* Group gold production during the six month period was 239 kg (246 kg),
whereof 189 kg during the quarter April - June (246 kg).
* The 2008 gold production will be lower than previously forecast (1,250 kg).
The new production plan is now around 800 - 900 kg. This has negative
consequences for the financial situation of the group.
* The new gold reserve report in respect of the Tardan deposit shall shortly be
submitted to the relevant authorities for inspection and approval. CAG's
geologists expect to get around 8 tons of C1+C2 reserves approved. The final
reserve review is expected in September/October.
* In the Bodaibo district (Irkutsk) the first sample analyses have been
received in respect of Kopylovskoye project. The initial results indicate that
the gold mineralized zone extends to the East.
* The June 2008 preferential rights issue was fully subscribed. It attracted
some 65 MSEK before issue costs.
* Consolidated revenues for the six month period January - June 2008 amounted
to TSEK 107,580 (TSEK 31,571). The corresponding figure for the last quarter
(April - June 2008) was TSEK 72,647 (TSEK 25,562).
* The net result after tax for the reporting period was TSEK -56,725
(TSEK -26,037). For the second quarter the net result after tax amounted to
TSEK -47,483 (TSEK -9,863). The net result for the report period as well as for
last quarter include an impairment charge relating to Artelj Lena amounting to
TSEK -32,902.
* EPS was SEK -0.134 for the six-month period Jan - June 2008 (SEK -0.066). For
the last quarter April - June 2008, EPS was SEK -0.111 (SEK -0.025).
Comments by the Managing Director
The second quarter of 2008 including the following summer months up until end
of August has been a very challenging period for CAG AB. We have faced certain
difficulties in our subsidiaries. This pertains primarily to our placer
producer OOO Artelj Lena in Irkutsk region. Inflationary pressures have
resulted in high personnel turnover during the ongoing production season, that
began in June. Also inflation leads to cost escalation via increasing fuel
prices. The production target has therefore been significantly lowered for 2008
in OOO Artelj Lena as well as in the group. Our other placer producer has been
less effected since Tyva region is more remotely located without such hard
competition on the local labour market. Higher fuel prices will though feed
through also in OOO Artelj Tyva.
Our mining subsidiary OOO Tardan Gold is right now in the process of getting
its new reserve review by the Russian authorities (TKZ). A final reserve review
result is due by end of September to mid October. OOO Tardan Gold management is
working together with Irgiredmet institute, and the latest estimate of
recoverable reserves is around 8 tons of C1+C2 reserves according to Russian
standards.
An integral part of the reserve review is an economic feasibility study worked
out by Russian project institute Irgiredmet. Both the geologic and economic
data are reviewed at the same time. There is no guarantee that the submitted
reserve figure will get approved in full.
On the exploration side the first new sample analyses at the Kopylovskoye
deposit have been received. They show that the gold mineralized zone extends to
the East from the established ore body. It is though too early to comment on
the economic significance of this.
Torbjörn Ranta, Managing Director
Background
Central Asia Gold AB (CAG AB) is a Swedish mining company with operations in
Eastern Siberia, Russia. The group structure consists of the Swedish joint
stock parent company, which currently controls three subsidiaries, of which two
are in Russia. The Russian subsidiaries are of the limited liability type. The
three subsidiaries also own several sub-subsidiaries in Russia. The operations
involve exploration and production of gold, primarily in the Tyva and Irkutsk
regions in Russia.
The group's main assets comprise a large number of mineral licences held by the
various subsidiaries. The licences, as at early January 2008, are estimated to
contain 645,000 troy ounces (oz) (1 oz = 31.1 g) of gold reserves according to
the Russian C1+C2 categories, as well as 1,049,000 oz of P1 gold resources and
6,255,000 oz of P2 gold resources. The Russian reserve standards do not take
account of economic viability to any large extent. The fact that Russian
inflation has increased sharply in the last few years implies that the
registered gold reserves in primarily the two alluvial subsidiaries may be
questionable at this point in time. They amounted to some 210,000 oz (6.5 tons)
C1+C2 as at beginning of 2008.
The gold reserves attributable to the Tardan deposit will be subject to a new
reserve review by the authorities during September 2008. In Irkutsk, 25% of the
Kopylovskoye project has been sold out to a group of external investors during
2007, which initially reduces the Kopylovskoye net gold reserves to CAG AB.
CAG AB was publicly listed on the Swedish NGM Nordic Growth Market stock
exchange on March 29, 2005. The number of shareholders is currently some 3,145.
Result - the Group
For the six month period ended June 30, 2008 the group reports a net result
after tax of TSEK -56,725 (TSEK -26,037) which corresponds to SEK -0.134 per
share (SEK
-0.066). For the last quarter of the reporting period the net result after tax
was TSEK -47,483 (TSEK -9,863). This corresponds to EPS of SEK -0.111 (SEK
-0.025). In the net result for the report period an impairment charge relating
to subsidiary Artelj Lena is included in the amount of TSEK -32,902.
Consolidated gold sales revenues were TSEK 31,874 (TSEK 12,277) during the
financial period. For the quarter April - June 2008 gold sales amounted to TSEK
22,875 (TSEK 10,555). The sold gold volume was 179 kg for the full report
period, whereof some 132 kg during the last quarter. The higher gold sales
figure compared to the corresponding period 2007 depends on the fact that
subsidiary Artelj Lena was consolidated in the group P/L only as from the third
quarter of 2007.
In addition, a revenue component of TSEK 14,588 (TSEK 7,217) is included in the
consolidated P/L account relating primarily to services performed by the
transportation subsidiaries of the group, providing transportation services,
partly to external clients. Only the part applicable to external clients is
included in the group accounts. The transport revenues were TSEK 6,927 during
the last quarter of the reporting period (TSEK 4,447).
The change in stock of finished and semi-finished goods amounted to TSEK
31,314 (9,106) During the last quarter the same change was TSEK 25,486 (8,065).
During the six-month 2008 reporting period total exploration costs of TSEK
29,709 were capitalized at subsidiary level. In the corresponding six month
period of 2007 TSEK 2,971 was capitalized as mining permits. For the quarter
April - June 2008 the capitalization component amounted to TSEK 17,359 (TSEK
2,495).
Total operating costs in the group during the six-month 2008 reporting period
amounted to TSEK 165,133 (TSEK 57,938). For the quarter April - June 2008 the
operating costs were TSEK 123,057 (TSEK 33,751). The mentioned impairment
charge of TSEK 32,902 is included in the operating costs for the last quarter
of the report period.
Net financial items were TSEK -2,538 for the reporting period (TSEK 977). For
the last quarter of the reporting period the net financial items were TSEK -509
(TSEK
-1,031)
The tax income for the reporting period was TSEK 3,366 (TSEK -647) and the
minority share of the net result was TSEK -1,325 (TSEK 137). For the quarter
April - June 2008 the tax income amounted to TSEK 3,436 (TSEK -643), and the
minority share was TSEK -1,529 (TSEK 395).
Two of the Group's three producing subsidiaries during 2008 are alluvial
producers, with production taking place only during the warm part of the year
(May - October). The majority of the group's planned production for the whole
of 2008, which is now estimated at 800 - 900 kg will, therefore, be produced
and sold during the second half of the year.
Mining operations
Tardan project in the Tyva region
General overview
A considerable exploration programme involving core drilling, trenching and
construction of underground drifts and shafts was carried out in the Soviet
period and has been supplemented by new data gathering in 2004 - 2007. The
first license applies to a 3.3 square kilometre area, which is located 80 km to
the east of the region's capital Kyzyl.
Another exploration and production license with a term of 25 years was won in a
public auction in summer 2007. This license area comprises some 520 km2 and
surrounds the first license area. This new license is called the "Tardan mining
district". A large number of gold occurrences were identified at this license
block during the Soviet era, and Central Asia Gold has already commenced with
reviewing them.
Reserve status
The initial Tardan license comprised some 229,000 oz (some 7 tons) of gold
reserves assigned in the Soviet/early Russian era. The cut-off grade applied
then was 2 g/ton and the appraisal work did not go below a depth of 100 m. Of
the total gold reserves assigned during the Soviet era, the 5 major ore bodies
contained some 160,000 oz of the assigned C1/C2 reserves.
Central Asia Gold has conducted a significant appraisal programme at these ore
bodies over the last two years, and gold production has commenced. The
appraisal work continues, and thus more information is added all the time.
Central Asia Gold is now preparing for a new reserve examination by the Russian
State Mineral Reserve Committee via its local branch (TKZ). The documentation
will be submitted shortly, and the authorities are expected to conduct their
reserve examination sometime between end of September and mid October 2008. The
latest estimated reserve figure to be submitted by subsidiary OOO Tardan Gold
and Irgiredmet Institute is around 8 tons of C1+C2 reserves. At the same time
an economic feasibility study will be conducted in respect of heap leaching by
Irgiredmet. The feasibility study is due in September 2008, and is an integral
part of the reserve review. The expected reserve increase as compared to the
old reserve figure from 1994 has been derived by increasing the low grade ore
bodies at the same time as high grade ore bodies have been reduced. The
estimated average grade of the new reserve figure is expected to be slightly
more than 3 g/t, and ore reserves are currently estimated at some 2 million
tons given a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t. This figure pertains to 7 ore bodies.
This implies that the gravimetric plant at Tardan will have to be mothballed
and gold production at Tardan will be discontinued within a few months until
such time as a leaching plant gets constructed.
Gold production - the processing plant
Ore volumes processed amounted to some 47,000 tons (11,000 tons), whereof
approximately 24,600 tons during the last quarter (11,000 tons). The up-time of
the plant exceeded 90%. The total volume of chemically pure gold produced
during the report period was about 120 kg (57 kg), whereof some 70 kg during
the quarter April - June 2008 (57 kg).
One challenge thus far has been the presence of the mineral magnetite in the
ore. When it is present, the recovery of gold in the gravimetric process
decreases and a relatively larger part of the gold is lost in the tailings. To
reduce this problem OOO Tardan Gold management has tested an interim solution,
namely the introduction of a magnetite separator. It was commissioned by the
end of the second quarter, but has so far not had any major impact on the
recovery ratio. Therefore the gold production target at Tardan for 2008 is now
estimated at 210 kg.
Kopylovskoye deposit in Irkutsk
Kopylovskoye is a gold deposit that holds some 7 tons of gold reserves C1+C2 as
per Russian geological standards (some 240,000 oz). The project's potential,
however, is significantly larger as the gold reserves registered thus far are
only attributable to a depth of some 30 m. The established ore body has an
estimated width of some 50 m and a strike of approximately 300 m. The gold in
the ground is to a large extent represented by free, large gold grains. This
implies that it is important to get representative sample size in the sampling
process. Conventional core drilling does not give a representative sample size,
so RC-drilling must be used for establishing the true gold grade at depth.
Central Asia Gold AB owns 75% of this project.
The geological work is ongoing at the site in Bodaibo. During the first half of
the year, a total 20 surface trenches were constructed with a total length of
3,800 m. These intersect the license block on both sides of the established ore
bodies in a total zone of approximately 1.5 km. Sampling has already commenced
in the trenches and in addition core- and pneumatic drilling is ongoing.
More than 2,400 samples have so far been prepared in the company's sample
preparation unit. Thereof some 1,600 sample analyses have been received as per
the middle of August. They so far mainly relate to two exploration lines
located on the western border of and to the East of the established ore body.
Exploration line 328 is located some 180 m to the East of the ore body. Channel
sampling shows a gold mineralized interval at surface of 26 m grading on
average 0.8 g/t. Within this interval the gold grade varies. A 5 m interval
graded some 3 g/t and a 10 m interval graded about 2 g/t.
Exploration line 316 is located on the western border of the established ore
body. Channel sampling showed a 48 m interval at surface grading 0.6 g/t. An 8
m interval graded some 2 g/t.
The retrieved results thus far indicate that the gold mineralized zone
continues to the East of the established ore body at surface. However, before
RC-drilling results from depth are available it is too early to comment on the
gold grades at depth. As above stated core drilling can only show the presence
of the gold mineralization at depth but not the true grade. Core well number
509 has been drilled with a 45 degree inclination 100 m to the East of the
border of the established ore body. The well is 250 m deep. It intersected a 79
m gold mineralized interval with an average gold grade of 0.2 g/t. Thus the
gold mineralization is present also at depth.
In April 2008 the 75% owned subsidiary Kopylovskoye AB, bid for the "Prodolny"
license block in Bodaibo region. This block has an area of 141 km2 and houses a
number of gold occurrences. The interest for this region inter alia depends on
the fact that the biggest gold deposit in the Russian Federation, Suchoy Log,
is located there.
The Prodolny license block is considered to hold some 18 tons (578,000 oz) of
gold mineral resources according to Russian standards. However, only limited
exploration work has been carried out to date.
The license entitles the license holder to carry out exploration work as well
as production of gold. The winning auction price amounted to some 3 MSEK.
The other gold mining projects in the Central Asia Gold portfolio
Kara-Beldyr in Tyva region:
Among Central Asia Gold's other mining projects, concrete exploration work has
taken place at Kara-Beldyr (Tyva region) during the first quarter of 2008. The
reason is that no all-year-road exists to the project, and accordingly heavy
works should preferably be carried out during the cold period of the year when
the winter roads are open. During the quarter January - March 2008, a light
drilling programme involving a total 1,100 m was completed. The drilling
programme comprised mud drilling holes down to some 30 m. Three exploration
lines were drilled crossing the established gold mineralization
"Gordejevskoye". This mineralization has historically been mostly proved at the
surface via surface trenches. The purpose of the drilling programme during the
first quarter this year was to verify old data at surface and to test the
extension deeper down. The results on the one hand confirmed that the gold
mineralized zone continues down to at least 30 m, and further that the
mineralization extends to the northwest.
As stated in the previous quarterly report, a new bulk ore sample from
Kara-Beldyr was analysed in 2007. The sample was relatively large with a weight
of a couple of hundred kg and was taken from a surface trench with a width of
some 70 m. Previously analysed samples from Kara-Beldyr have not had the same
weight. The new sample showed an average gold grade of slightly less than 3 g/t
taken from the full 70 m interval. The relatively large width of the gold
mineralized zone in this trench indicates that the gold may be extracted via an
open pit, which is preferable. It should also be added that ore enrichment
tests conducted via heap leaching on said ore sample demonstrated high
recoveries. This is a very cost effective extraction method. In summary, the
new information is encouraging when it comes to trying to prove a significant
ore reserve at Kara-Beldyr.
Alluvial gold production:
The subsidiary gold placer producers OOO Artelj Tyva (Tyva region) and OOO
Artelj Lena (Irkutsk region)
The production season in the alluvial subsidiaries normally begins in the end
of May and extends to early October, that is during the warm part of the year.
A production plan amounting to in total 900 kg was established for the two
subsidiaries in spring 2008. During the first six months 2008 (actually during
only June 2008) some 119 kg was produced by both subsidiaries (189 kg). Up
until the end of August 2008, the combined production amounts to some 400 kg
(540 kg). A likely production volume for this year is 600 - 700 kg. The reduced
production is mainly relating to inflationary pressure in primarily Irkutsk
region (subsidiary OOO Artelj Lena). Competition on the local labour market has
resulted in a high personnel turnover during ongoing production season, which
has negatively impacted the gold production. It will not be possible to
compensate for that during the rest of the year. The other subsidiary located
in Tyva region, OOO Artelj Tyva, has not faced the same difficulties. It is
expected to be able to reach some 200 kg of gold production for 2008 season.
Both subsidiaries have also faced sharply increasing fuel prices, which
negatively impact profitability.
As previously stated, a minority of some 5% has been provided for in subsidiary
OOO Artelj Lena during the first quarter of 2008. The background is that a
couple of workers, previous members of the workers' collective Artelj Lena,
have applied to the court in Irkutsk claiming they were non-lawfully expelled
from the former collective. This applies to the period before Central Asia Gold
took over OOO Artelj Lena. A local court in Irkutsk has reinstated them as
members in the workers' collective. The question is now if they will get the
same rights in respect of the new limited liability company OOO Artelj Lena.
Central Asia Gold and its legal advisors reject this and have appealed. It is
as of now unclear what the outcome of this will be.
The developments in Artelj Lena has resulted in Central Asia Gold carrying out
an impairment charge amounting to TSEK 32,902 in respect of this subsidiary.
Investments, liquidity and financing
Net investments in material and immaterial fixed assets during the first six
months of 2008 amounted to TSEK 33,029 (TSEK 77,484). Thereof TSEK 18,966
applies to the second quarter (TSEK 69,119)
Cash in group accounts was TSEK 91,662 at the end of June 2008 (TSEK 33,079).
Sperbank Credit to OOO Tardan Gold
In April 2008 Central Asia Gold's subsidiary OOO Tardan was granted a credit of
102 million RUR (approximately 26 MSEK at the current exchange rate) by the
Russian commercial bank Sberbank. The credit is granted only for investment
purposes. It must be secured by pledges of material fixed assets, by guarantees
from other Central Asia Gold subsidiaries and lastly by personal guarantees
from certain leading personnel in OOO Tardan Gold. All this is in accordance
with Russian banking practice. The credit must, if drawn upon, be repaid in
monthly installments after some three years. The repayment takes place over
approximately 36 months. In April 2008 OOO Tardan Gold drew upon 31 million RUR
of the credit and has pledged material fixed assets of a corresponding value.
Since the credit is subject to a number of conditions, it is not fully certain
that Tardan Gold will be able to draw it down in full.
Other received bank loans during the report period
The two alluvial subsidiaries as usual took up short term bank loans in the
Russian banking system during the report period for working capital purposes.
OOO Artelj Tyva was granted some 2 MUSD of loans from Bank of Moscow and OOO
Artelj Lena was granted some 4 MUSD from Standard Bank. The loans are repaid
gradually during 2008. Artelj Tyva has pledged fixed assets as collateral and
Artelj Lena has received a guarantee from the parent company in Sweden.
The parent company
The Swedish parent company is a holding company without significant operations.
It supports the subsidiary companies with financing, investor relation services
and strategy reviews etc. It thus has no income other than interest on loans
extended to the subsidiaries from time to time or in respect of bank deposits.
The number of employees was 7 including the Moscow representative office at the
end of the reporting period (8). The net result for the first six months 2008
was TSEK
-7,416 (TSEK -4,363). The corresponding result for the quarter April - June
2008 amounted to TSEK - 1,842 (TSEK -4,764).
Cash in the parent company was TSEK 64,264 as at end of June 2008 (TSEK 27,391).
Employees
The group on average had 1,262 employees during the first half of 2008 (1,050).
Issued shares
As at the end of June 2008 the number of shares outstanding in Central Asia
Gold AB (publ) was 412,210,070. A preferential rights issue closed in June
2008, and the issue proceeds were received on June 30, 2008 and are included in
the cash figure of the group as well as of the parent company by period end.
The issue was though registered only after the end of the reporting period. As
at the date of this report the number of outstanding shares is therefore
529,984,374. The June 2008 preferential rights issue also contained 58,887,152
subscription warrants. They may be converted to an equivalent number of
ordinary shares latest by December 5, 2008. The subscription price per share is
SEK 0.55.
In addition to this, an options programme directed at leading personnel in the
group was approved by last year's Annual General Meeting in Stockholm. In total
14,500,000 options were issued in accordance with this programme. The term of
the options is to the end of July 2009 and the strike price was initially SEK
2.25 per option corresponding to one underlying share. The preferential rights
issue resulted in a recalculation of the strike price to SEK 2.00 per option
corresponding to one share.
The options can only be exercised towards the end of the period. The market
price of the CAG share is lower than the strike price of the options as at the
end of the report period.
Major events after the end of the reporting period
Closing of preferential rights issue
A rights issue of so-called units containing both shares and warrants took
place in June 2008. The terms implied that for each seven existing shares one
unit was offered. Each unit contained two new shares and one warrant. The
warrants must be subscribed no later than December 5, 2008. The subscription
price was SEK 1.10 SEK per unit corresponding to SEK 0.55 per share.
Central Asia Gold received some MSEK 65 by June 30, 2008. The share issue was
though not registered until in July. The number of outstanding shares issued
therefore amounts to 529,984,374 as at the report date. If all issued warrants
get subscribed another 58,887,152 shares will get added by year end 2008.
Changed gold production plan for 2008
As a result of the above described developments the group's 2008 gold
production target has been lowered to 800 - 900 kg from an initial level of
1,250 kg at beginning of this year.
New reserve report in respect of Tardan project
A new reserve report is due in September/October. The estimated C1+C2 reserve
figure is as of now estimated at some 8 tons. The expected reserve increase as
compared to the old reserve figure from 1994 has been derived by increasing the
low grade ore bodies at the same time as high grade ore bodies have been
reduced. The estimated average grade of the new reserve figure is expected to
be slightly more than 3 g/t, and ore reserves are currently estimated at some 2
million tons given a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t. This figure pertains to 7 ore
bodies. This implies that the gravimetric plant at Tardan will have to be
mothballed and gold production will be discontinued within a few months until
such time as a leaching plant gets constructed.
Resignation of Board Director
The Norwegian board Director Paal Hveem has informed Central Asia Gold AB, that
he will resign from the board of Directors due to time constraints. He will for
the time being not be replaced by someone else.
Next report due
The next financial report due is the interim report for the nine-month period
January - September 2008. It will be released on November 28, 2008.
Company information
The parent company's full name is Central Asia Gold AB (publ). It is a public
limited liability company with head offices in Stockholm and the corporate
identification number is 556659-4833. The address of the parent company is
Brovägen 9, 182 76 Stocksund.
(For tables see attached file)
Accounting principles
Group
The consolidated accounts for Central Asia Gold AB have been prepared in
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as described
in the annual report for financial year 2007.
This interim report has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim
Financial Reporting and in accordance with the Swedish Accounting Board's
recommendation RR 31 "Interim group reporting" (Delårsrapportering för
koncerner). The new or revised IFRS standards or IFRIC-recommendations that
have been enacted since 1 January 2008 have not had any material effect on the
group's profit and loss- and balance sheets.
Parent company
In all significant ways the parent company applies the same accounting
principles as the group. In addition, the parent company applies RR32
Accounting for legal entities.
Final acquisitions analysis in respect of OOO Artelj Lena
In the annual report for financial year 2007 a provisional acquisition analysis
was presented in respect of the subsidiary OOO Artelj Lena. The final
acquisition analysis now completed does not differ from the provisional one.
Segment information
The company's accounts are focused on the primary business segment by
geographical areas. These are defined as specific countries. The secondary
segments are different types of other activities. A few of the group's
subsidiaries extend transportation services, partly to external clients. These
transportation services are currently not deemed to be of material size. At
present (from Q 1/2005) gold is produced in only one country, Russia. Therefore
no segment information is currently given.
Risk and uncertainties associated with this interim report
The group's risk exposure is presented on page 39 of the 2007 annual report and
on pages 11 - 14 of the spring 2008 rights issue prospectus (only available in
Swedish). The Board of Directors believes that the most important risk factors
for the time being are:
1) Gold price risk: The fluctuations of the international gold price directly
influence the revenues of a gold producing company. The gold price has started
to fall from peak levels of more than 900 USD/oz during the first half of this
year.
2) Inflation risk: The Russian economy is subject to significant inflation
pressure at the present time. The inflation deviates between the various
regions of the Russian Federation. In particular the global crude oil price has
increased drastically during the last year, which directly impacts fuel prices
in Russia. They are a significant part of the total operating costs in Central
Asia Gold's alluvial subsidiaries. The inflation also impact the other cost
items of the group.
3) Geologic risk: The recoverable gold reserves of a gold exploration and
production company are influenced by geologic and economic factors. The
estimation of reserves is therefore at all times dependent on the international
gold price, costs associated with the extraction of the gold etc. Therefore the
estimated gold reserves of any gold company may change at any point in time. In
particular the alluvial subsidiaries of the Central Asia Gold group are
sensitive to cost increases.
4) Financial and project risk: Central Asia Gold AB is a junior gold company at
an early stage. It is involved in production of gold as well as exploration.
The company is still dependent on external financing for developing its
business. If the availability of external financing were to get reduced, it
would negatively influence the future perspectives of the company. The current
bad sentiments on the global stock markets must be taken in to account. The
political tensions between Georgia and Russia should be considered in this
context.
5) Legal risks: As described in this report, the subsidiary OOO Artelj Lena is
involved in various court procedures. The issue concerns conditions pertaining
to the time before Central Asia Gold took over OOO Artelj Lena. It is as of yet
not clear if the reinstatement of previous members of the old workers'
collective Artelj Lena in the workers' collective automatically implies that
they will get reinstated as owners of the new limited liability company OOO
Artelj Lena. Central Asia Gold has assumed the latter and made a provision for
this. However, there are no guarantees that not additional old wrongly expelled
members of the workers' collective may also try to get their rights back via
OOO Artelj Lena.
Transactions with related parties
Central Asia Gold AB is as all other public Swedish companies listed on the
stock exchange NGM Equity subject to the new so called "Code demands" that were
introduced on July 1, 2008. The code contains a number of rules and
recommendations in respect of corporate governance. The regulatory framework
focuses on transparency and recommends independence between management and
board functions. Central Asia Gold is a young company active on a special
emerging market, namely in Russia. The code demands are therefore not always
optimal for Central Asia Gold AB and its subsidiaries. This on the ground that
the environment in which Central Asia Gold is active differs from the business
environment in Scandinavia. Nevertheless Central Asia Gold has started to adopt
to the code demands. Concretely, during the latter part of the report period a
separation has been initiated between management function on subsidiary level
and owner and board functions on group level. This separation is estimated to
be carried out in full during the second half of 2008. On the same grounds, a
review has been initiated of the number of related party transactions. They are
also estimated to decrease substantially during the rest of this year.
Security services
The various subsidiaries in Russia currently partly purchase security and guard
services from the company OOO Ochrannaya Firma Shtjit. Michail Malyarenko owns
60% of this company. These services are charged for at market price. During the
first half of 2008 the subsidiaries paid a total of TRUR 9,282 for such
services (TSEK 2,375).
Office rents
Part of the group's company management and administration teams work in the
city of Tomsk in Siberia. They work in rented premises in an office block owned
by Michail Malyarenko. A number of external companies also rent premises in the
same building. During the first half of 2008 the Central Asia Gold group has
paid TRUR 277 in office rents (TSEK 71). This is the same rent that the other
external tenants pay for the property.
Management company
Central Asia Gold's Russian subsidiaries have during the last few years
purchased management services from a management company located in the city of
Tomsk. These management resources have been shared mainly together with the
Swedish Oil company Malka Oil AB in order to reach synergy effects. The goal of
the management company has not been profit maximization. As stated above
Central Asia Gold has now started to reduce the purchases of management
services in order to comply with the new code demands for Swedish listed
companies. During the first half of 2008 Central Asia Gold paid, via its
subsidiaries, a total of TRUR 10,775 (TSEK 2,757) to the management company.
This amount represents salaries and other external costs for the personnel. The
owners of the management company are Central Asia Gold's two main Russian
owners, Alexander Merko and Michail Malyarenko, who each own equal shares.
Project management company
Central Asia Gold's Russian subsidiary performs construction work in its own
region in order to save money. However, to receive a building permit for one's
own personnel from the authorities, a responsible property development company
must be hired to submit official documentation and to take responsibility for
safety and other building regulations. In this case Central Asia Gold's
subsidiary OOO Tardan Gold appointed the company OOO KUPIR to lead the
construction work and to take charge of responsibility issues. Therefore parts
of the construction cost are administered via KUPIR. Michail Malyarenko and his
family own 100% of this company. During the first half of 2008 construction
work equivalent to TRUR 15,234 (TSEK 3,899) was performed via OOO KUPIR.
This report has not been subject to review by the company's auditors.
The board of directors and the managing director confirm that the interim
report provides an accurate overview of the company's and the group's
operations, position, results and that it describes significant risks and
uncertainties that the company and group companies are exposed to.
Stockholm, 28 August, 2008
Central Asia Gold AB (publ)
Michail Malyarenko Alexander Merko
Chairman Director
Örjan Berner Peter Geijerman
Director Director
Patric Perenius Alexander Gerasimov
Director Director
Paal Hveem Torbjörn Ranta
Director Director and CEO
For more information, please contact:
MD Torbjorn Ranta, tel: +46 (0)8 624 26 80, fax: +46 (0)8 624 37 20, mobile
phone: +46 (0)70 8 85 55 04, e-mail: torbjorn.ranta@centralasiagold.se,
Website: www.centralasiagold.se, Postal and visiting address: Brovägen 9,
SE-182 76 Stocksund
Central Asia Gold AB is a Swedish mining company focused on gold production and
exploration in Russia and Mongolia in the central parts of Asia. The gold
production was initiated in late January 2005 and the assets were as at end of
2007 estimated to encompass some 645,000 troy ounces (1 troy ounce = 31.1 g) of
C1/ C2 Russian gold reserves.
Cautionary Statement: Statements and assumptions made in this report with
respect to Central Asia Gold AB's ("CAG") current plans, estimates, strategies
and beliefs, and other statements that are not historical facts, are
forward-looking statements about the future performance of CAG. Forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, those using words such as "may",
"might", "seeks", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "believes",
"projects", "plans", strategy", "forecast" and similar expressions. These
statements reflect management's expectations and assumptions in light of
currently available information. They are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties, including, but not limited to, (i) changes in the economic,
regulatory and political environments in the countries where CAG operates; (ii)
changes relating to the geological information available in respect of the
various projects undertaken; (iii) CAG's continued ability to secure enough
financing to carry on its operations as a going concern; (iv) the success of
its potential joint ventures and alliances, if any; (v) exchange rates,
particularly between the Russian rouble and the U.S. dollar. In the light of
the many risks and uncertainties surrounding any gold production and
exploration company at an early stage of its development, the actual results
could differ materially from those presented and forecast in this report. CAG
assumes no unconditional obligation to immediately update any such statements
and/or forecasts.
(for complete report see attached file)
