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OreCorp Limited

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FY2022 Annual Report · OreCorp Limited
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Annual Report and Accounts  
for the year ended 31 December 2022

AIM: ORR

QUALITY 
EXPLORATION 
IN HIGHLY ENDOWED 
GOLD DISTRICTS

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ABOUT ORIOLE  
RESOURCES PLC

Who we are

How we do it

Oriole Resources PLC is an exploration and 
development company focussing primarily on 
gold and high-value base metals.

The Company is incorporated and domiciled in the UK. 
The Company’s shares are listed on the Alternative 
Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange 
(company number: 05601091).

Oriole runs a project generator model with 

the aim of spreading risk across multiple 

projects and jurisdictions. This allows Oriole 

to own minority percentages in a number 

of projects as opposed to having majority 

exposure to only one project that could 

either fail or succeed. 

  Read more about our business  
model on pages 10 and 12

What we do

The Golden Oriole

Oriole’s aim is to progress underexplored 
greenfields projects through to development 
stage in West Africa.

Oriole has operated in Cameroon for four years and 
owns a suite of licences, including the Central Licence 
Package and Bibemi in the centre and north of the 
country respectively, alongside its joint venture in 
Senegal, the Senala gold project. Oriole is focussed on 
maximising value from its projects and investments 
through capital-efficient means, for the benefit of its 
shareholders and host communities. 

 Read more about our strategy on pages 10 and 12

The size of a blackbird, the 

male Golden Oriole has an  

unmistakable bright yellow  

body with black wings.  

The genus has African and  

Eurasian species, mirroring  

the Company’s geographical foci.

First described by the Swedish naturalist Carl 

Linneus in 1758, the Eurasian Golden Oriole 

(Oriolus oriolus) breeds throughout Europe 

and parts of Asia (including Turkey) during 

the summer and migrates to parts of central 

Africa for winter, travelling as far south as 

Kenya and Tanzania. The African Golden Oriole 

(Oriolus auratus Vieillot) wasn’t identified until 

almost 60 years later in Ghana. It is native 

to many of the countries in which Oriole 

Resources has projects and investments, 

including Cameroon and Senegal.

See our website for further 
information and news: 
www.orioleresources.com

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM 

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM HIGHLIGHTS

Operational Highlights:
 ° Definition of an independently calculated maiden JORC-
resource at the Bibemi project in Cameroon. The 305,000 

Troy ounces (‘oz’) gold (‘Au’) Inferred resource, grading 

Contents

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

2.19 grammes per tonne (‘g/t’), is the first JORC-Resource 

Highlights

reported for orogenic gold in Cameroon and is supported 

by a further JORC-compliant Exploration Target estimated 

to be up to 148,000 oz at grades of 1.10 – 2.10 g/t Au;

 ° Early-stage soil sampling on the Eastern CLP licences, 

forming part of the Central Licence Package (‘CLP’) project 

in Cameroon, has identified multiple gold-anomalous 

zones, including a 12.5 kilometre (‘km’) anomaly within the 

Group at a Glance

Investment Case

Chair’s Statement

STRATEGIC REPORT

Our Business Model & Strategy

Mbe licence. Recent rock chip sampling of quartz veins and 

Projects and Investments

their host rocks at Mbe have also returned grades of up to 

134.10 g/t Au; 

Operational and Financial Review

 ° Identification of anomalous lithium (‘Li’) in soils on the 

Ndom licence, also in the Eastern CLP, is associated with 

a pegmatite-bearing granite outcrop. The Group has 

successfully applied for and been granted a further 
499 kilometres squared (‘km2’) licence, Gamboukou, 
contiguous to Ndom, and expected to exhibit the same 

Li-bearing granite; 

 ° At the Senala project in Senegal, IAMGOLD Corporation 
(‘IAMGOLD’) confirmed that it had met the expenditure 

Our Governance

s.172 Statement

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)

GOVERNANCE REPORT

Directors

Corporate Governance

Directors’ Report

requirements to exercise its option to acquire an initial 

Report of Remuneration Committee

51% interest in Senala, and continued its exploration 

expenditure with a view to completing up to a further 

Report of the Audit and Risk Committee

US$4 million (‘M’) expenditure to earn up to a 70% interest 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

in the project by February 2024;

 ° In December 2022, IAMGOLD announced the conditional 

sale of its interest in Senala to Managem Group 

(‘Managem’), a North African-based mine developer and 

operator, as part of a wider deal that will also see Managem 

Independent Auditor’s Report

Statement of Consolidated Comprehensive 
Income

Statement of Consolidated Financial Position

take ownership of IAMGOLD’s Boto mine-development 

Statement of Consolidated Changes in Equity

project, located to the east of Senala. 

Financial Overview:
 ° Incoming funds totalling £0.90M have allowed for £0.84M 
of direct exploration expenditure in Cameroon, as the 

Group advanced its projects;

 ° Operating loss of £0.53M for the year to 31 December 

Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows

Statement of Company Financial Position

Statement of Company Changes in Equity

Statement of Company Cash Flows

Notes to the Financial Statements

2022 (2021: £1.44M), an improvement which includes a 

Notice of Annual General Meeting

favourable £1.11M swing in unrealised foreign exchange 

movements; 

 ° Loss for the year of £1.56M (2021: loss of £1.56M) inflated 
by £1.45M impairment provision against the Company’s 

holding in Thani Stratex Resources, a legacy asset. The 

impairment provision has no cash-flow implications;

 ° Administrative expenses increased to £1.18M (2021: £1.08M).

 Read more about our operating and financial  
review on pages 20 and 25

Advisers & Offices

Glossary

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01

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022BUSINESS OVERVIEWHIGHLIGHTS CONTINUED

“ We are pleased to celebrate 
yet another year of exploration 
success in Cameroon in 2022.”

 Tim Livesey
Chief Executive Officer

The drilling programme at the Bakassi Zone 1 target on the 

Cameroon has also delivered some positive surprises in other 

Bibemi licence, led to the delivery of Oriole’s maiden JORC 

commodities, with the identification of lithium anomalism 

compliant Resource in Cameroon. We were particularly 

on the CLP. First identified during our early multi-element 

pleased by the high level of conversion from the early JORC 

stream and soil sampling programmes, follow-up work 

Exploration Target to JORC Inferred Resource, and by the 

is ongoing to confirm whether the host granitoids and 

robust grade of the resource, giving a first pass estimate of 

pegmatites could form a source of hard rock lithium. A solid 

305,000 oz at 2.19 g/t Au. 

addition to the opportunity in Cameroon, we will be following 

This maiden resource has given us confidence that the 

Bibemi licence area has ample potential to host a much more 

significant resource, as the Bakassi Zone 1 deposit is open 

up on these areas in 2023 and have also applied, and been 

granted, an extensional licence to capture more of this 

anomalism to the southeast of the current CLP footprint.

ended along strike to the north-east and at depth, and there 

Cameroon is therefore continuing to develop and deliver 

are three additional gold targets within a 3 km footprint, 

success after success for Oriole, vindicating our decision to 

leading to the possibility of developing a multi-pit mine with 

enter into this new frontier for gold exploration.

a central processing facility. 

Delays in access to the three licences in the Western CLP 

An excellent result for Oriole and for Cameroon, opening the 

have continued but, with the pragmatic support of the 

focus for orogenic gold deposits in the country.

Ministry, we have requested their temporary suspension, 

Elsewhere in Cameroon, work on the Eastern CLP has also 

shown great progress, with the development and early 

assessment of several gold anomalous drainage basins. Soil 

sampling and mapping has led to the development of several 

pending the resolution of some concerns raised by owners 

of an international hunting concession in the area. In the 

meantime, we will continue to focus our efforts on the 

Eastern CLP.

significant and sizeable gold targets, the largest of which 

Elsewhere in the Group, work in Senegal on the Senala 

stretches over 12.5 km. 

licence by our partner IAMGOLD, and on the asset realisation 

Early assessment of these gold-in-soil anomalies appears to 

support our hypothesis that the CLP hosts a gold corridor, 

some 15 km wide and up to 70 km long, in which there is the 

potential to host multiple gold deposits.

programmes in Turkey, continued. As we reached the end 

of the year, IAMGOLD informed us of their wish to sell their 

interest in the Senala licence as part of a West Africa-wide 

divestment strategy. We are currently in discussions with 

IAMGOLD and Managem Group as to the effect of the 

This is a very encouraging result for Oriole, as it confirms 

transaction and the timing of further exploration at Senala. 

our proposition that this area of Cameroon is a new gold 

district. Previously unexplored, we have only just begun to 

lift the lid on the opportunities in this area and are pleased 

to be heading into 2023 with firm targets developing for a 

follow-up, prospect-wide drill programme.

The success we are having in Cameroon is hugely 

disconnected from the value the market is ascribing to those 

assets, and to Senala. At the current share price we believe 

we are more likely to see a better reflection of our value by 

looking for finance at the project level wherever possible, and 

that is what we are doing, alongside the continued efforts to 

realise value from the legacy assets.”

02

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM GROUP AT 
A GLANCE

Our Purpose

Our Culture

Our purpose is to discover gold 
and high-value base metals in 
unexplored geological terranes, 
unlocking gold districts and 
creating opportunities in our 
host communities.

Our focus is to unlock shareholder 
value whilst achieving sustainable 
growth. We have a strong 
dedication to the environment, 
good governance and community 
engagement.

  Read more about our s.172 Statement and  
Environmental, Social and Governance on 
pages 28 and 31

Our geographical reach

Turkey

Anadolu, Lodos & Bati 

Toroslar (Karaağac, 

Muratdere, Hasançelebi  

& Doğala)

Djibouti

Thani Stratex Djibouti 

(Pandora, Hesdaba & 

Assaleyta)

Senegal

Senala Licence

Cameroon
Bibemi, Wapouzé &  

Central Licence Package

Projects

Investments

03

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022BUSINESS OVERVIEWGROUP AT 
A GLANCE CONTINUED

Timeline of Oriole’s achievements in Cameroon

BIBEMI

WAPOUZÉ

CLP

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9
1
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Bibemi – Maiden JORC 
Compliant Inferred Mineral Resource 
of 305,000 oz Au at 2.19 g/t Au 
at Bakassi Zone 1

Bibemi – JORC Compliant 
Exploration Target 
at Bakassi Zone 1

Bibemi – Phase 4 drill programme

Bibemi – infill soils programme 
at the Lawa prospects

Bibemi – Phase 2 and Phase 3 drilling 
campaigns focussed on Bakassi Zone 1

Bibemi – Maiden Phase 1 
drilling campaign

Bibemi third rock chip sampling  
November 2019 to January 2020 – 
Geological mapping at Bibemi was 
conducted along with the collection 
and analysis of additional rock chip 
samples (best result of 35.86 g/t Au)

Bibemi second rock chip sampling

Bibemi Trenching programme – A total 
of 8,742m of trenching was completed at 
Bibemi in the Bakassi Area. Best results 
included 9.00m at 3.14 g/t Au, and  
6.00m at 3.02 g/t Au

Bibemi first rock chip sampling – 454 rock 
chip samples were collected and analysed  
from Bibemi. 43 samples recorded Au >1/gt 
with a best result of 135.4 g/t Au

Became operator of the Bibemi and Wapouzé 
gold projects in mid-2018, with legacy soils 
data, rock chip data, and trenching data

04

Confirmation of pegmatites with 
Li potential at Ndom

CLP – Gamboukou licence granted 
Mbe licence-rock chip sampling and 
geological mapping

CLP – Anomalous Li-in soils identified at 
the Ndom licence, application for two 
further adjacent exploration licences

CLP – First soil sample campaign

Wapouzé – Trenching programme 
conducted and additional soil sampling 
in the south west of the licence

CLP – Regional stream  
sample campaign

CLP – Desk-based satellite imagery 
interpretation study

CLP licences awarded

Application for eight exploration 
licences in Central Cameroon, known 
as the Central Licence Package 
(CLP) – Split into the Eastern CLP 
(Mbe, Ndom, Pokor, Tenekou, and 
Niambaram) and the Western CLP 
(Mana, Sanga, and Dogon)

Wapouzé infill soil sampling – Further 
infill soil samples were collected and 
analysed from Wapouzé

Wapouzé soil sampling – 2,119 soil 
samples were collected and analysed 
from Wapouzé defining two prospective 
areas, Batoal and Bidzar zones

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM Timeline of Oriole’s achievements in Cameroon

INVESTMENT 
CASE

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

Quality exploration
Developing a portfolio of highly prospective projects.

Operating responsibly
Ethical and responsible stakeholder engagement is at the 

Advancing projects along the value chain through quick 

core of everything we do. We ensure that all parties benefit 

and systematic exploration. 

from our operations. 

Delivery of the Bibemi JORC exploration target was 

In 2021, we went a step further by beginning to align 

achieved within just 19 months of commencing the 

ourselves with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development 

maiden drilling programme, demonstrating the team’s 

Goals. Of the 17 goals, Oriole has initially focussed on eight 

ability to drive efficient and economical exploration in  

that we believe are most aligned with our core business and 

a new frontier.

with our responsibilities as a corporate citizen.

Developing opportunities
Our diversified portfolio offers several alternate paths to near 

Experienced team
We have expert board and management teams

and longer-term success.

The Company is led by a board and management team 

Oriole’s focus on assessing opportunities through multiple 

with a wealth of experience, whose input supports value 

routes to a re-rate or a liquidity event.

delivery and wider stakeholder engagement.

  Read more about our experienced team on 
pages 34 and 35

05

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022CHAIR’S 
STATEMENT

“ The maiden Resource at Bibemi 
has significant potential to 
grow and the team is working 
to identify further drill targets 
ahead of the next field season.”

Eileen Carr
Non-Executive Chair

As 2021 came to a close, the world drew in its collective 

Resource at Bibemi has significant potential to grow and the 

breath and hoped for a good 2022, surely it couldn’t be worse 

team is working to identify further drill targets ahead of the 

than the previous two years. However, as Covid restrictions 

next field season. 

in the West eased, the war in Ukraine began with not only 

devastating scenes on the news each evening but slowly the 

realisation of the effect of energy disruptions in Europe adding 

to the already growing rates of inflation seen throughout 

the western hemisphere. Central banks increasing interest 

rates on a monthly basis in an effort to curb rising costs 

appeared to have little effect in the early days as inflation 

appeared not to be driven by demand but rather by supply 

issues that remained from Covid, the continuing shutdowns 

enforced within China and the effects of the Ukraine war. 

Why do I mention this global disruption? Well, with this 

global uncertainty, one would expect to see a rising gold 

price - which often affects the sentiment of investors in junior 

mining stocks - but until the beginning of 2023, the gold 

Next we have our key area, the CLP project which comprises 
nine licences covering 4,091km2 and is located to the south of 
Bibemi. Soil sampling during the year over the five ‘Eastern 

CLP’ licences identified a number of gold-in-soil anomalies, 

the largest of which was a circa 12.5km-long zone at the Mbe 

area. Rock chip samples collected over this area at the end 

of 2022 have further identified excellent results with seven 

samples achieving grades of more than 1.0 g/t Au, and the 

highest reaching 134.10 g/t Au. Sampling and mapping of 

the area will continue through this current year in order to 

identify drill targets for the 2023/24 field season. Access to the 

Western CLP licences remains an issue but we are working 

with the government to resolve this.

price remained unaffected by events and indeed fell for much 

In addition to these key areas of “gold” success, whilst 

of the year, touching US$1,640/oz in November. The junior 

undertaking multi-element analysis of the stream and 

gold exploration end of the AIM market has remained in the 

soil samples, it appears that there is evidence of lithium 

doldrums, the ugly sister to lithium and other “green” metals. 

bearing pegmatites in the Ndom licence and for this reason 

However, since the beginning of 2023, we have seen an uptick 

we applied for and were granted the Gamboukou licence, 

in the price of gold, with it now trading at above US$1,800 

immediately to the south of Ndom. Work continues on this 

during the early months of 2023 with many commentators 

area and, since the results to date are encouraging, we are 

predicting a resurgence in the gold price this coming year.

undertaking further investigative work.

In the midst of this mayhem, Oriole has achieved some 

Apart from the outstanding results achieved in the year, it is 

outstanding results. The drilling mid-way through the year 

also important to note that whilst Cameroon is not a well-

at our Bibemi gold project in Cameroon provided support 

known gold district such as other West African countries, 

for a JORC compliant Inferred Resource of 305,000 ounces of 

which have a plethora of mining contractors and service 

gold (at a gold price of US$1,800/oz). This being the first ever 

providers, it has all the geological hallmarks of one and 

JORC resource produced in Cameroon for orogenic gold and 

does offer us excellent infrastructure with roads, power and 

achieved within 19 months of the first ever drill hole on the 

water all close by to each of our licence areas. This will have 

licence. Not only does this underline the depth and quality 

a significant positive impact on capital required for the 

of experience within our small team but the significant 

development of any assets in the future. 

potential for gold in Cameroon, a country where little to no 

hard rock gold exploration has ever taken place. The maiden 

06

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM As the first mover in Cameroon, we have managed to acquire 
a world-class land package and we are working with our 
partner BEIG3 and the government to develop the mining 
industry in Cameroon. To that end, I would like to say how 
sorry we were to learn of the sad, untimely death of the 
Minister of Mines Mr Ndoke, who passed away in January 
of this year and we offer our condolences to his family and 
friends. We have a good working relationship at every level 
within the Ministry and we look forward to continuing to 
work closely with the Ministry team.

shareholders the following observation, in over 30 years in 
the resource sector, I can truly say that I have never met 
such a hard-working, diligent and competent team as that 
at Oriole and whilst I too dislike dilution unfortunately, equity 
raises are often part of the funding requirement of a junior 
company. However, we are doing our utmost to seek value 
elsewhere in order to minimise the requirement for equity 
and I would ask for your continued patience as we endeavour 
to seek value within our asset portfolio in order to achieve a 
better share price for all.

Turning next to Senegal, at the Senala licence in the south 
east of the country, IAMGOLD has met its first expenditure 
commitment to earn a 51% interest in the licence and has 
entered into the second phase of the earn-in. At the end 
of December, IAMGOLD announced its intention to sell a 
package of its West African investments to Managem Group, 
a North African-based gold developer and operator. Included 
within the sale package is IAMGOLD’s share of the Senala 
licence. With the sale yet to be completed, discussions are 
ongoing with IAMGOLD regarding the work programme 
to be undertaken during this interim phase of the sale 
process. Work undertaken during the year included an auger 
programme of approximately 10,000m, which continued to 
highlight the extent and prospectivity of the Faré targets 
in the north of the licence. Prior to the joint venture with 
IAMGOLD, the Stratex EMC joint venture had undertaken 
a significant amount of work over the licence which 
supported our JORC compliant inferred resource calculation 
of 155,000oz of gold. This, we believe, is only a representative 
sample of the potential resource, at what is one of three 
targets at Faré and one of five prospects within the licence.

I will not dwell long on our legacy assets other than to say that 
work continues on their monetisation. We are ever hopeful that 
value will be achieved but, based on experience, it is unwise to 
put a timeline on the date of that achievement, as illustrated 
by the length of time for both the NASDAQ listing of Elephant 
Oil, and the completion of the EIA for the Muratdere project 
in Turkey. However, the team will continue with their efforts to 
push these assets through to a satisfactory conclusion.

After the positive comments on results achieved during 
the year, I must address our share price. When I joined the 
Company in February 2022, the share price was 0.34p, it is 
now in the region of 0.14p despite the excellent results noted 
above. Part can be blamed on the economic uncertainty 
of the markets and the gold price, and it is true that most 
small-cap gold companies are experiencing tough times. 
However, it is obvious that the market continues to price in 
further equity raises which has compounded these other 
factors and led to a considerable negative effect on our share 
price. As a personal investor at 0.34p, 0.30p, 0.18p and 0.12p, 
I recognise the pain and can understand the frustration 
of many of our investors especially those who regularly 
contribute to the share chat platforms. Having read the 
recent contributions I can offer long-term and short-term 

Our outlook for 2023 is one of building on the achievements 
of past years. The work programmes, which have already 
commenced in Cameroon, will allow for the identification 
of drill targets towards the end of the year at both Bibemi 
and CLP and the value of our ongoing interest in Senala 
will become better defined. Work will continue to attract 
investors into our Company, which offers such a tantalising 
entry into a new gold frontier and relationships will continue 
to be built upon with our partners both old and new.

Along those lines, I would like to touch briefly on the quality 
of our advisers who have ably supported us during this past 
year. Our nominated adviser of many years, Grant Thornton, 
always provides good, sensible advice, and our auditor, 
PKF Littlejohn, offers practical and pragmatic solutions to 
accounting issues. During the year we have supplemented 
our UK legal advisers, Edwin Coe, with Gowlings, who 
have specialised mining knowledge, and our PR advisers, 
BlytheRay, continue to deliver excellent communications 
advice tailored for the small-cap mining market. We changed 
our broker towards the end of the year to SP Angel as we 
believe that they offer the depth required in the mining 
sector – that said, I would like to extend our thanks to Shard 
for their past efforts on our behalf.

The Company’s AGM is scheduled for 8 June 2023 at the 
offices of Grant Thornton UK LLP, 30 Finsbury Square, 
London, EC2A 1AG, and I would encourage all shareholders 
to attend. The Company will host an online question and 
answer session in the days leading up to the AGM and further 
details on this will be provided in due course.

Finally, I would like to offer my thanks to the small but 
hardworking Oriole exploration team in the field; our close 
partners at both EMC in Senegal and BEIG3 in Cameroon; the 
governments of both host countries for welcoming us to invest 
and do business in their country; my fellow board members 
and the small UK administration and finance team and last 
but certainly not least our shareholders whose continued 

patience and understanding I gratefully acknowledge.

Eileen Carr 
Non-Executive Chair

8 March 2023

07

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022BUSINESS OVERVIEWStrategic 
Report

Contents

Our Business Model & Strategy

Projects and Investments

Operational and Financial Review

Our Governance

s.172 Statement

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)

10

13

20

26

28

29

0808

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM 

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM “ Work will continue to attract 
investors into our Company, 
which offers such a tantalising 
entry into a new gold frontier 
and relationships will continue 
to be built upon with our 
partners both old and new.”

Eileen Carr
Non-Executive Chair

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

0909

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022STRATEGIC REPORTOUR BUSINESS MODEL  
& STRATEGY

The Company operates a project generator model but remains flexible with respect to the development 
pathway of each project in order to maximise value-add for the benefit of its shareholders. This strategy 
of identifying and developing a highly-prospective portfolio of gold and base metal assets, a number of 
which are in emerging economies, is designed to allow for the excellent returns that are possible on quality 
exploration projects whilst minimising the inherent risks that exist in a single project. 

Lifecycle of a single project

The greatest opportunity for adding value to a project is illustrated by the Lassonde Curve, which follows the relative 

value of project ownership interests from early stage to mine production

Exploration

Evaluation

Construction

Production

Opportunity for greatest increase in asset value

Probable/Proven Reserve

l

e
u
a
V
g
n
i
s
a
e
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c
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I

Measured

R
e
s
o
u
r
c
e

Indicated

Exploration Target/
Inferred

Feasibility Study

*

4. 
Wapouzé

3. 
Central 
Licence 
Package

2. 
Senala  
(free 
carry)

1.
Bibemi

*

Drilling

*

Commissioning

The Lassonde Curve measures the lifecycle of a single 

sourcing the appropriate amount of capital at each stage. 

successful project and the returns available to early-stage 

In essence, the increased capital intake during the project 

investors are potentially many multiples of their initial 

lifecycle is delivering enhanced asset value that will start to 

investments. Typically, there are two value-maximisation 

crystallise from the resource definition phase onwards; 

points; completion of the evaluation phase and completion 

of mine building. Early-stage projects have the following key 

risks and characteristics:

 ° The potential reward for early-stage long-term investors is 
higher multiples of their initial investment, reflecting the 

higher investment risk inherent in early-stage projects;

 ° Early-stage exploration is inherently risky; an economic 
deposit either exists in an area, or it doesn’t. Exploration 

 ° At this stage of the discovery and development curve, 
operating costs are at a minimum and the impact of 

expertise can reduce this risk, and commencing 

de-risking assets maximises return on investment.

exploration with low-cost methods before moving to 

higher cost methods is a key risk-reduction strategy;

Oriole concentrates on the ‘Exploration’ and ‘Evaluation’ 

stages of this model, aiming to generate the most value for its 

 ° The project development cycle, including data evaluation, 
planning the next phase of work, completing a fundraise, 

shareholders by quickly progressing targets to discovery and 

then pushing these projects towards resource development 

executing the planned work programme to gather more 

and technical studies, which have been proven to drive an 

data and repeating these steps, is well understood in the 

uplift in shareholder value during the Evaluation phase.

industry. Projects move into the ‘Evaluation’ phase by 

10

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM  
Lifecycle of a single project

The project generator model

The advantage of a project generator model over the 

The project generator model seeks to reduce the binary 

traditional ‘single project’ model is to spread the traditional 

risk of being a single project Company by offering multiple 

exploration risks across multiple projects and jurisdictions. 

opportunities for success. It also reduces the geopolitical risk 

The ultimate goal may be to take any one project to a mine; 

which is an inherent issue for many exploration jurisdictions.

however, it is more likely that value is delivered through the 

project evaluation phase and that acquirers or joint-venture 

partners are brought in to move the project towards mine 

construction. Ultimately, this offers the project generator the 

future potential to own minority percentages in a number of 

operational mines, rather than having majority exposure to 

At all stages, the aim is to understand the opportunities 

for partnership, the benefits of sharing project risk and the 

value-add to be achieved by maintaining independence of 

ownership. Assessment of these competing opportunities is 

key to the success of the project generator.

only one project that could either succeed or fail. 

Oriole operates a project generator model but with a strong 

Success in the project generator model can lead to a number 

of possible outcomes for each project, including:

emphasis on developing its projects rapidly in order to 

move them towards the value-adding Evaluation phase of 

the Lassonde Curve. The Board believes this ‘Hybrid’ model 

 ° Outright sale of all interests for cash and/or shares;

combines the returns available from undertaking quality 

 ° Maintenance of a minority position all the way to mine 

construction and production;

exploration on highly-prospective licences with the risk-

mitigation benefits of the project generator model.

 ° Choosing to dilute down to a residual royalty position (often 

This strategy has led to Oriole having interests in a number 

in return for project capital and a free-carried interest);

of licences that are moving through the early phases 

 ° Retaining a majority position and developing a suitable 

project all the way to mine operation. 

and towards the mine construction, commissioning and 

production phases.

11

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022STRATEGIC REPORTOUR BUSINESS MODEL  
& STRATEGY CONTINUED

Mature assets within the portfolio offer realisation opportunities, 
with proceeds to be focussed on exploration in Cameroon

Projects – Cameroon

The Company’s early-stage assets include its projects in 

Cameroon, a new frontier for gold exploration, where it has 

earned a 90% interest in the Bibemi and Wapouzé projects 

and has 90% ownership of a newly granted district-scale 

project, the Central Licence Package (‘CLP’), in the centre 

of the country. In addition, two further licences have been 

applied for during the year, contiguous with the CLP, 

Gamboukou which was a granted in November 2023,  

and Maboum which remains under application.

As projects progress, and financial demands increase, one 

option for a junior explorer to reduce its exposure to the capital 

markets is to find a joint venture partner to fund the project 

in return for an equity stake. This was the approach taken at 

the Senala (previously Dalafin) project in Senegal, where in 

2018 the Company signed a joint venture agreement with 

IAMGOLD Corp, giving them the right to earn-into a maximum 

70% equity position. An experienced Board understands 

that, to move a project forward, capital is required at either 

Company level or project level and it therefore needs to assess 

all potential deals based on their attractiveness compared to 

the other options available and with a focus on reducing the 

risk on returns for the shareholders.

Residual interests have also arisen on projects that have had 

partners introduced in Turkey and Djibouti. Oriole maintains 

an active role in monitoring these projects and aims to 

# Project

Country

Metal

Oriole 
interest

Operator

8 Muratdere

Turkey

Copper 

1.2% 

- Gold

royalty

Lodos

7 Karaağac

Turkey

Gold

6 Hasançelebi Turkey

Gold

Success 

fee

Anadolu

Success 

Bati 

fee

Toroslar

5 Senala

Senegal

Gold

41.65%*

IAMGOLD**

maintain Board positions on the joint-venture companies 

4 Bibemi

Cameroon Gold

90%

Oriole

wherever possible.

Oriole defines its interests in Cameroon and Senegal as 

Projects, and its later stage interests as Investments. The 

Company actively seeks further exploration opportunities, 

particularly in West Africa, to consolidate its existing 

Cameroon Gold

90%

Oriole

geographic footprint.

Assaleyta, 

3

Hesdaba & 

Djibouti

Gold

9.21%

TSD

Pandora

2

CLP (9 
licences)

1 Wapouzé

Cameroon Gold

90%

Oriole

*    Through its 85% interest in Stratex-EMC, which holds a 49% interest 

in Senala

**  On 20 December 2022, IAMGOLD announced the sale of its 51% 

beneficial interest in Senala to Managem Group

12

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM PROJECTS AND  
INVESTMENTS

Projects – Cameroon

BIBEMI

 ° Bibemi is an early-stage gold exploration project, covering 
highly prospective Neoproterozoic Pan-African greenstone 

The majority of drilling to date has been at Bakassi Zone 1 

and in Q4-2022, the Company reported a maiden Mineral 

rocks in north-eastern Cameroon. It is the Company’s most 

Resource for the prospect of 305,000 oz grading 2.19 g/t Au in 

– within a 12km-long orogenic gold system that at surface 

Material

Classification

Tonnage

advanced project in Cameroon;

 ° The Company has a 90% interest in the project, held 
through RMC Cameroon SARL (‘RMC’), with its local 

partner BEIG3 holding the remaining 10%;

 ° Exploration to date has identified four key prospects – 

Bakassi Zone 1, Bakassi Zone 2, Lawa West and Lawa East 

has delivered up to 135.40 g/t Au from selective rock-chip 

sampling and 9m grading at 3.14 g/t Au from trenching;

 ° During the year, the Company completed its fourth 
phase of diamond drilling, bringing the total metres 

drilled at the project to 6,685.40m in 54 holes since Q1-21.  

This latest phase of drilling included two vertical holes at 

Bakassi Zone 1 to target extensional quartz veins in order 

the JORC Inferred category, within the limit of a US$1,800/oz 

gold price pit shell (see below table). The Company believes 

that this is the first published JORC resource for orogenic 

gold in Cameroon. 

Gross

Oxide

Fresh

Total

Inferred

200,000

Inferred

4,100,000

Inferred 4,300,000

Net Attributable (90%)

to assess their potential to enhance the volume of gold 

Material

Classification

Tonnage

Oxide

Fresh

Total

Inferred

180,000

Inferred

3,690,000

Inferred

3,870,000

mineralisation within the system. BBDD050 in particular 

encountered multiple extensional veins with wide, 

sulphide-rich alteration haloes that have delivered broad 

mineralised intervals including 14.80m grading 4.27 g/t Au. 

A selection of best results to date across all four phases of 

the programme is shown in the following table:

Hole ID

From (m)

Interval (m)

Au (g/t)

g*m

BBDD009

BBDD020

BBDD030

BBDD031

BBDD034

and

BBDD042

BBDD045

and

and

BBDD046

BBDD049

BBDD050

and

BBDD053

29.20

69.00

34.75

100.70

119.00

160.00

84.90

90.40

124.50

136.00

121.10

127.20

104.30

132.10

58.00

12.40

0.80

2.25

5.20

6.50

2.00

9.20

1.10

1.10

2.50

2.10

2.40

14.80

7.70

3.00

0.71

27.90

8.82

1.97

3.92

39.42

1.31

9.97

17.70

8.90

19.04

6.05

4.27

2.74

12.30

8.80

22.32

19.85

10.24

25.48

76.67

12.05

10.97

19.47

22.22

39.98

14.52

63.16

21.06

36.90

Grade
(g/t Awu)

1.53 

2.23

2.19

Total 
contained 
gold (oz)

10,000

294,000

305,000

Grade
(g/t Awu)

1.53

2.23

2.19

Total 
contained 
gold (oz)

9,000

265,000

274,000

13

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022STRATEGIC REPORTPROJECTS AND  
INVESTMENTS CONTINUED

Projects – Cameroon

BIBEMI CONTINUED

The Resource has been modelled over a strike length 

of 1,220m and to a depth of 260m below surface, using a 

 ° The Exploration Target is along strike of the Resource in 
areas of the deposit where there is currently insufficient 

cut-off grade of 0.30 g/t Au and a top-cut of 20 g/t Au, and 

sample support to be Classified as Inferred Resource. With 

there exists an additional Exploration Target estimated to be 

infill drilling it is hoped that the size and confidence level of 

between 1.5 and 2.2 million tonnes at grades ranging from 

the existing Resource will be increased to incorporate some 

1.10 to 2.10 g/t Au for between 53,000 and 148,000 oz of Au 

of the additional ounces;

(announcement dated 12 December 2022).

 ° The Company anticipates completing an infill geophysics 
(magnetic) survey during the first half of 2023 to aid drill 

targeting at the remaining three prospects on the Bibemi 

licence as well as future Resource-expansion activities.

Wapouzé

 ° At Wapouzé, following a review of the trenching data and 
an interrogation of all historical data, the prospectivity 

for gold appears to be lower than at Bibemi and so the 

intention is for exploration to be refocussed on the licence 

to cover an opportunity which has been identified for 

dimension stone and cement production materials,subject 

to a change of substance application being approved 

by the Ministry of Mines. Discussions with suitable local 

parties are planned for 2023.

14

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

15

PROJECTS AND  
INVESTMENTS CONTINUED

Projects – Cameroon

CENTRAL LICENCE PACKAGE (‘CLP’) 

Projects – Senegal

 ° The CLP is a district-scale land package in central 

 ° The Eastern CLP and Western CLP licences, granted in 

Cameroon, located to the west of the regional capital, 

February 2021, were targeted through an in-house, country-

Ngaoundéré. During the year, the package was increased 
to cover an area of 4,091km2 and now comprises the 
Eastern licences of the CLP (Tenekou, Niambaram, Pokor, 

wide prospectivity analysis that considered the district 

to have significant potential to host orogenic-type gold 

mineralisation. This assessment was made on the basis of 

Ndom and Mbe), the Western licences of the CLP (Mana, 

host-rock geology, alteration, structural location and evidence 

Dogon and Sanga) and the Gamboukou licence; Oriole 

of gold anomalism (in the form of previous historical regional 

has 90% ownership of all nine licences. A further licence, 

sampling data and artisinal workings), targeting the regional 

Maboum, is currently under application to the east of the 

Tcholliré-Banyo shear zone corridor (‘TBSZ’), a major splay off 

Eastern CLP; 

16

the larger-scale Central African Shear Zone;

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM Projects – Cameroon

 ° The northeast-trending TBSZ corridor, with its associated 
shears, thrusts and faults, are, according to academic 

 ° BEIG3 and its associate Roxane Minerals Limited have a 
collective 10% free-carried interest in each of the Oriole 

literature, thought to be one of the significant structural 

Cameroon SARL licences up until the definition of a 

controls for gold and other mineralisation in the region;

minimum Measured and Indicated resource of 50,000 oz 

 ° During the period, work focused on the five Eastern 

CLP licences which are held directly by the Company’s 

Au per discrete licence; thereafter, funding will be pro-rata 

on a contribute or dilute basis;

subsidiary, Oriole Cameroon SARL. Semi-regional soil 

 ° A review of stream and soil multi-element data identified 

sampling (400m by 200m spacing), completed over the 

the potential for lithium within the Ndom licence. In Q4-22, 

gold-in-stream anomalies identified in 2021, confirmed 

the team completed a ground-truthing exercise to assess 

anomalous gold in all five licences and delineated multiple 

the potential for lithium-bearing pegmatites at Ndom 

2-3km long gold-in-soil anomalies across the Ndom, Pokor 

as well as at Gamboukou, immediately to the south of 

and Niambaram licences, as well as a broad anomalous 

Ndom, which was granted to another of the Company’s 

zone within the Mbe licence, where en-enchelon, 

subsidiaries, OrrCam2 SARL, in November 2022; 

structurally controlled trends are now confirmed to occupy 

a c.12.5km long by 3km wide corridor. Best results included 

838 ppb Au (0.84 g/t Au), 520 ppb Au and 463 ppb Au; 

 ° Detailed mapping and rock chip sampling was completed 
at Mbe during Q4-22, and results (reported in Q1-23) have 

 ° At the three Western CLP licences held through Reservoir 
Minerals Cameroon SARL, no work was completed during 

the period due to access issues. In order to pause any 

ongoing exploration expenditure and tax commitments 

related to the licences, the Company has formally requested 

confirmed a significant cross-cutting zone with grades 

their temporary suspension until a resolution to the access 

up to 134.10 g/t Au. The team is also undertaking ground 

issues can be found.

geophysics at Mbe to help develop the geological model; 

Projects – Senegal

SENALA

 ° The Senala gold project lies in the highly-endowed Birimian-
age Kédougou-Kéniéba gold belt in south-eastern Senegal;

 ° During the period, IAMGOLD confirmed that it had met 

the terms of the First Option (under the terms of an earn-in 

 ° Oriole owns 49% through its joint-venture with local 

partner Energy & Mining Corporation S.A., with Canadian 

mid-tier IAMGOLD having recently earned a 51% beneficial 

interest by spending an initial US$4M. This interest is yet to 

be formally ackowledged by the Ministry of Mines;

 ° In 2021, the Company reported a maiden Mineral Resource 
Estimate of 155,000 oz Au grading at 1.26 g/t in the JORC 

Inferred category, based on a 0.3 g/t Au cut-off and a 

US$1,800/oz pit shell (announcement dated 23 August 2021). 

This Resource sits within a larger JORC-compliant Exploration 

Target for Faré South of up to 280,000 oz grading 1.10 g/t Au. 

Both estimates remain open at depth and along strike; 

agreement signed in 2018), by reaching the US$4M spend 

level required and had therefore earned a 51% interest in 

the licence. IAMGOLD now has the option to spend up to 

a further US$4m over two years to earn up to a total 70% 

interest in the licence.

On 20 December 2022, IAMGOLD announced that it had 

entered into an agreement to sell it’s beneficial interest 

in Senala to Managem Group, as part of a wider package 

of assets in West Africa. Oriole is currently in discussions 

with IAMGOLD and Managem Group as to the effect of the 

transaction and the timing of further exploration at Senala.

17

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022STRATEGIC REPORTPROJECTS AND  
INVESTMENTS CONTINUED

Investments – Djibouti

THANI STRATEX 
DJIBOUTI LTD (‘TSD’) 

 ° Since late 2019, TSD, in which Oriole has a 9.21% interest, 

has been funded and operated by its largest shareholder 

African Minerals Exploration & Development Fund III 

(AMED Fund III), with Oriole represented at the board-level;

 ° Exploration has mostly been focused on three projects 

(Pandora, Hesdaba and Assaleyta) within the Afar 

epithermal province of the East African Rift Valley, where 

epithermal gold minerlisation has been defined over all 

three projects;

 ° No significant work programmes have been completed 

during the year and the Company is awaiting an update on 

future work programmes. 

Investments – Turkey

MURATDERE

 ° Muratdere is a substantial copper porphyry system 

located in Bilecik, Turkey. The mining rights of Muratdere 

are owned by Muratdere Madencilik San. Ve Tic. A.Ş. 

(Muratdere Madencilik), a 100% owned subsidiary of 

Turkish company Lodos Maden Yatırım Sanayi ve Ticaret 

A.Ş.(Lodos), which is 100% owned by Turkish investment 

and Finance Company Pragma Finansal Danışmanlık 

Ticaret A.Ş. (‘Pragma’); 

 ° In November 2019, Oriole Resources PLC (‘Oriole’) executed 
share purchase and royalty agreements with Lodos that 

resulted in Oriole’s equity interest in Muratdere being sold 

to Lodos and converted to a 1.2% NSR royalty;

 ° Muratdere Madencilik received a positive Environmental 
Impact Assessment (‘EIA’) in August 2022, granted by the 

Turkish State. There is currently a lawsuit brought by third 

parties against the State for the grant of EIA;

 ° The Company understands that there has been a revision 
to the original mining plan as part of the most recent EIA 

submission, and that Muratdere now intends to process 2 

million tonnes of ore annually for a mine life of 11 years. This 

is an increase in processed tonnes from an aggregate of 16 

million tonnes to 22 million tonnes of ore.

18

HASANÇELEBI AND 
DOĞALA PROJECTS 

 ° In 2019, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Stratex 
Madencilik Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi (‘Stratex 

Madencilik’), signed an exploration agreement with Bati 

Toroslar Madencilik Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti. (‘Bati Toroslar’) 

for the Hasançelebi and Doğala high-sulphidation projects 

which will result in a US$500k success-based payment on 

delivery of a minimum JORC-compliant Indicated and/

or Measured gold resource of 100,000 oz (with a 0.3 g/t Au 

cut off), defined within the oxide and transition zones at 

Hasançelebi, and the completion of an EIA;

 ° Following the sale of Oriole’s 1.5% royalty on the projects in 
2020, a further US$220k is due to Stratex Madencilik once 

Hasançelebi moves to the mine-development stage;

 ° During the period, the drilling performed by Bati Toroslar 
allowed for the defintion of a resource of 109,000 oz Au, at 

an average grade of 0.72 g/t Au and a cut off of 0.4 g/t Au.

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM Investments – Djibouti

Investments – Turkey

KARAAĞAC  
GOLD PROJECT 

 ° Karaağac is located 300 km west-south-west of Ankara. 
Mineralisation is hosted by an outcropping thrust zone 

and altered limestone, and the project has a non-JORC 

resource of 156,798 oz Au;

 ° In March 2019, the Company’s partner Anadolu Export 
Maden Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi (‘Anadolu’), 

96%-owned by Istanbul-listed ODAŞ Elektrik, confirmed 

the definition of a JORC-2012 compliant Measured, 

Indicated and Inferred resource of 348,150 oz Au and 

2,832,036 oz Ag (0.2 g/t Au cut-off) (announcement dated 

11 March 2019);

 ° Under the terms of the Agreement, definition of this JORC-
resource triggered the payment by Anadolu of a US$500k 

success-based fee. US$75k of this was received in 2019 but 

the balance remains outstanding and, during the period, 

the Company has been engaged in legal proceedings 

to recover the outstanding US$425,000 plus VAT. The 

Company has a strong case and remains hopeful of a 

positive outcome;

 ° Following the sale of our 1.5% NSR royalty to Anadolu in 

2020, the Company remains entitled to a further US$250k 

when the project moves towards mine construction.

Competent Person Statement
The Technical Information relating to Exploration Results 

has been prepared by Claire Bay, EurGeol, CGeol, MIMMM, 

an employee of the Company, who is a Competent Person 

as defined by the JORC Code 2012 Edition. The information 

is extracted from various source reports. The Company 

confirms that it is not aware of any new information or 

data that materially affects the information included in the 

relevant market announcements. The Company confirms 

that the form and context in which the Competent Person’s 

findings are presented have not been materially modified 

from the original market announcements.

The Technical Information relating to Mineral Resources and 

Exploration Targets is based on data compiled by Mr. Robert 

Davies, EurGeol, CGeol, an independent consultant to Oriole. 

Mr Davies is a Director of Forge International Limited. Mr 

Davies has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of 

mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to 

the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person 

as defined in the 2012 Edition of the “Australasian Code for 

Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore 

Reserves”. Mr Davies consents to the inclusion in this report 

of the matters relating to the Mineral Resource Estimate 

and Exploration Targets in the form and context in which 

they appear.

The Company confirms that the material assumptions and 

technical parameters for resource estimate continue to apply 

and have not materially changed. 

It is noted that the potential quality and grade of the 

Exploration Targets referenced in this report are conceptual 

in nature. There has therefore been insufficient exploration 

to estimate a Mineral Resource for all target areas reported 

and it is uncertain whether further exploration will result in 

the estimation of a Mineral Resource. The Exploration Targets 

have been prepared in accordance with the 2012 edition of 

the JORC Code.

More detail of the above Oriole projects and investments can be 
found on the Company’s website: www.orioleresources.com

19

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022STRATEGIC REPORTOPERATIONAL AND  
FINANCIAL REVIEW

“ The Directors present their 
strategic report on the 
Group for the year ended 
31 December 2022.”

Tim Livesey
Chief Executive Officer

Oriole Resources PLC 
Company number: 05601091 
Registered office: Wessex House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 9FD, UK

Principal Activities 
The principal activity of the Group is the exploration and 

development of gold and other high-value base metal projects.

Strategic approach 
The Board’s strategy is to establish the Company as a leading 

value-adding project-generator in our chosen mineral 

specialisations and in our geographic areas of operation. 

The Board seeks to acquire exposure to highly-prospective 

districts, primarily in West Africa, and the Group has 

developed a first-mover position in Cameroon, an exciting 

new frontier for gold exploration. The Board aims to develop 

a portfolio of projects that cover a range of mineral deposits 

across multiple jurisdictions, thus mitigating sovereign, 

technical and operational risks.

The Group finances its activities through the monetisation of 
more advanced projects and through periodic capital raisings. 

Business environment
The price of gold fluctuated significantly during the year, 

opening at US$1,815, rising to nearly US$2,000 per ounce early 

in the year before a slow decline to just over US$1,600 later 

in the year. A rally towards the end of the year has led to a 

current gold price above US$1,800 per ounce, a level which is 

often used as a benchmark. 

With steadily diminishing proven resources at the main gold 

producers, the Board believes the need to find new resources 

will ultimately drive their increased appetite for supporting 

the activities of junior exploration companies like Oriole. 

2022 Operations
The Group’s main operations are split between active 

exploration projects in Cameroon, partner exploration 

activities in Senegal, and the management of its investment 

and royalty positions. 

Active Exploration projects

The primary focus for the Group’s own exploration activities is 

its position in Cameroon. 

Bibemi
At the Bibemi licence in the North of Cameroon, following 

the maiden drill programmes in 2021, exploration continued 

with the completion of Phase 3 and Phase 4 diamond 

drilling at the Bakassi Zone 1 prospect area. Phase 3, focussed 

on testing the sub-vertical shear veins, also confirmed a 

secondary sub-horizontal mineralised component that 

was more specifically targeted by vertical drill holes during 

Phase 4 drilling. The intersection planes between the two 

vein sets were proposed as targets for assessing the potential 

for broader zones of mineralisation within the system. 

This theory was confirmed through the delivery of some of 

the widest mineralised intersections to date at Bakassi Zone 

1, including 14.80m at 4.27 g/t Au and 7.70m at 2.74 g/t Au 

(drilled widths), both from hole BBDD050.

20

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM The evidence from these additional core intersections 

continued to support the team’s structural interpretation of 

Wapouzé
At Wapouzé, following a review of the trenching data and an 

the Bakassi Zone 1 prospect and enabled the independent 

interrogation of all historical data, the prospectivity for gold 

estimation of an initial JORC compliant Exploration Target 

appears to be lower than at Bibemi and so the intention is 

for the prospect of between six million and eight million 

for exploration to be refocussed on the licence to cover an 

tonnes at grades ranging from 1.50 to 1.70 g/t Au for between 

opportunity which has been identified for dimension stone 

290,000 and 440,000 oz Au.

In December 2022, following a confirmatory visit to site by 

the independent consultants, they upgraded a significant 

proportion of the Bakassi Zone 1 Exploration Target to a 

maiden JORC Inferred Resource of 305,000 oz grading 2.19 

and cement production materials, subject to a change of 

substance application being approved by the Ministry of Mines. 

Discussions with suitable local parties are planned for 2023.

Central Licence Package
Covering Paleo-Proterozoic to Neoproterozoic (including 

g/t Au. Oriole believes this is the first JORC compliant gold 

Pan-African) age rocks, well-known hosts for orogenic gold 

resource published for projects in Cameroon, confirming 

deposits both in West Africa and worldwide, the CLP licences 

its belief that Cameroon is a new emerging destination for 

were initially targeted by the Company’s technical team due 

orogenic gold exploration. The remainder of the Exploration 

to their apparent proximity to the dominant regional shear 

Target that wasn’t upgraded still stands at between 1.5 and 

corridor associated with the Tcholliré-Banyo Shear Zone 

2.2 million tonnes at grades ranging from 1.10 to 2.10 g/t for 

(‘TBSZ’), a major southwest-northeast-trending splay off the 

between 53,000 and 148,000 oz of Au.

This Exploration Target is a long strike of the Resource in 

areas of the deposit where there is currently insufficient 

sample support to be classified, under JORC, as Inferred 

larger-scale Central African Shear Zone. The TBSZ and its 

associated shears, thrusts and faults are thought to be one 

of the most significant structural controls for gold and other 

mineralisation in the region. 

Resource. With infill drilling it is hoped that the size and 

With the grant of the initial eight licences in the package in 

confidence level of the existing Resource will be increased to 

February 2021, follow-on work to the early stream sediment 

incorporate some of the additional ounces.

In addition to the extension of the drilling campaigns, ground 

magnetics were carried out on the licence, with a focus on 

Bakassi Zone 1 and the three associated mineralised prospect 

areas; Bakassi Zone 2, Lawa West and Lawa East. Results 

from this programme gave additional indications of controls 

on the structural interactions between the prospects and 

will enhance further targeting during 2023. As part of the 

Phase 4 drilling programme at Bibemi, a single hole was 

drilled at Lawa East and delivered 3.00m grading 12.30 g/t Au. 

This highlights the significant potential for further resource 

definition at the project.

sampling programmes has continued to focus on the 

five licences designated as the Eastern CLP (Tenekou, 

Niambaram, Pokor, Ndom and Mbe). In November 2021, 

the Company commenced semi-regional soil sampling 

that was completed over six grids in total. Five of the grids 

were designed to target the source of the stream-sediment 

anomalism identified during the previous season. Results 

confirmed anomalous gold in all five licences and have 

delineated multiple 2-3km long gold-in-soil anomalies across 

the Ndom, Pokor and Niambaram licences, as well as a broad 

anomalous zone within the Mbe licence, where en-enchelon, 

structurally-controlled trends are now confirmed to occupy a 

21

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022STRATEGIC REPORTOPERATIONAL AND  
FINANCIAL REVIEW CONTINUED

circa 12.5km long by 3km wide corridor. Best results include 

In December 2022, IAMGOLD announced its intention to sell 

838 parts per billion (‘ppb’) Au (0.84 g/t Au), 520 ppb Au and 

its interests in a package of West African assets, including its 

463 ppb Au. 

Geological mapping over the Mbe soil anomalism, on a 200m 

beneficial interest in the Senala licence, to Managem Group, 

a North African-based mine developer and operator. 

line spacing, has identified brecciated quartz veins (hosted 

Investment and royalty positions

within strongly altered granitic units) found sub-cropping/

outcropping within the western part of the circa 12.5 km 

anomalous zone. Results from rock chip samples taken 

during Q4-2022 have returned multiple high-grade values, 

including 134.10 g/t Au and 131.80 g/t Au. 

The Company has a long history of gold and base metal 

exploration success. This history has left it with a valuable 

portfolio of legacy assets throughout East Africa and  

Turkey, which are the subject of an ongoing asset  

realisation programme. 

On the basis of the positive soil-sampling results at Mbe, 

the Company took the opportunity to expand its position in 

Cameroon by applying for a further licence immediately to 

the east of, and contiguous with, the existing CLP footprint 

and therefore the 12.5 km gold-in-soil anomalism at Mbe. The 

Maboum licence application, which covers an area of 487 

km², has been formally registered by the Ministry of Mines 

(although is not yet approved) and is available to view on the 

Cameroon Mining Cadastre. 

The results to date appear to support the team’s hypothesis 

that the CLP area is host to a wide (15 to 20 km) corridor of 

gold mineralisation, stretching along an approximate 70 km-

long segment of the TBSZ. This is further supported by the 

publication, in December 2021, of a gold prospectivity map 

of the area generated by the World Bank-funded PRECASEM 

programme, with work completed by BRGM (France’s public 

reference institution for the management of subsurface 

resources). These maps identify the entirety of the CLP 

footprint as a key area for gold prospectivity in Cameroon.

During routine interrogation and interpretation of the 

CLP datasets, an area of apparent lithium anomalism was 

identified in geochemical datasets from the 2021/2022 

stream and soil programmes on the Ndom licence. Follow-up 

work to identify the potential for lithium-bearing pegmatites 

has been scheduled for the 2023 field season and an 

additional licence, Gamboukou, immediately adjoining the 

Ndom licence and offering potential for further pegmatite 

targets, was secured in November 2022.

Senala
In Senegal, our earn-in partner at the Senala licence, 

IAMGOLD, continued to explore at the northernmost Faré 

prospect, completing its ‘First Option’ in February 2022 

and meeting the expenditure requirements to obtain a 

51% ownership in the project. Exploration through 2022 

continued to be focussed at Faré, with an expansive 

auger drilling programme designed to test for additional 

anomalism outside of those areas already identified and 

drilled at the Faré North, Faré South and Faré Far South 

targets. This programme identified significant new gold and 

arsenic anomalism, exhibiting the same dominant north-

easterly trend as seen at the existing Faré prospects.

Two of these assets, a 24.92% holding in Thani Stratex 

Resources (‘TSR’) and a 9.21% holding in Thani Stratex Djibouti 

(‘TSD’), arise from a legacy joint-venture agreement between 

the Company, whilst under previous management, and Thani 

Ashanti. TSD became a standalone vehicle in late 2019 and is 

now funded and managed independently of TSR.

The investment in TSR covers the Hodine licence in Egypt 

that hosts the Anbat and Hutite projects. In Q4-2021, 

operation of this project was taken over by private group Red 

Sea Resources (‘RSR’), which acquired an initial 7% interest 

and has spent in excess of US$2.2M to earn a potential 85% 

interest in the Hodine licence. Disappointingly, the targets 

did not deliver the required level of commerciality as dictated 

by the new mining laws in Egypt and so in October 2022, RSR 

took the decision to exit its earn-in position. With the licence 

due for transfer to exploitation status or relinquishment 

in December 2022, the decision was taken by the TSR 

shareholders to allow RSR to close operations, relinquish the 

licence and hand back the asset to the Egyptian authorities. 

The asset values attributable to the TSR holding have been 

provided for in these financial statements.

At TSD, exploration is focused on three primary epithermal 

gold projects in Djibouti, namely Pandora, Assaleyta and 

Hesdaba, with African Minerals Exploration & Development 

Fund III (‘AMED Fund lll’) having taken over operational control 

in 2019. Following initial encouraging results, progress at 

the projects has been slow during 2021 and 2022. However, 

the Board still firmly believes in the potential of the Djibouti 

licences and so looks forward to further updates in due course.

Following the closure of the Turkish exploration office, the 

Group has put in place arrangements to manage its interests 

in Turkey, with potentially US$1.6M and TL3.75M (together, 

£1.5M) to be collected from the agreements that are in 

place with former partners. At the Group’s former Karaaǧaç 

gold project in Turkey, pursuit of the US$425k owed by the 

operator, Anadolu Export (‘Anadolu’), is still ongoing. The 

interim injunction against Anadolu continues to be in place. 

Turkish justice has moved slowly but it is moving in the right 

direction. During the year, the Group managed to bring the 

parent company, Odaş Electrik, into the case and they have 

been forced to submit a bond to the Turkish courts amounting 

22

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM to US$250k in order to have permission to defend the case. 

Meanwhile, work continued at the Hasançelebei project. 

The Group continues to be confident it will win the full sum 

The Group is due to receive US$500k from its partner Bati 

due, plus damages and costs. Following the sale of a royalty 

Toroslar when this project passes EIA stage, and a further 

right to Anadolu in 2020, the Group is also contingently owed 

US$220k once mine construction commences.

US$250k from Anadolu should the Karaaǧaç project receive 

Environmental Impact Assessment (‘EIA’) approval and 

move to mine construction. The Group continues to monitor 

progress on this and has retained the right to take the royalty 

back if Anadolu defaults on that payment.

At the Muratdere copper project in Northern Turkey, the 

Company holds a 1.2% net smelter return royalty position. 

The EIA Report for this project has been submitted to the 

State Authority by Muratdere Madencilik, and was approved 

by the State in August 2022. There is currently a lawsuit 

The Group is also awaiting news of a debt owed by NTF 

brought by third parties against the State for the grant of 

Insaat Ticaret Ltd Sti (‘NTF’), a former partner in Turkey, who 

EIA. Oriole has engaged with a number of royalty companies 

defaulted on tax payments that were originally due in 2017.  

with regards to the sale of its Royalty rights, and believes 

In order to ensure compliance with Turkish tax laws, the 

successful confirmation of the EIA will prove to be a trigger 

Group’s previous management made a payment of US$960k 

for a sale of its Royalty rights.

in 2017, and the current team is now trying to recover these 

funds. However, the most likely avenue of repayment is via a 

court issued payment order, which is denominated in Turkish 

lira; the amount recoverable has depreciated significantly 

since 2017 and now stands at approximately US$200k. 

Progress on this has been held up by a preceeding case 

involving NTF but the Board hopes for a resolution of that 

case in the near future upon which event the payment order 

will be served on NTF. 

23

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022STRATEGIC REPORTOPERATIONAL AND  
FINANCIAL REVIEW CONTINUED

Financial Review
Whilst the loss for the year equalled that of 2021, at £1,569k 

(2021: £1,569k) this disguises several significant fluctuations 

in determining how that number was finally arrived at. The 

most significant factor was the impairment in the value 

of our holding in TSR, following its relinquishment of the 

Hodine licence in Egypt and the decision to dissolve the 

company. This relinquishment, over which we had very 

The other significant profit and loss movement was at the 

tax level, where the exceptionally busy 2021 field season 

enabled a research and development tax credit reclaim of 

£403k (2021: £38k) early in 2022, a significant uplift on the 

2021 tax claim which was based on the Covid-19 affected field 

season of 2020. Work is underway to submit the 2022 tax 

computations to enable a further reclaim, although the level 

of tax credit achieved in 2022 is unlikely to be repeated. 

limited influence having been in a minority position for many 

The most significant financial issue in 2022 has been 

years, resulted in a £1,449k write off to our profit and loss 

the state of the financial markets, especially in the junior 

account, equating to 92% of our loss for the year.

In areas which are more directly under our control, 

administration expenses rose 9% to £1,182k (2021: £1,083k), 

reflecting the establishment of an administration team at 

Cameroon, and more travel and legal fees as the Directors 

pushed ahead with asset realisation efforts in Turkey and 

elsewhere. With the Turkish office now closed, the Group’s 

focus is very much on our growing position in Cameroon, and 

having a local team established means the Company is well 

placed to deal with events on the ground more proactively. 

exploration sector. Almost without exception, our peer group 

has seen declining share prices, as the economic uncertainty 

generated by, amongst other things, the war in Ukraine, 

has impacted the availability of funds, both for fund raises 

and in the secondary market. Consequently, the remarkable 

progress shown by our geological teams in Cameroon has yet 

to be reflected in the share price. Ongoing efforts to realise 

legacy assets and find ways of releasing and re-directing 

available funds into progress in Cameroon continue to be the 

Board’s top priority.

Included within administration costs is the grossed-up value of 

In 2022, the Company raised a total of £952k from the issue 

the shares that the Directors have been taking in lieu of salary 

of equity and the ongoing Director salary sacrifice scheme, 

for a number of months during the year. Whilst shares to the 

and spent £842k on advancing the projects in Cameroon. 

value of £57k were issued to the Directors in lieu of net pay, tax 

Equity raises in these market conditions are painful for all 

still falls due upon the issue of the shares, with £37k of tax on 

shareholders, including Directors, but the Board remains 

non-cash payments included in administration expenses. 

convinced that progress in Cameroon will eventually be 

Within operating profit, other income rose to £654k in 

2022, from a loss position of £361k. Much of this £1,1015k 

swing relates to foreign exchange fluctuations on our Euro 

denominated assets, such as the Senala licence in Senegal. 

The 6% strengthening of the Euro against Sterling through 

2022, after a comparable weakening in 2021, gives rise to 

a £539k gain. Gains were also achieved in Turkey, with the 

recovery of licence deposits, collection of trading debts 

from the 2021 consultancy business and the sale of a small 

antimony royalty contributing £44k of income. In addition 

the sale of fully written down fixed assets in Senegal brought 

£78k of income. 

recognised by the markets. 

Tim Livesey 
Chief Executive Officer

8 March 2023

24

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

25
25

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022STRATEGIC REPORTOUR GOVERNANCE

Organisation overview 
After a full refresh of the Board in 2018, the 2021 promotion of 

Principal risks and uncertainties
The Group’s operations are exposed to a variety of risks, many 

Claire Bay to Executive Director for Exploration and Business 

of which are outside of the Company’s control. 

Development and the appointment of Eileen Carr as Chair 

in 2022, the Board has a proven track record of success in 

both mineral exploration specifically and the AIM market 

generally. The Board is ably supported by a management 

team that, for many years, has delivered successful 

exploration projects.

The Board of Directors
The Board is responsible for providing strategic direction 

for the Group, setting objectives and management policies 

and agreeing performance criteria. The Board monitors 

compliance with objectives and policies of the Group 

through monthly performance reporting, budget updates 

and monthly operation reviews. 

Exploration Industry Risks: 

Mineral exploration is speculative in nature, involves many risks 

and is frequently unsuccessful. Following any discovery, it can 

take a number of years from the initial phases of drilling and 

identification of mineralisation until production is possible, 

during which time the economic feasibility of production may 

change. Substantial expenditures are required to establish 

mineral reserves and to construct mining and processing 

facilities. As a result of these uncertainties, no assurance can 

be given that the exploration programmes undertaken by the 

Group will result in any new commercial mining operations 

being brought into operation. Government activity, which 

could include non-renewal of licences, may result in any 

income receivable by the Group being adversely affected. 

The current composition of the Board is three Executive 

In particular, changes in the application or interpretation of 

Directors and two Non-Executive Directors. The Board 

mining and exploration laws and/or taxation provisions in the 

believes that the composition of the Board provides an 

countries in which the Group operates could adversely affect 

appropriate mix to conduct the Group’s affairs at the present 

the value of its interests. 

time, and the Nomination Committee (comprising the Non-

Executive Directors) keep this under regular review.

The Audit Committee

The Audit Committee provides a formal review of the 

effectiveness of the internal control systems, the Group’s 

financial reports and results announcements, and the 

external audit process. During 2022 the Committee 

comprised Eileen Carr as Chair of the Committee and David 

Pelham (Independent Non-Executive Director). The external 

auditors and the Executive Directors attend by invitation 

when appropriate. 

These risks are mitigated as much as possible by building 

and maintaining a pipeline of projects at various stages of 

development, by employing highly experienced and highly 

trained geologists, both at Board level and at the operational 

level and by maintaining good relationships with the 

Governments of the countries in which we operate.

Political risks: 

All of the Group’s operations are located in foreign 

jurisdictions. As a result, the Group is subject to political, 

economic and other uncertainties, including but not limited 

to, changes in policies or the personnel administering them, 

No internal control issues were identified during 2022 

terrorism, nationalisation, appropriation of property without 

fair compensation, cancellation or modification of contract 

rights, foreign exchange restrictions, currency fluctuations, 

export quotas, royalty and tax increases and other risks 

arising out of foreign governmental sovereignty over the 

areas in which these operations are conducted, as well as 

risks of loss due to civil strife, acts of war, guerrilla activities 

and insurrection. 

The Board aims to only conduct operations in those 

countries with a stable political environment and which have 

established acceptable mining codes. The Company adheres 

to all local laws and pays heed to local customs.

requiring disclosure.

The Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration Committee provides a formal 

and transparent review of the remuneration of the 

Executive Directors and senior employees and makes 

recommendations to the Board on individual remuneration 

packages. This includes the award of non-contractual 

performance-related bonuses and share options. 

Remuneration packages are designed to reward, motivate, 

retain and recruit individuals. Bonuses are only paid in 

recognition of performance.

During 2022, the Committee comprised David Pelham as 

Chair of the Committee and Eileen Carr (Non-Executive 

Chair), the Group’s two Independent Non-Executive 

Directors. No Director took part in discussions concerning the 

determination of their own remuneration.

2626

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM STRATEGIC REPORT

Financial and liquidity risks: 

The main financial risks facing the Group are the availability of 

adequate funding and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. 

The Group’s main source of finance is the monetisation 

West Africa, where currencies are typically linked to the 

Euro. However, the Directors do not expect there to be any 

significant lasting impact.

Liquidity risk: 

of projects supported where necessary by the issue of 

The Group’s liquidity risk is considered to be significant as it 

share capital. Tight budgetary and financial controls are 

is a pre-revenue business. The Directors regularly review the 

maintained across the Group. The Group only deals with 

opportunities for asset realisation and the need for further 

high-quality banks. It does not hold derivatives, does not 

equity raising. 

trade in financial instruments, does not engage in hedging 

arrangements and does not enter into binding commitments 

for exploration expenditure. 

The Group does not enter into binding commitments 

for exploration expenditure. Cash forecasts are updated 

continuously. The financial exposure of the Group is 

The use of interest-bearing deposit accounts is maximised 

substantially reduced by partnering with third parties in 

and cash flow forecasts are constantly updated and reviewed 

exploration joint ventures. 

by the Board. 

Foreign exchange risks: 

The Group operates internationally and is exposed to foreign 

exchange risk arising from various currency exposures, 

primarily with respect to the Euro, which is tied to the Central 

African Franc which is the operational currency of Cameroon, 

and US Dollar, which is the currency predominantly used by 

suppliers of drilling equipment and services. 

The Group’s exposure to foreign exchange movements is set 

out in Note 19 of the Accounts. Risks to exchange movements 

are mitigated by minimising the amount of funds held 

overseas. All treasury matters are handled centrally in the UK. 

All requests for funds from overseas operations are reviewed 

and authorised by Board members. The Group hedges its 

exposure to foreign currency by budgeting in the currencies 

that will be required to fund its exploration programmes, 

and then holding sufficient cash in those currencies to 

meet those requirements. No further hedges are required 

to manage this foreign exchange exposure and the Group 

recognises the profits and losses resulting from currency 

fluctuations as and when they arise. 

The Group does not operate within the European Union and 

as a result the Directors have seen limited impact on the 

business from the UK’s exit from the European Union and 

believe any impact will be limited to the effects of potential 

increased foreign exchange fluctuations. This may mean 

exploration costs rise, as the Group primarliy operates in 

Future developments
The Company advances its exploration projects on the 

basis of analysing results to date, deciding on the most 

cost-effective techniques for the next stage and raising 

funds to support those activities as appropriate. In addition, 

the Company regularly reviews potential new exploration 

projects at various stages of development, and based within 

the European and African time zones.

Key performance indicators 
The Board monitors the following KPIs on a regular basis: 

 ° Share price versus its peer group. Whilst there is no formal 
index of exploration company performance, review of the 

price performance of an identified peer group shows a 

similar trend to the Group’s share price throughout the 

year, which is reflective of the current difficult conditions in 

the junior exploration market;

 ° Exploration expenditure as a percentage of total 

expenditure. The Board has established a 60% or more 

target for this metric and in 2022 achieved 44% (2021: 63%). 

The actual level of expenditure is driven by the types of 

work undertaken, and whilst some capital-intensive drilling 

at Bibemi was undertaken, the focus for the year was more 

towards the early-stage exploration work on the Central 

Licence Package, which is an essential early phase of 

exploration, and is less capital intensive. 

27

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022STRATEGIC REPORTSECTION 172(1) STATEMENT

Promotion of the Company for the benefit of the members as a whole

The Board of Directors (‘the Directors’, ‘they’ or ‘we/
our’) believes that they have acted in the way most 
likely to promote the success of the Company for the 
benefit of its members as a whole, as required by s172 
of the Companies Act 2006.

 ° In support of the Summer 2022 equity raise the Board 
decided that, in order to focus funds on exploration, 

and increase its equity interests in line with shareholder 

sentiment, each member of the Board would take a 

significant part of their remuneration as equity in the 

The requirements of s172 are for the Directors to:

 ° Consider the likely consequences of any decision in the 

long term,

 ° Act fairly between the members of the Company,

Company, for a four-month period commencing in June. At 

the conclusion of this initial scheme, the Board determined 

to extend the scheme for a further 6 months commencing 

November 2022. The Board continues to believe that, 

during difficult market conditions for junior exploration 

companies, the focussing of cash reserves towards 

 ° Maintain a reputation for high standards of business conduct,

direct exploration expenditure is in line with the Group’s 

 ° Consider the interests of the Company’s employees,

 ° Foster the Company’s relationships with suppliers, 

customers and others, and

 ° Consider the impact of the Company’s operations on the 

intention of rapidly advancing its projects through quality 

exploration in order to deliver shareholder value.

 ° Fundraising to provide working capital for the 2022/23 

field season at the Group’s projects in Cameroon: 

community and the environment.

following the results of the work during the 2021/22 field 

The Company operates as an early-stage exploration business 

with a primary focus on gold, which is inherently speculative 

in nature and, without regular income, is dependent upon 

fundraising for its continued operation. The pre-revenue 

nature of the business is important to the understanding of 

the Company by its members, employees and suppliers, and 

the Directors are as transparent about the cash position and 

funding requirements as is allowed under the regulations for 

quoted companies and of the AIM Market. 

The long-term nature of the mineral exploration industry, 

with typically many years between early-stage exploration 

and ultimately mine development is a primary driver in the 

Board’s decision making. Weighing up the implications of 

short-term decisions on the long-term goals of the Company 

is a key part of the Board’s role and impacts all decisions 

around financing, licence acquisition, exploration work 

programmes and asset realisations. 

The application of the s172 requirements can be demonstrated 
in relation to some of the key decisions made during 2022:

 ° Fundraising to provide working capital to complete 

certain tasks from the 2021/22 field season at the Group’s 

licences in Cameroon: this work included the assaying of 

extra samples taken in the Central Licence Package (CLP) 

soil-sampling campaigns, to further define the extensive 

anomalous zones identified earlier in the year, and 

metallurgical test work on samples taken from the Bibemi 

licence, in support of an application for the extension 

for the licence. Despite difficult market conditions, the 

Board determined that this work was essential for the 

development of the projects and planning for the 2022/23 

field season, and so an equity raise was in the interests of 

shareholders. Consequently a £300,000 equity raise was 

executed in Summer 2022 in order to provide this working 

capital. In addition, the Board supported this raise by way 

of a £40,000 subscription by certain Directors.

28

season, the Board determined that the results of that 

work justified follow-up campaigns of further early-

stage exploration work to move the CLP project towards 

drill target identification. Mindful of difficult market 

conditions, the Board nevertheless determined that the 

value to be generated by advancing these projects would 

outweigh the dilutionary impact of an equity raise. The 

Board concluded that an equity raise was in the interests 

of shareholders. Consequently a £600,000 equity raise 

was executed in Autumn 2022, including £32,000 by way 

of a subscription by certain Directors, in order to ensure 

that the Company could perform significant project 

advancement in the 2022/23 dry season in Cameroon.

 ° Pursuit of an ongoing asset realisation strategy: the Board 
continues to believe an asset realisation strategy is in the 

best interests of shareholders, as a route to providing funds 

for exploration work on our primary projects. Whilst progress 

has been slower than desired, the Board continues to 

engage with potential purchasers of its investment interests. 

As a gold exploration company operating in West Africa, 

the Board takes seriously its ethical responsibilities to the 

communities and environments in which it works. We abide by 

the local and relevant UK laws on anti-corruption and bribery. 

Wherever possible, local communities are engaged in the 

geological operations and support functions required for field 

operations, providing much-needed employment and wider 

economic benefits to the local communities. In addition, we 

follow international best practice on environmental aspects of 

our work. Our goal is to meet or exceed international standards, 

in order to ensure we obtain and maintain our social licence to 

operate from the communities with which we interact.

The interests of our employees are a primary consideration 

for the Board. An inclusive share-option programme allows 

them to share in the future success of the Company, personal 

development opportunities are supported, and a health and 

security support network is in place to assist with any issues 

that may arise on field expeditions. 

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL  
AND GOVERNANCE (ESG)

At Oriole, ethical and responsible stakeholder engagement and protection of the environments in which we work is at the core 

of everything we do, ensuring that all parties benefit from our operations. In 2021, we went a step further by beginning to align 

ourselves with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Of the seventeen goals, Oriole has initially focussed on the 

following eight that we believe are most aligned with our core business and with our responsibilities as a corporate citizen.

Good health & well-being
Throughout the year, Oriole continued to maintain a constant vigilance for the health and well-being 

of its employees. During the fieldwork season daily health and safety briefings are conducted to ensure 

a consistently safe workplace. The continued development of our Bibemi base camp in Northern 

Cameroon has led to a move towards self-sufficiency, while keeping health and safety at the forefront. 

The installation of a water filtration system at the camp, and subsequent confirmation of its efficacy, 

has created a new portable water supply. Our local teams are empowered to bring forward suggestions 

that can improve lives and continue to build our social licence to operate. An example of this initiative 

includes improvement to the living environment at the Bibemi camp through the planting of multiple 

trees and the construction of an allotment to provide a supply of fresh vegetables. 

Quality education 
Exploration and mining companies have always been at the forefront of upskilling the local 

population in what are often remote areas of the world where educational facilities are sometimes 

less well established. Operating in Cameroon, with its relatively embryonic mining industry, gives 

us exposure to this opportunity and we work closely with the local communities and universities to 

deliver on this. Across all our operations, we source our employees in-country wherever possible and 

provide appropriate training at all levels to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity. During the 

year, the Company supported Cameroonian student Jessica Ngongalah on her Master’s project at 

the University of Ngaoundéré. Jessica’s project utilised a selection of stream and soil samples from 

our Central Licence Package project to study the suitability of a portable X-ray Fluorescence device 

for acquiring fast, accurate, and precise geochemical data while in the field. Our Senior Geologist, 

Constantin Ndongue, was present at Jessica’s thesis defence and award of her degree in October. 

In addition to the support of students, we are commited to generating a local work force, with the 

training of technicians and other support roles leading to the development of new skills witihin the 

communities in which we operate. For example, during the 2021 and 2022 drilling campaigns at 

Bibemi, local people filled the ‘off-sider’ roles, an important part of the drill crew.

The Company is also working to improve links with UK-based universities and was able to support a 

University of Portsmouth student on their BSc project that investigated the petrology and genesis 

of the gold-bearing versus barren quartz-tourmaline veins at our Bibemi project. This research was 

presented at the Company’s Technical Review Meeting in August at our UK Office in Eastleigh. 

29

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022STRATEGIC REPORTENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL  
AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) CONTINUED

Gender equality 
Diversity within a workforce brings wide-ranging benefits and can often be fundamental to a 

company’s success. Oriole promotes diversity throughout the Group, building its teams based 

on merit and not gender – or any other prejudice - and ensuring that everyone has equal rights, 

responsibilities and opportunities. Despite being a male-dominated industry, Oriole strongly supports 

and empowers women in mining. The Company has female roles at all levels of the business, from 

junior staff through to management and the Board.

Decent work and economic growth
Exploration, and the resultant mining operations, drive significant growth in developing economies 

and are associated with a multiplier effect at both a local and national level. Oriole is committed to 

providing all of its employees with fair incomes, job security and safe working conditions. We support 

the development of all our employees and aim to provide an environment which will attract, retain, 

and motivate people, helping them to maximise their potential and share in the Group’s successes. 

Oriole has retained its Cameroonian team, all of whom are on full-time contracts, giving them 

financial security by ensuring they are paid all year round, not just when the exploration programmes 

are running. We also remain committed to training and employing technicians and casual workers 

from the local communities, which has had a significant positive impact both financially and in terms 

of upskilling the local workforce. Oriole is also committed to providing help to the local community 

where possible and, during the year, the Company provided gifts in kind, such as transportation for 

construction materials for a new church at the nearby Padame village. 

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Exploration and mining is at the front line of discovering the very resources that are critical to the 

delivery of global infrastructure and technological advancements and that are important to many 

of the sustainability challenges facing the world today. Whilst we are gold-focussed, during our 

exploration work we also test for a wide range of other elements, including the battery metals that 

are crucial to meeting the UN’s sustainability goals. This is highlighted by our continued evaluation 

of anomalous lithium-in-soil concentrations within our Ndom licence alongside our gold exploration 

programmes. Whilst the importance of lithium in the context of carbon neutrality and development 

of green energy is well known, the importance of gold in building resilient infrastructure and 

promoting sustainable industrialisation is often overlooked and yet, due to its inherent properties, 11% 

of all gold produced is used in industry, with applications in medical, electronics, automotive, defence 

and aerospace industries, as well as climate-controlled buildings. 

At a more local level, we aim to support governmental sustainability programmes and where possible 

include green technology within our workplace. In Senegal, through the option agreement with 

IAMGOLD, the Company provides annual contributions to the country’s Social Mining Programme, a 

fund dedicated to benefiting local communities, and an integral part of the Senegalese Mining Code.

30

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM Reduced inequalities 
Oriole leads by example in the countries and communities in which it operates, by building diverse 

teams that do not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, class, 

ethnicity, or religion. Throughout the business, we fully embrace the individuality of each and every 

one of our employees and operate a zero-tolerance approach to anyone that does not adhere to these 

values. Within the business, our team of 14 employees are from four different countries, practise a 

number of different religions and have ages ranging from 23 to over 65 years.

Life on Land
The Company is committed to minimising any adverse impacts of its activities on the natural 

environment and, as a minimum standard, we comply with any relevant legislation and 

environmental regulations within the territories in which we operate. During all of our programmes, 

we ensure that we have a minimal impact on the environment by planning our programmes as 

efficiently as possible and we have protocols in place to ensure that all of our sites are rehabilitated 

before we move on. Where trenches have to remain open for sampling and logging purposes, 

measures are put in place to ensure the safety of animals and people in the area. During the year, 

our other efforts towards protecting the environment included installing solar panels, sourced within 

Cameroon, at our local base in Mbe (Central Licence Package) to generate electricity and help reduce 

Oriole’s carbon footprint.

Partnerships for the Goals 
Oriole has a diverse array of stakeholders and is committed to understanding and meeting their 

needs. In all the countries we operate, we have local partners that help us to foster good relationships 

with local communities and the local administration to ensure that our goals are aligned. We also use 

in-country suppliers wherever possible to support communities and local businesses. In Cameroon 

specifically, we have also continued to work closely with the Ministry of Mines, the UK Honorary 

Consul and the British High Commission, and strongly support the efforts they are making to attract 

foreign investment and promote the sustainable development of Cameroon. During the year our 

local team attended the British High Commission’s sustainability conference for UK businesses in 

Cameroon. At a local scale, Oriole has a committed record and a continuous programme of reparation 

where any of our exploration programmes are found to impact on the local communities.

31

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022STRATEGIC REPORTCorporate 
Governance 
Report

Contents

Directors

Corporate Governance

Directors’ Report

Report of the Remuneration Committee

Report of the Audit and Risk Committee

34

36

42

44

47

32

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM 

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

33

GOVERNANCE REPORTDIRECTORS

Eileen Carr 
Non-Executive Chairman 
(appointed 17 February 2022)

Tim Livesey 
Chief Executive Officer

Bob Smeeton
Chief Financial Officer

Tim has over three decades of 

Bob is a member of the Institute of 

Eileen is a Chartered Certified 

experience in gold and base metals, 

Chartered Accountants in England 

Accountant with over 30 years of 

with a distinct focus on Africa, Europe 

and Wales. He trained as a chartered 

experience within the resources sector, 

and Asia. He has worked at all stages of 

accountant with Price Waterhouse, 

having worked worldwide on a host 

exploration, development and mining, 

qualifying in 1992, and has a BSc in 

of large-scale mining operations. She 

and has a strong track record of delivery, 

geography from Durham University. 

was appointed Finance Director of Cluff 

both at the technical and commercial 

Bob has extensive experience of 

Resources Limited in 1993 and has, 

level within previous positions. 

working for AIM-quoted companies, 

since that time, held several executive 

directorships in the resources sector, 

including CFO for Monterrico Metals 

plc, the AIM-quoted copper exploration 

company developing the Rio Blanco 

project in Peru. Her first Non-Executive 

role was for Banro Corporation in 1998 

and, more recently, Eileen held a Non-

Executive Director position for AIM-

quoted Bacanora Lithium plc.

Some of his more notable roles to date 

include Exploration Manager (Eurasia), 

Barrick Gold Corp., Project Director and 

where he has been heavily involved in 

turnaround situations, fundraising 

and acquisitions. 

later CEO of Tethyan Copper Company 

In partnership with three different 

Pty Ltd (a Joint Venture between 

CEO’s, Bob was instrumental in the 

Antofagasta Minerals and Barrick Gold 

turnaround and subsequent growth of 

Corp, owner of the Reko Diq project in 

AIM-listed Universe Group Plc as Group 

Pakistan), and more recently as COO 

Finance Director, seeing its market 

of TSX.V-listed Reservoir Minerals Inc., 

capitalisation increase from £1.5m to 

which was sold in June 2016 to TSX-

£25m during his tenure.

Eileen has been a Non-Executive 

listed Nevsun Resources Ltd for US$365 

Director to AIM-quoted Sylvania 

million. Tim joined the company in 

Platinum Limited since May 2015.

March 2018.

Prior to Universe Group, Bob was 

European Finance Director for 

OpSec Security Limited, where he 

was heavily involved in formulating 

and implementing a very successful 

reconstruction plan. The restructuring 

plan stemmed the annual operating 

losses of £2.5million and moved the 

Company to a profit situation in the 

first year of its implementation.

34

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM Claire Bay 
Executive Director for Exploration  
& Business Development

David Pelham 
Non-Executive Director

David Pelham is a mineral geologist 

A Chartered geologist with over 14 years’ 

with over 35 years of global exploration 

experience in the resources sector. 

experience. He has overseen the 

Claire graduated from the University of 

discovery and early evaluation of 

Southampton with a First Class Masters 

multiple deposits, most notably 

in 2007 and joined AIM-listed Stratex 

including the 6 Moz Chirano Gold Mine 

International shortly thereafter, where 

in Ghana, as well as Hummingbird’s 

she spent the next 11 years. During her 

4.2 Moz Dugbe gold deposit in Liberia. 

career, Claire has operated at both the 

David has been a Non-Executive 

technical and commercial level, with a 

Director to AIM-quoted Cora Gold Ltd 

particular focus on gold exploration in 

since May 2017.

Africa and Turkey.

Claire was promoted to VP in July 

2018 as part of the restructuring of the 

Company to Oriole Resources PLC and 

then to Executive Director in July 2021. 

Claire oversees the Group’s exploration 

programmes and is heavily involved 

in the review and interpretation of 

technical data, as well as co-managing 

the Company’s corporate development 

activities.

GOVERNANCE REPORT

35

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022CORPORATE  
GOVERNANCE

The Chair of the Board of Directors of Oriole Resources PLC 

Early-stage mineral exploration is, by its nature, speculative. 

(‘Oriole’ or ‘the Company’ or’ the Group’ or ‘we/our’) has a 

We aim to reduce the risks inherent in the industry by careful 

responsibility to ensure that Oriole has a sound corporate 

application of funds throughout individual projects. We do 

governance policy and an effective Board. 

that by:

The Board has adopted the Quoted Companies Alliance 

 ° Reviewing existing exploration data where available;

(‘QCA’) Corporate Governance Code. The QCA code identifies 

ten principles to be followed in order for companies 

to deliver growth in long-term shareholder value, 

encompassing effective management with regular and 

timely communication to shareholders. This report follows 

the structure of those principles and explains how we have 

applied the guidance as well as disclosing any areas of 

non-compliance. 

We will provide annual updates on our compliance with 

the QCA Corporate Governance Code. This year, for the first 

time, an Audit Committee Report has been prepared for this 

Annual Report. As a result, the Company notes that it now 

fully complies with the QCA Corporate Governance Code. 

The sections below set out how the Group applies the ten 

principles of the QCA code.

 ° Establishing in-country partnerships for our projects;

 ° Applying the most appropriate and cost-effective 

programmes in order to determine whether further work, 

using increasingly expensive exploration techniques, is 

justified; and

 ° Appreciating the likely realisation routes that will be 

available to us as the project moves towards development.

Principle 2: Seek to understand  
and meet shareholder needs 
and expectations 
The Company is committed to engaging with its 

shareholders to ensure that its strategy, operational results 

and financial performance are clearly understood. We aim 

to engage with our shareholders via roadshows, attending 

Other than in respect of the preparation of an Audit 

investor conferences, through our regular reporting on 

Committee Report, there have been no significant 

the London Stock Exchange (‘LSE’) and posting on the 

governance changes during the year. 

Company’s website. During the year, regular investor 

Principle 1: Establish a strategy and 
business model which promotes 
long-term value for shareholders 
The Company is a gold and base metals exploration 

specialist, with operations and investments in Africa 

and Turkey. Our goal is to deliver long-term value for our 

shareholders. We aim to do this by identifying and proving  

up good-quality grassroots and early-stage exploration 

projects. Consequently we:

 ° Assess the business and political environment of the target 
country and its attractiveness for prospecting and eventual 

mining operation;

 ° Understand existing interests in a licence area in order 
to ensure we can earn-in on terms favourable to our 

shareholders;

 ° Review existing infrastructure in an area, as this is a 

significant factor in assessing economic potential; and

 ° Use our expertise to identify and progress those areas 
which demonstrate the potential for economically  

feasible deposits of gold and base metals.

meetings were held, timed to coincide with significant news 

releases. This comprised online investor meetings as well 

as face-to-face meetings with investors and prospective 

investors. Ahead of online meetings, we actively encourage 

investors to submit questions, primarily via our website, 

and seek to answer those questions received within the 

restrictions of being a public company admitted to AIM. 

The recordings of those meetings remain available for later 

viewing, and have proven to be an effective way of engaging 

with shareholders and potential investors.

LSE announcements include details of the website,  

Twitter feed and phone numbers to contact the  

Company and its professional advisers. In addition, the 

Company have appointed SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP 

(‘SP Angel’) as its broker. As part of their services, SP Angel 

also publish research on the Company which is available 

from their website.

Private shareholders 

The Company’s Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’) is the 

key forum for dialogue between retail shareholders and 

the Board. The Notice of Meeting is sent to shareholders 

at least 21 days before the meeting. Question and answer 

sessions are held a week before the meetings, in order to let 

shareholders ask questions in advance of submitting proxy 

votes. For each vote, the number of proxy votes received 

for, against and withheld is announced at the meeting. The 

results of the AGM are announced via the LSE. Investors can 

contact us via our website (https://www.orioleresources.com) 

or by email (info@oriolereources.co.uk). 

36

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM GOVERNANCE REPORT

Retail shareholders also regularly attend our seminar 

Local partners and communities 

presentations and we publicise our attendance via LSE 

announcements and Twitter. In addition, our most recent 

corporate presentation is made available on our website. 

Institutional shareholders 

The Directors actively seek to build a relationship with 

institutional shareholders. Shareholder relations are 

managed primarily by the Executive Directors. The Executive 

Directors make presentations to institutional shareholders 

Our operations provide employment in remote areas 

of developing countries. Essential to our success is 

the establishment of close working relationships with 

local partners. We seek local partners who have a good 

understanding of the local exploration and mining 

industry and regulations within their country, and with the 

capacity and capability to assist with the management and 

maintenance of the project.

and analysts throughout the year, both in virtual forums and, 

We are mindful of our obligations to the local environment 

where possible, in person in London and Cape Town, through 

and operate to high levels of health and safety in respect of 

events such as those hosted by the 121 Group. We also have 

both our local workers and the local community. Employee 

ad-hoc meetings with our shareholders via conference call 

training focuses on operating safely and considerately in 

and email. The Board as a whole is kept informed of the 

these communities. Engagement with local communities is 

views and concerns of major shareholders by the Executive 

dependent on jurisdiction and the stage of exploration but 

Directors. Any significant investment reports from analysts 

is typically by public forum or with local or regional leaders, 

are also circulated to the Board. The Non-Executive Chair 

including site visits and workshops. Social projects in the 

and Non-Executive Director are available to meet with major 

local communities are dependent on local need and also the 

shareholders if required to discuss issues of importance 

stage of exploration/level of project investment. Examples 

to them and are considered to be independent from the 

of our previous social projects include providing Covid-19 

executive management of the Company. 

Principle 3: Take into account wider 
stakeholder and social responsibilities 
and their implications for long-term 
success 
Aside from our shareholders, our most important stakeholder 

groups are our employees, local partners and those local 

communities that may be impacted by our exploration 

activities. The Board is regularly updated on stakeholder 

issues and their potential impact on our business to enable 

the Board to understand and consider these issues in 

decision making. The Board understands that maintaining 

the support of all its stakeholders is paramount for the 

long-term success of the Company.

Employees 

We maintain only a small permanent staff across the UK 

and Africa and as such, employee engagement with the 

Executive Directors is frequent with scheduled weekly team 

calls as well as daily calls and discussions. We aim to provide 

an environment that will attract, retain and motivate our 

team and we continue to monitor this through regular 

one-on-one discussions and an annual appraisal system. 

We also have an employee handbook in order to provide 

a comprehensive document detailing all the policies and 

procedures covering all aspects of employment with Oriole 

vaccinations, drilling new boreholes for drinking water, 

provision of medical clinics, supply of equipment to a local 

school and building a new road.

As projects move forward, towards potential mining activities, 

we seek to bring in partners who can credibly make the 

investments to move towards mine production. In doing so, 

we have regard for their ability and desire to move projects 

forward, their industry reputation, and their commitment to 

treating the local communities fairly whilst also protecting 

the environment. We enter agreements that allow us to 

monitor their activities and have monthly updates on  

project progress.

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

Financial controls 

The Company has an established framework of internal 

financial controls, the effectiveness of which is regularly 

reviewed by the Executive Directors, the Audit Committee 

and the Board. The key financial controls are:

 ° The Board is responsible for reviewing and approving 
overall Company strategy, approving new exploration 

Resources PLC. Our key value underpinning the Employee 

projects and budgets, and for determining the financial 

Handbook is to treat all employees fairly and equally and to 

structure of the Company including treasury, tax and 

promote ethical behaviour, diversity and non-discrimination.

dividend policy. Monthly results and variances from plans 

Relevant, cost-effective training courses are available to  

all employees and are discussed during the annual  

appraisal process. 

and forecasts are reported to the Board;

37

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022CORPORATE  
GOVERNANCE CONTINUED

 ° The Audit Committee, comprising the Non-Executive 
Directors, assists the Board in discharging its duties 

business integrity, health and safety, and corporate social 

responsibility. All employees are aware of their obligations 

regarding the financial statements, accounting policies 

under anti-bribery and corruption legislation and detailed 

and the maintenance of proper internal business, and 

information is provided in the Employee Handbook. In 

operational and financial controls; 

addition, whistleblowing procedures have been established 

 ° Regular budgeting and forecasting is performed to 

monitor the Company’s ongoing cash requirements  

and cash flow forecasts are circulated to the Board  

on a monthly basis;

 ° Actual results are reported against budget and prior year 

and are circulated to the Board;

 ° The Company has an investment appraisal system that 
considers expected costs against a range of potential 

outcomes arising from the exploration opportunities that 

we are invited to participate in; 

 ° Regular reviews of exploration results are performed 

as the basis for decisions regarding future expenditure 

commitments; 

 ° Due to the international nature of the business there are, 
at times, significant foreign exchange rate movement 

and publicised to all employees.

Principle 5: Maintaining the Board 
as a well-functioning, balanced 
team led by the Chair 
The Board comprises an Independent Non-Executive 

Chair, three Executive Directors and one Independent 

Non-Executive Director. All current Directors were appointed 

during or since 2018. John McGloin served as Independent 

Non-Executive Chairman from September 2018 and resigned 

on 17 February 2022, to be replaced by Eileen Carr on that 

date. David Pelham serves as an independent Non-Executive 

Director. Both the Non-Executive Directors have extensive 

experience in the mining industry and have considerable 

experience of serving on the boards of public companies. 

Given the current board structure, the Company has not 

exposures. Cash flow forecasting is done at the ‘required 

designated a Senior Independent Director.

currency’ level and foreign currency balances are 

maintained to meet expected requirements; and

 ° For exploration projects, we manage the risk of failure to 

find economic deposits by low-cost, early-stage exploration 

techniques, with detailed analysis of results. Moving 

projects to more expensive exploration techniques requires 

a rigorous review of results data prior to deciding whether 

to proceed with further work. 

Non-financial controls 

The Board is satisfied that it has a suitable balance between 

independence on the one hand, and knowledge of the 

Company and industry on the other, to enable it to discharge 

its duties and responsibilities effectively. The Nomination 

Committee keeps the need for an additional Non-Executive 

Director under regular review. All Directors are encouraged 

to use their independent judgement and to challenge all 

matters, whether strategic or operational.

In 2020, the Company issued options to all Directors 

The Board has ultimate responsibility for the Group’s system 

including the Non-Executive Directors, at that time,  

of internal control and for reviewing its effectiveness. 

under a Director share option remuneration plan,  

However, any such system of internal control can provide 

enacted to maximise funds available for exploration by 

only reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material 

conserving cash, through the grant of options in lieu of 

misstatement or loss. The Board considers that the internal 

contractual salary payments for a limited term during 

controls in place are appropriate for the size, complexity 

2019 and 2020. The grant of options to the Non-Executive 

and risk profile of the Group. The principal elements of the 

Directors is not considered to be part of any incentive plan 

Group’s internal control system include:

nor to impair their independence.

 ° Close management of the day-to-day activities of the 

In 2022, the Company issued shares in lieu of salary to all 

Group by the Executive Directors;

Directors on four occasions as part of two programmes.  

 ° An organisational structure with defined levels 

of responsibility, which promotes entrepreneurial 

decision making and rapid implementation while 

minimising risks; and 

All Directors, including the Non-Executive Directors 

participated in this, and the grant of shares under this 

scheme is not considered to be part of any incentive plan  

nor to impair their independence.

 ° Central control over key areas such as capital expenditure 

The Board aims to meet at least bi-monthly, either via a 

authorisation and banking facilities.

formally scheduled Board meeting or an ad-hoc telephone 

The Group reviews at least annually the effectiveness of 

its system of internal control, whilst also having regard to 

its size and the resources available. As part of the Group’s 

plans we continue to review a number of non-financial 

controls covering areas such as regulatory compliance, 

38

conference call when matters must be discussed on a more 

timely basis. The agenda for Board Meetings is set by the 

Company Secretary in consultation with the Chair and CEO. 

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM The standard agenda points include:

 ° Review of previous meeting minutes and actions arising 

therefrom;

 ° A discussion of the major strategic and operational issues 

facing the business;

 ° A report by the Executive Director for Exploration & 

Business Development, covering all operational matters;

 ° A report from the CFO covering all financial matters;

 ° Any other business including update of Register  

of Conflicts.

Directors’ conflict of interest 

The Company has effective procedures in place to monitor 

and deal with conflicts of interest. The Board is aware of 

the other commitments and interests of its Directors, and 

Principle 6: Ensure that between 
them the Directors have the 
necessary up-to-date experience, 
skills and capabilities
The Board is satisfied that, between the Directors, it has  

an effective and appropriate balance of skills and experience, 

particularly so in the area of gold and base metal exploration 

and development. Biographies of the Directors are available 

on the company website, www.orioleresources.com.  

All Directors receive regular and timely information  

on the Group’s operational and financial performance.  

Relevant information is circulated to the Directors in  

advance of meetings by the Company Secretary. Contracts 

are available for inspection at the Company’s registered office 

and at the AGM. 

changes to these commitments and interests are reported  

New Directors are selected having regards to the Company’s 

to and, where appropriate, agreed with the rest of the Board. 

needs for a balance of operational, industry, legal and 

A Register of Conflicts is maintained and is a standard 

financial skills. Experience of the mining industry and in 

agenda item at each Board Meeting. The Board has access to 

particular the exploration sector is important but not critical, 

the Company’s nominated adviser, its brokers and its lawyers. 

as is experience of running a public company.

The advisers do not typically provide materials for Board 

meetings except if requested to do so for the purposes of 

discussing upcoming regulations and other issues, although 

an annual review of AIM regulation and key topics is provided 

It is the Company’s aim to have an appropriate level of 

gender balance on the Board, which currently sits at 60% 

male, 40% female.

by our nominated adviser outside of Board Meetings. 

In accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association, 

Board meetings are deemed quorate if two Board members 

are present and providing 7 days’ notice of such meeting 

has been given and waived by the non-attending Directors. 

During 2022, Board Meetings were held both remotely,  

only the Non-Executive Directors are subject to the 

requirement to retire by rotation, a policy which is  

under review. 

Appointment, removal and re-election of Directors

using video conference facilities, and face-to-face  

The Board has established a Nominations Committee, 

wherever possible.

Directors and Officers’ Liability insurance is maintained  

for all Directors and key employees. The table below sets 

out the attendance statistics for all current Board members 

through 2022:

Tim Livesey

Bob Smeeton

Claire Bay 

John McGloin  
(resigned 17 February 2022)

Eileen Carr  
(appointed 17 February 2022)

David Pelham

Meetings 
held during 
the year or 
since date of 
appointment

Meetings 
attended

9

9

9

1

8

9

9

9

9

1

8

9

comprising the Non-Executive Directors, to consider the 

need for further Board appointments, and to identify suitable 

candidates for recommendation to the Board. The Board 

makes decisions regarding the appointment and removal 

of Directors, and there is a formal, rigorous and transparent 

procedure for appointments. The Company’s Articles of 

Association require that one-third of the Non-Executive 

Directors must stand for re-election by shareholders annually 

in rotation and that any new Directors appointed during 

the year must stand for re-election at the AGM immediately 

following their appointment. 

Independent advice 

All Directors are able to take independent professional 

advice in the furtherance of their duties, if necessary, at the 

Company’s expense, from lawyers, the nominated adviser, 

brokers and other professional advisers that they deem 

relevant. In addition, the Directors have direct access to the 

advice and services of the Company Secretary and Chief 

Financial Officer, who, due to the size of the Company, are 

currently the same individual.

39

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022GOVERNANCE REPORTCORPORATE  
GOVERNANCE CONTINUED

Principle 7: Evaluate Board 
performance based on clear 
and relevant objectives, seeking 
continuous improvement 
The Board of Directors was fully refreshed in 2018, and has 

Principle 8: Promote a culture that is 
based on ethical values and behaviours
The Board aims to lead by example and do what is in the  

best interests of the Company. We operate in remote 

and underdeveloped areas and ensure our employees 

since been added to. During 2019 the Board adopted a policy 

understand their obligations towards the environment  

to evaluate the Board’s performance based on clear and 

and in respect of anti-bribery and corruption. 

relevant objectives, seeking continuous improvement.  

The clear and relevant objectives that the Board has identified 

are as follows:

Details of the Company’s values are set out in the Employee 

Handbook that was published to all employees during 

2018. This document brings together various policies that 

 ° Suitability of experience and input to the Board;

have been distributed to all employees previously. Regular 

 ° Knowledge of Corporate Governance matters including 

Environmental Social Governance (‘ESG’);

 ° Attendance at Board and committee meetings; and 

 ° Interaction with management in relevant areas of expertise 

to ensure insightful input into the Company’s business.

The Board recognises the importance of formally reviewing,  

on a regular basis, the effectiveness of its performances as 

a unit, as well as that of its committees and the individual 

directors, based against the criteria set out above. During the 

year, the Board carried out a Board Effectiveness Review, held 

internally but based on guidelines available from the Quoted 

Company Alliance. The review led to a number of other 

actions, including:

 ° Improving the focus on refining the strategic vision of the 

business for the short, medium and long term;

 ° Impoving emphasis on risk mitigation in the regular Risk 

Review the Board conducts;

team calls and meetings serve to refresh and reiterate the 

Company’s ethical standards as they apply to the operational 

issues that are discussed during such interactions. 

In support of this, the Company engages with well-respected 

advisers and contractors, with a track record of providing 

high-quality services and of operating in an ethical manner.

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

The Board aims to meet approximately bi-monthly and as 

and when required, and has regular update calls. The Board 

sets direction for the Company through a formal schedule 

of matters reserved for its decision. During the year to 

December 2022, the Board met for nine scheduled meetings. 

The Board and its Committees receive appropriate and 

 ° More regular meetings of the Audit and Remuneration 

timely information prior to each meeting; a formal agenda 

Committees; and

 ° Continuing efforts to engage with our shareholder base 

and to take the story to a wider audience.

This review is performed annually, with any actions arising 

monitored on a regular basis at Board Meetings. This ongoing 

process includes development or mentoring needs of 

individual directors or the wider senior management team, 

identifying any succession planning issues and putting in 

place processes to provide for such succession planning. 

is produced for each meeting and Board and Committee 

papers are distributed by the Company Secretary several 

days before meetings take place. Any Director may challenge 

Company proposals and decisions are taken democratically 

after discussion. Any Director who feels that any concern 

remains unresolved after discussion may ask for that concern 

to be noted in the minutes of the meeting, which are then 

circulated to all Directors. Any specific actions arising 

from such meetings are agreed by the Board or relevant 

Committee and are then followed up by the Company’s 

management. 

40

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM Roles of the Board, Chair and Chief Executive Officer

The Board is responsible for the long-term success of the 

Company. There is a formal schedule of matters reserved 

to the Board. It is responsible for overall Group strategy; 

approval of exploration projects; approval of the annual and 

interim results; annual budgets; dividend policy; and Board 

structure. It monitors the exposure to key business risks. 

There is a clear division of responsibility at the head of the 

Company. The Chair is responsible for running the business 

of the Board and for ensuring appropriate strategic focus  

and direction.

The CEO is responsible for proposing the strategic focus to 

the Board, implementing it once it has been approved and 

overseeing the management of the Company. The CEO, 

together with the other Executive Directors and other senior 

employees, are responsible for establishing and enforcing 

systems and controls, and liaison with external advisers. 

The CEO has responsibility for communicating with 

shareholders, assisted by the other Executive Directors.

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

Annual Report and Accounts, full-year and half-year results 

announcements, the AGM and one-to-one meetings with 

large existing or potential new shareholders. The Company 

regularly posts regulatory announcements on the LSE, 

covering operational and corporate matters such as drilling 

results and significant changes in ownership positions 

across historic projects in which it still retains an investment, 

and it holds regular online seminars for investors. Online 

seminars enable the Directors to provide an update on the 

Company and to answer questions submitted by investors 

either before or during the seminars. A range of corporate 

information (including all Company announcements and 

a corporate presentation) is also available to shareholders, 

investors and the public on the Company’s corporate website, 

All Directors receive regular and timely information on the 

www.orioleresources.com and also on its Twitter feed 

Group’s operational and financial performance. Relevant 

@OrioleResources. 

information is circulated to the Directors in advance of 

meetings. The Board reviews the update on performance  

and any significant variances are reviewed at each meeting. 

Board committees 

The Board is supported by the Audit, Remuneration and 

Nomination committees. Each committee has access to such 

resources, information and advice as it deems necessary, 

The Board receives regular updates on the views of 

shareholders through briefings and reports from Investor 

Relations, the Executive Directors and the Company’s 

brokers. The Company communicates with institutional 

investors frequently through briefings with management. In 

addition, analyst notes and broker briefings are reviewed to 

achieve a wide understanding of investor views. 

at the cost of the Company, to enable the committee to 

This Strategic Report was approved by the Board of Directors 

discharge its duties. The three committees comprise the 

on 8 March 2023.

Non-Executive Directors:

The Audit Committee provides a formal review of the 
effectiveness of the internal control systems, the Group’s 

financial reports and results announcements, and the 

external audit process. The Committee meets at least twice 

Tim Livesey 
Chief Executive Officer

per year to review the published financial information and to 

meet with the Auditors. The Report of the Audit committee 

8 March 2023

is set out on page 47.

The Remuneration Committee provides a formal 
and transparent review of the remuneration of the 

Executive Directors and senior employees and makes 

recommendations to the Board on individual remuneration 

packages. The Committee met once during the year. 

The Remuneration Committee has produced a report 

on its activities as set out on page 44.

The Nomination Committee had its terms of reference 
established in June 2021. Its main activity in 2022 was 

to identify suitable candidates for the role of Chair. 

The meetings were chaired by David Pelham,  

with all Executive Directors in attendance.

41

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022GOVERNANCE REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORT

The Directors present their report, together with the 

The Directors confirm that they have complied with the 

Financial Statements and auditor’s report, for the year  

above requirements in preparing the Financial Statements. 

ended 31 December 2022.

General Information 
Certain information required by the Companies Act 2006 

relating to the information to be provided in the Directors’ 

Report is set out in the Group Strategic Report and includes: 

principal activities, future developments and principal risks 

and uncertainties. 

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual 

Report and the Financial Statements in accordance with 

applicable law and regulations. Under that law the Directors 

have prepared the Group and Parent Company Financial 

Statements in accordance with UK-adopted international 

accounting standards and, as regards the Parent Company 

Financial Statements, as applied in accordance with the 

Companies Act 2006.

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 the Group 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 Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the 

prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

The maintenance and integrity of the website is the 

responsibility of the Directors. The work carried out by the 

auditors does not involve consideration of these matters 

and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for 

any changes that may have occurred to the information 

contained in the Financial Statements since they were 

initially presented on the website. Legislation in the United 

Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of 

the Financial Statements and other information included 

Under company law the Directors must not approve the 

in annual reports may differ from legislation in other 

Financial Statements unless they are satisfied that they give 

jurisdictions. The Company is compliant with AIM Rule 26 

a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and 

regarding the Company’s website.

Substantial shareholdings 
As at 15 January 2023, the Company had not been informed 

of any holdings of 3% or more in the Company’s issued  

share capital.

Group as at the end of the financial year and of the profit and 

loss of the Group for that period. In preparing these 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 the Financial Statements comply with 

UK-adopted international accounting standards, subject 

to any material departures disclosed and explained in the 

Financial Statements; and

 ° prepare the Financial Statements on a going concern basis 
unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group and 

Company will continue in business. 

42

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM Directors and their interests 
The current Directors are listed on page 34. 

In compliance with the Company’s Articles of Association, Eileen Carr will retire and, being eligible, offer herself for re-election 

at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

Those Directors serving at the end of the year, or at the date of this report, had beneficial interests in the issued share capital 

and share options of the Company as follows:

Tim Livesey

Robert Smeeton

Claire Bay

Eileen Carr

David Pelham

Total

As at 31 December 2022

As at 31 December 2021

Ordinary 
Shares

Share 
Warrants

Share  
Options

Ordinary 
Shares

Share 
Warrants

Share  
Options

34,201,952

2,777,778

35,979,940

11,559,132

29,151,281

6,666,666

28,383,952

7,276,080

1,666,667

10,030,000

36,111,661

1 1 ,1 1 1 ,1 1 1

–

8,131,150

765,392

–

5,600,507

–

3,290,446

1,653,987

112,341,481

22,222,222

77,684,338

22,109,661

–

–

–

–

–

–

35,979,940

28,383,952

6,830,000

–

3,290,446

74,484,338

Provision of information to Auditor 
The Directors who held office at the date of this report 

Events after the Reporting Period 
On 3 January 2023 the Company issued 2,725,021 ordinary 

confirm that, so far as they are individually aware, there is no 

shares to the Directors in lieu of salary forgone, as part of an 

relevant audit information of which the Company’s auditors 

ongoing salary sacrifice scheme.

are unaware and the Directors have taken all the steps that 

they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any 

relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors 

Auditor 
PKF Littlejohn LLP has signified its willingness to continue in 

are aware of that information. 

office as auditor. 

Approved by the Board on 8 March 2023 and signed on its 

behalf.

Robert Smeeton 
Company Secretary

8 March 2023

Going Concern
The Company raises money for exploration and capital 

projects as required. There can be no assurance that the 

Group’s projects will be developed in accordance with the 

current plans. Future work on these projects, the levels of 

production and the financial returns arising therefrom,  

may be adversely affected by factors outside of the control 

of the Group.

Notwithstanding the loss incurred during the year under 
review, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that 

the Group will have sufficient access to funds to provide 

adequate resources to continue in operational existence for 

the foreseeable future being a period of 12 months from the 

date of signing of these financial statements. The Group 

has therefore continued to adopt the going concern basis 

in preparing the Annual Report and Financial Statements. 

Further details on Directors’ assumptions and conclusions 

thereon are included in the statement on going concern in 

note 2 to the Financial Statements.

The auditors have made reference to going concern by way 

of a material uncertainty within their audit report.

43

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022GOVERNANCE REPORTREPORT OF THE  
REMUNERATION COMMITTEE

The Remuneration Committee of the Board is responsible 
for providing recommendations to the Board on matters 
including the composition of the Board and competencies 
of directors, the appointment of directors, the performance 
of the Executive Directors and senior management, and 
making recommendations to the Board on matters relating 
to their remuneration and terms of employment. 

The committee will also make recommendations to the 
Board on proposals for the granting of annual bonuses, 
shares awards and other equity incentives pursuant to any 
share award scheme or equity incentive scheme in operation 
from time to time. The remuneration and nominations 
committee meet at least once a year. The members of the 
committee during 2022 were David Pelham (chair of the 
committee) and Eileen Carr. 

The policy of the Board is to provide remuneration packages 
designed to attract, motivate and retain personnel of the 
calibre necessary to maintain the Group’s position and to 
reward them for enhancing shareholder value and return. 
It aims to provide sufficient levels of remuneration to do this, 
but to avoid paying more than is necessary. Remuneration 
packages also reflect levels of responsibilities and contain 
incentives to deliver the Group’s objectives.

The Board recognises that the remuneration of Directors 
(both Executive and Non-Executive) and senior management 
is of legitimate concern to shareholders and is committed to 
following current best practice. The Group operates within 
a competitive environment and its performance depends 
upon the individual contributions of the Directors and 

Remuneration paid to the Directors is set out below:

senior management. Throughout the year, the Company 
paid remuneration to Directors and senior management 
in accordance with Contracts for Services (in respect of 
Non-Executive directors) and Service Agreements (in respect 
of officers and senior management) except in respect of 
six months of salary sacrifice in exchange for shares in 
the Company that were agreed to by all Directors, and are 
ongoing up to and including April 2023. No annual bonuses, 
share options or other long-term incentives have been 
awarded to any of the Directors during the period under 
review, except on 14 March 2022 3,200,000 share options 
were granted to Claire Bay, as part of an issue of 6,700,000 
share options to the geological team in recognition of the 
exploration success in 2021.

Details of Directors’ shareholdings are set out on page 43 
and interests in share options are set out on page 45. Whilst 
the Company has no formal shareholding requirement, 
the Directors have collectively participated in fundraising, 
acquired shares on the open market, and accepted shares 
and share options in lieu of salary. The Committee considers 
that, because the Company regularly raises equity finance 
to progress its exploration projects, a formal shareholding 
policy requirement would potentially be detrimental to the 
interests of the Company, as decisions on financing need 
to be made based solely on the interests of the Company. 
The Remuneration Committee has considered whether, and 
are satisfied that, the Executive Directors have sufficient 
exposure to the equity of the Company to satisfactorily align 
their interests with the interests of shareholders.

Salaries and other  
short-term benefits

Post-employment
benefits

Gross salary 
satisfied by 
cash
£

95,632

87,080

75,891

4,286

28,100

22,401

Gross value 
of salary 
satisfied 
by issue of 
shares
£

42,740

27,498

12,127

–

7,189

4,501

Taxable 
benefits
£

3,797

–

411

–

–

–

Pension 
£

3,161

900

2,367

–

–

–

Share-based 
payments
£

1,011

1,011

2,953

–

–

–

Total
£

146,341

116,489

93,749

4,286

35,289

26,902

313,390

94,055

4,208

6,428

4,975

423,056

Salaries and other  
short-term benefits

Post-employment
benefits

Salary
£

150,000

120,000

43,065

36,000

28,000

377,065

Taxable 
benefits
£

3,157

–

20

–

–

Pension 
£

4,500

3,600

1,292

–

–

Share-based 
payments
£

2,988

2,648

652

–

–

Total
£

160,645

126,248

45,029

36,000

28,000

3,177

9,392

6,288

395,922

2022

Tim Livesey

Robert Smeeton

Claire Bay

John McGloin (resigned 17 February 2022)

Eileen Carr (appointed 17 February 2022)

David Pelham

Total

2021

Tim Livesey

Robert Smeeton

Claire Bay

John McGloin

David Pelham

Total

44

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM Details of share options held by Directors over the ordinary shares of the Company are set out below. The market price of the 

Company’s shares at the end of the financial year was 0.16p per 0.1p share (2021: 0.345p) and the range of market prices during 

the year was between 0.11p and 0.435p.

At 1/1/22

Granted

At 31/12/22

Exercise Price 
(p)

Issue Date Vesting Date

Director

Tim Livesey

Tim Livesey

Tim Livesey

Tim Livesey

Tim Livesey

Tim Livesey

Tim Livesey

Tim Livesey

Tim Livesey

Tim Livesey

Robert Smeeton

Robert Smeeton

Robert Smeeton

Robert Smeeton

Robert Smeeton

Robert Smeeton

Robert Smeeton

Robert Smeeton

Robert Smeeton

Robert Smeeton

Claire Bay1

Claire Bay1

Claire Bay1

Claire Bay1

Claire Bay1

Claire Bay1

Claire Bay1

Claire Bay1

Claire Bay1

Claire Bay1

Claire Bay1

Claire Bay1

Claire Bay1

Claire Bay1

Claire Bay1

Claire Bay

Claire Bay

Claire Bay

2,000,000

2,000,000

2,000,000

2,000,000

2,000,000

2,000,000

17,979,940

2,000,000

2,000,000

2,000,000

666,666

666,667

666,667

2,000,000

2,000,000

2,000,000

14,383,952

2,000,000

2,000,000

2,000,000

10,000

10,000

10,000

50,000

50,000

50,000

50,000

50,000

50,000

1,166,667

1,166,667

1,166,666

1,000,000

1,000,000

1,000,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,000,000

2,000,000

2,000,000

2,000,000

2,000,000

2,000,000

17,979,940

2,000,000

2,000,000

2,000,000

666,666

666,667

666,667

2,000,000

2,000,000

2,000,000

14,383,952

2,000,000

2,000,000

2,000,000

10,000

10,000

10,000

50,000

50,000

50,000

50,000

50,000

50,000

1,166,667

1,166,667

1,166,666

1,000,000

1,000,000

1,000,000

–

–

–

1,066,667

1,066,667

1,066,667

1,066,667

1,066,666

1,066,666

0.90

0.90

0.90

0.37

0.37

0.37

0.10

0.37

0.37

0.37

0.62

0.62

0.62

0.37

0.37

0.37

0.10

0.37

0.37

0.37

2.70

2.70

2.70

1.50

1.50

1.50

2.00

2.00

2.00

0.37

0.37

0.37

0.37

0.37

0.37

0.32

0.32

0.32

0.10

1/3/18

1/3/18

1/3/18

19/3/19

19/3/19

19/3/19

19/8/20

22/12/20

22/12/20

22/12/20

4/6/18

4/6/18

4/6/18

19/3/19

19/3/19

19/3/19

19/8/20

22/12/20

22/12/20

22/12/20

5/12/14

5/12/14

5/12/14

4/6/15

4/6/15

4/6/15

2/9/16

2/9/16

2/9/16

19/3/19

19/3/19

19/3/19

22/12/20

22/12/20

22/12/20

14/3/22

14/3/22

14/3/22

19/8/20

1/3/19

1/3/20

1/3/21

19/3/20

19/3/21

19/3/22

19/8/20

1/1/21

1/1/22

1/1/23

4/6/19

4/6/20

4/6/21

19/3/20

19/3/21

19/3/22

19/8/20

1/1/21

1/1/22

1/1/23

5/12/15

5/12/16

5/12/17

4/6/16

4/6/17

4/6/18

2/9/17

2/9/18

2/9/19

19/3/20

19/3/21

19/3/22

1/1/21

1/1/22

1/1/23

1/1/23

1/1/24

1/1/25

19/8/20

David Pelham

3,290,446

–

3,290,446

1  Claire Bay held these options as an employee and they are now disclosed here following her appointment to the Board of Directors on  

12 July 2021.

Share options expire 10 years after the date of issue.

45

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022GOVERNANCE REPORTREPORT OF THE  
REMUNERATION COMMITTEE CONTINUED

Four of the Directors participated in the fundraise, that completed on 29 June 2022, and as a consequence received warrants 

to purchase ordinary shares on the same terms as the other investors in that fundraise. Details of these warrants are set out in 

the table below and in note 22 to the Financial Statements:

Director

Tim Livesey

Robert Smeeton

Claire Bay

Eileen Carr

At 1/1/22

Granted

At 31/12/22

Exercise Price 
(p)

Issue Date Vesting Date

–

–

–

–

2,777,778

2,777,778

6,666,666

6,666,666

1,666,667

1,666,667

1 1 , 1 1 1 , 1 1 1

1 1 , 1 1 1 , 1 1 1

0.25

0.25

0.25

0.25

13/7/22

13/7/22

13/7/22

13/7/22

12/7/25

12/7/25

12/7/25

12/7/25

In compliance with the Pensions Act 2008 the Company has established a Workplace Pension Scheme for its UK-based 

Directors and employees. The Executive Directors and employees are members of the scheme and contributions are in line 

with the statutorily prescribed minimum contributions for employees and employers. The Non-Executive Directors have 

individually elected to opt-out of the Workplace Pension Scheme.

Report approved on behalf of the Remuneration Committee on 8 March 2023, by

David Pelham 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

46

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM REPORT OF THE AUDIT  
AND RISK COMMITTEE 

Dear Shareholder,
I am pleased to present the first Audit and Risk Committee 
Report for Oriole, for the period ending 31 December 2022.

As you are probably aware, the Audit and Risk Committee 
assists the Board with its oversight of the integrity of the 
financial statements and other financial reporting and the 
internal controls and risk management of the Group. 

The Audit and Risk Committee comprises myself, Eileen Carr 
who as Chair of the Board is also Chair of the Committee 
and David Pelham a Non-Executive Director, as a member of 
the Committee. Both Committee members are considered 
independent with recent and relevant financial and technical 
experience in the mining sector. 

Under its terms of reference, the Audit and Risk Committee 
meets at least twice each year and more often if required. 
The Audit and Risk Committee met twice during 2022 with 
both members in attendance at each meeting. Being a 
small team, all Executive Directors were invited to attend the 
Committee meetings in 2022.

Key responsibilities 

The terms of reference of the Audit and Risk Committee will 
be reviewed and updated on a regular basis to reflect best 
practice and currently the principal roles and responsibilities 
of the Committee include: 

 ° Monitoring the integrity of the interim and annual  
financial statements and ensuring full compliance  
with accounting standards;

 ° Reviewing key accounting policies, judgements,  

and estimates;

 ° Reviewing the disclosures in the interim and annual report 

and financial statements; 

 ° Overseeing the relationship with the external auditor, 

appointment and approval of auditor remuneration and 
assessment of the auditor’s independence and objectivity; 

 ° Reviewing and monitoring the effectiveness of the 
Group’s financial reporting, internal control policies, 
and procedures for the identification, assessment, and 
reporting of risk; and

 ° Considering the need for an internal audit function. 

2022 meetings 

 ° Review of the 2022 interim financial statements including 
review of key accounting judgements and estimates and 
discussion with the external auditors; 

 ° Consideration of the external auditor’s independence, 

experience and effectiveness and whether their 
reappointment should be recommended. Whilst PKF 
Littlejohn have been the Company’s auditors for 17 years, 
the Audit and Risk Committee are comfortable that 
PKF Littlejohn remain independent, as they follow a 
policy of rotating the reporting partner on a 5-year cycle. 
The Committee is also satisfied with the experience of 
the audit team, the effectiveness of the audit and the 
competitiveness of the pricing; and

 ° Consideration of whether the Company should implement 
an internal audit function. The Committee concluded that 
at this stage of its development this was not appropriate.

2022 Group financial statements key judgements  
and estimates 

An essential element of the integrity of the financial 
statements lies around the key assumptions and estimates 
or judgements to be made. The Audit and Risk Committee 
reviews key judgements prior to publication of the financial 
statements at both the end of the financial year and at the 
end of the six-month interim period, as well as considering 
significant issues throughout the year. 

In particular, this includes reviewing any subjective material 
assumptions within the Group’s activities to enable an 
appropriate determination of asset valuation, provisioning 
and the accounting treatment thereof. The Audit and Risk 
Committee reviewed and was satisfied that the judgements 
exercised by management on material items contained 
within the Report and Financial Statements are reasonable. 

Key judgements and estimates in the 2022 Group financial 
statements considered by the Audit and Risk Committee were: 

 ° Carrying value of intangible exploration and evaluation assets; 
 ° Carrying value of property, plant, and equipment;
 ° Recognition and measurement of deferred tax assets; 
 ° Going Concern; and
 ° Various other financial reporting matters including the 
IFRS 2 share-based payment charge for employee stock 
options granted during the year. 

During 2022 the key areas covered by the Committee were:

2023 and beyond 

 ° Review of the Company’s internal controls including the 

Finance team structure, responsibilities and reporting lines, 
the Company’s Whistleblowing Policy and the Company’s 
risk management framework, management’s assessment 
of key risks and the risk register; 

 ° Review of the 2021 annual financial statements including 
review of key accounting judgements and estimates and 
discussion with the external auditors regarding their  
audit findings plus consideration of the independence  
of the auditors; 

The Audit and Risk Committee, shall continue to work 
according to its Terms of Reference, and keep under  
review the Company’s control and risk management 
framework and ensure it remains appropriate as the  

Group’s business develops. 

Eileen Carr 
Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee 

 ° Review of audit planning and approach for 2022; 

8 March 2023

47

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022GOVERNANCE REPORTFinancial 
Statements

Contents

Independent Auditor’s Report

Statement of Consolidated Comprehensive Income

Statement of Consolidated Financial Position

Statement of Consolidated Changes in Equity

Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows

Statement of Company Financial Position

Statement of Company Changes in Equity

Statement of Company Cash Flows

Notes to the Financial Statements

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Advisers & Offices

Glossary

50

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

86

89

90

48

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM 

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

49

FINANCIALSINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 
TO THE MEMBERS OF ORIOLE RESOURCES PLC

Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Oriole Resources 

Plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) 

Material uncertainty related 
to going concern 
We draw attention to note 2.1 in the financial statements, 

for the year ended 31 December 2022 which comprise the 

which indicates that further funding will be required within 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, the 

the 12 months following the date of approval of the financial 

Consolidated and Parent Company Statements of Financial 

statements in order to meet working capital needs and to 

Position, the Consolidated and Parent Company Statements 

fund further exploration programmes. As stated in note 2.1, 

of Changes in Equity, the Consolidated and Parent Company 

these events or conditions, along with the other matters as 

Statements of Cash Flows and notes to the financial 

set forth in note 2.1, indicate that a material uncertainty exists 

statements, including significant accounting policies. The 

that may cast significant doubt on the group and parent 

financial reporting framework that has been applied in their 

company’s ability to continue as a going concern.  

preparation is applicable law and UK-adopted international 

Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.

accounting standards 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 31 December 2022 and of the group’s loss for the year 

then ended; 

 ° the group financial statements have been properly 

prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international 

accounting standards;

 ° the parent company financial statements have been 
properly prepared in accordance with UK-adopted 

international accounting standards 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 

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that 

the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting 

in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 

Our evaluation of the directors’ assessment of the group 

and parent company’s ability to continue to adopt the going 

concern basis of accounting included: 

 ° Challenging the directors’ forecasts prepared to assess 
the group and parent company’s ability to meet its 

financial obligations as they fall due for a period of at least 

twelve months from the date of approval of the financial 

statements. We have reviewed the committed cash flows 

against contractual arrangements and historic information 

and compared general budgeted overheads to current run 

rates;

 ° Identifying and evaluating subsequent events which 

impact upon going concern and evaluating the likelihood 

of occurrence of forecast future cash inflows; and

 ° Stress testing the forecasted cash flows by eliminating 

sources of cash inflows that are not currently guaranteed, 

as well as critically reviewing committed versus non 

committed expenditure, in order to evaluate reasonably 

possible downside scenarios impacting the headroom.

Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. 

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors 

Our responsibilities under those standards are further 

with respect to going concern are described in the relevant 

described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit 

sections of this report. 

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. 

50

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM Our application of materiality 

Entity

Basis for materiality  Basis for materiality

Our approach to the audit
Our group audit scope focused on the principal areas of 
operation being;

Oriole Resources Plc 
– Group 

Parent company 
– SoFP

Parent company 
– SOCI 

2.5% of net assets £297k (2021: £315K)

 ° West Africa – the Senala gold project (Senegal);

2.5% of net assets £242K (2021: 235K)

 ° East Africa through its equity investment in Thani Stratex 

Djibouti; and

5% of expenses

£67K (2021: 44K)

 ° Cameroon – exploration on Bibemi and the Central  

The calculated level of materiality is broadly similar to the 
prior year as net assets have remained broadly unchanged 
year on year. We consider net assets to be the most 
significant determinant of the group’s financial position and 
performance used by shareholders, with the key financial 
statement balances being exploration and evaluation assets, 
investments in associates and cash.

Whilst materiality for the financial statements as a whole 
was set at £297k, significant components of the group 
were audited to a level of materiality ranging between 
£143k - £242k. Performance materiality for the group and 
components was set at 75% (2021: 75%) to ensure sufficient 
coverage of key balances. We apply the concept of materiality 
both in planning and performing our audit, and in evaluating 
the effect of misstatements. At the planning stage materiality 
is used to determine the financial statement areas that are 
included within the scope of our audit and the extent of 
sample sizes during the audit.

We agreed with the audit committee that we would report 
to the committee all individual audit differences identified 
during the course of our audit in excess of £14.8k (2021: £16k). 
there were no misstatements identified during the course of 
our audit that were individually, or in aggregate, considered 
to be material. 

License Package.

Together with the parent Company and its group 
consolidation, which was also subject to a full scope audit, 
these represent the financially significant components of 
the group.

The audits of significant components was performed in 
London, conducted by PKF Littlejohn LLP using a team with 
specific experience of auditing mineral exploration entities 
and publicly listed entities.

Our work scope included audit procedures to address the key 
audit matters, being the capitalisation and impairment of 
exploration and evaluation expenditure, and the valuation of 
investments and intercompany receivables.

Key audit matters 
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional 
judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the 
financial statements of the current period and include the 
most significant assessed risks of material misstatement 
(whether or not due to fraud) we identified, including 
those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit 
strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit; and 
directing the efforts of the engagement 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. In addition to the matter described in the Material 
uncertainty related to going concern section we have 
determined the matters described below to be the key 
audit matters to be communicated in our report.

51

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALSINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 
TO THE MEMBERS OF ORIOLE RESOURCES PLC CONTINUED

Key Audit Matter

How our scope addressed this matter

Capitalisation and impairment of exploration and 

Our work included the following:

evaluation expenditure under IFRS 6 Exploration for  

and Evaluation of Mineral Resources

 ° Substantive testing of a sample of exploration and 

evaluation expenditures to assess their eligibility for 

GROUP & COMPANY

capitalisation under IFRS 6;

There is a risk that the carrying values of the group’s 

exploration assets are not fully recoverable and should be 

impaired in line with IFRS 6.

 ° Obtaining valid exploration licences and relevant 
agreements relating to project partnerships and 

reviewing key terms to ensure compliance;

The group is engaged in various exploration projects, 

predominantly in Cameroon and Senegal (through Stratex 

EMC). The Directors use their judgement to assess whether 

the projects require an impairment and therefore this gives 

rise to a significant risk.

The risk also relates to the appropriate capitalisation of 

exploration costs in accordance with IFRS 6.

 ° Making enquiries of management regarding future plans 
for each project including obtaining cashflow projections 

where necessary and corroborating to minimum spend 

requirements attached to licences, where appropriate;

 ° Considering whether there are indications of impairment 
on a project by project basis in accordance with IFRS 6; 

 ° Reviewing the minutes of meetings of the Board and RNS 
announcements for indicators of potential triggers for 

Related disclosures are included in Note 4 and Note 12 to 

impairment; 

the financial statements.

 ° Reviewing management’s impairment paper in respect 
of the carrying value of intangible assets and providing 

challenge, corroborating any key assumptions used; and

 ° Evaluating the presentation and disclosures in the 

financial statements.

Valuation of investments in associates and subsidiaries 

Our work included the following:

(including intercompany receivables)

GROUP & COMPANY

There is a risk of material misstatement regarding the 

recoverability of investments in associates, subsidiaries 

 ° Reviewing the value of investment balances against 

the value of the underlying assets, including reference 

to work performed in respect of the carrying value of 

exploration expenditure in accordance with IFRS 6;

(including intercompany receivables i.e. the net investment 

 ° Obtaining evidence of ownership for all investments held 

in each subsidiary) and other equity investments.

within the group; 

The carrying value of investments is ultimately dependent 

on the value of the underlying assets. Many of the 

underlying assets are exploration projects which are at an 

early stage of exploration making it difficult to definitively 

determine their value. Valuations for these sites are 

 ° Reviewing management’s impairment paper in 

respect of the recoverability of investment balances 

(including intragroup receivables at the parent level) and 

providing appropriate challenge, corroborating any key 

assumptions used; and

therefore based on judgements and estimates made by the 

 ° Evaluating the presentation and disclosures in the 

Directors, which leads to a risk of misstatement.

financial statements.

Similar considerations apply to the recoverability of loans to 

group undertakings disclosed as investments.

Related disclosures are included in Note 4, Note 11, Note 14 

and Note 15 to the financial statements.

52

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM Other information 
The other information comprises the information included in 
the annual report, other than the financial statements and 
our auditor’s report thereon. The directors are responsible for 
the other information contained within the annual report. 
Our opinion on the group and parent company 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. 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 course of 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 this gives rise to a material 
misstatement in the financial statements themselves. 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.

Opinions 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 
in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to 
report to you if, in our opinion: 

Responsibilities of directors 
As explained more fully in the statement of directors’ 
responsibilities, the directors are responsible for the 
preparation of the group and parent company 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 group and parent company financial 
statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the 
group 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. 

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of 
non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design 
procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, 
to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, 
including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are 
capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is 
detailed below:

 ° We obtained an understanding of the group and parent 

company and the sector in which they operate to identify 

laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected 

to have a direct effect on the financial statements. We 

obtained our understanding in this regard through 

detailed discussions with management about the potential 

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

instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations 

both in the UK and in overseas subsidiaries. We also 

not been received from branches not visited by us; or 

selected a specific audit team based on experience with 

 ° 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. 

auditing entities within this industry of a similar size.

53

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALSINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 
TO THE MEMBERS OF ORIOLE RESOURCES PLC CONTINUED

 ° We determined the principal laws and regulations relevant 

to the group and parent company in this regard to be 

those arising from:

 − Companies Act 2006
 − AIM Rules
 − Local industry regulations in Senegal and Cameroon
 − Local tax and employment law

 ° We designed our audit procedures to ensure the audit 
team considered whether there were any indications of 

non-compliance by the group and parent company with 

those laws and regulations. These procedures included,  

but were not limited to:

 − Making enquiries of management
 − A review of Board minutes
 − A review of legal ledger accounts
 − A review of RNS announcements

 ° We also identified the risks of material misstatement of 
the financial statements due to fraud. We considered, in 

addition to the non-rebuttable presumption of a risk of 

fraud arising from management override of controls, that 

there were no other significant fraud risks.

 ° We addressed the risk of fraud arising from management 

override of controls by performing audit procedures 

which included, but were not limited to: testing over all 

journals on a risk based approach to identify any unusual 

transactions that could be indicative of fraud; reviewing 

accounting estimates for evidence of bias; evaluating the 

business rationale of any significant transactions that are 

unusual or outside the normal course of business; and 

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is 
a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including 
those leading to a material misstatement in the financial 
statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk 
increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation 
is removed from the events and transactions reflected in 
the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become 
aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater 
regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than 
error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, 
collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

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 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 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 company and the company’s 
members as a body, for our audit work, for this report,  

or for the opinions we have formed.

David Thompson 
(Senior Statutory Auditor) 

15 Westferry Circus 

reviewing transactions through the bank statements to 

For and on behalf of PKF Littlejohn LLP 

Canary Wharf 

identify potentially large or unusual transactions that do 

Statutory Auditor 

London E14 4HD

not appear to be in line with our understanding of  

business operations.

8 March 2023

54

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Continuing operations

Revenue

Administration expenses

Other profits/(losses)

Operating loss

Financial income

Share of losses and impairment of associates

Loss on change of ownership interest

Loss before income tax

Income tax credit

Loss for the year 

Other comprehensive income for the year

Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss

Exchange differences on translating foreign operations

Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax

Total comprehensive income for the year 

Loss for the year attributable to:

Owners of the Parent Company

Non-controlling interests

Loss for the year 

Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to:

Owners of the Parent Company

Non-controlling interests

Total comprehensive income for the year 

Year ended 
31 December 
2022
£’000

Year ended 
31 December 
2021
£’000

Notes

8

7

14

6

10

24

–

(1,182)

654

(528)

5

(1,449)

–

(1,972)

403

(1,569)

–

(1,083)

(361)

(1,444)

–

(30)

(133)

(1,607)

38

(1,569)

(100)

(100)

44

44

(1,669)

(1,525)

(1,616)

47

(1,569)

(1,716)

47

(1,669)

(1,687)

118

(1,569)

(1,643)

118

(1,525)

Earnings per share for losses from continuing operations attributable to the owners 
of the Company (expressed in pence per share).

– basic and diluted

21

(0.07)

(0.10)

The notes on pages 62 to 85 form part of these financial statements.

55

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED 
FINANCIAL POSITION

Company number: 05601091

ASSETS

Non-Current Assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets 

Investments in equity-accounted associates

Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income

Trade and other receivables

Current Assets

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Total Assets

EQUITY

Capital and reserves attributable to owners of the Company

Share capital

Share premium

Other reserves

Retained earnings

Total equity attributable to owners of the Company

Non-controlling interest

Total equity 

LIABILITIES

Non-Current Liabilities

Employee termination benefits

Current Liabilities

Trade and other payables

Total Liabilities

Total Equity and Liabilities

As at  
31 December 
2022
£’000

As at 
31 December 
2021
£’000

Notes

13

12

14

15

16

16

18

20

20

23

24

25

33

10,559

–

395

440

11,427

196

507

703

12,130

6,929

24,980

1,513

(21,299)

12,123

(241)

11,882

–

248

248

48

9,376

1,449

395

394

11,662

137

1,361

1,498

13,160

6,200

24,758

1,606

(19,838)

12,726

(133)

12,593

22

545

567

12,130

13,160

The notes on pages 62 to 85 form part of these financial statements.

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 8 March 2023 and were signed 

on its behalf by:

Eileen Carr 
Non-Executive Chair 

Robert Smeeton 
Chief Financial Officer

56

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM  
 
 
 
 
 
STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED  
CHANGES IN EQUITY

Attributable to owners of the Company

Share 
capital
£’000 

Share 
premium
£’000 

Other 
reserves 
(see note 
23)
£’000 

Retained 
earnings
£’000 

Balance at 1 January 2021

5,667

22,862

1,591

(18,187)

Loss for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income 
for the year

–

–

–

–

–

–

Issue of share capital net of expenses

533

1,896

Non-
controlling 
interest
£’000 

(251)

118

–

118

–

–

–

–

–

Total
£’000 

11,933

(1,687)

44

(1,643)

2,429

7

–

–

2,436

Total 
equity
£’000 

11,682

(1,569)

44

(1,525)

2,429

7

–

–

2,436

–

44

44

–

7

(34)

(2)

(29)

(1,687)

–

(1,687)

–

–

34

2

36

–

–

–

–

–

–

533

1,896

Share-based payments

Share options exercised

Share options expired

Total transactions with owners 
of the Company

Balance at 31 December 2021 
and 1 January 2022

Loss for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income 
for the year

6,200

24,758

1,606

(19,838)

12,726

(133)

12,593

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(100)

(1,616)

–

(1,616)

(100)

(100)

(1,616)

(1,716)

Issue of share capital net of expenses

729

222

Share-based payments

Share options lapsed

Transfer between reserves

Total transactions with owners 
of the Company

–

–

–

–

–

–

729

222

–

8

(1)

–

7

–

–

–

155

155

Balance at 31 December 2022

6,929

24,980

1,513

(21,299)

951

8

(1)

155

1,113

12,123

47

–

47

–

–

–

(155)

(155)

(241)

(1,569)

(100)

(1,669)

951

8

(1)

–

958

11,882

The share capital account includes the nominal value of all ordinary shares issued by the Company, as well as the nominal 

amount of the deferred shares created as part of the 2018 capital reorganisation.

The share premium account includes the amounts received over and above the nominal value of each share upon issue of 

such shares, net of any expenses of that issue.

Other reserves are described in note 23.

Retained earnings comprises the retained profits and losses arising on the Group’s activities since inception.

Non-controlling interests relates to the 15% holding of our local partner in the Group’s activities in Senegal.

The notes on pages 62 to 85 form part of these financial statements.

57

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALS 
STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED  
CASH FLOWS

CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

Net cash used in operating activities

CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Purchase of intangible assets

Tax received

Interest received

Net cash used in investing activities

CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Net proceeds from the issue of shares

Net cash generated from financing activities

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

The notes on pages 62 to 85 form part of these financial statements.

Year ended 
31 December 
2022
£’000

Year ended 
31 December 
2021
£’000

Notes

27

(1,305)

(1,072)

(10)

(842)

403

5

(444)

895

895

(854)

1,361

507

(15)

(1,778)

46

–

(1,747)

2,429

2,429

(390)

1,751

1,361

10

20

18

58

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM  
 
 
STATEMENT OF COMPANY  
FINANCIAL POSITION

Company number: 05601091

ASSETS

Non-Current Assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income

Investments in equity-accounted associates

Investment in subsidiaries

Trade and other receivables

Current Assets

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

EQUITY

Capital and reserves attributable to owners of the Company

Share capital

Share premium

Other reserves

Retained earnings

Total equity

LIABILITIES

Current Liabilities

Trade and other payables

Total Equity and Liabilities

Year ended 
31 December 
2022
£’000

Year ended 
31 December 
2021
£’000

Notes

13

12

15

14

11

16

16

18

20

20

23

25

30

3,928

395

–

4,557

440

9,350

81

420

501

9,851

6,929

24,980

176

(22,413)

9,672

179

179

9,851

45

3,192

395

657

3,871

394

8,554

74

1,262

1,336

9,890

6,200

24,758

169

(21,724)

9,403

487

487

9,890

As permitted by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the profit and loss account of the parent company has not been 

separately presented in these accounts. The Parent Company loss for the year was £689,000 (2021: loss of £573,000).

The notes on pages 62 to 85 form part of these financial statements.

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 8 March 2023 and were signed 

on its behalf by:

Eileen Carr 
Non-Executive Chair 

Robert Smeeton 
Chief Financial Officer

59

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STATEMENT OF COMPANY  
CHANGES IN EQUITY

Issue of share capital net of expenses

533

1,896

Balance at 1 January 2021

Loss for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income 
for the year

Share-based payments

Share options exercised

Share options expired

Total transactions with owners 
of the Company

Balance at 31 December 2021 
and 1 January 2022

Loss for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income 
for the year

Issue of share capital net of expenses

Share-based payments

Share options lapsed

Total transactions with owners 
of the Company

Balance at 31 December 2022

Share 
capital
£’000 

5,667

Share 
premium
£’000 

Other reserves 
(see note 23)
£’000 

22,862

198

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

533

1,896

–

–

–

–

7

(34)

(2)

(29)

–

–

–

729

–

–

–

–

–

222

–

–

729

6,929

222

24,980

–

–

–

–

8

(1)

7

176

Retained 
earnings
£’000 

(21,187)

(573)

–

(573)

–

–

34

2

36

(689)

–

Total 
equity
£’000 

7,540

(573)

–

(573)

2,429

7

–

–

2,436

9,403

(689)

–

(689)

(689)

–

–

–

–

(22,413)

951

8

(1)

958

9,672

6,200

24,758

169

(21,724)

Information in respect of the Company’s reserves is set out on page 57.

The notes on pages 62 to 85 form part of these financial statements.

60

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM STATEMENT OF COMPANY  
CASH FLOWS

CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

Net cash used in operating activities

CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Investment in intangible assets

Funding of subsidiary exploration companies

Tax received

Net cash used in investing activities

CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Net proceeds from share issues

Net cash generated from financing activities

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

The notes on pages 62 to 85 form part of these financial statements.

Year ended 
31 December 
2022
£’000

Year ended 
31 December 
2021
£’000

Notes

27

(1,262)

(900)

(9)

 (720)

 (149)

403

 (475)

895

895

 (842)

1,262

420

(9)

(1,750)

(268)

46

(1,981)

2,429

2,429

(452)

1,714

1,262

10

20 

18

61

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALS 
 
 
NOTES TO THE  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. General information 
The principal activity of Oriole Resources Plc (‘the Company’) 

and its subsidiaries (together ‘the Group’) is the exploration 

and development of precious and high-value base metals. 

The Company’s shares are quoted on the AIM Market of the 

London Stock Exchange. The Company is incorporated and 

domiciled in the UK.

Having considered the prepared cashflow forecasts,  

likely availability of investor support, the prospects for  

asset disposals, and Group budgets, the Directors consider 

that they will have access to adequate resources in the 

12 months from the date of the signing of these financial 

statements. As a result, they consider it appropriate to 

continue to adopt the going concern basis in the preparation 

of the financial statements. There can be no assurance 

The address of its registered office is Wessex House, Upper 

that the cash received from fundraises and asset sales will 

Market Street, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9FD.

match the Board’s expectations, and this may affect the 

2. Summary of significant 
accounting policies
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation 

of these financial statements are set out below. These policies 

have been consistently applied to all the years presented.

2.1 Basis of preparation

Group’s ability to carry out its work programmes as expected. 

Should the Group and Company be unable to continue 

trading as a going concern, adjustments would have to be 

made to reduce the value of the assets to their recoverable 

amounts, to provide for further liabilities which might arise 

and to classify non-current assets as current. The financial 

statements have been prepared on the going concern basis 

and do not include the adjustments that would result if  

These financial statements have been prepared in 

the Group and Company were unable to continue as a  

accordance with UK-adopted international accounting 

going concern. 

standards and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 

The financial statements were prepared under the historical 

cost convention as modified by the measurement of certain 

The Auditors have made reference to going concern by way 

of a material uncertainty within their audit report.

investments at fair value.

Changes in Accounting Policies

Going Concern
It is the prime responsibility of the Board to ensure the 

Company and the Group remains a going concern. At 31 

December 2022 the Group had cash and cash equivalents of 

£507k and no borrowings. 

(a)  New and amended standards adopted by the Group 

There were no new IFRS or IFRIC interpretations effective for 

the first time for the financial year beginning 1 January 2022 

that had a material effect on the Group or Company financial 

statements.

(b)  New and amended standards not yet adopted by the Group

Standards /interpretations

Application

Amendments to IAS 1

Presentation of Financial Statements and IFRS Practice Statement 2: Disclosure of 

Accounting Policies – effective 1 January 2023

Amendments to IAS 1

Presentation of Financial Statements: Classification of Liabilities as Current or 

Non-current and Amendments to IAS 1: Classification of Liabilities as Current or 

Non-current – Deferral of Effective Date – effective 1 January 2023

Amendments to IAS 8

Accounting policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors –Definition of 

Accounting Estimates – effective 1 January 2023

Amendments to IAS 12

Income Taxes – Deferred Tax related to Assets and Liabilities arising from a Single 

Transaction – effective 1 January 2023

There are no IFRSs or IFRIC interpretations that are not yet effective that would be expected to have a material impact on the 

Company or Group.

62

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM 2.2 Basis of consolidation

Oriole Resources PLC was incorporated on 24 October 2005 

as Stratex International PLC. On 21 November 2005 the 

Company acquired the entire issued share capital of Stratex 

Exploration Ltd by way of a share for share exchange. The 

transaction was treated as a Group reconstruction and was 

accounted for using the merger accounting method.

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. Control is 

achieved when the Group is exposed, or has rights, to variable 

returns from its involvement with the investee and has the 

ability to affect those returns through its power over the 

investee. Specifically, the Group controls an investee if, and 

only if, the Group has:

 ° Power over the investee (i.e., existing rights that give  
it the current ability to direct the relevant activities of  

the investee);

 ° Exposure, or rights, to variable returns from its involvement 

with the investee;

 ° The ability to use its power over the investee to affect  

its returns.

plus the recognised amount of any non-controlling interests, 

less the recognised amount of the identifiable assets 

acquired and liabilities assumed. If this consideration is 

lower than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary 

acquired, the difference is recognised in profit or loss.

Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial 

statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies 

used into line with those used by other members of the 

Group. All significant intercompany transactions and 

balances between group entities are eliminated 

on consolidation.

When the Group ceases to consolidate a subsidiary as a result 

of losing control and the Group retains an interest in the 

subsidiary and the retained interest is an associate, the Group 

measures the retained interest at fair value at that date and 

the fair value is regarded as its cost on initial recognition. 

The difference between the net assets deconsolidated and 

the fair value of any retained interest and any proceeds from 

disposing of a part interest in the subsidiary is included in 

the determination of the gain or loss on disposal. In addition, 

the Group accounts for all amounts previously recognised in 

Generally, there is a presumption that a majority of voting 

other comprehensive income in relation to that associate on 

rights result in control. To support this presumption and 

the same basis as would be required if that subsidiary had 

when the Group has less than a majority of the voting or 

directly disposed of the related assets or liabilities.

similar rights of an investee, the Group considers all relevant 

facts and circumstances in assessing whether it has power 

over an investee, including:

Associates are all entities over which the Group has 

significant influence but not control over the financial and 

operating policies.

 ° The contractual arrangement with the other vote holders 

of the investee;

 ° Rights arising from other contractual arrangements;

References to joint venture agreements do not refer to 

arrangements which meet the definition of joint ventures 

under IFRS 11 “Joint Arrangements” and therefore these 

 ° The Group’s voting rights and potential voting rights.

Financial Statements do not reflect the accounting 

Consolidation of a subsidiary begins when the Group obtains 

control over the subsidiary and ceases when the Group 

loses control of the subsidiary. Assets, liabilities, income and 

expenses of a subsidiary acquired or disposed of during the 

year are included in the consolidated financial statements 

from the date the Group gains control until the date 

the Group ceases to control the subsidiary. The business 

acquisition method is used to account for the acquisition 

of subsidiaries.

Any contingent consideration is recognised at fair value at 

the acquisition date. Subsequent changes to the fair value of 

the contingent consideration that is deemed to be an asset 

or a liability is recognised in accordance with IFRS9 either in 

profit or loss or as a change in other comprehensive income. 

The unwinding of the discount on contingent consideration 

liabilities is recognised as a finance charge within profit  

or loss.

Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.

The Group measures goodwill at the acquisition date as the 

excess of the fair value of the consideration transferred,  

treatments required under IFRS 11.

Investments in associates and jointly controlled entities 

are accounted for using the equity method of accounting 

and are initially recognised at cost. The Group’s share of its 

associates’ post-acquisition profits or losses is recognised in 

profit or loss, and its share of post-acquisition movements in 

reserves is recognised in other comprehensive income. The 

cumulative post-acquisition movements are adjusted against 

the carrying amount of the investment.

When the Group’s share of losses exceeds its interest in 

an equity-accounted investee the carrying amount of the 

investment, including any other unsecured receivables, 

is reduced to zero, and the recognition of further losses is 

discontinued, unless the Group has incurred obligations or 

made payments on behalf of the investee.

Unrealised gains on transactions between the Group and 

equity-accounted investees are eliminated to the extent of 

the Group’s interest in the investee. Unrealised losses are also 

eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an 

impairment of the asset transferred.

63

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALSNOTES TO THE  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

Accounting policies of equity-accounted investees have 

(c)  Group companies

been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with 

the policies adopted by the Group. Dilution gains and losses 

arising in investments in equity-accounted investees are 

recognised in profit or loss.

The results and financial position of all the Group entities 

(none of which has the currency of a hyperinflationary 

economy) that have a functional currency different from the 

presentation currency are translated into the presentation 

Transactions with non-controlling interests that do not result 

currency as follows:

in loss of control are accounted for as equity transactions. 

Gains or losses on disposals to non-controlling interests are 

recorded in equity.

The Group discontinues the use of the equity method from 

the date when the investment ceases to be an associate 

or when the investment is classified as held for sale. When 

the Group retains an interest in the former associate or 

joint venture and the retained interest is a financial asset, 

the Group measures the retained interest at fair value at 

that date and the fair value is regarded as its fair value on 

initial recognition. The difference between the carrying 

amount of the associate at the date the equity method was 

discontinued, and the fair value of any retained interest 

and any proceeds from disposing of a part interest in the 

associate is included in the determination of the gain or loss 

on disposal. In addition, the Group accounts for all amounts 

previously recognised in other comprehensive income in 

relation to that associate on the same basis as would be 

required if that associate had directly disposed of the related 

assets or liabilities. 

 ° assets and liabilities for each statement of financial 

position presented are translated at the closing rate at the 

date of that statement of financial position.

 ° income and expenses in profit or loss for each statement 
of comprehensive income presented are translated at 

average exchange rates (unless this average is not a 

reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the 

rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which case 

income and expenses are translated at the dates of the 

transactions); and

 ° all resulting exchange differences are recognised in other 

comprehensive income. On consolidation, exchange 

differences arising from the translation of the net 

investment in foreign entities, and of monetary items 

receivable from foreign subsidiaries for which settlement is 

neither planned nor likely to occur in the foreseeable future 

are taken to other comprehensive income. When a foreign 

operation is sold, exchange differences that were recorded 

in equity are recognised in profit or loss as part of the gain 

or loss on sale.

When the Group reduces its ownership interest in an 

associate but the Group continues to use the equity method, 

2.4 Intangible assets - Exploration and 
evaluation assets

the Group reclassifies to profit or loss the proportion of 

the gain or loss that had previously been recognised in 

other comprehensive income relating to that reduction in 

ownership interest if that gain or loss would be reclassified to 

profit or loss on the disposal of the related assets or liabilities.

2.3 Foreign currency translation

(a)  Functional and presentation currency

Items included in the financial statements of each of the 

Group’s entities are measured using the currency of the 

primary economic environment in which the entity operates 

The Group capitalises expenditure in relation to exploration 

and evaluation of mineral assets when the legal rights are 

obtained. Expenditure included in the initial measurement 

of exploration and evaluation assets and which are classified 

as intangible assets relate to the acquisition of rights 

to explore, research into the topographical, geological, 

geochemical and geophysical characteristics of the asset, 

exploratory drilling, trenching, sampling and activities to 

research the technical feasibility and commercial viability 

of extracting a mineral resource.

(the ‘functional currency’). The consolidated financial 

Exploration and evaluation assets are not amortised but are 

statements are presented in sterling, which is the Group’s 

assessed for impairment, with an impairment test being 

presentation currency.

(b)  Transactions and balances

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the 

functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at 

the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and 

losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and 

from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary 

assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are 

recognised in profit or loss.

required when facts and circumstances suggest that the 

carrying amount of an asset may exceed its recoverable 

amount. The assessment is carried out by allocating 

exploration and evaluation assets to cash-generating units, 

which are based on specific projects or geographical areas. 

Whenever the exploration for and evaluation of mineral 

resources does not lead to the discovery of commercially 

viable quantities of mineral resources or the Group has 

decided to discontinue such activities of that unit, the 

associated expenditures are written off to profit or loss.

64

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM 2.5 Segment reporting

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent 

with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating 

decision makers. The chief operating decision makers, 

who are responsible for allocating resources and assessing 

performance of the operating segments, have been 

identified as the executive Board of Directors.

2.6 Impairment of non-financial assets

The carrying amount of the Group’s non-financial assets 

are reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether 

there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication 

exists, then the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. An 

impairment loss is recognised if the carrying amount of an 

asset exceeds its recoverable amount.

For assets measured at fair value, gains and losses will be 

recorded either in profit or loss or in OCI. For investments 

in equity instruments that are not held for trading, this will 

depend on whether the Group has made an irrevocable 

election at the time of initial recognition to account for the 

equity investment at fair value through other comprehensive 

income (FVOCI). See Note 15 for further details.

(b)  Recognition

Purchases and sales of financial assets are recognised on 

trade date (that is, the date on which the Group commits to 

purchase or sell the asset). Financial assets are derecognised 

when the rights to receive cash flows from the financial 

assets have expired or have been transferred and the  

Group has transferred substantially all the risks and  

In assessing the carrying values of major exploration assets, 

the Directors would use cash flow projections for each of the 

rewards of ownership.

(c)  Measurement

projects where a JORC compliant indicated or measured 

At initial recognition, the Group measures a financial asset  

resource had been calculated. The Group currently has no 

at its fair value plus, in the case of a financial asset not at  

such directly controlled projects.

Certain of the other exploration projects are at an early stage 

of development and no JORC-compliant resource estimate 

has been completed. In these cases, the Directors have 

assessed the impairment of the projects based on future 

exploration plans and estimates of geological and economic 

fair value through profit or loss (FVPL), transaction costs that 

are directly attributable to the acquisition of the financial 

asset. Transaction costs of financial assets carried at FVPL  

are expensed in profit or loss. 

Debt instruments
Amortised cost: Assets that are held for collection of 

data. The Board does not believe that the key assumptions 

contractual cash flows, where those cash flows represent 

will change so as to cause the carrying values to exceed the 

solely payments of principal and interest, are measured at 

recoverable amounts.

To date impairment losses recognised have followed the 

decision of the Board not to continue exploration and 

evaluation activity on a particular project licence area  

where it is no longer considered an economically viable 

project or where the underlying exploration licence has  

been relinquished.

2.7 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and  

in hand, and demand deposits with banks and other  

financial institutions.

2.8 Financial instruments

(a)  Classification

The Group classifies its financial assets in the following 

measurement categories:

 ° those to be measured subsequently at fair value (either 

through Other Comprehensive Income (‘OCI’) or through 

profit or loss); and

 ° those to be measured at amortised cost.

amortised cost. Interest income from these financial assets 

is included in finance income using the effective interest 

rate method. Any gain or loss arising on derecognition is 

recognised directly in profit or loss and presented in other 

gains/(losses) together with foreign exchange gains and 

losses. Impairment losses are presented as a separate line 

item in the statement of profit or loss.

The Group’s financial assets at amortised cost include trade 

and other receivables.

Equity instruments 
The Group subsequently measures all equity investments at 

fair value. Where the Group’s management has elected to 

present fair value gains and losses on equity investments in 

OCI, there is no subsequent reclassification of fair value gains 

and losses to profit or loss following the derecognition of the 

investment. Dividends from such investments continue to be 

recognised in profit or loss as other income when the Group’s 

right to receive payments is established. Changes in the 

fair value of financial assets at FVPL are recognised in other 

gains/(losses) in the statement of profit or loss as applicable. 

Impairment losses (and reversal of impairment losses) on 

The classification depends on the Group’s business model for 

equity investments measured at FVOCI are not reported 

managing the financial assets and the contractual terms of 

separately from other changes in fair value.

the cash flows.

65

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALSNOTES TO THE  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

(d)  Impairment

The Group assesses, on a forward-looking basis, the expected 

credit losses associated with its debt instruments carried 

at amortised cost. The impairment methodology applied 

Current and deferred tax is charged or credited in the profit 

or loss, except when it relates to items charged or credited 

directly to equity, in which case the related tax is also dealt 

with in equity.

depends on whether there has been a significant increase  

2.10 Share-based payments

in credit risk.

For trade and other receivables due within 12 months the 

Group applies the simplified approach permitted by IFRS 9. 

Therefore, the Group does not track changes in credit risk, 

but rather recognises a loss allowance based on the financial 

asset’s lifetime expected credit losses at each reporting date.

A financial asset is impaired if there is objective evidence of 

impairment as a result of one or more events that occurred 

after the initial recognition of the asset, and that loss event(s) 

had an impact on the estimated future cash flows of that 

asset that can be estimated reliably.

The fair value of the services received from employees and 

third parties in exchange for the grant of share options 

is recognised as an expense. The fair value of the options 

granted is calculated using the Black-Scholes pricing model 

and is expensed over the vesting period. At each reporting 

period the Group revises its estimate of the number 

of options that are expected to become exercisable. It 

recognises the impact of the revision of original estimates, 

if any, in profit or loss, and a corresponding adjustment to 

equity over the remaining vesting period. The proceeds 

received net of any directly attributable transaction costs are 

credited to share capital (nominal value) and share premium 

The Group considers evidence of impairment for financial 

assets measured at amortised cost at both a specific asset 

when the options are exercised.

2.11 Share capital

and collective level.

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs 

An impairment loss in respect of a financial asset measured 

directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are 

at amortised cost is calculated as the difference between 

shown in equity as a deduction from the proceeds.

its carrying amount and the present value of the estimated 

future cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective 

interest rate. Losses are recognised in profit or loss.

2.9 Deferred taxation

Deferred tax is accounted for using the liability method in 

respect of temporary differences arising from differences 

between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the 

financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used 

in the computation of taxable profit. In principle, deferred tax 

liabilities are 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 to the period when the asset is realised or the liability 

settled. Deferred tax is charged or credited in profit or loss, 

except when it relates to items credited or charged directly  

to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with  

in equity.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when they relate 

to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and 

the Group intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities 

on a net basis. No liability to UK corporation tax arose on 

ordinary activities for the current period or prior periods. 

The Group has losses to be carried forward on which no 

2.12 Finance income

Finance income comprises bank interest receivable. Interest 

revenue is recognised using the effective interest method.

2.13 Other income

Other income represents income from activities other than 

normal business operations. Royalty payments, arising from 

the involvement of exploration partners, are recognised as 

other income once payment has been received.

2.14 Post-employment benefits

Retirement benefit costs are calculated by applying the 

Projected Unit Credit Method and the resulting adjustments 

are recognised in profit or loss.

2.15 Leases 

The Group assesses at contract inception, all arrangements to 

determine whether they are, or contain, a lease. That is, if the 

contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified 

asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The 

Group is not a lessor in any transactions, it is only a lessee. 

The Group applies a single recognition and measurement 

approach for all leases, except for short-term leases and 

leases of low-value assets. The Group recognises lease 

liabilities to make lease payments and right-of-use assets 

representing the right to use the underlying assets. 

deferred tax asset is recognised. Deferred tax assets are 

(a)  Right-of-use assets

recognised on tax losses carried forward to the extent that 

the realisation of the related tax benefit through future 

taxable profits is probable.

The Group recognises right-of-use assets at the 

commencement date of the lease (i.e. the date when the 

underlying asset is available for use). Right-of-use assets are 

66

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM measured at cost, less any accumulated depreciation and 

The Group operates internationally and is exposed to foreign 

impairment losses, and adjusted for any remeasurement 

exchange risk arising from various currency exposures, 

of lease liabilities. The cost of right-of-use assets includes 

primarily with respect to the Turkish Lira, Euro and US 

the amount of lease liabilities recognised, initial direct 

Dollar, see note 19. Foreign exchange risk arises from future 

costs incurred, and lease payments made at or before the 

commercial transactions and net investments in foreign 

commencement date less any lease incentives received. 

operations. The Group does not hedge its exposure to foreign 

Right-of-use assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis 

currencies and recognises the profits and losses resulting 

over the shorter of the lease term and the estimated useful 

from currency fluctuations as and when they arise.

lives of the assets, as follows:

 − Computer equipment – 5 years

Right-of-use assets are subject to impairment (see Note 2.6).

(b)  Lease liabilities 

At the commencement date of the lease, the Group recognises 

lease liabilities measured at the present value of lease payments 

to be made over the lease term. The lease payments include 

fixed payments less any lease incentives receivable.

In calculating the present value of lease payments, the 

Group uses its incremental borrowing rate at the lease 

commencement date because the interest rate implicit in 

the lease is generally not readily determinable. 

Note that the lease liability recorded in the financial statements 

The Group will continue to make substantial expenditures 

related to its exploration and development activities. The 

financial exposure of the Group has been substantially 

reduced as a result of entering into agreements with third 

parties.

3.2 Capital risk management

The Company’s objectives when managing capital are to 

safeguard the Company’s ability to continue as a going 

concern, in order to provide returns for shareholders and 

benefits for other stakeholders, and to maintain an optimal 

capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the 

Company may adjust the amount of dividends paid to 

shareholders, return capital to shareholders, or issue  

has not been discounted to present value as any impact of 

new shares.

discounting would be immaterial to the financial statements.

3. Risk management
3.1 Financial risk management

4. Critical accounting estimates 
and judgements
The preparation of the financial statements requires 

The main financial risks facing the Group are the availability 

management to make estimates and assumptions that affect 

of adequate funding, movements in interest rates and 

the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure 

fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. Constant monitoring 

of contingent assets and liabilities at the reporting date, most 

of these risks ensures that the Group is protected against any 

importantly the carrying values assigned to intangible assets, 

potential adverse effects of such risks so far as it is possible 

associates, and financial assets designated as fair value through 

and foreseeable. The Group only deals with high-quality 

other comprehensive income. Actual results may vary from the 

banks. It does not hold derivatives, does not trade in financial 

estimates used to produce these financial statements.

instruments and does not engage in hedging arrangements.

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are 

In keeping with similar-sized mineral exploration groups, its 

based on historical experience and other factors, including 

continued future operations depend on the ability to raise 

expectations of future events that are believed to be 

sufficient working capital. The Group finances itself through 

reasonable under the circumstances.

the monetisation of exploration assets and the issue of equity 

share capital and has no borrowings. Management monitors 

its cash and future funding requirements through the use of 

ongoing cash flow forecasts. All cash, with the exception of 

that required for immediate working capital requirements, is 

held on short-term deposit.

Exploration asset carrying value 
The most significant judgement for the Group is the 

assumption that exploration at the various sites will 

ultimately lead to a commercial mining operation, which 

includes the assumption that any licences held will be 

renewed as required upon expiry. Failure to do so could 

The Group’s only exposure to interest rate fluctuations is 

lead to the write-off of the intangible assets relating to the 

restricted to the rates earned on its short-term deposits. 

particular site (see note 2.4).

These deposits returned an interest rate of between 0.1%  

and 0.25% during the past year.

67

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALSNOTES TO THE  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

4. Critical accounting estimates 
and judgements continued
Thani Stratex Djibouti carrying value
The Directors have given consideration to the carrying value 

of the 9.62% holding in Thani Stratex Djibouti Limited (‘TSD’), 

and related debt instrument, which has a combined book 

value of £835k and in the Directors’ judgement, this value  

is recoverable. 

Local taxes
The Group is subject to income taxes in numerous 

jurisdictions. Judgement is required in determining the 

worldwide provision for such taxes. The Group recognises 

liabilities for anticipated tax issues based on estimates of 

whether additional taxes will be due. Where the final tax 

outcome of these matters is different from the amounts 

that were initially recorded, such differences will affect the 

current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities in the 

period in which such determination is made. No deferred tax 

balances are currently recognised in the accounts in respect 

of temporary timing differences relating to the Group’s 

intangible assets or unutilised losses.

Provision for bad debts
The Group is currently due $425,000 from Anadolu Export 

Maden Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi in respect of a 

success-based payment of $500,000 that was due on the 

basis of an exploration partnership with that company. The 

Directors continue to pursue payment, but have made full 

provision against the debt in these financial statements.

5. Segment reporting
The Group’s main exploration operations are located in 

Turkey, East Africa and West Africa. The Group’s head 

office is located in the UK and provides corporate and 

support services to the Group and researches new areas of 

exploration opportunities. The management structure and 

the management reports received by the Directors and used 

to make strategic decisions reflect the split of operations.

(a)  The allocation of assets and liabilities by segment is 

as follows: 

Exploration

Turkey
£’000 

East Africa
£’000 

West Africa
£’000 

UK support  
& other
£’000 

–

–

–

30

(1)

(3,304)

(3,275)

–

–

–

–

835

–

–

835

–

10,559

23

–

173

(69)

(3,341)

7,345

1

–

10

–

500

(178)

6,645

6,977

9

Exploration

Turkey
£’000 

East Africa
£’000 

West Africa
£’000 

UK support  
& other
£’000 

–

–

–

81

(43)

(3,281)

(3,243)

3

–

–

1,449

789

–

–

2,238

–

9,376

36

–

79

(20)

(2,849)

6,622

8

–

12

–

1,338

(504)

6,130

6,976

3

Group 
Total
£’000 

10,559

33

–

1,538

(248)

–

11,882

10

Group 
Total
£’000 

9,376

48

1,449

2,287

(567)

–

12,593

14

At 31 December 2022 

Intangible assets 

Property, plant and equipment 

Investment in associate companies 

Cash and other assets 

Liabilities 

Inter-segment 

Net assets

Additions to property, plant and equipment

At 31 December 2021 

Intangible assets 

Property, plant and equipment 

Investment in associate companies 

Cash and other assets 

Liabilities 

Inter-segment 

Net assets

Additions to property, plant and equipment

68

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM  
 
5. Segment reporting continued
The capitalised cost of the principal projects and the additions during the year are as follows:

West Africa

Senegal

Cameroon 

Total Intangible assets

Capitalised cost

Movement

2022
£’000 

6,502

4,057

10,559

2021
£’000 

6,177

3,199

9,376 

2022
£’000 

–

858

858

(b)  The allocation of profits and losses for the year by segment is as follows:

Exploration

Turkey
£’000 

East Africa
£’000 

West Africa
£’000 

UK support  
& other
£’000 

2021
£’000 

22

1,996

2,018

Group 
Total
£’000 

–

(1,174)

(8)

120

(1,449)

539

–

403

Group 
Total
£’000 

–

(1,074)

(9)

210

(163)

(571)

–

38

(244)

(1,569)

Exploration

Turkey
£’000 

East Africa
£’000 

West Africa
£’000 

UK support  
& other
£’000 

–

(39)

–

49

–

1

–

–

11

–

–

–

–

(1,449)

–

–

–

(1,449)

–

(183)

(1)

79

–

492

(274)

–

113

–

(38)

(3)

75

–

(18)

–

(8)

8

–

–

–

135

(163)

28

–

–

–

–

(114)

(4)

–

–

(579)

(291)

–

(988)

–

(952)

(7)

(8)

–

46

274

403

–

(922)

(2)

–

–

(2)

291

46

(589)

(1,569)

69

2022

Revenue

Administration expenses

Depreciation charge

Other income/(losses)

Share of associate company losses and 
impairment of associate

Exchange gains/(losses)

Inter-segment charges

Income tax

Profit/(loss) for year

2021

Revenue

Administration expenses

Depreciation charge

Other income/(losses)

Share of associate company losses

Exchange gains/(losses)

Inter-segment charges

Income tax

Profit/(loss) for year

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALS 
 
 
NOTES TO THE  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

6. Loss on change of ownership interest

Loss for the year on change of ownership interest

There were no changes in the Company’s interest in Thani Stratex Resources Limited during the year.

7. Other profits/(losses) 

Exchange gains /(losses)

Reversal of impairment (see note 14)

Other profits

Net other profit/(loss) for the year

8. Expenses by nature
Administration expenses comprise: 

Personnel expenses (see note 9) 

Legal and professional expenses 

Amounts paid to the Company’s auditors (see below)

Office costs 

Travel costs 

Depreciation expense 

Other expenses 

Total for year

During the year the Group obtained the following services from the Company’s auditor:

2022
£’000 

–

2021
£’000 

(133)

2022
£’000 

539

–

115

654

2022
£’000 

710

215

30

84

70

8

65

1,182

2021
£’000 

(571)

135

75

(361)

2021
£’000 

833

187

27

65

17

9

(55)

1,083

2022
£’000 

2021
£’000 

30

30

27 

27 

Auditor’s remuneration:

Fees payable for the audit of parent and 
consolidated financial statements

Total for year

9. Personnel expenses

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Share options granted to Directors and employees

Shares granted under salary sacrifice arrangement

Employee benefits in kind

Employee pensions 

Total for year

Average number of employees, including Directors

Group

Company

2022
£’000 

535

56

7

94

4

14

710

13

2021
£’000 

770

40

7

–

3

13

833

13

2022
£’000 

444

56

7

94

4

10

615

9

2021
£’000 

531

40

7

–

3

13

594

9

Details of the Directors’ remuneration is shown in the Report of the Remuneration Committee on page 44. 

70

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM 10. Income tax
Analysis of income tax expense:

Current taxation:

UK Corporation tax credit for the year

Deferred taxation:

Deferred tax charge for the year

Total tax on loss for the year

2022
£’000 

2021
£’000 

403

–

403

46

(8)

38

The Group does not anticipate a UK corporation tax charge for the year due to the availability of tax losses. The Group did not 

recognise deferred income tax assets of approximately £1,031,000 (2021: £770,000). 

Reconciliation of tax credit:

Loss before tax

Current tax credit at 19% (2021: 19%)

Effects of:

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes

Tax losses carried forward – UK

Tax losses used/(carried forward) – outside UK

Origination and reversal of temporary differences

Prior year differences (research and development credits claim)

Tax credit

11. Investment in subsidiaries
The cost of shares in subsidiary companies is as follows:

Company

Cost of investment at 1 January

Write off of investment

Impairment provision

Loans to subsidiary companies

At 31 December

2022
£’000 

(1,972)

375

(280)

(262)

27

140

403

403

2022
£’000 

2,701

(561)

2021
£’000 

(1,607)

305

(4)

(442)

(199)

332

46

38

2021
£’000 

2,701

–

(1,000)

(1,000)

1,140

3,417

4,557

1,701

2,170

3,871

71

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALSNOTES TO THE  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

11. Investment in subsidiaries continued
During prior years the Company made a provision for impairment against its investment in Stratex Exploration Limited. 

During the year the Company wrote off its investment in Stratex Gold AG, a Swiss-based subsidiary.

There are no significant restrictions in relation to the subsidiaries.

Investments in subsidiaries are stated at cost and are as follows:

Country of 
incorporation

% owned  
by the Company

% owned by
subsidiary

Nature of 
Business

Stratex Exploration Ltd

Stratex West Africa Limited

RMC Cameroon (BVI) Corp

Reservoir Minerals Cameroon SARL

Oriole Cameroon SARL

OrrCam2 SARL

Stratex Madencilik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti

Stratex EMC SA

UK

UK

British Virgin 
Islands

Cameroon

Cameroon

Cameroon

Turkey

Senegal

Registered office

100

100

56.7

–

90

90

–

–

– Holding company

–

Exploration

– Holding company

90% for effective 
51% Group holding

–

–

100

85

Exploration

Exploration

Exploration

Exploration

Exploration

Stratex Exploration Ltd

Wessex House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9FD, UK

Stratex West Africa Limited

Wessex House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9FD, UK

RMC Cameroon (BVI) Corp

Tropic Isle Building, Nibbs Street, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, British Virgin Islands

Reservoir Minerals Cameroon SARL

Yaoundé-Rue Marie Gocker, Place De L’Intendance, BP 11792, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Oriole Cameroon SARL

Yaoundé-Rue Marie Gocker, Place De L’Intendance, BP 11792, Yaoundé, Cameroon

OrrCam2 SARL

Yaoundé-Rue Marie Gocker, Place De L’Intendance, BP 11792, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Stratex Madencilik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti Mustafa Kemal Mahallesi 2152.Cadde Kent İş Merkezi No:2/17 Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey,

Stratex EMC SA

Wessex House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9FD, UK

12. Intangible assets
The Group’s Intangible assets comprise entirely of exploration assets.

Group

Company

2022
£’000 

9,376

325

858

10,559

2021
£’000 

7,771

(413)

2,018

9,376

2022
£’000 

3,192

–

736

3,928

2021
£’000 

1,202

–

1,990

3,192

Cost

Cost at 1 January

Exchange movements 

Additions

At 31 December

72

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM 13. Property, plant, and equipment

Cost

At 1 January 2021

Exchange movements

Additions

Disposals

At 31 December 2021

Additions

Disposals

At 31 December 2022

Depreciation

At 1 January 2021

Exchange movements

Additions

Disposals

At 31 December 2021

Additions

Disposals

At 31 December 2022

Net Book Value

at 1 January 2021

at 31 December 2021

at 31 December 2022

Right of use assets included above

Group

Motor 
Vehicles
£’000 

Field 
Equipment
£’000 

Office 
furniture and 
equipment
£’000 

30

–

–

(30)

–

–

–

–

 (30)

–

–

30

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

66

(1)

–

–

65

6

(19)

52

 (19)

1

(16)

–

(34)

(16)

19

(31)

47

31

21

–

189

(31)

14

–

172

4

(61)

115

(175)

30

(10)

–

(155)

(8)

60

(103)

14

17

12

5

Total
£’000 

285

(32)

14

(30)

237

10

(80)

167

(224)

31

(26)

30

(189)

(24)

79

(134)

61

48

33

5

73

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALSNOTES TO THE  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

13. Property, plant, and equipment continued

Cost

At 1 January 2021

Additions

At 31 December 2021

Additions

Disposals

At 31 December 2022

Depreciation

At 1 January 2021

Additions

At 31 December 2021

Additions

Disposals

At 31 December 2022

Net Book Value

at 1 January 2021

at 31 December 2021

at 31 December 2022

Right-of-use assets included above

14. Investment in equity-accounted associates

At 1 January

Exchange movements

Share of losses

Loss on change of ownership interest

Share of losses and impairment provision

Release of impairment provision

At 31 December

Company

Motor 
Vehicles
£’000 

Field 
Equipment
£’000 

Office 
furniture and 
equipment
£’000 

– 

–

–

–

–

–

 –

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

47

–

47

6

–

53

–

(16)

(16)

(16)

(32)

47

31

21

–

108 

8

116

3

(5)

114

(95)

(7)

(102)

(7)

4

(105)

13

14

9

5

Group

Company

2022
£’000 

1,449

–

–

–

(1,449)

–

–

2021
£’000 

1,449

28

(30)

(133)

–

135

1,449

2022
£’000 

657

–

–

–

(657)

–

–

Total
£’000 

155 

8

163

9

(5)

167

(95)

(23)

(118)

(23)

4

(137)

60

45

30

5

2021
£’000 

657

–

–

–

–

–

657

74

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM 14. Investment in equity-accounted associates continued
The Company’s shareholding interest in Thani Stratex Resources Limited (“TSRL”) was maintained at 24.92% during the course 

of the year, however, on 31 December 2022, TSRL relinquished the Hodine licence in Egypt, the company’s only operational 

asset. Consequently, full provision for impairment has been made in these financial statements.

The following entity has been included in the consolidated financial statements using the equity accounting method:

Thani Stratex Resources Limited

2022

Value
£’000

–

%

24.9

Change
£’000 

1,449

%

24.9

2021

Value
£’000

1,449

Change
£’000 

–

Thani Stratex Resources Limited has a reporting date of 31 December and its registered office is PO Box 173, Kingston 

Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

Summarised financial information for investments accounted for using an equity accounting method is shown below.  

This information reflects the amounts presented in the draft financial statements of the associates (and not Oriole Resources 

PLC’s share of those amounts) adjusted for differences in accounting policies between the Group and associates:

Statement of financial position for Thani Stratex Resources Limited

As at 31 December

Current Assets

Cash and equivalents

Net current liabilities

Total current liabilities

Non-current assets

Furniture, fittings and equipment

Intangible assets

Total non-current assets

Non-current liabilities

Net (liabilities)/assets

Statement of comprehensive income for Thani Stratex Resources Limited

As at 31 December

Administration expenses 

Depreciation 

Exchange gains

Loss from continuing operations 

Income tax expenses 

Loss after tax for continuing operations 

Discontinued operations 

Total comprehensive income 

2022
£’000 

2021
£’000 

–

(289)

(289)

–

–

–

(4,174)

(4,463)

1

(289)

(288)

1

14,758

14,759

(4,174)

10,297

2022
£’000 

2021
£’000 

–

–

–

–

–

–

(14,760)

(14,760)

(120)

–

–

(120)

–

(120)

–

(120)

75

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALSNOTES TO THE  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

15. Financial Assets and Liabilities

(a)  Financial Assets

Financial assets at amortised cost:

Trade and other receivables

Deposits and guarantees

Cash and cash equivalents

Loan note receivable

Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income

Total

(b)  Financial Liabilities

Group

2022
£’000 

Company

2021
£’000 

2022
£’000 

2021
£’000 

196

29

478

440

395

137

46

1,315

394

395

1,538

2,287

81

–

420

440

395

1,336

74

–

1,262

394

395

2,125

Group

2022
£’000 

Company

2021
£’000 

2022
£’000 

2021
£’000 

Financial liabilities at amortised cost:

Trade creditors

Amounts due to related parties and employees

Social security and other taxes

Leases

Accrued expenses

Total

(c)  Assets by quality

66

7

29

4

142

248

80

23

54

7

403

567

62

7

27

4

79

179

Trade Receivables:
Trade receivables includes net receivables from exploration partners of £41,000 (2021: £30,000). None of the exploration 

partners have external credit ratings. 

Cash and cash equivalents:
External ratings of cash at bank and short-term deposits:

A

Ba, Bb & Bbb

Total

Equity investments at FVOCI comprise the following individual investments:

Thani Stratex Djibouti – Unlisted Equity Security

At 31 December

2022
£’000 

420

87

507

Group

Company

2022
£’000 

395

395

2021
£’000 

395

395

2022
£’000 

395

395

67

–

36

7

377

487

2021
£’000 

1,262

99

1,361

2021
£’000 

395

395

On disposal of these equity investments, any related balance within the FVOCI reserve is reclassified to retained earnings.

Information about the methods and assumptions used in determining fair value is provided in (e) below. The assets are held in 

non-sterling currencies but there are no significant exchange rate risks associated with these investments.

76

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM 15. Financial Assets and Liabilities continued

Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income comprise equity securities which are not held for 

trading, and which the Group has irrevocably elected at initial recognition to recognise in this category. These are strategic 

investments and the Group considers this classification to be more relevant.

(d)  Financial Assets at Fair Value Through Profit and Loss (‘FVPL’)

The Group classifies the following financial assets at fair value through profit or loss: 

Equity instruments for which the entity has not elected to recognise fair value gains and losses through OCI.

The Group’s investment in Muratdere Madencilik Sanayi ve Ticaret AS (‘Muratdere’) is held at £Nil (2021: £Nil) in the 

consolidated financial statements following its write down in 2017.

(e)  Fair Value Hierarchy

This section explains the judgements and estimates made in determining the fair values of financial instruments that are 

recognised and measured at fair value in the financial statements. To provide an indication about the reliability of the inputs 

used in determining fair value, the Group has classified its financial instruments into the three levels prescribed under 

Accounting Standards, as set out and explained below:

Recurring fair value measurements
At 31 December 2022

Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income: 

Djibouti unlisted equity securities

Total Financial Assets

At 31 December 2021

Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income:

Djibouti unlisted equity securities 

Total Financial Assets

Level 3
£’000 

Total
£’000 

395

395

395

395

395

395

395

395

There were no transfers of assets between levels for recurring fair value measurements during the year. The Group has no level 

1 or 2 financial instruments.

Level 3 – if one or more of the significant valuation inputs is not based on observable market data, the instrument is held at 

level 3. This is the case for unlisted securities.

Specific valuation techniques used to value financial instruments include:

 ° The use of quoted market prices to provide comparative pricing for Level 3 instruments when reviewed against comparable 

companies at similar stages of asset development.

 ° Cost of asset development work to date, together with a review of exploration results and a view of market values of 

similar companies. 

77

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALSNOTES TO THE  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

16. Trade and other receivables
The fair value of trade and other receivables equate to their carrying values, which also represents the Group’s maximum 

exposure to credit risk. No collateral is held as security.

Receivables 

Bad debt provision

Loans

Loan note (see below)

Prepayments and other current assets

Total

Non-current

Current

Total

Group

Company

2022
£’000 

372

(326)

109

440

41

636

440

196

636

2021
£’000 

381

(326)

43

394

39

531

394

137

531

2022
£’000 

2021
£’000 

41

–

–

440

40

521

440

81

521

–

–

–

394

74

468

394

74

468

The loan note for $530,806 is interest free and is repayable by Thani Stratex Djibouti Limited in accordance with a loan note 

instrument dated 14 November 2019.

$425,000 of a success-based payment due from Anadolu Export Maden Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. is past due, and has been fully 

provided against in these, and the prior year, financial statements. 

17. Deferred tax asset and liabilities
The movement in the year on the net deferred tax assets is:

Group

At 1 January

Exchange movements

Movement in year

At 31 December

18. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and on hand

Short-term deposits

Total

2022
£’000 

2021
£’000 

–

–

–

–

Group

Company

2022
£’000 

478

29

507

2021
£’000 

1,315

46

1,361

2022
£’000 

420

–

420

14

(6)

(8)

–

2021
£’000 

1,262

–

1,262

78

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM 19. Currency risk
The Group’s exposure to foreign currency is as follows: 

2022

2021

GBP £’000

US$

Euro 

Turkish Lira

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other payables

Net exposure

The following year end spot rates to 
sterling have been applied

A 20% fluctuation in the sterling 
exchange rate would have affected  
profit and loss as follows:

Strengthening of sterling*

Weakening of sterling*

41

–

(2)

39

5

58

(75)

(12)

–

30

(1)

29

US$

–

142

(200)

(58)

Euro

Turkish Lira

–

273

(160)

113

30

52

(43)

39

1.2039

1.1277

22.5344

1.1584

1.1907

17.9514

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

6

(6)

(2)

2

7

(7)

–

–

–

–

7

(7)

* Dollar and Euro amounts shown in respect of 2021 were acquired specifically to fund the foreign currency elements of capital expenditure and 
as such fluctuations would have no impact on profit and loss. 

20. Share capital and share premium

Group and Company

At 1 January 2022

Issued during the year

Expenses of share issue

At 31 December 2022

Number of 
Ordinary shares 
issued 

1,994,021,336

729,320,504

–

2,723,341,840

Ordinary 
shares
£’000

Deferred 
shares
£’000

Share 
premium
£’000

Total
£’000

1,994

729

–

2,723

4,206

24,758

30,958

–

–

272

(50)

1,001

(50)

4,206

24,980

31,909

During the year the Company raised capital by way of an equity placing upon six occasions:

 ° On 13 July 2022 the Company issued 188,888,888 Ordinary 0.1p shares at a price of 0.18p per share, with each share issued 

also attracting a warrant over Ordinary shares at an exercise price of 0.25p per share.

 ° On 2 November 2022 the Company issued 504,166,666 Ordinary 0.1p shares at a price of 0.12p per share.

 ° Between 13 July 2022 and 21 December 2022 shares were issued to the Directors in lieu of salary on four occasions, covering 
five months of salary sacrifice. The number of shares to be issued was based on the net pay forgone, converted to shares at 

the 30-day volume weighted price of the Ordinary shares (‘30-day VWAP’) at the end of the month of salary sacrifice:

 − On 13 July 2022 6,576,192 shares were issued based on a share price of 0.205p (being the 30-day VWAP at the end of June);
 − On 4 August 2022 8,934,647 shares were issued based on a share price of 0.1769p (being the 30-day VWAP at the end 

of July)

 − On 4 November 2022 9,069,674 shares were issued based on a share price of 0.1785p (being the 30-day VWAP at the end 
of August) and 8,357,959 shares were issued based on a share price of 0.1937p (being the 30-day VWAP at the end of 
September);

 − On 21 December 2022 3,326,478 shares were issued based on a share price of 0.1276p (being the 30-day VWAP at the end 

of November).

The Ordinary shares have a nominal value of 0.1p and all shares have been fully paid.

At the 2018 Annual General Meeting as part of a capital reorganisation, 467,311,276 deferred shares were created, each with a 

nominal value of 0.9p. The Deferred Shares have no right to vote, attend or speak at general meetings of the Company and 

have no right to receive any dividend or other distribution and have only limited rights to participate in any return of capital 

on a winding-up or liquidation of the Company, which will be of no material value. 

79

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALSNOTES TO THE  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

21. Earnings per share
The calculation of the basic earnings per share is based on the loss attributable to the equity holders of the Company and a 

weighted average number of Ordinary shares in issue during the year, as follows:

Group

Loss attributable to owners of the Company from continuing operations

2022
£’000 

(1,616)

2021
£’000 

(1,687)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue

2,173,550,827

1,661,670,893

Basic and diluted loss per share from continuing operations (pence per share)

(0.07)

(0.10)

There is no difference between basic and diluted loss per share as the effect on the exercise of the options would be to 

decrease the earnings per share.

At 31 December 2022 there were 87,526,245 (2021: 81,592,912) share options and 188,888,888 (2021: 208,385,020) warrants that 

could potentially dilute the earnings per share in the future.

Deferred shares have no rights to dividends or retained profits and are excluded from the calculation of earnings per share.

22. Share options and warrants
Share options

The Directors have discretion to grant options to Group employees to subscribe for Ordinary Shares up to a maximum of 10% 

of the Company’s issued share capital. The Company runs two schemes, one is the Enterprise Management Incentive scheme 

and the other is the Unapproved Share Option scheme.

As at 31 December 2022, the Company had in issue 74,671,892 (2021: 71,471,892) options to Group employees granted under 

the Enterprise Management Incentive scheme and 8,290,446 (2021: 9,787,687) options to Group employees granted under the 

unapproved scheme. In addition, there are 4,563,907 (2021: 333,333) unexercised options held by past employees. All options 

vest over one to three years from the grant date and lapse on the tenth anniversary of the grant date, except for the options 

granted to Directors in 2020, in lieu of salary, which vested immediately.

The granting of the share options has been accounted for as equity-settled share-based payment transactions. The total 

expenses recognised in the loss for the year arising from share-based payments was £8,000 (2021: £7,000). The Group has no 

legal or constructive obligation to repurchase or settle the options in cash.

Movements in the number of share options outstanding and their related weighted average exercise prices are as follows:

2022

2021

Weighted
average
exercise price
pence

0.27

0.32

–

–

0.37

0.29

0.29

Number of 
options

81,592,912

6,700,000

–

–

(766,667)

87,526,245

76,592,912

Weighted
average
exercise price
pence

0.31

–

0.37

7.0

–

0.29

0.27

Number of 
options

83,192,912

–

(1,550,000)

(50,000)

–

81,592,912

64,542,912

Group and Company

Outstanding at 1 January

Issued

Exercised

Expired

Lapsed

Outstanding at 31 December

Exercisable at 31 December

80

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM 22. Share options and warrants continued
The weighted average contractual life of the outstanding options at 31 December 2022 was 7.32 years (2021: 9.15 years). 

Details of share options outstanding at 31 December 2022 are as follows:

Life of option

Start date

5 December 2014

4 June 2015

2 September 2016

1 March 2018

4 June 2018

19 March 2019

19 August 2020

22 December 2020

14 March 2022

Total options outstanding

Share Warrants 

Group and Company

Outstanding at 1 January

Issued

Lapsed

Exercised

Outstanding at 31 December

Life of warrant

Start date

13 July 2022

Total warrants outstanding

Expiry date

5 December 2024

4 June 2025

2 September 2026

1 March 2028

4 June 2028

19 March 2029

19 August 2030

22 December 2030

14 March 2032

Outstanding
31 December
2022

60,000 

 150,000 

 198,000 

6,000,000

2,000,000

16,183,333

39,884,912

16,350,000

6,700,000

87,526,245

Option
Price
pence

 2.7 

 1.5 

 2.0 

0.9

0.62

0.37

0.10

0.37

0.32

2022

2021

Weighted
average
exercise price
pence

Weighted
average
exercise price
pence

Number of 
warrants

Number of 
options

208,385,020

188,888,888

(208,385,020)

0.66

323,230,279

0.25

0.66

–

–

–

–

(114,845,259)

188,888,888

0.25 208,385,020

Outstanding
31 December
2022

188,888,888

188,888,888

Expiry date

13 July 2025*

* The Company have the right to force exercise of those warrants in the event the 10-day volume weighted average share price exceeds  
0.6 pence at any time.

0.61

–

–

0.66

0.66

Warrant
Price
pence

0.25

0.25

81

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALSNOTES TO THE  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

23. Other reserves

Group

At 1 January 2021

Share-based payments

Share options exercised 

Share options expired

Other comprehensive income

At 31 December 2021

Share based payments

Share options lapsed

Other comprehensive income

At 31 December 2022

Company

At 1 January 2021

Share-based payments

Share options exercised

Share options expired

At 31 December 2021

Share-based payments

Share options lapsed

At 31 December 2022

Merger
reserve
£’000

Share option
reserve
£’000

(485)

–

–

–

–

(485)

–

–

–

198

7

(34)

(2)

–

169

8

(1)

–

(485)

176

Translation
reserve
£’000

1,878

–

–

–

44

1,922

–

–

(100)

1,822

Share option 
reserve
£’000

 198

7

(34)

(2)

169

8

(1)

176

Total
£’000

1,591

7

(34)

(2)

44

1,606

8

(1)

(100)

1,513

Total
£’000

198

7

(34)

(2)

169

8

(1)

176

The Merger reserve arose on consolidation as a result of the merger accounting for the acquisition of the entire issued  

share capital of Stratex Exploration Limited during 2005 and represents the difference between the nominal value of  

shares issued for the acquisition and that of the share capital and share premium account of Stratex Exploration Limited.

The Group has elected to recognise changes in the fair value of certain investments in equity securities through  

Other Comprehensive Income, as explained in Note 15 and the accounting policies. These changes are accumulated  

within the FVOCI reserve within equity. The Group transfers amounts from this reserve to retained earnings when the  

relevant equity securities are realised.

The Share option reserve balance relates to the fair value of outstanding share options measured using the  

Black-Scholes method.

The Translation reserve comprises the exchange differences from translating the net investment in foreign entities  

and of monetary items receivable from subsidiaries for which settlement is neither planned nor likely in the foreseeable  

future (see Note 2.3).

82

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM 24. Non-controlling interest
Effect on equity of transactions with non-controlling interests:

Balance attributable to NCI

At 1 January 2021

Gain for the year

At 31 December 2021

Transfer between reserves

Gain for the year

At 31 December 2022

Stratex 
EMC SA
£’000

(251)

118

(133)

(155)

47

(241)

Total
£’000

(251)

118

(133)

(155)

47

(241)

The non-controlling interest arises in the 15% holding by a third party in Stratex EMC SA, whose financial statements include 

the following balances:

Stratex EMC SA

Intangible assets

Other assets

Intercompany loans

Other creditors

Net liabilities

Profit/(loss) for the year

Cash flows:

Cash flows from operations

Cash flows from investing activities

Cash flows from intercompany funding

Net cash flow

25. Trade and other payables

Trade payables

Amounts due to related parties and employees

Social security and other taxes

Lease liability

Accrued expenses

At 31 December

2022
£’000

6,135

1,028

(8,798)

(62)

(1,697)

287

(125)

79

52

6

2021
£’000

5,811

952

(8,633)

(22)

(1,892)

(806)

(219)

–

217

(2)

Group

2022
£’000 

Company

2021
£’000 

2022
£’000 

2021
£’000 

66

7

29

4

142

248

80

1

54

7

403

545

61

7

28

4

79

179

67

–

36

7

377

487

All financial liabilities, except those for accrued expenses, are stated, where material, at amortised cost.

83

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALSNOTES TO THE  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

26. Leases 
The Group has in place one lease contract for computer equipment used in its operations. The lease has a remaining term 

of 1 year.

The Group’s obligations under its leases are secured by the lessor’s title to the leased assets. The Group is restricted from 

assigning and subleasing the leased asset. There are no variable lease payments attached. 

The right-of-use asset recognised in respect of this lease has a carrying value of £5,000 (2021: £8,000) and is included within 

tangible fixed assets. Depreciation of £3,000 (2021: £3,000) has been recorded in the year.

The lease liability is included within trade and other payables and has a carrying value of £4,000 (2021: £7,000). Cash payments 

of £3,000 (2021: £5,000) have been made in payment of the liability during the year.

Neither the right-of-use asset nor the lease liability have been recorded separately on the statement of consolidated or 

company financial position as the values are not material. 

27. Cash flow from operating activities

Group

Company

2021
£’000 

(1,607)

2022
£’000 

(1,094)

2021
£’000 

(619)

7

–

9

–

163

(135)

–

–

7

57

8

(264)

657

–

(28)

(243)

(47)

7

–

6

–

–

–

(18)

(281)

(5)

(37)

47

(900)

Loss before income tax

Adjustments for:

Issue of share options 

Issue of shares in lieu of salary

Depreciation 

Write back of intercompany loan

Share of losses and impairment of associates 

Other Income and deductions 

Interest income on intercompany indebtedness 

Intercompany management fees 

2022
£’000 

(1,972)

7

57

8

–

1,449

(5)

–

–

Foreign exchange movements on operating activities 

(539)

498

Changes in working capital, excluding the effects of exchange 
differences on consolidation:

Trade and other receivables

Trade and other payables

Cash used in operations

7

(317)

(1,305)

(65)

58

(1,072)

(6)

(309)

(1,262)

84

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM 29. Contingencies and capital 
commitments
There are no contingencies or capital commitments at 

31 December 2022.

30. Parent company statement of 
comprehensive income
As permitted by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the 

statement of comprehensive income of the parent company 

is not presented as part of these financial statements.

28. Related party transactions
(a)  Transactions with non-controlling interests: 

During the year the Company spent £Nil (2021: 
£3,000) with Minexia Limited, a company in which Tim 
Livesey and Robert Smeeton have 10.35% and 2.35% 
shareholdings respectively. 

(b)  Parent company and ultimate controlling party: 

In the opinion of the Directors there is no ultimate 
controlling party.

(c)  Amounts provided to subsidiaries: 

During the year the Company provided funds amounting 
to £149,000 (2021: £567,000) to its subsidiaries and 
charged its subsidiary companies £243,000 (2021: 
£281,000) for the provision of management services. The 
total gross receivable from subsidiaries at 31 December 
2022 was £5,816,000 (2021: £5,339,000). 

(d)  Transactions with Directors and Key Management 

Personnel: 
During the year the Directors were remunerated for 
services performed on behalf of the Company. Details 
of this remuneration are included in the Report of the 
Remuneration Committee. All Directors during the year 
were remunerated through the UK payroll. There are not 
considered to be any key management personnel other 
than Directors.

85

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALSNOTICE OF  
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting 

a.  be limited to the allotment of equity securities up to 

of Oriole Resources Plc (the “Company”) will be held at the 

an aggregate nominal amount of £1,000,000; and  

offices of Grant Thornton UK LLP, located at 30 Finsbury 

Square, London, EC2A 1AG at 11.00am on 8 June 2023. 

The business of the meeting will be to consider and, 

if thought fit, pass the following Resolutions:

Ordinary resolutions
1.  THAT the Directors’ Report and the Financial Statements 

b.  expire with the authority granted by resolution 4 

(unless previously revoked, varied or extended by the 

Company at a general meeting) at the conclusion 

of the next Annual General Meeting, save that the 

Company may, before such expiry make an offer or 

agreement which would or might require equity 

securities to be allotted after such expiry and the 

of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2022 be 

Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of 

received and adopted.

2.  THAT, having retired by rotation in accordance with the 

Company’s Articles of Association, and being eligible, 

Eileen Carr be reappointed as a Director of the Company.

any such offer or agreement notwithstanding that the 

power conferred by this resolution has expired.

7.  THAT, in addition to the authority granted by resolution 

6 above, subject to the passing of resolution 4 and in 

3.  THAT PKF Littlejohn LLP be reappointed as auditors of 

accordance with section 570 of the Act, the Directors 

the Company, and that the Directors be authorised to 

be generally empowered to allot equity securities (as 

determine the auditors’ remuneration.

4.  THAT, in addition to the existing authorities, and in 

accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 

defined in section 560 of the Act) for cash pursuant to the 

authority conferred by resolution 4, as if section 561(1) of 

the Act did not apply to any such allotment, provided that 

(the “Act”) the Directors be generally and unconditionally 

this power shall:

authorised to allot shares in the Company or grant rights 

to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares 

in the Company (“Rights”) up to an aggregate nominal 

amount of £2,000,000 provided that:

a.  be limited to the allotment of equity securities up to 

an aggregate nominal amount of £1,000,000; and

b.  expire with the authority granted by resolution 4 

(unless previously revoked, varied or extended by the 

a.  this authority shall, unless previously revoked, varied 

Company at a general meeting) at the conclusion 

or extended by the Company at a general meeting, 

of the next Annual General Meeting, save that the 

expire at the conclusion of the next annual general 

Company may, before such expiry make an offer or 

meeting of the Company; and

b.  that the Company may, before such expiry, make 

an offer or agreement which would or might 

require shares to be allotted or Rights to be 

granted and the Directors may allot shares or grant 

Rights in pursuance of such offer or agreement 

notwithstanding that the authority conferred by this 

resolution has expired.

agreement which would or might require equity 

securities to be allotted after such expiry and the 

Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of 

any such offer or agreement notwithstanding that the 

power conferred by this resolution has expired.

By order of the Board

Special resolutions
5.  THAT the new articles of association of the Company 

R J Smeeton

contained in the document signed by the Chairman for 

Company Secretary 

the purpose of identification be and are approved and 

adopted as the articles of association of the Company 

8 March 2023

in substitution for and to the exclusion of the existing 

Registered Office 

articles of association of the Company.

Wessex House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh 

6.  THAT, subject to the passing of resolution 4 and in 

accordance with section 570 of the Act, the Directors 

be generally empowered to allot equity securities (as 

defined in section 560 of the Act) for cash pursuant to the 

authority conferred by resolution 4, as if section 561(1) of 

the Act did not apply to any such allotment, provided that 

this power shall:

Hampshire 

SO50 9FD

86

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM Notes
Eligibility to attend and vote 

1.  To be entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General 

Meeting (and for the purpose of determining the number 

of votes a member may cast), members must be entered 

on the Register of Members of the Company by 11.00am 

on 6 June 2023.

Appointment of proxies 

Appointment of proxy using hard-copy proxy form 

6.  The notes to the proxy form explain how to direct your 

proxy how to vote on each resolution or withhold their 

vote. To appoint a proxy using the proxy form, the form 

must be completed and signed and sent or delivered 

to the Company’s registrars, Share Registrars Limited, 

3 Millennium Centre, Crosby Way, Farnham, Surrey, 

GU9 7XX. 

7. 

In the case of a member which is a company, the proxy 

2.  As a member of the Company, you are entitled to appoint 

form must be executed under its common seal or signed 

a proxy to exercise all or any of your rights to attend, speak 

on its behalf by an officer of the company or an attorney 

and vote at the Meeting and you should have received 

for the company. Any power of attorney or any other 

a proxy form with this notice of meeting. You can only 

authority under which the proxy form is signed (or a duly 

appoint a proxy using the procedures set out in these 

certified copy of such power or authority) must  

notes and the notes to the proxy form. You can register 

be included with the proxy form. 

your votes for the meeting either: 

 ° by logging on to www.shareregistrars.uk.com, clicking 
on the “Proxy Vote” button and then following the on-

screen instructions;

Appointment of proxy by joint members 

8. 

In the case of joint holders, where more than one of 

the joint holder’s purports to appoint a proxy, only the 

appointment submitted by the most senior holder will be 

 ° by post or by hand to Share Registrars Limited, 3 The 
Millennium Centre, Crosby Way, Farnham, Surrey GU9 

accepted. Seniority is determined by the order in which 

the names of the joint holders appear in the Company’s 

7XX using the proxy form accompanying this notice;

register of members in respect of the joint holding (the 

In order for a proxy appointment to be valid the proxy must 

be received by Share Registrars Limited no later than 11.00am 

first named being the most senior). 

Changing proxy instructions 

on 6 June 2023.

9.  To change your proxy instructions simply submit a 

3.  A proxy does not need to be a member of the Company 

new proxy appointment using the methods set out 

but must attend the Meeting to represent you. Details 

above. Note that the cut-off time for receipt of proxy 

of how to appoint the Chair of the Meeting or another 

appointments (see above) also applies in relation to 

person as your proxy using the proxy form are set out 

amended instructions; any amended proxy appointment 

in the notes to the proxy form. If you wish your proxy to 

received after the relevant cut-off time will be 

speak on your behalf at the Meeting you will need to 

disregarded. Where you have appointed a proxy using 

appoint your own choice of proxy (not the Chair) and  

the hard-copy proxy form and would like to change the 

give your instructions directly to them. 

4.  You may appoint more than one proxy provided each 

proxy is appointed to exercise rights attached to different 

shares. You may not appoint more than one proxy to 

instructions using another hard-copy proxy form, please 

contact Share Registrars Limited. If you submit more than 

one valid proxy appointment, the appointment received 

last before the latest time for the receipt of proxies will 

exercise rights attached to any one share. 

take precedence. 

5. 

If you do not give your proxy an indication of how to vote 

on any resolution, your proxy will vote or abstain from 

voting at his or her discretion. Your proxy will vote (or 

abstain from voting) as he or she thinks fit in relation  

to any other matter which is put before the Meeting.

87

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022FINANCIALSNOTICE OF  
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING CONTINUED

Termination of proxy appointments 

Communication 

10.  In order to revoke a proxy instruction you will need to 

11.  Except as provided above, members who have 

inform the Company using one of the following methods: 

general queries about the Meeting should contact 

 ° By sending a signed hard-copy notice clearly stating your 
intention to revoke your proxy appointment to Share 

Registrars Limited, 3 Millennium Centre, Crosby Way, 

Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7XX. 

 °

In the case of a member which is a company, the 

revocation notice must be executed under its common 

seal or signed on its behalf by an officer of the company 

or an attorney for the company. 

 ° Any power of attorney or any other authority under which 
the revocation notice is signed (or a duly certified copy 

Share Registrars Limited on 01252 821390 or by email 

enquiries@shareregistrars.uk.com (no other methods 

of communication will be accepted). 

12.  You may not use any electronic address provided either 

in this notice of Annual General Meeting or any related 

documents (including the proxy form) to communicate 

with the Company for any purposes other than those 

expressly stated. 

Documents available for inspection 

13.  The following documents will be available for inspection 

of such power or authority) must be included with the 

during normal business hours at the Company’s 

revocation notice. In either case, the revocation notice 

registered office up until the date of the Annual General 

must be received by Share Registrars Limited no later 

Meeting and at the place of the meeting from 11.00am on 

than 11.00am on 6 June 2023. 

6 June 2023 until the end of the meeting: 

 °

If you attempt to revoke your proxy appointment but 

the revocation is received after the time specified then, 

subject to the paragraph directly below, your proxy 

appointment will remain valid. Appointment of a proxy 

does not preclude you from attending the Meeting and 

voting in person. If you have appointed a proxy and attend 

the Meeting in person, your proxy appointment will 

automatically be terminated. 

 °

 °

the audited consolidated accounts of the Company for 

the financial period ended 31 December 2022;

the Register of Directors’ interests in the capital of the 

Company and copies of the service contracts of the 

Directors of the Company.

88

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM ADVISERS  
& OFFICES

Nominated adviser
Grant Thornton UK LLP  

30 Finsbury Square  

London 

EC2A 1AG

Group Auditors
PKF Littlejohn LLP Statutory Auditor 

15 Westferry Circus  

Canary Wharf  

London 

E14 4HD

Brokers
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP 

Prince Frederick House 

35-39 Maddox Street 

London 

W1S 2PP

Group Solicitors 
Edwin Coe LLP 

2 Stone Buildings Lincoln’s Inn  

London 

WC2A 3TH

Bankers
Lloyds TSB Bank plc  

High Street 

Slough  

Berkshire  

SL1 1DH

Registered Office
Wessex House 

Upper Market Street  

Eastleigh 

Hampshire  

SO50 9FD

UK Exploration Office 
Oriole Resources PLC  

Wessex House 

Upper Market Street  

Eastleigh 

Hampshire  

SO50 9FD 

Turkish Office
Stratex Madencilik Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti. 

Mustafa Kemal Mahallesi 2152.Cadde Kent İş Merkezi  

No:2/17 Çankaya  

Ankara 

Turkey

West Africa Office
Stratex EMC SA 

c/o SCP Geni e Kebe 

47 Bd de la republique 

Dakar 

Senegal

89

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022GLOSSARY

Term

Au

breccia

Cu

cut-off

dyke

felsic

g/t

granite

Definition

Chemical symbol for gold

A rock composed of sharp-angled fragments embedded in a fine-grained matrix. It can also be 

used to describe localised areas of sharp-angled fragments within a fine-grained matrix within 

any rock type. 

Chemical symbol for copper

The lowest grade value that is included in a resources statement. It must comply with JORC 

requirement 19: “reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction”. It may be defined on 

the basis of economic evaluation, or on physical or chemical attributes that define an acceptable 

product specification. 

A tabular body of intrusive igneous rock emplaced vertically or at a steeply inclined angle 

to the horizontal and usually cross-cuts the host rock.

A general term used to describe an igneous rock that contains an abundance of  

‘light-coloured’ silicate minerals such as quartz and feldspar. Also defined by a silica 

content of > 69%.

Grammes per tonne, equivalent to parts per million

A medium to coarse-grained igneous rock that is rich in quartz and feldspar minerals. Granites 

are the most common ‘plutonic’ rock in the Earth’s crust, formed by the cooling 

of magma at depth.

Greenstone belt

An area, typically in Precambrian shields, occupied by igneous (± sedimentary) rocks of variable 

compositions that have been subjected to ‘Greenschist facies’ metamorphism and defined 

by the presence of green-coloured metamorphic minerals such as chlorite, epidote and 

actinolite. Globally, ‘greenstone belts’ host district-scale economic mineralisation of a range of 

commodities including gold, silver, copper, zinc and lead. 

hydrothermal solution

Typically a high-temperature saline solution that is capable of dissolving a wide range of 

elements including economic metals such as gold, silver, copper, zinc, and lead. The movement 

of hydrothermal solutions through the Earth’s crust enables transportation of economic metals/

minerals and are generally required to form mineral deposits e.g. orogenic gold deposits. 

igneous

A term used to describe rocks that have solidified from lava or magma

Indicated Resource

The part of a Mineral Resource for which tonnage, densities, shape, physical characteristics 

grade and mineral content can be estimated with a reasonable level of confidence. It is based on 

exploration, sampling, and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from 

locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. The locations are too widely 

or inappropriately spaced to confirm geological and/or grade continuity but are spaced closely 

enough for continuity to be assumed. 

Inferred Resource

The part of a Mineral Resource for which tonnage, grade, and mineral content can be estimated 

with a low level of confidence. It is inferred from geological evidence and assumed but not 

verified geological and/or grade continuity. It is based on information gathered through 

appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes 

which may be limited or of uncertain quality and reliability.

JORC

The Australasian Joint Ore Reserves Committee Code of Reporting of Exploration Results, 

Mineral Resources and Ore Resources, 2004 (the ‘JORC Code’ or ‘the Code’). The Code sets out 

minimum standards, recommendations and guidelines for Public Reporting of Exploration 

Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Resources in Australasia. 

Limestone 

A sedimentary rock made from calcium carbonate (CaCO3) usually in the form of calcite or 

aragonite. Limestones typically form at or below the seafloor when calcite and/or aragonite 

precipitates out of water containing dissolved calcium. 

90

WWW.ORIOLERESOURCES.COM Term

mafic

Definition

A general term used to describe an igneous rock that contains an abundance of ‘dark coloured’ 

minerals such as olivine, amphibole, pyroxene, and biotite. Also defined by a silica content of 

between 45 and 52%. 

metamorphic

A term used to describe a rock that has undergone transformation typically by a combination of 

heat and/or pressure conditions, or other processes, that were significantly different from those 

encountered at the surface of the earth. 

metasediment

A term used for a metamorphic rock formed when a sedimentary rock undergoes partial 

or completed recrystallisation under conditions of temperature and pressure that were 

significantly different from those encountered at the surface of the earth.

Mineral Resource

A concentration or occurrence of material of intrinsic economic interest in or on the Earth’s crust 

in such form, quality, and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic 

extraction. The location, quantity, grade, geological characteristics and continuity of a Mineral 

Resource are known, estimated, or interpreted from specific geological evidence, into Inferred, 

Indicated, and Measured categories when reporting under the JORC Code. 

Moz

Million troy ounces.

orogenic gold deposits

A mineral deposit type formed from hydrothermal solutions at depths of between 6,000 and 

20,000m and in the temperature range of 300-550˚C. Typically these deposits are controlled  

and shaped by the structural deformation that occurs during mountain building events known 

oxide gold

oxide zone

oz

porphyry

as orogenies. 

Gold mineralisation that occurred within the ‘oxide zone’ as free gold.

A zone of weathered rock occurring at or close to the Earth’s surface.

Troy ounce (=31.103477 grammes).

A general term for any igneous rock in which relatively large crystals (phenocrysts) constitute 

25% or more of the volume and are set in a fine-grained ground mass. Can also be used in 

conjunction with a mineral where the rock is rich in that component or rock descriptor where 

appropriate e.g. quartz-feldspar porphyry. 

schist

A general term for a medium-grained metamorphic rock defined by the presence of schistose 

texture, which is where elongate minerals are aligned into thin, often repeating, parallel layers. 

Can be used in conjunction with a mineral or rock descriptor where appropriate e.g. quartz-

pyrite schist or mafic schist.

sedimentary 

A term used to describe a rock that has formed by the accumulation of deposition of minerals 

and/or organic particles at the Earth’s surface followed by cementation.

Shear zone

A tabular zone of rock showing evidence of shear stress i.e. a stress field that is acting parallel  

to a plane passing through any point in the body. Shear zones are a common feature of 

orogenies and present a structural control that can be favourable for the formation of  

orogenic gold deposits. 

silica

A general term white or colourless crystalline compound (SiO2), occurring abundantly as 

crystalline quartz. This term also includes materials such as sand, flint, agate, and many  

other industrial-related minerals used in the construction of glass and concrete etc.

sulphide gold

Gold mineralisation occurring within the ‘sulphide zone’, can occur as both free gold or locked 

within the sulphide crystal structure. 

sulphide zone

Unweathered rock occurring below the ‘oxide zone’ and containing metal-sulphide minerals.

tonalite

An igneous rock composed of crystals that are clearly visible to the naked eye and defined  

tonne (t)

1 million grammes.

by a composition of greater than 20% silica.

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022Phone: +44 (0)238 065 1649 
Email: info@orioleresources.co.uk 
www.orioleresources.com 

Wessex House 
Upper Market Street  
Eastleigh 
Hampshire  
SO50 9FD

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