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Conroy Gold and Natural Resources plc

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FY2008 Annual Report · Conroy Gold and Natural Resources plc
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Annual Report & 
 Financial Statements

Index

Chairman’s Statement 

Company Information 

Directors’ Report 

2

4

5

  Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 

10

Corporate Governance 

Independent Auditors’ Report 

Income Statement 

11

13

15

Balance Sheet 

16

Cash Flow Statement 

17

Statement of Changes in Equity 

18

Notes to the Financial Statements 

19

Annual Report & 
Financial Statements

08

	
	
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
C h a i r m a n ’ s   s t a t e m e n t

Dear	Shareholder

Professor Richard Conroy
Chairman

I have pleasure in presenting your Company’s Annual Report and Financial Statements 

for the twelve months ended 31 May 2008, a year of great achievement for your 

Company. Our success in confirming a gold deposit of at least 1 million ounces is, 

without doubt, an important milestone and one that I believe is even more significant 

when placed in the context of an eventful period for the world gold industry.

The definition of a one million ounce JORC-
compliant gold resource in a politically stable 
country with excellent infrastructure, a skilled 
workforce and only 90 minutes by road from a 
capital city, is a significant achievement for your 
Company. 

Whilst the obvious highlight was the rise in the 
gold price to a record US$1,011 an ounce in March 
2008 (although it has subsequently retreated to 
the current trading range of US$700-US$800 an 
ounce), there were a number of other important 
developments. These included the decline in new 
mine production during 2007, with South Africa 
losing its leading position to China, and a fall off 
in several of the world’s major gold producing 
areas such as the Eastern Goldfields of Western 
Australia, the Carlin district of Nevada and the 
Red Lake area of Ontario. This was accompanied 
by an increase in the costs associated with 
operating mines. 

These trends have continued in the first half  
of 2008, with GFMS, a leading consultancy, 
indicating a 6 per cent (70 tonnes) decline in 
global gold production and a further 20 per cent 
rise in costs. In addition, South Africa is currently 
experiencing major power problems which the 
Directors believe are likely to impinge on the 
mining industry for several years to come, 
particularly the deeper gold and platinum mines 
that require refrigeration. 

Despite increased global exploration expenditure 
in recent years, one of the fundamental reasons 
that worldwide production is declining is 
that the number of major new discoveries in 
the past decade has reduced significantly. As 
a consequence, major gold producers have 

increasingly been consolidating by way of 
acquisition in order to increase their reserve 
base and maintain annual production rates. This, 
however, does not lead to any increase in the 
global reserve base.

You will be aware that, for the past several years, 
your Company has expressed a firm belief that its 
exploration results point to the possible presence 
of a new gold province in the acreage covered by 
its licences in Ireland. The progress we have made 
in the past year has only strengthened this belief.

Our main focus has been the ongoing assessment 
and evaluation of our Clontibret gold target in 
Co. Monaghan, culminating shortly after the 
financial year-end with the announcement that 
the discovery has indicated and inferred resources 
in excess of 1m ounces of contained gold at 
relatively shallow depth. Your Directors believe 
this is the first gold resource of this magnitude 
reported in Ireland or the UK.

The JORC-compliant mineral resource lies within 
only 20 per cent of the total Clontibret target 
area, and infill drilling of this area is expected to 
increase both the size and grade of the resource. 
We are confident that drilling in the remaining 
80 per cent of the target area will add at least 
as much gold as we have already discovered at 
Clontibret. In addition, the mineralisation remains 
open at depth.

Using a 0.75 gramme/tonne (g/t) cut-off, the 
Indicated Resource at Clontibret now stands at 11 
million tonnes at a grade of 1.24g/t for 440,000 
ounces contained. Total mineral resources within 
the 20 per cent area, at the same cut-off, amount 
to 25 million tonnes grading 1.28g/t for 1,030,000 
ounces contained.

2

An nual	 Repo r t 	 and 	 Fin ancial	 Stat ements	 20 08

Conroy 	 D iam ond s 	 and	 Gold	 P.l. c .

Indicated

Resource Tonnes  
(million tonnes)

Grade g/t @ 0.75g/t 
cut-off

Resource ounces gold 
contained

Inferred

Resource Tonnes 
(million tonnes)

Grade g/t @ 0.75g/t 
cut-off

Resource ounces gold 
contained

Total

11.0

1.24

440,000

14.0

1.32

590,000

1,030,000

The definition of a one million ounce JORC-
compliant gold resource, to an average depth 
of less than 150 metres, in a politically stable 
country, with a mining tradition, excellent 
infrastructure, a skilled workforce and only 
90 minutes by road from a capital city, is a 
significant achievement for your Company.

Whilst the Directors believe that the one million 
ounces should be regarded as a minimum figure, 
it provides a basis upon which conceptual and 
pre-feasibility studies can be initiated as part of 
the process leading to the development of a gold 
mine in the Clontibret area. 

However, your Company has also identified 
several other substantial targets within its 
Longford-Down Massif licence area, each of 
which has returned initial sampling results which 
suggest they also have the potential to host gold 
deposits of a magnitude similar to Clontibret.

Whilst the main focus of your Company’s 
activities is development of Clontibret and 
exploration/delineation of other targets on 
its licences in Ireland, we also continue active 
exploration in the Central Lapland Greenstone 
Belt of Finland. This hosts several known gold 
deposits, including Agnico-Eagle’s 2.5 million 
ounce Suurikuusikko deposit. Your Company’s 
objective is to identify economic gold deposits in 
Finland that will complement its Irish gold assets.

Financials

The loss after taxation for the year ended  
31 May 2008 was €374,874 (2007 €375,059) 
and the net assets as at 31 May 2008 were 

€6,308,996 (2007 €6,520,516). Cash at bank as at 
31 May 2008 was €109,432 (2007 €105,954). As 
we move towards delineation and development 
your Directors are considering how best to fund 
your Company's activities. Options being studied 
include joint venture and farm-out, as well as 
such other arrangements as may be appropriate 
for advancing the interests of your Company. 

As in previous years, I have supported the 
working capital requirements of the Company. 
During the period under review I have advanced 
aggregate loans €734,780. These have been made 
in accordance with a letter of support which has 
been renewed on 11 November 2008. The loans 
have been made on normal commercial terms.

The other Directors consider, having consulted 
with the Company’s Nominated Advisers, that the 
terms of the loans are fair and reasonable in so 
far as the Company’s shareholders are concerned.

Auditors

I would like to take the opportunity of thanking 
the partners and staff of Deloitte & Touche for 
their services to your Company during the course 
of the year.

Directors,	Consultants	and	Staff

I would also like to express my deep appreciation 
of the support and dedication of the Directors, 
consultants and staff, which has made possible 
the continued progress and success which your 
Company has achieved.

Future	Outlook

Your Company’s exploration strategy has been 
highly effective in leading to the delineation of 
1 million ounces of gold at Clontibret and to the 
discovery of other possible gold targets of similar 
magnitude in the region. We look forward with 
confidence to further success. 

Professor	Richard	Conroy	
Chairman

Annual	 Repor t 	 and	 Financial	 Statements	 2008	

Conroy	 Dia monds	 and	 Gold	 P.l.c .

3

	
	
	
	
C o m p a n y   i n f o r m a t i o n

Directors

Registrars

Professor	Richard	Conroy 
Chairman*

Maureen	T.A	Jones 
Managing Director*

James	P.	Jones	FCA 
Finance Director*

Louis	J.	Maguire 
Non-Executive Director*+§

Michael	E.	Power 
Non-Executive Director§

Seamus	P.	FitzPatrick	
Non-Executive Director+§

Henry	H.	Rennison 
Non-Executive Director*

C.	David	Wathen		
Non-Executive Director+

*  Member of the Executive Committee

+  Member of the Remuneration Committee

Capita	Registrars 
Unit 5 
Manor Street Business Park 
Manor Street 
Dublin 7 
www.capitacorporateregistrars.ie

Nominated	Adviser

John	East	&	Partners	Limited 
10 Finsbury Square 
London 
EC2A 1AD

Broker

City	Capital	Corporation	Limited 
Sion Hall 
56 Victoria Embankment 
London  
EC4Y 0DZ

§  Member of the Audit Committee

Dublin	Stockbrokers

Dolmen	Butler	Briscoe 
Dolmen House 
4 Earlsfort Terrace 
Dublin 2

Principal	Bankers

National	Irish	Bank 
138 Lower Baggot Street 
Dublin2

Company	Secretary	and	
Registered	Office

James	P.	Jones	FCA 
10 Upper Pembroke Street 
Dublin 2 
Ireland

Auditors

Deloitte	&	Touche 
Chartered Accountants 
Deloitte & Touche House 
Charlotte Quay 
Limerick

Legal	Advisers

William	Fry	Solicitors 
Fitzwilton House 
Wilton Place 
Dublin 2

Roschier-Holmberg 
Keskuskatu 7A 
00 100 Helsinki 
Finland

Head	Office

Conroy	Diamonds	and	Gold	P.l.c 
10 Upper Pembroke Street 
Dublin 2 
Tel: +353-1-661 8958 
Fax: +353-1-662 1213

For further information visit  
the Company’s website at: 
www.conroydiamondsandgold.com

or contact:

Lothbury Financial 
Triton Court 
Finsbury Square 
London EC2A 1BR 
Tel: +44-20-7011-9411

Professor Richard Conroy
Chairman

Maureen Jones
Managing Director

James P. Jones
Finance Director

Louis Maguire
Non-Executive Director

Michael E. Power
Non-Executive Director

Seamus P. FitzPatrick
Non-Executive Director

Henry H. Rennison
Non-Executive Director

David Wathen
Non-Executive Director

4

An nual	 Repo r t 	 and 	 Fin ancial	 Stat ements	 20 08

Conroy 	 D iam ond s 	 and	 Gold	 P.l. c .

D i r e C t o r s ’   r e p o r t

For the Year Ended 31 May 2008

The Directors present their annual report, 
together with the audited financial statements 
of Conroy Diamonds and Gold Plc for the year 
ended 31 May 2008.

Principal	Activities	and	Business	
Review

The Company’s exploration programme in 
Ireland is focused on the Longford-Down Massif. 
It is engaged in active exploration there, which 
has already led to the discovery of a series 
of gold targets along a 30 mile (50 km) area 
stretching from County Armagh across  
Counties Monaghan and Cavan. 

At the most advanced of these targets, 
Clontibret in County Monaghan, a mineral 
resource of over one million ounces of gold 
(Indicated 440,000 ounces, Inferred 590,000) 
has been estimated for an area representing less 
than 20% of the target. Drilling has commenced 
on the remaining 80% of the Clontibret 
anomaly, which is expected to further increase 
this resource. This is the largest gold resource 
reported to date in Ireland or the UK. 

The Company has also acquired licences in 
Finland’s Central Lapland Greenstone Belt, which 
it believes to be highly prospective for gold and 
has an ongoing exploration programme there. 

Further information concerning the activities 
of the Company and its future prospects is 
contained in the Chairman’s Statement.

Future	Development	of	the	Business

It is the intention of the Directors to continue 
to develop the activities of the Company, 
concentrating particularly on gold. Further 
strategic opportunities in mineral resources, 
both in Ireland and abroad, will be sought by  
the Company.

Risks	and	Uncertainties

The Company’s activities are directed towards 
the discovery, evaluation and development 
of mineral deposits. Exploration for and 
development of mineral deposits is speculative. 
Whilst the rewards can be substantial, there 
is no guarantee that exploration on the 
Company’s properties will lead to the discovery 

of commercially extractable mineral deposits. 
The future net asset value is therefore, inter 
alia, dependent on the success or otherwise of 
the Company’s future exploration programmes. 
Whether a mineral deposit will be commercially 
viable in a mining operation depends on a 
number of factors, such as the grade of the 
deposit, prices of the commodities being 
exploited, currency fluctuations, proximity to 
infrastructure, financing costs and government 
regulations, including regulations relating 
to prices, taxes, royalties, land tenure, land 
use, import and export regulations and 
environmental protection.

The Company needs equity capital and financing 
for working capital and exploration and 
development of its properties. Due to continuing 
operating losses, the Company’s continuance as 
a going concern is dependant upon its ability to 
obtain adequate financing and reach profitable 
levels of operation. It is not possible to predict 
whether financing efforts will be successful, or 
if the Company will attain profitable levels of 
operations. Therefore the Company is exposed to 
the risk of not being able to raise the appropriate 
finance to see a project to fruition.

Key	Performance	Indicators

Currently the Company’s main KPI is in relation 
to the estimated resource potential on the 
discovery and development of economic deposits 
of gold in Ireland and Finland. In addition, the 
Company reviews expenditure incurred on 
exploration projects together with maintaining 
review of ongoing operating costs.

Results	for	the	Year	and	State	of	
Affairs	at	31	May	2008

The income statement for the year ended  
31 May 2008 and the balance sheet at that date 
are set out on pages 15 and 16 respectively. The 
Company recorded a loss for the financial year of 
€374,874 (2007 - Loss €375,059). Taking account 
of the current year loss the shareholders’ funds 
decreased to €6,308,996 at 31 May 2008 from 
€6,520,516 at 31 May 2007.

No dividends or transfers to reserves are 
recommended by the Directors.

Annual	 Repor t 	 and	 Financial	 Statements	 2008	

Conroy	 Dia monds	 and	 Gold	 P.l.c .

5

Going	Concern

As explained in Note 2 to the financial 
statements, the Directors have reviewed 
cashflow projections and other relevant 
information and are satisfied that the Company 
will be able to continue in operation for the 
foreseeable future. Accordingly, the financial 
statements have been prepared on the going 
concern basis.

Directors

The Directors who served during the year are as 
follows:

R.T.W.L. Conroy 
J.P. Jones 
M.T.A. Jones 
H.H. Rennison 

S. P. FitzPatrick  
L.J. Maguire 
M. E. Power  
C. D. Wathen

In accordance with the Company’s Articles 
of Association, Mr. James Jones and Mr. Louis 
Maguire will retire by rotation and, being eligible, 
will offer themselves for re-election at the 
Annual General Meeting. 

Details	of	Directors

Professor Richard Conroy, Chairman of the 
Board, has been involved in natural resources for 
many years. He established Trans- International 
Oil in 1974, which was primarily involved in 
Irish offshore oil exploration, and initiated the 
Deminex Consortium which included Deminex, 
Mobil, Amoco & DSM. Trans-International Oil 
was merged with Aran Energy p.l.c in 1979.

Professor Conroy founded Conroy Petroleum 
and Natural Resources P.l.c. which in 1986 made 
the very significant discovery of the Galmoy 
zinc deposit in Co Kilkenny which is now in 
production as a major base metal mine. Conroy 
Petroleum was also a founding member of the 
Stoneboy consortium, an exploration group 
which discovered the POGO gold field in Alaska, 
now in production as a major gold mine.

Conroy Petroleum acquired Atlantic Resources 
plc in 1992 and was renamed ARCON 
International Resources p.l.c. (ARCON).  
Professor Conroy was Chairman and Chief 
Executive of ARCON from 1980 to 1994.

Professor Richard Conroy is an Emeritus 
Professor of Physiology in the Royal College 
of Surgeons in Ireland. His research has 
included pioneering work on the effects of 
Circadian Rhythms including Jet Lag, Shift 
Working and Decision Taking in Business after 
Intercontinental Flights.

Professor Conroy served for two terms in the 
Irish Parliament as a member of the Senate. As 
a Senator he was at various times front bench 
spokesman for the Government party in the 
Upper House on Energy, Industry and Commerce, 
Foreign Affairs and Northern Ireland.

Miss Maureen Jones, Managing Director, has 
many years experience in natural resources. She 
also has a medical background, as a radiographer 
specialising in Nuclear Medicine. She became a 
manager with International Medical Corporation 
in 1977 and joined Conroy Petroleum and Natural 
Resources P.l.c. in 1980. She served as a director 
of that company from 1986 to 1994, when she 
joined Professor Conroy in the formation of 
Conroy Diamonds and Gold P.l.c. She has been 
managing director since 1998. 

Mr. James Jones, Finance Director, has been 
associated with the natural resources industry 
for over 20 years. He is a chartered accountant 
by profession and a Lecturer in Accountancy 
at Limerick Institute of Technology. He served 
as finance director of Conroy Petroleum and 
Natural Resources P.l.c from its formation until 
1994, when he joined with Professor Conroy to 
create Conroy Diamonds and Gold P.l.c. He has 
served as finance director of the Company since 
its inception in 1995. He is also a director of 
Karelian Diamond Resources plc.

Mr. Séamus FitzPatrick, Non-executive Director, 
has worked in both corporate finance and private 
equity in London and New York with Morgan 
Stanley, J. P. Morgan and Bankers’ Trust. In 1999 
he co-founded CapVest, which advises funds 
with in excess of £2.0 billion of assets under 
management. He is chairman of Mater Private 
Hospital and a member of the supervisory board 
at Drie Mollen. He is also a member of the board 
of Karelian Diamond Resources plc.

6

An nual	 Repo r t 	 and 	 Fin ancial	 Stat ements	 20 08

Conroy 	 D iam ond s 	 and	 Gold	 P.l. c .

Mr. Louis Maguire, Non-executive Director, is 
an Auctioneer by profession and land valuation 
expert with particular expertise in the purchase 
of mineral rights and in land acquisition 
for mining. He is a founding director of the 
Company.

the international petroleum consultancy firm 
– DeGolyer and McNaughton. He was also 
a director of Conroy Petroleum and Natural 
Resources Plc and its subsidiaries including 
ARCON Mines Limited for number of years.  
He is a founding director of the Company.

Mr. Michael Power, Non-executive Director, 
has over forty years experience in the mining 
industry in Canada and internationally. A 
chartered financial analyst, and a professional 
engineer he was formerly vice-president of 
Corporate Development at Hemlo Gold Mines 
Inc. (now Newmont Gold Corporation).

Mr. Henry Rennison, Non-executive Director, 
is a geologist. He worked with Burmah Oil 
for thirty years and later as a consultant with 

Mr. David Wathen, Non-executive Director, 
has been involved in business and finance 
throughout his career, most recently as a 
stockbroker managing private client portfolios 
for Redmayne-Bentley Stockbrokers. He has 
previously served as a director of several quoted 
and private companies in the UK, the Republic 
of Ireland and the USA, including a number of 
natural resource companies. 

Directors'	and	Secretary's	Shareholdings	and	Other	Interests

The interests of the Directors and Secretary, all of which were beneficially held, in the ordinary share 
capital of the Company at 31 May 2008 and 31 May 2007 were as follows:

At	31	May	2008	

At	31	May	2007

Ordinary		
Shares	of		
€0.03	Each	

Options	 Warrants	

Ordinary		
Shares	of		
€0.03	Each	

Options	 Warrants

R.T.W.L. Conroy  28,544,306* 

2,225,000  34,934,765 

28,544,306*  2,225,000  21,364,493

S.P. FitzPatrick 

4,000 

- 

359,593 

4,000 

- 

-

M.T.A. Jones 

880,010  

1,150,000  22,507,028 

 880,010 

1,150,000 

13,839,858

J.P. Jones 

475,010  

 825,000 

13,188,420 

 475,010 

 825,000 

8,058,129

L. J. Maguire 

310,010 

50,000 

2,457,288 

310,010 

50,000 

1,450,427

M.E. Power 

175,000 

- 

1,307,893 

175,000  

- 

301,032

H.H. Rennison 

 330,010 

50,000 

2,457,288 

 330,010 

50,000 

1,450,427

C.D. Wathen 

87,500 

- 

507,641 

87,500 

- 

-

*Of the 28,544,306 (2007: 28,544,306) Ordinary Shares beneficially held by Professor Richard Conroy, 
19,294,286 (2007: 19,294,286) are held by Conroy P.l.c., a company in which Professor Conroy has a 
controlling interest.

Annual	 Repor t 	 and	 Financial	 Statements	 2008	

Conroy	 Dia monds	 and	 Gold	 P.l.c .

7

 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
Details of warrants, all of which are exercisable currently, are as follows: 

Directors	

At	31	
May	2008	

Granted	
During	
Year	

At	31	
May	2007	

Price	
€	

Expiry	Date

R.T.W.L. Conroy 

22,814,920 

- 

22,814,920 

0.037 

15 November 2015

R.T.W.L. Conroy 

12,119,845 

12,119,845 

S. P. FitzPatrick 

359,593 

359,593 

- 

- 

0.0433 

16 November 2017

0.0433 

16 November 2017

M.T.A. Jones 

13,839,858 

-  

13,839,858 

0.037 

15 November 2015

M.T.A. Jones 

8,667,170 

8,667,170 

- 

0.0433 

16 November 2017

J.P. Jones 

J.P. Jones 

8,058,129 

- 

8,058,129 

0.037 

15 November 2015

5,130,291 

5,130,291 

- 

0.0433 

16 November 2017

L.J. Maguire 

1,450,427 

- 

1,450,427 

0.037 

15 November 2015

L.J. Maguire 

1,006,861 

1,006,861 

- 

0.0433 

16 November 2017

M.E. Power 

301,032 

- 

301,032 

0.037 

15 November 2015

M.E. Power 

1,006,861 

1,006,861 

- 

0.0433 

16 November 2017

H.H. Rennison 

1,450,427 

- 

1,450,427 

0.037 

15 November 2015

H.H. Rennison 

1,006,861 

1,006,861 

C. D. Wathen 

507,641 

507,641 

- 

- 

0.0433 

16 November 2017

0.0433 

16 November 2017

Details of options, all of which are exercisable currently, are as follows:

Directors	

At	31	
May	2008	

Granted	
During	
Year	

R.T.W.L. Conroy 

1,125,000 

R.T.W.L. Conroy 

500,000 

R.T.W.L. Conroy 

600,000 

M.T.A. Jones 

M.T.A. Jones 

M.T.A. Jones 

J.P. Jones 

J.P. Jones 

J.P. Jones 

325,000 

375,000 

450,000 

275,000 

275,000 

275,000 

H.H. Rennison 

 50,000  

L.J. Maguire 

50,000 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

At	31	
May	2007	

Price	
€	

Expiry	Date

1,125,000 

0.2539 

4 December 2010

500,000  

0.08 

14 March 2013

600,000 

0.10 

26 November 2013

325,000 

0.2539 

4 December 2010

375,000 

0.08 

14 March 2013

450,000 

0.10 

26 November 2013

275,000 

0.2539 

4 December 2010

275,000 

0.08 

14 March 2013

275,000  

0.10 

26 November 2013

50,000 

0.2539 

4 December 2010

50,000 

0.2539 

4 December 2010

Except as disclosed above, neither the Directors nor their families had any beneficial interest in the 
share capital of the Company. Apart from loans from shareholders (Note 12) there have been no 
contracts or arrangements entered into during the financial year in which a Director of the Company 
had a material interest and which were significant in relation to the Company’s business.

8

An nual	 Repo r t 	 and 	 Fin ancial	 Stat ements	 20 08

Conroy 	 D iam ond s 	 and	 Gold	 P.l. c .

	
	
	
	
	
	
Substantial	Shareholdings

So far as the Board is aware, no person or 
company, other than the Directors’ interests 
disclosed above and the shareholders listed 
below, held 3% or more of the issued ordinary 
share capital of the Company at 31 May 2008.

Name	

Number		
of	Shares	

%

Conroy P.l.c.* 

19,294,286 

18.26

Gartmore Fund  
Managers Limited 

14,185,000 

13.42

European Union companies with effect from the 
beginning of 2005 and from 2007 for companies 
listed on AIM. Accordingly the Company has 
produced IFRS-compliant financial statements 
for the year ended 31 May 2008. These financial 
statements are the first annual statutory 
financial statements that the Company has 
prepared in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”), as 
adopted for use in the European Union.  
Details of the transition to IFRS are outlined  
in the Statement of Accounting Policies.

Mr. Bruce Rowan 

10,450,000 

9.89

Books	of	Account

*Professor Conroy has a controlling interest in 
Conroy P.l.c.

Political	Donations

There were no political donations during  
the year.

International	Financial	Reporting	
Standards

For all periods up to and including the year 
ended 31 May 2007, the Company prepared its 
financial statements in accordance with Irish 
Generally Accepted Accounting Policies (Irish 
GAAP). In line with the European Commission’s 
development of a single European Capital 
Market, the application of International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) became mandatory 
for the financial statements of all listed 

The measures which the Directors have taken 
to ensure that proper books of account are 
kept, are the adoption of suitable policies for 
recording transactions, assets and liabilities, the 
employment of appropriately qualified staff and 
the use of computer and documentary systems. 
The Company’s books of account are kept at  
10 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2.

Auditors

The auditors, Deloitte & Touche, Chartered 
Accountants, continue in office in accordance 
with Section 160 (2) of the Companies Act, 1963.

On behalf of the Board

R.T.W.L.	Conroy	
Director 

11 November 2008

J.P.	Jones	
Director

Annual	 Repor t 	 and	 Financial	 Statements	 2008

Conroy	 Dia monds	 and	 Gold	 P.l.c .

9

 
	
s t a t e m e n t   o f   D i r e C t o r s ’   r e s p o n s i B i L i t i e s

The Directors are responsible for preparing the 
annual report and the financial statements. 
AIM rules require the Directors to prepare 
such financial statements in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards. 
Company law requires the Directors to prepare 
such financial statements in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards, and 
the Companies Act 1963 to 2006. International 
Accounting Standard 1 requires that financial 
statements present fairly for each financial 
year the Company’s financial position, financial 
performance and cash flows. This requires 
the faithful representation of the effects of 
transactions, other events and conditions 
in accordance with the definitions and 
recognition criteria for assets, liabilities, income 
and expenses set out in the International 
Accounting Standards Board’s ‘Framework for 
the Preparation and Presentation of Financial 
Statements’. In virtually all circumstances, a fair 
presentation will be achieved by compliance 
with all applicable International Financial 
Reporting Standards. Directors are also required 
to: 

n  properly select and apply accounting 

policies;

n  present information, including accounting 
policies, in a manner that provides relevant, 
reliable, comparable, and understandable 
information;

n  provide additional disclosures when 

compliance with the specific requirements 
in International Financial Reporting 
Standards is insufficient to enable users 
to understand the impact of particular 
transactions, other events and conditions on 
the entity’s financial position and financial 
performance; and 

n  prepare the accounts on the going concern 
basis unless, having assessed the ability 
of the Company to continue as a going 
concern, management either intends to 
liquidate the entity or to cease trading, or 
have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

The Directors are responsible for keeping 
proper accounting records which disclose with 
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial 
position of the Company for safeguarding 
the assets, for taking reasonable steps for the 
prevention and detection of fraud and other 
irregularities and for the preparation of a 
Directors’ report and financial statements which 
comply with the requirements of the Companies 
Acts 1963 to 2006.

The Directors are responsible for the 
maintenance and integrity of the Company 
website. Legislation in Ireland governing the 
preparation and dissemination of financial 
statements differs from legislation in other 
jurisdictions.

10

An nual	 Repo r t 	 and 	 Fin ancial	 Stat ements	 20 08

Conroy 	 D iam ond s 	 and	 Gold	 P.l. c .

C o r p o r a t e   G o V e r n a n C e

Introduction

As the Company is quoted on London’s AIM 
market, the Board bases its policies and practices 
in relation to corporate governance on the 
Combined Code on Corporate Governance, 
published by the UK Financial Reporting Council 
(the Code).

The Board supports standards in corporate 
governance and endeavours to implement the 
principles of the Combined Code constructively 
and in a sensible and pragmatic fashion with the 
objective of enhancing and protecting 
shareholder value. This is always harder in a 
small Company than in the larger organisations 
with which the Combined Code is chiefly 
concerned. It is particularly problematic for  
a company such as this which is both small  
and engaged in mineral exploration and 
development rather than more routine  
trading operations. 

Regular board meetings are scheduled to take 
place throughout the year. During the year seven 
meetings were held. All major policies are 
approved by the Board.

Remuneration	Committee

The remuneration committee comprises 
Mr. Louis Maguire, Mr. Séamus FitzPatrick 
and Mr. David Wathen. It is responsible for 
making recommendations to the Board on 
the Company’s executive remuneration. The 
committee determines any contract terms, 
remuneration and other benefits, including share 
options, for each of the executive Directors. The 
Board itself determines the remuneration of the 
non-executive Directors. 

Audit	Committee

The committee’s terms of reference have been 
approved by the Board and follow acceptable 
practice. The audit committee comprises Mr. 
Louis Maguire, Mr.Michael Power and Mr. 
Séamus FitzPatrick. The audit committee 
reviews the interim and annual financial 
statements before they are presented to the 
Board, focusing in particular on accounting 
policies and areas of management judgement 
and estimation. The committee is responsible 

for monitoring the controls which are in force 
to ensure the information reported to the 
shareholders is accurate and complete. The 
committee considers internal control issues 
and contributes to the Board’s review of the 
effectiveness of the Company’s internal control 
and risk management systems. It also considers 
the need for an internal audit function, which 
it believes is not required at present due to the 
limited staff and operations of the Company. The 
members of the committee have agreed to make 
themselves available should any member of staff 
wish to make representations to them about the 
conduct of the affairs of the Company.

The committee advises the Board on the 
appointment of external auditors and on their 
remuneration for both audit and non-audit work, 
and discusses the nature and scope of the audit 
with the external auditors. It meets formally at 
least once a year with the Company’s external 
auditors. An analysis of the fees payable to the 
external audit firm in respect of both audit and 
non-audit services during the year is set out in 
note 4 to the financial statements.

The audit committee also undertakes a formal 
assessment of the auditors’ independence 
each year which includes: a review of any 
non-audit services provided to the Company; 
discussion with the auditors of all relationships 
with the Company and any other parties that 
could affect independence or the perception 
of independence; a review of the auditors’ own 
procedures for ensuring the independence of the 
audit firm and partners and staff involved in the 
audit including the regular rotation of the audit 
partner; and obtaining written confirmation 
from the auditors that, in their professional 
judgement, they are independent.

Internal	Control	

The Board of Directors is responsible for, and 
annually reviews, the Company’s systems of 
internal control, financial and otherwise. Such 
systems provide reasonable but not absolute 
assurance of the safeguarding of assets, the 
maintenance of proper accounting records 
and the reliability of financial information. The 
Board considers it inappropriate to establish an 
internal audit function at present because of 

Annual	 Re por t 	 and	 Financial	 Statements	 2008

Conroy	 Dia monds	 and	 Gold	 P.l.c .

11

Communication	with	Shareholders	

Extensive information about the Company 
and its activities is given in the annual report 
and financial statements, and the interim 
report, which are sent to shareholders. Further 
information is available on the Company’s 
website, conroydiamondsandgold.com, which  
is promptly updated whenever announcements 
or press releases are made. 

Every effort is made to reply promptly and 
effectively to enquiries from shareholders on 
matters relating to their shareholding and the 
business of the Company.

the Company’s limited operations; however this 
decision is reviewed annually. 

There are no significant issues disclosed in 
the report and financial statements for the 
year ended 31 May 2008 and up to the date of 
approval of the report and financial statements 
that have required the Board to deal with any 
related material internal control issues. The 
Directors confirm that the Board has reviewed 
the effectiveness of the system of internal 
control as described during the year.

Risks	and	Uncertainties

In reviewing the risks facing the Company, 
the Board considers it is reasonably close to 
the Company’s operations and aware of its 
activities to be able to adequately monitor 
risk without the establishment of any formal 
process. The Company may become subject to 
risks against which it cannot insure or against 
which it may elect not to insure because of 
high premium costs or other reasons. The Board 
believes the significant risks facing the Company 
are adequately disclosed in these financial 
statements and that there are no other risks 
of comparable magnitude which need to be 
disclosed. 

12

An nual	 Repo r t 	 and 	 Fin ancial	 Stat ements	 20 08

Conroy 	 D iam ond s 	 and	 Gold	 P.l. c .

 
i n D e p e n D e n t   a U D i t o r s ’   r e p o r t 

to the Shareholders of Conroy Diamonds and Gold P.l.c.

We have audited the financial statements of 
Conroy Diamonds and Gold P.l.c. for the year 
ended 31 May 2008 which comprise the Income 
Statement, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow 
Statement, the Statement of Changes in Equity 
and the related notes 1 to 18. These financial 
statements have been prepared under the 
accounting policies set out therein.

This report is made solely to the Company’s 
members, as a body, in accordance with Section 
193 of the Companies Act 1990. Our audit work 
has been undertaken so that we might state to 
the Company’s members those matters we are 
required to state to them in an auditors’ 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 Company 
and the Company’s members as a body, for our 
audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we 
have formed.

Respective	Responsibilities	of	
Directors	and	Auditors

The Directors are responsible, as set out in 
the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 
for, preparing the Annual Report including 
the preparation of the financial statements 
in accordance with applicable law and 
International Financial Reporting Standards 
(IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union.

Our responsibility, as independent auditors, is 
to audit the financial statements in accordance 
with relevant legal and regulatory requirements 
and International Standards on Auditing (UK  
and Ireland).

We report to you our opinion as to whether the 
financial statements give a true and fair view, 
in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the 
European Union, and are properly prepared in 
accordance with Irish statute comprising the 
Companies Acts, 1963 to 2006. We also report 
to you whether in our opinion: proper books 
of account have been kept by the Company; 
whether, at the balance sheet date, there exists a 
financial situation requiring the convening of an 
extraordinary general meeting of the Company; 
and whether the information given in the 
Directors’ Report is consistent with the financial 

statements. In addition, we state whether 
we have obtained all the information and 
explanations necessary for the purposes of our 
audit and whether the Company’s balance sheet 
and its income statement are in agreement with 
the books of account.

We also report to you if, in our opinion, any 
information specified by law regarding directors’ 
remuneration and directors’ transactions is not 
disclosed and, where practicable, include such 
information in our report.

Although not required to do so, the directors 
have voluntarily chosen to make a corporate 
governance statement. We are not required to 
consider whether the Board’s statements on 
internal control cover all risks and controls, or 
form an opinion on the effectiveness of the 
Company’s corporate governance statement.

We read the other information contained 
in the annual report and consider whether 
it is consistent with the audited financial 
statements. The other information comprises 
only the Directors’ Report, the Chairman’s 
Statement and the Corporate Governance 
Statement. We consider the implications for 
our report if we become aware of any apparent 
misstatements or material inconsistencies with 
the financial statements. Our responsibilities do 
not extend to other further information outside 
the annual report.

Basis	of	Audit	Opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with 
International Standards on Auditing (UK and 
Ireland) issued by the Auditing Practices Board. 
An audit includes examination, on a test basis, 
of evidence relevant to the amounts and 
disclosures in the financial statements. 

It also includes an assessment of the significant 
estimates and judgements made by the 
Directors in the preparation of the financial 
statements and of whether the accounting 
policies are appropriate to the Company’s 
circumstances, consistently applied and 
adequately disclosed.

We planned and performed our audit so as to 
obtain all the information and explanations 
which we considered necessary in order to 

Annual	 Repor t 	 and	 Financial	 Statements	 2008

Conroy	 Dia monds	 and	 Gold	 P.l.c .

13

provide us with sufficient evidence to give 
reasonable assurance that the financial 
statements are free from material misstatement, 
whether caused by fraud or other irregularity 
or error. In forming our opinion we evaluated 
the overall adequacy of the presentation of 
information in the financial statements.

We have obtained all the information and 
explanations we considered necessary for the 
purposes of our audit. In our opinion proper 
books of account have been kept by the 
Company. The Company’s balance sheet and 
income statement are in agreement with the 
books of account.

Opinion

In our opinion:

n 

n 

the financial statements give a true and fair 
view, in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the European Union of the state of affairs of 
the Company as at 31 May 2008 and of the 
loss for the year then ended; and 

the financial statements have been properly 
prepared in accordance with the Companies 
Acts, 1963 to 2006.

Emphasis	of	Matter

Without qualifying our opinion we draw your 
attention to the disclosures made in Notes 2 and 
7 in the financial statements which indicate that 
the realisation of intangible assets of €7,830,219 
included in the balance sheet is dependent on 
the successful further development and ultimate 
production of the mineral reserves and the 
availability of sufficient finance to bring reserves 
to economic maturity and profitability. 

In our opinion the information given in the 
Report of the Directors is consistent with the 
financial statements.

The net assets of the Company, as stated in the 
balance sheet are more than half the amount 
of its called-up share capital and, in our opinion, 
on that basis there did not exist at 31 May 2008 
a financial situation which, under Section 40(1) 
of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1983, 
would require the convening of an extraordinary 
general meeting of the Company. 

Deloitte & Touche 
Chartered Accountants  
and Registered Auditors 
Limerick

11 November 2008

14

An nual	 Repo r t 	 and 	 Fin ancial	 Stat ements	 20 08

Conroy 	 D iam ond s 	 and	 Gold	 P.l. c .

i n C o m e   s t a t e m e n t 

For the Year Ended 31 May 2008

Operating	Expenses	   

Other Income 

Loss	Before	Tax 

Taxation 

Loss	Retained	for	the	Year 

Loss per ordinary share – Basic and diluted  

R.T.W.L.	Conroy	
Director 

J.P.	Jones 
Director

Approved by the Directors on 11 November 2008 

Notes 

2008	
€	

2007 
€

3 

4 

5 

6 

(374,890)	

(376,320)

16	

1,261

(374,874)	

(375,059)

-	 

-

(374,874)	

(375,059)

(€0.0035)	 

(€0.0038)

Annual	 Repor t 	 and	 Financial	 Statements	 2008

Conroy	 Dia monds	 and	 Gold	 P.l.c .

15

 
 
 
 
 
B a L a n C e   s h e e t

As at 31 May 2008

ASSETS

Non-current	Assets

Intangible assets 

Financial asset 

Property, plant and equipment 

Current	Assets

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total	Assets 

EQUITY	AND	LIABILITIES	

Capital	and	Reserves

Called up share capital 

Share premium 

Capital conversion reserve fund 

Share-based payment reserve 

Retained losses 

Total	Equity 

Notes 

2008	
€	

2007 
€

7 

8 

9 

10 

13 

13 

13 

7,830,219 

7,136,877

2 

29,934 

2

32,104

7,860,155 

7,168,983 

	36,229 

	109,432 

145,661 

37,707

105,954

143,661

8,005,816	

7,312,644 

3,170,649 

5,491,037 

30,617 

284,604 

3,170,649

5,491,037

 30,617

121,250

(2,667,911) 

(2,293,037)

6,308,996	

6,520,516

Non-current	Liabilities

Trade and other payables: Amounts falling  
due after more than one year 

Total	non-current	liabilities	

12 

1,421,948 

1,421,948 

687,168

687,168 

Current	Liabilities

Trade and other payables: Amounts falling  
due within one year 

11 

Total	Current	Liabilities 

Total	Liabilities 

Total	Equity	and	Liabilities 

R.T.W.L.	Conroy	
Director 

J.P.	Jones 
Director

Approved by the Directors 11 November 2008

274,872 

274,872 

1,696,820 

104,960

104,960 

792,128 

8,005,816 

7,312,644

16

An nual	 Repo r t 	 and 	 Fin ancial	 Stat ements	 20 08

Conroy 	 D iam ond s 	 and	 Gold	 P.l. c .

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
C a s h   f L o w   s t a t e m e n t 

For the Year Ended 31 May 2008

Cash	used	by	operations 

14A 

(159,261)	

(264,493)

Notes 

2008	
€	

2007 
€

Taxes paid 

-	

-

Net	cash	used	in	operating	activities	

(159,261)	

(264,493)

Cash	flows	from	investing	activities	

Investment in mineral interest 

(561,640) 

(1,520,934)

Investment in subsidiary 

Payments to acquire property, plant and equipment 

-	 

(10,401) 

(2)

-

Net	Cash	used	in	investing	activities	

(572,041) 

(1,520,936) 

Cash	flows	from	financing	activities

Issue of share capital, net 

Shareholders loan advances 

Net	Cash	from	financing	activities 

-  

1,000,000

734,780 

578,986

734,780 

1,578,986

Increase/(Decrease)	in	cash	and	cash	equivalents 

3,478	 

(206,443)

Cash	and	cash	equivalents	at	beginning	of	year 

Cash	and	cash	equivalents	at	end	of	year 

105,954 

109,432 

312,397

105,954 

Annual	 Repor t 	 and	 Financial	 Statements	 2008

Conroy	 Dia monds	 and	 Gold	 P.l.c .

17

 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
	
 
	
 
 
 
 
s t a t e m e n t   o f   C h a n G e s   i n   e Q U i t y

For the Year Ended 31 May 2008

Share 
capital 
€	

Share  Conversion 
Premium   reserve fund 
€	

Capital  Share-based  Retained 
Earnings 
Payment 
(Deficit) 
Reserve 
e	
€	

€	

 Total 
Equity 
€

At 1 June 2006 

2,591,820 

5,069,866 

30,617 

- 

(1,917,978) 

5,774,325

Share-based payments  

Loss for the year 

- 

- 

- 

- 

Share issue 

 578,829 

421,171 

- 

- 

- 

121,250 

- 

121,250

- 

- 

(375,059) 

(375,059)

- 

1,000,000

At	31	May	2007	

3,170,649	

5,491,037	

30,617	

121,250	 (2,293,037)	 6,520,516

At 1 June 2007 

3,170,649 

5,491,037 

30,617 

121,250 

(2,293,037)  6,520,516

Share-based payments  

Loss for the year 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

163,354 

- 

163,354

- 

(374,874) 

(374,874)

At	31	May	2008	

3,170,649	

5,491,037	

30,617	

284,604	

(2,667,911)	 6,308,996

Share	Capital

The share capital comprises of share capital issued for cash and non-cash consideration.

Share	Premium	

The share premium reserve comprises of the excess consideration received in respect of share capital 
over the nominal value of share issued.

Capital	Conversion	Reserve	Fund
The ordinary shares of the Company were renominalised from €0.03174435 each to €0.03 each in 
2001 and the amount by which the issued share capital of the Company was reduced was transferred 
to capital conversion reserve fund.

Share-based	Payment	Reserve
The share-based payment reserve represents the amount expensed to the income statement and 
the amount capitalised as part of intangible assets of share-based payments granted which are 
not yet exercised and issued as shares.

18

An nual	 Repo r t 	 and 	 Fin ancial	 Stat ements	 20 08

Conroy 	 D iam ond s 	 and	 Gold	 P.l. c .

 
 
 
 
 
 
n o t e s   t o   t h e   f i n a n C i a L   s t a t e m e n t s

For the Year Ended 31 May 2008

1.	 ACCOUNTING	POLICIES

For all periods up to and including the year ended 31 May 2007, the Company prepared its 
financial statements in accordance with Irish Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (Irish 
GAAP). The financial statements, for the year ended 31 May 2008, are the first that the 
Company have prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards 
(IFRSs) as adopted for use in the European Union and International Financial Reporting 
Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) Interpretations. 

These financial statements have also been prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the European Union and in accordance with the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2006. The financial 
statements are prepared under the historical cost convention.

The financial statements in respect of the year ended 31 May 2007 were prepared under 
Irish GAAP. Apart from presentational changes, the comparative figures for the immediately 
preceding financial year have not been effected by the adoption of IFRS.

First	time	adoption	of	International	Financial	Reporting	Standards	(IFRS)	

In the current year, the Company has adopted the new and revised Standards and 
Interpretations issued by the IASB. The adoption of IFRSs and IFRICs has not resulted in any 
change to the reported position, results or cashflows of the Company in respect of prior years. 
The implementation of IFRS has resulted in changes in presentation and disclosures only. 

Deferred development expenditure is now referred to as Exploration and Evaluation 
Assets. The Company has accounted for these in accordance with IFRS 6 ‘Exploration for 
and Evaluation of Mineral Resources’, under which the Company continued to adopt the 
accounting policy used previously in respect of such expenditure. The adoption of IFRS 2 
Share-based payment did not result in any change to the reported figures in previous years,  
as the Company had previously adopted FRS 20. 

Standards	and	interpretations	in	issue	but	not	yet	adopted	

At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the following Standards and 
Interpretations which have not been applied in these financial statements were in issue but 
not yet effective:

IAS 1  

(Revised) Presentation of Financial Statements (effective for accounting periods 
beginning on or after 1 January 2009); 

IAS 23  

(Revised) Borrowing Costs (effective for accounting periods beginning on or  
after 1 January 2009); 

IAS 27  

(Revised) Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements (effective for accounting 
periods beginning on or after 1 July 2009);

IAS 32  

(Revised) Puttable Financial instruments and Obligations Arising on Liquidation 
(effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009);

IAS 39 

(Revised) Eligible Hedge Items (effective for accounting periods beginning on or 
after 1 July 2009);

IFRS 1 

IFRS 2 

IFRS 3 

(Revised) Cost of an Investment in a Subsidiary, Jointly Controlled Entity or Associate 
(effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009);

(Revised) Share Based Payment (effective for accounting periods beginning on or 
after 1 January 2009); 

(Revised) Business Combinations (effective for acquisitions made in accounting 
periods beginning on or after 1 July 2008);

Annual	 Re por t 	 and	 Financial	 Statements	 2008

Conroy	 Dia monds	 and	 Gold	 P.l.c .

19

 
 
 
	
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
IFRS 7 

IFRS 8 

(Revised) Financial Instruments effective for accounting periods beginning on or 
after 1 January 2009); 

Operating Segments (effective for accounting periods beginning on or after  
1 January 2009); 

IFRIC 12  Service Concession Arrangements (effective for accounting periods beginning  

on or after 1 January 2008); 

IFRIC 13  Customer Loyalty Programmes (effective for accounting periods beginning on  

or after 1 July 2008) 

IFRIC 14 

IAS 19: The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset - Minimum Funding Requirements  
and their Interaction (effective for accounting periods beginning on or after  
1 January 2008). 

IFRIC 15  Agreements for the Construction of Real Estate (effective for accounting periods 

beginning on or after 1 January 2009) and

IFRIC 16  Hedges of a Net Investment in a Foreign Operation (effective for accounting periods 

beginning on or after 1 October 2008).

The Directors have completed an initial assessment of the impact in relation to the adoption 
of these Standards and Interpretations for future periods of the Company. Given the current 
Company operations, in the opinion of the Directors, the above will have no material impact 
on the financial statements of the Company in the period of initial application.

A.	 Mineral	Interests	

(i)	 Exploration	and	Evaluation	

The Company accounts for mineral expenditure under the ‘full cost’ method of accounting in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standard 6 – Exploration For and Evaluation 
of Mineral Resources. 

Exploration, appraisal and development expenditure is incurred on acquiring, exploring or 
testing exploration prospects. All lease, licence and property acquisition costs, geological 
and geophysical costs and other direct costs of exploration, appraisal and development are 
capitalised. The amount capitalised includes other operating expenses, including share-based 
payments, directly related to these activities.

(ii)	 Cost	Pools

Costs relating to the exploration and appraisal of mineral interests which the Directors 
consider to be unevaluated are initially held outside the cost pool. Costs held outside the cost 
pool are reassessed at each year end. When a decision to develop these interests is taken, or 
if there is evidence of impairment, the related costs will be transferred to the cost pool or 
amortised to the income statement as necessary. Costs will be capitalised within geographic 
cost pools which initially comprise Ireland and the rest of the world. 

Proceeds from any disposal of part or all of an interest which is outside the cost pool will be 
credited to that interest with any excess being credited to the cost pool. 

(iii)	Ceiling	Test

  When a decision to develop mineral interests is taken, and the related costs are transferred 
to the cost pool, a ceiling test will be carried out at each balance sheet date to assess 
whether the net book value of capitalised costs in the pool, together with the future costs of 
development of undeveloped reserves, is covered by the discounted future net revenues from 

20

An nual	 Repo r t 	 and 	 Fin ancial	 Stat ements	 20 08

Conroy 	 D iam ond s 	 and	 Gold	 P.l. c .

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
the reserves within the pool, calculated at prices prevailing at the year end. Any deficiency 
arising will be provided for to the extent that, in the opinion of the Directors, it is considered 
to represent a permanent diminution in the value of the related asset, and where arising, will 
be dealt with in the income statement as additional depreciation.

(iv)	 Depreciation

Expenditure within the cost pool will be depreciated using the unit of production method 
based on commercial reserves. Costs used in the unit of production calculation will comprise 
the net book amount of capitalised costs plus the anticipated future costs of development of 
the undeveloped reserves at current year end unescalated prices. Changes in cost and reserve 
estimates are dealt with prospectively.

B.	 Issue	Expenses	and	Share	Premium	Account

Issue expenses arising on the issue of equity securities are accounted for as a deduction from 
equity in the first instance, against the share premium account, with any issue expenses 
in excess of the balance on the share premium account being written off to the income 
statement.

C.	 Property,	Plant	and	Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation 
is provided on a straight line basis to write off the cost less estimated residual value of the 
assets over their estimated useful lives as follows:

  Motor vehicles 

Plant and office equipment 

5 years 
10 years

D.	 Taxation

The tax expense represents the sum of the current and deferred tax charge.

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profits for the year. Taxable profit differs from 
net profit or loss as reported in the income statement because it excludes items of income or 
expenditure that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that 
are not taxable or deductible. The company’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax 
rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the 
carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding 
tax basis used in the computation of taxable profit and is accounted for using the balance 
sheet liabilities method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable 
temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable 
that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be 
utilised. 

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

E.	 Share-based	Payments

The Company has applied the requirements of IFRS 2 “Share-Based Payments”. In accordance 
with the transitional provisions, IFRS 2 has been applied to all grants of equity instruments 
after 7 November 2002 that were unvested at 1 June 2006.

Annual	 Repor t 	 and	 Financial	 Statements	 2008

Conroy	 Dia monds	 and	 Gold	 P.l.c .

21

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For equity-settled share based payment transactions (i.e. the granting of share options and 
share warrants), the Company measures the services and the corresponding increase in equity 
at fair value at the measurement date (which is the grant date) using a recognised valuation 
methodology for the pricing of financial instruments (Binomial Lattice Model). Given that the 
share options, and warrants granted do not vest until the completion of a specified period of 
service the fair value is determined on the basis that the services to be rendered by employees 
as consideration for the granting of share options and warrants will be received over the vesting 
period, which is assessed as the grant date.

The expense in the income statement in relation to the share options and warrants represents 
the product of the total number of options and warrants expected to vest and the fair value of 
those options and warrants. The resulting amount is allocated to accounting periods over the 
vesting period.

F.	 Revenue	Recognition

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable.

G.	 Trade	and	Other	Receivables	and	Payables

Trade and other receivables and payables are measured at initial recognition at fair value, and 
subsequently measured at amortised cost.

H.	 Cash	and	Cash	Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash at bank held by the Company and short term bank 
deposits with a maturity of three months or less. Cash and cash equivalents are held for the 
purpose of meeting short term cash commitments.

I.	 Pension	Costs

The Company provides for certain employees through defined contribution pension schemes. The 
amounts charged to the income statement and balance sheet is the contribution payable in that 
year. Any difference between amounts charged and contributions paid to the pension scheme is 
included in receivables or payables in the balance sheet.

J.	 Critical	Accounting	Judgements	and	Key	Sources	of	Estimation	Uncertainty

Critical	judgements	in	applying	the	Company’s	accounting	policies	

In the process of applying the Company’s accounting policies above, management has identified the 
judgemental areas that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial 
statements (apart from those involving estimations, which are dealt with below): 

Exploration	and	evaluation	

The assessment of whether general administration costs and salary costs are capitalised or 
expensed involves judgement. Management consider the nature of each cost incurred and 
whether it is deemed appropriate to capitalise it within intangible assets. In addition there is 
uncertainty as to whether the exploration activity will yield any economical viable discovery. 

Impairment	of	intangible	assets	

If an indication of impairment exists, a formal estimate of recoverable amount is performed and 
an impairment loss recognised to the extent that carrying amount exceeds recoverable amount. 
Recoverable amount is determined as the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. 

22

An nual	 Repo r t 	 and 	 Fin ancial	 Stat ements	 20 08

Conroy 	 D iam ond s 	 and	 Gold	 P.l. c .

 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
Going	concern	

The preparation of financial statements requires an assessment on the validity of the going 
concern assumption. The validity of the going concern assumption is dependent on finance 
being available for the continuing working capital requirements of the Company and finance 
for the development of the Company’s projects becoming available. Based on the assumptions 
that such finance will become available, the Directors believe that the going concern basis 
is appropriate for these accounts. Should the going concern basis not be appropriate, 
adjustments would have to be made to reduce the value of the Company’s assets, in particular 
the intangible assets, to their realisable values. 

Key	sources	of	estimation	uncertainty	

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and 
assumptions that affect the amounts reported for assets and liabilities as at the balance 
sheet date and the amounts reported for revenues and expenses during the year. The nature 
of estimation means that actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. The key sources 
of estimation uncertainty that have a significant risk of causing material adjustment to the 
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below. 

Share-based	payments	

The estimation of share-based payment costs requires the selection of an appropriate 
valuation model and consideration as to the inputs necessary for the valuation model chosen. 
The Company has made estimates as to the volatility of its own shares, the probable life of 
options granted and the time of exercise of those options. The model used by the Company is 
the Binomial Lattice Model. 

2.	 Operations	and	Going	Concern

The Company is an exploration Company and is currently involved in the development of 
mineral exploration opportunities, principally in the Longford-Down Massif.

On the basis of the capital funding achieved to date and existing commitments for further 
capital funding, together with the very encouraging results obtained from the exploration 
programme and their review of projected cash flow information, the Directors consider it 
appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis.

3.	 Operating	Expenses	

Operating expenses (a) 

2008 
. 

2007 
€

742,765 

513,164

Transfer to mineral interests (Note 7) 

(367,875) 

(136,844)

374,890		

376,320 

(a)  The Company had ten employees during the period (2007 - nine). The remuneration charged 
during the period comprised salaries of €333,864, social welfare costs of €30,325 and pension 
costs of €22,500 and share options costs of €163,354 (2007 - €176,930, €17,906, €Nil and 
€121,250 respectively).

(b)  During the year, the Directors agreed that actual remuneration due up to 30 November 2007 
be waived. Fees and other remuneration for the six months from 1 December 2007 have been 
accrued in the current year. 

Annual	 Repor t 	 and	 Financial	 Statements	 2008

Conroy	 Dia monds	 and	 Gold	 P.l.c .

23

	
 
	
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
	
n o t e s   t o   t h e   f i n a n C i a L   s t a t e m e n t s

For the Year Ended 31 May 2008

4.	 Loss	Before	Tax

The loss before taxation is arrived at after charging/ (crediting) the following items, which are 
stated at amounts prior to the transfer to mineral interests: 

Directors' emoluments

•  fees 

•  other emoluments 

2008 
€ 

44,441 

99,937 

144,378 

2007 
€

(56,265)

(41,175)

(97,440)

•  Share based payments 

163,354	 

121,250

Depreciation 

Auditors’ remuneration – audit services 

12,571 

15,500 

11,531

15,500

The Director’s remuneration charged during the year included stock options costs of €115,069 
(2007; €109,950).

5.	 Taxation	

(a)		 Analysis	of	the	tax	charge	for	the	year

Irish corporation tax 

Based on adjusted loss for the year 

Total current tax 

2008	
€	

2007	
€

-	 

-	 

-	 

- 

- 

- 

No taxation charge arises in the financial year due to a loss being incurred in the current year.

(b)		 Factors	affecting	the	tax	charge	for	the	year:

The tax due for the year is different to the standard rate of Irish corporation tax.  
This is due to the following: 

2008	
€	

2007	
€

Loss on ordinary activities before tax 

(374,874) 

(375,059)

Loss on ordinary activities multiplied by the standard 
rate of Irish corporation tax of 12.5% (2007: 12.5%) 

(46,984) 

(46,882)

Effects	of:

Losses carried forward 

Tax charge for the year 

46,984 

46,882

-	 

- 

No deferred tax asset has been recognised on accumulated tax losses as it cannot be 
considered probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the unused tax 
losses can be utilised. The amount not recognised amounts to €2,167,796 (2007: €1,804,268).

24

An nual	 Repo r t 	 and 	 Fin ancial	 Stat ements	 20 08

Conroy 	 D iam ond s 	 and	 Gold	 P.l. c .

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
6.	 Loss	per	Ordinary	Share

The calculation of the loss per ordinary share of €0.0035 (2007 - €0.0038) is based on the 
loss for the financial year of €374,874 (2007 – €375,059) and the weighted average number of 
ordinary shares in issue during the year of 105,688,297 (2007 – 97,643,184). 

Since the Company incurred a loss the effect of share options and warrants would be anti-
dilutive. 

7.	

Intangible	Assets	
Exploration and Evaluation (Gold)

Cost

At 1 June 

Expenditure during the year

- licence and appraisal costs 

- other operating expenses (Note 3) 

- equity settled share based payments (Note 3) 

- Waiver of Director’s remuneration 

- acquisition of gold interests in Finland 

At 31 May 

2008 
€ 

2007 
€

7,136,877 

5,781,855

325,467 

236,173 

131,702 

-	 

-  

	7,830,219 

384,092

136,844

-

(165,912)

999,998

7,136,877

The Directors have considered the proposed work programmes for these mineral interests. 
They are satisfied that there are no indications of impairment, but recognise that future 
realisation of the intangible assets, is dependent on further successful exploration and 
appraisal activities and the subsequent economic production of the mineral reserves.

8.	 Financial	Assets

Shares	in	subsidiary	company		
(Unlisted	shares)	at	cost:	

Trans International Mineral  
Exploration Limited 

%	Owned 

2008 
€ 

2007 
€ 

100% 

2 

2

The registered office of the above non trading subsidiary is 10 Upper Pembroke Street,  
Dublin 2.

The above subsidiary has not been consolidated on the basis that it is not trading, and the 
assets of the entity are €2.

Annual	 Repor t 	 and	 Financial	 Statements	 2008

Conroy	 Dia monds	 and	 Gold	 P.l.c .

25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
	
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9.	 Property,	Plant	and	Equipment

Office	
Equipment	
€	

Motor	
Vehicles	
€	

Cost

At 1 June 

Additions 

At	31	May	

Accumulated	Depreciation

At 1 June 

Charge for the year 

At	31	May	

Net	Book	Amount	at	31	May	

12,804 

-  

12,804	

10,244 

2,560 

12,804	

-		

10.	 Trade	and	Other	Receivables

VAT receivable 

Other debtors 

11.	 Trade	and	Other	Payables:

(Amounts	falling	due	within	one	year) 

Accrued Directors’ remuneration

- fees and salaries 

- pension contributions 

Other accruals 

Total	
€

102,513

10,401 

112,914

70,409

12,571

82,980

29,934

2007 
€

2,433

35,274

37,707

89,709 

10,401 

100,110	

60,165 

10,011 

70,176	

29,934	

2008 
€ 

3,190 

33,039 

36,229 

2008 
€ 

2007 
€

121,316 

23,062 

130,494 

274,872 

-

-

104,960

104,960 

It is the Company’s normal practice to agree terms of transactions, including payment terms, 
with suppliers and provided suppliers perform in accordance with the agreed terms, it is the 
Company’s policy that payment is made according to the agreed terms. The Company has 
financial risk management policies in place to ensure that all payables are paid within the 
credit timeframe. The carrying value of the trade and other payables approximates to their 
fair value.

During the year the individual Directors agreed to waive their entitlement to all actual 
remuneration accruing up to 30 November 2007, amounting to €631,693, of which €486,026 
was outstanding at 31 May 2007.

26

An nual	 Repo r t 	 and 	 Fin ancial	 Stat ements	 20 08

Conroy 	 D iam ond s 	 and	 Gold	 P.l. c .

 
 
	
 
	
 
 
	
	
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
12.	 Trade	and	Other	Payables:

(Amounts	falling	due	after	more	than	one	year) 

Shareholder’s loans 

2008 
€ 

1,421,948 

1,421,948 

2007 
€

687,168

 687,168

The immediate funding requirements of the Company have been financed by advances from 
the principal shareholder.

13.	 Called	Up	Share	Capital	And	Premium

Authorised: 

400,000,000 ordinary shares of €0.03 each 

2008 
€ 
12,000,000 

2007 
€

12,000,000

Issued	and	Fully	Paid:

Capital	
conversion	
reserve	
fund	
€ 

Share	
capital	
€ 

Share	
premium	
€

Number 

Start and end of year 

105,688,297 

3,170,649 

30,617 

5,491,037

(a)  At 31 May 2007 and 31 May 2008 warrants over 20,000,000 shares exercisable at 3.75p sterling 
at any time up to 20 January 2009 and warrants over 49,064,190 shares exercisable at €0.037 
per share at any time up to 15 November 2015 were outstanding. During the year further 
warrants over 29,805,123 shares exercisable at €0.0433 at any time up to 16 November 2017 
were issued and outstanding at 31 May 2008.

(b)  At 31 May 2008, options had been issued over 7,195,000 shares (2007 – 6,295,000) These 
options are exercisable at prices ranging from €0.048 to €0.2539 and expire between 4 
December 2010 and 14 January 2018. 

(c)  The share price at 31 May 2008 was 3.26p sterling. During the year the price ranged from 2.25p 

to 4.5p sterling.

Annual	 Re por t 	 and	 Financial	 Statements	 2008

Conroy	 Dia monds	 and	 Gold	 P.l.c .

27

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
14.	 Notes	To	The	Cash	Flow	Statement

A.	 Reconciliation	of	Operating	Loss	to	Net	Cash	used	by	Operations:

Operating loss 

Depreciation 

Expense recognised in income statement in 

2008 
€ 
(374,874) 

2007 
€

(375,059) 

12,571 

11,531

respect of equity settled share based payments 

31,652 

121,250

  Waiver of Directors’ remuneration accrual  

– credited to Mineral Interests 

Increase/ (decrease) in creditors 

Decrease in debtors 

Cash used by operations 

15.	 Commitments	and	Contingencies

Obligations	under	Mineral	Interests

- 

165,912

169,912 

(206,255)

1,478 

18,128

(159,261) 

(264,493) 

The Company has received prospecting licences under the Republic of Ireland Mineral 
Development Acts 1940 to 1995 for areas in Monaghan and Cavan. It has also received 
licences in Northern Ireland for areas in Armagh and Down in accordance with the Mineral 
Development Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.

The Company has certain obligations in respect of these licences at year end which comprise 
total expenditure commitments as follows:

Commitments for expenditure:

- due within one year 

- due between two and five years 

2008 
€ 

2007 
€

250,000 

150,000

500,000 

500,000

750,000 

650,000 

16.	 Related	Party	Transactions

The Company shares accommodation with Conroy Plc and Karelian Diamond Resources Plc. 
The Company bears its appropriate share of the related costs directly. There were no amounts 
outstanding at 31 May 2008.

28

An nual	 Repo r t 	 and 	 Fin ancial	 Stat ements	 20 08

Conroy 	 D iam ond s 	 and	 Gold	 P.l. c .

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
17.	 Share-based	Payments

The Company operates a share option scheme for employees who devote a substantial 
amount of their time to the business of the Company.

Options granted generally have a vesting period of up to ten years. Details of the share 
options outstanding during the year are as follows:

2008 
  Weighted 
Average 
Exercise 
Price 
€ 

No.	of	
Share	
Options	

2007
  Weighted 
Average 
Exercise 
Price 
€

No. of  
Share 
Options 

6,295,000	
1,000,000	
-		
100,000	

0.1368	 5,295,000 
1,000,000 
0.0480	
-  
-	 
-  
0.0670 

0.1508 
0.0625 
-  
- 

7,195,000	

0.1254  6,295,000 

0.1368

1 June 
Granted during year 
Exercised during year 
Lapsed during year 

31 May 

  Warrants granted generally have a vesting period of up to ten years. Details of the warrants 

outstanding during the year are as follows:

2008 
  Weighted	
Average 
Exercise 

No.	of	
Share	
Warrants	

No. of  
Share 
Price  Warrants 

€ 

2007
  Weighted 
Average 
Exercise 
Price 
€

1 June 
Granted during year 
Exercised during year 
Lapsed during year 

49,064,188	
29,805,123	
-		
-		

0.0370 
-  
0.0433  49,064,188 
-  
-  

-	 
-	 

-  
0.0370 
-  
- 

31 May 

78,869,311	

0.0394	 49,064,188 

0.0370

The Company estimated the fair value of employee stock options and warrants awards using 
the Binomial Lattice Model. The determination of the fair value of share based payment 
awards on the date of grant using the Binomial Lattice Model is affected by Conroy Diamonds 
and Gold P.l.c. stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of subjective variables. 
These variables include the expected term of the awards, the expected stock price volatility 
over the term of the awards, the risk free interest rate associated with the expected term of 
the awards and the expected dividends.

The Company’s Binomial Lattice model included the following weighted average assumptions 
for the Company’s employee stock option and warrants.

2008	
Stock	

2008 
Stock 
Options	 Warrants 

2007 
Stock 

2007 
Stock 
Options  Warrants

Dividend yield 
Expected volatility 
Risk free interest rate 
Expected life (in years) 
This calculation results in a share based payments reserve movement of €163,354  
(2007: €121,250).

0%	
90%	
4.0%	
10	

0% 
90% 
4.0% 
10 

	0% 
90% 
3.2% 
	10 

0% 
90% 
3.2% 
10

18.	 Approval	Of	Financial	Statements

These financial statements were approved by the Board on 11 November 2008.

Annual	 Re por t 	 and	 Financial	 Statements	 2008

Conroy	 Dia monds	 and	 Gold	 P.l.c .

29