REG-Petra Diamonds: Trading Update for the 6 Months ended 31.12.2021
18/01/2022 07:05
18 January 2022 LSE: PDL
Petra Diamonds Limited
("Petra" or the "Company" or the “Group”)
Trading Update for the Six Months ended 31 December 2021
Petra Diamonds Limited announces the following unaudited Trading Update for
the six months ended 31 December 2021 (the “Period”, “H1 FY 2022”, or
“H1”) ahead of the publication of the Company’s Interim Results for the
Period on 22 February 2022.
Richard Duffy, Chief Executive of Petra Diamonds, commented:
“I am very pleased with both the significant improvement in our safety
performance in H1 and our robust operating results, with production
comfortably tracking our guidance. This strong operating performance, together
with proceeds from the sale of Exceptional Stones supported by a strong market
delivering ongoing price increases, has raised profitability, further
strengthened our balance sheet and improved our cash position, which sets us
up well for the second half of FY 2022 and beyond.”
H1 FY 2022 Summary:
* Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (“LTIFR”) down 64% to 0.18 (H1 FY 2021:
0.50), reflecting very good safety performance for H1 FY 2022. Total injuries,
including LTIs, down 21% to 15 (H1 FY 2021: 19).
* Production up 2% to 1,777,424 carats (H1 FY 2021: 1,740,862 carats), largely
attributable to Williamson resuming production during the Period, following an
extended period of care and maintenance.
* Revenue up 49% to US$264.7 million (H1 FY 2021: US$178.1 million) driven
particularly by the sale of Exceptional Stones totalling US$77.9 million (H1
FY 2021: US$40.4 million) and further supported by the strong diamond market,
with rough diamond prices on a like-for-like basis up ca. 16% compared to the
preceding six-month period to 30 June 2021.
* Framework Agreement entered into with the Government of Tanzania regarding
the Williamson mine (reducing Petra’s indirect shareholding from 75% to 63%)
and execution of a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) to sell
50% (less one share) of the entity that holds Petra’s shareholding in
Williamson Diamonds Limited (“WDL”) to Caspian Limited. Upon completion of
the transactions contemplated by the MoU and the capital restructuring in the
Framework Agreement becoming effective (expected in H2 2022), Petra and
Caspian will each indirectly hold a 31.5% stake in WDL, but with Petra
retaining a controlling interest in WDL and the Government of Tanzania holding
the remaining 37%. These agreements are in line with Petra’s objective of
reducing its exposure in Tanzania while retaining control, as well as a share
of the upside. The Williamson mine is therefore no longer classified as an
asset held for sale and all figures in this announcement include Williamson.
* Share consolidation of one new share for every 50 existing shares completed
on 29 November 2021, with the Company’s resultant issued share capital now
consisting of 194,201,785 ordinary shares of 0.05 pence each.
* Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2021: * Consolidated net debt of US$153.6
million (30 September 2021: US$201.4 million).
* Unrestricted cash of US$256.7 million (30 September 2021: US$209.8 million).
* Diamond debtors of US$0.4 million (30 September 2021: US$0.1 million).
* Diamond inventory valued at US$59.1 million (30 September 2021: US$76.0
million) at the South African operations and valued at US$20.5 million (30
September 2021: US$13.5 million) at Williamson.
H1 FY 2022 Production, Sales – Summary
Unit H1 FY 2022 H1 FY 2021 Variance FY 2021 (1)
Gross ore processed Mt 5.6 4.4 +27% 8.1
Gross diamonds recovered Carats 1,777,424 1,740,862 +2% 3,240,312
Gross diamonds sold Carats 1,595,851 1,712,797 -7% 3,960,475
Gross revenue US$M 264.7 178.1 +49% 406.9
Note:
1. For comparative purposes, the FY 2021 figures have been
restated to include Williamson.
Outlook:
* FY 2022 gross production guidance of 3.3 to 3.6 Mcts remains unchanged,
while FY 2022 gross Capex is expected to come in towards the lower end of
earlier guidance of US$78 to US$92 million.
* As previously announced, the Cullinan mine experienced convergence in Tunnel
41 (“T41”) on the eastern side of the C-Cut block cave during the Period,
impacting 18 of a total of 187 draw points. Mitigating steps were rapidly
introduced which are now largely offsetting the impact on Cullinan’s
production for FY 2022, resulting in the mine’s production guidance
remaining unchanged at 1.7 to 1.9 Mcts for FY 2022.
* The Business Re-Engineering Projects at Finsch and Koffiefontein initiated
in July 2021 continue and the Company will be in a position to provide further
information on these projects in its Interim Results in February 2022.
* The outbreak of the Omicron variant led to a significant increase in the
spread of the Covid-19 virus globally. There has only been a limited impact on
our South African and Tanzanian operations during this wave, which is
generally perceived to have now passed its peak in South Africa. Certain
travel restrictions were imposed on travel to and from South Africa and while
these may impact some of our customers’ ability to attend South African
based tenders, we will continue our flexible approach in planning upcoming
sales events. This may include the Company only hosting three tenders during
H2 FY 2022 as opposed to the standard four tenders, which was the norm prior
to the outbreak of the pandemic, in order to maximise possible client
attendance and is not expected to have any significant impact on carats sold
for full year FY 2022. The Company will continue to monitor developments at
the same time as encouraging employees to be vaccinated.
* Discussions with the South African Lender Group around the possible
refinancing of the first lien debt continued during Q2 FY 2022 and are on
track to be concluded during Q3 FY 2022.
* The Company will release its Interim Results for the six months to 31
December 2021 on 22 February 2022. On the same day, the Company plans to hold
an Investor Day at 9:30am GMT to, amongst others, update the market on the
Company’s strategy and longer-term guidance. More details will follow closer
to the date.
Results Webcasts – 9:30am and 4:00pm GMT today
Petra’s Chief Executive Richard Duffy and Finance Director Jacques
Breytenbach will host a results webcast at 9:30am GMT on 18 January 2022.
Participants can join the webcast by registering at:
https://www.petradiamonds.com/go/tu18jan22-09h30
A recording of the webcast will be available later that day on Petra’s
website at:
https://www.petradiamonds.com/investors/results-reports/ and on the link
above.
There will be a second webcast on 18 January 2022 for international investors
at 4:00pm GMT. Participants can join the webcast by registering at:
https://www.petradiamonds.com/go/tu18jan22-16h00
Trading Update
Health and safety
The Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (“LTIFR”) for H1 FY 2022 decreased to
0.18 (H1 FY 2021: 0.50). The LTIs during the Period continued to be of low
severity and mostly behavioural in nature. The various remedial actions and
behaviour-based intervention programmes previously announced have assisted in
achieving the strong improvement in the safety trend. The total number of
injuries during H1 FY 2022, which includes LTIs, decreased to 15 (H1 FY 2021:
19). Petra continues to target a zero-harm working environment.
COVID-19 remains a risk to the health and safety of the Group’s workforce.
Petra has implemented systems and strategies across all its operations aimed
at preventing and/or containing the spread of the virus. Petra’s focus
remains on a vaccination drive of its employees. In South Africa, 2,171
employees have been fully vaccinated (52% of the workforce) and 292 partially
vaccinated (13% of the workforce), while at Williamson the vaccination
campaign is progressing, although the roll-out has been slower. More
information on the Company’s response to the pandemic is available on its
website:
https://www.petradiamonds.com/sustainability/health-and-safety/our-response-to-covid-19/.
Production and Operations
H1 FY 2022 production was in line with guidance and totalled 1,777,424 carats
(H1 FY 2021: 1,740,862 carats). During the Period, Williamson resumed
production, having been on care and maintenance since April 2020, while steps
to address both the prior waste ingress at Finsch as well as the convergence
of a tunnel at Cullinan have yielded positive results.
As previously announced, during September 2021 convergence was experienced at
the southern end of Tunnel 41 in the C-Cut. Remedial action was focused on
arresting convergence by stabilising the affected pillars, thereby protecting
the tunnel so that access could be re-established once the area had
stabilised, and this was quickly achieved.
Initial estimates on the impact on production indicated a potential loss of
approximately 30,000 tonnes per month for a period of 12 to 14 months. This
has successfully been mitigated to a large extent by the increased rate of
draw from the draw points surrounding the affected area in Tunnel 41 in order
to de-stress the affected pillars. The impact on production is now estimated
to be a loss of only some 11,000 tonnes per month compared with the business
plan to the end of November 2022. Cullinan is still expected to deliver on its
annual guidance for FY 2022 of 1.7 to 1.9 Mcts.
The Business Re-Engineering Projects at Finsch and Koffiefontein, that were
initiated in July 2021 to comprehensively review and improve the mines’ cost
bases and enhance operating margins, are progressing well and the Company will
outline the preliminary conclusions of both projects in its Interim Results in
February 2022.
Production ramp-up at Williamson commenced during H1 FY 2022 with 1.4 Mt ROM
processed in the period, yielding 82.9 Kcts, including the exceptional 32.32
carat pink stone covered in ‘Diamond Sales’.
Diamond market
The diamond market ended the calendar year in a strong state, with evidence of
buoyant jewellery sales during the important festive retail period as
consumers released pent-up demand for luxury items. Polished prices appeared
to end 2021 around the year’s highs and some industry commentators are
predicting record jewellery sales for 2021. Demand at Petra’s most recent
tender spanned across the entire spectrum of rough assortments and sizes and
reflected the shortages of goods further to the recent contraction of global
rough supply.
The Company continues to closely monitor the impact of COVID-19 on its
clients’ ability to attend tenders and will continue its flexible approach
in planning its upcoming sales events.
Diamond Sales
H1 FY 2022 revenue increased 49% to US$264.7 million (H1 FY 2021: US$178.1
million) driven by the sale of Exceptional Stones totalling US$77.9 million
(H1 FY 2021: US$40.4 million), being:
* the exceptional 39.34 carat blue diamond from the Cullinan mine sold for
US$40.2 million;
* the 342.92 carat Type IIa white diamond from the Cullinan mine sold for
US$10 million (the Company has retained a 50% interest in the profit uplift of
the polished proceeds, after costs, of the 342.92 carat white diamond, as well
as an 18.30 carat Type IIb blue diamond which sold for US$3.5 million);
* the exceptional 32.32 carat pink diamond from the Williamson mine sold for
US$13.8 million; and
* the 295.79 carat white diamond from the Cullinan mine sold for US$13.9
million.
H1 revenue also benefited from realised diamond prices on a like-for-like
basis being up ca. 16% compared to the preceding six-month period to 30 June
2021.
Sales volumes reduced by some 7% compared to the comparative period when
significantly higher volumes were sold, mostly off-tender, following the
inventory build witnessed late in FY 2020 after the initial COVID-19 outbreak.
Tender volumes and resultant diamond inventories have now normalised in line
with normal tender timings.
Project 2022 Update
Project 2022 commenced in July 2019 and has now reached the final half year of
this 36-month project scheduled for completion in June 2022. The project’s
key focus was to increase the cash flow generation of the Company through
increased production levels and reduced operating and capital expenditure,
while introducing a standardised business improvement process as part of the
Company’s operating model.
The production results of H1 FY 2022 are testament to the positive impact of
Project 2022’s ideas and principles on stabilising and improving operating
performance, evident at Cullinan and Finsch in particular. This, together with
the positive impact of Project 2022 on the operating and capital cost
performance of the operations, will deliver or exceed annualised operating
cashflow benefits of circa US$70 million and are expected to result in the
Group delivering towards the upper end of its US$100 to US$150 million net
free cashflow target by the end of June 2022.
As a follow on from Project 2022, and using the same principles, Business
Re-Engineering Projects at Finsch and Koffiefontein are underway to ensure the
feasibility of future life extension capital projects at Finsch, through the
introduction of a reduced operating cost model that would allow the
development of new mining blocks, and to remove the negative cash flow
performance of Koffiefontein.
The first and second phases of the Project 2022 Organisational Design
(“OD”) Review have been completed, which involved updating role
descriptions, grading these roles and amending the Group’s Remuneration
Policy to address both market competitiveness and internal equity to
strategically manage the investment in our employees. The focus of the OD
Project in FY 2022 is on improving performance management through developing
and aligning KPIs across the business to further enhance accountability and
delivery.
The transition from Project 2022 to business improvement being integrated with
the Company’s operating model, to ensure that the benefits of the structures
and systems created by Project 2022 continue over the longer term, is in
progress and is scheduled to be concluded by June 2022.
Williamson Mine – Human Rights Update
The Company provides the following update with regards to the Independent
Grievance Mechanism (“IGM”) and other remedial initiatives and community
programmes that have been put in place to address the historical allegations
of human rights abuses at the Williamson mine in Tanzania. More information on
this matter can be found on the Company’s website at:
https://www.petradiamonds.com/our-operations/our-mines/williamson/allegations-of-human-rights-abuses-at-the-williamson-mine/.
During H1 FY 2022, a series of engagements with Government Ministries and
Agencies, Civil Society and NGOs were conducted in Dodoma and Dar es Salaam,
seeking feedback and support on the proposed design of the IGM. Local
engagements, particularly with those for whom the IGM is intended, are planned
for Q3 FY 2022, following successful engagements at the national level. The
current target is for the launch of the pilot phase of the IGM by the end of
June 2022 (end of FY 2022) and the IGM becoming fully operational by the end
of Q1 FY 2023.
Whilst the IGM is still being developed, a mechanism has been set up to enable
community members to confidentially and securely register alleged historical
Tier 2 grievances. This mechanism continues to receive such grievances and a
significant number have been registered. As the IGM is not yet operational
and therefore unable to commence the investigation of such grievances, it is
too early to evaluate the merits of them.
As previously announced, a number of projects are being put in place to
provide sustainable benefits to the communities located close to the mine,
with in excess of £1 million of agreed funding paid by Petra into an escrow
account to fund these projects. The gender-based violence campaign has now
launched and provision of physiotherapy services have started to be provided
from Mwadui hospital.
During H1 FY 2022, there was a total of 295 reported incidents of illegal
incursions onto the Williamson mine lease area, resulting in twelve illegal
miners, ten security officials and five police officials suffering minor
injuries and 74 arrests being made. These incidents will be further
investigated as appropriate and corrective actions taken where necessary.
Subject to the outcome of these investigations, WDL and the Company believe
the WDL and contracted security teams acted in accordance with the Voluntary
Principles on Security and Human Rights.
WDL is also continuing its extensive engagement with communities around the
mine to highlight the dangers of illegal mining, seeking to reduce illegal
incursions onto the Williamson mine lease area, with a particular focus on
seeking to reduce or eliminate the involvement of minors in illegal mining.
Further, WDL continues its engagement at local and central Government level to
work with the authorities to act against the illegal syndicates that are
believed to be funding many of the incursions.
The Company will continue to monitor the effects of actions taken to date and
is committed to the programmes and initiatives detailed in its 12 May 2021
announcement, available on the website link noted above.
~ Ends ~
For further information, please contact:
Petra Diamonds,
London
Telephone: +44 20 7494 8203
Cathy Malins
investorrelations@petradiamonds.com
Des Kilalea
Julia Stone
Notes:
1. The following definitions have been used in this announcement:
1. Exceptional Stones: diamonds with a valuation and selling price of US$5m or
more per stone
2. cpht: carats per hundred tonnes
3. Kcts: thousand carats
4. Kt: thousand tonnes
5. LOM: life of mine
6. LTI: lost time injury
7. LTIFR: lost time injury frequency rate
8. Mcts: million carats
9. Mt: million tonnes
10. FY: financial year
11. Q: quarter of the financial year
12. ROM: run-of-mine (i.e. production from the primary orebody)
13. SLC: sub level cave
14. m: million
About Petra Diamonds Limited
Petra Diamonds is a leading independent diamond mining group and a supplier of
gem quality rough diamonds to the international market. The Company’s
portfolio incorporates interests in three underground producing mines in South
Africa (Finsch, Cullinan and Koffiefontein) and one open pit mine in Tanzania
(Williamson).
Petra's strategy is to focus on value rather than volume production by
optimising recoveries from its high-quality asset base in order to maximise
their efficiency and profitability. The Group has a significant resource base
of ca. 230 million carats, which supports the potential for long-life
operations.
Petra strives to conduct all operations according to the highest ethical
standards and only operates in countries which are members of the Kimberley
Process. The Company aims to generate tangible value for each of its
stakeholders, thereby contributing to the socio-economic development of its
host countries and supporting long-term sustainable operations to the benefit
of its employees, partners and communities.
Petra is quoted with a premium listing on the Main Market of the London Stock
Exchange under the ticker 'PDL'. The Company’s US$336.7 million notes due in
2026 are listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and admitted to trading on the
Global Exchange Market. For more information, visit www.petradiamonds.com.
APPENDIX – CORPORATE & FINANCIAL AND PRODUCTION & SALES TABLES
(INCLUDING WILLIAMSON)
Unit 31 December 2021 30 September 2021 30 June 2021 31 December 2020
Closing exchange rate used for conversion R15.99:US$1 R15.09:US$1 R14.27:US$1 R14.69:US$1
Cash at bank including Williamson (including restricted cash) (1) Cash at bank - Williamson US$M US$M 272.3 16.5 225.6 6.2 173.0 9.2 106.3 2.5
Diamond inventories – including Williamson (1, 2, 3) Diamond inventories - Williamson (1, 2, 3) US$M Carats US$M Carats 79.6 819,252 20.5 133,239 89.5 935,901 13.5 91,397 56.5 637,676 11.4 76,977 105.0 1,385,402 11.4 76,977
Diamond debtors – including Williamson Diamond debtors - Williamson US$M US$M 0.4 - 0.1 - 38.3 - 3.7 -
US$336.7m loan notes (issued March 2021) (4) US$M 346.4 336.8 327.3 -
US$650m loan notes (issued April 2017) (5) US$M - - - 702.0
Bank loans and borrowings (6) US$M 79.9 90.3 103.0 61.2
BEE partner bank facilities (6) US$M - - - 47.2
Bank facilities undrawn and available (6) US$M 0.6 3.9 7.7 -
Consolidated net debt – including Williamson cash at bank (7) US$M 153.6 201.4 219.0 700.4
Notes:
1. Cash at bank and diamond inventories include balances at Williamson as at
31 December 2021 following the Company entering into the MoU with Caspian
during December 2021. Comparatives for 30 September 2021, 30 June 2021 and 31
December 2020 have been adjusted to include balances attributable to
Williamson.
2. Recorded at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
3. Williamson’s diamond inventory includes the 71,654.45 carat parcel of
diamonds blocked for export during August 2017, with a carrying value of
US$10.6 million. In terms of the framework agreement reached with the
Government of Tanzania, as announced on 13 December 2021, the proceeds from
the sale of this parcel will be allocated to Williamson.
4. The US$336.7 million loan notes have a carrying value of US$346.4 million
which represents the gross capital of US$336.7 million of notes, plus accrued
interest and net of unamortised transaction costs capitalised, issued
following the capital restructuring (the “Restructuring”) completed during
March 2021.
5. The US$650 million loan notes represent the gross capital of US$650 million
of notes issued on April 2017, plus accrued and unpaid interest for the
relevant periods; these loan notes were settled in full following the
completion of the Restructuring.
6. Bank loans and borrowings represent amounts drawn under the Group’s
refinanced South African bank facilities as part of the Restructuring and
comprise the ZAR876.4 million term loan (US$54.8 million), net of unamortised
transaction costs capitalised and ZAR402.1 million (US$25.1 million) drawn
(including accrued interest) under the ZAR408.8 million (US$25.6 million)
revolving credit facility. Under the revolving credit facility, ZAR8.8 million
(US$0.6 million) remains undrawn and available. During FY 2021 and as part of
the Restructuring, the BEE partner bank facilities (which comprised the BEE
guarantees) were settled by the Group through proceeds of the ZAR1.2 billion
term loan.
7. Consolidated Net Debt is bank loans and borrowings plus loan notes, less
cash, less diamond debtors and includes the Black Economic Empowerment
guarantees of ZARnil as at 31 December 2021 (ca. US$47.2 million (ZAR693.4
million) as at 31 December 2020).
H1 FY 2022 Group Production and Sales– Summary
Unit H1 FY 2022 H1 FY 2021 Variance FY 2021
Sales
Diamonds sold Carats 1,595,851 1,712,797 -7% 3,960,475
Gross revenue US$M 264.7 178.1 +49% 406.9
Production
ROM tonnes Mt 5.4 4.2 +29% 7.7
Tailings & other tonnes Mt 0.2 0.2 0% 0.4
Total tonnes treated Mt 5.6 4.4 +27% 8.1
ROM diamonds Carats 1,649,989 1,644,846 0% 3,057,860
Tailings & other diamonds Carats 127,435 96,016 +33% 182,452
Total diamonds Carats 1,777,424 1,740,862 +2% 3,240,312
Cullinan – South Africa
Unit H1 FY 2022 H1 FY 2021 Variance FY 2021
Sales
Gross revenue US$M 167.7 107.3 +56% 250.6
Diamonds sold Carats 872,304 894,758 -3% 2,261,058
Average price per carat US$ 192 120 +60% 111
ROM Production
Tonnes treated Tonnes 2,306,986 2,339,473 -1% 4,614,802
Diamonds produced Carats 843,202 913,626 -8% 1,761,490
Grade (1) Cpht 36.5 39.1 -7% 38.2
Tailings Production
Tonnes treated Tonnes 238,293 221,385 +8% 445,538
Diamonds produced Carats 127,435 96,016 +33% 182,452
Grade (1) Cpht 53.5 43.4 +23% 41.0
Total Production
Tonnes treated Tonnes 2,545,279 2,560,858 -1% 5,060,339
Diamonds produced Carats 970,637 1,009,642 -4% 1,943,942
1. The Company is not able to precisely measure the ROM / tailings grade split
because ore from both sources is processed through the same plant; the Company
therefore back-calculates the grade with reference to resource grades.
Finsch – South Africa
Unit H1 FY 2022 H1 FY 2021 Variance FY 2021
Sales
Gross revenue US$M 65.7 54.8 +20% 123.5
Diamonds sold Carats 676,295 768,647 -12% 1,602,312
Average price per carat US$ 97 71 +37% 77
ROM Production
Tonnes treated Tonnes 1,423,119 1,323,000 +8% 2,311,195
Diamonds produced Carats 701,543 695,308 +1% 1,237,219
Grade Cpht 49.3 52.6 -6% 53.5
Total Production
Tonnes treated Tonnes 1,423,119 1,323,000 +8% 2,311,195
Diamonds produced Carats 701,543 695,308 +1% 1,237,219
Koffiefontein – South Africa
Unit H1 FY 2022 H1 FY 2021 Variance FY 2021
Sales
Gross revenue US$M 11.1 11.2 -1% 28.0
Diamonds sold Carats 20,638 18,945 +9% 66,650
Average price per carat US$ 538 590 -9% 419
ROM Production
Tonnes treated Tonnes 317,310 493,661 -36% 754,369
Diamonds produced Carats 22,371 35,912 -38% 59,151
Grade Cpht 7.1 7.3 -3% 7.8
Total Production
Tonnes treated Tonnes 317,310 493,661 -36% 754,369
Diamonds produced Carats 22,371 35,912 -38% 59,151
Williamson – Tanzania
Unit H1 FY 2022 H1 FY 2021 Variance FY 2021
Sales
Gross revenue US$M 20.2 4.6 +339% 4.6
Diamonds sold Carats 26,611 30,339 -12% 30,339
Average price per carat US$ 760 150 +407% 150
ROM Production
Tonnes treated Tonnes 1,354,116 0 n.a 0
Diamonds produced Carats 82,873 0 n.a 0
Grade Cpht 6.1 0 n.a 0
Total Production
Tonnes treated Tonnes 1,354,116 0 n.a 0
Diamonds produced Carats 82,873 0 n.a 0
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