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Leading Base Metals Mining Company - Exploration, Mining, Metal Production and Sales
Message: Releases First Quarter 2009 Results
| May 5, 2009 | ||||
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HudBay Minerals Releases First Quarter 2009 Results
For a full explanation of results, the unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements, Management's Discussion and Analysis, and mine statistics, please visit the company's website, www.hudbayminerals.com. |
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TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - May 5, 2009) - Highlights - Positive operating cash flow (before changes in non-working capital) of $14.0 million(1); - Revenues of $161.8 million; - Cash and cash equivalents of $609.8 million; and - Continuing positive drilling results from the Lalor deposit near Snow Lake, Manitoba. HudBay Minerals Inc. ("HudBay", "the company") (TSX:HBM) today released its unaudited first quarter 2009 results. Net earnings in the first quarter were a loss of $4.0 million compared with $21.6 million of earnings in the first quarter of 2008. The lower earnings primarily reflect significantly lower realized prices for copper and zinc in 2009 compared to the same quarter in 2008, offset in part by reduced operating costs. Operationally, HudBay continued to deliver solid results, with consistent mine production and continuing positive results from exploration drilling of the gold zones at the company's 100%-owned Lalor zinc deposit. "I am pleased with HudBay's operational performance during the first quarter," said Peter R. Jones, HudBay's chief executive officer. "HudBay can weather a prolonged period of weak base metals prices and can advance growth to allow the company to thrive when better economic conditions return. I am also pleased with the continuing excellent precious metal intersections at Lalor, which continues to be a key opportunity for organic growth." Financial Highlights
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Three Months Ended
($000s except per share amounts) March 31
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2009 2008
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Revenue 161,784 271,637
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(Loss) earnings before tax (5,280) 46,597
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Net (loss) earnings (3,958) 21,552
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EBITDA (1)(2) 15,493 70,965
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Operating cash flow (1)(3) 13,972 70,651
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Basic EPS (4) (0.03) 0.17
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Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments (5) 609,829 781,048
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Total assets (5) 1,940,577 1,576,209
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(1) EBITDA and operating cash flow before changes in non-cash working
capital are non-GAAP measures and may not be comparable to similar data
presented by other mining companies. See "Non-GAAP Measures" in our
Management's Discussion and Analysis for the first quarter of 2009
(2) EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization, loss on derivative instruments, exploration, and interest
and other income
(3) Operating cash flow before changes in non-cash working capital
(4) (Loss) earnings per share
(5) At March 31
As a result of continuing positive drilling results on its 100% owned Lalor deposit in the Flin Flon Greenstone Belt, HudBay intends to spend an additional $6.1 million for exploration and definition drilling on the Lalor deposit in 2009, in addition to the $6.9 million originally projected in HudBay's MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2008. Capitalized exploration on the Lalor deposit was $3.1 million in the quarter. Financial and Operating Results Net Earnings For the first quarter of 2009, HudBay recorded a net loss of $4.0 million, reflecting a $25.6 million decrease from the first quarter of 2008. Significant variances affecting net earnings were: - Lower revenues decreased earnings before tax by $109.9 million; - Lower operating costs increased earnings before tax by $51.6 million; - Changes in foreign exchange gains and losses increased earnings before tax by $3.9 million; - Decreases in other expenses increased earnings before tax by $2.0 million, mainly due to decreases in depreciation and amortization of $3.2 million and decreases in stock-based compensation of $2.3 million, partially offset by increases in general and administrative expense of $3.3 million, which related to merger and acquisition activity, severance and other corporate activities; - Other items increased earnings before tax by $0.3 million, including decreases in interest and other income of $5.8 million and decreases in exploration expenses of $5.0 million; and - Tax benefits in the first quarter of 2009, as compared to tax expenses in the first quarter of 2008, increased net earnings by $26.4 million. Operations Production is on track to meet overall 2009 targets. Mine production for the quarter was 610,395 tonnes of ore, compared to 751,382 tonnes for the same quarter in 2008 due to the lower production from the Chisel North and Balmat mines resulting from the suspension of both operations. Ore grade for zinc was 3.79%, and for copper was 2.28%, as compared to 4.89% for zinc and 1.89% for copper for the same quarter in 2008. Lower production from Balmat and Chisel North negatively impacted average zinc grades. In line with the reduced mine output, production from our zinc plant decreased to 25,640 tonnes, compared to 27,695 tonnes in the same quarter of 2008. Unit operating costs decreased by 4% to 31.0 cents/lb., reflecting lower costs for operating and maintenance materials. Non-recycled copper production was lower by 16% due primarily to lower availability of economic purchased concentrate. The smelter's unit operating costs, which exclude recycled production, decreased by 2% to 34.9 cents/lb. of copper produced, the impact of lower production being more than offset by the reduction in costs for heavy fuel oil. Gold production decreased 8% due to lower volumes of concentrates and lower head grades. Silver production increased by 29%, primarily from a specific purchased concentrate source. For the quarter, our cash cost per pound of zinc sold, net of by-product credits from copper, precious metals, zinc oxide and other associated revenue, was US$0.32/lb. compared to negative US$0.13/lb. in the same quarter of last year, excluding costs and sales related to Balmat and HMI Nickel (refer to "Non-GAAP Measures" on page 31 of HudBay's first quarter MD&A). The increase was principally due to lower by-product copper credits arising mainly from lower volumes and prices, offset in part by the benefit of a weaker Canadian dollar. As noted above, economic conditions prompted us to evaluate our operations and assets, which resulted in our decision to suspend certain operations. Management has concluded that the values of our operational assets continue to support their recorded amounts. Production and sales
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Three Months Ended March 31
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2009 2008
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Production
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Zinc (1) tonnes 25,640 34,710
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Copper (2) tonnes 16,239 19,272
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Gold (2) troy oz. 21,262 22,999
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Silver (2) troy oz. 564,875 436,913
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Metal Sold
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Zinc (3) tonnes 26,949 32,916
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Copper tonnes 16,191 20,602
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Gold troy oz. 28,624 19,808
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Silver troy oz. 606,031 283,467
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(1) Production includes Balmat payable metal in concentrate shipped
(2) Production excludes recycled spent anode and represents non-recycled
anode production only
(3) Zinc sales include sales to our Zochem facility and the Balmat payable
metal in concentrate shipped (including to Hudson Bay Mining And
Smelting Co., Limited, "HBMS")
Total revenue for the first quarter was $161.8 million, $109.9 million lower than for the same quarter last year. The decline in revenues was mainly due to lower copper and zinc prices, which reduced revenues by $102.8 million and $45.6 million, respectively, offset in part by a weaker Canadian dollar, which increased our revenues denominated in US dollars by $61.7 million. Revenues were also affected by lower copper and Balmat concentrate sales volumes and higher gold sales volumes. Operating Expenses For the first quarter of 2009, operating expenses were $135.1 million, $51.6 million lower than for the same quarter last year. Operating costs declined mainly as a result of lower purchased concentrate prices, as well as a reduction in purchased concentrate volumes, net of the offsetting impact of a weaker Canadian dollar. Operating costs also declined as a result of the suspension of operations at the Balmat mine, the impact of weaker metals prices and earnings performance on profit sharing and net profits interest expenses. Realized Metal Prices and Exchange Rate
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HudBay Realized Prices (1)
Three Months Ended
Q1 2009 Q1 2008 --------------------------
Average Average Mar 31 Mar 31
Prices (2) Prices (2) 2009 2008
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Prices in US$
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Zinc US$/lb. 0.53 1.10 0.56 1.18
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Copper US$/lb. 1.56 3.54 1.69 3.50
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Gold US$/troy oz. 909 927 885 840
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Silver US$/troy oz. 12.61 17.68 12.40 15.65
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Prices in C$
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Zinc C$/lb. 0.66 1.11 0.70 1.19
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Copper C$/lb. 1.94 3.55 2.11 3.51
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Gold C$/troy oz. 1,132 931 1,117 843
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Silver C$/troy oz. 15.70 17.75 15.65 15.70
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Exchange rate US$1 to C$ 1.25 1.00 1.25 1.00
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(1) Realized prices are before refining and treatment charges and only on
the sale of finished metal, excluding metal in concentrates
(2) London Metals Exchange ("LME") average for zinc, copper and gold prices,
London Spot US equivalent for silver prices. HudBay's copper sales
contracts are primarily based on Comex copper prices
HudBay Minerals Inc.: www.hudbayminerals.com Management's Discussion and Analysis: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/HB... Financial Statements: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/HB... Conference Call and Webcast Peter R. Jones, chief executive officer, Michael D. Winship, president and chief operating officer, and David S. Bryson, senior vice president and chief financial officer, will host a conference call to discuss the company's first quarter results on Wednesday, May 6, 2009. First Quarter 2009 Results Conference Call and Webcast: Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 Time: 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) Webcast: www.hudbayminerals.com Dial in: 416-644-3431 or 800-814-4862 Replay: 416-640-1917 or 877-289-8525 Replay Passcode: 21305161# HudBay Minerals Inc.: Strength to Build the Future HudBay Minerals Inc. (TSX:HBM) is a Canadian integrated mining company with assets in North and Central America principally focused on the discovery, production and marketing of base metals. The company's objective is to maximize shareholder value through efficient operations, organic growth and accretive acquisitions, while maintaining its financial strength. A member of the S&P/TSX Composite Index and the S&P/TSX Global Mining Index, HudBay is committed to high standards of corporate governance and sustainability. |
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