Final Results

Sula Iron & Gold plc / Index: AIM / Epic: SULA / Sector: Natural Resources 28 March 2013 Sula Iron & Gold plc (`Sula' or `the Company') Final Results Sula Iron & Gold plc, an iron ore and gold exploration company focussed on Sierra Leone, announces its final results for the period from incorporation on 6 October 2011 to 30 September 2012. Highlights * Admitted to AIM in October 2012 raising £1.15 million and raised a further £0.45m in November 2012 to advance its 153 sq km iron and gold licence area in Sierra Leone * Licence area is located in the Sula-Kangari Greenstone Belt and contiguous to African Minerals' operational Tonkolili Iron Ore Mine which has a JORC compliant resource of 12.8 billion tonnes * Defined development programmes in place with the aim to delineate a JORC compliant iron resource and prove up gold mineralisation in 2013 * Exploration target of 500Mt at 30.4% iron in magnetite and 55% iron in haematite, given by mining consultants SRK Exploration Services * Gold prospectivity highlighted by extensive artisanal mining - identified five target areas where further exploration including detailed ground magnetic surveys and soil sampling is planned * Experienced board and management team with in depth knowledge of Sierra Leone and a proven track record in developing African resource projects Chairman's Statement In the short space of time since listing on AIM in October 2012, when the Company successfully raised £1.15 million, I am delighted to report that Sula has made solid progress towards achieving its objective of establishing itself as a leading iron and gold exploration company. Since admission, Sula has focussed on proving up the resource potential of its 100% owned 153 sq km exploration licence (`the Licence' or `the Project') in Sierra Leone. The Licence area is located in the Sula-Kangari Greenstone Belt in Sierra Leone and is contiguous to the Tonkolili Iron Ore Mine (`Tonkolili'), which has a JORC compliant resource of 12.8 billion tonnes and is operated by AIM's biggest miner, African Minerals Limited (AIM:AMI). Other nearby operations include Amara Mining plc's (AIM:AMA) 2.91Moz Au Baomahun greenstone-style gold deposit. Significantly, Sula's Licence is considered to be prospective for styles of iron ore and gold mineralisation similar to Tonkolili and Baomahun respectively. As a result, we are concurrently operating dual commodity focussed exploration programmes in order to maximise the resource potential of the Licence. I am confident that our established Board and management team, with a proven track record in developing African resource projects, have the necessary skills to advance our highly prospective Project up the value development curve. CEO Nick Warrell has over 22 years' mining experience in Sierra Leone having discovered various gold and platinum deposits and founded Golden Prospect Mining, a former AIM company. Nick is also an Honorary Paramount Chief of the Diang Chiefdom, which controls the concession area, demonstrating Sula's strong in-country relations. Post-period end we appointed Gareth O'Donovan to the Company as non-executive technical director. Gareth is a Corporate Consultant Geologist (Exploration) with over 27 years' experience in mining and exploration projects, and specialises in the design, implementation and management of exploration projects from grassroots to pre-feasibility. For the past ten years he has been Managing Director of SRK Exploration Services Ltd (`SRK'), which undertook early exploration work at Sula's Licence area resulting in the Competent Person's Report. I am confident that Gareth's knowledge and experience will be of great value as we look to prove up the resource potential of our Licence. Sula intends to undertake further exploration as we work towards proving up a significant multi commodity resource. On listing in October 2012 we raised £ 1.15 million, and a further equity placing in November 2012, to satisfy market demand, raised an additional £450,000. The funds raised are being used to execute the defined development programmes in place to unlock the Licence's iron ore and gold resource potential. 2013 promises much activity, starting with a 2,000 metre diamond drilling programme in Q2 2013 to test the strike continuity, thickness and iron grade as we work towards delineating a JORC compliant iron resource later this year. In addition, we will continue to prove up the gold resource potential through ground magnetic surveys and soil sampling aimed at understanding better the gold structures and identifying the location of the most prospective targets for hard rock gold mineralisation, with the Dalakuru and Lagunda prospects marked as high priority targets. Financials The period to 30 September 2012 has resulted in a loss of £563,000. As is normal for an exploration company, no income has been generated. The loss results from administrative costs, primarily incurred in Sierra Leone. Corporate Social Responsibility In tandem with Sula's defined exploration work, the Company maintains a solid corporate social responsibility programme (`CSR') in the Chiefdoms of Diang and Samia Bendugu, the principal areas of exploration of Blue Horizon (SL) Limited, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary. Since listing on AIM, Sula has completed the rebuilding of a 35 mile road network in the Diang Chiefdom and constructed a 30 mile road and four bridges in the Samia Bendugu Chiefdom. In addition to facilitating our exploration and drilling programmes, these road networks have revitalised the local economy and the Honourable Member of Parliament in both Chiefdoms has commended Sula's work to the Sierra Leone Government at the highest level. Sula has also built a school in Dalakuru Town, Diang Chiefdom, complete with a toilet block, tables, chairs, and blackboards. In recognition of the Company's contribution to the education of the children of the town, the Dalakuru Town Chief and his Elders have named the school `The Blue Horizon RC School' after our operating subsidiary. The school is presently educating 144 children. Furthermore, Sula has provided schools in Kondembaia and Badalla in the Diang Chiefdom with books and writing materials, the Diang Youth Association who repaired the RC Church in Kondembaia and the Mosque in Dalakuru with sand and cement, and the clinics in Kondembaia and Dalakuru with medical supplies. Outlook Sula's growth strategy is focussed on developing the Licence to create a leading iron ore and gold exploration company and, in the process, look to create value uplift for shareholders. I believe the Company presents a compelling investment opportunity and in this I am not alone. Mining consultant, SRK, has at this early stage already assigned an exploration target of 500Mt at 30.4% iron for magnetite and 55% iron for haematite. With an experienced Board and management team, and a highly prospective Licence that boasts a dual commodity focus, I am confident that we have the foundations in place to enhance the Project's attributable value. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow directors, management and advisors for their dedication and help, as well as our shareholders for their continuing support. B Moritz Chairman Operations Review Sula's Licence, EL54/2011, is a renewable four year licence comprising 153 sq km and located within the Northern Province of Sierra Leone, 55 km south of Kabala, the nearest town, and 290 km north east of the capital Freetown. Good infrastructure connects the Project to Freetown via a tarred road followed by 80km on bush roads, to the west of the Licence. A new 44 km road network has been constructed to the east of the Project, which links the Licence to African Minerals Limited's (`AML') road at Bumbuna. The Licence area also contains the outflow of Lake Sonfon, which dominates the local geography draining down through the centre of the area, flowing eventually into the Sende River and southwest towards the Atlantic Ocean. The Licence area contains an exploration camp adjacent to the village of Dalakuru. The exploration camp was completely renovated by the Company in Q2 2012 with the installation of running water, sanitation, cooking and multiple air-conditioned accommodation facilities, all of which are powered by fully integrated diesel generators. The camp is ideally situated and equipped to facilitate future exploration work within the Licence area. Local geology is composed of a mixture of greenstone volcano-sedimentary metamorphosed units of the Sula-Kangari Greenstone Belt as well as the Late and Syn-kinematic granites. The Directors believe that the region is highly prospective for iron ore and gold, as demonstrated by the work completed to date by the Company, historical work completed by previous operators, the work of SRK, and by the presence of a number of operators in the region. Iron * Exploration target of 500Mt at 30.4% iron in magnetite and 55% iron in haematite, given by SRK * Presence of Banded Iron Formation (`BIF') confirmed at surface over a strike length of 3.1km and drill-ready following detailed mapping and reconnaissance work completed January 2013 * Channel sampling of BIF intercepted 18 metres at 51.83 % Fe and 22 metres at 56.22 % Fe * BIF presence located at Area 1 in the south-west of the Licence area -mineralisation extends NE from AML's Tonkolili 12.8 billion tonne Iron Ore Mine (`Tonkolili') * 2,000 metre diamond drilling programme planned to commence before the end of Q2 2013 to test the strike continuity, thickness and iron grade of BIF * Aim to delineate JORC compliant iron resource in 2013 The prospectivity for iron mineralisation in the form of BIF supergene enriched oxidised zones is very strong within Sula's Licence area. In order to prove up the resource potential of the iron ore, the Company has a defined exploration programme in place focussed on Area 1 (`the target'), which is located in the south-western part of the Licence and directly along strike from an undrilled magnetic high within the Tonkolili licence. The target comprises a 2.7 km long, northeast trending, linear magnetic high. Detailed mapping and reconnaissance work completed by the Company at Area 1 in January 2013 defined BIF outcrop and BIF fragments in duricrust over a strike length of 3.1km, coincident with this magnetic high. These findings in turn advanced the Project to a drill ready status. Channel sampling completed in February 2012 confirmed the presence of high-grade iron mineralisation at Area 1, with two channel samples returning intercepts of 18 metres at 51.83% iron and 22 metres at 56.22% iron. Channel samples were taken across a 50 metre wide BIF outcrop; a 10 metre wide break in outcrop could not be sampled. Importantly, the samples revealed that grades were consistent across the outcrop, confirming field observations that the BIF does not suffer from dilution by non-ferrous bands. A 2,000 metre diamond drill programme is scheduled before the end of Q2 2013 to test the strike continuity, thickness and iron grade of BIF at Area 1, with the ultimate aim of testing the potential for an iron deposit in excess of 0.5Bt, and delineating a JORC compliant resource in 2013. The drilling programme will comprise eight drill collars spaced 320 metres apart over a strike length of 2.2km. Each hole will be drilled at an azimuth of 140˚ and a dip of 50˚, to a downhole depth of 250 metres. Following this first phase of diamond drilling, shallow vertical holes are required to test the potential for direct shipping ore (`DSO') grade iron mineralisation. Initial field mapping completed in December 2012 has indicated that BIF outcrops are variably oxidised to higher grade haematite mineralisation; such supergene processes are responsible for the formation of the higher grade DSO ores. The Board's confidence in the Project's iron ore prospectivity is further underpinned by local operators in the region. AML wholly owns the Tonkolili licence, which adjoins the Sula Licence to the south and hosts the BIF mineralisation proven to extend from Tonkolili into Sula's Project. In December 2010, AML declared a JORC compliant Mineral Resource estimate comprising 12.8Bt of iron ore. AML has since constructed an integrated mine, rail and port infrastructure and, in November 2011, announced loading of its first Tonkolili iron ore shipment. Gold * Areas prospective for gold are focussed on the highly prospective Sula-Kangari Greenstone Belt rocks (belt hosts Amara Mining Plc's 2.91Moz Au Baomahun deposit) * Structures within the Licence area display a strong northeast-southwest trend - typical of the gold-mineralised greenstone trend throughout West Africa * Five target areas for hard rock gold mineralisation have been identified that host source areas of placer gold * + The Dalakuru and Lagunda prospects are high priority targets where further exploration including detailed ground magnetic surveys and soil sampling is planned * Historic drilling intercepted hard rock mineralisation that is open in all directions at the Dalakuru prospect. Historic diamond drilling intercepted: * + 2.00m @ 8.76g/t gold (83.14 to 85.10m, SDD004) + 8.72m @ 10.46g/t gold (89.40 to 98.10m, SDD004) + 1.55m @ 11.68g/t gold (171.00 to 173.00m, SDD016) + 9.03m @ 6.63g/t gold (161.37 to 170.00m, SDD033) * Additional gold targets identified and remain to be explored Artisanal miners have exploited placer gold within the Sula Licence area for more than 60 years, and active workings are observed in at least five separate areas within the Project. As a result, the Licence area is highly prospective for gold and the Board is confident that the Licence area hosts the source of primary gold. In January 2013, Sula acquired Licence-wide GeoEye-1 satellite data with a resolution of 50cm per pixel. The imagery generated provided detailed information on the extent of artisanal placer gold workings and indicated the source of some of the placer gold within the Licence. As a result of this, five target areas for hard rock gold mineralisation have been identified based on the location of historic drill intercepts, the source areas for alluvial gold deposits, and the position of major structures as defined by airborne magnetic data and drainage orientation. Of these, the Dalakuru and Lagunda prospects are marked as high priority targets. Gold mineralisation observed at the Licence is associated with quartz-sulphide, greenstone-style veins, lenses and breccias. This style of mineralisation is very common in West African Greenstone Belts and is recognised elsewhere in Sierra Leone Greenstone Belts. Greenstone-style deposits are typically located on or proximal to regional scale, deep seated faults and lineaments, and in general host all major gold deposits in West Africa, which are commonly recognised at surface by extensive artisanal workings. Mineralisation occurs in shoots and lenses on second and third order structures at low angles to the main structure, and is associated with quartz sulphide mineralisation and disseminated to massive sulphide. Areas prospective for gold in the Licence are located in the highly prospective Sula-Kangari Greenstone Belt rocks. The Sula-Kangari belt hosts Amara Mining Plc's 2.91Moz Baomahun deposit in Sierra Leone. Major structures within the Sula Licence display a strong northeast-southwest trend, which is typical of the gold-mineralised greenstone trend throughout West Africa. The structures of the Sula-Kangari Greenstone Belt pass through the Sula Licence, and smaller scale sub-parallel northeast-southwest trending structures and contact zones are also common. Northeast trending lineaments are locally cross-cut and offset by small northwest-southeast and east-west trending faults. As a result, Sula consider the association of placer gold workings and major lineaments within Greenstone Belt rocks at the Licence to be highly significant. Furthermore, historic drilling in the Licence has discovered hard rock mineralisation which is open in all directions at the Dalakuru prospect, and also identified additional gold targets that remain to be explored. Dalakuru is the most advanced prospect within the Licence. Previous operators on the Project completed 3,406 metres of RAB drilling and 5,392 metres of diamond drilling at three prospects considered prospective for gold. Nineteen diamond drill holes totalling 3,402 metres were completed at Dalakuru and intercepted significant quartz-sulphide breccias: * 2.00m @ 8.76g/t gold (83.14 to 85.10m, SDD004) * 8.72 m @ 10.46g/t gold (89.40 to 98.10m, SDD004); * 1.55 m @ 11.68g/t gold (171.00 to 173.00m, SDD016); and * 9.03 m @ 6.63g/t gold (161.37 to 170m, SDD033) Mineralisation is hosted in massive pyrite and pyrite cemented breccia with quartz fragments and is open in all directions. Dalakuru is located on a major northeast-southwest trending structure that juxtaposes a strong magnetic high against a strong magnetic low. This difference in magnetic response indicates that different lithologies occur either side of the fault and the resultant competency contrasts are considered important in focusing mineralising fluids. The Dalakuru structure is at least 5km long but extensive development of laterite masks bedrock geology along its length. Sula is planning a detailed ground magnetic survey to better constrain the location of the fault zone, which will then be followed by a soil and channel sampling programme to assist with drill targeting along strike to explore the size potential and morphology of Dalakuru. Step-out and step-back drilling of mineralisation intercepted in historic drill holes is a priority. Lagunda is defined by extensive artisanal alluvial gold workings which outline a northeast-southwest trending target that is approximately 6km long and 2km wide. The northwest boundary of the prospect is marked by a regional northeast-southwest trending structure that juxtaposes a strongly magnetic unit against a weakly magnetic unit. The Lagunda target area displays a mottled mid-range magnetic response which identifies multiple northeast-southwest trending structures and contact zones. The potential presence of multiple structures and contact zones, juxtaposing different lithologies, coincident with the source area of the Lagunda alluvials is considered highly prospective by the Board. Regional magnetic data suggests that Lagunda is a dilational zone, where multiple faults and contact zones provide excellent structural preparation, and competency contrasts between lithological units which act as conduits for hydrothermal fluids and are excellent traps for gold mineralisation in greenstone-style environments. Consequently, Sula considers Lagunda a high priority target. A detailed ground magnetic survey is planned, in conjunction with reconnaissance soil sampling, in order to better define the structural architecture and location of prospective targets. Post period end, Sula evaluated historical exploration work of the Licence area conducted by Mano River Resources Inc., (`Mano River') and Golden Prospect plc (`Golden Prospect') in 2003. The work programme included 879 samples covering an area of approximately 50km sq, which were assayed by SGS Laboratories in Ghana. Mano River and Golden Prospect defined a 3km long northwest trending gold-in-soil anomaly termed the Yanfarina-Dalakuru-Sende (`YDS') gold zone. The YDS zone is coincident with the extensive artisanal workings within the Licence area, and is located within a prominent structure, approximately 9km long by 5km wide. Mano River and Golden Prospect carried out trenching work which identified a series of high grade gold-bearing narrow veins that could represent a highly significant bulk tonnage gold target, with results including: * 3.5m @ 3.6g/t Au * 0.9m @ 1.6g/t Au * 1.9m @ 24.9g/t Au, including 0.45m @ 108g/t Au * 6.0m @ 0.5g/t Au * 2.0m @ 0.2g/t Au * 7.3m @7.4g/t Au The mineralised quartz veins identified by Mano River and Golden Prospect trend north westerly and range between 0.1m and 1m wide and were traced continuously over a distance of at least 75m. Sula will use this historical data to supplement its current understanding of the gold mineralisation within the Licence area and to help target future gold exploration. The other prospect areas, known as Simbako, Simbako East and Northeast are located on regional, northeast trending lineaments which define the contact between magnetic highs and magnetic lows. Localised alluvial workings are associated with each prospect indicating the potential for hard rock gold mineralisation. These prospects are not covered by regional magnetic data and the structural architecture of the projects is unknown. Further work comprising acquisition of ground magnetic data and reconnaissance geochemical sampling will be conducted following completion of the Dalakuru and Lagunda work programmes. Conclusion Reconnaissance work completed by Sula combined with historical workings, independent reviews and local operators in the region demonstrate how prospective Sula's Licence area is. The Company has numerous value trigger points ahead thanks to its defined work plan aimed at better understanding the gold structures and identifying the location of the most prospective gold targets, and testing the strike continuity, thickness and iron grade of BIF in order to delineate a JORC compliant iron resource in 2013. The Project boasts a close proximity to existing producers with solid infrastructure in place. AML's 12.8Bt Tonkolili iron ore mine is of great significance for Sula, with BIF mineralisation proven to extend into Sula's Licence area. Likewise, Amara Mining Plc's 2.91Moz Baomahun gold deposit in Sierra Leone appears to share the same, highly prospective geology as Sula's Licence area. With exposure to both base and precious metals, and defined exploration programmes in place to accelerate these resources up the value development curve, Sula offers significant upside potential for investors. N Warrell Chief Executive Officer For further information please visit www.sulairongold.com or contact the following: Brian Moritz Sula Iron & Gold plc +44 (0) 7976 994 300 James Caithie / Avi Cairn Financial Advisers LLP +44 (0) 20 7148 7900 Robinson John-Henry Wicks / Alice Northland Capital Partners +44 (0) 20 7796 8800 Lane Limited Chris Rourke / Guy Wheatley Beaufort International +44 (0) 20 7382 8387 Associates Limited Felicity Edwards/ Charlotte St Brides Media and Finance +44 (0) 20 7236 1177 Heap Ltd CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE PERIOD FROM INCORPORATION ON 6 OCTOBER 2011 TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2012 Note 2012 £'000 Continuing operations Revenue - Cost of sales - Gross profit - Administrative expenses (563) Results from operating activities (563) Net finance costs - Loss before tax (563) Taxation - Loss for the period (563) Total comprehensive loss for the period (563) Basic and diluted loss per share 2 (1.03) (pence) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2012 2012 £'000 Assets Property, plant and equipment 270 Intangible assets 3,824 Non-current assets 4,094 Trade and other receivables 28 Cash and cash equivalents 76 Current assets 104 Total assets 4,198 Equity Share capital 820 Share premium 3,226 Convertible notes 520 Retained deficit (563) Total equity 4,003 Liabilities Loans and borrowings 93 Trade and other payables 102 Current liabilities 195 Total liabilities 195 Total equity and liabilities 4,198 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE PERIOD FROM INCORPORATION ON 6 OCTOBER 2011 TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2012 Notes Share Share Convertible Retained Total capital premium notes deficit equity £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Balance at 6 October 2011 - - - - - Loss for the period - - - (563) (563) Total comprehensive loss - - - (563) (563) for the period Issue of ordinary shares 500 3,187 - - 3,687 on acquisition of subsidiary Issue of ordinary shares 320 39 - - 359 Issue of convertible notes - - 520 - 520 820 3,226 520 - 4,566 Balance at 30 September 2012 820 3,226 520 (563) 4,003 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD FROM INCORPORATION ON 6 OCTOBER 2011 TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2012 2012 £'000 Cash flows from operating activities Loss for the period (563) Adjustments for: - Depreciation 63 (500) Changes in: - trade and other receivables (28) - trade and other payables (295) Cash used in operating activities (823) Cash flows from investing activities Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (84) Net cash used in investing activities (84) Cash flows from financing activities Proceeds from issue of share capital 359 Proceeds from issue of loan notes 520 Proceeds from loans and borrowings 78 Net cash flows from financing activities 957 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 50 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period - Cash acquired with subsidiary 11 Cash and cash equivalents at 30 September 2012 61 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1. Basis of preparation The financial information set out above does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the period ended 30 September 2012 but are derived from those accounts. Statutory accounts for 2012 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's annual general meeting. 2. Loss per share Basic and diluted loss per share The calculation of basic and diluted loss per share at 30 September 2012 was based on the loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of £563,000, and a weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding of 54,411,111. 3. Publication of report and accounts The report and accounts for the period ended 30 September 2012 has been posted to shareholders and are available from the Company's registered office at 190 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1BE and on Sula's website, www.sulairongold.com.
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