TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - May 13, 2005) - HudBay Minerals Inc. (TSX:HBM)(TSX:HBM.WT)
Highlights:
- First quarter since acquisition of Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co., Limited
- Sales revenue $151.5 million for quarter
- Cash position increases to $97.5 million
- Zinc production second highest quarter on record
- Consolidated cash operating cost US$0.21 lb. of zinc, net of by-product credits
- $10 million exploration program commences
HudBay Minerals Inc. earned $9.2 million or $0.12 per share in the
first quarter of 2005, compared to a loss of $1.7 million or $0.29 per
share in the same period of 2004. This marked the first full quarter of
operations since the acquisition of Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co.,
Limited (HBMS) on December 21, 2004.
Summarized Financial Results
The following table sets out summary consolidated financial
information for the Company at and for the three-month periods
("quarters") ended March 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003:
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Quarter ended March 31
($ thousands except for per share amounts)
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2005 2004(1)(2) 2003(1)(2)
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Statement of operations:
Sales 151,525 0 0
Earnings (loss) 9,181 (1,664) (302)
Earnings (loss) per common
share(3):
Basic $0.12 $(0.29) $(0.10)
Diluted $0.12 na(4) na(4)
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Balance sheet:
Cash and cash equivalents 97,453 5,664 326
Total assets 658,894 15,904 4,365
Total long term debt and
capital leases, excluding
current portion 236,993 1,527 0
Shareholders' equity 170,622 12,595 3,351
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(1) Excludes results of HBMS.
(2) Restated to give effect to change in accounting policy related
to expensing of exploration costs, consistent with HBMS practice, and to
retroactively adopt recommendations under Section 3110, Asset
Retirement Obligations.
(3) As of May 12, 2005, there were 80,939,613 common shares of the Company issued and outstanding.
(4) The conversion of stock options and warrants to calculate fully
diluted was not done for 2004 and 2003 because the conversion would have
been anti-dilutive.
Results of Operations
Quarter Ended March 31, 2005 Compared to Quarter Ended March 31, 2004
Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 was $9.2 million
compared with a loss of $1.7 million for the quarter ended March 31,
2004.
Total sales revenue for the quarter was approximately $151.5 million
from sales of approximately 20,400 tonnes of copper, 27,100 tonnes of
zinc (including sales to Zochem), 10,300 tonnes of zinc oxide, 25,400
ounces of gold, and 331,600 ounces of silver. Over the quarter, gross
realized prices averaged US$1.49/lb copper, US$0.62/lb zinc, US$426/troy
oz gold, and US$7.23/troy oz silver. The Canadian to US dollar exchange
rate averaged Cdn $1.23 per US $1.00 for the quarter. The Company had
no sales in the first quarter of 2004.
Operating costs for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 increased to
$117.7 million from $1.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2004.
Costs in the first quarter of 2005 include approximately $116.5 million
of HBMS operating costs, as well as care and maintenance costs of
properties held prior to the acquisition of HBMS. Costs in the first
quarter of 2004 primarily relate to care and maintenance costs of the
Balmat Mine acquired in September 2003 but also include care and
maintenance of the Gays River Mine.
General and administrative expenses for the quarter ended March 31,
2005 were $3.6 million, versus $0.5 million for the quarter year ended
March 31, 2004. Costs in 2005 reflect the acquisition of HBMS in
December 2004 and include approximately $1.2 million in settlement costs
in respect of former executives of the Company and provisions for
retention bonus payments to continuing employees arising from our
acquisition of HBMS.
Cash Cost per Pound of Zinc Sales
HudBay's total cash cost net of credits for the quarter ended March
31, 2005 was US$0.21 per pound of zinc sold. This includes approximately
US$0.16 per pound for HBMS, US$0.03 per pound for non-HBMS operations,
which are comprised primarily of care and maintenance costs at Balmat
and Gays River and Toronto office costs, and US$0.02 per pound for
payments to former executives as well as HBMS employee retention costs.
The Company had no metal sales in the same quarter of 2004.
Non GAAP Reconciliation of Cash Cost per Pound of Zinc, Net of By-Product Credits
Quarter Ended
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HudBay Minerals Inc. Mar 31, 2005
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(Unaudited)
(thousands)
Operating Costs 135,049
Non-cash operating costs
Depreciation and amortization (12,724)
Accretion and other non-cash (652)
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121,673
Less: By-product credits(1) (106,263)
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Cash cost net of by-products C$15,410
Exchange rate (C$/U.S$.)(2) 1.227
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Cash cost net of by-products US$12,559
Zinc sales (000 lbs) 59,739
Cash cost per pound of zinc, net of by-product credits US$0.21
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(1) By-product credits include revenues from sale of copper, gold,
silver, the premium on zinc oxide sales and the Company's proportionate
share of by-product sales by its marketing joint venture.
(2) Average exchange rate for the period.
Cash Flows, Liquidity, and Capital Resources
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the quarters ended March 31, 2005, and 2004:
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2005 2004(1)(2)
Unaudited Unaudited
($000s) ($000s)
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Operating activities
Earnings (loss) for the period 9,181 (1,664)
Items not affecting cash 13,674 (177)
Net change in non-cash items 5,031 (193)
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Cash generated by (required for)
operating activities 27,886 (2,034)
Cash generated by (required for)
investing activities (4,298) (2,302)
Cash generated by financing activities 9,068 7,886
Foreign exchange loss on cash held
in foreign currency 244 0
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Increase in cash and short term deposits 32,900 3,550
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(1) Excludes results of Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co., Limited ("HBMS").
(2) Restated to give effect to change in accounting policy relating
to expensing of exploration costs, consistent with HBMS practice, and to
retroactively adopt recommendations under Section 3110, Asset
Retirement Obligations.
Quarter Ended March 31, 2005 Compared to Quarter Ended March 31, 2004
As of March 31, 2005, HudBay had cash and cash equivalents of $97.5
million compared to $5.7 million as at March 31, 2004. As at March 31,
2005, there were outstanding letters of credit in the amount of $37.8
million, secured by an equal amount of cash.
Cash flow from operations totaled $27.9 million for the quarter
ended March 31, 2005. This relates primarily to HBMS operations, which
contributed $32.8 million, and compares with $2.0 million cash required
for operating activities in the same period in 2004 when the Company
incurred a loss of $1.7 million primarily in relation to management
fees, mine care and maintenance activities and debenture interest
expense.
Financing activities in the first quarter 2005 generated $9.1
million. This included a private placement of 806,452 flow-through
shares at a price of $3.10 per share for net proceeds of $2.4 million,
which is being spent on Canadian exploration activities. Broker warrants
issued in connection with the Company's offering of subscription
receipts were exercised during the quarter for proceeds of $6.1 million.
Financing activities in the same period in 2004 generated $7.9 million,
which included $5.3 million net proceeds from the issuance of common
shares and warrants, primarily relating to the private placement of
1,036,920 units of the Company at a price of $5.40 per unit. Each unit
consisted of one common share and 15 common share purchase warrants.
Every 30 warrants entitle the holder to acquire one common share for a
period of two years from the date of issuance, exercisable at a price of
$6.00 per share. The 2004 amount also includes $2.0 million in respect
of a debenture subscription receivable and $0.6 million in respect of an
increase in the convertible debenture issued by the Company.
In the first quarter of 2005, a net total of $4.3 million was
required for investing activities, including a $13.0 million decrease in
restricted cash relating to the funds placed in trust for the
governments of Manitoba and Saskatchewan as financial assurance for the
Company's asset retirement obligations, net of a $17.3 million
requirement for mine development and other sustaining capital
expenditures. This compares with $2.3 million required for investing
activities in the first quarter of 2004. In March 2004, the Company paid
$2.0 million to Pasminco Resources Canada Inc. in satisfaction of the
final cash purchase price outstanding in respect of the Gays River Mine.
As at March 31, 2005, the HudBay had long-term financial debt
(excluding the current portion) of $227.0 million. The Company will
consider, from time to time, reducing debt through various means
including open market purchases of senior secured notes.
Production
A summary of production statistics for the first quarter of 2005
together with comparative information for the first quarter of 2004 is
shown in the following table:
First Quarter Results
Q1 2005 Q1 2004
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Mines:
Trout Lake: tonnes 213,055 203,723
Copper % 1.28 1.65
Zinc % 6.37 4.96
Gold g/tonne 1.55 1.40
Silver g/tonne 15.96 13.38
Konuto: tonnes 87,062 80,748
Copper % 4.19 4.14
Zinc % 1.39 2.05
Gold g/tonne 1.73 1.85
Silver g/tonne 8.48 9.51
7 7 7: tonnes 243,248 237,304
Copper % 2.23 3.35
Zinc % 3.75 4.46
Gold g/tonne 1.88 2.35
Silver g/tonne 20.57 24.47
Chisel North: tonnes 86,545 81,923
Copper % 0.16 0.15
Zinc % 9.64 10.86
Gold g/tonne 0.67 0.39
Silver g/tonne 24.48 30.99
Total Mines tonnes 629,910 603,698
Copper % 1.89 2.45
Zinc % 5.12 5.18
Gold g/tonne 1.58 1.70
Silver g/tonne 17.87 19.61
First Quarter Results
Q1 2005 Q1 2004
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Concentrators:
Flin Flon Concentrator tonnes 552,829 526,266
Copper % 2.10 2.72
Zinc % 4.52 4.31
Gold g/tonne 1.71 1.89
Silver g/tonne 16.94 18.00
Copper Concentrate Produced tonnes 45,666 57,171
Grade % Cu 23.06 23.54
Zinc Concentrate Produced tonnes 39,448 35,096
Grade % Zn 50.34 49.63
Copper recovery to Cu conc % 90.8 93.9
Gold recovery to Cu conc % 77.2 68.1
Silver recovery to Cu conc % 68.1 63.0
Zinc recovery to Zn conc % 79.4 76.8
Snow Lake Concentrator tonnes 85,632 81,696
Zinc % 9.64 10.86
Zinc Concentrate Produced tonnes 15,827 16,748
Grade % Zn 50.91 51.65
Zinc recovery to Zn conc % 97.6 97.5
Smelter:
Copper Conc Treated:
Domestic tonnes 48,352 49,870
Purchased tonnes 28,839 27,865
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Total tonnes 77,191 77,735
Zinc Plant:
Zinc Conc Treated:
Domestic tonnes 58,809 49,750
Purchased tonnes 0 3,488
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Total tonnes 58,809 53,238
First Quarter Results
Q1 2005 Q1 2004
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Metal Produced:
From HBMS Mines:
Copper tonnes 11,411 11,641
Zinc tonnes 29,177 24,296
Gold oz 25,197 18,351
Silver oz 214,608 165,798
From Purchased Concentrates:
Copper tonnes 9,287 10,007
Zinc tonnes 27 1,764
Gold oz 577 431
Silver oz 123,685 110,848
Total Metal Produced:
Copper tonnes 20,698 21,648
Zinc tonnes 29,204 26,061
Gold oz 25,774 18,782
Silver oz 338,293 276,646
Interim Financial Condition
Financial Condition at March 31, 2005 Compared to Financial Condition as at December 31, 2004
Economic and industry factors are largely unchanged from December
31, 2004, and markets continue to see strength in base metal prices.
With the exception of the items discussed below, the financial condition
of the Company as at March 31, 2005 is not materially different from
that as at December 31, 2004:
- Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2005 increased by $32.9 million compared to December 31, 2004.
- Restricted cash decreased by $13 million as funds placed in trust
for the Provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan as financial assurance
for the Company's asset retirement obligations were replaced with
letters of credit.
- Working capital improved by $28.1 million, reflecting the improved
cash position net of routine fluctuations in other working capital
items.
- Share capital increased by $10 million, which included $7.7
million from exercise of warrants and $2.5 million from flow through
shares, net of $0.2 million share issue costs.
- HudBay's contractual obligations at March 31, 2005 are materially
unchanged from December 31, 2004 except that, for the mutual benefit of
both parties, HBMS intends to terminate its evergreen concentrate
purchase agreement with Compania Minera Dona Ines de Collahuasi to
purchase 40,000 dmt of copper concentrate per year, effective June 30,
2005. The proposed termination, which would otherwise have expired in
2008, is not expected to impact the Company's ability to supply copper
concentrate to its Flin Flon smelter.
- As of March 24, 2005, HudBay agreed to guarantee the 9 5/8% senior
secured notes of HBMS. The guarantee is unsecured and ranks subordinate
in right of payment to all of HudBay's senior indebtedness. The
guarantee will terminate on the date upon which HudBay owns less than a
majority of the voting shares of HBMS.
Exploration
The previously announced program of exploration on the Company's
lands in Manitoba and Saskatchewan commenced during the quarter, with
the first expenditures funded by means of the flow-through equity issue
discussed under Cash Flows, Liquidity and Capital Resources. This is the
first stage in a planned exploration program of up to $10 million in
the Flin Flon Greenstone Belt during the remainder of the year and the
first quarter of 2006.
Risk Management
The Company uses forward exchange or currency collar contracts to
limit the effects of movements in exchange rates on foreign currency
denominated assets and liabilities and future anticipated transactions.
At March 31, 2005 the Company held US dollar put options giving it the
right, but not the obligation, to sell up to US$70 million in equal
quarterly amounts at $1.20482 per US dollar, starting in April 2005 and
continuing to January 2009.
From time to time the Company maintains price protection programs
and conducts commodity price risk management through the use of
instruments similar to those used to limit currency exposures. Through
its joint venture interest in Considar Metal Marketing SA, the Company
manages risk associated with forward physical sales that are made on a
fixed price basis regarding zinc and zinc oxide and, accordingly, enters
into forward zinc purchase contracts. These contracts effectively
offset the Company's forward sales price commitments. In the current
environment of strong base metal market prices, the Company has
benefited from full exposure to metal price movements, and will consider
implementing protection to limit the effects of future price changes.
About HudBay Minerals Inc.
HudBay Minerals Inc. is an integrated mining and metal producing
company that operates mines and concentrators in northern Manitoba and
Saskatchewan and a metal processing complex in Flin Flon, Manitoba. The
company also operates a zinc oxide production facility in Brampton,
Ontario and the former producing mines of Balmat in New York State and
Gays River in Nova Scotia that are being evaluated for re-opening.
Unless the context otherwise suggests, references to "we", "us",
"our" and similar terms, as well as references to the "Company", refer
to HudBay Minerals Inc. All figures are in Canadian dollars unless
otherwise noted.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. All
statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein,
including without limitation, statements regarding our future plans and
objectives are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and
uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will
prove accurate, and actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from our
expectations are disclosed in documents that we have filed from time to
time with the Toronto Stock Exchange and other regulatory authorities.
Certain items of financial information in this MD&A, including
cash cost per pound of zinc, net of by-product credits are furnished to
provide additional information and are non-GAAP measures. As non-GAAP
measures they do not have standardized meanings nor are they necessarily
comparable with similar measures presented by other companies. These
measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for
measures of performance prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles and are not necessarily indicative of operating
expenses as determined under generally accepted accounting principles.
These measures are intended to provide investors with information about
the cash generating capabilities of the Company's operations. HudBay
uses this information for the same purpose. Mining operations are
capital intensive. These measures exclude capital expenditures. Capital
expenditures are discussed throughout the MD&A and the unaudited
consolidated financial statements.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
HudBay Minerals Inc.
Peter Jones
President and CEO
(204) 687 2260
peter.jones@hbms.ca
http://www.hudbayminerals.com