TORONTO, February 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Young-Davidson Delivers Approximately $9 Million of Positive Net Free Cash Flow
AuRico Delivers Another Year of Consolidated Annual Production that Achieves Guidance Estimates
AuRico Gold Inc. (TSX: AUQ) (NYSE: AUQ), ("AuRico" or the "Company") reports financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2014. The Company will host a conference call on Friday, February 20, 2015 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/Quarterly.pdf
2014 Results versus Guidance
Total Production 2014 Results 2014 Guidance[1] Young-Davidson 156,753 140,000-160,000 El Chanate 67,279 70,000-80,000 224,032 210,000-240,000 Total Cash Costs per Ounce Young-Davidson Underground $719 $650-$750 Young-Davidson Historical Stockpile $1,071 $850-$950 El Chanate $669 $625-$725 $779 $675-$775 Total All-in Sustaining Costs per Ounce[2],[3] Young-Davidson $1,075 $1,100-$1,200 El Chanate $1,121 $1,000-$1,100 $1,200 $1,100-$1,200 Total Capital Investment ($000s)[4] Young-Davidson ($000s) $135,100 $135,000 El Chanate ($000s) $26,100 $20,000-$25,000 $161,200 $155,000-$160,000 Company-Wide Exploration ($000's) $18,700 $15,000 Corporate G&A[5] ($000's) $16,800 $20,000 1. The following currency assumptions were used to forecast 2014 estimates: 0.95:1 US dollar to the Canadian dollar and 13.0:1 Mexican pesos to the US dollar. 2. Company-wide all-in sustaining costs are defined as cash costs, sustaining capital, corporate general and administrative expense and sustaining exploration. 3. Sustaining capital is defined as capital expenditures required to maintain current levels of production. 4. Capital investment for Young-Davidson and El Chanate operations only. Excludes exploration costs, capitalized interest and other corporate capital investment. 5. Does not include share-based compensation and corporate restructuring costs.
Financial Highlights
Twelve Twelve Quarter Quarter Months Months Ended Ended Ended Ended Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31, (in thousands, except per share amounts) 2014 2013 2014 2013 Revenue from mining operations $71,194 $50,782 $291,182 $227,631 Adjusted net (loss) / earnings(1) ($9,492) ($5,484) ($37,968) $13,052 Adjusted net (loss) / earnings per share, basic(1) ($0.04) ($0.02) ($0.15) $0.05 Net loss ($108,259) ($106,412) ($169,648) ($176,770) Net loss, basic ($0.43) ($0.43) ($0.68) ($0.71) Adjusted operating cash flow(1) $18,367 $17,508 $64,709 $78,079 Adjusted operating cash flow, per share(1) $0.07 $0.07 $0.26 $0.31
(1) See the tables at the end of this press release for a reconciliation of adjusted net earnings and adjusted operating cash flow and refer to the discussion of Non-GAAP measures below.
Operational Highlights
Quarter Ended Dec. 31, 2014 Quarter Ended Dec. 31, 2013 Young- Young- Davidson El Chanate Total Davidson El Chanate Total Gold ounces produced 40,945 15,638 56,583 29,597 16,420 46,017 Gold ounces produced, pre-commercial production(3) - - - 3,509 - 3,509 Total gold ounces produced 40,945 15,638 56,583 33,106 16,420 49,526 Underground cash costs per ounce(1)(2)(4) $656 - $656 $663 - $663 Open pit cash costs per ounce(1)(2)(4) $994 $816 $873 $983 $615 $812 Total cash costs per ounce(2)(4) $719 $816 $746 $850 $615 $771 Twelve Months Ended Dec. 31, 2014 Twelve Months Ended Dec. 31, 2013 Young- Young- Davidson El Chanate Total Davidson El Chanate Total Gold ounces produced 156,753 67,279 224,032 89,236 71,864 161,100 Gold ounces produced, pre-commercial production(3) - - - 31,502 - 31,502 Total gold ounces produced 156,753 67,279 224,032 120,738 71,864 192,602 Underground cash costs per ounce(1)(2)(4) $719 - $719 $663 - $663 Open pit cash costs per ounce(1)(2)(4) $1,071 $669 $839 $757 $592 $677 Cash costs per ounce(2)(4) $825 $669 $779 $744 $592 $676
(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 22 of the Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 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 twelve months ended December 31, 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 Highlights
"In 2014, we continued to deliver on our commitment to operational excellence and shareholder value creation. We delivered another year of production growth and declining costs at our cornerstone Young-Davidson mine, which underpinned the asset's transition to net free cash flow status in the fourth quarter where the operation reported an impressive $9 million in net free cash flow," stated Scott Perry, stated President and Chief Executive Officer. He continued, "In 2015, we will continue to focus on positioning the Company as a low cost, high margin operation with an organic growth profile and an expanded portfolio of quality properties located in the leading jurisdictions of Canada and Mexico."
Adjusted Net Earnings Reconciliation
Quarter Ended Quarter Ended (in thousands, except per share metrics) Dec. 31, 2014 Dec. 31, 2013 Net loss ($108,259) ($106,412) Adjustments: Deferred income tax expense related to foreign exchange $14,128 $12,826 Foreign exchange losses 2,017 3,223 Loss on retained interest royalty 3,033 - Net realizable value adjustments on inventory 16,437 37,196 Impairment charges 91,006 59,886 Gain on option component of convertible notes - (772) Unrealized loss on contingent consideration - 483 Impact of new Mexican mining tax - 4,917 Other (including tax effect of adjustments) (27,854) (16,831) Adjusted net loss ($9,492) ($5,484) Adjusted net loss, per share ($0.04) ($0.02) Twelve Months Ended Twelve Months Ended (in thousands, except per share metrics) Dec. 31, 2014 Dec. 31, 2013 Net loss ($169,648) ($176,770) Adjustments: Deferred income tax expense related to foreign exchange $16,913 $9,783 Foreign exchange loss / (gain) 5,238 4,289 Loss on retained interest royalty 10,825 - Net realizable value adjustments on inventory 23,534 42,069 Impairment charges 91,622 158,574 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) - Gain on option component of convertible notes - (15,622) Unrealized gain on derivatives - (2,071) Unrealized loss on contingent consideration - 7,395 Impact of new Mexican mining tax - 4,917 Other (including tax effect of adjustments) (25,047) (19,512) Adjusted net (loss) / earnings ($37,968) $13,052 Adjusted net (loss) / earnings, per share ($0.15) $0.05
Adjusted Operating Cash Flow Reconciliation
(in thousands, except per share metrics) Quarter Ended Quarter Ended Dec. 31, 2014 Dec. 31, 2013 Operating cash flow $28,486 $11,954 Add back: Non-cash change in operating working capital (10,119) 5,554 Adjusted operating cash flow $18,367 $17,508 Adjusted operating cash flow, per share $0.07 $0.07 Twelve Months Twelve Months (in thousands, except per share metrics) Ended Ended Dec. 31, 2014 Dec. 31, 2013 Operating cash flow $60,414 $63,266 Add back: Non-cash change in operating working capital 4,295 14,813 Adjusted operating cash flow $64,709 $78,079 Adjusted operating cash flow, per share $0.26 $0.31
Adjusted Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA")
(in thousands) Quarter Ended Quarter Ended Dec. 31, 2014 Dec. 31, 2013 EBITDA ($87,309) $80,069 Add back: Exploration 17 20 Non-cash items identified in supplemental cash flow note, excluding amortization and depletion, and deferred income tax expense / recovery 108,434 95,228 Adjusted EBITDA $21,142 $15,179 (in thousands) Twelve Months Ended Twelve Months Ended Dec. 31, 2014 Dec. 31, 2013 EBITDA ($43,960) ($103,213) Add back: Exploration 77 41 Non-cash items identified in supplemental cash flow note, excluding amortization and depletion, and deferred income tax expense / recovery 129,803 196,986 Adjusted EBITDA $85,920 $87,814
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 22 of the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 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 losses on investments, corporate restructuring costs, losses on the retained interest royalty and convertible notes tender offer, impairment charges, gain on the transfer of a litigation claim, 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").
Q4 2014 Dividend Declared
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 February 19, 2015, the Board of Directors declared the Company's quarterly dividend payment of $0.023 per share for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2014, payable on March 16, 2015 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 2, 2015.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan Highlights
The Company implemented a Dividend Reinvestment Plan ("DRIP" or "the Plan") on June 11, 2013 that provides a convenient and cost-effective way for eligible shareholders to acquire additional common shares ("shares") of the Company by reinvesting cash dividends paid on their shareholdings. Highlights of the Plan include:
A copy of the Plan is available on the Company's website at http://www.auricogold.com/DRIP.
Webcast and Conference call
A webcast and conference call will be held on Friday, February 20, 2015 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 Fourth Quarter and Year-End 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/1470369/1636711.
Archive Call Access
If you are unable to attend the conference call, a replay will be available until midnight, February 27, 2015 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/1470369/1636711.
About AuRico Gold
AuRico Gold is a leading Canadian gold producer with mines and projects in North America that have significant production growth and exploration potential. The Company is focused on its core operations including the cornerstone Young-Davidson gold mine in northern Ontario, and the El Chanate mine in Sonora State, Mexico. AuRico's project pipeline also includes the advanced development Kemess Property in northern British Columbia and the Lynn Lake Gold Camp in northern Manitoba. The Company also has other exploration 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 estimates, 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 appropriate regulatory authorities; 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.
In particular, forward-looking information included in this document includes, but is not limited to: (1) production estimates and production growth rates, which assume accuracy of projected ore grade, mining rates, recovery timing and recovery rate estimates and may be impacted by unscheduled maintenance, labour and contractor availability; (2) capital expenditures and other cash costs, which assume foreign exchange rates and accuracy of production estimates, and may be impacted by unexpected maintenance, the need to hire external resources and accelerated capital plans; (3) profits and free cash flow, which assume production and expenditure estimates and may be impacted by gold prices, production estimates, and the timing of payments, and (4) reserves and resources which are forward looking statements by their nature involving implied assessment, and may be impacted by metal prices, future drilling results, operating costs, mining recoveries and dilution rates.
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://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2015/02/19/20150219_C9745_DOC_EN_43380.pdf
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
