Metal Tiger plc (“Metal Tiger” or the “Company”) Unaudited Preliminary Final Report

LONDON--()-- 

Metal Tiger plc

(“Metal Tiger” or the “Company”)

Unaudited Preliminary Final Report

Metal Tiger plc (AIM: MTR, ASX: MTR), the AIM and ASX listed investor in natural resources opportunities, is pleased to announce an Unaudited Preliminary Final Report for the year end 31 December 2021.

Key Performance Indicators

 

Unaudited
for the year ended
31 December 2021

Audited
for the year ended
31 December 2020

 

Change*

Change* %

Total comprehensive (loss)/profit
attributable to owners of the parent

£

4,579,000

 

£

3,970,000

 

 

£

609,000

+15%

Net asset value

£

38,822,000

 

£

31,186,000

 

 

£

7,636,000

+24%

Net asset/tangible asset value per share *

22.9p

20.3p

 

2.6p

+13%

Closing share price

20.5p

23.5p

 

-3.0p

-13%

Share price premium/(discount) to net asset value*

 

-10

%

 

16

%

 

 

 

Market capitalisation

£

34,732,000

 

£

36,028,000

 

 

-£1,296,000

-4%

Shares in issue at the end of the year

 

169,423,576

 

 

153,311,625

 

 

 

16,111,951

+11%

* Based on shares in issue at the year end.

The full report is detailed below and has also been uploaded to the Company’s website https://www.metaltigerplc.com/.

Additional Information

Dividends paid or provided for

No dividends declared for the year ended 31 December 2021 (31 December 2020: -Nil)

Net tangible assets per share

Details of net tangible asset backing are set out in the key performance indicators.

Control gained or lost over entities having
material effect

None.

Details of associates and joint ventures

Kalahari Metals Limited is Metal Tigers sole joint venture interest. The Company holds a 49% (31 December 2021: 62.1%) direct equity stake.

Other significant information

At the date of this Appendix 4E there are no matters of a significant nature not addressed in this Appendix 4E.

Accounting standards for foreign entities

The financial statements have been prepared
in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.

Commentary on the results for the financial year

Refer to commentary section.

Compliance statement

This report is based on accounts which are in the process of being audited.

For further information on the Company, visit www.metaltigerplc.com:

Michael McNeilly

(Chief Executive Officer)

Tel: +44 (0)20 3287 5349

Mark Potter

(Chief Investment Officer)

 

 

 

 

James Dance

Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated Adviser)

Tel +44 (0)20 7409 3494

James Harris

Robert Collins

 

 

 

Paul Shackleton

Arden Partners plc (Broker)

Tel: +44 (0)20 7614 5900

Steve Douglas

 

 

 

Gordon Poole

Camarco (Financial PR)

Tel: +44 (0)20 3757 4980

James Crothers

Rebecca Waterworth

Notes to Editors:

Metal Tiger PLC is admitted to the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange AIM Market ("AIM") and the ASX Market of the Australian Securities Exchange Market ("ASX") with the trading code MTR and invests in high potential mineral projects with a base, precious and strategic metals focus.

The Company's target is to deliver a high return for shareholders by investing in significantly undervalued and/or high potential opportunities in the mineral exploration and development sector. Metal Tiger has two investment divisions: Equity Investments and Project Investments.

Equity Investments invests in undervalued natural resource companies. The majority of its investments are listed on AIM, the TSX and the ASX, which includes its interest in Sandfire Resources Limited (ASX: SFR). The Company also considers selective opportunities to invest in private natural resource companies, typically where there is an identifiable path to IPO. Through the trading of equities and warrants, Metal Tiger seeks to generate cash for investment for the Project Investments division.

Project Investments is focused on the development of its key project interests in Botswana, where Metal Tiger has a growing interest in the large and highly prospective Kalahari copper/silver belt through its interest in Kalahari Metals Limited.

The Company actively assesses new investment opportunities on an on-going basis and has access to a diverse pipeline of new opportunities in the natural resources and mining sectors. For pipeline opportunities deemed sufficiently attractive, Metal Tiger may invest in the project or entity by buying publicly listed shares, by financing privately and/or by entering into a joint venture.

Commentary

The Company had a very active year in 2021 in-spite of the continued challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and in-particular the arrival of the new Omicron strain in the latter part of the year. Arguably, 2021 was the beginning of another commodity super cycle. This new super cycle appears to have been driven by a global flood of fiscal stimulus and liquidity by governments and central banks in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This in turn led to an increase in consumer demand which coupled with supply chain disruptions, cost increases, labour shortages has driven inflation globally. Furthermore, a global drive towards decarbonisation with bold climate commitments from nation states and corporates is driving current and anticipated future demand for “battery metals”. In 2021, Metal Tiger’s largest commodity exposure by investment value, via its project and equity investments were to copper and gold. Copper saw a 19% year-on-year (“YOY”) increase on global supply disruptions (especially out of South America) and increasing demand and supply chain issues. Physical supply was in such shortage that in late October 2021, the London Metals Exchange required emergency measures to ensure orderly trading and continued liquidity in the copper market. Gold was largely range bound for most of the year, however ended down slightly YOY. Aside from the COVID-19 pandemic and the arrival of Omicron, fears of debt contagion from the Evergrande crisis gripped the market in late Q3/Q4 which significantly dampened investor appetite as well as created increased volatility globally. Furthermore, and more specifically in the mineral exploration and development sector, 2020 and 2021 saw a record number of fundraisings and deals. The Directors noticed that deal flow seemed to diminish by the end of 2021 as a potential result of deal fatigue.

The Electric Vehicle (“EV”) sector is one of the four key drivers of future demand growth for copper according to Goldman Sachs. 2021 saw several prominent auto manufacturers make commitments to switch entirely to EV’s in the next 10 – 20 years. Notably, according to the International Energy Agency, Global EV sales more than doubled in 2021 versus 2020 and tripled versus 2019 with the key drivers of this growth coming from China and then Europe. The Board believes that the global energy crisis in 2021 proves that the energy transition of the next 20 years will be complex, costly, and indeed difficult to implement and is confident that this energy transition will require an immense new supply of metal to meet targets.

The Company entered 2021 with a strong and liquid balance sheet on the back of a successful and yet challenging 2020. In 2021, Metal Tiger identified, completed due diligence on, negotiated and structured an investment in Armada Metals Limited (“Armada”) following RCF’s Global Opportunities Fund’s investment and alongside Cobre Limited’s (“Cobre”) investment. Armada successfully listed on the ASX in December 2021 raising A$10m at A$0.20 per share. Metal Tiger participated for A$750,000 as a follow-on investment into the initial public offering (“IPO”). It is anticipated that drilling to test compelling shallow conductors in the search for magmatic Ni-Cu mineralisation along the 25km prospective strike of the Libonga-Matchiti Trend will commence in early 2022. Metal Tiger holds approximately 14.42% of Armada. During the course of 2021, Metal Tiger continued to be active in seeking and making new investments, with passive investments totalling £6,137,000 for the year. Amongst the best performers were the legacy investment in Pan Asia Metals (ASX:PAM), which Metal Tiger exited realising gross proceeds of £1,358,000, thereby realising a gain of £725,000 during the year and Red Dirt Metals Limited (ASX:RDT) where Metal Tiger invested A$500,000 at A$0.15 per share and obtained 833,333 two year options at A$0.25 per new share. In June, 2021 Metal Tiger made an additional investment into Pan Global Resources Inc. committing C$450,000 as part of their circa C$15m fundraise.

In May 2021, Metal Tiger invested C$1m into Camino Minerals Corporation (“Camino”) for 5,882,353 units at a price of C$0.017 per unit with each unit carrying one common share in the capital of Camino and a half non-transferable common share purchase warrant at a price of C$0.25 per common share for a period of 24 months from the date of issue. The investment has shown lack-lustre performance to-date and whilst the Board is comfortable with the two projects that saw exploration progress in 2021, Los Chapitos and Plata Dorada, the investment thesis was primarily focussed around exploration drilling at the untested Maria Cecilia bullseye magnetic target. The hope is that the Cu-Au-Ag mineralisation at Maria Cecilia is focused within the main porphyry body (and not the Skarn unlike at Antamina) and is significantly higher than neighbouring Emanuel and Toropunto deposits Camino is confident that permits will be granted imminently, and that maiden drilling can commence in the coming months.

Following completion of the Cobre/Kalahari Metals Limited (“KML”) transaction a total of 6,731m of drilling was completed across Kitlanya East and 436m of diamond drilling was completed at Kitlanya West as well as some shallow percussion drilling. To ensure Cobre’s ability to finance exploration drilling activities for KML, Metal Tiger cornerstoned an additional A$1.413m investment as part of Cobre’s A$6.7m fundraise announced in April 2021. The actual cash investment didn’t occur until approval was received from Cobre shareholders at their AGM in November. The Board is pleased with the total meterage drilled across the Kalahari Metals projects in 2021 and is encouraged by additional work undertaken at Perrinvale, during 2021 the results of which were announced post year end.

Unfortunately, drilling across several of Southern Gold’s projects in 2021 did not deliver encouraging results. A core part of the appeal of the investment as identified by Terry Grammar prior to his passing, was the ability for the in-country team led by experienced ex-Ivanhoe geologists that had worked under the mentorship of renowned geologist Doug Kirwin to generate new project areas/targets, which continued to be severely hampered during 2021 by the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions due to COVID-19 prevented the addition of much needed experienced in-country field geologists to manage the less experienced in-country team. This resulted in a lack of personnel on site to prosecute the exploration pipeline. This was partially remedied in late 2021 with the addition of South Korean based Exploration Manager Robert Smillie, a geoscientist with more than 30 years’ experience. Encouragingly, we note Southern Gold’s announcement of 9 February 2022, that additional senior geological staff and contractor resources have been engaged for ongoing exploration campaigns.

Southern Gold ended the year well-funded and with a strong balance sheet having completed the sale of the Gubong and Kochang joint venture, for which it received 200m new ordinary shares in London listed Blue Bird Merchant Ventures Ltd (LSE:BMV). We note the departure of the Managing Director, Mr Simon Mitchell in late October 2021 and that the company is currently in search of a full time Chief Executive Officer. Southern Gold is also undertaking an exercise to identify copper and gold projects in Australia that may be suitable as an addition to its South Korean ambitions.

Metal Tiger completed a compliance listing on the ASX in the first half of the year and successfully raised A$5m (before costs) via the issue of new ASX quoted Chess Depositary Interests and welcomed several new shareholders to the register including a prominent ultra-high-net-worth family office with deep expertise and exposure in the mining sector.

There were several material developments to Metal Tiger’s equity and royalty interests relating to Sandfire Resources Limited (“Sandfire”) during the financial year. Firstly, there was a substantial increase in Sandfire’s A4 copper/silver Mineral Resource. The Mineral Resource increased by 34% in terms of Cu with 93% falling in the Indicated resource category. This was followed later in 2021 with an Ore Reserve declaration of 9.7Mt at 1.2% and 18g/t Ag for 114kt of contained copper metal and 5.7Moz of contained silver with 85% of the contained copper in the updated A4 Mineral Resource Estimate classified as Ore Reserves. In this same announcement, Sandfire announced a pre-feasibility study (“PFS”) for an expanded 5.2Mtpa, Motheo production hub, mining operation combining T3 and A4 which gave a post-tax NPV7% of US$682m. The Definitive Feasibility Study (“DFS”) for the combined T3 and A4 operations is currently expected to be finalised in Q2/Q3 of 2022. The Board is of the opinion, having reviewed recent statements made by Sandfire, that long lead items such as the 4.5MW Ball Mill, along with the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (“ESIA”) which is due to be submitted to the Botswana Department of Environmental Affairs in Q2 2022 provide encouragement that subject to the results of optimisation, timelines could progress to allow for production at A4 to commence far sooner than anticipated in the PFS. Accordingly, this has resulted along with the material increase in Reserves in a substantial revaluation of the Company’s 2% net smelter return (“NSR”) over circa 8,000km2 of Sandfire’s exploration tenements and in-particular the licence that holds the A4 project from £3,838,000 at 31 December 2020 to £9,278,000 at this financial year end. In September 2021, Sandfire announced a drilling intercept of 45m @ 2.2% Cu (including 2.1m @ 8.25% Cu) intersected from 439m down-hole 1.2km south-west of the A4 Mineral Resource and this gives the Board great encouragement for the exploration potential near the planned Motheo production hub.

Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, in September 2021 Sandfire announced the transformational US$1,865m acquisition of the MATSA Mining Complex in Spain from Mubadala and Trafigura alongside a A$1,248m equity fundraise. As part of the fundraise they announced a rights issue in which the Company had a single day to decide on whether to take up its rights. Metal Tiger took up its rights and made a circa A$17.8m investment at A$5.4 per share and thanks largely to the immense efforts of Adrian Bock, Metal Tiger’s CFO, was able to secure and execute in just 5 working days a 12-month A$9m margin lending facility agreement on acceptable commercial terms with a nominee of SC Lowy Primary Investments Ltd, secured against 4,714,286 Sandfire Shares held under a tripartite sponsorship deed with an Australian broker. As at 25 February 2022 Sandfire’s share price is trading at A$7.00 per share. The Board believes the deal is transformational as it turns Sandfire into a substantial copper producer and bridges the production gap between the end of Degrussa and the commencement of T3/A4. In addition, the deal put Sandfire back into the ASX200 index.

Project Investments

The Project Investments segment includes investments into mineral exploration and development projects either through subsidiaries, associates or joint venture companies, operated by in-country partners who have the requisite knowledge and expertise to advance projects.

Botswana - Kalahari Metals Limited

The Company holds an interest in a mining project located in the Republic of Botswana. The project investment comprises an equity investment and a joint venture arrangement with Kalahari Metals Limited.

On 6 April 2021, the Company announced that Cobre shareholders voted in favour of the conditional acquisition by Cobre of 51% of the issued share capital in Kalahari Metals, and as such, all conditions of the Transaction were satisfied, save for final receipt of the change in control approval from the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources of Botswana.

On 12 April 2021, the Company announced that the Kalahari Metals transaction completed with Cobre purchasing 49.99% of the Kalahari Metal's shares in exchange for 20,999,214 newly issued ordinary shares in Cobre. Metal Tiger received 5,106,963 new Cobre Shares following the transfer Metal Tiger held a 50.01% equity interest in Kalahari Metals with Cobre holding the remaining interest.

In December 2021, following Ministerial consent, Cobre further increased its holding in Kalahari Metals to a 51% equity position and Metal Tiger to diluted to a 49% equity position, in exchange for 445,386 Cobre shares.

Summary of work completed in 2021:

Kitlanya East:

Interpretation of airborne electromagnetic (“AEM”) geophysics data collected over the Perseverance Prospect was inverted and interpreted in combination with magnetic data and soil sampling results to prioritise target areas for stratigraphic drill testing.

Combined reverse circulation (“RC”) and diamond core (“DC”) drilling was commissioned to test selected target areas on the Endurance Prospect and to provide stratigraphic information on the Perseverance Prospect.

2,080m of stratigraphic DC drilling was undertaken on the Perseverance Prospect where the central core of the anticlinal feature was targeted. Although all three holes intersected prospective lower D’Kar Formation stratigraphy along with alteration and trace Cu mineralisation the relative depths to target stratigraphy appear greater than 400m.

1,701m of RC and 397m of DC drilling were undertaken on the Endurance Prospect immediately south of Sandfire’s T3 deposit. This phase of work, along with earlier stratigraphic drilling completed in 2019, identified several prospective areas with favourable target stratigraphy, alteration and trace base metal mineralisation. Importantly the results verified the targeting approach using AEM to identify folded targets in the lower D’Kar Formation stratigraphy.

Based on the success of above-mentioned drill programme at Endurance, an additional 2,950m of DC drilling was undertaken focusing on breaks in folded conductors modelled from AEM data. Results from this phase of work identified significant alteration, vein stockwork development and accompanying Cu mineralisation. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of the targeting methodology and potential for the Endurance Prospect to host Cu-deposits at a relatively shallow depth.

Kitlanya West:

A total of 10,000 line-kilometres of high resolution magnetic and gravity geophysics data was flown over a large portion of the Kitlanya West licences. Results were used to better define the position of the extensive sub-cropping Ngwako-Pan – D’Kar Formation geological contact. In addition, airborne gravity results have identified an extensive ENE trending gravity low which may relate to original sub-basin architecture or structural thickening of the Ngwako-Pan Formation. In either scenario the margins of the gravity low are considered important sites for potential mineralisation.

Given the limited infrastructure in the licence area, reconnaissance visits were undertaken to secure water access from several boreholes for drill purposes. During these trips outcropping Kwgebe Group basement rocks were identified. The presence of Kgwebe Group outcrop is considered significant given the notable spatial relationship between the majority of Kalahari Copper Belt deposits and underlying Kgwebe Group.

KML also undertook 436m of DC drilling, targeting prominent AEM anomalies interpreted to relate to folded lower D’Kar Formation targets. These targets were assumed to be similar to those identified in Kitlanya East and on the Okavango Copper Project. Drill testing confirmed the AEM conductor source to be related to Kalahari Group mudstones and the programme was suspended.

In addition to diamond drilling, three shallow percussion holes were drilled to test the thickness of the Kalahari sediment cover. Results, along with identified outcrop, highlight the relatively shallow cover thickness across the project areas which is considered encouraging.

Following the negative drill results, a thorough review and target generation exercise was undertaken across the properties. Results from this review have identified a number of prospective targets for stratigraphic limb and structurally hosted Cu-Ag mineralisation in the Kitlanya West Project.

Thailand

Metal Tiger retains twelve exploration licence applications in Thailand which have been fully progressed at the relevant permitting body, the Department of Primary Industries and Mines, and to the Company’s knowledge as at the date of publication of these accounts, remain in good standing. Should these exploration licence applications be granted, and confirmation of such is awaited, the Board will consider whether or not to pursue appropriate exploration programmes.

Equity Investments

The Equity Investments segment continues to invest in high potential mining exploration and development companies with a preference for base and precious metals. The focus is to invest in mining companies that are significantly undervalued by the market and where there is substantial upside potential through exploration success and/or development of a mining project towards commercial production. To differentiate between the Board’s view of the Company’s strategy we categorise certain investments as either Active or Passive.

Active investments are typically larger investments where Metal Tiger seeks to positively influence the management of investee companies, by providing oversight and guidance at Board level to enhance shareholder value and minimise downside risk.

Metal Tiger invests in listed mining equities via either pre-IPO, IPO, equity placings, or direct on-market purchases. Metal Tiger may receive warrants when undertaking investments in pre-IPO, IPOs, or equity placings. The Company may consider other investment structures. The main aim is to make capital gains in the short to medium term. Investments are considered individually based on a variety of criteria. Investments are typically stock exchange traded on the TSX, ASX, AIM or LSE but can be private with a view to obtaining a liquidity event.

As at 31 December 2021, as set out in the table below, Metal Tiger had equity investments in companies pursuing high potential exploration and development projects in precious, base and battery metals. Projects are located in a variety of jurisdictions, including North America, South America, Africa, South East Asia and Australia. Metal Tiger held some exposure to producers.

Through its investments, Metal Tiger is primarily exposed to copper and gold.

During 2021 the gold price fell approximately 4%, driven by global economic recovery reducing the demand for the safe haven metal. An expectation of rising interest rates and a stronger US dollar reduced investor demand for gold. However, much higher than expected inflation played a role in supporting the gold price during H2 2021. Since 31 December 2021, there has been renewed demand for gold as a result of geopolitical tensions and persistently high inflation.

During 2021, the copper price increased approximately 23%, driven by many factors including demand recovery in the US and Europe, logistics issues, COVID-19 disruptions, and power cuts in China. LME copper inventories fell to all-time lows in H2 2021. Copper continues to have a favourable outlook given the growth in demand for EVs and limited new supply from the growth of existing and new mines. Copper closed out the year around US$4.33/lb and currently continues to trade north of US$4.45/lb

Metal Tiger continues to deliver on identifying high conviction natural resource opportunities in line with its investment approach. Whilst the Company continued to largely focus on undervalued investment situations with the potential for substantial exploration upside, the Company still managed to maintain a strong level of diversification in the Passive Investment portfolio in terms of commodity, jurisdiction and project development stage. In addition, Metal Tiger has managed to increase its warrant portfolio through investments in the year. Only one new Active Investment was made in 2021.

Summary of listed investments held at 31 December 2021

Investment

Listing Exchange

Description

No. of securities held

Value at
year end £

Sandfire Resources Limited

ASX

Copper, gold and silver mining and exploration

2,842,667 ordinary shares (held as security in structured finance loan)

10,044,450

4,714,286 ordinary shares
(held as collateral for collateral loan)

16,657,741

320,104 ordinary shares (uncharged)

1,131,075

Cobre Limited

ASX

Base metal exploration

34,764,096 ordinary shares

1,754,822

Southern Gold Limited

ASX

Gold mining and exploration

40,794,000 ordinary shares

1,292,476

7,284,500 unlisted warrants
(A$0.18 expiry 19/10/2022)

626

Camino Minerals Corp.

TSXV

Copper exploration

2,941,176 unlisted warrants
(C$0.25 expiry 18/5/2023)

32,855

Armada Exploration Limited

ASX

Nickel and copper exploration

15,000,000 ordinary shares

1,087,425

3,333,333 unlisted warrants
(A$0.334 expiry 22/11/2026)

115,455

Pan Global Resources Inc

TSXV

Base and precious metal exploration

250,000 ordinary shares

110,428

694,444 unlisted warrants
(A$0.28 expiry 20/07/2022)

194,435

Artemis Resources Limited

ASX

Copper, gold and cobalt exploration and development

7,209,630 ordinary shares

321,340

Adventus Mining Group*

TSVX

Copper-Gold exploration and development

125,000 ordinary shares

69,017

Thor Mining plc

AIM/ASX

Molyhil

Tungsten Project

34,288,462 ordinary shares

18,959

12,500,000 unlisted warrants
(1p expiry 23/01/2022)

7,450

5,769,231 unlisted warrants
(1.3p expiry 17/08/2023

9,417

8,000,000 unlisted warrants
(A$0.015 expiry 17/12/2022

16,668

8,000,000 unlisted warrants
(A$0.02 expiry 17/12/2023

30,974

Avidian Gold Corp

TSXV

Copper and gold exploration

995,000 ordinary shares

49,155

500,000 unlisted warrants
(C$0.2 expiry 8/6/2024)

9,148

Inflection Resources Limited

CSE

Copper and gold exploration

333,250 ordinary shares

29,053

234,375 unlisted warrants
(C$0.5 expiry 14/5/2022)

2,231

Anacortes Mining Corp.*

TSVX

Gold exploration

208,333 ordinary shares

205,842

104,167 unlisted warrants
(C$3.3 expiry 22/7/2023)

34,636

Barton Gold Limited

ASX

Gold exploration

550,000 ordinary shares

64,977

Benz Mining Corp.*

ASX

Gold, Lithium exploration

257,482 ordinary shares

89,875

Cannon Resources Limited*

ASX

Nickel exploration

83,333 unlisted warrants
(A$0.2 expiry 30/6/2024)

17,479

Camino Minerals Corp.*

TSVX

Copper and silver exploration

5,882,353 ordinary shares

324,788

Diablo Resources Limited*

ASX

Gold exploration

750,000 ordinary shares

 

52,358

Aurelius Minerals Inc.

TSXV

Gold exploration

200,000 ordinary shares

27,898

100,000 unlisted warrants
(C$0.7 expiry 15/7/2022)

527

Greatland

Gold PLC*

AIM

Gold exploration and development

689,655 ordinary shares

110.345

Greentech Metals Limited*

ASX

Nickel exploration

700,000 ordinary shares

64,430

Heavy Minerals Limited*

ASX

Mineral Sands exploration

1,912,000 ordinary shares

174,547

Millennial Precious Metals Corp.

TSXV

Gold exploration

133,000 ordinary shares

54,110

Rainbow Rare Earths Limited*

AIM

Rare Earth exploration and development

2,400,000 ordinary shares

417,000

Sable Resources Limited

TSXV

Gold and silver exploration

1,166,666 unlisted warrants
(A$0.2 expiry 10/9/2023)

67,773

Mineros SA*

TSXV

Gold producer

527,000 ordinary shares

346,110

Mt. Malcolm Mines NL

ASX

Gold exploration

1,196,970 ordinary shares

83,560

Todd River Resources Limited*

ASX

Nickel, Copper, PGE, Gold, Zinc exploration

650,000 ordinary shares

28,273

Pearl Gull Iron Limited*

ASX

Iron Ore exploration

800,000 ordinary shares

33,509

550,000 unlisted warrants
(A$0.3 expiry 6/9/2024)

4,040

Red Dirt Metals Limited*

ASX

Lithium, Gold exploration

1,152,467 ordinary shares

411,552

833,333 unlisted warrants
(A$0.25 expiry 21/9/2024)

237,775

Marimaca Copper Corp.

TSXV

Copper exploration

70,978 unlisted warrants

(C$4.1 expiry 31/12/2022)

 

24,488

Palladium One Mining Inc.

TSXV

Nickel and copper exploration

170,000 unlisted warrants
(C$0.45 expiry 22/2/2023)

3,000

*Denotes new additions to the portfolio during the year.

Summary of unlisted investments held at 31 December 2021

Investment

Listing

Exchange

Description

No. of securities held

Value at
year end £

ACDC Metals Limited*

Private

Rare earths exploration

250,000 ordinary shares

13,425

Veta Resources Inc.

Private

Holding company

1,666,667 ordinary shares

146,840

Moxicon Resources

Private

Copper producer

500,000 ordinary shares

140,000

Tally Limited

Private

Gold currency

3,840,909 ordinary shares

57,614

Denotes new additions to the portfolio during the year.

Summary of investments made between 31 December 2021 and the date of release of the preliminary final report

Investment

Listing
Exchange

Description

No. of securities acquired

Investment
made £

Heavy Minerals Limited

ASX

Mineral Sands exploration

1,500,000 ordinary shares

154,820

Adventus Mining Group

TSVX

Copper-Gold exploration and development

280,000 ordinary shares

164,690

Alien Metals Limited*

ASX

Silver and iron ore exploration

6,000,000 ordinary shares

57,525

Artemis Resources Limited

ASX

Copper, gold and cobalt exploration and development

9,333,333 ordinary shares

351,000

Northern Graphite Corporation*

TSVX

Graphite producer and exploration

660,000 ordinary shares

287,249

330,000 unlisted warrants
(C$1.1 expiry86/2/2024)

*Denotes new additions to the portfolio since the year end.

During the year the segment acquired investments at a total cost of £18,676,000 and disposed of investments for £13,434,000 and a realised profit of £1,979,000. After considering the revaluation of the investments the net assets of the segment increased by £6,181,000 during the year to £35,524,000 (2020: £29,343,000).

After accounting for the profit on disposals, dividends received and the revaluation of investments at the year end, the equity investments segment recorded a net profit of £3,454,000 for the year versus a profit in 2020 of £3,907,000.

Share placement and exercise of warrants

In the first half of the year the Company completed its compliance listing on the ASX and subsequently the Company successfully raised A$5M from new institutional and sophisticated investors as well as received the support of existing investors.

Further to the equity raise above, certain of the Company's shareholders showed their continued support of the Company by exercising a total of 2,598,437 warrants, at an average price of 20.5p, raising £532,000 in cash during the year.

Results for the year

Administration costs for the year were £2,108,000 (2020: £2,934,000). With share-based payment costs stripped out from the respective years, the adjusted costs total £2,019,000 (2020: £2,460,406). The cost downward trend reflects the Board’s continuous drive for efficiencies which remain ongoing, and more specifically the closing down of the London based head office.

As more fully detailed in the commentary in the projects investment section the company disposed of a partial interest in our joint venture Kalahari Metals to Cobre which resulted in the Company’s interest in Kalahari Metals reducing to 49% (2020: 62.2%). During the year company recognised a profit on this partial sale of interest in the amount of £21,000 (2020: Nil). The carrying value of the Company’s interest in Kalahari Metals at year end is £2,873,000 (2020: £3,198,000), after accounting for its proportionate share of losses of £493,000 (2020: £25,000). This was predominately driven by the decision by the Board of Kalahari Metals to impair the Triprop tenements over the Ngani copper project to deemed residual values, based on the expected carrying value given reference inter alia to future proposed exploration budgets assigned.

There was an overall profit in the year resulting from the disposals and fair valuing of investments during the year of £1,830,000 (2020: gain of £3,801,000). This reflects market conditions in the year and more specifically where unrealised gains in our Sandfire position were paired by unrealised losses in our active investments in Cobre and Southern Gold. The Board’s conviction in the active investment strategy remains comfortable but notes that they are unlikely to pursue additional active investments in the near term. The investments are medium to longer term in nature offering exposure to earlier stage exploration projects where the Company has a significant interest and therefore some ability to influence strategic outcomes.

The Company received dividend income of £1,538,000 (2020: £648,000) and net finance cost of £1,787,000 (2020: £610,000) mainly relating to the change in value of the derivatives securing the Group’s structured finance loans with a charge of £1,269,000 (2020: gain £46,000). The value of the derivative inherently moves in contrast to the performance of the underlying share price over which the derivative is priced.

A material contributor to the results of the company during the year, was as a result of the substantial increase in Sandfire’s A4 copper/silver Mineral Resource, which enabled the revaluation of the Company’s 2% net smelter return (“NSR”) over circa 8,000km2 of Sandfire’s exploration tenements and in-particular the licence that holds the A4 project, resulting in the recognition of a gain in the amount of £5,214,000 during the year (2020: £3,638,000).

All told the profit for the year on ordinary activities before tax was £4,215,000 (2020: £3,787,000).

Cashflow and financing

Disposals from equities during the year raised £13,434,000 and a further net £18,676,000 was invested into the purchase of equities and other investments. Operational cash outflows before working capital changes amounted to £2,009,000 (2020: £2,441,000), further reinforcing the progress in the cost cutting measures.

The net cash requirement for operations, was met out of cash generated by the exercise of warrants, dividends received, and the utilisation cash reserves at the beginning of the year.

The net cash requirement to grow the investments and support the joint venture drilling campaign was financed by a mixture of the net proceeds of the equity placement £2,348,000 (2020: Nil) and the net proceeds from a collateral loan £4,578,000 (2020: Nil).

Cash in hand at the end of the year was £648,000 (2020: £458,000).

No dividend has been declared or recommended during the year under review (2020: Nil)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

 

Notes

Unaudited
Year ended
31 December
2021
£’000

Audited
Year ended
31 December
2020
£’000

Profit on partial sale of interests in explorations in Botswana

 

21

-

Profit on disposal of investments

 

1,979

745

Movement in fair value of fair value accounted equities

 

(149)

3,056

Share of post-tax losses of equity accounted joint ventures

 

(493)

(25)

Provision against cost of equity accounted joint ventures

 

-

(731)

Investment income

 

1,538

648

Other income

7

5,214

3,638

Net gain before administrative expenses

 

8,110

7,331

Administrative expenses

 

(2,108)

(2,934)

OPERATING PROFIT

 

6,002

4,397

Finance income

 

467

74

Finance costs

 

(2,254)

(684)

PROFIT BEFORE TAXATION

3

4,215

3,787

Tax on profit on ordinary activities

4

(49)

-

PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES AFTER TAXATION

 

4,166

3,787

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - ITEMS WHICH MAY BE

 

 

 

SUBSEQUENTLY RECLASSIFIED TO PROFIT OR LOSS:

 

 

 

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

 

410

182

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE PROFIT FOR THE YEAR

 

4,576

3,969

 

 

 

 

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR ATTRIBUTABLE TO:

 

 

 

Owners of the parent

 

4,166

3,787

Non-controlling interest

 

-

-

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR

 

4,166

3,787

 

 

 

 

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE PROFIT FOR THE YEAR
ATTRIBUTABLE TO:

 

 

 

Owners of the parent

 

4,579

3,970

Non-controlling interest

 

(3)

(1)

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE PROFIT FOR THE YEAR

 

4,576

3,969

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

5

2.59p

2.48p

Fully diluted earnings per share

5

2.59p

2.46p

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

AT 31 DECEMBER 2021

 

Notes

Unaudited
Year ended
31 December
2021
£’000

Audited

Year ended
31 December 2020
£’000

NON‐CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

Intangible assets

 

21

27

Property, plant and equipment

 

19

21

Deferred tax asset

4

2,164

-

Investment in joint ventures

 

2,873

3,198

Other non-current asset investments

6

3,613

9,126

Royalties receivable

7

10,593

4,866

 

 

19,283

17,238

CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

Equity investments accounted for under fair value

8

32,031

20,768

Trade and other receivables

 

477

574

Amounts due from related parties

9

-

-

Cash and cash equivalents

 

648

458

 

 

33,156

21,800

CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

Trade and other payables

 

312

326

Amounts due to related parties

9

-

306

Loans and borrowings

10

8,732

52

 

 

9,044

684

NET CURRENT ASSETS

 

24,112

21,116

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

Loans and borrowings

10

2,242

7,051

Deferred tax liability

4

2,213

-

Contingent consideration

 

118

117

 

 

4,573

7,168

NET ASSETS

 

38,822

31,186

 

 

 

 

CAPITAL AND RESERVES

 

 

 

Share capital

 

170

153

Capital redemption reserve

 

4

4

Share premium account

 

15,704

12,831

Share based payment reserve

 

2,343

2,257

Warrant reserve

 

3,048

5,476

Translation reserve

 

351

(62)

Retained profits

 

17,114

10,436

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ FUNDS

 

38,734

31,095

Equity non-controlling interests

 

88

91

TOTAL EQUITY

 

38,822

31,186

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

 

Unaudited

Year ended
31 December
2021

£’000

Audited
Year ended
31 December 2020
£’000

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

Profit before taxation

4,215

3,787

Adjustments for:

 

 

Profit on partial sale of interests in explorations in Botswana

(21)

-

Profit on disposal of investments

(1,979)

(745)

Movement in fair value of fair value accounted equities

149

(3,056)

Share of post-tax losses of equity accounted joint ventures

493

25

Movement In provision in, and write-offs of, equity accounted joint
ventures

-

731

Share based payment charge for the year

86

482

Depreciation and amortisation

13

11

Other income

(5,214)

(3,638)

Investment income

(1,538)

(648)

Finance income

(467)

(74)

Finance costs

2,254

684

Operating cash flow before working capital changes

(2,009)

(2,441)

Decrease/(Increase) in trade and other receivables

72

(84)

Decrease in trade and other payables

(11)

(1,272)

Unrealised foreign exchange gains and losses

(387)

(38)

Net cash outflow from operating activities

(2,335)

(3,835)

CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

Proceeds from current asset investment disposals

13,434

5,013

Purchase of intangible asset

-

(5)

Purchase of fixed assets

(9)

(22)

Sale of investment in, and loans to, joint ventures

(453)

(982)

Purchase of other fixed asset investments

-

(228)

Purchase of current asset investments

(18,676)

(7,219)

Investment income

1,538

648

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities

(4,166)

(2,795)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

Proceeds from issue of shares

3,191

221

Share issue costs

(217)

-

Share re-purchased

-

(423)

Loans drawn down

4,829

2,620

Loans repaid

(618)

(245)

Interest paid

(491)

(91)

Net cash inflow from financing activities

6,694

2,082

NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

193

(4,548)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

458

5,007

Effect of exchange rate changes

(3)

(1)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR

648

458

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021 (UNAUDITED)

 

Share
capital
£’000

 

Share
premium
£’000

 

Capital Redemption Reserve
£’000

 

Shares held for treasury
£’000

 

Share based
payment
reserve
£’000

 

Warrant
reserve
£’000

 

Translation
reserve
£’000

 

Retained
profits
£’000

 

Total equity shareholders’
funds
£’000

 

Non-controlling
interests
£’000

  Total equity
£’000

Balance at 1 January 2020

156

 

 

13,079

 

 

-

 

(77

)

 

2,004

 

 

5,509

 

 

(246

)

 

6,420

 

26,845

 

 

92

 

 

26,937

 

Profit for the year ended 31 December 2020

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

3,787

 

3,787

 

 

-

 

 

3,787

Other comprehensive income

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

183

 

 

-

 

183

 

 

(1

)

 

182

Total

comprehensive income

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

183

 

 

3,787

 

3,970

 

 

(1

)

 

3,969

Share issues

1

 

 

252

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(33

)

 

-

 

 

-

 

221

 

 

-

 

 

221

Cost of share-based payments

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

482

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

482

 

 

-

 

 

482

Transfer of reserves relating to exercise and expiry of options and warrants

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

(229

)

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

229

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

Shares purchased for cancellation

(4

)

 

(500

)

 

4

 

77

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

(423

)

 

-

 

 

(423

)

Total changes directly to equity

(3

)

 

(248

)

 

4

 

77

 

 

253

 

 

(33

)

 

-

 

 

229

 

280

 

 

-

 

 

280

Balance at 31 December 2020

153

 

 

12,831

 

 

4

 

-

 

 

2,257

 

 

5,476

 

 

(62

)

 

10,436

 

31,095

 

 

91

 

 

31,186

Profit for the year ended 31 December 2021

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

4,166

 

4,166

 

 

-

 

 

4,166

Other comprehensive income

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

413

 

 

-

 

413

 

 

(3

)

 

410

Total

comprehensive income

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

413

 

 

4,166

 

4,579

 

 

(3

)

 

4,576

Share issues

17

 

 

3,174

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

3,191

 

 

-

 

 

3,191

Warrants issued

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

84

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

84

 

 

-

 

 

84

Cost of share-based payments

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

86

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

86

 

 

-

 

 

86

Share issue expenses

-

 

 

(301

)

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

(301

)

 

-

 

 

(301

)

Transfer of reserves relating to exercise and expiry of options and warrants

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(2,512

)

 

-

 

 

2,512

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

Total changes directly to equity

17

 

 

2,873

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

86

 

 

(2,428

)

 

-

 

 

2,512

 

3,060

 

 

-

 

 

3,060

 

Balance at 31 December 2021

170

 

 

15,704

 

 

4

 

-

 

 

2,343 

 

 

 

3,048

 

 

351

 

 

17,114

 

38,734

 

 

88

 

 

38,822

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED PRELIMINARY FINAL REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

1. BASIS OF PREPARATION

The Condensed preliminary final report has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and IFRIC interpretations as adopted by the European Union and the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The Condensed preliminary final has also been prepared under the historical cost basis, except for share options, warrants and investments in the Equities Investment segment which are recognised at fair value.

The Condensed preliminary final report is presented in UK pounds, which is also the Company’s functional currency.

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied throughout all years presented in the condensed preliminary final report.

A number of amendments to IFRSs became effective for the financial year beginning on 1 January 2021:

  • IAS 1 ‘Presentation of financial statements’ on classification of liabilities
  • IFRS 16 ‘Leases’ – Covid-19 related rent concessions
  • A number of narrow-scope amendments to IFRS 3, IAS 16, IAS 17 and some annual improvements on IFRS1, IFRS 9, IAS 41 and IFRS 16
  • Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 Interest Rate Benchmark Reform- Phase 2
  • Amendments to IFRS 17 and IFRS 4,’ Insurance contracts’ deferral of IFRS 9

The amendment had no impact on the condensed consolidated preliminary final report for the year ended 31 December 2021 and no retrospective adjustments were required.

The condensed preliminary final report was approved by the Board of Metal Tiger on 28 February 2022. The condensed preliminary final report are unaudited. The comparatives for the year ended 31 December 2020 are not the Group’s full statutory accounts for that year but have been extracted therefrom. A copy of the Group’s full statutory accounts for that year has been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors’ report on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain statements under sections 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006. The Group’s full statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020 are available on the Company’s website (www.metaltigerplc.com).

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The principal accounting policies are:

BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION

The Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiary undertakings made up to 31 December 2021.

Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when the Group is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group. They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases.

Profit or loss and each component of other comprehensive income are attributed to the equity holders of the parent of the Group and to non-controlling interests, even if this results in non-controlling interests having a deficit balance. When necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies into line with the Group’s accounting policies. All intra-group assets and liabilities, equity, income, expenses and cash flows relating to transactions between members of the Group are eliminated in full on consolidation.

A change in ownership interest of a subsidiary without a loss of control is accounted for as an equity transaction. If the Group loses control over a subsidiary, it:

  • derecognises the assets (including goodwill) and liabilities of the subsidiary;
  • derecognises the carrying amount of any non-controlling interests;
  • derecognises the cumulative translation differences recorded in equity;
  • recognises the fair value of the consideration received;
  • recognises the fair value of any investment retained;
  • recognises any surplus or deficit in the Statement of Comprehensive Income; and
  • reclassifies the parent’s share of components previously recognised in other comprehensive income to profit or loss or retained earnings, as appropriate, as would be required if the Group had directly disposed of the related assets or liabilities.

When the Group ceases to have control, any retained interest in the entity is re-measured to its fair value at the date when control is lost, with the change in carrying amount recognised in profit or loss. The fair value is the initial carrying amount for the purposes of subsequently accounting for the retained interest as an associate, joint venture or financial asset. In addition, any amounts previously recognised in other comprehensive income in respect of that entity are accounted for as if the Group had directly disposed of the related assets or liabilities. This may require that the amounts previously recognised in other comprehensive income be reclassified to profit or loss.

GOING CONCERN

The condensed preliminary final report has been prepared on the going concern basis as, in the opinion of the Directors, at the time of approving the condensed preliminary final report, there is a reasonable expectation that the Company will continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The condensed preliminary final report does not include any adjustments that would result from the going concern basis of preparation being inappropriate.

EXPLORATION COSTS

Exploration costs incurred by Group companies, associates and joint ventures are expensed in arriving at profit or loss for the year.

Investments made are capitalised as an asset where the underlying projects have mineral resources which are compliant with internationally recognised mineral resource standards (JORC and NI 43-101) or where the investment is to acquire an interest in an investment or associate that holds commercial information, assets or strategic features against which a current commercial value can be reasonably assessed.

The JORC Code, the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, is a professional code of practice that sets minimum standards for public reporting of mineral exploration results, mineral resources and ore reserves. NI 43-101 is a national instrument for the Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects within Canada which provides a codified set of rules and guidelines for reporting and displaying information related to mineral properties owned by, or explored by, companies which report these results on stock exchanges within Canada.

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction.

The results of overseas operations are translated at rates approximating to those ruling when the transactions took place. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rates of exchange ruling at the Statement of Financial Position reporting date. All exchange differences are dealt with through the Statement of Comprehensive Income as they arise.

FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS

The Group’s investments accounted for within the Equity Investment operating segment require measurement at fair value. Investments in shares in quoted entities traded in an active market and unquoted shares are valued as set out in “Current Assets Investments” below. The unquoted share warrants (Level 3) are shown at Directors’ valuation based on a value derived from either Black-Scholes or Monte Carlo pricing models depending on the suitability of the method to the specific warrant taking into account the terms of the warrant and discounting for the non-tradability of the warrants where appropriate. Both pricing models use inputs relating to expected volatility that require estimations. No value is ascribed to warrants which include terms which cause the exercise price to be dependent on events outside the control of the Group and outcomes which are unable to be predicted with any certainty.

INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES AND JOINT VENTURES

A joint venture is a contractual arrangement whereby two or more parties undertake an economic activity that is subject to joint control. Joint control is the contractually agreed sharing of control such that significant operating and financial decisions require the unanimous consent of the parties sharing control. In some situations, joint control exists even though the Company has an ownership interest of more than 50% because joint venture partners have equal control over management decisions. The Company’s joint venture interests are held through one or more Jointly Controlled Entities (a “JCE”). A JCE is a joint venture that involves the establishment of a corporation, partnership or other entity in which each venturer has a long term interest.

Exploration costs in respect of investments in associates and joint ventures are capitalised or expensed according to the policy set out above in respect of Group exploration costs. For associates and joint ventures which are equity accounted for, any share of losses are offset against cost of investment or loans advanced.

ROYALTIES RECEIVABLE

Royalties receivable are stated at the expected amounts to be received based on existing committed contracts and discounted at an appropriate discount rate which reflects the estimated risk-weighted cost of capital relevant to that asset. The amortisation of the discount over the year to the receipt of the royalty payments is credited to the Statement of Comprehensive Income as finance income.

Where royalty contracts have been entered into but the timing of receipts are unknown or cannot be reliably forecast, no value is attributed to the royalties.

The expected amounts to be received, the period over which they will be received and the appropriate discount rate are assessed on the date of acquisition of the royalty interests and re-assessed at each reporting date.

Contracts are assessed on a contract-by-contract basis.

EQUITY INVESTMENTS SEGMENTAL ASSETS

Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Incidental acquisition costs are expensed. Assets are derecognised at the trade date of the disposal. Where investments are traded in a liquid market, the fair value of the financial instruments in the condensed statement of financial position is based on the quoted bid price at the year end date, with no deduction for any estimated future selling cost. Non-traded investments are valued by the Directors using primary valuation techniques such as, where possible, comparable valuations, recent transactions, last price and net asset value or, in the case of warrants, options and other derivatives on the basis of third party quotation or specific investment valuation models appropriate to the investment concerned.

Changes in the fair value of investments held at fair value through profit or loss and gains and losses on disposal are recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

3. SEGMENTAL REPORTING

OPERATING SEGMENTS

Year ended 31 December 2021

Equity
Investments

£’000

Project Investments
£’000

Central
costs
£’000

Inter-
company

£’000

Total
£’000

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss)/gain on investments

3,368

 

(472

)

-

 

-

 

2,896

 

Intercompany sales

-

 

46

 

-

 

(46

)

-

 

Other income

-

 

5,214

 

-

 

-

 

5,214

 

Administrative expenses

(14

)

(332

)

(1,808

)

46

 

(2,108

)

Net finance income/(cost)

100

 

(48

)

(1,839

)

-

 

(1,787

)

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation

3,454

 

4,408

 

(3,647

)

-

 

4,215

 

Taxation

-

 

-

 

(49

)

-

 

(49

)

(Loss)/profit for the year
after taxation

3,454

 

4,408

 

(3,696

)

-

 

4,166

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL POSITION:

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets

-

 

21

 

-

 

-

 

21

 

Property, plant and equipment

-

 

19

 

-

 

-

 

19

 

Deferred tax asset

-

 

-

 

2,164

 

-

 

2,164

 

Investment in joint ventures

-

 

2,873

 

-

 

-

 

2,873

 

Other fixed asset investments

3,506

 

-

 

107

 

-

 

3,613

 

Royalties receivable

-

 

10,593

 

-

 

-

 

10,593

 

Total non-current assets

3,506

 

13,506

 

2,271

 

-

 

19,283

 

Current assets

32,030

 

3,404

 

833

 

(3,111

)

33,156

 

Current liabilities

(13

)

(3,230

)

(8,912

)

3,111

 

(9,044

)

Non-current liabilities

-

 

(118

)

(4,455

)

-

 

(4,573

)

Net assets

35,523

 

13,562

 

(10,263

)

-

 

38,822

 

Equity Investments include strategic investments in resource exploration and development companies including equity and warrant holdings. Project Investments are mainly by way of joint venture arrangements and include interests in precious, strategic and energy metals, with the current project located in Botswana. Central costs comprise those corporate costs which cannot be allocated directly to either operating segment and include office rent, audit fees, AIM and ASX costs together with corporate employees and Directors’ remuneration relating to managing the business as a whole.

OPERATING SEGMENTS

Year ended 31 December 2020

Equity Investments
£’000

Project Investments
£’000

Central
costs
£’000

Inter-company
£’000

Total
£’000

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss)/gain on investments

4,449

 

(742

)

(14

)

-

 

3,693

 

Intercompany sales

-

 

73

 

-

 

(73

)

-

 

Other income

-

 

3,638

 

-

 

-

 

3,638

 

Administrative expenses

(539

)

(539

)

(1,929

)

73

 

(2,934

)

Net finance income/(cost)

(3

)

(202

)

(405

)

-

 

(610

)

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation

3,907

 

2,228

 

(2,348

)

-

 

3,787

 

Taxation

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(Loss)/profit for the year after taxation

3,907

 

2,228

 

(2,348

)

-

 

3,787

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL POSITION:

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets

-

 

27

 

-

 

-

 

27

 

Property, plant and equipment

-

 

21

 

-

 

-

 

21

 

Investment in joint ventures

-

 

3,198

 

-

 

-

 

3,198

 

Other fixed asset investments

9,019

 

-

 

107

 

-

 

9,126

 

Royalties receivable

-

 

4,866

 

-

 

-

 

4,866

 

Total non-current assets

9,019

 

8,112

 

107

 

-

 

17,238

 

Current assets

20,324

 

3,579

 

1,182

 

(3,285

)

21,800

 

Current liabilities

-

 

(3679

)

(290

)

3,285

 

(684

)

Non-current liabilities

-

 

-

 

(7,168

)

-

 

(7,168

)

Net assets

29,343

 

8,012

 

(6,169

)

-

 

31,186

 

GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENTS

Year ended 31 December 2021

UK
£’000

EMEA
£’000

Asia-Pacific
£’000

Australasia
£’000

Americas
£’000

Inter-company
£’000

Total
£’000

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss)/gain on investments

49

 

(472

)

-

 

3,545

 

(226

)

-

 

2,896

 

Intercompany sales

-

 

-

 

46

 

-

 

-

 

(46

)

-

 

Other income

-

 

5,214

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

5,214

 

Administrative expenses

(1,644

)

(30

)

(298

)

(164

)

(18

)

46

 

(2,108

)

Net finance income/(expense)

314

 

502

 

(528

)

(2,077

)

2

 

-

 

(1,787

)

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities
before taxation

(1,281

)

5,214

 

(780

)

1,304

 

(242

)

-

 

4,215

 

Taxation

(49

)

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(49

)

(Loss)/profit for the year after taxation

(1,330

)

5,214

 

(780

)

1,304

 

(242

)

-

 

4,166

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL POSITION:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets

-

 

-

 

21

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

21

 

Property, plant and equipment

-

 

-

 

19

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

19

 

Deferred tax asset

2,164

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

2,164

 

Investment in joint ventures

-

 

2,873

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

2,873

 

Other fixed asset investments

107

 

-

 

-

 

3506

 

-

 

-

 

3,613

 

Royalties receivable

-

 

10,593

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

10,593

 

Total non-current assets

2,271

 

13,466

 

40

 

3,506

 

-

 

-

 

19,283

 

Current assets

1,501

 

-

 

3,412

 

29,629

 

1,725

 

(3,111

)

33,156

 

Current liabilities

(93

)

-

 

(3,227

)

(8,835

)

-

 

3,111

 

(9,044

)

Non-current liabilities

(2,213

)

-

 

(117

)

(2,243

)

-

 

-

 

(4,573

)

Net assets

1,466

 

13,466

 

108

 

22,057

 

1,725

 

-

 

38,822

 

Year ended 31 December 2020

UK
£’000

EMEA
£’000

Asia-Pacific
£’000

Australasia
£’000

Americas
£’000

Inter-company
£’000

Total
£’000

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss)/gain on investments

1,485

 

(717

)

-

 

1,941

 

984

-

 

3,693

 

Intercompany sales

(30

)

-

 

103

 

-

 

-

(73

)

-

 

Other income

-

 

3,638

 

-

 

-

 

-

-

 

3,638

 

Administrative expenses

(2,471

)

(13

)

(306

)

(217

)

-

73

 

(2,934

)

Net finance income/(expense)

(430

)

5

 

(146

)

(39

)

-

-

 

(610

)

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation

(1,446

)

2,913

 

(349

)

1,685

 

984

-

 

3,787

 

Taxation

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

-

 

-

 

(Loss)/profit for the year after taxation

(1,446

)

2,913

 

(349

)

1,685

 

984

-

 

3,787

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL POSITION:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets

-

 

-

 

27

 

-

 

-

-

 

27

 

Property, plant and equipment

-

 

-

 

21

 

-

 

-

-

 

21

 

Investment in joint ventures

-

 

3,198

 

-

 

-

 

-

-

 

3,198

 

Other fixed asset investments

107

 

-

 

-

 

9,019

 

-

-

 

9,126

 

Royalties receivable

-

 

4,866

 

-

 

-

 

-

-

 

4,866

 

Total non-current assets

107

 

8,064

 

48

 

9,019

 

-

-

 

17,238

 

Current assets

1,098

 

5

 

3,595

 

18,370

 

2,017

(3,285

)

21,800

 

Current liabilities

(290

)

(306

)

(3,373

)

-

 

-

3,285

 

(684

)

Non-current liabilities

-

 

-

 

(117

)

(7,051

)

-

-

 

(7,168

)

Net assets

915

 

7,763

 

153

 

20,338

 

2,017

-

 

31,186

 

4. TAXATION

 

Unaudited

Year ended
31 December

2021
£’000

Audited
Year ended
31 December

2020
£’000

Current tax on income for the year

-

 

-

Deferred tax

(49

)

-

Total tax charge for the year

(49

)

-

The tax on the Groups on the Groups profit before tax differs from the theoretical amount that would arise using the weighted average rate applicable to the profits of the Group or Company as follows:

Factors affecting the tax charge

Unaudited
Year ended
31 December
2021
£’000

Audited
Year ended
31 December
2020
£’000

Profit/(loss) before tax

4,215

 

3,787

 

Profit before tax multiplied by rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19% (2020: 19%)

(801

)

(719

)

Overseas profits/losses taxed at different rates

(48

)

(3

)

Changes in rate at which deferred tax is provided

103

 

106

 

Chargeable gains arising

(514

)

(64

)

Income not chargeable to tax

639

 

595

 

Expenses not allowable for tax

(40

)

(150

)

Other permanent timing differences

-

 

6

 

Deferred tax gains and losses not recognized

612

 

229

 

Total tax

(49

)

-

 

Movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the year and the amounts outstanding at the year end are as follows:

Deferred tax asset/(liability)

Assets
£’000

Liabilities
£’000

Net
£’000

At 1 January 2020

-

-

 

-

 

Charge for the year

-

-

 

-

 

At 31 December 2020

-

-

 

-

 

Adjustment for prior years

909

(909

)

-

 

Charge for the year

1,255

(1,304

)

(49

)

At 31 December 2021

2,164

(2,213

)

(49

)

5. EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

Unaudited

Year ended
31 December

2021
£’000

Audited
Year ended
31 December

2020
£’000

Profit attributable to equity holders of the Company

4,166

3,787

Shares used for calculation of basic EPS*

160,776,895

152,736,655

Shares used for calculation of fully diluted EPS*

160,776,895

153,699,651

EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

 

Basic earnings per share

2.59p

2.48p

Fully diluted earnings per share

2.59p

 

2.46p

 
 

No share options and warrants outstanding at 31 December 2021 were dilutive as the exercise price of any share options or warrants outstanding at 31 December 2021 was higher than the average market price of ordinary shares during the year. Accordingly, all such potential ordinary shares have been excluded from the weighted average number of ordinary shares in calculating diluted earnings per share as at 31 December 2021. Of the warrants outstanding on 31 December 2020, 962,996 were deemed to be dilutive as the average market price of ordinary shares during the year exceeded the exercise price of the said warrants. Accordingly, all such potential ordinary shares have been included in the weighted average number of ordinary shares in calculating diluted earnings per share as at 31 December 2020.

6. OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS/LIABILITIES

 

Unaudited

Year ended
31 December

2021
£’000

Audited
Year ended
31 December

2020
£’000

Other non-current asset investments

3,613

 

9,126

 

Other non-current liabilities

(4,573

)

(7,168

)

 

(960

)

1,958

 

 

Comprising:

 

 

 

 

Unaudited
30 December

2021
£’000

 

Unaudited
31 December 2020
£’000

Equity investments

4,126

 

8,575

 

Derivatives*

(620

)

444

 

Other fixed asset investments

107

 

107

 

 

3,613

 

9,126

 

*Movements in derivative values in the respective years are included as
part of either finance income or cost as appropriate.

 

 

 

 

Categorised under the IFRS 13 fair value hierarchy as:

 

 

Level 1 - quoted investments

4,126

 

8,575

 

Level 3 – unquoted fixed asset investments
and derivatives

(513

)

551

 

 

3,613

 

9,126

 

 

7. ROYALTIES RECEIVABLE

Group and Company

T3
£’000

A4
£’000

Total

£’000

At 1 January 2020

1,236

 

-

1,236

 

Acquisitions in the year – Other income

-

 

3,638

3,638

 

Net amortisation of discount on acquisition*

27

 

-

27

 

Translation effects

(35

)

-

(35

)

At 31 December 2020

1,228

 

3,638

4,866

 

Net amortisation of discount on acquisition*

74

 

393

467

 

Periodic revaluation- Other income

-

 

5,214

5,214

 

Translation effects

13

 

33

46

 

At 31 December 2021

1,315

 

9,278

10,593

 

*will reflect assumptions pertaining to timings of cash flow since last valuation at appropriate discount rates

The T3 royalty receivable relates to the T3 project in Botswana previously owned in the Metal Capital Ltd joint venture sold to MOD in 2018 and ultimately Sandfire. The royalty is capped at US$2m and is expected to result in a receipt thereof in the final quarter of 2023.

The A4 royalty is an uncapped 2% net smelter royalty over the any future production over the A4 deposit situated in Botswana and owned by Sandfire. In initially assigning a value to the royalty in 2020, the Company relied inter alia on the announcement released by Sandfire to the market on 1 December 2020.

The Company has again predominately relied on the announcement released by Sandfire to the market on 2 September 2021, together with other consensus information readily available in the market, to determine the revised carrying value as of 31 December 2021.

The following table illustrates the key considerations and assumptions the Company considered in determining the value of the value by using the net present value of the cash flows expected from the royalty as discounted.

 

 

2021

2020

Resource size

MT

9,700,000

 

6,500,000

 

Resource grade

Copper

1.17

%

1.54

%

Medium term copper price

US$/MT

U$9.078

U$6.967

Mining recovery

Copper

92.3

%

92.1

%

Concentrate recovery

Copper

92.2

%

92.2

%

Cash flow commencement date

 

4th Quarter 2023

1st Quarter 2023

Discount rate

 

7

%

10

%

The following table illustrates the sensitivity of the net value of the A4 royalty, to changes to the material valuation components.

 

2021
£’000

2020
£’000

5% Increase in Resource size

462

 

182

 

5% Decrease in Resource size

(462

)

(182

)

5% Increase in medium term copper price

462

 

182

 

5% Decrease in medium term copper price

(462

)

(182

)

Cash flow commencement date 1 year earlier

606

 

364

 

Cash flow commencement date 1 later

(606

)

(364

)

8. EQUITY INVESTMENTS ACCOUNTED FOR UNDER FAIR VALUE

 

Unaudited
31 December 2021
£’000

Audited
31 December 2020
£’000

Categorised under the IFRS 13 fair value hierarchy as:

 

 

Level 1 - quoted investments

31,262

19,817

Level 3 – unquoted investments – equity investments

212

241

Level 3 – unquoted investments – warrants and derivatives

557

710

 

32,031

20,768

9. AMOUNTS DUE FROM/(TO) TO RELATED PARTIES

 

Unaudited
31 December 2021
£’000

Audited
31 December 2020
£’000

Kalahari Metals Limited

-

(306)

Kalahari Metals is Metal Tiger’s sole joint venture interest. The Company has a 49% ( 2020 : 62.2%) direct ownership stake. The Company has an amount owing to it from Kalahari Metals of £839,000 as at 31 December 2021. The Company treats this loan in terms of the substance of the agreement as part of the investment in joint ventures.

10. LOANS AND BORROWINGS

 

Unaudited
31 December 2021
£’000

Unaudited
31 December 2020
£’000

At 1 January

7,103

 

4,385

 

Net cash flows from financing activities

4,211

 

2,375

 

Drawn down in year

4,829

 

2,620

 

Repaid in year

(618

)

(245

)

Translation differences *

(340

)

343

 

At 31 December

10,974

 

7,103

 

*non cash flow

Included in the above are loans amounting in aggregate to A$11,351,476 (2020: A$12,508,443) which are secured by 2,842,667 shares in the capital of Sandfire for both years. The loans are repayable in full on the following dates:

 

£’000

16 December 2022

3,853

8 May 2023

531

9 June 2023

542

10 July 2023

545

7 July 2023

81

8 December 2023

544

 

6,096

Also included in the amount owing is a loan amounting to A$9,000,000 (2020: Nil) which is secured by a collateral agreement over 4,714,286 (2020: Nil) shares in the capital of Sandfire and attracts interest at 10% per annum.

The loan is repayable in full on 4 October 2022, with the Company having the option to extend the repayment date to 4 October 2023 at a fee of 1.5% of the then outstanding commitment.

Loans and borrowings are classified in accordance with their repayment profiles as:

 

Unaudited
31 December 2021
£’000

Unaudited
31 December 2020
£’000

Non-current liabilities – Loans and borrowings

2,242

7,051

Current Liabilities – Loans and borrowings

8,732

52

 

10,974

7,103

11. SHARE OPTIONS AND WARRANTS CHARGED AGAINST OPERATING PROFIT

No new options were granted under the Company’s share option schemes during the year. The total charge to operating profit/loss for the year amounted to £86,000 for the year (2020: £482,000).

12. DISTRIBUTION OF PRELIMINARY FINAL REPORT AND REGISTERED OFFICE

A copy of Preliminary Final Report will be available shortly on the Company’s website, www.metaltigerplc.com, and copies will be available from the Company’s registered office, Weston Farm House, Weston Down Lane, Weston Colley, Hampshire, S021 3AG.

QUALIFIED PERSON’S STATEMENT

The technical information contained in this announcement has been read and approved by Mr Nick O’Reilly (MSc, DIC, MAusIMM, MIMMM,FGS), who is a qualified geologist and acts as the Qualified Person under the AIM Rules Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies. Mr O’Reilly is a Principal consultant working for Mining Analyst Consulting Ltd which has been retained by Metal Tiger plc to provide technical support.

Reference Notes

  1. JORC 2012: The Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the “JORC Code”) is a professional code of practice that sets minimum standards for Public Reporting of minerals Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. The current edition of the JORC Code was published in 2012 (“JORC 2012”).
  2. Listing Exchanges: AIM: London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market. ASX: Australian Securities Exchange, CSE: Canadian Securities Exchange. TSX: Toronto Stock Exchange, TSXV: TSX Venture Exchange.
  3. VHMS: Volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (“VHMS”) mineral deposits, are a type of metal sulphide deposit, mainly copper-zinc, which are associated with and created by volcanic-associated hydrothermal events in submarine environments.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the market abuse regulation (EU No. 596/2014) (“MAR”).

Category Code: MSCU
Sequence Number: 757910
Time of Receipt (offset from UTC): 20220228T061820+0000

Contacts

Metal Tiger plc

Contacts

Metal Tiger plc