Gemfields PLC
Market Update - October 2009
27 October 2009
Gemfields PLC ("Gemfields" or "the Company", Ticker "GEM") provided a market
update on 5 August 2009 containing production data to 30 June 2009. Gemfields
now presents a further market update for the three month period ending 30
September 2009. All figures are unaudited.
Highlights
* Full proceeds of the London auction held in July 2009 (USD 5.9 million)
received.
* Next auction scheduled for 23-27 November 2009.
* Ongoing focus on improving mining and operational efficiency and reducing
relative operating costs.
* Non-auction sale of two emerald mineral specimens realised revenue of USD
425k.
* Cash balance (exclusive of gemstone inventory in excess of USD 10 million)
of USD 7.7 million (and debt of USD 6.6 million repayable by December 2010
and held at 75%-owned Kagem).
* Year-to-date production (i.e. the quarter ending 30 September 2009) was
dominated by low grade of 182 carats per tonne (versus 349 carats per tonne
in the year ending 30 June 2009).
* Illegal mining activity taking place within the Kagem mining licence area
being addressed.
* Graphical production update available at www.gemfields.co.uk
Emerald Auctions
As previously announced, Gemfields held an auction of rough emeralds in London
from 20-24 July 2009, realising sales of USD 5.9 million. All proceeds from the
auction have been received. Gemfields' next auction of rough emeralds is
scheduled to take place from 23-27 November 2009. The response to date from
stakeholders seeking to attend this forthcoming event has been very positive.
Production Update
Gemfields acquired a 75% interest in the Kagem emerald mine on 5 June 2008.
Kagem is presently Gemfields' only operating emerald mine. Kagem's key
unaudited production parameters by quarter are summarised below:
KAGEM Quarterly Summary Quarter 30 Sep 31 Dec 31-Mar-09 30 Jun 30 Sep TOTAL
to 30 Sep 09 Ending: 08 08 09 09
Gemstone Production million 9.4 5.3 7.3 6.0 2.9 30.9
(Emerald+Beryl) carats
Ore Production (Reaction '000 21.4 18.7 17.8 22.3 16.0 96.2
Zone) tonnes
Grade (Emerald+Beryl/ carats/ 438 286 409 268 182 321
Reaction Zone) tonne
Waste Mined (including million 1.7 1.0 0.8 0.5 0.5 4.5
TMS) tonnes
Stripping Ratio 0 81 53 43 22 33 47
Total Operating Cost USD 8.0 6.2 3.7 3.5 3.4 24.9
million
Unit Production Cost (per USD/carat 0.85 1.16 0.51 0.59 1.18 0.81
carat)
Unit Production Cost (per USD/tonne 372 332 210 159 215 259
tonne of ore)
Unit Cost (per tonne of USD/tonne 4.5 6.1 4.8 6.8 6.4 5.4
rock moved)
Kagem's key annual production parameters are summarised below:
Year Year to 30
to: Jun 2010
KAGEM Annual 30 Jun 30 Jun 30 Jun 30 Jun Yr-to-Date
Production Summary 06 07 08 09 (3 mnths)
Gemstone Production million 10.2 9.4 9.9 28.0 2.9
(Emerald+Beryl) carats
Ore Production '000 22.0 28.8 42.3 80.3 16.0
(Reaction Zone) tonnes
Grade (Emerald+Beryl/ carats/ 462 325 233 349 182
Reaction Zone) tonne
Waste Mined (including million 1.8 2.8 5.1 4.0 0.5
TMS) tonnes
Waste+TMS:Reaction strip 83 96 120 50 33
Zone ratio
Cost-reduction measures have continued to bear fruit, resulting in reduced
relative mining costs. However, the stripping ratio is anticipated to rise
toward the end of this calendar year and is thus expected to have a
commensurate impact on total mining costs. Gemfields has initiated a trial
underground mining project which is still at an early stage but, if successful,
should provide a number of opportunities for expansion into areas that have a
history of high quality production but where the dip of the ore body is
relatively steep.
Kagem's unaudited total operating costs for the five quarters ending 30
September 2009 totalled USD 24.9 million, implying an average production cost
during that period of USD 0.81 per carat of emerald and beryl. Unaudited unit
production costs for the quarter ending 30 September 2009 were USD 1.18 per
carat, driven by the lowest quarterly average grade achieved since Gemfields
acquired 75% of Kagem in June 2008. While disappointing, the lower grade can be
attributed to a number of factors, some of which were anticipated and are
linked to the the opening up of new areas for mining (including areas with a
reduced stripping ratio).
During the quarter ending 30 September 2009, Gemfields realised revenues of USD
425k from the non-auction sale of two specimens under Gemfields' collective
agreement to market and sell emerald mineral specimens in conjunction with
Collector's Edge of the United States of America (www.collectorsedge.com/
news.aspx?showarticle=44).
Ms. Gabriella Endlin will be joining the company as of 1 November 2009 as
Product and Sales Manager and will focus on establishing and promoting a
globally recognised warranty, certification and grading system for Gemfields,
ensuring an equitable and transparent route to market for rough and finished
gems.
The management of Kagem, in association with the Government of the United
Republic of Zambia (GRZ), have had to deal with some illegal mining activity
taking place within the boundaries of the Kagem mining licence area over the
past few of weeks. While the matter is as yet not fully resolved, various steps
have been put in place and the support of all key GRZ Ministries has been
obtained.
A graphical production update can be downloaded from www.gemfields.co.uk
Cash Balances
Gemfields presently has USD 7.7 million in cash. Kagem Mining Ltd, in which
Gemfields has a 75% interest, has bank loans and leases repayable by 31
December 2010 totalling USD 6.6 million. In addition, Gemfields has gemstone
inventory estimated by management to exceed USD 10 million.
Ian Harebottle, CEO of Gemfields, commented:
"Bolstered by the various operational, marketing and promotional efforts that
the Company has already initiated in core markets, we are confident that the
forthcoming auction will build on the success experienced in our July auction.
Gemfields continues to make good progress in various areas despite the quarter
ending 30 September 2009 having been marred by low grade (significant periodic
variations in grade are not uncommon in coloured gemstone deposits). Naturally
we hope that the grade will soon return to its long-term average. We are
delighted with the early results of our arrangements to market and sell emerald
mineral specimens together with Collector's Edge of the United States of
America."
Enquiries:
Gemfields richard.james@gemfields.co.uk
Richard James, CFO +44 (0)20 7518 3402
Canaccord Adams Limited
Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker to Gemfields
Mike Jones/Tarica Mpinga/Andrew Chubb +44 (0)20 7050 6500