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Simulations Plus, Inc.

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FY2019 Annual Report · Simulations Plus, Inc.
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2019

ABOUT US

LOW-COST PRODUCER OF 
PLATINUM GROUP METALS

Sylvania Platinum Limited (Sylvania) is a low-cost producer of the platinum group metals (PGMs) platinum, palladium 

and rhodium, with two distinct lines of business: the re-treatment of PGM-rich chrome tailings material from mines 

in the region and the potential development of shallow mining operations and processing methods for low-cost 

PGM extraction. 

VALUES

We value the 
safety and 
health of all

We value the 
fundamental 
rights of people

We value 
honesty and 
integrity

We respect the 
environment

We value the 
culture, traditional 
rights and society in 
which we operate

For more on our values, please visit our website:
www.sylvaniaplatinum.com

DISCLAIMER

To the best knowledge and belief of Sylvania Platinum and its Directors (having taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the 
information contained in this document is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information, 
prepared in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Sylvania Platinum

CONTENTS

01

ABOUT
SYLVANIA

Corporate profi le

Location of operations and projects

Business model

02

STRATEGIC
MANAGEMENT

Chairman’s letter

CEO’s review

Sustainability

03

GOVERNANCE

Directors’ report

Corporate governance statement

04

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Directors’ responsibilities in the preparation of the 
fi nancial statements

Independent auditor’s report

Consolidated statement of profi t or loss and other 
comprehensive income

Consolidated statement of fi nancial position

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

Consolidated statement of cash fl ows

Notes to the consolidated fi nancial statements

05

ANCILLARY
INFORMATION

Additional information for listed 
public companies

Glossary of terms and acronyms

Corporate directory

4

5

7

10

14

20

26

34

38

39

44

45

46

47

48

98

99

101

Annual Report 2019

1

WE VALUE
THE SAFETY AND HEALTH
OF ALL EMPLOYEES

Employees are at the heart of our company – we place their 
safety and health above all else in everything that we do

2

Sylvania Platinum

01 ABOUT SYLVANIA

Corporate profile

Location of operations and projects

Business model

4

5

7

Annual Report 2019

3

CORPORATE PROFILE

Sylvania Platinum Limited is a 

REPORT PROFILE

PRODUCER OF 
PLATINUM GROUP METALS 
(PGMs) INCLUDING

78

46

78
45

46

45

78

46

45

Pt

195.08

 Platinum Pt

Rh

Pd

195.08
102.90

106.42

Pd

106.42

Rh

 Palladium 

Pd

Pt

102.90

195.08

106.42

102.90  Rhodium 
Rh

The Company’s core business is the retreatment of PGM 

bearing chrome tailings material. The Company also 

holds mining rights for a number of PGM projects on the 

Northern Limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex. 

In order to strengthen the Company’s position as a low-risk specialist in the 
lower cost production of PGMs, Sylvania operates according to the following 
business priorities:

•	 identifying	projects	that	balance	minimal	operational	and	financial	risk	with	the	

potential for high margins;

•  ensuring that the Management teams are always well resourced with the right 

combination of skills;

•  focus on cash generation during uncertain economic times; and

•  continuously apply appropriate practices/technology to maintain the Company 

as a lower quartile producer.

The Company’s focus is on cash generation and it will return capital to 
shareholders according to the dividend policy.

The Board has also recommended the payment of a dividend of 1.00 US cent 
per share, following the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on 
22 November 2019.

The Sylvania cash generating subsidiaries are incorporated in South Africa with 
the functional currency of these operations being SA Rand (ZAR). Revenues 
from the sale of PGMs are incurred in US Dollars (USD) and then converted 
into ZAR. 

The Group’s reporting currency is USD as the parent company is incorporated in 
Bermuda.  Corporate and general and administration costs are incurred in USD, 
Great British Pounds (GBP) and ZAR. 

4

This annual report presents a review of 
the operational and financial performance 
of Sylvania Platinum Limited (Sylvania) 
or (the Company) for the 12 months 
ended 30 June 2019. The report includes 
an analysis of the Company’s material 
issues and the steps taken to operate 
successfully and sustainably within its 
governance and risk framework.

The	consolidated	financial	statements,	set	out	on 	
pages 44 to 95, were approved on 30 August 2019. 
They	include	the	Company’s	financial	results	and 	
were prepared in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued 
by the International Accounting Standards Board 
(IASB).	The	consolidated	financial	statements	
represent the ongoing activities of the Sylvania 
Group.	Throughout	the	report,	financial	data	is 	
reported in US Dollars, unless otherwise stated.

The Company is quoted on AIM, and in accordance 
with the AIM Rules for Companies (the AIM Rules), 
has chosen to adopt the Quoted Companies Alliance 
(QCA) Corporate Governance Code 2018 for 
Smaller Companies. In accordance with the AIM 
Rules this was adopted and implemented from 
September 2018, and a summary is available on the 
Company’s website (www.sylvaniaplatinum.com). 
The corporate governance statement can be found 
on pages 32 and 33 of this report.

Scan this QR code 
to download a PDF 
version of this report.

Sylvania PlatinumABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARY INFORMATION

LOCATION OF OPERATIONS  
AND PROJECTS

LOCALITY WITHIN SOUTH AFRICA

NORTHERN
LIMB

C

N
11

Polokwane
(Pietersburg)

N
1

Mokopane
(Potgietersrus)

B

A

EASTERN
LIMB

Nylsvlei RAMSAR

Modimolle 
(Nylstroom)

N
1

4
7
5

6

Groblersdal

D

WESTERN
LIMB

Rustenburg

1

3

2

N
4

N
14

Pretoria

Krugersdorp

Johannesburg

Dullstroom

N
4

Middelburg

N
4

Mbombela
(Nelspruit)

0

SCALE

50km

RUSTENBURG LAYERED SUITE

LEGEND

Decommissioned operations

Granites and allied rocks
Upper zone
Main zone
Critical, lower and marginal zones

Merensky reef
UG2 Chromitite layer
Platreef

Main roads
Main river

SLP

Sylvania

SDO

Sylvania Dump Operations
Younger cover rocks

Younger alkaline intrusions
and carbonatities

Operating Sylvania complexes

1

2

3

4

5

6

Millsell (SDO)

Mooinooi – Dump and ROM (SDO)

Lesedi SDO)
Acquired: Nov ‘17
Previously Phoenix Platinum

Doornbosch (SDO)

Lannex (SDO)

Tweefontein (SDO)

5

7 Steelpoort (SDO)
Decommissioned: Jun ‘17

Mineral projects

A

B

C

D

Volspruit

Grasvally

Northern Limb projects

Everest North

Impaired during FY2013

Annual Report 2019VISION

To be the leading mid-tier 
lowest unit cost 
PGMs mining company

MISSION

To generate wealth for all of our stakeholders 
using safe and innovative processes with 
focus on PGMs while exploiting any 
value-adding associated minerals

6

Sylvania Platinum

ABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARY INFORMATION

BUSINESS MODEL

HIGHLIGHTS FY2018

0.35
pence per
share

71,026
ounces

24

21

MAIDEN CASH DIVIDEND

SDO PRODUCTION

NET REVENUE

GROUP EBITDA

Recommended by
Board of Directors

5th consecutive year of record 
4E PGM production

Up 24% to $62.8 million from 
$50.5 million in FY2017

Improved by 21% on FY2017
to $22.2 million

24

$14.0
million

R89.0 
million
($6.3 million)

A$388,152

GROUP NET PROFIT

POSITIVE GROUP CASH 
BALANCE

ACQUISITION AND 
INTEGRATION

SHARE BUYBACK 
PROGRAMME

At $11.0 million – a 24% 
improvement compared to the 
previous period

$14.0 million
(including guarantees
of $1.0 million)

Acquired Phoenix Platinum 
Mining (renamed Lesedi) in 
November 2017 for
R89.0 million ($6.3 million) and 
successfully integrated
into SDO

Purchased 2,397,481 shares at a 
cost of A$388,152 under
Share Buyback Programme 
offered to small non-UK 
shareholders

HIGHLIGHTS FY2019

72,090 
ounces

12

36

$18.2
million

SDO PRODUCTION

NET REVENUE

GROUP EBITDA

GROUP NET PROFIT

6th consecutive year of record 
4E PGM production

Up 12% to $70.5 million
(FY2018: $62.8 million)

Improved by 36% on FY2018
to $30.2 million

66% improvement compared
to previous period

66

1.00
US cent
per share

$21.8
million

R115.0
million

EPS

CASH DIVIDEND

GROUP CASH BALANCE

CONDITIONAL CASH OFFER

Basic EPS improved 66% to
6.37 US cents per share from 
3.83 US cents per share in 
FY2019

Recommended by Board
(more than double that of 
FY2018)

no debt and no
pipeline fi nancing

Received post-period end for 
Grasvally Chrome Mine from 
Forward Africa Mining

OPPORTUNITIES FY2020

Debt-free with positive 
cash balance to fund capital 
expansion projects

 Additional boreholes, 
 Additional boreholes, 
storage dam and water 
supply line commissioned 
at Lesedi to mitigate 
impact on operations and 
minimise disruptions

Optimised re-mining 
Optimised re-mining 
strategy using hybrid 
mechanical hydro-mining 
to enable more effi cient 
blending, grade control and 
feed stability

Return capital to 
Return capital to 
shareholders through the 
opportunistic buyback 
of shares in favourable 
conditions

Annual Report 2019

7

THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

WE VALUE
OF PEOPLE

We treat all people with dignity and respect

8

Sylvania Platinum

02

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

Chairman’s letter

CEO’s review

Sustainability

10

14

20

Annual Report 2019

9

CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

As the power utility’s 
delivery date becomes 
visible, estimated 
between the next 
six to nine months, 
the Company can 
recommence the 
Project Echo module 
at Tweefontein”

Stuart Murray 
Chairman

Letter to OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR

The year in summary has been much like the 

curate’s egg – good in some parts, not ideal

fellow shareholders

in others. 

The Sylvania Dump Operations (SDO) produced record ounces in 

Q4 and record annual production of 72,090 ounces.  This was just 

above	the	revised	guidance	of	72,000	ounces.	A	rocky	fi	rst	six	months	

of production challenges, particularly at Lesedi in the second quarter 

due to downtime as a result of water shortages at the Western 

operations,	as	well	as	plant	effi	ciencies	associated	with	dump	re-

mining at Doornbosch, where the current dump reached its end of 

life, drove most of the Company’s operational focus. Additional work 

is also being done on dump grade control and Management will focus 

on	this	further	in	the	coming	fi	nancial	year	and	beyond.		Were	it	not	

for these issues, production would have been several thousand

ounces better.

10

Sylvania Platinum

ABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARY INFORMATION

caused any interruptions to operations at this time, Management is 
cognisant of the issues and mitigates them as they arise, knowing that 
this may require legal cost and management of time and resources. 
The Company engages continuously with respective community 
leaders to ensure peaceful co-existence.

FINANCIALS AND DIVIDENDS

Although unit costs were up year-on-year in ZAR, operating costs 
were managed well during the year, as well as overall operational 
fixed	costs	by	maintaining	cost	discipline.	Capital	expenditure	was,	
for this past year, at its highest as a result of the roll-out of Project 
Echo. However, control of the costs of major capital projects was very 
good with projects executed within the proposed capital budgets 
and all funded from internal cash reserves. The Company has further 
delivered	excellent	financials	with	a	Group	EBITDA	improving	on	the	
previous year by 36% and we have grown our cash balance to 
$21.8 million at year-end.  

In November 2018, the Company paid a maiden dividend of 
0.35 pence. We are on the dividend paying treadmill now and intend 
to stay there. The Company’s revised dividend policy was passed 

and communicated to shareholders in my 
letter last year – a copy can be found on the 
Company’s website.

I would like to point out tax is a real cash 
cost – often over looked by shareholders 
in their posted commentaries on various 
websites and the likes. I read commentary 
about margins and great revenue generation 
on simplistic revenue minus cost calculations 
leading to expectation of huge cash balances 
that have to be dealt with by the Board. 
The reality is different when one examines 
the	financials	more	carefully	and	I	urge	
shareholders to take into account the 
requirement of the Company to pay tax; 
pay for sustaining capital; pay for expansion 
capital; pay for ever rising electricity prices; 
pay for… but…

After careful consideration by your Board 
of Directors, and after taking the working 
capital requirements of the SDO and the 
need to purchase shares in the market 
(buy back) to satisfy current and future 

The Company paid ZAR114.9 million 
($8.1 million) in income tax during 
the year on profits generated at the 
South African operations and spent 
ZAR117.7 million ($8.3 million) on capital 
projects. If one adds this to the cash on 
hand at 30 June 2019, cash generation 
from operations was $29.9 million – a 
commendable achievement, albeit 
assisted by a favourable basket price and 
the ZAR/USD exchange rate.

Water and water infrastructure are critical issues nationally, but water 
availability is rapidly becoming a strategic issue for the SDO. There 
are capital implications, which will be factored into future capital 
expenditure for FY2020 and onwards. The costs of tailings deposition 
facilities	are	furthermore	increasing	significantly	due	to	legislative	
changes, but the Company is taking note of new technologies with 
a view to further water-saving opportunities, further detailed in the 
CEO’s Review.

Power utility infrastructure and supply issues resulting in interruptions 
and instability are another concern along with power costs up 
13%, driven by these infrastructure constraints as well as the 
financial	situation	at	the	national	power	utility.	However,	a	welcome	
development is the commencement of the new power infrastructure 
at Tweefontein, which once completed, will enable the Company to 
begin construction of the last budgeted Project Echo MF2 module at 
the Tweefontein plant. As the power utility’s delivery date becomes 
visible, estimated between the next six to nine months, the Company 
can recommence the Project Echo module.

Despite these challenges, Management and operational teams pulled 
together and were able to produce a record H2 and, in particular, set 
a new quarterly performance record during 
the fourth quarter to ensure that we met the 
revised guidance communicated in our third 
quarter report. Stable performance from 
the commissioned Project Echo MF2 plants, 
including the latest module at Mooinooi, 
commissioned earlier than anticipated, 
as well as recovery improvements at 
Lannex and Tweefontein, assisted in greatly 
boosting production ounces. Relocation of 
the redundant Steelpoort plant to Lesedi, 
thereby aligning Lesedi with the standard 
SDO process layout, is expected to further 
bolster performance in the future.  

To further assist the Board and Management 
in steering the Company through these 
challenges, it has been prudent to improve 
management support structures by 
strengthening operations management. 
Separation of the Eastern and Western 
operations, each placed under dedicated 
regional Management teams, improved 
operational focus and the response time to 
any issues as they arise. Critical aspects, such as the management of 
re-mining of the dumps, that were creating challenges in the past, have 
been	insourced	in	order	to	improve	efficiencies	and	control.	In	order	
to deal with increasing demands in terms of human resources (HR) 
and the communities, the HR department has been strengthened and 
a community liaison resource has been added.

incentives for Senior Management and the Board into account, plus 
other applicable factors, I am pleased to advise that the Company 
has recommended the payment of a 1.00 US cent per share dividend, 
payable in November 2019. The combination of these dividend 
payments and planned share buybacks represent over 25% of the 
unrestricted cash balance of the Group

Managing the expectations of communities in terms of rights and 
access to historical dumps, and the imperative of protecting the 
Company’s resources remains front of mind. Although this has not 

The Board remains committed to its strategy of creating and returning 
shareholder value through payment of dividends, share buybacks and 
cancellation or any other value-enhancing methods that may arise.

11

Annual Report 2019CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

continued

OPERATIONS

Due to the water-related issues on the Western operations and 
feed-related issues at Doornbosch, the Board felt it prudent to revise 
guidance to 72,000 ounces for the year. H2 saw a recovery due to 
production strategy and measures put in place, including sourcing 
water from neighbourhood operations and additional boreholes to 
supply Lesedi, as well as reverting to a hybrid re-mining strategy 
at Doornbosch.

In terms of control and management of operations, the primary 
change was the roll-out of the hybrid re-mining strategy across all 
operations, which entails hydromining from a central feeding station, 
and mechanically blending and feeding the material. This enables 
better grade control and feed stability at the operations, which will 
prevent similar reoccurrences as experienced at Doornbosch during 
the past year.

We	have	managed	to	roll	out	and	improve	the	process	configuration	
at Lesedi through the relocation of the Steelpoort chrome circuit to 
Lesedi, which enables improved material upgrade and higher-grade 
feed to the PGM plant. During the recent drought, access to water 
was acquired from neighbouring operations, which enabled us to 
blend feed material from adjacent dump operations to provide a more 
consistent feed grade. The low-risk model is thus preserved in that 
we do not solely rely on Lesedi’s infrastructure and resources pre-
acquisition.	It	also	gives	us	flexibility	in	managing	and	prioritising	the	
various dump feed resources in the area.

ZAR36.1 million to complete, which will continue to be funded from 
internal cash reserves.  

Looking at our mineral asset development and opencast mining 
projects, the Company’s strategy has remained unchanged. We shall 
continue to defend title but no further major spend is anticipated 
until market fundamentals improve. Following the appointment 
of consultants to assist with the sale of Grasvally, the Board are 
pleased to advise that a conditional cash offer from Forward Africa 
Mining (Pty) Ltd (FAM) to acquire 100% of the shares in and claims 
against Grasvally Chrome Mine (Pty) Ltd  for a total consideration 
of ZAR115.0 million, settled in cash or other  available funds was 
received. FAM will have eight months from the date of acceptance of 
the	offer	to	fulfil	standard	conditions	precedent.		Due	to	the	attractive	
palladium component along with the base metal by-products at 
Volspruit, a possible revival of the asset may be considered in 
due course. 

The Company has furthermore conducted extensive pilot work on 
the	pelletising	of	chrome	fines	in	a	joint-operation,	as	mentioned	in	my	
previous letter to shareholders. Subject again to market conditions for 
chrome	ore,	there	may	be	significant	opportunity	to	convert	chrome	
ore	fines	to	pellets	for	current	output	and	for	third	parties.	As	the	
basic piloting has concluded, engineering will be progressed in the 
coming year with a view to adding a new business line to 
the Company.

In terms of the future of Project Echo, the last outstanding module 
is Tweefontein, which is currently on hold pending electricity 
infrastructure.	A	significant	portion	of	the	process	design	is	already	
complete and estimated time to commissioning is approximately 12 
months from project go-ahead. To date, expenditure on Project Echo 
is ZAR139.3 million. We currently estimate that it will take a further 

MARKET OUTLOOK

Over the past year, the run up in the palladium and rhodium prices 
has boosted the basket price markedly, which has been very welcome 
in the face of soggy platinum prices. The volatility in the Rand, with its 
tendency towards weakness in comparison to the Dollar, also boosted 
our bottom line.

12

Sylvania PlatinumABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARY INFORMATION

“What goes up (palladium 
and rhodium prices) can 
also come down as fast!”

I	anticipate	another	year	of	hard	work	and	identified	operational	
challenges will continue to be addressed. For those that may crop up 
beyond our control, I have full faith that Management will again lead 
the Company to further success. Our aim will be to maintain SDO 
performance	with	efficient	cost	controls,	and	to	achieve	a	production	
guidance of around 74,000 ounces to 76,000 ounces for FY2020.

THANKS

As always, I must thank you, the shareholder, for constantly keeping 
your Board on their toes (particularly in the market and political 
climate in which we operate). I also thank our host mine without 
which we may not exist. Another big thanks to our Management team 
and employees for their innovation and dedication, and for powering 
us through what has been a year of ups and downs. I also thank 
my fellow Board members for your contributions and sage advice 
throughout the past year.

Stuart Murray
Chairman

13

While platinum is forecast to make a modest recovery on the back 
of a rise in investor activity, autocatalyst consumption recovery 
and legislative changes in China and India, power supply issues and 
industrial activity have a major impact on a potential outcome and 
thus, once again, we are at the mercy of elements outside of our 
control. Palladium, however, is again expected to rise as a result of 
an increase in automotive consumption although rhodium prices may 
expect a moderate rise as market fundamentals stabilise following a 
release from pipeline inventories.  

All-in-all you can expect much of the same from the Company in 
FY2020: we will continue to keep costs controlled and remain debt-
free as well as remain cash-positive. There are clouds on the horizon 
in automotive markets – China trade wars, Brexit, and such mean 
that we will remain with our conservative views of metals prices and 
revenue generation potential. What goes up (palladium and rhodium 
prices) can also come down as fast!

FUTURE PLANS

Moving forward into FY2020, your Board and Management will 
remain proactive in their approach to the power and water shortages 
discussed above, which require further mitigation not only to resolve 
present constraints but to avoid any future occurrences. In terms of 
the market and our political environment, nothing really changes – we 
will keep focusing on tight operational discipline and creating value 
from existing sources.

The Company will continue to explore the possibilities of adding new 
resources to the SDO. Potential additional shafts and projects at 
our host mines may materialise, which in turn may lead to increased 
output and additional life extension. The possibility is embryonic at 
present but your Board and Management will keep you apprised of 
any developments.

Annual Report 2019CEO’S REVIEW

“We expect the resultant ounces from 
capital projects to be sustainable in 
the coming financial years”

Terry McConnachie 
Chief	Executive	Officer

The year under review has been one of 

peaks and troughs. The SDO started off in Q1 

FY2019, achieving the second highest quarterly 

production in the history of the Company, with 

a dip of lower production during the middle of 

the year followed by Q4 FY2019’s all-time record 

quarterly production. 

Mostly due to matters outside of our control, Q2 and Q3 were 
challenging	and	resulted	in	lower	production	volumes	and	efficiencies.	
In particular, the water shortages at our Western operations, and 
power infrastructure and supply disruptions at our Eastern operations, 
as well as community disruptions associated with social unhappiness, 
culminated in unexpected and unplanned disruptions and downtime, 
impacting negatively on production. The Board and Management, 
at this time, thought it prudent to revise annual guidance to 72,000 
ounces for the year in the Q3 announcement, which still required 
record quarterly production in Q4. I am pleased to say that the 
management and operations teams took this challenge on board and 
the operations were thus able to set new quarterly and annual ounce 
production records for Q4 and FY2019. 

We are beginning to see the results from the MF2 modules at Millsell, 
Doornbosch, commissioned during FY2018, and the most recent 
module at Mooinooi, which was commissioned at the end of Q3, as 
well as other optimisation projects rolled out during the year. We 
expect the resultant ounces from these projects to be sustainable in 
the	coming	financial	years.

With	the	increase	in	the	gross	ZAR	basket	price	over	the	financial	
year, and continued cost controls in place, the Company was able 
to continue to internally fund our Project Echo MF2 modules and 
expansion projects, and to grow its cash holding year-on-year.  An 
unavoidable	reality	of	an	increase	in	profit,	as	mentioned	by	your	
Chairman, is the payment of tax in the country of operation, which 
has a knock-on effect on our ability to continue to fund new projects 
as well as declare the payment of a large dividend.  The Board and 

Management however will continue to maintain tight cost controls so 
as to maintain our strong cash holding with no debt. As announced 
previously, the Company has extinguished our historical pipeline 
finance,	but	still	has	access	to	this	facility	should	the	Company	
encounter any complications outside of its control in the future.

As was mentioned by your Chairman and alluded to in the previous 
Annual Report, the Company continues with an R&D joint-operation 
programme	and	has,	during	the	financial	year,	conducted	extensive	
pilot	work	on	the	pelletising	of	chrome	fines	with	the	opportunity	
to	convert	chrome	ore	fines	to	pellets	for	current	output	and	for	
third parties. As the basic piloting has concluded, engineering will 
be	progressed	to	firm	up	a	business	case	in	the	coming	year	with	a	
possible view to adding a new business line to the Company. 

The	2019	operational,	financial	and	corporate	results	can	be	
summarised as follows.

OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE

The SDO delivered the sixth consecutive year of record production 
of	72,090	ounces	in	the	2019	financial	year,	including	record	quarterly	
production of 21,789 ounces in the fourth quarter. The SDO thus 
met the revised guidance, as communicated in Q3 FY2019, of 
72,000	ounces	for	the	financial	year.	

The increase in annual production for FY2019 can be attributed to a 
3% increase in PGM plant recovery with PGM tons treated marginally 
lower and PGM feed grade remaining fairly stable year-on-year. The 
improvement	in	PGM	recovery	efficiencies	is	due	to	a	combination	
of the contribution from MF2 plants at Millsell and Doornbosch for 
the full year, compared to only six months since commissioning in 
FY2018, as well as process improvements at Tweefontein. Although 
the feed head grade decreased marginally by 2% in comparison with 
the	last	financial	year,	due	to	the	erratic	grade	during	the	re-mining	of	
the Doornbosch tailings dump, which reached its end of life, as well 
as the receipt of lower current arisings than expected from the host 
mine, the PGM feed grade was marginally higher after being upgraded 
during	classification.	In	order	to	mitigate	lower	front-end	feed	grades,	
Doornbosch began mining the new million-ton tailings dam during 
Q4 and current arisings from the host mine improved after repairs 
and improvements to their circuits. Management also began the 

14

Sylvania Platinum 
ABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARY INFORMATION

“Utility infrastructure and supply 
of power continued to present 
Ura conos, conesi es faci iam ignatraed 
conlos, omplicae quam pulia virte, dem 
challenges to the operations and 
movesturei te, nost viverem or labit L. 
execution of expansion projects 
throughout the year”

implementation of an optimised re-mining strategy, which utilises a 
hybrid mechanical-hydromining approach, deviating slightly from a 
pure hydromining approach, albeit at a similar cost.

The SDO cash cost increased by 8% in ZAR (the functional currency) 
from ZAR6,969/ounce to ZAR7,548/ounce while the USD cash cost 
decreased marginally to $532/ounce against $543/ounce in FY2018. 
The	increase	in	ZAR	terms	was	primarily	driven	by	above-infl	ation	
electricity rate increases, negotiated operational labour wage 
increases,	and	higher	re-mining	costs	associated	with	the	fi	nal	dump	
fl	oor-cleaning	and	re-mining	challenges	at	Doornbosch	during
the year.

Utility infrastructure and supply of power continued to present 
challenges to the operations and execution of expansion projects 
throughout the year. As highlighted in my report for FY2018, 
delays in the roll-out of the Project Echo MF2 at Tweefontein, 
due to power constraints, were counteracted by fast-tracking the 
module at Mooinooi. The Mooinooi Project Echo MF2 module was 
commissioned earlier than planned, at the end of Q3, which assisted in 
boosting PGM feed grades and ounces. It is expected to improve even 
more as the module is optimised.

Unfortunately, operations on the West were also hindered due to 
abnormal summer heat and drought conditions, which resulted in 
water shortages at some plants. Lesedi, in particular, where there is 
no current arisings feed source or tails slurry from a host mine, at 
present, was severely impacted. The plant could therefore only treat 
52% of its planned treatment tonnage during Q2. To alleviate the 
impact, further boreholes were drilled and a water transfer scheme 
was implemented from neighbouring operations, which helped to 
improve supply during H2. Additional boreholes are being drilled 
in consultation with water and environmental experts, and process 
options continue to be explored to minimise consumption, which 

could assist in mitigating any future impact on availability that the 

operations may face moving forward.

The relocation of our redundant Steelpoort chrome circuit to Lesedi, 

identifi	ed	during	FY2018	as	an	opportunity	to	improve	chrome	

removal	ahead	of	fl	otation,	which	will	enable	higher	PGM	feed,	was	

completed and commissioning of this new section started in June 

2019. It will further contribute to higher PGM feed grades and ounce 

production	in	the	coming	fi	nancial	year.				

Project Echo is still progressing well with the Millsell and Doornbosch 

MF2 modules in operation since early 2018 and Mooinooi MF2 

commissioned at the end of Q3 FY2019, earlier than expected. 

Tweefontein MF2 is the next module to be executed but construction 

depends on completion of an infrastructure upgrade by the national 

power utility to ensure stable and reliable power supply to the host 

mine and Sylvania’s operation. The upgrade by the power utility has 

begun and is expected to commission by FY2020. 

As such, in order to maintain a stable production 
profi le going forward, the Sylvania SDO will 
continue with

• the chrome circuit at Lesedi

•  the improved PGM fi nes classifi cation circuits that were 

implemented at Millsell, Doornbosch and Tweefontein to 
enable more effi cient upgrading of PGMs

• Project Echo

Annual Report 2019

15

CEO’S REVIEWcontinued

It is believed that adequate 
management systems, structures 
and controls are in place to comply 
with the relevant safety standards 
and legislation in terms of tailings 
dam operations”

HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT

The Company continues to focus on health, safety and environmental 
compliance and, through the collaborative efforts of Management 
and all employees across the operations, we strive to maintain high 
safety standards and a safe working environment at all operations. The 
combined efforts of Management and employees have resulted in a 
good	safety	performance,	without	signifi	cant	health	or	environmental	
incidents during the year. 

Our Lesedi operation achieved eight years lost time injury (LTI)-free 
during	the	fi	nal	quarter	of	the	fi	nancial	year	while	Tweefontein	and	
Doornbosch remain LTI-free for seven years. Lannex and Millsell 
have remained LTI-free for more than four years, but Mooinooi 
unfortunately recorded one LTI in June 2019 when an artisan suffered 
a laceration on his upper leg, caused by the sharp edge of a structure, 
during a lifting operation.

is compliant with the legal framework of South Africa, which is well 
aligned with international best practice. It is believed that adequate 
management systems, structures and controls are in place to comply 
with the relevant safety standards and legislation in terms of tailings 
dam operations.

Besides existing reviews and monitoring and control measures 
that are already in place, Sylvania has also implemented additional 
independent audits and review processes to evaluate legal compliance 
and	operational	preparedness	in	terms	of	some	specifi	c	tailings	dam	
related emergencies, and the Group will continue to assess its safety 
procedures moving forward.

Due to the additional tailings dam safety measures, as well as 
the increasing environmental legislative requirements, the capital 
requirement for new tailings dam facilities has been impacted and 
remains	a	signifi	cant	area	of	focus	for	the	Company.

Throughout the year, the iron ore industry in Brazil experienced 
some major tailings-dam related incidents. As a result, the Company 
reviewed its own safety procedures relating to tailings dam 
management during the period. Sylvania fully acknowledge the risk 
around any tailings dams.  As such, our tailings dam operation strategy 
is	therefore	aligned	to	conform	with	an	acceptable	risk	profi	le	and	

In terms of the social environment, mining companies continue 
to deal with increasing community expectations and demands in 
terms of procurement opportunities and access to dump resources. 
This is often associated with threats of violence and intimidation 
at operations, and the Company will continue to engage with the 
relevant community structures and authorities to minimise this.

16

Sylvania Platinum

ABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARY INFORMATION

Basic earnings per share (US cents)

Group EBITDA ($000)

s
t
n
e
c

S
U

8

6

4

2

0

6.37

3.83

FY2018

FY2019

FY2018

FY2019

22,206

30,242

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

The Group generates revenues in USD and incurs costs in 

ZAR, USD and GBP. The average USD:ZAR exchange rate was 

ZAR14.19:$1 against the ZAR12.82:$1 recorded in the previous 

period, and the spot was ZAR14.12:$1 at 30 June 2019.

The	average	gross	basket	price	for	PGMs	in	the	fi	nancial	year

was $1,277/ounce – a 13% increase on the previous year’s

$1,135/ounce. The improvement in the basket price, assisted by 

the record ounce production, resulted in a 12% increase in net 

revenue from the previous year (FY2019: $70.5 million;

FY2018: $62.8 million).

Although the platinum and palladium prices fell in the second half 

of the year, the SDO PGM basket was such that the Company 

benefi	ted	from	the	higher	rhodium	price,	which	is	carried	

through to the basket price. 

Revenue on 4E ounces delivered increased by 16% in dollar terms 

to $60.5 million year-on-year. Revenue from by-products added 

$6.5 million to the total revenue for the year.

Group cash cost decreased marginally by 2% year-on-year from 

$567/ounce (ZAR7,274/ounce) to $556/ounce (ZAR7,885/ounce). 

Operating costs increased 10% in ZAR (the functional currency) 

from ZAR495.4 million to ZAR544.4 million attributable to 

above-infl	ation	electricity	rate	increases,	negotiated	operational	

labour wage increases, and higher re-mining costs associated 

with	the	fi	nal	dump	fl	oor-cleaning	and	re-mining	challenges	

at Doornbosch during the year. General and administrative 

All-in sustaining costs (AISC) increased by 2% to $578/ounce 
(ZAR8,201/ounce) from $565/ounce (ZAR7,245/ounce) as a 
result of the increase in operational costs, and All-in costs (AIC) 
of 4E increased by 3% to $672/ounce (ZAR9,534/ounce) from 
$655/ounce (ZAR8,406/ounce) recorded in the previous period, 
due to the increase in capital spend. 

Group EBITDA improved 36% year-on-year to $30.2 million. 
The taxation expense for the year was $6.2 million (as per the 
statement	of	profi	t	or	loss	and	other	comprehensive	income	and	
includes deferred taxation movements) and depreciation of
$6.5 million.

The	Group	net	profi	t	for	the	year	was	$18.2	million,	a	66%	
improvement on the previous year.

Capital expenditure was incurred in ZAR and was mainly spent 
on the Mooinooi Project Echo MF2 module and the Lesedi 
Chrome Section. The balance of the capital spend was on 
stay-in-business and optimisation projects. The total spend for 
the year was ZAR117.7 million (FY2018: ZAR101.5 million). The 
total spend on Project Echo to date is ZAR139.3 million of the 
ZAR175.0 million budget.

Basic earnings per share (EPS) improved 66% to 6.37 US cents 
per share from 3.83 US cents per share in FY2018.

Cash generated from operations before working capital 
movements was $29.9 million with net changes in working capital 
resulting	in	a	reduction	of	$5.3	million.	Net	fi	nance	income	
amounted to $0.9 million and $8.1 million was paid in income 
taxes during the year.

costs are incurred in USD, GBP and ZAR and are impacted by 

exchange	rate	fl	uctuations	over	the	reporting	period.	These	costs	

decreased 2% in the reporting currency year-on-year.

Major spend items included $0.3 million on exploration activities 
(FY2018: $0.4 million), $8.0 million on capital projects and stay-
in-business capital for the SDO plants (FY2018: $7.6 million).

Annual Report 2019

17

 
CEO’S REVIEWcontinued

The Company remains
debt-free with a cash balance 
of $21.8 million, allowing for 
continued funding of Project 
Echo and capital projects”

At corporate level, $1.3 million was paid out in dividends. An amount 

of $0.6 million was withdrawn from the investment, relating to the 

rehabilitation guarantees, and was transferred to an insurance facility 

for these guarantees.

The	impact	of	exchange	rate	fl	uctuations	on	cash	held	at	year	end	was	

a $0.04 million loss (FY2018: $1.1 million loss).

The Company remains debt-free with a cash balance of $21.8 million, 

allowing for continued funding of Project Echo and capital projects.  

For	more	details	on	the	fi	nancial	performance	of	the	Group,	please	

refer to the Directors’ Report and the accompanying consolidated 

annual	fi	nancial	statements.

MINERAL ASSET DEVELOPMENT AND OPENCAST 
MINING PROJECTS

The Company has continued to maintain the value of its mineral 

asset development activities during the year to be able to defend 

title. However, until market conditions improve, this will result in very 

limited spend.

VOLSPRUIT PLATINUM EXPLORATION

The Department of Mineral Resources has still not communicated 

any progress in the appeal lodged by interested and affected parties 

in June 2017 against the decision to grant a mining right application to 

the Company. The Member of the Executive Council for Economic 

Development, Environment and Tourism has also not communicated 

any further response about the appeal against the decision to refuse 

the Company’s application for an environmental authorisation. The 

Company’s environmental consultants are following up regularly on 

this outstanding matter.

GRASVALLY CHROME EXPLORATION

Following the appointment of consultants to assist with the sale of 

Grasvally, the Board is pleased to advise that a conditional cash offer 

from Forward Africa Mining (Pty) Ltd (FAM) to acquire 100% of the 

shares in and claims against Grasvally Chrome Mine (Pty) Ltd for 

a total consideration of ZAR115.0 million, settled in cash or other  

available funds was received.  FAM will have eight months from the 

date	of	acceptance	of	the	offer	to	fulfi	l	standard	conditions	precedent	

and the Company will keep shareholders apprised of

these developments.

The Company reported, in the FY2018 Annual Report that the 

mining right for the project had been granted just before the close 

of the reporting period. Execution and registration of the right was 

concluded during H1 FY2019. 

18

Sylvania Platinum

ABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARY INFORMATION

NORTHERN LIMB PROJECTS

There has been no further development of the Northern Limb 
Projects	during	the	last	financial	year,	apart	from	that	which	is	
necessary to maintain compliance with the mining right and to 
defend title.

CORPORATE ACTIVITIES

DIVIDEND APPROVAL AND PAYMENT

During	the	first	quarter,	the	Company	announced	that	the 
Directors of Sylvania recommended the payment of a maiden cash 
dividend of 0.45 US cents (0.35 pence) per Ordinary Share of $0.01 
in the Company, which was approved by the shareholders at the 
Company’s AGM held in November 2018. The dividend was paid on 
30 November 2018.

The Board has furthermore recommended the payment of a cash 
dividend for FY2019 of 1.00 US cent (~0.78 pence) per Ordinary 
Share, payable in November 2019. 

While this might not be as much as some shareholders might have 
expected, it should be noted that this dividend is more than double 
that	of	last	year’s	dividend,	while	we	maintain	sufficient	cash	reserves	
in the business to grow and have a war chest available as cash reserve, 
in case of any unplanned or unexpected problems in the future. 

SHARE BUYBACKS AND CANCELLATION OF SHARES

One of the Company’s strategic goals is to return capital to 
shareholders and continue to review opportunities to do so, as and 
when they arise. 

At the conclusion of the Share Buyback Programme (the Programme) 
that	ran	during	the	last	financial	year	to	24	August	2018,	the	Company	
purchased a total of 2,407,481 Ordinary Shares at $0.01 from small 
non-UK based shareholders at a price of A$0.1619 per Ordinary 
Share, representing 57% of the shares on offer under the Programme.  

At the close of FY2018, shares in the Company were valued at 16.25 
pence per Ordinary Share and at the close of FY2019, this appreciated 
86% to 30.25 pence per Ordinary Share.

Subsequent to the conclusion of the Programme, the Company 
cancelled 892,257 Ordinary Shares remaining at the end of the 
Programme, as well as a further adjustment to shares held in treasury 
of 120,000 Ordinary Shares.

As announced during H1 FY2019, the Company also agreed to 
buy back 516,632 shares, held by a person discharging managerial 
responsibilities,	as	defined	by	the	Market	Abuse	Regulation,	at 
16.00 pence per Ordinary Share and these shares were 
cancelled immediately.

The Company announced in Q4 FY2019 that it proposed to acquire 
2,100,000 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.7% of the Company’s 
issued share capital, as part of a once-off buyback under the terms and 
authority of the Company’s Bye Laws.  This buyback was not taken up.

The	Board	has	made	a	decision	that,	in	order	to	fulfil	the	current	
shortfall in shares held in treasury to cover the bonus share awards 
of	4.2	million	shares,	which	vest	over	the	next	five	years,	an	offer	to	
acquire 30% of all shares held by employees, excluding Directors, will 
be made at the 30-Day volume-weighted average price (VWAP). This 
would equate to approximately 1.1 million shares should all employees 
holding shares take up the offer.  A further 3.1 million shares will be 
sought in the market.

THANK YOU AND OUTLOOK

I thank Management and the operations teams for assisting the 
Company in returning the results for FY2019, especially through the 
challenges faced during the past year. Due to the four-month payment 
agreement with our off-taker, the fourth quarter’s solid performance 
will contribute to an increase in our cash on hand during FY2020 
and, due to the evident results from our Project Echo and Capital 
Expansion projects, I am optimistic as we embark on FY2020.

I look forward to what FY2020 has in store, and to achieving our 
stated guidance of 74,000 to 76,000 ounces.

Terry McConnachie 
Chief	Executive	Officer

19

Annual Report 2019 
 
 
SUSTAINABILITY 

At Sylvania, the Board of Directors are committed to regular 
stakeholder engagement, and consider communication 
and interaction with all of our stakeholders as a means to 
identify shortcomings and implement strategies that address 
any issues should they arise.

STAKEHOLDER 
ENGAGEMENT

Our stakeholder engagement is presented in quarterly reports 
in the month following the quarter end, an interim report at the 
end of the fi rst half of the fi nancial year, including the half year 
fi nancial statements, as well as an annual report including the full 
year fi nancial statements. As and when management and our Board 
considers it material, information is announced to the public as 
soon as reasonably possible after a decision has been mandated in 
terms of the requirements of the Alternative Investment Market 
(AIM). The Board also conducts Investor Roadshows following the 
release of the Half Year and Annual Results. All of the presentations, 
announcements and reports are placed on the Company’s website 
where they are available to the public at any time. Whenever 
possible, shareholders’ queries are addressed via email although 
replies are limited by the availability of information that has already 
been shared with the public. In these communiqués, we stress that 
information will be released to the public as soon as it has been 
deemed signifi cant and shareholders are advised accordingly.

Monthly meetings with employees and Plant management are 
conducted around work-related issues and addressed according to 
Company mandates. Monthly and quarterly meetings are held with 
local communities on matters regarding unemployment, business 
opportunities, training and education, and the Company actively 
assists where the opportunity allows.

SAFETY AND HEALTH

The Company is focused on health, safety and environmental 
compliance and, through the collaborative efforts of management 
and all employees across the operations, we strive to maintain high 
safety standards and a safe working environment at all operations. 
The combined efforts of Management and employees have 
resulted in a good safety performance with no signifi cant health or 
environmental incidents during the year.

The Lesedi operation achieved eight years lost time injury (LTI)-free 
during the fi nal quarter of the fi nancial year while Tweefontein and 
Doornbosch remain LTI-free for seven years. Lannex and Millsell 
are LTI-free for more than four years but Mooinooi, unfortunately, 
had one LTI in June 2019 when an artisan suffered a laceration on his 
upper leg, caused by the sharp edge of a structure, during a
lifting operation. 

Throughout the year, the iron ore industry in Brazil experienced 
some major tailings-dam related incidents. As a result, the 
Company reviewed its own safety procedures relating to tailings-
dam management during the period. Besides existing reviews, 
and monitoring and control measures that are already in place, 
Sylvania has implemented additional independent audits and review 
processes to evaluate legal compliance and operational preparedness 
in terms of some specifi c tailings dam-related emergencies. The 
Group will continue to assess its safety procedures moving forward.

Due to the additional tailings-dam safety measures, as well as 
the increasing environmental legislative requirements, the capital 
requirement for new tailings-dam facilities has been impacted and 
remains a signifi cant area of focus for the Company.

In terms of the social environment, mining companies continue to 
deal with increasing community expectations and demands in terms 
of procurement opportunities as well as access to ore and dump 
resources. This is often associated with threats of violence and 
intimidation at operations. The Company will continue to engage 
with the relevant authorities in order to minimise this.

20

Sylvania Platinum

ABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARYINFORMATION

EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITIES

OUR APPROACH
The organisation’s human resource 
(HR) strategy follows our business 
strategy with key focus on 
performance and effi ciencies. Our 
employment policies, procedures 
and practices take into account and 
comply with the relevant labour 
legislation of South Africa. Our 
recruitment initiatives focus on local 
communities in areas surrounding 
our operations.

EMPLOYEES

At the end of FY2019, the company employee complement totalled 480. Wherever possible, 
employees and contractors are sourced from the local communities within the various 
operations. In all areas in which we operate, a representative workforce is a moral and 
legislative imperative for the organisation. Sylvania actively supports the Employment Equity 
Act, and has established structures in place to ensure all barriers to achieving diversity are 
identifi	ed	and	actions	are	in	place	to	combat	these.

The Company furthermore has negotiated Recognition Agreements with Organised Labour, 
which regulate the industrial relationship, and include consultation and negotiation. No strikes 
nor	lockouts	occurred	over	the	fi	nancial	year.	We	endeavour	to	maintain	peace	and	stability	
in our workforce at all times.

UPSKILLING

The Company implements a number of key programmes to build capacity and enhance 
skills development with a particular focus on youth. All training and development 
programmes are aligned with the Company’s strategic and operational goals. These include 
skills development, learnerships, internships, and supervisory and leadership development.

A number of training and development initiatives have been introduced to our staff. All 
the	training	programmes	are	credit-bearing	and	accredited	by	the	Mining	Qualifi	cations	
Authority (MQA). As an organisation, we are committed to the development of our staff 
and local communities. The organisation has an active Skills Development and Employment 
Equity Forum. The forum meets on a regular basis to address any skills and equity matters 
or any improvements that may be required.

A	total	of	201	employees	attended	training	over	the	fi	nancial	year.	A	large	portion	of	the	
training includes statutory health and safety development programmes.

LEARNERSHIPS
Sylvania has introduced a formal 
learnership programme that is 
specifi cally aimed at community 
members from the local areas in 
which the Company operates. 
The current programmes focus 
on enhancing skills in various 
fi elds, namely electrical and fi tting. 
The programmes will run over a 
12-month period. The fi rst candidates 
began courses in May 2019.

INTERNSHIP AND EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMMES
In support of our social drive among local communities, we introduced opportunities for internships and workplace 
experience. The internships will run over a 12-month period. The fi rst candidates began the programme in May 2019.

COMMUNITIES

Ongoing engagement with local communities is necessary to understand, manage and respond to community concerns and expectations.
As a Company, we regularly support various local development projects approved by our host mine.

During the last fi nancial year, Sylvania was involved in a number of community development programmes, including:

Feeding scheme

School uniform and equipment

Maintenance and 
construction wor

Other

The Company is 
assisting Itireleng 
Community Home-
Based Care with 
a monthly feeding 
scheme

The Company initiated a number of school care 
projects. These projects included:

•  Sponsorship of sporting equipment for the 

•  Financial assistance for 

maintenance at Rehlahleng 
Special School

Bokomoso community’s Youth Day celebration 
(Sylvania sponsored soccer kits, soccer balls, 
linesmen	fl	ags	and	refreshments	for	200	people)

•  Installation of a fence around 
the Rataneng Disabled and 
Old Age Home at Ribacross

•  New sports attire for the Steelpoort team’s tour

•  Masha Primary School (close to our Tweefontein 
operations) received donations for new school 
uniforms

•  Cleaning of the Magakantshe Primary School yard

•  Cement for the building of a 

local church

•  Maintenance and repair of the 
borehole and pump for the 
local Makgemeng community

•  Financial assistance for the 
repair of the Malekane 
community’s tribal 
authority vehicle

•  Sponsorship and installation 
of 10 benches at Ikemeleng 
Community Clinic

•  Sponsorship of 10 single 
beds, sheets, duvets, 
pillows and towels for 
Kopano Care Centre in 
Bapong

Annual Report 2019

21

SUSTAINABILITY 

continued

ENVIRONMENT

As the SDO operates within the environmental footprint 
of our host mine, we adhere to the culture and standards of 
their policies and practices at all times.

In the past fi nancial year, there have 
been no reportable environmental 
incidents, which is testament to 
the work ethos of the teams at the 
operations. The Company generates 
minimal hazardous waste due to the 
nature of the processing of the tailings, 
and waste removal is conducted by a 
contractor with the necessary permits 
to remove and transport hazardous 
waste to a designated landfi ll site.

All Sylvania plants form part of the integrated water 

reticulation circuits of their respective host mines. The 

fi gures listed below do not take any water consumption 

fi gures of the host mine into account. Water enters 

the Sylvania circuit through the current arisings it 

receives from the host mine, and it leaves the circuit 
through either its products (Cr2O3 concentrate or PGM 
concentrate) where it is lost to the process (consumed) 

– alternatively through the tailings stream. The tailings 

are deposited onto a tailings dam where most water is 

recovered into the return water dam and recirculated 

to the host mine process. Losses on the tailings dams 

take the form of evaporation into 

the atmosphere. Make-up water 

is derived from the dewatering 

of the host mine underground 

mining areas.

ALL SYLVANIA PLANTS TOTAL VOLUME OF WATER IN CUBIC METRES (m3)

Water consumed in products

Water deposited onto tailings dams

FY2019

62,000

12,067,000

FY2018

 72,060

11,807,000

FY2017

76,100

9,749,900

The	reduction	in	water	consumed	is	attributable	to	an	increase	in	slurry	density	of	the	fi	nal	PGM	concentrate.	The	increase	in	water	deposited	indicates	a	slight	increase	year-
on-year	due	to	the	increased	production	tonnage.

22

Sylvania Platinum

ABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARYINFORMATION

SYLVANIA METALS ENERGY CONSUMPTION

During the year, our electrical teams continued to endeavour to streamline the power supply process in the interests of the operations and
the environment.

AVERAGE POWER CONSUMPTION PER PLANT

Plant

Millsell

Mooinooi

Lannex

Doornbosch

Tweefontein

Lesedi

FY2019

FY2018

FY2017

Average 
kVA

Average 
kW

Power 
factor

Average 
kVA

Average 
kW

Power 
factor

Average 
kVA

Average 
kW

Power 
factor

1,750

3,430

1,810

2,710

1,720

1,320

1,680

3,210

1,390

2,050

1,490

950

0.96

0.94

0.77

0.76

0.87

0.72

1,870

2,750

1,640

2,690

1,820

1,160

1,850

2,710

1,250

2,100

1,480

840

0.99

0.98

0.76

0.78

0.81

0.72

1,760

2,700

1,230

1,140

1,710

–

1,290

2,550

1,050

1,050

1,480

–

0.73

0.94

0.85

0.92

0.87

–

The plants have been running fairly consistently except for the 

addition of the Project Echo MF2 module at Mooinooi.

The Mooinooi power factor has reduced slightly, awaiting the 

installation of additional capacitors in September 2019. This is due

to the increased load and installed capacitors running at maximum.

The new dedicated power supply at Millsell has resulted in a more 

reliable source with less outages. However, the return water system 

is still being supplied by the Council and outages are frequent – 

the supply will be re-routed to the same source as the plant in 

September 2019.

An increase in consumption at Lesedi is due to the additional spiral 

plant. The new mill, to be commissioned in August 2019, will result 

in an even higher load. However, power factor correction equipment 

will be installed in September 2019, which will vastly reduce the 

overall energy consumption as well as the cost of power as this plant 

is billed directly according to the national power utility rates and 

maximum demand is included.

Tweefontein and Lannex have been
co-generating electricity. Lannex 
is generating 12.6% of total power 
consumed. At Tweefontein, it is 9.6%. 
The Lannex co-generation will not be 
required after August 2019 when the 
new national power utility supply will be 
commissioned (three months later than 
planned). The new national power utility 
supply to Tweefontein, planned for January 
2020, will eliminate the requirement to 
co-generate power.

12.6%

Power factor correction equipment is planned for Lannex to 
further reduce the overall energy consumption of the mine.

Doornbosch plant consumption has been consistent but the 
mine is also experiencing power constraints from Eskom supply. 
The need may arise to co-generate power during peak periods. 
One generator has been refurbished and sent to the plant while 
a second is being planned. Power factor correction equipment 
is being investigated to reduce overall energy consumption.

Annual Report 2019

23

WE VALUE

HONESTY AND INTEGRITY

We act honestly and show integrity by continuously striving towards “doing
what we say we are going to do” and showing commitment towards our
accountabilities of delivering high performance outcomes, thus projecting 
an image of professionalism and meeting the expectations of our 
colleagues, investors, business partners and social partners

24

Sylvania Platinum

03 GOVERNANCE

Directors’ report

Corporate governance statement

26

34

Annual Report 2019

25

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

DIRECTORS

The	names	of	the	Directors	who	held	offi	ce	during,	or	since	the	end	of,	the	fi	nancial	year	and	until	the	date	

of this report, are as follows:

TM MCCONNACHIE

E CARR

RA WILLIAMS

SA MURRAY

Mr McConnachie has over 
40 years of experience in 
mining	and	benefi	ciation	
of ferroalloys and precious 
metals.  He was the founder 
of Merafe Resources 
Limited (formerly South 
African Chrome & Alloys 
Limited), a successful chrome 
mining company, black 
empowered and listed on the 
Johannesburg Stock Exchange 
(JSE).  Mr McConnachie’s 
strength lies in his ability to 
identify mining opportunities 
and has started many new 
green-fi	eld	operations	in	
gold, manganese, aluminium, 
graphite and tantalite. He has 
been CEO of a number of 
mining, mining services and 
smelting companies in
South Africa.

Ms Carr, who joined the Board of Sylvania 
Platinum Limited on 1 May 2015, is a 
Chartered	Certifi	ed	Accountant	with	an	MSc	
in Management from London University and is 
a SLOAN Fellow of London Business School.

Ms Carr has over 30 years of experience 
within the resources sector having worked 
worldwide on a host of large-scale mining 
operations. She was appointed Finance 
Director of Cluff Resources in 1993 and 
has, since that time, held several executive 
directorships in the resources sector, including 
CFO for Monterrico Metals plc, the AIM-
listed copper exploration company developing 
the	Rio	Blanco	project	in	Peru.	Her	fi	rst	
non-executive role was for Banro Corp in 
1998 and, more recently, she has been a 
non-executive director for Talvivaara Mining 
Co, the Finnish nickel company. Currently, Ms 
Carr is a non-executive director of Bacanora 
Lithium plc, Firestone Diamonds plc and 
Bunree Resource Management Ltd.

Special responsibilities
Chief	Executive	Offi	cer

Special responsibilities
Member of the Audit Committee

Mr Williams is a Chartered 
Accountant with over 20 
years’ international experience 
in	mining	fi	nance	and	holds	
an honours degree in French 
and Spanish. After joining 
Randgold Resources in 1997, 
he was appointed Group 
Finance Director in 2002.  Mr 
Williams went on to become 
Chief	Financial	Offi	cer	of	
JSE-listed AECI Limited. He 
has served on a number of 
boards in the mining and 
mining services sectors and 
is currently a non-executive 
director of Cradle Arc Plc, 
AfriTin Mining Limited and 
Digby Wells Environmental 
and part-time CFO of a 
privately-owned mining 
company.

Special responsibilities
Chairman of the Audit and 
Remuneration Committees

Mr Murray has over 25 years 
of executive experience in the 
Southern African platinum 
sector, commencing his career 
at	Impala	Platinum’s	Refi	neries	
in 1984. He held a number of 
positions at Impala Platinum, 
Rhodium Reefs Limited, 
Barplats, and Middelburg 
Steel and Alloys, before 
joining Aquarius Platinum 
Limited in 2001 as Chief 
Executive	Offi	cer,	holding	
that position until 2012. He is 
a non-executive director of 
Talvivaara Mining Company 
Plc, the former Finnish nickel 
miner, and Deputy Chairman 
and Managing Director of 
Luiri Gold Limited.

Special responsibilities
Independent Non-executive 
Chairman of the Board

Member of the
Remuneration Committee

26

Sylvania Platinum

ABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARY INFORMATION

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

For full biography on senior management go to 
www.sylvaniaplatinum.com

JJ PRINSLOO 

L CARMINATI 

AJJ JORDAAN

AF DE VOS

Special responsibilities
Managing Director 
Sylvania Metals (Pty) Limited

Special responsibilities
Executive	Offi	cer:	Finance

Special responsibilities
Executive	Offi	cer:
New Business

Special responsibilities
Legal and Commercial Adviser

INFORMATION
ON DIRECTORS

Your Directors present their report on the consolidated 
entity (the Group) consisting of Sylvania Platinum Limited 
(the Company or Sylvania) and the entities it controlled 
at	the	end	of,	or	during,	the	fi	nancial	year	ended	30	
June 2019. Sylvania is a limited company incorporated 
and domiciled in Bermuda. Unless otherwise stated, the 
consolidated	fi	nancial	information	contained	in	this	report	
is presented in USD.

DIVERSITY OF THE BOARD

Directors by gender

Senior management by gender

1Female

3Male

1Female

3Male

COMPANY SECRETARY
The Company Secretary role is held by Conyers Corporate 
Services (Bermuda) Limited (previously known as Codan 
Services Limited) and they are assisted by Ms Carr. 

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES
The principal activity of the Group is the extraction of PGMs from chrome 
dumps and current arisings, as well as investment in mineral exploration. 
Further information is provided in the CEO’s review.

Annual Report 2019

27

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

continued

BUSINESS REVIEW

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

Risk management is the responsibility of all employees, 
guided by the Board of Directors and Audit Committee. 
Sylvania	is	subject	to	a	variety	of	risks,	with	specific	focus	on	
those relating to the mining and exploration industry. Senior 
Management undertakes on-going risk assessments to identify 
and consider major internal and external risks to the business 
model	of	the	Group.		Risks	identified	are	linked	to	the	Group	
deliverables in order to ensure continuous mitigation of these 
risks, which is aligned with corporate strategic objectives.

Sustained resources

Capital management

Cyber security

  Risk and impact

  Risk and impact

  Risk and impact

Cyber threats are growing rapidly as the 
digital landscape grows. These range from 
business interruptions, data breaches to 
cyber fraud and ransomware. A cyber 
incident could be malicious or unintentional, 
but the impact can be the same. 

  Mitigation

Management and the Board are committed 
to understanding the risk by performing 
cyber vulnerability assessments and 
managing cyber risk through investment in 
innovative cybersecurity. Focus is placed on 
educating employees as to the risks as well 
as physical security measures. 

It is essential that the selection of projects 
on which to spend the limited capital that 
is available, must provide investors with the 
required returns and strategic outcomes. 
Incorrect decision making and large capital 
overruns	could	have	a	significant	impact	on 	
the sustainability of the Group. 

  Mitigation

Detailed analysis and due diligence are 
performed on all potential capital projects 
and are only considered where the Internal 
Rate of Return (IRR) is at least 20%.

Any capital expansion projects are funded 
out of surplus cash and/or available pipeline 
finance.	Any	major	development	capital	for	
the exploration projects remains on hold 
until	the	market	improves	significantly	and	
will be reassessed by the Board on an on-
going basis.

The retreatment of dump material has 
a	finite	life	and	the	processing	of	current	
arisings alone is not sustainable. It is essential 
for the long-term continuation of the SDO 
that additional feed material is found and 
committed to the plants.

  Mitigation

The majority of operations have dump 
resources which will still provide several years 
of production. The risk is partly mitigated by 
the addition of current arisings from the host 
mines which are fed through the SDO. These 
feed sources will be available to the Group 
for the life of the mine and are currently 
not at risk. The expansion project (Project 
Echo) is expected to extend the life of the 
SDO and maintain ounce production for the 
coming years. Technologies and production 
improvements for optimisation and improved 
efficiencies	are	investigated	and	implemented	
where	considered	beneficial.

Opportunities to acquire additional 
resources and the ability to expand the life of 
the SDO are being investigated continuously 
by the Board and Senior Management.  The 
Board is also undertaking research and 
development in other areas and commodities 
in order to diversify the business model.

“The risk is partly mitigated by the addition of current arisings 
from the host mines which are fed through the SDO”

28

Sylvania PlatinumABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARY INFORMATION

Outlined below are details of the principal risk factors that the Board feel 
may affect the performance of the Group. The risks described below are 
not exhaustive and do not take into account risks the Board is unaware 
of. Risks considered to be immaterial are not detailed below.

The risks below are not presented in any order of priority.

Failure to attract and  
retain key staff

Country and 
Infrastructure Risk

Commodity price and 
exchange rate fluctuations

  Risk and impact

  Risk and impact

  Risk and impact

The Group relies on a small team of 
experienced	professionals	with	specific	skills	
for its success. The loss of key personnel 
and the failure to attract appropriate 
employees may cause disruption to 
the business.

  Mitigation

In order to reduce this risk, key employees 
have been given longer notice periods 
and bonus share awards are made at the 
discretion of the Board. Succession planning 
also features on the agenda at Board and 
Remuneration Committee meetings.

The Group’s operations are all in South 
Africa.  The mining labour environment, 
socio-economic environment as well 
as community unrest in South Africa 
continues to be a concern for the sector in 
general.  Reliance on third party providers 
for the availability and access to power 
and water are also limiting factors in the 
areas in which the Company operates. 
In addition, the regulatory, political and 
legal environment in which the Company 
operates poses risks and challenges to 
the sustainability of the mining industry 
in South Africa, and therefore impact the 
sustainability of the Company.

  Mitigation

Directors and Management place great 
emphasis on maintaining constructive 
relations with labour and communities 
through ongoing communication, 
engagement and awareness within the 
footprint of which the Group operates. 
At operations where power has been 
identified	as	a	potential	risk	to	plant	
uptime, alternative power sources have 
been installed where possible. In order 
to reduce the impact of water shortages, 
operations have drilled boreholes and 
identified	alternate	water	sources.	The	
Board monitors the political environment 
and regulatory changes closely, considers 
the impact on the Company and takes the 
necessary action when required. 

29

Metal prices are subject to high levels of 
volatility and are impacted by a number of 
factors that are outside of the control of the 
Board and Management. Cash generation 
and	profitability	of	the	Group	is	linked	to	
the PGM price and the USD/ZAR exchange 
rate. The platinum price has remained under 
pressure	during	the	financial	year	impacting	
the basket price. However, the palladium 
and rhodium prices have kept the basket 
price stable. The Group reports in and 
generates revenues in USD, however the 
operational costs and capital expenditure 
are incurred in ZAR.

  Mitigation

The Board and management constantly 
monitor the market in which the Group 
operates.	Long	term	financial	planning	
is undertaken on a regular basis and 
production is focussed on the extraction 
of low cost ounces. Operational costs are 
carefully monitored and managed. Cost 
saving strategies are investigated and 
reviewed regularly. 

“The platinum price 
has remained under 
pressure during the 
financial year impacting 
the basket price”

Annual Report 2019DIRECTORS’ REPORT

continued

$/oz

$ 000

ZAR/oz

$/oz

$ 000

$ 000

$ 000

$ 000

$ 000

$ 000

$ 000

$ 000

$ 000

$ 000

t

oz

%

$ 000

$ 000

$ 000

2018 ± % change

2019

1,277

70,538

7,885

556

25,683

(2,003)

24,394

30,242

29,928

(5,349)

694

(8,093)

7,810

21,797

1,135

62,769

7,274

567

17,512

(2,036)

16,101

22,206

22,879

(4,536)

584

(4,055)

(221)

14,026

2,328,352

2,302,560

72,090

49%

8,042

253

8,295

71,026

48%

7,549

363

7,912

13%

12%

8%

-2%

47%

-2%

52%

36%

31%

18%

19%

100%

3,634%

55%

1%

1.5%

3%

7%

-30%

5%

impacted	by	exchange	rate	fluctuations	over	the	reporting	period.
These costs decreased 2% year-on-year in the reporting currency.

Mining and income tax 

Income	tax	paid	for	the	financial	year	amounted	to	ZAR114.9	million	
compared	to	ZAR61.7	million	for	the	previous	financial	year,	as	a	result	
of	increased	taxable	profits	at	the	operations	and	after	mining	capital	
allowances.	Income	tax	is	paid	in	ZAR	on	taxable	profits	generated	at	
the South African operations.

GROUP FINANCIAL RESULTS

RESULTS FOR THE YEAR

Gross basket price

Net Revenue

Group cash cost

Group cash cost

Gross	profit

General administration costs

Profit	before	income	tax	expense

Group EBITDA

Cash generated from operations (before working capital changes)

Changes in working capital

Net	finance	income	received

Taxation paid

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

Production

Plant feed

Total 3E and Au

PGM plant recovery

Capital expenditure 

Property, plant and equipment 

Exploration and evaluation assets

Total capital expenditure

Net Revenue

Net Revenue increased 12% year-on-year mainly due to the higher 
gross basket price of $1,277/ounce against $1,135/ounce recorded in 
the prior year.

Operating costs

Operating costs for the Group increased 8% year-on-year to 
ZAR7,885/ounce compared to ZAR7,274/ounce in the previous 
year. Although the SDO produced slightly more ounces, the water 
shortages at Lesedi plant resulted in lower production and high 
operating costs at this operation which pushed the cost per ounce 
higher than the prior year. The all-in sustaining cost (AISC) for 
the Group was ZAR8,201/ounce and an all-in cost (AIC) of  
ZAR9,534/ounce	for	the	financial	year,	of	which	ZAR1,284/ounce	is	
attributable to the capital expenditure on Project Echo and plant 
optimisation. This compares to the AISC and AIC for 30 June 2018 of 
ZAR7,245/ounce and ZAR8,406/ounce respectively.

General and administration

These costs relate mainly to listing costs, share registry costs, 
advisory and public relations costs and consulting fees. General and 
administrative costs are incurred in USD, GBP and ZAR and are 

30

Sylvania Platinum 
ABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARY INFORMATION

Profit

Share buybacks and cancellation of shares

The	consolidated	profit	before	tax	of	the	Group	at	30	June	2019	was	

$24.4 million (FY2018: $16.1 million), a 52% improvement on the prior 

year. Strict cost controls at the operations and the increased revenue 

contributed	to	the	increase	in	profits.	Group	EBITDA	improved	36%	

to $30.2 million.

Capital

Capital	spend	increased	during	the	current	financial	year	from	

ZAR101.5 million ($7.9 million) in the prior year to ZAR117.7 million 

($8.3 million). The Group capital expenditure increased as a result of 

the third Project Echo module being completed and commissioned 

during the reporting period at a cost of ZAR42.2 million and 

the	new	chrome	beneficiation	circuit	commissioned	at	Lesedi	

(ZAR20.9 million). The balance of the capital spend was on PGM grade 

and recovery optimisation initiatives and stay in business capital (SIB).

Cash

The cash balance at 30 June 2019 was $21.8 million, including 

$1.0	million	in	financial	guarantees	(FY2018:	$14.0	million).	Cash	

generated from operations before working capital movements was 

$29.9 million, with net changes in working capital resulting in a 

reduction	of	$5.3	million.	Net	finance	income	amounted	to 

$0.9 million and $8.1 million was paid in income taxes during the year. 

Major spend items include $0.3 million spent on exploration activities 

(FY2018: $0.4 million), $8.0 million on capital projects and SIB for the 

SDO plants (FY2017: $7.6 million). At a corporate level, $1.3 million 

was paid out in dividends. An amount of $0.6 million was withdrawn 

from the investment relating to the rehabilitation guarantees and was 

transferred to an insurance facility for these guarantees. The impact of 

exchange	rate	fluctuations	on	cash	held	at	year	end	was	$0.04	million	

loss (FY2018: $1.1 million loss).

For more details on the financial performance of the Group, 

please refer to the financial statements.

One of the Company’s strategic goals is on returning capital to 
shareholders and continue to review opportunities to do so as and 
when they arise. At the conclusion of the Share Buyback Programme 
that	ran	during	the	last	financial	year	to	24	August	2018,	the	Company	
purchased a total of 2,407,481 $0.01 Ordinary Shares from small non-
UK based shareholders at a price of A$0.1619 per Ordinary Share, 
representing 57% of the shares on offer under the Programme. 

Subsequent to the conclusion of the Programme, the Company 
cancelled 892,257 Ordinary Shares remaining at the end of the 
Programme, as well as a further adjustment to shares held in treasury 
of 120,000 Ordinary Shares.

As announced during H1 FY2019, the Company also agreed to 
buy back 516,632 shares, held by a person discharging managerial 
responsibilities	(PDMR)	as	defined	by	the	Market	Abuse	Regulation	
(MAR), at 16.00 pence per Ordinary Share and these were 
cancelled immediately.

The Company announced in Q4 FY2019 that it proposed to acquire 
2,100,000 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.7% of the Company’s 
issued share capital, as part of a once-off buyback under the terms 
and authority of the Company’s Bye Laws. This buyback offer was not 
taken up.

The	Board	has	made	a	decision	that	in	order	to	fulfil	the	current	
shortfall in shares held in treasury to cover the bonus share awards 
of	4.2	million	shares,	which	vest	over	the	next	five	years,	an	offer	to	
acquire 30% of all shares held by employees, excluding Directors, will 
be made at the 30-Day VWAP.  This would equate to approximately 
1.1 million shares should all employees holding shares take up the 
offer.  A further 3.1 million shares will be sought in the market.

As at 30 June 2019, the Company’s issued share capital is 289,724,772 
Ordinary Shares, of which a total of 4,209,635 Ordinary Shares are 
held in treasury. Therefore, the total number of Ordinary Shares with 
voting rights in Sylvania is 285,515,137.

Likely developments and expected results

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS AND EXPLORATION

A detailed review of operations and exploration activities has been 

included in the CEO’s review. 

Additional comments on production forecasts and operating cash 
costs are included in the operational performance and outlook section 
in the CEO’s review.

CORPORATE MATTERS

Dividend Approval and Payment

During	the	first	quarter,	the	Company	announced	that	the 

Directors of Sylvania recommended the payment of a maiden 

cash dividend of 0.45 US cents (0.35 pence) per Ordinary Share of 

$0.01 in the Company, which was approved by the shareholders at the 

Company’s AGM held in November 2018. The dividend was paid on  

30 November 2018.

The Board has furthermore recommended the payment of a cash 

dividend for FY2019 of 1.00 US cent (~0.78 pence) per Ordinary 

Share, payable in November 2019. 

Environmental legislation

The	Group	is	subject	to	significant	environmental	legal	regulations	
in respect of its exploration and evaluation activities in South Africa.  
There	have	been	no	known	significant	breaches	of	these	regulations	
and principles by the Group.

Meetings of Directors

During	the	financial	year	under	review,	there	were	three	formal	
Directors’ meetings, a budget review meeting and a strategy session. 
All other matters that required formal Board resolutions were dealt 
with via written circular resolutions and through the holding of 
conference calls.  In addition, the directors met on an informal basis at 
regular intervals during the year to discuss the Group’s affairs.

31

Annual Report 2019DIRECTORS’ REPORT

continued

The number of formal meetings of the Group’s Board of Directors attended by each Director was:

Audit Committee 

Remuneration Committee 

Board Meetings

Meetings

Meetings

Number of 
meetings 
eligible to 

attend

Number of 

meetings 

attended

Number of 

meetings 

eligible to 

attend

Number of 

meetings 

attended

Number of 

meetings 

eligible to 

attend

Number of 

meetings 

attended

TM McConnachie

SA Murray

RA Williams

E Carr

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

–

–

4

4

–

–

4

4

–

1

1

–

–

1

1

–

Directors’ interest in shares and options 

The following relevant interests in the shares and options of the Company or related body corporate were held by the Directors as at the 
reporting date:

2018

TM McConnachie

SA Murray

RA Williams

Common 

Shares

5,015,000

1,000,000

1,067,000

Directors and key management personnel

The key management personnel of the Group are the Directors of the Company and those Executives that report directly to the Chief Executive 
Officer	or	as	determined	by	the	Board.		Details	of	directors	and	key	personnel	remuneration	is	as	follows:

Short Term Benefits

Cash salary/

Consulting fees 

$

Bonus1 
$

Directors’ fees 
$

Share-based 
payment

Equity shares/

share options2 
$

505,004

–

–

24,000
529,004

948,135
1,477,139

–

–

–

–
–

268,396
268,396

–

125,000

85,000

75,000
285,000

-
285,000

–

–

–

–
–

119,858
119,858

Total

$

505,004

125,000

85,000

99,000

814,004

1,336,389

2,150,393

Directors

TM McConnachie

SA Murray

RA Williams

E Carr

Sub-total

Other key management 
Total

1  Cash bonuses were awarded to Directors and key personnel based on individual performance.
2	 Share-based	payments	include	share	options	and	bonus	shares	granted	–	refer	to	note	27.	

32

Sylvania Platinum 
 
 
 
 
ABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARY INFORMATION

INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE 
OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

STATEMENT AS TO DISCLOSURE OF 
INFORMATION TO AUDITORS

The	Directors	who	were	in	office	on	the	date	of	approval	of	these	
financial	statements	have	confirmed,	as	far	as	they	are	aware,	that	
there is no relevant audit information of which the auditors are 
unaware.	Each	of	the	Directors	has	confirmed	that	they	have	taken	all	
the steps that they ought to have taken as Directors in order to make 
themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish 
that it has been communicated to the auditor.

During the year, the Company paid premiums in respect of a contract 
insuring	all	Directors	and	Officers	of	the	Company	against	liabilities	
incurred	as	Directors	or	Officers.	Due	to	confidentiality	clauses	in	
the contract the amount of the premium has not been disclosed. 
The	Company	has	no	insurance	policy	in	place	that	indemnifies	the	
Company’s auditors.

GOING CONCERN

Details	of	the	financial	and	operating	performance	and	cash	flows	of	
the Group are set out in the CEO’s review. In addition, the Group’s 
financial	risk	management	objectives	and	policies	are	detailed	in	note	
28 and available borrowing facilities are set out in note 16. After 
reviewing	the	financial	position,	operational	performance,	budgets	
and	forecasts	as	well	as	timing	of	cash	flows	and	sensitivity	analyses,	
the	Directors	are	satisfied	that	the	Company	and	the	Group	have	
adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the 
foreseeable	future.	It	is	for	this	reason	that	the	consolidated	financial	
statements have been prepared on the going concern basis.

EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD

A conditional cash offer was received on 16 August 2019 from 
Forward Africa Mining (Pty) Ltd to purchase Grasvally Chrome Mine 
(Pty) Ltd for ZAR115,000,000.

“After reviewing the financial position, 

operational performance, budgets and 

forecasts as well as timing of cash flows 

and sensitivity analyses, the Directors 

Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Directors.

are satisfied that the Company and 

the Group have adequate resources to 

continue in operational existence for 

the foreseeable future”

TM McConnachie 
Chief	Executive	Officer

30 August 2019

33

Annual Report 2019 
CORPORATE 
GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 

1

3

2

4

INTRODUCTION

The Company is quoted on AIM, and in 

accordance with the AIM Rules for Companies 

(the AIM Rules), has elected to adopt the 

Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA) Corporate 

Governance Code 2018 for Smaller Companies. In 

accordance with the AIM Rules this was adopted 

and implemented from September 2018, and is 

disclosed on the Company’s website: 

The Board comprises four members being the independent non-
executive Chairman, two independent non-executive Directors, and 
one Executive Director. It is important that the Board has the right 
mix of skills and experience to deliver on the strategy of the Company. 
The details of the Board members are outlined in the Director’s 
report. There is a clear division of responsibilities at the head of the 
Group through the separation of the positions of Chairman and the 
Chief	Executive	Officer.

THE BOARD CURRENTLY COMPRISES:

1

SA Murray

Independent Non-executive Chairman

2

TM McConnachie

Chief	Executive	Officer

3

RA Williams

Independent Non-executive Director

4

E Carr

Independent Non-executive Director

The	Board	met	five	times	during	the	financial	year.	Three	formal 
Board meetings, one budget review meeting and one strategy meeting 
to review the current and future strategies on returning value to 
the shareholders.

The Board has not appointed a Senior Independent Director but 
intends to if and when it is appropriate to do so considering the 
Company’s size and stage.

http://www.sylvaniaplatinum.com/cg/cg_i.php

RISK ASSESSMENT

The Board is committed to maintaining the highest standards of 
corporate governance throughout its operations and to ensuring that 
all	of	its	practices	are	conducted	transparently,	ethically	and	efficiently.	
The Company believes that scrutinising all aspects of its business and 
reflecting,	analysing	and	improving	its	procedures	will	result	in	the	
continued success of the Company and improve shareholder value.

The Board undertakes on-going risk assessment to identify and 
consider major internal and external risks to the business model of the 
Group, including future performance, solvency and liquidity. Principal 
risks and uncertainties are detailed in the Directors’ report.

The Board also reviews the Group’s ability to continue as a going 
concern on a regular basis.

The Company provides a summary of its current Corporate 
Governance Code compliance as guidance, as set out below: 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board’s role is to provide entrepreneurial leadership to the 
Group within a framework of prudent and effective controls which 
enables risk to be assessed and managed and is responsible for the 
proper management of the Company by developing, reviewing and 
approving the Company’s strategy, budgets and corporate actions. 
The Board sets the corporate and operational strategy and holds 
regular	Board	meetings	to	review	planning,	operational	and	financial	
performance. The Board is responsible for setting the Group’s values 
and standards and ensuring that its obligations to shareholders and 
others are met.

INTERNAL CONTROLS

The effectiveness of the internal controls is overseen by the Board and 
is operationally monitored by Management on various organisational 
levels.	The	Group’s	financial	control	function	is	responsible	for	
periodically testing the controls and overseeing the commitments 
entered into in connection with the operations of the Group.

The Group does not have a separate internal audit function to 
evaluate and test the operating procedures and processes relating to 
internal	controls,	but	has	engaged	an	independent	firm	to	assist	with	
this evaluation and testing and determine vulnerabilities within the 
Group. The establishment of an internal audit function is considered 
by the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors annually and is 
regularly discussed with the Group’s external auditors.

34

Sylvania PlatinumABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARY INFORMATION

SHAREHOLDER RELATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS

Executive Management and the Chairman meet regularly with major 
shareholders to develop a balanced understanding of the issues and 
concerns of shareholders. The Chairman ensures that the views of 
shareholders are communicated to the Board as a whole.

The Directors have established Audit and Remuneration Committees. 
Board appointments, succession planning, Corporate Governance and 
sustainability issues are dealt with by the full Board of Directors.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee has been established to assist the Board of 
the	Company	in	fulfilling	its	corporate	governance	and	oversight	
responsibilities	in	relation	to	the	Company’s	financial	reports	and	
financial	reporting	process,	internal	control	structure	and	the	internal	
and external audit process.

The Audit Committee members are Roger Williams as Chairman and 
Eileen	Carr,	both	of	whom	are	qualified	accountants.	

The Audit Committee’s duties include, amongst others, 
the following:

•  reviewing the Company’s accounting policies and reports produced 

by internal and external audit functions;

•  considering whether the Company has followed appropriate 
accounting standards and made appropriate estimates and 
judgments, taking into account the views of the external auditor;

•	 reporting	its	views	to	the	Board	of	Directors	if	it	is	not	satisfied	

with	any	aspect	of	the	proposed	financial	reporting	by 
the Company;

•  reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s internal 
financial	controls	and	internal	control	and	risk	management	systems;

•  reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s 

anti-money laundering systems and controls for the prevention of 
bribery and receive reports on non-compliance; and

•  overseeing the appointment of and the relationship with the 

external auditor.

The Audit Committee invites representatives of the external auditor as well as Management to all committee meetings. 
The Audit Committee is satisfied that the Group’s auditors are independent.

The Audit Committee met four times during the year to consider the following agenda items:

AUGUST 2018

NOVEMBER 2018

FEBRUARY 2019

MAY 2019

•  Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2018

•  External auditor’s 

•  Half year results and 

•  External audit strategy 

•  External audit report on the Group Annual 
Financial Statements for the year ended  
30 June 2018

•  Going concern and working capital 

requirement/cash forecast

•  Impairment

•  Subsequent events; and

•  Taxation

strategy and planning 
report for the Interim 
review

report to 31 December 
2018

and plan for the 30 June 
2019 year-end audit

•  External audit report on 

•  Internal audit update; and 

•	 Directors	and	Officers	

half year

•  Whistleblower feedback

Liability Insurance

•  Half year Impairment 
and going concern 
assessments; and

•  Internal audit update

All press releases, including quarterly results, are approved by the entire Board.

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE

The purpose of the Remuneration Committee is to determine 
and agree with the Board the framework or broad policy for the 
remuneration of the Company’s Chairperson, Executive Directors 
and Senior Management.

The Remuneration Committee comprises Roger Williams as the 
Chairman, and Stuart Murray. During the year under review, the 
Remuneration Committee met formally once.

Under its terms of reference, the Remuneration Committee 
assists the Board to determine the remuneration arrangements 
and contracts of the Executive Directors and senior employees. 
It also reviews the Board and Executives’ key performance 
indicators, as well as performance-related pay and share option 
allocations. Succession planning for Senior Executives is 
reviewed annually.

35

No Director is involved in reviewing his own remuneration. 
The Directors’ remuneration report, which includes details of 
the Directors’ interests in options and shares is set out in the 
Director’s report.

The Independent Non-executive Directors may, if needed, seek 
independent professional advice, at the Group’s expense, in the 
execution of their duties.

NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE

The role of the Nominations Committee is undertaken by the full 
Board of Directors. The Nominations Committee is charged with 
finding suitable candidates for nomination for appointment to the 
Board of Directors.

Annual Report 2019WE VALUE
AND RESPECT THE
ENVIRONMENT

We act in a manner that is sustainable and environmentally 
responsible, applying professional and innovative methods

36

Sylvania Platinum

04 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Directors’ responsibilities in the preparation 
of the financial statements

Independent auditor’s report

Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other 
comprehensive income

Consolidated statement of financial position

Consolidated statement of change in equity

Consolidated statement of cash flow

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

38

39

44

45

46

47

48

Annual Report 2019

37

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE PREPARATION OF 
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

The	directors	are	responsible	for	preparing	the	annual	report	and	the	financial	statements	in	accordance	

with applicable law and regulations.

The	directors	have	elected	to	prepare	the	Group	financial	statements	under	the	International	Financial	Reporting	Standards	(IFRS).

International	Accounting	Standard	1	requires	that	financial	statements	present	fairly	for	each	financial	year	the	Group’s	financial	position,	financial	
performance	and	cash	flows.	This	requires	the	faithful	representation	of	the	effects	of	transactions,	other	events	and	conditions	in	accordance	
with	the	definitions	and	recognition	criteria	for	assets,	liabilities,	income	and	expenses	set	out	in	the	International	Accounting	Standards	Board’s	
‘Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements’. In virtually all circumstances, a fair presentation will be achieved by 
compliance with all applicable IFRSs. 

The directors are also responsible for:

•  properly selecting and applying accounting policies;

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

•	 providing	additional	disclosures	when	compliance	with	the	specific	requirements	in	IFRSs	is	insufficient	to	enable	users	to	understand	the	impact	

of	particular	transactions,	other	events	and	conditions	on	the	entity’s	financial	position	and	financial	performance;	and

•  making an assessment of the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The	directors	are	responsible	for	keeping	adequate	accounting	records	that	are	sufficient	to	show	and	explain	the	Group’s	transactions	and	disclose	
with	reasonable	accuracy	at	any	time	the	financial	position	of	the	Group.	They	are	also	responsible	for	safeguarding	assets	of	the	Group	and	hence	
for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The	directors	are	responsible	for	the	maintenance	and	integrity	of	the	corporate	and	financial	information	included	on	the	Company’s	website.

Legislation	in	Bermuda	governing	the	preparation	and	dissemination	of	financial	statements	may	differ	from	legislation	in	other	jurisdictions.		

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

We	confirm	that	to	the	best	of	our	knowledge:

1.	the	financial	statements,	prepared	in	accordance	with	International	Financial	Reporting	Standards,	give	a	true	and	fair	view	of	the	assets,	liabilities,	

financial	position,	profit	or	loss	and	cash	flows	of	the	Group	and	the	undertakings	included	in	the	consolidation	taken	as	a	whole;	and

2. the sections of the annual report include a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Group and 

the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face.

By order of the Board

TM McConnachie 

Chief	Executive	Officer

30 August 2019

38

Sylvania Platinum 
ABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARY INFORMATION

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF 
SYLVANIA PLATINUM LIMITED

1.  OUR OPINION IS UNMODIFIED

We	have	audited	the	consolidated	financial	statements	of	Sylvania	Platinum	Limited	(”the	Group”)	set	out	on	pages	44	to	95	which	comprise	the	
consolidated	statement	of	financial	position	at	30	June	2019,	and	the	consolidated	statement	of	profit	or	loss	and	other	comprehensive	income,	the	
consolidated	statement	of	changes	in	equity	and	the	consolidated	statement	of	cash	flows	for	the	year	then	ended,	and	notes	to	the	consolidated	
financial	statements,	including	a	summary	of	significant	accounting	policies	in	note	6.

IN OUR OPINION:

•	 the	consolidated	financial	statements	give	a	true	and	fair	view	of	the	state	of	the	Group’s	affairs	as	at	30	June	2019	and	of	the	Group’s	profit	for	

the year then ended; and 

•	 the	Group’s	consolidated	financial	statements	have	been	properly	prepared	in	accordance	with	International	Financial	Reporting	Standards.

BASIS FOR OPINION

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISAs). Our responsibilities under those standards are further 
described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements section of our report. We are independent of the 
group in accordance with the sections 290 and 291 of the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors’ Code of Professional Conduct for Registered 
Auditors (Revised January 2018), parts 1 and 3 of the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors’ Code of Professional Conduct for Registered 
Auditors	(Revised	November	2018)	(together	the	IRBA	Codes)	and	other	independence	requirements	applicable	to	performing	audits	of	financial	
statements	in	South	Africa.	We	have	fulfilled	our	other	ethical	responsibilities,	as	applicable,	in	accordance	with	the	IRBA	Codes	and	in	accordance	
with other ethical requirements applicable to performing audits in South Africa. The IRBA Codes are consistent with the corresponding sections 
of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants and the International Ethics Standards 
Board for Accountants’ International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards) respectively. 
We	believe	that	the	audit	evidence	we	have	obtained	is	sufficient	and	appropriate	to	provide	a	basis	for	our	opinion.

2.  KEY AUDIT MATTERS: OUR ASSESSMENT OF RISK OF MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT

Key	audit	matters	are	those	matters	that,	in	our	professional	judgment,	were	of	most	significance	in	the	audit	of	the	consolidated	financial	
statements	and	include	the	most	significant	assessed	risks	of	material	misstatement	(whether	or	not	due	to	fraud)	identified	by	us,	including	those	
which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement 
team.	These	matters	were	addressed	in	the	context	of	our	audit	of	the	consolidated	financial	statements	as	a	whole,	and	in	forming	our	opinion	
thereon, and we do not provide an opinion on these matters.

39

Annual Report 2019INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF 
SYLVANIA PLATINUM LIMITED continued

ASSESSMENT OF THE EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ASSETS FOR IMPAIRMENT

(Refer	to	note	6(j)	for	the	accounting	policies,	note	4Biii	for	the	significant	accounting	judgments,	estimates	and	assumptions	and	note	14	for	the	
notes	to	the	consolidated	financial	statements)

The key audit matter

How the matter was addressed in our audit

Exploration and evaluation assets are the Group’s most 
significant	assets,	comprising	35%	of	the	total	assets	of	
the Group.

In accordance with the relevant International Financial 
Reporting Standards, the Group is required to perform an 
impairment assessment when facts and circumstances suggest 
that the carrying amount of the exploration and evaluation 
assets may exceed the recoverable amount.

This assessment of impairment is highly subjective as there 
are	a	number	of	key	significant	and	sensitive	judgements	
applied by the directors in determining the fair value less 
costs of disposal or the value in use where appropriate, these 
judgements applied include the discount rate, metal prices and 
exchange rates. The directors engaged an external valuation 
specialist to assist with the valuation of the exploration and 
evaluation assets.

Due	to	the	significance	of	the	exploration	and	evaluation	assets	
to	the	consolidated	financial	statements,	the	complexity	of	the	
impairment	calculation	and	the	significant	judgments	involved	
in this calculation, the evaluation of exploration and evaluation 
assets for impairment is a key audit matter.

Our audit procedures included the following:

•  We assessed the competence, capabilities and objectivity of the directors’ 
independent external valuation specialist by understanding the scope of 
their	engagement	and	evaluating	the	appropriateness	of	their	qualifications;

•  We evaluated the methodology used by the directors’ independent external 
valuation specialist to calculate the recoverable amount for compliance with 
the requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards;

•  We evaluated the viability of the exploration and evaluation assets by 

challenging the key assumptions used by the directors’ independent external 
valuation specialist to value the exploration and evaluation assets. The key 
assumptions were challenged to assess whether they are reasonable and 
supportable given the current macroeconomic climate;

•  We used our own internal valuation specialist, as part of our audit team, 
to assist us with challenging the discount rate  used by evaluating the 
assumption	against	market	data	and	specific	risks	relating	to	Group;

•  We subjected the key assumptions used by the directors to sensitivity 
analysis	to	confirm	the	reasonableness	of	the	impairment	assessment	
performed; and

•  We evaluated the appropriateness of the IFRS 6 presentation and disclosure 
in respect of the directors’ assessment of impairment of exploration and 
evaluation assets.

40

Sylvania PlatinumABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARY INFORMATION

ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (PPE) FOR IMPAIRMENT

(Refer	to	note	6(k)	for	the	accounting	policies,	note	4Bi	for	the	significant	accounting	judgments,	estimates	and	assumptions	and	note	15	for	the	
notes	to	the	consolidated	financial	statements)

The key audit matter

How the matter was addressed in our audit

PPE, which consists of six retreatment processing 
plants	classified	as	Cash	Generating	Units	(CGUs),	
is	the	second	most	significant	asset	of	the	Group,	
comprising 25% of the total assets of the Group.

Given the low platinum price and the Group’s low 
market capitalisation, the directors performed an 
impairment assessment of the Group’s PPE at year 
end. Where indicators of impairment exist, a formal 
estimate of the recoverable amount is made, which 
is considered to be the higher of the fair value less 
costs of disposal and value in use. The impairment 
assessment, which includes the determination of the 
recoverable amount requires the use of estimates 
and assumptions such as long-term commodity 
prices, discount rates, operating costs, future capital 
requirements, exploration potential, closure and 
rehabilitation costs and operating performance.

Given	the	significance	of	the	PPE	to	the	consolidated	
financial	statements,	the	complexity	of	the	impairment	
calculation	and	the	significant	judgments	involved	in	
this calculation, the evaluation of PPE for impairment is 
a key audit matter.

Our audit procedures included the following:

•  We evaluated the methodology used by the directors to calculate the value in use 

of the CGUs for compliance with the requirements of International Financial 
Reporting Standards; 

•	 We	analysed	the	future	projected	cash	flows	used	in	the	value	in	use	calculation	to	
determine whether the assumptions used by the directors in projecting the cash 
flows	are	reasonable	and	supportable	given	the	current	macroeconomic	climate	and	
expected future performance of the CGUs;

•	 We	compared	the	projected	cash	flows	to	historical	performance,	market	forecasts	
and approved budgets to assess the reasonableness of the directors’ projections; 

•  We used our own internal valuation specialist, as part of our audit team, to assist 
us with challenging the key assumptions used by the directors to determine the 
discount	rate	by	evaluating	those	assumptions	against	market	data	and	specific	risks	
relating to the Group;

•	 We	subjected	the	key	assumptions	to	sensitivity	analysis	to	confirm	the	

reasonableness of the impairment assessment performed;

•  We discussed with the directors the progress over the past year and plans for 

the future;

•  We inspected communications with the Department of Mineral Resources; and 

•  We have evaluated whether the assessment of impairment of property, plant and 
equipment and the related assumptions and judgments are adequately disclosed in 
the	consolidated	financial	statements	in	terms	of	IAS	36.	

3.  OUR APPLICATION OF MATERIALITY AND AN OVERVIEW OF THE SCOPE OF OUR AUDIT

Materiality	for	the	consolidated	financial	statements	as	a	whole	was	set	at	US$	1	169	000,	determined	with	reference	to	a	benchmark	of	total	assets	
of	which	it	represents	0.8%.	We	agreed	to	report	to	the	Audit	Committee	any	corrected	or	uncorrected	identified	misstatements	exceeding	US$	
58	000,	in	addition	to	other	identified	misstatements	that	warranted	reporting	on	qualitative	grounds.

We subjected the Sylvania Metals (Pty) Ltd, Phoenix Platinum Mining (Pty) Ltd, Grasvally Chrome Mine (Pty) Ltd, Zoetveld Properties (Pty) Ltd, 
Hacra Mining and Exploration Company (Pty) Ltd, Pan Palladium South Africa (Pty) Ltd, and Sylvania South Africa (Pty) Ltd components within the 
Group to full scope audits for Group purposes. The work was performed by the Group audit team. 

The components within the scope of our work accounted for the following percentages of the group’s results

2018

Full scope audits

Group profit after tax

Group total assets

96%

99%

For	residual	components,	we	performed	analysis	at	an	aggregated	group	level	to	re-examine	our	assessment	that 
there	were	no	significant	risks	of	material	misstatement	within	these.

41

Annual Report 2019INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF 
SYLVANIA PLATINUM LIMITED continued

4.  WE HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT ON GOING CONCERN 

The	directors	have	prepared	the	financial	statements	on	the	going	concern	basis	as	they	do	not	intend	to	liquidate	the	Group	or	to	cease	their	
operations,	and	as	they	have	concluded	that	the	Group’s	financial	position	means	that	this	is	realistic.	They	have	also	concluded	that	there	are	no	
material	uncertainties	that	could	have	cast	significant	doubt	over	their	ability	to	continue	as	a	going	concern	for	at	least	a	year	from	the	date	of	
approval	of	the	financial	statements	(“the	going	concern	period”).

Our responsibility is to conclude on the appropriateness of the directors’ conclusions and, had there been a material uncertainty related to going 
concern, to make reference to that in this audit report. However, as we cannot predict all future events or conditions and as subsequent events 
may result in outcomes that are inconsistent with judgements that were reasonable at the time they were made, the absence of reference to a 
material uncertainty in this auditor’s report is not a guarantee that the group will continue in operation. 

In our evaluation of the directors’ conclusions, we considered the inherent risks to the Group’s business model and analysed how those risks might 
affect	the	Group’s	financial	resources	or	ability	to	continue	operations	over	the	going	concern	period.	The	risks	that	we	considered	most	likely	to	
adversely	affect	the	Group’s	available	financial	resources	over	this	period	were:

•  Commodity prices;

•  Foreign exchange rates; and

•  Production levels.

As	these	were	risks	that	could	potentially	cast	significant	doubt	on	the	Group’s	ability	to	continue	as	a	going	concern,	we	considered	sensitivities	
over	the	level	of	available	financial	resources	indicated	by	the	Group’s	financial	forecasts	taking	account	of	reasonably	possible	(but	not	unrealistic)	
adverse effects that could arise from these risks individually and collectively and evaluated the achievability of the actions the directors consider 
they would take to improve the position should the risks materialise. 

Based on this work, we are required to report to you if we have concluded that the use of the going concern basis of accounting is inappropriate or 
there	is	an	undisclosed	material	uncertainty	that	may	cast	significant	doubt	over	the	use	of	that	basis	for	a	period	of	at	least	a	year	from	the	date	of	
approval	of	the	financial	statements.	

We have nothing to report in these respects, and we did not identify going concern as a key audit matter. 

5.  WE HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT ON THE OTHER INFORMATION IN THE ANNUAL REPORT 

The	directors	are	responsible	for	the	other	information	presented	in	the	Annual	Report	together	with	the	financial	statements.		Our	opinion	on	the	
financial	statements	does	not	cover	the	other	information	and,	accordingly,	we	do	not	express	an	audit	opinion	or,	except	as	explicitly	stated	below,	
any form of assurance conclusion thereon.   

Our	responsibility	is	to	read	the	other	information	and,	in	doing	so,	consider	whether,	based	on	our	financial	statements	audit	work,	the	information	
therein	is	materially	misstated	or	inconsistent	with	the	financial	statements	or	our	audit	knowledge.		Based	solely	on	that	work	we	have	not	
identified	material	misstatements	in	the	other	information.	

6.  RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES 

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The	directors	are	responsible	for	the	preparation	of	the	consolidated	financial	statements	including	being	satisfied	that	they	give	a	true	and	fair	view;	
in accordance with International Financial Reporting, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation 
of	consolidated	financial	statements	that	are	free	from	material	misstatement,	whether	due	to	fraud	or	error.

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

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Our	objectives	are	to	obtain	reasonable	assurance	about	whether	the	consolidated	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	consolidated	financial	statements.

42

Sylvania PlatinumABOUT SYLVANIA

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ANCILLARY INFORMATION

As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs, we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. 

WE ALSO:

•	 Identify	and	assess	the	risks	of	material	misstatement	of	the	consolidated	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	our	opinion.	The	risk	
of not 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’s internal control.

•  Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by 

the directors.

•  Conclude on the appropriateness of the directors’ 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’s	ability	to	continue	as	a	going	
concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures 
in	the	consolidated	financial	statements	or,	if	such	disclosures	are	inadequate,	to	modify	our	opinion.	Our	conclusions	are	based	on	the	audit	
evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the group to cease to continue as a 
going concern.

•	 Evaluate	the	overall	presentation,	structure	and	content	of	the	consolidated	financial	statements,	including	the	disclosures,	and	whether	the	

consolidated	financial	statements	represent	the	underlying	transactions	and	events	in	a	manner	that	achieves	fair	presentation.

•	 Obtain	sufficient	appropriate	audit	evidence	regarding	the	financial	information	of	the	entities	or	business	activities	within	the	group	to	express	
an	opinion	on	the	consolidated	financial	statements.	We	are	responsible	for	the	direction,	supervision	and	performance	of	the	group	audit. 
We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion.

We	communicate	with	the	directors	regarding,	among	other	matters,	the	planned	scope	and	timing	of	the	audit	and	significant	audit	findings,	
including	any	significant	deficiencies	in	internal	control	that	we	identify	during	our	audit.

We also provide the directors with a statement that we 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 our independence, and where applicable, 
related safeguards.

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

7.  THE PURPOSE OF OUR AUDIT WORK AND TO WHOM WE OWE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

This report is made solely to the members of Sylvania Platinum Limited (“the Company”), as a body.  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.

KPMG Inc.

Per N van Niekerk 
For and on behalf of KPMG Inc. 
Chartered Accountant (SA) 
Director

2 September 2019

85 Empire Road 
Parktown  
Johannesburg 2193 
South Africa

43

Annual Report 2019CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR 
LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the year ended 30 June

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Other income

Other expenses

Operating profit before net finance income and income tax expense

Finance income

Finance costs

Profit before income tax expense

Income tax expense

Net profit for the year

Other comprehensive income

Items that are or may be subsequently reclassified to profit and loss:

Foreign operations – foreign currency translation differences

Total other comprehensive loss (net of tax)

Total comprehensive income for the year

Profit attributable to:

Owners of the parent

Total comprehensive income attributable to:

Owners of the company

Earnings per share attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company:

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

The notes on pages 48 to 95 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Note

2019

$

2018

$

9

70,537,993

62,768,561

10(b)(c)

(44,854,637)

(45,256,978)

25,683,356

17,511,583

10(a)

68,788

60,486

10(b)(c)

(2,051,628)

(2,055,788)

23,700,516

15,516,281

10(d)

10(d)

1,018,607

(324,628)

878,191

(293,792)

24,394,495

16,100,680

11

(6,191,004)

(5,111,783)

18,203,491

10,988,897

20

(1,534,487)

(3,593,788)

(1,534,487)

(3,593,788)

16,669,004

7,395,109

18,203,491

18,203,491

10,988,897

10,988,897

16,669,004

16,669,004

7,395,109

7,395,109

Cents

Cents

12

12

6.37

6.24

3.83

3.76

44

Sylvania PlatinumCONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
At 30 June

Note

2019

$

2018

$

13

14

15

11

16

17

9

18

24(b)

26

19

20

21

22

11

556,895

53,405,798

37,676,939

1,813,237

1,052,267*

57,397,256

36,576,993*

–

93,452,869

95,026,516

21,797,141

14,025,729*

7,799,312

25,433,124*

23,275,665

1,827,399

279,620

4,163,292

–

1,488,382

14,741

–

59,142,429

40,961,976

152,595,298

135,988,492

2,897,248

66,718,821

57,946,509

2,911,337

68,053,385

41,025,586

127,562,578

111,990,308 

184,390

3,481,232

14,461,024

18,126,646

173,895

3,685,257

14,326,214

18,185,366

23

21

24(b)

26

6,715,787

187,980

980

1,327

5,679,045*

132,700

1,073

–

6,906,074

5,812,818

25,032,720

23,998,184

152,595,298

135,988,492

ASSETS

Non-current assets

Other financial assets

Exploration and evaluation assets

Property, plant and equipment

Deferred tax asset

Total non-current assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Contract assets

Inventories

Current tax receivable

Assets held for sale

Total current assets

Total assets

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Shareholders' equity

Issued capital

Reserves

Retained earnings

Total equity

Non-current liabilities

Borrowings

Provisions

Deferred tax liability

Total non-current liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Current tax liability

Liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale

Total current liabilities

Total liabilities

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

The notes on pages 48 to 95 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

* Re-classified, refer note 5(i)

45

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 
For the year ended 30 June

Share 

Reserve  

Share-

Foreign 

Non-

based 

currency 

controlling 

Issued 

premium 

for own 

Retained 

payment 

translation 

interest 

Equity 

capital

reserve

shares

earnings

reserve

reserve

reserve

reserve

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

Total 

equity

$

Balance as at 1 July 2018

2,911,337 175,137,088

(1,141,362) 41,025,586

3,567,504 (39,989,339) (39,779,293) (29,741,213) 111,990,308

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive loss

Total comprehensive 
profit for the year

Share transactions

– Treasury shares acquired

– Share-based payments

– Shares cancelled

Dividends declared

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

18,203,491

–

18,203,491

–

–

–

–

305,440

–

–

–

(1,534,487)

(1,534,487)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

18,203,491

(1,534,487)

16,669,004

(119,606)

305,440

–

(1,282,568)

(119,606)

–

–

–

–

(14,089)

(200,470)

214,559

–

–

–

(1,282,568)

Balance as at 30 June 2019

2,897,248 174,936,618

(1,046,409) 57,946,509

3,872,944 (41,523,826) (39,779,293) (29,741,213) 127,562,578

The notes on pages 48 to 95 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The group absorbs the losses that would be attributable to the non-controlling interest.

Share 

Reserve 

Share-

Foreign 

Non-

based 

currency 

controlling 

Issued 

premium 

for own 

Retained 

payment 

translation 

interest 

Equity 

capital

reserve

shares

earnings

reserve

reserve

reserve

reserve

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

Total 

equity

$

Balance as at 1 July 2017

2,979,819

175,705,741

(1,063,273)

30,036,689

3,896,700

(36,395,551)

(39,779,293)

(29,741,213) 105,639,619

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive 
profit

Total comprehensive 
profit for the year

Share transactions

Treasury shares acquired

Share-based payments

Share options and bonus 
shares exercised

Shares cancelled
Balance as at 30 June 2018

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(68,482)

(568,653)

–

–

–

10,988,897

–

10,988,897

(1,414,669)

–

699,445

637,135

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

370,249

(699,445)

–

–

(3,593,788)

(3,593,788)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

10,988,897

(3,593,788)

7,395,109

(1,414,669)

370,249

–

–

2,911,337

175,137,088

(1,141,362)

41,025,586

3,567,504

(39,989,339)

(39,779,293)

(29,741,213) 111,990,308

The notes on pages 48 to 95 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

46

Sylvania Platinum 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the year ended 30 June

Note 

2019

 $ 

2018

 $ 

64,476,100

57,524,899

(39,874,569)

(39,172,209)

950,280

(22,641)

–

(70,647)

803,812

(7,228)

(682)

(48,886)

24(b)

24(a)

(8,092,853)

(4,054,932)

17,365,670

15,044,774

13,192

–

(8,040,462)

(7,551,176)

14

(253,430)

–

629,452

–

–

(360,607)

–

–

17,861

(4,164)

(362,935)

(207,737)

–

(4,943)

1,178,357

(665,359)

(6,272,453)

176,193

9,322*

–

25(a)

25(b)

(7,998,158)

(13,700,731)

(147,674)

(119,606)

(1,290,254)

(1,557,534)

(150,180)

(1,414,669)

–

(1,564,849)

7,809,978

(220,806)

(38,566)

(1,074,582)

14,025,729

15,321,117

16 

21,797,141

14,025,729

Cash flows from operating activities 

Receipts from customers

Payments to suppliers and employees

Finance income

Realised foreign exchange loss

Exploration expenditure 

Finance costs 

Taxation paid

Net cash inflow from operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities 

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment 

Payments for exploration and evaluation assets

Payment for rehabilitation insurance guarantee

Refund received for rehabilitation insurance guarantee

Investment in joint venture

Receipt of loan repayment from Ironveld Holdings

Payments of loan to TS Consortium

Sylvania Lesedi acquisition

Cash acquired with Sylvania Lesedi acquisition

Cash from consolidation of Joint Operation

Assets held for sale cash

Net cash outflow from investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities 

Repayment of borrowings 

Purchase of treasury shares 

Dividends paid

Net cash outflow from financing activities 

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Effect of movement in foreign exchange fluctuations on cash held 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

The notes on pages 48 to 95 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

* Re-classified, refer note 5(i)

47

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

1.  REPORTING ENTITY

Sylvania Platinum Limited (Sylvania or the Company) is a limited company incorporated and domiciled in Bermuda whose shares are publicly 
traded on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange. Sylvania’s registered office is at Clarendon House, 2 Church 
Street, Hamilton HM11, Bermuda. These consolidated financial statements comprise the Company and its subsidiaries and investments in joint 
arrangements (collectively the Group).

The principal activity of the Group during the financial year was mineral retreatment projects and investment in mineral exploration. Operational 
focus during the financial year was concentrated on the retreatment plants.

2.   BASIS OF ACCOUNTING

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS. They were authorised for issue by the Company’s board of 
directors on 30 August 2019.

Details of the Group’s significant accounting policies are included in note 6.

This is the first set of the Group’s annual financial statements in which IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers and IFRS 9 Financial 
Instruments have been applied. Changes to significant accounting policies are described in note 5.

3.  FUNCTIONAL AND PRESENTATION CURRENCY

The consolidated financial information is presented in US Dollars which is the Company’s functional currency. All amounts have been rounded to 
the nearest US Dollar, unless otherwise indicated.

4.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS, ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS

In preparing these consolidated financial statements, management has made judgements and estimates that affect the application of the Group’s 
accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Estimates and underlying assumptions are continuously evaluated, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under 
the circumstances. However, actual outcomes can differ from these estimates. Revisions to estimates are recognised prospectively.

(a)  JUDGEMENTS

Information about judgements made in applying accounting policies that have the most significant effects on the amounts recognised in the 
consolidated financial statements is included in the following notes:

•  Note 6 (a) – consolidation – whether the Group has de facto control over an investee;

•  Note 6 (d) – leases – whether an arrangement contains a lease; and

•  Note 6 (o) – assets held for sale – whether a sale is highly probable.

(b)  ASSUMPTIONS AND ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTIES

Information about assumptions and estimation uncertainties at 30 June 2019 that have a significant risk of resulting in a material adjustment to the 
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the next financial year is included in the following notes:

•  Note 15 – impairment of property, plant and equipment: determining the fair value of cash generating units;

•   Note 22 – provision for restoration and rehabilitation and decommissioning of plant and equipment: in determining the provision there are 

numerous factors that will affect the ultimate liability payable;

•   Note 14 – exploration and evaluation assets: determine whether future economic benefits are likely either from future exploitation or sale or 

where activities have not reached a stage which permits a reasonable assessment of the existence of reserves; and

•  Note 11 – deferred tax asset: judgement whether a deferred tax asset is created on the statement of financial position.

(i) 

Impairment of property, plant and equipment

The Group assesses each asset or cash generating unit (CGU) at the end of each reporting period to determine whether any indication of 
impairment exists. Where an indicator of impairment exists, a formal estimate of the recoverable amount is made, which is considered to be the 
higher of the fair value less costs of disposal and value in use. These assessments require the use of estimates and assumptions such as long-term 

48

Sylvania Platinumcommodity prices, discount rates, operating costs, future capital requirements, exploration potential, closure and rehabilitation costs and operating 
performance. These estimates and assumptions are inherently uncertain and could change over time, which may impact the recoverable amount of 
assets and/or CGUs. Refer to note 15. 

Fair value is determined as the price that would be received to sell an asset in an orderly transaction between market participants at measurement 
date. Fair value for mineral assets is generally determined as the present value of estimated future cash flows arising from the continued use of 
the asset, using assumptions that an independent market participant may take into account. 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 risks specific to the asset. Management has 
assessed its cash generating units as being an individual mine site or retreatment plant, which is the lowest level for which cash inflows are largely 
independent of those of other assets. Refer to note 15.

Key assumptions used in the assessment of impairment of assets

The recoverable amounts of the Group’s retreatment plants have been based on cash flow projections as at 30 June 2019. The internal financial 
model is based on the known and confirmed resources for each plant. Refer to note 15.

The calculation of value in use is sensitive to changes in the available resources, discount rates, commodity price and operating costs. Changes in key 
assumptions could cause the carrying value of assets to exceed their recoverable amounts.

Resources – The resources for each plant, including the PGM grade and expected recoveries that have been modelled are based on extensive test 
work, sampling and surveying. Where the useful life of a plant is possibly longer than the material currently available to be processed, alternative 
feed sources have been considered and the likelihood of these materialising assessed by management.

Discount rate – The discount rate reflects management’s estimate of the time value of money and the risk associated with the plants. A range 
between 10% and 12.5% was used for the pre-tax discounted rate (2018:12.5%).

Commodity price – The Group has used forecast commodity prices obtained from a reputable publication and these range for years from 2020 – 
2023 between $832 and $956/oz (2018: $839 and $1,114) for platinum,$1,446 to $1,370 (2018: $936 to $1,172) for palladium and $3,236 to  
$3,078/oz for rhodium. Sensitivities have also been run at lower prices.

Operating costs – Operating costs are calculated on a Rand/ton basis, known contractor rates and planned labour.

Exchange rates – Platinum group metals are priced in USD. The USD/ZAR exchange rate used in the discounted cash flow model ranges for year 
from 2020 – 2023 from 13.99 ZAR/$1 to 14.34 ZAR/$1 (2018: 11.83 ZAR/$1 to 13.93 ZAR/$1). 

(ii)  Provision for restoration and rehabilitation and decommissioning of plant and equipment

The Group assesses its restoration and rehabilitation and decommissioning of plant and equipment provision annually. Significant estimates and 
assumptions are made in determining the provision as there are numerous factors that will affect the ultimate liability payable. These factors include 
estimates of the extent and costs of rehabilitation activities, technological changes, regulatory changes, cost increases as compared to the inflation 
rates, and changes in discount rates. These uncertainties may result in future actual expenditure differing from the amounts currently provided. 

The provision has been calculated by discounting the estimated costs of rehabilitation of $3,368,519 (2018: $4,018,790) over a period of 10 years 
(2018: 10 years) using a discount rate of 8.32% (2018: 8.75%), which is the risk-free rate in relation to government bonds in South Africa and an 
inflation rate of 4.5% (2018: 4.6%). 

If the change in estimate results in an increase in the restoration and rehabilitation liability and therefore an addition to the carrying value of the 
asset, the Group is required to consider whether this is an indication of impairment of the asset as a whole and test for impairment in accordance 
with IAS 36. 

The provision at reporting date represents management’s best estimate of the present value of the future rehabilitation costs required.

(iii) Exploration and evaluation assets 

The application of the Group’s accounting policy for exploration and evaluation expenditure requires judgement in determining whether future 
economic benefits are likely either from future exploitation or sale or where activities have not reached a stage which permits a reasonable 
assessment of the existence of reserves (refer to accounting policy note 6 (j)). 

49

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 continued

4.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS, ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS continued

(iii) Exploration and evaluation assets continued

The determination of a Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) resource or South African Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral 
Resources and Mineral Reserves (SAMREC) is itself an estimation process that requires varying degrees of uncertainty depending on sub-
classification and these estimates directly impact the point of deferral of exploration and evaluation expenditure. The deferral policy requires 
management to make certain estimates and assumptions about future events or circumstances, in particular, whether an economically viable 
operation can be established. Estimates and assumptions made may change if new information becomes available. If, after expenditure is capitalised, 
information becomes available that suggests that the recovery of expenditure is unlikely, the amount capitalised is written off to profit or loss in the 
period in which the new information becomes available. 

(iv)  Deferred tax asset

Judgement is required in determining whether deferred tax assets are recognised on the statement of financial position. Deferred tax assets, 
including those arising from unutilised tax losses, require management to assess the likelihood and timing that the Group will generate sufficient 
taxable earnings in future periods, in order to utilise recognised deferred tax assets. Estimates of future taxable income are based on forecast cash 
flows from operations and the application of existing tax laws in each jurisdiction. To the extent that future cash flows and taxable income differ 
significantly from estimates, the ability of the Group to realise the net deferred tax assets recorded at the reporting date could be impacted.

Additionally, future changes in tax laws in the jurisdictions in which the Group operates could limit the ability of the Group to obtain tax deductions 
in future periods. 

5.  CHANGES IN SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

(i) 

JOINT OPERATIONS

A joint arrangement is classified as a joint operation, when the jointly controlling parties, known as the ‘joint operators, have rights to the assets and 
obligations for the liabilities relating to the arrangement. 

TS Consortium is an unincorporated entity and were initially classified as a joint venture. It has been re-classified as a joint operation as it is not a 
separate vehicle and does not have legal form.

The accounting for TS Consortium changed from Equity accounting under Joint Ventures to accounting for all of the assets, liabilities, income and 
expenses on a partner contribution basis according to accounting for Joint Operations.

The effect of the change in the accounting policy had no significant material on comparative information and therefore the re-statement has not 
been disclosed in a separate note.

(ii)  NEW STANDARDS

The Group has initially applied IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 from 1 July 2018. A number of other new standards are also effective from 1 July 2018 but they 
do not have a material effect on the Group’s financial statements.

Due to the transition methods chosen by the Group in applying these standards, comparative information throughout these financial statements 
has not been restated to reflect the requirements of the new standards.

The effect of initially applying these standards is mainly attributed to the following:

•  recognition of a contract asset; and

•  change in classification of financial assets.

IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments

IFRS 9 sets out requirements for recognising and measuring financial assets, financial liabilities and some contracts to buy or sell non-financial items. 
This standard replaces IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement.

The details of new significant accounting policies and the nature and effect of the changes to previous accounting policies are set out below.

50

Sylvania PlatinumClassification and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities

IFRS 9 largely retains the existing requirements in IAS 39 for the classification and measurement of financial liabilities. However, it eliminates the 
previous IAS 39 categories for financial assets of held to maturity, loans and receivables and available for sale.

The adoption of IFRS 9 has not had a significant effect on the Group’s accounting policies related to financial liabilities.

The impact of IFRS 9 on the classification and measurement of financial assets is set out below.

Under IFRS 9, on initial recognition, a financial asset is classified as measured at amortised cost.

The classification of financial assets under IFRS 9 is generally based on the business model in which a financial asset is managed and its contractual 
cash flow characteristics.

A financial asset is measured at amortised cost if it meets both the following conditions and is not designated as at fair value through profit or loss 
(“FVTPL”):

•  It is held within a business model whose objective is to hold assets to collect contractual cash flows; and

•   Its contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount 

outstanding.

A financial asset (unless it is a trade receivable without a significant financing component that is initially measured at the transaction price), is initially 
measured at fair value plus, for an item not at FVTPL, transaction costs that are directly attributable to its acquisition.

For subsequent measurement financial assets are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. The amortised cost is reduced 
by impairment losses. Interest income, foreign exchange gains and losses and impairment are recognised in profit or loss. Any gain or loss on 
derecognition is recognised in profit or loss.

The following table explain the original measurement categories under IAS 39 and the new measurement categories under IFRS 9 for each class of 
the Group’s financial instruments as at 1 July 2018.

Financial instrument

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Other financial assets

Borrowings

Trade and other payables

Original classification under IAS 39 New classification under IFRS 9

Loans and receivables

Loans and receivables

Loans and receivables

Other financial liabilities

Other financial liabilities

Amortised cost

Amortised cost

Amortised cost

Other financial liabilities

Other financial liabilities

The original carrying amount under IAS 39 and the new carrying amount under IFRS 9 equates to each other as the impact of the new impairment 
requirements is not significant due to materiality considerations.

Impairment of financial assets

IFRS 9 replaces the ‘incurred loss’ model in IAS 39 with an ‘expected credit loss’ (ECL) model. The new impairment model applies to financial assets 
measured at amortised cost and contract assets recognised per IFRS 15. Under IFRS 9, credit losses are recognised earlier than under IAS 39.

The financial assets at amortised cost consist of trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents and other financial assets.

Under IFRS 9, loss allowances are measured on either of the following bases:

•  12-month ECLs: these are ECLs that result from possible default events within the 12 months after the reporting date; and

•  lifetime ECLs: these are ECLs that result from all possible default events over the expected life of a financial instrument.

The Group has elected to measure loss allowances for trade and other receivables and cash and cash equivalents at an amount equal to 12-month 
ECLs, and other financial assets at an amount equal to lifetime ECLs.

51

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 continued

5.  CHANGES IN SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued

(ii)  NEW STANDARDS continued

When determining whether the credit risk of a financial asset has increased significantly since initial recognition and when estimating ECLs, 
the Group considers reasonable and supportable information that is relevant and available without undue cost or effort. This includes both 
quantitative and qualitative information and analysis, based on the Group’s historical experience and informed credit assessment and including 
forward-looking information.

The Group assumes that the credit risk on a financial asset has increased significantly if it is more than 30 days past due.

The Group considers a financial asset to be in default when:

•   The borrower is unlikely to pay its credit obligations to the Group in full, without recourse by the Group to actions such as realising security 

(if any is held); or

•  The financial asset is more than 30 days past due.

The maximum period considered when estimating ECLs is the maximum contractual period over which the Group is exposed to credit risk.

Measurement of ECLs

ECLs are a probability-weighted estimate of credit losses. Credit losses are measured as the present value of all cash shortfalls (i.e. the difference 
between the cash flows due to the entity in accordance with the contract and the cash flows that the Group expects to receive).

ECLs are discounted at the effective interest rate of the financial asset.

Credit-impaired financial assets

At each reporting date, the Group assesses whether financial assets carried at amortised cost are credit-impaired. A financial asset is ‘credit-
impaired’ when one or more events that have a detrimental impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset have occurred.

Presentation of impairment

Loss allowances for financial assets measured at amortised cost are deducted from the gross carrying amount of the assets.

Impairment losses related to trade and other receivables, are presented separately in the statement of profit or loss and OCI.

Impairment losses on other financial assets are presented separately in the statement of profit or loss and OCI due to materiality considerations.

Impact of the new impairment model

The Group has determined that the application of IFRS 9’s impairment requirements at 1 July 2018 does not have a material impairment.

Refer to note 28 for further detail about the calculation of ECLs.

IFRS 15 – Revenue from Contracts with customers

IFRS 15 establishes a comprehensive framework for determining whether, how much and when revenue is recognised. It replaced IAS 18 Revenue, 
IAS 11 Construction Contracts and related interpretations.

The Group has adopted IFRS 15 using the cumulative effect method (without practical expedients), with the effect of initially applying this standard 
recognised at the date of initial application (i.e. 1 July 2018). Accordingly, the information presented for 2018 has not been restated – i.e. it is 
presented, as previously reported, under IAS 18, IAS 11 and related interpretations. 

52

Sylvania PlatinumThe following table summarises the impacts of adopting IFRS 15 in the Group’s interim statement of financial position as at 30 June 2019:

Assets

Contract assets

Trade and other receivables

Revenue recognition 
under IFRS 15

Revenue recognition 
under IFRS 18

From 1 July 2018

Prior to 1 July 2018

23,275,665

7,045,750

–

24,711,269

There was no impact on the Group’s statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and statement of 
cash flows.

The details of the new significant accounting policies and the nature of the changes to previous accounting policies in relation to the Group’s various 
goods and services are set out below. 

Under IFRS 15, the revenue is recognised when a customer obtains control of the goods or services.

Type of products

PGM sales

Nature, timing of satisfaction of 
performance obligations, significant 
payment terms

Nature of change in accounting policy

Customer obtains control of the goods when the 
goods are delivered to and have been accepted at their 
premises. Invoices are subsequently generated based 
on the contract with the customer. Invoices are usually 
payable within 30 days.

Under IAS 18, revenue for these sales was recognised 
when the goods were delivered to the customer’s 
premises, which was taken to be the point in time at 
which the customer accepted the goods and the related 
risk and rewards of ownership transferred. 

Revenue was recognised at that point provided that the 
revenue and the costs could be measured reliably, the 
recovery of the consideration was probable and there 
was no continuing managerial involvement with the 
goods.

Under IFRS 15, there is no impact on revenue. 
However, the impact of these changes on items 
other than revenue are a decrease in trade and other 
receivable and an increase in a new contract asset.

6.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

(a)  BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION

(i) Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. The Group controls an entity when it is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its 
involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity.

Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date of acquisition, being the date on which the Group obtains control, and continue to be consolidated 
until the date when such control ceases.

The financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting period as the parent company, using consistent accounting policies.

(ii) Non-controlling interests

Where ownership of a subsidiary is less than 100%, and therefore a non-controlling interest/s exists. The group absorbs the losses that would 
be attributable to the non-controlling interests. A change in ownership interest of a subsidiary, without a loss of control, is accounted for as an 
equity transaction. 

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 continued

6.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued

(a)  BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION continued

(iii) Loss of control

If the Group loses control over a subsidiary, it derecognises the assets and liabilities of the subsidiary, the carrying amount of any non-controlling 
interest and other components of equity, including the cumulative translation differences recognised in equity. The consideration received and 
any investment retained is recognised at fair value and any resulting surplus or deficit is recognised in profit or loss. The parent’s share of the 
components previously recognised in other comprehensive income is reclassified to profit or loss or retained earnings, as appropriate.

(iv) Joint arrangements

Under IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements investments in joint arrangements are classified as either joint operations or joint ventures. 

The Group recognises its direct right to the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of joint operations and its share of the jointly held or incurred 
assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. These have been incorporated in the financial statements under the appropriate headings. 

(v) Transactions eliminated on consolidation

All intra-group balances, transactions and any unrealised gains and losses resulting from intra-group transactions and dividends are eliminated in full.

(b)  REVENUE RECOGNITION

Revenue is recognised and measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable to the extent it is probably that the economic 
benefits will flow to the Group and the revenue can be reliably measured.

Revenue from contracts with customers

The Group has initially applied IFRS 15 from 1 July 2018. Information about the Group’s accounting policies relating to contracts with customers is 
provided in note 4. The effect of initially applying IFRS 15 is described in note 5.

Revenue is recognised when the control of the goods have passed to the buyer and the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the 
transaction can be measured reliably. Control of ownership are considered to be passed to the buyer at the time of delivery of the goods to 
the customer.

For PGM concentrate sales, the sales are initially recognised at the date of delivery. Adjustments to the sales price occur based on movements in 
the metal market price up to the date of final pricing. Final pricing is based on the monthly average market price in the month prior to the month of 
settlement. The period between initial recognition and final pricing is typically four months. Revenue is initially recorded at the estimated fair value 
of the consideration receivable. 

The revenue adjustment mechanism embedded within sales arrangements has the characteristics of a commodity derivative. Accordingly, the fair 
value of the final sales price adjustment is re-estimated continuously and changes in fair value recognised as an adjustment to revenue in profit or 
loss and contract assets (adjustment recognised in trade receivables under IFRS 18) in the statement of financial position. In all cases, fair value is 
determined with reference to estimated forward prices.

Interest income

For all financial assets measured at amortised cost interest income is recorded using the effective interest rate (EIR), which is the rate that 
exactly discounts the estimated future cash payments or receipts through the expected life of the financial instrument or a shorter period, where 
appropriate, to the net carrying amount of the financial asset or liability. Interest income is included in finance income in profit or loss.

(c)  BORROWING COSTS

Borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of an asset that necessarily takes a substantial period of time to 
get ready for its intended use or sale are capitalised as part of the cost of the respective assets. 

All other borrowing costs are expensed in the period they occur. Borrowing costs consist of interest and other costs that an entity incurs in 
connection with the borrowing of funds.

54

Sylvania PlatinumWhere surplus funds are available for a short term, out of money borrowed specifically to finance a project, the income generated from the 
temporary investment of such amounts is also capitalised and deducted from the total capitalised borrowing cost. Where the funds used to finance 
a project form part of general borrowings, the amount capitalised is calculated using a weighted average of rates applicable to relevant general 
borrowings of the Group during the period. 

(d)  LEASES

The determination of whether an arrangement is, or contains, a lease is based on the substance of the arrangement at inception date; whether 
fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of a specific asset or assets or the arrangement conveys a right to use the asset, even if that 
right is not explicitly specified in an arrangement.

Group as a lessee

Finance leases, which transfer to the Group substantially all the risks and benefits incidental to ownership of the leased item, are capitalised at the 
commencement of the lease at the lower of the fair value of the leased property and the present value of the minimum lease payments. Lease 
payments are apportioned between finance charges and reduction of the lease liability so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining 
balance of the liability. Finance charges are recognised in finance costs in profit or loss, unless they are directly attributable to qualifying assets, in 
which case they are capitalised in accordance with the general policy on borrowing costs (refer note 6 (c)).

A leased asset is depreciated over the useful life of the asset. However, if there is no reasonable certainty that the Group will obtain ownership by 
the end of the lease term, the asset is depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset and the lease term.

Operating lease payments are recognised as an operating expense in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Group as a lessor

Leases in which the Group does not transfer substantially all the risks and benefits of ownership of an asset are classified as operating leases. Rental 
income arising from operating leases is accounted for on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is included in other income in profit or loss.

(e)  EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Wages, salaries, annual leave and sick leave

Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non-monetary benefits, annual leave and accumulating sick leave due to be settled wholly within 
12 months of the reporting date are recognised in other payables in respect of employees’ services up to the reporting date. They are measured 
at the amounts expected to be paid when the liabilities are settled. Liabilities for non-accumulating sick leave are recognised when the leave is taken 
and are measured at the rates paid or payable.

(f)  SHARE-BASED PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS

Equity settled transactions

The Group provides benefits to employees and consultants (including senior executives) of the Group in the form of share-based payments, 
whereby employees render services in exchange for shares (equity-settled transactions).

The cost of equity-settled transactions is recognised, together with a corresponding increase in equity, over the period in which the performance 
and/or service conditions are fulfilled, ending on the date on which the relevant employees become fully entitled to the award (the vesting period).

The cumulative expense recognised for equity-settled transactions at each reporting date until vesting date reflects (i) the extent to which the 
vesting period has expired and (ii) the Group’s best estimate of the number of equity instruments that will ultimately vest. No adjustment is made 
for the likelihood of market performance conditions being met as the effect of these conditions is included in the determination of fair value at grant 
date. The charge or credit recognised in profit or loss for a period represents the movement in cumulative expense recognised as at the beginning 
and end of that period.

The Group does not subsequently reverse the amount recognised for services received from an employee if the vested equity instruments are 
later forfeited, except for awards where vesting is only conditional upon a market condition or non-vesting condition. These are treated as vested 
irrespective of whether or not the market or non-vesting condition is satisfied, provided that all other performance and/or service conditions 
are satisfied.

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 continued

6.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued

(f)  SHARE-BASED PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS continued

Equity settled transactions continued

If the terms of an equity-settled award are modified, as a minimum an expense is recognised as if the terms had not been modified, if the original 
terms of the award are met. In addition, an expense is recognised for any modification that increases the total fair value of the share-based payment 
arrangement, or is otherwise beneficial to the employee, as measured at the date of modification.

If an equity-settled award is cancelled, it is treated as if it had vested on the date of cancellation, and any expense not yet recognised for the award 
is recognised immediately. However, if a new award is substituted for the cancelled award and designated as a replacement award on the date that 
it is granted, the cancelled and new awards are treated as if they were a modification of the original award, as described in the previous paragraph.

Where an award is settled net of withholdings tax and the number of equity instruments equal to the monetary value of the tax obligation is 
withheld, the entire transaction is classified as equity settled. The payments made are accounted for as a deduction from equity except to the 
extent that the payment exceeds the fair value of the equity instruments withheld.

The dilutive effect of outstanding shares and options issued is reflected as additional share dilution in the computation of earnings per share 
(refer note 12).

(g)  FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION

The Group’s consolidated financial statements are presented in US dollars. Each entity in the Group determines its own functional currency and 
items included in the financial statements of each entity are measured using that functional currency.

Transactions and balances

Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recorded by the Group entities at their respective functional currency by applying the exchange rates 
ruling at the date the transaction first qualifies for recognition. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at 
the functional currency rate of exchange ruling at the reporting date. All resulting exchange differences are taken to profit and loss.

Group companies

As at the reporting date on consolidation, the assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated into the presentation currency of the Group 
at the rate of exchange ruling at the reporting date and their statements of comprehensive income are translated at the weighted average exchange 
rate for the year. The exchange differences arising on the translation for consolidation are recognised in other comprehensive income. On disposal 
of a foreign entity, the deferred cumulative amount recognised in equity relating to that particular foreign operation is recognised in profit or loss.

Monetary assets and liabilities that are receivable from or payable to a foreign subsidiary and for which settlement is neither planned nor likely to 
occur in the foreseeable future, forms part of the net investment in a foreign operation and the resulting exchange differences are recognised in 
other comprehensive income. The repayment of such a balance is not considered to be a partial disposal and the cumulative exchange differences 
recognised in other comprehensive income is not reclassified to profit or loss, until the foreign entity is disposed of.

(h)  INCOME TAX

Current income tax

Current income tax assets and liabilities for the current period are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxation 
authorities. The tax rates and tax laws used to compute the amount are those that are enacted or substantively enacted, at the reporting date, in 
the countries where the Group operates and generates taxable income.

Current income tax relating to items recognised directly in other comprehensive income or equity is recognised in other comprehensive income or 
equity and not in profit or loss. Management periodically evaluates positions taken in the tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable 
tax regulations are subject to interpretation and establishes provisions where appropriate.

56

Sylvania PlatinumDeferred tax

Deferred tax is recognised on temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts for financial 
reporting purposes.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised for all taxable temporary differences, except:

•   temporary differences on the initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction that is not a business combination and, at the time of the 

transaction, affects neither the accounting profit nor taxable profit or loss;

•   in respect of taxable temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries and associates, when the timing of the reversal of the 
temporary differences can be controlled by the parent or investor and it is probable that the temporary differences will not reverse in the 
foreseeable future; and

•   in respect of deductible temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries and associates, deferred tax assets are recognised only 
to the extent that it is probable that the temporary differences will reverse in the foreseeable future and taxable profit will be available against 
which the temporary differences can be utilised.

Deferred tax assets are recognised for the carry forward of unused tax credits and any unused tax losses, to the extent that it is probable that 
taxable profit will be available against which the carry forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses can be utilised.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable 
that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the deferred tax asset to be utilised. Unrecognised deferred tax assets are 
reassessed at the end of each reporting period and are recognised to the extent that it has become probable that future taxable profits will be 
available to allow the deferred tax asset to be recovered.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the year when the asset is realised or the liability is 
settled, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period. Deferred tax assets 
and deferred tax liabilities are offset, if a legally enforceable right exists to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and the deferred 
taxes relate to the same taxable entity and the same taxation authority.

Royalties, resource rent taxes and revenue-based taxes

Royalties, resource rent taxes and revenue-based taxes are accounted for under IAS 12 when they have the characteristics of an income tax.  
This is considered to be the case when they are imposed under government authority and the amount payable is based on taxable income – rather 
than based on quantity produced or as a percentage of revenue - after adjustment for temporary differences. For such arrangements, current and 
deferred income tax is provided on the same basis as described above for other forms of taxation. Obligations arising from royalty arrangements 
that do not satisfy these criteria are recognised as current liabilities and included in expenses. 

(i)  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, if any. 

The initial cost of an asset comprises its purchase price or construction cost, any costs directly attributable to bringing the asset into operation, 
the initial estimate of the rehabilitation obligation and, for qualifying assets, borrowing costs. The purchase price or construction cost is the 
aggregate amount paid and the fair value of any other consideration given to acquire the asset. The capitalised value of finance leases is also 
included within property, plant and equipment. 

Upon completion of mine construction, the assets are transferred into property, plant and equipment or mine properties. When a mine 
construction project moves into the production stage, the capitalisation of certain mine construction costs ceases and costs are either regarded as 
part of the cost of inventory or expensed, except for costs which qualify for capitalisation relating to property, plant and equipment.

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 continued

6.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued

(i)  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT continued

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows (for the current and comparative periods):

•  property – five years

•  mining property – ten years

•  plant – ten years

•  leasehold improvements – three years

•  computer equipment and software – three years

•  furniture and fittings – six years

•  office equipment – five years

•  equipment – five years

•  motor vehicles – five years

•  construction in progress – not depreciated

An item of property, plant and equipment and any significant part initially recognised is derecognised upon disposal or when no future economic 
benefits are expected from its use. Any gain or loss arising on derecognition of the asset (calculated as the difference between the net disposal 
proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset) is included in profit or loss when the asset is derecognised.

The asset’s residual values, useful lives and methods of depreciation/amortisation are reviewed at each reporting period, and adjusted prospectively 
if appropriate.

Major maintenance and repairs

Expenditure on major maintenance refits or repairs comprises the cost of replacement assets or parts of assets and overhaul costs. Where an asset 
or part of an asset that was separately depreciated and is now written off is replaced, and it is probable that future economic benefits associated 
with the replacement item will flow to the Group, the expenditure is capitalised.

Where part of the asset was not separately considered as a component, the replacement value is used to estimate the carrying amount of the 
replaced assets which is immediately written off. All other day to day maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

(j)  EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ASSETS

Exploration and evaluation activity involve the search for mineral resources, the determination of technical feasibility and the assessment of 
commercial viability of an identified resource. Exploration and evaluation expenditures in relation to each separate area of interest are recognised 
as an exploration and evaluation asset in the year in which they are incurred when the following conditions are satisfied:

(i) 

the rights to tenure of the area of interest are current; and

(ii)  at least one of the following conditions is also met:

• 

• 

 the exploration and evaluation expenditures are expected to be recouped through successful development and exploration of the area of 
interest, or alternatively, by its sale; or

 exploration and evaluation activities in the area of interest have not at the reporting date, reached a stage which permits a reasonable 
assessment of the existence or otherwise of economically recoverable reserves, and active and significant operations in, or in relation to, 
the area of interest are continuing.

Exploration and evaluation assets are initially measured at cost and include acquisition of rights to explore, gathering exploration data through 
geophysical studies, exploratory drilling, trenching and sampling and associated activities and an allocation of depreciation and amortisation of assets 
used in exploration and evaluation activities. General and administrative costs are only included in the measurement of exploration and evaluation 
costs where they are related directly to operational activities in a particular area of interest.

Where a decision has been made to proceed with development in respect of a particular area of interest and once JORC or SAMREC compliant 
reserves are established, the relevant exploration and evaluation assets are tested for impairment and the balance is then transferred to mine 
‘construction in progress’. No amortisation is charged during the exploration and evaluation phase.

58

Sylvania Platinum 
 
Upon transfer of ‘exploration and evaluation assets’ into ‘construction in progress’, all subsequent directly attributable expenditure on the 
construction, installation or completion of infrastructure facilities is capitalised. 

(k)  IMPAIRMENT OF NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS

The Group assesses at each reporting date whether there is an indication that an asset (or cash-generating unit (CGU)) may be impaired.  
If any indication exists, or when annual impairment testing for an asset is required, the Group estimates the asset’s or CGU’s recoverable amount. 
An asset’s recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s or CGU’s fair value less costs of disposal and its value in use and is determined for an 
individual asset, unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that are largely independent of those from other assets or groups of assets, in 
which case the asset is tested as part of a larger CGU. 

When the carrying amount of an asset or CGU exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset is considered to be impaired and is written down to 
its recoverable amount. In calculating 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 risks specific to the asset or CGU. In determining fair value less 
costs of disposal, recent market transactions are taken into account, if available. If no such transactions can be identified, an appropriate valuation 
model is used. These calculations are corroborated by valuation multiples, quoted share prices for publicly traded subsidiaries or other available fair 
value indicators.

The Group bases its impairment calculation on detailed budgets and forecast calculations which are prepared separately for each of the Group’s 
CGUs to which the individual assets are allocated. Impairment losses are allocated to reduce the carrying amounts of the assets in the CGU on a 
pro rata basis.

Impairment losses of continuing operations, including impairment of inventories, are recognised in profit or loss in those expense categories 
consistent with the function of the impaired asset.

An assessment is made at each reporting date as to whether there is any indication that previously recognised impairment losses may no longer 
exist or may have decreased. If such indication exists, the Group estimates the asset’s or CGU’s recoverable amount. A previously recognised 
impairment loss is reversed only if there has been a change in the assumptions used to determine the asset’s recoverable amount since the last 
impairment loss was recognised. The reversal is limited so that the carrying amount of the asset does not exceed its recoverable amount, nor 
exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation, had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset in prior 
years. Such reversal is recognised in profit or loss. An impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed.

Exploration and evaluation assets are assessed for impairment when facts and circumstances suggest that the carrying amount of an exploration 
and evaluation asset may exceed its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount of the exploration and evaluation asset (for the cash generating 
unit(s) to which it has been allocated being no larger than the relevant area of interest) is estimated to determine the extent of the impairment loss 
(if any). Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable 
amount, but only to the extent that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no 
impairment loss been recognised for the asset in previous years.

(l)  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

(i)  Recognition and initial measurement

Trade receivables and debt securities issued are initially recognised when they are originated. All other financial assets and financial liabilities are 
initially recognised when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

A financial asset (unless it is a trade receivable without a significant financing component) or a financial liability is initially measured at fair value  
plus, for an item not at fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”), transaction costs that are directly attributable to its acquisition or issue.  
A trade receivable without a significant financing component is initially measured at the transaction price.

(ii)	 Classification	and	subsequent	measurement

Financial assets – Policy applicable from 1 July 2018

On initial recognition, a financial asset is classified as measured at: amortised cost; fair value through other comprehensive income (“FVOCI”) – 
debt investment; FVOCI – equity investment; or FVTPL.

Financial assets are not reclassified subsequent to their initial recognition unless the Group changes its business model for managing financial assets, 
in which case all affected financial assets are reclassified on the first day of the first reporting period following the change in the business model. 

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 continued

6.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued

(l)  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS continued

(ii)	 Classification	and	subsequent	measurement continued

A financial asset is measured at amortised cost if it meets both of the following conditions and is not designated as at FVTPL:

•  it is held within a business model whose objective is to hold assets to collect contractual cash flows; and

•   its contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount 

outstanding.

On initial recognition of an equity investment that is not held for trading, the Group may irrevocably elect to present subsequent changes in the 
investment’s fair value in OCI. This election is made on an investment-by-investment basis.

All financial assets not classified as measured at amortised cost or FVOCI as described above are measured at FVTPL. On initial recognition, the 
Group may irrevocable designate a financial asset that otherwise meets the requirements to be measured at amortised cost or at FVOCI as at 
FVTPL if doing so eliminates or significantly reduces an accounting mismatch that would otherwise arise.

Financial assets – Business model assessment: Policy applicable from 1 July 2018

The Group makes an assessment of the objective of the business model in which a financial asset is held at a portfolio level because this best 
reflects the way the business is managed and information is provided to management. The information considered includes:

•   the stated policies and objectives for the portfolio and the operation of those policies in practice. These include whether management’s strategy 
focuses on earning contractual interest income, maintaining a particular interest rate profile, matching the duration of the financial assets to the 
duration of any related liabilities or expected cash outflows or realising cash flows through the sale of the assets;

•  how the performance of the portfolio is evaluated and reported to the Group’s management;

•   the risks that affect the performance of the business model (and the financial assets held within that business model) and how those risks 

are managed;

•   how managers of the business are compensated – e.g. whether compensation is based on the fair value of the assets managed or the contractual 

cash flows collected; and 

•   the frequency, volume and timing of sales of financial assets in prior periods, the reasons for such sales and expectations about future sales activity.

Transfers of financial assets to third parties in transactions that do not qualify for derecognition are not considered sales for this purpose, consistent 
with the Group’s continuing recognition of the assets.

Financial assets that are held for trading or are managed and whose performance is evaluated on a fair value basis are measured at FVTPL.

Financial assets – Assessment whether contractual cash flows are solely payment of principal and interest: Policy applicable from 
1 July 2018

For the purposes of this assessment, ‘principal’ is defined as the fair value of the financial asset on initial recognition. ‘Interest’ is defined as 
consideration for the time value of money and for the credit risk associated with the principal amount outstanding during a particular period of time 
and for other basic lending risks and costs (e.g. liquidity risk and administrative costs), as well as a profit margin.

In assessing whether the contractual cash flows are solely payments of principal and interest, the Group considers the contractual terms of the 
instrument. This includes assessing whether the financial asset contains a contractual term that could change the timing amount of contractual cash 
flows such that it would not meet this condition. In making this assessment, the Group considers:

•  contingent events that would change the amount or timing of cash flows;

•  terms that may adjust the contractual coupon rate, including variable-rate features;

•  prepayment and extension features; and

•  terms that limit the Group’s claim to cash flows from specified assets (e.g. non-recourse features).

60

Sylvania PlatinumA prepayment feature is consistent with the solely payments of principal and interest criterion if the prepayment amount substantially represents 
unpaid amounts of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding, which may include reasonable additional compensation for early 
termination of the contract. Additionally, for a financial asset acquired at a discount or premium to its contractual par amount, a feature that 
permits or requires prepayment at an amount that substantially represents the contractual par amount plus accrued (but unpaid) contractual 
interest (which may also include reasonable additional compensation for early termination) is treated as consistent with this criterion if the fair value 
of the prepayment feature is insignificant at initial recognition. 

Financial assets – subsequent measurement and gains and losses: Policy applicable from 1 July 2018

Financial assets at amortised cost

Equity investments at FVOCI

These assets are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. The 
amortised cost is reduced by impairment losses. Interest income, foreign exchange gains and losses and 
impairment are recognised in profit or loss. Any gain or loss on derecognition is recognised in profit or loss.

These assets are subsequently measured at fair value. Dividends are recognised as income in profit or loss 
unless the dividend clearly represents a recovery of part of the cost of the investment. Other net gains and 
losses are recognised in OCI and are never reclassified to profit or loss.

Financial assets – Policy applicable before 1 July 2018

The Group classified its financial assets into one of the following categories:

•  loans and receivables; or

•  financial assets carried at amortised cost.

Financial assets – subsequent measurement and gains and losses: Policy applicable before 1 July 2018

Loans and receivables

Financial assets carried at  
amortised cost

Measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Measured at amortised cost and changes therein, including interest, were recognised in profit or loss.

Financial liabilities – Classification, subsequent measurement and gains and losses

Financial liabilities are classified as measured at amortised cost. Financial liabilities are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective 
interest method. Interest expense and foreign exchange gains and losses are recognised in profit or loss. Any gain or loss on derecognition is also 
recognised in profit or loss.

(iii) Derecognition

Financial assets

The Group derecognises a financial asset when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire, or it transfers the rights 
to receive the contractual cash flows in a transaction in which substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset are 
transferred or in which the Group neither transfers nor retains substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership and it does not retain control 
of the financial asset.

The Group enters into transactions whereby it transfers assets recognised in its statement of financial position, but retains either all or substantially 
all of the risks and rewards of the transferred assets. In these cases, the transferred assets are not derecognised.

Financial liabilities

The Group derecognises a financial liability when its contractual obligations are discharged or cancelled, or expire. The Group also derecognises 
a financial liability when its terms are modified and the cash flows of the modified liability are substantially different, in which case a new financial 
liability based on the modified terms is recognised at fair value.

On derecognition of a financial liability, the difference between the carrying amount extinguished and the consideration paid (including any  
non-cash assets transferred or liabilities assumed) is recognised in profit or loss.

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 continued

6.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued

(l)  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS continued

(iv)  Impairment 

Financial instruments and contract assets 

Policy applicable from 1 July 2018

The Group recognises loss allowances for ECLs on:

•  Financial assets measured at amortised cost; and

•  Contract assets.

The Group measures loss allowances at an amount equal to lifetime ECLs, except for the following, which are measured at 12-month ECLs:

•  trade receivables and contract assets; and 

•  bank balances for which credit risk has not increased significantly since initial recognition.

Loss allowances for other receivables are measured at an amount equal to lifetime ECLs.

When determining whether the credit risk of a financial asset has increased significantly since initial recognition and when estimating ECLs, 
the Group considers reasonable and supportable information that is relevant and available without undue cost or effort. This includes both 
quantitative and qualitative information and analysis, based on the Group’s historical experience and informed credit assessment and including 
forward-looking information.

The Group assumes that the credit risk on a financial asset has increased significantly if it is more than 30 days past due.

The Group considers a financial asset to be in default when:

•   the borrower is unlikely to pay its credit obligations to the Group in full, without recourse by the Group to actions such as realising security 

(if any is held); or

•  the financial asset is more than 90 days past due.

The Group considers the bank balances to have low credit risk when the banks credit risk rating is equivalent to P-3 or higher per Moody Investor 
Service.

Lifetime ECLs are the ECLs that result from all possible default events over the expected life of a financial instrument.

12-month ECLs are the portion of ECLs that result from default events that are possible within the 12 months after the reporting date  
(or a shorter period if the expected life of the instrument is less than 12 months).

The maximum period considered when estimating ECLs is the maximum contractual period over which the Group is exposed to credit risk.

Measurement of ECLs

ECLs are a probability-weighted estimate of credit losses. Credit losses are measured as the present value of all cash shortfalls (i.e. the difference 
between the cash flows due to the entity in accordance with the contract and the cash flows that the Group expects to receive).

ECLs are discounted at the effective interest rate of the financial asset.

Credit-impaired financial assets

At each reporting date, the Group assesses whether financial assets carried at amortised cost are credit-impaired. A financial asset is ‘credit-
impaired’ when one or more events that have a detrimental impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset have occurred.

Evidence that a financial asset is credit-impaired includes the following observable data:

•  significant financial difficulty of the borrower;

•  a breach of contract such as a default or being more than 90 days past due;

•  the restructuring of a loan or advance by the Group on terms the Group would not consider otherwise; and

•  it is probable that the borrower will enter bankruptcy or other financial reorganisation.

62

Sylvania PlatinumPresentation of allowance for ECL in the statement of financial position

Loss allowances for financial assets measured at amortised cost are deducted from the gross carrying amount of the assets.

Write off

The gross carrying amount of a financial asset is written off when the Group has no reasonable expectations of recovering a financial asset in its 
entirety or a portion thereof. The Group has a policy of writing off the gross carrying amount when the financial asset is 180 days past due.

Policy applicable before 1 July 2018

Financial assets not classified as at FVTPL were assessed at each reporting date to determine whether there was objective evidence of impairment.

Objective evidence that financial assets were impaired included:

•  debtor or a group of debtors were experiencing significant financial difficulty, 

•  default or delinquency in interest or principal payments,

•  the probability that they would enter bankruptcy or other financial reorganisation, and 

•  where observable data indicated that there is a measurable decrease in the estimated future cash flows.

For an investment in an equity instrument, objective evidence included a significant or prolonged decline in its fair value below its cost. 

Financial assets carried at amortised cost

For financial assets carried at amortised cost, the Group first assessed individually whether objective evidence of impairment existed individually for 
financial assets that are individually significant, or collectively for financial assets that were not individually significant. If the Group determined that 
no objective evidence of impairment existed for an individually assessed financial asset, whether significant or not, it included the asset in a group 
of financial assets with similar credit risk characteristics and collectively assessed them for impairment. Assets that were individually assessed for 
impairment and for which an impairment loss was, or continued to be, recognised were not included in a collective assessment of impairment.

If there was objective evidence that an impairment loss had been incurred, the amount of the los was measured as the difference between the 
asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows (excluding future expected credit losses that have not yet been 
incurred). The present value of the estimated future cash flows was discounted at the financial asset’s original effective interest rate. If a loan had a 
variable interest rate, the discount rate for measuring any impairment loss was the current effective interest rate.

The carrying amount of the asset was reduced through the use of an allowance account and the amount of the loss was recognised in profit or loss. 
Interest income continued to be accrued on the reduced carrying amount and was accrued using the rate of interest used to discount the future 
cash flows for the purpose of measuring the impairment loss. The interest income was recorded as part of finance revenue in profit or loss. Loans 
together with the associated allowance were written off when there was no realistic prospect of future recovery and all collateral had been realised 
or had been transferred to the Group. 

(v)  Offsetting

Financial assets and financial liabilities are offset and the net amount presented in the statement of financial position when, and only when, the 
Group currently has a legally enforceable right to set off the amounts and it intends either to settle them on a net basis or to realise the asset and 
settle the liability simultaneously.

(m) INVENTORIES

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. 

Costs incurred in bringing each product to its present location and condition, are accounted for as follows:

•  raw materials – purchase cost on a first-in, first-out basis; and

•   finished goods and work in progress – cost of direct materials and labour and a proportion of manufacturing overheads based on normal 

operating capacity but excluding borrowing costs. 

Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less estimated costs of completion and the estimated costs 
necessary to make the sale.

63

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 continued

6.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued

(n)  PROVISIONS

Where applicable, provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is 
probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of 
the amount of the obligation.

When the Group expects some or all of a provision to be reimbursed, for example, under an insurance contract, the reimbursement is recognised 
as a separate asset but only when the reimbursement is virtually certain. The expense relating to any provision is presented in the statement of 
comprehensive income net of any reimbursement.

If the effect of the time value of money is material, provisions are discounted using a current pre-tax rate that reflects the risks specific to 
the liability.

When discounting is used, the increase in the provision due to the passage of time is recognised as a finance cost.

Rehabilitation provision

The Group records the present value of estimated costs of legal and constructive obligations required to restore operating locations in the period 
in which the obligation is incurred. The nature of these restoration activities includes dismantling and removing structures, rehabilitating mines and 
tailings dams, dismantling operating facilities, closure of plant and waste sites, and restoration, reclamation and re-vegetation of affected areas.

The obligation generally arises when the asset is installed or the ground/environment is disturbed at the production location. When the liability 
is initially recognised, the present value of the estimated costs is capitalised by increasing the carrying amount of the related mining assets to the 
extent that it was incurred by the development/construction of the mine. Over time, the discounted liability is increased for the change in present 
value based on the discount rates that reflect current market assessments and the risks specific to the liability.

The periodic unwinding of the discount is recognised in profit or loss as a finance cost. Changes in rehabilitation costs relating to the asset will be 
recognised as additions or charges to the corresponding assets and rehabilitation liability when they occur. Additional disturbances as a result of 
producing inventories are treated as a cost of producing inventories and recognised in profit or loss when sold.

For closed sites, changes to estimated costs are recognised immediately in profit or loss.

(o)  ASSETS HELD FOR SALE

Non-current assets, or disposal groups comprising assets and liabilities, are classified as held-for-sale if it is highly probable that they will be 
recovered primarily through sale rather than through continuing use.

Such assets, or disposal groups, are generally measured at the lower of their carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell. Any impairment loss 
on a disposal group is allocated first to goodwill, and then to the remaining assets and liabilities on a pro rata basis, except that no loss is allocated 
to inventories, financial assets, deferred tax assets, employee benefit assets, investment property or biological assets, which continue to be 
measured in accordance with the Group’s other accounting policies. Impairment losses on initial classification as held-for-sale and subsequent gains 
and losses on remeasurement are recognised in profit or loss.

Once classified as held-for-sale, property, plant and equipment are no longer amortised or depreciated.

(p)  ISSUED CAPITAL

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in equity as a 
deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds.

Treasury shares (employee share plan shares) are deducted from equity and no gain or loss is recognised in profit and loss on purchase, sale, issue 
or cancellation of the Group’s own equity instruments.

64

Sylvania Platinum(q)  EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is calculated as net profit or loss attributable to members of the parent, adjusted to exclude any costs of servicing equity 
(other than dividends) and preference share dividends, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares. 

Diluted earnings per share are calculated as net profit or loss attributable to members of the parent, adjusted for:

•  costs of servicing equity (other than dividends) and preference share dividends;

•  the after tax effect of dividends and interest associated with dilutive potential ordinary shares that have been recognised as expenses; and

•  other non-discretionary changes in revenues or expenses during the period that would result from the dilution of potential ordinary shares; and 

•  divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares and dilutive potential ordinary shares.

7.  NEW STANDARDS AND INTERPRETATIONS

FUTURE ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Certain IFRSs and IFRICs have recently been issued or amended but are not yet effective and have not been adopted by the Group as at the annual 
reporting period ended on 30 June 2019. None of these are expected to have a significant impact on the Group’ consolidated financial statements, 
with possible exceptions described below.

Application 
date of 
standard

Application 
date for 
Group

1 January 2019

1 July 2019

Reference Title

Summary

IFRS 16

Leases

IFRS 16 is a new standard that replaces IAS 17 Leases, IFRIC 4 Determining 
Whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease, SIC 15 Operating Leases – 
Incentives and SIC 27 Evaluating the Substance of Transactions Involving the 
Legal Form of a Lease.

IFRS 16 introduces a single, on-balance sheet lease accounting model for 
lessees. A lessee recognises a right-of-use asset representing its right to use 
the underlying asset and a lease liability representing its obligation to make 
lease payments. There are recognition exemptions for short-term leases and 
leases of low-value items. Lessor accounting remains similar to the current 
standard – i.e. lessors continue to classify leases as finance or operating leases.

The Group has assessed the estimated impact that initial application of 
IFRS 16 will have on its consolidated statements, as described below. 

Leases in which the Group is a lessee

The Group will recognise new assets and liabilities for its operating leases 
such as office space. The nature of expenses related to those leases will now 
change because the Group will recognise a depreciation charge for right-of-
use assets and interest expense on lease liabilities.

Previously, the Group recognised operating lease expense on a straight-line 
basis over the term of the lease, and recognised assets and liabilities only to 
the extent that there was a timing difference between actual lease payments 
and the expense recognised.

No significant impact is expected for the Group’s finance leases.

Based on the information currently available, the Group estimates that it will 
recognise an additional lease liability of $300,818 as at 1 July 2019.

65

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 continued

7.  NEW STANDARDS AND INTERPRETATIONS continued

FUTURE ACCOUNTING STANDARDS continued

Reference Title

Summary

Application 
date of 
standard

Application 
date for 
Group

Amendments 
to IAS28

Long-term 
Interests in 
Associates  
and Joint 
Ventures

IFRIC 23

IFRS 3,  
IFRS 11,  
IAS 12

Uncertainty  
over Income  
Tax 
Treatments

Annual 
improvement  
to IFRS 
Standards 
2015 2017 
cycle – various 
standards

Leases in which the Group is a lessor

No significant impact is expected for the property lease in which the Group 
is a lessor.

Transition

The Group plans to apply IFRS 16 initially on 1 July 2019. On transition to 
IFRS 16, the Group chooses to apply a practical expedient to ‘grandfather’ 
the previous assessment of which existing contracts are, or contain, leases. 
This means it will apply IFRS 16 to contracts entered into (or modified) after 
the date of initial application of the standard.
An amendment to IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures will 
affect companies that finance such entities with preference shares or 
with loans for which repayment is not expected in the foreseeable future 
(referred to as long-term interests or ‘LTI’). 

The amendment, which addresses equity-accounted loss absorption by LTI, 
involves the dual application of IAS 28 and IFRS 9 Financial Instruments.

The impact of this amendment is currently being assessed.

1 January 2019

1 July 2019

IFRIC 23 is a new interpretation that specifies how to reflect the effects of 
uncertainty in accounting for income taxes.

1 January 2019

1 July 2019

1 January 2019

1 July 2019

The interpretation may affect tax amounts raised, the impact is currently 
being assessed.
IFRS 3 Business Combinations and IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements

Clarify how a company accounts for increasing its interest in a joint operation 
that meets the definition of a business.

•   If a party maintains (or obtains) control, then the previously held interest is 

not remeasured.

•  If a party obtains control, then the transaction is a business combination 

achieved in stages and the acquiring party remeasures the previously held 
interest at fair value.

IAS 12 Income Taxes

Clarify that all income tax consequences of dividends (including payments on 
financial instruments classified as equity) are recognised consistently with the 
transactions that generated the distributable profits – i.e. in profit or loss, 
OCI or equity.

These standards are not expected to have a significant impact on the 
Group’s consolidated financial statements.

66

Sylvania PlatinumApplication 
date of 
standard

Application 
date for 
Group

1 January 2020

1 July 2020

Reference Title

Summary

Framework

Amendments 
to References 
to Conceptual 
Framework in 
IFRS Standards

The IASB decided to revise the Conceptual Framework because certain 
important issues were not covered and certain guidance was unclear or 
out of date. The revised Conceptual Framework, issued by the IASB in  
March 2018, includes:

•  A new chapter on measurement;

•  Guidance on reporting financial performance;

•   Improved definitions of an asset and a liability, and guidance supporting 

these definitions; and 

•   Clarifications in important areas, such as the roles of stewardship, 
prudence and measurement uncertainty in financial reporting.

The IASB also updated references to the Conceptual Framework in  
IFRS Standards by issuing Amendments to References to the Conceptual 
Framework in IFRS Standards. 

This was done to support transition to the revised Conceptual Framework 
for companies that develop accounting policies using the Conceptual 
Framework when no IFRS Standard applies to a particular transaction.

Although we expect this to be rare, some companies may use the 
Framework as a reference for selecting their accounting policies in the 
absence of specific IFRS requirements. In these cases, companies should 
review those policies and apply the new guidance retrospectively as of  
1 January 2020, unless the new guidance contains specific scope outs.

The amendment do the Framework is not expected to have a significant 
impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

Amendments 
to IAS 1 and 
IAS 8

Definition  
of Material

The IASB refined its definition of material to make it easier to understand.  
It is now aligned across IFRS Standards and the Conceptual Framework.

1 January 2020

1 July 2020

The changes in Definition of Material all relate to a revised definition of 
‘material’ which is quoted below from the final amendments:

“Information is material if omitting, misstating or obscuring it could 
reasonably be expected to influence decisions that the primary users 
of general-purpose financial statements make on the basis of those 
financial statements, which provide financial information about a specific 
reporting entity.’’ 

The Board has also removed the definition of material omissions or 
misstatements from IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates 
and Errors.

The amendments to these standards are not expected to have a significant 
impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

67

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 continued

8.  SEGMENT REPORTING

SEGMENT INFORMATION

For management purposes the chief operating decision maker, being the Board of Directors of Sylvania Platinum Limited (“Board”), reports its 
results in the following segments:

•  Sylvania Dump Operations (SDO) which includes the Six operational plants; and

•  an open cast mining exploration project and a Northern Limb exploration project, which are both currently in the exploration phase.

Decision making by the Board is based on evaluating the operating plants as a group. Segment performance is evaluated on PGM ounce production 
and operating costs. The following items are not allocated to any segment as they are not considered to be part of the core operations of any segment:

•  finance income;

•  finance costs; and

•  unallocated expenses.

The following tables present revenue and profit information and certain asset and liability information regarding reportable segments for the years 
ended 30 June 2019 and 30 June 2018.

SDO

Exploration

Corporate/ 
Unallocated

Consolidated

$

$

$

$

2019

Segment assets

Capital expenditure*

Other assets

Segment liabilities

Segment revenue

Net profit for the year after tax

Included within the segment results:

Depreciation

Direct operating costs

Other items:

Income tax expense

Capital expenditure additions

81,619,891

32,619,048

49,000,843**

11,894,760

70,537,993

19,677,724

6,310,567

38,362,300

6,187,401

8,429,782

60,590,455

56,348,986

4,241,469

12,458,310

10,384,952

152,595,298

2,114,703(a)

8,270,249(b)

679,650(c)

91,082,737

61,512,561

25,032,720

71,556,600

–

1,018,607

(3,596)

(1,470,637)(d)

18,203,491

–

–

3,596

253,430

181,770

–

7

328,835

6,492,337(e)

38,362,300(f)

6,191,004

9,012,047

* 

Capital expenditure consists of property, plant and equipment and exploration and evaluation assets.

** 

 Other assets consist of trade receivables $6,628,720, contract assets $23,275,665, cash and cash equivalents $14,548,307, other receivables $2,456,301 and tax assets 
$2,091,850. 

68

Sylvania Platinum2019

Segment assets

Capital expenditure*

Other assets

Segment liabilities

Segment revenue

Net profit for the year after tax

Included within the segment results:

Depreciation

Direct operating costs

Other items:

Income tax expense

Capital expenditure additions

SDO

Exploration

Corporate/ 
Unallocated

Consolidated

$

$

$

$

68,428,164

31,766,714

60,919,441

6,640,887

135,988,492

60,436,824

1,770,711(a)

36,661,450**

482,617

4,870,176(b)***

10,820,961

62,768,561

12,575,807

6,462,567

38,620,104

5,110,081

7,598,058

12,515,603

–

–

–

–

–

362,935

661,620

878,191

(1,586,910)(d)

174,307

–

1,702

26,946

93,974,249

42,014,243

23,998,184

63,646,752

10,988,897

6,636,874(e)

38,620,104

5,111,783

7,987,939

* 

Capital expenditure consists of property, plant and equipment and exploration and evaluation assets.

**  Other assets consist of trade receivables $24,483,992, cash and cash equivalents $9,956,008 and other receivables $2,221,450.

***	 Re-classified,	refer	note	5(i).

Major items included in corporate/unallocated

(a) Capital expenditure

Property, plant and equipment

(b) Other assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Current tax asset

Other financial assets

Other receivables

*			Re-classified,	refer	note	5(i).

(c) Liabilities

Borrowings

VAT payable

Other

Trade payables

*			Re-classified,	refer	note	5(i).

69

2019

$

2018

$

2,114,703

2,114,703

1,770,711

1,770,711

7,169,118

3,993,292*

1,346

556,895

542,890

1,017

414,649*

461,218*

8,270,249

4,870,176

80,007

–

3,841

595,802

679,650

36,627

341,787

280,735

2,471*

661,620

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 continued

8.  SEGMENT REPORTING continued

SEGMENT INFORMATION continued

(d) Unallocated income and expenses

Administrative salaries and wages

Auditors’ remuneration

Consulting fees

Depreciation

Finance income

Finance costs

Foreign exchange loss

Forgiveness of debt

Legal expenses

Other income

Overseas travelling expenses

Premises leases

Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Share-based payments

Income tax expense

Share of loss of joint venture

Other

Reconciliations of total segment amounts to corresponding amount for the Group

(e) Depreciation

Included within cost of sales

Included within general and administrative costs

(f) Cost of sales

Direct operating costs

Depreciation

2019

$

2018

$

1,333,173

1,429,878

121,030

130,353

230,997

(1,018,607)

324,628

22,641

37,806

53,648

(49,825)

170,866

72,725

(11,947)

305,440

3,603

–

72,632

133,136

227,141

(878,191)

293,792

7,228

–

42,492

(60,486)

201,474

75,526

–

370,249

1,702

12,847

(255,894)

1,470,637

(342,510)

1,586,910

6,492,337

6,636,874

49,226

52,834

6,541,563

6,689,708

38,362,300

38,620,104

6,492,337

6,636,874

44,854,637

45,256,978

70

Sylvania PlatinumTotal segment revenue

Revenue

Finance income

Total segment revenue

Revenue from external customers by geographical location is detailed below. Revenue is attributed to 
geographic location based on the location of the customers. The Group does not have external revenues 
from external customers that are attributable to any foreign country other than as shown.
Revenue generated in South Africa

Finance income by geographical location is detailed below:

Mauritius

South Africa

Total finance income

Total revenue

The sales of concentrate are to two customers. Revenue is split according to segment as detailed below:

Customer 1 

Customer 2 

Analysis of location of non-current assets:

South Africa

Total non-current assets

9.   REVENUE

Revenue from contracts with customers

Contract balances

Contract assets

Trade receivables 

Reconciliation of contract assets:

Balance at application of IFRS 15

Movements during the year

Foreign currency movements

Closing balance at end of financial year

2019

$

2018

$

70,537,993

1,018,607

71,556,600

62,768,561

878,191

63,646,752

70,537,993

62,768,561

105,992

912,615

1,018,607

71,556,600

26,412

851,779

878,191

63,646,752

66,832,586

58,362,990

3,705,407

70,537,993

4,405,571

62,768,561

93,452,869

93,452,869

95,026,516

95,026,516

2019

$

2018

$

70,537,993

62,768,561

23,275,665

7,045,750

–

24,711,269

18,825,058

4,913,406

(462,799)

23,275,665

The contract assets relate to the Group’s rights to consideration for PGM ounces delivered but not billed at the reporting date. The contract assets 
are transferred to receivables when an invoice is issued.

The increase in the contract asset and decrease in the trade receivables are due to the effects of the modified prospective adoption of IFRS 15.

71

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 continued

2019

$

16,849

7,045

44,894

68,788

2018

$

7,485

–

53,001

60,486

6,492,337

–

6,636,874

426,759

129,976

49,227

86,948

–

22,641

(11,946)

132,630

52,834

92,863

682

7,228

61

13,965,908

12,470,134

1,333,173

305,440

1,429,878

370,249

15,604,521

14,270,261

56,522

962,085

1,018,607

(98,908)

(225,720)

(324,628)

693,979

812,493

65,698

878,191

(48,887)

(244,905)

(293,792)

584,399

10.  INCOME AND EXPENSES

(a) Other income

Scrap sales

Recoveries

Rent received

(b) Cost of sales and other expenses

Profit before income tax expense includes the following specific expenses:

Included in cost of sales:

Depreciation – property, plant and equipment

Write-off of property, plant and equipment

Included in other expenses:

Consulting

Depreciation – property, plant and equipment

Operating lease payments

Prospecting expenses

Foreign exchange loss (gain)/loss

(Profit)/loss on sale of property, plant and equipment

(c) Staff costs

Salaries and wages included in cost of sales

Salaries and wages included in other expenses

Share-based payments included in other expenses

(d) Net finance income

Interest income on other financial assets

Interest on cash and cash equivalents 

Finance income

Interest expense on borrowings

Unwinding of discount on rehabilitation provision

Finance costs

Net finance income recognised in profit or loss

72

Sylvania Platinum11.  INCOME TAX EXPENSE

Major components of tax expense

Income tax recognised in profit or loss

Current income tax:

Current income tax charge

Recognition in respect of current income tax of previous year

Deferred income tax:

Relating to recognition, origination and reversal of temporary differences

Recognition in respect of deferred tax of previous year

Total tax expense 

The prima facie income tax expense on pre-tax accounting profit or loss from operations reconciles  
to the income tax expense in the financial statements as follows:

Accounting profit before income tax

Tax expense at rate of 28%

Non-deductible expenses

Prior year recognition

Benefit of tax losses and temporary differences not brought to account

Income tax expense

2019

$

2018

$

7,414,749

414,196

4,807,429

(4,699)

(377,621)

(1,260,320)

6,191,004

309,053

–

5,111,783

24,394,495

16,100,680

6,830,458

79,650

(846,124)

127,020

4,508,190

565,102

(4,699)

43,190

6,191,004

5,111,783

Sylvania Platinum Limited is a Bermudan incorporated company and has no tax liability under that jurisdiction with respect to income derived. 
Certain foreign subsidiaries generated income that is subject to the applicable tax in the countries from which such income is derived. 

The tax rate used in the above reconciliation is the corporate tax rate of 28% payable by South African entities on taxable profits under South 
African tax law. 

A deferred tax asset has not been recognised in the prior year due to uncertainty about probable future taxable profits at that point in time. 

Deferred tax assets comprise:

Unrealised gains and losses on foreign exchange 

Rehabilitation provision

Other temporary differences

Deferred tax liabilities comprise:

Exploration and evaluation assets

Property, plant and equipment

Other temporary differences

Deferred tax liabilities net

Deferred tax recognised in the Statement of Financial Position

Deferred tax asset

Deferred tax liability

Deferred tax liabilities net

73

2019

$

2018

$

(3,665,524)

(3,917,025)

(736,749)

(932,701)

(787,513)

(984,687)

11,586,357

6,333,814

62,590

11,598,514

7,832,502

584,423

12,647,787

14,326,214

1,813,237

–

(14,461,024)

(14,326,214)

(12,647,787)

(14,326,214)

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 continued

11.  INCOME TAX EXPENSE continued

The Group has estimated tax losses arising in South Africa of $5,156,658 (2018: $4,844,055) and unredeemed capital expenditure of $10,218,769 
(2018: $10,492,734) that are available indefinitely for offset against future taxable profits of the company in which the losses arose.

Unrecognised deferred tax assets

Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect of the following items:

Exploration and evaluation assets

Unrealised gains and losses on foreign exchange

Tax losses

Other

2019

$

2018

$

922,375

2,275,340

1,447,481

63,487

847,863

2,194,846

1,359,723

63,126

4,708,683

4,465,558

The deductible temporary differences and tax losses do not expire under current tax legislation. Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in 
respect of these items because of the uncertainty of the timing of probable future taxable profits which will be utilised.

Reconciliation of deferred tax assets/(liabilities):

2019

Other temporary differences

Rehabilitation provision

Unrealised gains and losses on foreign exchange

Property, plant and equipment

Exploration and evaluation assets

2018

Other temporary differences

Rehabilitation provision

Unrealised gains and losses on foreign exchange

Property, plant and equipment

Exploration and evaluation assets

Opening 
balance

Charged  
to profit  
or loss

Exchange 
differences

$

$

$

Closing 
balance

$

400,264

787,513

284,810

(30,040)

185,036

(20,724)

870,110

736,749

3,917,025

46,284

(297,784)

3,665,525

(7,832,503)

1,336,887

161,802

(6,333,814)

(11,598,513)

–

(14,326,214)

1,637,941

12,156

40,486

(11,586,357)

(12,647,787)

331,785

758,329

3,535,369

3,593

50,343

–

(7,618,785)

(362,989)

64,886

(21,159)

381,656

149,271

400,264

787,513

3,917,025

(7,832,503)

(11,598,513)

–

–

(11,598,513)

(14,591,815)

(309,053)

574,654

(14,326,214)

74

Sylvania Platinum12.  EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share 

Diluted earnings per share 

2019

2018

Cents per 
share

Cents per 
share

6.37

6.24

$

3.83

3.76

$

Reconciliation of earnings used in calculating earnings per share

Earnings attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the company used in calculating basic earnings 
per share

Earnings attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the company used in calculating diluted earnings 
per share

18,203,491

10,988,897

18,203,491

10,988,897

2019

2018

Number of 
shares

Number of 
shares

Weighted average number of shares used as the denominator

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used as the denominator in calculating basic earnings per share

285,820,158

286,997,598

Effect of dilution:

Share options and bonus shares

Weighted average number of ordinary shares and potential ordinary shares used as the denominator in 
calculating diluted earnings per share

5,976,644

5,462,603

291,796,802

292,460,201

There have been no other transactions involving ordinary shares or potential ordinary shares between the reporting date and the date of 
authorisation of these financial statements.

13.  OTHER FINANCIAL ASSETS

Loans and receivables

Loans receivable (a)

Rehabilitation insurance guarantee (b)

Total

Non-current assets

*		Re-classified,	refer	note	5(i).

2019

$

556,895

–

556,895

556,895

2018

$

414,649*

637,618

1,052,267

1,052,267

(a)  Loans receivable consist of a loan granted to TS Consortium by Sylvania South Africa (Pty) Ltd. The loan is unsecured, bears interest at  

7% per annum and is repayable on 31 December 2020.

(b) 

Investment linked to the rehabilitation insurance guarantee. Monthly instalments of ZAR222,000 were paid to fund the investment.  
These guarantees have been transferred to a new facility and the investment was withdrawn and the account closed. The investment is no 
longer required as the method of funding the rehabilitation guarantee has changed. The balance of the funds was transferred to the Sylvania  
in January 2019.

75

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 continued

14.  EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ASSETS

2019

Balance at beginning of financial year

Foreign currency movements

Direct expenditure for the year

Assets held for sale

Balance at end of financial year

2018

Balance at beginning of financial year

Foreign currency movements

Direct expenditure for the year

Balance at end of financial year

Mineral 
rights

Deferred 
exploration 
expenditure

Total

$

$

$

2,541,589

54,855,667

57,397,256

(66,061)

55,875

(190,676)

(256,737)

197,555

253,430

(2,531,403)

(1,456,748)

(3,988,151)

–

53,405,798

53,405,798

2,619,404

54,968,496

57,587,900

(134,705)

56,890

(418,874)

306,045

(553,579)

362,935

2,541,589

54,855,667

57,397,256

Ultimate recovery of exploration and evaluation expenditure carried forward is dependent upon the recoupment of costs through successful 
development and commercial exploitation, or alternatively, by sale of the respective areas.

An impairment assessment of the exploration and evaluation assets was done based on an independent valuation by a third party. The valuations 
were based on the differing levels of confidence per project. The Early Stage Projects were valued using a Cost and Market approach, whilst the 
advanced Projects were valued using a Cost, Market and Discounted Cash-flow approach. Discount rates of 12.5% and 15% were used respectively. 
No impairment was considered necessary or was recognised during the current year.

76

Sylvania Platinum15.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Con-

struc-

Computer 

Leasehold 

equip-

Furni-

Mining 

tion in 

Equip-

improve-

ment and 

ture and 

Office 

equip-

Motor 

Property

property

progress

Plant 

ment

ments

software

fittings

ment

vehicles

Total

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

2019

At 1 July 2018

Cost

Accumulated 
depreciation

3,122,668 

2,385,550

7,207,543

67,934,702

723,685

21,633

470,206

104,439

110,512

835,065

82,916,003

(90,442)

(1,799,499)

– (42,817,350)

(534,071)

(21,141)

(411,588)

(85,869)

(85,495)

(493,555) (46,339,010)

Net carrying value

3,032,226

586,051

7,207,543

25,117,352

189,614

492

58,618

18,570

25,017

341,510

36,576,993

Year ended  
30 June 2019

Opening net 
carrying value

Exchange 
differences

Additions

Re-classification

Disposals

Assets held for sale

Depreciation 
charge

Closing net 
carrying value

At 30 June 2019

Cost

Accumulated 
depreciation

3,032,226

586,051

7,207,543

25,117,352

189,614

492

58,618

18,570

25,017

341,510

36,576,993

(79,151)

(16,498)

(206,361)

(628,732)

(4,764)

100

(1,221)

22,540

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(18,757)

(222,267)

–

–

–

2,309,914

5,928,295

108,004

21,307

106,095

(5,117,997)

4,966,617

–

–

(426)

(2,218)

(16,208)

–

–

–

(1,449)

(819)

–

(493)

7,630

–

–

–

(643)

(8,294)

(946,057)

9,594

1,449

–

–

245,238

8,758,617

–

–

–

(151,380)

(1,245)

(18,426)

(6,032,796)

(73,281)

(361)

(46,258)

(9,166)

(9,064)

(129,613)

(6,541,563)

2,956,858

347,286

4,193,099

29,348,092

203,365

21,538

114,966

16,541

26,353

448,841

37,676,939

3,063,796

2,323,263

4,193,099

78,193,987

784,159

42,489

560,176

109,383

117,358

1,017,695

90,405,405

(106,938)

(1,975,977)

– (48,845,895)

(580,794)

(20,951)

(445,210)

(92,842)

(91,005)

(568,854) (52,728,466)

Net carrying value

2,956,858

347,286

4,193,099

29,348,092

203,365

21,538

114,966

16,541

26,353

448,841

37,676,939

77

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 continued

15.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT continued

Con-

struc-

Computer 

Leasehold 

equip-

Furni-

Mining 

tion in 

Equip-

improve-

ment and 

ture and 

Office 

equip-

Motor 

Property

property

progress

Plant 

ment

ments

software

fittings

ment

vehicles

Total

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

2018

At 1 July 2017

Cost

Accumulated 
depreciation

3,251,863

2,511,007

2,232,696

62,482,155

819,255

22,252

424,679

56,011

108,721

856,038

72,764,677

(81,453)

(1,647,825)

–

(37,303,257)

(555,501)

(22,252)

(354,706)

(54,700)

(81,659)

(405,632)

(40,506,985)

Net carrying value

3,170,410

863,182

2,232,696

25,178,898

263,754

Year ended 30 June 2018

Opening net 
carrying value

Exchange 
differences

Additions

Re-classification

Disposals

3,170,410

863,182

2,232,696

25,178,898

263,754

(158,030)

(26,240)

(370,787)

(928,097)

16,614

17,233

–

–

–

–

4,786,846*

3,540,282

558,788

3,907,474

(8,779)

10,086

–

–

–

(423,320)

(2,189)

(6,157,885)

(73,258)

Depreciation charge

(14,001)

(250,891)

–

–

(36)

528

–

–

–

69,973

1,311

27,062

450,406

32,257,692

69,973

1,311

27,062

450,406

32,257,692

(1,147)

31,580

16,725

(213)

734

3,324

19,251

–

(1,302)

9,905

–

(980)

(14,860)

(1,508,544)

12,407

13,269

8,411,572

4,532,740

(57)

(426,759)

(58,300)

(6,050)

(9,668)

(119,655)

(6,689,708)

Closing net 
carrying value

At 30 June 2018

Cost

Accumulated 
depreciation

Net carrying value

3,032,226

586,051

7,207,543

25,117,352

189,614

492

58,618

18,570

25,017

341,510

36,576,993

3,122,668

2,385,550

7,207,543

67,934,702

723,685

21,633

470,206

104,439

110,512

835,065

82,916,003

(90,442)

(1,799,499)

–

(42,817,350)

(534,071)

(21,141)

(411,588)

(85,869)

(85,495)

(493,555)

(46,339,010)

3,032,226

586,051

7,207,543

25,117,352

189,614

492

58,618

18,570

25,017

341,510

36,576,993

*	 Re-classified,	refer	note	5(i).

LEASED ASSETS

Plant and equipment, motor vehicles and computer equipment include the following amounts where the Group is a lessee under a finance lease: 

Plant and equipment

Cost

Accumulated depreciation

Motor vehicles

Cost

Accumulated depreciation

2019

$

2018

$

122,563

(96,950)

25,613

692,472

(289,557)

402,915

132,467

(85,354)

47,113

533,590

(218,589)

315,001

During the year, the Group acquired under finance lease motor vehicles with a carrying amount of $ 205,176 (2018: $ Nil).

78

Sylvania PlatinumNON-CURRENT ASSETS PLEDGED AS SECURITY

Leased assets are pledged as security for the related finance lease liability (refer to note 21). No other non-current assets are pledged as security 
for any liabilities.

IMPAIRMENT OF PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Given the constant pressure on the platinum price and that the Group’s market capitalisation is lower than the net asset value, the directors 
performed an impairment assessment of the Group’s property, plant and equipment at year end. No impairment was considered necessary in the 
current year. Refer to note 4 (B).

16.  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash at bank and on hand

Short-term deposits

Short-term deposits – restricted cash

Assets held for sale

*	 Re-classified,	refer	note	5(i).

2019

$

8,893,037

11,926,683

981,585

(4,164)

2018

$

6,603,190*

6,464,542

957,997

–

21,797,141

14,025,729

Cash at banks earns interest at floating rates on daily bank deposit rates. Short-term deposits are made for varying periods of between one day and 
three months, depending on the immediate cash requirements of the Group, and earn interest at the respective short-term deposit rates. The fair 
value of cash and short-term deposits is $21,797,141 (2018: $14,025,729).

At 30 June 2019, the Group had available $2,029,252 (2018: $2,083,656) of undrawn borrowing facilities.

The Group only deposits cash surpluses with major banks of high-quality credit standing. 

The Group has pledged part of its short-term deposits with a carrying value of $981,585 (2018: $957,997) in order to fulfil collateral requirements 
for the guarantees held below.

Bank guarantees are held as follows:

Eskom

The Department of Mineral Resources

Growthpoint

17.  TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Trade receivables 

Other receivables

Assets held for sale

*	 Re-classified,	refer	note	5(i).

2019

$

847,193

52,274

26,923

2018

$

869,906

53,675

27,166

2019

$

2018

$

7,045,750

24,936,276

870,683

(117,121)

496,848*

–

7,799,312

25,433,124

Trade receivables are due from major minerals mining and processing companies. None of the amounts are past due or impaired. 

Other receivables are non-interest bearing and are generally on 30-90-day terms. No other receivables are past due nor impaired.

79

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 continued

18.  INVENTORIES

Stores and materials

2019

$

2018

$

1,827,399

1,827,399

1,488,382

1,488,382

Inventories of $2,448,629 (2018: $2,124,571) were recognised as an expense during the current year and included in cost of sales. 

STORES AND MATERIALS

Spares and consumables are held in stock for engineering breakdowns. 

19.  ISSUED CAPITAL

AUTHORISED CAPITAL

Ordinary shares with a par value of $0.01

1,000,000,000

10,000,000

10,000,000

2019

No of 
shares

2019

2018

$

$

ISSUED CAPITAL

Share capital

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares fully paid

2019

No of 
shares

2018

No of 
shares

2019

2018

$

$

289,724,772

291,133,661

2,897,248

2,911,337

Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to one vote per share at shareholders’ 
meetings. In the event of winding up of the parent entity, ordinary shareholders rank after all creditors and are fully entitled to any proceeds 
on liquidation.

MOVEMENTS IN ORDINARY SHARE CAPITAL

Date

1 July 2018

30 June 2019

1 July 2017

Details

Opening balance

Cancellation of shares *

Closing balance

Opening balance

Cancellation of shares

30 June 2018

Closing balance

Number of shares

$

291,133,661

(1,408,889)

289,724,772

297,981,896

(6,848,235)

291,133,661

2,911,337

(14,089)

2,897,248

2,979,819

(68,482)

2,911,337

*  516,632 shares were acquired from an employee and cancelled immediately and 892,257 shares were cancelled out of treasury.

On 21 August 2017, the Company announced a Share Buyback Programme (“Programme”). The purpose of the Programme was to facilitate the 
sale of shares held by small non-UK shareholders prohibited from doing so by the cost and administrative burden of trading certificated shares 
outside of the UK. Sylvania’s Board approved a programme to offer to buy back up to 4,156,982 shares where the individual shareholding is no 
more than 175,000 ordinary shares and is in certificated format. The Company repurchased these shares at A$0.1619. The closing date for the 
Programme was 24 August 2018.

80

Sylvania Platinum 
 
 
The table below shows the movement in the treasury share account for the year. The shares are being held to be issued as bonus shares to senior 
management in recognition of the achievement of performance criteria. Refer to note 27 for further details.

Date

Opening balance at 1 July 2018

Shares purchased

Shares purchased through Share Buyback Programme

Shares cancelled

Other movements

Closing balance as at 30 June 2019

SHARE OPTIONS

Employee option plan options 

– At $Nil per share on or before 29 December 2021

Information relating to the employee option plan, is set out in note 27.

20. RESERVES 

NATURE AND PURPOSE OF RESERVES

•  Reserve for own shares

Number of shares

4,853,231

516,632

128,661

(1,408,889)

120,000

4,209,635

2019

2018

Number of 
options

Number of 
options

1,000,000

1,000,000

1,000,000

1,000,000

The reserve comprises the cost of the Company’s shares held by the Group as treasury shares. Refer to notes 19 and 27 for further details.

•  Foreign currency translation reserve

The foreign currency translation reserve comprises the exchange differences arising from the translation of financial statements of foreign 
controlled entities.

•  Share-based payment reserve

This reserve comprises the value of equity benefits provided to employees, consultants and directors as part of their remuneration. Refer note 27.

•  Non-controlling interests reserve

This reserve comprises the differences between the carrying value of non-controlling interests and the consideration paid/received, where there 
has been a transaction involving non-controlling interests that do not result in a loss of control. 

•  Equity reserve

This reserve arises from the reinstatement of the recyclable reserves in the former parent (Sylvania Resources Proprietary Limited) as at the date 
of the insertion of Sylvania Platinum Limited as the ultimate holding company.

81

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 continued

21.  BORROWINGS

Finance lease liabilities

At 30 June 2019

Due within one year

Due between one and five years

At 30 June 2018

Due within one year

Due between one and five years

Future  
minimum lease 
payments due

$

Finance  
charges

$

Present value of 
minimum lease 
payments due

$

207,252

209,900

417,152

155,901

192,305

348,206

(19,272)

(25,510)

(44,782)

(23,201)

(18,410)

(41,611)

187,980

184,390

372,370

132,700

173,895

306,595

These borrowings are secured over various motor vehicles, plant and equipment, are repayable in monthly instalments of $18,918 (2018: $16,813) 

and bear interest at rates varying between 10% and 10.75% (2018: 10.25% and 11%) p.a. Refer to note 15 for further detail on non-current assets 

pledged as security.

22. PROVISIONS

Rehabilitation provision

Movement in provision

Balance at beginning of financial year

Foreign currency movements

Unwinding of discount factor

Changes during the year

Balance at end of financial year

2019

$

2018

$

3,481,232

3,685,257

3,685,257

3,626,989

(96,799)

225,720

(332,946)

(191,087)

244,905

4,450

3,481,232

3,685,257

Provision is made for the present value of closure, restoration and environmental rehabilitation costs (which include the dismantling and demolition 

of infrastructure, removal of residual materials and remediation of disturbed areas) in the financial period when the related environmental 

disturbance occurs, based on the estimated future costs using information available at the reporting date. These estimates are reviewed regularly 

to take into account any material changes to the assumptions. However, actual costs will ultimately depend on future market prices for the 

rehabilitation work required. 

Rehabilitation is performed and paid for on an on-going basis as mining properties are depleted. The majority of the rehabilitation will be 

undertaken progressively over the life of the mine during the depletion of each respective mining property. It is expected that the life of each mine 

could vary therefore, the timing of rehabilitation work is inherently uncertain. 

82

Sylvania Platinum23.  TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

Trade payables

Accrued expenses

Other trade payables

Liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale

*	 Re-classified,	refer	note	5(i).

2019

$

3,070,766

3,247,602

398,746

(1,327)

2018

$

2,384,518

2,911,389

383,138*

–

6,715,787

5,679,045

Trade and other payables are non-interest bearing and are normally settled on 30 day terms, predominately payable in ZAR and located in 
South Africa.

24.  NET CASH INFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

(a) Reconciliation of profit before tax to net cash flow from operating activities

Profit before income tax expense

Adjusted for:

Equity accounted net loss from joint venture

Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment

Write-off of property, plant and equipment

Finance income

Finance costs

Depreciation

Rehabilitation provisions

Share-based payments

Forgiveness of debt

2019

$

2018

$

24,394,495

16,100,680

–

(13,192)

–

(1,018,607)

324,628

6,541,565

(643,837)

305,440

37,806

12,847

(61)

426,820

(878,191)

293,792

6,689,708

(134,609)

370,249

–

Net operating profit before working capital changes

29,928,298

22,881,235

Changes in working capital:

Increase in trade and other receivables and contract assets

(Increase)/decrease in inventories

Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables

Cash generated from operating activities

Finance income received

Finance costs paid

Taxation paid

Net cash inflow from operating activities

(6,061,892)

(5,243,662)

(232,790)

945,274

528,755

178,452

24,578,890

18,344,780

950,280

(70,647)

803,812

(48,886)

(8,092,853)

(4,054,932)

17,365,670

15,044,774

83

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 continued

24.  NET CASH INFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES continued

(b) Taxation paid

Balance receivable at the beginning of the year

Acquired through business combinations

Income tax recognised in profit or loss

Foreign currency movements

Balance payable at the end of the year

Less: Balance receivable at the end of the year

Taxation paid

25.  NET CASH OUTFLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

(a) Repayment of borrowings

Balance owing at the beginning of the year

Cash flow items

Finance lease payments during the year

Non-cash flow

New finance leases

Finance leases cancelled

Foreign currency movements

Closing balance

(b) Payment for settlement of bonus shares

Treasury shares opening balance

Cash flow items

Purchase of treasury shares

Non-cash flow

Share options & bonus shares exercised

Shares cancelled

Closing balance

(c) Payment for settlement of share options

Share Based payments opening balance

Cash flow items

Settlement of share options and bonus shares

Non-cash flow

Share options & bonus shares exercised

Bonus shares expenses

Closing balance

84

2019

$

13,668

–

2018

$

756,255

(834)

(7,828,945)

(4,809,670)

1,064

12,985

(7,814,213)

(4,041,264)

980

(279,620)

1,073

(14,741)

(8,092,853)

(4,054,932)

2019

$

2018

$

(306,595)

(470,159)

147,674

150,180

(221,059)

–

7,610

–

–

13,384

(372,370)

(306,595)

(1,141,362)

(1,063,273)

(119,606)

(1,414,669)

–

214,559

699,445

637,135

(1,046,409)

(1,141,362)

(3,567,504)

(3,896,700)

–

–

(305,440)

–

699,445

(370,249)

(3,872,944)

(3,567,504)

Sylvania Platinum26. ASSETS HELD FOR SALE

Management committed to a plan to sell 100% of the shares in, and shareholder claims against Grasvally Chrome Mine (Pty) Ltd (“Grasvally”), 
which forms an insignificant part of the Exploration segment. Efforts to sell the shares have started and a sale is expected by April 2020.

The following table summarises the carrying value for the assets held for sale and the liabilities directly associated with the assets held for sale:

Exploration and evaluation assets

Property, plant and equipment

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Other financial assets

Assets held for sale

Trade and other payables

Liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale

No impairments have been recognised on Grasvally.

There are no cumulative income or expenses included in OCI relating to the disposal group.

27.  SHARE-BASED PAYMENT PLAN

EXPENSE RECOGNISED THROUGH PROFIT AND LOSS

Expense arising from equity-settled share-based payment transactions

Total expense

EMPLOYEE OPTION PLAN

2019

$

3,988,151

18,426

4,164

117,121

35,430

4,163,292

(1,327)

(1,327)

2019

$

305,440

305,440

2018

$

370,249

370,249

On 29 December 2011, an employee incentive option plan (the “Sylvania Platinum Option Plan”) was approved by the shareholders at the AGM. 

The company does not intend to issue any further options under the Sylvania Platinum Option Plan and a decision was taken by the Board to cancel 
the Sylvania Platinum Option Plan in November 2017.

85

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 continued

27.  SHARE-BASED PAYMENT PLAN continued
Options

Balance at 

Granted 

Exercised 

Balance at 

exercisable 

Fair value at 

start of the 

during the 

during the 

the end of 

at end of 

Vested and 

Grant date

date

price

$

Number

Number

Number

Expiry  

Exercise 

grant date

year

year

year

the year

Number

year

Number

2019

29 Dec 2011

29 Dec 2021

Nil

0.33

Total

Weighted average exercise price

2018

29 Dec 2011

29 Dec 2021

11 Jun 2013

11 Jun 2023

29 Aug 2013

29 Aug 2023

24 Aug 2016

24 Aug 2026

Total

Weighted average exercise price

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

0.33

0.17

0.13

0.10

1,000,000

1,000,000

–

2,010,000

400,000

1,240,000

–

3,650,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,000,000

1,000,000

–

(1,010,000)

1,000,000

1,000,000

(400,000)

(1,240,000)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(2,650,000)

1,000,000

1,000,000

–

–

–

The options outstanding at 30 June 2019 have vested and have an exercise price of $Nil (2018: $Nil) and a weighted average remaining contractual 
life of 3 years (2018: 4 years).

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise of options during the year ended 30 June 2019 was $ Nil (2018: $ Nil).

Share bonus award

On 17 August 2017, 2,675,000 ordinary shares of $0.01 each in Sylvania Platinum Limited were allocated to certain employees and senior 
management in recognition of the achievement of performance criteria. These shares vest on 16 August 2020.

On 24 August 2018, 2,710,000 ordinary shares of $0.01 each in Sylvania Platinum Limited were allocated to certain employees and senior 
management in recognition of the achievement of performance criteria. These shares vest on 23 August 2021.

Bonus shares

Issue date

2019

17 August 2017

24 August 2018

Total

2018

24 August 2016

17 August 2017

Total

at issue date

$

0.10

0.10

0.10

0.10

Balance at 

Issued  

Exercised 

Balance at 

exercisable 

Vested and 

Fair value  

start of  

during the 

the year

Number

year

Forfeit

Number

Number

during  

the end of 

the year

Number

the year

Number

at end  

of year

Number

2,675,000

–

–

2,710,000

2,675,000

2,710,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,675,000

2,710,000

5,385,000

4,095,000

–

4,095,000

–

(190,000)

3,905,000

2,675,000

2,675,000

–

–

(190,000)

3,905,000

–

2,675,000

2,675,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

86

Sylvania PlatinumThe fair values of the bonus shares granted are determined at the grant date using a Black-Scholes model, taking into account the terms and 
conditions upon which the bonus shares were granted (the exercise price, the term of the bonus shares), the share price at grant date and 
expected price volatility of the underlying share, the expected dividend yield and the risk free interest rate for the term of the bonus shares. 
The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of the bonus shares granted during the year ended 30 June 2019.

Fair value at grant date ($)

Expected volatility (%)

Risk-free rate (%)

Expected life (years)

Share price at grant date ($)

Exercise price ($)

Expected dividend yield ($)

2019

0.202

48.61

7.75

3

0.202

Nil

Nil

2018

0.09

36.95

7.75

3

0.09

Nil

Nil

Expected volatility has been based on an evaluation of the historical volatility of the Company’s share price, particularly over the historical period 
commensurate with the expected term of the options.

28. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The effect of initially applying IFRS9 on the Group’s financial instruments is described in note 5. Due to the transition method chosen, comparative 
information has not been restated to reflect the new requirements. 

(a)  ACCOUNTING CLASSIFICATIONS AND FAIR VALUES

The fair value for financial assets and liabilities at amortised cost approximates the carrying value.

Financial assets

Trade and other receivables *

Cash and cash equivalents

Other financial assets

Financial liabilities

Borrowings

Trade and other payables

*	

Re-classified,	refer	note	5(i).

2019

2018

Amortised 
cost

Loans and 
receivables

Other 
financial 
liabilities

7,215,304

21,797,141

556,895

29,569,340

372,370

6,715,788

7,088,158

25,164,243

14,016,407

1,432,456

40,613,106

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(306,595)

(5,679,045)*

(5,985,640)

**	 Prepayments	and	Value	Added	Tax	are	excluded	from	the	trade	and	other	receivables	balance	as	this	analysis	is	required	only	for	financial	instruments.

Financial risk management objectives and policies

The Group’s principal financial liabilities comprise trade and other payables and interest-bearing loans and borrowings. The main purpose of these 
financial instruments is to manage short term cash flow and raise finance for the Group’s capital expenditure program. The Group has various 
financial assets such as trade and other receivables and cash and short-term deposits, which arise directly from its operations. 

87

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

continued

28. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS continued

(a)  ACCOUNTING CLASSIFICATIONS AND FAIR VALUES continued

Risk exposures and responses

The Group manages its exposure to key financial risks in accordance with the Group’s financial risk management policy. The objective of the policy 
is to support the delivery of the Group’s financial targets while protecting future financial security. The main risks that could adversely affect the 
Group’s financial assets, liabilities or future cash flows are market risks (foreign currency risk, interest rate risk and equity price risk), liquidity risk 
and credit risk. 

The Group’s senior management oversees the management of financial risks. The Board ensures that the Group’s financial risk-taking activities are 
governed by appropriate policies and procedures and that financial risks are identified, measured and managed in accordance with Group policies 
and the Group’s risk appetite. It is the Group’s policy that no trading in derivatives for speculative purposes shall be undertaken. At this stage, the 
Group does not currently apply any form of hedge accounting.

The sensitivity analyses have been prepared on the basis that the amount of net debt, the ratio of fixed-to-floating interest rates on the debt and 
the proportion of financial instruments in foreign currencies are all constant.

The following assumptions have been made in calculating the sensitivity analysis:

•  The statement of financial position sensitivity relates to interest-bearing borrowings.

•  The impact on equity is the same as the impact on profit before tax, unless stated otherwise. 

Capital risk management

The Group manages its capital to ensure that all companies within the Group will be able to continue as a going concern while maximising the 
return to stakeholders through the optimisation of the debt and equity balance. Due to the inherent risks involved in mining, the directors prefer 
not to utilise funding from financing institutions.

The Group’s overall strategy remains unchanged during the years ended 30 June 2019 and 30 June 2018.

The capital structure of the Group consists of equity attributable to equity holders of the parent comprising issued capital, reserves and retained 
profits (Refer to notes 19 and 20).

None of the Group’s companies are subject to externally imposed capital requirements.

Operating cash flows are used to maintain and expand operations, as well as to make routine expenditures such as tax, dividends and general 
administrative outgoings.

Market risk

Market risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices. Market 
prices comprise two types of risk: interest rate risk and currency risk. Financial instruments affected by market risk include receivables, loans, 
borrowings and deposits.

There has been no change at the reporting date to the Group’s exposure to market risks or the manner in which it manages and measures the risk 
from the previous period. 

Foreign currency risk

Foreign currency risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in foreign exchange 
rates. The Group’s exposure to the risk of changes in foreign exchange rates relates primarily to the Group’s operating activities (when revenue or 
expense is denominated in a different currency from the Group’s functional currency).

88

Sylvania PlatinumThe financial instruments exposed to foreign currency risk are as follows:

Financial assets

Trade receivables

2019

$

2018

$

6,317,529

5,134,747

A reasonably possible strengthening (weakening) of the Rand (ZAR) against the US dollar (USD) at 30 June 2019 would have affected the 
measurement of financial instruments denominated in a foreign currency and affected equity and profit or loss by the amounts shown below. 
The analysis assumes that all other variables remain constant and ignores any impact of forecast sales and purchases.

20% (2018: 20%) appreciation 

20% (2018: 20%) depreciation 

Interest rate risk

2019

2018

Profit/
(loss)

$

Equity 
increase/ 
(decrease)

$

Profit/ 
(loss)

$

Equity 
increase/ 
(decrease)

$

1,579,382

(1,579,382)

1,283,687

(1,283,687)

(1,052,921)

1,052,921

(855,791)

855,791

Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. 
The Group’s exposure to interest rate risk arises from cash balances, loans receivable and interest-bearing loans and borrowings, relating to finance 
leases on motor vehicles and equipment.

Cash and cash equivalents are exposed to ZAR deposit rates.

The Group does not engage in any hedging transactions to manage interest rate risk. In conjunction with external advice, management 
consideration is given on a regular basis to alternative financing structures with a view to optimising the Group’s funding structure. The Group 
manages the risk by maintaining an appropriate mix between fixed and floating rate liquid funds.

The financial instruments exposed to movements in variable interest rates are as follows:

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Investment for rehabilitation insurance guarantee

Financial liabilities

Borrowings

*	 Re-classified,	refer	note	5(i).

2019

$

2018

$

21,797,141

14,025,729*

–

637,618

(372,370)

(306,595)

A 50 basis point increase or decrease is used when reporting interest rate risk internally to key management personnel and represents 
management’s assessment of the change in interest rates. At reporting date, if interest rates had been 50 basis points higher or lower and all other 
variables were held constant, there would have been a decrease/increase in profit before tax of $110,848 (2018: $38,646). The impact on equity 
would have been the same.

89

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

 continued

28. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS continued

(a)  ACCOUNTING CLASSIFICATIONS AND FAIR VALUES continued

Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk that a contracting entity will not meet its obligation under a financial instrument or customer contract that will result in a 
financial loss to the Group. The Group is exposed to credit risk from its financing activities, including deposits with banks and financial institutions 
and its operating activities, primarily for trade receivables and contract assets. The carrying amount of these financial assets represents the 
maximum credit exposure. Receivables balances are monitored on an ongoing basis with the result that the Group’s exposure to bad debts is 
not significant. 

Trade receivables and contract assets

At reporting date, there is a significant concentration of credit risk represented in the trade receivables balance due to the fact that the majority 
of sales are made to two specific customers as per contractually agreed terms. These customers are reputable mining companies. The customers 
complied with all contractual sales terms and have not at any stage defaulted on amounts due. 

The Group uses an allowance matrix to measure the ECLs of trade receivables from the customers.

The ECLs are calculated based on the Advanced method, which take into consideration the Probability of default (PD), the exposure at default 
(EAD) and the loss given default (LGD). Rates are obtained from reputable ratings agencies.

The following table provides information about the exposure to credit risk and ECLs for trade receivables, other financial assets and contract assets 
as at 30 June 2019.

Trade receivables – Current (not past due)

Other financial assets

Contract assets

Weighted-
average 
loss rate 

Gross 
carrying 
amount

$

$

0.0012%

0.0014%

0.0012%

7,106,330

556,895

23,275,665

Loss 
allowance

Credit-
impaired

$

8,528

780

27,931

No

No

No

No loss allowance has been recognised on the initial application of IFRS 9 or for the 2019 financial year as these amounts are considered not 
material by management.

Cash and cash equivalents

The Group held cash and cash equivalents of $21,797,141 at 30 June 2019. The cash and cash equivalents are held with banks which are rated  
P-3 to P-1 based on Moody’s Investment Services.

Impairment on cash and cash equivalents has been measured on a 12-month expected loss basis and reflects the short maturities of the exposures. 
The Group considers that its cash and cash equivalents have low credit risk based on the external credit ratings of the banks. No impairment has 
been recognised for the year.

Liquidity risk

Ultimate responsibility for liquidity risk management rests with the Board of directors, who have built an appropriate liquidity risk management 
framework for the management of the Group’s short, medium and long term funding and liquidity management requirements.

The table below summarises the maturity profile of the Group’s financial liabilities based on contractual undiscounted payments based on the 
earliest date on which the Group can be required to pay. The table includes both interest and principal cash flows. 

90

Sylvania Platinum2019

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

2018

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Carrying 
amount

Contractual 
cash flows

Less than  
1 year

1 – 5  
years

$

$

$

6,715,787

6,715,787

6,715,787

372,370

372,370

187,980

7,088,157

7,088,157

6,903,767

$

–

184,390

184,390

Total

$

6,715,787

372,370

7,088,157

5,679,045

306,595

5,985,640

5,679,045

5,679,045

–

5,679,045

306,595

5,985,640

132,700

5,811,745

173,895

173,895

306,595

5,985,640

29.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Operating leases

Leases as lessee

Future minimum lease payments (net of VAT) under non-cancellable leases as at 30 June are as follows:

Office premises

The Group has a commercial lease arrangement whereby it leases its current office premises, in Johannesburg. 
This lease has an average life of five years with an option to renew at the end of the lease term and with 
rentals escalating at 9% per annum.

Within one year

After one year but not more than five years

Office equipment

Within one year

After one year but not more than five years

Leases as lessor

Future minimum lease payments (net of VAT) under non-cancellable leases as at 30 June are as follows:

Farm

The Group has a lease agreement whereby it leases certain portions of the Grasvally farm to a third party 
exclusively for the grazing of livestock. This lease has an average life of three years and no renewal option 
included in the contract and with rentals escalating 8% per annum.

Within one year

After one year but not more than five years

Finance lease commitments

2019

$

2018

$

86,225

213,740

299,965

15,205

34,188

49,393

80,802

308,007

388,809

16,842

17,908

34,750

36,146

–

36,146

41,788

37,115

78,903

The Group has instalment sale agreements for various items of motor vehicles, plant and equipment and computer equipment. Refer to notes 15 
and 21 for further details on finance lease commitments.

Commitments for plant construction 

At 30 June 2019, commitments signed for continued improvements of the plants were $621,941 (2018: Nil).

91

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

continued

30. KEY MANAGEMENT DISCLOSURE

SHAREHOLDING OF KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL 

The number of shares in the Company held during the year by each director of the Group is set out below:

Director

2019

T M McConnachie

R A Williams

S A Murray

2018

T M McConnachie

R A Williams

S A Murray

Balance at  
the start of  
the year

Issued 
under  
share and  
option plan

Balance at  
the end of  
the year

5,015,000

1,067,000

1,000,000

4,815,000

987,000

600,000

–

–

–

5,015,000

1,067,000

1,000,000

200,000

80,000

400,000

5,015,000

1,067,000

1,000,000

All equity transactions with key management personnel other than those arising under the Group’s Share Option Plan and bonus shares granted 
have been entered into under terms and conditions no more favourable than those the Group would have adopted if dealing at arm’s length.

The number of options in the Company held during the year by each director of the Group is set out below:

Director

2019

T M McConnachie

R A Williams

S A Murray

2018

T M McConnachie

R A Williams

S A Murray

Balance at 
the start of 
the year

Exercised 
during  
the year

Balance at 
the end of 
the year

–

–

–

–

–

–

200,000

80,000

400,000

(200,000)

(80,000)

(400,000)

–

–

–

–

–

–

92

Sylvania PlatinumKEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL COMPENSATION

Short Term Benefits

Cash 
salary/ 
Consulting 
fees

$

505,004

–

–

24,000

529,004

948,135

1,477,139

505,004

–

–

24,000

529,004

977,600

1,506,604

Bonus 1

Directors’ 
fees

$

–

–

–

–

–

268,396

268,396

–

–

–

–

–

280,961

280,961

$

–

125,000

85,000

75,000

285,000

–

285,000

–

125,000

85,000

75,000

285,000

–

285,000

Share-
based 
payment

Equity 
shares/
share 
options 2

$

–

–

–

–

–

119,858

119,858

1,630

–

652

–

2,282

74,320

76,602

Total

$

505,004

125,000

85,000

99,000

814,004

1,336,389

2,150,393

506,634

125,000

85,652

99,000

816,286

1,332,881

2,149,167

2019

Directors

TM McConnachie

SA Murray

RA Williams

E Carr

Sub-total

Other key management 

Total

2018

Directors

TM McConnachie

SA Murray

RA Williams

E Carr

Sub-total

Other key management 
Total

1  Cash bonuses were awarded to directors and key personnel based on individual performance.
2  Share-based payments include share options and bonus shares granted – refer to note 27. 

93

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

continued

31.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Sylvania Platinum Limited and the controlled entities listed in the 
following table:

Name of Entity

Sylvania Holdings Limited

Aralon Holdings Limited

Sylvania (Mauritius) Limited

Sylvania South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Sylvania Metals (Pty) Ltd

Phoenix Platinum Mining (Pty) Ltd

Sylvania Properties (Pty) Ltd

Sylvania Mining (Pty) Ltd

Sylvania Northern Platinum (Pty) Ltd

Sylvania Resources (Pty) Ltd

Sylvania Exploration (Pty) Ltd (previously Great  
Australian Resources South Africa (Pty) Ltd)

Hacra Mining and Exploration Company (Pty) Ltd 

Pan Palladium South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Volspruit Mining Company (Pty) Ltd

Zoetveld Properties (Pty) Ltd

Grasvally Chrome Mine (Pty) Ltd

Grasvally Resources (Pty) Ltd

PT Sands (Pty) Ltd

Country of  
incorporation

Class of 
shares

Mauritius

Mauritius

Mauritius

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Equity Holding

2019

2018

%

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

74

100

100

67

100

74

100

74

100

100

%

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

74

100

100

67

100

74

100

74

100

100

Sylvania Platinum Limited is the ultimate parent of the Group. Transactions between Sylvania Platinum Limited and its controlled entities during the 
year consisted of loan advances between Group companies. All intergroup transactions and balances are eliminated on consolidation.

NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS

The non-controlling interests are all held by BEE participants. An agreement has been entered into with non-controlling shareholders where the 
Group absorbs the losses that would be attributable to the non-controlling interests. 

OTHER RELATED PARTIES’ RELATIONSHIPS

Entities controlled or significantly influenced by key management

•  Indian Ocean Smelters (Pty) Ltd

94

Sylvania PlatinumTERMS AND CONDITIONS WITH CONTROLLED ENTITIES

All loans are unsecured, bear no interest and have no fixed terms of repayment. 

INVESTMENTS IN JOINT OPERATION

The Group has a 50% interest in TS Consortium, which operates a pilot pelletiser plant in South Africa (2018: 50%). 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS WITH LOAN TO JOINT OPERATION

The loan to TS Consortium is unsecured, bears interest at 7% and is repayable on 31 December 2020.

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES

Administration recoveries were received from and service fees paid to the following related parties during the year ended 30 June for expenses 
incurred on their behalf:

Service fees paid to related parties

Indian Ocean Smelters (Pty) Ltd

LOANS TO RELATED PARTIES 

Balance outstanding at 30 June 2019

Loan to joint operation

*	 Re-classified,	refer	note	5(i).

2019

$

2018

$

(4,460)

(5,135)

2019

$

2018

$

556,906

378,371*

32. EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING DATE

A conditional cash offer was received on 16 August 2019 from Forward Africa Mining (Pty) Ltd to purchase Grasvally Chrome Mine (Pty) Ltd for 
ZAR115,000,000.

33.  GOING CONCERN

The Group’s financial risk management objectives and policies are detailed in note 28 and available borrowing facilities are set out in note 16. 
After reviewing the financial position, operational performance, budgets and forecasts as well as the timing of cash flows and sensitivity analyses, the 
directors are satisfied that the Company and the Group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. 

95

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019WE VALUE

THE CULTURE, TRADITIONAL 
RIGHTS AND SOCIETY IN
WHICH WE OPERATE
Our actions will support the communities in which we work 
while honouring their heritage and traditions

96

Sylvania Platinum

05 ANCILLARY INFORMATION

Additional information for listed public companies

Glossary of terms and acronyms

Corporate directory

98

99

100

Annual Report 2019
Annual Report 2019

97
97

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR LISTED PUBLIC COMPANIES

SHAREHOLDERS PROFILE

AS AT 30 JUNE 2019

Shareholders holding 3% or more fully paid shares

Shareholder

1 Africa Asia Capital

2 M&G Investment Management

3

FIL Investment International

4 Majedie Asset Management

5 Miton Asset Management

6 Hargreaves Lansdown Asset Management

7 Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management

8

Interactive Investor

Number of shares

58,882,551

28,247,500

27,106,869

16,470,840

13,000,000

10,729,728

9,900,000

9,023,786
173,361,274

% Shareholding 1
20.62

9.89

9.49

5.77

4.55

3.76

3.47

3.16
60.71

1   The percentage shareholdings are calculated on the total number of ordinary shares with voting rights being 285,515,137 shares. The total issued number of shares is 

289,724,722 including 4,209,635 shares held in treasury.

98

Sylvania PlatinumGLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ACRONYMS

The following definitions apply throughout the consolidated financial statements:

4E PGMs

AGM

6E PGMs

AGM

AIM

4E PGM ounces include the precious metal elements platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold

Annual General Meeting

6E ounces include the 4E elements plus additional iridium and ruthenium

Annual General Meeting

Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange

All-in sustaining cost

Production cost plus all costs relating to sustaining current production and sustaining capital expenditure

All-in cost

BEE

Bonus Shares

BIC

CGU

All-in sustaining cost plus non-sustaining expansion capital expenditure

Black Economic Empowerment

Sylvania Platinum Limited Bonus Share Award Plan

Bushveld Igneous Complex

Cash generating unit

Current arisings

Fresh chrome tails from current operating host mines processing operations

DI

DMR

EBITDA

EA

EIA

EIR

EMPR

FAM

GBP

IASB

IFRIC

IFRS

IRR

I&Aps

JORC

JO

JV

Lesedi

LSE

LTI

MAR

MF2

MPRDA

MRA

MTO

NOMR

PAR

PDMR

PGM

Depository interests

Department of Mineral Resources

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation

Environmental Authorisation

Environmental Impact Assessment

Effective interest rate

Environmental Management Programme Report

Forward Africa Mining (Pty) Ltd

Great British Pound

International Accounting Standards Board

International Financial Reporting Interpretation Committee

International Financial Reporting Standards

Internal Rate of Return

Interested and Affected Parties

Joint Ore Reserves Committee

Joint operation

Joint venture

Phoenix Platinum Mining Property Limited, renamed Sylvania Lesedi

London Stock Exchange

Lost time injury

Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014

Milling and flotation technology

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 

Mining Right Application

Mining Titles Office

New Order Mining Right

Pan African Resources Plc

Persons displaying managerial responsibilities as defined by the Market Abuse Regulation

Platinum group metals comprising mainly platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold

Pipeline ounces

6E ounces delivered but not invoiced

99

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATIONAnnual Report 2019GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ACRONYMS 

continued

Pipeline revenue

Revenue recognised for ounces delivered, but not yet invoiced based on contractual timelines

Pipeline sales adjustment

Adjustments to pipeline revenues based on the basket price for the period between delivery and invoicing 

Programme

Project Echo

QCA

Sylvania Platinum Share Buyback Programme

Secondary PGM Milling and Flotation (MF2) program announced in FY2017 to design and install new 
additional fine grinding mills and flotation circuits at Millsell, Doornbosch, Tweefontein and Mooinooi.

Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Code 2018 for Smaller Companies in accordance with 
AIM Rules

Revenue (by products)

Revenue earned on ruthenium, iridium, nickel and copper

ROM

SDO

Shares

Sylvania

The Code

TS Consortium

USD

VWAP

WIP

WULA

UK

ZAR

Run of mine

Sylvania dump operations

Common shares

Sylvania Platinum Limited, a company incorporated in Bermuda

UK Corporate Governance Code

Tizer Sylvania Consortium

United States Dollar

Volume-weighted average price

Work in progress

Water Use Licence Application

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

South African Rand

100

Sylvania PlatinumCORPORATE DIRECTORY

DIRECTORS
SA Murray – Independent Non-executive Chairman
TM McConnachie – Chief Executive Officer
RA Williams – Independent Non-executive Director
E Carr – Independent Non-executive Director

COMPANY SECRETARY

Conyers Corporate Services (Bermuda) Limited

PRINCIPAL REGISTERED OFFICE IN BERMUDA

Clarendon House
2 Church Street
Hamilton HM11
Bermuda

REGISTRAR

Computershare Services Plc
The Pavilions, Bridgewater Road
Bedminster Down
Bristol, BS99 7NH
United Kingdom

AUDITORS

KPMG Incorporated
85 Empire Road
Parktown, 2193
South Africa

SOLICITORS

Conyers Dill & Pearman
Clarendon House
2 Church Street
Hamilton HM 11
Bermuda

NOMINATED ADVISOR AND BROKER

Liberum Capital
Ropemaker Place
Level 12, 25 Ropemaker Street
London, EC2Y 9LY
United Kingdom

STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING

Sylvania Platinum Limited is listed on the AIM market of the London 
Stock Exchange (shares: SLP)

WEBSITE

www.sylvaniaplatinum.com

101

ABOUT SYLVANIASTRATEGIC MANAGEMENTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSANCILLARY INFORMATION2019

A N N U A L   R E P O R T

www.sylvaniaplatinum.com