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Ovoca Bio
Annual Report 2017

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FY2017 Annual Report · Ovoca Bio
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Annual report 2017

Annual
report
2017

Contents

>

Welcome

1

2

3

CEO’s statement

4

Chairman’s statement

5

Company  Information 
and Properties Overview

6

4

5

Directors  and  Corporate 
Information

10

Directors’ report

11

6

Independent 
auditor’s report

24

7

8

Financial Statements

32

Notes to the
Financial Statements

40

3

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

1

CEO’s Statement

Dear Shareholders and Colleagues! 

I write to you with optimism, as well as weariness. Regarding the latter, Ovoca has been in a protracted legal 
fight concerning the Taymura oil assets in Siberia. In the course of the legal proceedings the courts have made 
several decisions with which we strongly disagree, but which has changed the direction of proceedings in an 
unfavorable direction. Of course management has a fiduciary responsibility to pursue the Company’s claims as far 
as possible, but the outlook for a successful conclusion to these proceedings looks poor. Regarding optimism, the 
Board is continuing to review the strategic direction of Ovoca to utilise our liquidity to maximise shareholder value. 
This could include a shift in direction with changes to business focus and composition of the team. Once I am able 
to share the details of this review with you I will. 

I would like to mention that management’s caution since the sale of Olcha and retaining the proceeds of the 
sale of Goltsovoye, has proven to be the correct course. By having a critical mass of capital within the company, and 
by avoiding jumping into the natural resource sector in the past few years, the Company has been able to avoid the 
protracted bear market that continues to this day, but have the financial firepower to make a decisive move, which 
I anticipate we will announce soon.

Best regards,
Kirill Golovanov, CEO

4

PART 2___ Chairman’s Statement

2

Chairman’s Statement

Dear Stakeholders,

It is no secret that Ovoca Gold has been at the intersection of two powerful trends that make it exceptionally 
challenging for our Company to advance and prosper. The precious metals market has been in a slump since 2012, 
and despite the brief up-tick in sentiment in 2017, conditions remain poor. The oil and gas market has experienced 
a similar slump, starting in 2014, and oil continues to be a weak market. In summary, the two commodities where 
the Ovoca team has deep insight have not been in a positive market for a long time. The other trend that cannot 
go unnoticed is the worsening relations between Russia and Western Europe/USA. Regardless of one’s political 
views, in terms of business the poor political situation has a real impact on Ovoca. 

Ovoca has a strong cash position, which has afforded the team to look a little farther out in terms of business 
opportunities. The board and management have also been very realistic about where we stand today. Two things 
are clear, we need to get the Company out from under the influence of the two powerful trends I mentioned above 
and will be considered by the Board as it continues to review the strategic direction of Ovoca. 

I hope you will share my enthusiasm for what we are doing. 

Sincerely,
Mikhail Mogutov, Chairman

5

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

3

Company Information 
and Properties Overview

Stakhanovsky 

The Stakhanovsky exploitation license is situated in the north-western 
part of the Magadan Region and covers an area of 73 km2.  The site is 40 
km from Susuman, a town with a population of 7,500 and approximately 
700 km northwest of Magadan.  The Stakhanovsky exploitation license is 
owned by OOO Magsel, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ovoca Gold.  The 
license allows for exploration work, mine development, and mining and 
is currently valid until 7 May 2027; however, this can be extended upon 
successful petition to the appropriate Russian authorities.

Stakhanovsky has significant infrastructure in place either adjacent 
to, or at site. A seasonal village, named Udarik, is used by placer miners 
in the summer months to mine near-by placer deposits for gold. Power 
lines connect Udarnik to the regional power grid. Udarnik has several 
housing complexes that could be used for future operations, and the road 
to Stakhanovsky from Susuman is maintained year round. 

The  deposit  area  is  dominated  by  two  main  fault  systems,  a  sub-
longitudinal (south southeast striking) set of faults, and gently sloping 
thrust faults, which strike northeast.  The two different fault sets are 
believed to have acted as conduits for magmatic fluids leading to the 
development of dykes and sills.

The dykes and sills vary in thickness from several metres up to twenty 
metres, averaging eight metres, and have a strike from several tens of 
metres to several kilometres.

Gold mineralisation is associated with the quartz veinlet stockwork 
that cuts through the beresite dykes/sills.  The gold mineralisation is 
most  prevalent  in  the  more  intensely  altered  dykes/sills,  which  often 
contain visible gold.

Resource Estimation 
Resource modelling completed in 2013 at the Stakhanovsky prospect 
has identified four shallow dipping, gold-bearing, beresite dyke zones 
that have variable strikes.  These four areas are known as: Zabolocheny 
(1 domain), Albitovy (3 domains), Burovaya (1 domain) and Berizitovy (2 
domains).  The dyke zones vary in width from one metre to more than five 
metres.  Most of the mineralisation has low average grades; Albitovy (1.14 
Mt @ 0.23 g/t Au), Berizitovy (2.73 Mt @ 0.63 g/t Au), Burovaya (1.44 
Mt @ 1.15 g/t Au) and Zabolocheny (6.73 Mt @ 1.22 g/t Au).

Most of the mineralisation is shallow dipping and drilling is yet to 
close the mineralisation off at depth, hence additional resource potential 
remains.    Modelling  so  far  indicates  that  mineralisation  extends  to 
approximately 50 m to 60 m depth.  Zabolocheny is the steepest and best-
drilled domain and in some areas, this structure has been modelled to 

6

PART 3___Company Information and Properties Overview

approximately 100 m depth.  Zabolocheny retains the greatest potential 
for  future  resource  development.    Additional  potential  also  exists  at 
Burovaya and selected areas of Berizitovy.

The  mineralisation  wireframes  have  been  constructed  based  on; 
diamond  drilling  (7,301  m),  reverse  circulation  drilling  (7,110  m),  and 
trenches (7,281 m).  Considerable portions of the resource wireframes are 
less than 2.0 m wide and much of this mineralisation will be uneconomic.  
Given that the mineralised domains are quite narrow, the proposed open 
pit would comprise a significant volume of waste and a high stripping 
ratio is anticipated.

Table 1. Stakhanovsky Mineral Resources Samples by Type – Complete Database

Diamond Drillholes (DD)

Reverse Circulation Drillholes (RC)

Trench/Channel (TR/CH)

Total

Number

103 holes

120 holes

177 lines

400 units

Samples

2,390

1,733

2,658

6,781

Metres

7,301

7,110

7,281

21,692

* Note: the above table represents the total sample database, not all samples were used for grade and tonnage estimation.

The total Joint Ore Resource Committee (JORC) Mineral Resource for 
Stakhanovsky is 4.4 Mt @ 2.3 g/t Au, comprising 327 koz Au.  This estimate 
is based on a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t Au.  Due to the coarse-grained nature 
of the gold mineralisation, it is possible that Ovoca will mine the deposit 
to the geological boundaries in order to maximise gold recovery.

Table 2. Stakhanovsky Mineral Resources by Classification

Resource Category

Tonnes (Mt)

Au Grade (g/t)

Gold (koz)

Measured + Indicated

Inferred

Total

Open Pit

2.8

1.6

4.4

2.6

1.9

4.5

231

96

327

Note: 
a) Unless otherwise stated all Mineral Resources are quoted as 100% and are not attributable with respect to ownership.
b) Results are rounded to one decimal place in this table to reflect the level of accuracy of the estimate.
c) Resources reported to cut-off grade = 0.5 g/t Au.

Magadannedra (Regional Office of “GKZ” the State Reserves Committee) 
have approved the temporary resource calculation conditions, aimed at 
upgrading the Stakhanovsky Resource.  In addition, Magadannedra has 
extended the terms for the next stage of exploration at Stakhanovsky 
field up to 2018.

7

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

3

Additional information 

Ovoca continues to pursue the recovery of its funds from LLC Taymura. 
The bankruptcy procedure ended in March 2018 after the settlement 
agreement  was  reached  between  the  creditors  of  LLC  Taymura  and 
approved by the Court. Under the terms of the settlement agreement 
each creditor should receive the recovery of debts at discount of 55% 
until the end of 2018. 

Although the Company was included into the terms of the settlement 
agreement later the Court excluded Ovoca from the register of creditors. 
Currently the Company is preparing to appeal to Supreme Court of Russia 
in order to secure its interests.

The management does not anticipates to receive and then develop 
any of LLC Taymura assets as a result of such dispute and has been focused 
on structuring the other potential investment that is going to be disclosed 
in due course to the public in a separate document.

8

PART 3___Company Information and Properties Overview

Gold-Bearing Dykes

9

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

4

Directors 
and corporate information

Directors

Mikhail Mogutov
Executive Chairman

Kirill Golovanov
CEO (Executive Director)

Kenneth Kuchling
Non-Executive Director

Yuri Radchenko
Non-Executive Director

Donald Schissel
Non-Executive Director

Leonid Skoptsov
Non-Executive Director

Timothy McCutcheon
Non-Executive Director

Registered Office
17 Pembroke Street Upper
Dublin 2
D02 AT22

Business Address
17 Pembroke Street Upper
Dublin 2
D02 AT22

Other Business Information
Svetlana Radchenko
Chief Financial Officer

Kirill Golovanov
Corporate Secretary 

Registration number
105274

Incorporated
15 January 1985

Web site
www.ovocagold.com

Principal banker
Allied Irish Banks plc
Terenure Road
Rathgar
Dublin 6
Ireland

Auditors
Grant Thornton
Chartered Accountants & 
Statutory Audit Firm
Molyneux House
Bride Street
Dublin 8
Ireland

Solicitors
OBH Partners 
(formerly McEvoy Partners)
17 Pembroke Street Upper
Dublin 2
D02 AT22 

Stockbrokers & Nomad
Davy
Davy House
49 Dawson Street
Dublin 2
Ireland

Registrars
Computershare Investor 
Services (Ireland) Limited
Heron House
Sandyford Industrial Estate
Dublin 18
Ireland

10

PART 5___Directors’ Report

5

Directors’ Report

The  Directors  present  their  annual  report  and  audited  financial 
statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2017 of  Ovoca Gold 
plc (“the Company”), a company registered and domiciled in the Republic 
of Ireland and its subsidiaries (collectively “the Group”).

Principal Activity, Business Review and Future Developments 

The Group’s main activity is the exploration for precious metals and 
other minerals in Russia. The Directors have reviewed the financial position 
of the Group and are satisfied that the Group will continue to operate for 
the foreseeable future.

A detailed business review is included in the company information and 
property overview.

Key Performance Indicators 

At this stage of the Group’s business activities the Directors think it 
is appropriate to limit the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to monitor 
progress in the delivery of the Group’s strategic objectives, to assess actual 
performance against targets and to aid management of the business, other 
than the monitoring of licenses and stages of exploration.

The Board monitors relevant KPIs which it considers appropriate for 
managing the activities inherent in exploration and appraisal operations. 
The KPIs for the Group are as follows:

 > Financial KPIs

Shareholder return – the performance of the share price;
Exploration expenditure – funding and development costs.

 > Non-financial KPIs

Environment management – strict environmental policies in place;
Operational success – completion of production plan.

Results and Dividends 

The  results  of  the  Group  are  disclosed  on  page  32  of  the  financial 
statements. The directors did not recommend the payment of a dividend.

Principal Risks and Uncertainties 

The Group’s operating activities are principally carried out in Russia. 
Accordingly, the principal risks and uncertainties detailed below have 
been identified. The Group seeks to minimise the effects of these risks 
through careful monitoring of the risks on an ongoing basis.

 > Exploration Risk; Exploration and development activities may be delayed 
or adversely affected by factors outside the Group’s control, in particular: 

11

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

5

climatic conditions, performance of joint venture partners or suppliers, 
availability, delays or failures in installing and commissioning plant and 
equipment;  unknown  geological  conditions;  remoteness  of  location; 
actions of host governments or other regulatory authorities (relating to, 
inter alia, the grant, maintenance or renewal of any required authorisations, 
environmental regulations or changes in law).   

 > Commodity Price Risk; The demand for, and price of precious metals and 
other  minerals  is  dependent  on  global  and  local  supply  and  demand, 
actions  of  governments  or  cartels  and  general  global  economic  and 
political developments.

 > Political Risk; As a consequence of activities in different parts of the world, 
the Group may be subject to political, economic and other uncertainties, 
including but not limited to terrorism, war or unrest, changes in national 
laws and energy policies and exposure to different legal systems.

 > Foreign Exchange Risk; Exchange rate fluctuations may affect the cost 
that the Group incurs with its operations. Any fluctuations of the Euro 
and Russian Rouble against the US Dollar may have a significant impact 
on the Company’s financial position and results in future.  

The carrying amount of the Group’s foreign currency denominated 
monetary assets and monetary liabilities at the end of the reporting date 
are as follows:

United States Dollar

Russian Rouble

Financial Assets

Financial Liabilities

31/12/2017
€’000

31/12/2016
€’000

31/12/2017
€’000

31/12/2016
€’000

21,131

1,694

21,852

87

-

8

-

11

The following table details the Group’s sensitivity to a 10% increase 
and decrease in the Euro against United States Dollar and Russian Rouble. 
10% is the sensitivity rate used which represents management’s assessment 
of the reasonably possible change in foreign exchange rates. The sensitivity 
analysis includes only outstanding foreign currency denominated monetary 
items and adjusts their translation at the year-end for a 10% change in 
foreign currency rates.

Profit or loss

United States Dollar Impact

Russian Rouble Impact

31/12/2017
€’000

2,134

31/12/2016
€’000

2,207

31/12/2017
€’000

170

31/12/2016
€’000

8

12

PART 5___Directors’ Report

 > Credit Risk; this refers to the risk that a counter party will default on its 
contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Group. The Group 
has adopted a policy of only dealing with creditworthy counterparties 
and obtaining significant collateral, where appropriate, as a means of 
mitigating  the  risk  of  financial  loss  from  defaulters.  The  table  below 
analyses the maximum exposure of the Group’s financial assets which are 
subject to credit risk:

Trade and other receivables (Note 19)

Cash and cash equivalents (Note 21)

Total

Group
31/12/2017
€’000

Group
31/12/2016
€’000

Group
31/12/2017
US$’000

Group
31/12/2016
US$’000

40

5,549

5,589

34

6,741

6,775

48

6,647

6,695

36

7,102

7,138

The  Group  continuously  monitors  defaults  of  customers  and  other 
counterparty, identified either individually or by the group, and incorporates 
this information into its credit risk controls. In relation to the credit risk 
for cash and cash equivalents, the risk is considered to be negligible, since 
the counterparties are reputable banks with high quality external credit 
ratings. The Group’s management considers that all of the above financial 
assets are of good credit quality, as the Group’s policy is to deal only with 
creditworthy customers.

 > Liquidity Risk; the Group holds its cash in currencies in which it expects 
to incur expenditure. The Group’s reporting currency is the Euro. The most 
meaningful information relates to the Group’s current liquidity – since 
it is not generating any income from its mineral projects.

The table below analyses the Group’s financial liabilities into relevant 
maturity groupings based on the earliest date on which the Group can be 
required to pay. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual 
undiscounted cash flows. Balances due within 1 year equal to their carrying 
values as the impact of the discounting is not significant.

Balances due within 1 year

Trade and other payables (Note 25)

Total 

Group
31/12/2017
€’000

46

46

Group
31/12/2016
€’000

217

217

Group
31/12/2017
US$’000

55

55

Group
31/12/2016
US$’000

229

229

13

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

5

The  Group  considers  expected  cash  flows  from  financial  assets  in 
assessing and managing liquidity risk, in particular its cash resources and 
available for sale financial assets. The Group’s current cash resources (Note 
21), trade and other receivables (Note 19) and available for sale financial 
assets (Note 17) significantly exceed the current cash outflow requirements.
 > Market  Risk;  Factors  beyond  the  control  of  the  Group  may  affect  the 
marketability of its securities. Prices are subject to fluctuation and are 
affected by factors beyond the control of the Group. The effect of these 
factors on the Group’s operations cannot be accurately predicted. Fluctuations 
in stock market prices affect the Group’s available for sale financial assets. 
The Group seek to minimise this risk by closely monitoring stock market 
movements on an ongoing basis. 

Directors, Secretary and Their Interests 

In accordance with Section 329 of the Companies Act 2014, the interests 
(all of which are beneficial) of the Directors and Secretary who held office 
at the date of approval of the annual report and at 31 December 2017 and 
their families in the share capital of the Company were:

Ordinary shares of 12.5 cents each

Options over Ordinary shares

23/04/18

31/12/17

01/01/17

23/04/18

31/12/17

01/01/17

Mikhail Mogutov

Leonid Skoptsov

Yuri Radchenko

Timothy McCutcheon

Donald Schissel

Kenneth Kuchling

Kirill Golovanov

-

-

-   

11,656,203

11,656,203        

11,656,203    

11,656,202

11,656,202           

11,656,202           

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

19,506,203

19,506,203

16,256,203

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

200,000

-

-

-

-

200,000

200,000

-

1,800,000

Further details of the above share options of the directors as at 31 

December 2017 are as follows:

Kenneth Kuchling

200,000

£0.36

22 February 2018

Number of options

Exercise Price

End of exercise period

14

PART 5___Directors’ Report

Share Price 

The Company’s shares are primarily traded on the Enterprise Securities 
Market (ESM) of the Irish Stock Exchange, and the Alternative Investment 
Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange. The Company’s shares are also 
traded on the Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich and Stuttgart exchanges.

The market price of the Company’s shares on ESM at 31 December 2017 
was €0.08 (2016: €0.13). During the financial year ended 31 December 2017 
the market price of the Company’s shares ranged from €0.08 to €0.16 (2016: 
€0.08 to €0.13).

The market price of the Company’s share on AIM at 31 December 2017 
was £0.11 (2016: £0.09). During the financial year ended 31 December 2017 
the market price of the Company’s shares ranged from £0.08 to £0.14 (2016: 
£0.04 to £0.16).

Significant Shareholders 

So far as the Directors are aware, the names of the persons other 
than the Directors who, directly or indirectly, are interested in 3 percent 
or more of the issued share capital of the Company as at 21 May 2018 
are as follows:

Euroclear Nominees Limited

Pickco Trading Co Limited

Bbhisl Nominees Limited

Davycrest Nominees 

Citibank Nominees (Ireland) Designated Activity Company 

Chase Nominees Limited

Ordinary shares of €1.25c each

% of issued share capital

18 828 414

7 928 531

7 611 143

5 684 782

4 416 685

3 231 200

21,28%

8,96%

8,60%

6,43%

4,99%

3,65%

Group Undertakings 

Details of the Company’s subsidiary undertakings are set out in note 

16 to the financial statements.

Directors’ Interest in Contracts 

None of the Directors had a beneficial interest in any contract to 
which  the  Company  or  Group  was  a  party  during  the  period  except  as 
detailed in note 26.

15

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

5

Political Donations 

The Group made no political donations during the financial year.

Going Concern 

The Group has significant liquid resources in the form of cash reserves 
of €5.5 million and available for sale financial assets of €15.9 million and 
the Directors are satisfied that there are sufficient levels of funding within 
the Group to enable them to trade for the foreseeable future, and to explore 
further investment opportunities if appropriate projects exist.

The Directors consider that in preparing the financial statements that 
they  have  taken  into  account  all  information  that  could  reasonably  be 
expected to be available. On this basis, they consider that it is appropriate 
to prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis.

Recoverability of Loans and Receivables 

In 2014, the Company entered into a loan agreement with a third party. 
In return for a US$6.3 million loan, Ovoca Gold plc received an exclusive 
period to complete due diligence on JSC Evenkiya Fuel and Energy Company 
(ETEK) and LLC Taymura. The loan was secured by certain receivables of 
LLC Taymura, non-encumbrance of the assets for the exclusive period, and 
personal  guarantees.  In  the  event  that  acquisition  terms  could  not  be 
agreed the loan was to be returned with interest to the company. The loan 
subsequently went in to default for non-repayment.

The Company has taken legal measures under Russian law to recover 
the  full  amount  including  interest.  Payables,  assets  and  accounts  have 
been seized by the courts on behalf of Ovoca Gold plc.

16

PART 5___Directors’ Report

Details of Executive Directors 

Mikhail Alexandrovich Mogutov, Executive Chairman
Mr.  Mogutov  joined  the  board  of  Ovoca  in  June  2006  and  became 
Chairman in 2008. In 1988 Mr. Mogutov was a founder of the Bioprocess 
Group, which was an asset management and business-development company 
with interests in various industries. One notable success of the Bioprocess 
Group is OAO “United Machinery Plants” (OMZ), which is Russia’s largest 
machine building company producing the majority of Russian-made oil rigs 
and mining/drilling equipment. In 1996 OMZ was the first Russian company 
to list on the London Stock Exchange.

Between 1997 and 1999 Mr. Mogutov was the Chairman of Vostsibugol, 
one of Russia’s largest coal mining enterprises, with an annual output of 
over  13  million  tons  of  coal.  He  became  increasingly  active  in  natural 
resource development after 1999 and in 2006 he was part of the group that 
vended into Ovoca Gold plc 100% of OAO Ajax - the owner of the high grade 
Goltsovoye silver project in the Magadan Region, Russia.

Doctorate, Moscow Physics-Technical Institute, Moscow, Russia. Fluent 

in Russian and English.

Kirill Golovanov, Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Golovanov joined Ovoca as a corporate advisor in 2007 and moved 
to be the manager of the Company’s Russia representative office in 2009.  
During his time at Ovoca he played a major role in the development and 
subsequent sale of the Goltsovoye silver deposit. He has extensive experience 
in  mining  and  corporate  law,  as  well  as  working  experience  at  leading 
Russian  enterprises,  such  as  Gazprombank  and  Vneshekonombank. 
Additionally,  he  was  a  department  manager  in  the  Federal  Service  on 
Bankruptcy and Finance Restoration – a subdivision of the Russian Federation 
Ministry of Finance.

JD, Moscow State Law Academy, Moscow, Russia. MBA, Duke University’s 

Fuqua School of Business, NC, USA. Fluent in Russian and English.

Details of Non-Executive Directors 

Tim McCutcheon, Non-Executive Director 
Mr. McCutcheon joined the Board of Ovoca as a Non-Executive Director 
in January 2009 and moved into the CEO position in December 2009. Prior 
to  Ovoca,  Mr.  McCutcheon  was  a  partner  at  DBM  Capital  Partners,  an 
investment manager and corporate finance boutique specializing in the 
mining sector of Russia and the former Soviet Union. He also worked at 
several investment banks such as Bear Stearns, Aton Capital and Pioneer 
Investments as an award-winning metals and mining sector analyst and as 
an investment banker. He was one of the first analysts in Russia to write 
about its gold mining sector and he has advised numerous international 
gold mining companies on M&A, business development, and Russian business 
practices.

BA, cum laude, Columbia College, New York, NY. MBA, Finance, Columbia 

Business School. Fluent in English and Russian.

17

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

5

Leonid Pavlovich Skoptsov, Non-Executive Director
Mr. Skoptsov joined the board of Ovoca in June 2006 and was the Company’s 
CEO from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Skoptsov was part of the Bioprocess Group team 
that owned and ran OAO “United Machinery Plants” (OMZ). He also played 
an active part in natural resource development prior to Ovoca.  He was the 
Chairman of OAO Pervaya Gornorudnaya Companiya from 2001 - 2005, a zinc-
lead asset developer. He was also the Chairman of OAO Volganeft from 2000 
to 2004, a mid-tier oil producer in Russia which was successfully sold to 
Russneft.  He was part of the group that vended into Ovoca Gold plc 100% 
of OAO Ajax – Goltsovoye.

BA, cum laude, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia. Fluent in Russian 

and English.

Yuri Ivanovich Radchenko, Non-Executive Director
Mr.  Radchenko  became  a  board  member  of  Ovoca  in  June  2006.  Mr. 
Radchenko is a Magadan resident and has a long history of natural resource 
development in the region.  He was deeply involved in the development of 
the Julietta gold-silver mine by Bema Gold Corporation and he is currently 
the  Chairman  of  Julietta’s  operating  company.  Additionally,  he  was  the 
discoverer of the Lunnoye silver deposit, which is now one of OAO Polymetal’s 
core assets.  He was part of the group that vended into Ovoca Gold plc 100% 
of OAO Ajax – Goltsovoye.

MS Geology, Kazakhstan Polytechnical Institute, Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Donald Schissel, Non-Executive Director
Mr. Schissel joined the board of Ovoca in March 2010. Before Ovoca, he 
retired from BHP Billiton after a career there that extends back for almost 
30 years. Donald was Regional Exploration Manager - Eurasia between 1992 
– 1999, as well as Exploration Manager - Russia and Kazakhstan between 
2005  –  2009.  During  Don’s  tenure  at  BHP  he  was  involved  in  the  team 
discovery of the Oyu Tolgoi porphyry copper deposit in Mongolia (currently 
a core asset of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd (Nasdaq: IVN)), the Jinlong gold deposit 
in China, and the Fedorova Tundra PGM deposit in Russia.

MSc Geology, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA.

Kenneth Kuchling, Non-Executive Director
Kenneth Kuchling joined the board of Ovoca in March 2012. Mr. Kuchling 
provides mining consulting services with multiple clients globally. He has 
worked on such projects as Northgate Mining’s Kemess North copper-gold 
mine in Canada, NovaGold’s Rock Creek project in Canada, Oromin Exploration’s 
Sabodala  gold  project  in  Senegal,  as  well  as  having  assisted  with  BHP 
Billiton’s study of potash projects globally. Additionally, from 1997 to 2000 
Mr. Kuchling was the Senior Mining Engineer for Rio Tinto’s Diavik diamond 
mine in Canada, playing a key role in completing the feasibility study and 
permitting of the project.

M. Eng. in Mining Engineering from the University of British Columbia, 
Vancouver, Canada, and a B. Eng. in Mining Engineering from McGill University, 
Montreal, Canada.

18

PART 5___Directors’ Report

Corporate Governance Statement 

The Directors are committed to maintaining the highest standards 
of corporate governance commensurate with the size, stage of development 
and financial status of the Group.

Board 

The  board  currently  has  seven  directors,  comprising  two  Executive 
Directors and five Non-Executive Directors. The Board met formally on 
5 occasions during 2017. An agenda and supporting documentation was 
circulated in advance of each meeting. All the Directors bring independent 
judgment to bear on issues affecting the Group and all have full and 
timely  access  to  information  necessary  to  enable  them  to  discharge 
their duties. The Directors have a wide and varying array of experiences 
in the industry, Non-Executive Directors are not appointed for specific 
terms. Each Non-Executive Director comes up for re-election every three 
years and each new Director is subject to election at the next Annual 
General Meeting following the date of appointment.

The following committees deal with the specific aspects of the Group 
affairs:

Audit  Committee:  This  Committee  comprises  two  Non-Executive 
Directors.  The  external  auditors  have  the  opportunity  to  meet  with 
members of the Audit Committee without executive management present 
at least once a year. The duties of the Committee include the review of 
the accounting principles, policies and practices adopted in preparing 
the financial statements, external compliance matters and the review 
of the Group’s financial results.

Nominations  Committee:  Given  the  current  size  of  the  Group  a 
Nominations Committee is not considered necessary. The Board reserves 
to itself the process by which a new Director is appointed.

Remuneration  Committee:  This  Committee  comprises  one  Non-
Executive  Director  and  one  Executive  Director.  This  Committee 
determines the contract terms, remuneration and other benefits of 
the Executive Directors, Chairman and Non-Executive Directors. Further 
details of the Group’s policies on remuneration, service contracts and 
compensation  payments  are  given  in  the  Remuneration  Committee 
Report below.

Communications: The Group maintains regular contact with shareholders 
through publications such as the annual and half-year report and via 
press releases on the Group’s website, www.ovocagold.com. The Directors 
are responsive to shareholder enquiries throughout the year. The Board 
regards  the  Annual  General  Meeting  as  a  particularly  important 
opportunity for shareholders, Directors and management to meet and 
exchange views.

19

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

5

Internal Control 

The Directors have overall responsibility for the Group’s system of 
internal control and have delegated responsibility for the implementation 
of this system to executive management. This system includes financial 
controls that enable the Board to meet its responsibilities for the integrity 
and accuracy of the Group’s accounting records. The Group’s system of 
internal  financial  control  provides  reasonable,  though  not  absolute 
assurance  that  assets  are  safeguarded,  transactions  authorised  and 
recorded  properly  and  that  material  errors  or  irregularities  are  either 
prevented or detected within a timely period. Having made appropriate 
enquiries, the Directors consider that the system of internal financial, 
operational  and  compliance  controls  and  risk  management  operated 
effectively during the period covered by the financial statements and 
up to the date on which the financial statements were signed. The internal 
control  system  includes  the  following  key  features,  which  have  been 
designed to provide internal financial control appropriate to the Group’s 
businesses:

 > budgets are prepared for approval by the Board;
 > expenditure and income are compared to previously approved budgets;
 > a detailed investment approval process which requires Board approval of 
all major capital projects and regular review of the physical performance 
and expenditure on these projects.

Remuneration Committee Report 

The Group’s policy on senior executive remuneration is designed to 
attract  and  retain  people  of  the  highest  calibre  who  can  bring  their 
experienced and independent views to the policy, strategic decisions and 
governance of the Group. 

In setting remuneration levels, the Remuneration Committee takes 
into consideration the remuneration practices of other companies of 
similar size and scope. A key philosophy is that staff must be properly 
rewarded  and  motivated  to  perform  in  the  best  interests  of  the 
shareholders.

20

PART 5___Directors’ Report

Accounting Records 

The Directors believe that they have complied with the requirement 
of  section  281  to  285  of  the  Companies  Act,  2014,  with  regard  to  the 
keeping of accounting records by employing persons with appropriate 
expertise and by providing adequate resources to the financial function. 
The accounting records are held at the Company’s business address at 17 
Pembroke Street Upper, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Compliance Statement 

The directors of the Company acknowledge that they are responsible 
for securing the Company compliance with its relevant obligations, as 
defined by Section 225 of the Companies Act 2014. 

The directors are satisfied that they have the necessary arrangements 
and structures in place as required by Section 225(b) and that these are 
regularly reviewed in accordance with Section 225(c) but they  have not 
formally put in place the policy required by Section 225(a).

The reasons for this are:

 > the ongoing commitments of the Board who have been involved in the 

legal proceedings during the year;

 > the continued commitment of the board in searching for and evaluating 

strategic opportunities ;

 > the relevant arrangements and structures which were in place needed to 

be constantly reviewed and re-evaluated;

 > this did not facilitate the putting in place a formal compliance policy 

statement as matters were in flux;

 > the board are actively rectifying this at present with the Groups advisors 

and the policy will be formally in place shortly.

Disclosure of Information to Auditors 

Each of the persons who are directors at the time when this Directors’ 

report is approved has confirmed that:  

 > so far as that director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of 

which the Company’s auditors are unaware, and 

 > that director has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a 
director in order to be aware of any relevant audit information and to 
establish that the Company’s auditors are aware of that information.

Events After the Reporting Period 

Events subsequent to the period end are dealt with in note 30 to the 

financial statements.

21

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

5

Auditors 

The auditors, Grant Thornton, continue in office in accordance with 

section 383(2) of the Companies Act 2014.

This report was approved by the board on 21 May 2018 and signed on 

its behalf.

Yuri Radchenko   

Kirill Golovanov

Director 

Director

22

 
 
 
PART 5___Directors’ Report

Directors’ Responsibilities Statement 

The  Directors  are  responsible  for  preparing  the  annual  report  and 
financial statements, in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements 
for each financial year giving a true and fair view of the state of affairs 
of  the  Group  and  Company  and  of  the  profit  or  loss  of  the  Group  and 
Company for that period. The Directors have elected to prepare the Group 
financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union (EU IFRS) and have 
elected to prepare the Company financial statements in accordance with 
EU IFRS, as applied in accordance with Irish law and regulations.

The Group and Company financial statements are required by law 
to  present  fairly  their  financial  position  and  performance  for  each 
financial year.

In preparing each of the Group and Company 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 have been prepared in accordance 
with applicable accounting standards, identify those standards, and note 
the effect and the reasons for any material departure from those standards; 
and

 > prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is 
inappropriate to presume that the Group and Company will continue in 
business.

The  Directors  confirm  that  they  have  complied  with  the  above 

requirements in preparing the financial statements.

The  directors  are  responsible  for  ensuring  that  the  Group  and 
Company keeps or causes to be kept adequate accounting records which 
correctly explain and record the transactions of the Group and Company, 
enable at any time the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit 
or  loss  of  the  Company  to  be  determined  with  reasonable  accuracy, 
enable  them  to    ensure  that  the  financial  statements  and  Directors’ 
report comply with the Companies Act 2014 and Companies (Accounting) 
Act 2017 and enable the financial statements to be audited. They are 
also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and Company 
and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection 
of fraud and other irregularities.

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

Approved on behalf of the Board on 21 May 2018

Yuri Radchenko   
Director 

Kirill Golovanov
Director

23

 
 
 
OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

6

Independent Auditors’ Report 
to the Members of Ovoca Gold Plc

Opinion 

We  have  audited  the  financial  statements  of  Ovoca  Gold  plc  for  the 
financial year ended 31 December 2017, which comprise Consolidated income 
statement, Consolidated statement of other comprehensive (loss)/income, 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity, Company statement of changes 
in equity, Consolidated statement of financial position, Company statement 
of financial position, Consolidated statement of cash flows, Company statement 
of cash flows and the related notes, including the summary of significant 
accounting policies.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation 
is Irish law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted 
by the European Union.

In our opinion:

  the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view in accordance 
with IFRSs as adopted by European Union, of the state of the assets, liabili-
ties and financial position of the Group at 31 December 2017 and of its prof-
it and cash flows for the financial year then ended;

  the parent Company statement of financial position gives a true and fair view, 
in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by European Union as applied in accor-
dance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2014 and the Companies (Ac-
counting) Act of 2017, of the state of the parent Company’s assets, liabilities 
and financial position of the Company as at 31 December 2017 and of its cash 
flows for the financial year then ended; and

  the financial statements have been properly prepared and in accordance with 
the requirements of the Companies Act 2014 and the Companies (Accounting) 
Act of 2017.

Basis for opinion 

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards 
on  Auditing  (Ireland)  (‘ISAs’)  and  applicable  law.  Our  responsibilities 
under those standards are further described in the responsibilities of the 
auditor for the audit of the financial statements’ section of our report. 
We  are  independent  of  the  Group  and  Company  in  accordance  with  the 
ethical  requirements  that  are  relevant  to  our  audit  of  the  financial 
statements in Ireland, namely the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory 
Authority (IAASA) Ethical Standard concerning the integrity, objectivity 
and  independence  of  the  auditor.  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.

24

PART 6___Independent Auditors’ Report

Conclusions relating to going concern 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation 

to which the ISAs (Ireland) require us to report to you where:

  the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation 

of the financial statements is not appropriate; or

  the directors have not disclosed in the financial statements any identified 
material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about the company’s 
ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting for a pe-
riod of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements 
are authorised for issue.

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review the directors’ statement, 

set out on page 16, in relation to going concern. 

We have nothing to report having performed our review.

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 the directing of 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 therefore we 
do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. 

Overall audit strategy 

We designed our audit by determining materiality and assessing the risks 
of material misstatement in the financial statements. In particular, we looked 
at where the directors made subjective judgements as discussed in the key 
audit matters section. We also addressed the risk of management override of 
internal  controls,  including  evaluating  whether  there  was  any  evidence  of 
potential bias that could result in a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.

How we tailored the audit scope  

The  Group  has  two  business  segments,  exploration  and  investment 
activities that are operated principally in Russian Federation and Bermuda, 
respectively, and with administrative activities in the Republic of Ireland.

We tailored the scope of our audit taking into account the areas where 

the risk of misstatement was considered material to the Group.

In establishing the overall approach to our audit we assessed the risk of 
material misstatement at a Group level, taking into account the nature, likelihood 
and potential magnitude of any misstatement. As part of our risk assessment, 
we considered the control environment in place at Ovoca Gold plc.

25

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

6

Materiality and audit approach 

The scope of our audit is influenced by our application of materiality. We 
set  certain  quantitative  thresholds  for  materiality.  These,  together  with 
qualitative considerations, helped us to determine the scope of our audit and 
the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures and to evaluate the 
effect of misstatements, both individually and on the financial statements 
as a whole.

Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the 
Group as follows: 0.50% of total assets for the financial year ended 31 December 
2017.  

We  agreed  with  the  board  of  directors  that  we  would  report  to  them 
misstatements identified during our audit above 5% of materiality as well as 
misstatements below that amount that, in our view, warranted reporting for 
qualitative reasons.

Significant risks identified 

The risks of material misstatement that had the greatest effect on our 
audit, including the allocation of our resources and effort, are set out below 
as significant risks together with an explanation of how we tailored our audit 
to address these specific areas in order to provide an opinion on the financial 
statements as a whole. This is not a complete list of all risks identified by our 
audit.

Valuation of available for sale financial assets

The Group has significant available for sale financial assets comprised 
of  a  portfolio  of  equity  investments  amounting  to  €’000  15,868.  These 
instruments  are  measured  at  fair  value  with  the  corresponding  fair  value 
change recognised in other comprehensive income. The valuation is performed 
by the company using a Level 1 fair value hierarchy which are valuations based 
on  quoted  prices  (unadjusted)  in  active  markets.  In  addition,  the  Group 
determines whether objective evidence of impairment exists for individual 
investments.  This  is  one  of  the  key  judgmental  area  that  our  audit  has 
concentrated on and the biggest asset of the Group.

Our response

For this risk, our audit procedures included testing of the following:
  Evaluated whether the management expert has the necessary competence, 

capabilities and objectivity for the auditor’s purposes;

  Obtained an understanding of the work of the management expert and eval-
uate the adequacy of the management expert’s work including the relevance 
and reasonableness of the management expert’s conclusions, the assumptions 
and methods adopted and the relevance, completeness and accuracy of any 
source data used;

26

PART 6___Independent Auditors’ Report

Significant risks identified (continued)

  Obtained market prices from published quotations at year end and recalculated 
the market value by multiplying the market price by the number of shares 
held;

  Evaluated the Group’s assessment whether objective evidence of impairment 

exists for individual investments; and 

  Assessed the completeness and accuracy of the disclosures relating to the 
available  for  sale  financial  assets  to  assess  compliance  with  disclosure 
requirements included in the consolidated financial statements in accordance 
with IFRSs as adopted by European Union.

Recoverability of previously impaired loans and receivables

In February 2014, the Company entered into a loan agreement with lending 
an amount of US$’000 6,345 to Taymura LLC. The loan subsequently went into 
default and the Company has since taken legal measures to recover such debt. 
The receivable has been impaired in full. Due to continuous legal action taken 
by the Company, it requires management to make subjective judgments over 
both timing of reversal of the previously impaired amounts. 

Our response 

For this risk, our audit procedures included testing of the following:
  Evaluated the principal assumptions underlying management’s estimates of 
the outcomes and effects of contingencies, and the reasonableness of the 
amounts and disclosures to be included in the financial statements;

  Obtained management’s representation regarding contingencies and an update 
of claims to the date of the auditors’ report and corroborated managements 
view through the review of available evidence to the same date;

  Reviewed contingencies reported in prior years and determined whether the 
contingency has been resolved or circumstances giving rise to the contingency 
have changed; and 

  Determine whether the changed circumstances have been correctly reflected 

in the financial statements. 

Other information 

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

27

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

6

Other information (continued) 

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

We have nothing to report in this regard.

The Directors’ assessment of the prospects of the Company and 
the principal risks that would threaten the solvency or liquidity 
of the Company 

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review the Directors’ statement 
that they have carried out a robust assessment of the principal risks facing 
the  company  and  the  Directors’  statement  in  relation  to  the  longer  term 
viability of the company. Our review was substantially less in scope than an 
audit and only consisted of making inquiries and considering the Directors’ 
process supporting their statements; checking that the statements are in 
alignment with the relevant provisions of the Code; and considering whether 
the statements are consistent with the knowledge acquired by us in the course 
of performing our audit. We have nothing to report having performed our 
review.

Matters on which we are required to report by the Companies 
Act 2014 and the Companies (Accounting) Act 2017 

  We have obtained all the information and explanations which we consider 

necessary for the purposes of our audit.

  In  our  opinion  the  accounting  records  of  the  Company  were  sufficient  to 

permit the financial statements to be readily and properly audited.

  The financial statements are in agreement with the accounting records.
  In our opinion the information given in the Directors’ Report is consistent 

with the financial statements.

  Based solely on the work undertaken in the course of our audit, in our opinion, 
the Directors’ report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements 
of the Companies Act 2014 and the Companies (Accounting) Act 2017.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception 

Under the Companies Act 2014 we are required to report to you if, in our 
opinion, the disclosures of directors’ remuneration and transactions specified 
by section 305 to 312 of the Acts have not been made. We have no exceptions 
to report arising from this responsibility.

28

 
PART 6___Independent Auditors’ Report

Responsibilities of the management and those charged with 
governance for the financial statements  

Management is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements 
which give a true and fair view in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the 
European Union, and for such internal control as directors determine necessary 
to  enable  the  preparation  of  financial  statements  are  free  from  material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, management is responsible for assessing 
the Group and 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 management either intends to liquidate the Group and 
Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.

Those charged with governance are responsible for overseeing the Group 

and Company’s financial reporting process.

Responsibilities of the auditor 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 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.

As  part  of  an  audit  in  accordance  with  ISAs,  we  exercise  professional 
judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
  Identify  and  assess  the  risks  of  material  misstatement  of  the  financial 
statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures 
responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and 
appropriate to provide a basis for their opinion. 

  Detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for 
one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional 
omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

  Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to 
design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not 
for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group 
and Company’s internal control.

  Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness 

of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by management.

  Conclude on the appropriateness of management’s use of the going concern 
basis  of  accounting  and,  based  on  the  audit  evidence  obtained,  whether 
a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast 
significant doubt on the Group and Company’s ability to continue as a going 
concern. If they conclude that a material uncertainty exists, they are required 

29

 
OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

6

Responsibilities of the auditor for the audit of the financial 
statements (continued) 

to draw attention in the auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the 
financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify their 
opinion. Their conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to 
the date of the auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may 
cause the Group and Company’s to cease to continue as a going concern.
  Evaluate  the  overall  presentation,  structure  and  content  of  the  financial 
statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements 
represent the underlying transactions and events in a matter that achieves 
a true and fair view.

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among 
other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit 
findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that may 
be identified during the audit.

We report on the audit of a group, and we obtain sufficient appropriate 
audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business 
activities  within  the  group  to  express  an  opinion  on  the  group  financial 
statements. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and performance 
of the audit, and we remains solely responsible for the auditor’s opinion.

We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that 
they have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, 
and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may 
reasonably be thought to bear on their independence, and where applicable, 
related safeguards.

From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, 
we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of 
the financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit 
matters. These matters are described in the auditor’s report unless law or 
regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely 
rare circumstances, we determines that a matter should not be communicated 
in the report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably 
be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.

Corporate governance statement 

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit 
of the financial statements, the description of the main features of the internal 
control and risk management systems in relation to the financial reporting 
process included in the Corporate Governance Statement, is consistent with 
the financial statements and has been prepared in accordance with section 
1373(2)(c) of the Companies Act 2014.

Based on our knowledge and understanding of the Group and the Company 
and its environment obtained in the course of our audit of the financial statements, 
we have not identified material misstatements in the description of the main 
features of the internal control and risk management systems in relation to the 
financial reporting process included in the Corporate Governance Statement.

30

 
PART 6___Independent Auditors’ Report

Corporate governance statement (continued) 

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken during the course of our 
audit of the financial statements, the information required by section 1373(2)
(a),(b),(e) and (f) is contained in the Corporate Governance Statement.

Report on other legal and regulatory requirements

We were appointed by the Board of Directors on 4 February 2010 to audit 
the financial statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2009. This 
is the ninth year we have been engaged to audit the financial statements of 
the Group and the Company.

We are responsible for obtaining reasonable assurance that the financial 
statements taken as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether 
caused by fraud or error. Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there 
is an unavoidable risk that material misstatements of the financial statements 
may not be detected, even though the audit is properly planned and performed 
in  accordance  with  the  ISAs  Ireland.  Our  audit  approach  is  a  risk-based 
approach and is explained more fully in the responsibilities of the auditor for 
the audit of the financial statements’ section of our report.

We  have  not  provided  non-audit  services  prohibited  by  the  IAASA’s 
Ethical Standard and have remained independent of the entity in conducting 
the audit.

The audit opinion is consistent with the additional report to the audit 

committee.

The purpose of our audit work and to whom we owe our responsibilities
This  report  is  made  solely  to  the  company’s  members,  as  a  body,  in 
accordance with section 391 of the Companies Act 2014. 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.

Cathal Kelly

For and on behalf of
Grant Thornton
Chartered Accountants & 
Statutory Audit Firm

Dublin 8

Date: 21 May 2018 

31

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

7

Financial Statements

Consolidated Income Statement

Administration expenses

Other gains and losses

Operating loss

Finance costs

Finance income

Loss for the financial year before tax

Income tax

Loss for the financial year

Attributable to:

Owners of the parent

Loss per share

Basic loss per share (cents)

Fully diluted loss per share (cents)

Note

5

7

8

8

13

14

14

2017
€’000

(1,439)

606

(833)

(11)

463

(381)

-

(381)

(381)

(381)

2016
€’000

(1,783)

620

(1,163)

(11)

215

(959)

-

(959)

(959)

(959)

2017
$’000

(1,624)

684

(940)

(12)

522

(430)

-

(430)

(430)

(430)

2016
$’000

(1,973)

686

(1,287) 

(12)

238

(1,061) 

-

(1,061) 

(1,061) 

(1,061) 

(0.47)

(1.18)

(0.53)

(1.30)

(0.47)

(1.18)

(0.53)

(1.30)

All amounts relates to continuing operations.

The accompanying notes on pages 40 to 59 form an integral part 
of these financial statements.

32

 
PART 7___Financial  Statements

Consolidated Statement of other Comprehensive (Loss)/Income

Loss for the financial year

Other comprehensive (loss)/income:

Items that may be reclassified 
subsequently to profit or loss

Foreign exchange (loss)/gain arising 
from translation of financial 
statements of a foreign operation

Fair value movement on available for 
sale financial assets during the 
financial year

Exchange movement on available for 
sale financial assets during the 
financial year

Other comprehensive (loss)/income 
for the financial year

Total comprehensive (loss)/income 
for the financial year

Note

2017
€’000

(381)

2016
€’000

(959)

2017
$’000

(430)

2016
$’000

(1,061) 

17

17

(3,202)

483

(459)

(352)

1,447

5,600

1,634

6,198

1,068

(687)

(1,068)

(3,104)

2,979

2,020

1,212

2,387

1,957

(3,434)

2,412 

1,351

There is no income tax impact in respect of the components recognised 
within the statement of other comprehensive (loss)/income.

The accompanying notes on pages 40 to 59 form an integral part of 
these financial statements.

33

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

7

Consolidated Statement of Changes In Equity

At 1 January 2017

Comprehensive loss:

Loss for the financial year

Other comprehensive income/
(loss):

Fair value movement on 
available for sale financial 
assets during the financial year

Exchange movement on available 
for sale financial assets during 
the financial year

Foreign exchange (loss)/gain 
arising from translation of 
financial statements of a 
foreign operations

Transfer to other reserves

Total comprehensive 
income/(loss)

Share 
capital
€’000

11,057

-

-

-

-

-

-

Balance at 31 December 2017

11,057

Foreign 
currency 
translation 
reserve

€’000

6,947

Share 
based 
payment 
reserve

€’000

1,294

Treasury 
shares 

Retained 
earnings 

Total 
(attribut-
able to 
owners of 
the parent)

€’000

(547)

€’000

2,213

€’000

23,471

-

-

-

(3,202)

-

-

-

-

-

(856)

(3,202)

3,745

(856)

438

-

-

-

-

-

-

(547)

(381)

(381)

-

-

-

-

(381)

1,832

1,447

1,068

(3,202)

-

(1,068)

22,403

Other 
reserves

€’000

2,507

-

1,447

1,068

-

856

3,371

5,878

At 1 January 2016

11,057

11

6,464

1,294

(547)

3,172

21,451

Comprehensive loss:

Loss for the financial year

Other comprehensive 
income/(loss):

Fair value movement on 
available for sale financial 
assets during the financial year

Exchange movement on 
available for sale financial 
assets during the financial year

Foreign exchange gain/(loss) 
arising from translation of 
financial statements of a 
foreign operation

Total comprehensive income/
(loss)

-

-

-

-

-

Balance at 31 December 2016

11,057

-

5,600

(3,104)

-

-

-

-

483

2,496

2,507

483

6,947

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1,294

(547)

(959)

(959)

-

-

-

(959)

2,213

5,600

(3,104)

483

2,020

23,471

The accompanying notes on pages 40 to 59 form an integral part of 
these financial statements.

34

PART 7___Financial  Statements

Company Statement of Changes in Equity

Share capital

Other reserves

Share based 
payment reserve

Retained 
earnings 

Total (attribut-
able to owners of 
the parent)

€’000

11,057

€’000

11

At 1 January 2017

Comprehensive income:

Profit for the financial year

Transfer to other reserves

Total comprehensive income

At 31 December 2017

At 1 January 2016

Comprehensive income:

Profit for the financial year

Total comprehensive income

-

-

-

11,057

11,057

-

-

At 31 December 2016

11,057

€’000

1,294

-

(856)

(856)

€’000

11,553

233

-

233

€’000

23,915

233

-

233

438

11,786

24,148

1,294

9,058

21,420

-

-

2,495

2,495

2,495

2,495

1,294

11,553

23,915

-

856

856

867

11

-

-

11

The accompanying notes on pages 40 to 59 form an integral part of 
these financial statements.

35

                   
OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

7

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

Note

2017
€’000

2016
€’000

2017
US$'000

2016
US$'000

Assets

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Available for sale financial assets

Total non-current assets

Current assets

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Loans and receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Equity and liabilities

Equity

Ordinary shares

Treasury shares

Retained earnings

Other reserves

Foreign currency translation reserve

Share based payment reserve

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Total current liabilities

15

17

18

19

20

21

22

22

23

24

24

24

25

988

15,868

16,856

4

40

-

5,549

5,593

1,517

15,340

16,857

56

34

-

6,741

6,831

1,454

19,008

20,462

5

48

-

6,647

6,700

2,028

16,162

18,190

59

36

-

7,102

7,197

22,449

23,688

27,162

25,387

11,057

11,057

15,586

15,586

(547)

1,832

5,878

3,745

438

(547)

2,213

2,507

6,947

1,294

(607)

3,257

6,585

1,494

792

(607)

3,687

2,780

1,953

1,759

22,403

23,471

27,107

25,158

46

46

217

217

55

55

229

229

Total equity and liabilities 

22,449

23,688

27,162

25,387

The accompanying notes on pages 40 to 59 form an integral part of 
these financial statements.

Approved on behalf of the Board of Directors on 21 May 2018

Yuri Radchenko   
Director 

Kirill Golovanov
Director

36

 
 
 
 
 
 
                         
 
 
PART 7___Financial  Statements

Company Statement of Financial Position

Note

2017
€’000

2016
€’000

2017
US$'000

2016
US$'000

Assets

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Financial assets

Total non-current assets

Current assets

Trade and other receivables

Loans and receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Equity and Liabilities

Equity

Ordinary shares

Retained earnings

Other reserves

Foreign currency translation reserve

Share based payment reserve

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Total current liabilities

15

16

19

20

21

22

23

24

24

24

25

2

27,145

27,147

699

-

2,837

3,536

3

27,145

27,148

792

-

158

950

3

28,599

28,602

837

-

3,398

4,235

4

28,599

28,603

834

-

166

1,000

30,683

28,098

32,837

29,603

11,057

11,786

867

-

438

24,148

6,535

6,535

11,057

11,553

11

-

1,294

23,915

4,183

4,183

15,586

18,129

1,041

(10,486)

739

25,009

15,586

17,867

16

(10,037)

1,764

25,196

7,828

7,828

4,407

4,407

Total equity and liabilities

30,683

28,098

32,837

29,603

The accompanying notes on pages 40 to 59 form an integral part of 
these financial statements.

Approved on behalf of the Board of Directors on 21 May 2018

Yuri Radchenko   
Director 

Kirill Golovanov
Director

37

 
 
 
 
 
 
                         
 
 
 
OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

7

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Note

2017
€’000

2016
€’000

2017
US$'000

2016
US$'000

 Cash flows from operating activities

Continuing operations

Loss for the financial year before tax

Foreign currency movements

Reversal of impairment of tangible 
fixed assets

Depreciation

Net finance income

15

8

Decrease/(increase) in inventories

(Increase)/decrease in trade and 
other  receivables

Decrease in loan and other 
receivables

Decrease in trade and other payables 

Net cash used in operating 
activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Net interest received and dividend 
income

8

Net cash generated from financing 
activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Net purchases of property, plant and 
equipment

Net disposal of property, plant and 
equipment

15

Net cash generated from/(used in) 
investing activities

Net decrease in cash and cash 
equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the 
beginning of financial year

Cash and cash equivalents at the 
end of year

21

21

(381)

(1,215)

-

37

452

52

(6)

-

(171)

(959)

(98)

(229)

44

204

(10)

28

678

(52)

(1,232)

(394)

(452)

(452)

-

492

492

(1,192)

6,741

5,549

(204)

(204)

(1)

-

(1)

(599)

7,340

6,741

(430)

(467)

-

41

510

54

(12)

-

(174)

(478)

(510)

(510)

-

533

533

(455)

7,102

6,647

(1,061)

(352)

(253)

51

226

(8)

32

741

(65)

(689)

(226)

(226)

(2)

-

(2)

(917)

8,019

7,102

The accompanying notes on pages 40 to 59 form an integral part of 
these financial statements.

38

 
 
 
                         
PART 7___Financial  Statements

Company Statement of Cash Flows

Cash flows from operating activities

Profit (loss) for the financial year 
before tax

Foreign currency movements

Depreciation

Net finance expense

(Increase)/decrease in trade and 
other receivables

Increase in trade and other payables

Reversal of impairment of financial 
assets

Net cash generated from operating 
activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Net finance expense

Net cash used in financing 
activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Net purchases of property, plant and 
equipment

Net cash used in investing 
activities

Net increase in cash and cash 
equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the 
beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents at the 
end of year

21

21

Note

15

2017
€’000

233

-

1

(4)

93

2,352

2016
€’000

2,495

-

2

(6)

567

398

2017
US$'000

2016
US$'000

262

(449)

1

(5)

(3)

3,421

2,761

(968)

3

(7)

651

272

-

(3,365)

-

(2,619)

2,675

4

4

-

-

2,679

158

2,837

91

6

6

(1)

(1)

96

62

158

3,227

5

5

-

-

3,232

166

3,398

93

7

7

(2)

(2)

98

68

166

The accompanying notes on pages 40 to 59 form an integral part of 
these financial statements.

39

 
 
 
                         
OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

8

Notes 
To The Financial Statements

1

General Information

Ovoca Gold Plc (“the Company”) is a public limited company incorporated in Ireland on 15 January 1985. The address of its 
registered office and principal place of business is 17 Pembroke Street Upper Dublin 2, Ireland.

These financial statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2017 consolidate the individual financial statements of 
the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as ‘the Group’). 

The Group’s main activity is the exploration for precious metals and other minerals in Russia.

On 21 April 1987, the Company’s shares were admitted to trading on the Irish Stock Exchange Enterprise Securities Market 
(ESM) and on 30 June 2005 to the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

2

Statement of Accounting Policies

The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in 
relation to the Group’s financial statements. 

Statement of compliance 

The consolidated and Company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) and their interpretations approved by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) as 
adopted by the European Union (EU) and Irish Statute comprising the Companies Act, 2014 and Companies (Accounting) Act 
2017. 

The Company has availed of the exemption in Section 304(2) of the Companies Act, 2014 not to present its individual Income 
Statement and related notes that form part of the approved Company financial statements.

The Company has also availed of the exemption from filing its individual Income statement with the Registrar of Companies 
as permitted by Section 304(2)(c) of the Companies Act, 2014.

The IFRSs adopted by the EU as applied by the Company and the Group in the preparation of these financial statements are 
those that were effective at 31 December 2017. 

Application of New and Revised IFRSs

The following standards and interpretations became effective for the 2017 financial statements but did not have a material 
impact on the Group’s financial statements:

 > IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows (amendment) – Disclosure Initiative;

 > IAS 12 Income Taxes (amendment) – Recognition of Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealised Losses

 > Annual improvements to IFRSs 2012 – 2014-2016 Cycle – various standards;

 > IFRS 12 Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities (amendment) – Clarification of the scope of disclosure requirements   

                    in IFRS 12;

40

PART 8___ Notes to the Financial Statements

2

Statement of Accounting Policies (continued)

Application of New and Revised IFRSs (continued) 

The IASB and IFRIC have issued additional standards and interpretations which are effective for periods starting after 
January 1, 2017, majority of which have not yet been adopted by the EU. The following standards and interpretations have yet 
to be adopted by the Group: 

Standards

Effective date

IFRS 9

Financial Instruments

IFRS 15

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

January 1, 2018 (adopted by the EU with effectivity 
date of January 1, 2018)

January 1, 2018 (adopted by the EU with effectivity 
date of January 1, 2018)

IFRS 16

Leases

January 1, 2019 (not yet adopted by the EU)

The Group has not anticipated that there will be a material impact on the adoption of these standards 

and interpretations on its financial statements on initial adoption. 

Basis of preparation  

The Group and Company financial statements are prepared on the historical cost basis as modified 
by the measurement at fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit 
and loss and available-for-sale financial assets. The accounting policies have been applied consistently 
by Group entities. 

Basis of consolidation 

The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of Ovoca Gold plc and 

its subsidiaries for the financial year ended 31 December 2017. 

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; and
 > The ability to use its power over the investee to affect its returns.

Generally, when the Group has less than a majority of the voting or similar rights of an investee, 
the Group considers all relevant facts and circumstances in assessing whether it has power over an 
investee, including:

 > The contractual arrangement(s) with the other vote holders of the investee;
 > Rights arising from other contractual arrangements; and
 > The Group’s voting rights and potential voting rights.

The Group re-assesses whether or not it controls an investee if facts and circumstances indicate 
that there are changes to one or more of the three elements of control. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated 
from  the  date  that  control  commences  until  the  date  that  control  ceases.  Accounting  policies  of 
subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by 
the Group. Intra-group balances and any unrealised gains or losses or income or expenses arising from 
intra-group transactions are eliminated in preparing the Group financial statements. 

41

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

8

2

Statement of Accounting Policies (continued)

Functional and presentation currency  

These consolidated financial statements are presented in Euro Thousand (€’000), which is the 
Company’s functional currency. The US$ Thousand ($’000) equivalent is shown for information purposes. 

Foreign currencies 

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated into Euro at the 
exchange rate ruling at the statement of financial position date. Revenues, costs and non-monetary 
assets are translated at the exchange rates ruling at the dates of the transactions. Exchange differences 
are dealt with through the income statement. 

Non-monetary items are not retranslated at year-end and are measured at historical cost (translated 
using the exchange rates at the transaction date), except for non-monetary items measured at fair value 
which are translated using the exchange rates at the date when fair value was determined.

On consolidation, the assets and liabilities of overseas subsidiary companies are translated into 
Euro at the rates of exchange prevailing at the statement of financial position date. Exchange differences 
arising  from  the  restatement  of  the  opening  statements  of  financial  position  of  these  subsidiary 
companies are dealt with through reserves. The operating results of overseas subsidiary companies are 
translated into Euro at the average rates applicable during the year. 

On the disposal of a foreign operation, the cumulative amount of the exchange differences relating 
to that foreign operation, recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the separate 
component of equity, shall be reclassified from equity to the income statement when the gain or loss 
on disposal is recognised.  

Revenue recognition – interest revenue  

Interest revenue is accrued on a time basis, by reference to the principal outstanding and at the 
effective interest rate applicable, which is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts 
through the expected life of the financial asset to that asset’s net carrying amount.  

Taxation  

Taxation  on  the  profit  or  loss  for  the  period  comprises  current  and  deferred  tax.  Taxation  is 
recognised in the income statement except to the extent that it relates to items recognised directly in 
equity, in which case the related tax is recognised directly in equity.

Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the period, using tax rates and 
laws that have been enacted or substantially enacted at the statement of financial position date, and 
any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous periods.

Deferred  tax  is  provided  on  the  basis  of  the  liability  method  on  temporary  differences  at  the 
statement of financial position date. Temporary differences are defined as the difference between the 
tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the financial statements. However, 
deferred tax is not accounted for, if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction 
other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor 
taxable profit or loss, or where, in respect of taxable temporary differences associated with investments 
in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, the timing and reversal of the temporary differences is 
subject to control by the Group and it is probable that reversal will not occur in the foreseeable future. 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not subject to discounting and are measured at the tax rates that 
are anticipated to apply in the period in which the asset is realised or the liability is settled based on 
tax rates and tax laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the statement of financial 
position date. The carrying amounts of deferred tax assets are subject to review at each year end date 
and are reduced to the extent that future taxable profits are considered to be inadequate to allow all 
or part of any deferred tax asset to be utilised.

Operating leases  

Operating lease rentals are charged to the income statement on a straight line basis over the 

lease term. 

Inventories 

Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or net realisable value.

42

PART 8___ Notes to the Financial Statements

2

Statement of Accounting Policies (continued)

Trade and other receivables 

Trade and other receivables are recognised initially at fair value. Given the short-dated nature of 
these assets the original invoice value equates to initial fair value. Trade receivables are subsequently 
measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less an impairment provision when there 
is objective evidence that it will not be possible to collect all amounts due according to the original terms 
of the receivables. Significant financial difficulties of the debtor, probability that the debtor will enter 
bankruptcy and default or delinquency in payments are considered indicators that the trade receivable 
is impaired. The amount of the provision is the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the 
present value of the estimated future cash flows, discounted at the original rate of interest. The amount 
of the provision is recognised in the income statement in selling and distribution costs.  

Other loans and receivables 

Other loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments 
that are not traded in an active market. They are included at fair value in non-current assets unless the 
investment is due to mature within 12 months of the statement of financial position date. Loans and 
receivables are recognised at fair value on recognition and amortised cost thereafter. Significant financial 
difficulties of the debtor, probability that the debtor will enter bankruptcy and default or delinquency in 
payments are considered indicators that the trade receivable is impaired. The amount of the provision is 
the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash 
flows, discounted at the original rate of interest. The amount of the provision is recognised in the income 
statement.

Cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and call deposits, including bank deposits of less 
than three months maturity. Bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of 
the Group’s cash management are included as a component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose 
of the statement of cash flows.  

Intangible assets (deferred exploration costs)  

In accordance with International Financial Reporting Standard 6 - Exploration for and Evaluation of 
Mineral Resources, the Group uses the cost method of recognition. Exploration costs include licence costs, 
survey, geophysical and geological analysis and evaluation costs, costs of drilling and project-related 
overheads. 

Exploration expenditure in respect of properties and licenses not in production is deferred and is 
carried forward in the statement of financial position under intangible assets in respect of each area of 
interest where: 

 > the operations are ongoing in the area of interest and exploration or evaluation activities have not 
reached a stage which permits a reasonable assessment of the existence or otherwise of economically 
recoverable reserves; or 

 > such costs are expected to be recouped through successful development and exploration of the area of 

interest or alternatively by its realisation.

When the Directors decide that no further expenditure on an area of interest is worthwhile, the 
related expenditure is written off or down to an amount which it considers represents the residual value 
of the Group’s interest therein. 

Property, plant and equipment and depreciation 

Property, plant & equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. No depreciation is 
provided on land. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less residual value of 
each asset over its expected useful life, which are reviewed each financial year, as follows: 

Mining equipment 
Office furniture and equipment 
Fixtures and Fittings 
Buildings 

- 20% Straight line
- 10% Straight line
- 20% Straight line
- 2%   Straight line

Investments in subsidiaries 

Investments in subsidiaries are measured at cost less accumulated impairment.

43

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

8

2

Statement of Accounting Policies (continued)

Impairment  

The carrying amounts of the Group’s non-financial assets, other than deferred tax 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. For intangible assets that have indefinite lives 
or that are not yet available for use, recoverable amount is estimated at each reporting date.

An impairment loss is recognised if the carrying amount of an asset or its cash-generating unit 
exceeds its recoverable amount. A cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable asset group that is 
expected to generate cash flows that largely are independent from other assets and groups. Impairment 
losses are recognised in the income statement. Impairment losses recognised in respect of cash-generating 
units are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the units and then to 
reduce  the  carrying  amount  of  the  other  assets  in  the  unit  (group  of  units)  on  a  pro  rata  basis.  The 
recoverable amount of an asset or cash generating unit is the greater of its value in use and its fair value 
less costs to sell. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present 
value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money 
and the risk specific to the asset. With the exception of goodwill, all assets are subsequently reassessed 
for indications that an impairment loss previously recognised may no longer exist. An impairment loss is 
reversed if the asset’s or cash-generating unit’s recoverable amount exceeds its carrying amount.

Available-for-sale financial assets 

The Group’s investments in equity securities that are not accounted for as a subsidiary, associate or 
joint venture are classified as available-for-sale financial assets. Subsequent to initial recognition, they 
are measured at fair value and changes therein, including translation differences, are recognised directly 
in equity. The fair value of investments classified as available-for-sale is their quoted market price at the 
statement of financial position date. When such an investment is derecognised, the cumulative gain or 
loss in equity is transferred to profit or loss.

The Group assesses at each statement of financial position date whether there is objective evidence 
that a financial asset or a group of financial assets are impaired. In the case of equity securities classified 
as available for sale, a significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of the security below its cost is 
considered as an indicator that the securities are impaired. If any such evidence exists for available-for-
sale financial assets, the cumulative loss – measured as the difference between the acquisition cost and 
the current fair value, less any impairment loss on that financial asset previously recognised in profit and 
loss – is removed from equity and recognised in the income statement. Impairment losses recognised in 
the income statement on equity instruments are not reversed through the income statement.

Trade payables  

Trade payables are initially stated at fair value which, given the short-dated nature of these liabilities 
equates to initial cost. Trade payables are subsequently measured at amortised cost, using the effective 
interest rate method, when the age or payment terms of the liability indicates that initial cost no longer 
equates to fair value.

Equity and reserves  

Ordinary shares represents the nominal (par) value of shares that have been issued. Share premium 
includes any premiums received on issue of share capital. Any transaction costs associated with the issuing 
of shares are deducted from share premium.

Treasury shares are recognised at cost and deducted from equity. 
Other reserves comprise of the gains and losses including its foreign exchange movement relating 
to available for sale financial assets equity instruments and transfers of expired share based payment 
reserve to other reserve.

Foreign currency translation reserve comprises translation differences arising from the translation 

of the financial statements of the Group’s foreign entities into euro.

Retained earnings include all current and prior period retained profits. All transactions with owners 

of the parent are recorded separately within equity.

44

PART 8___ Notes to the Financial Statements

2

Statement of Accounting Policies (continued)

Share based payments  

Employees (including Directors) of the Group may be entitled to remuneration in the form of share- 
based payment transactions, whereby employees render service in exchange for shares or rights over shares. 
Details of the Group’s share option scheme are set out in note 28 of the consolidated financial statements. 
For any share options granted, the fair value of the option is recognised as an expense in the income 
statement with a corresponding increase in equity. The fair value is measured at grant date excluding the 
impact  of  non-market  conditions  and  spread  over  the  period  during  which  the  employees  become 
unconditionally entitled to the options. The amount recognised as an expense is adjusted to reflect the 
actual  number  of  share  options  that  are  expected  to  vest  where  vesting  conditions  are  non-market 
conditions.  When  the  options  are  exercised,  the  proceeds  received,  net  of  any  directly  attributable 
transaction costs, are credited to share capital (nominal value) and share premium.

Earnings per share  

Fair values 

The Group presents basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) data for its ordinary shares. Basic EPS 
is calculated by dividing the income or loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company by the 
weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is determined by 
adjusting the income or loss attributable to ordinary shareholders and the weighted average number of 
ordinary  shares  outstanding  for  the  effects  of  all  dilutive  potential  ordinary  shares,  which  comprise 
convertible notes and share options granted to employees. 

For financial reporting purposes, fair value measurements are categorized into Level 1, 2 or 3 based 
on the degree to which inputs to the fair value measurements are observable and the significance of the 
inputs to the fair value measurement in its entirety, which are described as follows:

Level 1:  
Level 2: 

Level 3:  

quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities
valuation techniques for which the lowest level of inputs which have a significant 
effect on the recorded fair value are 
observable, either directly or indirectly
valuation techniques for which the lowest level of inputs that have a significant 
effect on the recorded fair value are not 
based on observable market data.

Available-for-sale financial assets are measured at Level 1. There were no transfers between Levels 

in 2017 and 2016.

Provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets 

Provisions are recognized when present obligations as a result of a past event will probably lead to 
an outflow of economic resources from the Group and amounts can be estimated reliably. Timing or amount 
of the outflow may still be uncertain. A present obligation arises from the presence of legal or constructive 
commitment that has resulted from past events. Provisions are measured at the estimated expenditure 
required to settle the present obligation, based on the most reliable evidence available at the reporting 
date, including the risks and uncertainties associated with the present obligation. Provisions are discounted 
to their present values, where the time value of money is material. All provisions are reviewed at each 
statement of financial position date and are adjusted to reflect the current best estimate.

Significant management judgment in applying accounting policies and estimation uncertainty
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgments, estimates 
and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. 
The judgments, estimates and assumptions used in the financial statements are based upon management’s 
evaluation of the relevant facts and circumstances as of the date of the financial statements. Actual 
results could differ from these estimates, and the effect of any change in estimates will be adjusted in 
the financial statements when they become reasonably determinable. 

Judgments,  estimates  and  assumptions  are  continually  evaluated  and  are  based  on  historical 
experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable 
under these circumstances. 

45

   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

8

2

Statement of Accounting Policies (continued)

Judgments 
In the process of applying the company’s accounting policies, management has made the following 
judgments, apart from those involving estimations, which have the most significant effect on the amounts 
recognised in the financial statements:

Determination of Group’s functional currency  

The determination of a company’s functional currency often requires significant judgement where 
the primary economic environment on which it operates may not be clear. Based on the economic substance 
of the underlying circumstances relevant to the Company, the functional currency of the company has 
been determined to be the Euro. The Euro is the currency of the primary economic environment in which 
the company operates.

Determining classification of financial instruments 

The Group classifies a financial instrument, or its component parts, on initial recognition as a financial 
asset, a financial liability or an equity instrument in accordance with the substance of the contractual 
agreement and the definitions of a financial asset, a financial liability or an equity instrument. The substance 
of a financial instrument, rather than its legal form, governs its classification in the financial statements.

Estimation uncertainty  
Information about estimates and assumptions that have the most significant effect on recognition 
and measurement of assets, liabilities, income and expenses is provided below. Actual results may be 
substantially different.

Estimating allowance for impairment on inventories 

Management estimates the net realisable values of inventories, taking into account the most reliable 
evidence available at each reporting date. The future realisation of these inventories may be affected by 
future technology or other market-driven changes that may reduce future selling prices.

Estimating allowance for trade, loans and other receivables 

Significant financial difficulties of a debtor, probability that the debtor will enter bankruptcy and 
default or delinquency in payments are considered indicators that loans and receivables may be impaired. 
The Directors use all available information to them to assess if loans and receivables may be impaired. 
The amount of any provision is the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value 
of the estimated future cash flows, discounted at the original rate of interest if applicable.

Useful lives of depreciable assets  

The annual depreciation charge depends primarily on the estimated lives of each type of asset and, 
in certain circumstances, estimates of fair values and residual values. The directors annually review these 
asset lives and adjust them as necessary to reflect current thinking on remaining lives in light of technological 
change, prospective economic utilisation and physical condition of the assets concerned. Changes in 
asset lives can have significant impact on depreciation charges for the period. It is not practical to quantify 
the impact of changes in asset lives on an overall basis, as asset lives are individually determined, and 
there are a significant number of asset lives in use. The impact of any change would vary significantly 
depending on the individual changes in assets and the classes of assets impacted.

Impairment of non-financial assets  

Determining whether non-financial assets are impaired requires an estimation of the value in use 
of the cash generating units to which the assets have been allocated. The value in use calculation requires 
the directors to estimate the future cash flows to arise from the cash-generating unit and a suitable 
discount rate in order to calculate present value. Where the actual cash flows are less than expected, a 
material impairment may arise.

Measurement of the recoverable amounts of intangible assets  

In accordance with International Financial Reporting Standard 6 - Exploration for and Evaluation of 
Mineral Resources, the Group uses the cost method of recognition. Exploration costs include licence costs, 
survey, geophysical and geological analysis and evaluation costs, costs of drilling and project-related 
overheads. The Directors base the recoverability of the carrying value of these intangible assets on industry 
specific data in addition to using their judgment to assess the assets recoverability.

46

PART 8___ Notes to the Financial Statements

2

Statement of Accounting Policies (continued)

Utilisation of tax losses  

The Directors have not deemed it appropriate to recognise deferred tax assets resulting from significant 
losses being carried forward from previous years on the basis that it is not certain these losses will be 
utilized in future periods. 

Fair value measurement  

Management uses valuation techniques to determine the fair value of financial instruments (where 
active market quotes are not available) and non-financial assets. This involves developing estimates and 
assumptions consistent with how market participants would price the instrument. Management bases its 
assumptions on observable data as far as possible but this is not always available. In that case management 
uses the best information available. Estimated fair values may vary from the actual prices that would be 
achieved in an arm’s length transaction at the reporting date.  

3

Going concern

The Directors have reviewed the current state of the group’s finances, taking into account resources currently available. The 
Directors are satisfied that sufficient funding will be available to the group to enable it to trade for the foreseeable future. 
On this basis the directors consider that it is appropriate to prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis. The 
Directors consider that in preparing the financial statements they have taken into account all information that could 
reasonably be expected to be available. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that would result if the 
Director’s plans were not successful.

47

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

8

4

Segmental reporting
(a) Primary reporting format – business segments

At 31 December 2017, the Group had two business segments, exploration activities and investment. Exploration activities are 
primarily carried out by subsidiary companies, Comtrans, Bulun and Magsel which are carried out in the Russian Federation. 
Investing activities are carried out by another subsidiary company, Silver Star Limited, a company located in Bermuda. 
Administrative activities represent group administration costs, primarily incurred in Ireland and the Russian Federation. 

Continuing Operations – 31 December 2017
Exploration 
activities
€’000

Administrative
€’000

Investment
€’000

Exploration 
activities
US$’000

Total
€’000

Investment
US$’000

Administrative 
US$’000

Total
US$’000

Administration 
expenses

Other (losses)/gains

Operating loss

Finance costs

Finance income

(141)

(5)

(146)

(2)

-

(Loss)/gain before tax

(148)

Income tax

-

(Loss)/gain after tax

(148)

Segment assets

Segment liabilities

Net assets

997

(5)

992

(831)

555

(276)

(5)

463

182

-

182

(467)

(1,439)

56

(411)

(4)

-

606

(833)

(11)

463

(159)

(6)

(165)

(1)

-

(415)

(381)

(166)

-

-

-

(415)

(381)

(166)

(631)

320

(311)

(6)

522

205

-

205

18,589

2,863

22,449

1,466

22,267

-

(41)

(46)

(6)

-

(834)

(1,624)

370

(464)

(5)

-

684

(940)

(12)

522

(469)

(430)

-

-

(469)

(430)

3,429

(49)

27,162

(55)

18,589

2,822

22,403

1,460

22,267

3,380

27,107

Continuing Operations – 31 December 2016

Exploration 
activities
€’000

Investment
€’000

Administrative
€’000

Exploration 
activities
US$’000

Total
€’000

Investment
US$’000

Administrative
US$’000

Total
US$’000

Administration 
expenses

Other gains/(losses)

Operating gain/(loss)

Finance costs

Finance income

Gain/(loss) before 
tax

Income tax

(147)

177

30

-

-

3

-

Gain/(loss) after tax

30

(751)

579

(885)

(136)

(1,783)

(163)

(831)

(979)

(1,973)

620

196

(3,084)

3,574

686

(172)

(1,021)

(1,163)

(5)

215

38

-

38

(6)

-

(11)

215

-

(1,027)

(959)

-

-

(1,027)

(959)

33

-

33

-

33

(3,915)

2,595

(1,287)

(6)

238

(6)

-

(12)

238

(3,683)

2,589

(1,061)

-

-

-

(3,683)

2,589

(1,061)

Segment assets

1,587

21,856

245

23,688

2,102

23,027

258

25,387

Segment liabilities

(8)

-

(209)

(217)

(8)

-

(221)

(229)

Net assets

1,579

21,856

36

23,471

2,094

23,027

37

25,158

48

PART 8___ Notes to the Financial Statements

5

Loss on ordinary activities before taxation on continuing 
operations

31/12/2017
€’000

31/12/2016
€’000

31/12/2017
US$’000

31/12/2016
US$’000

Administration expenses

Employee expense (Note 10)

Directors remuneration (Note 11)

Depreciation (Note 15)

Services provided by the Group's auditors (Note 6)

Operating lease rentals - property (Note 31)

Other administration expenses

Total administration expenses

6

Services provided by the auditor

Audit services – group audit

Audit services- statutory entities

Tax advisory services

Total auditors remuneration

7

Other gains and losses

Reversal of previously impaired fixed assets

Trade payables written back (Note 25)

Realised foreign exchange gains

Other expenses

Total other gains

(227)

(440)

(37)

(50)

(11)

(674)

(247)

(483)

(44)

(50)

(14)

(945)

(257)

(497)

(41)

(55)

(12)

(763)

(1,439)

(1,783) 

(1,624)

(272)

(536)

(51)

(55)

(15)

(1,044)

(1,973)

31/12/2017
€’000

31/12/2016
€’000

31/12/2017
US$’000

31/12/2016
US$’000

39

3

8

50

36

6

8

50

43

3

9

55

39

7

9

55

31/12/2017
€’000

31/12/2016
€’000

31/12/2017
US$’000

31/12/2016
US$’000

-

149

497

(40)

606

229

-

391

-

620

-

168

561

(45)

684

253

-

433

-

686

8

Finance costs and finance income

31/12/2017
€’000

31/12/2016
€’000

31/12/2017
US$’000

31/12/2016
US$’000

Finance costs

Bank interest and charges

Total finance costs

Finance income

Dividends received

Total finance income

(11)

(11)

463

463

(11)

(11)

215

215

(12)

(12)

522

522

(12)

(12)

238

238

9

Employees

31/12/2017
Number

31/12/2016
Number

The average monthly number of employees of the group during the financial year was (excluding directors):

Administration and operational staff

6 

6

49

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

8

10

Employment costs

31/12/2017
€’000

31/12/2016
€’000

31/12/2017
US$’000

31/12/2016
US$’000

Staff costs (inclusive of directors) during the financial year were as follows:

Wages and salaries

Social insurance costs

Total employment costs

The above employment costs relate to short term benefits only.

641

26

667

727

3

730

724

30

754

805

3

808

11

Directors’ remuneration

2017

2016

31/12/2017

31/12/2016

31/12/2017

31/12/2016

Share-based benefits

Short-term benefits

Mikhail Mogutov

Timothy McCutcheon

Yuri Radchenko

Donald Schissel

Leonid Skoptsov

Number of options

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

200,000

-

Kenneth Kuchling

200,000

200,000

Kirill Golovanov

-

1,800,000

Directors remuneration 

200,000

 2,200,000

€’000

106

16

16

16

106

16

164

440

€’000

108

16

16

16

75

16

236

483

US$’000

US$’000

120

18

18

18

120

18

185

497

120

18

18

18

83

18

261

536

The share based benefits relate to the number of exercisable share options held by directors at the year end. Please refer to 
note 28 for details on share options granted in the year and the expense recognised. There were no options exercised during 
the financial year. 3,000,000 share options expired during the financial year.  

12

Retirement benefit costs

The Group does not operate a pension scheme.

13

Income tax (Group)
Analysis of tax charge for the year

Income tax

31/12/2017
€’000

31/12/2016
€’000

31/12/2017
US$’000

31/12/2016
US$’000

-

-

-

-

Reconciliation of factors affecting the income tax charge for the year

Loss on ordinary activities before tax

Corporation tax at standard rate 2017: 12.5% (2016: 12.5%)

Effects of

Ineligible costs and  losses carried forward to future periods

Total income tax

(381)

(48)

48

-

(959)

(120)

120

-

(430)

(54)

(1,061)

(133)

54

-

133

-

A deferred tax asset has not been recognised at the reporting date in respect of trading tax losses. Due to the history of past 
losses, the Company has not recognised any deferred tax asset in respect of tax losses to be carried forward which are approx-
imately €9.2 million at 31 December 2017 (2016: €8.8 million).

50

PART 8___ Notes to the Financial Statements

14

Loss per share

Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue into the loss after 
taxati on for the period. 

Diluted loss per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of share in issue to assume conversion of all 
potential ordinary shares. For the purpose of calculating diluted loss per share for both 2016 and 2015, the potentially 
exercisable instruments in issue would have the effect of being antidilutive and, as such, the diluted loss per share is the 
same as the basic loss per share for both years.

Basic loss per share

31/12/2017
€’000

31/12/2016
€’000

31/12/2017
US$’000

31/12/2016
US$’000

Loss after taxation from continuing operations

(381)

(959)

(430)

(1,061)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares (thousands)

81,564

81,564

81,564

81,564

Basic loss per share 

(0.47)c

(1.18)c

(0.53)c

(1.30)c

Diluted loss per share

Weighted average number of ordinary shares (all measures) 
(thousands)

81,564

81,564

81,564

81,564

Fully diluted loss per share 

(0.47)c

(1.18)c

(0.53)c

(1.30)c

Weighted average number of ordinary shares excludes 6,895,000 (2016: 6,895,000) ordinary shares which are held within the 
group as treasury shares.

15

Property, plant and 
equipment 
Group

Mining 
equip. 
€'000

Office 
furniture & 
equip. 
€'000

Land and 
buildings 
€'000

Cost

At 1 January 2017

Disposals

At 31 December 2017

Depreciation 

At 1 January 2017

Charge for year

Depreciation on 
disposal

At 31 December 2017

Net book values

At 31 December 2017

At 31 December 2016

810

(501)

309

203

2

(9)

196

113

607

70

-

70

67

1

-

68

2

3

1,131

-

1,131

224

34

-

258

873

907

51

Total 
€'000

2,011

(501)

1,510

494

37

(9)

522

988

1,517

Mining 
equip. 
$'000

Office 
furniture & 
equip. 
$'000

Land and 
buildings 
$'000

Total  
$'000

2,647

(543)

2,104

619

41

(10)

650

111

-

111

105

3

-

108

1,526

-

1,526

284

36

-

320

3

6

1,206

1,242

1,454

2,028

1,010

(543)

467

230

2

(10)

222

245

780

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

8

Property, plant and equipment (continued)

The residual values and useful lives of property, plant and equipment are reviewed at each financial year end. The useful lives 
have been reviewed and deemed to be appropriate.  

Company

Cost

At 1 January 2017

Additions

At 31 December 2017

Depreciation 

At 1 January 2017

Charge for year

At 31 December 2017

Net book value

At 31 December 2017

At 31 December 2016

Office furniture and 
equipment €'000

31/12/2017

Total 
€'000

Office furniture 
and equipment 
$'000

50

-

50

47

1

48

2

3

50

-

50

47

1

48

2

3

68

-

68

64

1

65

3

4

Total  
$'000

68

-

68

64

1

65

3

4

16

Financial assets – company

Silver Star Limited

Investment in subsidiaries 
at cost 

Movement 
during the 
financial 
year
€’000

-

-

01/01/2017
€’000

27,145

27,145

31/12/2017
€’000

01/01/2017
US$’000

27,145

28,599

27,145

28,599

Movement 
during the 
financial 
year
US$’000

-

-

31/12/2017
US$’000

28,599

28,599

In the opinion of the directors, the fair value of financial assets in the company statement of financial position at 31 
December 2017 was equal to the carrying value at that date. 

52

       
PART 8___ Notes to the Financial Statements

At 31 December 2017 the company had the following direct and indirect subsidiary undertakings:

Name

CJSC Bulun

Magsel Limited 

Comtrans

Registered office & country of incorporation

Activity

13 A  Koltcevaya street, Magadan 685000, Russian 
Federation

Mineral Exploration

13 A  Koltcevaya street, Magadan 685000, Russian 
Federation

Mineral Exploration

13 A  Koltcevaya street, Magadan 685000, Russian 
Federation

Support Company

Ovoca Mining Limited

36 Vyronos Avenue, Nicosia Tower Center, 8th Floor, 
1506 Nicosia, Cyprus

Dormant

Silver Star Limited

27 Reid Street, 1st Floor, Hamilton HM11, Bermuda

Investment

Ovoca Gold (Russia) Limited

17 Pembroke Street Upper, Dublin 2, Ireland

Support company

Proportion 
holding

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

All the shares are directly held in subsidiaries, with the exception of CJSC Bulun and Magsel Limited which are held through 
Silver Star Limited, and comprise of ordinary shares held in each company. 

17 Available for sale financial assets – Group

At 1 January

Fair value movement 

Foreign exchange movement

Translation adjustment

At 31 December

31/12/2017
€’000

31/12/2016
€’000

31/12/2017
US$’000

31/12/2016
US$’000

15,340

1,447

1,068

(1,987)

15,868

12,263

5,600

(3,104)

581

16,162

1,634

1,212

-

13,398

6,198

(3,434)

-

15,340

19,008

16,162

53

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

8

17 Available for sale financial assets – Group (continued) 

Available for sale financial assets include the following:

Quoted securities

15,868

15,340

19,008

16,162

Polymetal International plc

Asset managed fund 

Other

14,577

1,276

15

14,028

1,289

23

17,461

1,529

18

14,780

1,358

24

15,868

15,340

19,008

16,162

The Investment in Polymetal International plc represents the holding of 1,405,000 shares. Polymetal International plc is 
listed on the London stock exchange. The asset managed fund represents investments in quoted investments in US listed 
entities.

The above securities are denominated in the following currencies:

Sterling

US Dollar

AUS Dollar

€’000

14,577

1,276

15

€’000

14,028

1,289

23

US$’000

US$’000

17,461

1,529

18

14,780

1,358

24

15,868

15,340

19,008

16,162

At 31 December 2017, if the underlying equity securities price in respect of investments held by the Group and classified on 
the statement of financial position as available-for-sale had strengthened/weakened by 5% with all other variables held con-
stant, other components of equity would have been €’000 793/US$’000 950 higher/lower (2016: €’000 767/US$’000 808 
higher/lower), mainly as a result of changes in fair values. All items listed are valued using Level 1 inputs. Valuation methods 
for Levels 1, 2 and 3 are described in the “fair value hierarchy” section of the accounting policies.

The Group noted a decline in market value of the available for sale financial assets for Polymetal International plc from £9.21 
per share to approximately £7.20 at a date close to signing the financial statements. The decline in market value reflects 
circumstances that have arisen subsequent to the end of the reporting period. Therefore, the Company does not adjust the 
carrying value of these assets in these financial statements.

18

Inventories

Inventories

31/12/2017
€’000

31/12/2016
€’000

31/12/2017
US$’000

31/12/2016
US$’000

4

56

5

59

The Group has not recognised an inventory write down during the year (2016: €nil).

In the opinion of the directors the replacement cost of the stock did not differ significantly from the figure shown.

54

PART 8___ Notes to the Financial Statements

19

Trade and other receivables

Group
31/12/2017
€’000

Group
31/12/2016
€’000

Company
31/12/2017
€’000

Company
31/12/2016
€’000

Group
31/12/2017
US$’000

Group
31/12/2016
US$’000

Company
31/12/2017
US$’000

Company
31/12/2016
US$’000

Tax and social 
welfare

Amounts owed by 
group 
undertakings

40

-

40

34

-

34

6

4

693

699

788

792

48

-

48

36

-

36

7

4

830

837

830

834

All amounts are short term. The net carrying value of trade receivables is considered a reasonable approximation of fair 
value.  

All balances are current and deemed to be recoverable.

20

Loans and receivables

Group
31/12/2017
€’000

Group
31/12/2016
€’000

Company
31/12/2017
€’000

Company
31/12/2016
€’000

Group
31/12/2017
US$’000

Group
31/12/2016
US$’000

Company
31/12/2017
US$’000

Company
31/12/2016
US$’000

Advanced during 
the year

Amounts received

Loans receivable

-

-

-

678

(678)

-

-

-

-

678

(678)

-

-

-

-

741

(741)

-

-

-

-

741

(741)

-

On February, 5 2014 the Company entered in to a loan agreement, as the lender with Taymura LLC, an unrelated company 
registered in Russia, as the Borrower. The Company has provided Taymura LLC a loan in the amount of US$6,345,000.  The loan 
was advanced at an initial interest rate of 8% per annum, increasing in the event of default to 12% per annum.

In return for the Company received an exclusive period to complete due diligence on JSC Evenkiya Fuel and Energy Company 
(ETEK) and LLC Taymura. The full amount of the loan and any interest accruing, was secured by certain receivables of LLC 
Taymura, non-encumbrance of the assets for the exclusive period and personal guarantees of a number of the shareholders of 
LLC Taymura. The loan subsequently went into default for non-repayment.

Ovoca Gold plc has taken measures under Russian law to recover the full amount including interest. Various assets have been 
seized by the courts on behalf of the Company and to date the company has recovered approximately US$1 million in cash and 
receivables.

It is intended to rigorously pursue all available options to recover the loans and the Company has already taken steps to 
pursue the personal guarantees which were used to secure loan. The Directors believe that substantially the entire loan will 
be recovered, however there can be no certainty in that regard. 

55

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

8

21

Cash and cash equivalents

Group
31/12/2017
€’000

Group
31/12/2016
€’000

Company
31/12/2017
€’000

Company
31/12/2016
€’000

Group
31/12/2017
US$’000

Group
31/12/2016
US$’000

Company
31/12/2017
US$’000

Company
31/12/2016
US$’000

Cash at bank and 
in hand

Short term 
deposits

22

Share capital

Group and Company

Authorised equity

4,921

6,027

2,837

628

5,549

714

6,741

-

2,837

158

-

158

5,895

6,350

3,398

752

6,647

752

7,102

-

3,398

166

-

166

31/12/2017
€

31/12/2016
€

31/12/2017
US$

31/12/2016
US$

120,000,000 Ordinary shares of 12.5 cent each

15,000,000

15,000,000

21,000,000

21,000,000

15,000,000

15,000,000

21,000,000

21,000,000

Group and Company

Issued, called up and fully paid

At 1 January 2017

Number of 
ordinary 
shares

Share capital
€’000

Share capital
US$’000

88,458,806

11,057

15,586

At 31 December 2017

88,458,806

11,057

15,586

On 28 April 2015, Ovoca Gold plc purchased 5,800,000 ordinary shares of nominal value €0.125 each of the issued share 
capital of the Company at a price of GBP 6.8p. Ovoca Gold plc intends to hold these shares as treasury stock. As of year-end 
2017, the Company has a total of 81,563,806 Ordinary Shares in issue excluding treasury shares of 6,895,000. The purchase 
was made pursuant to the authority granted by shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company held on 17 
October 2014. To date, Ovoca Gold plc has acquired 7.8% (2016: 7.8%) of its own share capital under this approved share 
buyback programme.

23

Retained earnings

Retained earnings 
at 1 January 

(Loss)/profit for 
the year

Retained earnings 
at 31 December

Group
31/12/2017
€’000

Group
31/12/2016
€’000

Company
31/12/2017
€’000

Company
31/12/2016
€’000

Group
31/12/2017
US$’000

Group
31/12/2016
US$’000

Company
31/12/2017
US$’000

Company
31/12/2016
US$’000

2,213

3,172

11,553

9,058

3,687

4,748

17,867

15,106

(381)

(959)

233

2,495

(430)

(1,061)

262

2,761

1,832

2,213

11,786

11,553

3,257

3,687

18,129

17,867

In accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2015, Section 304(2), the Company has not presented an income 
statement. An income for the year of €’000 233 (2016: income of €’000 2,495) has been recognised in the income statement of 
the Company.

56

PART 8___ Notes to the Financial Statements

24 Other reserves

Group

Other 
reserves
€’000

Foreign 
currency 
reserve
€’000

Share 
based 
payment 
reserve
€’000

Total
€’000

Other 
reserves
US$’000

Foreign 
currency 
reserve
US$’000

Share 
based 
payment 
reserve
US$’000

Total
US$’000

At 1 January 2017

2,507

6,947

1,294

10,748

2,780

1,953

1,759

6,492

Fair value movement on 
available for sale financial 
assets during the year

Foreign exchange movement 
on available for sale 
financial assets during 
the year

Foreign exchange gain/(loss) 
arising from translation 
of financial statements 
of a foreign operations

1,447

1,068

-

-

-

(3,202)

-

-

-

1,447

1,634

1,068

1,212

-

-

-

-

1,634

1,212

Transfer to other reserve

856

-

(856)

-

At 31 December 2017

5,878

3,745

438

10,061

6,585

1,494

(3,202)

-

959

(459)

-

(8)

(467)

(959)

792

-

8,871

At 1 January 2016

11

6,464

1,294

7,769

16

2,305

1,759

4,080

Fair value movement on 
available for sale financial 
assets during the year

Foreign exchange movement 
on available for sale 
financial assets during 
the year

Foreign exchange gain/(loss) 
arising from translation 
of financial statements 
of a foreign operations

5,600

(3,104)

-

-

-

483

-

-

-

5,600

6,198

(3,104)

-

483

(3,434)

At 31 December 2016

2,507

6,947

1,294

10,748

2,780

-

-

(352)

1,953

-

-

-

6,198

-

(3,786)

1,759

6,492

Share 
based 
payment 
reserve
€’000

1,294

(856)

-

Other 
reserves
US$’000

Foreign 
currency 
reserve
US$’000

Share 
based 
payment 
reserve
US$’000

Total
US$’000

16

(10,037)

1,764

(8,257)

1,025

-

(1,025)

-

-

(449)

-

(449)

Total
€’000

1,305

-

-

438

1,305

1,041

(10,486)

739

(8,706)

1,294

1,305

-

-

16

-

(9,069)

1,764

(7,289)

(968)

-

(968)

1,294

1,305

16

(10,037)

1,764

(8,257)

Company

At 1 January 2017

Transfer to other reserve

Exchange movements

At 31 December 2017

At 1 January 2016

Exchange movements

At 31 December 2016

Other 
reserves
€’000

Foreign 
currency 
reserve
€’000

11

856

-

867

11

-

11

-

-

-

-

-

-

57

OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

8

25

Trade and other payables

Group
31/12/2017
€’000

Group
31/12/2016
€’000

Company
31/12/2017
€’000

Company
31/12/2016
€’000

Group
31/12/2017
US$’000

Group
31/12/2016
US$’000

Company
31/12/2017
US$’000

Company
31/12/2016
US$’000

Trade payables

Amounts owed to 
group 
undertakings

Accruals 

10

-

36

46

171

-

46

217

1

153

6,498

36

6,535

3,984

46

4,183

6

-

49

55

180

-

49

229

1

161

7,784

43

7,828

4,197

49

4,407

All amounts are short term. The net carrying value of trade payables is considered a reasonable approximation of fair value.

Trade payables written back during the year amounted to €’000 149 (2016:€Nil).

26

Related party transactions

Details of subsidiary undertakings are shown in note 16. In accordance with International Accounting Standard 24 - Related 
Party Disclosures, transactions between group entities that have been eliminated on consolidation are not disclosed.

Included in amounts due from group undertakings of the Company are amounts of €’000 693 (2016:€’000 750) due from 
Comtrans and €Nil (2016: €’000 38) due from Magsel. 

Included in amounts due to group undertakings of the Company is an amount of €’000 6,507 (2016: €’000 3,983) due to Silver 
Star Limited.

Key management personnel are the Board of Directors. Details of the remuneration of Directors are disclosed in Note 11 of 
the consolidated financial statements.  

None of the related party transactions disclosed above were undertaken with the parent company, Ovoca Gold plc.

27

Financial instruments

The Group monitors relevant aspects of financial instrument risk on an ongoing basis. Financial instrument risks primarily 
relates to foreign exchange risk, liquidity risk and market risk. 

The carrying amounts of trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents and trade and other payables financial assets 
and liabilities is considered a reasonable approximation of its fair values while available-for-sale financial assets are 
determined by reference to quoted market bid prices at the close of business on the reporting date since these are actively 
traded.

28

Share based payments – Group and Company

Under the share option scheme employees of the Group can receive conditional awards of share options depending on their 
performance, seniority and length of service. All options issued to date vest once granted. IFRS 2 requires that a recognised 
valuation methodology be employed to determine the fair value of share options granted. The valuation model used by the 
Company in years where options are granted or vesting is the Bi-nominal model. Fair value is determined under the equity 
settled share based remuneration schemes operated by the Group.

The volatility assumption, measured at the standard deviation of expected share price returns, is based on a statistical 
analysis of daily share prices over the last three years.

The market vesting condition was factored into the valuation of the phantom options by applying an appropriate discount to 
the fair value of equivalent share appreciation rights without the specified vesting conditions.

The Group did not enter into any share-based payment transactions with parties other than employees during the current or 
previous period.

Expired share options were transferred to other reserves during the year.

58

PART 8___ Notes to the Financial Statements

28

Share based payments – Group and Company – continued

Outstanding at 1 January 2017

Expired during the year

Outstanding at 31 December 2017

Of which:

2017
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price
(€ cent per 
share)

Number of 
options

39

-

39

3,800,000

600,000

3,200,000

Number of 
options

3,200,000

3,000,000

200,000

Exercisable at 31 December 2017

200,000

39

3,200,000

The following table shows the number of options outstanding with the exercise price:

Outstanding at 31 December 2017

29

Capital management

Number of 
options

200,000

200,000

Exercise 
price

£0.36p

2016
Weighted 
average 
exercise     
price
(€ cent per 
share)

39

-

39

39

Date of expiry

  22/02/2018

The Group considers total equity as capital. Its primary objective in capital management is to maintain a strong credit rating 
in order to support its business and maximize shareholder value.

The Group manages its capital structure and makes adjustments to it, in light of changes in economic conditions.  To 
maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Company may issue new shares or other financial instruments in relation to 
ensure the liquidity and the necessary level of the working capital.

The amounts managed as capital by the Group for the reporting periods are as summarized as follows:

Total equity

30

Events after the reporting period 

2017
€'000

2016 
€'000

2017 
$'000

2016 
$'000

22,403

23,471

27,107

25,158

There were no other significant events after the year end date other than the those disclosed in Note 17 in the notes to the 
financial statements.

31

 Commitments 
Operating leases

Group
31/12/2017
€’000

Group
31/12/2016
€’000

Company
31/12/2017
€’000

Company
31/12/2016
€’000

Group
31/12/2017
US$’000

Group
31/12/2016
US$’000

Company
31/12/2017
US$’000

Company
31/12/2016
US$’000

No later than one 
year

Total

11

11

14

14

-

-

-

-

12

12

15

15

-

-

-

-

The Group leases offices under non-cancellable operating lease agreements. The lease terms are between one and two years, 
and the majority of lease agreements are renewable at the end of the lease period at market rate.

The lease expenditure charged to the income statement during the year is disclosed in note 5 of the consolidated financial 
statements.

32

 Reclassification of accounts

 Certain accounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

33

 Approval of the financial statements

 These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 21 May 2018.

59

 
OVOCA GOLD Plc___Annual Report 2017

>

Notes

www.ovocagold.com