Brigus Gold Reports Q3 2011 Earnings
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Brigus Gold Corp. ('Brigus? or the 'Company?) (NYSE Amex: BRD) (TSX:
BRD) announces results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2011.
THIRD QUARTER FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
(All dollar amounts are expressed in US dollars unless otherwise
specified. All financial results are presented in accordance with IFRS.)
Net Income of $12.4 million or $0.06 per share.
Income from operations of $2.9 million in the quarter.
Operating cash flow of $7.4 million in the quarter excluding working
capital adjustments.
Sold 17,119 ounces of gold at an average realized price of $1,643 per
ounce.
Produced 16,838 ounces of gold in the third quarter of 2011 compared
to 15,688 ounces in Q2 2011 and 8,772 ounces in the first quarter of
the year. This is a 7% increase over Q2 production and a 92% increase
over first quarter production.
Cash cost per ounce of gold sold was $807 for the quarter.
Processed 189,674 tonnes at an average grade of 2.9 grams per tonne
(gpt) and an average recovery of 95.2%. 75% of the ore processed was
mined from the open pit. The remainder consisted primarily of
underground development ore with a small amount from underground
mining stopes towards the end of the quarter and low-grade stockpiles
early in the quarter.
Mill throughput averaged 2,062 tpd during the third quarter. As the
underground mine continues to ramp up and delivers higher-grade ore to
the mill, processing of lower-grade open pit ore will be reduced.
Commenced Phase 1 of the Black Fox Mill expansion, which will be
completed and in service during the second quarter of 2012, and is
expected to increase processing capacity by 5-10% (up to 2,200 tpd)
along with other efficiencies that will increase recovery.
Continued to intersect significant gold mineralization from ongoing
drilling at the 147 and Contact Zones. An initial 43-101 compliant
resource for these Zones will be released by year-end.
Released a pre-feasibility study for the Goldfields Project that
indicated a net present value ('NPV?) of $144.3 million at a 5%
discount rate with an internal rate of return ('IRR?) of 19.6%
assuming a gold price of $1,250 per ounce.
'Brigus has delivered quarter over quarter production growth through
2011 and expects to continue to increase production in the fourth
quarter. Following the merger in June 2010, Brigus has overcome many
challenges and has made significant improvements, all of which have made
the company fundamentally stronger,? said Wade Dawe, President and CEO
of Brigus Gold. 'Our management team will continue to implement
improvements at Black Fox that will result in ongoing production
increases to achieve steady state production levels in excess of 25,000
ounces of gold per quarter.?
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FINANCIAL RESULTS | ||||||||
(Inthousands, except per share and ounce amounts) | ? | Three months | ? | Three months | ? | Nine months | ? | Nine months |
Revenue from the sale of gold | ? | $19,282 | ? | $23,679 | ? | $50,748 | ? | $63,468 |
Operating income (loss) | $2,864 | $9,545 | $(2,924) | $18,392 | ||||
Net income (loss) | $12,356 | $(4,507) | $13,287 | $(25,350) | ||||
Basic earnings (loss) per share | $0.06 | $(0.03) | $0.07 | $(0.26) | ||||
Diluted net earnings per share | $0.06 | - | $0.07 | - | ||||
Cash flows from operations before change in non-cash working capital | $7,412 | $7,240 | $9,822 | $16,662 | ||||
Gold sales in ounces | 17,119 | 19,265 | 42,299 | 53,491 | ||||
Total cash cost per ounce of gold sold (1) | ? | $807 | ? | $383 | ? | $913 | ? | $485 |
(1)Total cash cost per ounce gold sold is a non-GAAP measure
and is not necessarily comparable to similar titled measures of other
companies due to potential inconsistencies in the method of calculation.
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OPERATIONAL RESULTS | ||||||||
? | ? | Three months | ? | Three months | ? | Nine months | ? | Nine months |
Metal Sales: | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||||
Gold (ounces) | 17,119 | 19,265 | 42,299 | 53,491 | ||||
Silver (ounces) | 997 | 591 | 1,855 | 2,474 | ||||
Average realized gold price per ounce | $1,643 | $980 | $1,511 | $939 | ||||
? | ||||||||
Production: | ||||||||
Open pit ore tonnes mined | 178,427 | 255,659 | 295,996 | 674,147 | ||||
Open pit operating waste tonnes mined | 1,798,717 | 1,272,715 | 3,422,853 | 4,536,204 | ||||
Open pit capital stripping tonnes mined | 968,431 | 1,358,197 | 3,864,835 | 1,765,441 | ||||
Total open pit tonnes mined | 2,945,575 | 2,886,571 | 7,583,684 | 6,975,792 | ||||
Total underground ore tonnes mined | 67,551 | ? | 106,683 | ? | ||||
? | ||||||||
? | ||||||||
Tonnes milled at Black Fox Mill | 189,674 | 181,291 | 550,391 | 537,528 | ||||
Tonnes milled per day | 2,062 | 1,971 | 2,016 | 1,969 | ||||
Head grade of ore (gpt) | 2.90 | 4.01 | 2.49 | 3.37 | ||||
Recovery (%) | 95% | 92% | 94% | 92% | ||||
Gold ounces produced | 16,838 | 21,526 | 41,299 | 53,729 | ||||
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Total cash costs ($/ounce): | $807 | $328 | $913 | $447 | ||||
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Average gold price ($/ounce): | ? | $1,720 | ? | $1,227 | ? | $1,561 | ? | $1,177 |
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OUTLOOK
Brigus now expects to produce between 17,000 and 18,000 ounces of gold
at its Black Fox operation in the fourth quarter of 2011. The company
has made significant progress at Black Fox and is focused on continued
production growth quarter over quarter. Gold production is expected to
be between 90,000 and 104,000 ounces in 2012 as we continue to ramp up
to steady state of more than 25,000 ounces a quarter.
As of this date, underground production is a combination of ore from
nine existing mining stopes and lower-grade development ore. Two or more
additional stopes are expected to be available by year-end. At the end
of October production from the underground mine averaged 500 to 600 tpd
from active mining stopes and 200 to 300 tpd from low-grade development
ore. Mining crews are now focused on optimizing mining techniques and
underground modeling to increase underground grades and throughput on a
continual basis.
Following the quarter end, Brigus hired an experienced new General Mine
Manager who will begin his new position in early December. As well,
Brigus has recently recruited four Mine Geologists and a Production
Coordinator who will join the Black Fox team. These new hires will
enable Brigus to execute its mining plan and optimize grades and
throughput at the underground mine.
Exploration drilling at the Black Fox Complex is progressing as planned
and an initial NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate on the 147 Zone and
the Contact Zone will be completed by the end of the year. Adding this
resource to our Black Fox operation will be an important part of our
longer-term objective to double our reserves and increase production to
200,000 ounces annually.
A production decision on the Goldfields project will be made in 2012
once Black Fox is at its steady state production rate of a minimum
25,000 ounces per quarter.
THIRD QUARTER WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL
A webcast and conference call will be held today, Monday, November 14,
2011, at 12:00 p.m. Atlantic time (11:00 a.m. Eastern time).
To attend by webcast http://www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=166336
To attend by phone, dial toll free 1-877-407-8031 (international
201-689-8031) at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. No
pass code is required.
About Brigus Gold
Brigus is a growing gold producer committed to maximizing shareholder
value through a strategy of efficient production, targeted exploration
and select acquisitions. The company operates the wholly owned Black Fox
Mine and Mill in the Timmins Gold District of Ontario, Canada. The Black
Fox Complex encompasses the Black Fox Mine and adjoining properties in
the Township of Black River-Matheson, Ontario, Canada. Brigus is also
advancing the Goldfields Project located near Uranium City,
Saskatchewan, Canada, which hosts the Box and Athona gold deposits. In
Mexico, Brigus Gold has completed its transaction to sell a 75% interest
in the Ixhuatan Project located in the state of Chiapas to Cangold. In
the Dominican Republic, Brigus has signed an agreement to sell its
remaining interests in three mineral exploration projects.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Concerning Estimates of Mineral
Resources
This news release uses the term mineral 'resources?. The Company advises
U.S. investors that while these terms are defined in and required by
Canadian regulations, these terms are not defined terms under the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC?) Industry Guide 7 and are
generally not permitted to be used in reports and registration
statements filed with the SEC. The SEC generally only permits issuers to
report mineralization that does not constitute SEC Industry Guide 7
compliant 'reserves? as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to
unit measures. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any
part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be
converted into reserves.
Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release, which are not historical
facts, are forward-looking statements that involve risk, uncertainties
and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All
statements regarding the ability of the Company to achieve its
production, total cash costs, steady state annual production and mining
rate estimates; to achieve ramping up the Black Fox underground mine to
reach commercial production; estimated average gold grades for the open
pit and underground operations; exploration and capital programs for
2011, including the estimated expenditures; expansion of the Black Fox
Mill capacity; increase in gold production; increase in profitability;
exploration drill results and resource additions; and the Company′s
ability to deliver gold pursuant to the gold stream agreement, are
forward-looking statements and estimates that involve various risks and
uncertainties. This forward-looking statements include, or may be based
upon, estimates, forecasts, and statements as to management's
expectations with respect to, among other things, the outcome of legal
proceedings, the issue of permits, the size and quality of the company's
mineral resources, progress in development of mineral properties, future
production and sales volumes, capital and mine production costs, demand
and market outlook for metals, future metal prices and treatment and
refining charges, and the financial results of the Company.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from these forward-looking statements include environmental risks and
other factors disclosed under the heading 'Risk Factors? in Brigus′ most
recent Annual Information Form and Management Discussion and Analysis
filed under the Company′s name at www.sedar.com
and annual report on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov
as well as elsewhere in Brigus′ documents filed from time to time with
the Toronto Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex Equities, the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. All
forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on
information available to the Company on the date hereof. The Company
assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except
as required by applicable securities laws.
Brigus Gold Corp.
Jennifer Nicholson, CA, 902-422-1421
Vice
President, Investor Relations
ir@brigusgold.com
Katherine
Burgess, 902-422-1421
Manager, Stakeholder Relations
ir@brigusgold.com