Amerigo Resources Ltd. (TSX: ARG; OTCQX: ARREF)
(“Amerigo” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce financial
results for the year and three months (“Q4-2024”) ended December
31, 2024. Dollar amounts in this news release are in U.S. dollars
unless indicated otherwise.
Amerigo’s annual financial results included
annual net income of $19.2 million, earnings per share (“EPS”) of
$0.12, EBITDA1 of $68.8 million and free cash flow to equity1
(“FCFE1”) of $27.8 million. In 2024, Amerigo returned $21.2 million
to shareholders, including Cdn$.16 per share of quarterly and
performance dividends. 2024 was the first year the Company employed
all the elements of its Capital Return Strategy2 (“CRS”): quarterly
dividends, performance dividends, and share buybacks.
In Q4-2024, Amerigo’s net income was $2.4
million, with EPS of $0.01, EBITDA1 of $19.5 million, and FCFE1 of
$8.0 million.
“We are pleased to report once again strong
annual results for Amerigo, exceeding production and cash cost1
guidance. Our teams continue to deliver exceptional results in
workplace safety, environmental compliance, plant availability and
the rollout of optimization and risk mitigation Capex,” said Aurora
Davidson, Amerigo’s President and CEO. “This operational excellence
provides the basis for Amerigo’s industry-leading CRS2.”
“In July 2024, Amerigo paid its first
performance dividend, illustrating our ability to quickly share the
benefits of strong copper prices with shareholders. Currently,
copper prices are starting to behave as in Q2-2024, before the
declaration of that initial performance dividend. However, compared
to July 2024, we are comfortably above our targeted minimum cash
balances, and the overhang of the upcoming U.S. election is behind
us. We are again in an excellent position to quickly take advantage
of rising copper prices on behalf of shareholders.”
“We have set ambitious operational and financial
goals for 2025. We expect to extinguish our already low level of
debt before year-end, which will allow us to return even greater
levels of capital to shareholders. We continue to see strongly
supported fundamentals in our sector, which should lead to higher
copper prices and exceptional economics for Amerigo. With minimal
remaining debt and a proven CRS2 in place, Amerigo is
extremely well positioned to continue to reward shareholders,” Ms.
Davidson added.
Amerigo’s copper production from Minera Valle
Central (“MVC”) reached 64.6 million pounds (“M lbs”) of copper
(2023: 57.6 M lbs, impacted by flooding throughout Chile), 4% over
the Company’s annual production guidance of 62.4 M lbs. MVC also
produced 1.3 M lbs of molybdenum in 2024 (2023: 1.2 M lbs), 8% over
the Company’s guidance of 1.2 M lbs.
On February 24, 2025, Amerigo’s Board of
Directors declared its fourteenth quarterly dividend. The dividend
will be Cdn$0.03 per share, payable on March 20, 2025, to
shareholders of record as of March 6, 20253. 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 December 31, 2024, share closing price
of Cdn$1.56, the Cdn$0.03 per share quarterly dividend represents
an annual dividend yield of 7.7%4.
This news release should be read with Amerigo’s
audited consolidated financial statements and Management’s
Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) for the years ended December
31, 2024, and 2023, available on the Company’s website at
www.amerigoresources.com and on the SEDAR+ website at
www.sedarplus.ca.
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 |
2023 |
Q4-2024 |
Q4-2023 |
MVC's copper price ($/lb)5 |
4.15 |
3.86 |
4.06 |
3.82 |
Revenue ($ millions) |
192.8 |
157.5 |
50.8 |
42.4 |
Net income ($ millions) |
19.2 |
3.4 |
3.1 |
3.9 |
EPS ($) |
0.12 |
0.02 |
0.02 |
0.02 |
EPS (Cdn) |
0.16 |
0.03 |
0.03 |
0.03 |
EBITDA1($ millions) |
68.8 |
34.6 |
19.5 |
11.2 |
Operating cash flow before changes in non-cash working capital1($
millions) |
47.1 |
22.3 |
13.8 |
8.8 |
FCFE1($ millions) |
27.8 |
- |
8.0 |
6.5 |
At December 31, |
2024 |
2023 |
|
|
Cash ($ millions) |
35.9 |
16.2 |
|
|
Restricted cash ($ millions) |
4.4 |
6.3 |
|
|
Borrowings ($ millions) |
10.7 |
20.7 |
|
|
Shares outstanding at end of period (millions) |
164.5 |
164.8 |
|
|
Highlights and Significant
Items
- Amerigo achieved a solid financial
performance in 2024, posting a net income of $19.2 million (2023:
$3.4 million), driven by increased copper production from MVC of
64.6 M lbs (2023: 57.6 M lbs) and an average MVC copper price in
2024 of $4.15 per pound (“/lb”) (2023: $3.86/lb).
- Basic EPS in 2024 were $0.12
(Cdn$0.16), compared to $0.02 (Cdn$0.03) in 2023.
- The Company generated operating
cash flow before changes in non-cash working capital1 of $47.1
million (2023: $22.3 million). Annual net operating cash flow was
$59.8 million (2023: $20.3 million). Free cash flow to equity1 was
$27.8 million (2023: $nil).
- Cash cost1 in 2024 was $1.89/lb
(2023: $2.17/lb). The $0.28/lb reduction in cash cost was caused
predominantly by a 12.2% increase in copper production during 2024.
This resulted in decreased unit costs overall, most notably in
power costs ($0.08/lb), direct labour ($0.03/lb), grinding media
($0.03/lb), administration ($0.03/lb), and other direct costs
($0.04/lb).
- On December 31, 2024, the Company
held cash and cash equivalents of $35.9 million (December 31, 2023:
$16.2 million), restricted cash of $4.4 million (December 31, 2023:
$6.3 million) and had a working capital deficiency of $6.5 million
(December 31, 2023: $12.3 million).
- In 2024, Amerigo returned $21.2
million to shareholders (2023: $17.2 million), including $14.5
million (2023: $14.6 million) through the payment of Amerigo’s
quarterly dividends of Cdn$0.03 per share, $4.8 million through the
payment of a Cdn$0.04 per share performance dividend (2023: $nil)
and $1.8 million by purchasing 1.4 million common shares for
cancellation through a Normal Course Issuer Bid (2023: $2.6 million
and 2.3 million common shares).
- The Company’s financial performance
is sensitive to changes in copper prices. MVC’s Q4-2024 provisional
copper price was $4.08/lb. The final prices for October, November
and December 2024 sales will be the average London Metal Exchange
(“LME”) prices for January ($4.07/lb), February and March 2025,
respectively. A 10% increase or decrease from the $4.08/lb
provisional price used on December 31, 2024, would result in a $7.4
million change in revenue in Q1-2025 regarding Q4-2024
production.
Investor Conference Call on February 27,
2025
Amerigo’s quarterly investor conference call
will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Pacific
Standard Time/2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Participants can join by visiting
https://emportal.ink/3NOSCpK 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 Q4-2024 Earnings Call.
Interactive Analyst Center
Amerigo 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.comunder 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 Davidson |
Graham Farrell |
President and CEO |
Investor Relations |
(604) 697-6207 |
(416) 842-9003 |
ad@amerigoresources.com |
graham@northstarir.ca |
Summary Consolidated Statements of Financial
Position |
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|
2024 |
2023 |
|
$ thousands |
$ thousands |
Cash and cash equivalents |
35,864 |
16,248 |
Restricted cash |
4,449 |
6,282 |
Property plant and equipment |
143,708 |
156,002 |
Other assets |
21,450 |
21,027 |
Total assets |
205,471 |
199,559 |
Total liabilities |
100,682 |
94,706 |
Shareholders' equity |
104,789 |
104,853 |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity |
205,471 |
199,559 |
|
|
|
Summary Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive
Income |
|
Years Ended December 31, |
|
2024 |
2023 |
|
$ thousands |
$ thousands |
Revenue |
192,773 |
157,460 |
Tolling and production costs |
(147,364) |
(143,305) |
Other expenses |
(11,297) |
(4,526) |
Finance expense |
(2,198) |
(2,893) |
Income tax expense |
(12,674) |
(3,354) |
Net income |
19,240 |
3,382 |
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
984 |
(1,233) |
Comprehensive income |
20,224 |
2,149 |
|
|
|
Earnings per share - basic & diluted |
0.12 |
0.02 |
|
|
|
Summary Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |
|
Years Ended December 31, |
|
2024 |
2023 |
|
$ thousands |
$ thousands |
Cash flow from operating activities |
47,149 |
22,321 |
Changes in non-cash working capital |
12,629 |
(2,040) |
Net cash generated from operating activities |
59,778 |
20,281 |
Net cash used in investing activities |
(9,341) |
(16,888) |
Net cash used in financing activites |
(29,401) |
(24,913) |
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
21,036 |
(21,520) |
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash |
(1,420) |
(53) |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year |
16,248 |
37,821 |
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year |
35,864 |
16,248 |
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) |
2024 |
2023 |
Q4-2024 |
Q4-2023 |
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Gross
profit |
45,409 |
14,155 |
13,736 |
6,006 |
Add: |
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
23,351 |
20,444 |
5,773 |
5,238 |
EBITDA |
68,760 |
34,599 |
19,509 |
11,244 |
(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) |
2024 |
2023 |
Q4-2024 |
Q4-2023 |
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Net cash provided by operating activities |
59,778 |
20,281 |
20,973 |
9,032 |
(Deduct) add: |
|
|
|
|
Changes in non-cash working capital |
(12,629) |
2,040 |
(7,223) |
(217) |
Operating cash flow before non-cash working capital |
47,149 |
22,321 |
13,750 |
8,815 |
(iii) Free cash flow to equity (“FCFE”) refers
to operating cash flow before changes in non-cash working capital,
less capital expenditures, less repayment of borrowings net of new
debt issued, and less 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.
(iv) Free cash flow (“FCF”) refers to FCFE plus
repayments of borrowings and lease repayments.
(Expressed in thousands) |
2024 |
2023 |
Q4-2024 |
Q4-2023 |
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Operating
cash flow before changes in non-cash working capital |
47,149 |
22,321 |
13,750 |
8,815 |
(Deduct)
add: |
|
|
|
|
Cash used to purchase plant and equipment |
(8,733) |
(16,888) |
(1,796) |
(2,511) |
Repayment of borrowings, net of new debt issued |
(9,994) |
(3,839) |
(4,000) |
234 |
Lease repayments |
- |
(1,862) |
- |
- |
Free cash
flow to equity |
28,422 |
(268) |
7,954 |
6,538 |
Add
(deduct): |
|
|
|
|
Repayment of borrowings, net of new debt issued |
9,994 |
3,839 |
4,000 |
(234) |
|
|
|
|
|
Lease repayments |
- |
1,862 |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Free cash flow |
38,416 |
5,433 |
11,954 |
6,304 |
(v) 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) |
2024 |
2023 |
|
$ |
$ |
Tolling
and production costs |
147,364 |
143,305 |
Add
(deduct): |
|
|
Smelting and refining |
25,199 |
23,263 |
Transportation costs |
1,645 |
1,591 |
Inventory adjustments |
(1,589) |
1,118 |
By-product credits |
(22,856) |
(19,352) |
DET royalties - molybdenum |
(4,466) |
(4,694) |
Depreciation and amortization |
(23,351) |
(20,444) |
Cash
cost |
121,946 |
124,787 |
Pounds of
copper tolled (fresh and old tailings) |
64.56 |
57.64 |
Cash cost ($/lb) |
1.89 |
2.17 |
2 Capital returned to
shareholders
The table below summarizes the capital returned
to shareholders since Amerigo’s CRS 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 |
1.8 |
19.4 |
21.2 |
|
25.5 |
52.6 |
78.1 |
3 Dividend dates
A dividend of Cdn$0.03 per share will be paid on
March 20, 2025, to shareholders of record as of March 6, 2025.
Under the “T+1 settlement cycle”, the Company’s shares will
commence trading on an ex-dividend basis at the opening of trading
on March 6, 2025. 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 annual dividend yield of 7.7% is based on
four quarterly dividends of Cdn$0.03 per share, divided over
Amerigo’s December 31, 2024 closing share price of Cdn$1.56. In
2024, after factoring in Amerigo’s payment of a Performance
Dividend of Cdn$0.04, the 2024 yield was 10.3%.
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.
Q3-2024 copper deliveries were marked to market
on September 30, 2024, at $4.24/lb and were settled in Q4-2024 as
follows:
- July 2024 sales settled at the
October 2024 LME average price of $4.33/lb
- August 2024 sales settled at the
November 2024 LME average price of $4.12/lb
- September 2024 sales settled at the
December 2024 LME average price of $4.05/lb
Q4-2024 copper deliveries were marked to market
on December 31, 2024, at $4.08/lb and will be settled at the LME
average prices for January ($4.07/lb), February and March 2025.
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, operating
costs and Capex expenditure for 2025;
- our strategies and objectives;
- our estimates of the availability
and quantity of tailings and the quality of our mine plan
estimates;
- 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 and our expectation to be able to return
greater levels of capital to shareholders;
- 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 CRS; 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 these assumptions
were reasonable when made, they are inherently subject to
significant uncertainties and contingencies that are difficult or
impossible to predict and beyond the Company’s control. Therefore,
the Company cannot assure 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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