TORONTO, November 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
AuRico Gold Inc. (TSX: AUQ) (NYSE: AUQ), ("AuRico" or the "Company") reports financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014. The Company will host a conference call on Friday, November 7, 2014 beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (details below). (All amounts are in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.)
To view "Company Wide Quarterly Production Growth", please click:http://files.newswire.ca/975/Q3FinancialResultsGraph.pdf
Quarter Ended (in thousands, Sept. except per share Quarter Ended 30, Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended amounts) Sept. 30, 2014 2013 Sept. 30, 2014 Sept. 30, 2013 Revenue from mining operations $73,505 $54,304 $219,988 $176,849 Adjusted net (loss) / earnings(1) ($5,585) $816 ($28,476) $18,536 Adjusted net (loss) / earnings per share, basic(1) ($0.02) $0.00 ($0.11) $0.07 Net (loss) / earnings ($15,722) $14,859 ($61,389) ($70,358) Net (loss) / earnings per share, basic ($0.06) $0.06 ($0.25) ($0.28) Adjusted operating cash flow(1) $20,615 $21,758 $46,342 $60,571 Adjusted operating cash flow, per share(1) $0.08 $0.09 $0.19 $0.24
Financial Highlights
See the tables at the end of this press release for a reconciliation of adjusted net earnings and adjusted operating cash flow and refer (1) to the discussion of Non-GAAP measures below.
Quarter Ended Sept. 30, 2014 Quarter Ended Sept. 30, 2013 Young- El Young- El Davidson Chanate Total Davidson Chanate Total Gold ounces produced 40,538 16,499 57,037 19,652 18,804 38,456 Gold ounces produced, pre-commercial production(3) - - - 10,447 - 10,447 Total gold ounces produced 40,538 16,499 57,037 30,099 18,804 48,903 Underground cash costs per ounce(1)(2)(4) $656 - $656 - - - Open pit cash costs per ounce(1)(2)(4) $923 $663 $765 $666 $588 $628 Total cash costs per ounce(2)(4) $723 $663 $706 $666 $588 $628 Nine Months ended Sept. 30, 2014 Nine Months ended Sept. 30, 2013 Young- El Young- El Davidson Chanate Total Davidson Chanate Total Gold ounces produced 115,808 51,641 167,449 59,639 55,444 115,083 Gold ounces produced, pre-commercial production(3) - - - 27,993 - 27,993 Total gold ounces produced 115,808 51,641 167,449 87,632 55,444 143,076 Underground cash costs per ounce(1)(2)(4) $747 - $747 - - - Open pit cash costs per ounce(1)(2)(4) $1,086 $621 $830 $692 $586 $640 Cash costs per ounce(2)(4) $862 $621 $791 $692 $586 $640
Operational Highlights
(1) Prior to commissioning the underground mine at Young-Davidson, cash costs were calculated on ounces produced from the open pit only. All underground costs were capitalized, and any revenue related to underground ounces sold was credited against capital. Subsequent to the declaration of commercial production in the underground mine on October 31, 2013, cash costs are calculated on ounces from both the open pit and underground mines, and revenue related to the sale of underground ounces is recognized in the Company's Statement of Operations as revenue. (2) Cash costs are prior to inventory net realizable value adjustments, where applicable. See the Non-GAAP Measures section on page 18 of the Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014. (3) Includes pre-production gold ounces from the Young-Davidson underground mine prior to the declaration of commercial production on October 31, 2013. (4) For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, cash costs per gold ounce are calculated using gold ounces sold at the El Chanate and Young-Davidson mines. For 2013, cash costs per gold ounce were calculated using gold ounces sold at the El Chanate mine and gold ounces produced at the Young-Davidson mine.
Recent Highlights
Young-Davidson Highlights
El Chanate Update
"Our operation teams continue to build on the successes achieved in prior quarters and they have delivered the ninth consecutive quarter of production growth as well as a significant 17% decrease in cash costs at our cornerstone Young-Davidson mine," stated Scott Perry, President and Chief Executive Officer. He continued, "The Company continues to take a longer term view to position our operations for sustainable growth and shareholder value creation that will drive long term success. As we begin the fourth quarter the Company is very well positioned to deliver another consecutive quarter of production growth and we remain confident that in the current gold price environment the Young-Davidson mine will be generating positive free cash flow by the end of the year."
Adjusted Net Earnings Reconciliation
Quarter Ended Quarter Ended (in thousands, except per share metrics) Sept. 30, 2014 Sept. 30, 2013 Net (loss) / earnings ($15,722) $14,859 Adjustments: Deferred income tax expense / (recovery) related to foreign exchange 14,253 (7,335) Foreign exchange (gain) / losses (11,230) 2,482 Loss on retained interest royalty 2,977 - Net realizable value adjustments on inventory 7,097 (7,372) Impairment charges 616 - Gain on transfer of litigation claim (3,177) - Unrealized and realized loss on investments - 121 Gain on option component of convertible notes - (3,875) Unrealized gain on derivatives - (301) Unrealized loss on contingent consideration - 63 Other (including tax effect of adjustments) (399) 2,174 Adjusted net (loss) / earnings ($5,585) $816 Adjusted net (loss) / earnings, per share ($0.02) $0.00 Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended (in thousands, except per share metrics) Sept. 30, 2014 Sept. 30, 2013 Net loss ($61,389) ($70,358) Adjustments: Deferred income tax expense related to foreign exchange 15,601 5,218 Foreign exchange gain (9,595) (7,195) Loss on retained interest royalty 7,792 - Net realizable value adjustments on inventory 7,097 4,873 Impairment charges 616 98,688 Gain on transfer of litigation claim (3,177) - Loss on convertible notes tender offer 15,645 - Corporate restructuring costs 2,716 - Unrealized and realized (gain) / loss on investments (6,589) 437 Gain on option component of convertible notes (413) (14,850) Unrealized gain on derivatives - (2,183) Unrealized loss on contingent consideration - 6,912 Other (including tax effect of adjustments) 3,220 (3,006) Adjusted net (loss) / earnings ($28,476) $18,536 Adjusted net (loss) / earnings, per share ($0.11) $0.07
Adjusted Operating Cash Flow Reconciliation
Quarter Ended Quarter Ended Sept. 30, Sept. 30, (in thousands, except per share metrics) 2014 2013 Operating cash flow $2,788 $24,338 Add back: Non-cash change in operating working capital 17,827 (2,580) Adjusted operating cash flow $20,615 $21,758 Adjusted operating cash flow, per share $0.08 $0.09 Nine Months Nine Months Ended Ended Sept. 30, Sept. 30, (in thousands, except per share metrics) 2014 2013 Operating cash flow $31,928 $51,312 Add back: Non-cash change in operating working capital 14,414 9,259 Adjusted operating cash flow $46,342 $60,571 Adjusted operating cash flow, per share $0.19 $0.24
Adjusted Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA")
Quarter Ended Quarter Ended Sept. 30, Sept. 30, (in thousands) 2014 2013 EBITDA $34,778 $24,719 Add back: Exploration 33 3 Non-cash items identified in supplemental cash flow note, excluding amortization and depletion, and deferred income tax expense / recovery (6,193) (3,885) Adjusted EBITDA $28,618 $20,837 Nine Months Nine Months Ended Ended Sept. 30, Sept. 30, (in thousands) 2014 2013 EBITDA $56,165 ($20,883) Add back: Exploration 60 22 Non-cash items identified in supplemental cash flow note, excluding amortization and depletion, and deferred income tax expense / recovery 8,553 93,497 Adjusted EBITDA $64,778 $72,636
Non-GAAP Measures
The Company uses the measures adjusted net earnings, cash costs per ounce, adjusted operating cash flow, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in this press release, which do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS" or "GAAP"). They are, therefore, considered to be non-GAAP measures and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The non-GAAP measures cash costs per ounce and EBITDA are reconciled to the Company's financial statements beginning on page 18 of the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.
Adjusted net earnings is comprised of net earnings, adjusted for specific items. While the adjustments to net earnings in this measure include items that are recurring, adjusted net earnings is a useful measure as the unrealized gains / losses on foreign exchange, fair value adjustments on contingent consideration and derivatives, unrealized and realized gains and loss on investments, corporate restructuring costs, losses on the retained interest royalty, impairment charges, net realizable value adjustments on inventory, and other non-recurring items do not reflect the underlying operating performance of the Company's core mining business in the periods presented and are not necessarily indicative of future operating results.
Adjusted operating cash flow excludes the change in non-cash operating working capital, which includes changes in receivables, inventories, prepaid assets, and payables. Management uses adjusted operating cash flow as a measure internally to evaluate the underlying operating cash flow performance of the Company as a whole for the reporting periods presented, and to assist with the planning and forecasting of future operating cash flow.
Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA, adjusted for exploration expense and other non-cash items included in earnings. While the adjustments to net earnings in this measure includes items that are recurring, adjusted EBITDA is a valuable indicator of the Company's ability to generate liquidity by producing operating cash flow to fund working capital needs, service debt obligations, and fund capital expenditures.
Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis
The financial statements and related Management's Discussion and Analysis can be found on the Company's website at http://www.auricogold.com or under the Company's profile on http://www.sedar.com and with the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml ("Edgar").
Q3 2014 Dividend Declared
Commencing in 2014, the quarterly dividend is linked to operating cash flow ("OCF"), whereby the Company pays out 20% of the OCF generated in the preceding quarter, divided by the Company's outstanding common shares at the time the dividend is approved. On November 6, 2014, the Board of Directors declared the Company's quarterly dividend payment of $0.00225 per share for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014, payable on December 1, 2014 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 17, 2014. Further information on the Company's dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) is available through the following link: http://www.auricogold.com/DRIP.
Third Quarter Webcast and Conference Call
A webcast and conference call will be held on Friday, November 7, 2014 starting at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Senior Management will be on the call to discuss the results.
Conference Call Access:
Please ask to be placed into the AuRico Gold 2014 Third Quarter Results Conference Call.
Conference Call Live Webcast The conference call will be broadcast live on the internet via webcast. To access the webcast, please follow this link: http://www.newswire.ca/en/webcast/detail/1421804/1579264.
Archive Call Access If you are unable to attend the conference call, a replay will be available until midnight, November 14, 2014 by dialing the appropriate number below:
Archive Webcast
The webcast will be archived for 90 days. To access the archived webcast, visit the Company's website at
http://www.auricogold.com or follow this link: http://www.newswire.ca/en/webcast/detail/1421804/1579264.
About AuRico Gold AuRico Gold is a leading Canadian gold producer with mines and projects in North America that have solid production growth and exploration potential. The Company is focused on its core operations including the Young-Davidson gold mine in northern Ontario and the El Chanate mine in Sonora State, Mexico. AuRico's project pipeline also includes development opportunities in Canada and Mexico. AuRico's head office is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Cautionary Statement
This press release contains certain information that constitutes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" as defined under Canadian and U.S. securities laws. All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "contemplate", "may", "could", "will", "intend", "estimate", "forecast", "target", "budget", "schedule" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, those under the headings , "Young-Davidson Highlights" and "El Chanate Highlights" which include, without limitation, statements with respect to our expectations on underground productivity levels, underground unit mining cost, underground development, mill facility processing rate, cash flow, free cash flow, cash costs, capital investment and timing to completion on the final leg of the Northgate production shaft, information as to our strategy, plans and future financial and operating performance, such as our expansion plans, project timelines, production plans, projected cash flows or capital expenditure levels, cost estimates, mining or milling methods, projected exploration results, resource and reserve estimates and other statements that express our expectations or estimates of future performance.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at the time of making such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to: changes to current estimates of mineral reserves and resources; fluctuations in the price of gold; changes in foreign exchange rates (particularly the Canadian dollar, Mexican peso and U.S. dollar); the impact of inflation; changes in our credit rating; any decision to declare a quarterly dividend; employee relations; litigation; disruptions affecting operations; availability of and increased costs associated with mining inputs and labor; development delays at the Young-Davidson mine; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; inherent risks associated with mining and mineral processing; the risk that the Young-Davidson and El Chanate mines may not perform as planned; uncertainty with the Company's ability to secure capital to execute its business plans; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, including the necessary licenses, permits, authorizations and/or approvals from the appropriate regulatory authorities for the Kemess Underground project; contests over title to properties; changes in national and local government legislation in Canada, Mexico and other jurisdictions in which the Company does or may carry on business in the future; risk of loss due to sabotage and civil disturbances; the impact of global liquidity and credit availability and the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future cash flows; risks arising from holding derivative instruments; business opportunities that may be pursued by the Company, as well as those factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form.
Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Such statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, the assumptions set forth in our most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements.
There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Concerning Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources
This press release uses the terms "measured", "indicated" and "inferred" resources. We advise investors that while those terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. "Inferred resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated mineral resources will ever be converted into mineral reserves. United States investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
PDF available at: http://40rhel5streamview01.newswire.ca/media/2014/11/06/20141106-763428-43191-ff470b47-f41e-440b-91b5-77db0ec37cb6.pdf
For further information:
For further information please visit the AuRico Gold website at http://www.auricogold.com or contact:
Rob Chausse Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer AuRico Gold Inc. +1-647-260-8880
Anne Day Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications AuRico Gold Inc. +1-647-260-8880
