Argonaut Gold Inc. (TSX:AR) (the "Company", "Argonaut Gold" or "Argonaut") is
pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the third quarter
ended September 30, 2012. All dollar amounts are expressed in United States
dollars unless otherwise specified.
THIRD QUARTER 2012 & RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
Financials
-- Revenue of $72.9 million ($22.7 million in Q3 2011).
-- Net income of $27.2 million, $0.29 per basic share.
-- Cash flows from operating activities of $36.5 million.
-- Cash on hand was $42.8 million at September 30, 2012.
-- Repayment of $6 million debt and the Company is now debt free.
Gold Production and Cost
-- Ounces loaded to pads: 53,906 gold ounces.
-- El Castillo: 41,630 ounces (39% increase from Q3 2011).
-- La Colorada: 12,276 gold ounces and 1,164,742 silver ounces.
-- Production of 31,074 gold ounces in the third quarter of 2012.
-- El Castillo: 24,575 gold ounces.
-- La Colorada: 6,499 gold ounces and 41,937 silver ounces.
-- Cash cost per gold ounce sold - $577 (Year to date $601).
Operational Improvements:
-- Capital expenditures of $8.8 million on mineral properties, plant and
equipment.
-- El Castillo
-- Conveying and stacking system on the East Side Pad was fully
functional during the third quarter
-- West Side Pad 8 permit granted, with pad construction to be
commenced in fourth quarter
-- Land agreement signed extending term for an additional 10 year
period
-- La Colorada
-- Explosives permit received to begin full scale mining in 2013
-- Phase 2 pad construction is one-third complete
-- Refining facility completed; now handling all materials from El
Castillo and La Colorada
-- During Q3 of 2012, overburden removal commenced to prepare for fresh
ore mining
Exploration
-- Signed letter of intent with Bravada Gold Corp. for the Wind Mountain
Project in Nevada; the project aligns with jurisdictional focus, low
entry risk, reasonable acquisition cost of $30/ounce and good
exploration potential on the project.
This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's unaudited
interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the third quarter ended
September 30, 2012 and associated management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A")
which are available from the Company's website, www.argonautgold.com, in the
"Investors" section under "Financial Filings", and under the Company's profile
on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Three months Nine months ended
ended September 30, September 30,
Financials 2012 2011 Change 2012 2011 Change
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue ($ millions) $ 72.9 $ 22.7 +221% $ 134.8 $ 70.0 +92%
Net income ($
millions) $ 27.2 $ 6.0 +360% $ 45.8 $ 17.1 +170%
Income per share -
basic $ 0.29 $ 0.07 +329% $ 0.49 $ 0.20 +150%
Income per share -
diluted $ 0.26 $ 0.06 +333% $ 0.44 $ 0.19 +132%
Cash flow from
operating activities
($ millions) $ 36.5 $ 7.7 +374% $ 49.6 $ 19.4 +156%
Gold ounces sold 42,534 13,260 +221% 80,279 46,052 +74%
Gold ounces produced 31,074 16,884 +84% 76,081 52,351 +45%
Average realized gold
sales price $ 1,666 $ 1,707 -2% $ 1,649 $ 1,517 +9%
Overall Cash cost per
gold ounce sold $ 577 $ 628 -8% $ 601 $ 597 +1%
Financial Results - Third Quarter 2012
During the third quarter of 2012, revenue was $72.9 million from gold sales of
42,534 ounces compared to $22.7 million from sales of 13,260 ounces in the third
quarter of 2011. Cost of sales was $34.8 million for the quarter compared to
$10.8 million for the third quarter of 2011. Cash cost per gold ounce sold was
$577 compared to $628 in the same period of 2011. (Cash cost per gold ounce sold
is a non-IFRS measure, see note below).
During the third quarter of 2012, gross profit was $38.0 million compared to
$11.9 million gross profit in the third quarter of 2011. During the quarter,
profit from operations was $35.7 million compared to $10.4 million for 2011. Net
income for the quarter was $26.2 million or $0.29 per basic share versus $6.0
million or $0.07 per basic share in 2011.
Cash on hand increased from $21.4 million at June 30, 2012 to $42.8 million.
Capital expenditures in the third quarter were $8.8 million primarily as a
result of expanding operations at the El Castillo and La Colorada mines. The
2012 capital expenditures and exploration programs for Argonaut Gold includes
$47-$50 million at El Castillo, La Colorada and San Antonio which includes
pre-production stripping at La Colorada of approximately $3-4 million. Cash flow
from operations was $36.5 million during the quarter, compared to $7.7 million
for the third quarter of 2011.
CEO Commentary
Mr. Pete Dougherty, Argonaut's President and CEO states: "The Company saw both
record gold production as well as record gold sales during the third quarter.
The record sales during the third quarter provided a nice boost in earnings for
our shareholders and allowed us to repay a $6 million short term debt note. The
increase in production is the result of higher grade than that anticipated by
the mine plan grade, commissioning of the west side pad and realizing the full
benefits of the new stacking and conveying system at El Castillo."
In commenting on the recent announcement regarding the acquisition of Prodigy
Gold, Mr. Dougherty added: "Argonaut Gold was created with the idea of building
a company that would produce between 300,000-500,000 ounces of gold annually.
With the pending addition of the Magino mine in Ontario, we will have the gold
resources available to achieve our vision to continue the creation of a gold
mining company with a high leverage to gold resources, low capital entry point,
low operational costs and a stream of projects that contain hidden value
drivers. Execution of that vision will be the result of the Argonaut employees
striving to obtain greater results every day, as they have previously
demonstrated, since we have been in operation."
El Castillo Operating Statistics
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
% %
2012 2011 Change 2012 2011 Change
------- ------- -------- ------- ------- --------
Mining (000s)
--------------------------
Total tonnes mined 6,355 4,842 +31% 17,358 14,572 +19%
Tonnes ore mined 3,083 2,908 +6% 8,640 8,233 +5%
Heap Leach Pad (000s)
--------------------------
Direct ore tonnes to pad 1,811 2,283 -21% 5,528 6,016 -8%
Crushed ore tonnes to pad 1,270 613 +107% 3,273 2,202 +49%
Production
--------------------------
Gold grade (g/t) 0.42 0.32 +38% 0.40 0.33 +19%
Gold loaded to pad (oz) 41,630 29,997 +39% 112,133 87,777 +28%
Gold loaded to carbon (oz) 24,575 16,884 +46% 61,907 52,351 +18%
Gold sold (oz) 33,839 13,260 +155% 66,286 46,052 +44%
(1) "g/t" is grams per tonne
(2) "oz" means ounce
El Castillo Summary of Production Results
Total tonnes mined in the third quarter 2012 were up 31 percent compared to the
third quarter 2011. Of note, there was a 107% increase in crushed tonnes during
the third quarter of 2012 over the third quarter of 2011. The total ounces
loaded to the pad were 41,630 in the third quarter; a 39% increase over the
third quarter of 2011.
The strip ratio of waste to ore was 1.06 compared to a strip ratio of 0.66 in
the third quarter of 2011.
2012 production guidance at El Castillo has been increased to 84,000-85,000
ounces with a cash cost between $625 and $650 per gold ounce.
3 Months
Ended
Q3 Q2 % YTD
La Colorada Operating Statistics 2012 2012 Change 2012
------ ------ ------- ------
Mining (000s)
-----------------------------------------------
Total tonnes moved 2,708 840 +222% 4,226
Heap Leach Pad (000s)
-----------------------------------------------
Crushed ore tonnes to pad 848 744 +14% 2,272
Production
-----------------------------------------------
Gold grade (g/t) 0.43 0.43 +0% 0.43
Gold loaded to pad (oz) 12,276 10,173 +21% 31,335
Gold loaded to carbon (oz) 6,499 4,590 +42% 14,174
Silver loaded to carbon (oz) 41,937 25,796 +63% 84,915
Gold sold (oz) 8,695 5,298 +64% 13,993
Silver sold (oz) 52,861 9,748 +442% 62,609
(1) "g/t" is grams per tonne
(2) "oz" means ounce
La Colorada Summary of Production Results
Approximately three quarters of the Phase 1 material to be reprocessed has been
recrushed and restacked for leaching. Construction on pads 8, 10 & 11 has begun
and approximately one-third of the pad has been completed. The crusher
relocation and enhancements are scheduled for Q4 which has led to production
estimates of 3-4,000 ounces of gold. Final crushing circuit expansion is
scheduled for early in Q2 of 2013.
Overburden removal began in the third quarter of 2012 with approximately 1.8
million tonnes moved. 2012 production guidance at La Colorada was been increased
to 17,000 -18,000 ounces with a cash cost between $625 and $650 per gold ounce.
Looking Forward - 2012:
The Company plans on investing a total of between $48 million to $50 million on
capital expenditures and exploration initiatives in 2012.
-- $33-34 million of capital expenditure investments
-- El Castillo - Capital expenditures are primarily for expanding West
heap leach pad capacity and operational improvements including a
conveying and stacking system.
-- La Colorada - Capital expenditures are primarily for new
infrastructure including crushing, screening and conveying, heap
leach pad construction, a gold recovery plant and refinery, and
other infrastructure. Additional expenditures are expected to
include land acquisition, and permitting.
-- San Antonio - Capital expenditures are allocated for engineering and
environmental studies, land and water rights purchases, permitting
for the project and infrastructure improvements.
-- $5 million for La Colorada pre-production stripping costs
-- $10-11 million exploration program
-- El Castillo - 1,400 metre core drilling program to collect
mineralized sulphide ore for further metallurgical test work.
-- La Colorada - 35,000 metre drill program to expand resource areas
and test multiple exploration targets within the Company's land
position is in progress. Planned drilling on mine dumps and
stockpiles was completed during the quarter. The main resource
targets for 2012 are El Creston and Veta Madre.
-- San Antonio - 10,500 metre drill program to test multiple
exploration targets and complete condemnation drilling in areas of
planned processing facilities is ongoing.
Non-IFRS Measures
The Company included the non-IFRS measure "Cash cost per gold ounce sold" in
this press release to supplement its financial statements which are presented in
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). Cash cost
per gold ounce sold is equal to cost of sales less silver sales divided by gold
ounces sold. The Company believes that this measure provides investors with an
improved ability to evaluate the performance of the Company. Non-IFRS measures
do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS. Therefore they may
not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data is
intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in
isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance
with IFRS. Please see the MD&A for full disclosure on non-IFRS measures.
Technical Information and Mineral Properties Reports
The technical information contained in this document has been prepared under
supervision of, and reviewed and approved by Mr. Thomas H. Burkhart, Argonaut's
Vice President of Exploration, and a qualified person as defined by National
Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). For further information on the Company's
properties please see the reports as listed below on the Company's website or on
www.sedar.com:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources and
El Castillo Mine Reserves, Argonaut Gold Inc., El Castillo Mine,
Durango State, Mexico dated November 6, 2010
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment La
La Colorada Property Colorada Project, Sonora, Mexico dated December
30, 2011
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate on
San Antonio Gold Project the San Antonio Gold Project, Baja California Sur,
Mexico dated June 30, 2011
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
La Fortuna, Durango, Mexico, Technical Report
La Fortuna Property dated October 21, 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
About Argonaut Gold
Argonaut is a Canadian gold company engaged in exploration, mine development and
production activities. Its primary assets are the production-stage El Castillo
Mine in the State of Durango, Mexico, the La Colorada Mine in the State of
Sonora, Mexico, the advanced exploration stage San Antonio project in the State
of Baja California Sur, Mexico, and several exploration stage projects, all of
which are located in Mexico.
Creating Value Beyond Gold
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from management's
current expectations. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of
factors. Except as required by law, Argonaut Gold Inc. assumes no obligation to
update the forward-looking information contained in this news release.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Argonaut Gold Inc.
Nichole Cowles
Investor Relations Manager
(775) 284-4422 x 101
nichole.cowles@argonautgold.com
www.argonautgold.com
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