Kore Potash PLC FINANCIAL REPORT FOR HALF YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2019 (4239L)

TIDMKP2

RNS Number : 4239L

Kore Potash PLC

05 September 2019

6 September 2019

Kore Potash Plc

("Kore Potash" or the "Company")

FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE HALF YEARED 30 JUNE 2019

Kore Potash, the potash exploration and development company whose flagship asset is the Kola Project ("Kola" or the "Project"), located within the Company's 97%-owned Sintoukola Potash Project in the Republic of Congo, is pleased to provide its financial statements for the half year ended 30 June 2019 (the "Period"). The full report is available on the Company's website at http://www.korepotash.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Half-Year-Report-June-2019.pdf.

HIGHLIGHTS

-- A Scoping Study for a low capital cost, high cash margin potash project at Dougou Extension ("DX") was completed and a summary of results released on 29 April 2019. These results indicated that following a 2-year construction period DX could potentially produce 400 ktpa MoP for 17 years at an operating cost of USD83/t FOB. In addition, the Company finalised planning for a Pre-feasibility Study on the DX Project.

-- The Company has now commenced a Pre-feasibility Study on the DX Project. More than 60km of seismic survey lines have been cleared in advance of the 2D Seismic survey commencing before mid-September and drill rigs are currently being assembled on site ahead of the commencement of the PFS drilling programme. Key technical studies have commenced, and dissolution test work being undertaken in Agapito Laboratory in Grand Junction, USA Saskatchewan, has been completed.

-- The Company completed its review of the Kola Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") and released a summary of results to Shareholders on 29 January 2019. This included the reporting of:

o Proved and Probable Ore Reserves for the Kola Deposit totalling 152.4Mt with an average grade of 32.5%KCl.

o Post-tax, NPV(10) (real) of USD 1,452 million and a real ungeared Internal Rate of Return of 17% on an attributable basis at life-of-mine average MoP prices for granular of USD 360 per tonne CFR Brazil and standard of USD 350 per tonne CFR Brazil.

-- The Company received an Engineering, Procurement and Construction ("EPC") proposal for its Kola Project from the consortium of French engineering companies ("FC") on 23 March 2019.

-- Post period end, in July 2019, the Company received a proposal from the FC that identifies opportunities to reduce the capital cost of the Kola project by USD415 million below that indicated in the Kola DFS and optimisation discussions are planned to continue.

-- The Minister of Environment of the RoC reviewing the amended Kola environmental and social impact assessment (the "ESIA") requested the submission be reformatted into separate volumes and resubmitted. The re-submission, which doesn't require significant variations, is planned to occur during Q3 of 2019.

-- Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, at 30 June 2019 was USD1,725,129. Post period end, on 19 July 2019, an additional USD13,123,561 was raised through the placing and direct subscription of new ordinary shares in the Company.

-- Loss for the period ended 30 June 2019 reduced by USD3,394,007 from USD4,570,790 for the period ended 30 June 2018 to USD1,176,783 driven primarily by lower administration expenses, lower equity compensation benefits and listing and re-domicile expenses incurred in H1 2018.

-- Exploration and evaluation asset at 30 June 2019 was USD153,374,657 an increase of USD3,511,334 from USD149,863,323 at 31 December 2018.

For further information, please visit www.korepotash.com or contact:

 
 Kore Potash                        Tel: [phone] 
  Brad Sampson - CEO 
 Tavistock Communications           Tel: [phone] 
  Jos Simson                         3150 
  Edward Lee 
 Canaccord Genuity - Nomad and      Tel: [phone] 
  Broker                             4600 
  James Asensio 
  Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor 
 Shore Capital - Joint Broker       Tel: [phone] 
  Jerry Keen                         4050 
  Toby Gibbs 
  James Thomas 
 

OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Dougou Extension Sylvinite Scoping Study

-- A Scoping Study on the potential for a low capital cost, high cash margin potash project at the DX sylvinite deposit was completed.

-- The Scoping Study considers the extraction of sylvinite from DX by a solution mining method over an initial life of 17 years that depletes 43% of the Indicated Mineral Resources at DX.

   --    The full details of the Scoping Study were released on 29 April 2019 and highlights include: 

o Attractive life-of-mine cost of sales, free on board (FOB) of approximately USD82.74/t MoP.

o Estimated base case initial capital cost of approximately USD327 million (real 2019) to produce approximately 400 ktpa white granular MoP.

o Estimated two-year construction period provides the company with near term production options.

o Base case real ungeared IRR of approximately 19.3% and base case post-tax ungeared NPV10 (real) of approximately USD221 million on an attributable basis at life-of-mine average MoP price for granular product of USD360/t.

o Average base case annual post construction, post-tax, free cash flow of approximately USD74 million and approximately 4.25 years post-tax payback period from first production.

o Infrastructure overlaps with the Kola sylvinite and Dougou carnallite projects will have a positive impact on the future development costs and construction timeframes of those two projects.

-- During the quarter, the Company finalised planning for a Pre-feasibility Study (PFS) on the DX project. The PFS work programme includes a 2D seismic survey, a 4-hole diamond drill programme and a series of technical studies that collectively should satisfy the requirements for a pre-feasibility study. The prefeasibility study is scheduled for completion in April 2020.

Dougou Extension Sylvinite Pre-Feasibility Study

   --    The Pre-feasibility work programme on the DX sylvinite deposit has commenced. 

-- The major components of the PFS include a 2D Seismic survey programme, a 4 hole diamond drill programme and a series of technical and trade off studies.

-- Clearing of more than 60km of survey lines in advance of commencement of the 2D seismic survey has been completed.

   --    The drill rigs are being assembled and made ready for commencement of the drilling programme. 
   --    Technical consultants have been appointed for each area of the PFS. 

-- Dissolution test work undertaken at Agapito Laboratory in Grand Junction, USA, has been completed.

   --    The pre-feasibility study is scheduled for completion in April 2020. 

The Kola Potash Project

-- The Company completed its review of the Kola DFS and released a summary of results to Shareholders on 29 January 2019. The announcement made on 29 January 2019, which is available on the Company's website, included the following highlights from the Kola DFS:

Business case highlights potential of the Kola asset

-- Post-tax, NPV(10) (real) of USD1,452 million and a real ungeared Internal Rate of Return of 17% on an attributable basis at life-of-mine average MoP prices for granular of USD360 per tonne CFR Brazil and standard of USD350 per tonne CFR Brazil.

   --    Operating cash margin averaging 75%. 
   --    Average annual EBITDA of approximately USD585 million. 
   --    24% annual free cash return on invested capital. 
   --    Average annual free cash flow, post-tax, post commissioning of approximately USD500 million. 
   --    4.3-year post-tax payback period from first production. 

Industry leading operating costs and cost of sales

-- Mine gate operating cost (pre-transhipment) averaging USD61.71 per tonne, which is in the lowest cost quartile globally based on equivalent CRU market data.

   --    Kola forecast to be the lowest cost potash supplier CFR Brazil based on CRU market data. 
   --    Average cost of MoP delivered to Brazil of USD102.47 per tonne. 

Long life and high quality asset

-- Nameplate production target of 2.2 Mtpa MoP over a 33 year life, with a scheduled life of 23 years based primarily on Ore Reserves and including 6% Inferred Mineral Resource and a further 10 years based entirely on Inferred Mineral Resources (in each case, reported in accordance with the JORC Code).

-- There is a low level of geological confidence associated with inferred mineral resources and there is no certainty that further exploration work will result in the determination of indicated mineral resource or that the production target itself will be realised.

-- Kola Project Ore Reserves of 152.4 Mt with average KCl grade of 32.5%, reported in accordance with the JORC Code.

Capital program aligned with industry averages

-- Pre-production capital cost of USD2.1 billion (on EPCM basis) which includes USD110 million contingency, USD106 million of escalation and USD89 million EPCM margin.

-- Pre-production capital intensity of USD956 per tonne MoP annual capacity is in second quartile relative to MoP industry peers and suggests that further capital optimisation is possible.

-- 46-month construction period, with a commencement date to be determined following advancement of construction contract negotiations and project financing.

Upside potential

-- Review of the DFS by Kore and its third party independent consultants identified opportunities to further improve and optimise the project indicating that the work completed to date by the FC has not fully optimised the Kola Project.

-- As previously reported, due to high operating margin and high free cash return on invested capital, financial advisors indicated that the project has a debt carrying potential of up to USD1.4 billion.

-- As part of the DFS, Ore Reserves were estimated for the Kola sylvinite Deposit. The combined total Ore Reserves are 152 Mt of sylvinite grading 32.5% KCl, hosted within 3 layers ('seams'). Details of the Ore Reserve estimate are provided in the market announcement dated 29 January 2019.

   --    The Company received the EPC proposal from the FC on 23 March 2019. 

-- The Company continued discussions with the FC to explore options to reduce the capital cost and shorten the construction schedule for Kola.

-- In July 2019, the Company received a proposal from the FC that identifies opportunity to reduce the capital cost of the Kola project by USD415M below that indicated in the Kola DFS.

   --    Kola project optimisation discussions are planned to continue with the FC. 

-- The Company has invited a number of international engineering and construction companies to provide pricing against the bills of quantities for the Kola project. It is anticipated that this pricing information will be received by the Company in Q3 2019. Receipt of this competitive pricing information forms part of the Company's plan for capital optimisation of the Kola project.

Environmental and social impact assessment for Kola ("ESIA")

-- The Minister of Environment of the Republic of the Congo previously requested the Company to reformat the amended Kola ESIA document. No further technical studies or report content are required. During the quarter, further discussions with the regulator took place to clarify their requirements and the amended Kola ESIA is now planned to be submitted for approval in Q3 2019.

Mining Convention and Research Convention

-- The Company continues to engage with the RoC Government on the implementation of commitments contained within the Mining Convention. This includes the intra-group transfer of the Dougou Mining License from Sintoukola Potash S.A. to the operating entity Dougou Potash Mining S.A. and the transfer of a 10% shareholding in Kola Potash Mining S.A. and Dougou Potash Mining S.A. to the State.

-- The Company further progressed discussion with the Government on terms and conditions for a Mining Research Convention covering the Sintoukola 2 exploration license. This convention is required to be negotiated in advance of any exploration activity.

Going Concern

On 19 July 2019, an additional USD13,123,561 was raised through the placing and direct subscription of new ordinary shares in the Company. The Directors also actively manage the liquidity position of the Group and prepare cash flow forecasts on a regular basis. Based on the most up-to-date information the Group is forecast to have sufficient liquidity to meet its working capital requirements to the end of the going concern period, which is 12 months from signing of these interim results, and accordingly the Group's financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

Please refer to note 4 on page 26 of the full report for full details.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE 6 MONTHSED 30 JUNE 2019

 
                                               6 months ended  6 months ended    Year ended 
                                        Notes    30 June 2019    30 June 2018   31 Dec 2018 
                                                          USD             USD           USD 
                                                    Unaudited       Unaudited       Audited 
Continuing operations 
Interest income                                        18,992          20,454        72,873 
Expenses 
Directors remuneration                              (422,388)       (420,210)     (812,575) 
Equity compensation benefits            6           (144,956)       (676,255)     (695,345) 
Salaries, employee benefits 
 and consultancy expense                            (447,084)       (712,539)   (1,325,505) 
London listing and re-domicile 
 expenses                                            (10,490)     (1,087,911)   (1,200,192) 
Other administration expenses           7           (616,472)     (1,994,967)   (2,323,176) 
Fair value change of a derivative 
 financial liability                    16            482,274         213,313       110,114 
Interest and finance expenses                         (6,732)         (1,543)      (81,407) 
Net realised and unrealised 
 foreign exchange (loss)/gains                       (10,959)          99,749        2,886) 
 
Loss before income tax expense                    (1,157,815)     (4,559,909)   (6,252,327) 
 
Income tax expense                      8            (18,968)        (10,881)      (17,039) 
Loss for the period from continuing 
 operations                                       (1,176,783)     (4,570,790)   (6,269,366) 
 
Other comprehensive loss 
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss 
Exchange differences on translating 
 foreign operations                                 (655,659)     (3,786,338)   (7,104,236) 
Other comprehensive loss for 
 the period                                         (655,659)     (3,786,338)   (7,104,236) 
Total comprehensive loss for 
 the period                                       (1,832,442)     (8,357,128)  (13,373,602) 
 
Loss attributable to: 
Owners of the Company                             (1,175,521)     (4,538,341)   (6,249,696) 
Non-controlling interest                              (1,262)        (32,449)      (19,670) 
                                                  (1,176,783)     (4,570,790)   (6,269,366) 
Total comprehensive loss attributable 
 to: 
Owners of the Company                             (1,805,272)     (7,892,158)  (12,832,564) 
Non-controlling interest                             (27,170)       (464,970)     (541,038) 
                                                  (1,832,442)     (8,357,128)  (13,373,602) 
 
Loss per Share from Continuing 
 Operations 
Basic and diluted loss per 
 share (cents per share)                   15          (0.14)          (0.56)        (0.75) 
 

The above Condensed Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Income should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 30 JUNE 2019

 
                                  Notes  30 June 2019  30 June 2018   31 Dec 2018 
                                                  USD           USD           USD 
                                            Unaudited     Unaudited       Audited 
ASSETS 
Current Assets 
Cash and cash equivalents                   1,040,969    14,219,356     6,187,113 
Restricted cash                               684,160             -             - 
Trade and other receivables                   568,059       312,251      345,155) 
Total Current Assets                        2,293,188    14,531,607    6,532,268) 
 
Non-Current Assets 
Trade and other receivables                   129,357       134,938      120,922) 
Right-of-use asset                            129,055             -             - 
Property, plant and equipment                 271,723       357,081       302,255 
Exploration and evaluation 
 expenditure                          9   153,374,657   145,043,137   149,863,323 
Total Non-Current Assets                  153,904,792   145,535,156   150,286,500 
TOTAL ASSETS                              156,197,980   160,066,763   156,818,768 
 
LIABILITIES 
Current Liabilities 
Trade and other payables             10     3,231,495       846,131     1,702,392 
Derivative financial liability       16        21,124       400,200       503,398 
Total Current Liabilities                   3,252,619     1,246,331    2,205,790) 
 
Non-Current Liabilities 
Lease liability                               132,994             -             - 
TOTAL LIABILITIES                           3,385,613     1,246,331     2,205,790 
 
NET ASSETS                                152,812,367   158,820,432  154,612,978) 
 
EQUITY 
Issued share capital - Ordinary 
 Shares                              11       862,739       859,234       860,852 
Reserves                                  213,044,827   216,046,613   213,644,634 
Accumulated losses                       (60,507,321)  (57,620,445)  (59,331,800) 
Equity attributable to the 
 shareholders of Kore Potash 
 plc                                      153,400,245   159,285,402   155,173,686 
Non-controlling interests                   (587,878)     (464,970)     (560,708) 
TOTAL EQUITY                              152,812,367   158,820,432   154,612,978 
 
 

The above Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE 6 MONTHSED 30 JUNE 2019

 
                Ordinary       Share       Merger   Accumulated      Option       Foreign    Owners of  Non-Controlling        Total 
                  Shares     Premium      Reserve        Losses     Reserve      Currency   the Parent         Interest       Equity 
                             Reserve                                          Translation 
                                                                                  Reserve 
                     USD         USD          USD           USD         USD           USD          USD              USD          USD 
 
Balance at 1 
 Jan 
 2019            860,852  13,054,936  203,738,800  (59,331,800)  12,161,843  (15,310,945)  155,173,686        (560,708)  154,612,978 
 
Loss for the 
 period                -           -            -   (1,175,521)           -             -  (1,175,521)          (1,262)  (1,176,783) 
Other 
 comprehensive 
 loss                  -           -            -             -           -     (629,751)    (629,751)         (25,908)    (655,659) 
Total 
 comprehensive 
 loss                  -           -            -   (1,175,521)           -     (629,751)  (1,805,272)         (27,170)  (1,832,442) 
 
Transactions 
with 
owners: 
Issue of 
 shares (net 

 of costs)         1,887           -            -             -           -             -        1,887                -        1,887 
Share based 
 payments              -           -            -             -      29,944             -       29,944                -       29,944 
 
Balance at 30 
 June 
 2019            862,739  13,054,936  203,738,800  (60,507,321)  12,191,787  (15,940,696)  153,400,245        (587,878)  152,812,367 
 
 

The above Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (CONTINUED) FOR THE 6 MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2019

 
                 Ordinary       Share       Merger  Redeemable   Accumulated      Option       Foreign    Owners of  Non-Controlling  Total Equity 
                   Shares     Premium      Reserve  Preference        Losses     Reserve      Currency   the Parent         Interest 
                              Reserve                    Share                             Translation 
                                                                                               Reserve 
                      USD         USD          USD         USD           USD         USD           USD          USD              USD           USD 
Balance at 1 
 Jan 2018         771,396           -  203,738,800      65,631  (53,356,794)  11,814,770   (8,747,747)  154,286,056                -  154,286,056) 
 
Loss for the 
 period                 -           -            -           -   (4,538,341)           -             -  (4,538,341)         (32,449)   (4,570,790) 
Other 
 comprehensive 
 income                 -           -            -           -             -           -   (3,353,817)  (3,353,817)        (432,521)   (3,786,338) 
Total 
 comprehensive 
 income                 -           -            -           -   (4,538,341)           -   (3,353,817)  (7,892,158)        (464,970)   (8,357,128) 
Transfer of 
 previously 
 lapsed options                                                      888,202   (888,202)             -            -                -             - 
Transactions 
with 
owners: 
   Issue of 
    shares (net 
    of costs)      87,838  12,806,554            -           -             -           -             -   12,894,392                -    12,894,392 
   Share based 
    payments            -           -            -           -             -     676,255             -      676,255                -       676,255 
Shares 
 cancelled              -           -            -    (65,631)             -           -             -     (65,631)                -      (65,631) 
Free-attaching 
 warrants               -           -            -           -     (613,512)           -             -    (613,512)                -     (613,512) 
Balance at 30 
 June 
 2018             859,234  12,806,554  203,738,800           -  (57,620,445)  11,602,823  (12,101,564)  159,285,402        (464,970)   158,820,432 
 

The above Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (CONTINUED) FOR THE 6 MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2019

 
                 Ordinary       Share       Merger  Redeemable   Accumulated      Option       Foreign     Owners of  Non-controlling         Total 
                   Shares     Premium      Reserve  Preference        Losses     Reserve      Currency    the Parent         Interest        Equity 
                              Reserve                    Share                             Translation 
                                                                                               Reserve 
                      USD         USD          USD         USD           USD         USD           USD           USD              USD           USD 
 
Balance at 1 
 Jan 2018         771,396           -  203,738,800      65,631  (53,356,794)  11,814,770   (8,747,747)   154,286,056                -   154,286,056 
 
Loss for the 
 period                 -           -            -           -   (6,249,696)           -             -   (6,249,696)         (19,670)   (6,269,366) 
Other 
 comprehensive 
 income                 -           -            -           -             -           -   (6,563,198)   (6,563,198)        (541,038)   (7,104,236) 
Total 
 comprehensive 
 income                 -           -            -           -   (6,249,696)           -   (6,563,198)  (12,812,894)        (560,708)  (13,373,602) 
 
 
Transfer of 
 previously 
 lapsed options         -           -            -           -       888,202   (888,202)             -             -                -             - 
Redeemable 
 Preference 
 Shares                 -           -            -    (65,631)             -           -             -      (65,631)                -      (65,631) 
Share issue 
 (net of 
 costs)            89,456  13,054,936            -           -             -           -             -    13,144,392                -    13,144,392 
Free-attaching 
 warrants               -           -            -           -     (613,512)           -             -     (613,512)                -     (613,512) 
Share based 
 payments               -           -            -           -             -   1,235,275             -     1,235,275                -     1,235,275 
Scheme of               -           -            -           -             -           -             -             -                -             - 
Arrangement 
Balance at 31 
 Dec 
 2018             860,852  13,054,936  203,738,800           -  (59,331,800)  12,161,843  (15,310,945)  155,173,686)        (560,708)   154,612,978 
 

The above Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE 6 MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2019

 
                                                               6 months ended     6 months ended        Year ended 
                                                             30 June 2019 USD   30 June 2018 USD   31 Dec 2018 USD 
                                                     Notes          Unaudited          Unaudited           Audited 
 Cash Flows from Operating Activities 
 Cash used in operation                                           (1,507,652)        (4,604,070)       (6,054,050) 
 Income tax paid                                                     (20,726)                  -          (37,030) 
 Net Cash Flows Used in Operating Activities            17        (1,528,378)        (4,604,070)       (6,054,050) 
 
 Cash Flows from Investing Activities 
 Payments for plant and equipment                                    (17,371)            (4,547)           (8,452) 
 Payments for exploration and evaluation                          (2,840,929)       (11,043,648)      (17,104,196) 
 Interest received                                                     23,282             10,675            68,528 
 
 Net Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities                      (2,835,018)       (11,037,520)      (17,044,120) 
 
 Cash Flows from Financing Activities 
 Deposit on application of shares                                      36,843                  -                 - 
 Proceeds from issue of shares                                          1,887         12,894,392        12,894,392 
 Proceed from convertible note                                              -            250,000           250,000 
 Repayment of lease liabilities related to offices                   (87,593)                  -                 - 
 Interest paid on lease liabilities                                   (5,001)                  -                 - 
 
 Net Cash Flows (Used in)/Generated from Financing 
  Activities                                                         (53,864)         13,144,392        13,144,392 
 
 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents                        (4,417,260)        (2,497,198)       (9,953,778) 
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                   6,187,113         16,455,490        16,455,490 
 Foreign currency differences                                        (44,724)            261,064         (314,599) 
 Cash and Cash Equivalents at Period End                17          1,725,129         14,219,356         6,187,113 
 

The above Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [e-mail] or visit www.rns.com.

END

IR LLFLRATIEIIA

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 06, 2019 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT)