Orosur Mining Q3 2015 Results: US$3.0 Million C...

Orosur Mining Q3 2015 Results: US$3.0 Million Cash Flow from Operations and Exploration Update

Orosur Mining Inc.

Orosur Mining Inc. (“Orosur” or the “Company”) (TSX: OMI) (AIM: OMI), a South American-focused gold producer, developer and explorer is pleased to announce the results for the third quarter of its fiscal 2015 ended February 28, 2015 (“Q3 2015” or the “Quarter”).

Highlights

  • Gold production of 13,760 oz (13,218 oz in Q3 2014)
  • Cash operating costs of US$876/oz (US$818/oz in Q3 2014), compared to Q1 2015: US$945/oz & Q2 2015: US$984/oz
  • Both production and cash operating costs are in line with original guidance, and the Company remains on track to deliver its full year guidance of 50,000 – 55,000 oz at a cash operating cost of US$850 - $950/oz
  • All-In-Sustaining costs of US$1,132/oz (Q3 2014: US$1,032/oz) compared to Q1 2015: US$1,182/oz & Q2 2015: US$1,258/oz
  • Average gold price received in the Quarter was US$1,220/oz (Q3 13/14: US$1,254/oz)
  • Cash flow from operations of US$3.0M (Q3 2014: US$3.5M)
  • Net loss after tax for the quarter was of US$1.9M (Q3 2014: Net loss after tax US$0.01M)
  • The cash balance at February 28, 2015 was US$5.8M and the debt balance was US$3.3M compared to cash US$10.8M and debt US$4.9M at May 31, 2014
  • YTD the Company has generated US$7.4M of cash from operations and invested US$6.8M in capital expenditure, including the tailings projects, and US$3.7M in exploration
  • A pre-development program of geotechnical and infill drilling on the main known extensions of the San Gregorio deposit (“SG Deeps”) was completed in Q3. The geological model, resource estimate and an open pit versus underground trade-off study are being updated with the assistance of Mine Development Associates (“MDA”), with encouraging preliminary results. A development decision is expected around the end of Q4
  • Brownfield exploration programs concentrated on near mine targets focusing on extensions to known zones and the addition of supplemental ounces to the reserve base as well as an active greenfield program focused on the wider Isla Cristalina granite-greenstone belt
  • At Anillo, drafting of definitive agreements to fund the next phases of exploration advanced with Asset Chile Exploración Minera Fondo de Inversión Privado (“Asset Chile”)

Ignacio Salazar, CEO of Orosur, said:

“Orosur achieved quarterly operating results slightly ahead of our guidance, reduced cash costs by 9% over the first half of our fiscal year, successfully permitted the new Laureles open pit mine, closed the old tailings dam and completed a new phase in our second tailings dam. We are encouraged by the work on the San Gregorio Deeps development project that is advancing with the assistance of Mine Development Associates (“MDA”) and will soon finalise feasibility level studies to make a development decision. We continue to fund reserve replacement programmes around the mine in Uruguay as well as maintain an active exploration program focused on the wider Isla Cristalina granite-greenstone belt. At Anillo, we are making progress on drafting the definitive agreements to fund the next phases of exploration as previously announced. In a challenging gold price environment, we anticipate a solid fourth quarter to come.”

       

Operational & Financial Summary1

    Q3 ended February 28th 2015
    Q3 14/15     Q3 13/14     Variance
Operating Results
Gold produced     Ounces     13,760     13,218     542
Operating cash cost3     US$/oz     876     818     (58)
Average price received     US$/oz     1,220     1,254     (34)
Financial Results
Revenue     US$ ‘000     16,445     16,741     (296)
Net loss after tax     US$ ‘000     (1,884)     (15)     (1,869)
Cash flow from operations2     US$ ‘000     3,045     3,450     (405)
                         

Cash & Debt at the end of the
period – Summary

         

February
28, 2015

   

May 31,
2014

   

February
28, 2014

Cash balance     US$ ‘000     5,807     10,818     9,257
Total debt     US$ ‘000     3,307     4,939     6,502
Cash net of debt     US$ ´000     2,500     5,879     2,755
           

1 Results are based on IFRS and expressed in US dollars

2 Before working capital movements

3 Operating cash cost is total cost discounting royalties and capital tax on production assets.

 

Production and Cash Costs

Both, production and cash operating costs for Q3 2015 are in line with the Company’s previously stated guidance.

Gold production for the Quarter totaled 13,760 oz, bringing the Q1 – Q3 2015 aggregate production up to 40,298 oz, leaving the Company on schedule to achieve near the top end of its FY production guidance for the year (50,000 - 55,000 oz). The Company maintains its forecast production guidance for FY 2015 between 50,000 to 55,000 ounces of gold at operating cash costs of between US$850 to US$950 per ounce.

Orosur continues to deliver cost reductions reaching a unit operating cash cost of US$876/oz in the Quarter, compared to Q1 2015: US$945/oz and Q2 2015: US$984/oz. This reduction is in line with the H2 expectations of a return to higher grade mining. The All-In-Sustaining costs for the Quarter was US$1,132/oz compared to an average gold price received of US$1,220/oz. The Company expects further operating cash cost reductions in Q4 2015. The average YTD operating cash costs of US$934/oz are in line with our guidance of US$850 - US$950/oz.

Mining at the Laureles open pit has successfully commenced in Q4 2015 as planned following the concession and easement approval granted by Uruguayan Minister of Mines end of February 2015. Laureles will be the primary source of open pit ore for at least the next half year with mineralization open on strike and down dip.

During the Quarter, Orosur achieved two demanding targets associated with the tailings dam: OMI completed the construction of a further phase of its second tailings dam in San Gregorio on time and within the initial budget and secondly, closed successfully its first tailings dam. Tailings related expenditures totaled approximately US$3M during Q1-Q3. The newly built phase of the tailings dam is designed to provide tailings capacity for at least 18 months. During March 2015, the Uruguayan Environmental department received the results of an external audit they had commissioned on these projects with positive results.

Financial Summary

Cash flow from operations before working capital was US$3.0M for the quarter compared to US$3.5M for Q3 2014, primarily due to a lower gold price. Net loss after tax for the quarter was US$1.9M compared to a loss of US$0.01M in Q3 2014.

The Company invested US$2.4M in capital expenditures and US$1.5M in exploration expenditures in the quarter compared to US$1.8M and US$1.1M respectively in Q3 2014.

The cash balance at February 28, 2015 was US$5.8M and the debt balance was US$3.3M compared to cash US$10.8M and debt US$4.9M at May 31, 2014. YTD the Company has generated US$7.4M of cash from operations and invested US$6.8M in capital expenditure, including the tailings projects, and US$3.7M in exploration.

Orosur expects to continue following the contracted schedule of lease and debt repayments with HSBC and Banco Santander with the HSBC lease finance facility completely repaid by the end of FY 2015 and with approximately US$1.5M outstanding with Banco Santander. The Company has US$3.0M of committed but undrawn lines of credit available at February 28th, 2015.

Development and Exploration Uruguay

During the Quarter, the Company continued its exploration programs in the San Gregorio district of Uruguay, including 3,223 metres of exploration drilling and 9,670 metres of shallow (<15m) drilling on surface and near surface brownfields targets. At SG Deeps, a pre-development program of 3,000 metres of geotechnical and infill drilling which commenced in Q2 was completed in Q3. During Q3, 811 metres of diamond drilling was completed on three greenfields targets.

SG Deeps Development Project

SG Deeps is a development project aimed at exploiting and potentially expanding the existing resources from the San Gregorio deposit. These resources are located just below, to the west and the east of the historic main pit.

During Q3 2015, approximately 3,000 metres of drilling were completed to further evaluate the extensions of this geological resource. Based on the newly acquired data, the 2011 geological model and resource estimate (officially reported in the 2013 Technical Report) are being updated with the assistance of Mine Development Associates (“MDA”) of Reno, Nevada. The new data is encouraging and progress reports will be available in Q4. The drilling program also advanced the geotechnical database of the main San Gregorio extension in preparation for work planned for Q4. This work includes an open pit versus underground comparison study and new mine designs, aiming for a development decision near the end of Q4.

Exploration Uruguay

Exploration drilling continued on the Company’s main open pit targets during the Quarter, including those currently in production. A total of 1,359 metres of RC drilling and 9,670 metres of shallow (<15m) drilling on surface and near surface brownfields targets were successful in defining additional resources in Q3.

Underground exploration drilling at Arenal Deeps in Q3 consisted of 1,053 metres and was also successful in identifying additional resources that are now the subject of new mine designs for certification as reserves. The Company replaced production with new reserves last fiscal year and keeps funding solid reserve replacement brownfield programs.

Greenfields activity focused on more regional aspects on the San Gregorio district within the wider Isla Cristalina granite-greenstone belt. The results of these efforts have been encouraging however are too early in their exploration to define geological resources at present. During Q3, 811 metres of diamond drilling was completed on three greenfields targets. There are numerous exploration targets yet to be examined and an overall ranking is periodically updated to maximize the possibility of near term success.

Exploration Chile

At Anillo, drafting of a definitive agreements for the funding of the next phases of exploration advanced with Asset Chile Exploración Minera Fondo de Inversión Privado (“Asset Chile”). An agreement with Asset Chile was announced on November 19th, 2014. A Letter of Intent was signed for non-dilutive financing of up to $3.5 million to advance the exploration at the Anillo project. Once the definitive agreement is signed, the Company plans to perform geophysics (CSAMT lines) and RC drilling to follow-up and delineate the mineral intercepts obtained at the last drilling campaign. The Anillo project is located to the northeast of Yamana Gold’s El Peñón operation, a well-established and significant gold producer.

Exploration Colombia

At the Anzá project in Colombia, community relations and environmental monitoring continued as per the normal schedule. New water sources for drilling were defined and applied for in Q3. Anzá remains a high priority target for organic growth of the Company.

END

Qualified Person's Statement

The technical information related to the current assets of Orosur Mining in this presentation has been reviewed by Michael Schwabe, an Exploration Consultant who is considered to be a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 reporting guidelines. Mr. Schwabe is a graduate in Science, majoring in Geology from the University of Tasmania and is Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, a Senior Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists and a Professional Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration. Mr. Schwabe has 47 years of professional experience in the field of mineral exploration, mine development and management.

Forward Looking Statements

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or incorporated by reference in this news release, including any information as to the future financial or operating performance of the Company, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of certain securities laws, including the "safe harbour" provisions of the Securities Act (Ontario) and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on expectations estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, such statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation success of exploration activities; permitting time lines; the failure of plant; equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents; labour disputes; requirements for additional capital title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

Neither TSX Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Orosur Mining Inc.

Orosur Mining Inc. is a fully integrated gold producer, developer and exploration company focused on identifying and advancing gold projects in South America. The Company operates the only producing gold mine in Uruguay (San Gregorio), and has assembled an exploration portfolio of high quality assets in Uruguay, Chile and Colombia. The Company is quoted in Canada (TSX: OMI) and London (AIM: OMI).

For more information please visit www.orosur.ca

Financial Statements Follow

             

Orosur Mining Inc.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
Thousands of United States Dollars, except where indicated

       
     

As at February 28,
2015 ($)

   

As at May 31,
2014 ($)
 
Assets
 
Cash and cash equivalents 5,807 10,818
Accounts receivables and other assets 3,010 3,338
Inventories 14,187     14,254
Total current assets 23,004 28,410
 
Accounts receivables and other assets - 414
Property plant and equipment and development costs 32,143 37,323
Exploration and evaluation costs 44,912 35,813
Deferred income tax assets 5,787 5,470
Restricted cash 250     258
Total non-current assets 83,092 79,278
       
Total assets 106,096     107,688
 
             
 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
 
Trade payables and other accrued liabilities 13,710 13,343
Current portion of long-term debt 2,893 3,978
Environmental rehabilitation provisions 598     598
Total current liabilities 17,201 17,919
 
Long-term debt 414 961
Environmental rehabilitation provisions 5,324     5,828
Total non-current liabilities 5,738 6,789
       
Total liabilities 22,939     24,708
 
Capital stock 60,544 55,184
Warrants 62 -
Contributed surplus 5,742 5,708
Retained earnings 16,809     22,088
Total shareholders’ equity 83,157     82,980
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity 106,096     107,688
             
             

Orosur Mining Inc.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Profit (Loss) and Comprehensive Profit (Loss)
Thousands of United States Dollars, except for earnings per share amounts

       

Three months ended
February 28,

Nine months ended
February 28,

      2015 ($)     2014 ($)     2015 ($)     2014 ($)
       
Sales 16,445 16,741 50,375 60,061
Cost of sales (17,088)     (16,007)     (52,487)     (52,100)
Gross (loss)/profit (643) 734 (2,112) 7,961
 
Corporate and administrative expense (311) (1,147) (2,186) (2,879)
Exploration expenses and exploration written off (514) (318) (547) (1,208)
Impairment of assets (63) - (63) -
Other income 150 918 538 1,044
Finance cost (74) (148) (226) (268)
Finance income 1 1 4 3
Net foreign exchange gain (loss) (154)     44     (129)     57
(965) (650) (2,609) (3,251)
 
(Loss) profit before income tax (1,608) 84 (4,721) 4,710
 
Recovery (Provision) for income taxes (276)     (99)     313     (2,224)
Total (loss) profit for the period (1,884)     (15)     (4,408)     2,486
 
Other comprehensive loss

Foreign exchange differences on translating
foreign operations

 (351) - (871) -
                   

Total comprehensive (loss) profit for the
period

(2,235)     (15)     (5,279)     2,486
 
 
(Loss) profit per common share
Basic and fully diluted (0.02) 0.00 (0.06) 0.03
                         
       

Orosur Mining Inc.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Thousands of United States Dollars, except where indicated

   

 

Nine months ended
February 28,

    2015 ($)     2014 ($)

Net inflow (outflow) of cash related to the following activities

   
 
Cash flow from operating activities
Net (loss) profit for the period (4,408) 2,486

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from
operating activities:

Depreciation 11,430 12,539
Impairment of assets 63 -
Exploration and evaluation expenses 544 67
Accretion of asset retirement obligation 57 57
Deferred income tax assets (317) 2,385
Stock based compensation (60) 232
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment (259) (705)
Others 356     (18)
Subtotal 7,406 17,044
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivables and other assets 792 425
Inventories 3 953
Trade payables and other accrued liabilities (260)     (3,289)
Net cash generated from operating activities 7,941     15,133
 
Cash flow from financing activities
Repayment of long-term debt (2,745)     (2,290)
Net cash used in financing activities (2,745)     (2,290)
 
Cash flow from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment and development costs (6,759) (3,621)
Environmental tasks (562) (2,302)
Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets 788 833
Exploration and evaluation expenditure assets (3,674)     (4,129)
Net cash used in investing activities (10,207)     (9,219)
 

(Decrease) Increase in cash and cash equivalents

(5,011)

3,624

 
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period 10,818     5,633
 
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period 5,807     9,257
             
       

Orosur Mining Inc.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
Thousands of United States Dollars, except where indicated

   

Nine months ended
February 28,

 

     

2015 ($)

   

2014 ($)

 

Capital stock

   
Balance at beginning of period 55,184 55,184
Issued for Waymar acquisition 5,360     -
Balance at end of period 60,544     55,184
 
Broker Warrants
Balance at beginning of period - 276
Issued for Waymar acquisition 62 -
Expiration -     (276)
Balance at end of period 62     -
 

Contributed surplus

Balance at beginning of period 5,708 5,534
Employee stock based compensation recognized (60) 232
Issued for Waymar acquisition 94     -
Balance at end of period 5,742     5,766
 

Retained earnings

Balance at beginning of period 22,088 16,965
Warrant expiration - 276
Net loss for the period (4,408) 2,486
Currency translation reserve (871)     -
Balance at end of period 16,809     19,727
 
 
Shareholders’ equity at end of period 83,157     80,677
 

Orosur Mining Inc
Ignacio Salazar, + 562 2924 6800
Chief Executive Officer
info@orosur.ca
or
Cantor Fitzgerald Europe
Stewart Dickson / Jeremy Stephenson
+44 (0) 20 7894 7000
or
FTI Consulting
Ben Brewerton / Oliver Winters / Sara Powell
+44 (0) 20 3727 1000

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