12 November 2008
Karelian Diamond Resources Plc
(AIM: KDR)
Final results for the year ended 31 May 2008
Karelian Diamond Resources plc ("the Company" or "Karelian"), the AIM listed
diamond exploration company focussed on Finland, announces its final results
for the year ended 31 May 2008.
Highlights:
* Seitaperä project proves to be diamondiferous
* Initial Diamond count is high
* All stones of good quality
* Additional promising targets in the Kuhmo area
* Further sampling on other sites in Finland
Professor Richard Conroy, Chairman of Karelian, commented:
"Exploration work continued throughout the year and your Company's progress was
such that we conclusively proved that the Seitaperä project in the Kuhmo area
of Finland is diamondiferous post period.
"During the year ahead it is intended that your Company will move forward with
the delineation of its Seitaperä diamondiferous pipe and also continue diamond
exploration at other potential sites. We look forward to a successful future."
For further Information:
Professor Richard Conroy, Chairman Karelian Diamond Resources plc
Tel: + 353-1-661-8958 http://www.kareliandiamondresources.com
Charles Dampney, City Capital Corporation Limited
Tel: + 44-20-7842-5867
Jeffrey Coburn/Virginia Bull, John East & Partners Limited
Tel: + 44-20-7628-2200
Ron Marshman/Michael Padley, Lothbury Financial
Tel: + 44-20-7011-9411
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
I have pleasure in presenting your Company's Annual Report and Financial
Statements for the year ended 31 May 2008. This was a memorable year, following
the end of which your Company conclusively proved that its Seitaperä project in
the Kuhmo area of Finland is diamondiferous, as reported in our announcements
of 8 July and 15 September.
Analysis of a 100kg composite sample of drill core from Seitaperä recovered 61
micro-diamonds and six macro-diamonds, the largest of which measured 0.63mm by
0.48mm by 0.38mm. All the stones showed good colour, clarity and preservation
characteristics. Three of the diamonds recovered by your Company at Seitaperä
are illustrated on the front cover of the Annual Report.
One of the industry-standard ways of expressing the preliminary diamond
potential of a kimberlite is in terms of the number of micro-diamond crystals
per kilogramme of sample. On this basis, the Seitaperä diamond count is high
and compares well with many recent kimberlite discoveries. This is all the more
encouraging given Seitaperä`s favourable location, in terms of access and
infrastructure, and its significant surface area of 6.9ha, the largest
kimberlite pipe known in Finland.
Your Company's work programme at Seitaperä is now moving from the exploration
phase into evaluation and, since the end of the financial year, further
delineation drilling has been carried out by the GTK (Geological Survey of
Finland) under the supervision of the Company.
This drilling concentrated on the central portion of the pipe which previously
yielded the high diamond count. Overall, about 950m of core drilling was
completed on a nominal 25m line spacing, intersecting over 550m of kimberlite.
Eight holes across the central portion of the pipe intersected substantial
zones of primary kimberlite containing abundant mantle xenoliths, similar in
nature to the material that yielded the 67 micro and macro diamonds.
The drilling also enabled your Company to delineate the pipe more thoroughly,
and it has now established the kimberlite/wall rock contact at 15 locations at
vertical depths of 15-65m below surface.
Drill core from this programme is now being logged and approximately 500kg of
kimberlite core will then be selected for micro-diamond analysis. It is
expected that this will yield a large enough population of micro and macro
diamonds to enable statistically reliable grade modelling to be undertaken from
the diamond population size distribution statistics. The Board believes this
work will confirm and expand on the positive results already achieved at
Seitaperä.
In addition, lithological data from the drill core will be used to plan a
large-diameter bulk sampling programme of at least 500 tonnes, if warranted by
the modelled grade data.
Kimberlite pipes tend to occur in cluster and, the Board is therefore
encouraged by its success elsewhere in the Kuhmo area in identifying a number
of promising magnetic targets for further investigation. These include one
lying on the same trend as Seitaperä, which was originally identified by an
aeromagnetic survey and confirmed by a follow-up ground survey. It lies beneath
a shallow lake and is earmarked for drilling from ice cover in the coming
winter. Several other targets in the area await verification.
Because of this progress, your Company has taken out or applied for the
necessary licences to secure its land position in the area.
Till sampling for kimberlite indicator minerals ("KIM") is underway for the
nearby Riihivarra claims in order to quantify up-ice KIM density. Further till
sampling is also underway on your Company's claims in the Joensuu area of
south-east Finland.
Financials
The loss after taxation for the year ended 31 May 2008 was €268,638 (2007: €
125,334) and the net assets as at 31 May 2008 were €3,865,379 (2007: €
2,641,737). Cash at bank as at 31 May 2008 was €35,430 (2007: €115,402). As
your Company moves into the delineation phase, in the light of the discovery of
diamonds at Seitaperä, the Board is considering how best to fund your Company's
activities. Options being studied include joint ventures and farm-outs, as well
as such other arrangements which may be appropriate for advancing the interests
of your Company. The immediate funding requirements will be financed by
advances from the principal shareholder.
Auditors
I would like to take the opportunity of thanking the partners and staff of
Deloitte & Touche for their services to your Company during the course of the
year.
Directors, Consultants and Staff
I would also like to express my deep appreciation of the support and dedication
of the directors, consultants and staff, which has made possible the continued
progress and success which your Company has achieved.
Future Outlook
During the year ahead it is intended that your Company will move forward with
the delineation of its Seitaperä diamondiferous pipe and also continue diamond
exploration, in that area and elsewhere in Finland, in order to advance its
diamond interests and generate shareholder value. We look forward with
confidence to a successful future.
Professor Richard Conroy
Chairman
INCOME STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2008
2008 2007
€ €
OPERATING EXPENSES (280,720) (125,404)
Other Income 12,082 70
LOSS BEFORE TAXATION (268,638) (125,334)
Taxation - -
LOSS RETAINED FOR THE YEAR (268,638) (125,334)
Loss per ordinary share - Basic and diluted (€0.0046) (€0.0028)
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 MAY 2008
2008 2007
€ €
ASSETS
Non-current Assets
Intangible assets 4,221,785 3,617,723
Financial assets 4 4
Property, plant and equipment 1,173 1,341
4,222,962 3,619,068
Current Assets
Trade and other receivables 50,441 2,324
Cash and cash equivalents 35,430 115,402
85,871 117,726
Total Assets 4,308,833 3,736,794
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
Capital and Reserves
Called up share capital 605,416 447,716
Share premium 3,801,202 2,529,648
Share based payments reserve 87,626 24,600
Retained earnings (628,865) (360,227)
Total Equity 3,865,379 2,641,737
Non-current Liabilities
Trade and other payables: Amounts falling due 271,135 1,031,298
after more than one year
Total non-current liabilities 271,135 1,031,298
Current Liabilities
Trade and other payables: Amounts falling due 172,319 63,759
within one year
Total Current Liabilities 172,319 63,759
Total Liabilities 443,454 1,095,057
Total Equity and Liabilities 4,308,833 3,736,794
Cash Flow Statement
For the Year Ended 31 May 2008
2008 2007
€ €
Cash used by operations (196,010) (280,858)
Tax paid - -
Net cash used in operating activities (196,010) (280,858)
Cash flows from investing activities
Investment in mineral interest (553,053) (263,046)
Net cash used in investing activities (553,053) (263,046)
Cash flows from financing activities
Shareholder loan advances (760,163) 546,515
Issue of share capital 1,429,254 -
Net cash from financing activities 669,091 546,515
(Decrease)/Increase in cash and cash equivalents (79,972) 2,611
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 115,402 112,791
Cash and cash equivalent at year end 35,430 115,402
Notes to the Financial Statements
1. Publication of non-statutory accounts
The financial information set out in this preliminary announcement are
abbreviated accounts as defined in Section 19 of the Companies (Amendment) Act
1986.
The financial information for the period ended 31 May 2008 have been extracted
from the Company's financial statements to that date which have received an
unqualified auditors' report but have not yet been delivered to the Registrar
of Companies.
2. Earnings per share
The calculation of the loss per ordinary share of €0.0046 (2007 - €0.0028) is
based on the loss for the financial year of €268,638 (2007 - €125,334) and the
weighted average number of ordinary shares on a basic and fully diluted basis
during the year of 57,913,343 (2007 - 44,771,676). Share options and warrants
are not included in the calculation of fully diluted shares since the Company
incurred a loss in 2008 and 2007 which results in these potential shares being
anti-dilutive.
3. Dividends
No dividends were paid or are proposed in respect of the period ended 31 May,
2008.
4. Copy of Accounts
A copy of the Annual Report and Financial Statements will be available on the
Company's website www.kareliandiamondresources.com and will be available from
the Company's registered office, 10 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2. It will
also be forwarded to shareholders who requested a hard copy.