- Average production cash cost per ounce declines from trailing first quarter
- Quarterly exploration expenses were $3.7 million, $4.7 million year-to-date, focused primarily on Golden Wonder Project
- $30.7 million in cash and equivalents with no long-term debt at quarter-end; generated $3.4 million in cash in 2008
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - July 31, 2008) - Richmont Mines Inc. (TSX:RIC)(AMEX:RIC), a gold exploration, development and production company with operations in North America, today announced financial and operational results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2008. Financial results are based on Canadian GAAP and dollars are reported in Canadian currency, unless otherwise noted.
Revenue for the second quarter of 2008 was $16.2 million, a 27.4% increase compared with $12.7 million in the second quarter of 2007. In the 2008 quarter, 17,111 ounces of gold were sold at an average price of US$903 (CAN$909) per ounce, compared with 16,640 ounces of gold sold in the same period last year at an average price of US$680 (CAN$731) per ounce. Total precious metals revenue was up $3.4 million, or 27.8%, to $15.6 million in the second quarter of 2008 compared with $12.2 million in the second quarter of 2007. Sales from the Island Gold Mine, which commenced production during the fourth quarter of 2007, more than offset the loss of gold sales from the East Amphi Mine, which was closed in mid-2007.
Operating costs, including royalties, for the second quarter of 2008 were $10.9 million, up from $7.1 million in the same period the prior year, but only slightly above $10.4 million in the trailing first quarter of 2008. The increased costs in 2008 were incurred mainly at the Island Gold Mine, which has not yet reached projected production levels. The average cash cost of production was US$633 (CAN$638) per ounce of gold sold in the second quarter of 2008 compared with US$692 (CAN$697) in the trailing first quarter. The average cash cost per ounce was US$399 (CAN$429) in the second quarter of 2007, prior to the start of commercial production at Island Gold. The increase in the average cash cost per ounce in US dollars when compared with the prior year period also was impacted by the strong Canadian dollar. Costs at the Beaufor Mine decreased to US$495 (CAN$498) from US$595 (CAN$599) in the trailing first quarter on measurably improved grade, but were above the cash cost per ounce of US$382 (CAN$411) in last year's second quarter on lower volume and higher mining and milling costs. As results failed to meet projected levels at the Island Gold Mine, cash production costs remained high at US$777 (CAN$782) compared with US$803 (CAN$809) in this year's first quarter. Included in the gold sales of the second quarter of 2007 were 4,043 ounces from the East Amphi Mine produced at a cash cost of US$453 (CAN$487) per ounce.
Exploration and project evaluation costs were $3.7 million in the second quarter of 2008 and reflect the Company's efforts to grow its reserves. Approximately $0.9 million in exploration costs were incurred at the Beaufor Mine, $0.5 million at the Island Gold Mine and $1.3 million at the Golden Wonder project in the current quarter. Moreover, an amount of $0.9 million was included in exploration expenses as a result of a reclassification, for fiscal planning purposes, of exploration tax credits from previous years. During last year's second quarter, approximately $0.5 million in exploration costs were incurred at the Beaufor Mine, $0.1 million at the Island Gold Mine and $0.2 million at the Valentine Lake project.
Net earnings for the second quarter of 2008 were $0.04 million, compared with net earnings of $8.8 million, or $0.36 per share, in the second quarter of 2007, which included a $7.4 million pre-tax gain on the sale of mining assets. Lower earnings were also attributable to higher production cash costs and increased exploration expenses.
At June 30, 2008, cash and cash equivalents were $30.7 million, a $3.4 million increase from $27.3 million at December 31, 2007 and slightly more than $30.0 million at March 31, 2008. Richmont Mines has no long-term debt obligations and has working capital of $36.5 million with only 24 million shares outstanding.
Island Gold Mine(1)
The Island Gold Mine, which began commercial production in October 2007, is progressing at a slower pace than anticipated mainly due to a shortage of skilled labour in the mining industry.
During the 2008 second quarter, 39,818 tonnes of ore from the Island Gold Mine were processed at an average recovered grade of 6.57 g/t, and 8,409 ounces of gold were sold at an average price of US$895 (CAN$901) per ounce. In the trailing first quarter of 2008, 31,688 tonnes of ore were processed at an average recovered grade of 6.86 g/t, and 6,992 ounces of gold were sold at an average price of US$930 (CAN$937) per ounce. The 25.7% improvement in processed tonnes reflects the Company's ongoing efforts to advance the mine to its projected level of production.
Mr. Martin Rivard, President and CEO of Richmont Mines, commented: "While we have made progress at the Island Gold Mine since it began production last year, we are challenged by high labour force turnover as well as grade levels that are slightly lower than expected. We are currently addressing these issues and expect to have improved results by the fourth quarter."
Beaufor Mine
During the second quarter of 2008, 29,062 tonnes of ore from the Beaufor Mine were processed at an average recovered grade of 9.31 g/t, and 8,702 ounces of gold were sold at an average price of US$910 (CAN$917) per ounce. In the same quarter of 2007, 39,874 tonnes of ore were processed at an average recovered grade of 9.83 g/t, and 12,597 ounces of gold were sold at an average price of US$675 (CAN$725) per ounce. The cash cost per ounce was US$495 (CAN$498) during the current quarter compared with US$382 (CAN$411) in the same quarter last year and is in line with the Company's forecasted production cash cost of US$450 to US$500 per ounce. During the current quarter, Richmont processed approximately 17,000 tonnes of custom milling ore at the Camflo Mill, and custom milling is expected to increase for the remainder of 2008.
Exploration Efforts: The Company is approximately half-way through its planned drilling program for 2008 at Beaufor and expects to report an exploration update in the next four to six weeks. Its objective is to identify sufficient reserves to continually replace production at this mine and to evaluate the potential of the zones discovered last year below the current mining infrastructures.
Golden Wonder
As recently announced, the Company has completed the portal rehabilitation work at the Golden Wonder Project and is proceeding with exploration efforts to identify new mineralized zones. Drilling began this month and is expected to continue through August. Richmont has initially planned 6 to 10 drill holes and expects to have lab results this fall. The Company previously announced its intention to acquire a 50% joint venture interest in the project, which is owned by LKA International (OTCBB:LKAI).
Valentine Lake Project
In May, Richmont finalized the parameters of a joint venture agreement with Mountain Lake Resources and completed plans for the project's 2008 field work. Preliminary site work, including exploration mapping and road and bridge construction, recently started in preparation for a potential drilling program in 2009. Richmont has a 70% interest in the project.
Six-Month Review
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2008, revenue was $31.2 million, or 35.8% above revenue of $23.0 million during the same period of 2007, reflecting increased gold sales at higher prices. In the 2008 six-month period, 32,106 ounces of gold were sold at an average price of US$920 (CAN$927) per ounce, compared with 29,043 ounces of gold sold in the first half of 2007 at an average price of US$696 (CAN$748) per ounce.
Operating costs, including royalties, for the six-month period ended June 30, 2008 were $21.4 million, up $7.1 million over operating costs of $14.3 million during the same period last year primarily due to the costs associated with advancing the Island Gold Mine to projected production levels. Island Gold began production during last year's fourth quarter.
Exploration and project evaluation costs were $4.8 million during the first half of 2008, compared with $1.5 million during the same period in 2007. This increase was mainly due to the exploration program under way at the Golden Wonder project which had exploration costs of $1.8 million for the first half of 2008 and an amount of $0.9 million was included in exploration expenses as a result of a reclassification, for fiscal planning purposes, of exploration tax credits from previous years.
Net earnings were $0.4 million, or $0.02 per share, compared with net earnings of $9.1 million, or $0.38 per share, during the six-month period ended June 30, 2007. Last year's first half included a $7.4 million gain on the sale of mining assets.
Island Gold Mine
During the six-month period ended June 30, 2008, 71,506 tonnes of ore were processed at an average recovered grade of 6.70 g/t, and 15,401 ounces of gold were sold at an average price of US$910 (CAN$917) per ounce. The cash cost of production per ounce was US$790 (CAN$795) during the first half of the year as the mine produced at around 60% of its design capacity.
Beaufor Mine
During the first half of 2008, 59,759 tonnes of ore were processed at an average recovered grade of 8.69 g/t, and 16,705 ounces of gold were sold at an average price of US$928 (CAN$935) per ounce. In the first half of 2007, 69,574 tonnes of ore were processed at an average recovered grade of 8.41 g/t, and 18,808 ounces of gold were sold at an average price of US$691 (CAN$743) per ounce. The cash cost per ounce was US$542 (CAN$546) during the current period up from US$449 (CAN$483) in last year's comparable period, primarily due to higher mining and milling costs as well as the stronger Canadian dollar.
Outlook
Mr. Rivard concluded: "Beaufor continues to meet production targets, and we believe it has continued great exploration potential. We are challenged at Island Gold due to competition for human resources, but continually adjust to improve production results. Our exploration programs have been expanded significantly over the years as we focus on our strategic goal of establishing a proven and probable reserve base of one million ounces. We are pleased that diamond drilling has finally started at Golden Wonder and are confident it will yield favourable results."
Martin Rivard
President and Chief Executive Officer
About Richmont Mines Inc.
Richmont Mines produces gold from its operations in Canada and has extensive experience in gold exploration, development and mining. Since it began production in 1991, the Company has produced more than one million ounces of gold from its holdings in Quebec, Ontario and Newfoundland. Richmont Mines' strategy is to cost effectively develop its mining assets, exploit mineralized reserves on properties owned and acquired, or develop partnerships to expand its reserve base.
More information on Richmont Mines can be found on its website at: www.richmont-mines.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties. When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and apply only as of the date on which they were made.
The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include changes in the prevailing price of gold, the Canadian-United States exchange rate, grade of ore mined and unforeseen difficulties in mining operations that could affect revenue and production costs. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in Richmont Mines' Annual Information Form, Annual Reports and periodic reports.
FINANCIAL DATA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three-month period Six-month period
ended June 30, ended June 30,
Can$ 2008 2007 2008 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Results (in thousands of $)
Revenue 16,227 12,736 31,188 22,973
Net earnings 37 8,812 443 9,138
Cash flow from operations 1,326 4,747 3,869 8,065
Results per share ($)
Net earnings basic and
diluted - 0.36 0.02 0.38
Basic weighted average
number of common shares
outstanding (thousands) 24,030 24,219 24,042 24,231
Average selling price of
gold per ounce 909 731 927 748
Average selling price of
gold per ounce (us$) 903 680 920 696
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 30, 2008 December 31, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial position (in
thousands of $)
Total assets 87,796 85,976
Working capital 36,543 33,970
Long-term debt - -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SALES AND PRODUCTION DATA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three-month period ended June 30,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ounces of gold Cash cost
Year Sales Production (per ounce sold)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
US$ CAN$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Island Gold Mine 2008 8,409 8,547 777 782
2007 - - - -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beaufor Mine 2008 8,702 10,014 495 498
2007 12,597 9,887 382 411
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
East Amphi Mine 2008 - - - -
2007 4,043 4,099 453 487
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 2008 17,111 18,561 633 638
2007 16,640 13,986 399 429
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six-month period ended June 30,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ounces of gold Cash cost
Year Sales Production (per ounce sold)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
US$ CAN$
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Island Gold Mine 2008 15,401 16,555 790 795
2007 - - - -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beaufor Mine 2008 16,705 20,399 542 546
2007 18,808 18,529 449 483
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
East Amphi Mine 2008 - - - -
2007 10,235 9,338 474 509
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 2008 32,106 36,954 660 665
2007 29,043 27,867 458 492
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average exchange rate used for 2007: US$1 equals CAN$1.0748
2008 estimated exchange rate: US$1 equals CAN$1.0072
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands of Canadian dollars)
(Unaudited) Three months ended Six months ended
June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30,
2008 2007 2008 2007
$ $ $ $
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVENUE
Precious metals 15,553 12,168 29,747 21,734
Other 674 568 1,441 1,239
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
16,227 12,736 31,188 22,973
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPENSES
Operating costs 10,551 6,951 20,648 14,016
Royalties 361 189 708 282
Custom milling 358 - 358 -
Administration 835 833 1,662 1,636
Exploration and project
evaluation 3,674 919 4,755 1,529
Accretion expense - asset
retirement obligations 43 45 86 89
Depreciation and depletion 1,434 2,302 2,639 3,933
Loss (gain) on disposal of
mining assets - (7,381) 20 (7,475)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
17,256 3,858 30,876 14,010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE
OTHER ITEMS (1,029) 8,878 312 8,963
MINING AND INCOME TAXES (1,238) (184) (515) (307)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
209 9,062 827 9,270
MINORITY INTEREST 172 250 384 132
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET EARNINGS 37 8,812 443 9,138
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET EARNINGS PER SHARE
basic and diluted - 0.36 0.02 0.38
BASIC WEIGHTED AVERAGE
NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES
OUTSTANDING (thousands) 24,030 24,219 24,042 24,231
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements available on
SEDAR.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands of Canadian dollars)
June 30, December 31,
2008 2007
$ $
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Unaudited) (Audited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents 30,724 27,291
Short-term investments 774 1,826
Accounts receivable 3,377 2,859
Mining and income taxes receivable 1,903 1,677
Inventories 6,195 5,438
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
42,973 39,091
ADVANCE TO A MINORITY PARTNER 1,125 1,875
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 43,698 45,010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
87,796 85,976
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued charges 5,906 5,005
Mining and income taxes payable 524 116
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
6,430 5,121
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS 3,444 3,358
MINORITY INTEREST 14,937 14,238
FUTURE MINING AND INCOME TAXES 1,106 1,446
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
25,917 24,163
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Capital stock 60,845 61,016
Contributed surplus 5,359 5,092
Deficit (4,263) (4,647)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (62) 352
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
61,879 61,813
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
87,796 85,976
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements available on
SEDAR.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands of Canadian dollars)
(Unaudited) Three months ended Six months ended
June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30,
2008 2007 2008 2007
$ $ $ $
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING
ACTIVITIES
Net earnings 37 8,812 443 9,138
Adjustments for:
Depreciation and depletion 1,434 2,302 2,639 3,933
Stock-based compensation 135 159 276 282
Accretion expense - asset
retirement obligations 43 45 86 89
Loss (gain) on disposal
of mining assets - (7,381) 20 (7,451)
Foreign exchange loss (gain) - - - -
Gain on disposal of short-
term investments (7) (59) (42) (397)
Minority interest 172 250 384 132
Future mining and income
taxes (165) (316) (339) (563)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,649 3,812 3,467 5,163
Net change in non-cash
working capital items (323) 935 402 2,902
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,326 4,747 3,869 8,065
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOW FROM (USED IN)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Short-term investments 42 34 680 718
Disposal of mining assets 41 2,331 55 2,488
Property, plant and
equipment - Island Gold
Mine (566) 421 (1,041) (1,555)
Property, plant and
equipment - Beaufor Mine (26) (81) (106) (81)
Property, plant and
equipment - East Amphi Mine - (34) - (34)
Other property, plant and
equipment (265) 164 (535) 86
Cash received from an
advance to a minority
partner 375 375 750 375
Trust account - (2,000) - (2,000)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(399) 1,210 (197) (3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOW USED IN FINANCING
ACTIVITIES
Issue of common shares 6 5 25 183
Redemption of common shares (224) (247) (264) (333)
Contribution from a
minority partner - - - 135
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(218) (242) (239) (15)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effect of rate changes
on cash and cash
equivalents
Net increase in cash and
cash equivalents 709 5,715 3,433 8,047
Cash and cash equivalents,
beginning of period 30,015 18,458 27,291 16,126
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents,
end of period 30,724 24,173 30,724 24,173
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements available on
SEDAR.
(1) Richmont Mines reports 100% of the consolidated results of the Island Gold Mine, in compliance with AcG-15, which stipulates that a holder of variable interests must consolidate the accounts if it intends to assume the majority of the expected losses and/or receive the majority of the residual returns of the variable interest entity (VIE). Richmont Mines holds a 55% stake in the unincorporated joint venture, and as its share of the earnings and/or losses will differ from the percentage that it owns, the Company is therefore considered the primary beneficiary of the VIE.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Kei Advisors LLC
James Culligan
Investor Relations
716-843-3874
jculligan@keiadvisors.com
www.richmont-mines.com
