VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - July 29, 2015) -
(In United States dollars, except where noted otherwise)
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum" or the "Company") (TSX:FM)(LSE:FQM) today announced comparative earnings1 of $18 million or $0.03 per share and cash flows from operations, before changes in working capital and tax paid, of $157 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015.
SECOND QUARTER 2015 HIGHLIGHTS
1 Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders of the Company have been adjusted to exclude impacts which are not reflective of underlying performance to arrive at comparative earnings. Comparative earnings and comparative earnings per share are not measures recognized under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. The Company has disclosed these measures to assist with the understanding of results and to provide further financial information about the results to investors. Refer to the "Regulatory Disclosures" section in the MD&A for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 for further information.
CEO'S COMMENTS
"During the quarter, we launched and completed an equity issue. The decision to do so was based on our belief of a stronger copper market following this period of weakness. Proceeds from this initiative provide the Company with the financial flexibility to continue to build its production base. We are thankful to several long-time and new shareholders whose support made the issue a success, noted Philip Pascall," First Quantum's Chairman and CEO.
"Operationally we remain on course to achieve the production guidance outlined at the beginning of the year. Kansanshi's production and unit production cost profiles are evolving with ramp-up of the smelter as planned and Ravensthorpe's high-pressure acid leach circuit continues to perform very well. Our efforts to optimize the operating margin while maintaining safe and efficient workplaces got a significant boost with the operation of the smelter as expected. With this, our overall unit copper production cost is at similar levels of 18 months ago. Nevertheless, we continue to exercise prudence in cash outlays and look for optimization opportunities to ensure First Quantum is well-positioned to benefit fully in stronger markets," Mr. Pascall concluded.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Three months ended June 30 |
Six months ended June 30 |
|||||||
(U.S. dollars millions, except where noted otherwise) | 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||
Sales revenues | 610 | 945 | 1,260 | 1,836 | ||||
Gross profit | 54 | 292 | 80 | 574 | ||||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders of the Company1 | (101 | ) | 134 | (183 | ) | 261 | ||
Earnings (loss) per share | ($0.16 | ) | $0.23 | ($0.30 | ) | $0.44 | ||
Diluted earnings (loss) per share | ($0.16 | ) | $0.23 | ($0.30 | ) | $0.44 | ||
Comparative earnings1 | 18 | 152 | 6 | 282 | ||||
Comparative earnings per share1 | $0.03 | $0.26 | $0.01 | $0.48 | ||||
Comparative EBITDA1 | 161 | 402 | 281 | 775 | ||||
Cash flow from operations, before changes in working capital and tax paid | 157 | 389 | 288 | 759 |
1 Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders of the Company and EBITDA have been adjusted to exclude impacts which are not reflective of underlying performance to arrive at comparative earnings and comparative EBITDA. Comparative earnings, comparative earnings per share and comparative EBITDA are not measures recognized under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. The Company has disclosed these measures to assist with the understanding of results and to provide further financial information about the results to investors. Refer to "Regulatory Disclosures" section in the MD&A for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 for further information. |
OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
Three months ended June 30 |
Six months ended June 30 |
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(U.S. dollars where applicable) | 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||
Copper production (tonnes) 1 | 104,233 | 107,808 | 200,551 | 220,926 | |||||||
Copper sales (tonnes) | 84,382 | 114,449 | 179,567 | 217,235 | |||||||
Cash cost of copper production (C1)2 (per lb) | $ | 1.22 | $ | 1.45 | $ | 1.31 | $ | 1.41 | |||
Realized copper price (per lb) | $ | 2.65 | $ | 2.97 | $ | 2.61 | $ | 3.03 | |||
Nickel production (contained tonnes) | 9,059 | 12,223 | 15,327 | 24,061 | |||||||
Nickel sales (contained tonnes) | 8,721 | 10,651 | 14,427 | 24,748 | |||||||
Cash cost of nickel production (C1)2 (per lb) | $ | 4.68 | $ | 4.16 | $ | 4.57 | $ | 4.30 | |||
Realized nickel price (per payable lb) | $ | 5.98 | $ | 8.45 | $ | 6.21 | $ | 7.38 | |||
Gold production (ounces) | 56,725 | 60,723 | 109,507 | 120,887 | |||||||
Gold sales (ounces) | 50,804 | 60,135 | 100,684 | 113,261 |
1 Includes pre-commercial production for Sentinel of 5,799 tonnes for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 6,802 tonnes for the six months ended June 30, 2015, which are excluded from earnings. |
2 Cash costs (C1) is not recognized under IFRS. Refer to the "Regulatory Disclosures" section in the MD&A for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 for further information. |
UPDATED FULL YEAR 2015 GUIDANCE
CONFERENCE CALL & WEBCAST
The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results on Thursday, July 30, 2015.
Conference call and webcast details are as follows:
Date: | July 30, 2015 |
Time: | 9:30 am (EDT); 2:30 pm (BST); 6:30 am (PDT) |
Webcast: | www.first-quantum.com |
Dial in: | North America: (toll free) 1 800 743 4304 |
International and North America: 1 647 722 6866 | |
United Kingdom: 0 800 692 2011 (toll free) or 44 208 196 2146 | |
Replay: | Canada and international: 1 416 626 4100 |
North America (toll free): 1 800 558 5253 | |
United Kingdom: 0 800 692 0831 (toll free) or 44 870 000 3081 | |
Passcode: | 21771949 |
The conference call replay will be available from 11:00 am (EDT) on July 30 until 11:59 pm (EDT) on August 6, 2015.
COMPLETE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The complete unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements, and MD&A for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 are available at www.first-quantum.com and should be read in conjunction with this news release.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of First Quantum Minerals Ltd.
G. Clive Newall, President
Cautionary statement on forward-looking information
Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These forward-looking statements are principally included in the Development activities section and are also disclosed in other sections of the document. The forward looking statements include estimates, forecasts and statements as to the Company's expectations of production and sales volumes, expected timing of completion of project development at Kansanshi, Sentinel, Enterprise and Cobre Panama, the impact of ore grades on future production, the potential of production disruptions, capital expenditure and mine production costs, the outcome of mine permitting, the outcome of legal proceedings which involve the Company, information with respect to the future price of copper, gold, cobalt, nickel, zinc, pyrite, PGE, and sulphuric acid, estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources, First Quantum's exploration and development program, estimated future expenses, exploration and development capital requirements, the Company's hedging policy, and goals and strategies. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.
With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, the Company has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about the price of copper, gold, nickel, zinc, pyrite, PGE, cobalt and sulphuric acid, anticipated costs and expenditures and the ability to achieve the Company's goals. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to, future production volumes and costs, costs for inputs such as oil, power and sulphur, political stability in Zambia, Peru, Mauritania, Finland, Spain, Turkey, Panama, Argentina and Australia, adverse weather conditions in Zambia, Finland, Spain, Turkey and Mauritania, labour disruptions, mechanical failures, water supply, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations, and the production of off-spec material.
See the Company's Annual Information Form for additional information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause actual results, performances, achievements or events not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Also, many of these factors are beyond First Quantum's control. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to reissue or update forward-looking statements or information as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required by law. All forward-looking statements and information made herein are qualified by this cautionary statement.
12g3-2b-82-4461
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