Thompson Creek announces first-quarter 2008 financial results
22:15:29 08.05.08
NYSE: TC TSX: TCM, TCM.WT Frankfurt: A6R
TORONTO, May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -
Overview (all in U.S. dollars):
- Molybdenum production recovered strongly to 5.6 million pounds in the
first quarter of 2008 from 3.4 million pounds in the fourth quarter
of 2007 as operations at both the Thompson Creek Mine and the Endako
Mine performed well. First-quarter production was also up from
5.4 million pounds in the first quarter of 2007.
- Average realized price on molybdenum sales was $32.69 per pound in
the first quarter, up from $31.08 per pound in the fourth quarter and
$24.87 per pound in the first quarter of 2007.
- Revenues were $254.8 million in the first quarter, compared with
$197.8 million in the fourth quarter and $267.9 million in the first
quarter of 2007.
- Net income in the first quarter was $46.8 million or $0.41 per basic
and $0.37 per diluted common share, compared with $28.9 million or
$0.25 per basic and $0.22 per diluted share in the fourth quarter and
$47.7 million or $0.46 per basic and $0.43 per diluted share in the
first quarter of 2007.
- Long-term debt incurred for the acquisition of Thompson Creek USA in
October 2006 was reduced by $16.7 million during the first quarter
and by $182.5 million since the acquisition. At March 31, 2008, the
principal outstanding on the First Lien Credit Facility was
$219.4 million and cash balances totaled $47.5 million.
- Since the acquisition of Thompson Creek USA, the Company has used
$343 million of cash to reduce acquisition debt and make payments to
the previous owner, including a contingent purchase price payment of
$100 million in January 2008.
- Outlook for molybdenum prices remains positive and the Company
continues to expect that molybdenum production from its existing
mines to increase from 16.3 million pounds in 2007 to between 23 and
24.5 million pounds in 2008 and in excess of 34 million pounds in
2009.
- The weighted-average cash operating expense related to sales recorded
in the quarter was $10.54 per pound in the first quarter of 2008,
compared with $11.51 per pound in the fourth quarter and $8.59 per
pound in the first quarter of 2007.
- The Company continues to expect 2008 cash operating expense for the
production of molybdenum oxide to be in the range of $6.00 to
$6.50 per pound at the Thompson Creek Mine and $9.50 to $10.25 per
pound at the Endako Mine.
Note: A conference call and webcast for analysts and investors is
scheduled for Friday, May 9, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.
Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. ("the Company"), one of the world's
largest publicly traded, pure molybdenum producers, today announced financial
results for the three months ended March 31, 2008 prepared in accordance with
Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. All dollar amounts are in
U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
"Thompson Creek's operating mines performed well in the first quarter of
2008 with molybdenum production increasing significantly from the fourth
quarter of 2007," said Kevin Loughrey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
"Production volumes and unit costs in the first quarter were in line with
management's expectations."
Molybdenum production at the Thompson Creek Mine rose by 86% to 3.6
million pounds in the first quarter of 2008 from 1.9 million pounds in the
fourth quarter of 2007 as mining activity, as planned, moved into higher grade
areas of the ore body.
At the Endako Mine, where the shift to the Denak West Pit resulted in
higher grades and better recovery in the milling process, the Company's 75%
share of molybdenum production rose by 31% to 2 million pounds in the first
quarter of 2008 from 1.5 million pounds in the fourth quarter of 2007 when
mining activity was temporarily interrupted in the Endako Pit by a rock slide.
In addition to this increase in molybdenum oxide production, there was a 0.3
million increase in molybdenum sulfide inventory at the Endako Mine during the
first quarter of 2008.
"With molybdenum production having recovered as expected at both mines,
the Company is on track to achieve its previously announced production
guidance of between 23 and 24.5 million pounds this year and at least 34
million pounds in 2009," Mr. Loughrey stated.
"The Company's financial performance as reflected in its quarterly
financial statements is affected by a lag between when a pound of molybdenum
is produced and when the same pound is recorded in the income statement as
being sold. This delays both revenue realization and the booking of operating
expenses. For the first quarter of 2008, the time lag averaged about two
months. As a result, a good portion of the Company's sales and operating
expenses recorded in the first quarter of 2008 reflected the lower production
levels and higher per-pound expenses experienced in the fourth quarter of
2007.
"While cash operating expenses per pound improved in the first quarter of
2008 from the preceding quarter, the time lag meant the decline in per-pound
expenses was not in the same proportion as the sharp recovery in production,"
Mr. Loughrey added.
"Another factor adding to the Company's overall expenses during the first
quarter was the relatively high proportion of third-party molybdenum sales
whereby the Company buys molybdenum concentrate and roasts it for resale to
customers. The Company increased such third-party sales, which generate a very
small gross margin over costs, as an offset to the lower fourth-quarter
production from our mines. Of the total 7.7 million pounds of molybdenum
recorded as sold by the Company in its 2008 first quarter financial
statements, 3.6 million pounds were high-cost third-party sales, while only
4.1 million pounds were from the Company's own mines, despite the fact that
actual molybdenum production during the quarter from our mines was
significantly higher at 5.6 million pounds.
"During the second quarter, we expect an additional decline in overall
per-pound expenses, with a consequent positive impact on bottom-line results,
as the proportion of high-cost third-party sales is reduced and as the
Company's higher molybdenum production and resulting lower production costs
are fully reflected in our quarterly financial results," Mr. Loughrey stated.
Financial Results
The Company's revenues were $254.8 million in the first quarter of 2008,
compared with $197.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 and $267.9 million
in the first quarter of 2007. The decline in revenues from the first quarter
of 2007 reflected a 27% decline in total sales volumes to 7.7 million pounds
in the latest quarter from 10.5 million pounds a year earlier. Much of the
decline is due to changes in product inventory levels, which increased during
the first quarter of 2008 compared to a reduction in product inventory during
the first quarter of 2007.
The decline in sales volume was offset to a degree by a rise in molybdenum
prices. The average realized price on the Company's molybdenum sales was
$32.69 per pound in the first quarter, up from $31.08 per pound in the fourth
quarter and $24.87 per pound in the first quarter of 2007.
After the deduction of operating, selling, marketing, depreciation,
depletion and accretion costs, the Company generated income from mining and
processing operations totaling $77.3 million in the first quarter of 2008,
compared with $47.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 and $88.1 million in
the first quarter of 2007.
Net income in the first quarter was $46.8 million or $0.41 per basic and
$0.37 per diluted common share, compared with $28.9 million or $0.25 per basic
and $0.22 per diluted share in the fourth quarter and $47.7 million or $0.46
per basic and $0.43 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2007. The
per-share figures are based on a weighted-average number of shares outstanding
of 113,457,000 (basic) and 127,674,000 (diluted) in the first quarter of 2008,
113,290,000 (basic) and 130,982,000 (diluted) in the fourth quarter of 2007
and 103,249,000 (basic) and 110,275,000 (diluted) in the first quarter of
2007. At May 8, 2008 there were 113,983,000 shares outstanding.
Net income and earnings from mining and processing operations in the first
quarter of 2007 were negatively affected by the inclusion in operating
expenses of a non-cash acquisition expense related to the inventory portion of
the purchase price adjustment associated with the Company's purchase of
Thompson Creek USA in October 2006. This non-cash expense amounted to $29.6
million in the first quarter of 2007.
Cash flow from operating activities was $63.4 million in the first quarter
of 2008, compared with $45.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 and $105
million in the first quarter of 2007.
Cash balances were $47.5 million at March 31, 2008, compared with $113.7
million at December 31, 2007.
During the first quarter of 2008, Thompson Creek made payments to reduce
its First Lien Credit Facility by $16.7 million to $219.4 million at March 31,
2008.
Since the acquisition of Thompson Creek USA in October 2006, the Company
has used $343 million of cash to reduce acquisition debt by $182.5 million and
to pay the former owner $61.5 million in December 2006 for certain receivables
acquired on the acquisition date and $100 million in January 2008 as part of a
contingent purchase price payment linked to the performance of the molybdenum
price. If the average price for molybdenum exceeds $15 per pound in 2009, a
final $25 million will be owed to the former owner in January 2010.
The Company's mines produced 5.6 million pounds of molybdenum in the first
quarter of 2008, up from 3.4 million pounds in the fourth quarter of 2007 and
5.4 million pounds in the first quarter of 2007. The Thompson Creek Mine
produced 3.6 million pounds in the first quarter of 2008, compared with 1.9
million pounds in the fourth quarter of 2007 and 3.8 million pounds in the
first quarter of 2007. The Company's 75% share of Endako Mine's production was
2 million pounds in the first quarter of 2008, compared with 1.5 million
pounds in both the fourth quarter and first quarter of 2007. In addition to
this increase in molybdenum oxide production, there was a 0.3 million increase
in molybdenum sulfide inventory at the Endako Mine during the first quarter of
2008.
The production amounts reflect molybdenum produced at the Thompson Creek
and Endako mines but do not include molybdenum purchased from third parties,
roasted and sold by the Company.
The weighted-average cash operating expense for molybdenum from the
Company's mines that was sold during the period was $10.54 per pound in the
first quarter of 2008, compared with $11.51 per pound in the fourth quarter of
2007 and $8.59 per pound in the first quarter of 2007. At the Thompson Creek
Mine, the average cash operating expense related to sales was $11.33 per pound
in the first quarter of 2008, compared with $14.18 per pound in the fourth
quarter of 2007 and $8.85 per pound in the first quarter of 2007. The Endako
Mine's average cash operating expense related to sales was $9.41 per pound in
the first quarter of 2008, compared with $9.25 per pound in the fourth quarter
of 2007 and $7.88 per pound in the first quarter of 2007.
Cash operating expenses represent operating expenses less non-cash items
including inventory purchase price adjustments and stripping costs deferred in
the reporting period. Cash operating expenses and cash operating expenses per
pound are considered a key measure by Thompson Creek in evaluating the
Company's operating performance. Cash operating expenses are not a measure of
financial performance, nor does it have a standardized meaning prescribed by
generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and may not be comparable to
similar measures presented by other companies.
Pecunia non olet