Directors conducted a strategic
review of the Company's projects and exploration strategy. The Board ranked the
Company's projects and considered the best strategy to protect and promote
shareholder value. On December 13, 2012, Southern Arc announced the Board's
decision to: proceed with drilling at the West Lombok project; retain the
Company's no-cost joint venture interest in the East Elang project; sell the
Taliwang project, subject to certain conditions; relinquish the Sabalong
project; and actively pursue new advanced-stage, gold-focused opportunities
within Indonesia and other countries. This narrowed focus enabled Southern Arc
to dedicate resources in the near-term to advancement of the West Lombok project
while retaining the financial flexibility to consider new opportunities.
Southern Arc achieved significant progress at its West Lombok project over the
last year. Following receipt of the required permit at the end of November 2012,
Southern Arc immediately commenced exploration to collect drilling data for the
project's first resource estimate. In July 2013 the Company published an
inferred resource estimate for the project, outlining substantial gold and
copper resources with potential for expansion.
Despite completing a National Instrument 43-101 compliant inferred resource
estimate for the West Lombok project, Southern Arc's market capitalization, like
many of its peers, was not impacted. With the backdrop of a challenging market
for junior mining companies, Southern Arc's management has determined that it is
prudent to write down the West Lombok project at this time. Management continues
to believe that both its West Lombok and East Elang projects hold great
potential; the write down of West Lombok reflects management's interpretation of
IFRS as it relates to impairing assets in a timely fashion.
Current market conditions have significantly devalued junior mining companies,
and many high-quality projects are seeking financing. Southern Arc has taken
this opportunity to bring a new high-quality project into the Company's
portfolio. Southern Arc has carried out this strategy by purchasing a 26%
interest in Eagle Hill, which holds an interest in one of the highest-grade
development-stage gold projects in the world. Southern Arc continues its search
for new projects with the belief that the Company can more effectively build
shareholder value by redirecting its treasury to high-quality projects in stable
jurisdictions.
Southern Arc's board of directors and executive team remain committed and
focused on one objective: rebuilding shareholder value. We believe that current
market conditions may provide the company with further opportunities to make
similar investments in high-quality projects. We thank our shareholders for
their loyalty during what is a challenging time for all mining companies.
EAGLE HILL INVESTMENT
In August 2013, following an extensive search worldwide for high-quality
properties, the Company chose to invest in Eagle Hill. Eagle Hill owns the
high-grade Windfall Lake Gold Deposit in Quebec, Canada. A resource estimate
completed in July 2012 by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. ("SRK") outlined a
mineral resource of 538,000 ounces @ 10.05 g/t gold in the indicated category
and 822,000 ounces @ 8.76 g/t gold in the inferred category (see Eagle Hill
press release dated July 25, 2012). With grades averaging 10.05 g/t gold in the
indicated category, Windfall Lake is one of the highest-grade development-stage
gold projects in the world. Eagle Hill owns 100% of the main zone (the "Main
Zone"), which hosts the majority of the mineral resource.
Windfall Lake is located in the Abitibi Gold Belt, a highly favourable
jurisdiction for exploration and mining. The greenstone belts of the Abitibi
region constitute one of the most prolific gold-producing regions in the world,
having produced over 170 million ounces of gold to date. The project is easily
accessible by paved highways and all-weather gravel roads and has substantial
infrastructure on site, including a 58-person camp and a 1,450-metre access ramp
(vertical depth of 100 metres). To date 641 diamond drill holes totaling 162,097
metres have been completed on the property, of which 356 (105,340 metres) were
considered for geological and resource modelling.
On August 15, 2013, the Company invested $7,324,050 (inclusive of a $865,000
deposit paid in June 2013) to acquire 97,654,000 units of Eagle Hill by way of
private placement at a price of $0.075 per unit. Each unit comprises one common
share of Eagle Hill and one half share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant
entitling Southern Arc to acquire a further common share of Eagle Hill at a
price of $0.10 per share for a period of four years. Subsequent to this
transaction the Company holds a 26.14% equity interest in Eagle Hill and will
account for its investment using the equity method. Should Southern Arc choose
to exercise all of its warrants, the Company would hold a 30.74% interest in
Eagle Hill on a fully diluted basis, and be Eagle Hill's largest shareholder.
Eagle Hill trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "EAG" and on the
OTCQX International Exchange under the symbol "EHECF". Dundee Corporation (TSX:
DC.A) also participated in the private placement by investing $4,675,950 to
acquire an additional 62,346,000 units of Eagle Hill, thereby increasing its
ownership of Eagle Hill from 18.8% to 26.14%. The $12 million private placement
allowed Eagle Hill to acquire Noront Resources Inc.'s ("Noront") 25% interest,
as well as Noront's royalty interests and rights associated with the Windfall
Lake Property.
The $12 million private placement has also funded an aggressive drill program.
Three rigs started drilling on September 12, 2013 with the expectation of
drilling 25,000 metres by year-end 2013. The majority of the mineral resource is
hosted in the Main Zone, comprising the 27, Caribou, Mink and Mallard Gold
Lenses. The deposit is well defined from surface to a depth of 500 metres, and
remains open along strike and at depth. Eagle Hill plans to expand the resource
by testing a large, sparsely drilled anomaly to the west of the Main Zone,
drilling lateral extension of known gold lenses, and testing the extension of
mineralization at depth. Following completion of this program in December 2013,
Eagle Hill plans to release an updated resource estimate in early 2014.
Immediately following approval of the private placement, Eagle Hill's board of
directors and executive team was reconstituted. John Proust and Dr. Mike
Andrews, also Directors of Southern Arc, were appointed to the board along with
David Christie and Carl Calandra. Robert Parsons and Daniel Racine have also
been appointed to the board as independent directors. John Proust was appointed
Interim CEO of Eagle Hill and Dr. Mike Andrews was appointed Interim President
of Eagle Hill, while the board of directors conducts an executive search for a
permanent CEO. Eagle Hill's board of directors also promoted Dr. Jean-Philippe
Desrochers to the position of Vice President, Exploration. Dr. Desrochers joined
Eagle Hill as Chief Geologist in 2010 and has been instrumental in the
development of Eagle Hill's mineral resource.
INDONESIAN ACTIVITIES DURING FISCAL 2013
West Lombok Property (Lombok Island)
The West Lombok project covers a 13-km long by 7-km wide structural corridor of
mineralization and alteration hosting porphyry copper-gold and epithermal gold
deposits. The two main epithermal prospects on the property, Pelangan and
Mencanggah, cover broad areas of 4 km by 5 km and 6.5 km by 4.5 km,
respectively, that host numerous structurally-controlled silica ledges variably
overprinted by high-grade quartz veins and breccias. Individual tabular ledge
bodies range in thickness from 2 to 66 metres, with a strike length of up to
1,000 metres and a vertical extent of greater than 300 metres. Southern Arc has
completed 26,477 metres of drilling to date on epithermal gold mineralization in
the Pelangan and Mencanggah prospects, confirming broad zones of low-grade
mineralization throughout the property, high-grade events typical of epithermal
boiling zones and several high-grade shoots. At the Selodong porphyry
copper-gold intrusive complex in the southeastern end of the property, Southern
Arc has completed 20,046 metres of drilling to date with the majority of drill
holes intersecting broad zones of significant copper-gold mineralization. In
2011, the Company completed an airborne geophysical survey of the West Lombok
project at 50-metre spacings to define both near-surface and buried copper-gold
porphyry targets. Industry experts including Dr. Steve Garwin, Southern Arc's
Senior Technical Advisor, modelled and interpreted the results of the survey in
conjunction with the Company's geological and geochemistry database, and
identified 17 porphyry targets on the property. A number of these targets have
already had a limited amount of drill testing and demonstrated zones hosting
high-grade gold-rich porphyry copper mineralization, supporting the outcome of
the prospectivity analysis.
On November 20, 2012, Southern Arc announced that the forestry permit required
to conduct drilling on the property, known as a Pinjam Pakai (borrow to use)
permit, had been received, allowing Southern Arc to commence drilling.
Commencing in mid-December 2012 Southern Arc drilled 14 holes at the Bising
target and 16 holes at the Tibu Serai target in the Mencanggah prospect. Drill
results are available on SEDAR and on the Company's website.
With this phase of drilling complete, Southern Arc had enough data to complete a
National Instrument 43-101 compliant resource estimate for portions of the
property. Southern Arc had worked closely since December 2011 with SRK, an
internationally renowned, independent consulting service to major, intermediate
and junior mining and exploration companies. SRK helped to prepare the drill
program for epithermal gold targets within the Pelangan and Mencanggah prospects
and reviewed the data throughout the drilling process. On July 11, 2013,
Southern Arc released the first resource estimate for the West Lombok property
(see July 11, 2013 press release). SRK estimated an inferred resource totalling
1.49 million ounces of gold, 1.82 million ounces of silver and 397.3 million
pounds of copper from three open-pittable epithermal gold deposits and one
porphyry copper deposit. The Raja, Bising and Tibu Serai epithermal gold
deposits are estimated to contain 11,783,000 tonnes averaging 1.5 g/t gold for
contained metal of 567,820 ounces of gold, with an additional 1.82 million
ounces of silver in the Raja deposit. The Selodong porphyry copper
mineralization is estimated to contain 66,750,000 tonnes averaging 0.43 g/t gold
and 0.27% copper for contained metal of 922,800 ounces of gold and 397,324,000
pounds of copper within two zones: Montong Botek and Blongas.
Southern Arc's management has determined that it is prudent to write down the
West Lombok project at this time. Management continue to believe that its West
Lombok project holds great potential and the write down of this asset reflects
management's interpretation of IFRS as it relates to impairing assets in a
timely fashion.
East Elang Property (Sumbawa Island)
The East Elang property is located adjacent to Newmont's Elang-Dodo property,
which hosts a large copper-gold porphyry deposit. Aerial photography and
lithographical studies suggest that the Elang mineralized structure may extend
onto Southern Arc's East Elang property. While the property is considered highly
prospective due to its location and results from aerial surveys, exploration has
been deferred pending reclassification of the property's forestry status and
issuance of the appropriate permits.
Under the terms of the October 2010 option and joint venture agreement, the
property will be advanced in partnership with Vale, whereby Vale can earn a 75%
interest in the East Elang property by advancing the property to bankable
feasibility study with a minimum Phase 1 expenditure of US$1.2 million within
one year from the date on which Southern Arc receives a Ministry of Forestry
Pinjam Pakai permit for the property. Southern Arc has not yet applied for the
Pinjam Pakai permit because the majority of the East Elang property, including
the most prospective areas, is designated as primary forest and subject to a
moratorium on exploration and mining activities. In May 2013 the Indonesian
government extended the moratorium to May 2015. As a result, there can be only
very limited exploration activity on the property until either a
reclassification is granted or the moratorium is lifted. Southern Arc has
requested a reclassification of the property's forestry status and has also
applied for suspension (back-dated for two years) of the mining business license
("IUP") until the reclassification process has been completed, ensuring that
Southern Arc and Vale have adequate time to evaluate the property once
exploration commences. In the interim, Company field activities continue to
focus on CSR engagement at the village and sub-district levels.
Taliwang Property (Sumbawa Island)
In December 2012, following a strategic review of the Company's projects and
exploration strategy, the Company agreed to sell its 90% interest in the
Taliwang project in exchange for US$500,000 and 15 million shares of the
acquiring company, Coke Resources Limited ("Coke"). The transaction was
contingent on Coke completing its initial public offering on the Australian
Securities Exchange and certain other conditions. Coke has been unable to
complete its initial public offering, but an individual related to Coke has
proposed to continue with the transaction on substantially the same terms.
Consequently, Southern Arc has agreed to a revised purchase and sale agreement
whereby the individual will purchase Taliwang in exchange for US$3,500,000, of
which US$100,000 has been received as a non-refundable deposit.
As a result, during the year ended June 30, 2013, the Company recognized a
$3,291,080 impairment provision against its book value of the Taliwang property.
The Taliwang property has been classified as an Asset Held for Sale pending
completion of this transaction, which remains contingent on completion of due
diligence and other requirements.
Sabalong Property (Sumbawa Island)
Southern Arc acquired the Sabalong property in 2007 and in 2010 entered into an
option and joint venture agreement with Vale to advance the property. Southern
Arc and Vale drilled three holes on the property commencing in October 2011, for
a total of 1,811 metres, with Vale funding all exploration expenditures. As no
significant assay results were returned, Vale elected not to proceed to Phase 2
exploration at Sabalong and relinquished all rights to the property. Subsequent
to completion of Vale's Phase 1 work on the property, Southern Arc regained a
100% economic interest in the Sabalong property and between July and September
2012 completed a six-hole drill program totaling 1,035.6 metres to test
epithermal gold vein targets in the Toyang prospect as defined by historical
Newmont (1986-92), Rio Tinto Zinc ("RTZ") (1993-98) and Company (2007-present)
exploration work. While a number of the holes revealed mineralized intervals
similar in scale and tenor to historical RTZ results, Southern Arc's drilling
failed to demonstrate any increase in grade or width with depth, and did not
establish lateral extension of the mineralization.
In December 2012, the Company decided that it would not pursue any further
exploration at the property and that it would relinquish all rights to the
Sabalong property. As a result, the Company has written down the book value of
the property to $nil and recorded an impairment charge of $1,192,789 during the
year.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2013
During the year ended June 30, 2013, the Company had a loss of $41,945,170
compared to loss of $4,312,411 for the year ended June 30, 2012. Significant
fluctuations incurred in the following categories:
a. Share-based compensation of $343,022 (2012: $1,037,887) decreased as a
result of fewer share options vested during the period. Share-based
compensation expense is accounted for at fair value as determined by the
Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model using estimates that are believed to
approximate the volatility of the trading price of the Company's stock,
the expected lives of awards of share-based compensation, the fair value
of the Company's stock and risk-free interest rate.
b. Foreign exchange gain of $81,647 was realized during the year ended June
30, 2013 (2012: $354,697 gain) primarily due to lower US$ balances and
reduced fluctuation of the US$/CDN$ exchange rate and the net effect on
the CDN$ equivalent of the Company's holdings and transactions in its
US$ bank balance and US$ payables balance.
c. Management fees increased to $824,500 from $614,000 in 2012 and are
discussed in detail in the Related Parties section.
d. Office and miscellaneous expenses decreased to $674,278 (2012:
$1,613,100) as a result of lower levels of corporate activities.
e. Professional fees of $391,581 (2012: $553,324) decreased as a result of
lower corporate legal activity during the period.
f. Travel expenses of $86,391 (2012: $188,260) decreased as a result of
reduced executive travel during the period.
g. Interest income of $175,684 (2012: $278,209) decreased during period due
to lower cash balances.
h. The Company invested $7,093,371 cash (2012: $12,847,509) on exploration
properties and $2,445 on property, plant and equipment (2012: $205,090).
i. The Company wrote down the value of the Sabalong property to $nil and
recognized a $1,192,789 impairment provision.
j. The Company recognized a $3,291,080 impairment provision against its
book value of the Taliwang property.
k. The Company recognized a $34,986,812 impairment provision against its
book value of the West Lombok property.
l. In 2013 the Company recorded a write-down of $51,443 (2012: $nil) on
property, plant equipment. Under other items in 2012, the Company
recorded its share of the equity loss of Nickel Oil and Gas ("Nickel")
of $52,289 and recorded an impairment charge related to Nickel of
$305,582.
SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTS
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June 30, March 31, December 31, September 30,
2013 2013 2012 2012
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Total assets $ 18,192,286 $ 53,939,440 $ 54,333,738 $ 60,321,920
Exploration properties 102,068 37,212,907 35,612,324 38,808,405
Working capital 16,060,362 15,164,760 17,208,413 19,027,865
Net loss (35,487,971) (527,628) (5,172,518) (757,053)
Basic and diluted loss
per share (0.32) (0.00) (0.05) (0.01)
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June 30, March 31, December 31, September 30,
2012 2012 2011 2011
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Total assets $ 60,884,512 $ 62,872,227 $ 61,274,365 $ 62,268,305
Exploration properties 37,430,624 35,680,748 29,634,073 25,502,244
Working capital 21,035,112 22,901,030 29,897,586 35,017,284
Net loss (1,184,372) (1,272,920) (1,569,849) (285,270)
Basic and diluted loss
per share (0.01) (0.01) (0.01) (0.00)
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On behalf of the Board of Southern Arc Minerals Inc.
John Proust, Chairman & CEO, Director
About Southern Arc
Southern Arc Minerals Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on
gold and copper-gold exploration. The Company's key exploration property is its
West Lombok project, with several gold-rich copper porphyry and epithermal gold
vein prospects. Southern Arc is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the
symbol SA and on the OTCQX International under the symbol SOACF. More
information is available at www.southernarcminerals.com or by emailing
info@southernarcminerals.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or
anticipated future events and operations, timing of projects and anticipated
results that are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties, such as general economic, market and business
conditions, the regulatory process and actions, technical issues, new
legislation, competitive and general economic factors and conditions, the
uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, the
occurrence of unexpected events, and the company's capability to execute and
implement future plans. Actual results achieved may vary from the information
provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and
uncertainties and other factors. There is no representation by the company that
actual results achieved during the forecast period will be the same in whole or
in part as that forecast.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such
term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Qualified Person
The technical information in this document has been reviewed by Southern Arc's
Chief Geologist, Andrew Rowe, B. App. Sc. Geology, MAusIMM. Mr. Rowe has over 20
years of international mineral exploration experience throughout Southeast and
Central Asia and Australia. During this time he has held such positions as
Principal Geologist - Feasibility Studies, Senior Geologist and Consulting
Geologist. The technical information in this document has also been reviewed by
Southern Arc's President & Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Mike Andrews, PhD,
FAusIMM, who has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralization
under consideration and qualifies as a Qualified Person as defined by National
Instrument 43-101.
The drill program and sampling protocol is managed by Southern Arc under the
supervision of Andrew Rowe. The diamond drill holes are drilled at PQ, HQ and NQ
sizes depending on hole depth and core recovery to date has averaged better than
98.0%. Half core is cut by rock saw and is generally sampled using nominal
1-metre intervals; however, sample intervals are varied according to geological
contacts and have ranged between 0.2 to 2.5 metres in length. Three quality
control samples (one blank and two standards) are inserted into each batch of 40
samples. The half core samples are securely transported from the project site to
the Intertek Testing Services ("ITS") sample preparation laboratory in Sumbawa
Besar via private truck hired by Southern Arc. Sample pulps are then sent to the
ITS Jakarta laboratory by ITS. Gold is analysed by fire assay with AAS finish
and a four-acid digestion with ICP-MS finish is used to analyse a full suite of
elements including silver and base metals. ITS is one of the world's largest
product and commodity testing, inspection and certification organizations. The
Jakarta laboratory is ISO 17025 accredited and employs a Laboratory Information
Management System for sample tracking, quality control and reporting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Southern Arc Minerals Inc.
Rhylin Bailie
Vice President, Communications & Investor Relations
604-676-5241
info@southernarcminerals.com
www.southernarcminerals.com
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