TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 29, 2012) - Medusa Mining Limited (News - Market indicators)(LSE:MML) ("Medusa" or the "Company"), presents its full year financial results for the year ended 30 June 2012, with a Net Profit After Tax of US$49.2 million.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR:

Financials

• Revenues of US$81.2 million compared to US$149.6 million for the previous year, due to a decrease in gold production as a result of accelerated development at the mine to prepare for future production increase, limited shaft haulage capacity and reduced availability of the milling circuit due to adverse weather conditions on two separate occasions.
  
  Medusa is an un-hedged gold producer and received an average gold price of US$1,658 per ounce from the sale of 55,446 ounces of gold for the year (2011: 96,217 ounces at US$1,371 per ounce);
  
• Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation ("EBITDA") of US$58.0 million, (US$120.7 million in the previous year);
  
  
• Basic earnings per share ("EPS") of US$0.261 on a weighted average basis, based on NPAT of US$49.2 million (2011: EPS of US$0.587 based on NPAT of US$110.4 million);
  
  
• The Company remains debt free and had total cash, cash equivalent in gold on metal account and bullion on hand of US$51.8 million at year end (2011: US$102.1 million);
  
  
• Medusa paid un-franked dividends (in two equal instalments) totalling A$0.10 per share during the year.

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• The Company produced 60,595 ounces of gold for the year, compared to the previous year's production of 101,474 ounces, at an average recovered grade of 8.10 g/t gold (2011: 12.63 g/t gold);
  
  
• The average cash cost for the year of US$261 per ounce, was higher than the previous year's average cash costs of US$189 per ounce due primarily to reduced ounces produced.

Production Guidance FY2013 

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• The production guidance for the forthcoming year is between 100,000 to 120,000 ounces at cash costs of around US$210 per ounce. There is currently a heavy emphasis on mine development to prepare the Co-O Mine for future production increase.

• Subsequent to year end, on 22 August, the Company reported that fire had caused damage to the Baguio Shaft, putting it out of action temporarily for approximately three months. To offset the anticipated loss in production from the Baguio Shaft and maintain the stated production guidance for 2012/13, the Company has commenced processing stockpiles of settling pond fines.
  
  
• Preliminary estimates for repairs and re-furbishment of the Baguio Shaft is approximately US$500,000. The Company is also in discussions with its insurers regarding the incident and lost production from the shaft.

Reserves and Resources

• Gold reserves at Co-O increased to 568,000 ounces representing an increase of 66,000 ounces;
  
  
• Co-O's gold resources comprised of 715,000 indicated and 1,304,000 inferred resource ounces, representing an increase of 99,000 and decrease of 40,000 ounces within the indicated and inferred categories respectively.
  
  
• Bananghilig's inferred resources increased by 69% to 1,100,000 ounces

To view the figure associated with this section of the press release, please visit the following link:

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Exploration

• Contiguous tenement package maintained at >800km²;
  
  
• Budgeted exploration for fiscal year 2013 of US$25.0 million (2012 actual: US$35.1 million);
  
  
• Exploration highlights at Co-O include:
  
  
  • the global resources passes 2 million ounces and is still open at depth, to the east, north and to the west beyond the Tinago Fault;
  • discovery of extensions to the west of the Tinago Fault;
  • extension along strike to the east by 400 metres to approximately 2 kilometres;
  • demonstrating that mineralisation extends to at least 1 kilometre below the mine's adit entrance; and
  • the Conceptual Exploration Target ** for the Co-O Mine of between 3 and 7 million ounces of gold continues to be validated with global resources and mined ounces now totalling in excess of 2.5 million ounces;

• At the Bananghilig disseminated gold deposit, drilling has confirmed more than 1 million ounces of Inferred Resources which is being converted to Indicated Resources to form the basis for pit optimisation and feasibility studies;
  
  
• At Saugon, re-drilling of the First Hit Vein has produced encouraging results with the mineralisation possibly open at depth; and
  
  
• Induced Polarisation and ground magnetics geophysical programme have been completed over the Tambis intrusive-breccia complex, Kamarangan, Usa, Saugon and is almost complete at Lingig. Surveying is in progress for the same geophysical programme for the Co-O area.

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New Co-O Mill

In November 2010, the Board approved the construction of a new plant with capacity to produce 200,000 ounces of gold per year based on processing up to 750,000 tonnes per year. The Capex was subsequently estimated at approximately US$70M for the new mill and mine expansion.

The Environmental Clearance Certificate for 2,500 tonnes per day for the new mill is in progress.

The current status of activities is:

• Priority was given to the returning the tilting leach tanks back into service which has been achieved;
  
  
• Construction of the new large leach tank should be completed by mid-August;
  
  
• Foundations for the new crushing and grinding sections are advancing on schedule;
  
  
• The de-toxification unit foundations are completed and form work is on schedule;
  
  
• Approximately 50% of the SAG mill components have been delivered;

The new electrical supply systems to the mine and mill are advanced and the last stage will be completed when the mine is re-wired through the Saga Shaft.

Preliminary Development Timetable

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Dividends

The Company declared a final un-franked dividend payment of A$0.02 per share payable to shareholders on 4 October 2012.

The relevant dates for the final dividend are as follows:

There is no foreign conduit income attributed to the dividend.

The Board considers it prudent to temporary reduce dividends from A$0.05 per share to A$0.02 per share until production levels increase at the Co-O Mine, so as to maintain a positive cash balance as it nears completion of the Co-O mill/mine expansion and also the need for additional CAPEX for upgrading/replacing existing infrastructure including new administration and accommodation buildings, new surface fleet maintenance workshops, new core farm and an exploration only laboratory.

The Board wishes to add that until such time as the Saga Shaft is completed towards the end of calendar year 2012, production levels will continue to be flat as the Company strives to balance production with development, as a direct consequence of limited haulage capacity.

In addition, the Company has also reviewed all its discretionary related expenditures and has decided to re-prioritise its exploration activities, by reducing the number of drilling rigs to 14 for the current financial year, most of which will continue to be active at Co-O. In the past, the Company's main focus was on exploration drilling, deploying up to 22 drilling rigs, at any one time.

Peter Hepburn-Brown, Managing Director of Medusa, commented:

"We all recognise that the last financial year has indeed been challenging as we sought to balance production and development and that the year's results have also been adversely impacted by two weather events beyond our control.

The 2012-13 year will be one of consolidation as we build on the previous year's hard work. However our focus has not changed, and that has been to complete the Saga Shaft on schedule in the December 2012 quarter. This will be a game changer for the Company as we commence the task of opening up Level 8 at 350 metres below surface.

We are also very aware of maintaining a strong positive cash balance as we complete the Co-O Mine and Mill expansion. The decision to temporarily reduce dividends was extremely difficult but prudent nevertheless, and we expect that once the expansion activities are completed and production improves, we will be in a position to increase dividends."

JORC COMPLIANCE - CONSENT OF COMPETENT PERSONS

Medusa Mining Limited

Information in this report relating to Exploration Results has been reviewed and is based on information compiled by Mr Geoffrey Davis, who is a member of The Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Davis is the Non-Executive Chairman of Medusa Mining Limited and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a "Competent Person" as defined in the 2004 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Davis consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

Cube Consulting Pty Ltd

Information in this report relating to Mineral Resources has been estimated and compiled by Mark Zammit of Cube Consulting Pty Ltd of Perth, Western Australia. Mr Zammit is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Zammit consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

Carras Mining Pty Ltd

Information in this report relating to Ore Reserves is based on information compiled by Dr Spero Carras, FAusIMM of Carras Mining Pty Ltd. Dr Carras has 30 years of experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Dr Carras consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

DISCLAIMER

This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements. The words 'anticipate', 'believe', 'expect', 'project', 'forecast', 'estimate', 'likely', 'intend', 'should', 'could', 'may', 'target', 'plan' and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Indications of, and guidance on, future earnings and financial position and performance are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Medusa, and its officers, employees, agents and associates, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or outcomes may differ materially from any projections and forward-looking statements and the assumptions on which those assumptions are based. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and neither Medusa nor any of its directors, employees, servants or agents assume any obligation to update such information.

The complete 2012 Annual Report is available for viewing on our website www.medusamining.com.au

ABN: 60 099 377 849