Karora will host a call/webcast on May 12, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss the first quarter 2022 results. North American callers please dial: 1-888-220-8474, international callers please dial: (+1) 647-484-0475. For the webcast of this event click [here] (replay access information below).
TORONTO, May 12, 2022 /CNW/ - Karora Resources Inc. (TSX: KRR) (OTCQX: KRRGF) ("Karora" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce its financial results and review of activities for the three months ended March 31, 2022. All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted. For additional information please refer to Karora's Management's Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A") and unaudited condensed interim financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.
Highlights
Paul Andre Huet, Chairman & CEO, commented: "As anticipated when we adjusted our 2022 guidance in February, the first quarter of 2022 was significantly impacted by what in our view are temporary COVID-19 related cost and labour pressures. These pressures have been particularly severe in Western Australia where the entire mining industry has seen regional costs rise and domestic supply chains tighten further compounding global inflationary pressures. While we are confident in our previously revised 2022 guidance, we are not immune to these pressures and reiterate our previous expectation of a stronger second half of the year.
Following the state border reopening after 697 days of closure, Western Australia has experienced its first state-wide wave of COVID-19 infections. As a result, state-mandated isolation has driven significant worker absenteeism across all businesses, with Karora seeing up to 40% of its workforce unavailable at its operations during the first quarter. This has had a material impact on costs and was a driving factor in our move to adjust guidance earlier this year. Overall we saw over US$300 per ounce in additional costs during the quarter as a result of direct and indirect costs associated with COVID-19.
Providing further colour, AISC costs were US$354 per ounce higher during the first quarter compared to the prior quarter largely due to these COVID-19 related factors. Direct costs included COVID-19 testing, increased retention and recruitment expenses and additional contract mining labour. As a result of miner absenteeism, we also processed higher cost stockpiles at Higginsville outside of our planned ore sources which led to higher costs. Lastly, we processed 15% of our production through a third-party toll-milling facility which helped maintain gold production levels towards our 2022 targets, but increased our AISC by approximately US$50 per ounce sold. Combined, these and other factors represent temporary AISC increases of over US$300 per ounce sold.
Despite these tremendous challenges, I am extremely proud of our team for delivering a solid first quarter gold production result of 27,489 ounces which was in line with our budgeted ounce production plan. If there is one thing that has resonated through our business over the last two years, it's been delivery in the face of adversity. I would like to thank our operational teams for delivering our ounce targets despite unprecedented understaffing across the business.
Moving forward, as previously started we continue to expect significantly lower AISC costs for the second half of 2022 and our full-year production and cost guidance remains unchanged at between 110,000 to 135,000 ounces at AISC of US$950 to US$1,050 per ounce sold.
With regards to our projects, Karora ended the first quarter with a strong cash balance of $78.1 million, after deploying capital as planned into our growth plan capital and preparing new mining areas at Higginsville. We continue to be well positioned to deliver our fully funded organic growth plan to increase production to between 185,000 and 205,000 ounces by 2024.
Our recently updated nickel Mineral Resource estimate for Beta Hunt substantially increased the Measured and Indicated Resource by 22% to 19,600 nickel tonnes and increased our Inferred Resource estimate by 52% to 13,200 nickel tonnes. The updated Mineral Resource is expected to support materially higher nickel production in future compared to our 2022 guidance of between 450 to 550 payable nickel tonnes. The most exciting part of our nickel story is the discovery of the 50C nickel trough in the Gamma Block which has now been delineated over a strike length of 800 metres with the potential to extend another 1.9 kilometers for a total strike length of up to 2.6 kilometres.
We are also very pleased to announce that Meri VerIi is being appointed to the Karora Board of Directors effective May 16, 2022. She will also stand for election as a Director at the upcoming annual and special meeting of shareholders to be held on June 16, 2022. Meri is an experienced senior finance executive with an extensive background in financial management and reporting, financial and operational recovery, mergers and acquisitions, risk management and strategy development. Meri has held several senior management roles in the gold mining sector, including most recently as Senior Vice President for Business Operation Management Systems and previously as Senior Vice President Finance and Treasury at Kirkland Lake Gold, Chief Financial Officer of McEwen Mining Inc. and Vice President, Finance at Lake Shore Gold from 2007 to 2016. Meri will assume the position of Chair of Karora's Audit Committee.
Wendy Kei, current Director and Audit Committee Chair, is retiring from the Board effective May 16, 2022. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Wendy for her significant contributions to Karora since becoming a Director and Audit Committee Chair in 2018. We wish Wendy all the best in her future endeavors."
1. Non-IFRS: the definition and reconciliation of these measures are included in the Non-IFRS Measures section of this news release and Karora's MD&A dated May 11, 2022. |
COVID-19 Protocols
In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Karora's protocols and contingency plans have helped mitigate impacts of the pandemic, but not eliminate them. Karora's ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to prioritize the safety of its workforce and host communities.
Results of Operations
Table 1 - Highlights of operational results for the periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020
Three months ended, | ||
For the periods ended March 31, | 2022 | 2021 |
Gold Operations (Consolidated) | ||
Tonnes milled (000s) | 394 | 371 |
Recoveries | 94% | 93% |
Gold milled, grade (g/t Au) | 2.31 | 2.16 |
Gold produced (ounces) | 27,489 | 24,694 |
Gold sold (ounces) | 26,286 | 25,547 |
Average exchange rate (USD/CAD) | 1.2662 | 1.2660 |
Average realized price (US $/ounce sold) | $1,905 | $1,762 |
Cash operating costs (US $/oz sold)1 | $1,310 | $952 |
All-in sustaining cost (AISC) (US $/oz sold)1 | $1,396 | $1,049 |
Gold (Beta Hunt Mine) | ||
Tonnes milled (000s) | 233 | 233 |
Gold milled, grade (g/t Au) | 2.42 | 2.63 |
Gold produced (ounces) | 17,109 | 18,261 |
Gold sold (ounces) | 16,128 | 18,754 |
Cash operating cost (US $/oz sold)1 | $1,137 | $899 |
Gold (HGO Mine) | ||
Tonnes milled (000s) | 161 | 138 |
Gold milled grade (g/t Au) | 2.12 | 1.57 |
Gold produced (ounces) | 10,380 | 6,433 |
Gold sold (ounces) | 10,158 | 6,793 |
Cash operating cost (US $/oz sold)1 | $1,586 | $1,100 |
1. Non-IFRS: the definition and reconciliation of these measures are included in the Non-IFRS Measures section of this news release and Karora's MD&A dated May 11, 2022. |
Consolidated Operations
For the first quarter of 2022, Karora's gold operations milled 394,000 tonnes of material at an average grade of 2.31 g/t to produce 27,489 ounces of gold. Tonnes milled were 7% higher than the fourth quarter of 2021. During the quarter there were a number of temporary factors which increased AISC costs by over US$300 per ounce sold during the first quarter. These factors included increased direct and indirect costs associated with COVID-19 including significant absenteeism,COVID-19 related personnel retention and recruitment costs, processing approximately 15% of production through a third-party mill facility, and a temporary change in the ratio of lower cost Beta Hunt and higher cost HGO material processed during the quarter as a result of lower miner availability.
Beta Hunt Mine Operations
Production for the first quarter of 2022 was 233,000 tonnes milled at a grade of 2.42 g/t, a 13% increase and 7% decrease, respectively, compared to the fourth quarter of 2021.
Nickel production remains limited to remnant nickel resources south of the Alpha Island Fault. Beta Hunt mined 5,243 nickel tonnes at an estimated nickel grade of 2.13% during the first quarter of 2022.
Higginsville ("HGO") Mine Operations
HGO material milled for the first quarter of 2022 was 161,000 tonnes, flat compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, while the grade was 2.12 g/t, a 13% decrease compared to the prior quarter. The Spargos Gold Mine was the largest contributor to HGO production during the first quarter with 58,154 tonnes mined for 5,431 ounces. The balance of production for the first quarter was from the Hidden Secret and Baloo open pits, with a limited contribution of ore from the Two Boys and Aquarius underground operations.
During the quarter an additional amount of higher cost Higginsville stockpiles were milled at Higginsville as a result of lower miner availability due to COVID-19, contributing to higher overall costs during the quarter. The Corporation expects these additional costs to be transitory.
Cash Operating Costs and AISC1
For the first quarter of 2022 consolidated cash operating costs1 and AISC1 were US$1,310 and US$1,396 per ounce sold, increases of 38% and 33%, respectively compared to the first quarter of 2021. The cost performance for the first quarter was impacted by several factors, including temporary COVID-19 related labour and supply chain pressures as previously outlined.
Financial Highlights
Table 4 - Highlights of First Quarter
(in thousands of dollars except per share amounts)
Three months ended | ||
For the periods ended March 31, | 2022 | 2021 |
Revenue | $65,272 | $59,284 |
Production and processing costs | 42,436 | 29,301 |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes1 | (2,319) | 12,785 |
Net earnings (loss) | (3,709) | 5,624 |
Net earnings (loss) per share - basic | (0.02) | 0.04 |
Net earnings (loss) per share - diluted | (0.02) | 0.04 |
Adjusted EBITDA1,2 | 12,203 | 21,210 |
Adjusted EBITDA per share - basic1,2 | 0.08 | 0.15 |
Adjusted earnings1 | 1,120 | 8,087 |
Adjusted earnings per share – basic1 | 0.01 | 0.06 |
Cash flow provided by operating activities | 12,150 | 18,658 |
Cash investment in property, plant and equipment and mineral property interests | (24,784) | (18,193) |
1. Non-IFRS: the definition and reconciliation of these measures are included in the Non-IFRS Measures section of this news release and Karora's MD&A dated May 11, 2022. |
Revenue for the first quarter of 2022 was $65.3 million, a 10% increase over the comparable period in 2021. The increase in revenue in 2022 was the result of a higher gold ounces sold (3% increase) and a higher realized gold price (8% increase).
The net loss for the first quarter of 2022 was $3.7 million, or $0.02 per share, compared to net earnings of $5.6 million, or $0.04 per share, for the comparable period in 2021, a decrease of $9.3 million. The decrease was partially due to increases in production and processing costs, general and administrative costs and depreciation and amortization. In particular, first quarter 2022 net earnings were negatively impacted by 1) a $5.8 million, or $0.04 per share. adjustment for non-cash share based payments; 2) an unrealized non-cash foreign exchange gain of $3.0 million, or $0.02 per share primarily related to intercompany loans which are subject to valuation changes due to quarter over quarter currency fluctuations, and 3) a non-cash derivatives loss of $1.1 million, or $0.01 per share.
Adjusted net earnings1 for the first quarter of 2022 were $1.1 million, or $0.01 per share, a $7.0 million decrease compared to the same period in 2021, primarily due to higher costs.
Adjusted EBITDA1 for the first quarter of 2022 was $12.2 million, or $0.08 per share, compared to $21.2 million, or $0.15 per share, in the first quarter of 2021.
Table 5 - Highlights of Karora's Financial Position
(in thousands of dollars):
For the period ended | March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 |
Cash and cash equivalents Working capital* PP&E & MPI Total assets Total liabilities Shareholders' equity | 78,100 53,806 315,074 441,899 187,482 254,417 | 91,005 64,447 300,680 436,333 184,968 251,365 |
*Working capital is a measure of current assets (including cash and cash equivalents) less current liabilities. |
Karora's cash position decreased to $78.1 million as at March 31, 2022, a decrease of $12.9 million compared to December 31, 2021, reflecting planned capital deployment to prepare new mining areas at Higginsville, accelerated exploration programs and growth plan expenditures. Karora had a working capital surplus of $53.8 million as of March 31, 2022.
For a complete discussion of financial results, refer to Karora's MD&A and unaudited condensed interim financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.
Outlook
Karora is maintaining its previously announced full year consolidated 2022 production guidance of between 110,000 - 135,000 ounces of gold at an AISC1 range of US$950 to US$1,050 per ounce.
On June 28, 2021 the Corporation announced three-year production guidance as part of a multi-year growth plan that is expected to see gold production increase from 99,249 ounces in 2020 to a range of 185,000 – 205,000 ounces in 2024 at an AISC1 of US$885 – US$985 per ounce sold. On February 7, 2022 the Corporation announced production guidance for 2022 is between 110,000 to 135,000 ounces of gold at an AISC1 of US$950 to US$1,050 per ounce sold and a payable nickel production guidance of 450 to 550 tonnes, which will be treated as a by-product credit in AISC1.
Table 3 – Consolidated Multi-Year Guidance to 2024
Production & Costs | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
Gold Production | Koz | 110 - 135 | 150 – 170 | 185 - 205 | |||
All-in sustaining costs | US$/oz | 950 - 1,050 | 890 – 990 | 885 - 985 | |||
Capital Investments | |||||||
Sustaining Capital | A$ (M) | 9 - 15 | 11 - 16 | 18 - 23 | |||
Growth Capital | A$ (M) | 52 - 65 | 47 - 57 | 30 - 40 | |||
Exploration & Resource Development | A$ (M) | 21 - 24 | 22 - 25 | 20 - 23 | |||
(1) 2022 guidance was updated on February 7, 2022 (see Karora news release dated February 7, 2022). 2023 and 2024 guidance was announced in January 2021 (see Karora news release dated January 19, 2021), is unchanged. This production guidance through 2024 is based on the 2020 year-end Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources announced on December 16, 2020. |
The growth plan will be driven by an expansion of Beta Hunt underground mine production to 2.0 Mtpa by 2024, from 0.8 Mtpa recorded in 2020. Increased production from Beta Hunt will be complemented by ore from HGO Central and Spargos. The increased tonnage is expected to be processed by the Higginsville mill, which is expected to be expanded to a capacity of 2.5 Mtpa by 2024. Advanced internal study work and detailed engineering is progressing ahead of a formal construction decision by the Company.
Further details on the growth plan can be found in Karora's news release dated June 28, 2021, and the third quarter MD&A.
Updated 2022 Resource Estimate
The continued expansion of the Beta Hunt Mineral Resource is an important component of our growth plan to increase production to our guided range of 185,000-205,000 ounces annually by 2024.
In April 2022, the Corporation announced an updated gold Mineral Resource estimate that was highlighted by the addition of the maiden Mineral Resource for the Larkin Zone which demonstrated a rapid progression from the initial discovery of the zone announced in September 2020 (see Karora news release dated September 10, 2020) to the development of the first Larkin Mineral Resource of 119,000 ounces in the M&I category and a further 162,000 ounces in the Inferred category.
As at January 31, 2022, Beta Hunt gold Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources totaled 13.21 million tonnes grading 2.6 g/t for 1,124,000 ounces, an increase of 69,000 ounces, or 7% compared to the 2020 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource estimate. As at January 31, 2022, Beta Hunt's Inferred Mineral Resources totaled 9.43 million tonnes grading 2.6 g/t for 786,000 ounces, an increase of 249,000 ounces, or 46%, compared to the 2020 Inferred Mineral Resource estimate. The Beta Hunt Mineral Resource estimate is net of mine production depletion of 1.16 million tonnes grading 2.9 g/t for 108,000 ounces over the period October 1, 2020 to January 31, 2022.
On May 11, 2022, the Corporation announced an updated Nickel Mineral Resource estimate for the Beta Hunt Mine that increased Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources by 22% to 19,600 nickel tonnes and Inferred Mineral Resource by 52% to 13,200 nickel tonnes compared to the prior Mineral Resource estimate dated September 30, 2020. As at January 31, 2022, the Beta Hunt Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource totalled 692,000 tonnes grading 2.8% for 19,600 nickel tonnes and the Inferred Mineral Resource totalled 492,000 tonnes grading 2.7% for 13,200 nickel tonnes. Please see Karora New Release dated May 11, 2022 for further details.
Exploration and Resource Definition Drilling
Beta Hunt Mine
At Beta Hunt, 5,884 metres of drilling was completed during the first quarter. Gold exploration and resource definition drilling was focused on extending A Zone strike to the north, identifying potential down-dip extensions and infill drilling at Western Flanks. Nickel exploration targeted extensions to the 25C nickel trough in the Beta Block.
During the first quarter the Corporation announced exploration drilling at the Fletcher Zone materially extended the strike length of gold mineralization to over 500 metres and up to 150 metres in vertical extent, with strike potential of up to 2 kilometres and remaining open at depth.
Also at Beta Hunt, nickel exploration results from the 50C nickel trough have extended the known strike length to over 200 metres and up to 120 metres in width. The new results include drilling along strike of the 50C discovery and the parallel 10C nickel trough. The new 50C nickel discovery is located 140 metres from existing mine development. Nickel mineralization remains open to the southeast beyond the 10C trough and newly defined 50C trough. The potential for more extensive strike lengths exist and is supported by a historic drill intersection of 11.4% Ni over 9.5 metres which is located approximately 1 kilometre southeast of our current drilling. An updated nickel Mineral Resource incorporating the 50C discovery and 10C upgrade planned for completion in the second quarter of 2022.
Higginsville Operations
At Higginsville, 12,660 metres of drilling was completed during the first quarter, which was primarily focused on resource development. Resource definition focused on infilling and extending near-mill resources within the Higginsville Central area. At Higginsville Greater, drilling was targeted at upgrading the deeper section of the Spargos deposit to further assess underground potential.
Conference Call / Webcast
Karora will be hosting a conference call and webcast today beginning at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time). A copy of the accompanying presentation can be found on Karora's website at www.karoraresources.com.
Live Conference Call and Webcast Access Information:
North American callers please dial: 1-888-220-8474
Local and international callers please dial: 647-484-0475
A live webcast of the call will be available through Cision's website at:
Webcast Link (https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1544859&tp_key=0dc6b249ea)
A recording of the conference call will be available for replay through the webcast link, or for a one-week period beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on May 19, 2022, through the following dial in numbers:
North American callers please dial: 1-888-203-1112; Pass Code: 8417498
Local and international callers please dial: 647-436-0148; Pass Code: 8417498
Non-IFRS Measures
This news release refers to cash operating cost, cash operating cost per ounce, all-in sustaining cost, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA per share, adjusted earnings, adjusted earnings per share and working capital which are not recognized measures under IFRS. Such non-IFRS financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Management uses these measures internally. The use of these measures enables management to better assess performance trends. Management understands that a number of investors and others who follow the Corporation's performance assess performance in this way. Management believes that these measures better reflect the Corporation's performance and are better indications of its expected performance in future periods. This data is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.
In November 2018, the World Gold Council ("WGC") published its guidelines for reporting all-in sustaining costs and all-in costs. The WGC is a market development organization for the gold industry and is an association whose membership comprises leading gold mining companies. Although the WGC is not a mining industry regulatory organization, it worked closely with its member companies to develop these non-IFRS measures. Adoption of the all-in sustaining cost and all-in cost metrics is voluntary and not necessarily standard, and therefore, these measures presented by the Corporation may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.
The following tables reconcile these non-IFRS measures to the most directly comparable IFRS measures:
Mining Operations
Cash Operating and All-in Sustaining Costs
The Corporation uses these measures internally to evaluate the underlying operating performance of the Australian Operations. Management believes that providing cash operating cost data allows the reader the ability to better evaluate the results of the underlying operations.
Consolidated Mining Operations
Three months ended, | ||
For the periods ended March 31, | 2022 | 2021 |
Production and processing costs | $48,109 | $36,077 |
Royalty expense: Government of Western Australia | 1,597 | 1,388 |
Royalty expense: Other | 2,036 | 2,367 |
By-product credits | (2,453) | (2,256) |
Adjustment 1 | (5,673) | (6,776) |
Operating costs (C$) | $43,616 | $30,800 |
General and administrative expense – Australia 2,3 | 2,232 | 1,121 |
Sustaining capital expenditures | 611 | 2,008 |
All-in sustaining costs (C$) | $46,459 | $33,929 |
Average exchange rate (C$1 – US$1) | 0.79 | 0.79 |
Operating costs (US$) | $34,447 | $24,329 |
All-in sustaining costs (US$) | $36,693 | $26,800 |
Operating costs (A$) | $47,534 | $31,487 |
All-in sustaining costs (A$) | $50,632 | $34,686 |
Ounces of gold sold | 26,286 | 25,547 |
Cash operating costs per ounce sold (US$) | $1,310 | $952 |
All-in sustaining cost per ounce sold (US$) | $1,396 | $1,049 |
Cash operating costs per ounce sold (A$) | $1,808 | $1,233 |
All-in sustaining cost per ounce sold (A$) | $1,926 | $1,358 |
1. Negative adjustment for intercompany tolling transactions |
Beta Hunt Mine
Three months ended, | |||||
For the periods ended March 31, | 2022 | 2021 | |||
Production and processing costs | $22,739 | $20,470 | |||
Royalty expense: Government of Western Australia | 1,008 | 1,021 | |||
Royalty expense: Other | 1,890 | 2,083 | |||
By-product credits | (2,421) | (2,234) | |||
Operating costs ($) | $23,216 | $21,340 | |||
Average exchange rate (C$1 – US$1) | 0.79 | 0.79 | |||
Operating costs (US$) | $18,336 | $16,856 | |||
Operating costs (A$) | $25,302 | $21,815 | |||
Ounces of gold sold | 16,128 | 18,754 | |||
Cash operating costs per ounce sold (US$) | $1,137 | $899 | |||
Cash operating costs per ounce sold (A$) | $1,569 | $1,163 | |||
Higginsville Mine
Three months ended, | |||||
For the periods ended March 31, | 2022 | 2021 | |||
Production and processing costs | $25,370 | $15,607 | |||
Royalty expense: Government of Western Australia | 589 | 367 | |||
Royalty expense: Other | 146 | 284 | |||
By-product credits | (32) | (22) | |||
Adjustment1 | (5,673) | (6,776) | |||
Operating costs ($) | $20,400 | $9,460 | |||
Average exchange rate (C$1 – US$1) | 0.79 | 0.79 | |||
Operating cost (US$) | $16,111 | $7,473 | |||
Operating cost (A$) | $22,232 | $9,671 | |||
Ounces of gold sold | 10,158 | 6,793 | |||
Cash operating costs per ounce sold (US$) | $1,586 | $1,100 | |||
Cash operating costs per ounce sold (A$) | $2,188 | $1,424 |
1. Negative adjustment for intercompany tolling transactions |
Quarterly Consolidated Mining Operations
For the three months ended, | Mar 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 |
Production and processing costs | $48,109 | $38,855 | $36,149 | $35,860 | $36,077 |
Royalty expense: Government of Western Australia | 1,597 | 1,780 | 1,679 | 1,700 | 1,388 |
Royalty expense: Other | 2,036 | 1,876 | 2,972 | 2,656 | 2,367 |
By-product credits | (2,453) | (1,357) | (2,821) | (1,294) | (2,256) |
Adjustment1 | (5,673) | (6,341) | (5,641) | (6,290) | (6,776) |
Operating costs ($) | $43,616 | $34,813 | $32,338 | $32,632 | $30,800 |
General and administration expense – Australia3 | 2,232 | 2,503 | 1,916 | 2,762 | 1,121 |
Sustaining capital expenditures | 611 | 422 | 994 | 1,791 | 2,008 |
All-in sustaining costs ($) | $46,459 | $37,738 | $35,248 | $37,185 | $33,929 |
Average exchange rate (C$1 – US$1) | 0.79 | 0.79 | 0.79 | 0.81 | 0.79 |
Operating costs (US$) | $34,447 | $27,623 | $25,665 | $26,569 | $24,329 |
All-in sustaining costs (US$) | $36,693 | $29,944 | $27,975 | $30,276 | $26,800 |
Operating costs (A$) | $47,534 | $37,910 | $34,941 | $34,502 | $31,487 |
All-in sustaining costs (A$) | $50,632 | $41,096 | $38,085 | $39,316 | $34,686 |
Ounces of gold sold | 26,286 | 28,734 | 28,935 | 30,412 | 25,547 |
Cash operating costs per ounce sold (US$) | $1,310 | $961 | $887 | $874 | $952 |
All-in sustaining cost per ounce sold (US$) | $1,396 | $1,042 | $967 | $996 | $1,049 |
Cash operating costs per ounce sold (A$)2 | $1,808 | $1,319 | $1,208 | $1,134 | $1,233 |
All-in sustaining cost per ounce sold (A$)2 | $1,926 | $1,430 | $1,316 | $1,293 | $1,358 |
1. Negative adjustment for intercompany tolling transactions. |
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Earnings
Management believes that adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings are valuable indicators of the Corporation's ability to generate operating cash flows to fund working capital needs, service debt obligations, and fund exploration and evaluation, and capital expenditures. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings exclude the impact of certain items and therefore is not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flows from operating activities as determined under IFRS. Other companies may calculate adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings differently.
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure, which excludes the following from comprehensive earnings (loss); income tax expense (recovery); interest expense and other finance-related costs; depreciation and amortization; non-cash other expenses, net; non-cash impairment charges and reversals; non-cash portion of share-based payments; acquisition costs; derivatives and foreign exchange loss; sustainability initiatives.
(in thousands of dollars except per share amounts) | ||
For the three months ended March 31, | 2022 | 2021 |
Net earnings (loss) for the period - as reported | $(3,709) | $5,624 |
Finance expense, net | 1,045 | 1,081 |
Income tax expense | 1,556 | 4,712 |
Depreciation and amortization | 8,754 | 7,283 |
EBITDA | 7,646 | 18,700 |
Adjustments: | ||
Non-cash share-based payments 1 | 5,768 | 1,142 |
Unrealized loss (gain) on revaluation of marketable securities 2 | 646 | (360) |
Other expense (income), net 2 | (21) | 15 |
Loss (gain) on derivatives 2 | 1,115 | (2,860) |
Foreign exchange loss (gain) 3 | (2,951) | 4,573 |
Adjusted EBITDA | $12,203 | $21,210 |
Weighted average number of common shares - basic | 154,440,916 | 146,254,253 |
Adjusted EBITDA per share - basic | $0.08 | $0.15 |
1. Primarily non-recurring items which do not impact cash flow. |
Adjusted earnings is a non-IFRS measure, which excludes the following from comprehensive earnings (loss): non-cash portion of share-based payments; revaluation of marketable securities; derivatives and foreign exchange loss; tax effects of adjustments; sustainability initiatives.
(in thousands of dollars except per share amounts) | Year ended | |
For the three months ended March 31, | 2022 | 2021 |
Net earnings (loss) for the period - as reported | $(3,709) | $5,624 |
Non-cash share-based payments 1 | 5,768 | 1,142 |
Unrealized loss (gain) on revaluation of marketable securities 2 | 646 | (360) |
Loss (gain) on derivatives 2 | 1,115 | (2,860) |
Foreign exchange loss (gain) 3 | (2,951) | 4,573 |
Tax impact of the above adjusting items | 251 | (32) |
Adjusted earnings | $1,120 | $8,087 |
Weighted average number of common shares - basic | 154,440,916 | 146,254,253 |
Adjusted earnings per share - basic | $0.01 | $0.06 |
1. Primarily non-recurring items which do not impact cash flow. |
Working Capital
Working capital is calculated as current assets (including cash and cash equivalents) less current liabilities.
(in thousands of dollars) | Mar,31,2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 |
Current assets | $126,601 | $135,426 | $109,857 |
less: Current liabilities | 72,795 | 70,979 | 53,022 |
Working Capital | $53,806 | $64,447 | $56,835 |
Compliance Statement (JORC 2012 and NI 43-101)
The disclosure of scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Stephen Devlin, FAusIMM, Group Geologist, Karora Resources Inc., a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101.
About Karora Resources
Karora is focused on doubling gold production to 200,000 ounces by 2024 compared to 2020 and reducing costs at its integrated Beta Hunt Gold Mine and Higginsville Gold Operations ("HGO") in Western Australia. The Higginsville treatment facility is a low-cost 1.6 Mtpa processing plant, expanding to a planned 2.5 Mtpa by 2024, which is fed at capacity from Karora's underground Beta Hunt mine and Higginsville mines. At Beta Hunt, a robust gold Mineral Resource and Reserve is hosted in multiple gold shears, with gold intersections along a 4 km strike length remaining open in multiple directions. HGO has a substantial gold Mineral Resource and Reserve and prospective land package totaling approximately 1,900 square kilometers. The Company also owns the high grade Spargos Reward project which is anticipated to begin mining in 2021. Karora has a strong Board and management team focused on delivering shareholder value and responsible mining, as demonstrated by Karora's commitment to reducing emissions across its operations. Karora's common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol KRR and also trade on the OTCQX market under the symbol KRRGF.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking information" including without limitation statements relating to the liquidity and capital resources of Karora, production guidance and the potential of the Beta Hunt Mine, Higginsville Gold Operation, the Aquarius Project and the Spargos Gold Project, the commencement of mining at the Spargos Gold Project and the completion of the resource estimate.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Karora to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals; the results of drilling; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the properties; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; results of exploration programs; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, terrorism, insurrection or war; or delays in obtaining governmental approvals, projected cash operating costs, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Karora 's filings with Canadian securities regulators, including the most recent Annual Information Form, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Although Karora 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 to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Karora disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
SOURCE Karora Resources Inc.
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