Detour Gold Corporation (TSX:DGC) ("Detour Gold" or the "Company") reports its
operational and financial results for the second quarter of 2014. This release
should be read in conjunction with the Company's second quarter 2014 financial
statements and MD&A report on the Company's website or on SEDAR. All amounts are
in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Q2 2014 Highlights
-- Gold production of 117,366 ounces
-- Revenues of $139 million on gold sales of 107,206 ounces
-- Total cash costs of $941 per gold ounce sold(1)
-- Net loss of $35.0 million or $0.23 per share; Adjusted net loss of $17.4
million or $0.12 per share(1)
-- Cash and short-term investments balance of $138.2 million at June 30,
2014
-- High grade gold intersections reported from Lower Detour area
"Operationally, we made good progress in the second quarter and attained the
upper end of our production guidance for the first half of the year at 224,520
ounces of gold," said Paul Martin, President and CEO. "We realized higher grades
than planned which compensated for the slightly slower ramp-up progress during
the first half of the year. For the remainder of 2014, we project a similar rate
of progress and have consequently trimmed the high end of our 2014 production
guidance by 20,000 ounces to 480,000 ounces while maintaining the lower end at
450,000 ounces. We have also revised our 2014 total cash cost guidance range to
be between $900 and $975 per ounce sold(1). We remain focused on execution and
continue to expect reaching mill design capacity of 55,000 tonnes per day by
year-end."
Summary Operational Results
In the second quarter of 2014, gold production totaled 117,366 ounces, driven
primarily by higher gold grades due to improved dilution control. The mill
processed 4.4 million tonnes (Mt) of ore from a combination of direct feed (65%)
and run-of-mine stockpiles (35%) at an average grade of 0.91 g/t with recoveries
of 91%. At quarter-end, the run-of-mine ore stockpiles were 1.3 Mt grading 0.76
grams per tonne (g/t).
The mill facility processed an average of 48,569 tonnes of ore per day (tpd) in
the second quarter with 83% availability, approximately 4% higher than the first
quarter but at the low end of expectations for the quarter.
A total of 19.0 Mt was mined during the second quarter with mining rates
averaging 209,000 tpd, below projected rates of 230,000 tpd. Mining activities
were heavily weighted on overburden and waste stripping, mainly for the
development of the southwall pushback and Campbell pit breakthrough (western end
of former open pit). Due to the reduced productivity in mining overburden and
till and removing old infrastructure around the former Campbell pit, mining
rates were lower than initially planned. With the overburden and till stripping
decreasing significantly in the second half of 2014 (from 12.1 Mt to
approximately 4.6 Mt), mining rates are expected to increase to 250,000 tpd by
year-end.
(1) Refer to the section on Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures at end of
the press release. Reconciliation of these measures is described at end of the
press release and in the MD&A for the second quarter ended June 30, 2014.
The development of the southwall pushback is expected to be completed in the
third quarter and tailings construction activities remain on schedule.
Although the operation is making positive progress quarter over quarter, the
ramp-up is slightly behind schedule as of the end of June. For the second half
of 2014, the forecasted mining and mill throughput rates have been adjusted
downwards thereby lowering the high-end of production guidance by approximately
20,000 ounces of gold for the year (see page 4 - section entitled '2014 Outlook
and Updated Guidance').
Total cash costs for the second quarter of 2014 were $941 per ounce sold(2), 4%
lower than Q1 but above plan, mainly due to (1) fewer tonnes mined resulting in
less ore stockpiled which would have reduced reportable costs and (2) higher
unit costs during the ramp-up period.
Detour Lake Mine Operation Statistics
Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2013 Q1 2014 Q2 2014
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Ore mined (Mt) 2.70 4.16 4.09 4.88 2.89
Waste mined (Mt) 9.96 12.42 16.80 14.29 16.11
Total mined (Mt) 12.66 16.58 20.89 19.17 19.00
Strip ratio (waste:ore) 3.7 3.0 4.1 2.9 5.6
Mining rate (tpd) 160,000 180,000 203,000 213,000 209,000
Ore milled (Mt) 2.87 3.88 3.41 4.08 4.42
Head grade (g/t Au) 0.76 0.72 0.81 0.90 0.91
Recovery (%) 82 85 92 91 91
Mill throughput (tpd) 31,513 42,141 37,090 45,282 48,569
Mill availability (%) 68 78 66 80 83
Ounces produced(1) (oz) 57,897 75,672 81,877 107,154 117,366
Ounces sold (oz) 37,870 75,600 95,000 84,560 107,206
Average realized price(2)
($/oz) - $1,340 $1,269 $1,301 $1,293
Total cash cost per oz sold(2)
($/oz) - $1,214 $1,174 $976 $941
Mining (Cdn$/t mined) - - $2.60 $2.87 $2.87
Milling (Cdn$/t milled) - - $11.75 $11.13 $11.25
G&A (Cdn$/t milled)(3) - - $4.13 $3.68 $3.46
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Unit mining costs were higher than plan due to the shortfall in total tonnes
mined and higher equipment maintenance costs. Unit milling costs were also
slightly higher than plan mainly due to higher maintenance costs and lower mill
throughput partially offset by lower consumables and reagent consumption. With
further improvements expected in mine and mill throughput rates, unit operating
costs are projected to trend downward.
(1) Includes pre-production ounces prior to the declaration of commercial
production on September 1, 2013.
(2) Refer to the section on Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures at end of
the press release. Reconciliation of these measures is described at end of the
press release and in the MD&A for the relevant periods.
(3) G&A costs include site G&A, infrastructure, environmental and Aboriginal costs.
2014 Selected Financial Information
Summary Financial Data
(in millions unless specified) Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2013 Q1 2014 Q2 2014
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Metal sales(1) - 33.1 120.8 110.0 139.0
Production costs - 30.4 98.0 83.1 98.1
Depreciation and depletion - 2.9 34.0 30.6 38.3
Mine standby costs - - 4.2 - -
Inventory write-down - - 14.6 - -
Cost of sales - 33.3 150.8 113.7 136.4
Earnings (loss) from mine
operations - (0.2) (30.0) (3.7) (2.6)
Net earnings (loss) 23.1 (11.8) (47.0) (54.9) (35.0)
Net earnings (loss) per share 0.19 (0.09) (0.34) (0.38) (0.23)
Adjusted net loss(2) (11.8) (10.6) (36.0) (28.1) (17.4)
Adjusted net loss per share(2) (0.10) (0.08) (0.26) (0.20) (0.12)
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Note: Totals may not add up due to rounding.
Summary Financial Results
Revenues for the second quarter were $139.0 million from the sales of 107,206
ounces of gold at an average realized price of $1,293 per ounce(2) versus the
average London PM fix gold price of $1,288 per ounce.
Cost of sales excluding depreciation and depletion for the second quarter
amounted to $98.1 million and is net of a $3.9 million rebate relating to 2013
electricity costs. Depreciation and depletion expense for the quarter was $38.3
million, or $357 per ounce of gold sold.
The Company recorded a net loss of $35.0 million, or $0.23 per share, in the
second quarter of 2014. The net loss includes $63.5 million of non-cash items,
including depreciation and depletion of $38.3 million, a fair value loss on the
convertible notes of $15.1 million as a result of share price appreciation,
accretion charges related to the convertible notes of $6.2 million, an
unrealized loss on derivative instruments of $1.2 million and non-cash
share-based compensation expense of $2.7 million. Adjusted net loss(2) in the
second quarter amounted to $17.4 million, or $0.12 per share, attributable to
higher cost of sales during the mine ramp-up to full production levels.
Operating cash flow before changes in working capital for the three months ended
June 30, 2014 was $38.8 million. During the quarter, sustaining capital
expenditures totaled $27.1 million of which $6.2 million was on the tailings dam
construction raise, $2.4 million on the processing plant, $16.0 million on mine
equipment, and $2.5 million for other. Cash deferred stripping totaled $15.1
million.
Cash and short term investments were $138.2 million at June 30, 2014,
approximately $7.0 million lower than the previous quarter.
In early 2014, the Company signed a 6-year fixed rate electricity contract with
the Ontario Power Authority. At June 30, 2014, the Company had accrued $26.4
million as electricity rebate receivable for charges paid in 2013 and the first
half of 2014. In July 2014, the Company received $16.0 million and expects to
receive the remainder over the course of 2014.
(1) Sales prior to commercial production (September 1, 2013) were credited
against capitalized project costs. Includes silver sales.
(2) Refer to the section on Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures at end of
the press release. Reconciliation of these measures is described at end of the
press release and in the MD&A for the relevant periods.
In July 2014, the Company amended its existing credit facility to extend the
date by which the Completion Test (as set out section "Liquidity and Capital
Resources" in Second Quarter 2014 MD&A) must be achieved from September 30, 2014
to May 31, 2015.
During the second quarter, the Company realized a net gain of $1.8 million on
its gold sales and foreign exchange risk management programs. The Company has a
total of 100,000 ounces of gold hedged at an average price of $1,287 per ounce
for its gold sales from August to December 2014.
2014 Outlook and Updated Guidance
In the first half of 2014, the Company continued to make progress towards
completing the ramp-up of the Detour Lake mine. Detour Gold met the high end of
its gold production guidance for the first half of the year, despite the mine
ramp-up proceeding slightly below plan.
Based on both the throughput and mining rates being below target levels at the
end of the quarter, the Company has revised its mine output from 92 Mt to 82 Mt
and mill output from 19 Mt to 17.7 Mt for 2014. As a result, the Company does
not expect to reach the upper end of its production guidance of 500,000 ounces
for 2014 and has revised it downward to 480,000 ounces with the low end
remaining at 450,000 ounces. With this updated production range, combined with
an increase in forecasted operating costs, total cash costs for 2014 have been
revised from $800 to $900 per ounce sold(1)to $900 to $975 per ounce sold(1).
The Company continues to expect that mill design capacity (55,000 tpd) will be
attained by year-end.
Sustaining capital expenditures for the year are expected to range between $125
and $135 million, including no change to deferred stripping of $35 million.
2014 2014
Prior Guidance Updated Guidance
============================================================================
Total gold production (oz) 450,000-500,000 450,000-480,000
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Total cash costs ($/oz sold)(1) $800-900 $900-975
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Sustaining capital expenditures
($ millions)(2) $131 $125-135
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For 2014, the Company targets to maintain a minimum of $100 million in cash and
short term investments. As a result, our discretionary debt reduction program
will be based on gold price and mine performance. With the high-end of the
production guidance lowered, the Company is targeting debt repayment of up to
$80 million in 2014.
Although the Company remains focused on the mine ramp-up, it is continuing to
advance its organic growth and optimization initiatives:
-- Mineral reserve estimation of Block A for 2014 year-end reserve update
-- Amenability to heap leaching underway to evaluate potential to process
low-grade material
-- Assessment to potentially remove the pebble crushing circuit
-- Further evaluation of Lower Detour area (high-grade intersections in
Zone 58)
-- Exploration plan for 2015 winter drilling program in progress
(1) Refer to the section on Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures at end of
the press release.
(2) Include deferred stripping costs of approximately $35 million.
Technical Information
The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed,
verified and approved by Drew Anwyll, P.Eng., Vice President of Operations, a
Qualified Person as defined by Canadian Securities Administrators National
Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects".
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at 10:00 AM
E.T. where senior management will discuss the second quarter operational and
financial results. The details of the conference call are as follows:
-- Via webcast, go to www.detourgold.com and click on the "Q2 Results
Conference Call and Webcast" link on home page
-- By phone toll free in Canada and the United states 1-800-319-4610
-- By phone International 416-915-3239
The conference call will be recorded and playback of the call will be available
after the event by dialing toll free in Canada and the United States
1-800-319-6413, or internationally 604-638-9010, pass code 1532 (available up to
August 31, 2014).
About Detour Gold
Detour Gold is an emerging mid-tier gold producer in Canada. The Company is
currently completing the ramp-up of its 100% owned Detour Lake mine to a long
life, large scale open pit operation.
Detour Gold Corporation, Royal Bank Plaza, South Tower, 200 Bay Street, Suite
2200, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2J1
Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures
The Company has included certain non-IFRS measures in this press release. The
Company believes that these measures, in addition to conventional measures
prepared in accordance with IFRS, provide investors an improved ability to
evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. The non-IFRS measures are
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. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under
IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers.
The non-IFRS measures are defined below and are reconciled with the reported
IFRS measures. Refer to the Company's MD&A for the three and six months ended
June 30, 2014 for full details.
Total cash costs per gold ounce sold
Detour Gold reports total cash costs on a sales basis. Total cash costs per gold
ounce sold include production costs such as mining, processing, refining and
site administration, agreements with Aboriginal communities, less non-cash
share-based compensation and net of silver sales divided by gold ounces sold to
arrive at total cash costs per gold ounce sold. The measure also includes other
mine related costs incurred such as mine standby costs and current inventory
write downs. Production costs are exclusive of depreciation and depletion.
Production costs include the costs associated with providing the royalty in kind
ounces. The Company did not include the positive impact of the electricity
rebate in calculating total cash costs per ounce sold.
Three months ended Six months ended
June 30 June 30
------------------------------------------------
2014 2013 2014 2013
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Production costs $ 98,141 $ - $ 181,273 $ -
Share-based compensation (862) - (1,489) -
Silver sales (370) - (376) -
Electricity rebate 3,930 3,930
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Total cash costs $ 100,839 $ - $ 183,338 $ -
Gold ounces sold 107,206 - 191,766 -
------------------------------------------------
Total cash costs per gold
ounce sold $ 941 $ - $ 956 $ -
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Average realized price and Average realized margin
Management and investors use these measures to better understand the gold price
and margin realized throughout a period. Average realized margin represents
average realized price per gold ounce sold less total cash costs per gold ounce
sold.
Three months
ended Six months ended
June 30 June 30
------------------------------------------------
2014 2013 2014 2013
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Metal sales $ 139,009 $ - $ 249,024 $ -
Silver sales (370) - (376) -
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Revenues from gold sales $ 138,639 $ - $ 248,648 $ -
Gold ounces sold 107,206 - 191,766 -
------------------------------------------------
Average realized price $ 1,293 $ - $ 1,297 $ -
Less: Total cash costs per
gold ounce sold (941) - (956) -
------------------------------------------------
Average realized margin per
gold ounce sold $ 352 $ - $ 341 $ -
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Adjusted net earnings (loss) and Adjusted basic net earnings (loss) per share
Adjusted net earnings (loss) and adjusted basic earnings (loss) per share are
used by management and investors to measure the underlying operating performance
of the Company. Presenting these measures from period to period helps management
and investors evaluate earnings trends more readily in comparison with results
from prior periods.
Adjusted net earnings (loss) are defined as net earnings (loss) adjusted to
exclude specific items that are significant, but not reflective of the
underlying operations of the Company, including: fair value change of the
convertible notes; the impact of foreign exchange gains and losses, non-cash
unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments including hedges,
accretion on convertible notes, unwinding of discount on decommissioning and
restoration provisions, impairment provisions and reversals thereof; and other
non-recurring items. Adjusted net earnings (loss) excludes the positive impact
of the electricity rebate related to the Company's 2013 electricity usage
Adjusted net earnings (loss) per share is calculated using the weighted average
number of share outstanding under the basic method of earnings (loss) per share
as determined under IFRS.
Three months ended Six months ended
June 30 June 30
------------------------------------------------
2014 2013 2014 2013
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Net earnings (loss) $ (35,037) $ 23,097 $ (89,980) $ 46,510
Adjusted for:
Fair value (gain) loss of
the convertible notes 15,103 (40,695) 31,582 (79,330)
Foreign exchange (gain)
loss (989) 5,791 (916) 8,074
Non-cash unrealized (gain)
loss on derivative
instruments 1,228 - 5,480 -
Accretion on convertible
notes 6,181 - 12,134 -
Unwinding of discount on
decommissioning and
restoration provisions 74 38 168 69
Electricity rebate (3,930) - (3,930) -
------------------------------------------------
Adjusted net earnings (loss) $ (17,370) $ (11,769) $ (45,462) $ (24,677)
Adjusted basic earnings
(loss) per share $ (0.12) $ (0.10) $ (0.29) $ (0.20)
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The Company has included the additional IFRS measure "Earnings (loss) from mine
operations" in this press release. Management noted that "Earnings (loss) from
mine operations" provides useful information to investors as an indication of
the Company's principal business activities before consideration of how those
activities are financed, sustaining capital expenditures, corporate and
exploration and evaluation expenses, finance income and costs, and taxation.
Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains certain forward-looking information as defined in
applicable securities laws (referred to herein as "forward-looking statements").
Specifically, this press release contains forward-looking statements regarding
2014 production of between 450,000 and 480,000 ounces; 2014 total cash costs of
between $900 and $975 per ounce sold; reaching mill design capacity of 55,000
tonnes per day by year-end; an increase in mining rates to 250,000 tpd by
year-end; completion of the development of the southwall pushback in the third
quarter of 2014; a continuing downward trend in unit operating costs; mine
output of 82 Mt and mill output of 17.7 Mt in 2014; sustaining capital
expenditures for 2014 of between $125 and $135 million for 2014; maintaining a
minimum of $100 million in cash and short term investments; repaying up to $80
million of debt in 2014; and continuing to advance certain organic growth and
optimization initiatives in 2014.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors which are beyond Detour Gold's ability to predict or control and
may cause Detour Gold's actual results, performance or achievements to be
materially different from any of its future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties
and other factors include, but are not limited to, gold 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 gold
exploration and development industry, as well as those risk factors discussed in
the section entitled "Description of Business - Risk Factors" in Detour Gold's
2013 AIF and in the continuous disclosure documents filed by Detour Gold on and
available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Such forward-looking statements are also
based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but
not limited to, assumptions about the following: the availability of financing
for exploration and development activities; operating and capital costs; the
Company's ability to attract and retain skilled staff; the mine development
schedule; sensitivity to metal prices and other sensitivities; the supply and
demand for, and the level and volatility of the price of, gold; timing of the
receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals for development projects and
other operations; the supply and availability of consumables and services; the
exchange rates of the Canadian dollar to the U.S. dollar; energy and fuel costs;
the accuracy of reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions on which the
reserve and resource estimates are based; market competition; ongoing relations
with employees and impacted communities and general business and economic
conditions. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are
made as of the date hereof, or such other date or dates specified in such
statements. Detour Gold undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise
revise any forward-looking statements contained herein 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:
Detour Gold Corporation
Paul Martin
President and CEO
(416) 304.0800
Detour Gold Corporation
Laurie Gaborit
Director Investor Relations
(416) 304.0581