27 March
2024
Kazera Global
plc
("Kazera"
or
"the Company")
Interim
Results
Kazera Global plc (AIM:
KZG), the AIM-quoted investment company,
is pleased to announce its unaudited
interim results for the six months ended 31
December 2023.
OVERVIEW
Whale Head
Minerals Pty Ltd ("WHM") Heavy Mineral Sands ("HMS")
Project
·
October 2023: Manufacture of Trommel screening plant
completed
·
December 2023: Trommel screening plant received on
site and roads constructed
·
National Nuclear Regulator ("NNR") permit
submission made; decision expected by the end of April 2024
with plant operations to
commence immediately thereafter
·
Ongoing discussions with potential transporters
and off-takers to facilitate sale of HMS products once NRR
permitting achieved
Deep Blue
Minerals Pty Ltd ("DBM") Diamond Project
·
November 2023: Pulsating diamond jig with 20 tons
per hour processing capacity ordered
·
December 2023: Pulsating diamond jig delivered to
site
·
Post-period end, flow sort diamond recovery
machine purchased and en route to site:
o X-rays and sorts processed diamond gravel
o Will
be sited in secure
Alexkor compound
o Delivered on-site in March 2024 enabling diamond production
shortly thereafter
African
Tantalum Pty Ltd ("Aftan") - Tantalum and Lithium
Project
·
July 2023: Received further payment of c. US$650k
from Hebei Xinjian in respect
of the sale of Aftan; aggregate payments received from Hebei
Xinjian to date total c.US$4.85 million of the total consideration
due of the agreed US$13 million;
·
December 2023: Commenced discussions with
alternative prospective buyer of for Aftan in the event Hebei is
unable to complete
Corporate
·
December 2023: African Mineral Sands Pte Ltd
("AMS") completed purchase of 250,000,000 shares from existing
shareholder at 1.5 pence per Ordinary Share, becoming Kazera's
largest shareholder
·
Continued to explore value-adding acquisition
opportunities
·
Cash at 31 December 2023 of £684k (2022:
£595k)
Dennis Edmonds, CEO of Kazera Global commented:
"Our focus
during the period has been on utilising the funds from the ongoing
sale of the Aftan Project to put in place the plant, people and
equipment to facilitate the last crucial steps towards making Whale
Head Minerals and Deep Blue Minerals cashflow positive and
profitable.
"Whilst we await permitting from the NNR, which is expected by
the end of April, work has been ongoing at the Whale Head Minerals
site and discussions have been progressing with potential
customers. Once the NNR permit is received, we anticipate that the
sale of our heavy mineral sands will commence
swiftly.
"With the pulsating diamond jig on site, the trommel screening
plant in place, and our flow sort diamond recovery machine due to
be installed in a secure Alexkor compound shortly, the production
of diamonds is also expected to commence
imminently.
"Whilst there have been some frustrations and delays, things
are now progressing on all fronts and the Board believes that 2024
is set to be the year in which Kazera starts to really hit its
stride."
**ENDS**
Kazera Global
plc
Dennis Edmonds, CEO
|
kazera@stbridespartners.co.uk
|
Cavendish Capital Markets Ltd
(Nominated Adviser and Broker)
Derrick Lee / Pearl Kellie
(Corporate Finance)
|
Tel: +44 (0)207 220
0500
|
St Brides
Partners (Financial
PR)
Paul Dulieu / Isabel
de Salis
|
kazera@stbridespartners.co.uk
|
About Kazera
Global plc
Kazera is a global investment company focused on
leveraging the skills and expertise of its Board of Directors to
develop early-stage mineral exploration and development assets
towards meaningful cashflow and production.
Its three principal investments are as
follows:
Alluvial diamond mining through Deep
Blue Minerals (Pty) Ltd, Alexander Bay, South Africa
Kazera currently has a 90% direct interest in
Deep Blue Minerals, of which 64% is held beneficially by Kazera and
26% is held on behalf of Black Economic Empowerment
partners.
Heavy Mineral Sands mining (including
ilmenite, monazite, rutile, and zircon) through Whale Head
Minerals (Pty) Ltd, Alexander Bay, South
Africa.
Kazera currently has a 60% direct beneficial
interest in Whale Head Minerals.
Tantalite mining in South-East
Namibia (divestment in progress)
As announced on 20 December 2022, Kazera has
agreed to dispose of African Tantalum (Pty) Ltd ("Aftan") for a cash consideration of
US$13 million plus a debenture payment of 2.5% of the gross sales
of produced lithium and tantalum for life-of-mine. Completion of
the sale is subject to receipt of full consideration proceeds.
Aftan has been deconsolidated from the Company's financial
statements with effect from 4 January 2023 because in accordance
with the terms of the sale agreement, it has relinquished control
of the Aftan in favour of the purchaser, Hebei Xinjian Construction
Close Corp ("Hebei
Xinjian") with effect from that date. Kazera retains the
right to cancel the transaction and retain all amounts paid to date
in the event of default by Hebei Xinjian.
The Company will consider additional investment
opportunities as appropriate, having regard to the Group's future
cash flow requirements.
Condensed
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
for the
six-month period ended 31 December 2023
|
|
Six months
to
31 December
2023
Unaudited
|
Six months
to
31
December
2022
Unaudited
|
|
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Cash flows from operating
activities
|
|
|
|
Loss before taxation
|
|
(1,252)
|
(481)
|
Depreciation
|
|
40
|
63
|
Net foreign exchange
|
|
403
|
(378)
|
Interest receivable
|
|
(207)
|
-
|
Share-based payments charge and other
non-cash items
|
|
-
|
20
|
Net cashflow before changes in
working capital
|
|
(1,016)
|
(776)
|
Increase in receivables
|
|
461
|
(186)
|
(Decrease)/increase in
payables
|
|
(155)
|
243
|
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
|
(710)
|
(719)
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from investing activities
|
|
|
|
Purchase of property plant and
equipment
|
|
(398)
|
-
|
Development costs
|
|
(29)
|
(26)
|
Proceeds from the sale of
investment
|
|
1,060
|
828
|
Net
cash generated from investing activities
|
|
633
|
802
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from financing activities
|
|
|
|
Repayment of borrowings
|
|
-
|
(125)
|
Net
cash used in financing activities
|
|
-
|
(125)
|
|
|
|
|
Net decrease in cash and cash
equivalents during the period
|
|
(77)
|
(42)
|
Cash
at the beginning of period
|
|
761
|
637
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at the end of the period
|
|
684
|
595
|
Notes to the
condensed consolidated interim financial
information
1
GENERAL INFORMATION
Kazera is public limited company incorporated
and domiciled in the United Kingdom; its Ordinary shares are quoted
on AIM of the London Stock Exchange.
2
BASIS OF PREPARATION
The accounting policies, methods of computation
and presentation used in the preparation of the condensed
consolidated interim financial information are the same as those
used in the Group's audited financial statements for the year ended
30 June 2023. There have been no changes to the reported figures as
a result of any new reporting standards or
interpretations.
The condensed interim financial statements have
been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the AIM Rules
for Companies. As permitted, the Company has chosen not to adopt
IAS 34 "Interim Financial Statements" in preparing this interim
financial information. The condensed interim financial statements
should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements
for the year ended 30 June 2023, which have been prepared in
accordance with international accounting standards in conformity
with the Companies Act 2006.
The financial information set out in this
interim report is unaudited and does not constitute statutory
accounts as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006.
The Company's statutory financial statements for the period ended
30 June 2023, prepared under international accounting standards in
conformity with the Companies Act 2006, have been filed with the
Registrar of Companies. The auditor's report on those
financial statements was unqualified and did not contain a
statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act
2006.
Comparatives
The Group has presented comparatives for the
statement of comprehensive income, statement of cash flows and
statement of changes in equity for the six months ended 31 December
2022; and a statement of financial position as at 30 June 2023 in
accordance with the requirements of the AIM Rules for
Companies.
Risks and
uncertainties
The Board continuously assesses and monitors
the key risks of the business. The key risks that could affect the
Company's medium-term performance and the factors that mitigate
those risks have not substantially changed from those set out in
the Company's 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements, a copy
of which is available on the Company's website, www.kazeraglobal.com.
Critical
accounting estimates and judgements
The preparation of condensed interim financial
statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the
end of the reporting period. Significant items subject to such
estimates are set out in the Company's 2023 Annual Report and
Financial Statements. The nature and amounts of such estimates have
not changed during the interim period.
Going
Concern
The financial statements have been prepared
assuming the Group and Company will continue as a going
concern.
The Company prepares and routinely maintains a
cash flow forecast; the directors have, with reference to the cash
flow forecast considered a number of potential scenarios under
which the Company's ability to continue as a going concern is
assessed.
In assessing whether the going concern
assumption is appropriate, the directors have taken into account
all available information for the foreseeable future; in particular
for the 12 months from the date of approval of these financial
statements and performed sensitivity analysis thereon. This
assessment includes consideration of the cash receipts arising from
the disposal of the Group's operations in Namibia, and in South
Africa, the Group's future plans, expenditure commitments, and cost
reduction measures that can be implemented and permitting
requirements.
The Directors' estimates are dependent
principally upon the Group's mining operations coming into
operation as planned and a solution found, to the challenges
experienced in receiving the remaining funds from the sale of
African Tantalum Pty Ltd. The Directors are confident that further
funds could be raised to meet any shortfall in the event that
insufficient funds are received timeously, or operations are
delayed or underperform.
In view of the facts that the Group's mining
operations are not yet in full operation and the proceeds arising
from the sale of the Company's former subsidiary, African Tantalum
Pty Ltd have not yet been received in full (as further explained in
Note 4 below), the Directors consider than a material uncertainty
exists as to the Company's ability to continue as a going
concern.
3
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share is calculated by
dividing the loss attributable to equity holders of the Company by
the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the
period.
|
Six months
to
31 December
2023
|
Six months
to
31
December 2022
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Loss from continuing operations
attributable to equity holders of the Company
|
(1,223)
|
(496)
|
Weighted average number of ordinary
shares in issue
|
937,164,911
|
937,164,911
|
|
|
|
Basic and fully diluted loss per
share from continuing operations
|
(0.13)p
|
(0.05)p
|
4
DEFERRED CONSIDERATION RECEIVABLE
In December 2022, the Company agreed to sell
its subsidiary African Tantalum (Pty) Limited to Hebei Xinjian
Construction for US$13,000,000. As at 31 December 2023,
GBP£7,206,732 (US$9,175,034) remained due and payable under the
sale and purchase agreement. The full amount is included in
trade and other receivables.
Whilst the sale transaction has not proceeded
in accordance with the agreed terms of the sale and purchase
agreement, the directors remain confident that the carrying value
of the deferred consideration is appropriate.
|
|
|
31 December
2023
|
|
|
|
£'000
|
|
|
|
|
As
at 1 July 2023
|
|
|
8,501
|
Amounts received during the
period
|
|
|
(1,060)
|
Interest charged
|
|
|
207
|
Exchange translation
difference
|
|
|
(441)
|
As
at 31 December 2023
|
|
|
7,207
|
5
EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING
PERIOD
There were no events to report after the
reporting period.