TIDMALS
RNS Number : 2233R
Altus Strategies PLC
20 September 2017
Altus Strategies Plc / Index: AIM / EPIC: ALS / Sector:
Mining
20 September 2017
Altus Strategies Plc
("Altus" or the "Company")
Interim Results
Altus Strategies Plc (AIM: ALS), the Africa focused exploration
project generator, announces its unaudited interim results for the
six months ended 30 June 2017.
Highlights:
-- Admission to AIM and Placing and Subscription raising GBP1.1m before expenses
-- Twelve projects diversified across seven commodities and four countries with two JVs
-- Exploration programmes in Cameroon, Liberia, Morocco and Ethiopia
-- Company actively assessing strategic licence application and acquisition opportunities
Chairman's Statement
"I am pleased to report on a strong period of growth for the
Company, one which culminated after the period, in the listing of
our shares on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. Having
operated as a private company for close to a decade, our decision
to list reflects the Board's positive belief in the outlook for the
resource cycle and anticipated rising industry demand for new
mineral discoveries, such as those we are making at Altus.
As a project generator focused on Africa, we embrace the
cyclical nature of the mining sector. The Company's aim is to
create significant value for our shareholders while reducing and
diversifying their risk exposure. We seek to make multiple
discoveries using one cost base and time efficient management
overhead. We then undertake joint venture partnerships with
industry groups early on, to finance the higher risk stages of
exploration, such as drilling. Our strategy also inherently avoids
management partiality towards any one particular project. In so
doing we look to franchise the downside risks, while retaining a
significant share of the upside. If a project is successful, we can
elect to co-fund or dilute as it progresses through feasibility
studies and mine development. We also have the flexibility to
consider selling some or all of our discoveries for cash, equity,
future production royalties or a mix of these.
In accordance with our counter cyclical strategy, Altus has used
the industry downturn which started in 2011 to build a significant
portfolio of discoveries. This currently comprises twelve projects
diversified across seven commodities, four countries and
encompasses two joint venture partners. We have also used the
downturn to build a strong and dedicated technical team with the
infrastructure required to continue our strong growth trajectory.
As such we are exploring several strategic projects, while
assessing new licence applications in addition to acquisition
opportunities to feed into our project generation pipeline.
During the same period since 2011, global exploration budgets
and discoveries fell dramatically as capital markets were reluctant
to finance exploration risk. Mining companies prioritised
efficiency savings and paying down debts before exploring for new
mines. We now believe the resource cycle is turning upward, as
supply side concerns start to grow amid an environment of sustained
global growth. A resilient China alongside growing infrastructure
spending across developed and emerging markets is proving
supportive to higher base metal prices. Meanwhile the pervasive
negative real interest rate and loose monetary policies required to
inflate away excessive national debt burdens, are putting downward
pressure on currencies, including the dollar, which is providing
further support to gold and other hard assets.
Our expectation is for equity and debt markets to become
increasingly supportive of mining companies as their revenues and
in turn valuations rise. A fundamental challenge for mining
companies will be how to replenish and grow their resources base,
after so many years of underinvestment. We expect that process to
be highly competitive not just between mining companies, but also
with private equity and other specialist investors seeking to
participate in the cycle. In such a scenario it follows that the
value of quality discoveries is set to rise, as they become targets
for acquisitions and joint ventures.
The Board believe that the outlook for the exploration sector is
positive and Altus is actively generating the projects which have
the potential to become the mines of tomorrow.
I would like to extend my congratulations to all of the team at
Altus for their achievements in the year to date. Just as important
I seize this opportunity to extend the Board's appreciation to our
existing and new shareholders for sharing our vision with their
continued support. We have a very active period ahead and I look
forward to keeping you apprised of our progress."
David Netherway
Chairman
Qualified Person
The technical disclosure in this regulatory announcement has
been read and approved by Steven Poulton, Chief Executive of Altus.
A graduate of the University of Southampton in Geology (Hons), he
also holds a Master's degree from the Camborne School of Mines
(Exeter University) in Mining Geology. He is a Fellow of the
Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and a Fellow of the
Geological Society of London. He has over 18 years of experience in
mineral exploration and is a Qualified Person under the AIM
rules.
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.
For further information you are invited to visit the Company's
website www.altus-strategies.com or contact:
Altus Strategies Plc Tel: +44 (0) 1235
Steven Poulton, Chief Executive 511 767
Matthew Grainger, Executive E: info@altus-strategies.com
Director
Greg Owen, VP Corporate
Development
SP Angel (Nominated Adviser) Tel: +44 (0) 20
Ewan Leggat / Richard Morrison 3470 0470
/ Soltan Tagiev
SP Angel (Joint Broker) Tel: +44 (0) 20
Elizabeth Johnson / Richard 3470 0471
Parlons
Beaufort Securities (Joint Tel: +44 (0) 20
Broker) 7382 8300
Jon Bellis
Blytheweigh (Financial PR) Tel: +44 (0) 20
Tim Blythe / Camilla Horsfall 7138 3204
/ Nick Elwes
Notes to editors:
About Altus Strategies Plc
Altus is a diversified and Africa focused project generator in
the natural resource sector. Through our subsidiaries we discover
new projects and attract third party capital to fund their growth,
development and ultimately exit optionality. This strategy enables
Altus to remain focused on the acquisition of new opportunities to
be fed into the project generation cycle and aims to minimise
shareholder dilution. Our business model is designed to create a
growing portfolio of well managed and high growth potential
projects which is diversified by commodity and by country. We aim
to position our shareholders at the vanguard of value creation, but
with significantly reduced risks traditionally associated with
investments in the mineral exploration sector.
The following is a summary of the Company's key projects:
Cameroon - Gold
The Company holds the 189km(2) Laboum gold exploration licence
in northern Cameroon through its 99% owned subsidiary Auramin Ltd.
At Laboum an approximately 18km and 5km wide long gold-bearing
shear zone has been discovered. High resolution ground geophysics
and a concurrent gold in soil survey are defining priority targets
for a systematic trenching programme. The Laboum licence hosts a
number of artisanal gold mining sites and rock chips up to 6.86 g/t
Au have been returned from sheared meta-sediments.
Morocco - Copper
The Company holds the 60km(2) Agdz copper-silver exploration
licence in central Morocco through its 100% owned subsidiary
Aterian Resources Ltd. Five prospects have been defined to date,
the best of which retuned grades up to 8% Cu, 448 g/t Ag and 3.74
g/t Au. The project is located close to a number of operating
mines, notably the recently commissioned Bouskour Cu-Ag mine
located 14km NE of Agdz.
Ethiopia - Copper
The Company holds the 322km(2) Tigray-Afar and Negash
copper-silver exploration licences ('Tigray-Afar') in northern
Ethiopia through its 100% owned subsidiary Altau Resources Ltd.
Tigray-Afar is subject to a memorandum of agreement with Japan Oil
Gas and Metals Corporation and comprises manto style copper-silver
mineralisation, forming lenses, pipes or veins.
Cameroon - Bauxite
The Company holds the 601km(2) Birsok & Mandoum bauxite
exploration licences in central Cameroon through its 97.3% owned
subsidiary Aluvance Ltd. The Birsok & Mandoum licences are
subject to a joint venture agreement with ASX-listed Canyon
Resources Ltd. The project is within 10km of an operating rail line
to the port of Douala on the Atlantic Ocean.
Liberia - Gold
The Company holds the 639.6km(2) Bella Yella gold exploration
licence in western Liberia through its 99% owned subsidiary Auramin
Ltd. At Bella Yella a 7.5km NE-SW striking gold in soil anomaly has
been defined. A number of artisanal gold workings have been
discovered, from which rock chip assay results have returned grades
up to 233 g/t Au.
Cameroon - Iron Ore
The Company holds the 400km(2) Bikoula & Ndjele iron ore
exploration licences in southern Cameroon through its 97.3% owned
subsidiary Aluvance Ltd. An independent (JORC 2012 compliant),
inferred mineral resource estimate comprising 46Mt @ 44% Fe has
been completed. The resource estimate is from less than 25% of the
17km long target as identified from airborne geophysics.
Morocco - Other
The Company holds 226km(2) across five exploration licence
throughout Morocco through its 100% owned subsidiary Aterian
Resources Ltd. The licences areas are prospective for zinc, lead,
copper, tin, tungsten and gold. Grades from these licences include
8.15% Pb, 4.48% Zn, 9.18% Cu and 9.61 g/t Au.
Glossary of Terms
The following is a glossary of technical terms:
"Au" means gold
"Ag" means silver
"Cu" means copper
"Fe" means iron
"Pb" mean lead
"g/t" means grams per tonne
"m" means metres
"Ma" means million years ago
"Zn" means zinc
Altus Strategies plc
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial
Statements
for the six months ended 30 June 2017
Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income
6 months ended
30 June
2017 2016
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------ ------------ ----------
Unaudited Unaudited
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------ ------------ ----------
Notes GBP GBP
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------ ------------ ----------
Revenue 403,364 245,075
Gross profit 403,364 245,075
Administrative expenses (1,624,624) (306,981)
Loss from operations (1,221,260) (61,906)
Finance income 134 3,380
Loss before taxation (1,221,126) (58,526)
Taxation (846) (4)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------ ------------ ----------
Loss and total comprehensive income for the period (1,221,972) (58,530)
==================================================================================== ====== ============ ==========
Loss attributable to
* Owners of the parent company (1,221,381) (55,801)
* Non-controlling interests (591) (2,729)
(1,221,972) (58,530)
==================================================================================== ====== ============ ==========
Total comprehensive income for the period attributable to
* Owners of the parent company (1,221,381) (55,801)
* Non-controlling interests (591) (2,729)
(1,221,972) (58,530)
==================================================================================== ====== ============ ==========
Earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to the equity holders of
the Company
Basic and diluted (pence per share) 6 (1.39) (0.07)
Condensed consolidated statement of financial position
30 June 31 December
2017 2016
Unaudited Audited
--------------------------- ------ ------------ ------------
Notes GBP GBP
--------------------------- ------ ------------ ------------
Assets
Non-current assets
Intangible assets 4 151,875 105,640
Property, plant
& equipment 1,910 2,065
Investments 330,773 472,394
--------------------------- ------ ------------ ------------
484,558 580,099
--------------------------- ------ ------------ ------------
Current assets
Trade and other
receivables 105,787 254,479
Cash and cash equivalents 351,395 415,914
--------------------------- ------ ------------ ------------
457,182 670,393
--------------------------- ------ ------------ ------------
Total assets 941,740 1,250,492
=========================== ====== ============ ============
Equity and liabilities
Equity attributable
to owners of the
parent
Issued capital 120,726 104,526
Share premium 6,672,696 5,770,590
Other reserves (86,916) (92,323)
Accumulated losses (6,029,220) (4,807,839)
--------------------------- ------ ------------ ------------
Total equity attributable
to owners of the
parent 677,286 974,954
Non-controlling
interests (67,879) (67,343)
--------------------------- ------ ------------ ------------
609,407 907,611
--------------------------- ------ ------------ ------------
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Trade and other
payables 316,824 323,863
Current tax liabilities 509 4,018
Provisions 15,000 15,000
--------------------------- ------ ------------ ------------
332,333 342,881
--------------------------- ------ ------------ ------------
Total liabilities 332,333 342,881
--------------------------- ------ ------------ ------------
Total equity and
liabilities 941,740 1,250,492
=========================== ====== ============ ============
Condensed statement of changes in shareholders' equity
Share Share Accumulated Other Total Non-controlling
capital premium losses reserves interest Total
GBP equity
GBP GBP GBP GBP GBP GBP
--------------- --------- ---------- -------------- --------- -------------- ---------------- --------------
As at 1
January
2016 116,396 5,748,597 (4,213,870) 4,279 1,655,402 (63,493) 1,591,909
--------------- --------- ---------- -------------- --------- -------------- ---------------- --------------
Loss for
the period - - (55,801) - (55,801) (2,729) (58,530)
--------------- --------- ---------- -------------- --------- -------------- ---------------- --------------
Total
comprehensive
income - - (55,801) - (55,801) (2,729) (58,530)
--------------- --------- ---------- -------------- --------- -------------- ---------------- --------------
Issue of
share capital 353 21,993 - - 22,346 - 22,346
--------------- --------- ---------- -------------- --------- -------------- ---------------- --------------
Total
transactions
with owners,
recognised
directly
in equity 353 21,993 - - 22,346 - 22,346
--------------- --------- ---------- -------------- --------- -------------- ---------------- --------------
As at 30
June 2016
(unaudited) 116,749 5,770,590 (4,269,671) 4,279 1,621,947 (66,222) 1,555,725
=============== ========= ========== ============== ========= ============== ================ ==============
Share Share Accumulated Other Total Non-controlling
capital premium losses reserves interest Total
GBP
GBP GBP GBP GBP GBP GBP
--------------- --------- ---------- -------------- --------- -------------- ---------------- --------------
As at 1
January
2017 104,526 5,770,590 (4,807,839) (92,323) 974,954 (67,343) 907,611
--------------- --------- ---------- -------------- --------- -------------- ---------------- --------------
Loss for
the period - - (1,221,381) 5,407 (1,215,974) (536) (1,216,510)
--------------- --------- ---------- -------------- --------- -------------- ---------------- --------------
Total
comprehensive
income - - (1,221,381) 5,407 (1,215,974) (536) (1,216,510)
--------------- --------- ---------- -------------- --------- -------------- ---------------- --------------
Issue of
share capital 16,200 902,106 - - 918,306 - 918,306
--------------- --------- ---------- -------------- --------- -------------- ---------------- --------------
Total
transactions
with owners,
recognised
directly
in equity 16,200 902,106 - - 918,306 - 918,306
--------------- --------- ---------- -------------- --------- -------------- ---------------- --------------
As at 30
June 2017
(unaudited) 120,726 6,672,696 (6,029,220) (86,916) 677,286 (67,879) 609,407
=============== ========= ========== ============== ========= ============== ================ ==============
Condensed consolidated statement of cash flows
6 months ended
30 June
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------
2017 2016
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------- ----------
Unaudited Unaudited
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------- ----------
GBP GBP
Cash flows from operating activities
Loss before taxation (1,221,972) (58,530)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and revaluation of investments 142,359 (377,694)
Interest received (34) (4,138)
Taxes paid 257 4
Cash flows from operating activities before changes in working capital (1,079,390) (440,358)
Decrease in trade and other receivables 148,688 64,248
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables (10,805) 250,297
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ----------
Net cash used in operating activities (941,507) (125,813)
=============================================================================== ============= ==========
Cash flows from investing activities
Investment in non current assets (46,818) -
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Interest received 34 4,138
Other investments and loans made 1,824 (2,179)
Finance charges 3,642 -
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------- ----------
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities (41,318) 1,959
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ----------
Financing Activities
Proceeds from issue of shares 918,306 -
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------- ----------
Net cash generated from financing activities 918,306 -
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (64,519) (123,854)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 415,914 1,014,897
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period 351,395 891,043
=============================================================================== ============= ==========
Notes to the Financial Statements
1. General information
The principal activity of the Company and its subsidiaries
(together 'the Group') is the exploration and development of
precious and base metal deposits in Africa. There is no seasonality
or cyclicality of the Group's operations.
The Company's shares are listed on the Alternative Investment
Market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM). The Company is
incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The address of
its registered office is 14 Station Road, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11
7LL.
2. Basis of preparation
The condensed consolidated interim financial statements have
been prepared using accounting policies consistent with
International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS'). The condensed
interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the
annual financial statements of Altus Strategies Limited for the
year ended 31 December 2016, which have been prepared in accordance
with IFRS as adopted by the European Union.
The condensed consolidated interim financial statements set out
above do not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of
the Companies Act 2006. They have been prepared on a going concern
basis in accordance with the recognition and measurement criteria
of IFRS as adopted by the European Union. Statutory financial
statements for Altus Strategies Limited for the year ended 31
December 2016 were approved by the Board of Directors on 7 April
2017 and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the
auditors on those financial statements was unqualified.
On 14 June 2017, the Company entered into an agreement to
acquire the entire issued share capital of Altus Strategies Limited
from the former shareholders of Altus Strategies Limited in
consideration for the issue of 96,580,812 new Ordinary shares. The
Group reorganisation did not result in a change of control and is
therefore excluded from the scope of IFRS 3 'Business
combinations'. In the condensed consolidated interim financial
statements the assets and liabilities of Altus Strategies Limited
are included at their pre-combination carrying amount without any
fair value uplift. The reorganisation only changes the structure of
the Group and in substance does not impact on the reporting of the
Group. Any difference between the cost of the transaction and the
carrying value of the net assets is recorded in equity.
The interim financial information of the Company have not been
audited or reviewed by the Company's auditor, Critchleys LLP.
Going concern
The Directors, having made appropriate enquiries, consider that
adequate resources exist for the Group to continue in operational
existence for the foreseeable future and that, therefore, it is
appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the
condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the period
ended 30 June 2017.
Risks and uncertainties
The Board continuously assesses and monitors the key risks of
the business. The key risks that could affect the Group's medium
term performance and the factors that mitigate those risks have not
substantially changed from those set out in the Annual Report and
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2016 for Altus
Strategies Limited, a copy of which is available on the Company's
website. The key financial risks are liquidity risk, foreign
exchange risk, credit risk, price risk and interest rate risk.
Critical accounting estimates
The preparation of condensed consolidated interim financial
statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the end of the
reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates are
set out in note 1 of the 2016 Annual Report and Financial
Statements for Altus Strategies Limited. The nature and amounts of
such estimates have not changed significantly during the interim
period.
3. Significant accounting policies
The condensed consolidated interim financial statements have
been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by
the revaluation of certain of the subsidiaries' assets and
liabilities to fair value for consolidation purposes.
The same accounting policies, presentation and methods of
computation have been followed in these condensed consolidated
interim financial statements as were applied in the preparation of
the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2016 for
Altus Strategies Limited.
4. Intangible assets
Intangible assets comprise exploration and evaluation costs.
Exploration and evaluation costs comprise internally generated and
acquired assets.
Group Exploration
and
evaluation Total
costs
GBP GBP
---------------------------- ------------ --------
Cost
At 1 January 2017 105,640 105,640
Additions 46,235 46,235
Net book amount at 30 June
2017 151,875 151,875
============================= ============ ========
5. Dividends
No dividend has been declared or paid by the Company during the
six months ended 30 June 2017 (2016: GBPnil).
6. Earnings per share
The calculation of the basic loss per share of (1.39) pence for
the 6 months ended 30 June 2017 (30 June 2016 loss per share:
(0.07) pence) is based on the loss attributable to the equity
holders of the Company of GBP (1,221,381) for the six month period
ended 30 June 2017 (30 June 2016: GBP(58,530)) divided by the
weighted average number of shares in issue during the period of
87,610,639 (weighted average number of shares for the 6 months
ended 30 June 2016: 83,616,880).
The basic and diluted loss per share is the same, as the effect
of the exercise of share options would be to decrease the loss per
share.
7. Related party transactions
The nature of related party transactions of the Group has not
changed from those described in the Group's Annual Report and
Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2016.
8. Events after the reporting period
On August 10(th) 2017 the shares of the Company were listed on
the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange. The
Company simultaneously raised GBP1.11m before expenses through a
placing of 11,100,000 new Ordinary shares of 1 pence each with
existing and new institutional and sophisticated investors at a
price of 10 pence per Ordinary share.
9. Approval of interim financial statements
These Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements were
approved by the Board of Directors on 19 September 2017.
**ENDS**
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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