20.25p +1p
Pan African Resources: Record production behind a doubling in earnings
proactiveinvestors - 21 Sep 2016
The industry has benefited from a rise in the value of the yellow metal of almost US$200 an ounce in the past 12 months, although self-help has been the major driver for the AIM-listed digger.
Shares in Pan African Resources plc (LON:PAF) advanced 4% in early afternoon trade after the South Africa-focused gold miner posted a more than doubling in full-year earnings on the back of record production.
Profit after tax grew 118% to £25.5mln, though in rand terms it was up 160%.
Investors will feel the benefit of Pan African’s success with the final payout earmarked to grow by £6.3mln to £16mln.
The industry has benefited from a rise in the value of the yellow metal of almost US$200 an ounce in the past 12 months, although self-help has been the major driver for the AIM-listed digger.
The firm, which owns the Evander and Barberton mines in South Africa, reported its output hit a record 205,000 ounces of gold in the year to June 30, up 16.5%.
All-in sustaining costs, meanwhile, were marginally ahead in rand terms, but were down in dollar terms from US$1,093 an ounce to US$870.
Pan African concluded the deal to acquire the Uitkomst Colliery in March for around £8mln (which takes it into coal) and a portion of Shanduka Gold for around £10mln.
The latter transaction allows Pan African to “preserve and protect its black economic empowerment status on an earnings accretive basis”, according to chief executive Cobus Loots.
“Our robust financial position, well-established cash-generative operations, decentralised hands-on management structure and cost-conscious culture differentiate us from our peers,” he added.
“These attributes give Pan African Resources a competitive advantage for further growth through our project pipeline and also position the group to capitalise on potential acquisition opportunities.”
The shares, up 175% in the last year, valuing the miner at £375mln, were up 0.75p at 19.25p in early afternoon trade.
These were “good financial results” that revealed “excellent” cash generation, according Yuen Low, of City broker Shore Capital. There stock is yielding a “reasonably attractive” 4.4%, he also pointed out.
In a separate announcement, Pan African unveiled a 9.4% increase in its gold resource, which rose 3mln ounces to 34.9mln ounces.
The company, which also owns tailings treatment facilities at its key sites, said its gold reserve fell marginally (3.8%) to 10mln ounces.
A high-grade extension to one to the main reef complex at the Fairview operation has extended the life of the Barberton mines out to 22 years. The Evander mines, meanwhile, have enough ore to last 16 years, Pan African said.
There was “no material change” to the resource for the platinum group elements, which stands at 600,000 ounces, while the reserve number fell 300,000 ounces to 200,000 ounces.
The Uitkomst Colliery, in South Africa’s North West Province, is thought to be host to 23.3mln tonnes of coal.
Finally, a definitive feasibility study on the Elikhulu tailings retreatment project will be completed in November. This followed a “positive” pre-feasibility report.
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