Company Announcements

Half-year Report

Source: RNS
RNS Number : 1092G
Goldstone Resources Ltd
30 September 2024
 

 

30 September 2024

 

GOLDSTONE RESOURCES LIMITED

("GoldStone" or the "Company")

Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2024

 

GoldStone Resources Limited (AIM: GRL), the AIM quoted gold exploration and development company focused on bringing the Homase Mine within its Akrokeri-Homase Gold Project ("AKHM") in Ghana into production, announces its unaudited interim results for the six-month period ended 30 June 2024 (the "Period").

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

Ramping up gold production at Homase Mine:

·    Produced 1,333.81 ounces of gold in H1 2024.

·    Significant infrastructure upgrades have enhanced long-term capacity.

·    Focus on delivering gold production target of 1,000 ounces of doré a month from January 2025.

 

Continued to strengthen position in H1 2024:

·    Recovery supported by additional funding and the deferral of a secured gold loan repayment to December 2025 and a successful fundraising initiative.

·    Board strengthened with the appointment of Campbell Smyth, who brings over 30 years of experience in fund management, capital markets, and corporate finance.

·    Ramp-up in production comes at an opportune time as the gold market continues to show resilience and strength.

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S STATEMENT

 

I am pleased to report that GoldStone has made significant progress in advancing its gold projects in Ghana, which span the full development spectrum from exploration to production.

 

Our primary focus remains the production from, and exploration of, the Homase Mine, located within the highly promising Ashanti Gold Belt.  While 2023 brought its challenges, particularly in meeting production targets, we have emerged in 2024 in a much stronger position. This recovery has been supported by the deferral of our secured gold loan repayment to December 2025 and a successful fundraising initiative.

 

At the producing Homase Mine, significant infrastructure upgrades have been implemented, enhancing the mine's long-term capacity. Accordingly, I am pleased to report that H1 2024, we produced 1,333.81 ounces of gold (2023: 124.80).   Post period end, the Company has continued to produce approximately 250 troy ounces per month, with latest full month production in August 2024 being 236 ounces of doré.

 

Our optimisation strategy at Homase continues to progress well as we look to deliver 48,000 tonnes of stacked and agglomerated ore by the end of the year. The Company is currently stacking some 150tph on a single 12 hour shift , and towards the end of 2024, will be running two shifts, for a 24 hour operation, as we build up to 48,000 tpcm, which is expected to facilitate production of approximately 1,000 oz doré per month from the beginning of 2025, based on the current recovery rate of 68% and at a stacked grade of 1g/t. 

 

The strategy also includes the development of additional heap leach pads, which are on track and within budget; Pad 5 was completed post period end, and earthworks for Pads 6 and 7 are underway.

 

A key pillar of the Company's strategy is to add additional gold resources to our portfolio. In line with this, we will continue exploration efforts along the Homase Trend, that will include core infill drilling to explore the deeper ore zones of Homase, and further explore the parallel zones that have been identified within the mining lease as announced on 8 July 2024. The Company does plan for further exploration programmes within the prospecting licences of Akrokeri and Homase, which enclose the Homase Mine, that includes the recent consolidation and review of all the historical data, at the former Akrokeri Underground Mine and its surrounding areas and develop other underexplored areas that hold potential for further mineral discoveries.

 

During the period, Bill Trew stepped down from the Board and Campbell Smyth has joined as a Non-Executive Director. Campbell brings over 30 years of experience in fund management, capital markets, and corporate finance, particularly within the venture capital and resource sectors.

 

Looking ahead, we are optimistic about GoldStone's growth prospects in the years to come as we improve both production and exploration at the Akrokeri-Homase project and unlock its full potential. Notably, our production ramp-up aligns with a gold market that continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience and strength, supported by diverse factors driving its long-term success.

 

The Board would like to thank shareholders for their continued support as we work towards fully realising the value of our assets and delivering long-term shareholder returns.

 

Emma K Priestley

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

For further information, please visit www.goldstoneresources.com or contact:

 

GoldStone Resources Limited

Emma Priestley

 

Tel: +44 (0)1534 487 757

 

Strand Hanson Limited

James Dance / James Bellman

 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7409 3494

 

S. P. Angel Corporate Finance LLP

Ewan Leggat / Charlie Bouverat

 

Tel: +44 (0)20 3470 0501

 

St Brides Partners Ltd

Susie Geliher

 

goldstone@stbridespartners.co.uk



 

Consolidated statement of financial position

as at 30 June 2024

 

 

in united states dollars

 

notes

30 June

2024

30 June

2023

31 December

2023



unaudited

unaudited

audited

Assets





property, plant and equipment

6

17,696,604

19,466,506

19,429,551

total non-current assets

 

17,696,604

19,466,506

19,429,551

 





inventory


1,385,096

167,246

2,189,375

trade and other receivables


477,817

774,968

407,455

cash and cash equivalents


788,802

265,092

121,432

total current assets

 

2,651,715

1,207,306

2,718,262

 

total assets

 

20,348,319

20,673,812

22,147,813

 

Equity





share capital - ordinary shares


8,774,897

6,865,393

6,865,393

share capital - deferred shares


6,077,013

6,077,013

6,077,013

share premium


35,218,946

35,218,946

35,218,946

foreign exchange reserve


(8,318,013)

(6,488,757)

(6,910,817)

capital contribution reserve


555,110

555,110

555,110

accumulated deficit


(34,998,642)

(33,608,471)

(32,584,552)

total equity

 

7,309,311

8,619,234

9,221,093

 

Liabilities





provision for rehabilitation


1,178,158

821,622

821,622

non-current liabilities

 

1,178,158

821,622

821,622

trade and other payables


2,992,523

3,882,359

3,972,329

borrowings

7

8,868,327

7,350,597

8,132,769

current liabilities

 

11,860,850

11,232,956

12,105,098

total liabilities

 

13,039,008

12,054,578

12,926,720

total equity and liabilities

 

20,348,319

20,673,812

22,147,813

 



 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

for the 6 months ended 30 June 2024

 

 

 

in united states dollars

 

 

notes

6 months ended

30 June 2024

6 months ended

30 June 2023

year ended

31 December

2023



unaudited

unaudited

audited

continuing operations





revenue


2,606,521

245,425

2,197,660

cost of sales


(1,346,181)

(1,521,157)

(936,480)

gross profit


1,260,340

(1,275,732)

1,261,180






expenses


(2,267,398)

(1,829,101)

(2,559,369)

operating loss

 

(1,007,058)

(3,104,833)

(1,298,189)


 




finance expense

 

(1,407,032)

(606,416)

(1,389,141)

loss before and after tax from continuing operations

5

(2,414,090)

(3,711,249)

(2,687,330)

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss:

foreign exchange translation movement

 

 

 

(1,407,196)

 

 

(558,703)

(980,763)






total comprehensive loss for the period

 

(3,821,286)

(4,269,952)

(3,668,093)

loss per share from operations





basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to the equity holders of the company during the period (expressed in cent per share)

4

(0.005)

(0.010)

(0.005)

 

 


Consolidated statement of changes in equity

for the 6 months ended 30 June 2024

 

in united states dollars

share capital

ordinary shares

share capital

deferred shares

share premium

foreign exchange reserve

capital contribution reserve

accumulated deficit

total equity

 

 







balance as at 1 January 2023

6,836,778

6,077,013

35,143,117

(5,930,054)

555,110

(29,897,222)

12,784,742

total loss for the period

 -

-

-

-

-

(3,711,249)

(3,711,249)

translation movement

-

-

-

(558,703)

-

-

(558,703)

share issue in period

28,615

-

75,829

-

-

-

104,444

balance as at 30 June 2023

6,865,393

6,077,013

35,218,946

(6,488,757)

555,110

(33,608,471)

8,619,234

total gain for the period

-

-

-

-

-

1,023,919

1,023,919

translation movement

-

-

-

(422,060)

-

-

(422,060)

share issue in period

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

balance as at 31 December 2023

6,865,393

6,077,013

35,218,946

(6,910,817)

555,110

(32,584,552)

9,221,093

total loss for the period

 -

-

-

-

-

(2,414,090)

(2,414,090)

translation movement

-

-

-

(1,407,196)

-

-

(1,407,196)

share issue in period

1,909,504

-

-

-

-

-

1,909,504

balance as at 30 June 2024

8,774,897

6,077,013

35,218,946

(8,318,013)

555,110

(34,998,642)

7,309,311

 


Consolidated statement of cash flow

for the 6 months ended 30 June 2024

 

 

 

in united states dollars

6 months ended

30 June

2024

6 months

ended

30 June

2023

year ended

31 December

2023


unaudited

unaudited

audited

cash flow from operating activities




operating loss for the period/year

(2,414,090)

(3,711,249)

(2,687,330)

adjusted for:




-     finance costs

1,407,032

606,417

1,389,141

-     depreciation

182,912

100,137

288,653

-     gold loan settlement

(671,474)

-

(10,529)

-     director and senior management fees

-

104,444

104,444

-     foreign exchange differences

202,931

465,554

452,145

      -      changes in working capital

110,647

267,662

(1,287,006)

net cash generated (used in)/by operating activities

(1,182,042)

(2,167,035)

(1,750,482)

 




cash flow from investing activities




acquisition of property, plant and equipment

(65,567)

(623,313)

(1,183,526)

disposals of property, plant and equipment

5,475

-

-

net cash used in investing activities

(60,092)

(623,313)

(1,183,526)





cash flow from financing activities




proceeds from loan notes

-

2,942,128

2,942,128

proceeds from share issue

1,909,504

-

-

net cash received from financing activities

1,909,504

2,942,128

2,942,128

 

 

 


net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

667,370

151,780

8,120

cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period/year

121,432

113,312

113,312

cash and cash equivalents at end of the period/year

788,802

265,092

121,432

 



 

Notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statement

 

1.          General information

 

The financial statements present the consolidated results of the Company and its subsidiaries (the "Group") for each of the periods ending 30 June 2024, 30 June 2023 and 31 December 2023.

 

As permitted, the Group has chosen not to adopt International Accounting Standard 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' in preparing these interim financial statements.  The condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023, which have been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards.

 

The unaudited interim financial information set out above does not constitute statutory accounts. The information has been prepared on a going concern basis in accordance with the recognition and measurement criteria of UK-adopted International Accounting Standards. Except as described below, the accounting policies applied in preparing the interim financial information are consistent with those that have been adopted in the Group's 2023 audited financial statements. Statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 were approved by the Board of Directors on 28th June 2024 and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors on those financial statements was unqualified. The Directors approved these unaudited condensed interim financial statements on 28th June 2024.

 

There are no IFRSs or IFRIC interpretations that are effective for the first time for the financial year commencing 1 January 2024 that would be expected to have a material impact on the Group.

 

The financial information for the 6 months ended 30 June 2024 and the 6 months ended 30 June 2023 have not been audited.

 

The business is not subject to seasonal variations. No dividends have been paid in the period (2023: US$ Nil).

 

2.          Risks and uncertainties

 

The key risks that could affect the Group's short and medium term performance and the factors that mitigate those risks have not substantially changed from those set out in the Group's 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements, a copy of which is available on the Company's website: www.goldstoneresources.com.The Group's key financial risks are the availability of adequate funding and foreign exchange movements.

 

3.          Critical accounting estimates and judgements

 

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the end of the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates are set out in note 2(d) of the Group's 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements. The nature and amounts of such estimates have not changed significantly during the interim period. The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the measurement of certain investments at fair value.



 

4.          Earnings per share

 

 

in united states dollars

6 months ended

30 June

2024

6 months ended

30 June

2023

year ended

31 December

2023


unaudited

unaudited

audited

loss attributable to shareholders (in USD)

 

(2,414,090)

 

(3,711,249)

 

(2,687,330)

weighted average number of ordinary shares

524,811,666

368,618,154

498,744,043

basic and diluted earnings per share (in USD)

(0.005)

(0.010)

(0.005)

 

5.          Operating segments

 

The Group has two reportable segments, exploration and corporate, which are the Group's strategic divisions. For each of the strategic divisions, the Group's CEO, deemed to be the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM"), reviews internal management reports on at least a monthly basis.  The results are then subsequently shared with the Board.  The Group's reportable segments are:

 

Exploration, Evaluation and production: the exploration operating segment is presented as an aggregation of the Homase and Akrokeri licences (Ghana).  Expenditure on exploration activities for each licence is used to measure agreed upon expenditure targets for each licence to ensure the licence clauses are met.

 

Corporate: the corporate segment includes the holding company costs in respect of managing the Group. There are varying levels of integration between the corporate segment and the combined exploration activities, which include resources spent and accounted for as corporate expenses that relate to furthering the exploration activities of individual licences.

 

information about reportable segments for the year ended 31 December 2023

reportable segment revenue

 

2,197,660

 

 

-


2,197,660

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reportable segment cost of sales

 

(936,480)

 

 

-

 

(936,480)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reportable segment expenditure

 

(1,543,271)

 

 

(2,405,239)

 

(3,948,510)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reportable segment loss

 

(282,091)

 

 

(2,405,239)

 

(2,687,330)

reportable segment non-current assets


19,429,551

 

 

-

 

19,429,551









reportable segment liabilities

 

(4,387,551)

 

 

(8,539,169)

 

(12,926,720)

 

 



 

 

information about reportable segments for the period ended 30 June 2023

in united states dollars

 

exploration

 

corporate

 

total

 

 

 

 

 



reportable segment revenue

 

245,425

 

-

 

245,425

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reportable segment cost of sales

 

(1,521,157)

 

-

 

(1,521,157)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reportable segment expenditure

 

(1,026,325)

 

(1,409,192)

 

(2,435,517)







 

reportable segment loss

 

(2,302,057)

 

(1,409,192)

 

(3,711,249)








reportable segment non-current assets

 

19,466,506

 

-

 

19,466,506

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reportable segment assets

 

983,706

 

223,600

 

1,207,306

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reportable segment liabilities

 

(4,385,246)

 

(7,669,332)

 

(12,054,578)

 

 

information about reportable segments for the period ended 30 June 2024

in united states dollars

 

exploration

 

corporate

 

total

 

 

 

 

 



reportable segment revenue

 

2,606,521

 

-

 

2,606,521

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reportable segment cost of sales

 

(1,346,181)

 

-

 

(1,346,181)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reportable segment expenditure

 

(1,233,449)

 

(2,440,981)

 

(3,674,430)







 

reportable segment profit / (loss)

 

26,891

 

(2,440,981)

 

(2,414,090)








reportable segment non-current assets

 

17,696,604

 

-

 

17,696,604

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reportable segment assets

 

2,175,523

 

476,192

 

2,651,715

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reportable segment liabilities

 

(6,716,086)

 

(6,322,922)

 

(13,039,008)

 

 

 



 

6.          Property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

 

in united states dollars

 

 

gold samples

plant and equipment and motor vehicles

 

 

producing mines

total

Cost

 

 

 




1 January 2023



4,570

1,413,438

19,170,297

20,588,305

additions

disposals

exchange movement



-

-

-

765,205

(107,580)

(76,301)

418,321

-

(1,356,608)

1,183,526

(107,580)

(1,432,909)

31 December 2023



4,570

1,994,762

18,232,010

20,231,342

additions

disposals

exchange movement



-

-

-

64,232

(6,817)

(164,920)

1,335

-

(1,445,207)

65,567

(6,817)

(1,610,127)

31 June 2024

 

 

4,570

1,887,257

16,788,138

18,679,965

 

 

 

 

 

in united states dollars

 

 

gold samples

plant and equipment and motor vehicles

 

 

producing mine

Total

Depreciation

 

 

 




1 January 2023



-

478,118

142,600

620,718

charge for the year

eliminated



-

273,131

(107,580)

15,522

-

288,653

(107,580)

31 December 2023



-

643,669

158,122

801,791

charge for the period

eliminated



-

-

182,912

(1,342)

-

-

182,912

(1,342)

31 June 2024

 

 

-

825,239

158,122

983,361

 

Net Book Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

31 December 2023



4,570

1,351,093

18,073,888

19,429,551

31 June 2024

 

 

4,570

1,062,018

16,630,016

17,696,604

 



 

 

7.          Borrowings

 

 

in united states dollars

6 months ended

30 June

2024

6 months ended

30 June

2023

year ended

31 December

2023


unaudited

unaudited

audited

shareholder loan

-

-

-

gold loan

3,399,853

3,128,766

3,399,853

derivative

2,299,319

1,279,703

1,563,761

loan notes

3,169,155

2,942,128

3,169,155

current borrowings

8,868,327

7,350,597

8,132,769

total borrowings

8,868,327

7,350,597

8,132,769

 

 

Gold Loan

 

The Company entered into a loan agreement with Asian Investment Management Services Limited ("AIMSL") in June 2020, for a gold loan of up to 2,000 troy ounces of gold at a price of US$1,500 per troy ounce, equating to a value of US$3.0 million before expenses. There have been approved extensions to the Gold Loan, which have culminated in a Standstill Agreement, announced on 3 January 2024, with AIMSL who provided the Company with the potential to defer repayment of the gold loan until 29 June 2024, this has subsequently been extended to 31 December 2025. 

The outstanding principal of the Gold Loan stands at 1,871.31oz at 30 June 2024, with accrued interest of 440 oz.

As part of the fundraise, in 23 May 2024, AIMSL agreed to convert and settle the interest accrued to 31 December 2023 by the issue of Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company (the "Conversion Shares"), 52,800,000 Conversion Shares were allotted, representing approximately 300 oz of the 578.4 oz of gold interest accrued on the Gold Loan to 31 December 2023.  This is in order to ensure AIMSL's interest in the Company remains below 30% of the Company's issued share capital on Admission. The balance of the Conversion Shares will be issued to AIMSL in due course on the same terms at such time as this can be achieved without increasing AIMSL's interest in the Company's Ordinary Shares above 30%.

 

Loan Note

 

On 27 January 2023 the parent Company, Goldstone Resources Limited ("GRL"), issued convertible loan notes to Blue Gold International Limited, ("BGL") in the nominal amount of £2,400,000 (the "Loan Notes") which are due for redemption on 30 November 2024.  At the election of BGL, the Loan Notes (together with accrued interest to date) may be converted (in whole or in part) at any time prior to redemption into new ordinary shares of 1 penny each in the capital of the Company Ordinary Shares at a conversion price of £0.0325 per share.  BGL also received warrants to subscribe for up to 60,000,000 Ordinary Shares at a price of £0.04 per share exercisable at any time until 26 January 2025.

 

8.          Post Period End

 

The Company received funds in respect of its subscription to raise total gross proceeds of £600,000, and accordingly, issued 57,142,857 subscription shares.  The net proceeds of the fundraising will be used to advance development at the Homase Mine in Ghana and towards delivering the planned 50,000 tonnes of stacked and agglomerated ore, in able to achieve the Group's gold-production target of 1,000oz per calendar month from January 2025, and for general working capital purposes.

 

9.          Availability of interim report

The interim report is available on the Company's website www.goldstoneresources.com.

 

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