# Capital Ltd currently seeing the strongest demand since inception

- Link: https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/capital-ltd-currently-seeing-the-strongest-demand-since-inception/4121073440
- Published: 2022-07-19T07:25:15+01:00
- Author: Giles

**Capital Ltd** ([LON:CAPD](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/company/capital-drilling-ltd/capd.l)),
a leading mining services company, has provided its trading update for the period
1 January to 30 June 2022.  The Company will announce its half year results and 
provide a further operational update on 18 August 2022.

**FIRST HALF (H1) 2022 KEY METRICS**

| ** ** | **H1 2022** | **H1 2021** | **H2 2021** | **% change from H1 2021** | **% change from H2 2021** | 
| Revenue ($million) | 138.1 | 98.7 | 128.1 | 39.9% | 7.8% | 
| ARPOR ($) | 173,000 | 180,000 | 183,000 | -3.9% | -5.5% | 
| Average utilised rigs | 93 | 73 | 83 | 27.4% | 12.0% | 
| Fleet Utilisation (%) | 83 | 73 | 77 | 13.7% | 7.8% | 
| Average Fleet | 112 | 99 | 108 | 13.1% | 3.7% | 
| Closing fleet size | 116 | 106 | 109 | 9.4% | 6.4% |

**SECOND QUARTER (Q2) 2022 KEY METRICS**

| ** ** | **Q2 2022** | **Q2 2021** | **Q1 2022** | **% change from Q2 2021** | **% change from Q1 2022** | 
| Revenue ($million) | 71.2 | 54.7 | 66.9 | 30.2% | 6.4% | 
| ARPOR ($) | 171,000 | 180,000 | 174,000 | -5.0% | -1.7% | 
| Average utilised rigs | 97 | 81 | 90 | 19.8% | 7.8% | 
| Fleet Utilisation (%) | 85 | 79 | 82 | 7.6% | 3.7% | 
| Average Fleet | 114 | 103 | 110 | 10.7% | 3.6% | 
| Closing fleet size | 116 | 106 | 110 | 9.4% | 5.5% |

**Financial Highlights**

·        Q2 2022 revenue of $71.2 million, up 30.2% on Q2 2021 ($54.7 million) and
up 6.4% on Q1 2022 revenue ($66.9 million);

·        H1 2022 revenue of $138.1 million, up 39.9% on H1 2021 ($98.7 million) 
and up 7.8% on H2 2021 ($128.1 million);

·        Non-drilling revenue contributed 28% of total revenue for H1 2022, compared
with H1 2021 (17%), driven by growth YoY in mining services and MSALABS;

·        Paid a final dividend of US2.4cps for 2021 financial year in May 2022, 
up from US1.3cps for the 2021 financial year. This is in addition to the ~$2.5 million
buyback completed in Q1 2022;

·        H1 2022 results will be released on 18 August 2022.

**Operational Update**

·      Safety performance remains world-class with the Group TRIFR at 1.8 in H1 
2022. Capital’s target is zero harm across the Group;

·      Capital has now employed a full time [Sustainability](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/sustainability-green-stocks-news)
Manager to assist in the Group’s ESG strategy.

·      **Capital Drilling: Strongest demand environment since the company’s inception**

– Fleet Utilisation increased to 85% in Q2 2022, an increase of 7.6% on Q2 2021 (
79%) and 3.7% on Q1 2022 (82%);

– New contract wins:

– A three-year comprehensive drilling services contract with AngloGold Ashanti with
its GEITA GOLD MINE LIMITED in Tanzania: Our Tanzanian subsidiary company, CMS (
Tanzania) Limited has been awarded a contract to provide a full range of drilling
services including development (diamond & reverse circulation), grade control, blast
hole & underground drilling. Capital will utilise the existing fleet, which now 
has a total of 25 rigs on site. It is anticipated to generate ~$150 million over
the three year contract term, making it the second largest award of new business
in the Company’s history. 

– First contract with B2Gold Corporation at the Fekola Gold mine in Mali, one of
largest gold mines in Africa:  Capital has been awarded a reverse circulation drilling
services contract.  

– Rig count increased from 110 to 116 through Q2 2022, net of depletion.

·      **Capital Mining continues to perform strongly**

– Sukari Gold Mine (Egypt) waste mining contract continues to perform well and remained
LTI free;

– Capital remains active in the tendering pipeline.

·      **MSALABS: Growth outlook improved through expanded relationship with Chrysos
and major contract extension**

– Expanded relationship with Chrysos Corporation:

– MSALABS recently announced an expansion of its global partnership with Chrysos,
now guiding to deploying 21 Chrysos PhotonAssay units by 2025;

– Rollout of initial six units by year end 2022 on track: In addition to four units
already announced at Bulyanhulu Gold Mine (Tanzania), the Morila Gold Mine (Mali),
the Kibali Gold Mine (DRC) and in Val d’Or (Quebec, Canada):

·      A fifth unit will arrive imminently at Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire with facility
preparations well advanced;

·      A sixth unit is due to begin installation in Timmins, Canada by the end of
2022;

– MSALABS has been awarded a two-year extension to the existing three-year onsite
laboratory services contract with Kinross at the Tasiast Gold Mine, Mauritania, 
subject to final terms & conditions. 

·      **Capital Direct Investments (Capital DI): Impacted by general market conditions
but strong business development performance**

– The portfolio recorded investment losses (unrealised) of US$10.3 million. The 
total value of investments (listed and unlisted) was US$47.3 million as of 30 June
2021, versus US$60.2 million at the end of 2021;

– Over the period Capital continued to rationalize the breadth of holdings and realized
cash proceeds from the portfolio generating net sales after investments of US2.6million,
with the proceeds directed toward group capital expenditures.

§ – Key holdings update:

– Predictive Discovery: The Company has made substantial progress under new management,
including a successful capital raising of over A$53 million, which which sets a 
strong foundation for work programs in the months and years ahead.  Capital DI has
maintained its exposure by participating in this equity raise at A$0.18 per share
as an anchor shareholder.

– Firefinch / Leo Lithium: Over the period Firefinch completed its demerger of its
lithium assets into Leo Lithium. Capital DI’s exposure in Firefinch Limited has 
largely pivoted to Leo Lithium, which listed on the ASX in June 2022.

– Contract revenues from investee companies again contributed strongly to Group 
revenues, totaling US$26.4mn over the H1 period.

**Outlook**

·      Q2 2022 has again seen extremely strong demand with the outlook remaining
supportive;

– The drilling business is operating at high utilisation rates, and further rigs
will arrive in the second half with the group’s rig count growing towards ~120 rigs;

– The Sukari earth moving contract continues to perform well; 

– MSALABS is experiencing exceptional demand for its laboratory services. The expanded
partnership with Chrysos will drive material further growth through 2023 and 2024;

– Business mix underpinned by long-term mine-site contracts. Capital is taking advantage
of strong demand in the market to not only win further contracts, but also rotate
into higher quality blue-chip customers as highlighted by the recent contract win
with B2Gold;

– Tendering activity across all business units remains robust, with a number of 
opportunities progressing; and

·      Revenue guidance for 2022 remains $270 to $280 million (compared to FY2021
revenues of $226.8 million).

**Conference Call Details – Today 09.00 UK time**

The Company will host a conference call today, Tuesday, 19 July 2022, at 09.00 a.
m. (London, UK time) to update investors and analysts on the Q2 trading release.

Participants can join the conference call using the dial in link below

[https://webcasting.buchanan.uk.com/broadcast/62ce9891287bf548a3b8c89d](https://webcasting.buchanan.uk.com/broadcast/62ce9891287bf548a3b8c89d)

> **Commenting on the trading update, Jamie Boyton, Capital Executive Chairman, 
> said:**
> **“**_We are currently seeing the strongest demand since the Company’s inception,
> in contrast to the recent perception from global equity markets._
> _Our drilling fleet operated at 85% utilisation through Q2 2022 and finished the
> quarter at 116 rigs. This represents both the highest rig count and also the highest
> quarterly utilisation rate in the Group’s history.  Our mining fleet at Sukari
> also operated at steady state maintaining very high utilisation of the equipment
> through the quarter._
> _It is equally pleasing that we continue to maintain our peer leading safety standards,
> particularly when considering the significant expansion in activity across the
> Group._
> _MSALABS has also now locked in a continuation of its impressive growth trajectory
> with the expanded relationship with Chrysos. At the time of the acquisition of
> a controlling interist in MSALABS in 2019, the company generated just $3 million
> in annual revenue, and so it is incredibly pleasing to see that business now guiding
> to over US$80 million just five years later.”_

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