TIDMAPF
RNS Number : 1000U
Anglo Pacific Group PLC
27 March 2019
News Release
27 March 2019
Anglo Pacific Group PLC
Results for the year ended 31 December 2018
Anglo Pacific Group PLC ('Anglo Pacific', the 'Company' or the
'Group') (LSE: APF) (TSX: APY) is pleased to announce its full year
results for the year ended 31 December 2018 and the publication of
its audited 2018 Annual Report and Accounts. These are available on
the Group's website at www.anglopacificgroup.com and on SEDAR at
www.SEDAR.com. The following statement should be read in
conjunction with the audited financial statements.
Portfolio Highlights
2018 2017 2016 2015
GBPm YOY % GBPm GBPm GBPm
-------------------------------------- ----- ------- ----- ------ ------
Kestrel 32.6 13% 28.8 13.1 3.6
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- ----- ------ ------
Maracás Menchen 5.9 195% 2.0 0.8 0.6
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- ----- ------ ------
Narrabri 3.5 (29%) 4.9 4.3 3.2
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- ----- ------ ------
Four Mile 0.1 - 0.3 -
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- ----- ------ ------
EVBC* - 1.7 1.2 1.3
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- ----- ------ ------
Royalty income 42.1 13% 37.4 19.7
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- ----- ------ ------
LIORC dividends 1.9 - - -
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- ----- ------ ------
Interest - McClean Lake & Jogjakarta 2.1 (4%) 2.2 0.2 0.2
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- ----- ------ ------
Royalty related revenue 46.1 16% 39.6 19.9 8.9
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- ----- ------ ------
EVBC* 2.0 - - -
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- ----- ------ ------
Principal repayment - McClean Lake** 1.3 3.0 - -
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- ----- ------ ------
Total portfolio contribution 49.4 16% 42.6 19.7 8.9
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- ----- ------ ------
* Following the application of IFRS 9, the royalties received
from EVBC are reflected in the fair value movement of the
underlying royalty rather than recorded as royalty income.
** The McClean Lake principal repayment in 2017 included GBP1.8m
relating to tolling receipts from H2 2016
Financial Highlights
-- Record GBP46.1m in royalty related revenue, an increase of
16% on the previous record of GBP39.6m earned in 2017
-- Overheads (excluding share-based payments) in line with
2017
-- 21% increase in operating profit to GBP37.1m (2017:
GBP30.6m)
-- Tax losses utilised in full during H1 2018 resulting in an
effective tax rate for the year of 25% (2017: 9%) based on adjusted
earnings
-- 7% increase in adjusted earnings(1) per share to 18.02p
(2017: 16.82p)
-- 14% increase in proposed total dividend for the year to 8p
per share (2017: 7p)
-- Dividend cover of 2.25x (2017: 2.4x) - reflecting the higher
dividend for 2018
-- Free cash flow(2) per share of 22.28p, largely in line with
the 23.62p generated in 2017
-- Net assets largely unchanged at GBP218m (2017: GBP219m)
-- Net debt at the year-end of GBP3.1m (2017: net cash GBP8.1m)
reflecting the GBP38.4m LIORC acquisition completed in H2 2018 and
GBP12.9m dividends paid
-- Returned to a net cash position at the end of January
2019
Operating Highlights
-- 13% increase in royalty income from Kestrel reflected
strength of coal prices as volumes attributable to our private
royalty land were stable at 4.8Mt
-- Maracás Menchen became the Group's second largest source of
revenue in 2018, following a significant increase in the vanadium
price during H2 2018
-- Maiden contribution of GBP1.9m from Labrador Iron Ore Royalty
Corp ("LIORC") which was acquired in H2 2018, implies a yield of
10%
-- GBP38.4m LIORC acquisition undertaken in H2 2018, financed
through available bank facilities
-- Refinanced and upsized the previous US$30m borrowing facility
with a new US$60m facility which includes a further US$30m
accordion feature providing the Group with bank facilities of up to
US$90m for acquisitions
Growth
-- Significant volume growth expected from Kestrel following the
recent announcement by Adaro indicating a target increase in volume
of 40% in 2019
-- Further GBP1m investment in LIORC in January 2019, taking our
total ownership in LIORC to 4.4%, total investment to C$67.9m with
a current market value of C$82.1m
-- Q1 2019 dividend from LIORC of C$1.05 per share, which
included a C$0.80 per share special dividend, following the
distribution of excess cash retained during H2 2018
-- GBP78m (US$100m) of available bank facilities and cash
available to finance growth
Julian Treger, Chief Executive Officer of Anglo Pacific,
commented:
"2018 was the second year in a row in which we reported record
contribution from our royalty portfolio, and the recent
announcement from Adaro suggests that there is a significant
increase in volume to come at Kestrel in 2019. This led us to
propose a 14% increase in the total dividend for 2018 to 8p.
I am particularly pleased to highlight the contribution from
Maracás, now our second largest royalty, and LIORC, our most recent
addition, which demonstrates the progress we have been making in
building a diversified portfolio whilst reducing our dependence on
the Kestrel royalty. LIORC generated GBP1.9m in royalty related
income since its acquisition in H2 2018, implying an annualised
yield of 10%.
Based on 2018 revenue, we have now successfully increased
revenues by approximately GBP15m annually over the last four years.
We have also systematically strengthened the balance sheet, senior
management and the Board which together provides the Company with
added firepower to grow and execute accretive transactions. This is
good progress, but we have more to do and our target for 2019 is
accelerating the rate of our growth.
Growth will not, however, come at the expense of quality,
diligence and prudence in the projects we choose to support. To
this extent, we will continue to focus on projects which produce
premium materials, which we believe will continue to command a
higher premium over time.
In addition to product quality, we will also maintain a strict
focus on how the projects are operated and managed from an ESG
perspective and we will only support those projects which are being
run ethically and responsibly. Our annual report contains further
information in relation to our initiatives in this area during 2018
and how we see this evolving in the years ahead. Although Anglo
Pacific is not an operator, our investments are in natural
resources projects, and we continue to believe in the ongoing need
for high-quality, low polluting products which are operated in a
responsible manner by experienced management teams.
The backdrop for raising capital for natural resources companies
continues to be challenging given the scarcity of capital in the
sector, however we feel confident that we can continue to make
investments and grow our portfolio in a meaningful way in 2019.
With the owners of Kestrel targeting a 40% increase in volume in
2019, along with having access to GBP78m (US$100m) of liquidity on
our balance sheet for making additional quality investments, we are
in a very strong position from which to grow in the year
ahead."
(1) Adjusted earnings/(loss) represents the Group's underlying
operating performance from core activities. Adjusted
earnings/(loss) is the profit/(loss) attributable to equity holders
less all valuation movements, non-cash impairments and amortisation
charges (which are non-cash IFRS adjustments that arise primarily
due to changes in commodity prices), finance costs, any associated
deferred tax and any profit or loss on non-core asset disposals as
these are not expected to be ongoing.
(2) Free cash flow is the net increase/(decrease) in cash and
cash equivalents prior to core acquisitions, equity raising and
changes in the level of borrowings.
Outlook
Anglo Pacific made significant progress in 2018, which lays the
foundations to fund further growth. In 2019, we have a firm
expectation to generate organic growth from the Company's royalty
portfolio which should, subject to prevailing commodity prices,
result in strong earnings and cash generation. We continue to see
traditional capital finance for new mining projects remaining
constrained in current markets, and, whilst this presents
challenges for small to medium sized miners, this conversely
presents increasing opportunities and demand for royalties. This
should provide Anglo Pacific with opportunities to add attractive
assets to its portfolio. Growth and delivering value remain a focus
for the Company in 2019 and the years following.
Analyst and Investor presentation
There will be an analyst and investor presentation via
conference call and webcast at 9:30am (GMT) on 27 March 2018. The
presentation will be hosted by Julian Treger (CEO), Kevin Flynn
(CFO) and Juan Alvarez (Head of Investments).
Dial in number(s) United Kingdom Toll-Free: 08003589473 PIN:
41399555#
United Kingdom Toll: +44 3333000804 PIN:
41399555#
International dial https://bit.ly/2imIR6A
in numbers link
Webcast link https://bit.ly/2HJgJ8X
For further information:
Anglo Pacific Group PLC +44 (0) 20 3435 7400
Julian Treger - Chief Executive Officer
Kevin Flynn - Chief Financial Officer
and Company Secretary
Juan Alvarez - Head of Investments
Website: www.anglopacificgroup.com
Berenberg +44 (0) 20 3207 7800
Matthew Armitt / Detlir Elezi
BMO Capital Markets Limited +44 (0) 20 7664 8020
Jeffrey Couch / Tom Rider / Neil Elliot
Peel Hunt LLP +44 (0) 20 7418 8900
Ross Allister / James Bavister / David
McKeown
Camarco +44 (0) 20 3757 4997
Gordon Poole / Owen Roberts / James
Crothers
Notes to Editors
About Anglo Pacific
Anglo Pacific Group PLC is a global natural resources royalty
and streaming company. The Company's strategy is to develop a
leading international diversified royalty and streaming company
with a portfolio centred on base metals and bulk materials,
focusing on accelerating income growth through acquiring royalties
on projects that are currently cash flow generating or are expected
to be within the next 24 months, as well as investment in earlier
stage royalties. It is a continuing policy of the Company to pay a
substantial portion of these royalties to shareholders as
dividends.
Cautionary statement on forward-looking statements and related
information
Certain statements in this announcement, other than statements
of historical fact, are forward-looking statements based on certain
assumptions and reflect the Group's expectations and views of
future events. Forward-looking statements (which include the phrase
'forward-looking information' within the meaning of Canadian
securities legislation) are provided for the purposes of assisting
the reader in understanding the Group's financial position and
results of operations as at and for the periods ended on certain
dates, and to present information about management's current
expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are
cautioned that such forward-looking statements may not be
appropriate for other purposes than outlined in this announcement.
These statements may include, without limitation, statements
regarding the operations, business, financial condition, expected
financial results, cash flow, requirement for and terms of
additional financing, performance, prospects, opportunities,
priorities, targets, goals, objectives, strategies, growth and
outlook of the Group including the outlook for the markets and
economies in which the Group operates, costs and timing of making
new investments, mineral reserve and resources estimates, estimates
of future production, production costs and revenue, future demand
for and prices of precious and base metals and other commodities,
for the current fiscal year and subsequent periods.
Forward-looking statements include statements that are
predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or
conditions, or include words such as 'expects', 'anticipates',
'plans', 'believes', 'estimates', 'seeks', 'intends', 'targets',
'projects', 'forecasts', or negative versions thereof and other
similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as 'may',
'will', 'should', 'would' and 'could'. Forward-looking statements
are based upon certain material factors that were applied in
drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including
assumptions and analyses made by the Group in light of its
experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions
and expected future developments, as well as other factors that are
believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. The material
factors and assumptions upon which such forward-looking statements
are based include: the stability of the global economy; stability
of local governments and legislative background; the relative
stability of interest rates, the equity and debt markets continuing
to provide access to capital; the continuing of ongoing operations
of the properties underlying the Group's portfolio of royalties and
investments in a manner consistent with past practice; the accuracy
of public statements and disclosures (including feasibility
studies, estimates of reserve, resource, production, grades, mine
life, and cash cost) made by the owners and operators of such
underlying properties; accuracy of the information provided to the
Group by the owners and operators of such underlying properties; no
material adverse change in the price of the commodities produced
from the properties underlying the Group's portfolio of royalties
and investments; no material adverse change in foreign exchange
exposure; no adverse development in respect of any property in
which the Group holds a royalty or other interest, including but
not limited to unusual or unexpected geological formations and
natural disasters; successful completion of new development
projects; planned expansions or additional projects being within
the timelines anticipated and at anticipated production levels; and
maintenance of mining title.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated, estimated or intended in the forward-looking
statements. Past performance is no guide to future performance and
persons needing advice should consult an independent financial
adviser. No statement in this communication is intended to be, nor
should it be construed as, a profit forecast or a profit estimate.
By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and
uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise
to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions,
projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate; that
assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals
and priorities will not be achieved. A variety of material factors,
many of which are beyond the Group's control, affect the
operations, performance and results of the Group, its businesses,
royalties and investments, and could cause actual results to differ
materially from those suggested any forward-looking information.
Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to
current global financial conditions, investment portfolio and
associated risk, adverse development risk, financial viability and
operational effectiveness of owners and operators of the relevant
properties underlying the Group's portfolio of royalties and
investments, royalties and investments subject to other rights, and
contractual terms not being honoured, together with those risks
identified in the 'Principal Risks and Uncertainties' section of
our most recent Annual Report, which is available on our website.
If any such risks actually occur, they could materially adversely
affect the Group's business, financial condition or results of
operations. Readers are cautioned that the list of factors noticed
in the 'Principal Risks and Uncertainties' section of our most
recent Annual Report is not exhaustive of the factors that may
affect the Group's forward-looking statements. Readers are also
cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and
potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on
forward-looking statements.
This announcement also contains forward-looking information
contained and derived from publicly available information regarding
properties and mining operations owned by third parties. The
Group's management relies upon this forward-looking information in
its estimates, projections, plans, and analysis. Although the
forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based
upon what the Group believes are reasonable assumptions, there can
be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these
forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in
this announcement relate only to events or information as of the
date on which the statements are made and, except as specifically
required by applicable laws, listing rules and other regulations,
the Group undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements
are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Third party information
As a royalty and streaming company, the Group often has limited,
if any, access to non-public scientific and technical information
in respect of the properties underlying its portfolio of royalties
and investments, or such information is subject to confidentiality
provisions. As such, in preparing this announcement, the Group has
largely relied upon the public disclosures of the owners and
operators of the properties underlying its portfolio of royalties
and investments, as available at the date of this announcement.
This announcement contains information and statement relating to
the Kestrel mine that are based on certain estimates and forecasts
that have been provided to the Group by Kestrel Coal Pty Ltd
("KCPL"), the accuracy of which KCPL does not warrant and on which
readers may not rely.
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
2018 has been another strong year for Anglo Pacific with record
revenue flowing through to earnings and cash flow. We expect 2019
to be an even stronger year for the Group, certainly in terms of
volume growth, following the new owner of Kestrel announcing plans
to increase production by 40% in 2019. Taking the above into
account, we have recommended a 14% increase in the dividend to 8p
per share for the year. We enter 2019 in a very strong financial
position with a renewed focus on growing our royalty portfolio and
remain confident that our offering will continue to be appealing in
what remains a very capital constrained sector.
It is perhaps timely to reflect on the mining industry, which is
the focus of our investments. The recent tragic and fatal collapse
of a tailings dam in Brazil is a stark reminder of the complex and
challenging nature of mining and the need for the highest standards
in respect of safety and the environment. The scale of the incident
will, rightly, result in enhanced scrutiny on operators from
regulatory bodies, governments, NGOs, lenders and investors in
relation to safety and the use of best practice techniques,
particularly when operating in close proximity to communities.
Such issues are a top priority for Anglo Pacific when
undertaking due diligence. We take comfort from our track record
thus far in the environmental, social and governance ('ESG')
credentials of the operators we have supported. We will continue to
do our utmost to be a force for positive action as we make
investment decisions and work with the operators of the assets in
our portfolio.
It is easy to forget the substantial positive contribution made
by mining to society as a whole. The metals and minerals extracted
are essential for our everyday existence in the developed world and
also help the developing world advance and lift people out of
poverty. As an industry, mining needs to do a better job at
educating on, and communicating the benefits of the extractive
sector. As an investor and believer in the sector, we will do our
part as best we can.
Performance in 2018
The Group saw its total portfolio contribution increase by 16%
to GBP49.4m, buoyed by resilient commodity prices and a strong
contribution from our most recent acquisitions. The Company
executed GBP39.3m of royalty acquisitions in 2018 which added GBP2m
to income in the second half. The acquisitions were financed
organically by drawing on the Group's borrowing facility, with the
Group returning to a net cash position post year end. In addition,
we took the opportunity to upsize and extend our borrowing facility
on more favourable pricing terms, which now, when combined with
existing cash resources, provides for GBP78m (US$100m) of liquidity
to finance further growth opportunities.
The higher commodity prices and revenues during the year
translated directly into higher profits and cash generation.
Operating profit increased to GBP37.1m from GBP30.6m in 2017.
Basic earnings per share were 15.97p compared with 5.88p in
2017. Stripping out non-cash items, we present an adjusted earnings
measure which, we believe, more closely reflects the performance
within management's control. On this basis adjusted earnings per
share were 18.02p (2017: 16.82p).
Dividends
In light of the continued growth in our income, strong dividend
cover and the prospect for further growth in 2019 we have
recommended a 25% increase in the final dividend to 3.125p which,
if approved by shareholders at the 2019 AGM, would result in total
dividends for 2018 of 8p per share, a 14% increase on the 7p paid
in 2017. We feel that this level of dividend rewards the continued
support of our shareholders whilst allowing us to employ cash in
growth opportunities. As we operate in a cyclical and often
volatile sector, we have kept the quarterly dividend level of
1.625p unchanged and we will assess the total dividend level for
2019 when we announce our Q4 2019 trading update.
This implies dividend cover of around 2.5x, which is
approximately the level we are targeting for 2019. Our intention is
to continue to reinvest the bulk of our retained income in growth
at this favourable stage of the cycle.
Corporate culture and governance
Anglo Pacific seeks to maintain the highest standards in all
areas of its business. I believe this starts at the top and the
Board sees it as a key part of its responsibility to set the right
guidelines for the Group to operate to the highest ethical
standards. We hold an annual strategy day and in 2018 included
sessions on strategy, ESG, risk and board effectiveness. We work
with industry experts where appropriate who bring an objective and
impartial insight to how the Group approaches these areas.
While we acknowledge that we are not directly responsible for
the operation of the underlying assets in our portfolio, we are
committed to making the pursuit of best practice in ESG a high
priority.
Board
We were pleased to announce the appointment of Vanessa Dennett
to our Board in November, following an extensive search process.
Vanessa brings with her a wealth of transaction experience in the
mining industry having held senior roles within Anglo American plc.
Her commercial experience in negotiating and structuring
transactions, investment process and corporate governance
complements the finance and operational expertise of the Board.
Vanessa has already made positive contributions to the Board and
has proved a very helpful sounding board to our executive team and
we look forward to her continued participation in the coming
years.
The Directors possess different skills and, I believe, operate
effectively in bringing a diversity of approach and experience to
the overall activities of the Board and committees in determining
strategy and providing guidance and oversight to management. As the
Group develops, we will continue to evaluate the composition of the
Board and refresh when appropriate.
Market background
Against a background of increasing signs of a global slowdown,
concerns surrounding China's debt burden and the US China trade
war, along with rising US treasury yields, it was perhaps not
surprising to see equity values fall at the end of 2018. Although
we believe that small and mid-cap mining companies were underrated
before this bearish sentiment, it suggests that the availability of
capital to finance new mining projects will become even more scarce
and the cost of borrowing will increase accordingly.
This should provide Anglo Pacific with opportunities to add
attractive assets to its portfolio, especially as we, in turn, are
not necessarily dependent on the equity markets to raise capital to
finance such opportunities given our access to liquidity and the
prospect for significant organic growth in 2019.
Outlook
We expect 2019 to produce healthy organic growth from our
royalty portfolio. This should, subject to prevailing commodity
prices, result in another strong year of earnings and cash
generation.
We believe there will be continued demand for royalty and
alternative financing in the mining sector in 2019, given the
shortage of and rising cost of capital facing the sector. Anglo
Pacific is firmly focused on growth and has the balance sheet
strength to continue to add to our portfolio of royalties.
2019 should be a busy year and I have no doubt that the
dedicated, hardworking and experienced team led by Julian Treger is
well placed to deliver our growth targets. I would like to thank
the Board, the executive team and staff for their continued
diligence and hard work.
On behalf of the Board
N.P.H. Meier
Chairman
26 March 2019
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S STATEMENT
Anglo Pacific continued to deliver on its strategy in 2018. Our
portfolio generated a record contribution of GBP49.4m, representing
a 16% increase on 2017. This is very pleasing especially as the
consensus at the beginning of the year was forecasting a
decline.
I would like to highlight that Maracás Menchen, the vanadium
royalty which we acquired in 2014, is now our second largest
royalty by revenue having generated GBP5.9m in royalties during
2018 compared to GBP2.0m in 2017.
We expect further organic growth to come in 2019, driven by
plans for a 40% increase in volumes from Kestrel along with a full
year of revenue from our investment in LIORC. The accelerated
volumes expected from Kestrel should have a positive impact on free
cash flow, but will also bring forward the point at which mining
will leave the Group's private royalty land. As such, the
imperative is now firmly on reinvesting this cash flow to replace
Kestrel's income in the medium-term, and this is our firm focus for
the year ahead.
Track record and experienced team
We have demonstrated our ability to successfully identify
accretive royalty related assets over the past five years, having
acquired royalties over the Narrabri and Maracás mines, together
with an indirect interest in the royalty over the Iron Ore Company
of Canada ('IOC') mines through our investment in LIORC. In
addition, we have gained exposure to the Cigar Lake operation
through a toll milling agreement. We have also added some
longer-term growth opportunities to the portfolio through our
investment in the Piauí and Cañariaco royalties.
The investment of GBP130m into the Group's portfolio over the
past five years could, subject to commodity prices, generate a
sustainable GBP15m of annual revenue before development upside.
This is a good start, but we feel now is the time to accelerate our
rate of growth, and are in a strong financial position to do so,
with GBP78m (US$100m) of liquidity available to us.
The success of these investments has been achieved through the
application of our investment criteria which aims to ensure that
our new royalties are over projects which should continue to
operate throughout the cycle. More recently, we have also targeted
high-quality, lower polluting products in the belief that these
should command more of a premium over time. It is gratifying to see
this belief realised from the returns on our investments in LIORC
(iron ore pellet), Narrabri (low ash, high energy thermal coal) and
Maracás Menchen (vanadium).
Executing the Group's strategy and applying our investment
criteria is our very experienced senior management team, which has
remained largely unchanged over the past five years and whose skill
set covers all of our key diligence areas namely geology, corporate
finance, structuring and tax. The skills of the management team are
augmented by those of our Board, who bring a variety of further
operational, M&A, corporate finance and corporate governance
experience to the Group.
The combined breadth and depth of the senior management team and
Board's knowledge and experience has allowed the Group to assess a
wide range of potential transactions across multiple jurisdictions
and commodities. Given our growth ambitions, we are allocating more
resources to our investment team in order to develop our pipeline
and execute on deals in the year ahead.
Our people are our key assets and staff related expenses make up
64% of the Group's total cost base. We operate in a very scalable
business and it is interesting to note that our costs are virtually
identical to those in 2014 even though our income has increased by
12.5 times over that period.
LIORC investment
The highlight of our acquisition strategy in 2018 was the
purchase of our 4.29% stake in Labrador Iron Ore Royalty
Corporation (LIORC), a publicly quoted royalty pass-through vehicle
listed in Toronto. We increased our exposure to iron ore as we
believe the industry dynamics have improved well beyond the general
market perception and prices will be stronger for longer. Further,
LIORC is focused at the high-quality end of the iron ore market and
enjoys a favourable premium for its product. We also expected LIORC
to produce yields of around ten percent which is very respectable
for a mine in a premier jurisdiction operated by Rio Tinto.
We are pleased to report that in 2018 the income we received
from LIORC exceeded our initial expectations and that the current
market value of the investment is significantly above our cost.
Environmental, Social and Governance
Although Anglo Pacific is not an operator, our role as a
financier and supporter of the mining sector has put us in a
position to appraise hundreds of royalty transactions each year and
allowed us to see the full spectrum of ESG practices within the
industry.
We have seen the mining industry be at the fore front of
technological innovation through developments such as driverless
trucks and trains. It has produced the commodities necessary to
manufacture many products and gadgets today considered to be
indispensable, together with providing the energy required to power
the modern world. Many mining operations also uplift the
communities in which they are located by providing employment,
infrastructure, long-term development opportunities and increased
prosperity.
The industry must communicate these benefits more effectively,
and investment into the sector must be encouraged in order to
provide those minerals and commodities which will continue to be
needed. Projects and operations involving higher-quality, cleaner
products which are operated to the highest possible standards of
environmental and social responsibility are likely to attract
capital in the first instance, and it is these projects which Anglo
Pacific has looked to support in the recent past.
There is no doubt that the world will transition to more
sustainable forms of energy generation but, in the short to
medium-term, a quicker solution to a cleaner world is the use of
higher quality lower polluting commodities; be it their chemical
properties or the way in which they are extracted, operated and
rehabilitated.
Given our exposure to such a diverse range of projects, and our
track record of investing in those which would clearly fit in with
the above criteria, we see a role for Anglo Pacific in being a
conduit for investors who might otherwise not have a mandate to
invest in the underlying mining projects directly. This is an
initiative which we hope to be thought leaders in and explore in
further detail in 2019. We will, of course, continue to hold
ourselves accountable to such standards in our own investment
activity.
Kestrel
The change in ownership of Kestrel during the year was a
significant event for Anglo Pacific as it remains our dominant
source of revenue. A consortium of EMR Capital, a well-known mining
financier based in Australia, and Adaro Energy, a leading
Indonesian producer of coal with over 26 years of experience in
operating coal mines, completed their acquisition of the operation
in Q3 2018.
The price which the consortium paid, US$2.25bn, was 50% higher
than some commentators had been predicting. This signalled that the
new owners would be keen to significantly increase production in
the short-term. Indeed, Adaro suggested that they could, over a
period of time, double production at Kestrel.
Having taken over operational control during Q3 2018, the new
owners have begun work on their expansion plans. They have now
stated that they are forecasting a 40% uplift in production volumes
for 2019, which is far in excess of the levels which were
previously achieved by Rio Tinto. This would be quite timely for
Anglo Pacific as it coincides with a period in which virtually all
mining will be taking place within the Group's private royalty
land, suggesting that there could be a material uplift in royalty
income commencing in 2019, subject to commodity prices remaining
stable.
We have actively engaged with Kestrel's new operations team to
better understand their plans for expanding production, and have
undertaken a site visit to see for ourselves how they plan to
achieve this and, although this seems on paper to be a stretch
target, it is encouraging to see that the operating team are
motivated to achieve this. We have also met with representatives
from Adaro in Indonesia and look forward to a constructive and
cordial working relationship with them going forward.
With the anticipated increase in production and our continued
belief that the market for cleaner coal, such as that produced at
Kestrel, will remain strong for the foreseeable future it is clear
that Kestrel will remain the Group's largest source of royalty
income. It is worth noting however, that over the past five years,
according to analysts who follow our Company, the proportion of our
net asset value (NAV) attributed to Kestrel has fallen from 72% to
48% demonstrating our success in diversifying our asset base year
by year and reducing our reliance on Kestrel.
Market background
Given our track record to date, we are confident that we can
deliver on our growth ambitions. The mining sector continues to
suffer from a scarcity of capital, particularly in the small to
mid-cap segment, which is an area where we have seen a lot of deal
flow in the past.
Conventional bank debt remains hard to come by for junior
developers, and US dollar denominated debt has become more
expensive following a series of increases in the US bank rate
imposed by the Fed during 2018, as part of their reduction in
quantitative easing.
Rising US interest rates have also impacted on the equity
markets as the US 10-year treasury yield increased noticeably
during 2018 and exceeded US inflation for the first time since the
financial crisis. With the risk-free rate increasing, the premium
required to invest elsewhere has also risen, resulting in the price
of equities coming under pressure as the rate of return on safe
haven investments rose.
The equity markets have also experienced a fundamental change
over the past few years, with the growth of index funds leading to
capital allocation being concentrated toward the largest companies.
In the past we would have seen mining funds raise significant
amounts of capital to invest in the sector. These funds had the
expertise, discipline, patience and understanding needed to select
and support new mining projects. The popularity of indexation is
one factor which has caused this to change, with capital flowing to
index funds, which by their nature tend to be passive and liquidity
driven, often following algorithms rather than using industry
expertise to evaluate and back investment decisions.
For mining, this has meant that any capital in the sector is
predominantly being invested in the likes of Rio Tinto or BHP. This
would not ordinarily be a problem if the majors were using this
capital to invest in growth, which in the past would have led to
investments and M&A at the junior end of the market. However,
the majors now appear to be ex-growth, scarred by their acquisition
sprees towards the end of the last decade. As such, equity capital
flowing into the majors is now being distributed back to their
shareholders through special dividends and share buy backs, which
means in many instances capital is ultimately leaving the
sector.
Given the scarcity of conventional debt and equity, and with
mezzanine private equity financing solutions often being
prohibitively expensive or dilutive, we would expect to see the
demand for royalty financing to remain robust in the near-term, and
our pipeline reflects this.
With a strong balance sheet, significant free cash-flow
generation and access to some GBP78m (US$100m) of liquidity we are
now in a position whereby we can act quickly and opportunistically
should circumstances demand.
Outlook
2019 will be an interesting year for the global economy, with
the threat of a slowdown in GDP growth in the US and potential
recession in parts of Europe, the sustainability of Chinese growth
given its debt levels and, of course, the ongoing uncertainty in
relation to Brexit.
Despite the uncertainty facing the global economy, the outlook
for the year ahead is positive for Anglo Pacific. We reported
record income in 2018 and, absent significant volatility in
commodity prices, we expect 2019 to show further organic growth
from the portfolio.
With our dividend well covered, we expect to generate
significant cash flow over the course of the year and with ample
liquidity available, we are in a strong financial position to add
to the growth that Anglo Pacific has delivered over the last five
years.
J.A. Treger
Chief Executive Officer
26 March 2019
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Anglo Pacific enjoyed a very strong financial performance during
2018. We generated a record contribution from our portfolio of
GBP49.4m, a 16% increase from the GBP42.6m earned in 2017. The
comparison for 2017 included GBP1.8m from the Denison financing
arrangement in respect of H2 2016, so the like-for-like increase is
actually 21%.
With our limited cost base, our revenue mainly drops to cash
flow and the Group generated free cash flow of GBP40.2m in 2018, in
line with the GBP40.5m in 2017 if the GBP1.8m Denison back payment
is excluded.
We began the year with cash on hand of GBP8.1m and generated
free cash flow of GBP40.2m resulting in available cash of GBP48.3m,
without drawing down on borrowing facilities. We invested GBP38.4m
in the LIORC stake, and distributed GBP12.9m to shareholders, a 3:1
capital allocation towards growth. This capital spend was financed
entirely from the Group's liquid resources, and so the Group ended
2018 with a modest level of net debt of GBP3.1m, and returned to a
net cash position once again at the beginning of February 2019.
The other notable financial highlight in the year was the
refinancing and extending of our borrowing facility, intended to
better reflect the Group's debt capacity and provide cheaper and
more flexible financing options. As part of this refinancing we
were pleased that Scotia Bank joined the existing syndicate of
Barclays and Investec. The calibre of banks in our syndicate is
testament to the quality of our portfolio and our track record of
identifying and executing accretive royalty related
acquisitions.
With further organic growth anticipated from the portfolio in
2019 and access to GBP70m (US$90m) of borrowing lines, the Group is
in a strong financial position to pursue growth opportunities in
2019.
Income statement
Profit after tax for the year ended 31 December 2018 almost
tripled to GBP28.8m, resulting in earnings per share of 15.97p in
2018 compared to 5.88p in 2017. The main reason for such a large
increase is due to valuation movements swinging from a deficit in
2017 to a surplus in 2018, mainly as a result of commodity price
volatility over the past two years.
To remove the impact of such volatility and other non-cash
items, we present an adjusted earnings measure, and associated
earnings per share, which we feel better represents the underlying
trading performance of the Group and is the measure used by the
Board when considering dividend levels.
2018 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
Royalty related revenue 46,104 17% 39,566
Receipts from royalty financial instruments 1,975 -
Operating expenses - excluding share-based payments (4,709) (4,717)
Finance costs (1,042) (795)
Finance income 82 19
Net foreign exchange gains/losses (593) (747)
Other (losses)/income 1,656 (300)
Tax (10,990) (2,933)
Adjusted earnings 32,483 8% 30,094
-------- --- -------
Weighted average number of shares ('000) 180,278 178,895
18.02p 7% 16.82p
Adjusted earnings increased by 7% to GBP32.5m in the period from
GBP30.1m in 2017, which translates into adjusted earnings per share
('AEPS') of 18.02p (2017: 16.82p). The main change year on year is
a 16% increase in royalty related revenue, partially offset by an
increase in the tax provision now that the Group has utilised its
trading losses in full. The following section will focus on these
two areas, given that everything else has remained largely in line
with the previous year.
Royalty related revenue
Total royalty related revenue in 2018 was GBP46.1m, compared to
GBP39.6m in 2017. Royalty related income no longer includes the
royalties received from EVBC following the transition to IFRS 9 at
the beginning of 2018. Including the GBP2.0m from EVBC and the
GBP1.3m in principal repayments made under the Denison financing
arrangement results in a total portfolio contribution of GBP49.4m
in 2018 compared to GBP42.6m in 2017, a 16% increase. GBP1.9m of
this increase is represented by maiden revenue from the LIORC
investment made in H2 2018. The remainder of the increase is
largely attributable to stronger coking coal and vanadium prices as
outlined below.
2018 2017
GBPm YOY % GBPm
-------------------------------------- ----- ------- -----
Kestrel 32.6 13% 28.8
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- -----
Maracás Menchen 5.9 195% 2.0
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- -----
Narrabri 3.5 (29%) 4.9
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- -----
Four Mile 0.1 -
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- -----
EVBC - 1.7
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- -----
Royalty income 42.1 13% 37.4
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- -----
LIORC dividends 1.9 -
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- -----
Interest - McClean Lake & Jogjakarta 2.1 (4%) 2.2
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- -----
Royalty related revenue 46.1 16% 39.6
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- -----
EVBC 2.0 -
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- -----
Principal repayment - McClean Lake 1.3 3.0
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- -----
Total portfolio contribution 49.4 16% 42.6
--------------------------------------- ----- ------- -----
-- Kestrel
Despite flat volumes of 4.6Mt from within the Group's private
royalty land at Kestrel in 2018, revenue increased to GBP32.6m from
GBP28.8m in 2017. The main reason for the increase was the benefit
of higher average coking coal prices throughout 2018, which also
resulted in a higher weighted average royalty rate. This increase
was slightly offset when reporting this revenue in pounds at a less
favourable exchange rate on average in 2018.
-- Maracás Menchen (Maracás)
The Maracás royalty is now the Group's second largest income
generating royalty, making up 12% of the income recognised in the
income statement. Income from Maracás almost tripled in 2018,
largely driven by vanadium price movements. Sales volumes subject
to the Group's royalty increased by 5% to 9,713kt, a new record for
the operation.
The vanadium price was a clear highlight for Anglo Pacific
during 2018, with the price achieved increasing from US$8.50/lbs at
the beginning of the year to US$26.00/lbs at the end of the year.
The spot price peaked at just over US$34.00/lbs in Q4 2018,
although it has come down somewhat thus far in 2019.
-- LIORC
Dividend income from the Group's investment in LIORC was GBP1.9m
in the period, despite only completing the acquisition in H2 2018.
The income which the Group receives is derived mainly from the 7%
GRR that LIORC holds over the Labrador operations of the Iron Ore
Company of Canada ('IOC'), together with the 10% commission LIORC
earns on all iron ore product produced, sold and shipped by IOC. In
addition, LIORC receives dividends from its ongoing 15.10% equity
interest IOC.
The dividend paid by LIORC consists of a standard quarterly
dividend of C$0.25 per share and this is then adjusted on a
quarterly basis to provide a special dividend depending on the
strength of cash generated from the royalty and underlying
operation, which absent production issues should reflect the iron
ore pellet price. The dividend payments received so far have
contained special dividends of C$0.65 per share, with this
increasing to C$0.80 per share in respect of Q1 2019.
IOC produces a premium, lower contaminated iron ore pellet which
we think will continue to command high premiums going forward as it
is more efficient to use in the manufacture of steel. This trend
was evident in H2 2018 and using an annualised Q4 2018 dividend
level would imply a 10% running yield on our investment.
LIORC retained additional cash balances in the business during
H2 2018. Following the recent press releases by LIORC, we expect
there will be additional dividends to come in 2019 in respect of
earnings from 2018.
-- Narrabri
The results from Narrabri were disappointing in 2018, with
overall revenue decreasing by 29% to GBP3.5m, despite higher
thermal coal prices during 2018. Whitehaven Coal, the operator,
continues to navigate its way through a known localised fault in
the coal deposit, which is expected to be a short-term issue before
volumes can begin to return to more normal levels. Overall sales
volumes subject to the Group's royalty in 2018 were 4.2Mt compared
to 6.8Mt in 2017. This was lower than Whitehaven's previous
guidance, although it was encouraging to see that Narrabri ended
the year with a strong performance in Q4 2018.
-- EVBC
As noted EVBC royalties are no longer reported within royalty
related revenue following the introduction of IFRS 9 at the
beginning of the year.
Orvana Minerals, the operator, had a successful 2018, with gold
production up by around 24% following a strategy to feed higher
grade ore through its processing plant. Our royalty receipts
increased by 17% in 2018 and would have been even higher but for
lower gold prices, particularly in Q3 2018.
-- McClean Lake Mill financing arrangement
Interest earned on the financing arrangement was in line with
the previous year, as would be expected given the fixed interest
rate and the amortisation profile associated with the loan.
Overall cash received under the financing arrangement, including
the repayment of principal, was GBP3.3m in 2018 compared to GBP3.2m
in 2017 (excluding the GBP1.8m received in 2017 in lieu of H2
2016). We would ordinarily expect this revenue to be stable year on
year, although there is some seasonality with summer holidays, and
to be in the region of C$0.5-0.6m per month.
There have been some rumours of potential industrial action by
staff at the mill which could interrupt throughput in the coming
months. We will keep this under review but any interruptions should
hopefully be temporary.
-- Four Mile
We are continuing to engage with the operator of the Four Mile
project, Quasar Resources, in an attempt to resolve the ongoing
royalty calculation dispute.
Operating expenses
Excluding the impact of share-based payments, operating expenses
for the year were GBP4.7m, which is in-line with 2017, and largely
represents staff costs and the costs associated with operating a
listed business based in London.
Operating costs in 2018 were actually less than they were in
2014, a year in which our portfolio contribution was only GBP3.7m
and, when compared to the cost base associated with generating
GBP49.4m in 2018, highlights the scalability of the royalty
model.
Operating costs have been kept under control due to our efforts
to recover substantially all diligence costs on aborted
transactions which proceed to full due diligence. We were
successful in agreeing recoveries on all material costs incurred in
this respect in 2018.
Finance income and finance costs
Finance income and costs are broadly in line with 2017. Finance
costs for both years were impacted by refinancings, with the
current year costs due to the upsizing and extension of the Q1 2017
facility to US$60m in Q3 2018. There is also the potential to
upsize this by a further US$30m for further transactions.
Income tax
The current tax charge for the year of GBP8.4m increased
significantly in comparison to GBP2.0m in 2017 which had the full
benefit of carried forward losses. The Group utilised its remaining
tax losses during H1 2018.
The effective tax rate, when measured against pre-tax adjusted
earnings was 25% which, given that most of the Group's income is
from Australian assets taxed in Australia, is reasonable. With the
expectation of even higher levels of volume to come from Kestrel in
2019, the Group's effective tax rate is likely to remain between
20-25% in the near-term.
Dividends
The Board, taking into account the record year of portfolio
contribution and strong cash generation, has recommended a 25%
increase in the final dividend for 2018 of 3.125p, subject to
shareholder approval at the 2019 AGM. This would take the total
dividend in respect of 2018 to 8p, a 14% increase on the 7p
equivalent for 2017.
Equally important to the quantum of the dividend is the strength
of the dividend cover. To this extent, we are pleased that, based
on adjusted earnings of 18.02p, our dividend was 2.3x covered
(2017: 2.4x, based on a 7p dividend). This represents a healthy
pay-out to shareholders whilst also enabling us to re-invest in
growth during 2018. Our capital allocation ratio in 2018 was 3:1 in
favour of growth.
The proposed final dividend of 3.125p per share, if approved,
will be paid on 30 May 2019, to all shareholders on the Register of
Members on 17 May 2019. The shares will be quoted ex-dividend in
London and Canada on 16 May 2019.
We expect further growth to come in 2019, mainly driven by
volume increases at Kestrel. This should have positive implications
for the 2019 dividend, but as the level of income will depend on
the performance of commodity prices, we have maintained the
quarterly dividend at 1.625p and will use the final dividend to
adjust for the full year, as we have done in 2018.
Balance Sheet
Net assets and net assets per share remained largely flat at
GBP218m and 122p per share in 2017 and 2018.
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/1000U_1-2019-3-26.pdf
Adjusted earnings less dividends added GBP19.6m to reserves in
2018. The benefit of this was then offset largely by the mark to
market of the Group's remaining equity holdings at year end.
The vast majority of our non-core equity portfolio is an 8%
stake in Berkeley Energia, which endured a torrid end to the year
with its share price declining significantly as a result of rumours
of uncertainty surrounding their permitting process in Spain.
Berkeley Energia accounted for most of the GBP12.1m decline. The
strong recovery of the stock in 2019 thus far has reversed some
GBP2.5m of this decline.
Elsewhere, the Group recognised a GBP2.2m impairment provision
against its Pilbara royalty. This reflects a further assessment of
the likely start date for mining within the Group's tenements,
although we are very encouraged by the firm plans which BHP are
putting in place to develop the South Flank deposit, adjacent to
their Mining Area C operations.
The other noticeable valuation charge against the Group's
royalty portfolio was a fair value adjustment in respect of the
Dugbe 1 royalty, where again the pushing out of the start date
resulted in a GBP2.1m reduction to the previous carrying value.
These amounts were largely offset by a GBP5.5m increase in the
carrying value of Kestrel, where the resource depletion was largely
offset by an increase to the forecast near-term volumes from the
Group's private royalty lands as provided by the operator, together
with higher forecast price inputs going forward, based on the
consensus price deck at the end of 2018.
The Kestrel valuation at the end of 2018 was based on the inputs
which were available to the Company at 31 December 2018. While this
did include the uplift of 40% in volumes announced by Adaro Energy
for 2019, it did not include any further updates to production
assumptions as these had not been disclosed to us at the time. We
have since visited site and are now updating the valuation model
for these findings, which we expect to be included in the valuation
at 30 June 2019. This could show, subject to commodity prices,
further volume growth for 2020 onwards above and beyond that
included in our valuation at the end of 2018.
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/1000U_2-2019-3-26.pdf
The Kestrel royalty continues to represent a significant portion
of the Group's total assets. However, to look at this based on
balance sheet asset value would be painting a slightly misleading
picture, as our two most recent royalties (Narrabri and Maracás)
are carried on the balance sheet at the lower of amortised cost or
value i.e. they are not adjusted upwards for increased production
or pricing assumptions, which is the case with Kestrel. As such, we
feel that the balance sheet net asset number portrays an overly
conservative estimate of asset value, certainly when comparing this
to our share price. In the case of Narrabri, the much higher coal
pricing environment along with the prospect of significant volume
growth when mining gets through the localised fault results in a
much higher value in use than is recognised on the balance sheet.
The same is the case with Maracás, especially given the performance
of vanadium prices over the past 18 months. It is our view that the
true net asset value is much higher than the number which the
balance sheet derives.
Cash flow and borrowings
Free cash flow generated during the year was GBP40.2m compared
to GBP42.3m in 2017 and is in line with 2017 when stripping out the
GBP1.8m received from the McClean Lake financing arrangement
relating to H2 2016.
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/1000U_3-2019-3-26.pdf
Free cash flow includes the disposal of non-core assets, which
for 2018 totalled GBP3.1m. This comprised the disposal of the
Group's Indo Mines debenture in Q1 2018 for GBP1.7m, which had been
fully impaired previously. The Group also realised GBP1.4m from its
equity portfolio on a selective basis in H1 2018.
The strong free cash flow generated in 2018 provided the Group
with GBP48.3m of liquidity before needing to draw down on
borrowings. This cash was allocated to investments and dividends in
a ratio of 3:1. Significantly, the GBP38.4m of acquisitions during
the year were financed from the Group's balance sheet and did not
require an associated equity raise. Although this, when combined
with the GBP12.9m of dividends, resulted in the Group swinging from
a cash position of GBP8.1m at the beginning of the year to a net
debt position of GBP3.1m at the end of 2018, the cash received thus
far in 2019 has now brought the Group back to a net cash
position.
We took the opportunity to better reflect the Group's true debt
capacity during 2018 and doubled our borrowing facility from US$30m
to US$60m during Q3 2018. This new facility also has a US$30m
accordion feature which can be provided by the banks when required
to finance future transactions. The facility also has an option to
extend the term by 12 months during its first 18 months, a feature
which we will keep under review as acquisition financing
dictates.
With the Group returning to a net cash position, and with a
well-covered dividend, we have considerable liquidity of GBP78m
(US$100m) available to us to finance growth opportunities without
needing to rely on equity markets. This is a very important
landmark for Anglo Pacific as it not only allows us to be more
credible in royalty negotiations, but it also enables us to act
more quickly and opportunistically should circumstances demand.
Currency and Brexit
Our results in 2018 were impacted by a stronger pound against
most dollar currencies. The average exchange rate against both the
AUD and USD weakened by 6% and 4% respectively. In line with the
Group's currency policy, we successfully hedged a portion of our
expected AUD denominated revenue during 2018 and have put in place
further hedges for 2019.
The currency markets continue to be volatile. Although our
commodities are priced in US dollars, our income is ultimately
received in Australian dollars, and the ratchet rate on Kestrel is
based on the Australian dollar received from coal which is priced
in US dollars.
As such, we have been hedging our exposure to the Australian
dollar with a view to covering our pound cost base and dividend.
There is no doubt that the outlook for the pound in 2019 will be
determined by several factors, but all currencies will be impacted
by the prospects of economic stagnation in China should its economy
begin to feel the burden of its ever-increasing debt pile. The
impact of the US trade wars, particularly directed towards China
could further compound this, and the US bond markets are suggesting
its economy is destined for recession towards the end of 2019.
The Australian dollar, whose prospects are largely aligned with
Chinese GDP growth, has weakened noticeably of late, and it appears
that previously predicted interest rate rises will now turn out to
be cuts given the stalling of its economy and property market in
particular. And, all of this volatility before any mention of the
impact of Brexit.
We took the view at the beginning of 2019 that the Australian
dollar might remain under pressure during the forthcoming year and,
regardless of the impact of Brexit on the GBP:USD rate, the GBP:AUD
could move independently of Brexit. We have hedged accordingly and
will continue to keep a close eye on currency markets to ensure
that our income for 2019, which we now expect could show a
significant uplift as a result of recent revisions to Kestrel
volumes, is protected as much as possible.
Outlook
We enter 2019 in a very strong financial position. We have
returned to a net cash position after financing GBP38.4m of
acquisitions from our balance sheet in 2018. Our refinanced
facility has provided us with up to US$90m of borrowing
availability. With a well-covered dividend, we also expect to
generate strong levels of free cash flow to add to our pool of
liquidity as we go through 2019. We have in place a very supportive
banking syndicate who have continued to support us through 2018 and
we look forward to working closely with them going forward as we
look to execute on our growth ambitions.
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
FOR THE YEARED 31 DECEMBER 2018
2018 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
(Restated*)
Royalty related revenue 46,104 39,566
Amortisation of royalties (2,974) (3,116)
Operating expenses (6,032) (5,890)
-------- ------------
Operating profit before impairments, revaluations and gains on disposals 37,098 30,560
Gain on sale of mining and exploration interests - 1,774
Impairment of mining and exploration interests - (219)
Impairment of royalty intangible assets (2,234) -
Revaluation of royalty financial instruments (871) (6,324)
Revaluation of coal royalties (Kestrel) 10,061 (11,933)
Finance income 82 19
Finance costs (1,042) (795)
Net foreign exchange loss (593) (747)
Other net income/(losses) 2,043 (488)
-------- ------------
Profit before tax 44,544 11,847
Current income tax charge (8,378) (1,997)
Deferred income tax (charge)/credit (7,373) 677
-------- ------------
Profit attributable to equity holders 28,793 10,527
======== ============
Total and continuing earnings per share
Basic earnings per share 15.97p 5.88p
Diluted earnings per share 15.94p 5.88p
* The Group has revised its definition of revenue to include all
royalty related revenue arising in the course of the Group's
ordinary activities. As a result, the presentation of the
comparative income statement has been restated to show an
additional GBP2,184,000 of income in revenue, which was previously
included in finance income.
In the current year, net foreign exchange gains and losses are
now presented separately on the face of the income statement.
Previously they were included in finance income. The comparative
financial information has been adjusted to be on a consistent
basis. Profit attributable to equity holders remains unchanged.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEARED 31 DECEMBER 2018
2018 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
Profit attributable to equity holders 28,793 10,527
Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss
Changes in the fair value of equity investments held at fair value through other
comprehensive
income
Revaluation of royalty financial instruments 290 -
Revaluation of mining and exploration interests (12,147) -
(11,857) -
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss
Available-for-sale investments
Revaluation of equity investments - 2,233
Reclassification to income statement on disposal of equity investments - (1,774)
Reclassification to income statement on impairment - 219
Deferred tax relating to items that have been or may be reclassified (147) 341
Net exchange loss on translation of foreign operations (6,669) (883)
--------- --------
(6,816) 136
Other comprehensive (loss)/profit for the year, net of tax (18,673) 136
Total comprehensive profit for the year 10,120 10,663
========= ========
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2018
Group
2018 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment 22 44
Coal royalties (Kestrel) 109,778 104,266
Royalty financial instruments 46,205 10,867
Royalty and exploration intangible assets 71,194 77,421
Mining and exploration interests 2,848 16,431
Deferred costs 926 689
Investments in subsidiaries - -
Other receivables 19,335 21,259
Deferred tax 3,261 5,484
-------- --------
253,569 236,461
Current assets
Trade and other receivables 10,267 8,702
Derivative financial instruments 188 100
Cash and cash equivalents 5,223 8,099
-------- --------
15,678 16,901
Total assets 269,247 253,362
-------- --------
Non-current liabilities
Borrowings 8,300 -
Other payables 575 418
Deferred tax 35,156 31,507
-------- --------
44,031 31,925
Current liabilities
Income tax liabilities 4,085 5
Trade and other payables 3,023 2,495
-------- --------
7,108 2,500
Total liabilities 51,139 34,425
-------- --------
Net assets 218,108 218,937
======== ========
Capital and reserves attributable to shareholders
Share capital 3,629 3,618
Share premium 62,779 61,966
Other reserves 47,285 64,752
Retained earnings 104,415 88,601
-------- --------
Total equity 218,108 218,937
======== ========
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEARED 31 DECEMBER 2018
Other reserves
Foreign
Share
Investment based currency
Investment
Share Share Merger Warrant revaluation payment translation Special in Retained Total
capital premium reserve reserve reserve reserve reserve reserve own shares earnings equity
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
-------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------------ --------- ------------ -------- ----------- --------- ---------
Balance at 1 January
2017 3,399 49,211 29,134 143 10,708 2,016 23,568 632 (2,601) 93,928 210,138
Profit for the year - - - - - - - - - 10,527 10,527
Other comprehensive
income:
Available-for-sale
investments
Valuation
movement taken
to equity - - - - 2,233 - 8 - - - 2,241
Transferred to
income
statement on
disposal - - - - (1,774) - - - - - (1,774)
Transferred to
income
statement on
impairment - - - - 219 - - - - - 219
Deferred tax - - - - 341 - 1 - - - 342
Foreign currency
translation - - - - - - (892) - - - (892)
Total comprehensive
profit - - - - 1,019 - (883) - - 10,527 10,663
-------- -------- -------- -------- ------------ --------- ------------ -------- ----------- --------- ---------
Dividends - - - - - - - - - (15,869) (15,869)
Issue of ordinary
shares 219 12,755 - - - - - - - - 12,974
Value of employee
services - - - - - 1,016 - - - 15 1,031
Total transactions
with owners of the
company 219 12,755 - - - 1,016 - - - (15,854) (1,864)
-------- -------- -------- -------- ------------ --------- ------------ -------- ----------- --------- ---------
Balance at 31
December 2017 3,618 61,966 29,134 143 11,727 3,032 22,685 632 (2,601) 88,601 218,937
======== ======== ======== ======== ============ ========= ============ ======== =========== ========= =========
Balance at 1 January
2018 3,618 61,966 29,134 143 11,727 3,032 22,685 632 (2,601) 88,601 218,937
Adjustment for
transition to new
accounting
standards - - - - 477 - - - - (527) (50)
-------- -------- -------- -------- ------------ --------- ------------ -------- ----------- --------- ---------
Restated opening
balance 3,618 61,966 29,134 143 12,204 3,032 22,685 632 (2,601) 88,074 218,887
Profit for the year - - - - - - - - - 28,793 28,793
Other comprehensive
income:
Changes in fair
value of equity
investments held at
fair value through
other comprehensive
income
Valuation
movement taken
to equity - - - - (11,857) - (65) - - - (11,922)
Deferred tax - - - - (147) - 155 - - - 8
Foreign currency
translation - - - - - - (6,759) - - - (6,759)
------------
Total comprehensive
profit - - - - (12,004) - (6,669) - - 28,793 10,120
-------- -------- -------- -------- ------------ --------- ------------ -------- ----------- --------- ---------
Transferred to
retained earnings
on disposal - - - - (398) - - - - 398 -
Dividends - - - - - - - - - (12,889) (12,889)
Issue of ordinary
shares 11 813 - - - - - - - - 824
Value of employee
services - - - - - 1,127 - - - 39 1,166
Total transactions
with owners of the
company 11 813 - - (398) 1,127 - - - (12,452) (10,899)
-------- -------- -------- -------- ------------ --------- ------------ -------- ----------- --------- ---------
Balance at 31
December 2018 3,629 62,779 29,134 143 (198) 4,159 16,016 632 (2,601) 104,415 218,108
======== ======== ======== ======== ============ ========= ============ ======== =========== ========= =========
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018
Group
2018 2017
GBP'000 GBP'000
(*Restated)
Cash flows from operating activities
Profit before taxation 44,544 11,847
Adjustments for:
Finance income (82) (19)
Finance costs 1,042 795
Net foreign exchange gains/losses 593 747
Other income (2,043) 230
Gain on disposal of mining and exploration interests - (1,774)
Impairment of mining and exploration interests - 219
Impairment of royalty and exploration intangible assets 2,234 -
Revaluation of royalty financial instruments 871 6,324
Royalties due or received from royalty financial instruments 1,975 -
Revaluation of coal royalties (Kestrel) (10,061) 11,933
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 26 33
Amortisation of royalty intangible assets 2,974 3,116
Amortisation of deferred acquisition costs 202 -
Share based payment 1,323 1,174
--------- ------------
43,598 34,625
(Increase)/Decrease in trade and other receivables (1,554) 3,402
(Decrease)/Increase in trade and other payables (650) 1,138
--------- ------------
Cash generated from operations 41,394 39,165
Income taxes paid (4,482) (1,863)
Net cash generated from operating activities 36,912 37,302
--------- ------------
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds on disposal of mining and exploration interests 612 2,424
Proceeds on return of capital from mining and exploration interests 827 -
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (4) -
Purchases of royalty and exploration intangible assets - (1,125)
Proceeds from royalty financial instruments 1,720 258
Purchases of royalty financial instruments (38,408) (3,323)
Advances under commodity related financing agreements - (24,990)
Repayments under commodity related financing agreements 1,276 3,051
Prepaid acquisition costs (34) (224)
Finance income 82 19
Net cash used in investing activities (33,929) (23,910)
--------- ------------
Cash flows from financing activities
Drawdown of revolving credit facility 17,300 7,498
Repayment of revolving credit facility (9,000) (13,651)
Proceeds from issue of share capital 75 13,700
Transaction costs of share issue - (726)
Dividends paid (12,889) (15,869)
Finance costs (1,264) (795)
Net cash used in financing activities (5,778) (9,843)
--------- ------------
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents (2,795) 3,549
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 8,099 5,331
--------- ------------
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes (81) (781)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 5,223 8,099
========= ============
* The Group has revised its definition of revenue to include all
royalty related revenue arising in the course of the Group's
ordinary activities. As a result, the presentation of the
comparative statement of cash flows has been restated to show an
additional GBP2,184,000 of net cash generated from operating
activities, which was previously included in cash flows from
investing activities.
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 rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
END
FR CKADPBBKBONB
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