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HOYT LAKES, MINNESOTA--(Marketwire - May 6, 2011) - PolyMet Mining Corp. (News - Market indicators)(NYSE Amex:PLM) ("PolyMet" or the "Company") reported today its financial results for the twelve months ended January 31, 2011, which have been filed at www.polymetmining.com, and SEDAR, and will be filed on EDGAR on Monday morning. All amounts are in U.S. funds.
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.
Highlights
- At January 31, 2011 PolyMet had cash and cash equivalents of $10.361 million compared with $21.282 million at January 31, 2010. Glencore AG ("Glencore") has committed to purchase an additional 10 million shares of PolyMet common stock at $2.00 per share for gross anticipated net proceeds of $20.000 million.
- During the year ended January 31, 2011, PolyMet repaid $2.000 million notes payable to Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc. related to the acquisition of the Erie Plant.
- Loss for the year ended January 31, 2011 was $7.283 million compared with $9.023 million in the prior year period. General and administrative expenses were $4.731 million compared with $9.158 million for the prior year period. Excluding non-cash items (write-off of financing costs, stock-based compensation and warrant amendment charges) general and administrative expense was $2.606 million compared with $2.884 million for the prior period, reflecting the Company's continued cost-cutting efforts during the past year, many of which took effect in the latter part of the period.
- PolyMet reported a one-time non-cash net charge of $2.777 million reflecting the non-cash cost under Canadian and US GAAP of amending the Glencore financing terms in November, 2010 and a reduction in the estimated future income tax charges.
- PolyMet invested $16.519 million into its NorthMet project during the year, compared with $17.754 million in the prior year. As of January 31, 2011 PolyMet had spent approximately $32 million on environmental review and permitting.
Management identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting relating to timely preparation of financial statements and key schedules for internal review. The underlying cause of the material weakness was the implementation of a new accounting and financial reporting system during the third fiscal quarter. Management has taken steps to address this weakness and is implementing further changes to its internal controls to improve reporting timeliness.
Key Statistics |
PolyMet Mining Corp. |
Twelve months ended |
(in '000 US dollars, except per share amounts) |
January 31, |
|
2011 |
2010 |
Financial Position |
|
|
|
Cash and equivalents |
10,361 |
21,282 |
|
Working capitalNet current assets |
779 |
16,313 |
|
Total assets |
145,032 |
139,648 |
|
Long term liabilities |
31,812 |
36,372 |
|
Shareholders' equity |
102,618 |
97,567 |
Financial Results |
|
|
|
General and administrative (expense) |
(4,731) |
(9,158) |
|
Other income (loss) |
(2,552) |
135 |
|
|
Income (loss) |
(7,283) |
(9,023) |
|
|
Income per share |
(0.05) |
(0.06) |
Investing Activities |
|
|
|
NorthMet Property |
16,519 |
17,754 |
Weighted average shares outstanding |
149,444,955 |
139,456,827 |
About PolyMet
PolyMet Mining Corp. (www.polymetmining.com) is a publicly-traded mine development company 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. PolyMet Mining Corp. 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 one-and-a-quarter million hours of construction labor and create approximately 360 long-term jobs, a level of activity that will have a significant multiplier effect in the local economy.
POLYMET MINING CORP.
Joe Scipioni, 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 registered direct offering, exploration results and budgets, reserve estimates, mineral resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, actions by government authorities, including changes in government regulation, the market price of natural resources, costs, 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, 2011 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, 2011 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 Mining Corp. - Corporate Douglas Newby Chief Financial Officer +1 (212) 867-1834 dnewby@polymetmining.com or PolyMet Mining Corp. - Media LaTisha Gietzen VP Public, Gov't & Environmental Affairs +1 (218) 225-4417 lgietzen@polymetmining.com or PolyMet Mining Corp. - Investors Crystal Agresti +1 (845) 742-8153 cagresti@polymetmining.com or PolyMet Mining Corp. Alex Macdougall +1 (226) 663-3000 amacdougall@polymetmining.com www.polymetnining.com
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