Horizonte Minerals Announces Third Quarter Results

Horizonte Minerals plc / Index: AIM / TSX : HZM / Sector: Mining

( or "the Company")

TORONTO, Nov. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Horizonte, the AIM and TSX quoted exploration and development company focused in Brazil, announces that it has today published its unaudited financial results for the 3 month and 9 month periods to 30 September 2012. The Management Discussion and Analysis for the same periods have also been published.

In addition to this document, both of the above have been posted on the Company's website at www.horizonteminerals.com and are also available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Company Overview

• Nickel and gold exploration and development company focused in Brazil with the support of two mining majors Teck Resources and AngloGold Ashanti
• Fast-tracking development of flagship Araguaia nickel project in northern Brazil towards Pre Feasibility - major milestones achieved during nine months to 31 September  2012
• Increased and upgraded the NI 43-101 resource by 31% to 39.3 million tonnes grading 1.39% nickel in the Indicated category and 60.9 million tonnes averaging 1.22% nickel in the Inferred category using a 0.95% nickel cut-off at Araguaia
• Completed preliminary metallurgical testwork at Araguaia - project amenable to the commercially proven Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace (RKEF) process
• Preliminary Economic Assessment finalised - demonstrates that Araguaia has the potential to be a significant nickel laterite project globally in terms of size, grade, economics, location, legal/fiscal code and infrastructure
• Entered into a share purchase agreement for the sale of the Company's Falcao gold project in northern Brazil to Guyana Frontier Mining Corp
• Successfully completed a £5.2m placing in June 2012 - strong cash position to fast-track the development of Araguaia
• Expanded management team with the appointment of Dr Philip Mackey, formerly member of Xstrata and Falconbridge and with over 40 years of experience, as Senior Metallurgical Advisor

Highlights for the Third Quarter of 2012

• On August 22^nd 2012 the Company announced the results of its NI 43-101-compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Araguaia Project. These included a post tax Net Present Value ('NPV') of US$693M at an 8% discount rate and Internal Rate of Return ('IRR') of 15.4% based on an ore throughput of 1.75 million tonnes per annum of mineralised material treated through a 90 MW Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace ('RKEF') process plant using US$8.60/lb long term nickel price. Assessment of the Atmospheric Tank Leach ('ATL') processing option gave a post tax NPV of US$554M at an 8% discount rate and an IRR of 18.1%. Capital payback is estimated as being 7 years for RKEF and 6 years for ATL.

Financial Highlights

Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
for the nine months ended 30 September 2012

Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income

Condensed consolidated statement of financial position

Condensed statement of changes in shareholders' equity

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Major non-cash transactions

On 7 February 2012 the Company issued 8,500,000 new ordinary shares of 1 pence per share each to Lara Exploration Limited at a premium of 14 pence per share in consideration for the acquisition of the Vila Oito and Floresta nickel laterite projects.

Notes to the Financial Statements

1 General information

The principal activity of Horizonte Minerals Plc ('the Company') and its subsidiaries (together 'the Group') is the exploration and development of precious and base metals. There is no seasonality or cyclicality of the Group's operations.

The Company's shares are listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM) and on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). The Company is incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The address of its registered office is 26 Dover Street London W1S 4LY.

2 Basis of preparation

The condensed interim financial statements have been prepared using accounting policies consistent with International Financial Reporting Standards and in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 Interim Financial Reporting. The condensed interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2011, which have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union.

The condensed interim financial statements set out above do not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of the Companies Act 2006. They have been prepared on a going concern basis in accordance with the recognition and measurement criteria of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union. Statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2011 were approved by the Board of Directors on 2 February 2012 and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors on those financial statements was unqualified.

The condensed interim financial statements of the Company have not been audited or reviewed by the Company's auditor, Littlejohn LLP.

Going concern

The Directors, having made appropriate enquiries, consider that adequate resources exist for the Group to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and that, therefore, it is appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the condensed interim financial statements for the period ended 30 September 2011.

Risks and uncertainties

The Board continuously assesses and monitors the key risks of the business. The key risks that could affect the Group's medium term performance and the factors that mitigate those risks have not substantially changed from those set out in the Group's 2011 Annual Report and Financial Statements, a copy of which is available on the Group's website: www.horizonteminerals.com. The key financial risks are liquidity risk, foreign exchange risk, credit risk, price risk and interest rate risk.

Critical accounting estimates

The preparation of condensed interim financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the end of the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates are set out in the Group's 2011 Annual Report and Financial Statements. The nature and amounts of such estimates have not changed significantly during the interim period.

3. Significant accounting policies

The condensed interim financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of certain of the subsidiaries' assets and liabilities to fair value for consolidation purposes.

The same accounting policies, presentation and methods of computation have been followed in these condensed interim financial statements as were applied in the preparation of the Group's Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2011, except for the impact of the adoption of the Standards and interpretations described below.

The preparation of condensed interim financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates.  It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group's Accounting Policies.  The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the condensed interim financial statements, are disclosed in Note 4 of the Group's 2011 Annual Report and Financial Statements.

3.1 Changes in accounting policy and disclosures

(a) New and amended standards adopted by the Group

Amendments to IFRS 7 "Financial Instruments: Disclosures" are designed to help users of financial statements evaluate the risk exposures relating to transfers of financial assets and the effect of those risks on an entity's financial position.

(b) New and amended standards, and interpretations mandatory for the first time for the financial year beginning 1 January 2012 but not currently relevant to the Group.

The following standards and amendments to existing standards have been published and are mandatory for the Group's accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2012 or later periods, but not currently relevant to the Group:

A revised version of IAS 24 "Related Party Disclosures" simplified the disclosure requirements for government-related entities and clarified the definition of a related party.

Amendments to IFRS 1 "First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards" replace references to a fixed date of 1 January 2004 with "the date of transition to IFRSs", thus eliminating the need for companies adopting IFRSs for the first time to restate derecognition transactions that occurred before the date of transition to IFRSs, and provide guidance on how an entity should resume presenting financial statements in accordance with IFRSs after a period when the entity was unable to comply with IFRSs because its functional currency was subject to severe hyperinflation.

(c) New standards, amendments and interpretations issued but not effective for the financial year beginning 1 January 2012 and not early adopted

The Group's assessment of the impact of these new standards and interpretations is set out below.

IFRS 10 "Consolidated Financial Statements" builds on existing principles by identifying the concept of control as the determining factor in whether an entity should be included within the consolidated financial statements of the parent company. The standard provides additional guidance to assist in the determination of control where this is difficult to assess. This standard is effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013, subject to EU endorsement. The Directors are assessing the possible impact of this standard on the Group's Financial Statements.

IFRS 11 "Joint Arrangements" provides for a more realistic reflection of joint arrangements by focusing on the rights and obligations of the arrangement, rather than its legal form (as is currently the case).  The standard addresses inconsistencies in the reporting of joint arrangements by requiring a single method to account for interests in jointly controlled entities.  This standard is effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013, subject to EU endorsement. The Directors are assessing the possible impact of this standard on the Group's Financial Statements.

IFRS 12 "Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities" is a new and comprehensive standard on disclosure requirements for all forms of interests in other entities, including joint arrangements, associates, special purpose vehicles and other off balance sheet vehicles.  This standard is effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013, subject to EU endorsement. The Directors are assessing the possible impact of this standard on the Group's Financial Statements.

IFRS 13 "Fair Value Measurement" improves consistency and reduces complexity by providing, for the first time, a precise definition of fair value and a single source of fair value measurement and disclosure requirements for use across IFRSs.  It does not extend the use of fair value accounting, but provides guidance on how it should be applied where its use is already required or permitted by other standards.  This standard is effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013, subject to EU endorsement. The Directors are assessing the possible impact of this standard on the Group's Financial Statements.

IAS 27 "Separate Financial Statements" replaces the current version of IAS 27 "Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements" as a result of the issue of IFRS 10 (see above). This revised standard is effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013, subject to EU endorsement. The Directors are assessing the possible impact of this standard on the Group's Financial Statements.

IAS 28 "Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures" replaces the current version of IAS 28 "Investments in Associates" as a result of the issue of IFRS 11 (see above).  This revised standard is effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013, subject to EU endorsement. The Directors are assessing the possible impact of this standard on the Group's Financial Statements.

Amendments to IAS 1 "Presentation of Financial Statements" require items that may be reclassified to the profit or loss section of the income statement to be grouped together within other comprehensive income (OCI).  The amendments also reaffirm existing requirements that items in OCI and profit or loss should be presented as either a single statement or two consecutive statements.  These amendments are effective for periods beginning on or after 1 July 2012, subject to EU endorsement. The Directors are assessing the possible impact of these amendments on the Group's Financial Statements.

Amendments to IAS 19 "Employment Benefits" eliminate the option to defer the recognition of gains and losses, known as the "corridor method" streamline the presentation of changes in assets and liabilities arising from defined benefit plans, including requiring remeasurements to be presented in other comprehensive income; and enhance the disclosure requirements for defined benefit plans, providing better information about the characteristics of defined benefit plans and the risks that entities are exposed to through participation in those plans.  These amendments are effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013, subject to EU endorsement, and are not expected to have an impact on the Group's Financial Statements.

IFRIC 20 "Stripping Costs in the Production Phase of a Surface Mine" clarifies when stripping costs incurred in the production phase of a mine's life should lead to the recognition of an asset and how that asset should be measured, both initially and in subsequent periods. This interpretation is effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013, subject to EU endorsement. The Directors are assessing the possible impact of this standard on the Group's Financial Statements.

Amendments to IFRS 7 "Financial Instruments: Disclosures" require disclosure of information that will enable users of financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements, including rights of set-off associated with the entity's recognised financial assets and recognised financial liabilities, on the entity's financial position.  This interpretation is effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013 and interim periods within those annual periods, subject to EU endorsement. The Directors are assessing the possible impact of this amendment on the Group's Financial Statements.

Amendments to IFRS 9 "Financial Instruments" and IFRS 7 "Financial Instruments: Disclosures" require entities to apply IFRS 9 for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015 instead of on or after 1 January 2013, subject to EU endorsement.  Early application continues to be permitted.  The amendments also require additional disclosures on transition from IAS 39 "Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement" to IFRS 9. The Directors are assessing the possible impact of this amendment on the Group's Financial Statements.

Amendments to IAS 32 "Financial Instruments: Presentation" add application guidance to address inconsistencies identified in applying some of the criteria when offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities.  This includes clarifying the meaning of "currently has a legally enforceable right of set-off" and that some gross settlement systems may be considered equivalent to net settlement. This interpretation is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2014, subject to EU endorsement, and is not expected to have an impact on the Group's Financial Statements.

Amendments to IAS 12 "Income Taxes" introduce a presumption that recovery of the carrying amount of an asset measured using the fair value model in IAS 40 "Investment Property" will normally be through sale. This interpretation is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2012, subject to EU endorsement, and is not expected to have an impact on the Group's Financial Statements.

IFRS 9 "Financial Instruments" specifies how an entity should classify and measure financial assets, including some hybrid contracts, with the aim of improving and simplifying the approach to classification and measurement compared with IAS 39. This standard is effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015, subject to EU endorsement. The Directors are assessing the possible impact of this standard on the Group's Financial Statements.

Amendments to IFRS 10 "Consolidated Financial Statements", IFRS 11 "Joint Arrangements" and IFRS 12 "Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities" clarify the IASB's intention when first issuing the transition guidance in IFRS 10, provide similar relief in IFRS 11 and IFRS 12 from the presentation or adjustment of comparative information for periods prior to the immediately preceding period, and provide additional transition relief by eliminating the requirement to present comparatives for the disclosures relating to unconsolidated structured entities for any period before the first annual period for which IFRS 12 is applied. The amendments are effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013, subject to EU endorsement. The Directors are assessing the possible impact of this standard on the Group's Financial Statements.

"Annual Improvements 2009 - 2011 Cycle" sets out amendments to various IFRSs and provides a vehicle for making non-urgent but necessary amendments to IFRSs:

An amendment to IFRS 1 "First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards" clarifies whether an entity may apply IFRS 1:
(a) if the entity meets the criteria for applying IFRS 1 and has applied IFRS 1 in a previous reporting period; or
(b) if the entity meets the criteria for applying IFRS 1 and has applied IFRSs in a previous reporting period when IFRS 1 did not exist.
The amendment also addresses the transitional provisions for borrowing costs relating to qualifying assets for which the commencement date for capitalisation was before the date of transition to IFRSs.

An amendment to IAS 1 "Presentation of Financial Statements" clarifies the requirements for providing comparative information:
(a) for the opening statement of financial position when an entity changes accounting policies, or makes retrospective restatements or reclassifications; and
(b) when an entity provides financial statements beyond the minimum comparative information requirements.

An amendment to IAS 16 "Property, Plant and Equipment" addresses a perceived inconsistency in the classification requirements for servicing equipment.

An amendment to IAS 32 "Financial Instruments: Presentation" addresses perceived inconsistencies between IAS 12 "Income Taxes" and IAS 32 with regard to recognising the consequences of income tax relating to distributions to holders of an equity instrument and to transaction costs of an equity transaction.

An amendment to IAS 34 "Interim Financial Reporting" clarifies the requirements on segment information for total assets and liabilities for each reportable segment.

The amendments are effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013, subject to EU endorsement. The Directors are assessing the possible impact of this standard on the Group's Financial Statements.

4  Segmental reporting

The Company operates in three geographical areas, UK, Brazil, and Other, with operations managed on a project by project basis within each geographical area. Activities in the UK are mainly administrative in nature whilst the activities in Brazil and Peru relate to exploration and evaluation work. The reports used by the chief operating decision maker are based on these geographical segments.

A reconciliation of adjusted loss from operations per reportable segment to profit/(loss) before tax is provided as follows:

5 Other operating income

Included in other operating income for the nine months ended 30 September 2011 is US$500,000 (30 September 2012: nil) relating to an option payment received from Anglo Pacific Group plc ("Anglo"). On 12 January 2011 the Company signed an option agreement with Anglo whereby Anglo received the option to acquire a Net Smelter Royalty ("NSR") on future nickel revenues of the Araguaia project in exchange for the option payment.

If Anglo chooses to exercise the option, which is exercisable upon completion of a pre-feasibility study of the Araguaia project, it will pay Horizonte US$12.5m and shall receive a NSR. The NSR will be at a rate of 1.5% of nickel revenue produced up to 30,000 tonnes per annum, reduced by 0.02% for every 1,000 tonnes per annum above this rate. The rate will be fixed at a minimum rate of 1.1% for production of 50,000 tonnes per annum and above.

6  Intangible assets

Intangible assets comprise exploration and evaluation costs and goodwill. Exploration and evaluation costs comprise internally generated and acquired assets. Additions are net of amounts payable by the Group's strategic partners under various joint venture agreements, amounting to £ 796,168.

7  Share Capital

8  Dividends

No dividend has been declared or paid by the Company during the nine months ended 30 September 2012 (2011: nil).

9  Loss per share

The calculation of the basic loss per share of 0.593 pence for the 9 months ended 30 September 2012 (30 September 2011 loss per share: 0.451 pence) is based on the loss attributable to the equity holders of the Company of £1,872,757 for the nine month period ended 30 September 2012 (30 September 2011: £1,226,322) divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period of 315,618,569 (weighted average number of shares for the 9 months ended 30 September 2011: 272,084,955).

The calculation of the basic loss per share of 0.171 pence for the 3 months ended 30 September2012 (30 September 2011 earnings per share: 0.197 pence) is based on the loss attributable to the equity holders of the Company of £615,237 for the three month period ended 30 September 2012 (3 months ended 30 September 2011:   £549,689) divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period of 360,046,710 (weighted average number of shares for the 3 months ended 30 September 2011:  279,559,980).

Details of share options that could potentially dilute earnings per share in future periods are disclosed in the notes to the Group's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2011.

10  Ultimate controlling party

The Directors believe there to be no ultimate controlling party.

11 Related party transactions

The nature of related party transactions of the Group has not changed from those described in the Group's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2010.

12 Commitments

The Group had capital expenditure contracted for at the end of the reporting period but not yet incurred of £ 1,035,564 relating to intangible exploration assets and operating lease commitments of £ 58,575. All other commitments remain as stated in the Group's Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2011.

13  Events after the reporting period

On November 6^th 2012 the Company announced that it had subscribed through a private placement for 8,000,000 new shares in Guyana Frontier Mining Corp. ("Guyana") at a price of C$ 0.05 per share, with an additional 8,000,000 warrants with an exercise price of C$ 0.10 per share and valid for 24 months and on the same date had entered into an agreement with Guyana Frontier whereby upon completion Guyana would acquire the subsidiary holding the Falcao project in consideration for 84,000,000 new shares in Guyana. Completion of the transaction with regard to Falcao is subject to approval by the shareholders of Guyana Frontier.

14 Approval of interim financial statements

The Condensed interim financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 13^th November 2012.

SOURCE Horizonte Minerals plc

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