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Alba Mineral Resources plc

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FY2018 Annual Report · Alba Mineral Resources plc
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Company No. 5285814 

Alba Mineral Resources plc 

REPORT AND CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2018 

    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CONTENTS 

Officers and professional advisers 

Chairman’s Statement 

Strategic Report 

Directors’ Report 

Directors’ Responsibilities Statement 

Corporate Governance Statement 

Independent Auditor’s Report 

Consolidated Income Statement  

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 

Company Statement of Financial Position 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 

Company Statement of Changes in Equity 

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 

Company Cash Flow Statement   

Notes to the Financial Statements 

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Alba Mineral Resources plc 

OFFICERS AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS 

DIRECTORS  
George Frangeskides (Chairman) 
Michael Nott 
Manuel Lamboley 

SECRETARY 
Ben Harber 

REGISTERED OFFICE 
6th Floor 
60 Gracechurch St 
London EC3V 0HR 

NOMINATED ADVISERS 
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP 
Cheyne House, Crown Court 
62-63 Cheapside 
London EC2V 6AX 

BROKERS 
First Equity Limited 
Salisbury House 
London Wall 
London EC2M 5QQ 

AUDITOR 
Nexia Smith & Williamson 
Statutory Auditor  
Chartered Accountants 
25 Moorgate 
London EC2R 6AY 

SOLICITORS 
Memery Crystal 
165 Fleet Street 
London EC4A 2DY 

PRINCIPAL BANKERS 
Allied Irish Bank (GB) 
Berkeley Square House 
4-19 Berkeley Square 
London W1J 6BR 

REGISTRARS 
Share Registrars Limited 
Suite E, First Floor 
9 Lion and Lamb Yard 
Farnham 
Surrey GU9 7LL 

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Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT 

The Board of Alba Mineral Resources plc is pleased to report the results for the year ended 30 November 2018.   

References to the “Company” or “Alba” are to Alba Mineral Resources plc and references to the “Group” are to 
Alba collectively with its Subsidiary Companies (as listed in note 11).   

INTRODUCTION 

This  year  has  seen  a  period  of  sustained  and  successful  work  across  our  mining  projects  and  oil  and  gas 
investments, as we seek to push our assets further up the value curve.   In the summer of 2018 we embarked on 
an extensive programme of field work in north-west Greenland, at our Thule Black Sands (“TBS”) and Inglefield 
Projects.  At Clogau, in north Wales, we kicked off a regional exploration programme, the first of its kind in the 
long history of the Dolgellau Gold Belt.  And we decided to renew our licence at our Limerick Base Metals Project, 
following a fresh look at the historical data and geology which had pointed up a number of interesting drill targets. 

The summer of 2018 also saw the start of the extended well test programme at Horse Hill.  The testing programme 
has been a success, not least given the fact that, as I write, it is still ongoing.  The test production programme has 
been extended for several months longer than was originally planned when we commenced the programme last 
June, and this is testimony to how successful the programme has been in consistently delivering stable rates of 
production from both the Portland sandstone and the Kimmeridge limestones.   

I set out below my thoughts on the outlook for Alba in the year ahead, followed by a detailed review of activities. 

OUTLOOK 

This coming year we expect to hit key milestones on our projects, not least: 

  at TBS, where we expect to release the results of the maiden mineral resource assessment this quarter; 

  at Amitsoq, where we intend to undertake a drilling campaign this summer with the objective of confirming 
graphite zones and potentially defining a maiden mineral resource estimate at our exceptionally high-grade 
graphite deposit; 

  at our Limerick base metals project, where we expect to be drilling within the next month; and 

  at Clogau, where we intend to complete the exploration of the high-priority gold targets running the length 
of the Dolgellau Gold Belt, and at the same time to make substantial progress towards submitting a full-scale 
planning application to re-open the Clogau-St David’s Mine. 

In respect of the outlook for our oil and gas investments in the Weald Basin, while we are not in a position to 
determine the design and execution of technical work at Horse Hill and Brockham, those decisions being in the 
hands of their respective operators, we continually track the progress of activities there and keep the value of 
our investments under review, including whether we should continue to fund those investments or instead seek 
to realise value from either a partial or total exit.   

The results of our work this year, when consolidated with the body of knowledge gained in prior years, will inform 
our decisions about where we should focus our efforts in moving one or more of our mining projects out of the 
exploration and into the development phase, to join Clogau-St David’s which is already a development asset.   As 
a diversified mineral exploration company, our modus operandi has always been to seek out exploration assets 
which have serious potential to become development and production assets.  In that respect, I expect the coming 
year to be a defining one for Alba. 

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Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT 

REVIEW OF MINING ACTIVITIES 

Clogau Gold Project (Wales, UK) 

In December 2017 we acquired a 49 per cent interest in Gold Mines of Wales Limited (“GMOW”), the ultimate 
owner of the Clogau Gold Project in north Wales (the “Clogau Project”).  In August 2018, we increased our stake 
to 90% and entered into a put and call option agreement over the remaining 10%.  The Clogau Project comprises 
the Clogau-St David’s Gold Mine (“Clogau-St David’s” or the “Mine”) and includes over 300 highly prospective 
gold targets and former gold workings within a total option area of 107 km². The Dolgellau Gold Belt in which the 
Project  is  situated  has  produced  about  131,000  oz  of  gold,  by  far  the  most  of  any  region  within  the  United 
Kingdom.  Most of this gold has been exploited from Clogau-St David’s. 

At Alba we are of the view that there is great potential to find unworked veins at Clogau-St David’s, containing 
gold of similar grades  to historic production  in the area.   Our focus is on  bringing Clogau-St David’s  back into 
production while at the same time making a significant push into the regional exploration of the wider Project 
area.   Early work undertaken by Alba during the year included the construction of a 3D geological model for the 
entire  licence  area  and  existing  mine  workings,  detailed  underground  surveying  and  the  generation  of  a 
preliminary mine plan and primary targets for regional gold exploration.   

The first phase of regional exploration was focused on undertaking soil sampling and geophysical surveying above 
the historic mine workings.   That work confirmed the presence of gold mineralisation across the full strike length 
of the mine area, and also identified new targets outside the mine area, and this has given us great confidence in 
the suitability of that exploration technique to this type of gold project.   As a result, we have continued to roll 
out  the  soil  sampling  programme  across  our  extensive  regional  exploration  targets.    The  highlights  of  the 
preliminary results from that wider campaign, announced on 29 April 2019, after the end of the financial year, 
included: 

  multiple gold-in-soil anomalies being identified away from the existing mine area and not associated with 
historic mine workings, averaging 0.006-0.17 ppm (at a 0.005 ppm cut-off), including one sample at 0.65 ppm 
(0.65 g/t); 

  average grades for two of the new anomalies being well above the average gold-in soil grades for Clogau-St 

David’s and the other historic mine areas; and  

  gold mineralisation being confirmed across ~4 miles along the strike extent of the Dolgellau Gold Belt. 

We are very pleased with these results, which provide substantial support for our belief in the huge, untapped 
potential of the Dolgellau Gold Belt. 

Thule Black Sands Project (Greenland) 

Thule Black Sands (“TBS”) is Alba’s high-grade ilmenite project on the coast of north-west Greenland.  Through 
our research in 2017 we  identified an opportunity to apply  for a significant  stretch of potentially mineralised 
beach sand coastline which was not under licence to other operators.  The source rock for these heavy mineral 
sands, which have been deposited over several miles of coastline, is the Dundas Formation, a geological range 
which has been subject to erosion over millions of years and led to the deposit of these surface accumulations of 
“black” heavy mineral sands which are rich in ilmenite, the primary source of titanium dioxide.   

Our initial sampling at TBS in 2017 confirmed both a high Total Heavy Mineral content (“THM”) averaging 46.4% 
and a high in-situ ilmenite content averaging 10%.  Our 2018 field programme was an extensive campaign which 
saw us send out a multi-disciplinary team to north-west Greenland to carry out widespread drilling, mapping and 

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Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT 

sampling across the licence along with first-year environmental baseline studies also undertaken with an eye on 
a future Environmental Impact Assessment application, this being a necessary pre-condition to the grant of an 
exploitation licence.  We also sent an independent Competent Person to site to inspect our work activities for 
resource estimation purposes. 

Following  the  completion  of  the  field  work,  the  extensive  samples  from  the  drilling  campaign  were  sent  to 
accredited laboratories for analysis and a geological model was developed for the project.  This work will underpin 
the resource estimation assessment to be made by the independent Competent Person.  We hope to be able to 
announce the conclusion of that work shortly.   

Amitsoq Project (Greenland) 

Our Amitsoq graphite project is located in southern Greenland and includes a former graphite mine on Amitsoq 
island as well as the Kalaaq deposit on the mainland, a new discovery made by Alba in 2017.  Our sampling of the 
graphite beds has revealed exceptionally high-grade deposits of between 25% and 28% Total Graphitic Carbon 
(“TGC”). 

During  the  year,  we  reported  the  assays  from  the  new  Kalaaq  discovery  which  average  25.6%  TGC,  with  a 
maximum content of 29% TGC.  In March 2018 we announced that our exploration licence had been renewed for 
a  further  five  years.    Further  metallurgical  testwork  which  we  carried  out  during  the  year  confirmed  that  a 
marketable grade concentrate of up to 97.3% can be produced from the graphite at Amitsoq. 

In September 2018 drill pads were constructed at Amitsoq in anticipation of a drilling campaign which we are 
intending to undertake this year.  The objective of the drilling will be to confirm the location and extent of the 
graphite structures we have previously modelled.  However, it is also possible that, provided the drilling in all 
cases successfully intersects graphite in accordance with the model, we may be able to report a maiden resource 
estimate for the project after this end of this campaign. 

Inglefield Project (Greenland) 

Our Inglefield Project comprises two exploration licences in north-west Greenland, in a region known as Inglefield 
Land where extensive exploration has been carried out by previous operators as well as by GEUS, the Geological 
Survey of Denmark and Greenland.  GEUS has posited that Inglefield Land has the potential for hosting copper-
zinc  volcanogenic  massive  sulphide  (“VMS”)  deposits,  which  are  associated  with  and  created  by  volcanic-
associated hydrothermal events in submarine environments.  Previous extensive surface sampling has reported 
anomalous copper (up to 1.39%), gold (up to 1.7g/t), cobalt (up to 0.16%), vanadium and nickel values at Inglefield 
Land. 

Our 2018 field programme at Inglefield was undertaken at the same time as our drilling campaign at TBS, and as 
a result we were able to benefit from logistical and manpower savings.  The assay results from this first campaign 
at  Inglefield  confirmed  the  presence  of  significant multi-element  anomalies  in an  assemblage of  copper-gold-
silver-molybdenum which is often an indicator of the presence of a porphyry copper or Iron Oxide Copper-Gold 
(“IOCG”) system.  These deposits are typically polymetallic and very large in scale.   

To  build  on  those  results,  over  the  winter  we  commissioned  independent  South  African  consultants,  TECT 
Geological Consulting and XPotential Geoscientific Consulting, experts in structural geology and geophysical data 
interpretation  respectively,  to  compile  all  the  historical  data  sets  for  Inglefield  Land  and  to  carry  out  a 
prospectivity analysis in order to refine the key targets for our 2019 field season.   

Armed with all of this valuable data, we are in the process of finalising the design of our field programme for the 
coming season at Inglefield.  The forthcoming campaign will be a highly systematic and well-informed programme 
of work in this hugely prospective and under-explored region. 

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Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT 

Limerick Project (Ireland) 

Our Limerick Project is highly prospective for zinc, lead and silver and is only 10 km away from and part of the 
same target unit as Glencore’s Pallas Green zinc discovery.    

During the year, we commissioned an independent review of all historical data  for the Limerick Project.  This 
concluded that our Limerick Project is significantly under-explored compared to the level of activity in the Irish 
Zinc Ore Field as a whole, with only five holes ever having been drilled on our licence during previous periods of 
exploration.  Our independent consultants highlighted five high-priority zinc-lead targets which they considered 
suitable for immediate drilling.  As a result of this analysis, we took the decision to renew our prospecting licence.  
The renewal is effective until May 2020, on condition that we undertake this forthcoming round of drilling.    

Subject only to the receipt of a final administrative permit, we expect to be able to commence a short drilling 
programme at Limerick within the next few weeks.  

REVIEW OF OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES 

Horse Hill Oil Field (England) 

The Horse Hill-1 well (“HH-1”) is located within onshore exploration licence PEDL 137, on the northern side of the 
Weald Basin near Gatwick Airport in southern England.  Alba owns 18.1% of the issued share capital of Horse Hill 
Developments Limited (“HHDL”), the special purpose company which owns a 65% participating interest and is the 
Operator of Licence PEDL 137 and the adjacent Licence PEDL 246. The remaining 35% participating interest in the 
PEDL  137  and PEDL  246  licences  is  held  by US-based  Tellurian  Inc.    Alba’s  effective  interest  in  the  licences  is 
therefore 11.765%, which makes us the third largest participant in the Horse Hill oil field after UKOG and Tellurian. 

In 2018 HHDL received all the relevant regulatory permissions to carry out a 150-day, extended well test (“EWT”) 
programme, which commenced in June 2018.  The initial Portland test phase was completed in September, with 
testing moving on to the Kimmeridge limestones in October. Late last year we reported that the Operator had 
declared  the  Portland  sandstone  to  be  commercially  viable,  and  that  total  oil  production  from  the  EWT  had 
reached 13,920 barrels with gross revenues of $1.1m. 

Since  the balance sheet date, based on the continued Kimmeridge  test  production  and  the  announcement of 
Portland commercial viability, the Company has been informed that the Operator's plans are to continue HH-1 
Portland EWT production until the expiry of the current EWT permit in May 2019, when activities will focus on 
drilling planned new wells, for which planning consents and environmental permits are in place.  Ongoing oil sales 
revenues will be put towards the funding of capital costs of the 2019 well development programme.  Aggregate 
oil production volume from the Kimmeridge and Portland zones was reported to have reached  a milestone of 
40,000 barrels earlier this month. 

Brockham Oil Field (England) 

Alba holds a 5% interest in Production Licence 235 (“PL 235”), the Brockham Oil Field, which is located just to the 
north-west of the Horse Hill Project.  There are two wells on the licence, the previously producing BRX2Y well as 
well  as  the  BRX4Z  well  which  was  drilled  in  2017  to  evaluate  the  possibility  that  the  Horse  Hill  Kimmeridge 
reservoirs extend into the Brockham licence area.  

In  March  2018  we  announced  that  production  had  resumed  from  the  BRX2Y  well.    Although  there  were  no 
significant changes from pre shut-in production levels, this move allowed the Operator, Angus Energy, to re-start 
site operations and test all existing equipment prior to flow-testing of the BRX4Z well.  

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Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT 

The BRX4Z well test began shortly after the reporting date, in December 2018.  The Operator reported that the 
well  had  flowed  naturally to  surface  with  flow  rates rising  steadily  as  the  test continued,  but  that  it  had  also 
become apparent that part of the perforated interval was producing water which was inhibiting significant oil 
flow.  Testing was suspended so that an engineering programme could be designed to isolate this water zone.  In 
the past few weeks we reported that the Operator had commenced workover operations at Brockham, and we 
await further news of the success of the resumed programme. 

Corporate and Financial 

During the year Alba completed three fundraising rounds, raising a total of £2.3 million before expenses.  Of these 
funds, approximately £1 million was committed to meet cash calls in respect of our oil and gas investments, the 
lion’s share of which went towards funding the long-term EWT programme at Horse Hill. A further £0.8 million 
was spent on our mining exploration activities, most notably in carrying out an extensive drilling campaign at TBS 
in north-west Greenland, with the balance of funding being used to meet our operating and administrative costs.  
The overheads associated with running an AIM-quoted company are not inconsiderable, so our achievement in 
putting close to 80% of the level of the funds we raised in the year towards real spend on our exploration and 
development  activities  is  impressive  and  gives  us  the  very  best  chance  of  adding  value  to  our  projects  and, 
therefore, of adding value for our shareholders. 

Our financial statements at year end show a very healthy 70% increase in the strength of our balance sheet, with 
net assets now standing at £8,466,188 as against net assets of £5,008,264 at the end of the previous year.   

After the period end, I and my fellow Director, Mike Nott, subscribed for shares in Alba worth £45,000 in total at 
a subscription price of £0.003, being around 28% above the last closing price prior to the subscription.  Given the 
large number of projects we are involved in at Alba, we are more often than not in a regulatory closed period for 
directors’ dealings, which means that we are not allowed in those periods to subscribe for or otherwise to buy 
shares  in  Alba.    But  as  soon  as  we  were  comfortably  outside  of  a  closed  period,  we  proceeded  to  make  this 
subscription.  We also elected to acquire the shares at a substantial premium to the prevailing share price, as a 
show of support and a clear demonstration of our belief that the market continues to significantly undervalue our 
assets, certainly  when looked  from the  perspective of  our share  price performance  over the  past 12 months. 
Though it does also have to be said that this has been a very challenging 12 months for junior mining stocks across 
the boards, not just for Alba.  

I  was  pleased  to  host  our  first  shareholder  conference  call  last  summer,  together  with  our  first  shareholder 
evening in December 2018.   The level of participation and engagement at both events was really high, which was 
fantastic to see, and further events will be scheduled during the coming months.  We are also well aware of the 
need to continue to promote our activities to the wider investment market.  During the year we took a stand at 
the  UK  Investor  Show,  the  UK’s  largest  annual  investment  conference,  where  I  gave  a  presentation.    I  also 
attended  PDAC  in  Toronto,  the  world’s  largest  annual  mining  conference,  where  I  caught  up  with  the  key 
contractors  for  our  Greenland  operations  and  also  took  the  opportunity  to  sit  down  with  members  of  the 
Greenland  Government  delegation  to  discuss  our  projects  and  other  related  developments  in  the  Greenland 
mining sector.  

Events after the reporting period 

Key announcements after the reporting period are noted in the review of activities, above, and in Note 24 to the 
accounts, below. 

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Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT 

Finally, on behalf of the Board I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alba shareholders for their ongoing 
support.  I have met a considerable number of our shareholders at various events over the past 12 months, and I 
am always struck by how engaged our shareholder base is and how knowledgeable shareholders are about our 
projects.  Our shareholders can  be assured that  Alba’s  management team  is fully  focused on the objective  of 
unlocking real and sustained value from our project portfolio.  We hope and expect to see the fruits of that labour 
in the months ahead. 

George Frangeskides 
Executive Chairman 
2 May 2019 

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Alba Mineral Resources plc 

STRATEGIC REPORT 

The Directors present the strategic report for Alba Mineral Resources plc for the year ended 30 November 2018.   

References to the “Company” or “Alba” are to Alba Mineral Resources plc and references to the “Group” are to 
Alba collectively with its Subsidiary Companies (as listed in note 11).   

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES 
The Group’s principal activity is exploration for and development of natural resources. 

BUSINESS REVIEW 
The  Company  operates  principally  as  a  holding  company  and  specifically  provides  support  to  the  Subsidiary 
Companies, which own and operate mining projects in Greenland (graphite, ilmenite, base metals, gold and iron 
ore), Wales (gold), and Ireland (base metals), as well as having investments in the onshore UK oil and gas sector. 

The Directors believe that the Group’s diversified asset and investment portfolio provides access to a range of 
assets with potential to add significant  value  for the Company’s shareholders in the  long-term.   Our strategy, 
where possible, is to target assets that have a production history and are in stable jurisdictions, and which thereby 
offer real potential to be brought into commercial production.  A review of activities is given in the Chairman’s 
Statement on pages 3-7.  

The key challenge for the Company is identifying the most effective, including the most cost-effective, methods 
for progressing mineral exploration activities at our projects, with the aim being to materially advance the level 
of  knowledge  and  confidence  in  the  potential  of  our  projects  and  thereby  justify  the  committing  of  further 
resources to progress those projects rapidly through exploration and into the development phase.   Principal risks 
and uncertainties for the group are two-fold: (i) funding risk and the ability to raise funds to further exploration 
activities; and (ii) exploration risk in the event that exploration programmes are not successful.  

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs) 
At  this  stage  in  the  Company’s  development,  the  Directors  regularly  monitor  key  performance  indicators 
associated with funding risk, being primarily projected cash flows associated with general administrative expenses 
and projected cash flows on a project by project basis. This year the Company has been able to raise the funds as 
needed to finance its activities (see the Corporate section of our review of activities).  

Performance  of  projects  is  assessed  using  measures specific  to  that  project.  As  an  exploration  group  with  no 
production or proven reserves, evaluation is based on exploration results and technical reports and assessments. 
In  the  review  of  activities,  we  have  identified  for  each  project  the  exploration  results  or  assessments  that 
demonstrate the progress that is being made on that project.  These assessments also inform our plans for future 
work and assist in determining how much of our funding we allocate to each project. 

For the current year, the Board has identified the following specific KPIs or milestones that the Board considers 
will  be  material  indicators  of  value  having  been  added  to  the  Company:    (i)  that  a  maiden  mineral  resource 
estimate is announced in respect of at least one of Alba’s projects; and (ii) that at least one project which the 
Board determines during the course of the year to be non-core is joint ventured to a third party or divested in 
whole or in part. 

We will report on the achievement of these specific KPIs in next year’s annual report and accounts. 

Approved by the Board of Directors and signed on behalf of the Board 

George Frangeskides  
Executive Chairman 
2 May 2019 

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Alba Mineral Resources plc 

DIRECTORS’ REPORT 

The Directors present their report and the audited financial statements of Alba Mineral Resources plc for the year 
ended 30 November 2018.  

References to the “Company” or “Alba” are to Alba Mineral Resources plc and references to the “Group” are to 
Alba collectively with its Subsidiary Companies (as listed in note 11).   

RESULTS AND DIVIDENDS 
The  loss  of  the  Group  for  the  year,  after  taxation,  attributable  to  equity  holders  of  the  parent  amounted  to 
£72,823 (2017: £227,699 loss).  

The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend (2017: £nil). 

DIRECTORS 
George Frangeskides, Michael Nott and Manuel Lamboley served as Directors throughout the year. 

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO THE AUDITOR 
In the case of each person who was a Director at the time this report was approved: 

 

 

so far as that Director was aware there was no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditor 
was unaware; and 
that Director had taken all steps that the Director ought to have taken as a director to make himself or 
herself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditor was aware of 
that information. 

This information is given and should be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of section 418 of Companies 
Act 2006. 

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISKS 
The  disclosure  relating  to  financial  instruments  and  risks  have  been  included  in  the  Notes  to  the  financial 
statements (Note 21). 

EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD 
See Note 24 and the Review of Activities on pages 3-7. 

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS 
See Chairman’s Statement from page 2. 

AUDITOR 
A resolution to re-appoint the auditor, Nexia Smith & Williamson, will be proposed at the next Annual General 
Meeting.  

Approved by the Board of Directors and signed on behalf of the Board 

George Frangeskides 
Director   
2 May 2019 

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Alba Mineral Resources plc 

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT 

The  Directors  are  responsible  for  preparing  the  Strategic  Report,  the  Directors’  Report  and  the  financial 
statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. 

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial period. Under that law the 
directors  have  elected  to  prepare  the  Group  and  parent  company  financial  statements  in  accordance  with 
applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”) as adopted by the European Union and 
as  regards  the  parent  company  financial  statements,  as  applied  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Companies Act 2006. Under company law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they 
are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of the Group and of the 
profit or loss of the Group for that period.  

In preparing those financial statements, the Directors are required to: 

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

 
  make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 
 

state whether applicable IFRSs as adopted by  the European Union have been followed subject to any 
material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and  

  prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that 

the Company/Group will continue in business. 

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain 
the  Company’s  transactions  and  disclose  with  reasonable  accuracy  at  any  time  the  financial  position  of  the 
Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They 
are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and of the Group and hence for taking reasonable 
steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.  

The  Directors  are  responsible  for  the  maintenance  and  integrity  of  the  corporate  and  financial  information 
included  on  the  Company’s  website.  Legislation  in  the  United  Kingdom  governing  the  preparation  and 
dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.  

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Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE QCA CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE 

The  Board  of  Alba  Mineral  Resources  plc  (“Alba”  or  the  “Company”  and,  together  with  its  subsidiaries,  the 
“Group”) is responsible for the direction and oversight of all of the Company’s activities.  The Board seeks, through 
effective and efficient decision-making, to ensure that the Company is managed for the long-term benefit of all 
shareholders. Ensuring good standards of corporate governance is an important part of the Board’s role, with the 
twin objectives being to reduce risk and at the same time to add value to our business.  

In September 2018 the Board adopted the Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Code (the “Code”) 
in line with the changes to the AIM Rules for Companies (“AIM Rules”) requiring all AIM-quoted companies to 
adopt and comply with a recognised corporate governance code. The Code is available at www.theqca.com.  The 
Code sets out 10 principles that should be applied.  How Alba complies with those principles currently is set out 
below.  As required by the Code, we will provide annual updates on our compliance with the Code.  

At this stage in the Company’s development, the Board does not comply with the principle of the Code which 
concerns the size and composition of the Board (see Principle 5).  As projects and investments are advanced and 
as resources allow, the Board will actively seek to move towards full compliance with the Code. 

Principle 1: Establish a strategy and business model which promote long-term value for shareholders 

Alba owns and operates mining projects in Greenland (graphite, ilmenite, base metals, gold and cobalt), Wales 
(gold), and Ireland (base metals), as well as having investments in the onshore UK oil and gas sector. 

The Board believes that the Group’s diversified asset and investment portfolio provides access to a range of assets 
with  potential to  add  significant  value  for  the  Company’s  shareholders  in  the  long-term.  Our strategy,  where 
possible, is to target assets that have a production history, in stable jurisdictions, and which thereby offer real 
potential to be brought into commercial production. 

The key challenge for the Company is identifying the most effective, including the most cost-effective, methods 
for progressing mineral exploration activities at our projects, with the aim being to materially advance the level 
of  knowledge  and  confidence  in  the  potential  of  our  projects  and  thereby  justify  the  committing  of  further 
resources to progress those projects rapidly through exploration and into the development phase.  The expertise 
of  the  current  Board  and  management  team,  and  the  breadth  of  their  contacts  within  the  natural  resources 
sector, will assist the Company in meeting this challenge. 

Principle 2: Seek to understand and meet shareholders’ needs and expectations 

The Board appreciates that it is accountable to shareholders for the performance and activities of the Company 
and,  to  this  end,  is  committed  to  providing  effective  communication  with  Alba  shareholders.    We  publish  all 
regulatory  news  promptly  through  the  London  Stock  Exchange’s  Regulatory  New  Service  (“RNS”)  and  on  our 
website and we maintain a database of shareholders and other interested parties who have subscribed via our 
website to receive our newsletters and updates. We are also active on social media, using Twitter to publicise 
RNS announcements after their release via RNS.  

In July 2018 Alba held a shareholder conference call where shareholders could submit questions to the Executive 
Chairman  and  listen  live  to  his  responses  on  a  free-call  number.  In  December  2018,  the  Company  held  a 
shareholder evening, an opportunity, in a less formal setting than the Annual General Meeting, for shareholders 
to meet Alba’s Board and management team and to listen to the Company’s latest presentation.   The Company 
plans to hold one or two calls or events each year, also regularly takes booths at investor shows held in the UK 
and management attends key resources conferences both in the UK and overseas.  

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 

Shareholders can contact the Company via info@albamineralresources.com. The Board welcomes feedback from 
shareholders  as  this  helps  Alba  to  better  communicate  our  activities  and,  where  possible,  to  deal  with  any 
misconceptions  in  the  investment  market.    We  are  constrained,  however,  when  responding  to  shareholder 
enquiries, by the requirements of the AIM Rules, and in particular the need to avoid making selective disclosure 
of material information.   

The Board maintains regular contact with the Company’s advisers, notably our Nominated Adviser (or “Nomad”), 
Cairn Financial Advisers, and our retained broker, First Equity, which also assists the Company in understanding 
of the views of shareholders and the wider investment market. 

Principle 3: Take into account wider stakeholder and social responsibilities and their implications for long-term 
success 

The Board acknowledges that the long-term success of the Company is reliant on the efforts of employees and 
contractors,  suppliers  and  other  stakeholders.  As  a  natural  resources  company,  we  feel  that  we  have  a 
responsibility to engage openly, transparently and effectively with community stakeholders and local and national 
government agencies in the countries in which we conduct operations.  The Board is keen to maintain an open 
dialogue and co-operation with key stakeholders as the Company seeks to advance its projects and investments. 

Principle  4:  Embed  effective  risk  management,  considering  both  opportunities  and  threats,  throughout  the 
organisation 

The  Board  identifies,  assesses  and  manages  various  risks  in  its  decision-making  and  constantly  evaluates  the 
Company’s risk tolerance as part of its strategy as an exploration company.  These range from financial and legal 
risks, to environmental, exploration, regulatory and management risks. The Board will also seek consultation with 
experts in any area where a particular risk is identified.  

The financial risks to the Company are addressed in Notes 1 and 21 to the accounts. This covers funding risk, 
credit risk, liquidity risk and market risk, all areas which are monitored closely by the Board with a focus on funding 
risk.    Environmental  and  exploration  risks  are  considered  at  project  level  and are  constantly  under  review  as 
project work is planned and undertaken.  Some elements of regulatory risk are also project-specific and would be 
included within that review – local, regional and national regulations impacting on exploration activities. 

Regulatory  risk  at  a  corporate  level  is  addressed  annually  during  production  of  the  Company’s  Report  and 
Accounts  and  also  at  other  times  such  as  when  as  notices  are  received  from  relevant  regulatory  bodies;  for 
instance, during the preceding 12 months when the GDPR regulations came into effect. This point is addressed 
further in Principle 10. 

Management risks are mitigated by attracting talent and providing stability and continuity through appropriate 
remuneration and the awarding of long-term share options, plus a culture of openness within the team, so that 
all  members  of  the  management  team  feel  comfortable  in  raising  any  risk-related  issues  with  the  Board  and 
Chairman. 

The Directors acknowledge their responsibility for the Group’s systems of internal controls and for reviewing their 
adequacy and effectiveness. These internal controls are designed to safeguard the assets of the Group and ensure 
the reliability of financial information for both internal and external use and publication.  

Principle 5: Maintaining the Board as a well-functioning, balanced team led by the Chair 

The  Board  comprises  the  Executive  Chairman  and  two  Non-Executive  Directors.    One  of  these  Non-Executive 
Directors,  Manuel  Lamboley,  is  considered  to  be  independent.  The  Board  is  aware  that  it  is  not  currently 
compliant with the Code in respect of not having two independent Non-Executive Directors, and in having an 
12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 

Executive Chairman fulfilling the role of Chief Executive.  The Directors believe that this is appropriate at this stage 
of the  Company’s development but  both aspects are kept under  regular review with a view to moving to full 
compliance once the Company has achieved a significant increase in its market capitalisation.  

The Board has a wide range of experience directly related to the Group and its activities and its structure ensures 
that no one individual dominates the decision-making process.  The Board also regularly seeks third-party expert 
advice to support its decisions. 

The Board meets on an ad-hoc basis as decisions are required, with update Board meetings also held periodically. 
In line with the new corporate governance guidelines, additional regular Board meetings will be scheduled. During 
the year 11 Board meetings were held. George Frangeskides and Michael Nott attended all of these, while Manuel 
Lamboley attended seven. 

Each of the Directors has entered into a Service Contract or Letter of Appointment with the Company.  Under the 
terms of these agreements, each Director has agreed to devote such time and attention as is necessary to carry 
out his responsibilities and duties as a director.  

Principle  6:  Ensure  that  between  them  the  Directors  have  the  necessary  up-to-date  experience,  skills  and 
capabilities 

The Board currently consists of three Directors and, in addition, the Company employs Ben Harber of Shakespeare 
Martineau  LLP  to  act  as  the  Company  Secretary.  The  Directors  have  a  range  of  technical,  commercial  and 
professional skills and all have experience in the public markets.  The Board has also engaged technical advisers 
whose specialism is in either mining or oil and gas and who are thereby able to assist the Board in making effective 
decisions in relation to the Company’s projects and investments.  

Further information about the Directors’ experience, skills, capabilities and personal qualities is published on our 
website and on page 15 below. The Directors attend industry forums and conferences, in addition to maintaining 
strong  links  within  the  minerals  and  investment  communities  through  regular  networking.  The  Company 
subscribes  to  minerals  and  mining  publications  for  internal  use  and  Directors  are  encouraged  to  maintain 
individual continuing professional education programmes in their respective disciplines. 

In addition to its mining and oil and gas technical advisers (about whom further details can be found on the Alba 
website), the Company retains the services of auditors in the UK and in Greenland, a Nomad, broker and solicitors. 

Principle  7:  Evaluate  Board  performance  based  on  clear  and  relevant  objectives,  seeking  continuous 
improvement 

Internal evaluation of the Board and individual Directors is undertaken on an ad-hoc basis in the form of peer 
appraisal  and  discussions.  No  formal  evaluation  has  taken  place  in  the  12  months  preceding  the  date  of  this 
statement. A planned evaluation will take the form of a questionnaire-type assessment tool.  

Individual appraisals will be used to identify key corporate targets relevant to each Director, as well as personal 
targets appropriate to their role within the Company.  From these reviews, the Board will determine what changes 
may need to be implemented to current roles and processes. 

Given the current size of the Company, Board and senior management appointments are infrequent and subject 
to the individual being the right “fit” for the Company.  The Board seeks prospective candidates via its network 
of contacts in the industry in the first instance and then via professional search agencies if required.  

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 

Principle 8: Promote a corporate culture that is based on ethical values and behaviours 

The Board recognises that it has a responsibility to set the corporate culture of the Company as a whole, and that 
sound  and  ethical  behaviour  will  contribute  to  the  success  of  Alba’s  projects  and  reputation.    The  Company 
operates internationally and as such is mindful of local cultures and practices when planning and carrying out 
activities. The Board also has in place an approved anti-bribery and whistle-blowing policy.  Given the size of the 
Company, Alba’s management remains close to the day-to-day operations and therefore better able to oversee 
the activities of the Company’s representatives. As the Company grows, the Board will oversee the development 
of guidance on the Company’s policies to be issued to new employees and contractors. 

The Company has in place a share dealing policy for dealings in shares by Directors and senior employees in line 
with  the  framework  set  by  the  AIM  Rules  and  the  EU  Market  Abuse  Regulation  (“MAR”)  and  also  requires 
adherence to the same by key suppliers. In addition to abiding by the AIM Rules, as Alba operates in the natural 
resources sector, the AIM Note for Mining and Oil and Gas companies is applicable. 

Principle 9: Maintain governance structures and processes that are fit for purpose and support good decision-
making by the Board 

Ultimate authority for all aspects of the Company’s activities rests with the Board.  While the roles of Chairman 
and  Chief  Executive  are  not  separated,  the  Board  receives  regular  updates  on  activities  both  formally  and 
informally  and  has  unrestricted  access  to  management  and  to  the  employees  of  the  Company.    Each  Board 
member also has access to the Company’s solicitors and any independent professional advice they might need to 
discharge their duties effectively. 

The  Executive  Chairman  is  the  leading  representative  of  the  Company,  presenting  the  Company’s  strategy  to 
external interested parties. His responsibilities also include taking the Chair at Board Meetings and at General 
Meetings, where he is responsible for ensuring the appropriate supply of information.  The Executive Chairman 
is also responsible for the development and execution of the Company’s long-term strategy, overseeing matters 
pertaining  to  the  running  of  the  Company  and  ensuring  that  the  Company  meets  all  legal  requirements  and 
corporate responsibilities.  The  two  Non-Executive Directors do not  have  specific individual responsibilities or 
remits. 

All three Directors sit on the Remuneration Committee, although a director whose performance, remuneration 
and employment terms are due to be discussed at such a meeting shall absent himself from the discussion and 
not vote on any proposed terms which relate to him.  The Remuneration Committee reviews the performance of 
the Executive Director(s) and makes recommendations to the Board on matters relating to their remuneration 
and  terms  of  employment.  The  Remuneration  Committee  also  considers  and  approves  the  granting  of  share 
options pursuant to the Company’s share option plan and the award of shares in lieu of bonuses pursuant to the 
Company's remuneration policy. 

Historically, Audit Committee matters have generally been dealt with as part of Board Meetings. Going forward 
the  Board  intends to  convene separate  Audit Committee meetings during the year to cover relevant matters, 
strengthening  its  Corporate  Governance  framework  in  line  with  the  QCA  guidelines  recently  adopted.  The 
Executive  Chairman  takes  responsibility  for  finance-related  matters.  As  the  Company  has  not  had  audit  or 
remuneration committees in the year, no committee reports have been presented. 

Given the size of the Board, there is no separate Nominations Committee and therefore recommendations for 
appointments to the Board are considered by the Board as a whole.  

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 

Principle 10: Communicate how the Company is governed and is performing by maintaining a dialogue with 
shareholders and other relevant stakeholders 

For details of the various channels Alba uses for communicating with shareholders, see Principle 2 above.  Notices 
of AGMs and the  results of voting on resolutions proposed at  the  Company’s AGM  are  reported via RNS and 
recorded  in  the  “Latest  News”  section  on  the  Company’s  website.  In  the  past  five  years,  there  has  been  no 
significant  level  of  votes  cast  against  any  resolutions  put  to  shareholders  at  the  Company’s  AGM  (where 
“significant” would mean at least 20 per cent of the votes cast being against a particular resolution).  

Historical annual reports and interim results, corporate factsheets and presentations are can be accessed via the 
Company’s website and are released via RNS and therefore reported in the “Latest News” section of the website. 

Board of Directors 

George Frangeskides, Executive Chairman 
Mr Frangeskides has a broad range of experience gained from over 25 years in the legal and corporate advisory 
sectors in Australia and the United Kingdom.  He is Executive Director at Berwick Capital, a corporate advisory 
firm which for the past 10 years has advised ASX, AIM-listed and private companies on projects and transactions 
in the mining and oil and gas sectors. Prior to establishing Berwick Capital, Mr Frangeskides practised as a lawyer 
in London and Sydney focusing on corporate finance, commercial and capital market transactions.  

With  his  experience  in  mergers  and  acquisitions,  Mr  Frangeskides  leads  all  corporate  negotiations  for  the 
Company. He has an extensive network of contacts across the mineral exploration and investment sectors in the 
UK,  Asia-Pacific, North America, Middle East  and Far East regions, giving the Company wide exposure to both 
investors and potential investments.  

A confident communicator, Mr Frangeskides regularly makes presentations about the Company and projects to 
the media and to shareholders.  

Michael Nott, Non-Executive Director 
Mr Nott is a geologist and mining engineer by profession and has 40 years’ experience in the oil and gas, mining, 
minerals  and  quarrying  industries.  His  early  career  was  based  in Zambia,  including  nine  years  with  Roan 
Consolidated Mines Limited. He was a regional manager for Pioneer Aggregates (UK) Limited, then an Australian 
company, and later a director of Jay Minerals Services Limited and Hills Aggregates Limited, becoming trading 
director of ARC (Southern) Limited and production director of C. White Limited. 

Mr Nott is currently a Non-Executive Director of Red Rock Resources plc (LON:RRR). Extremely knowledgeable, 
he draws on his extensive experience of both the mining industry and the corporate world to offer pragmatic 
advice to the Company.  

Manuel Lamboley, Non-Executive Director 
Mr Lamboley is a financier with over 30 years' experience in international broking and investment banking. Mr 
Lamboley previously served as Head of the Geneva office of Williams de Bröe, as well as holding senior positions 
at Bank Julius Bär, Kidder Peabody, Paine Webber International and Prudential-Bache Securities. 

Mr Lamboley has previously been a Non-Executive Director of several listed companies in the mining and energy 
sectors, including International Mining & Infrastructure Corporation Plc, and was also previously an independent 
director of UK-based African Aura Resources Limited.  
Mr Lamboley has extensive knowledge of the investment banking industry and long-standing relationships with 
major  investors  and  financial  advisers worldwide, with  a  particular  focus on  the  natural  resources  sector.  Mr 
Lamboley holds Swiss citizenship.

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ALBA MINERAL RESOURCES PLC 

Opinion 
We have audited the financial statements of Alba Mineral Resources plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries 
(the  ‘group’)  for  the  year  ended  30  November  2018  which  comprise  Consolidated  Income  Statement,  the 
Consolidated  Statement  of  Comprehensive  Income,  the  Consolidated  and  Company  Statements  of  Financial 
Position, the Consolidated and Company Statements of Changes in Equity, the Consolidated and Company Cash 
Flow Statements and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. 
The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International 
Financial  Reporting  Standards (IFRSs)  as  adopted by  the  European  Union  and, as  regards the  parent company 
financial statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. 

In our opinion: 

  the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the parent company’s affairs 

as at 30 November 2018 and of the group’s loss for the year then ended;  

  the  group  financial  statements  have  been  properly  prepared  in  accordance  with  IFRSs  as  adopted  by  the 

European Union; 

  the parent company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 

the European Union and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and 

  the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 

Basis for opinion 
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable 
law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit 
of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent company in accordance 
with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the 
FRC’s  Ethical  Standard  as  applied  to  listed  entities,  and  we  have  fulfilled  our  other  ethical  responsibilities  in 
accordance  with  these  requirements.  We  believe  that  the  audit  evidence  we  have  obtained  is  sufficient  and 
appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.  

Material uncertainty related to going concern 
We draw attention to Note 1 of the financial statements which, under the heading “Going Concern”, indicates that 
the current cash resources of the group and parent company are insufficient to meet the forecast expenditure for the 
coming year and that they are dependent upon the receipt of future funding to continue as going concerns. If such 
funding is not available, the group and parent company may be unable to meet their liabilities as they fall due within 
the foreseeable future.  

As stated in note 1, these conditions indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on 
the group’s and parent company’s ability to continue as going concerns. Our opinion is not modified in respect of 
this matter. 

Key audit matters 
In  addition  to  the  matter  described  in  the  Material  uncertainty  related  to  going  concern  paragraph  above  we 
identified the key audit matters described below as those that were of most significance in the audit of the financial 
statements  of  the  current  year.  Key  audit  matters  include  the  most  significant  assessed  risks  of  material 
misstatement,  including  those  risks  that  had  the  greatest  effect  on  our  overall  audit  strategy,  the  allocation  of 
resources in the audit and the direction of the efforts of the audit team. 

These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our 
opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ALBA MINERAL RESOURCES PLC 

Key audit matters (continued)  

Accounting for the acquisition of the Gold Mines of Wales Limited group  

Description of the risks  
As described further in note 9 Gold Mines of Wales Limited was acquired in two stages and the consideration for 
the  latter  acquisition  comprising  a  number  of  different  components,  including  a  put  and  call  option  over  the 
remaining  10%  not  legally  owned  by  the  Group.  In  accounting  for  the  acquisition,  the  company  has  had  to 
determine a number of issues including whether the acquisition is a business combination or an asset acquisition, 
the extent to which reliable valuations for certain elements of the consideration can be determined and the treatment 
of the put and call option. There is a risk that the judgements made could have been inappropriate, which could 
lead to a material error.  

Our response to the risks 
We undertook the following procedures:  

  by  reference  to  the  requirements  of  IFRS  3  Business  combinations 

judgement that the acquisition was an asset acquisition rather than a business combination  

critically  assessed  the  directors’ 
judgements as to whether each component was required to be valued and, if applicable, whether there 
reviewed the nature of the various components of consideration and critically assessed the directors’ 
was sufficient information available for the directors to reliably undertake a valuation  

 

 

  assesse

valuation approach adopted was appropriate and the reasonableness of the inputs  
where  relevant,  reviewed  the  directors’  valuations  of  the  consideration,  including  assessing  if  the 
control over 100% of the shares, notwithstanding that the vesting and exercise of the option is dependent 
d whether the directors’ judgement that the put and call option meant that the group had effective 
on an uncertain future events and that the future payment under the put and call option represented 
deferred consideration  

 

Carrying values and impairment of exploration and evaluation costs  

reviewed management’s allocation of the purchase price to the assets and liabilities acquired. 

Description of the risks 
As described further in note 1 under the heading of “Impairment assessment of exploration and evaluation costs - 
£3,076,783” the exploration and evaluation costs form a significant part of the group’s assets. The costs relate to 
projects which are at an early stage of exploration and there is no certainty as to whether  commercially viable 
quantities of mineral resources will be discovered and whether the directors will carry on intending to continue 
each of the exploration activities. 

Our response to the risk 
In respect of each material license, our work included:  

  by reference to the relevant Government databases of licenses we confirmed that the Group still retained its 

exploration licenses  

  we agreed a sample of the costs making up the capitalised expenditure for the year to supporting documentation, 

assessing whether the capitalisation was appropriate  

  we considered whether the outcome of the exploration activities to date indicated that the prospective mineral 

resources may be commercially unviable  

  we considered if the directors intended to undertake further substantive exploration activities in each license 

and whether such expenditure was included within the financial forecasts 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ALBA MINERAL RESOURCES PLC 

Key audit matters (continued)  

Carrying values and impairment of the parent company’s investment in its subsidiaries and loans due to the parent 
company from its subsidiaries  

Description of the risk  
Due to accumulated losses incurred by the subsidiaries of the parent company, the value of investments held by the 
parent company in those subsidiaries and the value of loans due to the parent company from those subsidiaries may 
not  be  recoverable.  This  could  lead  to  impairment  in  these  asset  values  on  the  parent  company’s  statement  of 
financial position.  

As  described  in  Note  1  under  the  heading  “Impairment  assessment  of  investment  in  and  loans  subsidiaries  – 
company  only”  the  directors  of  the  parent  company  have  assessed  whether  the  investments  and  loans  are 
recoverable by reference to their impairment assessments of the respective assets of the subsidiary companies.  

Our response to the risk  
We reviewed and challenged the directors’ assessments in respect of the parent company’s investment in and loans 
due from the subsidiary companies and, for each subsidiary company, considered whether the directors’ assessment 
was consistent with their conclusions regarding the impairments of the subsidiaries’ underlying exploration assets.  

Materiality  
The materiality for the group financial statements as a whole was set at £270,000. This has been determined with 
reference to the benchmark of the group’s total assets, which we consider to be one of the principal considerations 
for members of the parent company in assessing the performance of the group. Materiality represents 3% of the 
group’s total assets as presented on the face of the consolidated statement of financial position. 

The  materiality  for  the  parent  company  financial  statements  as  a  whole  was  set  at  £216,000.  This  has  been 
determined with reference to the benchmark of the parent company’s total assets as the parent company exists as a 
holding  company  for  the  Group  and  certain  of  the  group’s  assets.  Materiality  represents  3%  of  net  assets  as 
presented on the face of the parent company’s statement of financial position, capped at 80% of group materiality. 

An overview of the scope of our audit 
The Group has ten reporting components, of which the parent company was subject to a full scope audit and we 
directly audited certain assets, liabilities and expenses of six components in the context of the group materiality 
and without carrying out individual statutory audits. In total our audit work covered 99.8% of the consolidated 
assets, 94.0% of the consolidated liabilities, 93.3%% of the consolidated  expenses and 100% of the gain on the 
revaluation  of  investment.  The  assets  and  liabilities  of  the  components  not  subject  to  audit  procedures  are 
immaterial to the group.  

All group entities have common management and centralised process and controls and all our audit work was all 
conducted in solely the UK. 

Other information 
The other information comprises the information included in the Report and Consolidated Financial Statements, 
other than  the financial statements and  our  auditor’s report  thereon.  The directors are  responsible  for  the  other 
information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent 
otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.  

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ALBA MINERAL RESOURCES PLC 

Other information (continued) 
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in 
doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our 
knowledge  obtained  in  the  audit  or  otherwise  appears  to  be  materially  misstated.  If  we  identify  such  material 
inconsistencies  or  apparent  material  misstatements,  we  are  required  to  determine  whether  there  is  a  material 
misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work 
we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to 
report that fact.  

We have nothing to report in this regard.  

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: 

 

 

the information given in the strategic report and the directors’ report for the financial year for which the 
financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and 
the  strategic  report  and  the  directors’  report  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  applicable  legal 
requirements. 

Matters on which we are required to report by exception 
In  the  light  of  the  knowledge  and  understanding  of  the  group  and  the  parent  company  and  their  environment 
obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the 
directors’ report. 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report 
to you if, in our opinion: 

  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have 

not been received from branches not visited by us; or 

  the parent company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 
  certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or 
  we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. 

Responsibilities of directors 
As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 10, the directors are responsible 
for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for 
such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that 
are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In  preparing  the  financial  statements,  the  directors  are  responsible  for  assessing  the  group’s  and  the  parent 
company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and 
using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the group or the parent 
company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.  

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements 
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from 
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. 
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with 
ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error 
and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the 
economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.  

19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ALBA MINERAL RESOURCES PLC 

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial 
Reporting  Council’s  website  at:  www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.  This  description  forms  part  of  our 
auditor’s report. 

Use of our report 
This report is made solely to the parent company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of 
the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we  might state to the parent company’s 
members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the 
fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the parent company 
and the parent  company’s members  as a  body,  for  our  audit  work, for  this  report,  or for  the  opinions  we  have 
formed. 

Andrew Bond 
Senior Statutory Auditor, for and on behalf of 
Nexia Smith & Williamson 
Statutory Auditor 
Chartered Accountants   

25 Moorgate 
London 
EC2R 6AY 

          2 May 2019 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2018 

Revenue 
Cost of sales 
Gross loss 
Administrative expenses 
Impairment of deferred exploration expenditure 
Operating loss 
Revaluation of investment 
Share of net loss of joint venture 
Loss for the year before tax 
Taxation 

Loss for the year 

Attributable to: 
Equity holders of the parent 
Non-controlling interests 

Note 

9 
3 
10 

5 

2018 
£ 

- 
- 
- 
(885,314) 
- 
(885,314) 
825,533 
(15,325) 
(75,106) 
- 

2017 
£ 

- 
- 
- 
(649,125) 
(569,218) 
(1,218,343) 
700,000 
- 
(518,343) 
- 

(75,106) 

(518,343) 

(72,823) 
(2,283) 
(75,106) 

(227,699) 
(290,644) 
(518,343) 

Profit / (loss) per ordinary share  

Basic 

7 

(0.003) pence 

(0.012) pence 

21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2018 

Loss after tax 
Items that may subsequently be reclassified to profit or 
loss:  
- 

Foreign exchange movements  

Total comprehensive profit / (loss) 

Total comprehensive profit / (loss) attributable to: 
Equity holders of the parent 
Non-controlling interests 

2018 
£ 
(75,106) 

2017 
£ 
(518,343) 

(2,707) 
(77,813) 

4,526 
(513,817) 

(75,530) 
(2,283) 
(77,813) 

(223,173) 
(290,644) 
(513,817) 

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 

30 NOVEMBER 2018 

Note 

Non-current assets 
Property, plant and equipment 

Intangible fixed assets 

Investments 
Available for sale assets 

Total non-current assets 

Current assets 

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total current assets 

Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 

Financial liabilities 
Total current liabilities 

Net current assets / (liabilities) 

Net assets 

Capital and reserves 

Called up share capital 
Share premium account 

Warrant reserve 
Retained losses 
Merger reserve 
Foreign currency reserve 
Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent 

8 

9 

10 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

2018 

£ 

85,000 

3,076,783 

5,430,000 

7,161 
8,598,944 

2017 

£ 

- 

1,145,336 

3,619,465 

14,335 
4,779,136 

61,894 

585,795 

647,689 

35,276 

626,939 

662,215 

(493,195) 
(287,250) 

(780,445) 

(180,014) 
(253,073) 

(433,087) 

(132,756) 

229,128 

8,466,188 

5,008,264 

4,099,233 

6,786,382 
624,039 

(3,167,943) 
200,000 
190,978 
8,732,689 

3,086,246 

4,655,702 
231,969 

(3,095,120) 
200,000 
193,685 
5,272,482 

Non-controlling interests 

17 

(266,501) 

(264,218) 

Total equity 

8,466,188 

5,008,264 

These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 2 May 2019. 

Signed on behalf of the Board of Directors 
George Frangeskides 
Director, Company No. 5285814 

23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 

30 NOVEMBER 2018 

Note 

2018 
£ 

2017 
£ 

Non-current assets 
Intangible fixed assets 
Investments 
Available for sale assets 
Investments in subsidiaries 
Loans to subsidiaries 
Total non-current assets 

Current assets 
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Total current assets 

Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Total current liabilities 

Net current assets / (liabilities) 

Net assets 

Capital and reserves 
Called up share capital 
Share premium account 
Warrant reserve 
Retained losses 
Merger reserve 
Equity shareholders’ funds 

9 
10 

11 
11 

12 
13 

14 

16 

346,904 
5,430,000 
7,161 
530,828 
3,653,891 
9,968,784 

208,030 
3,619,465 
14,335 
530,729 
1,746,989 
6,119,548 

61,894 
574,185 
636,079 

35,276 
626,793 
662,069 

(480,189) 
(480,189) 

(177,422) 
(177,422) 

155,890 

484,647 

10,124,674 

6,604,195 

4,099,233 
6,786,382 
624,039 

3,086,246 
4,655,702 
231,969 
(1,584,980)  (1,569,722) 
200,000 
6,604,195 

200,000 
10,124,674 

The loss of the parent company for the year was £15,258 (2017: a loss of £193,655).  

These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 2 May 2019. 

Signed on behalf of the Board of Directors 
George Frangeskides 
Director, Company No. 5285814 

24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2018 

Share 
capital 

Share 
premium 

Warrant 
reserve 

Profit and  Merger 
reserve 

loss 

At 1 December 2016 

£ 

£ 

£ 

2,654,703 

3,472,671 

546,098 

£ 
(3,309,246) 

£ 
200,000 

Foreign 
currency 
reserve 

£ 

Attributable 
to equity 
holders 
of parents 
£ 

189,159 

3,753,385 

Total 

Non 
controlling 
interest 

£ 
26,426 

£ 

3,779,811 

Loss for the period  
Translation differences 
Comprehensive loss for the period  

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 

(227,699) 
- 
(227,699) 

- 
- 
- 

- 
4,526 
4,526 

(227,699) 
4,526 
(223,173) 

(290,644) 
- 
(290,644) 

Shares issued  
Share issue costs 
Equity settled share-based payments 
Transfer on expiry of warrants 
At 30 November 2017 

431,543 
- 
- 
- 
3,086,246 

1,245,931 
(62,900) 
- 
- 
4,655,702 

- 
- 
127,696 
(441,825) 
231,969 

- 
- 
- 
441,825 
(3,095,120) 

- 
- 
- 
- 
200,000 

Profit / (loss) for the period  
Translation differences 
Comprehensive loss for the period 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 

(72,823) 
- 
(72,823) 

- 
- 
- 

Shares and warrants issued  
Share issue costs 
Equity settled share-based payments 
At 30 November 2018 

1,012,987 
- 
- 
4,099,233 

2,253,680 
(123,000) 
- 
6,786,382 

148,914 
- 
243,156 
624,039 

- 
- 
- 
(3,167,943) 

- 
- 
- 
200,000 

- 
- 
- 
- 
193,685 

- 
(2,707) 
(2,707) 

- 
- 
- 
190,978 

1,677,474 
(62,900) 
127,696 
- 
5,272,482 

- 
- 
- 
- 
(264,218) 

(72,823) 
(2,707) 
(75,530) 

(2,283) 
- 
(2,283) 

3,415,581 
(123,000) 
243,156 
8,732,689 

- 
- 
- 
(266,501) 

(518,343) 
4,526 
(513,817) 

1,677,474 
(62,900) 
127,696 
- 
5,008,264 

(75,106) 
(2,707) 
(77,813) 

3,415,581 
(123,000) 
243,156 
8,466,188 

25 

 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2018 

Share 
capital 

Share 
premium 

Warrant 
reserve 

Profit and 
loss 

Merger 
reserve 

At 30 November 2016 

£ 

£ 

2,654,703 

3,472,671 

£ 
546,098 

£ 
(1,817,892) 

£ 

200,000 

Loss for the period  
Comprehensive loss for the period 

- 
- 

- 
- 

Shares issued  
Share issue costs 
Equity settled share-based payments 
Transfer on expiry of warrants 
At 30 November 2017 

431,543 
- 
- 
- 
3,086,246 

1,245,931 
(62,900) 
- 
- 
4,655,702 

Profit / (loss) for the period  
Comprehensive loss for the period 

- 
- 

- 
- 

Shares and warrants issued  
Share issue costs 
Equity settled share-based payments 

1,012,987 
- 
- 

2,253,680 
(123,000) 
- 

- 
- 

- 
- 
127,696 
(441,825) 
231,969 

- 
- 

148,914 
- 
243,156 

(193,655) 
(193,655) 

- 
- 
- 
441,825 
(1,569,722) 

(15,258) 
(15,258) 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
200,000 

- 
- 

- 
- 
- 

Attributable 
to equity 
holders 
of parents 
£ 
5,055,580 

(193,655) 
(193,655) 

1,677,474 
(62,900) 
127,696 
- 
6,604,195 

(15,258) 
(15,258) 

3,415,581 
(123,000) 
243,156 

At 30 November 2018 

4,099,233 

6,786,382 

624,039 

(1,584,980) 

200,000 

10,124,674 

26 

 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2018 

Note 

2018 
£ 

2017 
£ 

Cash flows from operating activities 

Operating loss 
Consulting fees settled in shares 

Share option charge  
Provision for impairment 

Foreign exchange revaluation adjustment 
Increase/(decrease) in creditors 

Decrease/(increase) in debtors 

Net cash used in operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities 

Payments for deferred exploration expenditure 
Cash on acquisition of subsidiary 

Investments  

Net cash used in investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities 

Proceeds from the issue of shares and warrants  
Costs of issue 

Net cash generated from financing activities 

10 

10 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

13 

Non-cash transactions  

(885,314) 

(1,218,343) 

- 
243,156 

7,174 
(2,707) 

120,032 
(26,619) 

65,000 
127,695 

611,168 
4,526 

23,702 
(20,015) 

(544,278) 

(406,267) 

(733,527) 
44,661 
(985,002) 

(1,673,868) 

2,300,000 

(123,000) 

2,177,000 

(41,144) 
626,939 

585,795 

(356,616) 
- 
(449,049) 

(805,665) 

1,233,431 

(62,900) 

1,170,531 

(41,401) 
668,340 

626,939 

Significant non cash transactions related to the purchase of the Clogau gold project. See Note 9 to the accounts. 

Accruals includes capital items of £227,326 (2017: £35,461).  

27 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

COMPANY CASH FLOW STATEMENT 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2018 

Note 

2018 
£ 

2017 
£ 

Cash flows from operating activities 

Operating loss 
Consulting fees settled in shares 

Share option charge  
Provision for impairment 

Foreign exchange revaluation adjustment 
Increase/(decrease) in creditors 

Decrease/(increase) in debtors 

Net cash used in operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities 

Investments in and loans to subsidiaries 
Payments for deferred exploration activities 

Payments for available for sale assets 
Payments for intangible fixed assets 
Investments  

Net cash used in investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities 

Proceeds from the issue of shares and warrants  
Costs of issue 

Net cash generated from financing activities 

11 
9 

10 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

13 

(840,792) 

(893,655) 

- 
243,156 

7,174 
(14,827) 

75,443 
(26,619) 

65,000 
127,695 

361,484 
(27,452) 

25,771 
(20,015) 

(556,465) 

(361,172) 

(668,141) 
- 
- 
- 

(985,002) 

(1,673,143) 

(380,324) 
- 
- 
(20,905) 

(449,049) 

(850,278) 

2,300,000 

(123,000) 

2,177,000 

1,233,431 

(62,900) 

1,170,531 

(52,608) 

626,793 

574,185 

(40,919) 

667,712 

626,793 

Non-cash transactions  
Significant non cash transactions related to investments in and loans to subsidiaries of £1,115,581 (2017: 
£64,043). (In the prior period, other significant non cash transactions included the purchase of investments 
£315,000) and consulting fees of £65,000). 

Accruals includes capital items of £227,326 (2017: £35,461). 

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

1. 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND BASIS OF PREPARATION 

Alba Mineral Resources plc is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in England & Wales, whose 
shares are publicly traded on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange plc. The registered office address is 
6th Floor 60 Gracechurch Street, London, United Kingdom, EC3V 0HR. The consolidated financial statements have 
been  prepared  on  the  historical  cost  basis,  save  for  the  revaluation  of  certain  financial  assets.  The  principal 
accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have 
been applied consistently to all the years presented, except as explained below. 

Going concern 
Based on financial projections prepared by the directors, the Group’s current cash resources are insufficient to 
enable the Group to meet its recurring outgoings and projected exploration expenditure for the entirety of the 
next twelve months. However, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group will continue to be 
able to meet its commitments for the foreseeable future by raising funds when required from the equity capital 
markets.  The Company may also consider future joint venture funding arrangements in order to share the costs 
of the development of its exploration assets, or to consider divesting of certain of its assets and realising cash 
proceeds in that way in order to support the balance of its exploration and investment portfolio, though that is 
not currently the Company’s preferred route.   

In addition, these financial projections take no account of any revenues to be directly received by the Company 
as a result of oil production at the Brockham oil field. 

The directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements, but 
note that there is a material uncertainty over the ability of the Company to fund the recurring and projected 
expenditure, including development of the Group’s exploration assets. If the Company is unable to raise necessary 
funds, the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern would be in significant doubt and it may be 
unable to realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. In particular, the inability 
to fund the continued development of the Group’s exploration assets may result in them becoming impaired and 
any failure to contribute its share of future exploration and development activities in respect of the oil and gas 
investments would result in the dilution of the Group’s interests in those assets. 

Basis of accounting 
The consolidated and parent company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International 
Financial  Reporting  Standards  (“IFRS”),  International  Accounting  Standards  (“IAS”)  and  IFRS  Interpretations 
Committee  (“IFRIC”)  interpretations  as  adopted  by  the  European  Union  and,  as  regards  the  parent  company 
financial statements, in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. 

Critical accounting estimates and judgements 
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting practice requires 
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as well 
as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the reporting date and the reported amounts of revenues 
and expenses during the reporting period. Actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. 

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, 
including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The areas of 
judgement that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements are as 
follows: 

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

i) 

JUDGEMENTS 

Capitalisation of exploration and evaluation costs - £3,076,783 
The capitalisation of exploration costs relating to the exploration and evaluation phase requires management to 
make judgements as to the future events and circumstances of a project, especially in relation to whether an 
economically  viable  extraction  operation  can  be  established.  In  making  such  judgements,  the  directors  take 
comfort from the findings from exploration activities undertaken, the fact the Group intends to continue these 
activities  and  that  the  Company  expects  to  be  able  to  raise  additional  funding  to  enable  it  to  continue  the 
exploration activities.  

During the period £1,027,236 was capitalised on the acquisition of 90% of the Clogau gold project in Wales (see 
Note 9), being 100% of the licence valuation with a liability recognised for the put and call option over the 10% of 
the license interest not owned. The balance of the Group’s deferred exploration costs relate to the additions to 
the  Clogau  gold  project  post-acquisition,  to  the  projects  in  Greenland  (ilmenite,  graphite,  iron  ore)  and  the 
Limerick base metals project.  

Impairment assessment of exploration and evaluation costs - £3,076,783 
At each reporting date, management make a judgment as to whether circumstances have changed following the 
initial capitalisation and whether there are indicators of impairment. If there are such indicators, an impairment 
review will be performed which could result in the relevant capitalised amount being written off to the income 
statement. 

Accounting for Investment - £5,430,000 
The Group and Company’s investment in Horse Hill Developments Limited (“HHDL”) is in the form of equity and 
a shareholder loan. However, the Directors judge that the loan is in substance part of the equity investment as 
governed by the HHDL investment agreement.  

The Group and Company’s shareholding in HHDL is 18.1%.  A director of the Company is also a director of HHDL, 
but does not act in an executive capacity.  At the balance sheet date HHDL had a majority 71.9% shareholder.  The 
Directors  judge  that  the  Company  does  not  have  significant  influence  over  HHDL  and  that  it  should  not  be 
accounted for as an associate. 

Control over Mauritania Ventures Limited 
The  Directors have to use judgement  to assess  whether  they have  control over Mauritania Ventures Limited, 
where the Group owns a 50% economic interest. The Directors have assessed that they have control over that 
company and therefore it is accounted for as a subsidiary. (See also Note 11).  

Impairment assessment of investment in and loans subsidiaries – company only  
In preparing the parent company financial statements, the Directors apply judgement to decide if any, or all of 
the company’s investments in and loans to each of Aurum Mineral Resources Limited, Obsidian Mining Limited, 
White Eagle Resources Limited, White Fox Resources Limited and Dragonfire Mining Limited are impaired or not. 
See  Note  11.  These  companies  have  no  source  of  funds  other  than  their  shareholders  and  the  ability  of  the 
companies  to repay  their inter-company debt  and for the  Company to gain value  from its investments  in  the 
companies  is  dependent  on  the  future  success  of  the  companies’  exploration  activities.  In  undertaking  their 
review, the Directors consider the outcome of their impairment assessment of the relevant licences as detailed 
above.  

Acquisition of the Clogau Gold project (Gold Mines of Wales group of companies) 
The acquisition of the Gold Mines of Wales group of companies during the period was completed in stages. A 49% 
holding was acquired as a joint venture on 4 December 2017 by Dragonfire Mining Limited (“DML”), a wholly 
owned subsidiary of Alba Mineral Resources plc, with the acquisition of an additional 41% shareholding being 
made on 24 August 2018 resulting in DML holding 90% of Gold Mines of Wales Limited. 

30 

 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

As at the date of acquisition of the second tranche of shares, the Gold Mines of Wales group had no employees 
and its sole assets were a parcel of land in North Wales, a cash balance and the exploration licence over a large 
area of land, including a disused gold mine. This licence is classified as a prospective licence requiring further 
exploration and appraisal and there is no certainty that the licence will result in commercial operations. For these 
reasons, the Directors consider that the Gold Mines of Wales group is not a business (as defined by IFRS 3 Business 
Combinations) and as such the acquisition of the group is treated as the purchase of a licence interest, rather 
than a business combination. (For more information see Note 9 to the accounts). 

ii) 

ESTIMATES 

Carrying value of investment - £5,430,000 
The Company’s investment in Horse Hill Developments Limited is carried at fair value, as, in the judgement of the 
directors, it has been possible to estimate a reliable fair value for the investment by reference to recent share 
transactions, where there has been no substantial variation in the range of values. 

New standards and interpretations 

The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the previous financial year. There are no new and 
amended standards and interpretations that impact either the financial position, financial results, disclosures or 
stated accounting policies of the Group. 

At the date of authorisation of these financial statements the following amendments which have not been applied 
in these financial statements were in issue and endorsed by the EU but not yet effective: 

IFRS 9: Financial Instruments (effective 1 January 2018) 
IFRS 15: Revenue from Contracts with Customers (effective 1 January 2018) 
IFRS 16: Leases (effective 1 January 2019) 
Amendments  to  IFRS  2:  Classification  and  measurement  of  share-based  payments  (effective  1  January  2018) 
Amendments to IAS 28: Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures (effective 1 January 2019) 
Amendments to IFRS 3 and IFRS 11 as part of Annual Improvement Cycle amendments 2015 – 2017 (effective 1 
January 2019) 

In addition, there are further amendments and standards which have been issued but not yet endorsed by the 
EU, including:  

Amendments to IFRS 3: Business Combinations 

The directors do not anticipate the adoption of these amendments will have a material impact on the financial 
statements in the period of initial application. Other amendments, standards and interpretations are in issue but 
they are not relevant to the Group and as such they are not commented on. 

Basis of consolidation 

The  consolidated  financial  statements  incorporate  the  financial  statements  of  the  Company  and  companies 
controlled by the Company, the Subsidiary Companies, drawn up to 30 November each year. 

Control is recognised where  the  Company has the  power to govern the  financial and operating policies  of an 
investee entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during 
the year are included in the consolidated income statement from the effective date of acquisition or up to the 
effective date of disposal, where appropriate.  

31 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

Where  necessary,  adjustments  are  made  to  the  financial  statements  of  subsidiaries  to  bring  the  accounting 
policies used into line with those used by the Group. All intra-group transactions, balances, income and expenses  
are  eliminated  on  consolidation.  Non-controlling  interests  in  the  net  assets  of  consolidated  subsidiaries  are 
identified separately from the Group’s equity therein.  

Non-controlling  interests  consist  of  the  amounts  of  those  interests  at  the  date  of  the  original  business 
combination and the minority’s share of changes in equity since the date of the combination. 

Foreign currency  

For the purposes of the consolidated financial statements, the results and financial position of each Group entity 
are expressed in pounds sterling, which is the presentation currency for the consolidated financial statements. 

In preparing the financial statements of the individual entities, transactions in currencies other than the entity’s 
functional  currency  (foreign  currencies)  are  recorded  at  the  rates  of  exchange  prevailing  at  the  dates  of  the 
transactions. At each reporting date, monetary items denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the 
rates prevailing at the reporting date. Exchange differences arising are included in the profit or loss for the period. 

For the purposes of preparing consolidated financial statements, the assets and liabilities of the Group’s foreign 
operations  are  translated  at  exchange  rates  prevailing  on  the  reporting  date.  Income  and  expense  items  are 
translated at the average exchange rates for the period. Gains and losses from exchange differences so arising 
are shown through the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity. 

Intangible assets: Deferred exploration and evaluation costs 

Pre-licence costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Expenditure on licence renewals and new 
licence applications covering an area previously under licence are capitalised in accordance with the policy set 
out below.  

Once the legal right to explore has been acquired, exploration costs and evaluation costs arising are capitalised 
on a project-by-project basis, pending determination of the technical feasibility and commercial viability of the 
project. Costs include appropriate technical and administrative expenses. If a project is successful, the related 
expenditures will be reclassified as development and production assets and amortised over the estimated life of 
the commercial reserves. Prior to this, no amortisation is recognised in respect of such costs. Where a licence is 
relinquished, a project abandoned, or is considered to be of no further commercial value to the Company, the 
related costs will be written off to administrative expense within profit or loss. Deferred exploration costs are 
carried at historical cost less any impairment losses recognised. 

Where the Group has entered into a farm out agreement, the Group does not record any expenditure made by 
the farmee on its account. It also does not recognise any gain or loss on its exploration and evaluation farm-out 
arrangements, but redesignates any costs previously capitalised in relation to the whole interest as relating to 
the partial interest retained. Any cash consideration received directly from the farmee is credited against costs 
previously capitalised in relation to the whole interest with any excess accounted for as a gain on disposal. 
Where the Group enters into a farm in agreement the Group recognised all expenditure which it incurs under 
that agreement, with the expenditure being either capitalised or expensed in accordance with the policy detailed 
above.  

32 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

Intangible assets: Development and production assets  

Development and production assets are accumulated into cost centres and represent the cost of developing the 
commercial reserves and bringing them into production together with any previously deferred exploration and 
evaluation. 

On  acquisition  of  development  and  production  assets  from  a  third  party,  the  asset  will  be  recognised  in  the 
financial statements on signature of the sale and purchase agreement, subject to satisfaction of any substantive 
conditions within the agreement. 

Costs  relating  to  each  cost  centre  are  depreciated  on  a  unit  of  production  method  based  on  the  commercial 
proven  reserves  for  that  cost  centre.  Changes  in  reserve  quantities  and  cost  estimates  are  recognised 
prospectively.  On  disposal  of  any  part  of  a  development  and  production  asset,  proceeds  are  credited  to  the 
Statement of Comprehensive Income, less the percentage cost relating to the disposal. 

A  review  is  performed  for  any  indication  that  the  value  of  the  development  and  production  assets  may  be 
impaired.  Where  there  are  such  indications,  an  impairment  test  is  carried  out  on  the  relevant  cost  centre. 
Additional  depletion  is  included  within  cost  of  sales  within  the  Statement  of  Comprehensive  Income  if  the 
capitalised costs of the cost centre exceed the associated estimated future discounted cash flows of the related 
commercial oil and gas reserves. 

Financial instruments 

Investment  in  subsidiaries:  Investment  in  subsidiaries  are  recognised  initially  at  cost  less  any  provision  for 
impairment. 

Investment in associates and joint ventures: Investments in associates and joint ventures are recognised initially 
at  cost  and  adjusted  thereafter to  recognise  the  group’s  share  of  the  post-acquisition  profits  or  losses  of  the 
investee in the Company’s profit and loss account. 

Investments:  Investments  in  unlisted  equity  instruments  whose  fair  value  cannot  be  reliably  measured  are 
recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at cost. Investments in unlisted equity instruments 
where a value can be reliably measured are recognised at fair value. Investments in listed equity instruments are 
recognised initially and subsequently at fair value and are classed as available for sale assets.  

Trade and other receivables: Trade and other receivables are not interest bearing and are recognised initially at 
fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method less provision for 
impairment. 

Cash and cash equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and deposits held at call with banks. 

Trade and other payables: Trade and other payables are not interest bearing and are recognised initially at fair 
value and subsequently measured at amortised cost. 

Financial liabilities: All financial liabilities are recognised initially at fair value and are subsequently measured at 
amortised cost. There are no financial liabilities classified as being at fair value through profit or loss. The liability 
recognised  for  the  10%  call  option  over  the  remaining  shares  in  the  Clogau  gold  project  not  owned  by  the 
Company  is  reassessed  at  each  reporting  date  and  any  change  in  the  liability  will  be  recognised  against  the 
intangible asset value on the balance sheet. 

Share capital: The Company’s ordinary and deferred shares are classified as equity. 

33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

Warrants: Warrants are stated at their value, which is estimated using a Black Scholes model (2017: a binomial 
model). 

Taxation 

The charge for taxation is based on the profit or loss for the year and takes into account deferred tax. The Group’s 
liability  for  current  tax  is  calculated  using  tax  rates  that  have  been  enacted  or  substantively  enacted  by  the 
reporting date. 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 
computation of taxable profit or loss, and is accounted for using the liability method. 

Deferred tax assets are only recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available 
in the foreseeable future against which the temporary differences can be utilised. 

2. 

ANALYSIS OF SEGMENTAL INFORMATION 

The Group currently only has one primary reporting business segment, exploration and development. The Board 
of the Company evaluates the business on a sector basis, the two sectors being mining and oil and gas. The group 
exploration assets and investments along with capital expenditures are presented on this basis below: 

Total assets 
Mining 
Oil and gas 
AFS assets 
Net current assets 

Capital expenditure 
Mining 
Oil and gas 

2018 
£ 
2,814,878 
5,776,904 
7,161 
647,689 
9,246,632 

763,738 
1,123,876 
1,887,614 

2017 
£ 
937,306 
3,827,495 
14,335 
662,215 
5,441,351 

309,748 
654,055 
963,803 

The  Group’s  primary  business  activities  operate  in  three  different  geographical  areas  (and  the  Group  has  an 
investment in a fourth area) and the group exploration assets and investments along with capital expenditures 
are presented on the basis of geographical segments below: 

Total assets 
Republic of Ireland 
Greenland 
Australia 
England & Wales 

Capital expenditure 
Republic of Ireland 
Greenland 
England & Wales 

2018 
£ 
104,273 
1,521,154 
7,161 
7,614,044 
9,246,632 

7,692 
678,831 
1,201,091 
1,887,615 

2017 
£ 
94,984 
842,322 
14,335 
4,489,710 
5,441,351 

7,102 
302,651 
654,055 
963,808 

34 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

2. 

ANALYSIS OF SEGMENTAL INFORMATION (continued) 

The administrative expenditure in the income statement primarily relates to central costs.   

In the current period the revaluation of investment related to the oil and gas assets. The profit on revaluation of 
investment in a joint venture related to a mining asset in England & Wales (see Note 9). In 2017, the impairment 
charge related to a full write down of a mining asset in Mauritania and the revaluation of investment related to 
an oil and gas asset in England & Wales. 

3. 

OPERATING PROFIT/(LOSS) 

This is stated after charging/(crediting): 
Impairment of intangible exploration asset 

Share-based payments expense 
Auditor’s remuneration 
- audit services 

- other services 

4. 

DIRECTORS’ EMOLUMENTS 

2018 
£ 

2017 
£ 

- 

243,156 

569,218 

127,695 

40,335 

20,420 

- 

- 

There were no employees during the period apart from the directors, who are the key management personnel. 
No directors had benefits accruing under money purchase pension schemes. 

Group and Company  

Directors’ Remuneration 
Fees 
Salaries 

Share option charge  
Social security costs 

Key management personnel remuneration  

Average number of employees 

2018 
£ 

2017 
£ 

42,140 
130,000 

172,140 
177,522 
13,959 

16,800 
156,000 

172,800 
120,614 
17,343 

363,621 

310,757 

3 

3 

35 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

4. 

DIRECTORS’ EMOLUMENTS (continued) 

Fees 
2018 

£ 

17,890 
24,250 

- 

Salaries 
2018 

£ 

100,000 
18,000 

12,000 

Total 
2018 

£ 

Fees 
2017 

£ 

Salaries 
2017 

£ 

Total 
2017 

£ 

117,890 
42,250 

12,000 

16,800 
- 

- 

100,000 
42,000 

14,000 

116,800 
42,000 

14,000 

Executive Directors 

George Frangeskides 
Michael Nott 

Manuel Lamboley 

Total 

42,140 

130,000 

172,140 

16,800 

156,000 

172,800 

In 2017, Mr Frangeskides agreed to settle fees of £14,000 by way of the issue of fully paid ordinary shares. 

Note 23 gives details of other transactions with the directors.   

During the year the Company granted warrants and options to each of the directors as follows: 

George Frangeskides 
Michael Nott 
Manuel Lamboley 

2018 
No 
60,000,000 
12,000,000 
- 

2017 
No 
60,000,000 
15,000,000 
- 

The warrants issued to Mr Nott during the year ended 30 November 2018 have an exercise price of 0.42 pence 
per share. Subject to the terms of the warrants, the warrants vest on 31 December 2018 and can be exercised 
until 27 March 2021.  

The options awarded to Mr Frangeskides during the year ended 30 November 2018 were under the Company’s 
Enterprise Management Incentive plan (“EMI scheme”) comprising 15 million share options vesting 31 December 
2018, with a further 15 million share options vesting on each of the dates falling 6, 12 and 18 months following 
that initial vesting date. These options have an exercise price of 0.42p and expire on the tenth anniversary of 
grant,  being  2  May  2028,  if  not  exercised.  They  are  subject  to  accelerated  vesting  in  certain  circumstances, 
including pursuant to a change of control of the Company following a completed takeover offer. 

The estimated value of the share-based remuneration provided to directors in the year ended 30 November 2018 
was £177,522 (2017: £120,614). This value is derived from a Black Scholes model as described in Note 16 (2017: 
binomial model). The warrants were granted when the share price was 0.37 pence per share and the warrants 
were valued at between 0.18 pence and 0.27 pence per share depending on their vesting date.  The warrant value 
is high as a proportion of the market price due to the share price volatility. 

The warrants issued during the prior year have an exercise price of 0.4 pence per share and can be exercised at 
any time until 27 March 2021. Warrants issued under the EMI scheme in prior year have the same exercise prise 
but can be exercised at any time until 13 Jan 2027.   

36 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

5. 

INCOME TAXES 

a) Analysis of charge in the period 

United Kingdom corporation tax at 19% (2017: 19.34%) 
Deferred taxation 

b) Factors affecting tax charge for the period 

2018 
£ 
- 
- 

- 

2017 
£ 
- 
- 

- 

The tax assessed on the profit on ordinary activities for the year differs from the standard rate of corporation tax 
in the UK 19% (2017: 19.34%). The differences are explained below: 

Loss on ordinary activities before tax 

2018 

£ 

2017 

£ 

(75,106) 

(518,343) 

Profit/(loss) multiplied by standard rate of tax 

(14,525) 

(100,236) 

Effects of: 

Income not taxable 

Losses carried forward not recognised as deferred tax assets 

(156,851) 

171,376 

- 

(135,380) 

235,616 

- 

A deferred tax asset has not been recognised in respect of timing differences relating to tax losses and accelerated 
capital allowances, as there is insufficient evidence that the potential asset will be recovered. Given the lack of 
funds available to the Group and the non-recognition of any asset, no full analysis of deferred tax asset has been 
prepared. However, the aggregated losses in each of the Group companies, Alba Mineral Resources plc, Aurum 
Mineral Resources Ltd, Mauritania Ventures Limited, Obsidian Mining Limited, White Eagle Resources Limited, 
White Fox Resources Limited, Dragonfire Mining Limited, Gold Mines of Wales Limited, GMOW (Holdings) Limited 
and GMOW (Operations) Limited amounted to £3,170,226 before adjustments required by local tax rules and 
excluding losses on intra-group transactions (2017: £3,095,120 incorrectly stated as £3,795,120 in the prior year). 

6. 

COMPANY LOSS FOR THE YEAR 

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption allowed under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and 
has  not  included  its  own  income  statement  and  statement  of  comprehensive  income  in  these  financial 
statements. The Company’s loss for the year amounted to £15,258 (2017: £193,655 loss). 

7. 

PROFIT PER SHARE 

Basic  profit  per  share  is  calculated  by  dividing  the  loss  attributed to ordinary  shareholders of  £72,823  (2017: 
£227,699 loss) by the weighted average number of shares of 2,717,353,000 (2017: 1,949,148,404) in issue during 
the year. The diluted profit per share calculation is identical to that used for basic profit per share as warrants are 
not dilutive due to the losses incurred. 

37 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

8. 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT  

Group  
Cost  
At 1 December 2017 
Additions 

At 30 November 2018 

Land and 
buildings  
£ 

- 
85,000 

85,000 

The land and buildings were acquired during the year as part of the Clogau gold project. At the year end they 
were held at cost. 

9. 

INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS  

Group  
Cost  
At 1 December 2016 
Exchange differences 
Additions 

At 30 November 2017 

Exchange differences 

Acquisitions 

Additions 

As 30 November 2018 

Amortisation  

As at 1 December 2016 

Impairment charge for the year  

As 30 November 2017 

As 30 November 2018 

Net book value  

At 30 November 2018 

Exploration and 
evaluation  
£ 
1,196,770 
6 
309,748 

Development and 
production 
£ 
187,125 
- 
20,905 

1,506,524 

1,598 

1,027,236 

763,739 

3,299,097 

(569,218) 

(569,218) 

(569,218) 

208,030 

- 

- 

138,874 

346,904 

- 

- 

- 

Total  
£ 

1,383,895 
6 
330,653 

1,714,554 

1,598 

1,027,236 

902,613 

3,646,001 

(569,218) 

(569,218) 

(569,218) 

2,729,879 

346,904 

3,076,783 

At 30 November 2017 

937,306 

208,030 

1,145,336 

The  Group’s  intangible  fixed  assets  relate  to  Amitsoq,  the  Greenland  graphite  project  (£747,087),  Thule,  the 
Greenland  mineral  sands  project  (£540,895),  Inglefield  Land,  the  Greenland  polymetallic  project  (£175,562), 
Melville Bay, the Greenland iron ore project (£57,609), the Limerick base metals project (£104,273), the Brockham 
oil field project (£346,904) and the Clogau gold project (£1,104,451), acquired during the period (see below). 

Acquisitions: On 24 August 2018 the Group announced the completion of the acquisition of a further 41% of the 
Gold Mines of Wales group, reported as the Clogau gold project. It had previously completed its acquisition of 
49% of the group on 4 December 2018. Both transactions fall into this reporting period so that the Clogau gold  

38 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

9. 

INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS (continued) 

project is accounted for as a joint venture between 4 December 2018 and 24 August 2018. Thereafter it is fully 
consolidated. The transaction is treated as an asset acquisition (see Note 1). 

Purchase consideration 

Shares as consideration for 49% on 4 December 2017 
Share of loss of joint venture between acquisition dates 
Book value of joint venture at 24 August 2018 
Shares and warrants as consideration for 41% on 24 August 2018 
Valuation of contingent consideration for remaining 10% 

£ 
316,667 
(15,325) 
301,342 
798,914 
34,176 
1,134,432 

Additional  consideration  in  the  form  of  a  royalty  agreement  was  included  agreed  as  part  of  the  purchase 
agreement. This is contingent on uncertain future events and the directors consider that this cannot reliably be 
measured at acquisition date or at balance sheet date.  

The purchase agreement also included a put and call option over the 10% of shares not held by Dragonfire Mining 
Limited. The directors have applied a valuation to this option as shown above and have recognised a liability for 
that amount in the accounts. This valuation will be reviewed at the next reporting date. Any change in value will 
be applied to the intangible asset for the project. 

The book values of the assets (£158,127) and liabilities (£22,465) acquired are considered equate to their fair 
value  and  the  excess  of  the  consideration  of  £1,134,432  over  the  net  book  value  has  been  allocated  to  the 
intangible license interest. 

The  provision  for  impairment  during  the  prior  period  was  against  the  intangible  fixed  assets  relating  to  the 
Mauritania uranium project. The Mauritania Uranium project is held by Mauritania Ventures Limited, a company 
which is 50% owned by the Group. The consent of the holder of the other 50% of the shares must be obtained 
before the project asset can be sold or otherwise transferred.  

Company  
Cost 
At 1 December 2016 
Additions 

At 30 November 2017 

Additions 

At 30 November 2018 

Exploration and 
evaluation  
£ 
- 
- 

Development and 
production 
£ 
187,125 
20,905 

- 

- 

- 

208,030 

138,874 

346,904 

Total  
£ 

187,125 
20,905 

208,030 

138,874 

346,904 

The company development and production costs relate solely to the Brockham oil field. 

39 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

10. 

INVESTMENTS 

At 30 November 2016 

Additions 

Revaluation 

At 30 November 2017 

Additions 

Revaluation 

At 30 November 2018 

£ 

2,286,315 

633,150 

700,000 

3,619,465 

985,002 

825,533 

5,430,000 

The above investment represents an investment in 18.1% (2017: 18.1%) of the issued share capital of Horse Hill 
Developments Limited (“HHDL”) and an associated loan to that company.  HHDL is an early stage private company 
with no stock quote, but recent share transactions have been without substantial variation in the range of prices 
and have allowed the directors to reliably estimate the fair value of the investment. Under the IFRS 13 valuation 
hierarchy this is a level 2 valuation technique, with the observable inputs being the share prices arising on recent 
purchase of HHDL shares.  

The directors’ current intention is to retain this investment for the foreseeable future. The registered office of 
HHDL is: The Broadgate Tower, 8th Floor, 20 Primrose Street, London, EC2A 2EW.  

11. 

INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS 

Company 

At 30 November 2016 

Additions 

Foreign exchange movements 
Provision for impairment 

At 30 November 2017 

Additions 

Foreign exchange movements 

Provision for impairment 

At 30 November 2018 

Investments 
£ 

Loans 
£ 

Total 
£ 

581,633 

(904) 

- 
(50,000) 

530,729 

99 

- 

- 

1,633,800 

355,271 

27,452 
(269,534) 

1,746,989 

1,892,075 

14,833 

- 

2,215,433 

354,367 

27,452 
(319,534) 

2,277,718 

1,892,174 

14,833 

- 

530,828 

3,653,897 

4,184,725 

During the prior period the Company made a provision for impairment of its investment in Mauritania Ventures 
Limited and the associated intercompany loan.  

40 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

11. 

INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS (continued) 

At 30 November 2018 the Company held the following interests in subsidiary undertakings, which are included in 
the consolidated financial statements and are unlisted. 

Name of company 

Aurum Mineral Resources Ltd 
Mauritania Ventures Limited 
Obsidian Mining Limited 
White Eagle Resources Limited 
White Fox Resources Limited 
Dragonfire Mining Limited 
Gold Mines of Wales Limited 
GMOW (Holdings) Limited 
GMOW (Operations) Limited 

Country of 
incorporation 
Ireland 
England & Wales 
England & Wales 
England & Wales 
England & Wales 
England & Wales 
Jersey 
England & Wales 
England & Wales 

Proportion 
held 
100% 
50% 
90% 
100% 
51% 
100% 
90% 
90% 
90% 

Nature of 
holding 
Direct 
Direct 
Direct 
Direct 
Direct 
Direct 
Indirect 
Indirect 
Indirect 

Business 

Exploration 
Exploration 
Exploration 
Exploration 
Exploration 
Exploration 
Holding Co. 
Holding Co. 
Exploration 

The address of the registered office of Aurum Mineral Resources Ltd is c/o Hugh Lennon Associates, Unit 8&10 
Church View, Cavan, Ireland.  
The address of the registered office of Gold Mines of Wales Limited is 2 Mark Clos, La Rue de la Croix, St 
Clement, Jersey. 
All the other companies have their registered office at 6th Floor, 60 Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 0HR.  

Mauritania  Ventures  Limited  has  been  treated  as  a  subsidiary  undertaking  because  the  Company  exercises 
dominant influence over the investment by virtue of having the casting vote at Board meetings. 

During  the  period,  Dragonfire  Mining  Limited  acquired  a  90%  holding  in  Gold  Mines  of Wales Limited, which 
company wholly owns GMOW (Holdings) Limited and its wholly owned subsidiary GMOW (Operations) Limited. 
Dragonfire Mining  Limited  holds  a  put  and  call option  over  the  10%  of  shares  it  does  not  own  and  therefore 
consolidates these entities as though they are 100% owned. 

12. 

TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES 

Current 
Other debtors 
Prepayments and accrued income 

Group 
2018 
£ 
38,172 
23,722 
61,894 

Group 
2017 

£ 
22,796 
12,480 
35,276 

Company 
2018 

Company 
2017 

£ 
38,172 
23,722 
61,894 

£ 
22,796 
12,480 
35,276 

The fair value of trade and other receivables approximates to their book value. 

41 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

13. 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS  

Cash at bank and in hand 

585,795  626,939  574,185 

626,793 

Group 
2018 

Group 
2017 

Company 
2018 

Company 
2017 

£ 

£ 

£ 

£ 

The fair value of cash at bank is the same as its carrying value. 

14. 

TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES   

Current 
Trade creditors 
Other creditors 
Accruals and deferred income 

Group 
Group 
2017 
2018 
£ 
£ 
58,807 
140,428 
22,978 
12,278 
340,489 
98,229 
493,195  180,014 

Company 
2018 

Company 
2017 

£ 

139,435 
12,277 
328,477 
480,189 

£ 
57,826 
22,978 
96,618 
177,422 

The fair value of trade and other payables approximates to their book value. 

15. 

FINANCIAL LIABILITIES 

Financial Liabilities 
Other borrowings 
Contingent consideration 

Group 
2018 
£ 

Group 
2017 
£ 

253,074  253,073 
- 
287,250  253,073 

34,176 

Company 
2018 

Company 
2017 

£ 

£ 

- 

- 

- 

- 

The loans outstanding are non-interest bearing with no fixed repayment term and are unsecured.  The contingent 
consideration is recognition of a liability in respect of the put and call option over the remaining 10% shareholding 
in the Clogau gold project which the Company does not own. 

16. 

CALLED UP SHARE CAPITAL 

Allotted, called up and fully paid 
Ordinary shares of 0.1 pence 
Deferred shares of 0.9 pence 
Total 

2018 
Number 
of shares 

2018 

£ 

2017 
Number 
of shares 

2017 

£ 

3,261,601,946 
93,070,100 
3,354,672,046 

3,261,602  2,248,614,935 
93,070,100 
4,099,233  2,341,685,035 

837,631 

2,248,615 
837,631 
3,086,246 

42 

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

16. 

CALLED UP SHARE CAPITAL (continued) 

On 27 May 2016 the Company adopted new Articles which do not specify authorised share capital. All issued 
ordinary  shares  carry  equal  rights.  The  deferred  shares  do  not  carry  any  rights  to  vote  or  dividend  rights.  In 
addition, holders of deferred shares will only be entitled to a payment on a return of capital or on a winding up 
of the Company after each of the holders of the ordinary shares have received a payment of £1,000,000 on each 
such share.  

During the year the Company issued ordinary shares as follows:  

4 December 2017 – consideration for 49% share in Gold Mines of Wales  
29 March 2018 – placing for cash  
2 May 2018 – placing for cash 
24 August 2018 – consideration for additional 41% in Gold Mines of Wales 
(share price based on date of conditional acquisition agreement 16 July 2018) 
9 November 2018 – placing for cash 
Total 

Number of 
shares  

83,333,333 
250,000,000 
266,666,666 
185,714,285 

Proceeds of 
issue 
£ 
316,667 
750,000 
800,000 
650,000 

227,272,727 
1,012,987,011 

750,000 
3,266,667 

Details of the shares issued (and warrants exercise) after the period end are given in Note 24. 

As at 30 November 2018 Alba had 341,904,761 warrants and options outstanding. 

Exercise price (pence) 

Final exercise date 

Vested 

No. of warrants 
15,000,0001 
20,000,0001 
2,000,000 
51,000,0002 
15,000,0003 
60,000,0003 

5,000,0003 
113,904,7614 

0.3 pence 
0.3 pence 
0.3 pence 
0.3 pence 
0.4 pence 
0.4 pence 

18 September 2020 
27 March 2021 
28 May 2021 
27 March 2021 
27 March 2021 
13 January 2027 

0.7 pence 
0.42 pence 

1 Nov 2019 
27 March 2021 

Vested 
Vested 
Vested 
Vested 
Vested 
Awarded under the EMI scheme. 
Vested. 
Vested 
Partially vested.  
24,500,000 vesting in 2019 and 2020 
Awarded under the EMI scheme. 
Not yet vested. 30,000,000 vesting 
2019, 30,000,000 vesting 2020 

60,000,0004 

0.42 pence 

2 May 2028 

341,904,761 

43 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

16. 

CALLED UP SHARE CAPITAL (continued) 

As at 30 November 2017 Alba had 173,000,000 warrants and options outstanding. 

No. of warrants 
15,000,0001 
20,000,0001 
2,000,000 
51,000,0002 
15,000,0003 
60,000,0003 

5,000,0003 
5,000,0003 

173,000,000 

Exercise price (pence) 

Final exercise date 

Vested 

0.3 pence 
0.3 pence 
0.3 pence 
0.3 pence 
0.4 pence 
0.4 pence 

18 September 2020 
27 March 2021 
28 May 2021 
27 March 2021 
27 March 2021 
13 January 2027 

0.6 pence 
0.7 pence 

22 Oct 2020 
1 Nov 2019 

Vested 
Vested 
Vested 
Vested 
Vested 
Awarded under the EMI scheme – 
see Note 4.  
30,000,000 vested in 2017, 
30,000,000 vesting in 2018 
Vesting 2018 
2,500,000 vested Dec 2017,  
2,500,000 vesting 2018 

1,2,3,4 These warrants fall within the scope of IFRS 2 “Share-based Payments” and were issued in 2015, 2016, 2017 
and 2018 respectively. The fair value of the warrants issued in 2018 calculated using a Black Scholes model was 
£392,070 (In the prior year a binomial model was used with a fair value of warrants issued of £120,614). Within 
the meaning of the IFRS 13 fair value hierarchies, this is a Level 2 valuation. It is based on the Company’s share 
price volatility over the period to the date of issue of the warrants, a risk free rate of  1.25% (2017: 0.5%) per 
annum, a dividend yield of nil, the life of the options, the share price at the date of issue of the warrants and the 
strike prices of the warrants. The volatility was derived from the quoted prices for the Company’s shares in the 
12-month period prior to the issue of the respective warrants. 

17. 

NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS 

At 30 November 2016 

Loss on ordinary activities after taxation  

At 30 November 2017 

Loss on ordinary activities after taxation  

At 30 November 2018 

18. 

RESERVES 

£ 

26,426 

(290,644) 

(264,218) 

(2,283) 

(266,501) 

The following describes the nature and purpose of certain reserves within owners’ equity: 

Share premium: Amounts subscribed for share capital in excess of nominal value less costs of issue.  

Merger reserve: Amount in excess of nominal value on issue of shares in relation to business combinations. 

Foreign currency reserve: Gains/losses arising on retranslating the net assets of the Group into pounds sterling. 

Warrant reserve: Proceeds from the issue of extant warrants. 

44 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

19. 

CAPITAL COMMITMENTS 

As at 30 November 2018, the Group / Company had committed to spend at least approximately £675,000 in the 
coming year on its Greenland licences, being in approximate terms the minimum commitment required under 
the licences. At the date of publication of these financial statements, due to changes to the areas under licence, 
that commitment had reduced to approximately £388,000. 

20. 

CONTINGENT LIABILITIES 

A royalty agreement was agreed as part of the acquisition of the Clogau gold project (see Note 9).   

The Company / Group will be liable for 5% of the abandonment and reinstatement costs relating to the Brockham 
Production licence. The liability which is expected will arise is not material to the Group or Company.  

21. 

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 

The Group’s financial instruments comprise investments, cash at bank and various items such as available for sale 
assets, other debtors, loans and creditors. The Group has not entered into derivative transactions nor does it 
trade financial instruments as a matter of policy.  

Credit Risk 
The Group’s credit risk arises primarily from cash at bank, other debtors and the risk the counterparty fails to 
discharge  its obligations.  In  2018,  other  debtors  included  £14,400  that  was  past  due  but  not  impaired  (2017: 
£9,900). 

The Company’s credit risk primarily arises from intercompany debtors, which are considered to form part of the 
Company’s investment in the subsidiaries (see Note 11) and cash at bank and other debtors, as per the Group. 
Should the  subsidiaries’ exploration  activities not  be successful, it  is possible that these  debtors may become 
irrecoverable. 

Liquidity Risk 
Liquidity risk arises from the management of cash funds and working capital. The risk is that the Group will fail to 
meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Group operates within the constraints of available funds and 
cash flow projections are produced and regularly reviewed by management. 

Interest rate risk profile of financial assets 
The only financial assets (other than short term debtors) are cash at bank and in hand, which comprises money 
at  call.  The  interest  earned  in  the  year  was  negligible.  The  directors  believe  the  fair  value  of  the  financial 
instruments is not materially different to the book value. 

Foreign currency risk 
The  Group  has  an  Irish  subsidiary,  which  can  affect  the  Group’s  sterling  denominated  reported  results  as  a 
consequence  of movements  in the  sterling/euro exchange  rates. The  Group also incurs costs  denominated in 
foreign currencies  (primarily  Danish Krone) which gives  rise to short  term exchange  risk. The  Group does not 
currently hedge against these exposures as they are deemed immaterial and there is no material exposure as at 
the year-end (2017: £nil).  

45 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

21. 

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued) 

Market risk  
Following the acquisition of the investment in Horse Hill Developments Limited (“HHDL”), the Group is exposed 
to market risk in that the value of the investment would be expected to vary depending on the price of oil and 
the future cash calls will, to an extent, depend on the revenue generated from oil produced from well testing 
activities. A 10% variation in the price of HHDL shares would result in a change in market value of the Group’s 
investment in HHDL of £493,000.  

The Group is also exposed to market risk arising from listed investments which are stated at their fair value.  

Categories of financial instruments 

Financial assets 
Investments – at fair value through the profit and loss 
account 
Available for sale financial assets – at fair value  
Loans and receivables 

Financial liabilities 
Financial liabilities held at amortised cost 

Group 
2018 

£ 

Group 
2017 

£ 

Company  Company 

2018 
£ 

2017 
£ 

5,430,000  3,619,465  5,430,000  3,619,465 

7,161 
38,172 

14,335 
22,796 

22,796 
5,475,333  3,656,596  5,475,333  3,656,596 

38,172 

7,161 

14,335 

780,445 

433,086 

480,190 

177,422 

780,445 

433,086 

480,190 

177,422 

Contractual  liabilities  of  £253,073  (2017:  £253,073;  Company  2018:  £nil,  2017:  £nil)  have  no  fixed  terms  for 
repayment. Liabilities of £34,176 are not yet due and relate to a valuation of a call option over 10% of the Clogau 
gold project. Other contractual liabilities are either contractually overdue or due within one month. 

 22. 

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT 

The Group’s objective when managing capital is to safeguard the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern 
and  develop  its  mining  and  exploration  activities  to  provide  returns  for  shareholders.  The  Group’s  funding 
comprises  equity  and  debt.  The  directors  consider  the  Company’s  capital  and  reserves  to  be  capital.  When 
considering the future capital requirements of the Group and the potential to fund specific project development 
via debt, the directors consider the risk characteristics of all the underlying assets in assessing the optimal capital 
structure. 

46 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

23. 

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 

Company 

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties of the Company, have been 
eliminated on consolidation. The loan balances and transactions in the year with the subsidiaries are disclosed in 
Note 11. Details of transactions between the Company and other related parties are disclosed below. 

Group  

Stirling Corporate Services Limited, a company which George Frangeskides, a director of the Company, controls, 
charged the Group £30,319 (2017: £14,652) for the provision of financial and administrative services. As at the 
year end, £21,395 (2017: £nil) was owed to Stirling Corporate Services Limited. 

Aetos Consulting Limited, a company which George Frangeskides, a director of the Company,  jointly controls, 
charged  the  Group  fees  for  consultancy  services  of  £36,225  (2017:  £35,700).  Of  these  fees,  £18,335  are  not 
reported as director’s fees in Note 4 as they represent work carried out specifically on the advancement of the 
Company’s Greenland licences and have therefore been capitalised. As at the year end £36,225 (2017: £240) was 
owed to Aetos Consulting Limited.  

Berwick Capital Limited, a company which George Frangeskides, a director of the Company, controls, loaned the 
Company a total of £83,000 during the period. The loan was non-interest bearing and was repaid in full 2 months 
later. 

Woodridge Associates, a business which Michael Nott, a director of the Company, controls, charged the Group 
fees for consultancy services of £58,750 (2017: £16,800). Of these fees, £34,500 are not reported as director’s 
fees in Note 4 as they represent work carried out specifically on the advancement of the Company’s Greenlandic 
licences and have therefore been capitalised. As at the year end, £58,750 (2017: £13,920) was due to Woodridge 
Associates.   

24. 

EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD 

Alba  has  announced  a  number  of  updates  on  the  Brockham  oil  project  since  the  year  end.  Flow  testing 
commenced in December. In February it was announced that water was inhibiting oil flow and that testing was 
on  hold  until  the  Operator  had  revised  its  engineering  programme  to  isolate  the  water  zone.  In  April  it  was 
announced that work on site commenced again in April with plans to recommence flow testing in May. 

On 11 February 2019 the Company released a Mining projects update, giving details of a soil sampling campaign 
at the Clogau gold project, an update on the Limerick drill programme plus details of the changes made to areas 
under licence in Greenland. 

On 23rd March 2019 Alba announced assay results from its Thule Black Sands project. 

Since the balance sheet date Alba has announced various oil production milestones from the Horse Hill EWT, the 
most  recent  one  being  on  11  April  2019  announcing  that  15,000  barrels  of  oil  had  been  produced  from  the 
Portland, and cumulatively 40,000 barrels from the Portland and the Kimmeridge. 

On 22 March 2019 the Company announced that George Frangeskides and Michael Nott had both subscribed for 
shares in the Company.  

47 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alba Mineral Resources plc 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) 

24. 

EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD (continued) 

On 29 April 2019, the Company announced the results of the first part of the 2019 soil sampling campaign across 
the Clogau gold project licence area, reporting the identification of new areas of gold mineralisation away from 
the  existing  gold  mine  area,  with  higher  than  average  gold-in-soil  grades.  The  Company  also  announced  that 
planned mine rehabilitation work was about to commence. 

48