Half Yearly Report

RNS Number : 3616I
Thor Mining PLC
10 March 2010
 

THOR MINING PLC

 

Half-yearly report for the six months to 31 December 2009

 

Dated: 10 March 2009

The Directors of Thor Mining PLC ("Thor" or the "Company") (AIM, ASX: THR) the specialist metals company focussed on gold and base metal projects and advancing tungsten-molybdenum projects in the Northern Territory of Australia, today announced its interim results for the period ended 31 December 2009.

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS

The net result of operations for the half-year was a loss of £534,000 (2008: £500,000).

Molyhil Molybdenum/Tungsten project

During the early part of half year ended 31 December 2009, the consolidated entity continued to refine the economic parameters necessary for commencement of development and construction activities for the Molyhil project.  While good progress had been made in reducing capital and operating costs for the project, international molybdenum prices reduced in line with pricing for other metals over the period.  This pushed the development timetable back until product pricing is more conducive for the necessary capital raising and the Directors announced in November 2009 a scale back of activities in response to the continued weakness in international markets for molybdenum and tungsten.

To preserve cash the Directors took steps which included the cessation of work with third party engineering companies, reduced Directors remuneration by 50%, agreed the redundancy of the Chief Executive Officer with those responsibilities being covered by the Executive Chairman.

Exploration projects

The consolidated entity continued to explore its portfolio of tenements for economic deposits of base metals, uranium and rare earths, and initiated a search for new exploration projects with a focus on mainstream commodities.

Finance

Subsequent to the end of the period, the company announced plans to issue 16,666,667 voting CDI's by way of a placement to sophisticated Australian Investors raising £140,000 before costs.  Funds raised are directed towards researching and assessing opportunities to acquire additional projects focussing upon mainstream commodities.

Comprehensive Income

The comprehensive income statement records a comprehensive income for the period of £506,000 (2008: Loss of £500,000) after taking into account a Directors review and write down due to an impairment of exploration costs for the half year amounting to £209,000 (2008: Nil) and favourable (unrealised) exchange differences of £1,040,000 (2008: Loss of £68,000).

The loss for the period, excluding the unrealised exchange differences, amounted to £534,000 (2008: loss of £500,000). Administrative and Corporate expenses for the half year were significantly reduced as the Company sought to conserve cash reserves.

 

Mick Billing

Executive Chairman

 

INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO THOR MINING PLC

 

Introduction

We have been engaged by the Company to review the interim consolidated financial statements for the six months ended 31st December 2009 comprising the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, Consolidated Balance Sheet and Statement of Changes in Equity and Cash Flows and related notes.  We have read the other information contained in the interim financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the interim financial statements.

 

This report is made solely to the Company in accordance with guidance contained in ISRE 2410 (UK and Ireland) "Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity" issued by the Auditing Practices Board. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company, for our work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have formed.

Directors' Responsibilities

The interim financial report is the responsibility of, and has been approved by the Directors.  The Directors are responsible for preparing the interim financial report in accordance with the rules of the London Stock Exchange Plc for Companies trading securities on the AIM Market. As disclosed in Note 1 the accounting policies are consistent with those that the Directors intend to use in the next financial statements. The interim financial statements included in this interim report have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 "Interim Financial Reporting" as adopted by the European Union.

Our Responsibility

Our responsibility is to express to the Company a conclusion on the interim financial statements in the interim report based on our review. 

Scope of Review

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410, "Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity", issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom.  A review of interim financial information consists of making inquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures.  A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit.  Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

Conclusion

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial information as presented in the interim financial statements for the six months ended 31st December 2009.

 

CHAPMAN DAVIS LLP

Chartered Accountants

2 Chapel Court

London 

SE1 1HH

26th February 2010 

 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the 6 months ended 31 December 2009


Note

£'000

£'000

£'000


Six Months ended

Six Months ended

Year Ended


31

31

30


December

December

June


2009

2008

2009


(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

Administrative Expenses


(105)

(231)

(449)

Corporate expenses


(219)

(267)

(532)

Other expenses


(67)

(39)

(51)

Impairment of Exploration assets


(209)

-

(254)

Operating Loss


(600)

(537)

(1,286)

Interest Receivable


4

24

27

Other Income


62

13

29

Loss before Taxation


(534)

(500)

(1,230)

Taxation


-

-

-

Loss for the period

 

 

(534)

(500)

(1,230)

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share based payment expense


-

10

10

Exchange differences on translating foreign operations


1,040

(68)

41

Other comprehensive income for the  period, net of income tax

 

 

 

1,040

 

(58)

 

51

                                       

Total comprehensive income for the period

 

 

 

506

 

(558)

 

1,179

 

 

Basic loss per share

 

2

 

 

(0.25)p

 

 

(0.33)p

 

 

(0.77)p

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheet





At 31 December 2009











Note

£'000

£'000

£'000



31 December 2009 (Unaudited)

31 December 2008 (Unaudited)

30                June          2009  (Audited)






NON-CURRENT ASSETS





Intangible assets - deferred exploration costs

6,340

5,499

5,453

Mine development costs


1,197

1,247

1,299

Plant and equipment

3

46

86

77

Total non-current assets


7,583

6,832

6,829






CURRENT ASSETS





Cash and cash equivalents


277

588

198

Trade and other receivables


6

24

26

Other


19

11

5

Total current assets


302

623

229






TOTAL ASSETS


7,885

7,455

7,058






CURRENT LIABILITIES





Trade and other payables


(50)

(72)

(96)

Provisions


0

(22)

(8)

Interest-bearing liabilities


(7)

(16)

(16)

Total current liabilities


(57)

(110)

(120)






NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES





Interest-bearing liabilities


(16)

(57)

(51)

Total non-current liabilities


(16)

(57)

(51)






Total liabilities


(73)

(167)

(171)






NET ASSETS


7,812

7,288

6,887






EQUITY





Issued share capital


              649

              448

           514

Share premium


7,144

6,706

6,860

Foreign exchange reserve


2,524

1,375

1,484

Merger reserve


1,634

1,634

1,634

Option revaluation reserve


              10

              872

             10

Retained losses


(4,149)

(3,747)

(3,615)

TOTAL EQUITY


7,812

7,288

6,887

 

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement





For the 6 months ended 31 December 2009


£'000

£'000

£'000


Note

Six months ended

Six months ended

Year      ended



31 December 2009 (Unaudited)

31 December 2008 (Unaudited)

30        June    2009  (Audited)

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES





Operating Loss


(600)

(537)

(1,286)

Decrease in trade and other receivables


6

8

12

Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables


(63)

(32)

Depreciation


14

21

28

Exploration expenditure written off


  209

-

254

Share options expensed


-

10

10

Unrealised exchange loss/(gain)


67

(24)

(3)

Sundry Income


62 

13

29

Profit/(Loss)  on sale of fixed assets


(1) 

-

(2)

Net cash outflow from operating activities


(306)

(541)

(980)






CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES




Interest Received


4

24

27

Proceeds from sale of equipment


24

13

16

Proceeds from sale surplus development expenditure


160

-

-

Purchase of property, plant and equipment


-

(8)

(6)

Payments for mine development expenditure


(16)

(116)

(114)

Payments for exploration expenditure


(162)

(84)

(254)

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities


10

(171)

(331)






CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES




Issue of ordinary share capital


419

-

220

Share issue costs


-

-

-

Repayment of borrowings


(44)

(21)

(32)

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities


375

(21)

188






Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents


79

(733)






Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period


198

1,321

1,321






Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period


277

588

198

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity





For the 6 months ended 31 December 2009







Issued share capital

Share premium

Retained earnings

 Foreign Currency Translation Reserve

 Merger Reserve 

 Option Reserve

 Total


£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000









At 1 July 2008

448

6,706

(3,247)

1,443

1,634

862

7,846

Total Comprehensive Income for the period

-

-

(500)

(68)

-

10

(558)

Shares issued

           -

            -

            -

                -

           -

           -

            -

At 31 December 2008

448

6,706

(3,747)

1,375

1,634

872

7,288









At 1 July 2008

448

6,706

(3,247)

1,443

1,634

862

7,846

Total Comprehensive Income for the period

-

-

(368)

41

-

(852)

(1,179)

Shares issued

        66

        154

            -

                -

           -

           -

220

At 30 June 2009

514

6,860

(3,615)

1,484

1,634

10

6,887









At 1 July 2009

514

6,860

(3,615)

1,484

1,634

10

6,887

Total Comprehensive Income for the period

-

-

(534)

1,040

-

-

506

Shares issued

135

284

-

-

-

-

419

At 31 December 2009

649

7,144

(4,149)

2,524

1,634

10

7,812

 

 

Notes to the Half-yearly Report

For the 6 months ending 31 December 2009

1.      PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a)    Presentation of Half-yearly results

This half-yearly report was approved by the Directors on 26 February 2010.  The half-yearly results have not been audited, but were the subject of an independent review carried out by the Company's auditors, Chapman Davis LLP.  Their review confirmed that the figures were prepared using applicable accounting policies and practices consistent with those adopted in the 2009 annual report and to be adopted in the 2010 annual report.  The financial information contained in this half-yearly report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined by Section 435 of the Companies Act 2006.

The half-yearly report has been prepared under the historical cost convention.

The Directors acknowledge their responsibility for the half-yearly report and confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, the interim consolidated financial statements for the six months ended 31 December 2009 have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, including IAS 34 "Interim Financial Statements", and complies with the listing requirements for companies trading securities on the AIM market. This half-year report does not include all the notes of the type normally included in an annual financial report. Accordingly, this report should be read in conjunction with the annual report for the year ended 30 June 2009. 

The Directors are of the opinion that ongoing evaluations of the Company's interests indicate that preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis is appropriate.

(b)    Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of Thor Mining PLC and its controlled entities.  The financial statements of controlled entities are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date control commences until the date control ceases.

The financial statements of subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting period as the parent company, using consistent accounting policies.

All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in full.

2.         LOSS PER SHARE


£'000

£'000

£'000


Six Months

Six Months

Year


Ended

ended

ended


31

31

30


December

December

June


2009

2008

2009


(Unaudited)

(Unaudited

(Audited)

Basic Loss Per share for the period:








Loss

(534)

(500)

(1,230)





Weighted average number of shares

213,377,748

149,470,949

159,236,518





Loss per share - pence

(0.25)

(0.33)

(0.77)

 

No diluted loss per share is presented as the effect of exercise of outstanding options is to decrease the loss per share.

 

3.         PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

As at 31 December 2009 the group assets had a cost of £124,000 (six months ending 31 December 2008: £168,000).  This comprised of motor vehicles and other equipment amounting to £56,000 and £68,000 respectively. The net book values at 31 December 2009 are £28,000 for motor vehicles and £18,000 for other equipment.

 

4.         SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

There were no grants of options made during the 6 months ended 31st December, 2009.

 

Existing options granted to the Directors are:-

 

Number

Grant Date

Expiry Date

Exercise Price





5,000,000

24 November 2008

15 September 2011

AUS$0.18

 

5.       POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS

 

During February 2010 the Company raised £140,000 by the placing of 16.67 million shares to sophisticated investors at 1.5 cents AUD per share. This raising is to used to search for and evaluate new projects to supplement the Molyhil tungsten and molybdenum project which is on hold due to depressed metal prices.

 

On 25th February, 2010 the Directors announced that an expansion of the Company exploration emphasis had commenced with the acquisition of the Dundas gold exploration project in the broader Norseman area south-east of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. The Company has entered into a terms sheet for the staged acquisition of 3 tenements covering 340 square kilometres. The terms of the acquisition provide for the purchase of an initial 51% interest in the tenements for AUD$100,000 (payable following the execution of formal agreements); an option to acquire separate interests of 9% (in return for the issue to Vendors of 45 million fully paid ordinary shares in Thor), followed by an option to acquire 20% (for an issue to Vendors of AUD$2,000,000 worth of Thor fully paid shares) and then an option to acquire the final 20% (for the issue of a further AUD$2,000,000 equivalent in Thor fully paid shares), subject to Thor meeting exploration expenditure targets and shareholder approval.

 

6.       TURNOVER AND SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS - GROUP

The group has not commenced production and therefore recorded no turnover.

 

The analysis of operating loss before taxation and the net assets employed by geographical segment of operations is shown below:

 

 By geographical area




6 months ended 31 December 2009

UK

Australia

Total


£'000

£'000

£'000

Result




Operating loss

(85)

(515)

(600)

Investment revenue

-

4

4

Other income

-

62

62

Loss before and after tax

(85)

(449)

(534)

 

 Other information

UK

Australia

Total


£'000

£'000

£'000

        Depreciation

-

14

14

        Capital additions

-

-

-



         Assets

    

Australia

Total


£'000

£'000

£'000

         Segment assets

-

7,583

7,583

         Financial assets

-

25

25

         Cash

162

115

277

         Consolidated total assets

162

7,723

7,885


 

Liabilities

UK

Australia

Total


£'000

£'000

£'000

Segment liabilities

-

-

-

Financial liabilities

12

61

73

Consolidated total liabilities

12

61

73

 

6          Turnover and segmental analysis - Group (continued)

 

By geographical area




6 Months ended 31 December 2008

UK

Australia

Total


£'000

£'000

£'000

Result




Operating loss

(337)

(200)

(537)

Investment revenue

5

19

24

Other income

-

13

13

Loss before and after tax

   (332)

(168)

(500)

 

Other information

UK

Australia

Total


£'000

£'000

£'000

Depreciation

-

21

21

Capital additions

1

154

155



Assets

UK

Australia

Total


£'000

£'000

£'000

Segment assets

3

6,829

6,832

Financial assets

10

25

35

Cash

280

308

588

Consolidated total assets

293

7162

7,455


 

Liabilities

UK

Australia

Total


£'000

£'000

£'000

Segment liabilities

-

-

-

Financial liabilities

12

155

167

Consolidated total liabilities

12

155

167

 

 

Thor Mining PLC

Company Information

 

Directors                                         Mick Billing (Executive Chairman)

                                              Michael Ashton (Non-executive Director)

                                              Greg Durack (Non-executive Director)

                                              Norman Gardner (Non-executive Director)

                                             

Secretary                                       Stephen F Ronaldson (United Kingdom)

                                              Laurie Ackroyd (Australia)

 

Registered office                           3rd Floor

                                              55 Gower Street

                                              London WC1E 6HQ

 

Australian office                            Level 1

                                              26 Greenhill Road        

                                              Wayville South Australia 5034

                                              Telephone:       + 618 8177 8850

                                              Fax:                + 618 9272 2838

 

Shareholder Enquires                  Laurie Ackroyd

                                              corporate@thormining.com

 

Shareholders are encouraged to register on the Company's website to receive updates by email.

 

Web site:                                www.thormining.com

 

Nominated Adviser and               Daniel Stewart & Co.plc

Broker                                    London 

                                              Telephone:       + 44 (0) 20 7776 6550

                                              Fax:                + 44 (0) 20 7796 4648

 

Auditors                                          Chapman Davis LLP

                                              London

 

Solicitors                                        Ronaldsons

                                              London

 

                                              Watsons Lawyers

                                              Adelaide, Australia

 

Registrar                                         Computershare Investor Services plc

                                              PO Box 82

                                              The Pavilions

                                              Bridgwater Road

                                              Bristol BS99 7NH        

                                              Telephone:       + 44 (0) 870 702 0002

                                              Fax:                + 44 (0) 870 703 6116

 

Registered number                       United Kingdom:  05 276 414

                                              Australia:   121 117 673

 

 

Enquiries:

 

Mick Billing

+ 61 (0) 414  741 007

 

Thor Mining PLC

 Executive Chairman





Laurie Ackroyd

+ 61 (0) 8177 8850

Thor Mining PLC

Chief Financial Officer





John Simpson

020 7776 6550

 

Daniel Stewart & Co plc

Nominated Adviser

 

Updates on the Company's activities are regularly posted on Thor's website www.thormining.com which includes a facility to register to receive these updates by email.

 


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