TIDMCMCL
RNS Number : 3599I
Caledonia Mining Corporation PLC
21 March 2018
Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc
Results for the Fourth Quarter and Year ended December 31,
2017
St Helier, 21 March, 2018: Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc
("Caledonia" or the "Company") announces its operating and
financial results for the fourth quarter ("Q4" or the "Quarter")
and the year ended December 31, 2017 (the "Year"). Caledonia's
primary asset is a 49 per cent legal ownership in the Blanket Mine
("Blanket") in Zimbabwe. Caledonia continues to consolidate Blanket
and the operational and financial information set out below is on a
100 per cent basis unless indicated otherwise.
3 months 12 months Comment
ended December ended December
31 31
------------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------------------------
2016 2017 2016 2017
------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------------------------------------
Increased gold production
Gold produced due to higher tonnes milled
(oz) 13,591 16,425 50,351 56,133 and higher grade
------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------------------------------------
On-mine costs are stable
for the year but 9% lower
in the Quarter compared
to Q4 2016 due to the
higher production in the
Quarter which meant that
On-mine cost fixed costs were spread
($/oz)[1] 614 556 636 633 over more production ounces
------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------------------------------------
Q4 2016 AISC was low due
to the recognition of
the entire 2016 export
incentive credit in the
quarter. Lower year-on-year
AISC reflects lower administrative
All-in sustaining expenses and higher export
cost ($/oz) incentive credit and sales
("AISC")1 843 901 912 847 ounces
------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------------------------------------
Average realised The average realised gold
gold price price reflects changes
($/oz)(1) 1,187 1,256 1,232 1,243 in the price of gold
------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------------------------------------
Higher gross profit reflects
increased sales ounces
Gross profit and a higher realised
([2]) 6,888 8,411 23,492 26,321 gold price
------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------------------------------------
Increased net profit reflects
Net profit increased gross profit
attributable and reduced administrative
to shareholders 3,258 3,232 8,526 9,384 costs
------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------------------------------------
Higher adjusted EPS reflects
increased net profit in
Adjusted the Year and the elimination
basic earnings from adjusted EPS in 2016
per share of the profit arising
("EPS")[3] on the sale of treasury
(cents) 41.4 48.6 98.6 135.4 bills
------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------------------------------------
3 months 12 months Comment
ended December ended December
31 31
------------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------------------------
2016 2017 2016 2017
------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------------------------------------
Cash balance remains robust
but should be seen in
the context of increased
trade payables at Blanket
Cash and due to the shortage of
cash equivalents 14,335 12,756 14,335 12,756 foreign currency in Zimbabwe
------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------------------------------------
Cash from
operating Cash from operating activities
activities 6,940 7,914 23,011 24,512 remains strong
------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------------------------------------
Steve Curtis, Chief Executive Officer, said:
"I'm delighted to report that production for the year was a new
record: the 56,133 ounces of gold produced in 2017 being 11.5 per
cent higher than in 2016. The production difficulties which we
encountered in the first half of the year were identified and
addressed and it was pleasing to see that these remedial measures
resulted in Blanket achieving consecutive production records in the
third and fourth quarters of the year.
"In addition to increased production, we have also reduced our
unit costs: Caledonia's AISC per ounce for the year was $847 per
ounce - seven per cent lower than in 2016.
"The combination of increased production and lower costs and a
small increase in the gold price resulted in a 14 per cent increase
in profit attributable to shareholders.
"The strong operational and financial performance translated
once more into very strong cash flows. During the Year the Group
generated over $24 million of cash from operations (2016: $23
million). From these cash flows and cash resources, Blanket funded
$18 million of expansion capital investment, $3.5 million of
sustaining capital expenditure and repaid $1.5 million of debt;
Caledonia also paid $2.9 million of dividends.
"During the Year we made excellent progress on implementing the
Investment Plan at Blanket Mine with the objective of increasing
production to 80,000 ounces of gold per year by 2021. The Central
Shaft has reached a depth of 990 metres, the station for the second
new haulage level has been completed and shaft sinking has
re-commenced.
"Exploration continues at Blanket with encouraging results. In
November 2017, we announced a resource upgrade which increased the
gold contained in Measured and Indicated Resources by six per cent
to 714,000 ounces. The gold contained in Inferred Resources
increased by 47 per cent to 887,000 ounces.
"Following the resource upgrade, we have extended the scope of
the Central Shaft project by increasing the depth of the shaft by a
further 250 metres to a shaft bottom depth of 1,330 metres. The
extension will allow for a further two production levels (in
addition to the two new levels that were already planned) and will
potentially extend Blanket's life of mine by four years to 2031.
The shaft extension and the new production levels will cost
approximately $18 million - much less than if we had done this work
after the shaft had been completed and commissioned to the original
target depth of 1,080 metres. The extension of the shaft is not
expected to delay the achievement of the target production of
approximately 80,000 ounces per year by 2021 but it will improve
operational flexibility.
"There were some significant political developments in Zimbabwe
towards the end of 2017 which culminated in the appointment of the
new President. The new President has made several pronouncements
regarding a relaxation in the indigenisation policy and
specifically the removal of the indigenisation requirement for gold
mining companies. These pronouncements have now passed into law and
accordingly, the boards of Caledonia and Blanket have agreed to
implement a rights issue at Blanket to raise approximately $4
million which will be underwritten by Caledonia's Zimbabwean
subsidiary. Blanket will use the proceeds of the rights issue to
advance work on certain of its satellite properties. Assuming that
Blanket's indigenous shareholders do not subscribe for shares in
accordance with their rights, it is expected that, subject to the
terms of the rights issue, Caledonia's shareholding in Blanket will
increase from 49 per cent to slightly over 50 per cent.
"Caledonia will also evaluate the potential to buy the
shareholdings in Blanket that are currently held by certain
indigenous shareholders. However, it is our intention to retain the
shareholders representing employees and the local community (both
of which currently hold 10 per cent each) as long term shareholders
of Blanket. Any transactions would reflect the value of the
indigenous shareholders' holdings in Blanket after deducting the
value of their outstanding facilitation loans and would be subject
to a mutually agreed valuation of the holdings in Blanket.
"I wholeheartedly welcome the change in legislation which means
that Caledonia can commit new capital so that Blanket can commence
exploration and evaluations of additional projects in Zimbabwe. If
this investment is successful it will benefit all stakeholders,
including Blanket's indigenous shareholders, future employees on
the new projects, the communities around the new projects and the
government of Zimbabwe which would benefit from increased royalty
and tax receipts and greater inflows of foreign exchange arising
from increased gold production.
"We are at a very exciting point in our development. At our
current production level of over 55,000 ounces of gold per annum we
are already highly cash generative. For the next two years, the
bulk of the cash generation will be deployed to the Investment Plan
at Blanket which we are confident will further increase cash flows
as we increase production to 80,000 ounces of gold by 2021. Once
the Investment Plan is completed towards the end of 2020, we expect
to have substantial free cash flows to deploy elsewhere. Against
this background, there are very encouraging political developments
in Zimbabwe which we are optimistic will create new investment
opportunities."
Shareholder Conference Call
A presentation of the 2017 results and outlook for Caledonia is
available on Caledonia's website (www.caledoniamining.com).
Management will host a conference call at 1500 GMT on March 27
2018.
Details for the call are as follows:
Date: March 27, 2018
Time: 1500 London, 1600 Johannesburg, 1600 Zurich and Frankfurt,
1000 Toronto and New York
Password: Caledonia
UK Toll free 0800 368 2555
------------------------------- ---------------------
USA Toll free 1 866 966 5335
------------------------------- ---------------------
South Africa Toll free 0 800 980 512
------------------------------- ---------------------
Canada Toll free 1 800 608 0547
------------------------------- ---------------------
Other (standard International
access) +44 (0) 20 3037 9299
------------------------------- ---------------------
For further information please contact:
Caledonia Mining Corporation
Plc Tel: +44 1534 679 802
Mark Learmonth Tel: +44 759 078 1139
Maurice Mason
WH Ireland Tel: +44 20 7220 1751
Adrian Hadden/Ed Allsopp
Blytheweigh Tel: +44 207 138 3204
Tim Blythe/Camilla Horsfall/Megan
Ray
Chief Executive's Report
Safety
Regrettably, there were two fatal accidents in Year and a third
fatal accident occurred on February 23, 2018. The directors and
management of Caledonia and Blanket express their sincere
condolences to the families and colleagues of each of the deceased.
Management has provided the necessary assistance to the Ministry of
Mines Inspectorate Department in its enquiries into this incident.
Caledonia takes the safety of its employees very seriously and
accordingly, measures have been taken to re-inforce adherence to
prescribed safety procedures through increased training
activities.
Record production
16,425 ounces of gold were produced during the Quarter, 14 per
cent more than the 14,396 ounces produced in the third quarter of
2017 (the "preceding quarter"), which was itself a new production
record. 56,133 ounces of gold were produced in the Year, 11.5 per
cent more than in 2016. The increased production was due to higher
tonnes mined, as the remedial measures that were taken in previous
quarters to address logistical constraints bore fruit and improved
grades, which resulted from increased mining of higher grade areas
as mine flexibility continues to improve.
Resource upgrade
On November 2, 2017 the Company announced that total Measured
and Indicated gold ounces at Blanket Mine had increased by six per
cent from 671,000 ounces in December 2016 to 714,000 ounces as at
August 31, 2017. Total Measured and Indicated resources at August
31, 2017 were 5.62 million tonnes at a grade of 3.95 grammes per
tonne ("g/t"). Inferred gold resources at Blanket increased by 47
per cent from 604,000 ounces in December 2016 to 887,000 ounces at
August 31, 2017. Total Inferred resources at August 31, 2017 were
5.53 million tonnes at a grade of 4.99g/t.
The update resulted in a modest decline in the average grade of
the resources in the Indicated category as a result of additional
infill drilling data although the average resource grade remains
well above the current mill feed grade. Caledonia expects the mined
grade to trend upwards over time as higher-grade resources are
accessed at depth.
This resource update marked the sixth successive year of
sustained resource growth at Blanket. Blanket's resources (both in
terms of Measured & Indicated resources and Inferred resources)
have grown by approximately 69 per cent since 2011 despite mining
over 250,000 ounces over this period.
Extension of the Central Shaft Project at Blanket Mine
Following the announcement of the updated resource statement on
November 2, 2017, on November 10, 2017 Caledonia announced that it
plans to extend the depth of the Central Shaft which is currently
under construction at Blanket by a further 250 metres to a shaft
bottom depth of 1,330 metres. The extension of the Central Shaft
will add two further production levels on 34 level at 1,110 metres
and on 38 level at 1,230 metres in addition to the two levels that
are already planned on 26 level (870 metres) and 30 level (990
metres). It is expected that the extended shaft will be fully
commissioned by the end of the first quarter of 2020.
The extension of the shaft and associated capital development of
additional production levels will cost approximately $18 million
which will be funded by Blanket's internal cash generation. The
additional capital investment is not expected to have any effect on
the continuation of Caledonia's existing dividend.
The addition of two further production levels will provide
access to the Indicated and Inferred resources below 30 level and
potentially increase Blanket's projected life of mine by a further
four years to 2031.
The extension of the Central Shaft before it has been completed,
equipped and commissioned is understood to be significantly
cheaper, quicker and less disruptive than a subsequent extension
after commissioning.
Caledonia has also initiated a mid-shaft loading system at
Blanket using the existing Central Shaft infrastructure to handle
development waste. This is expected to improve Blanket's waste
handling capacity and alleviate pressure on Number 4 Shaft which in
turn should have a positive effect on both production flexibility
and horizontal development.
The extension of the Central Shaft and the introduction of
mid-shaft loading is expected to extend the completion date for
Central Shaft from late 2019 until early 2020, but should not delay
the target production of 80,000 ounces of gold per year by
2021.
Dividend Policy
On July 4, 2017, following the consolidation on June 26, 2017 of
the Company's shares, the Company announced an increased quarterly
dividend of 6.875 cents per share which was paid on July 28, 2017
and further quarterly dividends of the same amount were paid on
October 27, 2017 and January 26, 2018. The dividend of 6.875 cents
per share effectively maintains the dividend at the previous level
of 1.375 cents per share, after adjusting for the effect of the
one-for-five share consolidation. The quarterly dividend of 6.875
cents per quarter is Caledonia's current dividend policy which it
is envisaged will be maintained.
Strategy and Outlook
Caledonia's strategic focus continues to be the implementation
of the Investment Plan at Blanket, which was announced in November
2014 and has been revised as discussed above to reflect the recent
resource upgrade and deepening of the Central Shaft. Caledonia's
board and management team believe that the successful
implementation of the Investment Plan is in the best interests of
all stakeholders because it is expected to result in increased
production, reduced operating costs and increased flexibility to
undertake further exploration and development, thereby safeguarding
and enhancing Blanket's long term future.
Changes to the Indigenisation Legislation
Pronouncements from the Zimbabwe Government following the
appointment of the new President in late 2017 announced a
relaxation in the indigenisation policy which, amongst other
things, includes the removal of an indigenisation requirement for
gold mining companies. These pronouncements were been passed into
law in March, 2018. In light of the changed legislation, the
Blanket (which expression in this paragraph means the company
owning Blanket Mine) and Caledonia boards have agreed to implement
a transaction which is expected to increase Caledonia's
shareholding in Blanket from 49 per cent to approximately 51 per
cent. Caledonia will also evaluate the potential to buy back the
shareholdings in Blanket that are currently held by certain
indigenous shareholders. However, it is our intention to retain the
Blanket Employee Trust Services (Private) Limited and Gwanda
Community Share Ownership Trust (both of which currently hold 10
per cent of Blanket each) as long term shareholders of Blanket. Any
transactions would reflect the value of the indigenous
shareholders' holdings in Blanket after deducting the value of
their outstanding facilitation loans. At this stage there is no
certainty that agreement will be reached on transactions in respect
of any shareholdings.
Note: This announcement contains information which, prior to its
disclosure by this announcement, was inside information for the
purposes of the Market Abuse Regulation.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and
Other Comprehensive Income
($'000's) 3 months ended 12 months ended
December 31 December 31
2016 2017 2015 2016 2017
Revenue 15,251 19,599 48,977 61,992 69,762
Royalty (583) (986) (2,455) (2,923) (3,498)
Production costs (6,873) (9,188) (30,019) (32,086) (36,180)
Depreciation (907) (1,014) (3,322) (3,491) (3,763)
-------- -------- --------- --------- ---------
Gross profit 6,888 8,411 13,181 23,492 26,321
Other income 1,244 535 110 1,330 2,399
Other expenses (55) - - (55) -
Administrative expenses (2,030) (1,370) (7,622) (7,263) (5,911)
Foreign exchange (loss)/gain (173) (396) 2,850 (505) (380)
Cash settled share based
expense 129 (369) (24) (618) (976)
Equity settled share
based expense (170) - - (170) (835)
Sale of Blanket Mine
treasury bills (1) - - 3,202 -
Margin call on gold hedge - - - (435) -
Operating profit 5,832 6,811 8,495 18,978 20,618
Net finance cost (34) (7) (535) (176) (31)
-------- -------- --------- --------- ---------
Profit before tax 5,798 6,804 7,960 18,802 20,587
Tax expense (1,920) (2,815) (2,370) (7,717) (8,691)
-------- -------- --------- --------- ---------
Profit for the period 3,878 3,989 5,590 11,085 11,896
-------- -------- --------- --------- ---------
Other comprehensive income
Items that are or may be reclassified
to profit or loss
Foreign currency translation
differences for foreign
operations 216 350 (3,291) 262 373
Tax credit on other comprehensive
income - - 199 - -
Total comprehensive income
for the period 4,094 4,339 2,498 11,347 12,269
-------- -------- --------- --------- ---------
Profit attributable to:
Shareholders of the Company 3,258 3,232 4,779 8,526 9,384
Non-controlling interests 620 757 811 2,559 2,512
-------- -------- --------- --------- ---------
Profit for the period 3,878 3,989 5,590 11,085 11,896
-------- -------- --------- --------- ---------
Total comprehensive income
attributable to:
Shareholders of the Company 3,474 3,582 1,687 8,788 9,757
Non-controlling interests 620 757 811 2,559 2,512
-------- -------- --------- --------- ---------
Total comprehensive income
for the period 4,094 4,339 2,498 11,347 12,269
-------- -------- --------- --------- ---------
Earnings per share (i)
Basic 30.5 29.5 44.5 79.5 86.5
Diluted 31.0 29.4 44.5 79.0 86.4
Adjusted earnings per
share (i) (ii)
Basic 41.4 48.6 44.5 98.6 135.4
------------------------------------ -------- -------- --------- --------- ---------
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
($'000's)
12 months ended December
31
2015 2016 2017
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations 8,823 25,671 28,885
Net interest paid (492) (194) (161)
Tax paid (1,462) (2,466) (4,212)
--------- --------- ---------
Cash from operating activities 6,869 23,011 24,512
--------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of property, plant
and equipment (16,567) (19,885) (21,639)
Proceeds from property, plant
and equipment - 3 -
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash used in investing
activities (16,567) (19,882) (21,639)
--------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid (2,504) (2,994) (3,310)
Term loan proceeds/(repayments) - 3,000 (1,500)
Term loan - transaction cost - (73) -
Shares issued - 433 246
Share re-purchase cost - (146)
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash (used in)/from financing
activities (2,504) 366 (4,710)
Net (decrease)/ increase in
cash and cash equivalents (12,202) 3,495 (1,837)
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations
on cash held - (40) 258
Cash and cash equivalents at
beginning of the period 23,082 10,880 14,335
Cash and cash equivalents at
end of the period 10,880 14,335 12,756
-------------------------------------- --------- --------- ---------
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
($'000's) As at December December December
31 31 31
2015 2016 2017
Total non-current
assets 49,276 64,917 82,143
Inventories 6,091 7,222 9,175
Prepayments 667 810 709
Income tax receivable 397 - -
Trade and other receivables 3,839 3,425 4,962
Cash and cash equivalents 12,568 14,335 13,067
--------- --------- ---------
Total assets 72,838 90,709 110,056
--------- --------- ---------
Total non-current
liabilities 14,080 21,560 25,243
Current portion of
term loan facility - 1,410 1,486
Trade and other payables 6,656 8,077 12,660
Income taxes payable 53 345 1,145
Bank overdraft 1,688 - 311
--------- ---------
Total liabilities 22,477 31,392 40,845
Equity attributable
to shareholders 48,857 55,609 63,267
Non-controlling interest 1,504 3,708 5,944
--------- --------- ---------
Total equity 50,361 59,317 69,211
--------- --------- ---------
Total equity and
liabilities 72,838 90,709 110,056
-------------------------------------- --------- --------- ---------
Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Information
Information and statements contained in this news release that
are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" within
the meaning of applicable securities legislation that involve risks
and uncertainties relating, but not limited to Caledonia's current
expectations, intentions, plans, and beliefs. Forward-looking
information can often be identified by forward-looking words such
as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "goal", "plan", "target",
"intend", "estimate", "could", "should", "may" and "will" or the
negative of these terms or similar words suggesting future
outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives,
assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or
performance. Examples of forward-looking information in this news
release include: production guidance, estimates of future/targeted
production rates, and our plans and timing regarding further
exploration and drilling and development. This forward-looking
information is based, in part, on assumptions and factors that may
change or prove to be incorrect, thus causing actual results,
performance or achievements to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by forward-looking information. Such factors
and assumptions include, but are not limited to: failure to
establish estimated resources and reserves, the grade and recovery
of ore which is mined varying from estimates, success of future
exploration and drilling programs, reliability of drilling,
sampling and assay data, assumptions regarding the
representativeness of mineralization being inaccurate, success of
planned metallurgical test-work, capital and operating costs
varying significantly from estimates, delays in obtaining or
failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other
project approvals, inflation, changes in exchange rates,
fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of
projects and other factors.
Security holders, potential security holders and prospective
investors should be aware that these statements are subject to
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by
the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not
limited to: risks relating to estimates of mineral reserves and
mineral resources proving to be inaccurate, fluctuations in gold
price, risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral
exploration, development and mining, risks relating to the credit
worthiness or financial condition of suppliers, refiners and other
parties with whom the Company does business; inadequate insurance,
or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards,
employee relations; relationships with and claims by local
communities and indigenous populations; political risk;
availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and
labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and
development, including the risks of obtaining or maintaining
necessary licenses and permits, diminishing quantities or grades of
mineral reserves as mining occurs; global financial condition, the
actual results of current exploration activities, changes to
conclusions of economic evaluations, and changes in project
parameters to deal with unanticipated economic or other factors,
risks of increased capital and operating costs, environmental,
safety or regulatory risks, expropriation, the Company's title to
properties including ownership thereof, increased competition in
the mining industry for properties, equipment, qualified personnel
and their costs, risks relating to the uncertainty of timing of
events including targeted production rate increase and currency
fluctuations. Shareholders are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on forward-looking information. By its nature,
forward-looking information involves numerous assumptions, inherent
risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute
to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and
various future events will not occur. Caledonia undertakes no
obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any
forward-looking information whether as a result of new information,
future events or other such factors which affect this information,
except as required by law.
[1] Non-IFRS measures such as "On-mine cost per ounce", "AISC"
and "average realised gold price" are used throughout this
document. Refer to Section 10 of this MD&A for a discussion of
non-IFRS measures.
[2] Gross profit is after deducting royalties, production costs
and depreciation but before administrative expenses, other income,
interest and finance charges and taxation.
[3] Adjusted EPS is a non-IFRS measure which aims to reflect
Caledonia's ordinary trading performance. Refer to Section 10 of
this MD&A for a discussion of non-IFRS measures. Per share data
for current and prior periods has been adjusted to reflect the
effective 1-for-5 share consolidation which was effected on June
26, 2017.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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