Audited Financial Results for the year ended 31 December 2023

20 May 2024

Beowulf Mining plc

("Beowulf" or the "Company")

Audited Financial Results for the year ended 31 December 2023

Beowulf (AIM: BEM; Spotlight: BEO), the mineral exploration and development company, announces its audited financial results for the year ended 31 December 2023 (the “Period”).

The Annual Report and Accounts will be tabled to shareholders at the Annual General Meeting ("AGM") of the Company, the details of which will be announced in a separate news release.

The 2023 Annual Report and the Notice of AGM and Form of Proxy will shortly be posted to those shareholders who have requested a copy and will be available on the Company's website today (https://beowulfmining.com/).

Enquiries:

Beowulf Mining plc

Ed Bowie, Chief Executive Officer                       ed.bowie@beowulfmining.com

SP Angel

(Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker)        

Ewan Leggat / Stuart Gledhill / Adam Cowl          Tel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0470

Alternative Resource Capital

(Joint Broker)

Alex Wood                                                        Tel: +44 (0) 20 7186 9004

BlytheRay        

Tim Blythe / Megan Ray                                     Tel: +44 (0) 20 7138 3204

Cautionary Statement

Statements and assumptions made in this document with respect to the Company’s current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs, and other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Beowulf. 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 Beowulf operates; (ii) changes relating to the geological information available in respect of the various projects undertaken; (iii) Beowulf’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) metal prices, particularly as regards iron ore. In the light of the many risks and uncertainties surrounding any mineral project at an early stage of its development, the actual results could differ materially from those presented and forecast in this document. Beowulf assumes no unconditional obligation to immediately update any such statements and/or forecast.

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

Dear Shareholders

I am pleased to introduce the Annual Report for 2023, the first full year of my tenure as Chairman of Beowulf. 

The year has been a transformational one for the Company, and not without its challenges. In particular, we have seen a number of management changes, however, I am confident that we are now in a stronger position than we were at the beginning of 2023, and I remain excited about the future prospects for the Company.

After nine years as Chief Executive Officer of Beowulf, Kurt Budge announced on 3 May 2023 that he was stepping down from the Company. Kurt played a pivotal role in the Company’s development, in particular achieving the successful delivery of the Exploitation Concession for Kallak North. Following this we were fortunate to attract Ed Bowie to join Beowulf, taking over as CEO on 7 August 2023. Ed has extensive technical, corporate and financial experience and his involvement and new perspectives brought an immediate positive impact to the Company’s portfolio of assets.

We further strengthened the Board with the appointment of Mikael Schauman as Non-Executive Director, on 10 July 2023. Mikael has over 40 years of experience in base metals with senior management roles with major mining companies including as Senior Vice President Commercial of Lundin Mining Corporation. Mikael’s insights and experience are proving invaluable to the Company.

The Kallak project is now on a much firmer footing. We have initiated a properly scoped PFS and put together an industry leading group of consultants to manage the range of technical and environmental disciplines. The environmental studies are continuing in preparation for the EIA and future application for the environmental permit. Additionally, we have attracted an excellent Project Director, Dmytro Siergieiev, to take over the leadership of the project and Jokkmokk Iron following the resignation of Ulla Sandborgh as the subsidiary’s CEO.

In Finland, under the leadership of Rasmus Blomqvist, we delivered an excellent PFS on the Coating plant but, in the fast-moving market and against the backdrop of export controls introduced by China, have modified our plans and initiated the PFS on the full anode material plant. Test-work and the EIA studies are ongoing and remain on track for completion in 2024.

Vardar has continued to develop and refine exploration targets in Kosovo, although we significantly reduced the expenditure from previous years, focusing on low-cost mapping, sampling and drone-magnetics to better refine targets prior to drilling. Further, following the end of 2023, we reached an agreement to consolidate 100 per cent through in an all-share transaction. This not only gives Beowulf full control of Vardar, but also tidies up the subsidiary holdings and provides greater optionality to drive the business forward.

Beowulf remains deeply committed to developing sustainable operations that benefit our local communities. We strive to engage with our stakeholders and have made significant efforts to improve our transparency, accountability, and accessibility. In Jokkmokk we have opened an office in the town centre, where Ed and I have made numerous trips and had regular meetings with local politicians and business leaders. The appointment of Dmytro, who will be spending significant time in Jokkmokk, further reinforces our determination to become a trusted partner.

In March 2023, we completed a rights issue of Swedish Depository Receipts and PrimaryBid retail offer and placing to certain UK investors. The total gross amount raised was £6.4 million (SEK 80.8 million). The net funds raised after repayment of the loan (£2.04 million) and transaction costs (£0.64 million) were £3.72 million.

On 3 April 2024 we announced the completion of the capital raise with a total of £4.3 million (SEK 56.3 million) gross raised to fund the development of the Company’s assets through their next key valuation milestones. We have a clear strategy for each asset and have built a team capable of delivering.

I would like to thank our shareholders and stakeholders for their continuing support.

J Röstin

Non-Executive Chairman

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 17 May 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:

Mr Ed Bowie – Director

COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the income statement of the parent Company is not presented as part of these financial statements. The parent Company's loss for the financial year was £2,959,228 (2022: loss of £1,372,662).

These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 17 May 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:

Mr Ed Bowie – Director

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Material accounting policy information

Nature of operations

Beowulf Mining plc (the “Company”) is domiciled in England. The Company's registered office is 201 Temple Chambers, 3-7 Temple Avenue, London, EC4Y 0DT. These consolidated financial statements comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively the “Group” and individually “Group companies”). The Group is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and evaluation of natural resources assets and has not yet generated revenues.

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are set out below:

Going concern

As at 31 December 2023, the Group had a cash balance of £0.91 million (2022: £1.78 million) and the Company had a cash balance of £0.79 million (2022: 1.67 million).

As disclosed in Note 28, on 16 February 2024, in conjunction with the Company’s right issue, the Company entered into a short-term bridging loan of SEK 10 million (approx. £724k) with the underwriters of the rights issue to ensure that the Company has sufficient financial resources to continue advancing its projects ahead of the right issue being finalised. The bridging loan accrues interest of 1.5% per 30-day period and is repayable on 31 May 2024. The bridging loan was repaid early in April 2024 using part of the proceeds from the capital raise on the right issue, noted below.

On 3 April 2024 the Company announced the completion of the capital raise with a total of £4.3 million (SEK 56.3 million) gross raised to fund the development of the Company’s assets through their next key valuation milestones. The net funds raised after the loan repayment and share issue transaction costs are £3.0 million (see note 28).

Therefore, at the date of this report, based on management prepared cashflow forecasts, the Directors are confident that the Group and Company has raised sufficient capital to fund the Group’s key projects and investments for the period to June 2025 but note that further funds will be required within a few months post this date to allow the Group and Company to realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. There are currently no agreements in place and there is no certainty that the funds will be raised within the appropriate timeframe. These conditions indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt over the Group’s and the Company’s ability to continue as going concerns and therefore, the Group and the Parent Company may be unable to realise their assets and discharge their liabilities in the normal course of business. The Directors will continue to explore funding opportunities at both asset and corporate levels. The Directors have a reasonable expectation that funding will be forthcoming based on their past experience and therefore believe that the going concern basis of preparation is deemed appropriate and as such the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.  The financial statements do not include any adjustments that would result if the Group and the Company were unable to continue as going concerns. 

Basis of preparation

The consolidated and individual Company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK adopted international accounting standards. The policies have been consistently applied to both the parent Company and Group. The financial statements are presented in GB Pounds Sterling. They are prepared on the historical cost basis or the fair value basis where the fair valuing of relevant assets and liabilities has been applied.

Merger relief under s612 of the Companies Act 2006 removes the requirement to credit the share premium account and where the conditions are met, the relief must be applied. However, it allows the investment to be accounted for at the nominal value of the shares issued or the fair value of the consideration. Where the investment is to be recorded at fair value, then the credit will be to the merger relief reserve.

The conditions to qualify for merger relief are:

• the consideration for shares in another company includes issued shares;

• on completion of the transaction, the company issuing the shares will have secured at least a 90% equity holding in the other company.

Merger relief was required to be applied in acquisition of Grafintec, in which the Company obtained 100% of the share capital of Grafintec for shares issued by the Company. Further details of this acquisition are outlined in note 10.

New standards, amendments and interpretations

Standards and interpretations adopted during the year

Information on new standards, amendments and interpretations that are relevant to the Group and Company annual report and accounts is provided below:

• IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts

• Deferred Tax related to Assets and Liabilities arising from a Single Transaction – amendments to IAS 12
• Disclosure of Accounting Policies – amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2
• Definition of Accounting Estimates – amendments to IAS 8

The Group did not have to change its accounting policies or make retrospective adjustments as a result of adopting these new standards and amendments and they did not have a material impact.

Standards, amendments and interpretations that are not yet effective

There are a number of standards, amendments to standards, and interpretations which have been issued by the IASB that are effective in future accounting periods that the Group has decided not to adopt early.

The following amendments are effective for the period beginning 1 January 2024:

• Amendments to IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements: Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current

• IFRS 16 Leases (Amendment – Liability in a Sale and Leaseback)
• IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements (Amendment – Non-current Liabilities with Covenants)

Significant accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions

Beowulf Mining Plc is currently assessing the impact of these new accounting standards and amendments.

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported for income and expenses during the year and the amounts reported for assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date. However, the nature of estimation means that the actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an on-going basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the revision is made.

Control of Vardar Group

Judgement is exercised in assessing the control of the Vardar Group and, in respect of the Parent Company, the recoverability of the loans made to subsidiary undertakings.

The Company is assessed to have control by virtue of its shareholding in Vardar Minerals Limited, which was 61.1% at 31 December 2023 (2022: 59.5%).

Exploration costs capitalisation

The Group has to apply judgement in determining whether exploration and evaluation expenditure should be capitalised within intangible assets as exploration costs or expensed. The Group has a policy of capitalising all costs which relate directly to exploration costs (as set out above). Management apply judgement in determining if Directors’ remuneration costs are directly attributable to a specific exploration area (project) and should be capitalised or expensed as incurred. The total value of exploration costs capitalised as at each of the reporting dates is set out in Note 8.

Exploration assets

The Pitkäjärvi licence was renewed in 2021 and expires on 26 April 2024, a further extension was applied for on 15 March 2024 and remains subject to approval.

The licences for Mitrovica and Viti expired on 27 January 2024. New licence applications were submitted, and confirmation of receipt was provided on 22 February 2024, which remain subject to approval. With the licence applications formally lodged with ICMM, no other party may apply for licences over the same area.

Management considers that in each case licence conditions have been met and are confident applications or renewals will be accepted by receiving authorities.

The Board has considered the impairment indicators as outlined in the Group’s accounting policies and having done so is of the opinion that no impairment provisions are required for Group’s main assets, Kallak, Aitolampi, Mitrovica and Viti.

The licence for Åtvidaberg is not expected to be renewed when it expires in 2024 and therefore has been fully impaired in the year (see note 8).

Sources of estimation and uncertainty

Valuation of share-based payments

Accounting for some equity-settled share-based payment awards required the use of valuation models to estimate the future share price performance of the Company. These models require the Directors to make assumptions regarding the share price volatility, risk free rate and expected life of awards in order to determine the fair values of the awards at grant date (see note 17).

Expected credit losses

The Company, in applying the ECL model under IFRS 9, must make assumptions when implementing the forward-looking ECL model. This model is required to be used to assess the intercompany loans receivable from subsidiaries for impairment.

Estimations were made regarding the credit risk of the counterparty and the underlying probability of default in each of the credit loss scenarios. The scenarios identified by management included Production, Divestment, Fire-sale and Failure. These scenarios considered technical data, necessary licences to be awarded, the Company’s ability to raise finance, and ability to sell the project. A reasonable change in the probability weightings of both the downside scenarios of failure and fire-sale of 3% would result in further impairment of £789,297 (2022: £626,927).

Basis of consolidation

1. 1. 1. Subsidiaries and acquisitions

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and entities controlled by the Company (and its subsidiaries) made up to 31 December each year.  Control is recognised where an investor is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its investment with the investee, and has the ability to affect these returns through its power over the investee.

The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the statement of comprehensive income from the effective date of acquisition, or up to the effective date of disposal, as appropriate.

Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries are presented separately from the equity attributable to equity owners of the parent Company. When changes in ownership in a subsidiary do not result in a loss of control, the non-controlling shareholders’ interests are initially measured at the non-controlling interests’ proportionate share of the subsidiaries net assets. Subsequent to this, the carrying amount of non-controlling interests is the amount of those interests at initial recognition plus the non-controlling interests’ share of subsequent changes in equity. Total comprehensive income is attributed to non-controlling interests even if this results in the non-controlling interests having a deficit balance.

1. 1. 2. Transactions eliminated on consolidation

Intra-Group balances and any unrealised gains and losses or income and expenses arising from intra-Group transactions are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

Intangible assets – deferred exploration costs

All costs incurred prior to the application for the legal right to undertake exploration and evaluation activities on a project are expensed as incurred. Each asset is evaluated annually at 31 December, to determine whether there are any indications that impairment exists.

Exploration and evaluation costs arising following the application for the legal right, are capitalised on a project-by-project basis, pending determination of the technical feasibility and commercial viability of the project.  Costs incurred include appropriate employee costs and costs pertaining to technical and administrative overheads.

Exploration and evaluation activities include:

•           researching and analysing historical exploration data;

•           gathering exploration data through topographical, geochemical and geophysical studies;

•           exploratory drilling, trenching and sampling;

•           determining and examining the volume and grade of the resource;

•           surveying transportation and infrastructure requirements; and

•           conducting market and finance studies.

Administration costs that are not directly attributable to a specific exploration area are expensed as incurred.

Exploration costs are carried at historical cost less any impairment losses recognised. When a project is deemed to no longer have commercially viable prospects to the Group, exploration costs in respect of that project are deemed to be impaired and written off to the statement of comprehensive income. Once the decision for investment is taken, the assets will be assessed for impairment and to the extent that these are not impaired, will be classified as development assets. At the point that production commences these assets will be depreciated. 

Intangible assets – capitalised development costs

Development costs that are directly attributable to the GAMP project are recognised as intangible assets where the following criteria are met:

• it is technically feasible to complete the intangible asset so that it will be available for use;
• management intends to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it;
• there is an ability to use or sell the intangible asset;
• it can be demonstrated how the intangible asset will generate probable future economic benefits;
• adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the intangible asset are available, and;
• the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset during its development can be reliably measured.

Directly attributable costs that are capitalised as part of intangible assets include employee costs and an appropriate portion of relevant overheads.

Capitalised development costs are recorded as intangible assets and amortised from the point at which the asset is ready for use.

Impairment

Whenever events or changes in circumstance indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable an asset is reviewed for impairment. An asset’s carrying value is written down to its estimated recoverable amount (being the higher of the fair value less costs to sell and value in use) if that is less than the asset’s carrying amount.

Impairment reviews for exploration costs are carried out on a project by project basis, with each project representing a potential single cash generating unit. An impairment review is undertaken when indicators of impairment arise such as:

1. 1. 1. unexpected geological occurrences that render the resource uneconomic;
      2. title to the asset is compromised;
      3. variations in mineral prices that render the project uneconomic;
      4. substantive expenditure on further exploration and evaluation of mineral resources is neither budgeted nor planned; and
      5. the period for which the Group has the right to explore has expired and is not expected to be renewed.

Property, plant and equipment

Items of property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation.

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each balance sheet date.

Leased assets

When entering into a contract the Group assesses whether or not a lease exists. A lease exists if a contract conveys a right to control the use of an identified asset under a period of time in exchange for consideration. Leases of low value items and short-term leases (leases of less than 12 months at the commencement date) are charged to the profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term in administrative expenses.

The Group recognises right-of-use assets at cost and lease liabilities at the lease commencement date based on the present value of future lease payments. The right-of-use assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over the length of the lease term. The lease liabilities are recognised at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. Discount rates used reflect the incremental borrowing rate specific to the lease.

Investments in subsidiaries

Investments in subsidiary undertakings are stated at cost less provision for any impairment in value.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, and other short term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Financial assets

The Group classifies its financial assets at amortised cost and at fair value through profit or loss.  Management determines the classification of its financial assets at initial recognition.

Amortised cost

The Group’s financial assets held at amortised cost comprise trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents and loans and other financial assets in the consolidated statement of financial position.

These assets are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market.  They arise principally through financial assets where the objective is to hold their assets in order to collect contractual cash flows and the contractual cash flows are solely payments of the principal and interest. They are initially recognised at fair value plus transaction costs that are directly attributable to their acquisition or issue and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method, less provision for impairment.

Impairment provisions for trade receivables are recognised based on the simplified approach within IFRS 9 using the lifetime ECLs. During this process the probability of the non-payment of the trade receivables is assessed. This probability is then multiplied by the amount of the expected loss arising from default to determine the lifetime ECL for the trade receivables. For trade receivables, which are reported net; such provisions are recorded in a separate provision account with the loss being recognised within administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. On confirmation that the trade receivable will not be collectable, the gross carrying value of the asset is written off against the associated provision.

Expected credit loss provisions for other receivables are recognised based on a forward-looking expected credit loss model. The methodology used to determine the amount of the provision is based on whether there has been a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition of the financial asset. For those where the credit risk has not increased significantly since initial recognition of the financial asset, twelve month expected credit losses along with gross interest income are recognised. For those for which credit risk has increased significantly, lifetime expected credit losses along with the gross interest income are recognised. For those that are determined to be credit impaired, lifetime expected credit losses along with interest income on a net basis are recognised.

Fair value through profit or loss

The Group’s financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss comprise equity investments held. These are carried in the statement of financial position at fair value (refer to fair value hierarchy below). Subsequent to initial recognition, changes in fair value are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.

Financial liabilities

The Group’s financial liabilities include trade and other payables and borrowings. All financial liabilities are recognised initially at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred, and are subsequently stated at amortised cost, using the effective interest method.

Borrowings include convertible debt with settlement terms that fail the fixed for fixed criterion and are treated as containing an embedded derivative liability, where this is recognised the loan value is allocated between the derivative value and the loan residual which is carried at amortised cost. Borrowings are derecognised when the obligation is extinguished.

Unless otherwise indicated, the carrying values of the Group’s financial liabilities measured at amortised cost represents a reasonable approximation of their fair values.

Share capital

Financial instruments issued by the Group are classified as equity only to the extent that they do not meet the definition of a financial liability or financial asset.

Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.  Where equity instruments are issued as part of an acquisition they are recorded at their fair value on the date of acquisition.

The Group's ordinary shares are classified as equity instruments.

Taxation

Current tax, including UK corporation tax and foreign tax, is provided at amounts expected to be paid (or recovered) using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is recognised, using the liability method, in respect of temporary differences between the carrying amount of the Group’s assets and liabilities and their tax base.

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. Any remaining deferred tax asset is recognised only when, on the basis of all available evidence, it can be regarded as probable that there will be suitable taxable profits, within the same jurisdiction, in the foreseeable future against which the deductible temporary difference can be utilised.

Deferred tax is determined using tax rates that are expected to apply in the periods in which the asset is realised or liability settled, based on tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Current and deferred tax is recognised in the profit or loss, except when the tax relates to items charged or credited directly in equity, in which case the tax is also recognised directly in equity.

Foreign currencies

The individual financial statements of each Group entity are presented in the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (its functional currency). For the purpose of the consolidated financial statements, the results and financial position of each entity are expressed in GB Pounds Sterling which is the presentation currency for the Group and Company financial statements.  The functional currency of the Company is the GB Pounds Sterling.

In preparing the financial statements of the individual entities, transactions in currencies other than the entity’s functional currency (foreign currencies) are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions.  At each balance sheet date, monetary items denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing at the balance sheet date.

Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items and on the retranslation of monetary items are included in the statement of comprehensive income for the period.

For the purpose of presenting consolidated financial statements, the assets and liabilities of the Group’s foreign operations are expressed in GB Pounds Sterling using exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. Income and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates for the period.  Exchange differences arising, if any, are classified as other comprehensive income and are transferred to the Group’s translation reserve.

Foreign currency movements arising from the Group’s net investment, which comprises equity and long-term debt, in subsidiary companies whose functional currency is not the GB Pounds Sterling are recognised in the translation reserve, included within equity until such time as the relevant subsidiary company is sold, whereupon the net cumulative foreign exchange difference relating to the disposal is transferred to profit and loss.

Share-based payment transactions

Where equity settled share options are awarded to employees, the fair value of the options at the date of grant is charged to the income statement over the vesting period.  Non-market vesting conditions are taken into account by adjusting the number of equity instruments expected to vest at each balance sheet date so that, ultimately, the cumulative amount recognised over the vesting period is based on the number of options that eventually vest.  Market vesting conditions are factored into the fair value of all options granted. As long as all other vesting conditions are satisfied, a charge is made irrespective of whether market vesting conditions are satisfied. The cumulative expense is not adjusted for failure to achieve a market vesting condition.

Where terms and conditions of options are modified before they vest, the increase in the fair value of the options, measured immediately before and after the modification, is also charged to the income statement over the remaining vesting period.

Where equity instruments are granted to persons other than employees, the income statement or share premium account, if appropriate, are charged with the fair value of goods and services received.

Government grants

Government grants received on capital expenditure are generally deducted in arriving at the carrying amount of the asset purchased. Grants for revenue expenditure are recorded gross in the Group income statement.

2. Employees and directors

Directors’ remuneration is as follows:

Further details pertaining to Directors’ remuneration can be found in the Directors’ remuneration report on page 33.

The remuneration of the highest paid Director who served during the year was Kurt Budge which consisted of base salary of £210,000 (2022: £210,000).

The average monthly number of employees and Directors during the year was as follows:

3. Finance income and costs

4. Loss before tax and auditor’s remuneration

1. The loss before tax is stated after charging:

¹Gain on disposal of investment relates to shares held in Sunvest Corporation Limited, which were previously impaired in full.

²Recovery of impairment on listed investments related to shares held in Marula Mining Plc, which were previously impaired in full.

2. Auditor’s remuneration

5. Income tax

Analysis of tax expense

No liability to UK corporation tax arose on ordinary activities for the year ended 31 December 2023 or for the year ended 31 December 2022.

Factors affecting the tax expense

The tax assessed for the year is lower than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK. The difference is explained below:

The main rate of UK corporation tax for the year ended 31 December 2023 and up to 1 April 2023 was 19 per cent. From 1 April 2023, the main rate of UK corporation tax increased to 25 per cent, resulting in an effective tax rate of 23.5% for the year ended 31 December 2023. The Group has estimated UK losses of £16,656,271 (2022: £14,993,653) and foreign losses of £5,780,656 (2022: £4,659,376) available to carry forward against future trading profits. The value of unrecognised deferred tax assets in respect of the UK losses amounts to £4,164,068 (2022: £3,748,413) and foreign losses of £1,041,936 (2022: £804,730). The Directors believe that due to the uncertainty over when the tax losses will be utilised it is appropriate not to recognise a deferred tax asset at this time.

6. Grant income

Grafintec is participating in project titled “BATCircle – the development of a Finland-based Circular Ecosystem of Battery Metals”.  BATCircle is part of the European Union (“EU”) Strategic Energy Technology Programme. The project is being administered by Business Finland and a 50 per cent contribution to a budget of €791,000 (approximately £700,000) for Phase 2 and €224,900 (approximately £200,000) Phase 1. The funds will be used for graphite purification and spheroidization test work, and the further assessment of Grafintec’s graphite for battery applications. The funding is released by the administrator as incurred with Phase 1 running from 1 January 2019 to 31 January 2020 and Phase 2 running from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023. In the year to 31 December 2023, £96,750 has been recognised as grant income (2022: £84,797).

7. Basic and diluted loss per share

The calculation of basic and diluted loss per share at 31 December 2023 was based on the loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of £2,863,959 (2022: £1,948,459) and a weighted average number of Ordinary Shares outstanding during the year ended 31 December 2023 of 1,084,958,359 (2022: 831,710,636) calculated as follows:

Weighted average number of ordinary shares

The diluted earnings per share is identical to the basic loss per share as the exercise of warrants and options would be anti-dilutive.

Following the year end, the Company issued 52,326,758 new Ordinary shares as consideration for the consolidation of ownership of Vardar Minerals Limited. The calculation of loss per share has not been adjusted as the issue of shares does not affect the amount of capital used to produce profit or loss for the year.

8. Intangible assets – Group

The net book value of exploration costs is comprised of expenditure on the following projects: