TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2017 /CNW/ - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM, TSX:AEM) ("Agnico Eagle" or the "Company") today reported quarterly net income of $71.0 million, or $0.31 per share, for the third quarter of 2017. This result includes non-cash foreign currency translation gains on deferred tax liabilities of $5.7 million ($0.03 per share), unrealized gains on financial instruments (net of tax) of $5.3 million ($0.02 per share), non-cash foreign currency translation losses of $4.3 million ($0.02 per share) and various mark-to-market and other adjustment losses (net of tax) of $2.2 million ($0.01 per share). Excluding these items would result in adjusted net income1 of $66.5 million or $0.29 per share for the third quarter of 2017. In the third quarter of 2016, the Company reported net income of $49.4 million or $0.22 per share.
Not included in the third quarter of 2017 adjusted net income is non-cash stock option expense of $3.7 million ($0.02 per share).
For the first nine months of 2017, the Company reported net income of $208.8 million, or $0.91 per share. This compares with the first nine months of 2016 when net income was $96.2 million, or $0.43 per share. Financial results in the 2017 period were positively affected by higher gold sales volumes (approximately 3%) and lower depreciation expense partly offset by lower realized gold prices.
In the third quarter of 2017, cash provided by operating activities decreased to $194.1 million ($207.9 million before changes in non-cash components of working capital) compared with cash provided by operating activities of $282.9 million in the third quarter of 2016 ($233.7 million before changes in non-cash components of working capital). The decrease in cash provided by operating activities before changes in non-cash components of working capital during the current period was largely due to lower realized gold prices.
1Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP measure. For a discussion regarding the Company's use of non-GAAP measures, see "Note Regarding Certain Measures of Performance". |
For the first nine months of 2017, cash provided by operating activities was $600.6 million ($629.9 million before changes in non-cash components of working capital), as compared with the first nine months of 2016 when cash provided by operating activities was $658.0 million ($593.9 million before changes in non-cash components of working capital). The increase in cash provided by operating activities before changes in working capital during the first nine months of 2017 was mainly due to a combination of higher gold and by-product metals sales volumes partly offset by lower realized gold prices.
"We continued to see strong operating performance in the third quarter, culminating in record gold production and strong cash flow generation. Given these strong results, we have increased our 2017 production guidance and have increased our dividend by 10%", said Sean Boyd, Agnico Eagle's Chief Executive Officer. "Our major projects in Nunavut continue to advance on time and on budget and we are excited by the significant growth in gold production and the related cash flows that these projects are forecast to provide", added Mr. Boyd.
Third quarter 2017 highlights include:
- Continued strong operating performance yields record quarterly gold production – Payable gold production2 in the third quarter of 2017 was 454,362 ounces at production costs per ounce of $578, total cash costs3 per ounce of $546 and all-in sustaining costs per ounce 4 ("AISC") of $789
- Higher than expected grades and tonnage drive record quarterly gold production at the LaRonde mine – Payable gold production in the third quarter of 2017 was 105,345 ounces at production costs per ounce of $377 and total cash costs per ounce of $328
- Full year production guidance increased and unit cost forecasts reduced – Given the strong nine month operational performance, 2017 production is now expected to exceed 1.68 million ounces of gold compared to previous guidance of 1.62 million ounces of gold. Total cash costs per ounce are now expected to be $570 to $600 (previously $580 to $610) and AISC are expected to be $820 to $870 per ounce (previously $830 to $880)
- Meliadine project continues to advance on schedule and on budget – Surface construction activities are progressing well, with outside cladding and roofing expected to be completed on the mill facility, multi-service building and powerhouse in November 2017. Underground development is on plan and critical mining equipment, which was received during the 2017 summer sealift, is currently being commissioned
- Drilling at Amaruq extends Whale Tail mineralization at depth, and demonstrates continuity and improving grades in the eastern part of V Zone – Significant results include: 7.3 grams per tonne ("g/t") over 16.1 metres at a depth of 627 metres at Whale Tail and 20.6 g/t gold over 6.2 metres at the V Zone at 452 metres depth, beneath the current planned pit outline
- Quarterly dividend increased by 10% – Company has declared an $0.11 quarterly dividend. The previous quarterly dividend was $0.10
2Payable production of a mineral means the quantity of mineral produced during a period contained in products that have been or will be sold by the Company whether such products are shipped during the period or held as inventory at the end of the period. |
3Total cash costs per ounce is a non-GAAP measure and, unless otherwise specified, is reported in this news release on a by-product basis. For a reconciliation to production costs and for total cash costs on a co-product basis, see "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures" below. See also "Note Regarding Certain Measures of Performance" below. |
4All-in sustaining costs per ounce is a non-GAAP measure and, unless otherwise specified, is reported in this news release on a by-product basis. For a reconciliation to production costs and for all-in sustaining costs on a co-product basis, see "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures" below. See also "Note Regarding Certain Measures of Performance" below. |
Third Quarter Financial and Production Highlights – Record Gold Production, Lower Production Costs – 2017 Cost Forecasts Decrease
In the third quarter of 2017, strong operational performance continued at the Company's mines. Payable gold production was 454,362 ounces, compared to 416,187 ounces in the prior-year period. The higher level of production in the 2017 period was primarily due to higher grades mined at LaRonde, Meadowbank and Canadian Malartic. A detailed description of the production of each of the Company's mines is set out below.
In the first nine months of 2017, payable gold production was 1,300,321 ounces, compared to 1,236,455 ounces in the prior-year period. The higher level of production in the 2017 period was primarily due to higher grades mined at LaRonde, Meadowbank and Canadian Malartic.
Production costs per ounce for the third quarter of 2017 were $578, which was 13% lower, compared to $666 in the prior-year period. Total cash costs per ounce for the third quarter of 2017 were $546, which was 5% lower compared to $575 per ounce in the prior-year period. Production costs per ounce and total cash costs per ounce in the third quarter of 2017 were positively affected by record quarterly production. A detailed description of the cost performance of each of the Company's mines is set out below.
Production costs per ounce for the first nine months of 2017 were $596, which was 5% lower, compared to $628 in the prior-year period. Total cash costs per ounce for the first nine months of 2017 were $547, compared with $580 in the prior-year period. Production costs per ounce and total cash costs per ounce in the first nine months of 2017 were positively affected by higher production of gold at LaRonde, Meadowbank, and Canadian Malartic. The Company now forecasts a decrease in total cash costs per ounce for 2017 to $570 to $600 per ounce, which is down from previous guidance of $580 to $610 per ounce.
AISC for the third quarter of 2017 were $789, which was 4% lower, compared to $821 in the prior-year period. The lower AISC is primarily due to lower total cash costs per ounce and lower sustaining capital expenditures compared to the prior-year period.
AISC for the first nine months of 2017 was $772, compared to $821 in the prior-year period. The lower AISC is primarily due to lower total cash costs per ounce and lower sustaining capital expenditures compared to the prior-year period. The Company now forecasts a decrease in AISC for 2017 to $820 to $870 per ounce, which is down from previous guidance of $830 to $880 per ounce.
Cash Position Remains Strong
Cash and cash equivalents and short term investments decreased to $865.6 million at September 30, 2017, from the June 30, 2017 balance of $952.4 million due to the ongoing investment in the Company's growth projects.
The outstanding balance on the Company's credit facility remained nil at September 30, 2017. This results in available credit lines of approximately $1.2 billion, not including the uncommitted $300 million accordion feature.
On October 25, 2017, the Company amended its $1.2 billion credit facility to extend the maturity date from June 22, 2021 to June 22, 2022.
The Company's $500 million short form base shelf prospectus expired on October 4, 2017. The Company intends to file a new base shelf prospectus, on substantially the same terms, qualifying up to $500 million of debt securities, common shares and warrants. The Company has no present intention to offer securities pursuant to the new base shelf prospectus. It has been the Company's practice to maintain a $500 million base shelf prospectus since 2002. The notice set out in this paragraph does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.
Approximately 35% of the Company's remaining 2017 Canadian dollar exposure is hedged at a floor price of 1.30 US$/C$. Approximately 11% of the Company's remaining 2017 Euro exposure is hedged at a floor price of 1.10 EUR$/US$. Approximately 31% of the Company's remaining 2017 Mexican Peso exposure is hedged at a floor price of 18.60 US$/MXP.
Capital Expenditures
The total estimated initial capital costs at both the Meliadine and Amaruq projects in Nunavut remain unchanged at $900 million and $330 million, respectively. The forecast for the Company's total 2017 capital expenditures is now approximately $895 million, which is an increase of approximately $36 million over the previous forecast. The increase is largely due to an acceleration of capital spending at the Meliadine and Amaruq projects due to good progress made in 2017 on development and construction activities at both projects. The following table sets out capital expenditures (including sustaining capital expenditures) in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017.
capital expenditures (including sustaining capital expenditures) in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017.
Capital Expenditures | ||
(In thousands of US dollars) | ||
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |
September 30, 2017 | September 30, 2017 | |
Sustaining Capital | ||
LaRonde mine | 13,908 | 50,245 |
Canadian Malartic mine | 15,527 | 40,597 |
Meadowbank mine | 10,959 | 16,712 |
Kittila mine | 14,465 | 36,400 |
Goldex mine | 10,140 | 18,352 |
Pinos Altos | 11,103 | 27,485 |
Creston Mascota deposit at Pinos Altos | 2,343 | 4,307 |
La India mine | 2,510 | 6,409 |
Development Capital | ||
LaRonde Zone 5 | 5,447 | 12,319 |
Canadian Malartic mine | 6,516 | 7,957 |
Amaruq satellite deposit | 25,762 | 76,623 |
Kittila mine | 6,979 | 19,614 |
Goldex mine | 4,290 | 23,929 |
Pinos Altos | 1,563 | 8,500 |
Creston Mascota deposit at Pinos Altos | 446 | 446 |
La India mine | 112 | 2,595 |
Meliadine project | 144,714 | 286,404 |
Other | - | 885 |
Total Capital Expenditures | $276,784 | $639,779 |
Revised 2017 Guidance – Production Increased and Costs Lowered for the Sixth Year in a Row
Production for 2017 is now forecasted to exceed 1.68 million ounces of gold (previously 1.62 million ounces) with total cash costs per ounce expected to be $570 to $600 (previously $580 to $610) and AISC expected to be $820 to $870 per ounce (previously $830 to $880).
Dividend Record and Payment Dates for the Fourth Quarter of 2017
Agnico Eagle's Board of Directors has increased the dividend by 10% and has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.11 per common share, payable on December 15, 2017, to shareholders of record as of December 1, 2017. The previous quarterly dividend was $0.10 per common share. Agnico Eagle has declared a cash dividend every year since 1983.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Please follow the link below for information on the Company's dividend reinvestment plan. Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Third Quarter 2017 Results Conference Call and Webcast Tomorrow
The Company's senior management will host a conference call on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 11:00 AM (E.D.T.) to discuss financial results and provide an update of the Company's operating activities.
Via Webcast:
A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's website www.agnicoeagle.com.
Via Telephone:
For those preferring to listen by telephone, please dial 1-647-427-7450 or toll-free 1-888-231-8191. To ensure your participation, please call approximately ten minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call.
Replay Archive:
Please dial 1-416-849-0833 or toll-free 1-855-859-2056, access code 50998337. The conference call replay will expire on November 26, 2017. The webcast, along with presentation slides will be archived for 180 days on the Company's website.
