PolyMet Reports Fiscal 2013 Results
HOYT LAKES, MINNESOTA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/23/13 -- PolyMet Mining Corp. (TSX: POM)(NYSE MKT: PLM) ("PolyMet" or the "Company") today reported that it has filed its financial results for the year ended January 31, 2013. PolyMet controls 100% of the development-stage NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals ore-body and the nearby Erie Plant, located near Hoyt Lakes in the established mining district of the Mesabi Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota.
The financial statements have been filed at www.polymetmining.com and on SEDAR and EDGAR and have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). All amounts are in U.S. funds.
Financial Highlights
-- Loss for the year ended January 31, 2013 was $6.626 million compared
with $3.045 million for the prior year period. General and
administrative expenses excluding non-cash stock-based compensation in
the year ended January 31, 2013 were $3.653 million compared with $2.744
million in the prior year period, excluding non-cash stock based
compensation. Salaries and benefits increased by $0.730 million to
$1.394 reflecting expansion of corporate staff.
-- At January 31, 2013 PolyMet had cash and cash equivalents of $8.088
million compared with $17.478 million at January 31, 2012. Since then,
PolyMet has received a $20 million loan and has announced that it plans
to issue a $60 million Rights Offering with a standby commitment from
Glencore International plc for approximately $53 million. On a pro forma
basis, adjusting for the Rights Offering (including repayment of the $20
million loan) PolyMet would have cash and equivalents of approximately
$67 million net of standby fees payable in connection with the Rights
Offering.
-- PolyMet invested $18.404 million into its NorthMet project during the
year ended January 31, 2013, compared with $16.137 million in the prior
year period. The year ended January 31, 2013 included $2.092 million for
purchase of wetland restoration properties. The prior year period
included $3.420 million from the sale of equipment the Company no longer
plans to use and $4 million for purchase of land funded with proceeds
from an Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board loan.
-- In the year ended January 31, 2013, PolyMet recorded a $31.8 million
non-cash provision related to its indemnification of Cliffs Natural
Resources, Inc. ("Cliffs") environmental liabilities at the Erie Plant.
Under a consent decree between Cliffs and the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency ("MPCA"), Cliffs agreed to mitigate some alleged
violations on the property. In October 2012, the MPCA responded to long-
term mitigation plans submitted earlier in the year. While there is
substantial uncertainty relating to the applicable water quality
standards, engineering scope and responsibility for the financial
liability, the MPCA's response to the plans submitted now provides
sufficient guidance to allow the Company to estimate of the liability -
under IFRS, PolyMet has included its best estimate of these liabilities.
-- As of January 31, 2013 PolyMet had spent $52.7 million on environmental
review and permitting, of which $46.2 million has been spent since the
NorthMet project moved from exploration to development stage.
Key Statistics
(in '000 US dollars, except per share amounts)
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Balance Sheet January 31,
2013 January 31, 2012
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Cash & equivalents $ 8,088 $ 17,478
Working capital 2,629 16,375
Total assets 236,127 189,571
Total liabilities 93,215 57,205
Shareholders' equity 142,912 132,366
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Year ended Jan 31,
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Income Statement 2013 2012
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General & administrative expense excluding
non-cash share-based compensation $ 3,653 $ 2,744
Non-cash share-based compensation $ 2,255 $ 625
Other Expenses $ 718 $ 333
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Income (loss) before tax $ 6,626 $ 3,702
Recovery of future income tax $ - $ 657
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Income (loss) per share $ (0.04) $ (0.02)
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Investing Activities
NorthMet Property $ 18,404 $ 16,137
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Weighted average shares outstanding 178,949,306 160,358,498
About PolyMet
PolyMet Mining Corp. (www.polymetmining.com) is a publicly-traded mine development company that owns 100% of Poly Met Mining, Inc., a Minnesota corporation that controls 100% of the NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals ore body through a long-term lease and owns 100% of the Erie Plant, a large processing facility located approximately six miles from the ore body in the established mining district of the Mesabi Range in northeastern Minnesota. Poly Met Mining, Inc. has completed its Definitive Feasibility Study and is seeking environmental and operating permits to enable it to commence production. The NorthMet project is expected to require approximately two million hours of construction labor, creating approximately 360 long-term jobs, a level of activity that will have a significant multiplier effect in the local economy.
POLYMET MINING CORP.
Per: "Jon Cherry"
_______________________
Jon Cherry, CEO
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning anticipated developments in PolyMet's operations in the future. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "potential," "possible," "projects," "plans," and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results "will," "may," "could," or "should" occur or be achieved or their negatives or other comparable words. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding our beliefs related to the expected proceeds and closing of the Rights Offering, budgets,, work programs, capital expenditures, actions by government authorities, or other statements that are not a statement of fact. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements due to risks facing PolyMet or due to actual facts differing from the assumptions underlying its predictions.
PolyMet's forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and PolyMet does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations and opinions should change.
Specific reference is made to PolyMet's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2013 and in our other filings with Canadian securities authorities and the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Report on Form 6-K providing information with respect to our operations for the year ended January 31, 2013 for a discussion of some of the risk factors and other considerations underlying forward-looking statements.
The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
PolyMet has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, for the offering to which this communication relates. Before investing, prospective investors should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, for more complete information about PolyMet and this offering. The documents are available free of charge by visiting EDGAR on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, PolyMet will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling 1-416 915-4149.
Contacts:
Corporate
Douglas Newby
Chief Financial Officer
+1 (651) 389-4105
dnewby@polymetmining.com
Media
LaTisha Gietzen
VP - Public, Gov't & Environmental Affairs
+1 (218) 225-4417
lgietzen@polymetmining.com
Investor Relations
PolyMet
Jenny Knudson
VP - Investor Relations
+1 (651) 389-4110
jknudson@polymetmining.com
MZ North America
Pascal Nigen
Senior Vice-President
+1 (212) 301-7149
pnigen@mzgroup.us
www.mzgroup.us
