Final Results

Petra Diamonds Ld 09 December 2004 9 December 2004 Petra Diamonds Limited PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2004 Highlights of 2004 • Joint Venture Agreement implemented with BHP Billiton on the Alto Cuilo project in Angola • Exploration operations continued at Alto Cuilo - twelve kimberlites now identified and a kimberlitic deposit of 115 million tonnes identified by the Company • Diamond recovery plant commissioned at Alto Cuilo and numerous gem quality diamonds recovered • Institutional placing in March 2004 raising £8m, mainly for the continued development of Alto Cuilo Adonis Pouroulis, Chairman, said; 'Petra Diamonds has this year grown to be, in terms of market capitalisation, the largest pure diamond player quoted on AIM. The fundamentals of the diamond industry are robust, with demand predicted to outstrip supply in the short term and rough prices rising accordingly. We believe that Petra Diamonds is well positioned to derive maximum benefit from the booming diamond industry. The Company is now poised for growth and I believe that we are in a position to extract maximum value out of our asset base for our shareholders. At the same time, the Company is also well placed to strengthen its existing portfolio by acquiring income producing assets.' Summary of Results 2004 2003 Loss for the year £ 4,219,863 £ 875,370 Loss per share 7.45 pence 1.81 pence For further information, please contact: Kevin Dabinett / David Abery Justine Howarth / Cathy Malins Petra Diamonds Parkgreen Communications Tel: +27 11 467 6710 Tel: +44 20 7493 3713 Chairman's Statement In my June 2003 Chairman's Statement I stated that management's focus would be to progress exploration on Alto Cuilo in Angola, to realise the potential of our South African exploration assets, and continue to focus on the acquisition of carefully selected diamond projects. I am glad to announce that your company is successfully following and delivering on the above said objectives. The year has been a watershed one for Petra Diamonds in which the Company has grown significantly. The objective of becoming a main player in the diamond industry was brought a step closer with the pace of developments on the Alto Cuilo project in north eastern Angola. Exploration work was carried out on the Pakwe and Syferfontein kimberlites in South Africa and the Company moved forward in resolving the sums outstanding from the Group's involvement in the management of the Alexkor diamond mine. The Board continues to make progress in looking for quality producing diamond assets which can be brought into the Group and we look forward to achieving the goal of enriching the Company with the appropriate assets. One of the highlights of the year was the signing of a Joint Venture agreement with BHP Billiton on Alto Cuilo, which may see the largest resource company in the world spending up to US$60 million on Alto Cuilo to earn 75% of Petra's economic interest in the project. This agreement with BHP Billiton is a vindication for the Company as we have kept our commitment to developing this concession because of our unwavering belief in the geological merits of Alto Cuilo. As the Alto Cuilo project is still in its exploration phase, it carries with it the normal risks associated with this type of business, however, the work done thus far has been very promising and we as management look forward to the flow of exploration data from the various initiatives taking place on the ground. Results The loss for the year was £4,219,863 (2003: loss £875,370) equating to a loss per share of 7.45 pence (2003: loss 1.81 pence). The Group operating loss stated before net financing costs was £3,974,036 (2003: loss £1,755,114), the increased loss being due to exploration progress on Alto Cuilo. Net financing costs for the Group were £245,827 (2003: revenue £879,744). Strategy The strategy for the coming year, in co-operation with our Angolan partners and BHP Billiton, will be to advance exploration on Alto Cuilo to a stage where a geological resource has been delineated giving some indication on the economic viability of one or more of the contained geological diamond deposits. In the interim, there is the capacity to mine smaller diamond deposits on the concession due to the successful commissioning on site at Alto Cuilo of the DMS diamond recovery plant and the acquisition of an earth moving fleet. Clearly these smaller deposits will need to be proven economically viable before any commercial mining will take place. Should viable economic conditions prevail on any of these smaller deposits Petra, along with its Angolan partners, will most certainly exploit them. The Company will continue in its efforts to balance its portfolio of diamond exploration assets with diamond producing assets, thereby reducing risk but also laying the platform for future growth in the diamond field, with focus on the African continent. Alto Cuilo Alto Cuilo has been the highlight of the year with the Company signing a Joint Venture agreement with BHP Billiton in November 2004. The early success in identifying kimberlitic and alluvial deposits on the concession resulted in Petra raising £8 million in March from institutional shareholders to further exploration work. The Board believes that the involvement of BHP Billiton will add significant value to the Company, bringing leading edge technology and experience to the project and ensuring that, should a large economically viable diamond orebody be discovered, it will be developed optimally. Endiama and Moyoweno, Petra's Angolan partners in the project, have added significant value to the project and we look forward to working with them to develop the project further. South African Exploration Exploration work on the Syferfontein and Pakwe kimberlites in South Africa continued and results from both bulk samples proved that both kimberlites were diamondiferous. The sampling work on Pakwe has been completed but unfortunately the kimberlite was not of a high enough grade to sustain an economically viable mine; the work area will be rehabilitated and a closure certificate sought. Bulk sampling has been completed on the Syferfontein pipe and processing of the material is currently underway. The deposit is diamondiferous and we will know early in 2005 whether or not there is an economic deposit. Exploration work on the properties optioned out to Rio Tinto continued to deliver interesting indicator mineral chemistry results during the year, but has not yet resulted in the discovery of kimberlites. Rio Tinto have advised us that they will not continue their exploration work as the properties have not yielded a deposit and Petra will look at other options with regards to these interesting properties. Nabera The intended restructuring of Alexkor Limited, the State-owned diamond mine in South Africa, has been put on hold indefinitely while the South African Government and the local Richtersveld community attempt to resolve the much publicised land claim dispute. The Company, through the Nabera consortium, will continue in its efforts to find a resolution with Alexkor and the South African Government over the disputed value-add payment and management fee. Should the opportunity arise, Petra would still consider becoming involved in Alexkor should the South African Government so wish. We believe that after two years of involvement in the management of Alexkor, we gained considerable knowledge of the asset and we welcome any opportunity to share this with the other role players involved in Alexkor. BEE Mining Charter The new South African Mining Charter and Mineral and Petroleum Resources Act came into effect on 1 May 2004. The Board welcome this development in the South African mining industry and we believe the new legislation makes good business sense and smaller companies like Petra can only benefit from the Mining Charter in the long term. Petra, prior to the Mining Charter being implemented, had a long, innovative and successful history in the mining empowerment field in South Africa. The creation and successful operations at Nabera are a testament to this. We hope that we can build on this in the future and become part of an even more vibrant and dynamic Southern African mining industry. Funding In March 2004 a placing was completed, raising £8 million from institutional shareholders in the United Kingdom and Europe. This money was required to fund the development of Alto Cuilo and the success of the placing is testament to our investors belief in the potential of Angola and Alto Cuilo. Corporate Governance In line with best practice and good corporate governance, the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer were split this year. Kevin Dabinett, an experienced mining executive, was appointed as Petra's new Chief Executive Officer in June 2004 and the Board welcome him to this position. Staff and Social Development Once again it is appropriate to thank all employees of Petra, who have put in the extraordinary effort this year that has lead to the positive transformation of your company. The Petra family has grown significantly with the addition of many highly skilled and competent people. I am proud to be associated with each and every member of this Company. Consideration is always given to the communities in which Petra operates and we are pleased to announce that a small infirmary has been built in the main camp at Alto Cuilo where several hundred consultations are given each month, not only to the employees of the company, but also to their families and the residents in the small villages surrounding the camp. We hope to continue to increase the quality of life for the communities in and around Alto Cuilo. Conclusion Petra Diamonds has this year grown to be, in terms of market capitalisation, the largest pure diamond player quoted on AIM. The fundamentals of the diamond industry are robust, with demand predicted to outstrip supply in the short term and rough prices rising accordingly. We believe that Petra Diamonds is well positioned to derive maximum benefit from the booming diamond industry. The Company is now poised for growth and I believe that we are in a position to extract maximum value out of our asset base for our shareholders. At the same time, the Company is also well placed to strengthen its existing portfolio by acquiring income producing assets. I believe that the coming year will be as exciting and energetic as this preceding one has been and that all stakeholders will benefit accordingly. ADONIS POUROULIS CHAIRMAN 8 DECEMBER 2004 Petra Diamonds Limited Consolidated Income Statement for the year ended 30 June 2004 2004 2003 £ £ Other operating income 4,424 2,739 Other operating charges (3,978,460) (1,757,853) Group operating loss (3,974,036) (1,755,114) Net financing (costs)/income (245,827) 879,744 Loss before and after taxation for the financial year (4,219,863) (875,370) Basic and diluted loss per share - pence (7.45) (1.81) The Group's income and expenses all relate to continuing operations in the current and previous year. Petra Diamonds Limited Consolidated Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses for the year ended 30 June 2004 2004 2003 £ £ Loss for the financial year (4,219,863) (875,370) Exchange adjustments on translation of subsidiary and 153,094 (541,295) branch undertakings recognised directly in equity Total recognised gains and losses relating to the financial (4,066,769) (1,416,665) year Petra Diamonds Limited Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2004 2004 2003 £ £ ASSETS Property, plant and equipment 1,782,408 130,319 Intangible assets 79,576 77,341 Investment in associates - - Total non-current assets 1,861,984 207,660 Other receivables 550,838 166,983 Cash at bank and in hand 3,766,852 263,949 Total current assets 4,317,690 430,932 Total assets 6,179,674 638,592 EQUITY AND LIABILITIES Equity Issued capital 6,784,998 5,163,849 Share premium account 18,834,587 12,878,603 Foreign currency translation reserve 1,639,078 1,485,984 Accumulated loss (23,578,125) (19,358,262) Total equity 3,680,538 170,174 Minority interests - - Liabilities Trade and other payables 2,013,620 90,210 Total non-current liabilities 2,013,620 90,210 Trade and other payables 485,516 378,208 Total current liabilities 485,516 378,208 Total liabilities 2 ,499,136 468,418 Total equity, minority interests and liabilities 6,179,674 638,592 Petra Diamonds Limited Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 30 June 2004 2004 2003 £ £ Loss before and after taxation for the financial year (4,219,863) (875,370) Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 52,185 9,775 Amortisation of intangible assets 4,250 5,290 Loss on sale of fixed assets - 1,396 Provision for write down of investment in associates - 27,542 Foreign exchange loss/(gain) 218,432 (560,313) Interest received (16,099) (785) Interest paid 113,700 11,870 Operating loss before working capital changes (3,847,395) (1,380,595) (Increase)/decrease in other receivables (383,855) 306,263 Increase in trade and other payables 107,308 274,844 Cash utilised in operations (4,123,942) (799,488) Interest paid (113,700) (11,870) Net cash utilised by operating activities (4,237,642) (811,358) Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of property, plant and equipment (1,776,097) (128,694) Purchase of intangible assets - (10,122) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment - 2,164 Interest received 16,099 785 Net cash utilised by investing activities (1,759,998) (135,867) Cash flows from financing activities Increase in long term liabilities 1,923,410 - Net proceeds from the issue of share capital 7,577,133 1,071,559 Net cash generated from financing activities 9,500,543 1,071,559 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 3,502,903 124,334 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year 263,949 139,615 Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year 3,766,852 263,949 Petra Diamonds Limited Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2004 2004 2003 £ £ 1. OTHER OPERATING CHARGES Auditors' remuneration - audit services 60,534 46,510 - other services - 3,138 Amortisation of mineral rights 4,250 5,290 Depreciation of tangible assets 52,185 9,775 Operating lease rentals 216,548 59,727 Staff costs 537,839 505,995 Bid expenditure 33,394 282,030 Provision for potentially irrecoverable loan to associate _ 27,542 Share issue costs _ 2,500 Other charges 3,073,710 815,346 3,978,460 1,757,853 2. NET FINANCING (COSTS)/INCOME On bank loans and overdrafts (74) (315) Other debt finance costs (113,626) (11,555) Interest paid (113,700) (11,870) Foreign exchange (losses)/gains (148,226) 890,829 Interest received 16,099 785 (245,827) 879,744 2004 2003 £ £ 3. LOSS PER SHARE The calculation of loss per share is based on the loss for the financial year of £4,219,863 (2003: £875,370) and on a weighted average of 56,682,704 (2003: 48,405,126) ordinary shares of 10p each in issue during the year. Loss for the financial year 4,219,863 875,370 Shares Shares Basic weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue 56,682,704 48,405,126 Pence Pence Basic loss per share - pence (7.45) (1.81) Due to the Group's loss for the year the diluted loss per share is the same as the basic loss per share 4. DIVIDENDS The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend for the year. 5. ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS The financial information set out above does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the years ended 30 June 2004 or 30 June 2003 but is derived from those accounts. The auditors have reported on those accounts and their reports were unqualified. Copies of the full accounts will be posted to all shareholders in December 2004. Further copies will be available from the Company's headquarters at Elizabeth House, 9 Castle Street, St. Helier, Jersey , JE4 2QP (telephone +44 1534 700 000) from the date of posting. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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