Amerigo Resources Ltd. (TSX: ARG; OTCQX: ARREF)
(“Amerigo” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce a strong
financial performance for the three months ended September 30, 2024
(“Q3-2024”). Dollar amounts in this news release are in U.S.
dollars unless indicated otherwise.
Amerigo reported net income of $2.8 million in
Q3-2024, a significant turnaround from the $5.8 million net loss in
the three months ended September 30, 2023 (“Q3-2023”), which was
generated by lower copper prices and the impact on production of
last year’s flooding throughout Chile. Amerigo’s copper production
from Minera Valle Central (“MVC”) reached 16.3 million pounds (“M
lbs”) in Q3-2024, a 46% increase compared to Q3-2023 (11.1 M
lbs).
EBITDA1 for the quarter was $13.3 million, with
free cash flow to equity1 of $5.9 million.
In Q3-2024, Amerigo returned $8.5 million to
shareholders through its quarterly dividend of Cdn$0.03 per share
and its initial performance dividend of Cdn$0.04 per share.
“We are pleased to report strong quarterly
financial performance once again. Our three key performance
drivers, production, copper prices, and cost management, were
robust in the third quarter. Of particular significance, in
Q3-2024, Amerigo paid its first performance dividend. This
additional payment illustrated the ability of our Capital Return
Strategy2 to share the benefits of strong copper prices with
shareholders quickly,” said Aurora Davidson, Amerigo’s President
and CEO.
“As we approach the end of 2024, our operations
at MVC continue to outperform internal guidance. The United States
and China have recently initiated economic stimulus measures, and
global electrification continues. These factors will continue to
increase the strain on the copper industry, whose output is vital
to achieving these economic and social goals. We believe the
positive effect on copper prices is just starting to be seen, so we
maintain a positive outlook for copper prices and remain committed
to Amerigo’s successful Capital Return Strategy2,” she added.
On October 28, 2024, Amerigo’s Board of
Directors declared its thirteenth quarterly dividend. The dividend
will be in the amount of Cdn$0.03 per share, payable on December
20, 2024, to shareholders of record as of November 29, 20243.
Amerigo designates the entire amount of this taxable dividend to be
an “eligible dividend” for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada),
as amended from time to time.
Based on Amerigo’s September 30, 2024, share
closing price of Cdn$1.74, the Cdn$0.03 quarterly dividends, and
the Performance Dividend of Cdn$0.04 per share declared on July 8,
2024, represent an annual dividend yield of 9.2%4.
This news release should be read with Amerigo’s
interim consolidated financial statements and Management’s
Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) for Q3-2024, available on the
Company’s website at www.amerigoresources.com and on the
SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q3-2024 |
Q3-2023 |
|
MVC's copper price ($/lb)5 |
|
|
|
4.22 |
3.76 |
|
Revenue ($ millions) |
|
|
|
45.4 |
30.3 |
|
Net income (loss) ($ millions) |
|
|
|
2.8 |
(5.8 |
) |
EPS (LPS) ($) |
|
|
|
0.02 |
(0.04 |
) |
EPS (LPS) (Cdn) |
|
|
|
0.02 |
(0.05 |
) |
EBITDA1 ($ millions) |
|
|
|
13.3 |
3.2 |
|
Operating cash flow before changes in non-cash working capital1 ($
millions) |
8.9 |
2.6 |
|
FCFE1 ($ millions) |
|
|
|
5.9 |
(2.6 |
) |
|
|
September 30, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
|
|
Cash ($ millions) |
|
25.1 |
16.2 |
|
|
Restricted cash ($ millions) |
|
6.7 |
6.3 |
|
|
Borrowings ($ millions) |
|
14.9 |
20.7 |
|
|
Shares outstanding at end of period (millions) |
|
166.0 |
164.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Highlights and Significant
Items
- Amerigo achieved a solid financial
performance in Q3-2024, posting a net income of $2.8 million
(Q3-2023: net loss of $5.8 million), driven by increased copper
production from MVC of 16.3 M lbs (Q3-2023: 11.1 M lbs) and an
average MVC copper price of $4.22 per pound (/lb”) (Q3-2023:
$3.76/lb).
- Earnings per share in Q3-2024 was
$0.02 (Cdn$0.02), compared to a loss per share of $0.04 (Cdn$0.05)
in Q3-2023.
- The Company generated operating
cash flow before changes in non-cash working capital1 of $8.9
million in Q3-2024 (Q3-2023: $2.6 million). Quarterly net operating
cash flow was $10.5 million (Q3-2023: cash used of $7.5 million).
Free cash flow to equity1 was $5.9 million in Q3-2024 (Q3-2023:
negative free cash flow to equity1 of $2.6 million).
- Q3-2024 cash cost1 was $1.93/lb
(Q3-2023: $2.44/lb). The $0.51/lb reduction in cash cost was caused
predominantly by a 46% increase in production during Q3-2024,
compared to flooding-impacted production in Q3-2023. This resulted
in decreased unit costs overall, including reductions in power
costs ($0.22/lb), maintenance ($0.08/lb), other direct costs
($0.08/lb), direct labour ($0.06/lb), historic tailings extraction
($0.05/lb), grinding media ($0.05/lb) and administration
($0.04/lb). These lower costs were offset by a $0.09/lb decrease in
by-product credits.
- On September 30, 2024, the Company
held cash and cash equivalents of $25.1 million (December 31, 2023:
$16.2 million), restricted cash of $6.7 million (December 31, 2023:
$6.3 million), and had a working capital deficiency of $4.9 million
(December 31, 2023: $12.3 million)
- In Q3-2024, Amerigo returned $8.5
million to shareholders (Q3-2023: $3.7 million) through the payment
of Amerigo’s quarterly dividend of Cdn$0.03 per share and a
performance dividend of Cdn$0.04 per share.
- The Company’s financial performance
is sensitive to changes in copper prices. MVC’s Q3-2024 provisional
copper price was $4.24/lb. The final prices for July, August and
September 2024 sales will be the average London Metal Exchange
(“LME”) prices for October, November and December 2024,
respectively. A 10% increase or decrease from the $4.24/lb
provisional price used on September 30, 2024, would result in a
$7.0 million change in revenue in Q4-2024 regarding Q3-2024
production.
1 This is a non-IFRS measure. See “Non-IFRS Measures” for
further information.
Investor Conference Call on October 31,
2024
Amerigo’s quarterly investor conference call
will be held on Thursday, October 31, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Pacific
Daylight Time/2:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
Participants can join by visiting
https://emportal.ink/4dccA8Y and entering their name and phone
number. The conference system will then call the participants and
place them instantly into the call. Alternatively, participants can
dial directly to be entered into the call by an Operator. Dial
1-888-510-2154 (Toll-Free North America) and state they wish to
participate in the Amerigo Resources Q3-2024 Earnings Call.
Interactive Analyst
CenterAmerigo has made published financial and operational
information available for Excel download through Virtua’s
Interactive Analyst Center (“IAC”). You can access the IAC
by visiting www.amerigoresources.com under Investors >
Interactive Analyst Center.
About Amerigo and Minera Valle Central
(“MVC”)
Amerigo Resources Ltd. is an innovative copper
producer with a long-term relationship with Corporación Nacional
del Cobre de Chile (“Codelco”), the world’s largest copper
producer.
Amerigo produces copper concentrate, and
molybdenum concentrate as a by-product at the MVC operation in
Chile by processing fresh and historic tailings from Codelco’s El
Teniente mine, the world's largest underground copper mine. Tel:
(604) 681-2802; Web: www.amerigoresources.com; ARG:TSX; OTCQX:
ARREF.
Contact Information
Aurora DavidsonPresident and CEO(604)
697-6207ad@amerigoresources.com |
Graham FarrellInvestor Relations(416)
842-9003Graham@49northir.ca |
Summary Consolidated Statements of Financial
Position |
|
September 30, |
|
December 31, |
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$ thousands |
|
$ thousands |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
25,127 |
|
16,248 |
|
Restricted cash |
6,727 |
|
6,282 |
|
Property plant and equipment |
146,273 |
|
156,002 |
|
Other assets |
23,525 |
|
21,027 |
|
Total assets |
201,652 |
|
199,559 |
|
Total liabilities |
95,244 |
|
94,706 |
|
Shareholders' equity |
106,408 |
|
104,853 |
|
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity |
201,652 |
|
199,559 |
|
|
|
|
Summary Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and
Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
|
Three months ended September 30, |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$ thousands |
|
$ thousands |
|
Revenue |
45,438 |
|
30,329 |
|
Tolling and production costs |
(38,063 |
) |
(32,353 |
) |
Other expenses |
(400 |
) |
(4,250 |
) |
Finance expense |
(870 |
) |
(1,043 |
) |
Income tax (expense) recovery |
(3,323 |
) |
1,524 |
|
Net income (loss) |
2,782 |
|
(5,793 |
) |
Other comprehensive (loss) income |
(176 |
) |
1,169 |
|
Comprehensive income (loss) |
2,606 |
|
(4,624 |
) |
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) per share - basic & diluted |
0.02 |
|
(0.04 |
) |
|
|
|
Summary Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |
|
Three months ended September 30, |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|
$ thousands |
|
$ thousands |
|
Cash flow from operating activities |
8,895 |
|
2,617 |
|
Changes in non-cash working capital |
1,570 |
|
(10,072 |
) |
Net cash from (used in) operating activities |
10,465 |
|
(7,455 |
) |
Net cash used in investing activities |
(3,032 |
) |
(5,203 |
) |
Net cash used in financing activities |
(11,027 |
) |
(5,771 |
) |
Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
(3,594 |
) |
(18,429 |
) |
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash |
(15 |
) |
(115 |
) |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
28,736 |
|
31,675 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
25,127 |
|
13,131 |
|
|
|
|
1 Non-IFRS
Measures
This news release includes five non-IFRS
measures: (i) EBITDA, (ii) operating cash flow before changes in
non-cash working capital, (iii) free cash flow to equity (“FCFE”),
(iv) free cash flow (“FCF”) and (v) cash cost.
These non-IFRS performance measures are included
in this news release because they provide key performance measures
used by management to monitor operating performance, assess
corporate performance, and plan and assess the overall
effectiveness and efficiency of Amerigo’s operations. These
performance measures are not standardized financial measures under
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the
International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS Accounting
Standards”), and, therefore, amounts presented may not be
comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other
companies. These performance measures should not be considered in
isolation as a substitute for performance measures in accordance
with IFRS Accounting Standards.
(i) EBITDA refers to earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation, and administration and is
calculated by adding depreciation expense to the Company’s gross
profit.
|
|
|
(Expressed in thousands) |
Q3-2024 |
|
Q3-2023 |
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
Gross profit (loss) |
7,375 |
|
(2,024 |
) |
Add: |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
5,900 |
|
5,192 |
|
EBITDA |
13,275 |
|
3,168 |
|
|
|
|
(ii) Operating cash flow
before changes in non-cash working capital is calculated by adding
back the decrease or subtracting the increase in changes in
non-cash working capital to or from cash provided by operating
activities.
|
|
|
(Expressed in thousands) |
Q3-2024 |
|
Q3-2023 |
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
10,465 |
|
(7,455 |
) |
Deduct: |
|
|
Changes in non-cash working capital |
(1,570 |
) |
10,072 |
|
Operating cash flow before non-cash working capital |
8,895 |
|
2,617 |
|
|
|
|
Free cash flow to equity (“FCFE”) refers to
operating cash flow before changes in non-cash working capital,
less capital expenditures plus new debt issued less debt and lease
repayments. FCFE represents the amount of cash generated by the
Company in a reporting period that can be used to pay for the
following:
a) potential distributions to the Company’s
shareholders and b) any additional taxes triggered by the
repatriation of funds from Chile to Canada to fund these
distributions.
Free cash flow (“FCF”) refers to FCFE plus
repayments of borrowings and lease repayments.
|
|
|
(Expressed in thousands) |
Q3-2024 |
|
Q3-2023 |
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
Operating cash flow before changes in non-cash working capital |
8,895 |
|
2,617 |
|
Deduct: |
|
|
Cash used to purchase plant and equipment |
(3,032 |
) |
(5,203 |
) |
Repayment of borrowings, net of new debt issue |
- |
|
- |
|
Lease repayments |
- |
|
- |
|
Free cash flow to equity |
5,863 |
|
(2,586 |
) |
Add: |
|
|
Repayment of borrowings, net of new debt issued |
- |
|
- |
|
Lease repayments |
- |
|
- |
|
Free cash flow |
5,863 |
|
(2,586 |
) |
|
|
|
(iii) Cash cost is a
performance measure commonly used in the mining industry that is
not defined under IFRS. Cash cost is the aggregate of smelting and
refining charges, tolling/production costs net of inventory
adjustments and administration costs, net of by-product credits.
Cash cost per pound produced is based on pounds of copper produced
and is calculated by dividing cash cost by the number of pounds of
copper produced.
(Expressed in thousands) |
|
Q3-2024 |
|
Q3-2023 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
Tolling and production costs |
|
38,063 |
|
32,353 |
|
Add
(deduct): |
|
|
|
Smelting and refining charges |
|
6,358 |
|
4,473 |
|
Transportation costs |
|
425 |
|
295 |
|
Inventory adjustments |
|
(1,126 |
) |
684 |
|
By-product credits |
|
(5,241 |
) |
(4,580 |
) |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
(5,900 |
) |
(5,192 |
) |
DET royalties - molybdenum |
|
(1,190 |
) |
(863 |
) |
Cash
cost |
|
31,389 |
|
27,170 |
|
Copper
tolled (M lbs) |
|
16.27 |
|
11.12 |
|
Cash cost ($/lb) |
|
1.93 |
|
2.44 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 Capital returned to
shareholders
The table below summarizes the capital returned
to shareholders since Amerigo’s Capital Return Strategy was
implemented in October 2021.
(Expressed in millions) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares repurchased |
Dividends Paid |
Total |
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
2021 |
8.8 |
2.8 |
11.6 |
2022 |
12.3 |
15.8 |
28.1 |
2023 |
2.6 |
14.6 |
17.2 |
2024 |
- |
15.8 |
15.8 |
|
23.7 |
49.0 |
72.7 |
|
|
|
|
3 Dividend dates
A dividend of Cdn$0.03 per share will be paid on
December 20, 2024, to shareholders of record as of November 29,
2024. Under the “T+1 settlement cycle”, the Company’s shares will
commence trading on an ex-dividend basis at the opening of trading
on November 29, 2024. Shareholders purchasing Amerigo shares on the
ex-dividend date or after will not receive this dividend, as it
will be paid to selling shareholders. Shareholders purchasing
Amerigo shares before the ex-dividend date will receive the
dividend.
4 Dividend yield
The disclosed annual yield of 9.2% is based on
four quarterly dividends of Cdn$0.03 per share each and the July 8,
2024, Performance Dividend of Cdn$0.04, divided over Amerigo’s
September 30, 2024 closing share price of Cdn$1.74.
5 MVC’s copper
price
MVC’s copper price is the average notional
copper price for the period before smelting and refining, DET
notional copper royalties, transportation costs and excluding
settlement adjustments to prior period sales.
MVC’s pricing terms are based on the average LME
copper price of the third month following the delivery of copper
concentrates produced under the DET tolling agreement (“M+3”). This
means that when final copper prices are not yet known, they are
provisionally marked to market at the end of each month based on
the progression of the LME-published average monthly M and M+3
prices. Provisional prices are adjusted monthly using this
consistent methodology until they are settled.
Q2-2024 copper deliveries were marked to market
on June 30, 2024, at $4.41/lb and were settled in Q3-2024 as
follows:
- April 2024 sales settled at the July 2024 LME average price of
$4.26/lb
- May 2024 sales settled at the August 2024 LME average price of
$4.07/lb
- June 2024 sales settled at the September 2024 LME average price
of $4.20//lb
Q3-2024 copper deliveries were marked to market
on September 30, 2024, at $4.24/lb and will be settled at the LME
average prices for October, November and December 2024.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Information
This news release contains certain
“forward-looking information” as such term is defined under
applicable securities laws (collectively called "forward-looking
statements"). This information relates to future events or the
Company’s future performance. All statements other than statements
of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The use of any
of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate",
"expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential",
"should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, statements
concerning:
- forecasted production and operating costs;
- our strategies and objectives;
- our estimates of the availability and quantity of tailings and
the quality of our mine plan estimates;
- the sufficiency of MVC’s water reserves to maintain projected
historic tailings tonnage processing for at least 18 months;
- prices and price volatility for copper, molybdenum and other
commodities and materials we use in our operations;
- the demand for and supply of copper, molybdenum and other
commodities and materials that we produce, sell and use;
- sensitivity of our financial results and share price to changes
in commodity prices;
- our financial resources and financial condition;
- interest and other expenses;
- domestic and foreign laws affecting our operations;
- our tax position and the tax rates applicable to us;
- our ability to comply with our loan covenants;
- the production capacity of our operations, our planned
production levels and future production;
- potential impact of production and transportation
disruptions;
- hazards inherent in the mining industry causing personal injury
or loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property and
equipment, pollution or environmental damage, claims by third
parties and suspension of operations
- estimates of asset retirement obligations and other costs
related to environmental protection;
- our future capital and production costs, including the costs
and potential impact of complying with existing and proposed
environmental laws and regulations in the operation and closure of
our operations;
- repudiation, nullification, modification or renegotiation of
contracts;
- our financial and operating objectives;
- our environmental, health and safety initiatives;
- the outcome of legal proceedings and other disputes in which we
may be involved;
- the outcome of negotiations concerning metal sales, treatment
charges and royalties;
- disruptions to the Company's information technology systems,
including those related to cybersecurity;
- our dividend policy, including the security of the quarterly
dividends and our Capital Return Strategy; and
- general business and economic conditions, including, but not
limited to, our assessment of strong market fundamentals supporting
copper prices.
These forward-looking statements involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
actual results or events to differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Inherent in forward-looking
statements are risks and uncertainties beyond our ability to
predict or control, including risks that may affect our operating
or capital plans; risks generally encountered in the operation,
permitting and development of mineral projects such as unusual or
unexpected geological formations, negotiations with government and
other third parties, unanticipated metallurgical difficulties,
delays associated with permits, approvals and permit appeals,
ground control problems, adverse weather conditions (including, but
not limited, to heavy rains), process upsets and equipment
malfunctions; risks associated with labour disturbances and
availability of skilled labour and management; risks related to the
potential impact of global or national health concerns; government
or regulatory actions or inactions; fluctuations in the market
prices of our principal commodities, which are cyclical and subject
to substantial price fluctuations; risks created through
competition for mining projects and properties; risks associated
with lack of access to markets; risks associated with availability
of and our ability to obtain both tailings from Codelco’s Division
El Teniente (“DET”) current production and historic tailings from
tailings deposit; the availability of and ability of the Company to
obtain adequate funding on reasonable terms for expansions and
acquisitions; mine plan estimates; risks posed by fluctuations in
exchange rates and interest rates, as well as general economic
conditions; risks associated with environmental compliance and
changes in environmental legislation and regulation; risks
associated with our dependence on third parties for the provision
of critical services; risks associated with non-performance by
contractual counterparties; risks associated with supply chain
disruptions; title risks; social and political risks associated
with operations in foreign countries; risks of changes in laws
affecting our operations or their interpretation, including foreign
exchange controls; and risks associated with tax reassessments and
legal proceedings. Many of these risks and uncertainties apply to
the Company and its operations, as well as DET and its operations.
DET’s ongoing mining operations provide a significant portion of
the materials the Company processes and its resulting metals
production. Therefore, these risks and uncertainties may also
affect the Company's operations and have a material effect.
Actual results and developments will likely
differ materially from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements in this news release. Such statements
are based on several assumptions which may prove to be incorrect,
including, but not limited to, assumptions about:
- general business and economic conditions;
- interest and currency exchange rates;
- changes in commodity and power prices;
- acts of foreign governments and the outcome of legal
proceedings;
- the supply and demand for, deliveries of, and the level and
volatility of prices of copper, molybdenum and other commodities
and products used in our operations;
- the ongoing supply of material for processing from DET’s
current mining operations;
- the grade and projected recoveries of tailings processed by
MVC;
- the ability of the Company to profitably extract and process
material from the historic tailings deposit;
- the timing of the receipt of and retention of permits and other
regulatory and governmental approvals;
- our costs of production and our production and productivity
levels, as well as those of our competitors;
- changes in credit market conditions and conditions in financial
markets generally;
- our ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in
sufficient quantities and on a timely basis;
- the availability of qualified employees and contractors for our
operations;
- our ability to attract and retain skilled staff;
- the satisfactory negotiation of collective agreements with
unionized employees;
- the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates and capital
repatriation on our costs and results;
- engineering and construction timetables and capital costs for
our expansion projects;
- costs of closure of various operations;
- market competition;
- tax benefits and tax rates;
- the outcome of our copper concentrate sales and treatment and
refining charge negotiations;
- the resolution of environmental and other proceedings or
disputes;
- the future supply of reasonably priced power;
- rainfall in the vicinity of MVC continuing to trend towards
normal levels;
- average recoveries for fresh and historic tailings
tailings;
- our ability to obtain, comply with and renew permits and
licenses in a timely manner; and
- Our ongoing relations with our employees and entities we do
business with.
Future production levels and cost estimates
assume no adverse mining or other events significantly affecting
budgeted production levels.
Climate change is a global issue that could pose
challenges that could affect the Company's future operations. This
could include more frequent and intense droughts followed by
intense rainfall. In the last several years, Central Chile has had
drought conditions and also rain episodes of significant magnitude.
The Company’s operations are sensitive to water availability and
the reserves required to process projected historic tailings
tonnage.
Although the Company believes that these
assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions
are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and
contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are
beyond the Company’s control, the Company cannot assure that it
will achieve or accomplish the expectations, beliefs or projections
described in the forward-looking statements.
The preceding list of important factors and
assumptions is not exhaustive. Other events or circumstances could
cause our results to differ materially from those estimated,
projected, and expressed in or implied by our forward-looking
statements. You should also consider the matters discussed under
Risk Factors in the Company`s Annual Information Form. The
forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the
date of this news release. Except as required by law, we undertake
no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements or the
preceding list of factors, whether due publicly or otherwise, to
new information or future events.
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