world's largest underground copper mine,
Chile's El Teniente mine - a Long Term Low Cost Copper & Molybdenum Producer
Message: Amerigo Q1 08 Results
Amerigo Q1 08 Results
Earnings of US$6.4M compared to US$5.1M in Q1-2007
23% copper production increase from Q1-2007
Higher production and strong copper prices offset by unprecedented high power costs in Chile
US$6M dividend paid in Q1-2008
Q2-2008 production impacted by disruptions of tailings flow to MVC
Amerigo Resources Ltd. (TSX: ARG) ("Amerigo" or the "Company") reported today results for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. Significant events are as follows:- Net earnings after tax in Q1-2008 were $6,383,012 compared to $5,551,282 in Q1-2007.
- Earnings per share for the quarter were 7 cents, compared to earnings per share of 6 cents in Q1-2007.
- Production in Q1-2008 was 7.8 million pounds of copper and 148,670 pounds of molybdenum, an increase of 23% in copper production from Q1-2007 due to normalized operations at MVC and processing of old tailings in the amount of 11,000 to 13,000 tonnes per day. Molybdenum production increased 20% due to higher molybdenum content in fresh tailings.
- The Company's copper selling price before smelter, refinery and other charges in Q1-2008 was $3.56/lb; in addition, quarterly revenue included $7,131,784 of positive settlement adjustments to prior quarters' sales.
- Despite higher production and strong copper prices in the quarter, earnings were significantly affected by unprecedented high power costs in Chile. Power costs in Q1-2008 were $13,903,331, compared to $3,609,673 in Q1-2007, an increase of $10,293,658 or 285%, which resulted in a major adverse effect on the Company's earnings. Power costs represented 71% of cash costs in Q1-2008, compared to 39% in Q1-2007, significantly higher than for copper producers with traditional mining operations.
- Cash cost (the aggregate of smelter, refinery and other charges, production costs net of molybdenum-related net benefits, administration and transportation costs) before El Teniente royalty was $2.51/lb in Q1-2008, compared to $1.47/lb in Q1-2007. The increase in cash cost was caused almost exclusively by unprecedented high power costs, mitigated by higher production levels.
- Total cost (the aggregate of cash cost, El Teniente royalty, MVC stock-based compensation, depreciation and accretion) for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 was $3.34/lb compared to $2.03/lb in Q1-2007. The increase in total cost was driven fundamentally by higher cash costs and affected to a lesser degree by higher royalties to El Teniente and higher amortization charges.
- Cash flow from operating activities was $2,197,096 or 2 cents per share in Q1-2008, compared to $7,281,275 or 8 cents per share in Q1-2007 due mostly to an increase of $9,356,009 in accounts receivable from higher production and stronger copper prices.
- The Company made the strategic decision to become substantially energy self-sufficient and to limit its exposure to high power costs through the purchase of two used 10 megawatt generators. The project has an estimated capital cost of $14.3M and, pending receipt of environmental approvals, the generators are scheduled to be operational in the second half of 2008.
- Cash payments for capital expenditures in Q1-2008 were $6,870,595.
- Dividends - On February 27, 2008 the Company declared a dividend of $6,018,524 or Cdn 6.5 cents per share, paid on April 2, 2008, to shareholders of record as of March 25, 2008. The Company advanced the funds to its transfer agent on March 30, 2008 to ensure dividend payments were made to shareholders on a timely basis.
- Cash balance was $10,959,717 at March 31, 2008 after $6,870,595 of cash payments for capital expenditures and $6,018,524 in dividend payments.
- The Company recorded $4,505,662 as other comprehensive loss in Q1-2008 from the fair value adjustments of two strategic investments during the quarter. Other comprehensive loss is not a component of net earnings.
- Q2-2008 production to date has been adversely impacted due to the effect of the labour disruption caused by the dispute between Codelco and workers of subcontractors providing services at several of Codelco's mines, including El Teniente. As a result, the Company experienced disruptions to the flow of tailings during the month of April and the first week of May. Management has been informed that the dispute has now been resolved, and that operations will return to normal within the next few days.
The information in this news release and the Selected Financial Information contained in the following page should be read in conjunction with the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis for quarter ended March 31, 2008, which will be available at the Company's website at www.amerigoresources.com and at www.sedar.com.
Amerigo Resources Ltd. is a Canadian junior company producing copper and molybdenum from its MVC operations near Santiago, Chile.
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from estimated results. Such risks and uncertainties are detailed in the Company's filings with the TSX and on SEDAR. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
AMERIGO RESOURCES LTD.
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
QUARTERS ENDED MARCH 31, 2008 AND 2007
All figures expressed in US Dollars
Consolidated Balance Sheets
March 31, December 31,
2008 2007
$ $
------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents 10,959,717 16,712,630
Mineral property, plant and equipment 103,484,574 98,136,625
Other assets 60,004,569 49,889,686
------------------------------
Total assets 174,448,860 164,738,941
------------------------------
------------------------------
Total liabilities 48,556,870 34,412,446
Shareholders' equity 125,891,990 130,326,495
------------------------------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 174,448,860 164,738,941
------------------------------
------------------------------
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
Quarter ended Quarter ended
March 31, March 31,
2008 2007
$ $
------------------------------
Total revenue, net of smelter and
refinery charges 35,933,465 18,171,183
Cost of sales (27,085,721) (11,584,810)
Other expenses (1,056,773) (849,250)
Non-operating income, net 271,405 824,362
Income tax expense (1,541,792) (895,255)
Minority Interest (137,572) (114,948)
------------------------------
Net earnings 6,383,012 5,551,282
Other comprehensive loss (4,505,662) -
------------------------------
Comprehensive income 1,877,350 5,551,282
------------------------------
EPS - Basic 0.07 0.06
EPS - Diluted 0.07 0.06
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Quarter ended Quarter ended
March 31, March 31,
2008 2007
$ $
------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities 2,197,096 7,281,275
Net cash used in investing activities (7,023,775) (5,532,826)
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities (926,234) 420,628
------------------------------
Net cash inflow/(outflow) during the quarter (5,752,913) 2,169,077
------------------------------
------------------------------
AMERIGO RESOURCES LTD.
SELECTED TRAILING DATA
All figures expressed in US Dollars
Q1-2008 Q4-2007 Q3-2007 Q2-2007 Q1-2007
------------------------------------------------------------
Copper
production
(tonnes) 3,538 4,318 3,653 4,224 2,869
Copper sales
(tonnes) 3,540 4,477 3,601 4,051 2,909
Molybdenum
production
(lbs) 148,670 157,630 153,295 204,647 123,448
Molybdenum
sales (lbs) 157,739 172,374 131,575 203,383 104,553
Copper selling
price ($/lb)(i) 3.56 3.00 3.48 3.29 2.96
(i) Before
smelter and
refinery costs
and settlement
adjustments to
prior quarters'
sales
Revenue $35,933,465 $26,974,854 $28,536,864 $32,011,648 $18,171,183
Power costs 13,903,331 8,288,847 7,781,476 7,821,020 3,609,673
El Teniente
royalty 5,146,561 5,836,784 4,654,187 5,291,091 2,891,838
All other
cost of
sales 8,035,829 9,979,043 7,592,407 6,980,611 5,083,299
Gross profit 8,847,744 2,870,180 8,508,794 11,918,926 6,586,373
All other
expenses,
including
taxes 2,464,732 1,053,682 1,926,907 1,586,239 1,035,091
------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings $ 6,383,012 $ 1,816,498 $ 6,581,887 $10,332,687 $ 5,551,282
Earnings
per share
(basic) 0.07 0.03 0.07 0.11 0.06
Other
comprehensive
income/(loss) $(4,505,662) $ 37,734 $ 3,393,858 $ 964,175 $ -
Cash cost
($/lb) 2.51 1.60 1.78 1.19 1.47
Total cost
($/lb) 3.34 2.40 2.49 1.85 2.03
Cash flow
from
operations $ 2,197,096 $ 6,793,697 $ 4,797,409 $12,409,777 $ 7,281,275
Dividend
per share
declared Cdn$0.065 - Cdn$0.065 - Cdn$0.065
Total
dividends
paid $ 6,018,524 - $ 5,802,371 $ 5,286,918 -
Cash flow
for capital
expenditures $ 6,870,595 $ 8,905,305 $ 1,184,716 $ 1,688,749 $ 5,532,826
Closing cash
position $10,959,717 $16,712,630 $26,378,172 $28,567,850 $28,743,136
Working
capital 11,693,685 15,512,204 27,093,319 28,845,201 26,790,250
The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed nor accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release, which has been prepared by management.
Contacts:
Amerigo Resources Ltd.
Dr. Klaus Zeitler
President
(604) 681-2802
(604) 682-2802 (FAX)
Amerigo Resources Ltd.
(604) 218-7013
Website: www.amerigoresources.com
2 Recommendations
Loading...
Loading...
New Message
Please
login
to post a reply