28th June 2017
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Connemara Mining Company plc ("Connemara")
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Final Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2016
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Connemara Mining Company οΏ½ today announces its results for the year ending 31 December 2016.
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This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation 596/2014.
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ENDS
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Enquiries:
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Connemara Mining Company Plc |
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John Teeling, Chairman |
+353 (0) 1 833 2833 |
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Jim Finn, Director |
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Gavin Berkenheger, Director |
+44 (0) 784 145 5632 |
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Northland Capital Partners Limited |
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Matthew Johnson / Gerry Beaney |
+44 (0) 203 861 6625 |
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John Howes |
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Dowgate Capital Stockbrokers Limited |
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Jason Robertson |
+44 (0) 203 903 7725 |
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Blytheweigh |
+44 (0) 207 138 3204 |
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Nick Elwes |
+44 (0) 783 185 1855 |
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Camilla Horsfall |
+44 (0) 781 784 1793 |
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Teneo PSG |
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Ciaran Flynn |
+353 (0) 1 661 4055 |
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Alan Tyrrell |
+353 (0) 1 661 4055 |
Statement Accompanying the Final Results
Connemara is an Irish focused zinc and gold explorer with 35 licences spread across Ireland. We have three joint ventures where we brought in partners with funds and technology. Or so we hoped. Two of the joint ventures are in zinc with Teck Resources, one of the world's greatest zinc companies. Losses in areas other than zinc have ravaged the share price of Teck. Exploration budgets were slashed to virtually nothing. In recent years Teck have done little on our joint venture licences apart from keeping them in good standing. I believe that the coming months will see developments in the joint ventures.
Hendrick Resources, a private Canadian gold prospector, joint ventured five gold licences in Wicklow/Wexford. They did some excellent work identifying high potential targets. Finance for small gold exploration companies in Canada has been virtually non-existent for the past five years. The promoter has struggled to raise funds while also battling ill health. Once again sufficient work has been done to keep our licences in good standing.
Zinc has doubled in price in the past 18 months and I believe it has further to go. Gold above $1,200 an ounce means that every 1 gram a ton is worth $40. These prices make most producers profitable and should incentivise explorers and early stage investors into exploration shares.
There has been a dramatic revival of interest, particularly from Canada, in Irish zinc exploration with up to seven new companies entering the sector. The announcement by Boliden, the owner of the Tara zinc mine at Navan in Meath, that they have identified an additional orebody on the property which will extend the commercial mine life by years has boosted interest. It is thought that the use of 3D seismic techniques, prevalent in oil exploration but rare until now in Irish zinc/lead exploration, identified the structure at depth.
For many years the flagship Irish zinc exploration project has been at Pallas Green in Limerick, where Glencore the licence holder has identified 42 million tons of ore at a combined grade of 8% zinc/lead. In recent years little or no exploration has been done on the property. But it is now reported that eight drilling rigs are working on the site with a target of 22,000 metres of drilling.
The first Connemara/Teck joint venture is in Stonepark in Limerick, a few hundred metres from the Pallas Green discovery. The excitement of the early years when three good zinc bearing zones were discovered has given way to care and maintenance. This is not a good position for a junior explorer like Connemara which needs news and excitement. Teck are operator and control over 76% of the joint venture. We believe there is interest in acquiring Teck's share of the joint venture and we would be more than pleased to support any sale. Such a sale would be positive for Connemara as we would like to see new eyes evaluate the potential on the Stonepark block.
The second joint venture with Teck is five licences in the Oldcastle area straddling the Meath/Cavan border. This area has historical zinc/lead discoveries. Our block is 30 km west of the Tara mine. The target is a large ore body at depth. Teck holds many licences in the midland area of Ireland and they appear to be following a regional model in which the geology of Oldcastle plays a part. Teck are earning into the block so Connemara has no expenditure at present. In 2016, Teck drilled one deep hole on the block with disappointing results. We do not believe that one hole is enough, however such holes are expensive, costing up to 100,000 each. Further drilling which is our preferred option will mean that Teck will earn into their 75% holding. After which, like in Stonepark, Connemara will either fund its share or dilute.
We like zinc and believe that Ireland is the best zinc prospecting province in the world. The geology is good, title is secure, skills are available and licencing terms are reasonable. We have continued to monitor available ground and in the past year have added seven new licences. Five new prospecting licences have been acquired in the Derrykearn area of Laois. The properties lie along the Rathdowney Trend not far from the closed Galmoy and Lisheen zinc/lead mines. Two historic mines, Tonduff and Derrykearn, are on the licences. The best place to find a mine is where there is or was a mine. Exploration technology is evolving rapidly so we believe that new eyes casting a critical look at the geology of Derrykearn may reveal new targets.
The two Ladyswell licences in Cork cover an area containing a former barite mine. Barite is found in association with base metals. Little historic exploration has been carried out on the ground. Some early stage prospecting will take place this year.
Gold
We have two distinct gold exploration programmes - our 100% owned licence block in Donegal where we are active and our joint venture with Hendrick in Wicklow/Wexford which is effectively on care and maintenance.
The Inishowen block in Donegal now covers 187 km2 in eleven licences. We drilled four holes in 2016 with positive results including 4.82 metres at 5.48 grams/tonne of gold.
We also explored the old Glentogher silver mine approximately 4 km away from our discoveries to see if we could connect the two. We failed to find significant gold grades. Analysis of the geophysics over the area suggest additional veins and has identified two magnetic anomalies about 1 km north of the earlier drilling. We are examining a drilling proposal for later in 2017.
Gold in Wicklow/Wexford has been the subject of lore, fable and frustration since first discovered in Avoca in 1796. Over the decades many companies have prospected and explored to try to find the hard rock source for the gold found in the rivers and streams in the area.
Connemara personnel have long experience in the area. We believe that we hold five of the best licences. This view was supported by the decision of Hendrick Resources to acquire the licences surrounding our block and to joint venture our block. Extensive work by Hendrick revealed numerous drilling targets on Connemara ground. Then the recession hit, money dried up and the principal, Dale Hendrick, a renowned gold explorer, had health issues. The joint venture is in limbo. Because of the skills, experience and technology in Hendrick we are reluctant to walk away. We are in discussions with the principals in order to seek a resolution.
Future
A rising tide lifts all ships. So it is with Connemara. Better zinc prices, renewed exploration actively in Ireland and the arrival of new explorers is good for Connemara. We would be pleased for Teck to drill both joint ventures Stonepark and Oldcastle. But that does not look likely for Stonepark. We would support any transfer of the Teck interest to a new explorer willing to invest in the property. Though the pace of exploration in Oldcastle is excruciatingly slow we are not spending any money and won't for some time. Given the prospectivity and potential of Oldcastle a new partner with more commitment and deeper pockets would be our preferred way forward.
We believe that our new ground in Derrykearn and Ladyswell has excellent potential. We will prospect the ground and then seek to bring in a partner. Our overhead and joint venture partner spending is low so we spend very little money to do the exploration work. But our partners are not spending on the ground. We would like this rectified. We have funded the company on a shoestring and will continue to do so.
John Teeling
Chairman
27th June 2017
CONNEMARA MINING COMPANY PLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2016
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2016 |
2015 |
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CONTINUING OPERATIONS |
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|
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Administrative expenses |
(195,584) |
(202,965) |
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OPERATING LOSS |
(195,584) |
(202,965) |
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|
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Investment revenue |
- |
4 |
|
|
|
|
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LOSS BEFORE TAXATION |
(195,584) |
(202,961) |
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|
|
|
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Income tax expense |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
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LOSS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR AND |
|
|
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TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME |
(195,584) |
(202,961) |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Loss per share - basic and diluted |
(0.29c) |
(0.36c) |
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CONNEMARA MINING COMPANY PLC
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2016
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2016 |
2015 |
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ASSETS: |
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FIXED ASSETS |
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Intangible assets |
2,698,314 |
2,451,015 |
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CURRENT ASSETS |
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|
|
|
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Other receivables |
13,632 |
28,299 |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
162,794 |
120,382 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
176,426 |
148,681 |
|
|
|
|
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TOTAL ASSETS |
2,874,740 |
2,599,696 |
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|
|
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LIABILITIES: |
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CURRENT LIABILITIES |
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|
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Trade and other payables |
(442,120) |
(426,392) |
|
|
|
|
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NET CURRENT LIABILITIES |
(265,694) |
(277,711) |
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|
|
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NET ASSETS |
2,432,620 |
2,173,304 |
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|
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EQUITY: |
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|
|
|
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Called-up share capital |
757,897 |
557,797 |
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Share premium |
5,063,806 |
4,809,006 |
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Retained deficit |
(3,389,083) |
(3,193,499) |
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|
|
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TOTAL EQUITY |
2,432,620 |
2,173,304 |
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CONNEMARA MINING COMPANY PLC
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2016
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Group and Company |
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Called up Share Capital |
Share Premium |
Share Based Payment Reserve |
Retained Deficit |
Total |
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|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
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At 1 January 2015 |
557,797 |
4,809,006 |
- |
(2,990,538) |
2,376,265 |
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Loss for the year |
- |
- |
- |
(202,961) |
(202,961) |
|
At 31 December 2015 |
557,797 |
4,809,006 |
- |
(3,193,499) |
2,173,304 |
|
Shares issued |
200,100 |
278,742 |
- |
- |
478,842 |
|
Share issue expenses |
- |
(23,942) |
- |
- |
(23,942) |
|
Loss for the year |
|
|
|
(195,584) |
(195,584) |
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At 31 December 2016 |
757,897 |
5,063,806 |
- |
(3,389,083) |
2,432,620 |
In respect of prior financial year:
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Group and Company |
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Called up Share Capital |
Share Premium |
Share Based Payment Reserve |
Retained Deficit |
Total |
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At 1 January 2014 |
357,397 |
4,524,801 |
49,815 |
(2,732,061) |
2,199,952 |
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Shares issued |
200,400 |
300,600 |
- |
- |
501,000 |
|
Share issue expenses |
- |
(16,395) |
- |
- |
(16,395) |
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Options exercised |
- |
- |
(49,815) |
49,815 |
- |
|
Loss for the year |
- |
- |
- |
(308,292) |
(308,292) |
|
At 31 December 2014 |
557,797 |
4,809,006 |
- |
(2,990,538) |
2,376,265 |
|
Loss for the year |
- |
- |
- |
(202,961) |
(202,961) |
|
At 31 December 2015 |
557,797 |
4,809,006 |
- |
(3,193,499) |
2,173,304 |
Share premium
The share premium reserve comprises of the excess of monies received in respect of share capital over the nominal value of shares issued.
Share based payment reserve
The share based payment reserve arises on the grant of share options to directors and consultants under the share options plan.
Retained deficit
Retained deficit comprises accumulated losses in the current and prior financial years.
CONNEMARA MINING COMPANY PLC
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2016
|
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2016 |
2015 |
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CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
|
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|
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Loss for the financial year |
(195,584) |
(202,961) |
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Investment revenue recognised in loss for the financial year |
- |
(4) |
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Exchange movements |
11,963 |
(16,334) |
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|
|
|
|
|
(183,621) |
(219,299) |
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MOVEMENTS IN WORKING CAPITAL |
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Increase/(Decrease) in trade and other payables |
15,728 |
(30,980) |
|
Decrease in other receivables |
14,667 |
41,099 |
|
|
|
|
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CASH USED BY OPERATIONS |
(153,226) |
(209,180) |
|
|
|
|
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Investment revenue |
- |
4 |
|
|
|
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NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
(153,226) |
(209,176) |
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CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES |
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Payments for exploration and evaluation |
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NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES |
(247,299) |
(71,624) |
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|
|
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CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
(247,299) |
(71,624) |
|
|
|
|
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Proceeds from issue of equity shares |
478,842 |
- |
|
Share issue costs |
(23,942) |
- |
|
|
|
|
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NET CASH FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
454,900 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN |
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CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS |
54,375 |
(280,800) |
|
|
|
|
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Cash and cash equivalents at beginning |
|
|
|
of financial year |
120,382 |
384,848 |
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash held in foreign currencies |
(11,963) |
16,334 |
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end |
|
|
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of financial year |
162,794 |
120,382 |
|
|
|
|
Notes:
1. Accounting Policies
There were no changes in accounting policies from those used to prepare the Group's Annual Report for financial year ended 31 December 2015. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union.
2. Loss per Share
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2016 |
2015 |
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|
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|
|
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|
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Loss per share - Basic and Diluted |
(0.29) |
(0.36c) |
|
|
|
|
Basic loss per share
The earnings and weighted average number of ordinary shares used in the calculation of basic loss per share are as follows:
|
|
2016 |
2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Loss for the year attributable to equity holders of the parent |
(195,584) |
(202,961) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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2016 |
2015 |
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No. |
No. |
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Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the |
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|
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purpose of basic earnings per share |
68,498,396 |
55,779,711 |
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Basic and diluted loss per share is the same as the effect of the outstanding share options and warrants is anti-dilutive.
3. Intangible Assets
|
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2016 |
2015 |
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Exploration and Evaluation: |
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|
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Cost: |
|
|
|
At 1 January 2016 |
2,451,015 |
2,379,391 |
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Additions |
247,299 |
71,624 |
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|
|
|
|
At 31 December 2016 |
2,698,314 |
2,451,015 |
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|
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|
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Carrying amount: |
|
|
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At 31 December 2016 |
2,698,314 |
2,451,015 |
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|
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|
The above represents expenditure on projects in Ireland. Included in the Group intangible assets is Nil (2015: Nil) of directors' remuneration which was capitalised during the year.
In 2012 the Group entered into an agreement with Teck Ireland Limited ("Teck"), a subsidiary of Teck Resources Limited, which gives Teck the option of earning a 75% interest in licences held by the Group in Cavan/Meath. Teck have to spend 1.35 million on the licences by 2018 in order to earn the option to acquire 75% interest. As per the agreement the licences have been transferred into a new company, Oldcastle Zinc Limited. As at 31 December 2016 Teck had completed 1,064,403 worth of expenditure. As per the agreement upon Teck completing 550,000 worth of expenditure 343,500 ordinary shares in Oldcastle Zinc Limited were to be issued to Teck. The shares were issued on 20 February 2015 giving Teck a 51% interest in the company.
In 2007 the Group entered into an agreement with Teck Cominco which gave Teck Cominco the option to earn a 75% interest in a number of other licences held by the Group. Teck Cominco had to spend CAD$3m to earn the interest. During 2012 the relevant licences were transferred to a new company, TILZ Minerals Limited, which at 31 December 2016 was owned 23.44% (2015: 23.44%) by Limerick Zinc Limited and 76.56% (2015: 76.56%) by Teck Ireland Limited. The Group's share of expenditure on the licences continues to be capitalised as an exploration and evaluation asset. The Group is subject to cash calls from Teck Ireland Limited in respect of the financing of the ongoing exploration and evaluation of these licences. In the event that the Group decides not to meet these cash calls its interest in TILZ Minerals Limited may be diluted accordingly.
The realisation of the intangible assets is dependent on the discovery and successful development of economic reserves which is subject to a number of risks as outlined below. Should this prove unsuccessful the value included in the balance sheet would be written off to the statement of comprehensive income.
The Group's exploration activities are subject to a number of significant and potential risks including:
- uncertainties over development and operational risks;
- compliance with licence obligations;
- liquidity risks; and
- going concern risks;
The directors are aware that by its nature there is an inherent uncertainty in such exploration and evaluation expenditure as to the value of the asset. Having reviewed the carrying value of exploration and evaluation of assets at 31 December 2016, the directors are satisfied that the value of the intangible asset is not less than carrying value.
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Segmental analysis |
2016 |
2015 |
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|
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Limerick |
1,404,296 |
1,370,210 |
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Oldcastle |
330,000 |
330,000 |
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Rest of Ireland |
964,018 |
750,805 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,698,314 |
2,451,015 |
|
|
|
|
4. Share Capital and Share Premium
|
|
2016 |
2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
Authorised: |
|
|
|
200,000,000 Ordinary shares of 0.01 each |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
Allotted, Called-Up and Fully Paid:
|
|
|
Share |
Share |
|
|
Number |
Capital |
Premium |
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 January 2015 |
55,779,711 |
557,797 |
4,809,006 |
|
Issued in the year |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 December 2015 |
55,779,711 |
557,797 |
4,809,006 |
|
Issued in the year |
20,010,000 |
200,100 |
278,742 |
|
Share issue costs |
- |
- |
(23,942) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
31 December 2016 |
75,789,711 |
757,897 |
5,063,806 |
|
|
|
|
|
On 13 May 2016, a total of 20,010,000 shares were issued at a price of 2p per share to provide additional working capital and fund development costs.
For each share subscribed for, the investors also received one warrant to subscribe for an additional ordinary share at a price of 5p per share at any time until 26 May 2018. As date of issue each warrant had a fair value of 0.0824p.
5. Annual General Meeting
The Company's Annual General Meeting will be held on 24th July 2017 in the Shelbourne Hotel, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin at 1:00 pm.
6. General Information
The financial information set out above does not constitute the Company's financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2016. The financial information for 2015 is derived from the financial statements for 2015 which have been delivered to the Companies Registration Office. The auditors have reported on 2015 statements; their report was unqualified with an emphasis of matter in respect of considering the adequacy of the disclosures made in the financial statements concerning the valuation of intangible assets, investment in subsidiaries and amounts due by group undertakings. The financial statements for 2016 will be delivered to the Companies Registration Office.
A copy of the Company's Annual Report and Accounts for 2016 will be mailed to all shareholders shortly and will also be available for collection from the Company's registered office, 162 Clontarf Road, Dublin 3, Ireland. The annual report will shortly be available for viewing at Connemara Mining Company PLC's website at www.connemaramining.com .