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IGO LIMITED Annual Report 2015

Aug 23, 2015

65111_rns_2015-08-23_60cab820-0ac2-4a5a-afc5-3ba3bfce4383.pdf

Annual Report

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INDEPENDENCE GROUP NL AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 46 092 786 304

PRELIMINARY FINAL REPORT INFORMATION – 1 JULY 2014 TO 30 JUNE 2015 LODGED WITH THE ASX UNDER LISTING RULE 4.3A

Key Information – Results for Announcement to the Market

$’000 % Increase over
Previous
Corresponding Period
Revenue from ordinary activities 495,326 24.1%
Profit from ordinary activities after tax attributable
to members
76,779 58.1%
Net profit attributable to members 79,779 58.1%

The previous corresponding period is the year ended 30 June 2014.

2015 2014
Basic earnings per share (cents) 32.78 20.82
Diluted earnings per share (cents) 32.47 20.64
Net tangible assets per share (cents) 2.84 2.61

The major factors contributing to the above variances are as follows:

Revenue from ordinary activities:

  • Revenue from the Tropicana gold operation increased by 59% as a result of a full year’s production, post commissioning. As a result, gold refined and sold increased 51% during the period;

  • The Jaguar Operation contributed an additional 16% revenue during the period. The drivers of this result were an increase in zinc revenue of 48%, due to a combination of 30% higher payable zinc sold and 18% higher realised prices. Copper revenue fell 10% due to lower realised prices;

  • Long revenue decreased by 6% during 2015; a volume driven result with 6% lower payable nickel sold.

Profit from ordinary activities for the current period was significantly higher than the previous corresponding period’s result. This is due to an increase in Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation[1] of 44% to $212,733,000, primarily due to a $135,301,000 full year’s contribution from the Tropicana project (2014: $84,872,000). The full year’s gold production contributed to an overall positive volume sales variance for the Group of $78,916,000. A positive realised price variance of $17,581,000 also contributed to the result. Offsetting these increases were higher depreciation and amortisation charges of $32,613,000. This increase was primarily due to the full year’s depletion of Tropicana reserves during the year, resulting in a corresponding higher depreciation charge against Tropicana segment assets on the basis of the reserve depletion.

Further details and analysis can be found in the Operating and Financial Review contained in the Directors’ Report of the Financial Report following this Appendix.

The Company paid a fully franked interim dividend of 6 cents per share in March 2015 equating to $14,055,000. The Company has announced the establishment of a final dividend pool of $13,000,000, The record date for this final dividend is expected to be no later than 30 September 2015. The final dividend will be fully franked.

The Company did not gain or lose control over any entity during the period.

The accounts have been audited by BDO Audit (WA) Pty Ltd. The accounts are not subject to dispute or qualification.

1 Underlying EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure and comprises net profit or loss after tax, adjusted to exclude tax expense, finance costs, interest income, asset impairments, depreciation and amortisation.

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Independence Group NL ABN 46 092 786 304

Financial report for the year ended 30 June 2015

Suite 4, Level 5 South Shore Centre, 85 South Perth Esplanade, South Perth, Western Australia PO Box 496, South Perth, Western Australia, 6951

Telephone: +61 8 9238 8300 Facsimile: +61 8 9238 8399 Email: [email protected] Web: www.igo.com.au

ABN 46 092 786 304 Independence Group NL Financial report - 30 June 2015

Contents

Page Directors' report 1 Financial statements 26 Independent auditor's report to the members 93

Independence Group NL

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Your Directors present their report on the consolidated entity (referred to hereafter as the Group) consisting of Independence Group NL (referred to hereafter as the Company) and the entities it controlled at the end of, or during, the year ended 30 June 2015.

Directors

The following persons held office as Directors of Independence Group NL during the whole of the financial year and up to the date of this report, unless otherwise noted:

Peter Bilbe Peter Bradford Peter Buck Geoffrey Clifford Rod Marston Kelly Ross Keith Spence

Peter Buck and Keith Spence were appointed as Non-executive Directors on 3 October 2014 and 17 December 2014 respectively and continue in office at the date of this report.

Rod Marston was a Non-executive Director from the beginning of the financial year until his retirement on 20 November 2014.

Kelly Ross was a Non-executive Director from the beginning of the financial year until her retirement on 24 December 2014.

Principal activities

The principal activities of the Group during the financial year were non-operator gold mining from the Company’s 30% interest in the Tropicana gold mine, nickel mining at the Long Operation, zinc and by-product mining at the Jaguar Operations and ongoing mineral exploration.

Dividends - Independence Group NL

Dividends paid to members during the financial year were as follows:

Dividends paid to members during the financial year were as follows:
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Final ordinary dividend for the year ended 30 June 2014 of 5 cents (2013: 1 cent) per
fully paid share 11,713 2,333
Interim ordinary dividend for the year ended 30 June 2015 of 6 cents (2014: 3 cents)
per fully paid share 14,055 7,000
25,768 9,333

In addition to the above dividends, since the end of the financial year the Company has announced the establishment of a final dividend pool of $13,000,000. The record date for this final dividend is expected to be no later than 30 September 2015. The final dividend will be fully franked.

Operating and financial review

Independence Group NL is a company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:IGO). The Company has been listed on the ASX since 17 January 2002, having traded as Independence Gold NL from 17 January 2002 to 19 December 2003.

Independence Group NL

1

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Operating and financial review (continued)

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The Group currently has operations in the production phase in Western Australia comprising:

  • The Tropicana gold operation (IGO: Non-operator joint venturer; 30% owned) located 330km east northeast of Kalgoorlie. The operation comprises approximately 3,000km2 of tenements (excluding the Beachcomber and Salt Creek joint venture tenure) stretching over more than 275km in strike length along the Yilgarn Craton and Fraser Range Mobile Belt Collision Zone. The Company targeted and pegged the area containing the current Ore Reserves in 2001. AngloGold Ashanti farmed into the project in 2002, discovering Tropicana, Havana and the Boston Shaker gold deposits in 2005, 2006 and 2010 respectively. The gold deposits occur over a 5km strike length with gold mineralisation intersected to a depth of 1km vertically beneath the natural surface. The decision by the Tropicana Joint Venture partners to develop the Tropicana Gold Mine was announced in November 2010 following a positive bankable feasibility study assessment. In early 2011, construction commenced with the site access road, followed by key site infrastructure including an aerodrome, accommodation village, borefields and processing plant. Mining of the Havana deposit commenced in 2012.

  • Commissioning of the processing plant occurred in 2013, with the first gold poured in September 2013. Nameplate capacity of the processing plant, 5.8Mtpa, was achieved in March 2014.

Independence Group NL

2

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Operating and financial review (continued)

  • The Jaguar zinc, copper and silver mine and processing operations, located 60km north of Leonora in Western Australia - 100% owned. The Jaguar Operation consists of the Bentley underground mine, the Jaguar processing facility and administration infrastructure and the accommodation village. These assets are situated on tenure that hosts a 50km long corridor of prospective stratigraphy.

The prospective corridor has hosted three economically viable volcanogenic massive sulphides ("VMS") ore bodies. The first deposit discovered was Teutonic Bore in 1976. The Jaguar deposit was discovered in 2002, approximately 4km south of Teutonic Bore and the most recent discovery, the Bentley deposit located another 4km south of Jaguar, was discovered in 2008.

All ore is processed at the Jaguar concentrator, which produces both a copper and a zinc concentrate. The copper concentrate also contains significant silver and gold credits. The concentrates are trucked to the port of Geraldton for export; and

  • The Long nickel mine located near Kambalda - 100% owned. The Company acquired the Long Operation in Kambalda, Western Australia, from BHP Billiton Nickel West Pty Ltd ("BHPB Nickel West") in September 2002. The mine was successfully re-commissioned in October 2002 and has been operating successfully and safely since then.

Since recommissioning, and through to 30 June 2015, the Long Operation has mined 2.9 million ore tonnes for 116,215 tonnes of contained metal and has achieved exploration success with the discovery of the McLeay (2005) and Moran (2008) ore bodies. At the time of purchasing the Long Operation, the Group entered into an offtake agreement with BHPB Nickel West whereby the ore produced from the mine is delivered to the adjacent BHPB Nickel West Kambalda Nickel Concentrator for toll treatment and production of nickel concentrate. The current offtake agreement with BHPB Nickel West expires in February 2019.

Sirius Resources NL transaction - On 25 May 2015, the Company and Sirius Resources NL (“Sirius”) announced the execution of a binding Scheme Implementation Deed (“SID”) under which the Company will acquire all the issued capital of Sirius by way of an Acquisition Scheme of Arrangement (the “Acquisition Scheme”).

Under the Acquisition Scheme, Sirius shareholders will receive 0.66 IGO shares and 52 cents cash for each Sirius share. Sirius shareholders will also participate pro-rata in the demerger of the Polar Bear and Scandinavian exploration assets.

The transaction is intended to create a leading diversified Australian mining company with a strong portfolio of high-margin/long-life mining assets, across a range of base and precious metals. The combination of the two companies has a strategic rationale of generating significant value for the shareholders of both companies. A successful acquisition will bring the world-class Nova Project into the IGO Group portfolio. The Boards of both IGO and Sirius have unanimously recommended that all Sirius shareholders vote in favour of the Acquisition Scheme.

The transaction remains on track with Sirius shareholders expected to approve the scheme in early September 2015 and the Company expected to complete the issue of the Share Scheme consideration in mid-September 2015.

The Group is also an active explorer for base and precious metals within and outside of Australia. Active search areas within Australia include:

  • Tropicana (Havana) Near-mine Exploration - A total of 187 aircore ("AC") holes (7,034m), 49 reverse circulation ("RC") holes (6,822m) and 44 diamond holes (11,009) were completed in FY2015 targeting down dip extensions to mineralisation at Tropicana, Havana North and Havana South. Better results include 12m @ 1.79g/t Au and 5m @ 5.25g/t Au at Havana North, 8m @ 3.48g/t Au at Crouching Tiger and 19m @ 1.19g/t in the Tropicana Extensions area.

A high resolution 3D seismic survey was completed over the immediate down dip projection of the Tropicana ore body. This work has highlighted a number of high priority structural targets which are currently being drill tested.

  • Regional exploration continues to identify and test numerous prospects. In total 774 AC holes (46,514m), 65 RC holes (7,465m) and eight diamond holes (1,312m) were completed. Encouraging gold assay results were returned from several prospects. The most significant came from Madras, located 25km south of Tropicana. Drilling will continue throughout calendar 2015 to define the extent of mineralisation at Madras.

Independence Group NL

3

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Operating and financial review (continued)

  • Beachcomber and Salt Creek Joint Ventures - During FY2015, the Company entered into two joint ventures with AngloGold Ashanti whereby it has the right to increase its interest in certain tenements from 30% to 70% by spending an aggregate of $6 million over 4 years. The Beachcomber JV comprises five tenements at the southern end of the Tropicana JV footprint covering approximately 140km2 and the Salt Creek JV covers eleven tenements 2

  • on the eastern margin of the Tropicana JV footprint covering approximately 2,300km . The Company withdrew from the Beachcomber JV on 25 June 2015 and the tenements reverted back to the Tropicana JV.

The Salt Creek JV is targeting mafic intrusive related magmatic nickel-copper sulphides, which is a similar style of mineralisation to Sirius' Nova-Bollinger. The initial exploration work programme will continue through the remainder of calendar 2015.

  • Jaguar Operation Exploration - Exploration activities at the Jaguar Operation focused on in-mine, near-mine and regional exploration.

The Jaguar Operation is currently focusing its in-mine exploration activity on seeking additional resources at depth at Bentley and near-processing plant deposits. At Bentley work is also focused on in-fill drilling on the Arnage and Flying Spur lens in order to enhance resource definition with a view to achieving incremental increases in mine life at the Bentley deposit.

In terms of regional exploration, the Jaguar Operation covers 50km of strike prospective for the discovery of VMS deposits. It encompasses three known high grade zinc-copper-silver-gold deposits: Teutonic Bore (inactive), Jaguar (mining completed in FY2014) and Bentley (in production). Ongoing exploration has identified a number of high priority areas and exploration activities during FY2015 have been focused on the Triumph Prospect, approximately 5km north of the Jaguar processing plant. Drilling at Triumph has identified disseminated, stringer, semi-massive and massive base metal sulphide mineralisation with a shallow southerly plunge which extends over a strike of at least 450m. Drilling to define the continuity and extent of mineralisation is ongoing.

  • Darlot JV (IGO Manager and earning 70% - 80%) - During FY2014, the Company entered into a joint venture on the Darlot Project, held by Enterprise Metals Limited. The Company is earning a 70%-80% interest in the project which 2

  • covers some 740km of tenure approximately 60km north and along-strike from the Group’s Jaguar Operation. The Darlot Project, which covers similar volcanic stratigraphy to the Jaguar Operation, has strategic value to the Group as any base metals discoveries are potentially within economically viable trucking distance of its Jaguar processing facility. Late in FY2015, an aircore program comprising 106 holes for 4,968m tested the Jarrah Well and 20ft prospects. Earlier wide-spaced aircore drilling at these prospects last year outlined anomalous base metals and VMS pathfinder geochemical responses associated with black shale horizons. The current program was designed to infill and extend previous drilling to generate targets for follow-up deeper RC and diamond drill testing. Results are in the process of being evaluated.

  • Long Operation Exploration - During the financial year, exploration activities at the Long Operation have focused on in-mine exploration with a view to growing the resource base and extending mine life. The Long Operation is currently focusing its in-mine exploration activity on Moran South and McLeay South.

  • Stockman Project - 100% owned - The Stockman Project is located in Eastern Victoria, 460km by road north-east of Melbourne. The proposed project is on mining tenements approximately 19km east-south-east of Benambra in the East Gippsland region. The project encompasses two copper-zinc-lead-silver-gold VMS deposits, Wilga and Currawong, which were discovered in 1978 and 1979. The larger Currawong deposit is intact, whilst a core of copper-rich ore from the Wilga deposit was mined and processed onsite between 1992 and 1996.

The scope of the Stockman Project encompasses concurrent development of the two underground deposits to feed a central 1.0Mtpa differential flotation concentrator that could produce approximately 150,000tpa of copper and zinc concentrates over a project life of approximately ten years. The development includes recommissioning the Wilga underground mine, a new Currawong underground mine and construction of a process plant and infrastructure.

The existing tailings storage facility will be expanded for use by the project, whilst water will be sourced from either local onsite sources or, if required, off-site.

On 28 November 2014, the Company announced the results of an optimisation study on the Stockman Project that, among other things, included an updated Ore Reserve estimate for the project.

This review should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the accompanying notes.

Independence Group NL

4

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Operating and financial review (continued)

The objective and strategy of the Group is to create long-term shareholder value through the discovery, development and acquisition of low cost and high grade projects. Since incorporation in 2002, and including the current financial year, the Company has returned to shareholders in excess of $119 million by way of a combination of $110.0 million fully franked dividends and a $9.7 million share buy back in 2009. The Company currently has 235,580,187 shares outstanding.

The Group’s future prospects are dependent on a number of external factors that are summarised towards the end of this report.

At the end of the financial year, the Group had cash and cash equivalents of $121.3 million (2014: $57.0 million).

Cash flows from operating activities achieved a record for the Group of $201.7 million (an increase of 57% during the year). Contributing to this result was a full year contribution of gold sales from Tropicana as against nine months production in 2014. Segment contribution increases arose from both Tropicana (37%) and the Jaguar Operations (54%) with a reduction of 4% from the Long Operation. Payments for exploration expenditure fell by 15% to $25.7 million.

Cash flows from investing activities fell 12% during the year. This fall was primarily due to higher construction and development spend at Tropicana during its final pre-operating financial year; development capital expenditure fell by 73% to $44.1 million. Other movements comprised a $7.7 million increase in property plant and equipment expenditure to $16.6 million (primarily at Jaguar), and the acquisition of approximately 33.8 million shares in Gold Road Resources Limited (ASX: GOR) for a total consideration of $13.1 million in the second half of FY2015.

Cash flows from financing activities during the financial year rose significantly from “neutral” in 2014 to an outflow of $54.4 million in FY2015. Significant movements include the repayment of $25.0 million in debt from the Company’s corporate finance facility with National Australia Bank ($47.0 million debt was drawn from the facility in FY2014), and higher dividends paid of $25.8 million (2014: $9.3 million). The finance facility matures in December 2015 and as at 30 June 2015 was fully repaid. The facility currently is undrawn. On 16 July 2015, the Company entered into a new syndicated facility agreement ("Debt Agreement') with National Australia Bank Limited, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited and Commonwealth Bank of Australia Limited for a $550 million committed term finance facility on an unsecured basis. The Debt Agreement comprises a five year $350 million amortising term loan facility that will be used to refinance Sirius' existing Nova Project finance facility, and provide funds for the continued development, construction and operation of the Nova Project; and a five year $200 million revolving loan facility that will be used to partially fund the payment of the cash component of the Acquisition Scheme and transaction costs, in addition to providing funding for general corporate purposes.

During discussions of the operating results of its business, the Group’s Board and management monitor a measure known as Underlying EBITDA. The Board considers this measure to be important to the Group and investors alike, as it represents a useful proxy to measuring an operation’s cash generating capabilities. Underlying EBITDA is calculated as profit after tax adjusted for income tax expense, finance costs, interest income, asset impairments, depreciation and amortisation. Underlying EBITDA increased relative to the previous financial year as can be seen in the following chart:

Independence Group NL

5

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Operating and financial review (continued)

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Net profit after tax ("NPAT") for the year of $76.8 million outperformed the 2014 financial year NPAT of $48.6 million. The chart below outlines the key drivers of the results for FY2015 compared to the corresponding year. 90% of the volume variance is driven by a full year’s gold production from Tropicana. In addition, zinc contributed 21%, with falls in output from Long (10%). The cost of production increase and depreciation and amortisation charge also relates primarily to Tropicana’s full year of operations.

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During the year, the Group adopted a voluntary change in accounting policy whereby exploration and evaluation expenditure that is incurred is capitalised only if it is anticipated that future economic benefits are more likely than not to be generated as a result of the expenditures. Otherwise, exploration and evaluation expenditure will be expensed. The change in accounting policy has been adopted retrospectively, and hence prior year’s reported figures in this financial report may differ from figures reported in last years’ financial report.

Independence Group NL

6

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Operating and financial review (continued)

Below is a reconciliation of Underlying EBITDA to NPAT for FY2015:

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Depreciation and amortisation expense (“D&A”) of $98.6 million includes $55.9 million relating to Tropicana, $21.9 million to Long Operations, $19.7 million to Jaguar Operations and the balance to corporate assets. Jaguar’s D&A increased by 108% during the year, primarily as a result of increased amortisation from a higher proportion of ore sourced from reserves compared to the previous year, together with additional depreciation charges following the replenishment of the underground haulage and production fleet.

Operations

Tropicana Gold Project

The table below outlines the key results and operational statistics during the current and prior year.

The table below outlines the key results and operational statistics during the current and prior year. The table below outlines the key results and operational statistics during the current and prior year. The table below outlines the key results and operational statistics during the current and prior year.
Tropicana Gold Mine
2015
2014*
Total revenue
$'000
218,966 137,918
Segment operating profit before tax
$'000
Total segment assets
$'000
Total segment liabilities
$'000
Gold ore mined (>0.6g/t Au)
'000 wmt
Gold ore mined (>0.4 and 0.6g/t Au)
'000 wmt
Waste mined
'000 wmt
Gold grade mined (>0.6g/t)
g/t
Ore milled
'000 wmt
Gold grade milled
g/t
Metallurgical recovery
%
Gold recovered
Ounces
76,117
645,071
31,748
10,763
1,601
42,761
2.06
5,826
2.98
90.2
492,780
48,332
440,585
29,705
5,721
1,088
25,251
2.22
4,043
3.02
89.4
350,743
Gold produced
Ounces
496,413 348,371
Gold refined and sold (IGO share)
Ounces
Cash Costs
$ per ounce produced
All-in SustainingCosts("AISC")**
$per ounce sold
150,836
568
795
100,167
552
740
  • 2014 refers to the period October 2013 to June 2014 being the period when the first full month of commissioning commenced.

** All-in Sustaining costs is a measure derived by the World Gold Council. On 27 June 2013, the Council released a publication outlining definitions of both Cash Costs and All-in Sustaining Costs.

Independence Group NL

7

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Operating and financial review (continued)

Operations (continued)

Tropicana Gold Project (continued)

Total revenue increased by 59% as a result of a full year’s production, post commissioning. Total segment assets increased by 46% due to ongoing contributions by the Company to the operation by way of cash calls paid to the joint venture manager. Cash calls paid during the year totalled $142.5 million (2014: $110.2 million). Another significant contribution to total assets includes capitalised inventories (increase of 97% to $43.8 million). This is the outcome of the current mining strategy to mine and process higher grade ore in the initial three years of production. At year end, the capitalised run of mine stockpile comprised ore > 0.6g/t and totalled 8.9 million tonnes grading an average of 1.09g/t (2014: 3.2 million tonnes at 1.22g/t).

Based on current ore reserves, the mine currently has a life of approximately eight years.

Long Operation

Independence Long Pty Ltd has entered into a long term ore tolling agreement with BHPB Nickel West whereby the Group is paid for the nickel metal contained in the ore mined, less applicable ore toll charges. Revenue from nickel sales is priced on a quotational period of three months after the month of production. 70% of the sales receipt is provisionally paid based on the average London Metals Exchange ("LME") price for the month of delivery; a balancing adjustment is paid in the fourth month after delivery based on the average LME price of the third month after delivery. The mine produced 10,198 tonnes of contained nickel during the year at payable cash costs including royalties (net of copper credits) of $4.01 per pound (2014: $3.78 per pound).

The Long Operation constitutes an operating segment as disclosed in the Financial Report. During the year a total of 258,634 tonnes of ore was mined, sourced from Moran - 68%, Long Lower - 15%, McLeay - 12% and Victor South - 5%. The majority of ore continued to be mined from long hole stoping (70%) with lesser amounts coming from other mechanised mining methods and non-mechanised methods.

Total segment revenue decreased by 6% during 2015; a result which is volume driven with 6% lower payable nickel sold. Net operating profit before income tax fell 12% during 2015 due to lower nickel tonnage sold together with 6% higher cash costs during the year.

Based on current ore reserves, the mine currently has a life of approximately two and a half years.

The table below highlights the key results and operational statistics during the current and prior year.

Long Nickel Mine
2015
2014
Long Nickel Mine
2015
2014
Long Nickel Mine
2015
2014
Total revenue
$'000
111,423 118,859
Segment operating profit before tax
$'000
Total segment assets
$'000
Total segment liabilities
$'000
Ore mined
Tonnes
Nickel grade
Head %
Copper grade
Head %
Tonnes milled
Tonnes
Nickel delivered
Tonnes
Copper delivered
Tonnes
Metal payable (IGO share)
- Nickel
Tonnes
32,180
92,546
36,180
258,634
3.94
0.28
258,634
10,198
723
6,151
37,233
111,854
29,960
268,162
4.07
0.29
268,162
10,909
769
6,589
- Copper
Tonnes
293 312
Ni cash costs and royalties
A$payable metal perpound
4.01 3.78
  • Cash costs include credits for copper

Independence Group NL

8

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Operating and financial review (continued)

Operations (continued)

Jaguar Operation

The Jaguar Operation was acquired by the Company from Jabiru Metals Limited in 2011. The Operation is located 60km north of Leonora and 250km north of Kalgoorlie. Active mining is currently underway in the Bentley underground mine located 6km south of the Jaguar processing facility which is used to beneficiate the ore mined to produce zinc and copper concentrates. These concentrates are trucked to the Geraldton port for shipping to customers primarily in Asia. The copper concentrate contains significant levels of silver and gold as by-products, which attract precious metal credits that contribute significantly to the Group’s cash flows and revenue. The zinc concentrate has minor amounts of silver in its concentrate.

In addition, both near mine and greenfields exploration targets continue to be investigated for potential to add mine life to the operation. Two potential areas are projects known as the ‘Bentley deeps', beneath the existing Bentley underground mine, and Triumph, located 6km north of the Jaguar processing facility. Both projects are being targeted in the 2016 financial year for drilling, once completed they will be further evaluated.

As it did last financial year, the performance of the Bentley underground mine continued to outperform the previous year; ore mined increased by 13% and ore milled increased by 11%. Copper grade fell 10% to 1.8% while zinc grades mined were constant at 10.6%. This variation in run of mine grades is an outcome of mine scheduling and is not as a result of resource reconciliation as both reserve and reserves are reconciling well. Similar to nickel sales, copper and zinc concentrate sales are paid on a quotational period that varies between one and four months, with generally 90% of the sales receipt payable by the customer shortly after shipment. The one month or four month average LME copper and zinc price ultimately determines the final price paid by the customer.

Based on current ore reserves, the Bentley underground mine is currently anticipated to have a life of approximately two and a half years.

The table below outlines the key results and operational statistics during the current and prior year.

Jaguar Operation
2015
2014
Jaguar Operation
2015
2014
Jaguar Operation
2015
2014
Total revenue
$'000
164,016 141,795
Segment operating profit before tax
$'000
Total segment assets
$'000
Total segment liabilities
$'000
Ore mined
Tonnes
Copper grade
%
Zinc grade
%
Silver grade
g/t
Gold grade
g/t
Ore milled
Tonnes
Metal in concentrate
%
- Copper
Tonnes
47,665
134,569
24,374
485,302
1.8
10.6
156
0.7
488,466
7,380
42,703
102,828
30,535
431,362
2.0
10.6
145
0.7
441,867
7,692
- Zinc
Tonnes
44,999 41,162
- Silver
Ounces
- Gold
Ounces
Metal payable (IGO share)
- Copper
Tonnes
- Zinc
Tonnes
- Silver
Ounces
- Gold
Ounces
1,876,384
4,439
7,090
37,551
1,293,858
4,110
1,657,461
4,834
7,396
34,258
1,233,972
4,467
Zinc cash costs and royalties*
A$/lb Total Zn Metal Produced
0.43 0.31

*Cash costs include credits for copper, silver and gold

The Jaguar Operation also constitutes an operating segment. Segment revenue increased by 16% during FY2015. The main drivers of this result were an increase in zinc revenue of 48%, due to a combination of 30% higher payable zinc sold and 18% higher realised prices. Copper revenue decreased 10% due to lower realised prices.

Independence Group NL

9

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Operating and financial review (continued)

External factors affecting the Group's results

The Group operates in an uncertain economic environment and its performance is dependent upon the result of inexact and incomplete information. As a consequence, the Group’s Board and management monitor these uncertainties and mitigate the associated risk of adverse outcomes where possible. The following external factors are all capable of having a material adverse effect on the business and will affect the prospects of the Group for future financial years.

Commodity prices

The Group’s operating revenues are sourced from the sale of commodities and precious metals that are priced by the LME. The Group is not a price maker with respect to the commodities it sells and it is, and will remain, susceptible to adverse price movements. By way of example, the average cash seller and settlement LME prices of zinc, copper and nickel decreased by 10%, 18% and 21% respectively between July 2014 and June 2015. Between July 2013 and June 2014, these metals increased (decreased) by 16%, (1%) and 0% respectively. The Group’s Board and management regularly review commodity prices in light of forecast trends and give consideration to hedging between 0% and 50% of payable production.

Exchange rates

The Group is exposed to exchange rate risk on sales denominated in United States dollars ("USD") whilst its Australian dollar ("AUD") functional currency is the currency of payment to the majority of its suppliers and employees. The monthly average AUD/USD currency pair weakened from 0.9392 for the month of July 2014 to 0.7680 in June 2015. A weaker AUD implies a higher AUD receipt of sales denominated in USD. The Group’s policy is to mitigate adverse foreign exchange risk by transacting commodity hedges in AUD equivalent terms where possible.

Downstream processing markets

The price of sea freight, smelting and refining charges are market driven and vary throughout the year. These also impact on the Group’s overall profitability.

Interest rates

Interest rate movements affect both returns on funds on deposit as well as the cost of borrowings. Furthermore, AUD and USD interest rate differentials are intimately related to movements in the AUD/USD exchange rate.

Native Title

With regard to tenements in which the Group has an existing interest in, or will acquire an interest in the future, it is the case that there are areas over which common law Native Title rights exist, or may be found to exist, which may preclude or delay exploration, development or production activities. Specifically, at our Long Operation, a Federal Court judgement determined that certain tenements are invalid insofar as they are inconsistent with the exercise of the Native Title rights of the Aboriginal Native Title holders. An appeal on this determination has been heard by the Full Bench of the Federal Court and the parties are awaiting release of the judgement. The Company will continue to monitor the matter, in conjunction with other affected parties.

Other external factors and risks

  • Operational performance including uncertain mine grades, seismicity ground support conditions, grade control, in fill resource drilling, mill performance and experience of the workforce;

  • Contained metal (tonnes and grades) are estimated annually and published in resource and reserve statements, however actual production in terms of tonnes and grade often vary as the ore body can be complex and inconsistent.

  • Active underground mining operations can be subjected to varying degrees of seismicity. This natural occurrence can represent significant safety, operational and financial risk. To mitigate this risk substantial amounts of resources and technology are used in an attempt to predict and control seismicity.

  • Exploration success or otherwise;

  • Due to the nature of an ever depleting reserve/resource base, the ability to continually find or replace reserves/resources presents a significant operational risk. Drill sites need to be continually mined (for underground drilling) to enable effective exploration drilling.

  • Operating costs including labour markets and productivity;

  • Labour is one of the main cost drivers in the business and as such can materially impact the profitability of an operation.

  • Changes in market supply and demand of products;

Independence Group NL

10

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Operating and financial review (continued)

External factors affecting the Group's results (continued)

Other external factors and risks (continued)

  • Any change in the supply or demand impacts on the ability to generate revenues and hence the profitability of an operation.

  • Changes in government taxation legislation;

  • Changes in health, safety and environmental regulations;

  • Environmental issues and social expectations; and

  • Assumption of estimates that impact on reported asset and liability values.

Shareholders are also encouraged to read notes 4 and 5 in the Financial Report.

Significant changes in the state of affairs

Significant changes in the state of affairs of the Group during the financial year were as follows:

On 25 May 2015, the Company and Sirius announced the execution of a binding SID under which the Company will acquire all the issued capital of Sirius by way of an Acquisition Scheme. In addition, Sirius will also undertake a demerger of its Polar Bear and Scandinavian exploration assets via a Demerger Scheme of Arrangement ("Demerger Scheme"), whereby the assets will be held in a new listed vehicle called S2 Resources Ltd.

The transaction will be implemented via two inter-conditional Schemes of Arrangement (the Acquisition Scheme and the Demerger Scheme), and a capital reduction to effect the demerger. In exchange for their shares, Sirius shareholders will receive:

  • 0.66 Independence Group shares for each Sirius share held;

  • Cash consideration of 52 cents cash for each Sirius share held; and

  • Circa one S2 share for every 2.5 Sirius shares held.

The Federal Court of Australia has given orders to Sirius approving the issue of the Acquisition Scheme and Demerger Scheme Booklets in relation to the proposed transaction. These Booklets were provided to Sirius shareholders in early August 2015, and will be followed by meetings of shareholders of Sirius to approve the Schemes to be held on 3 September 2015.

The Board of Sirius have unanimously recommended that, in the absence of a superior proposal, all Sirius shareholders vote in favour of the Acquisition Scheme.

There have been no other significant changes in the state of affairs of the Group during the year.

Events since the end of the financial year

On 21 August 2015, the Company announced the establishment of a final dividend pool for the year ended 30 June 2015 of $13,000,000. The record date for this final dividend is expected to be no later than 30 September 2015. The dividend will be fully franked.

In July 2015, the Company entered into a syndicated facility agreement ("Debt Agreement") with National Australia Bank Limited, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited and Commonwealth Bank of Australia Limited for a $550 million unsecured committed term finance facility. The Debt Agreement comprises:

• A five year $350 million amortising term loan facility that will be used to refinance the existing Nova Project finance facility, and provide funds for the continued development, construction and operation of the Nova Project; and • A five year $200 million revolving loan facility that will be used to partially fund the payment of the cash component of the Acquisition Scheme for Sirius (as discussed above) and transaction costs, in addition to providing funding for general corporate purposes.

The Debt Agreement has been entered into to assist the Company in meeting its obligations under the relevant acquisition documents that pertain to the acquisition of Sirius by the Company. The Debt Agreement is intended to provide the Company with funds required for the ongoing construction and development of Sirius’ Nova Project, as well as general corporate purposes. The Debt Agreement is conditional upon the successful acquisition of Sirius, to be determined by a court hearing for approval of the Acquisition Scheme in early September 2015.

Other than the above, there has been no other transaction or event of a material and unusual nature likely, in the opinion of the Directors, to significantly affect the operations of the Group, the results of those operations, or the state of affairs of the Group, in future financial years.

Independence Group NL

11

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Environmental regulation

The Group’s operations are subject to significant environmental regulation under the laws of the Commonwealth and various States of Australia. During the year there were no non-compliance incidents.

The Group is subject to the reporting obligations of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007, under which the Group reports its greenhouse emissions, energy consumption and production. Systems have been put in place to comply with these reporting requirements. The Directors have considered compliance with the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 which requires entities to report annual greenhouse gas emissions and energy use.

The Environmental Policy is available in the Corporate Governance section of the Company’s website.

Information on directors

Information on directors Information on directors
Peter Bilbe - Chairman and Independent Non-executive Director.
Qualifications BEng (Mining) (Hons), MAusIMM
Tenure Board member since March 2009 and Chairman since July 2011.
Special responsibilities Mr Bilbe is a member of the Remuneration, Audit and Sustainability and Risk Committees.
Other directorships Mr Bilbe is currently a director of Northern Iron Limited. He was also a director of Sihayo
Gold Limited until November 2013.
Peter Bradford - Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
Qualifications BAppSc (Extractive Metallurgy), FAusIMM, MSMME
Tenure Managing Director and Board member since March 2014.
Special responsibilities Mr Bradford is the executive in charge of the day to day management of the Group’s
activities, including operations, risk management and corporate development. He is also a
member of the Sustainability and Risk Committee.
Other directorships Mr Bradford was previously a director of PMI Gold Corporation until February 2014.
Peter Buck - Independent Non-executive Director from 3 October 2014.
Qualifications M.Sc. (Geology), M.AusIMM
Tenure Board member since his appointment on 3 October 2014.
Special responsibilities Mr Buck is a member of theRemuneration,Audit and Sustainability and Risk Committees.
Other directorships Mr Buck is currently a non-executive director of Antipa Minerals Ltd.
Geoffrey Clifford - Independent Non-executive Director.
Qualifications BBus, FCPA, FCIS, FAICD
Tenure Board member since 2012.
Special responsibilities Mr Clifford is a member of the Remuneration, Audit, Sustainability and Risk Committees.
Other directorships Mr Clifford is currently a director of Saracen Mineral Holdings Limited (from 1 October
2013).

Independence Group NL

12

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Information on directors (continued)

Information on directors (continued) Information on directors (continued)
Keith Spence - Independent Non-executive Director from 17 December 2014.
Qualifications BSc (Geophysics) (Hons)
Tenure Board member since his appointment on 17 December 2014.
Special responsibilities Mr Spence is a member of the Remuneration, Audit and Sustainability and Risk
Committees.
Other directorships Mr Spence is currently the non-executive Chairman of Geodynamics Limited and Base
Resources Limited and a non-executive director of Oil Search Limited. Mr Spence was also
on the board of Clough Limited from August 2008 (and Chairman from 2010) until
December 2013.

Company secretary

Mr Tony Walsh was appointed to the position of Company secretary in 2013. Mr Walsh, who is also employed as the Company’s General Manager, Corporate, has over 25 years’ experience in dealing with listed companies, ASX, ASIC and corporate transactions. Mr Walsh is currently a member of the West Australian State Council of Chartered Secretaries Australia and is also a Fellow of Chartered Secretaries Australia and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.

Meetings of directors

The numbers of meetings of the Company's board of Directors and of each Board Committee held during the year ended 30 June 2015, and the numbers of meetings attended by each Director were:

Full meetings
of directors
Full meetings
of directors
Meetings of committees
Remuneration
Committee
Audit Committee
Sustainability and
Risk Committee
Meetings of committees
Remuneration
Committee
Audit Committee
Sustainability and
Risk Committee
Meetings of committees
Remuneration
Committee
Audit Committee
Sustainability and
Risk Committee
Meetings of committees
Remuneration
Committee
Audit Committee
Sustainability and
Risk Committee
Meetings of committees
Remuneration
Committee
Audit Committee
Sustainability and
Risk Committee
Meetings of committees
Remuneration
Committee
Audit Committee
Sustainability and
Risk Committee
A B A B A B A B
Peter Bilbe
Peter Bradford
Peter Buck (appointed 3
October 2014)
Geoffrey Clifford
Rod Marston (retired 20
November 2014)
Kelly Ross (retired 24
December 2014)
Keith Spence (appointed
17 December 2014)
16
16
12
16
6
7
9
16
16
12
16
6
7
9
1

-
1
1

-
1

-
1
1

-
3
**
3
4
1
1
3
3
**
3
4
1
1
3
3
3
2
3
1
1
2
3
3
2
3
1
1
2

A = Number of meetings attended

B = Number of meetings held during the time the Director held office or was a member of the committee during the year

** = Not a member of the relevant committee

Directors interests in shares and share rights of the Company

At the date of this report, the interests of the Directors in the shares and share rights of Independence Group NL were as follows:

as follows:
Ordinaryfully paid shares Share rights
Peter Bilbe 20,000 -
Peter Bradford 350,480 175,365
Peter Buck 4,700 -
Geoffrey Clifford - -
Keith Spence - -
Total 375,180 175,365

Independence Group NL

13

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Remuneration report

The Directors present the Independence Group NL 2015 remuneration report, outlining key aspects of the Company's remuneration policy and framework, and remuneration awarded this year.

The report is structured as follows:

  • (a) Key management personnel (KMP) covered in this report

  • (b) Remuneration policy and link to performance

  • (c) Elements of remuneration

  • (d) Link between remuneration and performance

  • (e) Remuneration expenses for executive KMP

  • (f) Contractual arrangements for executive KMP (g) Non-executive director arrangements

  • (h) Other statutory information

  • (a) Key management personnel covered in this report

Non-executive and executive Directors (see pages 12 to 13 for details about each Director) Peter Bilbe Peter Bradford Peter Buck (from 3 October 2014) Geoffrey Clifford Rod Marston (until 20 November 2014) Kelly Ross (until 24 December 2014) Keith Spence (from 17 December 2014)

Other key management personnel

Other key management personnel

Name
Position
Matt Dusci (from 27 July 2014)
Brett Hartmann
Scott Steinkrug
Tony Walsh
Keith Ashby (from 7 April 2015)
Sam Retallack
General Manager, New Business
General Manager, Operations
Chief Financial Officer
Company Secretary and General Manager, Corporate
Sustainability Manager
Human Resources Manager

Following a review of the organisational structure, and to coincide with the 2015 financial year budget, a number of changes were made in early July 2014, effective 1 July 2014. This included changes to the structure of the Exploration Department and the appointment of Matt Dusci to the position of General Manager, New Business. As a result of this change in structure, Tim Kennedy, Rodney Jacobs and Andrew Eddowes were no longer considered KMP's, effective 1 July 2014. Further to this, Sam Retallack also became a direct report to the Managing Director and became a KMP effective 1 July 2014.

(b) Remuneration policy and link to performance

The Company's Remuneration Committee ("Committee") is made up of independent non-executive directors. The Committee reviews and determines the Company's remuneration policy and structure annually to ensure it remains aligned to business needs, and meets the Company's remuneration principles. From time to time, the Committee also engages external remuneration consultants to assist with this review, see page 23 for further information. In particular, the Board aims to ensure that remuneration practices are:

  • competitive and reasonable, enabling the company to attract and retain key talent;

  • aligned to the company's strategic and business objectives and the creation of shareholder value; and

  • transparent and easily understood.

The remuneration framework of the Group is summarised as follows:

Independence Group NL

14

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Remuneration report (continued)

(b) Remuneration policy and link to performance (continued)

Element Purpose Performance
metrics
Potential value Changes for FY
2016
Total fixed remuneration
(TFR)
Provides competitive
market salary,
including
superannuation
Nil Positioned at median
market rate
Reviewed in line with
market positioning
annually
STI Reward for in-year
performance
Individual key
performance
indicators aligned to
the Group's overall
Strategic Plan
CEO: 40% of TFR
Executives: 15-25%
of TFR
Nil
LTI Alignment to
long-term
shareholder value
3 year relative TSR
performance
CEO: 100% of TFR
Executives: 20-55%
of TFR
Nil

(c) Elements of remuneration

(i) Total fixed remuneration

Executives receive their total fixed remuneration ("TFR") as cash and statutory superannuation. TFR is reviewed annually, or on promotion. It is benchmarked against market data for comparable roles in companies in a similar industry and with similar market capitalisation. The Committee aims to position executives at or near the median, with flexibility to take into account capability, experience, value to the organisation and performance of the individual.

(ii) Short-term incentives

The short term incentive ("STI") aims to align individual's performance with achieving the overall Strategic Plan of the Group. Key performance indicators are set annually for executives and comprise a combination of the following metrics:

  • Sustainability;

  • People and performance;

  • Processes and outputs;

  • Company growth; and

  • Quality and communications.

The Managing Director can currently earn 40% of his TFR as an STI, while all other executives can earn between 15-25% of their TFR as an STI.

The STI's are awarded in cash following assessment of actual performance against the performance metrics.

The payment of STI's is subject to Board approval. The Board has the discretion to adjust remuneration outcomes up or down to prevent any inappropriate reward outcomes, including reducing (down to zero, if appropriate) any STI.

(iii) Long-term incentives

The long term incentive ("LTI") component of the remuneration package is to reward executive directors, senior managers and other invited employees of the Group in a manner which aligns a proportion of their remuneration package with the creation of shareholder wealth over a longer period than the STI.

The Independence Group NL Employee Performance Rights Plan ("PRP") was approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting in November 2011. Under the PRP, participants are granted share rights that will only vest if certain performance conditions are met and the employees are still employed by the Group at the end of the vesting period. Participation in the PRP is at the Board’s discretion and no individual has a contractual right to participate in the plan or to receive any guaranteed benefits.

The Managing Director has the opportunity to earn 100% of his TFR as an LTI. All other executives have the opportunity to earn between 20-55% of their TFR as an LTI.

Share rights granted after 1 July 2014

Vesting of the performance rights granted to executive directors and executives after 1 July 2014 is based on a total shareholder return ("TSR") scorecard. The TSR scorecard for the three year measurement period will be determined based on a percentile ranking of the Company's TSR results relative to the TSR of each of the companies in the peer group over the same three year measurement period.

Independence Group NL

15

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Remuneration report (continued)

  • (c) Elements of remuneration (continued)

  • (iii) Long-term incentives (continued)

Share rights granted after 1 July 2014 (continued)

The peer group is to comprise the constituents of the S&P ASX 300 Metals and Mining Index who are engaged in gold and/or base metals mining in Australia and have the closest market capitalisation to the Company.

The vesting schedule of the performance rights subject to relative TSR testing is as follows:

Relative TSR performance Level of vesting
Less than 50th percentile Zero
Between 50th and 75th percentile Pro-rata straight line percentage between 50% and 100%
75thpercentile or better 100%

The Company's TSR performance for share rights issued during the current financial year will be assessed against the following 22 peer group companies:

following 22 peer group companies:
Peer companies
* Aditya Birla Minerals Ltd * Oz Minerals Ltd
* Alacer Gold Corp. * PanAust Ltd
* Beadell Resources Ltd * Panoramic Resources Ltd
* Cudeco Ltd * Perseus Mining Limited
* Evolution Mining Limited * Regis Resources Limited
* Kingsgate Consolidated Limited * Resolute Mining Limited
* Medusa Mining Ltd * Saracen Mineral Holdings Limited
* Metals X Limited * Sandfire Resources Ltd
* Mincor Resources NL * Silver Lake Resources Limited
* Northern Star Resources Limited * Sirius Resources NL
* Oceana Gold Limited * Western Areas Ltd

Share rights granted prior to 30 June 2014

Vesting of the performance rights granted to executive directors and executives prior to 30 June 2014 is subject to a combination of the Company’s shareholder return and return on equity. The performance rights will vest if, over the three year measurement period, the following performance hurdles are achieved:

Shareholder return

The vesting of 75% of the performance rights at the end of the third year will be based on measuring the actual shareholder return over the three year period compared with the change in the S&P ASX 300 Metals and Mining Index ("Index") over that same period. The portion of performance rights (75% of the total) that will vest based on the comparative shareholder return will be:

comparative shareholder return will be:
Shareholder return Level of vesting
100% of the Index 25%
Between 100% and 115% of the Index Pro-rata straight line percentage
115% of the Index orgreater 100%

Return on equity

The vesting of the remaining 25% of the performance rights at the end of the third year will be based on the average return on equity over the three year period compared with the average target return on equity as set by the Board for the same period.

Return on equity ("ROE") for each year will be calculated in accordance with the following formula:

ROE = Net profit after tax / Total shareholders’ equity

The target ROE will be set each year by the Board as part of the budget approval process for the following year. The target ROE used in previous financial years was 10%. The portion of performance rights (25% of the total) that will vest based on the comparative return on equity will be:

Independence Group NL

16

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Remuneration report (continued)

(c) Elements of remuneration (continued)

(iii) Long-term incentives (continued)

Return on equity (continued)

Actual ROE Level of vesting
100% of average target ROE 25%
Between 100% and 115% of average target ROE Pro-rata straight line percentage
115% of average target ROE orgreater 100%

Long term incentive - Non-executive directors

The PRP permits non-executive directors to be eligible employees and therefore to participate in the plan. It is not currently intended that non-executive directors will be issued with performance rights under the PRP and any such issue would be subject to all necessary shareholder approvals.

Share trading policy

The trading of shares issued to participants under the PRP is subject to, and conditional upon, compliance with the Company’s employee share trading policy.

(d) Link between remuneration and performance

Statutory performance indicators

The Company aims to align its executive remuneration to the strategic and business objectives of the Group and the creation of shareholder value. The table below shows measures of the Group's financial performance over the last five years as required by the Corporations Act 2001 . These measures are not necessarily consistent with the measures used in determining the variable amounts of remuneration to be awarded to KMPs as other internal measures are used to drive these results.

2015 2014 2013 2012** 2011*
Revenue ($millions) 495.3 399.1 225.9 216.6 163.6
Profit for the year attributable to owners of ($millions) 76.8 48.6 18.3 (285.3) 5.5
Share price at year end ($/share) 4.17 4.35 2.26 3.16 5.63
Dividends paid (cents/share) 11.0 7.0 5.0 2.0 4.0
  • Includes results and performance of Jabiru Metals Limited from 4 April 2011.

** Includes after tax non-cash asset impairments of $288 million.

Independence Group NL

17

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Remuneration report (continued)

(e) Remuneration expenses for KMP's

The following tables show details of the remuneration received by the Group's key management personnel for the current and previous financial year.

Short-term employee
benefits
Short-term employee
benefits
Post-
employment
Long-
term
Share based
benefits benefits payments
Cash Long
Name salary and
fees
1
Cash
bonus
Super-
annuation
service
leave
2
Share
rights
3
Total
$ $ $ $ $ $
2015
Non-executive Directors
Peter Bilbe 195,914 - 18,615 - - 214,529
Peter Buck4 81,398 - 7,732 - - 89,130
Geoffrey Clifford 102,312 - 9,721 - - 112,033
Rod Marston5 35,645 - 3,392 - - 39,037
Kelly Ross
6
50,220 - 4,773 - - 54,993
Keith Spence7 59,162 - 5,620 - - 64,782
Executive Directors
Peter Bradford 757,217 - 35,000 5,869 165,311 963,397
Other key management personnel
Keith Ashby8 77,013 - 6,805 263 - 84,081
Matt Dusci
9
348,730 - 28,524 1,246 27,469 405,969
Brett Hartmann 429,856 45,662 36,575 14,489 149,036 675,618
Sam Retallack
10
204,351 18,265 21,237 5,070 45,865 294,788
Scott Steinkrug 378,608 38,356 30,000 9,414 136,016 592,394
TonyWalsh 351,860 38,356 35,000 3,950 83,716 512,882
Total key management personnel
compensation 3,072,286 140,639 242,994 40,301 607,413 4,103,633
2014
Non-executive Directors
Peter Bilbe11 192,982 - 17,851 - - 210,833
Geoffrey Clifford 91,284 - 8,444 - - 99,728
Rod Marston 91,284 - 8,444 - - 99,728
Kelly Ross 91,284 - 8,444 - - 99,728
Executive Directors
Peter Bradford12 218,058 - 17,371 740 - 236,169
Christopher Bonwick
13
256,382 216,000 24,067 1,083 257,509 755,041
Other key management personnel
Andrew Eddowes14 277,144 25,000 25,000 19,939 49,455 396,538
Brett Hartmann 461,964 40,000 45,489 15,469 130,351 693,273
Rodney Jacobs14 333,705 - 25,000 12,618 114,042 485,365
Tim Kennedy
14
303,708 25,000 25,000 11,009 101,381 466,098
Scott Steinkrug 355,280 25,000 25,000 8,797 120,940 535,017
TonyWalsh 350,985 - 25,000 1,248 29,587 406,820
Total key management personnel
compensation 3,024,060 331,000 255,110 70,903 803,265 4,484,338

Independence Group NL

18

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Remuneration report (continued)

(e) Remuneration expenses for KMP's (continued)

1 Cash salary and fees includes movements in annual leave provision during the year.

2 Long service leave relates to movements in long service leave provision during the year.

3 Rights to shares granted under the PRP are expensed over the performance period, which includes the vesting period of the rights, in accordance with AASB 2 Share-based Payment . Refer to note 31 for details of the valuation techniques used for the PRP.

4 Mr Buck was appointed a Non-executive Director effective 3 October 2014.

5 Mr Marston retired as a Non-executive Director effective 20 November 2014.

6 Mrs Ross retired as a Non-executive Director effective 24 December 2014.

7 Mr Spence was appointed a Non-executive Director effective 17 December 2014.

8 Mr Ashby commenced employment as Sustainability Manager with the Company on 7 April 2015.

9 Mr Dusci commenced employment as General Manager, New Business with the Company on 27 July 2014.

10 Following a review of the organisational structure, Mrs Retallack (Human Resources Manager) became a KMP effective 1 July 2014. 11 In addition to his base fee for the previous financial year, the Board approved that Mr Bilbe be paid an additional once-off payment of $20,000 for the extra services provided by him during that year for the benefit of the Company.

12 Mr Bradford commenced employment with the Company effective 17 March 2014.

13 Mr Bonwick resigned from his position as Managing Director effective 15 November 2013. Amounts accrued for annual leave ($25,210) and long service leave ($161,279) were paid out on termination, these amounts have been offset against the movement in the provisions for the previous financial year.

14 Following a review of the organisational structure and the appointment of Matt Dusci as General Manager, New Business in July 2014, Andrew Eddowes, Rodney Jacobs and Tim Kennedy were no longer considered KMP's of the Group from 1 July 2014.

(f) Contractual arrangements with executive KMPs

Remuneration and other terms of employment for the executives are formalised in service agreements. The service agreements specify the components of remuneration, benefits and notice periods. Participation in the STI and LTI plans is subject to the Board's discretion. Other major provisions of the agreements relating to remuneration are set out below.

Term of agreement and Base salary including Termination
Name notice period superannuation payments
Peter Bradford No fixed term
Managing Director 6 months $750,000 6 months *
Matt Dusci No fixed term
General Manager, New Business (from 27
July2014) 3 months $390,000 6 months
Brett Hartmann No fixed term
General Manager, Operations 3 months $455,000 6 months
Sam Retallack No fixed term
Human Resources Manager 3 months $223,963 6 months
Scott Steinkrug No fixed term
Chief Financial Officer 3 months $390,000 6 months
Tony Walsh No fixed term
Company Secretary and General Manager,
Corporate 3 months $390,000 6 months
Keith Ashby (from 7 April 2015) No fixed term
SustainabilityManager 3 months $333,213 6 months
  • In addition to the above, Mr Bradford is entitled to a maximum termination benefit payable of up to 12 months of average annual base salary should the Company terminate the employment contract without cause, but only if such payment would not breach ASX Listing Rules. A termination benefit of three month's remuneration is payable to Mr Bradford should the Company terminate the employment contract due to illness, injury or incapacity.

Independence Group NL

19

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Remuneration report (continued)

(g) Non-executive director remuneration policy

The remuneration of non-executive directors is determined by the Board within the maximum amount approved by shareholders in general meeting. Non-executive directors are not entitled to retirement benefits other than statutory superannuation or other statutory required benefits. Non-executive directors do not participate in share or bonus schemes designed for executive directors or employees.

The remuneration of non-executive directors is fixed to encourage impartiality, high ethical standards and independence on the Board. The available non-executive directors’ fees pool is $1,000,000 which was approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 24 November 2014, of which $590,000 was being utilised at 30 June 2015 (2014: $490,000).

Non-executive directors may provide additional consulting services to the Group, at a rate approved by the Board. No such amounts were paid to Directors during the current year.

From 1
September 2014
From 1 January
2014 to 30
September 2014
$ $
Base fees
Chairman 230,000 190,000
Other non-executive directors 120,000 100,000
  • (h) Additional statutory information

(i) Relative proportions of fixed vs variable remuneration expense

The following table shows the relative proportions of remuneration that are linked to performance and those that are fixed, based on the amounts disclosed as statutory remuneration expense:

Name Fixed remuneration
1
Fixed remuneration
1
At risk - STI At risk - LTI
2015 2014 2015 2014 2015 2014
% % % % % %
Executive Directors of
Independence Group NL
Peter Bradford
2
83 100 - - 17 -
Christopher Bonwick - 37 - 29 - 34
Other key management personnel
of the group
Keith Ashby 100 - - - - -
Matt Dusci 93 - - - 7 -
Andrew Eddowes - 81 - 6 - 13
Brett Hartmann 71 75 7 6 22 19
Rodney Jacobs - 77 - - - 23
Tim Kennedy - 73 - 5 - 22
Sam Retallack 78 - 6 - 16 -
Scott Steinkrug 71 73 6 5 23 22
TonyWalsh 76 93 8 - 16 7
  1. Fixed remuneration paid is not based upon any measurable performance indicators. Non-performance based remuneration is based on relative industry remuneration levels and is set at a level designed to retain the services of the director or senior executive.

  2. Mr Bradford commenced employment with the Company on 17 March 2014. Eligibility for short term and long term incentives was not assessed at 30 June 2014, therefore 100% of Mr Bradford’s remuneration was considered fixed for the previous year.

(ii) Performance based remuneration granted and forfeited during the year

A reference to share rights is a reference to share rights granted under the PRP.

The details of each grant of share rights affecting remuneration in the current or future reporting period are as follows:

Independence Group NL

20

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Remuneration report (continued)

  • (h) Additional statutory information (continued)

  • (ii) Performance based remuneration granted and forfeited during the year (continued)

Number of Fair value of Fair value of Unamortised total
share rights share right at share rights at value of grant yet
Date of grant granted grant date grant date Vesting date to vest
$ $ $
Peter Bradford 20/11/2014 175,365 2.84 497,295 01/07/2017 331,984
Matt Dusci 09/01/2015 50,154 2.55 127,868 01/07/2017 100,399
Brett Hartmann 09/01/2015 58,513 2.55 127,868 01/07/2017 117,132
28/02/2014 71,421 2.14 152,537 01/07/2016 60,486
28/02/2013 67,324 2.06 138,643 01/07/2015 -
13/03/2012 58,318 1.69 98,848 01/07/2014 -
Sam Retallack 09/01/2015 10,473 2.55 26,702 01/07/2017 17,826
28/02/2014 16,347 3.45 56,446 01/07/2015 -
28/02/2013 8,656 3.61 31,235 01/07/2014 -
Scott Steinkrug 09/01/2015 50,154 2.55 127,868 01/07/2017 100,399
28/02/2014 66,272 2.14 141,542 01/07/2016 56,126
28/02/2013 62,461 2.06 128,626 01/07/2015 -
13/03/2012 54,106 1.69 91,708 01/07/2014 -
Tony Walsh 09/01/2015 50,154 2.55 127,868 01/07/2017 100,399
28/02/2014 66,596 2.14 142,233 01/07/2016 56,401
  1. The value at grant date for share rights granted during the year as part of remuneration is calculated in accordance with AASB 2 Share-based Payment . Refer to note 31 for details of the valuation techniques used for the PRP.

  2. Unamortised total value of grant yet to vest comprises the total fair value of the award at the date of grant less amounts expensed to date.

  3. Share rights only vest if performance targets are achieved.

The number and percentage of share rights that vested in the financial year and the number and percentage of share rights that were forfeited during the financial year are set out below.

Date of grant Vesting date Share
rights
granted
Vested during the
year
Vested during the
year
Value of
share
rights at
vesting
date
Share rights
forfeited during
the year
Share rights
forfeited during
the year
Value of
share
rights
forfeited
Number % Number $ % Number $
Peter Bradford 20/11/2014 01/07/2017 175,365 - - - - - -
Matt Dusci 09/01/2015 01/07/2017 50,154 - - - - - -
Brett Hartmann 09/01/2015 01/07/2017 58,513 - - - - - -
28/02/2014 01/07/2016 71,421 - - - - - -
28/02/2013 01/07/2015 67,324 - - - - - -
13/03/2012 01/07/2014 58,318 75 43,738 191,572 25 14,580 63,860
Sam Retallack 09/01/2015 01/07/2017 10,473 - - - - - -
28/02/2014 01/07/2015 16,347 - - - - - -
28/02/2013 01/07/2014 8,656 86 7,443 32,600 14 1,213 5,313
Scott Steinkrug 09/01/2015 01/07/2017 50,154 - - - - - -
28/02/2014 01/07/2016 66,272 - - - - - -
28/02/2013 01/07/2015 62,461 - - - - - -
13/03/2012 01/07/2014 54,106 75 40,579 177,736 25 13,527 59,248
Tony Walsh 09/01/2015 01/07/2017 50,154 - - - - - -
28/02/2014 01/07/2016 66,596 - - - - - -

Independence Group NL

21

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Remuneration report (continued)

  • (h) Additional statutory information (continued)

  • (iii) Reconciliation of ordinary shares and share rights shares held by KMP

(i) Shareholdings and share rights of key management personnel

The number of ordinary shares and share rights in the Company held by each director and other key management personnel, including their personally related entities, are set out below.

Shareholdings in the Company

2015

2015
Name Balance at the
start of the
year
Received on
vesting of
share rights
Other changes
during the
year
2
Balance at the
end of the
year
Directors of Independence Group NL
Peter Bilbe - - 20,000 20,000
Peter Bradford - - 250,000 250,000
Peter Buck - - 4,700 4,700
Geoffrey Clifford - - - -
Rod Marston
1
1,321,917 - (1,321,917) -
Kelly Ross
1
345,000 - (345,000) -
Keith Spence - - - -
HEADER
Other key management personnel
Keith Ashby - - - -
Matt Dusci - - 9,900 9,900
Andrew Eddowes 1 85,775 - (85,775) -
Brett Hartmann 40,000 43,738 (43,738) 40,000
Rodney Jacobs
1
- - - -
Tim Kennedy
1
50,000 - (50,000) -
Sam Retallack - 7,443 - 7,443
Scott Steinkrug 2,000 40,579 (42,579) -
TonyWalsh 10,000 - (10,000) -
Total 1,854,692 91,760 (1,614,409) 332,043
  1. Shareholdings are reversed to show a zero balance at 30 June 2015 on resignation as a director or ceasing to be a KMP.

  2. Other changes during the year include opening balances on becoming a KMP for the first time during the year.

Independence Group NL

22

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Remuneration report (continued)

  • (h) Additional statutory information (continued)

  • (iii) Reconciliation of ordinary shares and share rights shares held by KMP (continued)

Share rights in the Company

2015
Name Balance at the
start of the
Granted
during the
Vested as
shares during
Lapsed during Other changes
during the
Balance at the
end of the
year year the year the year year year
Directors of
Independence
Group NL
Peter Bradford - 175,365 - - - 175,365
SPACE
Other key
management
personnel
Keith Ashby - - - - - -
Matt Dusci - 50,154 - - - 50,154
Andrew Eddowes 1 87,218 - - - (87,218) -
Brett Hartmann 197,063 58,513 (43,738) (14,580) - 197,258
Rodney Jacobs
1
172,394 - - - (172,394) -
Tim Kennedy
1
153,265 - - - (153,265) -
Sam Retallack 25,003 10,473 (7,443) (1,213) - 26,820
Scott Steinkrug 182,839 50,154 (40,579) (13,527) - 178,887
TonyWalsh 66,596 50,154 - - - 116,750
Total 884,378 394,813 (91,760) (29,320) (412,877) 745,234
  1. Shareholdings are reversed to show a zero balance at 30 June 2015 on resignation as a director or ceasing to be a KMP.

The share rights relate to the KMP’s participation in the PRP. The share rights represent the maximum number of share rights that the KMP are entitled to. They are subject to certain performance conditions being met, including the ongoing employment of the KMP at the end of the vesting period.

(iv) Other transactions with key management personnel

During the current financial year, there were no other transactions with key management personnel or their related parties.

(v) Reliance on external remuneration consultants

During the current financial year, the Board authorised the engagement of Gerard Daniels to prepare a report examining the competitiveness of remuneration for directors and officers employed by the Company in the context of a group of peer companies. An amount of $12,500 was paid for the report.

The Company also utilised data provided by Aon Hewitt McDonald and AusREM regarding salaries and benefits across the organisation, with amounts paid for the data of $4,750 and $4,500 respectively.

The Board is satisfied that the recommendations provided in the various reports were made free from undue influence from any members of the key management personnel.

(vi) Voting of shareholders at last year's annual general meeting

Independence Group NL received more than 99% of “yes” votes on its remuneration report for the 2014 financial year. The Company did not receive any specific feedback at the AGM or throughout the year on its remuneration practices.

Shares under option

At the reporting date, there were no unissued ordinary shares under options, nor were there any ordinary shares issued during the year ended 30 June 2015 on the exercise of options.

Independence Group NL

23

Directors' report 30 June 2015

Insurance of officers and indemnities

During the financial year, the Company paid an insurance premium in respect of a contract insuring the Directors and executive officers of the Company and of any related body corporate against a liability incurred as such a Director or executive officer to the extent permitted by the Corporations Law. The contract of insurance prohibits disclosure of the nature of the liability and the amount of the premium.

The Company has not otherwise, during or since the end of the financial year, indemnified or agreed to indemnify an officer of the Company or of any related body corporate against a liability incurred by such an officer.

Proceedings on behalf of the company

No person has applied to the Court under section 237 of the Corporations Act 2001 for leave to bring proceedings on behalf of the Company, or to intervene in any proceedings to which the Company is a party, for the purpose of taking responsibility on behalf of the Company for all or part of those proceedings.

The Company was not a party to any such proceedings during the year.

Non-audit services

The Company may decide to employ the auditor on assignments additional to their statutory audit duties where the auditor's expertise and experience with the Company and/or the Group are important.

Details of the amounts paid or payable to the auditor (BDO Audit (WA) Pty Ltd) for non-audit services provided during the year are set out below.

The Directors are satisfied that the provision of the non-audit services is compatible with the general standard of independence for auditors imposed by the Corporations Act 2001. The Directors are satisfied that the provision of non-audit services by the auditor did not compromise the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 nor the principles set out in APES110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants .

During the year the following fees were paid or payable for non-audit services provided by the auditor of the parent entity, its related practices and non-related audit firms:

entity, its related practices and non-related audit firms:
2015 2014
$ $
Other services
BDO Audit (WA) Pty Ltd firm:
Other services in relation to the entity and any other entity in the consolidated
Group 35,913 2,350
Total remuneration for non-audit services 35,913 2,350

Auditor's independence declaration

A copy of the auditor's independence declaration as required under section 307C of the Corporations Act 2001 is set out on page 25.

Rounding of amounts

The Company is of a kind referred to in Class Order 98/100, issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, relating to the 'rounding off' of amounts in the directors' report. Amounts in the directors' report have been rounded off in accordance with that Class Order to the nearest thousand dollars, or in certain cases, to the nearest dollar.

This report is made in accordance with a resolution of Directors.

==> picture [72 x 64] intentionally omitted <==

Peter Bilbe Chairman

Perth, Western Australia Dated this 21st day of August 2015

Independence Group NL

24

Tel: +61 8 6382 4600 38 Station Street Fax: +61 8 6382 4601 Subiaco, WA 6008 www.bdo.com.au PO Box 700 West Perth WA 6872 Australia

==> picture [78 x 31] intentionally omitted <==

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE BY IAN SKELTON TO THE DIRECTORS OF INDEPENDENCE GROUP NL

As lead auditor of Independence Group NL for the year ended 30 June 2015, I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been:

  1. No contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit; and

  2. No contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.

This declaration is in respect of Independence Group NL and the entities it controlled during the period.

==> picture [100 x 34] intentionally omitted <==

Ian Skelton

Director

BDO Audit (WA) Pty Ltd

Perth, 21 August 2015

BDO Audit (WA) Pty Ltd ABN 79 112 284 787 is a member of a national association of independent entities which are all members of BDO Australia Ltd ABN 77 050 110 275, an Australian company limited by guarantee. BDO Audit (WA) Pty Ltd and BDO Australia Ltd are members of BDO International Ltd, a UK company limited by guarantee, and form part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation other than for the acts or omissions of financial services licensees

25

ABN 46 092 786 304 Independence Group NL Financial report - 30 June 2015

Contents Page
Financial statements
Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income 27
Consolidated balance sheet 28
Consolidated statement of changes in equity 29
Consolidated statement of cash flows 31
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 32
Directors' declaration 92
Independent auditor's report to the members 93

Independence Group NL

26

Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income For the year ended 30 June 2015

Restated*
Notes 2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Revenue from continuing operations 7 495,326 399,059
Other income 8 3,268 -
Mining, development and processing costs (135,352) (100,494)
Employee benefits expense (63,841) (61,196)
Share-based payments expense (2,949) (4,632)
Fair value movement of financial investments 1,467 (2)
Depreciation and amortisation expense (98,551) (65,938)
Rehabilitation and restoration borrowing expense (590) (565)
Exploration costs expensed (25,263) (31,129)
Royalty expense (15,647) (14,309)
Ore tolling expense (12,297) (11,973)
Shipping and wharfage costs (19,539) (17,551)
Borrowing and finance costs (1,566) (5,138)
Impairment of exploration and evaluation expenditure 20 (3,461) (6,079)
Other expenses (11,044) (9,355)
Profit before income tax 109,961 70,698
Income tax expense 10 (33,182) (22,119)
Profit for theyear 76,779 48,579
Other comprehensive income
Items that will be reclassified to profit or loss
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax 2,038 (4,435)
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations (8) -
Other comprehensive income for theyear, net of tax 2,030 (4,435)
Total comprehensive income for the year 78,809 44,144
Profit for the year attributable to the members of Independence Group
NL 76,779 48,579
Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to the members of
Independence Group NL 78,809 44,144
Cents Cents
Earnings per share for profit attributable to the ordinary equity holders of
the Company:
Basic earnings per share 12 32.78 20.82
Diluted earningsper share 12 32.47 20.64
  • Refer to note 3 for details about restatements for the voluntary change in accounting policy.

The above consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Independence Group NL

27

Consolidated balance sheet As at 30 June 2015

Restated*
Notes 2015 Restated*
2014
1 July
2013
$'000 $'000 $'000
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents 13 121,296 56,972 27,215
Trade and other receivables 14 22,086 30,070 24,159
Inventories 15 40,298 40,383 22,760
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 16 15,574 858 1,092
Derivative financial instruments 25 4,981 2,519 6,946
Total current assets 204,235 130,802 82,172
Non-current assets
Receivables 17 18 57 604
Inventories 15 24,979 8,803 -
Property, plant and equipment 18 47,244 47,230 36,278
Mine properties 19 303,300 329,279 319,690
Exploration and evaluation expenditure 20 109,930 111,583 115,379
Deferred tax assets 10 130,517 152,395 152,261
Intangible assets 21 - - 179
Derivative financial instruments 25 - 658 1,981
Total non-current assets 615,988 650,005 626,372
TOTAL ASSETS 820,223 780,807 708,544
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 22 45,091 46,855 53,599
Borrowings 26 510 3,508 6,030
Derivative financial instruments 25 2,384 6,381 1,910
Provisions 23 2,659 2,557 2,446
Total current liabilities 50,644 59,301 63,985
Non-current liabilities
Borrowings 26 - 24,854 11,524
Derivative financial instruments 25 717 - -
Provisions 24 29,387 25,545 21,724
Deferred tax liabilities 10 73,980 61,602 41,249
Total non-current liabilities 104,084 112,001 74,497
TOTAL LIABILITIES 154,728 171,302 138,482
NET ASSETS 665,495 609,505 570,062
EQUITY
Contributed equity 27 737,324 735,060 734,007
Reserves 28 16,191 13,476 14,332
Accumulated losses 28 (88,020) (139,031) (178,277)
TOTAL EQUITY 665,495 609,505 570,062
  • Refer to note 3 for details about restatements for the voluntary change in accounting policy.

The above consolidated balance sheet should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Independence Group NL

28

Consolidated statement of changes in equity For the year ended 30 June 2015

Share- Foreign
based currency
Issued Accumulated Hedging payments Acquisition translation Total
capital losses reserve reserve reserve reserve equity
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
At 1 July 2013 734,007 (98,870) 2,397 8,793 3,142 - 649,469
Change in accounting
policy (note 3(b)) - (79,407) - - - - (79,407)
Restated total equity at 1
July 2013 734,007 (178,277) 2,397 8,793 3,142 - 570,062
Profit for the year as
reported in the 2014
financial statements - 46,556 - - - - 46,556
Change in accounting
policy (note 3(b)) - 2,023 - - - - 2,023
Restatedprofit for theyear - 48,579 - - - - 48,579
Other comprehensive income
Effective portion of
changes in fair value of
cash flow hedges, net of
tax - - (4,435) - - - (4,435)
Total comprehensive
income for theyear
- 48,579 (4,435) - - - 44,144
Transactions with
owners in their capacity
as owners:
Dividends paid - (9,333) - - - - (9,333)
Share-based payments
expense - - - 4,632 - - 4,632
Issue of shares - Employee
Performance Rights Plan 1,053 - - (1,053) - - -
Balance at 30 June 2014 735,060 (139,031) (2,038) 12,372 3,142 - 609,505

The above consolidated statement of changes in equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Independence Group NL

29

Consolidated statement of changes in equity For the year ended 30 June 2015

Foreign
Share- currency
Issued Accumulated Hedging based Acquisition translation Total
capital losses reserve payments reserve reserve equity
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
At 1 July 2014 735,060 (139,031) (2,038) 12,372 3,142 - 609,505
Profit for the year - 76,779 - - - - 76,779
Other comprehensive income
Effective portion of
changes in fair value of
cash flow hedges, net of
tax - - 2,038 - - - 2,038
Currency translation
differences - currentperiod - - - - - (8) (8)
Total comprehensive
income for theyear - 76,779 2,038 - - (8) 78,809
Transactions with
owners in their capacity
as owners:
Dividends paid - (25,768) - - - - (25,768)
Share-based payments
expense - - - 2,949 - - 2,949
Issue of shares - Employee
Performance Rights Plan 2,264 - - (2,264) - - -
Balance at 30 June 2015 737,324 (88,020) - 13,057 3,142 (8) 665,495
  • Refer to note 3 for details about restatements for the voluntary change in accounting policy.

The above consolidated statement of changes in equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Independence Group NL

30

Consolidated statement of cash flows For the year ended 30 June 2015

Restated*
Notes 2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Cash flows from operating activities
Receipts from customers (inclusive of goods and services tax) 527,425 418,790
Payments to suppliers and employees (inclusive of goods and services tax) (300,592) (257,100)
226,833 161,690
Interest and other costs of finance paid (1,054) (4,177)
Interest received 1,351 563
Exploration expenditure (25,742) (30,415)
Receipts from other operatingactivities 325 959
Net cash inflow from operating activities 29(a) 201,713 128,620
Cash flows from investing activities
Payments for property, plant and equipment (16,602) (8,935)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 336 377
Dividends received - 5
Payments for purchase of listed and unlisted investments (13,085) (75)
Payments for development expenditure (44,118) (76,101)
Payments for exploration and evaluation expenditure (12,417) (12,471)
Net cash(outflow) from investing activities (85,886) (97,200)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings - 47,000
Repayment of borrowings (25,000) (32,000)
Transaction costs associated with borrowings (142) (82)
Repayment of finance lease liabilities (3,497) (6,030)
Payment of dividends 11 (25,768) (9,333)
Net cash(outflow) from financing activities (54,407) (445)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 61,420 30,975
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial year 56,972 27,215
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 2,904 (1,218)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 13 121,296 56,972
  • Refer to note 3 for details about restatements for the voluntary change in accounting policy.

The above consolidated statement of cash flows should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Independence Group NL

31

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

Contents of the notes to the consolidated financial statements

Page
1 Corporate information 33
2 Summary of significant accounting policies 33
3 Voluntary change in accounting policy 49
4 Financial risk management 52
5 Critical accounting estimates and judgements 60
6 Segment information 61
7 Revenue 64
8 Other income 64
9 Expenses and losses 65
10 Income tax expense 66
11 Dividends paid and proposed 68
12 Earnings per share 69
13 Current assets - Cash and cash equivalents 69
14 Current assets - Trade and other receivables 69
15 Inventories 70
16 Current assets - Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 70
17 Non-current assets - Receivables 70
18 Non-current assets - Property, plant and equipment 71
19 Non-current assets - Mine properties 73
20 Non-current assets - Exploration and evaluation expenditure 73
21 Intangible assets 74
22 Current liabilities - Trade and other payables 74
23 Current liabilities - Provisions 75
24 Non-current liabilities - Provisions 75
25 Derivative financial instruments 75
26 Borrowings 78
27 Equity 79
28 Reserves and retained earnings 80
29 Cash flow statement reconciliation 82
30 Related party transactions 83
31 Share-based payments 84
32 Commitments and contingencies 87
33 Events occurring after the reporting period 87
34 Remuneration of auditors 88
35 Parent entity financial information 89
36 Deed of cross guarantee 90

Independence Group NL

32

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

1 Corporate information

The financial report of Independence Group NL (the Company) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Group) for the year ended 30 June 2015 was authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the Directors on 21 August 2015.

Independence Group NL is a company limited by shares incorporated and domiciled in Australia whose shares are publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange.

The nature of the operations and principal activities of the Group are described in the directors' report.

2 Summary of significant accounting policies

This note provides a list of all significant accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated. The financial statements are for the Group consisting of Independence Group NL and its subsidiaries.

(a) Basis of preparation

These general purpose financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and interpretations issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board and the Corporations Act 2001 . Independence Group NL is a for-profit entity for the purpose of preparing the financial statements.

(i) Compliance with IFRS

The consolidated financial statements of the Group also comply with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB").

(ii) Historical cost convention

These financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of available-for-sale financial assets, financial assets and liabilities (including derivative instruments) at fair value through profit or loss and certain classes of property, plant and equipment.

(iii) New and amended standards adopted by the Group

The Group has applied the following standards and amendments for first time in their annual reporting period commencing 1 July 2014:

  • AASB 2013-3 Amendments to AASB 136 - Recoverable Amount Disclosures for Non-Financial Assets

The Group has not elected to early adopt any new accounting standards.

(iv) Critical accounting estimates

The preparation of financial statements 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 financial statements, are disclosed in note 5.

(b) Principles of consolidation

(i) Subsidiaries

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets and liabilities of all subsidiaries of Independence Group NL ("Company" or "parent entity") as at 30 June 2015 and the results of all subsidiaries for the year then ended. Independence Group NL and its subsidiaries together are referred to in this financial report as the Group or the consolidated entity.

Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Group has the power to govern the financial and operating policies, generally accompanying a shareholding of more than one-half of the voting rights. The existence and effect of potential voting rights that are currently exercisable or convertible are considered when assessing whether the Group controls another entity.

Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group. They are de-consolidated from the date that control ceases.

The Group recognises its direct right to the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Tropicana Gold Project and its share of any jointly held or incurred assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. These have been incorporated in the financial statements under the appropriate headings.

Independence Group NL

33

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

2 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(b) Principles of consolidation (continued)

The acquisition method of accounting is used to account for business combinations by the Group (refer to note 2(e)).

Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of the impairment of the asset transferred. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

Non-controlling interests in the results and equity of subsidiaries are shown separately in the consolidated statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and balance sheet respectively.

(ii) Associates

Associates are all entities over which the Group has significant influence but not control or joint control. This is generally the case where the Group holds of between 20% and 50% of the voting rights. Investments in associates are accounted for using the equity method of accounting, after initially being recognised at cost.

(iii) Joint arrangements

Under AASB 11 Joint Arrangements investments in joint arrangements are classified as either joint operations or joint ventures. The classification depends on the contractual rights and obligations of each investor, rather than the legal structure of the joint arrangement. The Group’s interests in joint venture entities, if any, are brought to account at cost using the equity method of accounting in the financial statements, after initially being recognised at cost in the balance sheet.

(c) Segment reporting

An operating segment is a component of an entity that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses (including revenues and expenses relating to transactions with other components of the same entity), whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the entity’s chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance and for which discrete financial information is available. This includes start up operations which are yet to earn revenues.

Operating segments have been identified based on the information provided to the chief operating decision makers - identified as being the Board of Independence Group NL.

Operating segments that meet the quantitative criteria as described by AASB 8 Operating Segments are reported separately. However, an operating segment that does not meet the quantitative criteria is still reported separately where information about the segment would be useful to users of the financial statements.

(d) Foreign currency translation

(i) Functional and presentation currency

Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group's entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates ('the functional currency'). The consolidated financial statements are presented in Australian dollars, which is the Group's functional and presentation currency.

(ii) Transactions and balances

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in profit or loss.

Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rate as at the date of the initial transaction. Non-monetary items measured at fair value in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates at the date when the fair value was determined.

Independence Group NL

34

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

2 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(d) Foreign currency translation (continued)

(iii) Group companies

The results and financial position of foreign operations (none of which has the currency of a hyperinflationary economy) that have a functional currency different from the presentation currency are translated into the presentation currency as follows:

  • assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented are translated at the closing rate at the date of that balance sheet;

  • income and expenses for each consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income are translated at average exchange rates (unless this is not a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which case income and expenses are translated at the dates of the transactions); and

  • all resulting exchange differences are recognised in other comprehensive income.

On consolidation, exchange differences arising from the translation of any net investment in foreign entities, and of borrowings and other financial instruments designated as hedges of such investments, are recognised in other comprehensive income. When a foreign operation is sold or any borrowings forming part of the net investment are repaid, the associated exchange differences are reclassified to profit or loss, as part of the gain or loss on sale.

(e) Business combinations

The acquisition method of accounting is used to account for all business combinations, regardless of whether equity instruments or other assets are acquired. The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary comprises the:

  • fair values of the assets transferred;

  • liabilities incurred to the former owners of the acquired business;

  • equity interests issued by the Group;

  • fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement; and

  • fair value of any pre-existing equity interest in the subsidiary.

Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are, with limited exceptions, measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. The Group recognises any non-controlling interest in the acquired entity on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis either at fair value or at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the acquired entity’s net identifiable assets.

Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.

The excess of the:

  • consideration transferred;

  • amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquired entity; and

  • acquisition-date fair value of any previous equity interest in the acquired entity

over the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If those amounts are less than the fair value of the net identifiable assets of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognised directly in profit or loss as a bargain purchase.

Where settlement of any part of cash consideration is deferred, the amounts payable in the future are discounted to their present value as at the date of exchange. The discount rate used is the entity’s incremental borrowing rate, being the rate at which a similar borrowing could be obtained from an independent financier under comparable terms and conditions.

Contingent consideration is classified either as equity or a financial liability. Amounts classified as a financial liability are subsequently remeasured to fair value with changes in fair value recognised in profit or loss.

(f) Revenue recognition

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable to the extent that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the Group and revenue can be reliably measured. The following specific recognition criteria must also be met before revenue is recognised:

Independence Group NL

35

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

2 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(f) Revenue recognition (continued)

(i) Sale of goods

Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when there is persuasive evidence indicating that there has been a transfer of risks and rewards to the customer.

Sales revenue comprises gross revenue earned, net of treatment and refining charges where applicable, from the provision of product to customers, and includes hedging gains and losses. Sales are initially recognised at estimated sales value when the product is delivered. Adjustments are made for variations in metals price, assay, weight and currency between the time of delivery and the time of final settlement of sales proceeds.

(ii) Interest income

Interest income is recognised as interest accrues using the effective interest method. This is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial asset and allocating the interest income over the relevant period using the effective interest rate, which is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the financial asset to the net carrying amount of the financial asset.

(g) Income tax

The income tax expense or revenue for the period is the tax payable on the current period's taxable income based on the applicable income tax rate for each jurisdiction adjusted by changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities attributable to temporary differences and to unused tax losses.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the end of the reporting period in the countries where the Company's subsidiaries and associates operate and generate taxable income. Management periodically evaluates positions taken in tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulation is subject to interpretation. It establishes provisions where appropriate on the basis of amounts expected to be paid to the tax authorities.

Deferred income tax is provided on all temporary differences at the reporting date between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts for financial reporting purposes.

Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the consolidated financial statements. However, deferred tax liabilities are not recognised if they arise from the initial recognition of goodwill. Deferred income tax is also not accounted for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss. Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the end of the reporting period and are expected to apply when the related deferred income tax asset is realised or the deferred income tax liability is settled.

Deferred tax assets are recognised only if it is probable that future taxable amounts will be available to utilise those temporary differences and losses.

Deferred tax liabilities and assets are not recognised for temporary differences between the carrying amount and tax bases of investments in foreign operations where the company is able to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences and it is probable that the differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and when the deferred tax balances relate to the same taxation authority. Current tax assets and tax liabilities are offset where the entity has a legally enforceable right to offset and intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Tax consolidation legislation

Independence Group NL and its wholly-owned Australian controlled entities have implemented the tax consolidation legislation. As a consequence, these entities are taxed as a single entity and the deferred tax assets and liabilities of these entities are set off in the consolidated financial statements.

Current and deferred tax is recognised in profit or loss, except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity. In this case, the tax is also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively.

Independence Group NL

36

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

2 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(h) Impairment of assets

Goodwill and intangible assets that have an indefinite useful life are not subject to amortisation and are tested annually for impairment, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that they might be impaired. Other assets are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset's carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset's fair value less costs to sell and value-in-use. For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash inflows which are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets (cash-generating units). Non-financial assets other than goodwill that suffered an impairment are reviewed for possible reversal of the impairment at the end of each reporting period.

(i) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents in the balance sheet comprise cash at bank and in hand and short-term deposits with an original maturity of three months or less that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

For the purpose of the cash flow statement, cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and cash equivalents as defined above, net of outstanding bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are included within borrowings in current liabilities on the balance sheet.

(j) Trade receivables

Trade receivables are generally received up to four months after the shipment date. The receivables are initially recognised at fair value.

Trade receivables are subsequently revalued by the marking-to-market of open sales. The Group determines mark-to-market prices using forward prices at each period end for copper and zinc concentrates and nickel ore.

Collectibility of trade receivables is reviewed on an ongoing basis. Individual debts that are known to be uncollectible are written off when identified. An impairment provision is recognised when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect the receivable. Financial difficulties of the debtor or default payments are considered objective evidence of impairment. The amount of the impairment loss is the receivable carrying amount compared to the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at the original effective interest rate.

(k) Inventories

(i) Ore, concentrate and gold inventories

Inventories, comprising copper and zinc in concentrate, gold dore, gold in circuit and ore stockpiles, are valued at the lower of weighted average cost and net realisable value. Costs include fixed direct costs, variable direct costs and an appropriate portion of fixed overhead costs. A portion of the related depreciation, depletion and amortisation charge is included in the cost of inventory.

(ii) Stores and fuel

Inventories of consumable supplies and spare parts are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is assigned on a weighted average basis. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less estimated costs of completion, and the estimated costs necessary to make the sale.

The recoverable amount of surplus items is assessed regularly on an ongoing basis and written down to its net realisable value when an impairment indicator is present.

(l) Derivatives and hedging activities

The Group uses derivative financial instruments to manage its risks associated with metals price and foreign currency fluctuations. Such derivative financial instruments are initially recognised at fair value on the date on which a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured to fair value at the end of each reporting period.

The Group uses derivative financial instruments such as foreign currency contracts and commodity contracts to hedge its risks associated with gold, nickel, copper and zinc prices and foreign currency fluctuations. Such derivative financial instruments are recognised at fair value.

Independence Group NL

37

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

2 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(l) Derivatives and hedging activities (continued)

The fair value of forward exchange contracts is calculated by reference to current forward exchange rates for contracts with similar maturity profiles. The fair value of commodity contracts is determined by reference to market values for similar instruments.

For the purposes of hedge accounting, hedges are classified as cash flow hedges where they hedge exposure to variability in cash flows that is either attributable to a particular risk associated with a recognised asset or liability or a forecast transaction.

In relation to cash flow hedges (ie forward foreign currency contracts and commodity contracts) to hedge firm commitments which meet the conditions for hedge accounting, the portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument that is determined to be an effective hedge is recognised directly in other comprehensive income and the ineffective portion is recognised in the profit or loss. If the hedge accounting conditions are not met, movements in fair value are recognised in the profit or loss.

Amounts accumulated in equity are recycled in the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income in the periods when the hedged item will affect profit or loss, for instance when the forecast sale that is hedged takes place. The gain or loss relating to the effective portion of forward foreign exchange contracts and forward commodity contracts is recognised in the profit or loss within sales.

(m) Investments and other financial assets

The Group classifies its financial assets in the following categories:

  • financial assets at fair value through profit or loss;

  • loans and receivables; and

  • available-for-sale financial assets.

The classification depends on the purpose for which the investments were acquired. Management determines the classification of its investments at initial recognition.

Financial assets are initially recognised at cost, being the fair value of the consideration given and including acquisition charges associated with the investment.

After initial recognition, financial assets which are classified as held for trading are measured at fair value. Gains or losses on investments held for trading are recognised in the profit or loss. The Group has investments in listed entities which are considered to be tradeable by the Board and which the Company expects to sell for cash in the future.

For investments carried at amortised cost, gains and losses are recognised in the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income when the investments are de-recognised or impaired, as well as through the amortisation process.

Fair value of quoted investments is based on current bid prices. If the market for a financial asset is not active (eg. unlisted securities), a valuation technique is applied and if this is deemed unsuitable, they are held at initial cost.

(n) Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items. It also includes the direct cost of bringing the asset to the location and condition necessary for first use and the estimated future cost of rehabilitation, where applicable. The assets are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses.

Subsequent costs are included in the asset's carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. The carrying amount of any component accounted for as a separate asset is derecognised when replaced. All other repairs and maintenance are charged to profit or loss during the reporting period in which they are incurred.

Land is not depreciated. Depreciation on other assets is calculated using either units-of-production or straight-line depreciation as follows:

Independence Group NL

38

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

2 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

  • (n) Property, plant and equipment (continued)
Depreciation periods are primarily:
Buildings 5 - 10 years
Mining plant and equipment 2 - 5 years
Motor vehicles 3 - 8 years
Furniture and fittings 3 - 10 years
Leased assets 3 - 4years

Depreciation is expensed as incurred, unless it relates to an asset or operation in the construction phase, in which case it is capitalised.

The assets' residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period.

An asset's carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset's carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount (note 2(h)).

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing proceeds with carrying amount. These are included in profit or loss.

(o) Exploration and evaluation expenditure

Exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources is the search for mineral resources after the entity has obtained legal rights to explore in a specific area, as well as the determination of the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting the mineral resource.

Exploration and evaluation expenditure is expensed to the profit or loss as incurred except in the following circumstances in which case the expenditure may be capitalised: • The existence of a commercially viable mineral deposit has been established and it is anticipated that future economic benefits are more likely than not to be generated as a result of the expenditure; and

• The exploration and evaluation activity is within an area of interest which was acquired as an asset acquisition or in a business combination and measured at fair value on acquisition.

A regular review is undertaken of each area of interest to determine the appropriateness of continuing to carry forward costs in relation to that area of interest. An impairment exists when the carrying value of expenditure exceeds its estimated recoverable amount. The area of interest is then written down to its recoverable amount and the impairment losses are recognised in profit or loss.

(p) Mine properties

(i) Mine properties in development

When technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting a mineral resource have been demonstrated, then any subsequent expenditure in that area of interest is classified as mine properties in development. These costs are not amortised but the carrying value is assessed for impairment whenever facts and circumstances suggest that the carrying amount of the asset may exceed its recoverable amount.

(ii) Mine properties in production

Mine properties in production represent the accumulation of all acquisition, exploration, evaluation and development expenditure incurred by or on behalf of the Group in relation to areas of interest in which mining of the mineral resource has commenced. When further development expenditure, including waste development and stripping, is incurred in respect of a mine property after the commencement of production, such expenditure is carried forward as part of the cost of that mine property only when substantial future economic benefits are established, otherwise such expenditure is classified as part of the cost of production.

Amortisation is provided on a units-of-production basis, with separate calculations being made for each mineral resource. The units-of-production method results in an amortisation charge proportional to the depletion of the economically recoverable mineral resources (comprising proven and probable reserves).

A regular review is undertaken of each area of interest to determine the appropriateness of continuing to carry forward costs in relation to that area of interest. An impairment exists when the carrying value of expenditure not yet amortised exceeds its estimated recoverable amount. The asset is then written down to its recoverable amount and the impairment losses are recognised in profit or loss.

Independence Group NL

39

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

2 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(q) Deferred stripping

Stripping activity costs incurred in the development phase of a mine are capitalised as part of the cost of constructing the mine and subsequently amortised over the life of the mine on a units-of-production basis.

Stripping activity incurred during the production phase of a mine is assessed as to whether the benefit accruing from that activity is to provide access to ore that can be used to produce ore inventory, or whether it in addition provides improved access to ore that will be mined in future periods.

To the extent that the benefit from the stripping activity is realised in the form of inventory produced, the Group accounts for those stripping activity costs in accordance with AASB102 Inventories . A stripping activity asset is brought to account if it is probable that future economic benefits (improved access to the ore body) will flow to the Group, the component of the ore body for which access has been improved can be identified and costs relating to the stripping activity can be measured reliably.

The amount of stripping activity costs that are capitalised is determined based on a comparison of the stripping ratio in the relevant period with the life of mine stripping ratio. To the extent that there is a period of sustained stripping that exceeds the average life of mine stripping ratio, mine waste stripping costs are capitalised to the stripping activity asset. Such capitalised costs are amortised over the life of that mine on a units-of-production basis. The life of mine ratio is based on economically recoverable reserves of the mine. Changes to the life of mine are accounted for prospectively.

Deferred stripping costs are included in Mine Properties in the balance sheet. These form part of the total investment in the relevant cash generating units, which are reviewed for impairment if events or changes of circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.

(r) Rehabilitation, restoration and environmental costs

Long-term environmental obligations are based on the Group’s environmental management plans, in compliance with current environmental and regulatory requirements.

Full provision is made based on the net present value of the estimated cost of restoring the environmental disturbance that has occurred up to the reporting date. To the extent that future economic benefits are expected to arise, these costs are capitalised and amortised over the remaining lives of the mines.

Annual increases in the provision relating to the change in the net present value of the provision are recognised as finance costs. The estimated costs of rehabilitation are reviewed annually and adjusted as appropriate for changes in legislation, technology or other circumstances. Cost estimates are not reduced by the potential proceeds from the sale of assets or from plant clean-up at closure.

(s) Intangible assets

(i) Goodwill

Goodwill is measured as described in note 2(e). Goodwill on acquisitions of subsidiaries is included in intangible assets. Goodwill is not amortised but it is tested for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might be impaired, and is carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Gains and losses on the disposal of an entity include the carrying amount of goodwill relating to the entity sold.

Goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units for the purpose of impairment testing. The allocation is made to those cash-generating units or groups of cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the business combination in which the goodwill arose.

(ii) Other

Other intangible assets relate to a database for research purposes, which is carried at fair value at the date of acquisition less accumulated amortisation. Amortisation is calculated based on the time it will take to complete the research on the database which is currently four years.

(t) Trade and other payables

These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the Group prior to the end of financial year which are unpaid. The amounts are unsecured and are usually paid within 30 days of recognition. Trade and other payables are presented as current liabilities unless payment is not due within 12 months from the reporting date. They are recognised initially at their fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Independence Group NL

40

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

2 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(u) Leases

Leases of property, plant and equipment where the Group, as lessee, has substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as finance leases. Finance leases are capitalised at the lease's inception at the fair value of the leased property or, if lower, the present value of the minimum lease payments. The corresponding rental obligations, net of finance charges, are included in other current and non-current borrowings. Each lease payment is allocated between the liability and finance cost. The finance cost is charged to profit or loss over the lease period so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period. The property, plant and equipment acquired under finance leases is depreciated over the asset's useful life or over the shorter of the asset's useful life and the lease term if there is no reasonable certainty that the Group will obtain ownership at the end of the lease term.

Leases in which a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are not transferred to the Group as lessee are classified as operating leases (note 32). Payments made under operating leases (net of any incentives received from the lessor) are charged to profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

(v) Borrowings

Borrowings are initially recognised at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. Borrowings are subsequently measured at amortised cost. Any difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the redemption amount is recognised in profit or loss over the period of the borrowings using the effective interest method.

Fees paid on the establishment of loan facilities are recognised as transaction costs of the loan to the extent that it is probable that some or all of the facility will be drawn down. In this case, the fee is deferred until the draw down occurs. To the extent there is no evidence that it is probable that some or all of the facility will be drawn down, the fee is capitalised as a prepayment for liquidity services and amortised over the period of the facility to which it relates.

(w) Borrowing costs

General and specific borrowing costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of a qualifying asset are capitalised during the period of time that is required to complete and prepare the asset for its intended use or sale. Qualifying assets are assets that necessarily take a substantial period of time to get ready for their intended use or sale.

Other borrowing costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.

(x) Employee benefits

(i) Short-term obligations

Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non-monetary benefits and accumulating sick leave that are expected to be settled wholly within 12 months after the end of the period in which the employees render the related service are recognised in respect of employees’ services up to the end of the reporting period and are measured at the amounts expected to be paid when the liabilities are settled. The liability for annual leave is recognised in trade and other payables presented as current employee benefit obligations in the balance sheet.

(ii) Long service leave

The liability for long service leave is recognised and measured as the present value of expected future payments to be made in respect of services provided by employees up to the reporting date. Consideration is given to expected future wage and salary levels, experience of employee departures, and periods of service. Expected future payments are discounted using market yields at the reporting date on national Government bonds with terms to maturity and currencies that match, as closely as possible, the estimated future cash outflows.

(y) Share-based payment transactions

Equity-settled transactions

The Company provides benefits to employees (including directors) of the Group in the form of share-based payment transactions, whereby employees render services in exchange for shares or rights over shares (equity-settled transactions).

There is currently a plan in place to provide these benefits, the Employee Performance Rights Plan ("PRP"), which provides benefits to executive directors and other employees.

Independence Group NL

41

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

2 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(y) Share-based payment transactions (continued)

The cost of these equity-settled transactions is measured by reference to the fair value at the date at which they are granted. The fair value is determined with the assistance of a valuation software using a trinomial tree which has been adopted by the Boyle and Law (1994) node alignment algorithm to improve accuracy. In valuing equity-settled transactions, no account is taken of any performance conditions, other than conditions linked to the price of the shares of Independence Group NL (market conditions).

The cost of equity-settled transactions is recognised, together with a corresponding increase in equity, over the period in which the performance conditions are fulfilled, ending on the date on which the relevant employees become fully entitled to the award (vesting date).

The cumulative expense recognised for equity-settled transactions at each reporting date until vesting date reflects (i) the extent to which the vesting period has expired and (ii) the number of awards that, in the opinion of the Directors of the Company, will ultimately vest. This opinion is formed based on the best available information at the reporting date.

No expense is recognised for awards that do not ultimately vest, except for awards where vesting is conditional upon a market condition.

Where the terms of an equity-settled award are modified, as a minimum an expense is recognised as if the terms had not been modified. In addition, an expense is recognised for any increase in the value of the transaction as a result of the modification, as measured at the date of modification.

Where an equity-settled award is cancelled, it is treated as if it had vested on the date of cancellation, and any expense not yet recognised for the award is recognised immediately. However, if a new award is substituted for the cancelled award, and designated as a replacement award on the date that it is granted, the cancelled and new award is treated as if it was a modification of the original award, as described in the previous paragraph.

The dilutive effect, if any, of outstanding share rights is reflected as additional share dilution in the computation of diluted earnings per share.

(z) Contributed equity

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds.

(aa) Earnings per share

(i) Basic earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing:

  • the profit attributable to owners of the Company, excluding any costs of servicing equity other than ordinary shares

  • • by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the financial year, adjusted for bonus elements in ordinary shares issued during the year and excluding treasury shares.

(ii) Diluted earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share adjusts the figures used in the determination of basic earnings per share to take into account:

  • the after income tax effect of interest and other financing costs associated with dilutive potential ordinary shares; and

  • the weighted average number of additional ordinary shares that would have been outstanding assuming the conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares.

(ab) Goods and Services Tax ("GST")

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of associated GST, unless the GST incurred is not recoverable from the taxation authority. In this case it is recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of the asset or as part of the expense.

Receivables and payables are stated inclusive of the amount of GST receivable or payable. The net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority is included with other receivables or payables in the consolidated balance sheet.

Cash flows are presented on a gross basis. The GST components of cash flows arising from investing or financing activities which are recoverable from, or payable to the taxation authority, are presented as operating cash flows.

Independence Group NL

42

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

2 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(ab) Goods and Services Tax ("GST") (continued)

Commitments and contingencies are disclosed net of the amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority.

(ac) Rounding of amounts

The Company is of a kind referred to in Class Order 98/100, issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, relating to the 'rounding off' of amounts in the financial statements. Amounts in the financial statements have been rounded off in accordance with that Class Order to the nearest thousand dollars, or in certain cases, the nearest dollar.

(ad) Parent entity financial information

The financial information for the parent entity, Independence Group NL, disclosed in note 35 has been prepared on the same basis as the consolidated financial statements, except as set out below.

(i) Investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint venture entities

Investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint venture entities are accounted for at cost in the financial statements of Independence Group NL. Dividends received from associates are recognised in the parent entity's profit or loss when its right to receive the dividend is established.

(ii) Tax consolidation legislation Independence Group NL and its wholly-owned Australian controlled entities have implemented the tax consolidation legislation.

The head entity, Independence Group NL, and the controlled entities in the tax consolidated group account for their own current and deferred tax amounts. These tax amounts are measured as if each entity in the tax consolidated group continues to be a stand alone taxpayer in its own right.

In addition to its own current and deferred tax amounts, Independence Group NL also recognises the current tax liabilities (or assets) and the deferred tax assets arising from unused tax losses and unused tax credits assumed from controlled entities in the tax consolidated group.

The entities have also entered into a tax funding agreement under which the wholly-owned entities fully compensate Independence Group NL for any current tax payable assumed and are compensated by Independence Group NL for any current tax receivable and deferred tax assets relating to unused tax losses or unused tax credits that are transferred to Independence Group NL under the tax consolidation legislation. The funding amounts are determined by reference to the amounts recognised in the wholly-owned entities' financial statements.

The amounts receivable/payable under the tax funding agreement are due upon receipt of the funding advice from the head entity, which is issued as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year. The head entity may also require payment of interim funding amounts to assist with its obligations to pay tax instalments.

Assets or liabilities arising under tax funding agreements with the tax consolidated entities are recognised as current amounts receivable from or payable to other entities in the Group.

Any difference between the amounts assumed and amounts receivable or payable under the tax funding agreement are recognised as a contribution to (or distribution from) wholly owned tax consolidated entities.

(ae) Comparatives

Where appropriate, comparatives have been reclassified to be consistent with the current year presentation. The reclassification does not have an impact on the results presented.

Independence Group NL

43

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

2 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(af) New standards and interpretations not yet adopted

Certain new accounting standards and interpretations have been published that are not mandatory for 30 June 2015 reporting periods and have not been early adopted by the Group. The Group’s assessment of the impact of these new standards and interpretations is set out below.

Title
of
standard
Nature of change Impact Mandatory
application
date/ Date of adoption
by group
AASB
9
Financial
Instruments
(issued
December
2014)
Classification and measurement
AASB
9
amendments
the
classification and measurement of
financial assets:
• Financial assets will either be
measured at amortised cost, fair
value through other comprehensive
income ("FVTOCI") or fair value
through profit or loss ("FVTPL").
• Financial assets are measured at
amortised cost or FVTOCI if certain
restrictive conditions are met. All
other financial assets are measured
at FVTPL.

All
investments
in
equity
instruments will be measured at fair
value.
For
those investments
in
equity instruments that are not held
for trading, there is an irrevocable
election to present gains and losses
in
OCI.
Dividends
will
be
recognised in profit or loss.
The following requirements have
generally
been
carried
forward
unchanged
from
AASB
139
Financial Instruments: Recognition
and Measurement into AASB 9:
• Classification and measurement
of financial liabilities, and

Derecognition
requirements
for
financial assets and liabilities.
However,
AASB
9 requires
that
gains
or
losses
on
financial
liabilities measured at fair value are
recognised in profit or loss, except
that the effects of changes in the
liability’s credit risk are recognised
in other comprehensive income.
Impairment
The
new
impairment
model
in
AASB
9
is
now
based
on
an
‘expected loss’ model rather than
an ‘incurred loss’ model.
A
complex
three
stage
model
applies
to
debt
instruments
at
amortised
cost
or
at
fair
value
through
other
comprehensive
income for recognising impairment
losses.
Adoption
of
AASB
9
is
only
mandatory for the year ending
30 June 2019.
This standard is not expected to
impact the Group as financial
assets are currently classified
through profit or loss.
The
entity
currently
applies
hedge accounting. It is expected
that the application of the new
amendments will not have an
impact on the entity’s financial
statements.
The new impairment model is an
expected
credit
loss
("ECL")
model which may result in the
earlier
recognition
of
credit
losses.
Mandatory
for
financial
years commencing on or
after 1 January 2018.
Expected
date
of
adoption by the group: 1
July 2018.

Independence Group NL

44

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

2 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(af) New standards and interpretations not yet adopted (continued)

Title
of
standard
Nature of change Impact Mandatory
application
date/ Date of adoption
by group
AASB
9
Financial
Instruments
(issued
December
2014)
(continued)
A
simplified
impairment
model
applies to trade receivables and
lease receivables
with maturities
that are less than 12 months.
For trade receivables and lease
receivables
with
maturity
longer
than 12 months, entities have a
choice
of
applying
the
complex
three stage model or the simplified
model.
Hedge accounting
Under the new hedge accounting
requirements:

The
80-125%
highly
effective
threshold has been removed.
• Risk components of non-financial
items
can
qualify
for
hedge
accounting provided that the risk
component is separately identifiable
and reliably measurable.

An
aggregated
position
(i.e.
combination of a derivative and a
non-derivative)
can
qualify
for
hedge accounting provided that it is
managed as one risk exposure.

When
entities
designate
the
intrinsic value of options, the initial
time value is deferred in OCI and
subsequent changes in time value
are recognised in OCI.
• When entities designate only the
spot element of a forward contract,
the forward points can be deferred
in OCI and subsequent changes in
forward points are recognised in
OCI. Initial foreign currency basis
spread can also be deferred in OCI
with
subsequent
changes
be
recognised in OCI.
• Net foreign exchange cash flow
positions
can
qualify
for
hedge
accounting.

Independence Group NL

45

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

2 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(af) New standards and interpretations not yet adopted (continued)

Title
of
standard
Nature of change Impact Mandatory
application
date/ Date of adoption
by group
AASB 15
Revenue
from
Contracts
with
Customers
(issued
December
2014)
An entity will recognise revenue to
depict
the
transfer
of
promised
goods or services to customers in
an
amount
that
reflects
the
consideration to which the entity
expects to be entitled in exchange
for those goods or services. This
means
that
revenue
will
be
recognised when control of goods
or services is transferred, rather
than
on
transfer
of
risks
and
rewards as is currently the case
under IAS 18_Revenue_.
Adoption of AASB 15 is only
mandatory for the year ending
30 June 2019.
Due to the recent release of this
standard, the entity has not yet
made a detailed assessment of
the impact of this standard.
Mandatory
for
financial
years commencing on or
after 1 January 2018.
Expected
date
of
adoption by the Group: 1
July 2018
AASB
2014-9
(issued
December
2014)
Amend-
ments to
Australian
Accounting
Standards -
Equity
Method in
Separate
Financial
Statements
Currently,
investments
in
subsidiaries, associates and joint
ventures
are
accounted
for
in
separate
financial
statements
at
cost or at fair value under AASB
139/AASB 9. These amendments
provide
an
additional
option
to
account
for
these
investments
using
the
equity
method
as
described
in
AASB
128
Investments in Associates and Joint
Ventures.
It
is
not
anticipated
that
the
changes will have any material
impact on the Group's financial
statements.
Mandatory
for
financial
years commencing on or
after 1 January 2016.
Expected
date
of
adoption by the Group: 1
July 2016
AASB
2014-4
(issued
August
2014)
Amendments
to Australian
Accounting
Standards -
Clarification
of
Acceptable
Methods of
Depreciation
and
Amortisation
Clarifies that use of revenue-based
methods
for
calculating
depreciation and amortisation is not
appropriate
because
revenue
generated
by
an
activity
that
includes
the
use
of
an
asset
generally reflects factors other than
the
consumption
of
economic
benefits embodied in the asset.
This assumption is rebuttable for
intangible
assets
and
can
be
overcome in limited circumstances,
for
example,
where
revenue
is
established
as
the
predominant
limiting factor in the contract, such
as a concession to explore and
extract
from
a
gold
mine
that
expires
when
total
cumulative
revenue
from
extraction
of
gold
reaches a certain dollar threshold.
The Standard will not have an
impact on the Group's financial
statements as it does not use
any revenue-based methods for
calculating
depreciation
and
amortisation.
Mandatory
for
financial
years commencing on or
after 1 January 2016.
Expected
date
of
adoption by the Group: 1
July 2016

Independence Group NL

46

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

2 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(af) New standards and interpretations not yet adopted (continued)

Title
of
standard
Nature of change Impact Mandatory
application
date/ Date of adoption
by group
AASB
2014-3
(issued
August
2014)
Amendments
to Australian
Accounting
Standards -
Accounting
for
Acquisitions
of Interests
in Joint
Ventures
When an entity acquires an interest
in a joint operation whose activities
meet the definition of a ‘business’ in
AASB 3 Business Combinations, to
the extent of its share of assets,
liabilities, revenues and expenses
as
specified
in
the
contractual
arrangement, the entity must apply
all of the principles for business
combination accounting in AASB 3,
and other IFRSs, to the extent that
they do not conflict with AASB 11
Joint
Arrangements.This
means
that
it
will
expense
all
acquisition-related
costs
and
recognise its share, according to
the contractual arrangements, of:
• Fair value of identifiable assets
and
liabilities,
unless
fair
value
exceptions included in AASB 3 or
other IFRSs, and
• Deferred tax assets and liabilities
that arise from the initial recognition
of an asset or liability as required
by AASB 3 and AASB 112 Income
Taxes.
Goodwill will then be recognised as
the excess consideration over the
fair value of net identifiable assets
acquired.
There will be no impact on the
financial statements when these
amendments are first adopted
because
they
apply
prospectively to acquisitions of
interests in joint operations.
Mandatory
for
financial
years commencing on or
after 1 January 2016.
Expected
date
of
adoption by the Group: 1
July 2016

Independence Group NL

47

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

2 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(af) New standards and interpretations not yet adopted (continued)

Title
of
standard
Nature of change Impact Mandatory
application
date/ Date of adoption
by group
AASB
2014-10
(issued
December
2014)
Amendments
to
Australian
Accounting
Standards -
Sale or
Contribution
of Assets
between
An Investor
and its
Associate
or Joint
Venture
Removes
the
inconsistency
between
AASB
10
Consolidated
Financial Statements and AASB 128
Investments in Associates and Joint
Ventures
in
accounting
for
transactions where a parent loses
control over a subsidiary that is not
a business under AASB 3 Business
Combinations, by selling part of its
interest to an associate or joint
venture, or by selling down part of
its interest so that the remaining
investment becomes an associate
or joint venture. Requires that:
• Gain or loss from measuring the
retained
interest
in
the
former
subsidiary at fair value, as well as
gains or losses to be reclassified
from other comprehensive income
to profit or loss, only be recognised
to
the
extent
of
the
unrelated
investor’s interest in that associate
or joint venture, and
• Remaining gains or losses to be
eliminated against the investment in
associate or joint venture.
There will be no impact on the
financial statements when these
amendments
are
first
adopted
because they apply prospectively
to sales or contributions of assets
occurring
after
the
application
date.
Mandatory
for
financial
years commencing on or
after 1 January 2016.
Expected
date
of
adoption by the Group: 1
July 2016

There are no other standards that are not yet effective and that would be expected to have a material impact on the entity in the current or future reporting periods and on foreseeable future transactions.

Independence Group NL

48

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

3 Voluntary change in accounting policy

(a) Exploration and evaluation accounting policy

The financial report has been prepared on the basis of a retrospective application of a voluntary change in accounting policy relating to exploration and evaluation expenditure.

The new exploration and evaluation expenditure accounting policy is to capitalise exploration and evaluation expenditure only if it is anticipated that future economic benefits are more likely than not to be generated as a result of the expenditure. All other exploration and evaluation expenditure will be expensed against the profit and loss as incurred. Acquisition costs and expenditure incurred after a decision to proceed to development will continue to be capitalised as an asset.

The previous accounting policy was to capitalise exploration and evaluation expenditure incurred and carry forward as an asset when rights to tenure of the area of interest were current and costs were expected to be recouped through the successful development of the area of interest (or alternatively by its sale), or where activities in the area had not yet reached a stage which permitted a reasonable assessment of the existence or otherwise of economically recoverable reserves and active operations were continuing.

Management judges that the change in policy will result in more relevant and reliable information in the financial report. Recognition criteria of exploration and evaluation assets are inherently uncertain and expensing as incurred results in a more transparent balance sheet and profit or loss. Furthermore, the change in policy aids in accountability of line management’s expenditures and the newly adopted policy is consistent with those of many mining companies.

(b) Impact on financial statements

(i) Impact on prior years

As a result of the change in the accounting policy for exploration and evaluation expenditure, prior year financial statements had to be restated. The amounts disclosed for the 2014 reporting period and in the balance sheets as at 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2014 are after the change in accounting policy for exploration and evaluation expenditure.

Independence Group NL

49

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

3 Voluntary change in accounting policy (continued)

  • (b) Impact on financial statements (continued)
Prior year restatement
2014 Profit
Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other
comprehensive income
(Previously
stated)
Increase/
(Decrease)
2014
(Restated)
$'000 $'000 $'000
Revenue from continuing operations 399,059 - 399,059
Mining, development and processing costs (100,310) (184) (100,494)
Employee benefits expense (61,196) - (61,196)
Share-based payments expense (4,632) - (4,632)
Fair value of movements of financial investments (2) - (2)
Depreciation and amortisation expense (69,840) 3,902 (65,938)
Rehabilitation and restoration borrowing costs (565) - (565)
Exploration costs expensed (4,334) (26,795) (31,129)
Royalty expense (14,309) - (14,309)
Ore tolling expense (11,973) - (11,973)
Shipping and wharfage costs (17,551) - (17,551)
Borrowing and finance costs (5,138) - (5,138)
Impairment of exploration and evaluation expenditure (32,045) 25,966 (6,079)
Other expenses (9,355) - (9,355)
Profit before income tax 67,809 2,889 70,698
Income tax expense (21,253) (866) (22,119)
Profit for theyear 46,556 2,023 48,579
Other comprehensive income
Items that will be reclassified to profit or loss
Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of
tax (4,435) - (4,435)
Other comprehensive loss for theyear, net of tax (4,435) - (4,435)
Total comprehensive income for the year 42,121 2,023 44,144
Profit for the year attributable to the members of Independence
Group NL 46,556 2,023 48,579
Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to the
members of Independence Group NL 42,121 2,023 44,144
Cents Cents Cents
Earnings per share for profit attributable to the ordinary equity
holders of the Company:
Basic earnings per share 19.95 0.87 20.82
Diluted earningsper share 19.78 0.86 20.64

Independence Group NL

50

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

3 Voluntary change in accounting policy (continued)

  • (b) Impact on financial statements (continued)
Prior years restatement Prior years restatement
30 June
2014 In- 30 June 1 July 2013 In-
Balance sheet (Previously
stated)
crease/
(Decrease)
2014
(Restated)
(Previously
stated)
crease/
(Decrease)
1 July 2013
(Restated)
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents 56,972 - 56,972 27,215 - 27,215
Trade and other receivables 30,070 - 30,070 24,159 - 24,159
Inventories 40,567 (184) 40,383 22,760 - 22,760
Financial assets at fair value through
profit or loss 858 - 858 1,092 - 1,092
Derivative financial instruments 2,519 - 2,519 6,946 - 6,946
Total current assets 130,986 (184) 130,802 82,172 - 82,172
Non-current assets
Receivables 57 - 57 604 - 604
Inventories 8,803 - 8,803 - - -
Property, plant and equipment 47,230 - 47,230 36,278 - 36,278
Mine properties 364,443 (35,164) 329,279 349,115 (29,425) 319,690
Exploration and evaluation expenditure 186,784 (75,201) 111,583 199,392 (84,013) 115,379
Deferred tax assets 152,339 56 152,395 152,261 - 152,261
Intangible assets - - - 179 - 179
Derivative financial instruments 658 - 658 1,981 - 1,981
Total non-current assets 760,314 (110,309) 650,005 739,810 (113,438) 626,372
TOTAL ASSETS 891,300 (110,493) 780,807 821,982 (113,438) 708,544
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 46,855 - 46,855 53,599 - 53,599
Borrowings 3,508 - 3,508 6,030 - 6,030
Derivative financial instruments 6,381 - 6,381 1,910 - 1,910
Provisions 2,557 - 2,557 2,446 - 2,446
Total current liabilities 59,301 - 59,301 63,985 - 63,985
Non-current liabilities
Borrowings 24,854 - 24,854 11,524 - 11,524
Provisions 25,545 - 25,545 21,724 - 21,724
Deferred tax liabilities 94,711 (33,109) 61,602 75,280 (34,031) 41,249
Total non-current liabilities 145,110 (33,109) 112,001 108,528 (34,031) 74,497
TOTAL LIABILITIES 204,411 (33,109) 171,302 172,513 (34,031) 138,482
NET ASSETS 686,889 (77,384) 609,505 649,469 (79,407) 570,062
EQUITY
Contributed equity 735,060 - 735,060 734,007 - 734,007
Reserves 13,476 - 13,476 14,332 - 14,332
Accumulated losses (61,647) (77,384) (139,031) (98,870) (79,407) (178,277)
TOTAL EQUITY 686,889 (77,384) 609,505 649,469 (79,407) 570,062

Independence Group NL

51

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

3 Voluntary change in accounting policy (continued)

(b) Impact on financial statements (continued)

Consolidated statement of cash flows

Exploration and evaluation expenditure that is expensed is included as part of cash flows from operating activities whereas exploration and evaluation expenditure that is capitalised is included as part of cash flows from investing activities. This has resulted in additional cash outflows from operating activities of $26,221,000 for the year ended 30 June 2014. This has also resulted in a corresponding reduction of $26,221,000 being reflected in the net cash outflows from investing activities for the same reporting period.

4 Financial risk management

The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks; market risk (including currency risk, interest rate risk, equity price risk and commodity price risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. The Group's overall risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise potential adverse effects on the financial performance of the Group. The Group uses derivative financial instruments such as foreign exchange contracts, forward commodity contracts and collar arrangements to hedge certain risk exposures.

Risk management relating to commodity and foreign exchange risk is overseen by management, under policies approved by the Board of Directors. The Board identifies, evaluates and hedges financial risks in close co-operation with the Group’s operating units. The Board provides written principles for overall risk management, as well as written policies covering specific areas, such as mitigating foreign exchange, commodity price, interest rate and credit risks, use of derivative financial instruments and investing excess liquidity.

(a) Risk exposures and responses

(i) Foreign currency risk

As the Group’s sales revenues for nickel, copper, zinc, gold and silver are denominated in US dollars ("USD") and the majority of operating costs are denominated in Australian dollars ("AUD"), the Group’s cash flow is significantly exposed to movements in the AUD:USD exchange rate. The Group mitigates this risk through the use of derivative instruments, including, but not limited to, forward contracts and the purchase of AUD call options.

The financial instruments denominated in USD and then converted into the functional currency (i.e. AUD) were as follows:

follows:
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents 16,971 17,923
Trade and other receivables 15,506 25,054
Derivative financial instruments 4,981 1,809
37,458 44,786
Financial liabilities
Derivative financial instruments 1,622 6,381
1,622 6,381
Net financial assets 35,836 38,405

The cash balance above only represents the cash held in the USD bank accounts at the reporting date and converted into AUD at the 30 June 2015 AUD:USD exchange rate of $0.7680 (2014: $0.9420). The remainder of the cash balance of $104,325,000 (2014: $39,049,000) was held in AUD and therefore not exposed to foreign currency risk.

The trade and other receivables amounts represent the USD denominated trade debtors. All other trade and other receivables were denominated in AUD at the reporting date.

The following table summarises the Group’s sensitivity of financial instruments held at 30 June 2015 to movements in the AUD:USD exchange rate, with all other variables held constant. Sensitivity analysis is calculated using a reasonable possible change of 1.5% (2014: 1.5%) in the foreign rate in both directions based on the exposure period of the trade receivables, a 5.0% (2014: 5.0%) variation for derivative contracts and an 18.0% (2014: 3.0%) variation for USD cash balances in both directions.

Independence Group NL

52

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

4 Financial risk management (continued)

  • (a) Risk exposures and responses (continued)
Impact on other components of Impact on other components of
Impact on post-tax profit equity
Sensitivity of financial instruments to
foreign currency movements 2015 2014 2015 2014
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Increase 18.0% (2014: 3.0%) (1,812) (365) - -
Decrease 18.0% (2014: 3.0%) 2,608 388 - -
Trade receivables
Increase 1.5% (2014: 1.5%) (120) (176) - -
Decrease 1.5% (2014: 1.5%) 140 222 - -
Derivative financial instruments
Increase 5.0% (2014: 5.0%) (166) 361 - 1,444
Decrease 5.0%(2014: 5.0%) 183 (399) - (1,596)
833 31 - (152)
Financial liabilities
Derivative financial instruments
Increase 5.0% (2014: 5.0%) 693 50 - 163
Decrease 5.0%(2014: 5.0%) (766) (55) - (180)
(73) (5) - (17)
Net sensitivity to foreign currency
movements 760 26 - (169)

(ii) Commodity price risk

The Group’s sales revenues are generated from the sale of nickel, copper, zinc, silver and gold. Accordingly, the Group’s revenues, derivatives and trade receivables are exposed to commodity price risk fluctuations, primarily nickel, copper, zinc, silver and gold.

Nickel

Nickel ore sales have an average price finalisation period of three months until the sale is finalised with the customer.

It is the Board’s policy to hedge between 0% and 50% of total nickel production tonnes. All of the hedges qualify as “highly probable” forecast transactions for hedge accounting purposes.

Copper and zinc

Copper and zinc concentrate sales have an average price finalisation period of up to four months from shipment date.

It is the Board’s policy to hedge between 0% and 50% of total copper and zinc production tonnes.

Gold

It is the Board’s policy to hedge between 0% and 50% of forecast gold production from the Company’s 30% interest in the Tropicana Gold Mine.

The markets for nickel, copper, zinc, silver and gold are freely traded and can be volatile. As a relatively small producer, the Group has no ability to influence commodity prices. The Group mitigates this risk through derivative instruments, including, but not limited to, quotational period pricing, forward contracts and collar arrangements.

At the reporting date, the carrying value of the financial instruments exposed to commodity price movements were as follows:

Independence Group NL

53

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

  • 4 Financial risk management (continued)

  • (a) Risk exposures and responses (continued)

Financial instruments exposed to commodity price movements 2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Financial assets
Trade and other receivables 10,702 19,853
Derivative financial instruments - commodityhedging contracts 4,981 1,777
15,683 21,630
Financial liabilities
Derivative financial instruments - commodityhedging contracts 1,479 6,381
1,479 6,381
Net exposure 14,204 15,249

The following table summarises the sensitivity of financial instruments held at 30 June 2015 to movements in the nickel price, with all other variables held constant. Trade receivables valuation uses a sensitivity analysis of 1.5% (2014: 1.5%) which is based upon the three month forward commodity rate as there is a three month lag time between delivery and final nickel price received. A 20.0% (2014: 20.0%) sensitivity rate is used to value derivative contracts held and is based on reasonable assessment of the possible changes.

Impact on other components of Impact on other components of
Impact on post-tax profit equity
Sensitivity of financial instruments to
nickel price movements 2015 2014 2015 2014
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
Financial assets
Trade receivables
Increase 1.5% (2014: 1.5%) 117 217 - -
Decrease 1.5% (2014: 1.5%) (117) (217) - -
Derivative financial instruments - commodity
hedging contracts
Increase 20.0% (2014: 20.0%) (1,634) (1,346) - (3,949)
Decrease 20.0%(2014: 20.0%) 1,634 1,353 - 3,946
Net sensitivityto nickelprice movements - 7 - (3)

The following table summarises the sensitivity of financial instruments held at 30 June 2015 to movements in the copper price, with all other variables held constant. Trade receivables valuation uses a sensitivity analysis of 1.5% (2014: 1.5%) which is based upon the three month forward commodity rate as there is generally a four month lag time between delivery and final copper price received. A 20.0% (2014: 20.0%) sensitivity rate is used to value derivative contracts held and is based on reasonable assessment of the possible changes.

Independence Group NL

54

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

4 Financial risk management (continued)

  • (a) Risk exposures and responses (continued)
Impact on other components of Impact on other components of
Impact on post-tax profit equity
Sensitivity of financial instruments to
copper price movements 2015 2014 2015 2014
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
Financial assets
Trade receivables
Increase 1.5% (2014: 1.5%) 6 11 - -
Decrease 1.5% (2014: 1.5%) (6) (11) - -
Derivative financial instruments - commodity
hedging contracts
Increase 20.0% (2014: 20.0%) (578) (960) - (1,323)
Decrease 20.0%(2014: 20.0%) 578 957 - 1,317
Net sensitivityto copperprice movements - (3) - (6)

The following table summarises the sensitivity of financial instruments held at 30 June 2015 to movements in the gold price, with all other variables held constant. A 20.0% (2014: 20.0%) sensitivity rate is used to value derivative contracts held and is based on reasonable assessment of the possible changes.

Impact on other components of Impact on other components of
Impact on post-tax profit equity
Sensitivity of financial instruments to
gold price movements 2015 2014 2015 2014
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
Financial assets
Derivative financial instruments - commodity
hedging contracts
Increase 20.0% (2014: 20.0%) (432) (4,280) (6,158) -
Decrease 20.0%(2014: 20.0%) 959 1,581 4,366 -
Net sensitivitytogoldprice movements 527 (2,699) (1,792) -

The following table summarises the sensitivity of financial instruments held at 30 June 2015 to movements in the zinc price, with all other variables held constant. Trade receivables valuation uses a sensitivity analysis of 1.5% (2014: 1.5%) which is based upon the three month forward commodity rate as there is a generally a four month lag time between delivery and final zinc price received.

Impact on post-tax profit
Sensitivity of financial instruments to zinc price movements 2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Financial assets
Trade receivables
Increase 1.5% (2014: 0%) 108 -
Decrease 1.5%(2014: 0%) (108) -
Net sensitivityto zincprice movements - -

(iii) Equity price risk sensitivity analysis

The following sensitivity analysis has been determined based on the exposure to equity price risks at the reporting date. Each equity instrument is assessed on its individual price movements with the sensitivity rate based on a reasonably possible change of 45% (2014: 45%). At reporting date, if the equity prices had been higher or lower, net profit for the year would have increased or decreased by $4,890,000 (2014: $254,000).

Independence Group NL

55

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

4 Financial risk management (continued)

(a) Risk exposures and responses (continued)

(iv) Cash flow and fair value interest rate risk

The Group’s exposure to interest rate risk is the risk that a financial instrument’s value will fluctuate as a result of changes in market interest rates. At the reporting date, the Group had the following exposure to interest rate risk on financial instruments:

financial instruments:
30 June 2015 30 June 2014
Weighted Weighted
average average
interest rate Balance interest rate Balance
% $'000 % $'000
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents 1.6% 121,296 1.3% 56,972
1.6% 121,296 1.3% 56,972
Financial liabilities
Bank loans - - 4.9% 25,000
- - 4.9% 25,000
Net exposure 1.6% 121,296 (3.6)% 31,972

The sensitivity analysis below has been determined based on the exposure to interest rates at the reporting date and the stipulated change taking place at the beginning of the financial year and held constant throughout the reporting period. A 100 basis point increase or decrease is used when reporting interest rate risk internally to key management personnel and represents management’s assessment of the possible change in interest rates.

Impact on post-tax profit
Sensitivity of interest revenue and expense to interest rate movements 2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Revenue
Interest revenue
Increase 1.0% (2014: 1.0%) 293 243
Decrease 1.0%(2014: 1.0%) (293) (243)
- -
Expense
Interest expense
Increase 0% (2014: 1.0%) - (175)
Decrease 0%(2014: 1.0%) - 175
- -

The interest rate on the outstanding lease liabilities is fixed for the term of the lease, therefore there is no exposure to movements in interest rates.

(b) Credit risk

Nickel ore sales

The Group has a concentration of credit risk in that it depends on BHP Billiton Nickel West Pty Ltd for a significant volume of revenue. During the year ended 30 June 2015 all nickel sales revenue was sourced from this company. The risk is mitigated in that the agreement relating to sales revenue contains provision for the Group to seek alternative revenue providers in the event that BHP Billiton Nickel West Pty Ltd is unable to accept supply of the Group’s product due to a force majeure event. The risk is further mitigated by the receipt of 70% of the value of any months’ sale within a month of that sale occurring.

Independence Group NL

56

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

4 Financial risk management (continued)

(b) Credit risk (continued)

Copper and zinc concentrate sales

Credit risk arising from sales to customers is managed by contracts that stipulate a provisional payment of at least 90% of the estimated value of each sale. This is generally paid promptly after vessel loading. Title to the concentrate does not pass to the buyer until this provisional payment is received by the Group.

Due to the large size of concentrate shipments, there are a relatively small number of transactions each month and therefore each transaction and receivable balance is actively managed on an ongoing basis, with attention to timing of customer payments and imposed credit limits. The resulting exposure to bad debts is not considered significant.

Gold bullion sales

Credit risk arising from the sale of gold bullion to the Company's customer is low as the payment by the customer (being The Perth Mint Australia) is guaranteed under statute by the Western Australian State Government.

The Group has policies in place to ensure that sales of products are made to customers with an appropriate credit history.

Other

In respect of financial assets and derivative financial instruments, the Group's exposure to credit risk arises from potential default of the counterparty, with a maximum exposure equal to the carrying amount of these instruments. Exposure at the reporting date is addressed below. The Group does not hold any credit derivatives to offset its credit exposure.

Derivative counterparties and cash transactions are restricted to high credit quality financial institutions.

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date was as follows:

2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents 121,296 56,972
Trade and other receivables 13,481 24,828
Other receivables 5,384 2,456
Financial assets 15,574 858
Derivative financial instruments 4,981 3,177
160,716 88,291

On analysis of trade and other receivables, none are past due or impaired for either 30 June 2015 or 30 June 2014.

(c) Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial liabilities as they fall due. The Group’s approach to managing liquidity risk is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under both normal and stressed conditions, without incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to the Group’s reputation. Management and the Board monitors liquidity levels on an ongoing basis.

Maturities of financial liabilities

The following table details the Group’s remaining contractual maturity for its non-derivative financial liabilities. The tables are based on the undiscounted cash flows of financial liabilities based on the earliest date on which the Group can be required to pay.

Independence Group NL

57

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

4 Financial risk management (continued)

  • (c) Liquidity risk (continued)
(c) Liquidity risk (continued)
Total
Contractual maturities of financial liabilities Less than 6 - 12 Between
1 and 5
contractual
cash
Carrying
6 months months years flows amount
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
At 30 June 2015
Trade and other payables 40,476 - - 40,476 40,476
Finance lease liabilities 458 64 - 522 510
40,934 64 - 40,998 40,986
At 30 June 2014
Trade and other payables 42,982 - - 42,982 42,982
Finance lease liabilities 2,300 1,371 522 4,193 4,018
Bank loans - - 25,000 25,000 24,344
45,282 1,371 25,522 72,175 71,344

The following table details the Group’s liquidity analysis for its derivative financial instruments. The table is based on the undiscounted net cash inflows/(outflows) on the derivative instrument that settles on a net basis. When the net amount payable is not fixed, the amount disclosed has been determined by reference to the projected forward curves existing at the reporting date.

Total
Between contractual
Less than 6 - 12 1 and 5 cash Carrying
6 months months years flows amount
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
At 30 June 2015
Commodity hedging contracts 100 662 717 1,479 1,479
Foreign currencyhedging contracts 1,622 - - 1,622 1,622
1,722 662 717 3,101 3,101
At 30 June 2014
Commodityhedgingcontracts 3,013 3,368 - 6,381 6,381
3,013 3,368 - 6,381 6,381

(d) Recognised fair value measurements

(i) Fair value hierarchy

The fair value of financial assets and liabilities must be estimated for recognition and measurement or for disclosure purposes.

AASB 13 Fair Value Measurement requires disclosure of fair value measurements by level of the following fair value measurement hierarchy:

  • (a) quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1);

  • (b) inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (as prices) or indirectly (derived from prices) (level 2); and

  • (c) inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs) (level 3).

The following table presents the Group’s assets and liabilities measured and recognised at fair value at 30 June 2015 and 30 June 2014 on a recurring basis.

Independence Group NL

58

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

4 Financial risk management (continued)

  • (d) Recognised fair value measurements (continued)
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
At 30 June 2015
Financial assets
Listed and unlisted investments 15,524 - 50 15,574
Derivative instruments
Commodityhedging contracts - 4,981 - 4,981
15,524 4,981 50 20,555
Financial liabilities
Derivative instruments
Commodity hedging contracts - 1,479 - 1,479
Foreign currencyhedging contracts - 1,622 - 1,622
- 3,101 - 3,101
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
At 30 June 2014
Financial assets
Listed and unlisted investments 808 - 50 858
Derivative instruments
Foreign currency hedging contracts - 1,400 - 1,400
Commodityhedging contracts - 1,777 - 1,777
808 3,177 50 4,035
Financial liabilities
Derivative instruments
Commodityhedging contracts - 6,381 - 6,381
- 6,381 - 6,381

The Group did not measure any financial assets or financial liabilities at fair value on a non-recurring basis as at 30 June 2015 and did not transfer any fair value amounts between the fair value hierarchy levels during the year ended 30 June 2015.

(ii) Valuation techniques used to determine level 1 fair values

The fair value of financial instruments traded in active markets (such as publicly traded derivatives and trading and available-for-sale securities) is based on quoted market prices at the end of the reporting period. The quoted market price used for financial assets held by the Group is the current bid price. These instruments are included in level 1.

(iii) Valuation techniques used to determine level 2 and level 3 fair values

The fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in an active market (for example, over-the-counter derivatives) is determined using valuation techniques. These valuation techniques maximise the use of observable market data where it is available and rely as little as possible on entity specific estimates. If all significant inputs required to fair value an instrument are observable, the instrument is included in level 2.

If one or more of the significant inputs is not based on observable market data, the instrument is included in level 3.

Specific valuation techniques used to value financial instruments include:

  • The use of quoted market prices or dealer quotes for similar instruments.

  • The fair value of commodity and forward foreign exchange contracts is determined using forward commodity and exchange rates at the reporting date.

  • Other techniques, such as discounted cash flow analysis, are used to determine fair value for the remaining financial instruments.

All of the resulting fair value estimates are included in level 2 except for unlisted equity securities which are included in level 3.

Independence Group NL

59

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

4 Financial risk management (continued)

(d) Recognised fair value measurements (continued)

(iv) Fair value of other financial instruments

The Group also has a number of financial instruments which are not measured at fair value in the balance sheet. These instruments had the following fair value at the reporting date.

instruments had the following fair value at the reporting date.
Carrying
amount Fair value
$'000 $'000
At 30 June 2015
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents 121,296 121,296
121,296 121,296
Current liabilities
Lease liabilities 510 522
510 522
Carrying
amount Fair value
$'000 $'000
At 30 June 2014
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents 56,972 56,972
56,972 56,972
Current liabilities
Lease liabilities 3,508 3,671
3,508 3,671
Non-current liabilities
Bank loans 24,344 25,000
Lease liabilities 510 522
24,854 25,522

5 Critical accounting estimates and judgements

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that may have a financial impact on the entity and that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Critical accounting estimates and assumptions

The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below.

(i) Trade receivables

The Group estimates the value of trade receivables in accordance with the accounting policy disclosed in note 2(j).

Independence Group NL

60

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

5 Critical accounting estimates and judgements (continued)

Critical accounting estimates and assumptions (continued)

(ii) Reserve estimates

Estimates of recoverable quantities of proven and probable reserves include assumptions regarding commodity prices, exchange rates, discount rates, production and transportation costs for future cash flows. It also requires interpretation of complex and difficult geological and geophysical models in order to make an assessment of the size, shape, depth and quality of reserves and their anticipated recoveries. The economic, geological and technical factors used to estimate reserves may change from period to period. Changes in reported reserves can impact asset carrying values, the provision for restoration and the recognition of deferred tax assets, due to changes in expected future cash flows. Reserves are integral to the amount of depreciation, depletion and amortisation charged to the profit or loss and the calculation of inventory. The Group prepares reserve estimates in accordance with the JORC Code 2012, guidelines prepared by the Joint Ore Reserves Committee of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Australian Institute of Geoscientists and Minerals Council of Australia.

(iii) Rehabilitation and restoration provisions

The provision for rehabilitation and restoration costs is based on the net present value of the estimated cost of restoring the environmental disturbance that has occurred up to the reporting date. Significant estimates and assumptions are made in determining the provision for mine rehabilitation as there are numerous factors that will affect the ultimate liability payable. These factors include estimates of the extent and costs of rehabilitation activities, technological changes, regulatory changes, cost increases as compared to the inflation rates and changes in discount rates. These uncertainties may result in future actual expenditure differing from the amounts currently provided. The provision at reporting date represents management’s best estimate of the present value of the future rehabilitation costs required.

(iv) Share-based payments

The Group measures the cost of equity-settled transactions with employees by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments at the date at which they are granted. The fair value is determined with the assistance of a valuation software using a trinomial tree method. The related assumptions are detailed in note 31. The accounting estimates and assumptions relating to equity-settled share-based payments would have no impact on the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next annual reporting period but may impact expenses and equity.

6 Segment information

(a) Identification of reportable segments

Management has determined the operating segments based on the reports reviewed by the Board that are used to make strategic decisions. The Group operates in predominantly only one geographic segment (ie. Australia) and has identified four operating segments, being the Tropicana Gold Project, the Long Nickel Operation which is disclosed under the nickel mining segment, the Jaguar Operation which is disclosed under the copper and zinc mining segment, and other regional exploration, scoping studies and feasibility which are disclosed under feasibility and regional exploration activities.

The Tropicana Gold Project represents the Group’s 30% joint venture interest in the Tropicana Gold Mine. AngloGold Ashanti Australia Limited is the manager of the project and holds the remaining 70% interest. Programs and budgets are provided by AngloGold Ashanti Australia Limited and are considered for approval by the Independence Group NL Board.

The Long Nickel Operation produces primarily nickel, together with copper, from which its revenue is derived. Revenue derived by the Long Nickel Operation is received from one customer, being BHP Billiton Nickel West Pty Ltd. The Registered Manager of the Long Nickel Operation is responsible for the budgets and expenditure of the operation, which includes exploration activities on the mine’s tenure. The Long Nickel Operation and exploration properties are owned by the Group’s wholly owned subsidiary Independence Long Pty Ltd.

The Jaguar Operation primarily produces copper and zinc concentrate. Revenue is derived from a number of different customers. The Registered Manager of the Jaguar Operation is responsible for the budgets and expenditure of the operation, responsibility for ore concentrate sales rests with the General Manager, Operations. The Jaguar Operation and exploration properties are owned by the Group’s wholly owned subsidiary Independence Jaguar Limited.

The Group’s General Manager, New Business is responsible for budgets and expenditure relating to the Group’s regional exploration, scoping studies, feasibility studies and new business development. The feasibility and regional exploration division does not normally derive any income. Should a project generated by the feasibility and regional exploration division commence generating income or lead to the construction or acquisition of a mining operation, that operation would then be disaggregated from feasibility and regional exploration and become reportable as a separate segment.

Independence Group NL

61

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

6 Segment information (continued)

(b) Segment results

Feasibility
Copper and
Tropicana and regional
gold Nickel zinc
exploration
Year ended 30 June 2015 project mining mining activities Total
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
Total segment revenue 218,966 110,834 163,675 - 493,475
Other revenue - 589 341 28 958
Revenue from external customers 218,966 111,423 164,016 28 494,433
Segment net operating profit(loss)before income tax 76,117 32,180 47,665 (27,603) 128,359
SPACE
Total segment assets 645,071 92,546 134,569 112,424 984,610
SPACE
Total segment liabilities 31,748 36,180 24,374 33,914 126,216
SPACE
Acquisition ofproperty, plant and equipment 1,652 4,622 8,256 5 14,535
SPACE
Impairment loss before tax - 1,229 - 2,232 3,461
SPACE
Depreciation and amortisation 55,931 21,949 19,671 97 97,648
SPACE
Other non-cash expenses 319 32 239 - 590
Feasibility
and
Tropicana Copper regional
gold Nickel and zinc
exploration
Year ended 30 June 2014 (Restated) project mining mining activities Total
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
Total segment revenue 137,918 118,648 140,963 - 397,529
Other revenue - 211 832 55 1,098
Revenue fromexternal customers 137,918 118,859 141,795 55 398,627
Segment net operating profit(loss)before income tax 48,332 37,233 42,703 (34,864) 93,404
SPACE
Total segment assets 440,585 111,854 102,828 114,123 769,390
SPACE
Total segment liabilities 29,705 29,960 30,535 30,879 121,079
SPACE
Acquisition ofproperty, plant and equipment 1,993 1,076 5,358 - 8,427
SPACE
Impairment loss before tax - 2,283 - 3,796 6,079
SPACE
Depreciation and amortisation 33,886 21,569 9,474 - 64,929
SPACE
Other non-cash expenses 296 36 233 - 565

Independence Group NL

62

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

6 Segment information (continued)

(c) Segment revenue

A reconciliation of reportable segment revenue to total revenue is as follows:

A reconciliation of reportable segment revenue to total revenue is as follows:
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Total segment revenue 494,433 398,627
Other revenue from continuingoperations 893 432
Total revenue 495,326 399,059

Revenues for the nickel mining segment are all derived from a single customer, being BHP Billiton Nickel West Pty Ltd.

Revenues for the copper and zinc mining segment were derived from various customers during the year.

Revenues for the Tropicana gold project were derived from a single customer, being The Perth Mint Australia.

(d) Segment net profit (loss) before income tax

A reconciliation of reportable segment net profit before income tax to net profit before income tax is as follows:

Restated*
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Segment net operating profit before income tax 128,359 93,404
Interest revenue on corporate cash balances and other unallocated revenue 893 432
Unrealised losses on financial assets 1,467 (2)
Share-based payments expense (2,949) (4,632)
Other corporate costs (16,424) (13,960)
Borrowingand finance costs (1,385) (4,544)
Total net profit before tax 109,961 70,698

(e) Segment assets

A reconciliation of reportable segment assets to total assets is as follows:

Restated*
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Total assets for reportable segments 984,610 769,390
Intersegment eliminations (389,508) (163,896)
Unallocated assets:
Deferred tax assets 130,517 152,395
Listed equity securities 15,524 808
Cash and receivables held by the parent entity 75,812 19,224
Office andgeneralplant and equipment 3,268 2,886
Total assets as per the balance sheet 820,223 780,807

Independence Group NL

63

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

6 Segment information (continued)

(f) Segment liabilities

A reconciliation of reportable segment liabilities to total liabilities is as follows:

Restated*
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Total liabilities for reportable segments 126,216 121,079
Intersegment eliminations (55,005) (44,489)
Unallocated liabilities:
Deferred tax liabilities 73,980 61,602
Creditors and accruals 8,225 7,598
Provision for employee entitlements 1,312 1,168
Bank loans - 24,344
Total liabilities as per the balance sheet 154,728 171,302
7 Revenue
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Sales revenue
Sale ofgoods 493,475 397,529
493,475 397,529
Other revenue
Interest revenue 1,396 566
Other revenue 455 964
1,851 1,530
Total revenue 495,326 399,059
8 Other income
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Net gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment 211 -
Net foreign exchange gains 2,892 -
Net gain on disposal of tenements 165 -
3,268 -

Independence Group NL

64

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

9 Expenses and losses

Restated*
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Cost of sale of goods 239,745 199,138
Employee benefits expenses 63,841 61,196
Share-based payments expense 2,949 4,632
Exploration costs expensed 25,263 31,129
Rental expense relating to operating leases 1,273 1,291
Rehabilitation and restoration borrowing costs 590 565
Impairment of exploration and evaluation expenditure 3,461 6,079
Net loss of sale of property, plant and equipment and other investments - 60
Amortisation 81,911 50,937
Depreciation
Depreciation expense 16,640 15,369
Less : amounts capitalised - (368)
Depreciation expensed 16,640 15,001
Borrowing and finance costs
Borrowing and finance costs - other entities 857 3,919
Amortisation of borrowing costs 709 1,763
Less: amounts capitalised - (544)
Finance costs expensed 1,566 5,138

Independence Group NL

65

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

10 Income tax expense

(a) Income tax expense

(a) Income tax expense
Restated*
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
The major components of income tax expense are:
Deferred income tax 33,182 22,119
Income tax expense 33,182 22,119
Deferred income tax revenue (expense) included in income tax expense comprises:
Decrease (increase) in deferred tax assets 22,068 (897)
Increase in deferred tax liabilities 11,114 23,016
Income tax expense 33,182 22,119

(b) Amounts recognised directly in equity

(b) Amounts recognised directly in equity
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Deferred income tax revenue (expense) related to items charged or credited to other
comprehensive income:
Recognition of hedge contracts 1,074 (1,900)
Income tax expense reported in equity 1,074 (1,900)

(c) Numerical reconciliation of income tax expense to prima facie tax payable

Restated*
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Profit from continuing operations before income tax expense 109,961 70,698
Tax at the Australian tax rate of 30% (2014: 30%) 32,988 21,209
Tax effect of amounts which are not deductible (taxable)
in calculating taxable income:
Share-based payments (318) 1,074
Other non-deductible items 296 110
Capital losses not brought to account - 357
Previously unrecognised capital losses brought to account (52) -
Difference in overseas tax rates 42 -
Overseas tax losses not brought to account 116 -
Adjustments for current tax ofpriorperiods 110 (631)
Income tax expense 33,182 22,119

Independence Group NL

66

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

10 Income tax expense (continued)

(d) Deferred tax assets and liabilities

(d) Deferred tax assets and liabilities
**Balance ** Sheet Profit or loss Equity
Restated* Restated* Restated*
2015 2014 2015 2014 2015 2014
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
Deferred tax liabilities
Capitalised exploration, pre-production and
acquisition costs (24,914) (30,935) (6,021) (568) - -
Capitalised development expenditure (44,443) (25,592) 18,851 21,595 - -
Deferred gains and losses on hedging contracts (1,467) (900) (697) 885 1,264 (2,663)
Trade debtors (1,377) (2,885) (1,508) 1,388 - -
Consumable inventories (1,748) (1,259) 489 97 - -
Other (31) (31) - (381) - -
Gross deferred tax liabilities (73,980) (61,602) 11,114 23,016 1,264 (2,663)
Deferred tax assets
Property, plant and equipment 20,640 24,019 3,379 2,649 - -
Deferred losses on hedged commodity contracts 904 1,862 1,148 (741) (190) 763
Capitalised development expenditure - - - 2,312 - -
Concentrate inventories 398 32 (366) 534 - -
Business-related capital allowances 908 1,402 494 1,196 - -
Provision for employee entitlements 2,700 2,387 (313) (470) - -
Provision for rehabilitation 8,298 7,205 (1,093) (997) - -
Mining information 1,392 2,680 1,288 8,696 - -
Carry forward tax losses 92,958 110,299 17,341 (13,042) - -
Other 2,319 2,509 190 (1,034) - -
Gross deferred tax assets 130,517 152,395 22,068 (897) (190) 763
Deferred tax expense (income) 56,537 90,793 33,182 22,119 1,074 (1,900)

(e) Tax losses

In addition to the above recognised tax losses, the Group also has the following capital tax losses for which no deferred tax asset has been recognised:

tax asset has been recognised:
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Unrecognised capital tax losses 2,403 2,576
Potential tax benefit @30%(2014: 30%) 721 773

(f) Tax consolidation

Members of the tax consolidated group and the tax sharing arrangement

Independence Group NL and its wholly owned subsidiaries formed a tax consolidated group with effect from 1 July 2002. Independence Group NL is the head entity of the tax consolidated group. Tax expense/income, deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets arising from temporary differences of the members of the tax consolidated group are recognised in the separate financial statements of the members of the tax consolidated group using the “separate tax payer within group” approach. Current tax liabilities and assets and deferred tax assets arising from unused tax losses and tax credits of the members of the tax consolidated group are recognised by the Company, as head entity in the tax consolidated group.

Independence Group NL

67

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

10 Income tax expense (continued)

(f) Tax consolidation (continued)

Due to the existence of a tax funding arrangement between entities in the tax consolidated group, amounts are recognised as payable to or receivable by the Company and each member of the Group in relation to the tax contribution amounts paid or payable between the parent entity and the other members of the tax consolidated group in accordance with the arrangement.

The amounts receivable/payable under the tax funding agreement are due upon receipt of the funding advice from the head entity, which is issued as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year. The head entity may also require payment of interim funding amounts to assist with its obligations to pay tax instalments.

11 Dividends paid and proposed

(a) Ordinary shares

(a) Ordinary shares
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Final ordinary dividend for the year ended 30 June 2014 of 5 cents (2013: 1 cent) per
fully paid share 11,713 2,333
Interim dividend for the year ended 30 June 2015 of 6 cents (2014: 3 cents) per fully
paid share 14,055 7,000
Total dividends paid duringthe financialyear 25,768 9,333

(b) Dividends not recognised at the end of the reporting period

2015 2014
$'000 $'000
In addition to the above dividends, since year end the Directors have established a
final dividend pool of $13,000,000 (2014: 5 cents per fully paid ordinary share), fully
franked based on tax paid at 30%. The aggregate amount of the proposed dividend
pool expected to be paid out of retained earnings at 30 June 2015, but not recognised
as a liability at year end, is 13,000 11,713

(c) Franked dividends

The franked portions of the final dividends recommended after 30 June 2015 will be franked out of existing franking credits or out of franking credits arising from the payment of income tax in the year ended 30 June 2016.

2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Franking credits available for subsequent reporting periods based on a tax rate of 30%
(2014: 30%) 47,845 58,888

The above amounts are calculated from the balance of the franking account as at the end of the reporting period, adjusted for:

(a) franking credits that will arise from the payment of the amount of the provision for income tax;

(b) franking debits that will arise from the payment of dividends recognised as a liability at the reporting date; and (c) franking credits that will arise from the receipt of dividends recognised as receivables at the reporting date.

The impact on the franking account of the dividend pool established by the Company since the end of the reporting period, but not recognised as a liability at the reporting date, will be a reduction in the franking account of up to $5,571,000 (2014: $5,020,000).

Independence Group NL

68

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

12 Earnings per share

(a) Earnings used in calculating earnings per share

Profit used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent is $76,779,000 (2014: $48,579,000).

(b) Weighted average number of shares used as the denominator

(b) Weighted average number of shares used as the denominator
2015 2014
Number Number
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used as the denominator in calculating
basic earnings per share 234,248,549 233,318,721
Adjustments for calculation of diluted earnings per share:
Share rights 2,183,588 1,991,871
Weighted average number of ordinary and potential ordinary shares used as the
denominator in calculatingdiluted earningsper share 236,432,137 235,310,592

(c) Information concerning the classification of securities

Share rights

Share rights granted to executives and employees under the Company's Employee Performance Rights Plan are included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share. The rights are not included in the determination of basic earnings per share. Further information about the share rights is provided in note 31.

13 Current assets - Cash and cash equivalents

13
Current assets - Cash and cash equivalents
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Cash at bank and in hand 121,247 32,021
Deposits at call 49 24,951
121,296 56,972

The Group has cash balances of $2,226,000 (2014: $1,268,000) not generally available for use as the balances are held by the Tropicana Joint Venture and may only be used in relation to joint venture expenditure.

The Group's exposure to interest rate risk and a sensitivity analysis for financial assets and liabilities are disclosed in note 4.

14 Current assets - Trade and other receivables

2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Trade receivables 13,481 24,828
GST Receivable 1,924 1,112
Sundry debtors 3,442 1,314
Prepayments 3,239 2,816
22,086 30,070

No balances within trade and other receivables contain impaired assets nor are past due. It is expected that these balances will be received when due.

Information about the Group’s exposure to credit risk, foreign exchange and commodity price risk in relation to trade receivables is provided in note 4.

Independence Group NL

69

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

15 Inventories

15
Inventories
Restated*
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Current
Mine spares and stores - at cost 16,103 14,965
ROM inventory - at cost 9,670 3,834
Concentrate inventory - at cost 4,726 4,441
Concentrate inventory - at net realisable value 5,696 11,661
Work in progress - gold in process 881 499
Gold in circuit 798 1,510
Gold dore 2,424 3,473
40,298 40,383
Non-current
ROM inventory- at cost 24,979 8,803
24,979 8,803

Inventory classified as non-current relates to 0.6 to 1.2 g/t grade gold ore stockpiles which are not intended to be utilised in the next 12 months but will be utilised over the life of the mine.

16 Current assets - Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

16
Current assets - Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Shares in Australian listed and unlisted companies - at fair value throughprofit or loss 15,574 858
15,574 858

The shares in Australian listed companies are valued at fair value through profit or loss and are all held for trading. Changes in the fair values of these financial assets are recognised in the profit or loss and are valued using market prices at year end.

The Group’s exposure to price risk and a sensitivity analysis for financial assets are disclosed in note 4.

During the current year, the changes in fair values of financial assets resulted in a gain to the profit or loss of $1,467,000 (2014: $2,000 loss). Changes in fair values of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are recorded in fair value of financial investments in the profit or loss.

17 Non-current assets - Receivables

2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Prepayments - 27
Term and other deposits 18 30
18 57

Independence Group NL

70

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

18 Non-current assets - Property, plant and equipment

18
Non-current assets - Property, plant and equipment
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Buildings
Buildings - at cost 36,176 35,994
Accumulated depreciation and impairment (16,135) (12,570)
20,041 23,424
Mining plant under construction
Mining plant under construction - at cost 3,431 407
3,431 407
Mining plant and equipment
Mining plant and equipment - at cost 124,050 92,223
Accumulated depreciation (104,443) (79,039)
19,607 13,184
Motor vehicles
Motor vehicles - at cost 4,440 18,260
Accumulated depreciation and impairment (3,221) (14,386)
1,219 3,874
Furniture, fittings and other equipment
Furniture, fitting and other equipment - at cost 8,490 7,396
Accumulated depreciation and impairment (6,023) (4,787)
2,467 2,609
Leased assets
Leased asset - at cost 3,903 18,746
Accumulated depreciation and impairment (3,424) (15,014)
479 3,732
47,244 47,230

(i) Reconciliation of the carrying amounts at the beginning and end of the period

Reconciliations of the carrying amount for each class of property, plant and equipment at the beginning and end of the financial year are as follows:

financial year are as follows:
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Buildings
Carrying amount at beginning of financial year 23,424 7,791
Additions 112 684
Transfers 70 18,030
Depreciation expense (3,565) (3,081)
Net carryingamount at end of financialyear 20,041 23,424
Mining plant under construction
Carrying amount at beginning of financial year 407 2,362
Additions 3,338 279
Transfers (314) (2,234)
Net carryingamount at end of financialyear 3,431 407

Independence Group NL

71

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

18 Non-current assets - Property, plant and equipment (continued)

2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Mining plant and equipment
Carrying amount at beginning of financial year 13,184 13,443
Additions 11,009 3,865
Transfers 3,628 2,003
Disposals (60) (50)
Depreciation expense (8,154) (6,077)
Net carryingamount at end of financialyear 19,607 13,184
Motor vehicles
Carrying amount at beginning of financial year 3,874 1,730
Additions 383 3,274
Transfers (2,536) (146)
Disposals (20) -
Depreciation expense (482) (984)
Net carryingamount at end of financialyear 1,219 3,874
Furniture, fittings and other equipment
Carrying amount at beginning of financial year 2,609 3,268
Additions 926 1,113
Transfers 185 (438)
Disposals - (59)
Depreciation expense (1,253) (1,275)
Net carryingamount at end of financialyear 2,467 2,609
Leased assets
Carrying amount at beginning of financial year 3,732 7,684
Disposals (67) -
Depreciation expense (3,186) (3,952)
Net carryingamount at end of financialyear 479 3,732
Total property, plant and equipment
Carrying amount at beginning of financial year 47,230 36,278
Additions 15,768 9,215
Transfers from mine properties in development 1,033 17,215
Disposals (147) (109)
Depreciation expense (16,640) (15,369)
Net carryingamount at end of financialyear 47,244 47,230

(ii) Non-current assets pledged as security

Refer to note 26 for information on non-current assets pledged as security by the Group.

Independence Group NL

72

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

19 Non-current assets - Mine properties

19
Non-current assets - Mine properties
Restated*
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Mineproperties inproduction 303,300 329,279
303,300 329,279

Reconciliations of the carrying amounts at the beginning and end of the financial year are as follows:

Restated*
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Mine properties in development
Carrying amount at beginning of financial year - 230,628
Additions - 28,587
Transfers to property, plant and equipment - (17,215)
Transfers to mine properties in production - (242,717)
Borrowing costs capitalised - 544
Depreciation expense capitalised - 173
Carryingamount at end of financialyear - -
Mine properties in production
Carrying amount at beginning of financial year 329,279 89,062
Additions 46,356 47,589
Transfers from exploration and evaluation expenditure 10,609 10,188
Transfers to property, plant and equipment (1,033) -
Transfers from mine properties in development - 242,717
Transfers to inventories - (9,519)
Amortisation expense (81,911) (50,758)
Carryingamount at end of financialyear 303,300 329,279

20 Non-current assets - Exploration and evaluation expenditure

Restated*
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Exploration and evaluation costs 109,930 111,583
109,930 111,583

Reconciliations of the carrying amounts at the beginning and end of the financial year are as follows:

Restated*
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Carrying amount at beginning of financial year 111,583 115,379
Additions 12,417 12,471
Transfers to mine properties in production (10,609) (10,188)
Impairment charge (3,461) (6,079)
Carryingamount at end of financialyear 109,930 111,583

Exploration and evaluation assets are assessed for impairment when facts and circumstances suggest that the carrying amount of an exploration and evaluation asset may exceed its recoverable amount. Management regularly evaluates the recoverability of exploration and evaluation assets. The Group has impaired the following capitalised exploration and evaluation costs during the reporting period:

Independence Group NL

73

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

20 Non-current assets - Exploration and evaluation expenditure (continued)

Restated*
Impairment charge 2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Jaguar regional exploration costs 2,232 774
Karlawinda exploration and feasibility costs - 3,022
Other regional exploration costs 1,229 2,283
3,461 6,079

21 Intangible assets

21
Intangible assets
Database Total
$'000 $'000
At 1 July 2013
Cost 1,378 1,378
Accumulation amortisation (1,199) (1,199)
Net book amount 179 179
Year ended 30 June 2014
Opening net book amount 179 179
Amortisation charge (179) (179)
- -
At 30 June 2014
Cost 1,378 1,378
Accumulation amortisation (1,378) (1,378)
- -
At 30 June 2015
Cost 1,378 1,378
Accumulated amortisation (1,378) (1,378)
- -

22 Current liabilities - Trade and other payables

22
Current liabilities - Trade and other payables
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Current liabilities
Trade payables 8,918 7,706
Other payables 31,558 35,276
Employee entitlements 4,615 3,873
45,091 46,855

The Group’s exposure to liquidity risk in disclosed in note 4.

Independence Group NL

74

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

23 Current liabilities - Provisions

2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Provision for employee entitlements 2,659 2,557
2,659 2,557

24 Non-current liabilities - Provisions

24
Non-current liabilities - Provisions
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Provision for employee entitlements 1,727 1,527
Provision for rehabilitation costs 27,660 24,018
29,387 25,545

(a) Movements in provisions

Movements in the provision for rehabilitation costs during the financial year are set out below:

2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Carrying amount at beginning of financial year 24,018 20,694
Additional provision 3,120 2,889
Rehabilitation and restoration borrowing costs expense 590 565
Payments duringtheperiod (68) (130)
27,660 24,018

Rehabilitation provision

A provision for restoration is recognised in relation to mining activities for such costs as reclamation, site closure, plant closure and other costs associated with the restoration of the mining sites.

25 Derivative financial instruments

25
Derivative financial instruments
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Current assets
Commodity hedging contracts - held for trading 4,981 -
Commodity hedging contracts - cash flow hedges - 1,119
Foreign currency contracts - held for trading - 29
Foreign currencycontracts - cash flow hedges - 1,371
4,981 2,519
Non-current assets
Commodityhedgingcontracts - cash flow hedges - 658
- 658
Current liabilities
Commodity hedging contracts - held for trading - 1,489
Commodity hedging contracts - cash flow hedges 762 4,892
Foreign currencycontracts - held for trading 1,622 -
2,384 6,381
Non-current liabilities
Commodityhedgingcontracts - cash flow hedges 717 -
717 -

Independence Group NL

75

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

25 Derivative financial instruments (continued)

(i) Instruments used by the Group

Derivative financial instruments are used by the Group in the normal course of business in order to hedge exposure to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and commodity prices.

The derivative financial instruments are classified as held for trading and accounted for at fair value through profit or loss unless they are designated as cash flow hedges. The Group's accounting policy for its cash flow hedges is set out in note 2(l).

The fair value of the derivative instruments at the reporting date is reflected in current and non-current assets and liabilities in the balance sheet and is calculated by comparing the contracted rate to the market rates for derivatives with the same length of maturity.

Refer to note 4 and below for details of the foreign currency and commodity prices risk being mitigated by the Group’s derivative instruments as at 30 June 2015 and 30 June 2014.

Nickel

At 30 June 2015, the Group held various nickel commodity contracts denominated in US dollars ("USD"). Foreign exchange contracts are also held which match the terms of the commodity contracts. These contracts are used to reduce the exposure to a future decrease in the Australian dollar ("AUD") market value of nickel sales.

The outstanding nickel contracts held by the Group at 30 June 2015 are as follows:

Weighted average price Weighted average price
Tonnes of metal (USD/metric tonne) Fair value
2015 2014
2015 2014 2015 2014 $'000 $'000
0 - 6 months 750 1,200 16,711 16,816 4,626 (2,838)
6 - 12 months - 1,200 - 16,401 - (3,368)
Total 750 2,400 16,711 16,608 4,626 (6,206)

The following table details the forward foreign currency contracts outstanding at the reporting date:

Weighted average Weighted average
Notional amounts (USD) AUD:USD exchange rate Fair value
2015 2014 2015 2014
$'000 $'000 2015 2014 $'000 $'000
Sell USD forward
0 - 3 months 12,534 10,174 0.8482 0.9368 (1,533) 29
3 - 6 months - 10,005 - 0.9212 - 140
6 - 12 months - 19,681 - 0.9036 - 493
Total 12,534 39,860 0.8482 0.9163 (1,533) 662

Copper

At 30 June 2015, the Group held various copper commodity contracts denominated in USD. Foreign exchange contracts are also held which match the terms of the commodity contracts. These contracts are used to reduce the exposure to a future decrease in the AUD market value of copper sales.

The outstanding copper contracts held by the Group at 30 June 2015 are as follows:

Weighted average price Weighted average price
Tonnes of metal (USD/metric tonne) Fair value
2015 2014
2015 2014 2015 2014 $'000 $'000
0 - 3 months 550 1,200 6,261 6,889 355 (175)
3 - 6 months - 550 - 7,178 - 96
6 - 12 months - 950 - 7,303 - 313
Total 550 2,700 6,261 7,093 355 234

Independence Group NL

76

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

25 Derivative financial instruments (continued)

The following table details the forward foreign currency contracts outstanding at the reporting date:

Weighted average Weighted average
Notional amounts (USD) AUD:USD exchange rate Fair value
2015 2014 2015 2014
$'000 $'000 2015 2014 $'000 $'000
Sell USD forward
0 - 3 months 3,444 - 0.7825 - (89) -
3 - 6 months - 3,948 - 0.8783 - 195
6 - 12 months - 6,938 - 0.8591 - 543
Total 3,444 10,886 0.7825 0.8720 (89) 738

Gold

Gold collar structures (i.e. purchased put and sold call) have been designated as hedges of future gold sales and have been designated as cash flow hedges. These comprise:

**Weighted average ** price
Ounces of metal (AUD/ounce) Fair value
2015 2014
2015 2014 2015 2014 $'000 $'000
0 - 6 months
Gold put options purchased 23,500 33,000 1,350 1,300 137 237
Gold call options sold 23,500 33,000 1,744 1,803 (101) (14)
6 - 12 months
Gold put options purchased 15,000 29,000 1,330 1,316 314 803
Gold call options sold 15,000 29,000 1,560 1,719 (1,112) (316)
12 - 18 months
Gold put options purchased 12,500 23,500 1,330 1,350 460 1,175
Gold call options sold 12,500 23,500 1,593 1,744 (1,177) (517)
Total/weighted average
strike price
Gold put options purchased 51,000 85,500 1,339 1,319 911 2,215
Gold call options sold 51,000 85,500 1,653 1,758 (2,390) (847)

The fair value of the gold collars outstanding at the reporting date is comprised exclusively of the extrinsic value (time value) of the options.

Independence Group NL

77

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

26 Borrowings

26
Borrowings
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Current
Secured
Lease liabilities 510 3,508
Total secured current borrowings 510 3,508
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Non-current
Secured
Bank loans - 24,344
Lease liabilities - 510
Total secured non-current borrowings - 24,854

(a) Corporate loan facility

On 1 March 2013, the Company entered into a Corporate Loan Facility (Facility) with National Australia Bank. The Facility comprised a corporate debt facility of $130,000,000 (of which $110,000,000 was cancelled during the year, leaving an available facility of $20,000,000), an asset finance facility of $20,000,000 and a contingent instrument facility of $20,000,000.

Total capitalised transaction costs to 30 June 2015 are $nil (2014: $2,377,000). Transaction costs are accounted for under the effective interest rate method. These costs are incremental costs that are directly attributable to the loan and include loan origination fees, commitment fees and legal fees. There are no unamortised transaction costs at 30 June 2015. At 30 June 2014, a balance of unamortised transaction costs of $656,000 was offset against the bank loans contractual liability of $25,000,000.

No borrowing costs were capitalised in the current year. In the prior year, borrowing costs of $544,000 related to a qualifying asset (Tropicana Gold Project) and were capitalised in accordance with AASB 123 Borrowing Costs . Refer to note 19.

The Facility has certain financial covenants that the Company has to comply with. All such financial covenants have been complied with in accordance with the Facility.

In addition to the above Facility, the Group had an additional asset finance facility with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited in the prior year of $420,000. This facility expired during the year and all outstanding lease contracts were repaid in full.

Refer to note 33 for details of a new financing facility entered into by the Company in July 2015.

(b) Interest rate, foreign exchange and liquidity risk

Details regarding interest rate, foreign exchange and liquidity risk are disclosed in note 4.

(c) Assets pledged as security

There are no assets pledged as security for non-current borrowings at 30 June 2015. The carrying amount of assets pledged as security for non-current borrowings at 30 June 2014 was $25,000,000. The security is provided under a General Security Agreement and is on arm’s length commercial terms with the financier.

Lease liabilities are effectively secured as the rights to the leased assets recognised in the financial statements revert to the lessor in the event of default.

In addition to the above, $1,315,000 (2014: $15,950,000) is pledged as security in relation to the contingent instrument facility.

Independence Group NL

78

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

26 Borrowings (continued)

(d) Financing arrangements

The Group had access to the following financing arrangements at the reporting date:

2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Total facilities
Corporate debt facility 20,000 130,000
Asset finance facility
1
20,000 20,420
Contingent instrument facility 20,000 20,000
60,000 170,420
Facilities used as at reporting date
Corporate debt facility - 25,000
Asset finance facility 510 3,826
Contingent instrument facility 1,315 15,950
1,825 44,776
Facilities unused as at reporting date
Corporate debt facility 20,000 105,000
Asset finance facility 19,490 16,594
Contingent instrument facility 18,685 4,050
58,175 125,644
  1. This facility provides financial backing in relation to non-performance of third party guarantee requirements.

27 Equity

(a) Contributed equity

2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Fully paid issued capital 737,324 735,060

(i) Movements in ordinary share capital

2015 2015 2014 2014
Details Number of shares $'000 Number of shares $'000
Balance at beginning of financial year 233,323,905 735,060 232,882,535 734,007
Issue of share under the Employee
Performance Rights Plan 932,668 2,264 441,370 1,053
Balance at end of financialyear 234,256,573 737,324 233,323,905 735,060

(ii) Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares entitle the holder to participate in dividends and the proceeds on winding up of the Company in proportion to the number of and amounts paid on the shares held. Every holder of ordinary shares present at a meeting in person or by proxy, is entitled to one vote, and upon a poll each share is entitled to one vote.

Independence Group NL

79

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

27 Equity (continued)

(a) Contributed equity (continued)

(iii) Capital management

The Board’s policy is to maintain a strong capital base so as to maintain investor, creditor and market confidence and to sustain future development of the business.

The capital structure of the Group consists of debt, which includes the borrowings, cash and cash equivalents and equity, comprising issued capital, reserves and retained earnings.

Operating cash flows are used to maintain and expand the Group’s operating and exploration assets, as well as to make dividend payments. The Board and management assess various financial ratios to determine the Group’s debt levels and capital structure prior to making any major investment or expansion decisions.

None of the Group’s entities are currently subject to externally imposed capital requirements.

There were no changes in the Group’s approach to capital management during the year.

28 Reserves and retained earnings

(a) Reserves

(a) Reserves
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Hedging reserve - (2,038)
Share-based payments reserve 13,057 12,372
Foreign currency translation (8) -
Acquisition reserve 3,142 3,142
16,191 13,476

The movements in each of the reserves is as follows:

The movements in each of the reserves is as follows:
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Hedging reserve
Balance at beginning of financial year (2,038) 2,397
Revaluation - gross 4,349 (7,894)
Deferred tax (1,305) 2,368
Transfer to net profit - gross (1,237) 1,559
Deferred tax 231 (468)
Balance at end of financialyear - (2,038)
Share-based payments reserve
Balance at beginning of financial year 12,372 8,793
Share-based payments expense 2,949 4,632
Issue of shares under the Employee Performance Rights Plan (2,264) (1,053)
Balance at end of financialyear 13,057 12,372
Foreign currency translation reserve
Balance at beginning of financial year - -
Currency translation differences arising during the year (8) -
Balance at end of financialyear (8) -
Acquisition reserve
Balance at beginning of financial year 3,142 3,142
Balance at end of financialyear 3,142 3,142

Independence Group NL

80

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

28 Reserves and retained earnings (continued)

(b) Nature and purpose of reserves

Hedging reserve

The hedging reserve is used to record gains or losses on derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges and that are recognised in other comprehensive income, as described in note 2(l). Amounts are reclassified to profit or loss when the associated hedged transaction affects profit or loss.

As at the reporting date, cash flow hedges comprise only gold collar structures as set out in note 25(i). The fair value of the gold collars outstanding at the reporting date is comprised exclusively of the extrinsic value (time value) of the options and hence no amount of gains or losses are recorded in the hedging reserve at 30 June 2015.

Share-based payments reserve

The share-based payments reserve is used to record the value of share-based payments provided to employees, including key management personnel, as part of their remuneration. Refer to note 31 for further details of these plans.

Foreign currency translation reserve

Exchange differences arising on translation of the foreign controlled entity are recognised in other comprehensive income as described in note 2(d) and accumulated in a separate reserve within equity. The cumulative amount is reclassified to profit or loss when the net investment is disposed of.

Acquisition reserve

The acquisition reserve is used to record differences between the carrying value of non-controlling interests and the fair value of the shares issued, where there has been a transaction involving non-controlling interests that do not result in a loss of control. The reserve is attributable to the equity of the parent.

(c) Accumulated losses

(c) Accumulated losses
Restated*
Notes 2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Balance at beginning of financial year (139,031) (178,277)
Net profit for the period 76,779 48,579
Dividends paid duringtheyear 11 (25,768) (9,333)
Balance at end of financialyear (88,020) (139,031)

Independence Group NL

81

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

29 Cash flow statement reconciliation

(a) Reconciliation of profit after income tax to net cash inflow from operating activities

(a) Reconciliation of profit after income tax to net cash inflow from operating activities
Restated*
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Profit for the year 76,779 48,579
Depreciation and amortisation 98,551 65,938
Impairment of exploration and evaluation expenditure 3,461 6,079
Net (gain) loss on sale of non-current assets (376) 60
Fair value of movement of financial investments (1,467) 2
Non-cash employee benefits expense - share-based payments 2,949 4,632
Dividend and interest income - (5)
Fair value adjustment to derivatives (1,971) 3,886
Amortisation of borrowing expenses 709 1,280
Amortisation of lease incentive (55) (55)
Foreign exchange gains (losses) on cash balances (2,904) 1,218
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in trade receivables 11,348 (11,989)
(Increase) in inventories (16,091) (26,426)
(Increase) decrease in deferred tax assets 21,878 (134)
(Increase) decrease in other operating receivables and prepayments (686) 2,602
(Decrease) increase in trade and other payables (2,539) 9,657
(Decrease) increase in deferred tax liabilities 11,304 22,253
(Decrease)increase in otherprovisions 823 1,043
Net cash inflow from operatingactivities 201,713 128,620

(b) Non-cash investing and financing activities

There were no non-cash investing and financing activities during the current or previous year.

Independence Group NL

82

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

30 Related party transactions

(a) Subsidiaries

Significant investments in subsidiaries

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets, liabilities and results of the following principal subsidiaries in accordance with the accounting policy described in note 2(b):

Country of
Name of entity incorporation Class of shares **Equity holding ***
2015 2014
% %
Independence Long Pty Ltd* Australia Ordinary 100 100
Independence Newsearch Pty Ltd Australia Ordinary 100 100
Independence Karlawinda Pty Ltd Australia Ordinary 100 100
Independence Jaguar Limited* Australia Ordinary 100 100
Independence ESP Pty Ltd Australia Ordinary 100 100
Independence Jaguar Exploration Parent Pty Ltd Australia Ordinary 100 100
Independence Jaguar Exploration Pty Ltd Australia Ordinary 100 100
Independence Stockman Parent Pty Ltd Australia Ordinary 100 100
Independence Stockman Project Pty Ltd Australia Ordinary 100 100
Independence Jaguar Project Parent Pty Ltd Australia Ordinary 100 100
Independence Jaguar Project Pty Ltd Australia Ordinary 100 100
Independence CM Pty Ltd Australia Ordinary 100 100
Independence BBS Pty Ltd Australia Ordinary 100 100
Independence Projects Pty Ltd Australia Ordinary 100 100
Independence Europe Pty Ltd Australia Ordinary 100 100
  • These subsidiaries have been granted relief from the necessity to prepare financial reports in accordance with Class Order 98/1418 issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. For further information refer to note 36.

(b) Transactions with other related parties

During the financial year, a wholly-owned entity paid dividends of $48,000,000 (2014: $20,000,000) to Independence Group NL. This amount has been eliminated on consolidation for the purposes of calculating the profit of the Group for the financial year.

Loans were made between Independence Group NL and certain entities in the wholly-owned group. The loans receivable from controlled entities are interest-free and repayable on demand.

(c) Key management personnel

Compensation of key management personnel

Compensation of key management personnel
2015 2014
$ $
Short-term employee benefits 3,212,925 3,355,060
Post-employment benefits 242,994 255,110
Long-term benefits 40,301 70,903
Share-basedpayments 607,413 803,265
4,103,633 4,484,338

Detailed remuneration disclosures are provided in the remuneration report on pages 14 to 23.

Independence Group NL

83

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

31 Share-based payments

(a) Employee Performance Rights Plan

The Independence Group NL Employee Performance Rights Plan ("PRP") was approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of the Company in November 2011. Under the PRP, participants are granted share rights which will only vest if certain performance conditions are met and the employees are still employed by the Group at the end of the vesting period. Participation in the PRP is at the Board’s discretion and no individual has a contractual right to participate in the plan or to receive any guaranteed benefits.

2015 2014 2014
Number of
share rights
Weighted
average fair
value
Number of
share rights
Weighted
average fair
value
Outstanding at the beginning of the year 3,255,175 2.99 3,239,280 2.66
Rights issued during the year 509,480 2.65 1,821,215 3.29
Rights vested during the year (932,668) 3.00 (441,370) 3.93
Rights lapsed during the year (518,230) 3.23 (1,231,204) 3.62
Rights cancelled duringtheyear - - (132,746) 2.04
Outstandingat the end of theyear 2,313,757 2.85 3,255,175 2.99

Fair value of share rights granted

The fair value of the share rights granted under the PRP is estimated at the grant date using a trinomial tree which has been adopted by the Boyle and Law (1994) node alignment algorithm to improve accuracy.

The following table lists the inputs to the models used.

Grant date Performance
hurdle
Dividend
yield
Expected
stock
volatility
Expected
peer
group/
index
volatility*
Risk free
rate
Effective
life
Weighted
average
share price at
grant date
Weighted
average
share price at
grant date
Probability
ROE
exceeding
target
% % % % Years $ %
09/01/2015 TSR 2.17 42 63 2.15 2.5 4.60 -
21/11/2014 TSR 2.40 44 62 2.56 2.6 4.16 -
28/02/2014 TSR 1.45 48 22 2.70 0.3 4.13 -
28/02/2014 TSR 1.45 43 24 2.95 2.3 4.13 -
28/02/2014 ROE - - - - - - <50
21/11/2012 TSR 0.47 41 24 2.64 2.6 4.29 -
21/11/2012 ROE - - - - - - <50
28/02/2013 TSR 0.45 40 22 2.67 0.3 4.47 -
28/02/2013 TSR 0.45 40 23 2.72 2.3 4.47 -
28/02/2013 ROE - - - - - - <50
23/11/2011 TSR 1.07 54 30 3.09 2.6 4.69 -
23/11/2011 ROE - - - - - - <50
13/03/2012 TSR 0.72 46 29 3.56 0.3 4.17 -
13/03/2012 TSR 0.72 46 29 3.56 2.3 4.17 -
13/03/2012 ROE - - - - - - <50
  1. The peer group volatility is calculated as the average volatility of the 22 peer group companies.

The share-based payments expense included in profit or loss for the year totalled $2,949,000 (2014: $4,632,000).

Independence Group NL

84

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

31 Share-based payments (continued)

Employee share scheme

Share rights granted after 1 July 2014

Vesting of the performance rights granted to executive directors and executives after 1 July 2014 is based on a total shareholder return ("TSR") scorecard. The TSR scorecard for the three year measurement period will be determined based on a percentile ranking of the Company's TSR results relative to the TSR of each of the companies in the peer group over the same three year measurement period.

The peer group is to comprise the constituents of the S&P ASX 300 Metals and Mining Index who are engaged in gold and/or based metals mining in Australia and have the closest market capitalisation to the Company.

The vesting schedule of the performance rights subject to relative TSR testing is as follows:

Relative TSR performance Level of vesting
Less than 50th percentile Zero
Between 50th and 75th percentile Pro-rata straight line percentage between 50% and 100%
75thpercentile or better 100%

The Company's TSR performance for share rights issued during the current financial year will be assessed against the following 22 peer group companies:

following 22 peer group companies:
Peer companies
* Aditya Birla Minerals Ltd * Oz Minerals Ltd
* Alacer Gold Corp. * PanAust Ltd
* Beadell Resources Ltd * Panoramic Resources Ltd
* Cudeco Ltd * Perseus Mining Limited
* Evolution Mining Limited * Regis Resources Limited
* Kingsgate Consolidated Limited * Resolute Mining Limited
* Medusa Mining Ltd * Saracen Mineral Holdings Limited
* Metals X Limited * Sandfire Resources Ltd
* Mincor Resources NL * Silver Lake Resources Limited
* Northern Star Resources Limited * Sirius Resources NL
* Oceana Gold Limited * Western Areas Ltd

Share rights granted prior to 30 June 2014

Vesting of the performance rights granted to executive directors and other executives of the Company prior to 30 June 2014 is subject to a combination of the Company’s shareholder return and return on equity. The performance rights will vest if over the three year measurement period the following performance hurdles are achieved:

Shareholder return

The vesting of 75% of the performance rights at the end of the third year will be based on measuring the actual shareholder return over the three year period compared with the change in the S&P ASX 300 Metals and Mining Index ("Index") over that same period: The portion of performance rights (75% of the total) that will vest based on the comparative shareholder return will be:

comparative shareholder return will be:
Shareholder return Level of vesting
100% of the Index 25%
Between 100% and 115% of the Index Pro-rata straight line percentage
115% of the Index orgreater 100%

Return on equity

The vesting of the remaining 25% of the performance rights at the end of the third year will be based on the average return on equity over the three year period compared with the average target return on equity as set by the Board for the same period.

Return on equity ("ROE") for each year will be calculated in accordance with the following formula:

ROE = Net profit after tax / Total shareholders’ equity

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

31 Share-based payments (continued)

Employee share scheme (continued)

The target ROE will be set each year by the Board as part of the budget approval process for the following year. The target ROE used in previous financial years was 10%.

The portion of performance rights (25% of the total) that will vest based on the comparative return on equity will be:

Actual ROE Level of vesting
100% of average target ROE 25%
Between 100% and 115% of average target ROE Pro-rata straight line percentage
115% of average target ROE orgreater 100%

Other employees

Vesting of the performance rights to all other employees of the Company is subject to a combination of the personal performance of the individual and the Company’s shareholder return over the measurement period, being one year. The performance rights will vest one year after measurement period on the following basis:

Personal performance

The vesting of between 60-90% of the number of performance rights at the end of the second year will be based on the personal performance of the individual employee. The personal performance of the participant will be determined solely at the discretion of the Company and is determined as a result of the annual performance review of each participant. The portion of performance rights (ranging between 60-90% of the total) that will vest based on the personal performance return will be:

performance return will be:
Performance standard criteria Level of vesting
Unsatisfactory work performance 0%
Improvement in performance standard required 0%
Developing contributor 40%
Consistent contributor 60%
Solid contributor 80%
Outstandingcontributor 100%

Shareholder return

The vesting of between 10-40% of the performance rights at the end of the second year will be based on measuring the actual shareholder return at the end of the measurement period of one year compared with the change in the S&P ASX 300 Metals and Mining Index ("Index") over that same period. The portion of performance rights (ranging between 10-40% of the total) that will vest based on the comparative shareholder return will be:

Shareholder return Level of vesting
100% of the Index 25%
Between 100% and 115% of the Index Pro-rata straight line percentage
115% of the Index orgreater 100%

The performance rights will not be subject to any further escrow restrictions once they have vested to the employees.

Share trading policy

The trading of shares issued to participants under the Company’s PRP is subject to, and conditional upon, compliance with the Company’s employee share trading policy.

Non-executive Directors

The PRP permits non-executive directors to be eligible employees and therefore to participate in the plan. It is not currently intended that non-executive directors will be issued with performance rights under the PRP and any such issue would be subject to all necessary shareholder approvals.

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

32 Commitments and contingencies

(a) Commitments

  • (i) Leasing commitments
(i)
Leasing commitments
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Operating lease commitments
Commitments for minimum lease payments in relation to non-cancellable operating
leases are payable as follows:
Within one year 1,275 1,374
Later than one year but not later than five years 5,516 6,768
Later than fiveyears 1,242 1,242
Total minimum leasepayments 8,033 9,384
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Finance lease and hire purchase commitments
Future minimum lease payments under lease contracts with the present value of net
minimum lease payments are as follows:
Within one year 522 3,671
Later than oneyear but not later than fiveyears - 522
Total minimum lease payments 522 4,193
Future finance charges (12) (175)
Present value of minimum leasepayments 510 4,018
Current 510 3,508
Non-current - 510
Total included in borrowings 510 4,018

(ii) Property, plant and equipment commitments

The Group had no specific contractual obligations to purchase plant and equipment at the reporting date (2014: $nil).

(b) Contingencies

The Group had guarantees outstanding at 30 June 2015 totalling $1,315,000 (2014: $15,950,000) which have been granted in favour of various third parties. The guarantees primarily relate to environmental and rehabilitation bonds at the various mine sites.

33 Events occurring after the reporting period

On 21 August 2015, the Company announced the establishment of a final dividend pool of $13,000,000. The record date for this final dividend is expected to be no later than 30 September 2015. The final dividend will be fully franked.

On 25 May 2015, the Company and Sirius Resources NL ("Sirius") announced the execution of a binding Scheme Implementation Deed ("SID") under which the Company will acquire all the issued capital of Sirius by way of an Acquisition Scheme of Arrangement (the "Acquisition Scheme"). In addition, Sirius will also undertake a demerger of its Polar Bear and Scandinavian exploration assets via a Demerger Scheme of Arrangement ("Demerger Scheme"), whereby the assets will be held in a new listed vehicle called S2 Resources Ltd.

If successful, the transaction will be implemented via two inter-conditional Schemes of Arrangement (the Acquisition Scheme and the Demerger Scheme), and a capital reduction to effect the demerger. In exchange for their shares, Sirius shareholders will receive:

  • 0.66 Independence Group shares for each Sirius share held;

  • Cash consideration of 52 cents cash for each Sirius share held; and

  • Circa one S2 share for every 2.5 Sirius shares held.

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

33 Events occurring after the reporting period (continued)

The Federal Court of Australia has given orders to Sirius approving the issue of the Acquisition Scheme and Demerger Scheme Booklets in relation to the proposed transaction. These Booklets were provided to Sirius shareholders in early August 2015, and will be followed by meetings of shareholders of Sirius to approve the Schemes to be held on 3 September 2015.

The Board of Sirius have unanimously recommended that, in the absence of a superior proposal, all Sirius shareholders vote in favour of the Acquisition Scheme.

In July 2015, the Company entered into a syndicated facility agreement ("Debt Agreement") with National Australia Bank Limited, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited and Commonwealth Bank of Australia Limited for a $550 million unsecured committed term finance facility. The Debt Agreement comprises:

• A five year $350 million amortising term loan facility that will be used to refinance the existing Nova Project finance facility, and provide funds for the continued development, construction and operation of the Nova Project; and • A five year $200 million revolving loan facility that will be used to partially fund the payment of the cash component of the Acquisition Scheme for Sirius (as discussed above) and transaction costs, in addition to providing funding for general corporate purposes.

The Debt Agreement has been entered into to assist the Company in meeting its obligations under the relevant acquisition documents that pertain to the acquisition of Sirius by the Company. The Debt Agreement is intended to provide the Company with funds required for the ongoing construction and development of Sirius’ Nova Project, as well as general corporate purposes. The Debt Agreement is conditional upon the successful acquisition of Sirius, to be determined by a court hearing for approval of the Scheme of Arrangement in September 2015.

Other than the above, there has not arisen in the interval between the end of the financial year and the date of this report any item, transaction or event of a material and unusual nature likely, in the opinion of the Director of the Company, to affect significantly the operations of the consolidated entity, the results of those operations, or the state of affairs of the consolidated entity, in future financial years, other than as stated elsewhere in the financial report.

34 Remuneration of auditors

The auditor of Independence Group NL is BDO Audit (WA) Pty Ltd.

2015 2014
$ $
Amounts received or due and receivable by BDO Audit (WA) Pty Ltd for:
Audit and review of financial statements 220,500 261,200
Other services in relation to the entity and any other entity in the consolidated
Group 35,913 2,350
256,413 263,550

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

35 Parent entity financial information

(a) Summary financial information

The following information relates to the parent entity, Independence Group NL, at 30 June. The information presented here has been prepared using consistent accounting policies as presented in note 2.

Restated*
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Balance sheet
Current assets 115,225 37,952
Non-current assets 614,930 653,904
Total assets 730,155 691,856
Current liabilities 24,717 26,013
Non-current liabilities 38,914 50,236
Total liabilities 63,631 76,249
Net assets 666,524 615,607
(666,524) (615,607)
Shareholders' equity
Issued capital 737,324 735,060
Reserves
Acquisition reserve 3,142 3,142
Hedging reserve - (2,038)
Share-based payments reserve 13,057 12,372
Accumulated losses (86,999) (134,967)
Total equity 666,524 613,569
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Profit or loss for the year 73,736 14,405
Other comprehensive income for theyear - -
Total comprehensive income for theyear 73,736 14,405

(b) Guarantees entered into by the parent entity

The parent entity has given unsecured guarantees in respect of finance leases of subsidiaries amounting to $510,000 (2014: $3,406,000).

There are cross guarantees given by the Independence Group NL, Independence Long Pty Ltd and Independence Jaguar Limited as described in note 36. No deficiencies of assets exist in any of these companies.

(c) Contingent liabilities of the parent entity

The parent entity did not have any contingent liabilities as at 30 June 2015 or 30 June 2014.

(d) Contractual commitments for the acquisition of property, plant or equipment

The parent entity did not have any outstanding contractual commitments for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment at 30 June 2015 or 30 June 2014.

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

36 Deed of cross guarantee

Independence Group NL, Independence Long Pty Ltd and Independence Jaguar Limited are parties to a deed of cross guarantee under which each company guarantees the debts of the others. By entering into the deed, the wholly-owned entities have been relieved from the requirement to prepare a financial report and directors' report under Class Order 98/1418 (as amended) issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

(a) Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income and summary of movements in consolidated retained earnings

The above companies represent a 'closed group' for the purposes of the Class Order, and as there are no other parties to the deed of cross guarantee that are controlled by Independence Group NL, they also represent the 'extended closed group'.

Set out below is a consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income and a summary of movements in consolidated retained earnings for the year ended 30 June 2015 of the closed group consisting of Independence Group NL, Independence Long Pty Ltd and Independence Jaguar Limited.

Restated*
Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income 2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Revenue from continuing operations 495,298 399,004
Other income 3,327 -
Mining, development and processing costs (135,352) (100,494)
Employee benefits expense (63,841) (61,196)
Share-based payments expense (2,949) (4,632)
Fair value movement of financial investments 1,467 (2)
Depreciation and amortisation expense (95,959) (66,521)
Rehabilitation and restoration borrowing costs (271) (269)
Exploration costs expensed (21,184) (22,930)
Royalty expense (15,647) (14,309)
Ore tolling expense (12,297) (11,973)
Shipping and wharfage expense (19,539) (17,551)
Borrowing and finance costs (1,566) (5,138)
Impairment of exploration and evaluation expenditure (3,461) (3,057)
Impairment of loans to subsidiaries (4,278) (12,518)
Other expenses (11,004) (9,362)
Profit before income tax 112,744 69,052
Income tax expense (35,142) (25,382)
Profit for the year 77,602 43,670
Other comprehensive income
Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss
Effectiveportion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges,net of tax 2,038 (4,435)
Other comprehensive income for theyear,net of tax 2,038 (4,435)
Total comprehensive income for the year 79,640 39,235
Summary of movements in consolidated retained earnings (accumulated Restated*
losses) 2015 2014
$'000 $'000
Accumulated losses at the beginning of the financial year (16,282) (50,619)
Profit for the year 77,602 43,670
Dividends paid (25,768) (9,333)
Retained earnings (accumulated losses) at the end of the financial year 35,552 (16,282)

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements 30 June 2015

36 Deed of cross guarantee (continued)

(b) Consolidated balance sheet

Set out below is a consolidated balance sheet as at 30 June 2015 of the closed group consisting of Independence Group NL, Independence Long Pty Ltd and Independence Jaguar Limited.

Restated*
2015 2014
$'000 $'000
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents 119,009 55,603
Trade and other receivables 19,179 27,637
Inventories 21,511 26,935
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 15,524 808
Derivative financial instruments 4,981 2,519
Total current assets 180,204 113,502
Non-current assets
Receivables 8 54
Property, plant and equipment 25,353 25,030
Mine properties 82,935 87,917
Exploration and evaluation expenditure 8,235 9,888
Deferred tax assets 130,725 151,498
Investments in controlled entities 139,333 139,276
Investments in joint ventures 316,150 312,373
Derivative financial instruments - 658
Total non-current assets 702,739 726,694
TOTAL ASSETS 882,943 840,196
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 52,389 38,866
Borrowings 510 3,508
Derivative financial instruments 2,384 6,381
Provisions 2,659 2,557
Total current liabilities 57,942 51,312
Non-current liabilities
Borrowings - 24,854
Derivative financial instruments 717 -
Provisions 13,942 13,540
Deferred tax liabilities 21,267 18,236
Total non-current liabilities 35,926 56,630
TOTAL LIABILITIES 93,868 107,942
NET ASSETS 789,075 732,254
EQUITY
Contributed equity 737,324 735,060
Other reserves 16,199 13,476
Retained earnings 35,552 (16,282)
TOTAL EQUITY 789,075 732,254

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Directors' declaration 30 June 2015

In the Directors' opinion:

  • (a) the financial statements and notes set out on pages 26 to 91 are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 , including:

  • (i) complying with Accounting Standards, the Corporations Regulations 2001 and other mandatory professional reporting requirements, and

  • (ii) giving a true and fair view of the consolidated entity's financial position as at 30 June 2015 and of its performance for the year ended on that date, and

  • (b) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Company will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable, and

  • (c) at the date of this declaration, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the members of the extended closed group identified in note 36 will be able to meet any obligations or liabilities to which they are, or may become, subject by virtue of the deed of cross guarantee described in note 36.

This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of Directors.

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Peter Bradford Managing Director Perth, Western Australia Dated this 21st day of August 2015

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Tel: +61 8 6382 4600 38 Station Street Fax: +61 8 6382 4601 Subiaco, WA 6008 www.bdo.com.au PO Box 700 West Perth WA 6872 Australia

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

To the members of Independence Group NL

Report on the Financial Report

We have audited the accompanying financial report of Independence Group NL, which comprises the consolidated balance sheet as at 30 June 2015, the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, the consolidated statement of changes in equity and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year then ended, notes comprising a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information, and the directors’ declaration of the consolidated entity comprising the company and the entities it controlled at the year’s end or from time to time during the financial year.

Directors’ Responsibility for the Financial Report

The directors of the company are responsible for the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Act 2001 and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view and is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In Note 2(a)(i), the directors also state, in accordance with Accounting Standard AASB 101 Presentation of Financial Stat ements, that the financial statements comply with International Financial Reporting Standards .

Auditor’s Responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial report based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Those standards require that we comply with relevant ethical requirements relating to audit engagements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report is free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial report. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the company’s preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial report.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

BDO Audit (WA) Pty Ltd ABN 79 112 284 787 is a member of a national association of independent entities which are all members of BDO Australia Ltd ABN 77 050 110 275, an Australian company limited by guarantee. BDO Audit (WA) Pty Ltd and BDO Australia Ltd are members of BDO International Ltd, a UK company limited by guarantee, and form part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation other than for the acts or omissions of financial services licensees

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Independence

In conducting our audit, we have complied with the independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 . We confirm that the independence declaration required by the Corporations Act 2001 , which has been given to the directors of Independence Group NL, would be in the same terms if given to the directors as at the time of this auditor’s report.

Opinion

In our opinion:

  • (a) the financial report of Independence Group NL is in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 , including:

  • (i) giving a true and fair view of the consolidated entity’s financial position as at 30 June 2015 and of its performance for the year ended on that date; and

  • (ii) complying with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Regulations 2001 ; and

  • (b) the financial report also complies with International Financial Reporting Standards as disclosed in Note 2(a)(i).

Report on the Remuneration Report

We have audited the Remuneration Report included in the directors’ report for the year ended 30 June 2015. The directors of the company are responsible for the preparation and presentation of the Remuneration Report in accordance with section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001 . Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Remuneration Report, based on our audit conducted in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards.

Opinion

In our opinion, the Remuneration Report of Independence Group NL for the year ended 30 June 2015 complies with section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001 .

BDO Audit (WA) Pty Ltd

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Ian Skelton

Director

Perth, 21 August 2015

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