REG - African Pioneer PLC - Interim Results for Six Months Ended 30 June 2024
30/09/2024 07:00
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RNS Number : 0978G African Pioneer PLC 30 September 2024
30 September 2024
African Pioneer Plc
("African" or the "Company")
Interim Results for the Six Months Ended 30 June 2024
African Pioneer Plc a company engaging in development of natural resources
exploration projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, announces its unaudited interim
results for the six months ended 30 June 2024 as set out below. A copy of the
Interims is available on the Company's website https://africanpioneerplc.com/
(https://africanpioneerplc.com/)
OPERATIONAL, FINANCIAL CORPORATE and STRATEGY REVIEWS
1. Operational Review
The Company completed an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Standard List of
the London Stock Exchange and the acquisition of its projects in Zambia,
Namibia, and Botswana in 2021. The primary metal in all countries is
copper with by-product potential in all of our projects. In Zambia we have
potential for cobalt, in Namibia for gold and in Botswana for silver. In
2022 the Company granted an option to First Quantum Minerals Ltd in relation
to 4 of the 5 Zambian exploration licences held by African Pioneer Zambia
which First Quantum has exercised more details of which are provided in the
Corporate Highlights section of this review.
The Company's main focus during the period was on evaluating and advancing its
85% owned Namibian Projects, including the Ongombo mining licence application,
and the Zambian licence (80% owned) and Botswana Projects (100% owned) that
are not the subject of options.
2. Technical review of Projects: After the IPO and having acquired its
projects in Namibia, Zambia and Botswana, the Company commenced technical
reviews and / or work programmes on its projects located in Namibia and
Zambia. The primary metal in all countries is copper with by-product potential
in all of our projects. In Zambia we have potential for cobalt, in Botswana
for silver and in Namibia for gold.
2.1 Namibia:
On 7 February 2024 the Company provided an update on its Ongombo copper -gold
project the highlights of which were.
Highlights
· EPL 5772 has been renewed for two years (to 1st February 2026)
· Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is at an
advanced stage of completion
· X-ray transmission ("XRT") ore sorting sensor tests returned
positive results and that laser or colour sensor technology can be used to
separate ore and waste
· Independent updated total (gross)* Indicated Mineral Resource
Estimate (MRE) of 5.7Mt at 1.1% Cu Equivalent (CuEq), 0.94% Cu and 0.23g/t Au
and a very substantial Inferred underground potential Resources of 23Mt at
1.1% CuEq, 0.95% Cu and 0.24g/t Au as announced on 16 May 2023
· Advanced discussions with multiple parties about project level
funding of the Ongombo Project.
Further work has been undertaken to assess the potential of the Ongombo
Project with the engagement of external mining and resource consultants to
re-evaluate the open pit resource in light of the positive ore sorting results
achieved. In addition, African Pioneer is considering an opportunity to
utilise some excess capacity that may be available to the Company in a
Namibian copper concentrator plant where a pre-concentrate could potentially
be delivered on a toll or other appropriate basis to produce a saleable
copper-gold concentrate.
Project Background: The Ongombo project is situated in Exclusive Prospecting License (EPL) 5772 in the Khomas region of the Windhoek District of Namibia, 45 km from Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. The project area has relatively well-developed infrastructure on the farms Ongombo Ost and Ongombo West. The property is easily accessed by a tar road from Windhoek to Gobabis and then on a gravel road up to the project area. There is also a railway line from Gobabis to Walvis Bay, via Windhoek running parallel to the tarred road. The Ongombo Project is located 15km northeast from Otjihase Mine which consists of two underground mines (Otjihase and Matchless) and an 800ktpa copper concentrator.
The Ongombo project lies within the Matchless Member of the Kuiseb Formation,
a conspicuous assemblage of lenses of foliated amphibolites,
chlorite-amphibolite schist, talc schist and metagabbro. This belt, up to 5km
wide in the Otjihase area, stretches 350km east-north-eastwards in the
Southern Zone of the Damara Orogen from the Gorob - Hope area. The deposit is
generally described as a Besshi-type massive sulphide. These are described as
thin sheet-like bodies of massive to well-laminated pyrite, pyrrhotite, and
chalcopyrite within thinly laminated clastic sediments and mafic tuffs. At the
Ongombo project mineralisation occurs in one continuous zone approximately 7
km long and 0.5 - 1 km wide. The mineralisation zone dips consistently
15-20° northwest and plunges 5° northeast. Mineralisation is gradually
thinning westward.
EPL 5772 has been renewed to 1 February 2026. A conditional Environmental
Clearance Certificate for mining activities was granted on EPL 5772 and is
valid until 16 April 2026. A 20 Year Mining Licence, ML 240, was granted on 10
August 2022 and covers a portion of EPL 5772 and approximately one third of
the open pit resource. An extension to the Mining Licence was submitted on 6
September 2022 to encompass the wider Resource Area.
2.2 Zambia: As described at paragraph 4.5 below on 19 January 2022 African
Pioneer Zambia Ltd, which is 80% owned by the Company, entered into an option
agreement with First Quantum (listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange over 4 of
the 5 Zambian exploration licences held by a subsidiary company, African
Pioneer Zambia.
First Quantum has exercised its option over the 4 Zambian licences which it
has an option over.
Highlights
· Drilling confirmed proof of concept that licences are in the
right lithology confirming Congo-style mineralisation.
· 4 diamond drill holes completed at the Turaco target for
1,297.1m.
· A 772.3m deep diamond drill hole completed over the Ikatu on an
Audio Magneto Telluric ("AMT") generated target.
· 9 reverse circulation ("RC") holes drilled at the Chipopa target
for a total of 780m.
· During the course of the programme First Quantum confirmed their
intention to exercise their option as reported on 16 February 2024.
· The parties have met and agreed an appropriate ground relinquishment
strategy consistent with licence renewal required later in the year together
with an exploration programme.
First Quantum continue to evaluate the licences under the option agreement
based on licence-wide geochemical analysis and drilling completed to date. A
number of targets have been identified, some of which warrant more detailed
follow up. This geological environment classified as the Fold and Thrust Belt
is complex and the Company benefits from the expertise and local knowledge
gained by First Quantum following years of exploration in the region. The Fold
and Thrust Belt and adjoining Western Foreland are currently the focus of
intense exploration and speculation from exploration companies of varying size
and the information being generated by African Pioneer and First Quantum
represents extremely valuable data and knowledge of a region with little
detailed exploration having taken place but where the exploration prize is
potentially significant.
2.3 Botswana:
The Company continues to evaluate the scope for smaller scale deposits within
the group of 5 prospecting licences that make up the Botswanan portfolio.
Strategic alliances and new discoveries are taking place in Botswana alongside
the application of regional airborne geophysical surveys that have the
potential to discover new geological settings. The Company will continue to
monitor developments but in the interim will focus on near-term production
opportunities and improved likelihood of major discoveries on other projects
within the Company portfolio.
The Botswana projects comprise 5 prospecting licences which have been renewed
through 31 March 2026 and comprise approximately 770 sq. km. in the Kalahari
Copperbelt. Whilst the exploration to date on the licences which were the
subject of the Sandfire Option Agreement (see paragraph 4.6 below) does not
currently indicate prospectivity for a large scale mining operation the Board
believes that there is prospectivity for a smaller to medium sized mining
operation targeting in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 tonnes of contained copper
per annum. Although too small for a large scale miner a mine of this size
would fit very well into the demand for small to medium mines to help bridge
the gap in the predicted shortfall of copper to meet future projected demand.
All the Botswana licences are currently under review by the Company in
cooperation with its external geological consultant with specific expertise of
Botswanan copper geology. The region represents a significant copper
exploration and resource development destination and as such all exploration
ground has potential strategic importance particularly in the case of African
Pioneer which has several licences in the general area.
3. Financial Review
3.1 Financial highlights:
· £322K loss after tax (2023: £301K)
· Approximately £86K cash at bank at the period end (Dec 2023:
£372k).
· The basic and diluted losses per share are summarised in the
table below
Loss per share (pence) 2024 2023
Basic & diluted Note 3 (0.14)p (0.16)p
· The net asset value as at 30 June 2024 was £4.92m (31 December
2023 £5.24m)
3.2 Financings:
On 2 May 2024, the Company announced that it had on 1 May 2024 entered into an
unsecured convertible loan funding facility agreement for up to £1,000,000
(the "Facility") with Sanderson Capital Partners Ltd (the "Lender"), a long
term shareholder in the Company, which is convertible at 2.8 pence per
ordinary share. The Facility can be drawn down in 4 tranches of £250,000
each. The Facility can be extended by the Company by a further £500,000
("Optional Facility") if the Company drawsdown in full or in part against all
4 tranches of the Facility in which case the conversion price for the Optional
Facility will be 4 pence per ordinary share. The Facility is a standby
facility as a potential additional source of working capital for the Company
in a period when the funding market for junior exploration companies can be
subject to market volatility. The Company can use the Facility, at its
discretion, to fund the working capital requirements of the Company and its
subsidiaries as determined by the Company but is not required to drawdown
under the Facility. The Company made an initial drawdown of £250,000 post
period as detailed in note 9 to the accounts.
4. Corporate Review
4.1 Company Board: The Board of the Company comprises Colin Bird, Executive
Chairman Raju Samtani, Finance Director Christian Cordier, Business
Development Director Kjeld Thygesen, Independent Non-executive Director James
Nicholas Cunningham-Davis, Non-executive Director
4.2 Listing: The Company was admitted to the Official List (Standard Segment)
and commenced trading on the Main Market for listed securities of the London
Stock Exchange on 1 June 2021 (the "Listing" or "IPO").
4.3 Corporate Acquisitions and Group: As previously reported the Company
completed the acquisition of projects based in Namibia, Zambia, and Botswana
and on 27 August 2021 announced that it had acquired a further 15% interest in
its Namibian Projects. During the period the Company did not make any
corporate acquisitions and as at the period end it owns;
1) 100% of Zamcu Exploration Pty Ltd ("Zamcu"). Zamcu via its subsidiaries
holds a 85 per cent. interest in two Namibia Exclusive Prospecting Licenses
("EPLs") located within the Matchless amphibolite Belt of central Namibia (the
"Namibian Projects");
2) 80% of African Pioneer Zambia Limited ("APZ"). APZ holds a 100 per cent.
interest in four Zambian Prospecting Licenses (PLs) located in the Central
Africa Copperbelt (Copperbelt), which are the subject of the First Quantum
Option Agreement (the "Zambian Optioned Projects");
3) 80% of African Pioneer Chongwe Limited ("APC"). APC holds a 100 per cent.
interest in one Zambian Prospecting License (PL) located in the Zambezi
area(the "Zambian Owned Project")
The Zambian Optioned Projects and the Zambian Owned Project are collectively
(the "Zambian Projects")
4) 100% of Resource Capital Partners Pty Ltd ("RCP"). RCP which holds a 100
per cent. interest in eight Botswana Prospecting Licenses ("PLs") located in
two areas namely (1) the Kalahari Copperbelt (KC), which comprises six PLs ,
four of these six PLs were the subject of the Sandfire Option Agreement and
(2) the Limpopo Mobile Belt (Limpopo), which comprises two PLs (the "Botswanan
Projects")
(together the "Projects") (the "Subsidiaries") (together the "Group").
4.5 First Quantum Option Agreement: The First Quantum Option Agreement was
announced on 20 January 2022 and the highlights of the agreement are:
· The four exploration licences the subject of the First Quantum
Option Agreement are in the highly prospective Central Africa Copperbelt in
northwest Zambia which is the largest and most prolific mineralized sediment-
hosted copper province in the world and are located less than 100km from First
Quantum's giant Sentinel copper mine.
· The exploration licenses include geological formations similar in
age and rock type to that hosting the major copper deposits of the Copperbelt
· On 16 February 2024 the Company announced that First Quantum had
delivered a notice to exercise their option over exploration licences
27770-HQ-LEL and 27768-HQ-LEL having already exercised in October 2023 their
option over licences 27767-HQ - LEL and 27771-HQ - LEL. Prior to exercising
these options First Quantum had met the initial expenditure requirement by
spending US500,000 on each of the exploration licences 27767-HQ-LEL,
27768-HQ-LEL, 27770-HQ-LEL, and 27771-HQ-LEL (the "Zambian Projects").
· Although First Quantum has exercised its option it has at this
stage it has not earned any shares in African Pioneer Zambia, just the right
to proceed to the First Earn In Period.
· During the First Earn In Period which expires on 28 February
2026, First Quantum has the right but not the obligation to prepare a
Technical Report in respect of the Zambian Projects demonstrating an Indicated
Mineral Resource of at least 300,000 tonnes of contained copper (the
"Technical Report Requirement"). First Quantum is to fund the Technical
Report. Once the Technical Report is issued First Quantum has the right to be
issued shares equal to a 51% shareholding in African Pioneer Zambia. This will
also trigger the Second Earn-In Period.
· In the Second Earn-In Period First Quantum shall have the right
but not the obligation to complete all necessary mining, metallurgical and
development studies to establish a mine at the Property and make a public
announcement that it intends to proceed towards commercial development of a
Mine on the Property (a "Decision to Mine"). First Quantum is to fund all
costs related to the Decision to Mine. Once First Quantum announces a
Decision to Mine First Quantum has the right to be issued shares in African
Pioneer Zambia to increase their 51% shareholding in African Pioneer Zambia to
75%.
First Quantum: is one of the world's top 10 copper producers operating in
several countries including Zambia where it owns the Sentinel and Kansanshi
mines in North West Zambia and is known for its specialist technical
engineering construction and operational skills which have allowed it to
develop and successfully run complex mines and processing plants. Colin Bird,
the chairman of African Pioneer, was a founder of and floated Kiwara Plc in
around 2008 which discovered copper in northwest Zambia and was sold to First
Quantum in January 2010 for U$260 million. First Quantum then developed the
Kiwara Plc projects into the Sentinel mine which is the world's 14(th) largest
copper mine.
Exploration licence 27769-HQ-LEL which is not covered by the Option Agreement
has been transferred from African Pioneer Zambia to African Pioneer Chongwe
Ltd a new Zambian company owned 80% by the Company and 20% by its local
partners and is in the Zambezi area located within the Zambezi belt of
southern Zambia that hosts a Lower Katanga supergroups.
4.6 Sandfire Option Agreement: The Sandfire Option Agreement was announced on
4 October 2021 and was for two years from 2 October 2021 and related to PL
100/2020, PL 101/2020, PL 102/2020 and PL 103/2020 (the "Included
Licences"). Sandfire paid US$500K and issued 107,272 Sandfire ordinary
shares to the Company at the time of entering into the Sandfire Option
Agreement. As announced on 29 September 2023 Sandfire notified the Company
that it would not be exercising its option under the Sandfire Option
Agreement. Sandfire's Exploration Commitment under the Sandfire Option
Agreement was to fund US$1 million of exploration expenditure on the Included
Licences (the "Exploration Commitment") within the Option Period with 60% of
the Exploration Commitment to be on drilling and assay costs. If the
Exploration Commitment is not spent, any shortfall is due to be paid by
Sandfire to African Pioneer. The Company is reviewing the Exploration
Commitment with Sandfire. Sandfire have confirmed that they will provide
Exploration Information that it holds in relation to the Included Licences.
All the Botswana licences are currently under review by the Company in
cooperation with its external geological consultant with specific expertise of
Botswanan copper geology. The region represents a significant copper
exploration and resource development destination and as such all exploration
ground has potential strategic importance particularly in the case of African
Pioneer which has several licences in the general area.
Whilst the exploration to date on the licences which were the subject of the
Sandfire Option Agreement does not currently indicate prospectivity for a
large scale mining operation the Board believes that there is prospectivity
for a smaller to medium sized mining operation targeting in the range of 5,000
to 10,000 tonnes of contained copper per annum. Although too small for a large
scale miner a mine of this size would fit very well into the demand for small
to medium mines to help bridge the gap in the predicted shortfall of copper to
meet future projected demand.
5. Strategy Review
The Company's short to medium term strategic objectives are to enhance the
value of its mineral resource Projects through exploration and technical
studies conducted by the Company or through joint venture or other
arrangements (such as the First Quantum Option Agreement) with a view to
establishing the Projects can be economically mined for profit. With a
positive global outlook for both base and precious metals, the Directors
believe that the Projects provide a base from which the Company will seek to
add significant value through the application of structured and disciplined
exploration.
6. Outlook
Outlook for Copper: During the second half of 2023 and into mid 2024 the
copper price recovered up to U$11,000 per tonne and is currently around
US$9,000 per tonne. As previously reported i) forecasts for the price of
copper and its by-product metals remain positive in the range of
US$10-US$15,000 per tonne; and ii) the outlook for copper supply remains quite
pessimistic as most large copper mining projects have been shelved as a result
of political or economic reasons but we anticipate this will lead to both
smaller but profitable mines being developed , and junior mining companies
with good copper resources in reliable jurisdictions becoming potential
targets for acquisitions by major mining companies. As a result, the Company
is well positioned with all its projects, to take part in a potential
acquisition boom or alternatively to attract financing for its own operations
which might not otherwise have been available.
The major mining companies are seeking new projects for acquisition and all
our projects have the fundamentals which may attract the attention of larger
companies as reflected in the fact that First Quantum has issued an Option
Exercise Notice in relation to the 4 Zambian exploration licences the subject
of the First Quantum Option Agreement.
The Board continues to believe the Group has assembled an enviable portfolio
of projects and we look forward to advancing all our projects and providing
our shareholders with the prospects of enhanced value flowing into next year.
7. Post Period Events
On 13 August 2024 the Company announced that it had issued a drawdown notice
for £250,000 under its unsecured convertible loan funding facility agreement
for up to £1,000,000 with Sanderson Capital Partners Ltd (the "Lender"), The
£250,000 drawdown is repayable in 12 months and convertible by the Lender at
2.8 pence per share. The Lender is due;
i) a drawdown fee of £5,000 being 2% of the amount drawdown to be settled by
the issue of 232,558 new ordinary shares ("Shares") credited as fully paid at
2.15 pence per share being the five-day VWAP on 9 August 2024 (the "Drawdown
Fee Shares") with the Drawdown Fee Shares to be issued on or before 31
December 2024 or such other date agreed by the parties; and
ii) £125,000 of three year warrants over Shares with an exercise price of 4
pence per Share.
On 16 September 2024 the Company announced the issue of 949,923 new Ordinary
Shares of no par value ("Ordinary Shares) to settle a total of £21,940
accrued consultancy fees.
INTERIM MANAGEMENT REPORT
The Directors are required to provide an Interim Management Report in
accordance with the Financial Conduct Authorities ("FCA") Disclosure Guidance
and Transparency Rules ("DTR"). The Directors consider the preceding
Operational, Financial, Corporate and Strategy Review of this Half Yearly
Financial Report provides details of the important events which have occurred
during the period and their impact on the financial statements as well as the
outlook for the Company for the remaining six months of the year ended 31
December 2024.
The following statement of the Principal Risks and Uncertainties, the Related
Party Transactions, the Statement of Directors' Responsibilities and the
Operational, Financial, Corporate and Strategy Review constitute the Interim
Management Report of the Company for the six months ended 30 June 2024.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The principal risks that are specific to the Company were detailed under this
heading in Part 1 Summary of the Company's prospectus which was published on
26 May 2021 (the "Prospectus") which is available on the Company's website at
https://africanpioneerplc.com/company-documents-circulars-and-notices/
(https://africanpioneerplc.com/company-documents-circulars-and-notices/) .
Part II Risk factors of the Prospectus provides more details of risk factors
specific and material to the Group and to the Natural Resources Sector. The
Strategic Report in the 2023 Annual Accounts also provided a detailed summary
of the principal risks and uncertainties faced by the Company, a copy of the
2023 Annual Accounts are available on the Company's website at
https://africanpioneerplc.com/financial-reports/
(https://africanpioneerplc.com/financial-reports/) .
The Board are of the opinion that these risk factors will continue to remain
unchanged for the forthcoming six-month period.
The principal risks and uncertainties facing the group are as follows:
· There are significant risks associated with any exploration
project and the ability of the Company to explore, develop and generate
operational cashflows from its projects requiring the Company to reply on
fundraisings to funds its operational costs
· No assurances can be given that minerals will be discovered in
economically viable quantities at the Company's projects
· Adverse foreign exchange fluctuations
· Volatility in financial markets and commodity markets
Related Party Transactions during the period
The table below shows the shareholdings of Directors and their related parties
as at 30 June 2024 and the date of these interim accounts and % shareholdings
at 30 June 2024 and as at 20 September 2024 following the issue of 949,923
shares by the Company post the period end (see paragraph 7 above).
Director & Position No. of shares % %
30 June 2024 20 Sept 2024
Colin Bird: Chairman 24,117,284 10.74% 10.70%
Raju Samtani: Finance Director 18,395,061 8.07% 8.03%
Christian Cordier Commercial Director 17,222,222 7.55% 7.52%
Kjeld Thygesen: Non Executive 1,033,334 0.45% 0.45%
James Cunningham-Davis: Non Executive - Nil Nil
Directors' Letters of Appointment and Service Agreements as disclosed in the
Prospectus, and which remained in force during the period are summarized
below:
(a) Pursuant to an agreement dated 24 May 2021, the Company renewed the
appointment of James Cunningham-Davis as a Director. The appointment continues
unless terminated by either party giving to the other 3 months' notice in
writing. James Cunningham-Davis is entitled to director's fees of £12,000 per
annum for being a director of the Company plus reasonable and properly
documented expenses incurred during the performance of his duties which will
be invoiced by Cavendish Trust Company Ltd an Isle of Man Trust Company that
James Cunningham-Davis is a founder and managing director of. James
Cunningham-Davis is not entitled to any pension, medical or similar employee
benefits. The agreement replaces all previous agreements with James
Cunningham-Davis and/or Cavendish Trust Company Ltd in relation to the
appointment of James Cunningham-Davis as a director of the Company.
(b) Pursuant to an agreement dated 24 May 2021, the Company appointed
Kjeld Thygesen as a non-executive Director with effect from the date of the
IPO. The appointment continues unless terminated by either party giving to the
other 3 months' notice in writing and Kjeld Thygesen is entitled to director's
fees of £18,000 per annum for being a director of the Company plus reasonable
and properly documented expenses incurred during the performance of his
duties. Kjeld Thygesen is not entitled to any pension, medical or similar
employee benefits.
(c) Pursuant to an agreement dated 24 May 2021, the Company renewed the
appointment of Colin Bird as a Director. The appointment continues unless
terminated by either party giving to the other 3 months' notice in writing.
Colin Bird is entitled to director's fees of £18,000 per annum for being a
director of the Company plus reasonable and properly documented expenses
incurred during the performance of his duties. Colin Bird is not entitled to
any pension, medical or similar employee benefits. The agreement replaces all
previous agreements with Colin Bird in relation to his appointment as a
director of the Company.
(d) Pursuant to a consultancy agreement dated 24 May 2021, the Company
has, with effect from the date of the IPO, appointed Colin Bird as a
consultant to provide technical advisory services in relation to its current
and future projects including but not limited to assessing existing geological
data and studies, existing mine development studies and developing exploration
programs and defining the framework of future geological and mine study
reports (the "Colin Bird Services"). The appointment continues unless
terminated by either party giving to the other 3 months' notice in writing.
Colin Bird is entitled to fees of £3,500 per month for being a consultant to
the Company plus reasonable and properly documented expenses incurred during
the performance of the Colin Bird Services.
(e) Pursuant to an agreement dated 24 May 2021, the Company renewed the
appointment of Raju Samtani. The appointment continues unless terminated by
either party giving to the other 3 months' notice in writing. Raju Samtani is
entitled to director's fees of £18,000 per annum for being a director of the
Company plus reasonable and properly documented expenses incurred during the
performance of his duties. Raju Samtani is not entitled to any pension,
medical or similar employee benefits. The agreement replaces all previous
agreements with Raju Samtani in relation to his appointment as a director of
the Company.
(f) Pursuant to a consultancy agreement dated 24 May 2021, the Company
has ,with effect from the date of Admission, appointed Raju Samtani as a
financial consultant to provide financial advisory services to the Company
(the "Raju Samtani Services"). The appointment continues unless terminated
by either party giving to the other 3 months' notice in writing. Raju
Samtani is entitled to fees of £2,667 per month for being a consultant to the
Company plus reasonable and properly documented expenses incurred during the
performance of the Raju Samtani Services.
(g) Pursuant to an agreement dated 24 May 2021, the Company appointed
Christian Cordier as a Director with effect from the date of Admission. The
appointment continues unless terminated by either party giving to the other 3
months' notice in writing. Christian Cordier is entitled to director's fees of
£18,000 per annum for being a director of the Company plus reasonable and
properly documented expenses incurred during the performance of his duties.
Christian Cordier is not entitled to any pension, medical or similar employee
benefits.
(h) Pursuant to a consultancy agreement dated 24 May 2021, with Mystic
Light Pty Ltd a personal service company of Christian Cordier the Company has
secured the services of Christian Cordier, with effect from the date of the
IPO, as a business development consultant to provide business development l
advisory services to the Company in relation to its existing and future
projects (the "Christian Cordier Services"). The appointment continues
unless terminated by either party giving to the other 3 months' notice in
writing. Mystic Light Pty Ltd is entitled to fees of £1,000 per month for
providing the Christian Cordier Services plus reasonable and properly
documented expenses incurred during the performance of the Christian Cordier
Services.
(i) The Company entered into a contract, dated first August 2013 with
Lion Mining Finance Limited ("LMF") a company controlled by Colin Bird, under
which LMF provides administrative services to the Company for £750 plus VAT
per calendar month
Related Party transactions described in the annual report to 31 December 2023
Other than disclosed above and the intra group loans made by Company to its
subsidiaries to finance their ongoing activities there have been no changes in
the related parties transactions described in the annual report for the year
ended 31 December 2023 that could have a material effect on the financial
position or performance of the Company in the first six months of the current
financial year.
Responsibility Statement
The Directors, whose names and functions are set out in this report under the
heading Company Board, are responsible for preparing the Unaudited Interim
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with the Disclosure
Guidance and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct
Authority ('DTR') and with International Accounting Standard 34 on Interim
Financial reporting (IAS34). The Directors confirm that, to the best of
their knowledge, this Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Report, which
has been prepared in accordance with IAS34, gives a true and fair view of the
assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Group and
the interim management report includes a fair review of the information
required by DTR 4.2.7 R and by DTR 4.2.8 R, namely:
· an indication of key events occurred during the period and their
impact on the Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the second half
of the financial year; and
· material related party transactions that have taken place during
the period and that have materially affected the financial position or the
performance of the business during that period.
For and on behalf of the Board of Directors
Colin Bird
Executive Chairman
30 September 2024
African Pioneer Plc
+44 (0) 20 7581 4477
Colin Bird
Executive Chairman
Beaumont Cornish (Financial Adviser) +44 (0) 20 7628 3396
Roland Cornish/Asia Szusciak
Novum Securities Limited (Broker) +44 (0) 20 7399 9400
Jon Belliss
Beaumont Cornish (Financial Adviser)
Roland Cornish/Asia Szusciak
+44 (0) 20 7628 3396
Novum Securities Limited (Broker)
Jon Belliss
+44 (0) 20 7399 9400
or visit https://africanpioneerplc.com/ (https://africanpioneerplc.com/)
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to
constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation
(EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK Domestic Law by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("UK MAR").
Beaumont Cornish Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United
Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is Financial Adviser to the
Company in relation to the matters referred herein. Beaumont Cornish Limited
is acting exclusively for the Company and for no one else in relation to the
matters described in this announcement and is not advising any other person
and accordingly will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for
providing the protections afforded to clients of Beaumont Cornish Limited, or
for providing advice in relation to the contents of this announcement or any
matter referred.
Group Statement of Profit and Loss
For the six months ended 30 June 2024
Notes Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Six months
ended ended
30 June 30 June
2024 2023
£ £
Income
Dividend receivable -
Realised gain on sale of investments - 34,799
Unrealised gain/(loss) on investments -
Total income - (34,799)
Operating expenses (321,778) (336,176)
(321,778) (301,377)
Group operating loss
Interest costs - (3)
Loss before taxation (321,778) (301,380)
-
Taxation
Loss for the period (321,778) (301,380)
Loss per share (pence)
Basic & Diluted 3 (0.14)p (0.16)p
Group Statement of Other Comprehensive Income
For the six months ended 30 June 2024
Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Six months
ended ended
30 June 30 June
2024 2023
£ £
Other comprehensive income:
Loss for the period (321,778) (301,380)
Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss:
Foreign currency reserve movement 23,586 (25)
(298,192) (301,405)
Total comprehensive loss for the period
Attributable
Owners of the Company (298,192) (301,405)
Non-controlling interest -
(298,192) (301,405)
GROUP STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
For the six months ended 30 June 2024
Share capital Retained earnings Foreign exchange reserve Warrant reserve Non Total equity
Controlling interest
£ £ £ £ £ £
Unaudited - six months ended 30 June 2024
Balance at 1 January 2024 6,216,282 (1,638,929) (118,443) 67,923 687,348 5,214,181
Current period loss - (321,778) 23,586 - - (298,192)
Total comprehensive loss for the period - (321,778) 23,586 - - (298,192)
Share based payment charge - - - - - -
Net proceeds from shares issued - - - - - -
Balance at 30 June 2024 6,216,282 (1,960,707) (94,857) 67,923 687,348 4,915,989
Unaudited - six months ended 30 June 2023
Balance at 1 January 2023 5,475,204 (949,716) 2,083 23,901 687,348 5,238,820
Current period loss - (301,380) (25) - - (301,405)
Total comprehensive loss for the period - (301,380) (25) - - (301,405)
Share based payment charge (7,129) - - 7,129 - -
Net proceeds from shares issued 746,100 - - - - 746,100
As at 30 June 2023 6,214,175 (1,251,096) 2,058 31,030 687,348 5,683,515
Group Statement of Financial Position
As at 30 June 2024
Unaudited Audited
30 31
June December
2024 2023
Notes £ £
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Exploration and evaluation assets 6 5,382,017 5,221,534
Total non-current assets 5,382,017 5,221,534
Current assets
Trade and other receivables 24,773 12,026
Cash and cash equivalents 86,710 372,156
Available -for-sale investments 4 - -
Total current assets 111,483 384,182
TOTAL ASSETS 5,493,500 5,605,716
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables (455,289) (269,313)
Taxation (122,222) (122,222)
Total current liabilities (577,511) (391,535)
NET CURRENT / (LIABILITIES) ASSETS 466,028 (7,353)
Non-current liabilities
Loans - -
Total non-current liabilities - -
TOTAL LIABILITIES (577,511) (391,535)
4,915,989 5,214,181
NET ASSETS
EQUITY
Share capital 7 6,216,282 6,216,282
Warrant reserve 67,923 67,923
Foreign exchange reserve (94,857) (118,443)
Retained earnings (1,960,707) (1,638,929)
4,228,641 4,526,833
Non controlling interest 687,348 687,348
4,915,989 5,214,181
TOTAL EQUITY
Group Statement of Cash Flows
For the six months ended 30 June 2024
Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Six months
ended ended
30 June 30 June
2024 2023
£ £
Cash flows from operating activities
Loss before tax (321,778) (301,380)
Adjustments for:
Dividends received - -
(Gain)/Loss on sale of investments - 34,799
Unrealised loss/(gain) on investments - -
(Increase) in receivables (12,746) (425,362)
Increase in payables 185,975 25,704
Net cash inflow from operating activities (148,549) (666,239)
Cash flows from/(used) in investing activities
Dividends received -
Net movement in Investments held - 360,950
Purchase of Exploration and Evaluation assets (160,483) (122,941)
238,009
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from Issue of shares, net of issue costs - 746,100
Shares issued to acquire subsidiaries - -
- 746,100
(Decrease)/Increase in cash (309,032) 317,870
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes 23,586 (25)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 372,156 71,674
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 86,710 389,519
Notes to the interim financial information
For the six months ended 30 June 2024
1. General information
This financial information is for African Pioneer Plc ("the Company") and its
subsidiary undertakings. The principal activity of African Pioneer Plc (the
'Company') and its subsidiaries (together the 'Group') is the development of
natural resources exploration projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Company is a
public limited company and was listed on to the Official List (Standard
Segment) and commenced trading on the Main Market for listed securities of the
London Stock Exchange on 1 June 2021. The Company is domiciled in the Isle of
Man and was incorporated on 20th July 2012 under the Isle of Man Companies Act
2006 with company registration number 00859IV, and with registered address
being 19-21 Circular Road, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 1AF.
2. Basis of preparation
The unaudited interim financial information set out above, which incorporates
the financial information of the Company and its subsidiary undertakings (the
"Group"), has been prepared using the historical cost convention and in
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").
These interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2024 are unaudited and
do not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 434 of the
Companies Act 2006. The financial statements for the year ended 31 December
2023 were audited and the auditors' report on those financial statements was
unqualified and contained a material uncertainty pertaining to going
concern.
The same accounting policies, presentation and methods of computation have
been followed in these unaudited interim financial statements as those which
were applied in the preparation of the company's annual financial statements
for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The interim consolidated financial information incorporates the financial
statements of African Pioneer Plc and its subsidiaries.
Going concern basis of accounting
The Group made a loss from all operations for the six months ended 30 June
2024 after tax of £322K (2023: £301,000), had negative cash flows from
operations and is currently not generating revenues. During last year, on 19
June 2023 the Company raised £790,000 (gross). On 30 June 2024 Cash and cash
equivalents were £87K (Dec 2023 £372K). On 1 May 2024 the Company entered
into an unsecured convertible loan funding facility agreement for up to
£1,000,000 (the "Facility") with Sanderson Capital Partners Ltd (the
"Lender"), a long term shareholder in the Company, which is convertible at 2.8
pence per ordinary share. The Facility can be drawn down in 4 tranches of
£250,000 each. The Facility can be extended by the Company by a further
£500,000 ("Optional Facility") if the Company drawsdown in full or in part
against all 4 tranches of the Facility in which case the conversion price for
the Optional Facility will be 4 pence per ordinary share. The Facility is a
standby facility as a potential additional source of working capital for the
Company in a period when the funding market for junior exploration companies
can be subject to market volatility. Post the period end on 13 August 2024
the Company announced that it had issued a drawdown notice for £250,000 under
the Facility. The £250,000 drawdown is repayable in 12 months and convertible
by the Lender at 2.8 pence per share.
An operating loss is expected in the year subsequent to the date of these
accounts and as a result the Company will need to raise funding to provide
additional working capital to finance its ongoing activities. Management has
successfully raised money in the past, but there is no guarantee that adequate
funds will be available when needed in the future.
Based on the Board's assessment that the Company will be able to raise
additional funds, as and when required, to meet its working capital and
capital expenditure requirements, the Board have concluded that they have a
reasonable expectation that the Group can continue in operational existence
for the foreseeable future. For these reasons the financial statements have
been prepared on the going concern basis, which contemplates continuity of
normal business activities and the realisation of assets and discharge of
liabilities in the normal course of business.
The management team has successfully raised funding for exploration projects
in the past, but there is no guarantee that adequate funds will be available
when needed in the future.
There is a material uncertainty relating to the conditions above that may cast
significant doubt on the Group's ability to continue as a going concern and
therefore the Group may be unable to realise its assets and discharge its
liabilities in the normal course of business.
This financial report does not include any adjustments relating to the
recoverability and classification of recorded assets amounts or liabilities
that might be necessary should the entity not continue as a going concern.
3. Earnings per share
Unaudited Unaudited
30 30
June June
2024 2023
£ £
(Loss) attributable to equity holders of the Company (321,778) (301,380)
Weighted average number of shares 228,041,178 191,908,586
Weighted average number of shares and warrants 244,891,178 229,640,660
Basic & Diluted loss per ordinary share (0.14)p (0.16)p
The use of the weighted average number of shares in issue in the period
recognises the variations in the number of shares throughout the period and is
in accordance with IAS 33 as is the fact that the diluted earnings per share
should not show a more favourable position than the basic earnings per share.
4. Investments
The company has adopted the provisions of IFRS9 and has elected to treat all
available for sale investments at fair value with changes through the profit
and loss.
Available-for-sale investments under IFRS9 are initially measured at fair
value plus incidental acquisition costs. Subsequently, they are measured at
fair value in accordance with IFRS 13. This is either the bid price or the
last traded price, depending on the convention of the exchange on which the
investment is quoted. All gains and losses are taken to profit and loss.
The Company has sold all the available for sale investments which it held at
the time of its listing as a result of the Company previously being an
investment company.
5. Acquisition of subsidiaries
Acquisition of Zamcu Exploration Pty Limited (Namibian Projects)
On 1 June 2021 the Company completed the acquisition of 100% of Zamcu
Exploration Pty Ltd ("Zamcu"), which via its subsidiaries, held a 70 per cent.
interest in two Namibian Exclusive Prospecting Licenses ("EPLs") comprising
the Ongombo and Ongeama projects, located within the Matchless amphibolite
Belt of central Namibia that hosts copper-gold mineralization. On 27 August
2021 the Company entered into an agreement to acquire a further 15% interest
in its Ongombo Project and Ongeama Project in Namibian (the "Namibian
Projects") increasing its interest in the Namibian Projects to 85%
The fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired were as follows:
£
Consideration
Equity consideration
- Ordinary shares (issued) 687,500
Cash consideration 149,149
836,649
Fair value of assets and liabilities acquired
- Assets -
- Liabilities (262)
(262)
Deemed fair value of 836,911
exploration assets acquired
Additional 15% acquired 331,240
Total 85% acquisition value 1,168,151
Attributable to non-controlling interest 206,098
Gross fair value of exploration assets acquired 1,374,249
Acquisition of African Pioneer Zambia Limited ("APZ") (Zambia Projects)
On 1 June 2021 the Company completed the acquisition of 80% of APZ, which
holds a 100 per cent. interest in five Zambian Prospecting Licenses (PLs)
located in two areas namely (i) the Central Africa Copperbelt (Copperbelt),
which is the largest and most prolific mineralized sediment- hosted copper
province known on Earth and which comprises four PLs and (ii) the Zambezi area
located within the Zambezi Belt of southern Zambia that hosts a lower Katanga
Supergroup succession which, although less studied than its northern
counterpart, also hosts a number of Copperbelt-style occurrences and which
comprises one PL
The fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired were as follows:
Oct 2020
£
Ordinary shares (issued) 1,925,000
Fair value of assets and liabilities acquired
- Assets 743
- Loan for exploration licenses (41,205)
(40,462)
Deemed fair value of 1,965,462
exploration assets acquired
Attributable to non-controlling
interest 481,250
Acquisition of African Pioneer Zambia Limited ("APZ") (Zambia Projects)
On 1 June 2021 the Company completed the acquisition of 80% of APZ, which
holds a 100 per cent. interest in five Zambian Prospecting Licenses (PLs)
located in two areas namely (i) the Central Africa Copperbelt (Copperbelt),
which is the largest and most prolific mineralized sediment- hosted copper
province known on Earth and which comprises four PLs and (ii) the Zambezi area
located within the Zambezi Belt of southern Zambia that hosts a lower Katanga
Supergroup succession which, although less studied than its northern
counterpart, also hosts a number of Copperbelt-style occurrences and which
comprises one PL
The fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired were as follows:
Oct 2020
£
Ordinary shares (issued)
1,925,000
Fair value of assets and liabilities acquired
- Assets
743
- Loan for exploration licenses
(41,205)
(40,462)
Deemed fair value of
exploration assets acquired
1,965,462
Attributable to non-controlling
interest 481,250
Gross fair value of exploration assets
acquired 2,446,712
Resource Capital Partners Pty Ltd ("RCP") (Botswana Projects)
On 1 June 2021 the Company completed the acquisition of 100% of Resource
Capital Partners Pty Ltd ("RCP"), which holds a 100 per cent. interest in
eight Botswana Prospecting Licenses ("PLs") located in two areas namely (i)
the Kalahari Copperbelt (KC) that contains copper-silver mineralisation and
which is generally stratabound and hosted in metasedimentary rocks that have
been folded, faulted and metamorphosed to greenschist facies during the Damara
Orogeny and which comprises six PLs and (ii) the Limpopo Mobile Belt
("Limpopo") set within the Motloutse Complex of eastern Botswana, a
transitional boundary between the Zimbabwe Craton to the north and the Limpopo
Mobile Belt to the south which comprises two PLs;
The fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired were as follows:
Oct 2020
£
Consideration
Equity consideration
- Ordinary shares (issued) 350,000
Fair value of assets and liabilities acquired
- Assets -
- Liabilities -
-
Deemed fair value of 350,000
exploration assets acquired
6. Exploration and evaluation assets
30 June 2024 31 Dec 2023
£ £
Balance at beginning of period 5,221,534 5,112,856
Acquisitions during the period -
Exploration expenditure in period 160,483 108,678
Carried forward 5,382,017 5,221,534
at end of period
6.1. Exploration assets
The Company's principal business is to explore opportunities within the
natural resources sector in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on base and
precious metals including but not limited to copper, nickel, lead and zinc.
The Company has acquired the Namibia Projects, Zambia Projects and Botswana
Projects (see Note 5 for details):
On 16 May 2023 the Company announced an updated Indicated and Inferred Mineral
Resource Estimate for the Ongombo copper project in Namibia, was completed by
independent consultants Addison Mining Services ("AMS"). AMS has highlighted a
number of areas both down-plunge and down-dip of defined mineralisation where
the external consultant believes the delineation of further mineralisation is
extremely likely. In addition, a large proportion of the drilling and assaying
undertaken on the East-Ost Shoot did not assay for gold. Therefore, AMS also
indicates that scope for a further increase in the Cu Eq grade of the East -
Ost Shoot is likely once infill or twin drilling is undertaken. This is
potentially significant as the East-Ost Shoot is notably thicker than the
Central Shoot and offers an easier more efficient mining target than the
narrower Central Shoot. Addition of gold at East - Ost Shoot may increase
the global resource tonnage as the addition of further value will increase the
Cu Eq grade above the 1% cu cut-off currently being used for resource
estimation.
The Company's' main focus during the period was on evaluating and advancing
its 85% owned Namibian Projects and its 100% owned Botswana Projects and the
80% owned Zambian exploration licence which is not the subject of the First
Quantum Option Agreement described at paragraphs 4.5 of the Corporate Review
above.
6.2. Exploration assets accounting policy
Exploration, evaluation and development expenditure incurred is accumulated in
respect of each identifiable area of interest. These costs are only carried
forward to the extent that they are expected to be recouped through the
successful development of the area or where activities in the area have not
yet reached a stage which permits reasonable assessment of the existence of
economically recoverable reserves. Accumulated costs in relation to an
abandoned area are written off in full in the year in which the decision to
abandon the area is made. When production commences, the accumulated costs for
the relevant area of interest are transferred to development assets and
amortised over the life of the area according to the rate of depletion of the
economically recoverable reserves. A regular review is undertaken of each area
of interest to determine the appropriateness of continuing to carry forward
costs in relation to that area of interest.
7. Share Capital
The share capital of African Pioneer Plc consists only of fully paid ordinary
shares with no par value. All shares are equally eligible to receive dividends
and the repayment of capital and represent one vote at shareholders' meetings
of the Company.
30 June 2024
Number £
Authorised:
1,000,000,000 ordinary shares of no par value 1,000,000,000 n/a
30 June 2024
Group Number of shares Share
capital
£
As at 31 December 2023 228,041,178 6,216,282
Shares issued during the period - -
Share issue costs -
Share based payment charge - -
As at 30 June 2024 228,041,178 6,216,282
There were no shares issued in the period
There were no warrants issued in the period
8. Concert party
At the period end the concert party, as defined and further details of which
were disclosed in the Company's prospectus dated 26 May 2021, held an
aggregated interest of 44.49%.
9. Subsequent events
On 13 August 2024 the Company announced that it had issued a drawdown notice
for £250,000 under its unsecured convertible loan funding facility agreement
for up to £1,000,000 with Sanderson Capital Partners Ltd (the "Lender"), The
£250,000 drawdown is repayable in 12 months and convertible by the Lender at
2.8 pence per share. The Lender is due;
i) a drawdown fee of £5,000 being 2% of the amount drawdown to be settled by
the issue of 232,558 new ordinary shares ("Shares") credited as fully paid at
2.15 pence per share being the five-day VWAP on 9 August 2024 (the "Drawdown
Fee Shares") with the Drawdown Fee Shares to be issued on or before 31
December 2024 or such other date agreed by the parties; and
ii) £125,000 of three year warrants over Shares with an exercise price of 4
pence per Share.
On 16 September 2024 the Company announced the issue of 949,923 new Ordinary
Shares of no par value ("Ordinary Shares) to settle a total of £21,940
accrued consultancy fees.
Other than the matters above no significant events have occurred subsequent to
the reporting date that would have a material impact on the consolidated
financial statements
.
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