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VIL - Village Main Reef Limited - Report for the three months ended 30 June 2011

Release Date: 14/09/2011 08:30
Code(s): VIL
Wrap Text

VIL - Village Main Reef Limited - Report for the three months ended 30 June 2011 Village Main Reef Limited (formerly known as Village Main Reef Gold Mining Company (1934) Limited) (Registration number 1934/0057034/06) Share Code: VIL ISIN: ZAE000154761 ("Village" or the "company") REPORT FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2011 * The results presented below are in accordance with IFRS3, and deals essentially with the results of Buffelsfontein Gold Mines Limited ("BGM"), consisting of Buffelsfontein Mine ("Buffels") and Tau Lekoa Mine ("Tau"). These operations were owned and managed by Simmers and Jack Mines Limited ("Simmers") for the majority of the quarter as Village only owned the assets for 3 days during the quarter Highlights - Acquisition of the majority of the Simmers assets successfully completed and the Village consideration shares distributed to Simmers shareholders on 27 June 2011. - Acquisition of Consolidated Murchison Mine (Proprietary) Limited ("Cons Murch") from To The Point Growth Specialists (Proprietary) Limited, completion effective 7 March 2011. Village successfully raised R22.5 million via a private placement, which funds are to be used for the expansion and upgrade of operations at Cons Murch. - Village transforms itself from an exploration holding company with a very exciting brownfields platinum project into a mining company, with operating assets in the form of two gold operations, Buffels and Tau, an antimony/gold producer in Cons Murch, as well as a gold processing plant at Buffels. - Cons Murch operations benefitted from strong antimony and gold prices, showing positive impact of management intervention and operating profitably since acquisition. At current commodity prices, payback is expected within 12 months. - Lesego Platinum Project ("Lesego") current drill program progresses on schedule with well mineralised reef intersected at depths from 325m. - Restructuring program at Buffels announced with intention to restore Buffels to profitability. - Cash operating profit of R 27.7 million (Q4 R48.4 million). - Gold production inclusive of gold produced at Cons Murch of 41 366 oz. Post period end - Village disposed of 19.78% of its 25.5% interest in the equity of First Uranium Corporation ("FIU") to AngloGold Ashanti Limited ("AngloGold") for a cash consideration of R205 million. Village entered into a lock-up agreement with AngloGold providing AngloGold a first right to acquire the remainder of the FIU equity held by Village and all of the Mine Waste Solution Rand Notes ("MWS Notes"), with a face value of R393 million, held by Village. - 50% upgrade in the Lesego inferred resource from infill drilling undertaken during the year to 41.8 Moz from the previous declared 27.8 Moz, with 4.6 Moz ounces classified in the measured category and 6.5 Moz at shallower depths (up to 700m below surface) than the previous declaration. - A seismic event caused a fall of ground at Tau, which regrettably resulted in the loss of life of an employee. Prospects The table below, provides guidance as to the expected performance of the operations for Q1 FY2012, the first quarter that all the Simmers assets and Cons Murch assets will be owned and managed by Village. Description Current Q5 - Forecast Q1 - under Simmers under Village Gold produced - kg 1 228 1 300 to 1 350 Cash cost/kg 308 445 285 000 Realised gold price 326 817 385 000 Cash operating profit - R/kg 18 372 100 000 Cons Murch Forecast Q1 - Current Q5 - under Village 12
under Village 16 weeks weeks Gold produced - kg 86 70 to 80 Antimony produced - tons 1 563 1 580 to 1620 Cash cost - R/t 1 080 1 000 to 1 050 Realised antimony price 45 456 45 987 Production at Tau has been impacted by the stoppage resulting from the fatality; in addition, 4 out of the current 68 panels will not be accessible during September 2011, whilst crews re-establish these panels for future production. Notwithstanding the above, production at Tau has returned to levels of around 320kg per month. It is anticipated that Tau will produce some 900 to 930 kg of gold for Q1 2012. Costs remain very well controlled and combined with the substantially better realised rand gold price, cash operating profits at Tau will improve materially. At Buffels, the benefit of reduced costs as a result of the implementation of the restructuring plan should be evident from September 2011. The reduced costs and improved production, combined with the higher gold price achieved should result in Buffels returning to profit at a cash operating level for the quarter. Buffels is expected to produce between 400 and 420 kg of gold for the quarter. The strategy to focus on antimony production at Cons Murch has started to yield positive results during July and August, with higher antimony grade being mined and plant recoveries further increasing. Cons Murch also benefits from the stronger gold price whilst antimony prices have remained at levels similar to that achieved during the current period. It is anticipated that Cons Murch will produce between 1580 and 1620 tons of antimony and between 70 and 80 kg of gold over the next quarter. At Lesego, Village has approved a R24m shallow resource delineation program which commenced in August 2011, consisting of 14 holes totalling 17,000 m of exploration drilling. This program will test the presence of a resource between the depths of 700 m and surface, and should be completed by December 2011. Simmers transaction Village concluded the acquisition of the majority of the assets of Simmers with effect from 27 June 2011 (the "Simmers transaction"). The Simmers transaction resulted in Village acquiring 100% of Simmer and Jack Investments (Pty) Limited, the owner of BGM, BGM in turn owns 100% of both the Buffels and Tau operations, Simmers` equity shareholding in FIU and the 392,874 ZAR denominated convertible MWS Notes, for a total consideration of R1.3 billion. The consideration was settled through the issue of 598 million Village shares at an effective price of R2.20 per Village share. Accounting treatment The Simmers transaction resulted in a reverse take-over by Simmers of Village for accounting purposes and requires Village to account for the Simmers transaction on a consolidated group basis, in compliance with the guidelines provided by IFRS3, business combinations. As a result the group consolidated financial statements presented deal with the results of operations of the acquired Simmers assets for a 15 month period and do not reflect the results of Cons Murch since acquisition thereof at all. In addition, recognition in the statement of Financial Position requires that all Village assets be fair valued, i.e. Cons Murch and Lesego and either goodwill or a profit on bargain purchase be realised on the transaction. In order to provide Village shareholders with meaningful information as to the performance of the assets acquired, this set of results provides detail of the results of BGM for the period April 2011 to 30 June 2011, an effective fifth quarter (Q5) post Simmers changing its year end to June from March, as comparative figures the Q4 results reported by Simmers in relation to Buffels and Tau were used. Cons Murch has no comparative production figures as this is the first time Village reports on the results of this operation. The acquisition of Cons Murch was completed on 7 March 2011, and although this is more than a quarter, we believe it prudent to provide shareholders with the results for Cons Murch for the full period it has been under Village control. Accordingly the results of all Village operations are reported as Q5 in this report. Statement by Chief Executive Officer The management and Board extends its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr M Mokoena, who died tragically in a fall of ground incident following an unprecedented seismic event at Tau on 23 August 2011. The inspectors of the Department of Mineral Resources ("DMR") halted operations at Tau for 14 shifts during which period extensive audits were conducted. Village is in the process of adopting applicable leading best practice processes being promoted towards the zero harm concept within the South African mining industry. Prior to the seismicity-related fatal accident at Tau all of our operations had shown improvements in safety trends. More specifically Tau achieved 500 000 fatality free shifts in July 2011 and the lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) had shown a 40% decrease year-on-year. Cons Murch as of August 2011 had achieved 1 700 000 fatality free shifts. Over the past 3 months we have seen an improving trend in LTIFR at Buffels. At all Village operations initiatives and programs have been put in place to address the health aspects related to the 2013 Health and Safety milestones and also to continuously create awareness around HIV/AIDS and assisting those that are infected. The most recent event was at Cons Murch where an HIV Awareness campaign led by union leadership and management saw about 80% of the workforce participating, with many of them attending with their spouses. The highlight for the quarter was undoubtedly the conclusion of both the Simmers transaction and the Cons Murch transaction. The conclusion of these transactions gives credence to Village`s strategy of creating self sustaining mining companies from the distressed mines acquired. Village does not intend building a typical mining house and to that effect intends to optimize the assets acquired, lock in the value Village believes it can create and find effective ways to return the value created to Village shareholders. The Village Board has endorsed and implemented the Buffels management team`s turnaround plan. The Board has also decided to continue to take Tau Lekoa Gold Mine, Cons Murch Antimony Mine and the Lesego Platinum Project further up the value curve, whereas the optimum way to unlock value from Village`s exposure to FIU as well as other non-core assets like Weltevreden, Strathmore and the old metallurgical plant at Hartebeesfontein will be evaluated and implemented. It is intended to strengthen the Village`s balance sheet through such disposals, and surplus cash and/or other liquid instruments will be distributed to Village shareholders from time to time. Village achieved a first step in strengthening its balance sheet, through the successful disposal of the majority of its equity interest in FIU to Anglogold for R205 million. The current high gold and antimony prices and the management actions taken at all operations will positively impact the cash generated by Village`s businesses during the September 2011 quarter (Q1 2012), the first quarter that Village will own the Buffels and Tau operations. As indicated under the paragraph headed "accounting treatment", the required accounting convention results in the anomalous situation that Village reports on the results of both Buffels and Tau for the full quarter, although it only owned the operations for 3 days in the quarter. Notwithstanding the higher gold price achieved during the quarter, Buffels did not benefit from this as production at Buffels of 438kg was lower than that of the previous quarter of 517kg. Production at Tau of 789kg was similar to that achieved during Q4 of 788kg. Production at both these operations was affected by lower than planned grade and poor plant recovery during April and May. Corrective action was taken and production has subsequently stabilised at around 440kg per month from Buffels and Tau. Cons Murch operations have performed well and the mine has been profitable since Village acquired ownership. A strategic decision was taken to focus production at Cons Murch on antimony and to expand production from underground by refocusing on increasing development and thus creating orebody flexibility. The company is confident that the assets it has acquired and the Village team put in place will unlock value for all stakeholders. Financial review As explained earlier in this announcement, the results for Q5, includes the results for all the operations of Village as if they were owned for the whole quarter, and that of Cons Murch from 7 March 2011. Results for Q4 are only for Buffels and Tau. IFRS requires that the year to date ("YTD") accounts reflect the results of Simmers for the 15 month period. During this period Simmers changed its accounting policy in relation to its investment in FIU, FIU is no longer accounted for as an associate, but as an investment held for sale. An impairment in this regard of R883 million was accounted for by Simmers. The table below sets out the results of the operations for the quarter, on the basis explained earlier in the document and the 15 months ended 30 June 2011. Village Main Reef Q5 Q4 Variance YTD YTD Limited FY2011 FY2011 Q5 vs Q4 FY2011 (IFRS) Selected Financial R`000 R`000 R`000 FY2011 information R`000 Statement of comprehensive income Continuing operations Revenue 480 310 405 640 185 1 855 066 1 755 258 Total cash cost 1 (452 633) (357 204) (27%) (1 735 (1 592 352) 702) Total cash operating 27 676 48 437 53% 119 714 162 556 profit/(loss) Production-related (31 783) (21 161) (50%) (96 227) (92 195) depreciation Rehabilitation 133 - (100%) (192) (192) expenses Operating (3 974) 27 276 115% 23 294 70 168 profit/(loss) from mining activities Non-production related (481) (2 161) 78% (8 175) (8 175) depreciation Other income 2 8 498 6 076 405 27 156 1 266 413 Share option costs (3 752) (963) (289%) (11 899) - General administrative 33 125 (28 456) 216% (85 834) (101 973) and overhead expenditure 3 Profit/(loss) from 33 416 1 770 (1787%) (55 459) 1 226 433 operations before interest and taxation Fair value adjustments (24 040) (22 810) (5%) (51 431) (883 496) Profit/(Loss) from 57 303 (167 297) 134% (391 441) (334 138) equity-accounted investment Loss from partial - (24 883) 100% (24 883) (24 883) disposal of investment in associate Restructuring costs (38 660) (1 964) (1868%) (10 968) (49 629) Loss on sale of - - 0% (25 500) (25 500) investment Loss on non-current - - 0% - - assets held for sale Gain on bargain 154 532 - 0% 154 532 154 532 purchase Net finance (112 043) (1 618) 6825% (33 887) (4731) income/(charges) Profit/(Loss) before 98 442 (245 991) 140% (407 278) 22 971 taxation from continuing operations Loss from (796 922) (1 124 29% (1 932 (43 013) discontinuing 951) 987) operations Profit/(Loss) before (698 480) (1 370 40% (2 340 (20 043) taxation 942) 265) Statement of financial position Total assets 2 976 685 2 626 470 13% 2 976 685 2 976 685 Cash and cash 170 299 132 390 29% 170 299 170 299 equivalents * Investments in and 563 775 1 501 842 (62%) 563 775 563 775 loans to associates Current liabilities (593 752) (545 822) (9%) (593 752) Non-current (540 270) (373 034) 45% (540 270) (540 270) liabilities Total equity (1 791 (2 575 (30%) (1 791 (1 791 748) 664) 748) 748) Notes to Table one: 1 - Total cash costs are costs directly related to the physical activities of producing gold and include mining costs, administrative costs, royalties, on-mine drilling expenditures that are related to production and other direct costs. Sales of by-product metals are deducted from the above in computing cash costs. Cash costs exclude depreciation, depletion and amortisation, corporate general and administrative expenses, exploration costs, finance charges, and pre- feasibility costs and accruals for mine reclamation but include central costs such as human resources and technical services. 2 - Other income includes the accounting movement in retained earnings as a result of the reverse acquisition and the accounting for the movement in retained income from the carve-out accounts as published in the circular to the year-end position 3 - General and administrative expenditure is shown after accounting for the impact of Duff Scott Hospital (Pty) Ltd ("Duff Scott"), Duff Scott expenses were reversed and is now disclosed as losses from discontinuing operations, the actual administrative expense for the quarter was R24 million. 4 - Provisions for the impairment of balances due from the Duff Scott and Margaret Water Company (a company registered under section 21 of the Companies Act, 1973) amounting to R20.6 million and R3.4 million, respectively, were raised as a result of uncertainty surrounding the recoverability of these debts. In addition, a decision was made to dispose of Duff Scott Hospital and Duff Scott is therefore disclosed as an asset held for sale and its operating results included in losses from discontinuing operations. Loss from discontinuing operations includes the fair value adjustment in relation to Village`s investment in FIU and the MWS Notes, as well as the adjustment in fair value in the previous quarters. Accounting for FIU was changed from an associate to an investment held for trade, and the required mark-to-market impairments of R1,932 million was accounted for in the YTD number. During the current quarter, a further R35 million impairment in this regard was accounted for. Operational review The table below provides high level operational numbers for the operations on a consolidated basis. As a result of all the accounting adjustments made in this quarter, these numbers are not necessarily an accurate reflection of the current operating costs at the operations. Detail Unit Q5 FY2011 Q4 FY2011 Var % Buffels and Tau Gold Produced kg 1 228 1 305 -6% oz 39 480 41 956 Tons Milled - Total mt 604 597 647 310 -7% Revenue R`000 401 257 405 641 -1% Cash Operating Costs R`000 378 629 357 204 -6% Total Cash Costs R`000 388 755 368 079 6% Capex R`000 27 596 32 718 -16% Notional Cash Expenditure R`000 416 351 400 797 13% Revenue R/kg 326 817 310 943 5% Operating Cash Costs R/kg 308 330 273 720 13% Total Cash Costs R/kg 316 576 282 053 12% Capex R/kg 22 472 25 071 -10% Notional Cash Expenditure R/kg 339 048 307 124 10% Cons Murch - Antimony Gold Produced Kg 86 - N/a Antimony Produced Tons 1 563 - N/a Antimony Revenue* R/t 45 456 - N/a Total cash cost 1 R/t 795 - N/a * - excludes gold credits 1 - inclusive of gold credits Tau We are pleased to report that production at Tau stabilised during June 2011 at around 94,000 tons at a grade of 3.7 g/t, whilst development meters were ahead of budgeted meters. This is in contrast to the lower than anticipated production achieved during April and May as was reported in the Simmers fourth quarter results. Notwithstanding the improved production during June, production for the June quarter was 25 369 oz (789kg) compared to 25 330 oz (788kg) for the previous quarter. Tau saw a 9% increase in tons milled quarter on quarter, with a decrease in gold yield to 2.96 g/t from 3.21 g/t. Average face length mined over the quarter increased with 22 meters to 2 311 meters of mineable available face length. Productivity improvement initiatives with a key focus on face advance improvement have been introduced. Tau`s gold revenue increased by 5% from R245 million to R258 million. This was mainly due to the higher gold price received for the fifth quarter of US$1 495/oz (US$ 1 378/oz Q4) and a 5% increase in the Rand basket price to R327,077/kg. Total cash costs increased quarter on quarter by 1% from R199 million (US$ 1 121/oz) in the fourth quarter to R201 million (US$ 1 167/oz) for the fifth quarter. The increase in cost was as a result of labour complement increases in critical skill areas, such as winch operators and hydro power drillers, increase in electricity cost (winter tariffs as well as the annual Eskom increases), higher metallurgical treatment cost as well as royalty payments due to the increase in gold price received. These increases were partially offset by an improvement in material and contractor efficiencies. Total Cash Cost per kilogram of R255 359/kg is 1% above that of the fourth quarter. Cash operating profit at Tau was 24% higher quarter on quarter at R56,5 million. Buffels Good progress has been made with the implementation of the restructuring plan announced on 20 June 2011. The required CCMA facilitated process in terms of Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act was successfully completed during August 2011 and an extensive skills training program for the affected employees has commenced. Total restructuring costs were somewhat lower than initially anticipated at R38 million. Operations at Buffels have stabilised well during July and August and production for the two months was ahead of the guidance provided to the market during June 2011. As indicated at that stage, the restructuring plan is intended to bring Buffels to profitability at a rand gold price of above R300,000/kg, and production of some 120kg of gold per month ramping up to 140kg per month. During June 2011 the Buffels plant was reconfigured around the expected combined tonnages from the underground operations at Buffels and Tau. Surface waste rock is only added to the extent that it is required to achieve optimum milling at the desired cost for the tonnages mined from underground. The changes to the plant have resulted in a much steadier operating environment, with resultant improved recoveries during July and August 2011. Production from Buffels at 438kg was slightly higher than the guidance provided to the market at 430kg. On a quarter to quarter basis, Buffels produced 15% less gold than the 517kg of Q4. Face length decreased by 13% but good progress was made in face advanced where an increase of 26% was achieved. The better advance resulted in a 10% increase in square meters broken to 2 381mSquared, with a resultant 3% increase in underground tons produced to 120 000 tons for the quarter. Underground gold grade decreased from 3.55g/t to 3.02g/t. As part of the restructuring plans, substantial focus has been placed on ore reserve management with a key objective of improvement of gold grade from underground operations. Based on July and August results, both mining grade and productivity at Buffels have improved materially as a result of the renewed focus. Gold revenue decreased by 11% during the quarter from R161 million in Q4 to R143 million in this quarter. The decrease in revenue can be attributed to a R25.5 million decrease related to lower production volumes partially offset by a 5% increase in the rand gold price per kilogram. Total cash costs increased quarter on quarter by 12% from R159 million in Q4 to R177 million this quarter. The costs increase was largely as a result of increased labour costs, post the wage settlement reached in April 2011 and the substantially above inflation power increase that came into effect on 1 April 2011. The impact of the power increase is further exaggerated by the impact of winter tariffs on the power costs during this quarter. As a result of the lower production and increased cash costs, Buffels made a cash operating loss of R34 million for the quarter, compared to a cash operating profit of R1.9 million during Q4. Cons Murch On 7 March 2011 Village took control of Cons Murch after the fulfilment and implementation of all suspensive conditions related to the transaction. The benefits of the restructuring and revised mining plan have started to bear fruit with the operation generating four months of consecutive cash operating profits. Production for the four cycle period from March to June 2011 was 88,000 tons milled, with 86 kilograms of gold produced and 1,563 tons of antimony produced. Revenue from antimony sales of R74.6 million was achieved during the period. Cons Murch produced a 58% metal content antimony concentrate. Gold revenue of R25,1 million was achieved during the period. Total cash costs of R90.7 million were incurred during the period. Rand per ton milled costs for antimony production on a full cost basis, excluding gold credits were R1 026p/ton, after gold credits antimony production costs were R742p/ton. Cash operating profit for the period was R9.08 million. Capital has been approved and allocated to upgrade the plant, with resultant improved recoveries of both gold and antimony expected during the next quarter. The management team at Cons Murch has already achieved some improvement in antimony recoveries over the period, with recoveries improving to 80.3% from 77.6%. The focus remains on improving ore body flexibility and to ramp up underground development as more production areas become available over the next 18 months. This will facilitate a phased build-up in production levels with an initial target of 25 000 tons per month milled leading to the planned steady-state production of about 27 000 tons per month milled. The related antimony concentrate production is expected to be some 500 tons per month. Exploration is being undertaken on the surrounding properties with a key focus on antimony. Prior to two lost time injuries in June 2011, the operation had operated injury free for a period of 6 months (4 of which was under Village management). Efforts are ongoing to re-establish the safety focus and to exceed the previous injury free production record. Lesego At Lesego the company continues to make great progress with the planned resource infill drilling, the additional shallow drilling as well as the other technical work associated with the pre-feasibility study ("PFS"). DRA was appointed as the main service provider for PFS. It is worth noting that the IDC earns an effective 23% of the project for funding of the full R142 million required for a 3 phased bankable feasibility study, which is scheduled for completion during December 2013. To date R50 million has been spent. A total of R16.2 million was spent on exploration activities during this quarter, compared to R17.7 million during the previous quarter. All exploration related costs at Lesego continues to be capatilised until a decision is taken that the ore body will lend itself to be economically viable. On 5 September 2011,Village announced a significant increased inferred resource of 41.8Moz of 3 PGE`s plus gold at its Lesego Project between depths of 700m and 2,300m. The exciting results were the result of an extensive 45 000m of diamond core infill drilling over the last 18 months, the programme included 26 holes and 270 reef intersections (of which 40% will be used for metallurgical and geotechnical testwork) and has increased Lesego`s 3 PGE plus gold resource by 50% from the 27.8m oz previously defined. The upgraded 41.8Moz resource comprises a 16.8Moz resource of the shallower Merensky Reef and 25.0 Moz of the slightly deeper UG2 Chromitite. On the Merensky Reef, a reef thickness of 109cm and improved grade 6.79g/t was recorded, while at the UG2 a wider reef thickness of 126cm and a grade of 6.52g/t were recorded. On average the grades of both reefs have improved to 6.65g/t from the previously reported 6.43g/t. Some 5Moz of the resource have been categorised in the Measured Resource category, with a further 19 million ounces in the Indicated Resource category. The program has also resulted in numerous intersections of Merensky Reef and UG2 Chromitite at depths shallower than 700 m, with the shallowest intersection of Merensky Reef at 325m, recording grades of 5.7 g/t over 100cm. Of the newly declared resource, some 2.1 Moz of Merensky Reef is situated between 700m and 1100m and some 4.3 Moz of the UG2 Reef between 700m and 1,400m. Further consolidation of mineral rights within the project area continues, with the final piece of the puzzle (the 75% portion of the mineral right on the farm Government Ground) awaiting final ministerial approval. 14 September 2011 Sponsor Java Capital Village CEO Bernard Swanepoel 083 303 9922 Vestor Media and Investor Relations Louise Brugman 011 787 3015 083 504 1186 CEO Tele-conference call 14 September 2011 11h00 (GMT+2) Live Call Access Numbers South Africa - Johannesburg 011 535 3600 UK (Toll-Free) 0 800 917 7042 South Africa - Cape Town 021 819 0900 South Africa (Toll-Free) 0 800 200 648 Australia (Toll-Free) 1 800 350 100 Other Countries (Intl Toll) +27 11 535 3600 Canada (Toll-Free) 1 866 605 3852 USA (Toll-Free) 1 800 860 2442 Playback Access Numbers (Access code 18644#) South Africa 011 305 2030 USA and Canada (Toll) +1 412 317 0088 Date: 14/09/2011 08:30:12 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department. 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