Admission to AIM

Falkland Gold and Minerals Ltd 09 December 2004 FALKLAND GOLD AND MINERALS LIMITED First Day of Dealings on AIM 9 December 2004 Falkland Gold and Minerals Limited ('FGML' or 'the Company'), an exploration company with exclusive rights to explore for gold and minerals in the Falkland Islands, today announces its flotation on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange plc. FGML has successfully raised a total of £10 million before expenses - £8 million through a placing to institutional investors and a further £2 million through an offer for subscription. W.H. Ireland Limited is acting as FGML's nominated adviser and broker. Key points • FGML has exclusive mineral exploration rights to substantially all of the onshore land mass of the Falkland Islands above the mean average high tide level, covering approximately 12,000 square km ('the Licence'). The Licence will be extended by the Falkland Islands Government to 31 July 2009 on admission to AIM. • As part of Stage I of the exploration programme, a significant amount of exploration has been conducted including an aeromagnetic survey of the Falkland Islands identifying a number of magnetic anomalies. The exploration has established the presence of alluvial gold in several drainage systems as well as the presence of kimberlitic indicator minerals and titanium rich gravel, together with a number of anomalies. Twenty-three targets have been identified for investigative drilling. • In Stage II, the Directors believe that the focus of the investigative drilling programme will be nine of the targets which were identified during Stage I of the exploration work. Further work planned on such targets will involve at least 12,000 metres of investigative drilling and the subsequent analysis of the resultant samples. • Stage III of the exploration programme will involve drilling a further fourteen of the targets that have already been identified during Stage I, including at least 12,000 metres of investigative drilling and subsequent analysis. Commenting on the flotation, Richard Linnell, the Company's executive Chairman said, 'We are delighted to be joining AIM today. We were very pleased with the response to both the institutional placing and the public offer for subscription. The proceeds of the flotation will enable us to progress the next stages of our exploration programme in the Falkland Islands. We look forward to reporting the progress of Stage II of our programme during the course of 2005'. Placing Statistics Issue Price per Ordinary Share 40p Number of Ordinary Shares placed pursuant to the Placing 20,000,000 Number of Ordinary Shares offered pursuant to the Offer 5,000,000 Total proceeds from the Placing and Offer (before expenses) £10,000,000 Number of Ordinary Shares in issue immediately following Admission 78,250,000 Market capitalisation of the Company at the Issue Price on Admission £31,300,000 Enquiries David Hudd Matthew Jervois Philip Haydn-Slater Falkland Gold and Minerals Limited Grandfield W.H. Ireland Limited Tel: 07771 893 267 Tel: 020 7417 4170 Tel: 020 7397 3160 The Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands are located approximately 500 kilometres from the nearest point of South America and comprise some 700 islands. The two largest islands are East and West Falkland, with the capital Stanley lying on the eastern shore of East Falkland. The Falkland Islands are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom of which Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of State. The Falkland Islands' economy has traditionally been based upon agriculture and an offshore fishing industry, and has an annual gross domestic product of about £70 million. The islands have a current population of approximately 3,000, predominantly of British descent, with some 2,000 living in Stanley. Background on the Licence and the Company The potential for the Falkland Islands to host economic mineralisation was first conceived by South Atlantic Resources Limited ('SARL'), a subsidiary of Cambridge Mineral Resources plc and a shareholder in the Company, after the analysis of samples collected during a reconnaissance visit in 1997 revealed the potential for kimberlitic indicator minerals, gold and heavy mineral sands. In 1998, the Licence was issued to SARL under the Falkland Islands Mining Ordinance of 1918 ('the 1918 Ordinance') and was for an initial term of six years. The Licence authorised the exploration for precious stones and metals, together with all minerals whatsoever including coal and bituminous shale (but excluding petroleum), on or under the surface of the Licence Area. In March 2000, a deed of variation of the Licence was agreed with the Government to extend the periods for compulsory relinquishment, delete calcified seaweed and peat as minerals covered by the Licence and to vest the right in the Government to search for building materials and clay. In January 2004, having already extended the Licence term to 16 January 2004, the Governor authorised an extension to the term of the Licence for a further three years such that the Licence is valid until 16 January 2007. Furthermore, the Government has agreed to extend the Licence to 31 July 2009, subject to Admission having taken place by 16 January 2007. In that event, the Company is required to relinquish 50 per cent. of the Licence Area by 16 January 2007. Falkland Island Mining Law The activities of prospecting, exploration and exploitation of minerals in the Falkland Islands currently fall under the 1918 Ordinance. In 2002 the Government proposed revised legislation to replace the 1918 Ordinance which when enacted by the Government will be the Mining Ordinance 2005. The proposed bill is anticipated by the Directors to become law in the first half of 2005. In the event of a discovery, the holder of the Licence is able to apply to the governor of the Falkland Islands ('the Governor') for mining rights, any such application to be dealt with according to its merits under applicable legislation. Geological Setting of the Falkland Islands It is now generally accepted in the geological community that in geological reconstructions of Gondwanaland the Falkland Islands lay to the south east of South Africa. Fossil evidence as well as paleomagnetic and stratigraphic analyses suggest a geological similarity between the Eastern Cape of South Africa and the Falkland Islands and support the concept that the two were originally linked. There are also several major differences in the geology and evolution of the Falkland Islands as compared with the south east of South Africa, including their relatively increased tectonic and igneous activity following the break-up of Gondwanaland. Such differences may be conducive to the formation of mineral deposits and the Directors believe may provide the potential for the Falkland Islands to be a new mineral province meriting exploration. Exploration Work Conducted Within the Licence Area Stage I exploration work Since the Licence was obtained, a significant amount of exploration work has been conducted, including the analysis and modelling of near surface identified samples gathered. This work has established the presence of alluvial gold in several drainage systems as well as establishing the presence of diamond indicator minerals and titanium rich gravel. Initial analysis of this gravel provides a grade of some 79 per cent. titanium dioxide, which is well in excess of the 55-60 per cent. that is normally found in this type of deposit. The Directors believe other samples from elsewhere in the Licence Area contain indicators of minerals, including Rare Earth Elements and Platinum Group Metals. The total cost of exploration within the Licence Area to date is in excess of US$2 million. The source of the gold recovered remains unclear but scientific work conducted to date indicates several sources with a probable epithermal origin accounting for the majority of the studied gold particles. In March 2004, the Company commissioned an aeromagnetic survey of the Falkland Islands conducted by Fugro Airborne Surveys N.V., a geophysical consulting company servicing the oil, gas and mining industries world-wide. The work took place between March and May 2004 and involved the acquisition and processing of some 32,685 line-km of magnetic and radiometric data. The survey identified a number of magnetic anomalies and initial discrete targets, some of which are supported by existing geochemical data and coincident stream particle gold. Additional investigation of the magnetic and radiometric data is required in order to evaluate their mining potential. Following on from the results of the aeromagnetic survey, and building on the Company's sampling work conducted to date within the Licence Area, the Company has undertaken detailed modelling of its results and planning of an investigative drilling programme required to test further the anomalies identified. In order to undertake this work the Company commissioned the acquisition of a drilling rig in November 2004 for expected delivery within the first quarter of 2005. The cost of the rig is to be paid for out of the Company's existing funds. Results of Stage I exploration work The Company has identified a number of anomalies and established a total of 23 targets for investigative drilling. From the exploration work conducted to date, the Directors believe that the geological evidence available suggests that economic mineralisation may exist and that the final proof, or otherwise, cannot be established without such drilling. Independent consultants Steffen, Robertson & Kirsten (UK) Ltd are of the opinion that the status of the project is such that investigative drilling is appropriate. Programme of Future Exploration Work The principal target assets are gold and other minerals. The Company has prepared a detailed 2-stage programme of follow-up work building upon the results of the completed aeromagnetic survey and the initial exploration work. The programme includes at least 24,000 metres of investigative drilling and follow-up airborne magnetics, ground magnetics and further geological fieldwork. The Company also plans to establish an office in Stanley for the duration of these stages which the Directors anticipate will be substantially completed during 2007. The Directors intend to conduct the drilling programme on a flexible basis and prioritise the exploration work in order to respond to drilling results as they become available. The prioritisation of these targets is to be made with reference to certain key criteria, including: • selecting targets which exhibit discrete magnetic anomalies which tap deeper sources of mineralisation; • selecting targets associated with stream gold and other mineral indicators detected from samples analysed to date; • the targets being at drillable depth; and • the targets being of a potential economic size. Stage II exploration work The Directors believe that the initial focus of the investigative drilling programme will be nine of the targets which were identified during the Company's Stage I exploration work. Further work planned on such targets will involve at least 12,000 metres of investigative drilling and the subsequent analysis of the resultant samples. It is also intended to conduct additional geophysical and geochemical analyses within the Licence Area. Stage III exploration work Stage III of the exploration programme will involve drilling a further 14 of the targets which have already been identified during the Company's Stage I exploration work, including at least 12,000 metres of investigative drilling and the subsequent analysis of the resultant samples. Board of Directors The Board comprises three non-executive Directors and two executive Directors, all of whom are part time. Richard Linnell, executive Chairman, aged 60 Richard has been active in the resources sector for over thirty years and has significant global experience in the development and marketing of resources and commodities. In his early career he was involved in the establishment of the Delta Manganese Project (now Manganese Metal Company) and the Murray and Roberts Industrial Corporation, the industrial holding company of the Murray and Roberts Construction Group. Richard's other positions have included marketing manager for the Stainless Steel division of Middelburg Steel & Alloys and general manager of the Manganese Division of Samancor, a joint venture between Billiton Plc and the Anglo American Corporation. In 1997 Richard became responsible for Billiton Plc's exploration and development activities throughout Africa. Whilst at Billiton Plc, Richard was an originator of the Bakubung Initiative, a forum designed to revive the South African mining industry and which led to the establishment of the New Africa Mining Fund. Richard was previously a director of BHP Billiton (SA) Ltd and a member of the Eskom Council. Richard is currently a non-executive chairman of Golden Valley Mines and GMA Resources Plc and a director of GRD Minproc Ltd, the Businessmap Foundation, Namakwa Diamonds Ltd, South African Mineral Resources Corporation Limited and Nimag Pty Limited. Mark Fresson, executive Finance Director, aged 40 Mark is a chartered accountant, having qualified with Touche Ross in 1989. Mark then spent ten years in a variety of tax-related roles, within companies such as Allied Domecq plc and the Virgin group of companies. In early 2000, Mark moved to Nomura International plc to join the principal finance group as their head of tax and accounting. He formed part of the team that left Nomura to establish the Terra Firma Capital Partners private equity operation in 2002 where he ultimately held the position of senior tax and structuring counsel. Over the past five years, Mark has been a director of several privately-owned companies. David Hudd, non-executive deputy Chairman, aged 59 David Hudd, a chartered accountant, was a partner in Price Waterhouse until 1982. Since then he has been chairman or chief executive of a number of listed companies, including, from 1992 to April 1998, Vardon plc, now Cannons Group PLC, a company he founded. He is currently executive chairman of Falkland Islands Holdings plc which he joined in March 2002 and which is a major shareholder in the Company. He is also non-executive chairman of API Group plc and a non-executive director of Paramount plc, QA plc and deputy chairman of Falkland Oil and Gas Limited. Peter Bojtos, non-executive Director, aged 55 Peter is a professional engineer with over 32 years of experience in the mining industry. Following his graduation from the University of Leicester, England he worked at mines in West Africa, the United States and Canada. Peter then worked for 12 years in Toronto for Kerr Addison Mines Limited, part of the Noranda Group, in senior management positions. From 1992 to 1993, Peter was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Consolidated Nevada Goldfields Corporation, which operated precious metal mines in the United States. From 1993 to 1995, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Greenstone Resources Limited, a company that constructed gold mines in Central America. Since 1996, Peter has been a director of several mining and exploration companies, including Birim Goldfields Inc, Desert Sun Mining Corp, Queenstake Resources Ltd, US Gold Corp, Vaaldiam Resources Ltd and William Resources Inc. Dr Robert Weinberg, non-executive Director, aged 57 Rob gained his doctorate in geology from Oxford University in 1973. Until recently he was managing director, institutional investment at the World Gold Council, and a director of Gold Bullion Securities. Rob has more than 30 years of international mining industry experience having worked as a director of the investment banking division of Deutsche Bank in London and before that as head of the global mining research team at SG Warburg Securities. He has also held senior positions within Societe General and James Capel & Co, where he rose to become head of the international mining department. Rob was formerly marketing manager of the gold and uranium division of Anglo American Corporation of South Africa Ltd. Operations Manager Derek Reeves, Operations Manager, aged 40 Derek has worked on the exploration of the Licence Area since 1999 including a 2-year period during which he resided in the Falkland Islands. Derek will be based in the Falkland Islands and his responsibilities are to supervise and manage the Company's exploration programme following Admission. Derek has had a 21-year career in the mining and exploration business, including positions as senior geologist with Argyle Diamond Mines, a director of Falkland Island Mineral Development, technical director of Dampier Oil, underground geologist of North Kalgurli Mines and business development manager with Global Petroleum. In addition he has acted as a consultant to a number of diamond and gold exploration companies, managing their exploration programmes. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100

Latest directors dealings