Aura Minerals Inc. ("Aura Minerals" or the "Company") (TSX:ORA) announces
financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2012.
This release does not constitute management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A")
as contemplated by applicable securities laws and should be read in conjunction
with the MD&A and the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for
the year ended December 31, 2012, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com
and on the Company's website.
Summarized Results:
-- Operating cash flow(1) of $12.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2012
and $18.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to $15.0
million for the fourth quarter of 2011 and $49.5 million for the year
ended December 31, 2011;
-- Net sales revenue in the fourth quarter of 2012 was consistent with the
fourth quarter of 2011 while revenue for the year ended December 31,
2012 increased 7% over the prior year. The average realized prices per
oz for the quarters ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 were $1,725 and
$1,669 per oz, respectively, which closely compare to the average market
prices (London PM Fix);
-- Shipments of copper concentrate for the quarters ended December 31, 2012
and 2011 totaled 4,110 dry metric tonnes ("DMT") and 4,711 DMT,
respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, shipments
of copper concentrate were 20,321 DMT and 13,455 DMT, respectively;
-- Gold oz production in the fourth quarter of 2012 was 15% higher compared
to the fourth quarter of 2011. For the year ended December 31, 2012 gold
oz production was 8% higher than the prior year;
-- Copper production at Aranzazu for the fourth quarter of 2012 and 2011
was 2,223,100 pounds and 2,856,500 pounds, respectively, a decrease of
22%. On-site average cash cost per pound of payable copper produced, net
of gold and silver credits was $5.42 for the fourth quarter of 2012
compared to $2.32 for the fourth quarter of 2011. Copper production at
Aranzazu for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 was 10,980,100
and 7,695,300, respectively, an increase of 43%. On-site average cash
cost(1) per pound of payable copper produced, net of gold and silver
credits was $3.63 for the full year of 2012 compared to $2.82 for the
full year of 2011;
-- Gross margin of $(2.6) million and $(16.9) for the fourth quarter and
full year 2012, respectively, compared to a gross margin of $3.7 million
and $24.2 million for the fourth quarter and full year 2011,
respectively;
-- Loss of $9.7 million or $0.04 per share for the fourth quarter of 2012
compared to a loss of $10.1 million or $0.04 per share for the fourth
quarter of 2011. Loss for 2012 of $56.8 million or $0.25 per share
compared to a loss of $41.8 million or $0.19 per share for 2011;
-- For the year ended December 31, 2012, amended the revolving credit
facility, extending the maturity to June 30, 2014 and increasing the
credit available to $45 million;
-- Completed the Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Aranzazu expansion
project. Subsequent to year end, in February 2013, a partial roasting
facility package has been selected and awarded, with an expected
delivery time of 46 weeks;
-- Completed the definitive Feasibility Study for the Serrote Project;
-- The Company optimized the Sao Francisco mine plan in order to maximize
the remaining cash flows. It is anticipated that, with current
information available, mining activity at Sao Francisco will cease in
late 2013 and final processing of the heap treatment will continue
during 2014 until closure date. Sao Vicente's mining activity will cease
in mid-2013 and final processing of the heap treatment will continue
until closure in 2014. The Company has been investigating multiple
options to maximize the value of the assets of these mines; and
-- Subsequent to year end, received R$20 million (approximately US$10
million) in preliminary bridge financing for Serrote development.
(1) Please see cautionary note at the end of this press release.
Mr. Jim Bannantine, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer stated,
"Aura finished 2012 with a good fourth quarter and demonstrated an upward trend,
which is shown by our steady and growing operating cash flow quarter on quarter.
This appears to be continuing into 2013 as on a pro-rata, year-to-date basis,
the Company has been performing to previously circulated 2013 guidance.
Management reconfirms this guidance.
We have made significant operational improvements and addressed the challenges
that impacted our existing operations during 2012 with logical and
cost-efficient solutions. We have also made significant progress on our
expansion and development projects, the future cash flows from which are
expected to replace the income stream that we forego following the closure of
the Brazilian gold mines. Consideration is being given to exchanging - for value
- the assets of the Brazilian operating mines into one or more junior mining
companies that will be developing and building new mining projects.
The Aranzazu expansion is on schedule and on budget and we have awarded the
partial roasting facility which is expected to substantially reduce the level of
Arsenic in the concentrate. Serrote's development is on schedule and below
budget. The required land acquisitions have been substantially completed and we
have awarded the engineering and the contracts for the major equipment required
for the process plant, with the project financing well underway.
We believe that the Company is better positioned at the end of 2012 than it was
at the end of 2011, based on its operational run rate and streamlined
organization. The status of development and execution of our new projects will
drive our future growth, adding substantial value for all stakeholders."
Production and Cash Costs
The Company's production and cash costs for the three and twelve months ended
December 31, 2012 are summarized in the table below:
For the three months ended For the year ended
December 31, 2012 December 31, 2012
Oz Cash Oz Cash
Produced Costs(1) Produced Costs(1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Andres 11,936 $ 1,242 59,751 $ 1,015
Sao Francisco 29,368 1,218 80,357 1,528
Sao Vicente 8,952 1,092 33,155 1,537
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Total / Average 50,256 $ 1,201 173,263 $ 1,353
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Gold production at San Andres in the fourth quarter 2012 decreased 10% over the
comparable period due to lower feed grade and recoveries.
Average cash cost per oz of gold produced(1) in the fourth quarter of 2012 was
12% higher than the fourth quarter of 2011. The increased cash cost per oz of
gold produced was a result of lower oz produced.
Gold production at Sao Francisco in the fourth quarter of 2012 was 67% higher
than the fourth quarter of 2011 primarily due to the higher plant feed.
Average cash cost per oz of gold produced in the fourth quarter of 2012 was 23%
lower than the fourth quarter of 2011. The decreased average cash cost per oz of
gold produced was primarily a result of focusing mining in the higher grade
south end of the Sao Francisco pit to provide a large sump that would allow
continued mining of the pit base during rainy season. The higher grade in the
base of the pit has confirmed the model predictions of increased grade in the
south end and will allow the mine to optimise the short term model reliability.
At Sao Vicente, 32% less gold oz were produced during the quarter ended December
31, 2012 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2011 due to lower grades and
the unexpected failure of the primary crusher at Sao Vicente during the third
quarter. A rented crusher was utilized to mitigate this failure. The original
primary crusher was replaced at the end of December 2012 and is working well
with high availability.
The average cash cost per oz of gold produced(1) in the fourth quarter of 2012
was 8% higher than the average cash cost in the fourth quarter of 2011. The
increase in the average cash cost per oz produced over the comparable period in
2011 was due to the lower grade processed.
Copper concentrate produced decreased by 14% in the fourth quarter 2012 when
compared to the fourth quarter of 2011.
Average cash cost per payable pound of copper produced(1) for the fourth quarter
of 2012 increased 134% compared to the fourth quarter of 2011. Average cash cost
per payable pound of copper produced(1) increased to $5.42 from the third
quarter of 2012 of $4.48 per payable pound of copper due to low production
volumes and excess penalties and charges related to elevated arsenic levels. The
impact on the fourth quarter of 2012's average cash cost(1) as a result of
arsenic related charges and penalties is estimated to be $1.21 per payable pound
of copper against the third quarter of 2012 of $1.14 per payable pound of
copper.
(1) Please see cautionary note at the end of this press release.
Brazilian Mines - Value Maximization
The Company has been investigating multiple options to maximize the disposal and
closure value of the assets of the Sao Francisco and Sao Vicente mines,
including selling the plant and equipment and utilizing key members of their
operating teams in other group locations.
Revenues and Cost of Goods Sold
Revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $86,404,000
and $85,750,000, respectively. The Company's revenue for the fourth quarter 2012
is comprised of sales of gold from the Company's gold mines of $81,469,000 and
copper concentrate sales from Aranzazu of $4,935,000 compared to $75,468,000
from the gold mines and $10,282,000 from Aranzazu for the fourth quarter of
2011.
For the three For the three For the For the
months ended months ended year ended year ended
December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
2012 2011 2012 2011
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Andres, (oz) 12,632 15,921 52,690 65,988
Sao Francisco, (oz) 26,790 17,156 77,350 55,559
Sao Vicente, (oz) 8,164 13,028 34,912 44,289
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total ounces sold 47,586 46,105 164,952 165,836
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized
average gold
price per
ounce ("oz") $ 1,725 $ 1,669 $ 1,667 $ 1,572
Gold sales
revenues (in
'000's) net
of local
sales taxes $ 81,469 $ 75,468 $ 270,445 $ 257,147
Copper
concentrate
sales (in
'000's) $ 4,935 $ 10,282 $ 36,967 $ 31,293
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net sales
(in '000's) $ 86,404 $ 85,750 $ 307,412 $ 288,440
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 8% increase in gold sales resulted from a 3% increase in oz sold and a 3%
increase in the realized average gold price per oz. The 52% decrease in copper
concentrate sales resulted from a 13% decrease in DMT sold and a 45% decrease in
the average price realized per DMT. The average price realized per DMT decreased
due to the impact of the arsenic penalties and charges.
For the three months ended December 31, 2012, the Company recorded total cost of
goods sold of $89,027,000. Cost of gold sold of $76,453,000 or $1,607 per ounce
consisted of cash costs of $58,309,000 or $1,225 per ounce and non-cash
depletion and amortization charges of $18,144,000 or $382 per ounce. Cost of
copper concentrate sold of $12,574,000 or $3,059 per DMT consisted of cash costs
of $11,246,000 or $2,736 per DMT and non-cash costs of $1,328,000 or $323 per
DMT.
For the three months ended December 31, 2011, the Company recorded total cost of
goods sold of $82,044,000. Cost of gold sold of $67,754,000 or $1,470 per ounce
consisted of cash costs of $56,462,000 or $1,225 per ounce and non-cash
depletion and amortization charges of $11,292,000 or $245 per ounce. Cost of
copper concentrate sold of $14,290,000 or $3,033 per DMT consisted of cash costs
of $6,891,000 or $1,462 per DMT and non-cash costs of $7,399,000 or $1,571 per
DMT.
Additional Highlights
Other expense items for the fourth quarter of 2012 include general and
administrative expenses of $4,935,000 (2011: $4,577,000) and exploration
expenses of $419,000 (2011: $3,779,000). The fourth quarter 2011 exploration
primarily consisted of expenditures at the Serrote Project of $3,173,000.
Additionally, for the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company recorded finance costs
of $2,837,000 (2011: $1,082,000), interest and other income of $17,000 (2011:
$523,000), and other gains of $899,000 (2011: loss of $3,580,000). Loss before
income taxes for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $9,932,000 (2011: $9,835,000).
For the quarter ended December 31, 2012, the Company recorded income tax
recovery of $251,000 (2011: expense of $286,000) comprising a current income tax
expense of $1,564,000 (2011: $1,655,000) relating to the San Andres Mine, offset
by a future income tax recovery of $1,313,000 (2011: $1,369,000).
For the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company recorded a loss of $9,681,000 or
$0.04 per share. This compares to a loss of $10,121,000 or $0.04 per share for
the fourth quarter 2011.
Outlook and Strategy
Aura Minerals' future profitability, operating cash flows and financial position
will be closely related to the prevailing prices of gold and copper. Key factors
influencing the price of gold and copper include the supply of and demand for
these commodities, the relative strength of currencies (particularly the U.S.
dollar) and macroeconomic factors such as current and future expectations for
inflation and interest rates. Management believes that the short-to-medium term
economic environment is likely to remain supportive for both gold and copper
prices but with continued volatility for both.
Other key factors influencing profitability and operating cash flows are
production levels (impacted by grades, ore quantities, labour, plant and
equipment availabilities, and process recoveries) and production and processing
costs (impacted by production levels, prices and usage of key consumables,
labour, inflation, and exchange rates).
Aura Minerals' production and cash cost per oz guidance for the 2013 year is as
follows:
Gold Mines Cash Cost per oz 2013 Production
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Andres $1,000 - $1,150 60,000 - 65,000 oz
Sao Francisco $1,100 - $1,250 78,000 - 88,000 oz
Sao Vicente $ 950 - $1,100 28,000 - 32,000 oz
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1,050 - $1,200 166,000 - 185,000 oz
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aranzazu's production for 2013 is expected to be between 13,000,000 and
15,000,000 pounds of copper at a range of $3.10 to $3.60 average cash cost per
payable pound of copper.
In the first quarter of 2013 and to the date of this press release, the
indicators have been that the pro-rata guidance will be achieved at each
operating mine.
For 2013, capital spending is expected to be $101 million. Of this amount, $53
million relates to growth and sustaining capital for existing mines - including
$36 million on the Aranzazu expansion and roaster installation and $7 million on
Phase V of the heap leach expansion and community expenditures at San Andres.
The remaining $48 million relates to the development and initial construction of
Serrote.
Conference Call
Aura Minerals' management will host a conference call and audio webcast for
analysts and investors on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time)
to review the fourth quarter and full year 2012 results. Participants may access
the call by dialing 416-340-8530 or the toll-free access at 1-888-340-9642.
Participants are encouraged to call in 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start
time to avoid delays.
The call is being webcast and can be accessed at Aura Minerals' website at
www.auraminerals.com. Those who wish to listen to a recording of the conference
call at a later time may do so by dialing 905-694-9451 or 1-800-408-3053
(Passcode 6892960#). The conference call replay will be available from 2:00 p.m.
on March 21, 2013, until 11:59 p.m. (EST) on April 4, 2013.
Non-GAAP Measures
This news release includes certain non-GAAP performance measures, in particular,
the average cash cost of gold per oz, average cash cost per payable pound of
copper and operating cash flow which are non-GAAP performance measures. These
non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning within IFRS and therefore
may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The
Company believes that these measures provide investors with additional
information which is useful in evaluating the Company's performance and should
not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance
prepared in accordance with IFRS.
Average cash costs per oz of gold or per payable pound of copper are presented
as they represent an industry standard method of comparing certain costs on a
per unit basis. Total cash costs of gold produced include on-site mining,
processing and administration costs, off-site refining and royalty charges,
reduced by silver by-product credits, but exclude amortization, reclamation, and
exploration costs, as well as capital expenditures. Total cash costs of gold
produced are divided by oz produced to arrive at per oz cash costs. Similarly,
total cash costs of copper produced include the above costs, and are net of gold
and silver by-products, but include offsite treatment and refining charges.
Total cash costs of copper produced are divided by payable pounds of copper
produced to arrive at per payable pound cash costs.
Operating cash flow is the term the Company uses to describe the cash that is
generated from operations excluding depletion and amortization, stock based
compensation, impairment charges and the effect of changes in working capital.
About Aura Minerals Inc.
Aura Minerals is a Canadian mid-tier gold and copper production company focused
on the development and operation of gold and base metal projects in the
Americas. The Company's producing assets include the San Andres gold mine in
Honduras, the Sao Francisco and Sao Vicente gold mines in Brazil and the
copper-gold-silver Aranzazu mine in Mexico. The Company's core development asset
is the copper-gold-iron Serrote project in Brazil. Activities to date on the
Serrote project include detailed negotiations for debt and equity financing, a
geotechnical drill program, the engineering has been awarded and the Company has
commenced advancing with early procurement.
National Instrument 43-101 Compliance
Unless otherwise indicated, Aura Minerals has prepared the technical information
in this press release ("Technical Information") based on information contained
in the technical reports and news releases (collectively the "Disclosure
Documents") available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Each Disclosure Document was prepared by or under the supervision of a qualified
person (a "Qualified Person") as defined in National Instrument 43-101 -
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Readers are encouraged to review
the full text of the Disclosure Documents which qualifies the Technical
Information. Readers are advised that mineral resources that are not mineral
reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Disclosure Documents
are each intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or
relied upon out of context. The Technical Information is subject to the
assumptions and qualifications contained in the Disclosure Documents. The
disclosure of Technical Information in this MD&A has been reviewed and approved
by Bruce Butcher, P. Eng., Vice President, Technical Services.
Cautionary Note
This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and
"forward-looking statements", as defined in applicable securities laws
(collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements other than
statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the
Company's current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding
future events and include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the
amount of mineral reserves and mineral resources; the amount of future
production over any period; the amount of waste tonnes mined; the amount of
mining and haulage costs; cash costs; operating costs; strip ratios and mining
rates; expected grades and ounces of metals and minerals; expected processing
recoveries; expected time frames; prices of metals and minerals; mine life; and
gold hedge programs. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements may be
identified by the use of words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans",
"projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives"
or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may",
"could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the
negative of any of these terms and similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and
assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently
subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and
contingencies. Forward-looking statements in this news release and related MD&A
are based upon, without limitation, the following estimates and assumptions: the
presence of and continuity of metals at the Company's Mines at modeled grades;
the capacities of various machinery and equipment; the availability of
personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices; exchange rates; metals
and minerals sales prices; appropriate discount rates; tax rates and royalty
rates applicable to the mining operations; cash costs; anticipated mining losses
and dilution; metals recovery rates, reasonable contingency requirements; and
receipt of regulatory approvals on acceptable terms.
Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are
beyond the Company's ability to predict or control could cause actual results to
differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements.
Specific reference is made to the most recent Annual Information Form on file
with certain Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a
discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements, which
include, without limitation, gold and copper or certain other commodity price
volatility, changes in debt and equity markets, the uncertainties involved in
interpreting geological data, increases in costs, environmental compliance and
changes in environmental legislation and regulation, interest rate and exchange
rate fluctuations, general economic conditions and other risks involved in the
mineral exploration and development industry. Readers are cautioned that the
foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the
forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary
statement. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update
publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result
of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by
law. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no
inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to
those or other forward-looking statements.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Aura Minerals Inc.
Alex Penha
Vice President, Corporate Development
(416) 509-0583 or (416) 649-1033
(416) 649-1044 (FAX)
info@auraminerals.com
www.auraminerals.com
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