BISICHI MINING PLC
Preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2010

 DIFFICULT TRADING CONDITIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

RESULT IN A CHALLENGING YEAR

• * Losses at Black Wattle arose from a strong SA Rand against the US Dollar, a shortage of railway trucks for the export coal and generally lower coal prices
• * Prospects for 2011 in South Africa will benefit from:
  • – Better stripping ratios
  • – Higher yields from the washing plant
  • – Significantly improved coal prices
  • – Reduced dependency on rail transport
  • – Cost cutting
• * Property portfolio independently revalued to £12.1 million (2009: £11.9 million)
• * Cash reserves of £5.4 million and very little net debt
• * New Black Empowerment Partner, Vunani Ltd, concluded purchase of 37.5% of Black Wattle
• * Final Dividend proposed of 3p per share payable in shares or cash in addition to the interim dividend of 1p per share

For further information, please call:
Andrew Heller, Robert Corry or Garrett Casey, Bisichi Mining PLC          020 7415 5030

CHAIRMANS STATEMENT

2010 has been a very challenging year for your Company and particularly for its direct coal mining subsidiary in South Africa, Black Wattle, which operated at a loss during 2010.
The reasons for the loss are as follows:

• * the strengthening of the SA Rand against the US Dollar;
• * a shortage of railway trucks at our coal loading siding; and
• * lower prices for our coal.

To overcome the effect of the strong SA Rand, we increased production by expanding our washing plant and buying in high quality coal. Our railway siding was also expanded and markets were found for this increased production. However, the shortage of railway trucks to deliver this coal to our customers meant that during the second half of the year we built up unacceptable levels of stock. In order to reduce these stock levels we had to stop buying in coal, which in turn had a material effect on our earnings. Despite this, the investments that we have made in 2010 in terms of mine expansion and new reserve acquisitions will reap substantial benefits in years to come.

At the 31 December 2010, Bisichi had very little net debt and cash balances of £5.4 million which can be used to expand Group activities.

By the second half of 2011 I believe that we will return to an acceptable level of profitability. The reasons for this are:

• * the reserves that we are mining in 2011 have a lower average stripping ratio than the reserves we mined in 2010;
• * the washing plant yield is higher than the yield on the reserves that we mined throughout 2010;
• * coal prices have gone up significantly in all our markets – so far we have seen an average increase in the export price in 2011 of 28% and an average increase in the domestic price of 12% free on mine;
• * the markets that we are now selling into are less reliant on rail performance, although the supply of trains to our coal loading siding has recently improved; and
• * we are in the process of building up production and we have undertaken a substantial and successful cost cutting programme.

As previously announced, Vunani Limited has concluded the purchase of a 37.5% shareholding in Black Wattle. Vunani Limited is a leading, publicly listed, black-owned and managed company and we are very pleased that they have joined us as a partner in Black Wattle.

On the subject of health and safety, I am very pleased to report that Black Wattle had another very good year having made significant investment in this area over a number of years. A more detailed report on health and safety is included in the Mining Review.

Bisichi’s UK property portfolio, managed by London and Associated Properties PLC, continues to perform well. It showed a small increase in external valuation at year end and – as in previous years when the mine has under-performed – the income from the property portfolio has underwritten many of our costs and so provided the company with a stable financial cushion. Voids in the portfolio have continued to remain low, even during the difficult retailing conditions that have been experienced over the last 18 months.

As recently announced, Michael Stevens, who held the position of Group Company Secretary for twenty five years, has retired. I would like to thank Michael on behalf of the Board, for his extremely valuable contribution during the years of substantial growth for the company and to wish Michael a very enjoyable retirement.

The Board paid an interim cash dividend of 1p during the year. The Directors recommend the payment of a final dividend of 3p (2009: 3p). The final dividend will be payable on 8 August 2011 to shareholders registered at the close of business on 1 July 2011. It will be proposed that shareholders are given the opportunity of electing to receive all or part of the final dividend in the form of fully paid ordinary shares rather than cash.

Although the company made a loss in 2010, the Board felt it was appropriate to maintain the dividend but to pay it in a form that will give shareholders the opportunity to either take cash or to take new shares and receive the benefit of the investment we have made in the mine during the year, which will be realised in years to come. Your directors, and London & Associated Properties PLC have agreed to elect to take their full entitlement in new shares in lieu of cash, representing over 51% of the ordinary share capital of the company.

On behalf of the Board I would like to thank all of our staff for their hard work during the course of the year.

Michael Heller
Chairman
15 April 2011

MINING REVIEW

As noted in the Chairman’s statement, the challenging environment experienced in the first half of 2010 by Black Wattle our direct mining subsidiary, continued into the second half of 2010. Although Black Wattle continued to mine opencast coal, buy-in coal was stopped and overall production was limited as a result of a shortage of railway trucks in the second half of the year. This together with the strong South African Rand and lower market prices had a material effect on Black Wattle’s profitability.

As we continue into 2011, the effect of these factors has been mitigated by the significant improvement in market prices and the commencement of mining of higher quality opencast reserves.

Production

Although production through the washing plant increased in 2010, with total run of mine production of 1.46 million metric tonnes for the year (2009: 1.26 million metric tonnes), overall monthly production through the washing plant decreased from 135,000 metric tonnes in the first eight months of 2010 to 94,000 metric tonnes in the last four months. As stated above, this decrease in production was a direct result of a shortage of railway trucks in the second half of the year.

As noted in our previous annual report, Black Wattle’s remaining opencast permissions were granted in February 2010. This represented an important landmark in the mine’s development and, going forward, gives Black Wattle the ability to mine strategically and more flexibly its remaining reserves.

In addition to its existing reserves, Black Wattle has concluded an agreement to purchase run of mine coal from an opencast reserve of coal contiguous to Black Wattle’s existing opencast mine. The reserve, which is expected to make up approximately half of Black Wattle’s overall monthly production is made up of high quality run of mine coal with a lower average stripping ratio and a higher yield than the reserves we mined in 2010.

We are pleased to report that mining of this reserve commenced at the end of last year and overall production is steadily being increased. Much of the new reserve comprises very low phosphorous coal, which we can sell at a premium into the domestic metallurgical industry and delivery of this coal is not reliant on the performance of the rail provider as the coal is supplied by road transport.

Markets

International coal prices remained relatively stable in 2010 in comparison to the extreme volatility seen in the international coal market in 2009. The average weekly price of Free on Board (FOB) Coal from Richards Bay Coal Terminal (API4) remained in a range of US$85.00 to US$95.00 per metric tonne for the most of 2010. However, over the same period, the South African Rand continued to appreciate by over 10% against the US Dollar. This is in addition to the 21% appreciation of the Rand experienced in 2009. In addition to the downturn in the Rand denominated international coal price, domestic prices continued to decrease in 2010 resulting in a reduction in prices in all our domestic steam coal markets.

Going forward into 2011, the international coal price has significantly improved with the price of FOB coal from Richards Bay Coal Terminal increasing to approximately US$120 per metric tonne at the time of writing this report. In addition, the domestic price has increased over 12% from the prices we achieved in 2010. Our ability to diversify our product will allow us to sell to markets which give the highest return and we look forward to taking advantage of this as production from our new opencast reserve increases in 2011.

Shareholding As noted in the Chairman’s statement, we are very pleased to report that Vunani Limited has concluded the purchase of a 37.5% shareholding in Black Wattle. We are proud of our longstanding commitment to Black Economic Empowerment in South Africa and we see this transaction with Vunani as the first of many we will do together in South Africa.  Vunani Limited is a publicly listed,  black owned and managed company.

Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)

Black Wattle is committed to creating a safe and healthy working environment for its employees and the health and safety of our employees is of the utmost importance. In addition to the required personnel appointments and assignment of direct health and safety responsibilities on the mine, a system of Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments has been designed, implemented and maintained at Black Wattle.

Health and Safety training is conducted on an ongoing basis. Supervisors and about 95 percent of employees to date have received training in hazard identification and risk assessment in their work areas.

A medical surveillance system is also in place which provides management with information used in determining measures to eliminate, control and minimise employee health risks and hazards and all Occupational Health hazards are monitored on an ongoing basis.

Various systems to enhance the current HSE strategy have been introduced as follows:

• * In order to improve hazard identification before the commencing of tasks, mini risk assessment booklets have been distributed to all mine employees and long term contractors on the mine.
• * A Job Safety Analysis form has been introduced to ensure effective identification of hazards in the workplace.
• * In order to improve the current reporting practice of incidents on the mine, initial reporting of incidents booklets were handed out to all employees and contractors.
• * In order to capture and record investigation findings from incidents, an incident recording sheet was introduced to line management and contractors.
• * Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment training was given to all levels of employees, line management, Head of Departments, contractor representatives and contractor employees.
• * In order to control jobs effectively over weekends that require additional risk assessments to safely perform tasks, a weekend work register was introduced on the mine.

HSE performance in 2010:

• * Black Wattle had a 64 percent reduction in the Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate compared to 2009.
• * No new cases of Occupational Diseases Certified were recorded.
• * Zero cases for the Compensation for Occupational Diseases were submitted.
• * Zero machines operating at Black Wattle exceeded the regulatory noise level.

Environment Management Programme

Under the terms of the mine’s Environmental Management Programme approved by the Department of Mineral Resource (“DMR”), Black Wattle undertakes a host of environmental protection activities to ensure that the approved Environmental Management Plan is fully implemented. In addition to these routine activities, Black Wattle regularly carries out environmental monitoring activities on and around the mine, including evaluation of ground water quality, air quality, noise and lighting levels, ground vibrations, air blast monitoring, and assessment of visual impacts.

Black Wattle Colliery has improved its water management tremendously by erecting a new pollution control dam as well as upgrading existing dams in consultation with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. 

Black Wattle Colliery Social and Labour Plan (SLP) progress  

Black Wattle Colliery is committed to true transformation and empowerment within the company as well as poverty eradication within the surrounding and labour providing communities.

Black Wattle is committed to providing opportunities for the sustainable socio-economic development of the company’s stakeholders:

• * Employees and their families, through Skills Development, Education Development, Human Resource Development, Empowerment and Progression Programmes.
• * Surrounding and Labour sending communities, through Local Economic Development, Rural and Community Development, Housing and Living Condition, Enterprise Development and Procurement programmes.
• * Empowerment partners, through Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and Joint Ventures with Historically Disadvantaged South African (HDSA) new mining entrants and enterprises.
• * The Company, through ongoing consultation with stakeholders to develop strong company-employee relationships, strong company-community relationships and strong company-HDSA enterprise relationships.

The key focus areas in terms of the detailed SLP programmes were updated as follows:

• * New implementation action plans, projects, targets and budgets were established through regular workshops with all stakeholders.
• * A comprehensive desktop socio-economic assessment was undertaken on baseline data of the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality (STLM) and Nkangala District Municipality (NDM).
• * The current Black Wattle Colliery Local Economic Development (LED) programmes were upgraded, and new LED projects were selected in consultation with the key stakeholders from the STLM.
• * An appropriate forum was established on the mine and a process initiated for the consultation, empowerment and participation of the employee representatives in the Black Wattle Colliery SLP process.

Procurement

In compliance with the Mining Charter and the Mineral and Petroleum Resource Development Act, Black Wattle has implemented a BEE-focussed procurement policy which strongly encourages our suppliers to establish and maintain BEE credentials. At present, BEE companies provide approximately 52 percent of Black Wattle’s equipment and services. We closely monitor our monthly expenditure and welcome potential BEE suppliers to compete for equipment and service contracts at Black Wattle. Black Wattle also sells much of its coal products to empowered companies as evidenced by our long term sales agreement with a BEE company for the purchase of our discard product which is then sold to Eskom, the national power utility.

 Employment Equity

Black Wattle is committed to achieving the goals of the Employment Equity Act and is pleased to report the following:

• * Black Wattle Colliery has exceeded the 10 percent women in management and core mining target.
• * Black Wattle Colliery has achieved 15 percent women in middle to top management.
• * Black Wattle Colliery has achieved 15.1 percent women in core mining.
• * 86.2 percent of the women at Black Wattle Colliery are HDSA females.
• * Black Wattle Colliery has achieved a 40 percent participation level of HDSA’s in overall management.

 

Prospects

Black Wattle is a fully operational opencast mine with strong management, existing infrastructure and markets in place. Along with the expansion of the washing plant and upgrade of the railway siding, various cost cutting and operational programmes have been undertaken at Black Wattle in order to ensure maximum productivity; yield and profitability. As a result, the group is in a strong position to take advantage of the improvement in market prices and the increased production.

Going forward, I am confident that 2011 should be a successful year for our South African operations.

Andrew Heller
Managing Director
15 April 2011

 

Consolidated income statement
for the year ended 31 December 2010                                                                                                                                                                            

		2010	2010	2010	2009
	Notes	Trading	Revaluations	Total
		£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000
Group revenue	1	32,824	–	32,824	29,016
Operating costs	2	(34,864)	–	(34,864)	(24,616)
Operating (loss)/profit before fair value adjustments	1	(2,040)	–	(2,040)	4,400
Increase in value of investment properties	3	–	245	245	67
Gains on held for trading investments		–	90	90	425
Operating (loss)/profit	1	(2,040)	335	(1,705)	4,892
Share of profit in joint ventures	13	–	61	61	101
(Loss)/profit before interest and taxation		(2,040)	396	(1,644)	4,993
Interest receivable		174	–	174	226
Interest payable	6	(343)	–	(343)	(216)
(Loss)/profit before tax	4	(2,209)	396	(1,813)	5,003
Taxation	7	540	(13)	527	(1,330)
(Loss)/profit for the year		(1,669)	383	(1,286)	3,673
Attributable to:Equity holders of the company		(1,595)	383	(1,212)	3,673
Non-controlling interest	26	(74)	–	(74)	–
(Loss)/profit for the year		(1,669)	383	(1,286)	3,673
(Loss)/earnings per share – basis	9	(15.26)p	3.66 p	(11.60)p	35.14p
(Loss)/earnings per share – diluted	9	(15.26)p	3.66 p	(11.60)p	34.35p

 

Trading income reflects all the trading activity on mining and property operations.  Revaluation income reflects the revaluation of investment properties and other assets within the group and any proportion of these amounts within Joint Ventures.  The total column represents the consolidated income statement presented in accordance with IAS 1.

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
for the year ended 31 December 2010

		2010	2009
		£’000	£’000
(Loss)/profit for the year		(1,286)	3,673
Other comprehensive income:
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations		747	530
Taxation		–	–
Other comprehensive income for the year net of tax		(539)	4,203
Total comprehensive income for the year net of tax		(539)	4,203
Attributable to:
Equity shareholders		(459)	4,203
		(80)	–
		(539)	4,203

Company Registration No. 112155

Consolidated balance sheet
at 31 December 2010

		2010	2009
	Notes	£’000	£’000
Assets
Non-current assets
Value of investment properties	10	12,110	11,865
Fair value of head lease	30	233	246
		12,343	12,111
Mining reserves, plant and equipment	11	9,615	8,057
Investments in joint ventures	12	3,607	3,259
Other investments	12	150	496
Total non-current assets		25,715	23,923
Current assets
Inventories	15	705	1,139
Trade and other receivables	16	4,719	2,060
Corporation tax recoverable		115	19
Held for trading investments	17	605	510
Cash and cash equivalents		5,399	6,609
Total current assets		11,543	10,337
Total assets		37,258	34,260
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Borrowings	19	(1,759)	(4,593)
	18	(7,865)	(5,571)
Current tax liabilities		(362)	(260)
Total current liabilities		(9,986)	(10,424)
Non-current liabilities
Borrowings	19	(5,326)	(533)
Provision for rehabilitation	20	(1,025)	(772)
Finance lease liabilities	30	(233)	(246)
Deferred tax liabilities	22	(2,340)	(2,985)
Total non-current liabilities		(8,924)	(4,536)
Total liabilities		(18,910)	(14,960)
Net assets		18,348	19,300
Equity
Share capital	23	1,045	1,045
Translation reserve		68	(685)
Other reserves	24	485	480
Retained earnings		16,356	18,460
Total equity attributable to equity shareholders		17,954	19,300
Non-controlling interest	26	394	–
Total equity		18,348	19,300

These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board of directors on15 April 2011 and signed on its behalf by:

A R Heller                                 G J Casey
Director                                                 Director

Consolidated statement of changes in shareholders’ equity
for the year ended 31 December 2010

	Share capital£’000	Translation reserves£’000	Other reserves£’000	Retained earnings£’000	Total£’000
						Non-controlling interest£’000	Total equity£’000
Balance at 1 January 2009	1,045	(1,215)	663	15,153	15,646	–	15,646
Revaluation of investment properties	–	–	–	67	67	–	67
Other income statement movements	–	–	–	3,606	3,606	–	3,606
Profit for the year	–	–	–	3,673	3,673	–	3,673
Exchange adjustment	–	530	–	–	530	–	530
Total comprehensive income for the year	–	530	–	3,673	4,203	–	4,203
Dividend	–	–	–	(366)	(366)	–	(366)
Equity share options	–	–	(183)	–	(183)	–	(183)
Balance at 1 January 2010	1,045	(685)	480	18,460	19,300	–	19,300
Revaluation of investment properties	–	–	–	245	245	–	245
Other income statement movements	–	–	–	(1,457)	(1,457)	(74)	(1,531)
Loss for the year	–	–	–	(1,212)	(1,212)	(74)	(1,286)
Exchange adjustment	–	753	–	–	753	(6)	747
Total comprehensive income for the year	–	753	–	(1,212)	(459)	(80)	(539)
Dividend	–	–	–	(418)	(418)	–	(418)
Equity share options	–	–	5	–	5	–	5
Disposal of shares in subsidiary	–	–	–	(474)	(474)	474	–
Balance at 31 December 2010	1,045	68	485	16,356	17,954	394	18,348

Consolidated cash flow statement
for the year ended 31 December 2010

	Year ended 31 December 2010	Year ended 31 December 2009
	£’000	£’000
Cash flows from operating activities
Operating (loss)/profit	(1,705)	4,892
Adjustments for:
Depreciation	2,414	2,541
Share based payment expense	5	(183)
Gain on investment held for trading	(90)	(425)
Unrealised gain on investment properties	(245)	(67)
Cash flow before working capital	379	6,758
Change in inventories	434	258
Change in trade and other receivables	(2,150)	4,042
Change in trade and other payables	834	(1,478)
Change in provisions	253	201
Acquisitions of held for trading investments	(6)	(75)
Proceeds from held for trading investments	–	617
Cash generated from operations	(256)	10,323
Interest received	174	226
Interest paid	(343)	(216)
Income tax paid	(112)	(2,359)
Cash flow from operating activities	(537)	7,974
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of reserves, plant and equipment	(2,639)	(2,087)
Disposal/(acquisitions) of investments	405	(136)
Cash flow from investing activities	(2,234)	(2,223)
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowings drawn	2,300	406
Borrowings repaid	(231)	(700)
Equity dividends paid	(418)	(366)
Cash flow from financing activities	1,651	(660)
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	(1,120)	5,091
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January	5,077	(116)
Exchange adjustment	20	102
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December	3,977	5,077
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December comprise:
Cash and cash equivalents as presented in the balance sheet	5,399	6,609
Bank overdrafts (secured)	(1,422)	(1,532)
	3,977	5,077

 

 Group accounting policies
for the year ended 31 December 2010

Basis of accounting

The financial information presented in this preliminary announcement does not constitute the statutory accounts of Bisichi Mining plc for the years ended 31 December 2010 or 31 December 2009 but is derived from those accounts. Statutory accounts for 2009 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and those for 2010 will be delivered in due course. The auditor has reported on both the 2009 and 2010 accounts; their reports were(i) unqualified, (ii) did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report and (iii) did not contain a statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.

The results for the year ended 31 December 2010 have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The principal accounting policies are described below:

The group financial statements are presented in £ sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds (£000) except when otherwise stated.                                                          International Accounting Standards (IAS/IFRS)
The financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and Interpretations in force at the reporting date. These are prepared under the historic cost convention as modified by the revaluation of investment properties and available for sale investments.

During 2010 the following accounting standards and guidance were adopted by the group:

• * IAS 27 (Revised): Consolidated and separate financial statements

The standard requires that transactions involving non-controlling interests, where no change in control occurs should be accounted for as equity transactions. Furthermore losses of the group, which are attributable to the owners of non-controlling interest, are attributed to these owners, even if this results in a deficit.

The impact on the results for the year is the disclosure of a £74,000 loss for the year attributable to non-controlling interest.

During 2010 all other standards and interpretations that were mandatory for the accounting period and were required to be adopted by the group either had no material impact on the group’s financial statements or were not relevant to the operations of the group.

The group has not adopted any standards or interpretations in advance of the required implementation dates. It is not expected that adoption of any standards or interpretations which have been issued by the International Accounting Standards Board but have not been adopted will have a material impact on the financial statements.

Key Judgements and Estimates                                                                                                        

The directors consider their judgements and estimates surrounding the life of the mine and its reserves to have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements and to be the area where the financial statements are at most risk of a material adjustment due to estimation uncertainty.

In addition the directors note that other areas, in particular the valuation of the investment properties, are considered to be less judgemental due to the nature of the underlying properties and the use of external valuers.

Basis of consolidation

The group accounts incorporate the accounts of Bisichi Mining Plc and all of its subsidiary undertakings, together with the group’s share of the results of its joint ventures and associates. Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries are presented separately from the equity attributable to equity owners of the parent company. When changes in ownership in a subsidiary do not result in a loss of control, the non-controlling shareholders’ interest are initially measured at the non-controlling interests’ proportionate share of the subsidiaries net assets. Subsequent to this, the carrying amount of non-controlling interests is the amount of those interests at initial recognition plus the non-controlling interests’ share of subsequent changes in equity. Total comprehensive income is attributed to non-controlling interests even if this results in the non-controlling interests having a deficit balance.

 

Revenue

Revenue comprises sales of coal and property rental income. Revenue is recognised when delivery of the product or service has been made and when the customer has a legally binding obligation to settle under the terms of the contract and has assumed all significant risks and rewards of ownership.

Revenue is only recognised on individual sales when all of the significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to a third party. In most instances revenue is recognised when the product is delivered to the location specified by the customer, which is typically when loaded into transport, where the customer pays the transportation costs.

Rental income is recognised in the group income statement on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. This includes the effect of lease incentives.
Investment Properties

Investment properties comprise freehold and long leasehold land and buildings. Investment properties are carried at fair value in accordance with IAS 40 ‘Investment Properties’. Properties are recognised as investment properties when held for long-term rental yields, and after consideration has been given to a number of factors including length of lease, quality of tenant and covenant, value of lease, management intention for future use of property, planning consents and percentage of property leased. Investment properties are revalued annually by professional external surveyors and included in the balance sheet at their fair value. Gains or losses arising from changes in the fair values of assets are recognised in the consolidated income statement in the period to which they relate. In accordance with IAS 40, investment properties are not depreciated. Properties held for use in the business are not recognised as investment properties and are held at depreciated historical cost.

The fair value of the head leases is the net present value of the current head rent payable on leasehold properties until the expiry of the lease.
Mining reserves, plant and equipment

The cost of property, plant and equipment comprises its purchase price and any costs directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and condition necessary for it to be capable of operating in accordance with agreed specifications. Freehold land is not depreciated. Other property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation.

The life of mine remaining as at year end is currently estimated at 5 years. A provision for rehabilitation of the mine is carried at fair value and is provided for over the life of mine. The provision includes the restoration of the underground, opencast and surface operations and is estimated to be utilised at the end of the life of mine of the group. The timing and final cost of the rehabilitation is uncertain and will depend on the duration of the mine life and the quantities of coal extracted from the reserves.

Mine reserves and development cost

The purpose of mine development is to establish secure working conditions and infrastructure to allow the safe and efficient extraction of recoverable reserves. Depreciation on mine development is not charged until production commences or the assets are put to use. On commencement of full production, depreciation is charged over the life of the associated mine reserves on a straight-line basis.

Surface mine development

Expenditure incurred prior to the commencement of working surface mine sites, net of any residual value and taking into account the likelihood of the site being mined, is capitalised within property, plant and equipment and charged to the income statement over the life of the recoverable reserves of the scheme.

Other assets and depreciation

The cost, less estimated residual value, of other property, plant and equipment is written off on a straight-line basis over the asset’s expected useful life. Residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each balance sheet date. Changes to the estimated residual values or useful lives are accounted for prospectively. Heavy surface mining and other plant and equipment is depreciated at varying rates depending upon its expected usage.

The depreciation rates generally applied are:

Mining equipment – The shorter of its useful life or the life of the mine

Mining reserves – Over the expected life of the reserves

Motor vehicles – 25-33 per cent per annum

Office equipment – 10-33 per cent per annum

Employee Benefits

Share based remuneration

The company operates a share option scheme. The fair value of the share option scheme is determined at the date of grant. This fair value is then expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on an estimate of the number of shares that will eventually vest. The fair value of options granted is calculated using a binomial or Black-Scholes-Merton model. Details of the share options in issue are disclosed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on page 25 under the heading Share option schemes which is within the audited part of this report.

Pensions

The group operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The contributions payable to the scheme are expensed in the period to which they relate.
Foreign Currencies

Monetary assets and liabilities are translated at year end exchange rates and the resulting exchange rate differences are included in the consolidated income statement within the results of operating activities if arising from trading activities and within finance cost/income if arising from financing.

For consolidation purposes, income and expense items are included in the consolidated income statement at average rates, and assets and liabilities are translated at year end exchange rates. Translation differences arising on consolidation are taken directly to reserves. Where foreign operations are disposed of, the cumulative exchange differences of that foreign operation are recognised in the consolidated income statement when the gain or loss on disposal is recognised.

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rate ruling on transaction date.
Financial Instruments

The group classifies financial instruments, or their component parts, on initial recognition as a financial asset, a financial liability or an equity instrument in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangement.

Bank loans and overdrafts

Bank loans and overdrafts are included as financial liabilities on the group balance sheet at the amounts drawn on the particular facilities net of the unamortised cost of financing. Interest payable on those facilities is expensed as finance cost in the period to which it relates.
Finance lease liabilities

Finance lease liabilities arise for those investment properties held under a leasehold interest and accounted for as investment property. The liability is initially calculated as the present value of the minimum lease payments, reducing in subsequent reporting periods by the apportionment of payments to the lessor.

Interest rate derivatives

The group uses derivative financial instruments to manage the interest rate risk associated with the financing of the group’s business. No trading in such financial instruments is undertaken. At each reporting date, these interest rate derivatives are recognised at fair value, being the estimated amount that the group would receive or pay to terminate the agreement at the balance sheet date, taking into account current interest rates and the current credit rating of the counterparties. The gain or loss at each fair value re-measurement is recognised immediately in the income statement.

Held for trading investments

Financial assets/liabilities held for trading or short-term gain are measured at fair value and movements in fair value are charged/credited to the income statement in the period.

Trade receivables

Trade receivables do not carry any interest and are stated at their nominal value as reduced by appropriate allowances for estimated recoverable amounts as the interest that would be recognised from discounting future cash payments over the short payment period is not considered to be material.

Trade payables

Trade payables are not interest bearing and are stated at their nominal value, as the interest that would be recognised from discounting future cash payments over the short payment period is not considered to be material.

Other Financial assets and liabilities

The groups other financial assets and liabilities not disclosed above are accounted for as shown below.

Financial assets:

– Cash and cash equivalents are measured at cash value.

– Other receivables at amount owed

– Other loans receivable at amount owed

Finance liabilities:

– Other payables at amount owing

 

Joint Ventures

Investments in joint ventures, being those entities over whose activities the group has joint control, as established by contractual agreement, are included at cost together with the group’s share of post acquisition reserves, on an equity basis.

Inventories    

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost includes materials, direct labour and overheads relevant to the stage of production. Net realisable value is based on estimated selling price less all further costs to completion and all relevant marketing, selling and distribution costs.

Other investments that do not have a quoted market price in an active market and whose fair value cannot be reliably measured are recognised at cost less any provision for impairment.

Impairment

Whenever events or changes in circumstance indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable an asset is reviewed for impairment. An asset’s carrying value is written down to its estimated recoverable amount (being the higher of the fair value less cost to sell and value in use) if that is less than the asset’s carrying amount.

Deferred Tax

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the tax computations, and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. In respect of the deferred tax on the revaluation surplus, this is calculated on the basis of the chargeable gains that would crystallise on the sale of the investment portfolio as at the reporting date. The calculation takes account of indexation on the historical cost of the properties and any available capital losses.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the group income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case it is also dealt with in equity.

Dividends

Dividends payable on the ordinary share capital are recognised as a liability in the period in which they are approved.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash comprises cash in hand and on-demand deposits. Cash and cash equivalents comprises short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value and original maturities of three months or less. The cash and cash equivalents shown in the cashflow statement are stated net of bank overdrafts.

Segmental Reporting

For management reporting purposes, the group is organised into business segments distinguishable by economic activity. The group’s only business segments are mining activities and investment properties. These business segments are subject to risks and returns that are different from those of other business segments and are the primary basis on which the group reports its segment information. This is consistent with the way the group is managed and with the format of the group’s internal financial reporting. Significant revenue from transactions with an individual customer, which makes up 10 percent or more of the total revenue of the group, is separately disclosed within each segment. 

Notes to the financial statements
for the year ended 31 December 2010

1. Segmental reporting

Business analysis

	Mining	Property	2010 Other	Total
	£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000
Significant revenue customer A	11,265	–	–	11,265
Significant revenue customer B	8,456	–	–	8,456
Significant revenue customer C	3,398	–	–	3,398
Other revenue	8,707	975	23	9,705
Segment revenue	31,826	975	23	32,824
Operating (loss)/profit before fair value adjustments	(2,664)	616	8	(2,040)
Revaluation of investments	–	245	90	335
Operating (loss)/profit and segment result	(2,664)	861	98	(1,705)
Segment assets	15,061	12,557	606	28,224
Unallocated assets
–     Non-current assets				28
–        Cash & cash equivalents				5,399
Total assets				33,651
Segment liabilities	(7,769)	(2,473)	(15)	(10,257)
Borrowings	(663)	(5,000)	–	(5,663)
	(8,432)	(7,473)	(15)	(15,920)
Unallocated liabilities				(2,990)
Total liabilities				(18,910)
Net assets				14,741
Investment in joint ventures non segmental				3,607
Net assets as per balance sheet				18,348

 Geographic analysis

	UnitedKingdom	SouthAfrica	Other	Unallocated	Total
	£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000
Revenue	998	31,826	–	–	32,824
Operating profit/(loss) and segment result	959	(2,664)	–	–	(1,705)
Non-current assets excluding investments	12,343	9,586	–	29	21,958
Total net assets	5,637	6,604	63	6,044	18,348
Capital expenditure	2	2,637	–	–	2,639

Notes to the financial statements
for the year ended 31 December 2010

1. Segmental reporting

 Business analysis

	Mining	Property	2009 Other	Total
	£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000
Significant revenue customer A	10,524	–	–	10,524
Significant revenue customer B	6,991	–	–	6,991
Significant revenue customer C	3,747	–	–	3,747
Other Revenue	6,544	1,005	205	7,754
Segment revenue	27,806	1,005	205	29,016
Operating profit before fair value adjustments	3,873	621	(94)	4,400
Revaluation of investments	–	67	425	492
Operating profit and segment result	3,873	688	331	4,892
Segment assets	11,587	12,236	509	24,332
Unallocated assets
–     Non-current assets				60
–        Cash & cash equivalents				6,609
Total assets				31,001
Segment liabilities	(5,568)	(2,736)	(117)	(8,421)
Borrowings	(894)	(2,700)	–	(3,594)
	(6,462)	(5,436)	(117)	(12,015)
Unallocated liabilities				(2,945)
Total liabilities				(14,960)
Net assets				16,041
Investment in joint ventures non segmental				3,259
Net assets as per balance sheet				19,300

Geographic analysis

	UnitedKingdom	SouthAfrica	Other	Unallocated	Total
	£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000
Revenue	1,210	27,806	–	–	29,016
Operating profit and segment result	1,019	3,873	–	–	4,892
Non-current assets excluding investments	12,111	7,997	–	60	20,168
Total net assets	7,151	5,112	55	6,982	19,300
Capital expenditure	25	2,062	–	–	2,087

 2. Operating costs 

	2010	2009
	£’000	£’000
Mining	26,979	16,462
Property	120	81
Share dealing	–	–
Cost of sales	27,099	16,543
Administration	7,765	8,073
Operating costs	34,864	24,616
The direct property costs are:
Ground rent	9	15
Direct property expense	81	63
Bad debts	30	3
	120	81

 

3. Gain on revaluation and sale of investment properties

The reconciliation of the investment surplus to the gain on revaluation of investment properties
in the income statement is set out below:

	2010	2009
	£’000	£’000
Investment surplus	258	55
(Gain)/loss on valuation movement in respect of head lease payments	(13)	12
Gain/(loss) on revaluation of investment properties	245	67

 

4. (Loss)/profit before taxation 

(Loss)/profit before taxation is arrived at after charging/(crediting):

	2010		2009
	£’000		£’000
Staff costs (see note 28)	6,036		6,661
Depreciation	2,414		2,541
Exchange gain	(526)		(237)
Fees payable to the company’s auditor for the audit of the company’s annual accounts	40		45
Fees payable to the company’s auditor and its associates for other services:
The audit of the company’s subsidiaries, pursuant to legislation		32	28
Other services		5	1

The directors consider the auditors were best placed to provide the above non-audit services.
The audit committee reviews the nature and extent of non-audit services to ensure that independence is maintained.

5. Directors’ emoluments

Directors’ emoluments are shown in the Directors’ remuneration report on pages 24 and 25 under the heading Directors’ remuneration which is within the audited part of this report.

6. Interest payable

	2010	2009
	£’000	£’000
On bank overdrafts and bank loans	291	94
Other interest payable	52	122
Interest payable	343	216

 

7. Taxation

	2010	2009
	£’000	£’000
(a) Based on the results for the year:

 

Corporation tax at 28% (2009: 28%)	352	1,203
Adjustment in respect of prior years – UK	6	–
Current tax	358	1,203
Deferred tax – current year	(885)	127
Total tax in income statement	(527)	1,330
(b) Factors affecting tax charge for the year:
The corporation tax assessed for the year is different from that at the standard rate of corporation tax in the United Kingdom of 28% (2009: 28%)
The differences are explained below:
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation	(1,813)	5,003
Tax on profit on ordinary activities at 28% (2009: 28%)	(508)	1,401
Effects of:
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes	84	67
Capital gains in excess of profit on disposal	13	–
Other differences	(127)	(119)
Adjustment to smaller companies rates	–	(19)
Adjustment in respect of prior years	11	–
Total tax	(527)	1,330

(c) Analysis of United Kingdom and Overseas tax

United Kingdom tax included in above:

Corporation tax	300	–
Adjustment in respect of prior years	6	–
Current tax	306	–
Deferred tax	113	242
	419	242

Overseas tax included in above:

Corporation tax	52	1,203
Current tax	52	1,203
Deferred tax	(998)	(115)
	(946)	1,088

 

8. Dividends paid 

			2010 Per share	2010 £’000	2009 Per share	2009 £’000
Dividends paid during the year relating to the prior period			4.00 p	418	3.50 p	366
Dividends to be paid:
Interim dividend for 2010 paid on the 4 February 2011			1.00 p	105	1.00p	105
Proposed final dividend for 2010			3.00 p	313	3.00p	313
			4.00 p	418	4.00p	418

The dividends to be paid are not accounted for until they have been approved at the Annual General Meeting. The amount will be accounted for as an appropriation of retained earnings in the year ending 31 December 2011.

9. (Loss)/earnings and diluted (loss)/earnings per share

Both the basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share calculations are based on a loss of £1,286,000 (2009: profit £3,673,000). The basic (loss)/earnings per share have been calculated on 10,451,506 (2009: 10,451,506) ordinary shares being in issue during the period. The diluted (loss)/earnings per share have been calculated on the number of shares in issue of 10,451,506 (2009: 10,451,506) plus the dilutive potential ordinary shares arising from share options of nil (2009: 241,313) totalling 10,451,506 (2009: 10,692,819).

Dilutive potential ordinary shares of 279,790 were excluded from the calculation of diluted ordinary shares in 2010 as there was no dilutive effect due to the loss for the year.

10. Investment properties

	Freehold £’000	Long Leasehold £’000	Total £’000
Valuation at 1 January 2010	8,865	3,000	11,865
Additions	–	–	–
Revaluation	245	–	245
Valuation at 31 December 2010	9,110	3,000	12,110
Valuation at 1 January 2009	8,673	3,100	11,773
Additions	25	–	25
Revaluation	167	(100)	67
Valuation at 31 December 2009	8,865	3,000	11,865
Historical cost
At 31 December 2010	4,801	728	5,529
At 31 December 2009	4,801	728	5,529

 

Long leasehold properties are those for which the unexpired term at the balance sheet date is not less than 50 years.

All investment properties are held for use in operating leases and all properties generated rental income during the period.

Freehold and Long Leasehold properties were externally professionally valued at 31 December on an open market basis by:

	2010	2009
	£’000	£’000
BNP Paribas Real Estate	9,100	8,865
Carter Towler LLP, Chartered Surveyors	3,000	3,000
	12,100	11,865

 

The valuations were carried out in accordance with the Statements of Asset Valuation and Guidance Notes published by

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

11. Mining reserves, plant and equipment

	Mining Reserves	Mining equipment	Motor Vehicles	Office equipment	Total
	£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000
Cost at 1 January 2010	1,911	12,581	387	119	14,998
Exchange adjustment	318	2,094	42	12	2,466
Additions	–	2,637	–	2	2,639
Disposals	(17)	(2,372)	–	(5)	(2,394)
Cost at 31 December 2010	2,212	14,940	429	128	17,709
Accumulated depreciation at 1 January 2010	1,407	5,195	271	68	6,941
Exchange adjustment	267	829	31	6	1,133
Charge for the year	111	2,245	43	15	2,414
Disposals in year	(17)	(2,372)	–	(5)	(2,394)
Accumulated depreciation at 31 December 2010	1,768	5,897	345	84	8,094
Net book value at 31 December 2010	444	9,043	84	44	9,615
Cost at 1 January 2009	1,705	11,360	346	103	13,514
Exchange adjustment	225	1,500	23	7	1,755
Additions	–	2,000	50	12	2,062
Disposals	(19)	(2,279)	(32)	(3)	(2,333)
Cost at 31 December 2009	1,911	12,581	387	119	14,998
Accumulated depreciation at 1 January 2009	1,151	4,523	232	54	5,960
Exchange adjustment	156	593	21	3	773
Charge for the year	119	2,358	50	14	2,541
Disposals in year	(19)	(2,279)	(32)	(3)	(2,333)
Accumulated depreciation at 31 December 2009	1,407	5,195	271	68	6,941
Net book value at 31 December 2009	504	7,386	116	51	8,057

 

 

12. Investments held as non-current assets

	2010 JointVentures Assets	2010 Other	2009 JointVentures Assets	2009 Other
	£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000
At 1 January	2,343	779	2,363	617
Disposals	–	(405)	–	–
Transfer	–	–	(121)	137
Exchange adjustment	–	59	–	25
Share of gain/(loss) in joint ventures	61	–	(101)	–
Net assets at 31 December	2,404	433	2,343	779

Loan to joint venture:

At 1 January	916	–	709	–
Additions	287	–	207	–
At 31 December	1,203	–	916	–
At 31 December	3,607	433	3,259	779
Provision for diminution in value:
At 1 January	–	(283)	–	(283)
Write down of investment	–	–	–	–
At 31 December	–	(283)	–	(283)
Net book value at 31 December	3,607	150	3,259	496
Included in other investments are:			2010 £’000	2009 £’000
Net book value of unquoted investments			133	133
Rehabilitation fund			–	348
Net book value of investments listed on overseas Stock Exchanges			17	15
			150	496
Market value of the overseas listed investments			17	15

 

13. Joint ventures

The company owns 50% of the issued share capital of Dragon Retail Properties Limited, an unlisted property investment company. The remaining 50% is held by London & Associated Properties PLC. Dragon Retail Properties Limited is incorporated in England and Wales. It has issued share capital of 500,000 (2009: 500,000) ordinary shares of £1 each.

The company owns 49% of the issued share capital of Ezimbokodweni Mining (pty) Limited, an unlisted prospective coal production company. The company is incorporated in South Africa. It has issued share capital of 100 (2009: 100) ordinary shares of ZAR1 each.

		Ezimbokodweni	Dragon
		49%	50%	2010	2009
		£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000
Turnover		–	103	103	101
Profit and loss
Profit before tax		–	61	61	101
Taxation		–	–	–	–
Profit after taxation		–	61	61	101
Balance sheet
Non-current assets		1,203	1,583	2,786	2,431
Current assets		–	1,339	1,339	1,311
Current liabilities		(1,203)	(1,061)	(2,264)	(1,952)
Non-current liabilities		–	(140)	(140)	(130)
Share of net assets at 31 December		–	1,721	1,721	1,660

 

14. Subsidiary companies 

The company owns the following ordinary share capital of the principal subsidiaries which are included within the consolidated financial statements:

	Activity	Percentage of share capital	Country of incorporation
Mineral Products Limited	Share dealing	100%	England and Wales
Black Wattle Colliery (pty) Limited	Coal mining	62.5%	South Africa
Bisichi Coal Mining (pty) Limited	Coal mining	100%	South Africa
Bisichi Mining (Exploration) Limited	Holding company	100%	England and Wales
Ninghi Marketing Limited	Dormant	90.1%	England and Wales

Details on the non-controlling interest in subsidiaries are shown under note 26.

15. Inventories

  

		2010 £’000	2009£’000
Coal
Washed		540	1,048
Run of mine		122	57
Other		43	34
		705	1,139

 

 

16. Trade and other receivables

 

		2010 £’000	2009 £’000
Amounts falling due within one year:
Trade receivables		3,791	1,875
Other receivables		112	98
Prepayments and accrued income		816	87
		4,719	2,060

 

17. Held for trading investments

 

		2010 £’000	2009 £’000
Market value of Listed Investments:
Listed in Great Britain		522	448
Listed outside Great Britain		83	62
		605	510
Original cost of Listed Investments		458	452
Unrealised surplus of market value over cost		147	58

 

18. Trade and other payables

		2010 £’000	2009 £’000
Trade payables		3,604	1,004
Amounts owed to joint ventures		1,205	1,165
Other payables		687	569
Accruals and deferred income		2,369	2,833
		7,865	5,571

 

19. Financial liabilities – borrowings

 

		Current		Non-current
	2010 £’000	2009£’000	2010 £’000	2009£’000
Bank overdraft (secured)	1,422	1,532	–	–
Bank loan (secured)	337	3,061	5,326	533
	1,759	4,593	5,326	533
			2010 £’000	2009 £’000
Bank overdraft and loan instalments by reference to the balance sheet date:
Within one year			1,759	4,593
From one to two years			5,326	533
From two to five years			–	–
			7,085	5,126
Bank overdraft and loan analysis by origin:
United Kingdom			5,000	2,700
Southern Africa			2,086	2,426
			7,085	5,126

 

The United Kingdom bank loans and overdraft are secured by way of a first charge over the investment properties in the UK which are included in the financial statements at a value of £12,100,000. The South African bank loans are secured by way of a first charge over specific pieces of mining equipment and the debtors of the relevant company which holds the loan which are include in the financial statements at a value of £6,507,000.

Consistent with others in the mining and property industry, the group monitors its capital by its gearing levels. This is calculated as the net debt (loans less cash and cash equivalents) as a percentage of the equity. During 2010 this increased to 9.4% (2009: nil) which was calculated as follows:

			2010 £’000	2009£’000
Total debt			7,085	5,126
Less cash and cash equivalents			(5,399)	(6,609)
Net debt			1,686	(1,483)
Total equity			17,954	19,300
Gearing			9.4%	–

  

20. Provision for rehabilitation 

				2010 £’000	2009£’000
As at 1 January			772		571
Additions				253	201
As at 31 December				1,025	772

21. Financial instruments 

Treasury policy
The group enters into derivative transactions such as interest rate swaps and forward exchange contracts as necessary in order to help manage the financial risks arising from the group’s activities. The main risks arising from the group’s financing structure are interest rate risk, liquidity risk, market risk, credit risk, currency risk and commodity price risk. There have been no changes during the year of the main risks arising from the groups finance structure. The policies for managing each of these risks and the principal effects of these policies on the results are summarised below.

Interest rate risk

Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of a financial instrument or cashflows associated with the instrument will fluctuate due to changes in market interest rates. Interest rate risk arises from interest bearing financial assets and liabilities that the group uses. Treasury activities take place under procedures and policies approved and monitored by the Board to minimise the financial risk faced by the group. Interest bearing assets comprise cash and cash equivalents which are considered to be short-term liquid assets and loans to joint ventures. Interest bearing borrowings comprise bank loans, bank overdrafts and variable rate finance lease obligations. The rates of interest vary based on LIBOR in the UK and PRIME in South Africa.

As at 31 December 2010, with other variables unchanged, a 1% increase or decrease in interest rates, on investments and borrowings whose interest rates are not fixed, would respectively decrease or increase the profit for the year by £27,000 (2009: £14,000). The effect on equity of this change would be an equivalent decrease or increase for the year of £27,000 (2009: £14,000).

Liquidity risk

The group’s policy is to minimise refinancing risk. Efficient treasury management and strict credit control minimise the costs and risks associated with this policy which ensures that funds are available to meet commitments as they fall due. As at year end the group held borrowing facilities in the UK in Bisichi Mining Plc and in South Africa in Black Wattle Colliery (Pty) Ltd. The company was within its bank borrowing facilities and had not breached any of its covenants. New borrowings were signed in March 2010 in both the UK and South Africa. Further details are provided in borrowing facilities information later in this note. Trade and other payables are all due within one year.

The table below shows the currency profiles of cash and cash equivalents:

			2010 £’000	2009 £’000
Sterling			3,710	2,904
South African Rand			1,689	3,705
			5,399	6,609

Cash and cash equivalents earn interest at rates based on LIBOR in Sterling and Prime in Rand.

Market risk
The group is exposed to market price risk through interest rate and currency fluctuations and commodity price risk. 

Credit risk

The group is exposed to credit risk on its cash and cash equivalents and trade and other receivables as per the balance sheet. At the balance sheet date there was no significant concentration of credit risk. The maximum exposure to credit risk is represented by the carrying amount of each financial asset in the balance sheet which at year end amounted to £9,302,000 (2009: £8,582,000).

Trade debtor’s credit ratings are reviewed regularly. The group only deposits surplus cash with well-established financial institutions of high quality credit standing. As at year end the amount of material receivables held past due date was £nil (2009: £nil).

Financial assets maturity

On 31 December 2010, cash at bank and in hand amounted to £5,399,000 (2009: £6,609,000) which is invested in short term bank deposits maturing within one year bearing interest at the bank’s variable rates. Cash and cash equivalents all have a maturity of less than 3 months. 

Total financial assets and liabilities

The group’s financial assets and liabilities are as follows, representing both the fair value and the carrying value:                                       

			Loans and receivables £’000	Financial Liabilities measured at amortised cost £’000	Assets at fair value through profit and loss   £’000	2010 £’000	2009£’000
Cash and cash equivalents			5,399	–	–	5,399	6,609
Investments held for trading			–	–	605	605	510
Other Investments			–	–	150	150	496
Trade and other receivables			3,903	–	–	3,903	1,973
Bank Borrowings			–	(7,085)	–	(7,085)	(5,126)
Finance leases			–	(233)	–	(233)	(246)
Other Liabilities			–	(7,677)	–	(7,677)	(5,403)
			9,302	(14,995)	755	(4,938)	(1,187)

Investments held for trading fall under level 1 of the fair value hierarchy into which fair value measurements are recognised in accordance with the levels set out in IFRS 7. Other investments are held at cost. The directors are of the opinion that the difference in value between cost and fair value of other investments is not significant or material. The comparative figures for 2009 fall under the same category of financial instrument as 2010.

Borrowing facilities

The group has signed new borrowing facilities in both its UK and South African operations.

In the UK, a term loan facility of £5million and an overdraft facility of £2million were signed by Bisichi Mining Plc in March 2010 with Royal Bank of Scotland. This facility will expire in December 2012 and is secured against the group’s UK retail property portfolio.

In South Africa, a structured trade finance facility of R60million (South African Rand) was signed by Black Wattle Colliery (pty) Limited in March 2010 with Absa Bank Limited, a South African subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC. The facility is renewed annually and is secured against inventory, debtors and cash that are held by Black Wattle Colliery (pty) Limited. This facility comprises of a R40million revolving loan to cover the working capital requirements of the group’s South African operations, and a R20million loan facility to cover guarantee requirements related to the group’s South African mining operations.

At 31 December 2010 the group was within its bank borrowing facilities and had not breached any of its covenants. Term loan repayments are as set out in Note 19. Details of other financial liabilities are shown in notes 18 and 19.

Commodity price risk

Commodity price risk is the risk that the group’s future earnings will be adversely impacted by changes in the market
of commodities. The group is exposed to commodity price risk as its future revenues will be derived based on a contract with a physical off-take partner at prices that will be determined by reference to market prices of coal at the delivery date.

From time to time the group may manage its exposure to commodity price risk by entering into forward sales contracts with the goal of preserving future revenue streams.

Foreign exchange risk

All trading is undertaken in the local currencies. Funding is also in local currencies other than inter-company investments
and loans and it is not the group’s policy to obtain forward contracts to mitigate foreign exchange risk on these amounts.

As a result of the group’s mining assets being held in South Africa and having a functional currency different than the presentation currency, the group balance sheet can be affected significantly by movements in the pounds sterling to the South African Rand. During 2009 and 2010 the group did not hedge its exposure of foreign investments held in foreign currencies. There is no significant impact on profit and loss from foreign currency movements associated with these South African subsidiary assets and liabilities as the effect of foreign currency gains or losses arising are recorded through the translation reserve.

The effect of a movement in foreign currencies on the income statement and equity of the group is shown in the sensitivity analysis below:

	Profit and loss 2010 £’000	2009 £’000	Equity 2010 £’000	Equity 2009 £’000
If there were a 10% weakening of the South African Rand against
Sterling with all other variables held constant – (decrease)	(136)	(185)	(573)	(598)
If there were a 10% strengthening of the South African Rand against
Sterling with all other variables held constant – increase	181	211	701	731

 

22. Deferred taxation

			2010 £’000	2009 £’000
Balance at 1 January			2,985	2,625
Recognised in income			(885)	127
Exchange adjustment			240	233
			2,340	2,985
The deferred tax balance comprises the following:
Revaluation of properties			1,229	1,216
Capital allowances			552	1,969
Short-term timing differences			559	(200)
			2,340	2,985

 

23. Share capital

				2010 £’000	2009 £’000
Authorised: 13,000,000 ordinary shares of 10p each				1,300	1,300
Allotted and fully paid: 10,451,506 ordinary shares				1,045	1,045

 

24. Other reserves

			2010 £’000	2009 £’000
Equity share options			399	394
Net premium on share capital in joint venture			86	86
			485	480

 

25. Share based payments

Details of the share option scheme are shown in the Directors’ remuneration report on page 24 and 25 under the heading Share option schemes which is within the audited part of this report. Further details of the share option schemes are set out below.
The Bisichi Mining PLC Unapproved Option Schemes:

Year of grant	Subscription price per share	Period within which options exercisable	Number of share for which options outstanding at 31 December 2009	Number of share options issued/ (cancelled) during year	Number of share for which options outstanding at 31 December 2010
2002	34.0p	Sep 2005 – Sep 2012	313,000	–	313,000
2004	149.0p	Sep 2007 – Sep 2014	80,000	–	80,000
2006	237.5p	Oct 2009 – Oct 2016	325,000	–	325,000
2010	202.5p	Aug 2013 – Aug 2020	–	80,000	80,000

The exercise of options under the Unapproved Share Option Schemes is subject to the satisfaction of objective performance conditions specified by the remuneration committee, which will conform to institutional shareholder guidelines and best practice provisions in force from time to time. The remuneration committee has not yet set these guidelines for the first scheme and the 2006 scheme. The performance conditions for the 2004 and 2010 scheme, agreed by members on 23 June 2005 and 31 August 2010 respectively, requires growth in net assets over a three year period to exceed the growth of the retail prices index by a scale of percentages.

The 2010 options were valued at £45,000 at date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton model with the following assumptions:

Expected volatility     62.80%

Expected life             4.00 Years

Risk free rate              1.44%

Expected dividends   1.95%

Expected volatility was determined by reference to the historical volatility of the share price over a period commensurate with the option’s expected life. The expected life used in the model is based on the risk-averse balance likely to be
required by the option holders.

	2010 Number	2010 Weighted average Exercise price	2009 Number	2009 Weighted average Exercise price
Outstanding at 1 January	718,000	138.9p	1,113,000	164.4p
Granted / (cancelled) during year	80,000	202.5p	(395,000)	210.6p
Outstanding at 31 December	798,000	145.2p	718,000	138.9p
Exercisable at 31 December	718,000	138.9p	718,000	138.9p

 

26. Non-controlling Interest

	2010 £’000	2009 £’000
As at 1 January	–	–
Issue of shares in subsidiary	474	–
Share of loss for the year	(74)	–
Exchange adjustment	(6)
As at 31 December	394	–

 The issue of shares in subsidiary relates to the disposal of a 37.5% shareholding in Black Wattle Colliery (pty) Ltd. The total issued share capital in Black Wattle Colliery (pty) Ltd has been increased from 136 shares to 1000 shares at par of R1 (South African Rand) through the following shares issue:

• * a subscription for 489 ordinary shares at par by Bisichi Mining (Exploration) Limited increasing the number of shares   held from 136 ordinary shares to a total of 675 ordinary shares;
• * a subscription for 110 ordinary shares at par by Vunani Mining (pty) Ltd;
• * a subscription for 265 “A” shares at par by Vunani Mining (pty) Ltd

Bisichi Mining (Exploration) Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bisichi Mining PLC incorporated in England and Wales.

Vunani Mining (pty) Ltd is a South African Black Economic Empowerment company and minority shareholder in Black Wattle Colliery (pty) Ltd.

The “A” shares will rank pari passu with the ordinary shares save that they will have no dividend rights until such time as the dividends paid by Black Wattle Colliery (pty) Ltd on the ordinary shares subsequent to 30 October 2008 will equate to R832,075,000.

A non-controlling interest of 15% in Black Wattle Colliery (pty) Ltd is recognised for all profits distributable to the 110 ordinary shares held by Vunani Mining (pty) Ltd from the date of issue of the shares (18 October 2010). An additional non-controlling interest will be recognised for all profits distributable to the 265 “A” shares held by Vunani Mining (pty) Ltd after such time as the profits available for distribution, in Black Wattle Colliery (pty) Ltd, before any payment of dividends after 30 October 2008, exceeds R832,075,000.

27. Related Party Transactions

		At 31 December		During the year
	Amounts owed to related party £000	Amounts owed by related party £000	Costs recharged (to) / by related party £000	Cash paid (to) / by related party £000
Related party:
London & Associated Properties PLC (note (a))	326	–	275	(92)
Dragon Retail Properties Limited (note (b))	1,205	–	(72)	72
Ezimbokodweni Mining (pty) Limited (note (c))	–	(1,203)	(287)	–
As at 31 December 2010	1,531	(1,203)	(84)	(20)
London & Associated Properties PLC (note (a))	143	–	300	(304)
Dragon Retail Properties Limited (note (b))	1,205	–	(40)	(265)
Ezimbokodweni Mining (pty) Limited (note (c))	–	(916)	(208)	–
As at 31 December 2009	1,348	(916)	52	(569)

London & Associated Properties PLC is a substantial shareholder.

Dragon Retail Properties Limited is a joint venture and is treated as a non-current asset investment.

Ezimbokodweni Mining (pty) Limited is a joint venture and is treated as a non-current asset investment.

(a) London & Associated Properties PLC
Property management, office premises, general management, accounting and administration services are provided for Bisichi Mining PLC and its UK subsidiaries.

(b) Dragon Retail Properties Limited

Dragon Retail Properties Limited is owned equally by the company and London & Associated Properties PLC.

(c) Ezimbokodweni Mining (pty) Limited

Ezimbokodweni Mining is a prospective coal production company based in South Africa.

Details of key management personnel compensation and interest in share options are shown in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 24 and 25 under the headings Directors’ remuneration, Pension schemes and incentives and Share option schemes which is within the audited part of this report.

28. Employees

	2010 Number	2009 Number
The average weekly numbers of employees of the group during the year were as follows:
Production	257	325
Administration	18	18
	275	343
	£’000	£’000
Staff costs during the year were as follows:
Salaries	5,666	6,462
Social security costs	111	129
Pension costs	254	253
Share based payments	5	(183)
	6,036	6,661

 

29. Capital commitments

	2010 £’000	2009 £’000
Commitments for capital expenditure approved but not contracted for at the year end	146	604
Share of commitment of capital expenditure in joint venture	2,451	2,101

 

30. Head lease commitments and future property lease rentals

Present value of head leases on properties

	2010 £’000	Minimum lease payments 2009£’000	2010 £’000	Present value of Minimum lease payments  lease payments 2009 £’000
Within one year	14	15	14	15
Second to fifth year	56	59	52	55
After five years	1,708	1,978	167	176
	1,778	2,052	233	246
Discounting adjustment	(1,545)	(1,806)	–	–
Present value	233	246	233	246

Finance lease liabilities are in respect of leased investment property. Many of the leases provide for contingent rents in addition to the rents above which are a proportion of rental income. Finance lease liabilities are effectively secured as the rights to the leased asset revert to the lessor in event of default.

The group leases out its investment properties under operating leases. The future aggregate minimum rentals receivable under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

	2010 £’000	2009 £’000
Within one year	805	727
Second to fifth year	2,707	2,384
After five years	10,650	9,910
	14,162	13,021

 

31. Contingent liabilities

Bank guarantees have been issued by the bankers of Black Wattle Colliery (pty) Limited on behalf of the company to third parties. The guarantees are secured against the assets of the company and have been issued in respect of the following:

	2010 £’000	2009 £’000
Rail siding	3	–
Rehabilitation of mining land	1,732	1,734
Water & electricity	90	78

827,425electricitiylitation partyof:

issued by 

Company Registration No. 112155

Company balance sheet
at 31 December 2009

		2010	2009
	Notes	£’000	£’000
Fixed assets
Tangible assets	33	12,138	11,925
Investment in joint ventures	34	846	846
Other investments	34	1,013	1,030
		13,997	13,801
Current assets
Debtors	35	2,794	654
Bank balances		4,841	3,960
		7,635	4,614
Creditors – amounts falling due within one year	36	(2,508)	(5,139)
Net current assets/(liabilities)		5,127	(525)
Total assets less current liabilities		19,124	13,276
Creditors – amounts falling due within one year – medium term bank loan	36	(5,000)	–
Net assets		14,124	13,276
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital	23	1,045	1,045
Revaluation reserve	38	6,183	5,938
Other reserves	38	400	395
Retained earnings	38	6,496	5,898
Shareholders’ funds		14,124	13,276

The company financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board of directors on 15 April 2011

and signed on its behalf by:

A R Heller                                   G J Casey

Director                                      Director

Company accounting policies
for the year ended 31 December 2010

The following are the main accounting policies of the company:

Accounting convention                                                                                                 

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of investment properties, and in accordance with applicable UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Dividends received

Dividends are credited to the profit and loss account when received.

Depreciation                                                                                                                  

Provision for depreciation on tangible fixed assets is made in equal annual instalments to write each item off over its useful life. The rates generally used are:

Motor vehicles   25 – 33 per cent

Office equipment   10 – 33 per cent

Foreign currencies                                                                                                       

Monetary assets and liabilities expressed in foreign currencies have been translated at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. All exchange differences are taken to the profit and loss account.

Investment properties                                                                                                  

The investment property portfolio is included in the financial statements at open market valuation. An external professional valuation is carried out annually by professional external surveyors. Surpluses and deficits arising on valuations are taken direct to the revaluation reserve. No depreciation or amortisation is provided in respect of freehold and leasehold investment properties. The directors consider that this accounting policy, which is not in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, results in the accounts giving a true and fair view. Depreciation or amortisation is only one of many factors reflected in the valuation and the amount which might otherwise have been shown cannot be separately identified or quantified.

Investments

Investments of the company are stated in the balance sheet as fixed assets at cost less provisions for impairment.

Financial Instruments

Bank loans and overdrafts

Bank loans and overdrafts are included in creditors on the company balance sheet net of the unamortised cost of financing.

Interest payable on those facilities is expensed as a finance cost in the period to which it relates.

Interest rate derivatives

The company uses derivative financial instruments to manage the interest rate risk associated with the financing of the group’s business. No trading in such financial instruments is undertaken.

Debtors

Debtors do not carry any interest and are stated at their nominal value as reduced by appropriate allowances for estimated recoverable amounts.

Creditors

Creditors are not interest bearing and are stated at their nominal value.

Joint Ventures

Investments in joint ventures, being those entities over whose activities the group has joint control as established by contractual agreement, are included at cost, less impairment.

 

Deferred taxation

As required by FRS 19 “Deferred Tax”, full provision is made for deferred tax arising from all timing differences between the recognition of gains and losses in the financial statements and recognition in the tax computation, except for those timing differences in respect of which the standard specifies that deferred tax should not be recognised. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are calculated at the tax rates expected to be effective at the time the timing differences are expected to reverse.

Leased Assets and Obligations

All leases are “Operating Leases” and the annual rentals are charged to the profit and loss account on a straight line basis over the lease term. Rent free periods or other incentives received for entering into a lease are accounted for over the period of the lease so as to spread the benefit received over the lease term.

Pensions

The company makes contributions to a money purchase scheme and the costs are charged to the profit and loss account in the period to which they relate.

Share based remuneration

Notes to the financial statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2010

32. Dividends

The aggregate amount of dividends comprises:

	2010 £’000	2009£’000
Final dividends in respect of prior year but not recognised as liabilities in that year:	418	366

The aggregate amount of dividends to be paid and not recognised as liabilities as at year end is £418,000 (2009: £418,000).

33. Tangible fixed assetsInvestment properties

	Freehold £’000	Long leasehold £’000	Motor vehicles £’000	Office Equipment £’000	Total £’000
Cost or valuation at 1 January 2010	8,865	3,000	137	49	12,051
Additions	–	–	–	2	2
Disposals	–	–	–	–	–
Revaluation	245	–	–	–	245
Cost or valuation at 31 December 2010	9,110	3,000	137	51	12,298
At valuation	9,110	3,000	–	–	12,110
At cost	–	–	137	51	188
	9,110	3,000	137	51	12,298
Accumulated depreciation at 1 January 2010	–	–	88	38	126
Charge for the year	–	–	29	5	34
Disposals in year	–	–	–	–	–
Accumulated depreciation at 31 December 2010	–	–	117	43	160
Net book value at 31 December 2010	9,110	3,000	20	8	12,138
Net book value at 31 December 2009	8,865	3,000	49	11	11,925

Details of historical cost of investment properties are shown in note 10.

34. Investments

Joint                       Subsidiaries                         Other
ventures                                                             investments

	Shares £’000	Shares £’000	Loans £’000	£’000	Total £’000
Cost at 1 January 2010	846	111	1,580	300	1,991
Invested during the year	–	250	–	–	250
Drawn in year	–	–	(267)	–	(267)
Cost at 31 December 2010	846	361	1,313	300	1,974
Provision for impairment
As at 1 January	–	–	(678)	(283)	(961)
Impaired during the year	–	–	–	–	–
As at 31 December 2010	–	–	(678)	(283)	(961)
Net book value at 31 December 2010	846	361	635	17	1,013
Net book value at 31 December 2009	846	111	902	17	1,030

Other investments comprise £17,000 (2009: £17,000) shares and £nil (2009: £nil) loans.

Investments in subsidiaries are detailed in note 14. In the opinion of the directors the aggregate value
of the investment in subsidiaries is not less than the amount shown in these financial statements.

35. Debtors

	2010 £’000	2009 £’000
Amounts falling due within one year:
Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings	2,578	527
Other debtors	110	96
Prepayments and accrued income	106	31
	2,794	654

 

36. Creditors

	2010 £’000	2009 £’000
Amounts falling due within one year:
Bank loan (secured)	–	2,700
Joint venture	1,205	1,165
Current taxation	292	–
Other taxation and social security	48	60
Other creditors	424	276
Accruals and deferred income	539	938
	2,508	5,139

 

Amounts falling due in more than one year:
Bank loan (secured)	5,000		–

Bank and other loan instalments by reference to the balance sheet date:

 

Within one year	–	2,700
From one to two years	5,000	–
From two to five years	–	–
	5,000	2,700

 The bank loan of the company is secured by a charge over freehold and long leasehold properties.

37. Provisions for liabilities

No provision has been made for the approximate taxation liability at 28% (2009: 28%) of £1,229,000 (2009: £1,216,000) which would arise if the investment properties were sold at the stated valuation.

 

38. Share Capital & Reserves

	Share Capital £’000	Revaluation reserve £’000	Other reserve £’000	Retained earnings £’000	Shareholders funds £’000
Balance at 1 January 2010	1,045	5,938	395	5,898	13,276
Dividend paid	–	–	–	(418)	(418)
Revaluation of investment property	–	245	–	–	245
Share options	–	–	5	–	5
Retained profit for the year	–	–	–	1,016	1,016
Balance at 31 December 2010	1,045	6,183	400	6,496	14,124

A profit and loss account for Bisichi Mining PLC has not been presented as permitted by Section 408(2) of the Companies Act 2006. The profit for the financial year, before dividends, was £1,016,000 (2009: £938,000).

Details of share capital are set out in note 23 and details of the share options are shown in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on page 25 under the heading Share option schemes which is within the audited part of this report and note 25.

39. Related party transactions

		At 31 December	During the year
		Amounts owed by related party £000	Costs recharged (to) / by related party £000	Cash paid (to) / by related party £000
Related party:
Black Wattle Colliery (pty) Ltd (note (a))		(2,776)	(2,501)	–
Ninghi Marketing Limited (note (b))		(102)	–	–
As at 31 December 2010		(2,878)	(2,501)	–
Black Wattle Colliery (pty) Ltd (note (a))		(739)	(1,443)	6,373
Ninghi Marketing Limited (note (b))		(102)	–	–
As at 31 December 2009		(841)	(1,443)	6,373

(a) Black Wattle Colliery (pty) Ltd
Black Wattle Colliery (pty) Ltd is a coal mining company based in South Africa.

(b) Ninghi Marketing Limited

Ninghi Marketing Limited is a dormant coal marketing company incorporated in England & Wales.

In addition to the above, the company has issued a company guarantee of R17,000,000 (2009: nil) (South African Rand) to the bankers of Black Wattle Colliery (pty) Ltd in order to cover bank guarantees issued to third parties in respect of the rehabilitation of mining land.

Under Financial Reporting Standard 8 Related Party Disclosures, the Company has taken advantage of the exemption from disclosing transactions with other wholly owned Group companies.

Details of other related party transactions are given in note 27 of the Group financial statements.