Nov. 15, 2010 (Canada NewsWire Group) --
VANCOUVER, Nov. 15 /CNW/ - Farallon Mining Ltd. ("Farallon" or the "Company") (TSX:FAN) announces its financial and operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2010. Currency amounts are stated in United States Dollars, unless otherwise noted. This news release should be read in conjunction with the Company's financial statements and MD&A which are available on SEDAR and the Company's website.
The Company's G-9 mine produced 18.9 million pounds of zinc and 2.0 million pounds of copper in concentrates at a total cash cost1 of $0.35/lb of payable zinc, generating operating earnings of $5.1 million and $1.6 million in cash from operations before changes in non-cash working capital.
A summary of the results for the three months ended September 30, 2010 ("Q3") compared to the three months ended June 30, 2010 ("Q2") are as follows:
Financial
- Operating earnings of $5.1 million and net income of $1.0 million, down from operating earnings of $11.3 million and net income of $2 million in Q2 as a result of a planned slow down of ore production to 1,500 tpd from 1,815 tpd in Q2.
- Cash flow from operations before changes in non-cash working capital of $1.6 million, down from $6.6 million in Q2.
- Gross revenues of $28.5 million, down from $39.1 million in Q2.
- Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA1 of $4.5 million, down from $11.4 million in Q2.
- Working capital of $21.8 million at September 30, 2010, down from $24.4 million at June 30, 2010.
Operations
- Mined 139,447 tonnes of ore (average 1,516 tpd), in line with a previously stated target of 1,500 tpd.
- Processed 132,529 tonnes of ore (average throughput 1,441 tonnes per day "tpd) grading 7.8% zinc, 0.94% copper, 118 g/t silver and 1.6 g/t gold.
- Produced 17,985 tonnes of zinc concentrate and 6,783 tonnes of copper concentrate, containing an estimated 18.9 million pounds of zinc, 2.0 million pounds of copper, 311,638 ounces of silver and 2,926 ounces of gold from the G-9 mine.
- Recovered 83% zinc, 74% copper, 62% silver and 43% gold from ore into zinc and copper concentrates.
- Sold approximately 20,489 tonnes of zinc concentrate grading 47% zinc and 6,604 tonnes of copper concentrate grading 13% copper. Payable metals contained in concentrate were 17.6 million pounds of zinc, 1.7 million pounds of copper, 254,008 ounces of silver and 2,284 ounces of gold.
Metal Prices
- Realized sales prices for zinc and copper were of $0.96/lb and $3.52/lb, respectively, up from Q2 realized prices of $0.89/lb zinc and $3.11/lb copper.
Management Changes
The Company announced the departure of Mr. Kerry Barker as the General Manager of G-9, and has appointed the G9 Administration Manager, Oscar Zelaya, as interim General Manger.
Exploration
The Company issued an update on exploration activities in a separate news release dated October 20, 2010.
Subsequent Event
On November 15, 2010 the Company announced that it has entered into a Support Agreement with Nyrstar NV ("Nyrstar") pursuant to which Nyrstar has agreed to make an all-cash offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company by way of a friendly take-over bid at a price of CAD$0.80 per common share (the "Offer"), valuing the Company at approximately CAD$405 million on a fully diluted basis.
The Nyrstar Offer represents a premium of 23% to the Company's closing price on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") on November 12, 2010 and a premium of 32% to the Company's volume weighted average price on the TSX for the 20 trading days prior to the announcement of the Offer.
The Company's Board of Directors has unanimously recommended that shareholders tender their shares in favour of the Offer.
Conference Call
Farallon will hold a conference call tomorrow, Tuesday November 16, at 6:00 am Pacific time (9:00 am Eastern) to discuss these results. The call can be accessed at (647) 427-7450 or toll-free at (888) 231-8191. A live webcast will also be available at www.farallonmining.com.
Tables of Production and Summary Financial Statements
| Production | Q3 2010 | Q2 2010 | Q1 2010 | YTD 2010 | |
| Metals (contained in concentrate) | |||||
| Zinc (000's Pounds) | 18,932 | 26,272 | 24,950 | 69,207 | |
| Copper (000's pounds) | 2,028 | 2,261 | 2,139 | 11,183 | |
| Silver (ounces) | 311,638 | 595,309 | 420,911 | 1,327,858 | |
| Gold (ounces) | 2,926 | 6,722 | 4,322 | 13,970 | |
| Ore Mined (tonnes) | 139,447 | 155,043 | 154,580 | 449,070 | |
| Ore Processed (tonnes) | 132,529 | 165,244 | 152,178 | 452,951 | |
| tonnes per day | 1,441 | 1,816 | 1,691 | 1,659 | |
| Zinc grade (%) | 7.8 | 8.7 | 9.1 | 8.6 | |
| Copper grade (%) | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 | |
| Silver grade (%) | 118 | 222 | 174 | 176 | |
| Gold grade (%) | 1.6 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.3 | |
| Concentrate | |||||
| Zinc (DMT) | 17,985 | 25,342 | 23,365 | 66,692 | |
| Zinc (%) | 47.8 | 47.0 | 48.4 | 47.7 | |
| Silver (g/t) | 211 | 312 | 290 | 277 | |
| Gold (g/t) | 2.2 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.4 | |
| Copper (DMT) | 6,783 | 9,011 | 6,952 | 22,746 | |
| Copper (%) | 13.6 | 11.4 | 14.0 | 12.8 | |
| Silver (g/t) | 870 | 1,175 | 909 | 1,003 | |
| Gold (g/t) | 8.1 | 15.5 | 11.6 | 12.1 | |
| Recovery | Q3 2010 | Q2 2010 | Q1 2010 | YTD 2010 | |
| Zinc (%) | 83 | 82 | 82 | 82 | |
| Copper (%) | 74 | 68 | 59 | 66 | |
| Silver (%) | 62 | 53 | 49 | 54 | |
| Gold (%) | 43 | 41 | 39 | 41 | |
| Costs | Q3 2010 | Q2 2010 | Q1 2010 | YTD 2010 | |
| Site Costs (US$/t milled) | $85.61 | $64.34 | $76.74 | $74.80 | |
| Total Cash Costs (US$/payable lb zinc) (1) | $0.35 | $0.05 | $0.36 | $0.24 |
| Summary of Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD '000s) | ||||
| 30-Sep-10 | 30-Jun-10 | 31-Mar-10 | 31-Dec-09 | |
| Assets | ||||
| Cash and equivalents | 23,362 | 28,540 | 20,900 | 21,574 |
| Other Current Assets | 23,393 | 16,580 | 19,680 | 17,744 |
| Current Assets | 46,755 | 45,120 | 40,580 | 39,318 |
| Property, Plant and Equipment | 124,809 | 124,596 | 125,832 | 127,530 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | 171,564 | 169,716 | 166,412 | 166,848 |
| Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | ||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 15,857 | 11,622 | 14,564 | 15,428 |
| Other Current Liabilities | 9,123 | 9,059 | 7,778 | 9,007 |
| Current liabilites | 24,980 | 20,681 | 22,342 | 24,435 |
| Long term debt (Credit Suisse) | 24,750 | 27,000 | 21,900 | 24,319 |
| Silver Wheaton deferred revenue | 65,427 | 67,682 | 72,037 | 74,499 |
| Capital lease obligation | 205 | - | - | - |
| Site closure and reclamation obligation | 626 | 604 | 583 | 561 |
| Long term liabilities | 115,988 | 115,967 | 116,862 | 123,814 |
| Shareholders' equity | 55,576 | 53,749 | 49,550 | 43,034 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY | 171,564 | 169,716 | 166,412 | 166,848 |
| Working Capital | 21,775 | 24,439 | 18,238 | 14,883 |
| Summary of Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (USD '000s) | ||||
| Q3 | Q2 | Q1 | Q4 | |
| 2010 | 2010 | 2010 | 2009 | |
| Gross Sales Revenue | 28,486 | 39,053 | 37,595 | 32,343 |
| Cost of Sales | (20,459) | (24,116) | (25,457) | (25,142) |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | (2,964) | (3,607) | (3,018) | (3,244) |
| Earnings (loss) from operations | 5,063 | 11,330 | 9,120 | 3,957 |
| Exploration | 1,679 | 1,063 | 1,443 | 599 |
| Office Costs | 1,898 | 2,467 | 1,675 | 2,058 |
| Other Expenses (income) | 377 | 5,817 | (241) | 1,182 |
| Expenses (income) | 3,954 | 9,347 | 2,877 | 3,839 |
| Current income tax (recovery) expense | 64 | 17 | 41 | 74 |
| Net Earnings (loss) | 1,045 | 1,966 | 6,202 | 44 |
| Net Earnings (loss) | 1,045 | 1,966 | 6,202 | 44 |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 2,942 | 3,586 | 3,018 | 3,244 |
| Accretion of reclamation obligation | 22 | 21 | 22 | (18) |
| Interest Expense | 648 | 610 | 604 | 569 |
| Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt | - | 1,133 | - | - |
| Interest Income | 8 | (11) | (14) | (8) |
| Current income tax (recovery) expense | 64 | 17 | 41 | 74 |
| Standard EBITDA | 4,729 | 7,322 | 9,873 | 3,905 |
| Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss | (607) | 2,021 | (1,100) | 258 |
| Stock based compensation | 328 | 2,064 | 269 | 363 |
| Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA | 4,450 | 11,407 | 9,042 | 4,526 |
| Summary of Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD 000's) | ||||
| Q3 | Q2 | Q1 | Q4 | |
| 2010 | 2010 | 2010 | 2009 | |
| Earnings (loss) for the period | 1,045 | 1,966 | 6,202 | 44 |
| Amortization of Deferred Revenue | (2,255) | (4,355) | (2,462) | (2,304) |
| Items not involving cash | 2,785 | 8,988 | 2,267 | 4,511 |
| Cash Flow from Operations before changes in non-cash working capital | 1,575 | 6,599 | 6,007 | 2,251 |
| Changes in non-cash working capital | (2,814) | 852 | (6,529) | 2,156 |
| Cash Flow from (used in) Operations | (1,239) | 7,451 | (522) | 4,407 |
| Investing Activity - Additions to Property Plant Equipment | (2,698) | (2,350) | (1,298) | (1,919) |
| Financing Activity | (1,848) | 4,560 | 46 | 9,894 |
| Foreign Exchange Gain (loss) | 607 | (2,021) | 1,100 | (1,854) |
| Increase (Decrease) in cash and equivalents | (5,178) | 7,640 | (674) | 10,528 |
| Cash and equivalents, beginning of period | 28,540 | 20,900 | 21,574 | 11,046 |
| Cash and equivalents, end of period | 23,362 | 28,540 | 20,900 | 21,574 |
Farallon operates the G-9 zinc mine on its Campo Morado Property in Guerrero State, Mexico. G-9 is a 1,500 tonnes per day, underground zinc mine with important by-product credits of copper, gold, and silver. G-9 has total cash costs1 amongst the lowest of zinc producers worldwide. The Company is targeting to produce at an annualized production rate of 120 million pounds of zinc and 15 million pounds of copper per year.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
J.R.H. (Dick) Whittington, President & CEO
Notes:
| (1) | Total Cash Costs and Adjusted EBITDA are Non-GAAP Financial Measures. Please read page 7 of the Company's MD&A for further information. |
No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this news release
Forward Looking Information
This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed
"forward-looking statements." All statements in this release, other
than statements of historical facts, that address future production,
reserve or resource potential, continuity of mineralization,
exploration drilling, operational activities, production rates, costs
to completion and events or developments that the Company expects, or
is targeting, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company
believes that the expectations expressed in such forward looking
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not
guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may
differ materially from those in the forward looking statements and may
require achievement of a number of operational, technical, economic,
financial and legal objectives. The likelihood of continued future
mining at Campo Morado is subject to a large number of risks, including
obtaining lower than expected grades and quantities of mineralization
and resources, lower than expected mill recovery rates and mining
rates, changes in and the effect of government policies with respect to
mineral exploration and exploitation, the possibility of local disputes
including blockades of the company's property and/or labor disputes,
the possibility of adverse developments in the financial markets
generally, fluctuations in the prices of zinc, gold, silver, copper and
lead, obtaining additional mining and construction permits, preparation
of all necessary engineering for ongoing underground and processing
facilities as well as receipt of additional financing to fund mine
construction, development and operation, if needed. Such funding may
not be available to the Company on acceptable terms or on any terms at
all. For more information on the Company and the risk factors inherent
in its business, investors should review the Company's Annual
Information Form at www.sedar.com.
Information Concerning Estimates of Indicated Resources
This news release uses the term "indicated resources". Farallon advises
investors that although these terms are recognized and required by
Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission does not recognize them. Investors are cautioned not to
assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in this category
will ever be converted into reserves.
on Farallon, please visit the Company's website at www.farallonmining.com or contact Neil MacRae, Investor Relations Manager, at (604) 638-2160 or within North America at 1-877-688-2050.