All figures are in Canadian
dollars except where noted.
North American Palladium Ltd.
("NAP" or the "Company") (TSX:PDL)(NYSE Amex:PAL)
today announced financial results and operational updates for the first quarter
ended March 31, 2011.
Q1 Highlights
-- Lac des Iles mine ("LDI") produced 30,661 ounces of payable palladium at a cash cost(1) of US$519 per ounce;
-- Sleeping Giant mine produced 3,699 ounces of gold at a cash cost(1) of
US$1,991 per ounce;
-- Revenue of $36.7 million;
-- Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $0.1 million;
-- Significant progress made in development activities: LDI mine expansion,
Sleeping Giant shaft deepening and mill expansion, and development of
Vezza; and
-- Received the Workplace Safety North Award of Excellence at LDI.
"First quarter
underground production at LDI was essentially on plan, however weather
conditions and manpower constraints adversely affected stockpile production.
During the quarter, we made significant progress in our development activities
- which are integral to our future growth," said William J. Biggar, President and Chief Executive Officer.
"The $270-million expansion of the LDI mine is our number
one priority at NAP to increase future production and lower cash costs per
ounce. We have taken a strategic decision to place greater emphasis on development
over production for the balance of the year, resulting in a 12% reduction in
palladium production guidance for 2011 to 145,000 to 155,000 ounces. The
decrease in production is more than justified by the benefits of advancing the
project on schedule to achieve commercial production from the new shaft in the
fourth quarter of 2012."
Mr. Biggar
added: "At Sleeping Giant, the industry-wide labour
challenges continue to impede production growth, and accordingly management has
revised the mine's 2011 production profile and implemented a plan to reduce
operating costs with the objective of achieving break-even operating cash flow
for the balance of the year, during which time the shaft deepening and mill
expansion will be completed."
Financial Results(2)
Revenue, after pricing
adjustments, increased to $36.7 million in the first quarter,
compared to $7.9 million in the same quarter last year. Revenue
was $29.4 million from LDI, and $7.3 million from
Sleeping Giant.
Net loss for the quarter
ended March 31, 2011 was $10.3 million or $0.06
per share compared to a net loss of $18.4 million or $0.14
per share in the same quarter last year while the mine was still on care and
maintenance.
EBITDA(1) was negative $3.8
million for the first quarter, compared to negative $15.0 million
in the same quarter last year due to a lower net loss. Adjusted EBITDA(1) for
the first quarter (which excludes exploration expenses, and gains on disposal
of equipment) was $0.1 million, compared to a negative $4.8
million in 2010 due to adding back exploration expenditures and mine
startup costs in the prior year.
For the first quarter, cash
provided by operations was $24.6 million compared to cash
provided by operations of $10.2 million in the corresponding
period last year.
In the first quarter, NAP
used cash from operating activities of $6.6 million, before
changes in non-cash working capital, or $0.04 per share, as
compared to cash used in operations of $12.2 million, before
changes in non-cash working capital, or $0.10 per share, for the
quarter ended March 31, 2010. This increase is due primarily to
the lower net loss of $10.2 million (of which amortization
represents $2.1 million), partially offset by the higher future
income and mining tax recoveries ($4.9 million).
As at March 31, 2011,
the Company had approximately $163.3 million in working capital
(including $100.1 million cash on hand), no long-term debt and $30
million in an undrawn credit facility.
Operational Update
Lac des Iles Palladium Mine
"During the first quarter,
we successfully integrated our operating and development teams, which gives us
the flexibility to allocate resources between the two activities," said Greg
Struble, Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer. "Despite weather-related and manpower challenges that impacted
first quarter production, I am impressed with the ability of our workforce to
adapt to changing conditions. We are implementing a number of programs to
attract and retain qualified personnel. I am also very pleased with the LDI
property and the potential upside for growth in reserves and production."
First quarter production at
the LDI mine included the blending of underground ore with surface stockpiles.
During the first quarter, NAP produced 30,661 ounces of payable palladium, at
total cash costs(1) (net of byproduct credits) of US$519 per
ounce, compared to planned cash costs(1) of US$458 per ounce.
During the quarter, 332,523 tonnes of ore was
extracted from underground and from the surface stockpiles, of which
underground ore sources provided 238,221 tonnes from
the Roby Zone and some silling ore from the Offset
Zone, while 94,302 tonnes came from surface
stockpiles. The LDI mill processed 337,846 tonnes of
ore at an average of 8,819 tonnes per operating day,
and the average palladium head grade at the mill was 3.85 grams per tonne, with a palladium recovery of 78.8%.
First quarter underground
tonnage production at LDI was essentially on plan (although at slightly lower
grades due to stope sequencing), while production
from surface stockpiles was significantly lower due to the severity of the
winter (one of the coldest on record in Thunder
Bay) and crew availability. To make up for the weather-related
issues affecting surface production, the Company has hired additional
contractors to assist with the break-up of the oversized stockpiles.
During the quarter, the
Company also implemented a geotechnical monitoring system following an
unforeseen geotechnical occurrence that caused two sill pillars in the lower
part of the Roby Zone to become unstable. Issues of this nature are not
uncommon in underground mines and did not impact production as the Company
initiated a controlled extraction from the affected pillars. The new system
monitors seismic activity and will refine the Company's understanding of the
geotechnical data that will ultimately determine optimal stope
design for the Offset Zone. As a result of the new information, the Company
intends to consider various backfilling scenarios for the mine expansion.
A mineral reserve and
resource update incorporating 2010 drilling at LDI is currently in process, and
is expected to be completed in the second quarter. It will exclude the new
Cowboy, Outlaw and Sherriff zones as there is insufficient drilling on these
zones at this time. Although the bulk of the 2010 drilling was infill drilling
to facilitate planning for the mine expansion, early indications suggest there
is likely to be a significant increase in resources driven by step-out drilling
and a lower cut-off grade as a result of the large increase in metal prices
(palladium and by-product metals platinum, gold, copper, and nickel) since the
date of the last resource update.
The Company intends to
update its LDI Mine Expansion Plan in the third quarter of this year to take
into account the updated reserve and resource calculation, more current metal
price assumptions, and the new seismic information that may impact stope design.
As the Company endeavours to simultaneously produce, develop and explore
underground at LDI, 2011 will be a key transitional year. With the mine
expansion as the Company's number one priority, management feels it is prudent
to revise the 2011 mine plan to put greater emphasis on development in order to
keep the expansion on track and optimize operations for future production.
Accordingly, management has reduced its annual production guidance to 145,000
to 155,000 ounces for 2011 to alleviate some of the pressure on development and
the congestion that results from mining while developing. Due to the high fixed
cost component of operating costs, appreciation of the Canadian dollar, and
higher contractor costs since the start of the year, the lower production
volume will result in higher cash costs(1) per ounce. Accordingly, management
has increased its cash cost(1) guidance for 2011 to US$450 per
ounce. This should not be construed as being indicative of cash costs(1) for
2012, when higher grade underground ore will not be diluted by the processing
of low grade surface stockpiles.
During the first quarter
the Company made significant progress in advancing the critical aspects of the
mine expansion construction activities; highlights include:
-- Completed the pilot hole for the shaft raisebore machine;
-- Commenced raiseboring in May;
-- Began drilling the pilot hole for the vent raise into the Offset Zone;
-- Substantially completed the critical foundation work:
-- 80% of hoist house walls poured
-- 25% of head frame footings poured
-- 75% of collar house footings poured
-- 75% of walls formed
-- Completed development of the shaft station and installation of ground
support;
-- Completed construction of permanent dry and commenced construction of
96-person camp addition;
-- Began staging the construction steel for the hoist house and head frame
structures; and
-- Advanced level development (around Level 4925) to allow for access to
the Upper Offset Zone.
Sleeping Giant Gold Mine
While development at depth
continues, mining at the Sleeping Giant mine was focused above the 975-metre
elevation - mining the remnant reserves left behind by the previous operator.
During the first quarter Sleeping Giant produced 3,699 ounces of gold, at a
cash cost(1) of US$1,991 per ounce. During the quarter, 20,282 tonnes of ore were hoisted, with 20,642 tonnes
being processed by the mill at an average head grade of 5.83 grams per tonne, with a gold recovery of 95.6%.
The shortfall in production
and higher cash costs reflect the Company's ongoing challenges of hiring and
retaining more skilled, underground miners, which had a negative impact on the
volume of tonnes mined and the grade controls.
Availability of skilled underground miners is critical for production growth at
Sleeping Giant. Experienced miners are in high demand in the sector,
particularly in the highly competitive Abitibi region. NAP's efforts at
implementing a program to increase employee retention and to attract new
underground miners and geologists are ongoing, which includes competitive
compensation, retention and incentive bonuses, as well as career advancement
opportunities.
For the balance of 2011, a
number of measures will be implemented to better manage the grade and tonnage
controls at Sleeping Giant. Some of these measures include: tighter definition
drilling, increased emphasis on long hole stoping
opportunities where applicable, remnant mining in the older stoping
areas, and above all, a stronger focus on grade control.
Under the new leadership of
Greg Struble, Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer, the mine has embarked on a detailed review of all
operating systems. Operations will be refocused on quality of mining (grade)
from the current focus on volume (tonnage). The Company is currently evaluating
all components of operating costs with a view to reducing costs to achieve
break-even cash flow. Accordingly, management has reduced its 2011 gold
production guidance to 15,000 to 20,000 ounces.
During the quarter, the
Company made good progress in the development work at depth which will be
integral for increased production and profitability in 2012. The 200-metre mine
shaft deepening, embarked on to give access to stopes
in zones that have historically provided good tonnage and higher grades,
remains on target for completion at the end of the second quarter. The
development of the three new mining levels at depth is scheduled to commence in
the third quarter.
The Company is conducting
further infill drilling in order to develop its mine plan for 2012, when
Sleeping Giant will have access to mining three new higher-grade levels at
depth. The 2012 mine plan is expected to be completed in the third quarter at
which time management will confirm or revise its expectation of 40,000 to
50,000 ounces of production in 2012.
The $7-million
expansion of Sleeping Giant's mill (from 900 tonnes
per day to 1,250 tonnes per day) commenced during the
quarter and is expected to be completed at the end of the third quarter. In the
first quarter, NAP retained a construction manager for this project, completed
the geo-technical tests and foundation design, and received the required
construction permits.
Vezza Gold Project
Vezza is an advanced-stage gold
exploration project that is currently being advanced through an investment of $26
million, comprised of surface and underground exploration and
development, towards a production decision expected by year-end. The plan is to
have Vezza ore processed at the nearby Sleeping Giant
mill which is 85 kilometres away and accessible by
provincial highway. Assuming a positive production decision is made, gold
production could begin in the first quarter of 2012 at an expected rate of
39,000 ounces per year over a nine-year mine life.
The Company recently
released (see April 27 news release) an updated resource
estimate for the project, which resulted in a substantial increase in the
indicated category of over 200,000 tonnes. The
measured and indicated resources' total contained ounces increased by 12% to
321,000 ounces, while roughly 121,000 tonnes were
converted from the inferred category to the indicated category.
In 2011, the Company
intends to complete an additional 30,000 metres of
drilling to test the continuity and grade of the deposit. Most of the campaign
will comprise underground infill drilling, and approximately 5,000 metres of extensional drilling from surface on the west
part of the main zone.
The Company has completed
the dewatering of the shaft (741 metres from surface)
and the four existing underground drifts. Underground rehabilitation of the
drifts, stations and underground services (power, pumping and compressed air)
is nearly complete. A 5,000-metre surface drilling program has started and two
underground diamond drills are mobilized on site.
A bulk sample of up to
40,000 tonnes is also scheduled for the end of the
third quarter of 2011. The Company has approval from the Ministry of
Natural Resources and Wildlife for the bulk sample and is completing the
permitting process with the Ministry of Sustainable Development,
Environment and Parks.
Outlook
For the balance of 2011,
the Company will focus on:
-- Progressing the LDI mine expansion;
-- Completing the LDI reserve and resource update (Q2);
-- Updating the LDI mine expansion plan (Q3);
-- Completing the shaft deepening and mill expansion at Sleeping Giant
(Q3);
-- Advancing the Vezza gold project through exploration and development
towards a production decision by year-end; and
-- Continuing exploration programs aimed at increasing reserves and
resources at LDI and in the gold division.
Conference Call and Webcast
Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
Webcast: http://www.nap.com/
Dial in: 16-340-2218 or 866-226-1793
Replay: 905-694-9451 or 800-408-3053 (Passcode: 5716682)
The conference call replay will be available until midnight on May 23, 2011.
An archived audio webcast of the call will also be posted to NAP's website.
Annual and Special Meetings of Shareholders
Date: Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Time: 10:00 a.m. ET
Webcast: http://www.nap.com/
Venue: The TSX Broadcast Centre Gallery
Address: The Exchange Tower, 130 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario
About North
American Palladium
NAP is a Canadian precious
metals company focused on growing its production of palladium and gold in
mining-friendly jurisdictions. The Company's flagship mine, Lac des Iles, is
one of the world's two primary palladium producers. NAP also owns and operates
the Sleeping Giant gold mine located in the prolific Abitibi region of Quebec.
The Company has extensive landholdings adjacent to both its Lac des Iles and
Sleeping Giant mines, and a number of exploration projects. NAP trades on the
NYSE Amex under the symbol PAL and on the TSX under the symbol PDL.
(1) Non-IFRS measure.
Please refer to Non-IFRS Measures in the MD&A.
(2) NAP's consolidated
financial statements for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011
are available in the Appendix of this news release. Certain prior period
amounts have been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted in 2011.
These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the notes and
management's discussion and analysis available at www.nap.com, www.sedar.com, and www.sec.gov.
Cautionary Statement on
Forward Looking Information
Certain information
included in this press release, including any information as to our future
exploration, financial or operating performance and other statements that
express management's expectations or estimates of future performance,
constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the 'safe harbor'
provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 and Canadian securities laws. The words 'expect', 'believe', 'will',
'intend', 'estimate' and similar expressions identify forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of
estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are
inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive
uncertainties, risks and contingencies, including the possibility that the Lac
des Iles and Sleeping Giant mines and may not perform as planned, that the
Offset Zone and Vezza development projects and other
properties can be successfully developed, and that metal prices, foreign
exchange assumptions and operating costs may differ from management's
expectations. The Company cautions the reader that such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause the actual financial results, performance or achievements of North
American Palladium to be materially different from the Company's
estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
those forward-looking statements and that the forward-looking statements are
not guarantees of future performance. These statements are also based on
certain factors and assumptions. For more details on these estimates, risks,
assumptions and factors, see the Company's most recent Form 40-F/Annual
Information Form on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities. The Company
disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as
expressly required by law. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets
(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)
(unaudited)
March 31 December 31 January 1
2011 2010 2010
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 100,136 $ 75,159 $ 98,255
Accounts receivable 70,844 80,683 -
Taxes receivable - 734 204
Inventories 23,803 27,487 25,306
Other assets 5,392 27,551 2,495
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Current Assets 200,175 211,614 126,260
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-current Assets
Mining interests 164,245 126,286 85,014
Reclamation deposit 10,558 10,537 10,503
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Non-current Assets 174,803 136,823 95,517
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Assets $ 374,978 $ 348,437 $ 221,777
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued
liabilities $ 34,122 $ 39,859 $ 12,442
Current portion of obligations under
finance leases 1,718 1,196 558
Provisions 1,000 1,000 1,000
Other financial liabilities - - 56
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Current Liabilities 36,840 42,055 14,056
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-current Liabilities
Taxes payable 1,460 936 1,573
Asset retirement obligations 12,677 12,594 13,602
Obligations under finance leases 1,092 1,195 576
Deferred mining tax liability 1,787 1,207 832
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Non-current Liabilities 17,016 15,932 16,583
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholders' Equity
Common share capital and purchase
warrants 743,163 702,787 574,878
Stock options and related surplus 6,199 5,596 4,242
Contributed surplus 5,551 5,537 6,079
Deficit (433,791) (423,470) (394,061)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Shareholders' Equity 321,122 290,450 191,138
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Liabilities and Shareholders'
Equity $ 374,978 $ 348,437 $ 221,777
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive
Loss
(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)
(unaudited)
Three months ended March 31
2011 2010
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue - before pricing adjustments $ 38,326 $ 7,930
Pricing adjustments:
Commodities (1,603) -
Foreign exchange (9) -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue - after pricing adjustments 36,714 7,930
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating expenses
Production costs 30,427 16,051
Royalty expense 1,126 -
Smelting, refining and freight costs 1,439 18
Depreciation and amortization 4,165 2,024
Loss on disposal of equipment - 9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating expenses 37,157 18,102
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss from mining operations (443) (10,172)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other expenses
General and administration 3,479 2,677
Exploration 3,839 4,165
Interest and other costs (income) (412) (1,995)
Foreign exchange loss (gain) 160 (13)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total other expenses 7,066 4,834
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss before taxes (7,509) (15,006)
Income and mining tax recovery (expense) (2,812) (3,345)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss and comprehensive loss for the period (10,321) (18,351)
Loss per share
Basic and diluted $ (0.06) $ (0.14)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average number of shares
outstanding
Basic and diluted 160,198,305 127,405,601
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)
(unaudited)
Three months ended March 31
2011 2010
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash provided by (used in)
Operations
Net loss for the period $ (10,321) $ (18,351)
Operating items not involving cash
Depreciation and amortization 4,165 2,024
Deferred income and mining tax expense
(recovery) (1,263) 3,686
Share-based compensation and employee
benefits 739 387
Other 112 68
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(6,568) (12,186)
Changes in non-cash working capital 31,215 2,028
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
24,647 (10,158)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Financing Activities
Issuance of common shares and warrants,
net of issue costs 42,025 33
Repayment of obligations under capital
leases (503) (247)
Interest paid on capital leases (48) (14)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
41,474 (228)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Investing Activities
Additions to mining interests (41,144) (4,487)
Proceeds on disposal of mining interests - 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(41,144) (4,482)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents 24,977 (14,868)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of
period 75,159 98,255
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 100,136 $ 83,387
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents consisting of:
Cash $ 100,136 $ 83,101
Short-term investments - 286
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 100,136 $ 83,387
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
North American Palladium Ltd.
Camilla Bartosiewicz
Manager, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
416-360-7590 Ext. 7226
camilla@nap.com
www.nap.com
Source: North American Palladium Ltd.