Amedeo Resources PLC Interim Results - six months ended 30 June 2015 (2878A)

TIDMAMED

RNS Number : 2878A

Amedeo Resources PLC

28 September 2015

28 September 2015

Amedeo Resources plc

("Amedeo" or the "Company")

Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2015

Highlights

-- First order of a Le Tourneau Super 116E Class design self-elevating mobile offshore jack up drilling rig ("Explorer 1"), continues to quality and is on schedule to be completed by the end of this year

   --    Cash administrative costs reduced to US$248,000 from US$453,000 
   --    Cash net loss reduced to US$15,000 from US$271,000 
   --    US$3,281,000 cash on balance sheet as at 30 June 2015 

**ENDS**

Enquiries:

 
Glen Lau                       Zafar Karim 
 Chief Executive Officer        Executive Director 
 Amedeo Resources Plc           Amedeo Resources Plc 
 Tel office: [phone]   Tel office: [phone] 
Paul Shackleton                Zoe Alexander 
 Nominated Adviser & Broker     Joint Broker 
 WH Ireland                     Beaufort Securities Limited 
 Tel office: [phone]   Tel office: [phone] 
 

Notes

Amedeo Resources plc is an investment company whose policy is to invest principally, but not exclusively, in the resources and resources infrastructure and asset sectors. Amedeo has a deep and broad global network and wide contact base in these sectors, including in East and South East Asia and the Middle East which it leverages to source and make investments. These sectors are strategically important. Amedeo is a proactive investor which assists its investee companies to grow by providing investment, expertise and contacts.

Introduction

Progress at Jiangsu Yangzijiang Offshore Engineering Co. Ltd's ("YZJ Offshore") marine vessel yard on its first order, a Le Tourneau Super 116E Class design self-elevating mobile offshore jack up drilling rig ("Explorer 1"), continues to quality and schedule with the rig due for completion by the end of this year. With the fall in the oil price, the rig market remains difficult and while discussions with several potential purchasers are on-going, no new orders have been obtained. While this is disappointing, YZJ offshore has the capability to build many different vessels and blocks. In addition, we do not expect the weakness in the rig market to continue in the medium term.

With the iron ore price depressed, MGR Resources PTE Ltd ("MGR") has had a difficult first half and cut back on its activities. It is exploring opportunities in a range of commodities, both soft and hard.

Despite the above difficulties, Amedeo continues to pursue its long term strategy of building a vertically integrated business in the resource and energy and related infrastructure sectors. Ongoing cash costs are down to less than US$250,000 per half year and with the repayment by MGR of a loan, cash is up to over US$3,000,000.

YZJ Offshore

YZJ Offshore's first order, Explorer 1, is on schedule and to quality for completion by the end of this year. Following completion, commissioning will commence, a process which takes several months, and then the rig will be delivered. Reputation is key in obtaining further orders and as a new yard, YZJ Offshore needs to develop a reputation as a reliable and quality rig builder. With the build of Explorer 1, it is achieving this. However, with the decline in the oil price since the middle of last year, conditions in the rig market remain difficult, and thus far no new orders have been secured. As mentioned in our annual report, however, we do not expect these conditions to continue in the medium term.

Importantly, YZJ Offshore has the ability to build advanced and specialised (by locality) rigs for shallow and mid waters and to build various other vessels including semi submersibles and accommodation units. The New Yard is also able to fabricate blocks for container ships and gas carrier vessels, and as such the New Yard is absorbing container block overspill from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) Pte Ltd's principal yards. Along with completing the order for Explorer 1, these activities keep the New Yard busy.

Amedeo has an indirect 19.0% stake in YZJ Offshore which it holds through its 47.5% stake in the joint venture company, YZJ Offshore Engineering Pte Ltd ("YZJ JV").

MGR

With the reduced demand for iron ore and depressed iron ore prices, MGR scaled back its iron ore operations, and focused on monitoring that market and exploring opportunities for broking other, including soft, commodities, along the East and South East Asia, South Asia, Middle East and Africa corridors. Actual broking activities were minimal, and in January 2015, MGR paid US$1,950,100 to Amedeo as repayment of its convertible loan that was granted in April 2013. MGR still has a loan of US$1,868,000 outstanding to Amedeo.

Amedeo has a 49.0% stake in MGR.

Financial Review

Revenue for the six months rose to US$65,000 (prior period: US$36,000). Amedeo provides to MGR various business development and marketing services. In the prior period, MGR was charged for these services for only half of the period.

Administrative costs were significantly reduced to US$338,000 (prior period: US$453,000). Moreover, excluding the non-cash share based payments of US$90,000 (prior period: US$Nil), cash administrative costs were US$248,000 (prior period: US$453,000). This substantial reduction was due to the absence of one off cost of US$101,000 relating to the investment in YZJ JV and also due to the elimination of non-recoverable VAT.

Amedeo's share of loss in associates was US$582,000 (prior period: US$624,000). This was made up of a loss of US$518,000 (prior period: US$674,000) at YZJ JV and a loss of US$64,000 (prior period: profit of US$ 50,000) at MGR. The reduction in the losses reflected increased activity at YZJ Offshore in the period since the new yard was completed. The loss at MGR is discussed above. The losses of the associate companies are non-cash items.

Foreign exchange gains amounted to US$4,000 (prior period: US$80,000). These were predominately due to translating GBP denominated loans into US$. This is a non-cash item. A quoted legacy investment was sold for US$3,000. Finance income rose to US$165,000 (prior period: USD 146,000) due to the interest on loans to MGR.

Overall loss on ordinary activities before taxation was reduced to US$683,000 (prior period: US$815,000). Basic and fully diluted loss per share for the period was US$2.09c (prior period: US$2.65). Excluding non-cash items, Amedeo was close to break-even with a loss on ordinary activities before taxation of US$15,000 (prior period: US$271,000).

Foreign exchange translation differences of US$66,000 arose due to Amedeo's indirect investment in YZJ Offshore (prior period: gain US$10,000). Taking the balance sheet foreign exchange translation differences into account, overall, total comprehensive loss for the period was US$749,000 (prior period: US$805,000).

As at the period end, the carrying value on the balance sheet of investments in associates fell to US$18,557,000 (30 June 2014: US$19,656,000) due to the losses incurred at the associates companies.

Current assets fell to US$5,468,000 (30 June 2014: US$5,923,000), predominately due to a decrease in net cash/loan receivable to US$5,149,000 (30 June 2014: US$5,698,000). Cash as at 30 June 2015 rose to US$3,281,000 (30 June 2014: US$1,707,000) primarily as a result of the repayment of a convertible loan of US$1,950,100 from MGR.

Trade and other payables rose to US$247,000 (30 June 3014: US$155,000) mainly due to accrued expenses which were settled after the period end.

Overall, at the period end, net and total assets were US$23,778,000 (30 June 2014: US$25,424,000) and US$24,025,000 (30 June 2014: US$25,579,000), respectively.

Outlook

With the current difficulties with the rig market, winning new orders at YZJ Offshore has been difficult. We do not expect this situation to continue in the medium term, and when the recovery does come, YZJ Offshore, having proved itself with Explorer 1 and with its capability to produce advanced, specialised and localised rigs as well as a range of other vessels, is well placed to take advantage of it. Depressed iron ore prices have not helped MGR. It is, however, exploring other opportunities.

Amedeo remains focused on long term strategy of building a vertically integrated business in the resource and energy and related infrastructure sectors.

AMEDEO RESOURCES PLC

Consolidated unaudited statement of comprehensive income

for the six months ended 30 June 2015 (unaudited)

 
 
                                            Unaudited     Unaudited     Audited 
                                   Note      6 months      6 months   11 months 
                                                ended         ended       ended 
                                              30.6.15       30.6.14    31.12.14 
                                                $'000         $'000       $'000 
 Revenue                                           65            36          91 
 Cost of Sales                                      -             -           - 
                                               ______        ______      ______ 
 Gross profit                                      65            36          91 
 
 Administrative expenses                        (338)         (453)       (827) 
 Share of loss of associates        2           (582)         (624)       (922) 
 Foreign exchange gains 
  (losses)                                          4            80       (197) 
                                                 ____          ____        ____ 
 Loss from operations                           (851)         (961)     (1,855) 
 
 Profit on sale of quoted                           3             -           - 
  shares 
 Finance Income                                   165           146         444 
                                               ______        ______      ______ 
 Loss on ordinary activities 
  before taxation                   3           (683)         (815)     (1,411) 
 

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