Uranium One Reports Record Sales of 3.1 Million Pounds at an Average Cash Cost of $14 per Pound Sold and Net Earnings of $45.8 Million for Q3 2011

TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2011 /CNW/ - Uranium One Inc. ("Uranium One") today reported record quarterly revenue of $157.7 million for Q3 2011 based on sales of 3.1 million pounds at an average realized sales price of $51 per pound and an average cash cost of $14 per pound sold. Quarterly production was 2.5 million pounds. Net earnings during Q3 2011 were $45.8 million, or $0.05 per share.

Highlights

Operational

• Total attributable production during Q3 2011 was a record 2.5 million pounds, 47% higher than total attributable production of 1.7 million pounds during Q3 2010.  Attributable production during October 2011 was 1.0 million pounds.
• The average cash cost per pound sold was $14 during Q3 2011, 17% higher than the average cash cost per pound sold during Q3 2010.

Financial

• Attributable sales volumes during Q3 2011 were a record 3.1 million pounds, 82% higher than 1.7 million pounds sold during Q3 2010.
• Revenue was a record $157.7 million in Q3 2011, 116% higher than $73.1 million in Q3 2010.  The average realized sales price during Q3 2011 was $51 per pound compared to $43 per pound in Q3 2010.  The average spot price in Q3 2011 was $51 per pound.
• Earnings from mine operations were $73.7 million during Q3 2011, a 164% increase from earnings from mine operations of $27.9 million in Q3 2010 due to increased sales volumes and an increase in the realized sales price.
• Net earnings during Q3 2011 were $45.8 million, or $0.05 per share compared to a net loss of $44.8 million or $0.08 per share during Q3 2010.
• Adjusted net earnings during Q3 2011 were $46.2 million, or $0.05 per share compared to an adjusted net loss of $6.3 million or $0.01 per share in Q3 2010.

Chris Sattler, Chief Executive Officer of Uranium One, commented:

"With record production and sales during the quarter, as well as continued low cash costs, 2011 is shaping up to be a solid year for Uranium One financially.  Our focus remains on achieving our operational targets and we look forward to the completion of a revised feasibility study for the Mkuju River Project in Tanzania in the new year."

Outlook

The serious incident at Fukushima is continuing to have a near-term impact on uranium demand due to loss of capacity, program delays and extended outages due to inspections and upgrades; however, broader growth rates for nuclear power remain robust on the strength of the emerging markets of China, India, Russia and the Middle East. The Corporation believes that market conditions will continue to be favourable for lower cost, diversified producers like Uranium One.

The total attributable production guidance remains at 10.5 million pounds for 2011. Total attributable production for 2012 is estimated to be 11.6 million pounds as shown below.

Attributable production for 2013 is estimated to be 12.5 million pounds.

During 2012, the average cash cost per pound sold is expected to be approximately $19 per pound compared to guidance of $18 per pound during 2011.

The Corporation expects attributable sales to be approximately 11.0 million pounds during 2012 and 12.5 million pounds in 2013.

The Corporation expects to incur attributable capital expenditures in 2012 of $229 million, of which approximately $44 million has been deferred from 2011.

^{(1)     - Sales during commissioning are offset against the estimated capital expenditure}

In 2012, general and administrative expenses (excluding non-cash items) are expected to be approximately $39 million, and exploration expenses are expected to be $11 million.

Q3 2011 Operations and Projects

During Q3 2011, Uranium One achieved record attributable production of 2.5 million pounds, an increase of 47% over attributable production of 1.7 million pounds Q3 2010.

Operational results for Uranium One's assets during Q3 2011 were:

Notes:

1. The Kharasan Uranium Project has commenced production but is in the commissioning stage. Commissioning will be completed when a pre-defined operating level, based on the design of the plant, is maintained and the Kazakhstan Government has issued an operating license.
2. Commissioning at the Willow Creek Project commenced in December 2010. Commissioning will be completed when a pre-defined operating level, based on the design of the plant, is maintained.
3. Commissioning at the Honeymoon Project commenced in September 2011. Commissioning will be completed when a pre-defined operating level, based on the design of the plant, is maintained.

Q3 2011 Financial Review

Revenue was a record $157.7 million in Q3 2011, 116% higher than $73.1 million in Q3 2010.  The average realized sales price during Q3 2011 was $51 per pound compared to $43 per pound in Q3 2010.  The average spot price in Q3 2011 was $51 per pound.

Earnings from mine operations were $73.7 million during Q3 2011, a 164% increase from earnings from mine operations of $27.9 million in Q3 2010 due to increased sales volumes and an increase in the realized sales price.

Net earnings during Q3 2011 were $45.8 million, or $0.05 per share compared to a net loss of $44.8 million or $0.08 per share during Q3 2010.

Adjusted net earnings during Q3 2011 were $46.2 million, or $0.05 per share compared to an adjusted net loss of $6.3 million or $0.01 per share in Q3 2010.

On September 30, 2011, the Corporation had cash and cash equivalents of $356.1 million, compared to $324.4 million at December 31, 2010. Working capital was $250.1 million.

Notes:

The following table provides a reconciliation of adjusted net earnings / (loss) to the consolidated financial statements:

The financial statements, as well as the accompanying management's discussion and analysis, are available for review at www.uranium1.com and should be read in conjunction with this news release.  All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.  All references to pounds sold or pounds produced are to pounds of U₃O₈.

Conference Call Details

Uranium One will be hosting a conference call and webcast to discuss the third quarter 2011 results on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 starting at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time).  Participants may join the call by dialling toll free 1-888-231-8191 or 1-647-427-7450 for local calls or calls from outside Canada and the United States.  A live webcast of the call will be available through CNW Group's website at: www.newswire.ca/en/webcast

A recording of the conference call will be available for replay for a two week period beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on November 8, 2011 by dialling toll free 1-855-859-2056 or 1-416-849-0833 for local calls or calls from outside Canada and the United States.  The pass code for the replay is 22298788.  A replay of the webcast will be available through a link on our website at www.uranium1.com

About Uranium One

Uranium One is one of the world's largest publicly traded uranium producers with a globally diversified portfolio of assets located in Kazakhstan, the United States and Australia.

Cautionary Statement

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Investors are advised to refer to independent technical reports containing detailed information with respect to the material properties of Uranium One. These technical reports are available under the profiles of Uranium One Inc and UrAsia Energy Ltd. at www.sedar.com. Those technical reports provide the date of each resource or reserve estimate, details of the key assumptions, methods and parameters used in the estimates, details of quality and grade or quality of each resource or reserve and a general discussion of the extent to which the estimate may be materially affected by any known environmental, permitting, legal, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. The technical reports also provide information with respect to data verification in the estimation.

Forward-looking statements: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to those with respect to the price of uranium, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of mineral reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, currency fluctuations, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of pending litigation. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Uranium One to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the completion of the transactions described in this press release, the future steady state production and cash costs of Uranium One, the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, possible variations in grade and ore densities or recovery rates, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes or other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining government approvals or financing or in completion of development or construction activities, risks relating to the integration of acquisitions and the realization of synergies relating thereto, to international operations, to prices of uranium as well as those factors referred to in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Uranium One's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2010 and Management Information Circular dated August 3, 2010, each of which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and which should be reviewed in conjunction with this document. Although Uranium One has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Uranium One expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

For further information about Uranium One, please visit www.uranium1.com.