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Stratex International plc - Preliminary Results



Stratex International Plc / Index: AIM / Epic: STI / Sector: Mining 14 March 2011 Stratex International Plc (Stratex or the Company) Preliminary Results
Stratex International Plc, the AIM-quoted gold exploration and development company focused on Turkey and East Africa, is pleased to announce its preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2010. Operational Overview � Diverse portfolio of exploration and development projects across Turkey and East Africa � Results from Feasibility Study at Inlice oxide gold project (Inlice) in Turkey expected soon - indications are that the project is economically viable and near term production on track for 2012 � Revised resource from scoping study at Altintepe oxide gold project (Altintepe) in Turkey expected Q2 2011 � Prospective portfolio of multi-stage exploration projects in Turkey with potential to offer significant value uplift � Strong JV partners committed to developing licences further during 2011 � Formation of Stratex East Africa Limited (SEA) to hold all Ethiopian and Djiboutian gold assets - David Hall to lead the development of SEA in new role as Executive Director East Africa � Rapid expansion in East Africa - building land position in the Afar Depression straddling Ethiopia and Djibouti to 3,853 sq km - total East African land position increased to 7,018 sq km � JV agreement with Thani Ashanti to fast-track 11 licences in the Afar Depression, the first move by a mining major into the region � Results from 3,000m drilling programme at flagship Megenta discovery in Ethiopia anticipated mid 2011 � Encouraging results from initial exploration of Northern Ethiopian Arabian Nubian Shield prospects highlighting prospectivity of Tigray region Financial Overview � Healthy cash balance of �996,157 resulting from a �1.3 million public placing and payments from JV partners � Loss for the year of �2,875,668 (2009: �2,144,926) - increase due mainly to the loss on sale of 54% of the 100% owned subsidiary as part of the agreement with NTF regarding future development of the Inlice and Altintepe projects o In accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards these funding commitments, which should enhance future value, are not reflected in the calculation of the loss on sale.

See note 2 attached to the financial statements. � Increased administration expenses reflect the establishment of operations in East Africa and increased exploration costs not capitalised in Turkey Chairmans Statement As the newly appointed Chairman of Stratex it gives me great pleasure to report on the progress your Company has made during the period.

Since being appointed to the Board in early 2008, I have enjoyed the challenge of being closely involved in the direction of a growing junior company.

The success of our gold exploration efforts in Ethiopia has prompted a more formal division of executive responsibilities, and I was delighted to take up the position of Chairman, allowing David Hall to focus on the development of the East African portfolio in the new role of Executive Director for East Africa. Before moving on to a review of the year, I would like to pay tribute to the work and commitment of your outgoing Chairman David Hall, who has combined the roles of co-founder, Director and Executive Chairman for more than five years.

Together with your Chief Executive Officer Bob Foster and the rest of the Stratex team, he has helped steer the Company from a concept to a well-supported and successful exploration and development company with a solid portfolio of assets in Ethiopia, Djibouti and Turkey, where we are also moving towards production in 2012. In his last statement, David noted that Stratex had emerged from the financial crisis as a stronger and better positioned company.

I am pleased to say that we have continued to advance throughout 2010 and I look forward to updating shareholders on our developments both in Turkey and East Africa over the coming year. Stratex has made great progress through its existing joint ventures with mining majors Centerra Exploration B.V.

(Centerra) and Teck Resources, and also with Turkish company NTF Insaat Ticaret Ltd Sti (NTF).

The Company has also established two new joint ventures with Thani Ashanti, an AngloGold Ashanti Limited joint venture company, and Ayendiz Group (Aydeniz), a leading Turkish construction company.

Additionally, we have a large and growing first-mover land position in Ethiopia and Djibouti, which is shaping up to be an exciting new gold province with similar geology to the epithermal gold mineralisation that is prevalent in the Santa Cruz gold district of southern Argentina, and the Great Basin in Nevada, USA. Developments at our �ks�t and Hasan�elebi high-sulphidation gold projects in central Turkey are progressing well and we are confident that with further work they will add value to our Turkish portfolio.

In March 2010, a maiden JORC compliant resource of 147,814oz of oxide gold was announced at our �ks�t joint venture with Centerra.

We expect to significantly build upon this resource in 2011 and are pleased that Centerra has approved a US$1.3 million work programme for the current year.

Additionally, our JV partner Teck Madencilik Sanayi Ticaret A.S (Teck) has approved a further 2,000m drill programme at our Hasan�elebi project for 2011. Recent drilling at our Muratdere porphyry copper-gold project in western Turkey has produced positive results and this project is being developed as part of an earn-in programme by Aydeniz.

Drilling will now focus on the 1,500 metre-long central zone within the 4,000 metre-long porphyry complex that is of significant interest. Stratex has built up a resource base of over 1.1 million oz of gold in Turkey, of which some 540,000oz is represented by oxide resources at Inlice and Altintepe.

As shareholders will be aware, in late 2009 we brought in a large and respected Turkish partner, NTF, to advance these projects.

The agreement was completed in April 2010 and we received US$1.0 million from our partner.

NTF is expected to earn into 54% of Inlice and Altintepe and is now managing the programmes to move the projects towards production.

The feasibility study at Inlice, an open pit heap leach project, is nearing completion and an early draft indicates that there are no fatal flaws although aspects of the cost assumptions require further definition.

We are advised that first production is still expected in the first half of 2012.

NTF is also funding a scoping study on the larger Altintepe project which consists of infill drilling and a baseline environmental study.

We expect to deliver a revised resource in the second quarter of 2011. Throughout the year, we have also continued to add to our land position in the highly prospective Afar region in East Africa in response to positive exploration findings, including the discovery of previously unknown gold-bearing epithermal targets such as the Megenta hot spring project in eastern Ethiopia.

Our total land position in the Afar region is 3,853 sq km, bringing our total land position in Ethiopia and Djibouti to 7,018 sq km.

Although we are beginning to see the entry of some competition, we believe that we will maintain our first-mover advantage, having been delineating targets in the Afar region since 2009. In spite of the attractive results in Ethiopia and our high hopes for the future, your Board considered it prudent to reduce exposure to the initial very high risk phase of drilling, and in October 2010 announced a joint venture with Thani Ashanti, an AngloGold Ashanti Limited joint venture company, which, to the best of our knowledge, signalled the first move by a major into the region.

The agreement was completed post-period end and resulted in a placement of US$500,000 into Stratex by Thani Ashanti.

We look forward with great excitement to the first results from the 3,000m drill commitment at our Megenta discovery, expected mid 2011. Stratex has made significant strides over the past year, buoyed by the strong and appreciating gold price, and we are now ideally positioned to capitalise on this by advancing our solid portfolio of exploration and development assets in Turkey and East Africa.

Both the Inlice and Altintepe gold projects in Turkey should provide us with near-term exposure to production, which will not only generate cash flow but will also increase our market visibility and prove our ability to progress our projects through from development to production.

In Turkey, 2011 is likely to be a year of steady progress towards known goals.

We look forward to regular news flow with drilling results from our four established joint ventures, an increased resource at �ks�t and progress with additional low-cost, conceptual initiatives. In contrast, if our work in the Afar region in Ethiopia and Djibouti generates results which are commensurate with the potential we see, the added value could be significant.

Consequently, although we have minimised the early-stage risk with Thani Ashanti funding the initial drilling, Stratex has retained a growing land position outside the joint venture. Finally it remains for me to extend my gratitude for the support we have received from our shareholders during the past year, and would also like to thank our excellent management team for its continued dedication as we progress as a leading gold exploration and development company in Turkey and East Africa. Christopher Hall Chairman 14 March 2011 Statement of Consolidated Comprehensive Income
Year ended 31 December 2010 Unaudited �
Year ended 31 December 2009 Audited � Continuing operations Revenue
-
-
Administrative expenses
(1,733,837) (1,292,469) Project impairment
(58,656) (491,655) Other income/(losses)
125,045 (2,294) Issue of shares other than for cash
- (401,474)
Operating loss
(1,667,448) (2,187,892) Finance income
21,965 42,966 Share of losses of associate companies
(134,305) - Loss on sale of subsidiary company
(1,095,880) - Loss before income tax
(2,875,668) (2,144,926)
Income tax
(8,373) (3,253)
Loss for the period
(2,884,041) (2,148,179)
Other comprehensive income Exchange differences on translating foreign operations
(257,552) (404,148) Other comprehensive income, net of tax
(257,552) (404,148) Total comprehensive income attributable to equity holders of the company
(3,141,593) (2,552,327)
Loss attributable to equity holders of the company
(2,884,041) (2,148,179)
Loss per share for losses attributable to equity holders of the company - basic and diluted
(1.02)p (0.90)p
Statement of Consolidated Financial Position
31 December 2010 Unaudited �
31 December 2009 Audited � ASSETS
Non-current assets
Furniture, fittings and equipment Intangible assets
257,984 2,522,766 156,201 3,607,182 Investments accounted for using the equity method
376,645 - Investments
72,167 40,000 Trade and other receivables
160,877 128,625 Deferred tax assets
165,067 126,101
3,555,506 4,058,109 Current assets
Trade and other receivables
1,223,577 726,266 Cash and cash equivalents
996,157 1,727,643
2,219,734 2,453,909 Intangible assets held for sale
198,619 70,000 Total assets
5,973,859 6,582,018
EQUITY & LIABILITIES
Capital and reserves attributable to equity holders of the Company
Ordinary shares
2,873,264 2,495,469 Share premium
9,323,382 8,443,778 Other reserves
37,009 282,253 Accumulated losses
(7,676,379) (4,816,479)
4,557,276 6,405,021 Non-current liabilities
Employee termination benefits
9,470 8,001 Deferred tax liabilities
47,656 1,097
57,126 9,098 Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
1,359,457 167,899
1,359,457 167,899 Total equity and liabilities
5,973,859 6,582,018
Statement of Consolidated Changes in Equity
Share
Share
Merger
Share option
Accumulated
Translation
Capital
Premium
Reserve
Reserve
loss
reserve
Total






� As at 1 January 2009 2,342,394
8,192,829
(485,400)
462,982
(2,677,289)
537,349
8,372,865
Issue of ordinary shares 152,225
249,249
-
-
-
-
401,474 Share -based payments
-
-
-
180,459
-
-
180,459 Share options exercised and forfeited 850
1,700
-
(8,989)
8,989
-
2,550 Comprehensive income for the period -
-
-
-
(2,148,179)
(404,148)
(2,552,327)
As at 31 December 2009 2,495,469
8,443,778
(485,400)
634,452
(4,816,479)
133,201
6,405,021 Issue of ordinary shares 372,295
930,736
-
-
-
-
1,303,031 Cost of share issue -
(62,132)
-
-
-
-
(62,132) Share based payments -
-
-
36,449
-
-
36,449 Share options exercised and cancelled 5,500
11,000
-
(24,141)
24,141
-
16,500 Comprehensive income for the period -
-
-
-
(2,884,041)
(257,552)
(3,141,593)
As at 31 December 2010 2,873,264
9,323,382
(485,400)
646,760
(7,676,379)
(124,351)
4,557,276
Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows
Year ended 31 December 2010 Unaudited �
Year ended 31 December 2009 Audited �
Cash flows from operating activities
Loss before income tax
(2,875,668) (2,144,926) Interest income
(21,965) (42,966) Depreciation Share of losses of associated companies Loss on sale of subsidiary company Project impairment write-offs
84,139 134,305 1,095,880 58,656 60,276 - - 491,655 Issue of share options
36,446 180,459 Write-off of fixed assets
817 - Issue of shares other than for cash
- 401,474 Foreign exchange movements on operating activities
(186,787) (40,836) Operating loss before changes in working capital
(1,674,177) (1,094,864) Increase in trade and other receivables
(529,562) (73,177) Increase in trade and other payables
82,400 83,789 Cash used in operating activities
(2,121,339) (1,084,252) Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(185,797) (44,692) Purchase of investments
(32,167) (40,000) Purchase of intangible assets
(1,687,448) (1,009,613) Proceeds from sale of subsidiary company
656,863 - Interest received
21,965 42,966
Net cash used in investing activities
(1,226,584) (1,051,339)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net proceeds from the issue of ordinary shares
1,257,399 2,550 Funds received from project partners
1,359,038 547,662 Net cash inflow from financing activities
2,616,437 550,212 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(731,486) (1,585,379) Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
1,727,643 3,313,022 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
996,157 1,727,643
Notes to the unaudited financial statements 1.

Basis of preparation The financial information set out in this announcement has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union and on a going concern basis. The financial information set out in this announcement does not constitute the Groups statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2010 or the year ended 31 December 2009 under the meaning of Section 434 the Companies Act 2006.

The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2009 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies.

The auditors report on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain any statement under section 498 of the Companies Act 2006. The accounting policies applied in preparing the financial information are consistent with those that have been adopted in the Groups 2009 audited statutory accounts.

The following new accounting policy was adopted in the year: Associates Associates are all entities over which the group has significant influence but not control, generally accompanying a shareholding of between 20% and 50% of the voting rights.

Investments in associates are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are initially recognised at cost.

The Groups investment in associates includes goodwill identified on acquisition, net of any accumulated impairment loss. The Groups share of its associates post-acquisition profits or losses is recognised in the income statement, and its share of post-acquisition movements in other comprehensive income is recognised in other comprehensive income.

The cumulative post-acquisition movements are adjusted against the carrying amount of the investment.

When the Groups share of losses in an associate equals or exceeds its interest in the associate the Group does not recognise further losses, unless it has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the associate. Unrealised gains on transactions between the Group and its associates are eliminated to the extent of the Groups interest in the associates.

Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.

Accounting policies of associates have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group. Dilution gains and losses arising in investments in associates are recognised in the income statement. The Group has adopted the following new and amended International Financial Reporting Standards as of 1 January 2010: IFRS 3 (revised), Business combinations and consequential amendments to IAS 27, Consolidated and separate financial statements, IAS 28 Investments in associates and IAS 31 Interests in joint ventures, are effective prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after 1 July 2009.

IFRS 3 (revised) has had no impact on the current period. IAS 27 (revised) requires the effects of all transactions with non-controlling interests to be recorded in equity if there is no change in control and the transactions will no longer result in gains and losses.

The standard also specifies the accounting when control is lost.

Any remaining interest in the entity is re-measured to fair value, and a gain or loss is recognised in profit or loss.

As explained further in note 2 below, IAS 27 (revised) has had an impact on the current period whereby an interest in an entity was retained after the loss of control of that entity. 2.

Sale of subsidiary On 27 January 2010 54% of the wholly-owned subsidiary NS Madencilik Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi AS (NSM) was sold to the Turkish company NTF Insaat Ticaret Ltd Sti (NTF) in return for an immediate payment of US$1 million (�656,863).

The book value of the net assets of NSM sold to NTF totalled �1.3m.

Under the provision of IAS 27 (revised) "Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements", any remaining interest in the entity is re-measured to fair value and a gain or loss is recognised in the income statement.

Exchange differences that were recorded in equity are recognised in the income statement as part of the gain or loss on sale.

On this basis the loss on disposal of NSM amounted to �1,095,880. The sale was part of an agreement with NTF for the fast tracking of the development of Inlice and Altintepe gold projects in Turkey.

Under the terms of the agreement, in addition to the payment of US$1million, NTF have committed up to US$2 million of funding for a feasibility study at Inlice and US$0.5million for a scoping study at Altintepe, with an option to earn 55% in the Altintepe project by spending up to a further US$2 million for a feasibility study. 3.

Loss per share The calculation of loss per share is based on a retained loss of �2,884,041 for the period ended 31 December 2010 (31 December 2009: �2,148,179) and the weighted average number of shares in issue in the period 31 December 2010 of 284,130,351 (31 December 2009: 239,450,373).

There is no difference between the diluted loss per share and the loss per share shown. 4.

Approval of interim financial statements The preliminary financial statements were approved by the board of directors on 11 March 2011. **ENDS** For further information please visit www.stratexinternational.com, email , or contact:
Christopher Hall / Bob Foster / Claire Palmer Stratex International Plc Tel: +44 (0) 20 7830 9650 Martin Davison / Richard Baty Westhouse Securities Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20 7601 6100 Felicity Edwards / Elisabeth Cowell St Brides Media & Finance Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7236 1177
Elisabeth Cowell St Brides Media & Finance Ltd Chaucer House 38 Bow Lane London EC4M 9AY T: +44 (0) 207 236 1177 | M: +44 (0) 7900 248 213 | F: +44 (0) 207 236 1188 | www.sbmf.co.uk



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