(AMBR) Ambrian Capital

AMBRIAN CAPITAL PLC

Half Year Results for the six months ended 30 June 2011

LONDON, 28 September 2011 - Ambrian Capital plc ("Ambrian Capital") today announces its unaudited results for the six months ended 30 June 2011.

Financial Highlights

·      Total income for the period from continuing operations increased 40% to £9.40 million (H1 2010: £6.74 million)

·      Profit for the period from continuing operations, before tax and impairment charges, was £1.05 million (H1 2010: £(0.21) million)

·      After the impairment of intangible assets relating to Ambrian Partners, the loss attributable to shareholders from continuing operations was £1.46 million (H1 2010: £(0.10) million)

·      Net loss per share for the period was 1.49p (H1 2010: (0.10)p)

·      Tangible net asset value per share was 31.48p as at 30 June 2011 compared with 31.14p as at 31 December 2010

Commenting on the results, Robert Ashley, Chief Executive of Ambrian Capital, said:

"In relative terms Ambrian has had a reasonable trading performance during the period, but economic and political headwinds are making for a more difficult second half, particularly in our investment banking business.  We continue to look for ways to enhance shareholder value."

Enquiries

Notes to Editors:

AMBRIAN CAPITAL PLC

Ambrian Capital plc (AIM: AMBR) is a specialist natural resources investment bank active in Commodities, Corporate Finance & Equities, and Principal Investments.

Commodities

Ambrian Metals Limitedis a physical metals merchant with a particular strength in refined copper. Through Ambrian Metals' offices in London and Shanghai and agents in New York, Santiago, São Paulo, Seoul and Tokyo, it sources non-ferrous metals from producers for distribution to an international client base of metals consumers and merchants.

Ambrian Energy Limited is a physical energy trading company focused on the supply of crude oil and fuel oil. Ambrian Energy deploys agents in Turkey, Azerbaijan, the Middle East, South Africa, USA, Korea and Australia/New Zealand. Ambrian Energy is the manager of Strategic Energy Bank Limited, a company focused on the needs of governments' strategic petroleum reserves.

Ambrian Energy GmbH is an energy products supplier and trader of biofuels.

Corporate Finance & Equities

Ambrian Partners Limited is known in the market for its leading position particularly in the metals & mining sectors.  It provides corporate finance advice, equity research, sales and trading and market making services.  Ambrian Partners is a member of the London Stock Exchange and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Principal Investments

Ambrian Principal Investments Limited is an investment company which holds Ambrian's principal investment portfolio.  It is managed by Ambrian Asset Management Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Further information on Ambrian Capital is available on the Company's website: www.ambrian.com

Total Income and Pre-Tax Profits

Total income from continuing operations was £9.40 million for the first half of 2010 compared with £6.74 million for the first half of 2010.  Following the disposal of Ambrian Commodities Limited, the results of this company have been treated as a discontinued operation.

Operating costs from continuing operations of £8.43 million (before the impairment charges referred to below) were higher than the operating costs for the same period last year of £7.21 million, largely by reason of the introduction of our new Energy businesses.

Profit attributable to shareholders from continuing operations before tax and impairment charges was £1.05 million, compared with a loss of £0.21 million for the same period last year. 

In light of the financial turmoil experienced this year and the increasingly difficult and volatile market conditions currently being experienced in global equity markets, the Board has reviewed the carrying value of the Group's investment in its investment banking business, Ambrian Partners Limited ("APL").   The Board has concluded that the intangible assets attributable to this business (of £2.15 million) should be impaired in full. As a result of this impairment and after share-based payment charges and tax, the loss attributable to shareholders from continuing operations was £1.46 million in the first half, compared with a loss of £0.10 million in the first half of 2010.

Dividend

In view of the loss reported by the Group and the uncertain economic climate, the Board has decided not to declare a dividend in respect of the period ended 30 June 2011 (0.75p for 30 June 2010).

Commodities - Physical Metals

Revenue from Ambrian Metals Limited ("AML") was £3.85 million in the first half of 2011 compared with £2.89 million for the same period last year.  Profit before tax for the division for the period to 30 June 2011 was £2.59 million compared with £1.60 million for the same period in 2010.

Over the six months ended 30 June 2011, Chinese demand for refined copper was more subdued than in the corresponding period in 2010.  This arose largely as a result of increased volumes of scrap being imported into China which has by far the largest secondary copper refining capacity in the world.  These imports were also influenced by the closure of a number of other smelters caused by the Japanese Tsunami in March 2011.  An additional factor in the increased interest in scrap was a reduction in demand for concentrates following environmental concerns in India.

However, the re-imposition of a 10% duty on exports from Russia (which had been lifted in 2010) resulted in our managing to increase our market share of sales of Cathode and Copper Rod to the Middle East. 

Against this background, over the six months ended 30 June 2011, AML supplied a total tonnage of refined copper of 115,678 tonnes (compared with 110,892 tonnes supplied for the equivalent period in 2010). 

During the period, AML primarily sourced refined copper from producers located in Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, Kazakhstan, Chile and South Africa.

AML continued to benefit from the strong support of its bankers and now has uncommitted trade finance facilities totalling over US$330 million compared to US$320 million at December 2010 and US$200 million at 31 December 2009.

Energy Division

Total revenue in our energy division for the six months ended 30 June 2011 was £2.36 million generating a profit before tax of £1.40 million.   This was a strong performance for a new business line.  Most of the revenue and profit was generated from our biofuels division supplying and blending principally palm methyl ester for use in European biodiesel. Ambrian is at the forefront of sustainability practices in its biofuels business with all palm oil and other feedstock being supplied from sustainable sources.

As noted in our 2010 Annual Report, Ambrian Energy has been granted a certificate of compliance with the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification ("ISCC").  Amongst other things, this accreditation is designed to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the protection of natural biospheres and a sustainable and social use of land.

Ambrian's customers are predominantly European oil majors and multinational groups involved in the production of biodiesel as well as distribution companies. We are exploring the potential for expanding our product range into bio-ethanol and bio-mass products.

The business has been funded to date by US$6.2 million capital provided by the Group and trade finance facilities of US$45 million provided by commercial banks.  New credit facilities are being developed to cover the growth of the business.

In April 2011, Ambrian established Strategic Energy Bank Limited ("SEB") in partnership with Morgan Stanley.  The objective of SEB is to conclude transactions with the Strategic Stockpiling Agencies of National Governments whereby their storage and petroleum reserves are integrated with markets non-speculatively to create revenue, upgrade oil stocks and/or reduce the cost of stockpiling. 

Corporate Finance & Equities

Corporate Finance & Equities' revenue was £3.30 million for the first half of 2010 compared with £2.71 million for the same period last year, resulting in a break-even position for the period (H1 2010: £(1.77) million).

This was a reasonable result against a background of macro-economic uncertainty and difficult market conditions.

APL has 29 retained clients in the natural resources sector. The most significant transaction in the period was the £90 million placing for Chariot Oil & Gas PLC.

Market turmoil and political concerns have increased markedly since 30 June 2011 and although there are potential transactions in train and under consideration, it is impossible to predict their outcome and, therefore, the future performance of the corporate finance and equities division. In addition, given the continuing uncertainty in the financial markets, we have reduced the size of our market-making book. 

As referred to above, in light of the performance to date this year and the uncertain future performance of the division, the Board decided to impair in full the intangible assets representing the goodwill and customer relationships attributable to the division in the books of the Group, amounting to £2.15 million.

Principal Investments

In the first half of 2011, Ambrian Principal Investments Limited ("APIL") recorded a loss (before expenses) of £0.49 million compared with revenues of £1.11 million generated by the Group's principal investments in the first half of 2010.

This reflects a reduction of 8.6% in the value of the investment portfolio since 31 December 2010 but compares with increases over the same period in sterling terms of 4% for gold and 15% for crude oil and a decrease of 19% for the AIM Basic Resources Index.

The total value of APIL's investment portfolio at 30 June 2011 was £5.16 million compared with a principal investment portfolio valued at £5.65 million at 31 December 2010. 

At 30 June 2011, APIL had 19 holdings and the three largest were Fire River Gold (valued at £0.63 million), Tiger Resources (valued at £0.43 million) and Royal Coal Corp (valued at £0.39 million).

The unlisted investments were valued at £0.59 million at 30 June 2011, compared with £0.71million at 31 December 2010.

The Company continues to hold a 12.5% interest in Consolidated General Minerals PLC ("CGM") which was de-listed from AIM on 1 July 2011.  CGM is managed and part-owned by employees of Ambrian Resources AG ("ARAG") which was established in February 2010 in partnership with a team of three former executives of Glencore International AG.  ARAG employees are now charged to CGM. CGM continues to focus on developing its clinker grinding mill and cement packaging plant in Beira, Mozambique. As of 30 June 2011, the company's reported cash position was US$20.3 million.

Discontinued Operation

In April 2011 we entered into an agreement for the sale to a subsidiary of INTL FCStone Inc.  of the whole of the issued share capital of Ambrian Commodities Limited with effect from 31 March 2011.  This agreement was completed on 31 August 2011 and resulted in the return to the Company of its invested capital of £4.37 million.  As a result of the disposal of ACL, the results of ACL for the period to 30 June 2011 have been treated as a discontinued operation.

Expenses

Group administrative expenses (including the £2.15 million impairment charge referred to above) were £10.58 million in the first half of 2011 (H1 2010: £7.21 million), of which £6.71 million (H1 2010: £6.39 million) were represented by fixed costs (excluding provisions for year-end profit related bonuses and share-based payment charges).  Like for like expenses were broadly in line with those for the same period last year.  The increase in operating costs was largely attributable to the costs attributable to the new Energy businesses.

Remuneration expenses, before share-based payment charges, were £5.38 million in the first half of 2011 (H1 2010: £4.43 million) of which (i) £3.67 million was represented by salaries, employers' national insurance and benefits (H1 2010: £3.42 million) and (ii) £1.72 million represented a provision for year-end profit related bonuses (H1 2010: £0.75 million).  The ratio of total remuneration expenses to total income was 58.2% for the first half of 2011 compared with 65.8% for the first half of 2010.  Total headcount at 30 June 2011 was 72, a reduction of 6 since 31 December 2010. 

Share-based payment charges were £82,000 in the first half of 2011 (H1 2010: £260,000).

Non-remuneration expenses (excluding impairment charges of intangible assets of £2.15 million) were £3.05 million in the first half of 2011 (H1 2010: £2.78 million).

Balance Sheet

Total assets decreased to £468 million at 30 June 2011 from £550 million at 31 December 2010 primarily due to lower inventories.

The Group's own cash resources, net of amounts due to clients totalled £11.1 million at 30 June 2011 compared with £18.97 million at 31 December 2010.  As a result of the disposal of Ambrian Commodities Limited, the £4.37 million cash due on sale which was previously classified as own cash has been treated as a debtor.  The balance of the reduction in own cash amounting to £3.33 million is principally attributable to the final dividend payment (of £0.75 million) and the accrued bonuses of £2.18 million.

Shareholders' equity was £31.4 million at 30 June 2011 compared to £32.8 million at 31 December 2010.

Tangible net asset value per share was 31.48p representing an increase of 1.17% from 31 December 2010.  Net asset value per share is based on 99,770,124 ordinary shares outstanding at 30 June 2011 (excluding Treasury shares and shares held by the Ambrian Capital Employee Benefit Trust).

The aggregate regulatory capital requirement for the Group's regulated subsidiaries was £1.8 million at 30 June 2011, which was substantially exceeded by the aggregate regulatory resources of the regulated subsidiaries of £7.5 million.

Board changes

As stated in the 2010 Annual Report, I became Chief Executive of the Group following the departure of Tom Gaffney in February 2011.

In July 2011, Lawrence Banks retired as Chairman of the Group and stood down from the Board.  Lawrence had a long association with Ambrian, having been chairman of Ambrian Partners Limited for some time before it was merged into the Group in September 2004.  His   retirement follows his announcement at this year's Annual General Meeting in June.  We owe a significant debt to Lawrence for his wise counsel and leadership over the years and are grateful for his contribution to the Group.  We wish Lawrence well.

Following Lawrence's retirement, Nathan Steinberg (one of the non executive Directors and someone who has been associated with the Group for many years) has taken over as Chairman.

Outlook

Relative to the performance of the Group for the same period last year, the Group has performed effectively for the 6 months to 30 June 2011.  However, the weakness and volatility experienced in global equity markets since the end of March 2011 have weighed on the Group's corporate finance and equities division.   As a result, the transaction pipeline has been weakened and primary and secondary placement activity significantly reduced with little visibility for a short term upswing.  The commodities trading divisions continue to trade profitably. 

The Board is conscious of the substantial discount at which the Company's share price stands to its net asset value and continues to look at ways of reducing this and otherwise enhancing shareholder value.

Robert Ashley

Chief Executive

AMBRIAN CAPITAL PLC

INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED

30 JUNE 2011

Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income