Franco-Nevada Reports First Quarter 2013 Results

TORONTO, May 8, 2013 /CNW/ - Franco-Nevada Corporation (TSX: FNV; NYSE: FNV) today reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2013. Highlights include:

• $108.8 million in revenue;
  
  
• $35.4 million of net income, or $0.24 per share;
  
  
• Adjusted Net Income⁽¹⁾ of $40.6 million, or $0.28 per share;
  
  
• $1.4 billion in available capital;
  
  
• Agreements to acquire royalties on two promising new gold projects; and
  
  
• Release of our 2013 Asset Handbook.

"Franco-Nevada's diversified portfolio and business model continue to deliver dependable top and bottom line results," said David Harquail, President and CEO.  "First quarter revenues exceed those of the same quarter last year and we were pleased to see the start of gold payments from the Detour Lake project.  Franco-Nevada has a very strong balance sheet and is well positioned in this opportunity-rich environment to add to its portfolio.  We have started 2013 with two new gold royalty acquisitions in North America, both of which have very good exploration upside potential.  We expect to add further assets over the year."

Financial Results

Gold Equivalent Ounces⁽²⁾ ("GEOs") earned by Franco-Nevada from its royalty and stream mineral interests was 58,289 GEOs in the quarter compared to 55,466 GEOs in the prior year, an increase of 5.1%. In addition, the oil & gas assets generated $13.9 million in revenues during the quarter compared to $10.5 million a year ago. Revenue was earned 85% from precious metals (71% gold and 14% PGMs) and 82% from North America and Australia (33% Canada, 24% U.S., 21% Mexico and 4% Australia).

The Company earned net income of $35.4 million, or $0.24 per share, compared to $46.8 million, or $0.33 per share, for 2012.  Adjusted Net Income⁽¹⁾ for the quarter was $40.6 million, or $0.28 per share, compared to $43.6 million, or $0.31 per share, for 2012. Revenue increased 3.6% to $108.8 million from $105.0 million. The increase was due to higher revenue from gold, oil and other mineral assets. Adjusted EBITDA⁽³⁾ was $89.1 million, or $0.61 per share, compared to $85.4 million, or $0.61 per share.

As at March 31, 2013, Franco-Nevada had a strong financial position with cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaling $825.8 million and working capital⁽⁴⁾ of $867.0 million.  In addition, the Company has available an undrawn $500.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility bringing available capital to approximately $1.4 billion.

New Royalty Acquisitions

• Brucejack - Canada: Franco-Nevada has agreed to acquire an existing 1.2% NSR royalty covering Pretium Resources' Brucejack gold project in northwestern British Columbia for $45.0 million in cash. The NSR becomes payable after approximately 500,000 ounces of gold have been produced.  The project includes two principal deposits, the Valley of the Kings and the West Zone, both with exploration potential.
  
  
• Golden Meadows - U.S.: Franco-Nevada has agreed to acquire a newly created 1.7% NSR royalty covering Midas Gold's project in Idaho for $15.0 million subject to an option by Midas Gold to re-acquire one-third of the royalty for $9.0 million.  As part of the transaction, Franco-Nevada also subscribed for 2,000,000 Midas Gold warrants having an exercise price of C$1.23 per warrant and a ten year term. This project benefits from a large resource base with upside potential.

Portfolio Highlights

• Gold - U.S.:  Gold revenue increased by 9.3% to $21.2 million driven by increases at Gold Quarry due to an increase in the minimum royalty provision, and the Goldstrike NPI as lower capital than expected was spent during the quarter, and higher production at Marigold. These increases were partially offset by anticipated lower production at Bald Mountain and Mesquite.
  
  
• Gold -Canada: Canadian assets earned $11.0 million in revenue, an increase of 13.4%, due to higher production from the Golden Highway assets, higher Hemlo NPI payments as it was in capital recovery mode during 2012 and the start of the Detour royalty with the pour of first gold in February 2013.
  
  
• Gold -Australia: Gold revenue from Australian assets was slightly higher generating $3.0 million with Duketon being the most significant contributor ($2.2 million).
  
  
• Gold - Rest of World: These assets generated $42.2 million in revenue for the quarter, a decrease of 1.6%, due to a lower average gold price. On April 2, 2013, First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum") announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Inmet Mining Corporation ("Inmet"). Inmet holds an 80% interest in the Cobre Panama project which is subject to a $1.0 billion precious metals stream commitment from Franco-Nevada. First Quantum is currently reviewing development plans for the project which may impact the timing of Franco-Nevada's contributions. On April 29, 2013, Kinross Gold Corporation announced that it is proceeding with a feasibility study on an expanded Tasiast operation with a 38,000 tonnes per day ("tpd") mill compared to its existing 8,000 tpd mill.
  
  
• PGM Assets: Revenue from PGM assets was $15.5 million with the Sudbury assets contributing $10.3 million.
  
  
• Oil & Gas Assets: Oil & gas assets generated $13.9 million in revenue, an increase of 32.4%, primarily due to the Q4 2012 Weyburn Unit acquisition.

2013 Guidance

For the three months ended March 31, 2013, attributable royalty and stream production was in-line with the Company's expectations.  The Company expects to receive a total of 215,000 to 235,000 GEOs from its mineral assets and $55.0 to $65.0 million in revenue from its oil & gas assets in 2013. Gold equivalent royalty and stream ounces are estimated for gross ounces, and in the case of stream ounces, before the payment of approximately $400 per gold equivalent ounce paid by the Company. Platinum and palladium metals have been converted to GEOs using commodity prices of $1,400/oz Au, $1,425/oz Pt and $675/oz Pd. The WTI oil price is assumed to average $90 per barrel with similar price discounts for Canadian oil as experienced in 2012.

Dividend Declaration

The Board of Directors of Franco-Nevada declared the monthly dividend of $0.06 per share for each of July, August and September 2013.  The July dividend will be paid on July 25, 2013 to shareholders of record on July 11, 2013, the August dividend will be paid on August 29, 2013 to shareholders of record on August 15, 2013 and the September dividend will be paid on September 26, 2013 to shareholders of record on September 12, 2013.

The Canadian dollar equivalent is determined based on the noon rate posted by the Bank of Canada on May 6, 2013.  Under Canadian tax legislation, Canadian resident individuals who receive "eligible dividends" are entitled to an enhanced gross-up and dividend tax credit on such dividends.

Shareholder Information

The complete Consolidated Condensed Interim Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis can be found today on Franco-Nevada's website at www.franco-nevada.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Management will host a conference call later today, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time to review the results. Interested investors are invited to participate as follows:

• Q1 Conference Call - 3:00 pm ET: Local: 647-427-7450; Toll-Free: 1-888-231-8191
  
  
• Webcast: A live audio webcast will be accessible at www.franco-nevada.com.

A conference call replay will be available until May 15, 2013 at the following numbers: Local: 416-849-0833; Toll-Free: 1-855-859-2056; Pass code: 57109893

The Company's 2013 Asset Handbook can also be found today on the Company's website. The 2013 Asset Handbook provides further details on many of the Company's producing and advanced assets, including an estimation of the Royalty Equivalent Units which have more than doubled from the prior year.

Corporate Summary

Franco-Nevada is a gold-focused royalty and stream company.  The Company has a diversified portfolio of cash-flow producing assets and interests in some of the largest new gold development and exploration projects in the world.  Its business model benefits from rising commodity prices and new discoveries while limiting exposure to operating and capital cost inflation.  Franco-Nevada has substantial cash with no debt and is generating cash flow from its portfolio that is being used to expand its portfolio and pay monthly dividends.  Franco-Nevada's common shares trade under the symbol FNV on both the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.

Prepared in accordance with IFRS and expressed in U.S. dollars (unless otherwise noted).

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward looking information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 1995, respectively, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future events or future performance, management's expectations regarding Franco-Nevada's growth, results of operations, estimated future revenues, requirements for additional capital, mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, production estimates, production costs and revenue, future demand for and prices of commodities, expected mining sequences, business prospects and opportunities. In addition, statements (including data in tables) relating to GEOs are forward looking statements as they involve implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, and no assurance can be given that the estimates will be realized. Such forward looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Franco-Nevada to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking statements.  A number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from any forward looking statement, including, without limitation, fluctuations in the prices of the primary commodities that drive royalty and stream revenue (gold, platinum group metals, copper, nickel, uranium, silver, iron-ore and oil & gas), fluctuations in the value of the Canadian and Australian dollar, Mexican peso, and any other currency in which revenue is generated, relative to the US dollar, changes in national and local government legislation, including permitting and licensing regimes and taxation policies, regulations and political or economic developments in any of the countries where properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest are located or through which they are held, risks related to the operators of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest, including changes in the ownership and control of such operators, influence of macroeconomic developments, business opportunities that become available to, or are pursued by Franco-Nevada, reduced access to debt and equity capital, litigation, title, permit or license disputes related to interests on any of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest, whether or not the Company is determined to have PFIC status, excessive cost escalation as well as development, permitting, infrastructure, operating or technical difficulties on any of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest, rate and timing of production differences from resource estimates, risks and hazards associated with the business of development and mining on any of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest, including, but not limited to unusual or unexpected geological and metallurgical conditions, slope failures or cave-ins, flooding and other natural disasters or civil unrest, and the integration of acquired assets.  The forward looking statements contained in this press release are based upon assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including, without limitation, the ongoing operation of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest by the owners or operators of such properties in a manner consistent with past practice, the accuracy of public statements and disclosures made by the owners or operators of underlying properties, no material adverse change in the market price of the commodities that underlie the asset portfolio, the Company's ongoing income and assets relating to determination of its PFIC status, no adverse development in respect of any significant property in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest, integration of acquired assets and the absence of any other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.  However, there can be no assurance that forward looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and readers are cautioned that forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Franco-Nevada cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. For additional information with respect to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, please refer to the "Risk Factors" section of Franco-Nevada's Annual Information Form, as well as Franco-Nevada's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and Franco-Nevada's most recent Form 40-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.  The forward looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only and Franco-Nevada does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

The condensed notes to these unaudited interim financial statements, which are contained in the 2013 First
Quarter Report available on our website, are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The condensed notes to these unaudited interim financial statements, which are contained in the 2013 First Quarter Report available on our website, are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The condensed notes to these unaudited interim financial statements, which are contained in the 2013 First Quarter Report available on our website, are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The condensed notes to these unaudited interim financial statements, which are contained in the 2013 First Quarter Report available on our website,
are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

NON-IFRS MEASURES:  Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA and Working Capital are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.  These measures are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under IFRS.  Other companies may calculate these measures differently. For a reconciliation of these measures to various IFRS measures, please see below or the Company's current MD&A disclosure found on the Company's website and on SEDAR and on EDGAR.

Reconciliation to IFRS measures

SOURCE Franco-Nevada Corporation