Kirkland Lake Gold Inc.; Financial Results Q3 2011: Exploration Program Activity Increases & Mine Expansion on Track for 180,000-200,000 Ounce Annual Run Rate by November 2011
KIRKLAND LAKE, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 03/16/11 -- Kirkland Lake Gold Inc. (TSX: KGI)(AIM: KGI) ('Kirkland Lake Gold' or the 'Company'), an operating and exploration gold mining company located in Ontario, Canada, announces its third quarter fiscal 2011 results for the three months ended January 31, 2011. All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.
Mr. Harry Dobson, Chairman, commented, 'The third quarter has not been without its challenges with slightly lower than anticipated grades and difficult choices being made affecting short term production to ensure we remain on track to achieve the target rate of production by November 2011. After meeting all operating costs, spending $16.0 million on capital expenditures and $2.7 million on exploration, total cash resources (including short-term investments) as at January 31, 2011 were $47.4 million.'
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
-- 20,231 ounces of gold were produced in the quarter - 58,394 ounces year
to date; a record year to date production figure for the Company.
-- Net income for the quarter was $4.2 million or $0.06 per share, and this
was reduced by $1.0 million due to higher exploration spending.
-- Cash flow generated from operating activities during the quarter was
$6.2 million.
-- The year to date head grade of 0.397 ounces per ton is higher than the
budgeted grade of 0.382 ounces per ton, and very close to the long term
average head grade target of 0.4 ounces per ton.
-- Operating costs in Q3 2011 decreased to $258 per ton ($743 per ounce)
from $365 per ton ($809 per ounce) in Q2 2011; total cash costs also
decreased to $275 per ton ($794 per ounce) from $390 per ton ($866 per
ounce) in Q2 2011.
-- Year to date operating costs of $44.3 million are lower than budgeted
($50.2 million).
-- The number of ore mining faces available for production was maintained
at 28 while the number of ore mining faces in the development and
planning stages increased from 23 to 26.
-- A record mill throughput of 635 tons of ore per day was achieved.
-- The total workforce increased by 48 to 648 employees.
DETAILS OF THE THIRD QUARTER
Mine Expansion and Production
-- A total of 20,231 ounces of gold were produced in the quarter, which was
lower than that targeted and lower than that required to reach the
Company's production target for the year of 90,000 to 100,000 ounces.
This was due to a decision taken during the quarter to reduce support
for near term production activities due to hoisting constraints in order
to allow other higher priority longer term activities to continue.
-- The quarterly head grade of 0.362 ounces of gold per ton ('opt') was
also lower than expected. In some mining areas, lower grade ore was
unexpectedly encountered along with the known higher grade ore,
resulting in a blended grade being mined. This is a very common
occurrence in this type of gold deposit, and is the main reason that the
Company's long term plans are based on an average long term head grade
of approximately 0.4 opt despite a blended reserve and resource grade of
over 0.5 opt. The year to date head grade of 0.397 opt is very close to
target and slightly higher than the budgeted head grade of 0.382 opt.
The higher than expected gold price has reduced cut off grades in most
areas to below those budgeted.
-- Work to increase the hoisting capacity of the No. 3 Shaft continued in
the quarter. The new service hoist was commissioned by the end of
January after electrical design problems related to uneven input
voltages were overcome. The working platform required to complete final
headframe work and carry out shaft upgrades was also installed by the
end of the quarter. A decision was made in the quarter to move forward
and complete some shaft electrical and shaft air line installations
utilizing the working platform rather than the new cage due to better
working conditions. As a result, installation of the new cage is now
targeted for June 2011. Shaft upgrade work continued in the quarter
focused primarily on the headframe and the shaft services compartment
and the shaft stations and loading pockets. However, this work was based
on the existing conveyances rather than the new hoist and working
platform and contributed significantly to the shaft overload. Shaft
crews were also utilized on other shaft maintenance work that was
brought forward because of the delay. This work also utilized the
existing conveyances.
-- Excavation of the truck loading chutes and stations below the 5300 Level
and the underground haulage ramp between the No. 3 Shaft and the South
Mine Complex (SMC) mining area continued.
Exploration
-- More diamond drills moved to a seven day per week operating schedule as
the contractor added drillers to the workforce as requested by the
Company. Exploration expenses increased by $1.0 million over the
previous quarter.
-- An exploration drift has been advanced to the edge of the Amalgamated
Kirkland - Queenston joint venture property of the Company and Queenston
Mining Inc. in preparation for driving a drift onto that property in
order to establish a central diamond drilling station in the second
quarter (Q2) of fiscal 2012. The Company is awaiting authorization from
the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, and Forests to proceed with
this development.
Financial Results
-- Net income for the third quarter (Q3) ended January 31, 2011 was $4.2
million or $0.06 per share, which compares to a net income of $8.6
million for the previous quarter (Q2) of fiscal 2011, and a restated net
loss of $4.9 million for Q3 of fiscal 2010.
-- Operating costs were $258 per ton ($743 per ounce), compared with $365
per ton ($809 per ounce) in the prior quarter, and $306 per ton ($900
per ounce) in Q3 of fiscal 2010. Total cash costs were $275 per ton
($794 per ounce), compared to $390 per ton ($866 per ounce) in the prior
quarter and $316 per ton ($930 per ounce) in Q3 of fiscal 2010. The
Company's target is to reduce the operating costs to less than $250 per
ton by upgrading mine infrastructure and increasing production.
-- Cash flows generated from operating activities were $6.2 million in Q3
of fiscal 2011 compared to $16.0 million in Q2 of fiscal 2011 and a use
of $6.3 million in Q3 of fiscal 2010.
-- Gold poured in the quarter was 18,331 ounces, which compares to 23,419
ounces for the previous quarter and 5,817 ounces for the same period in
the previous fiscal year.
-- After meeting all operating costs, spending $16.0 million on capital and
$2.7 million on exploration, total cash resources (including short-term
investments) as at January 31, 2011 were $47.4 million. As at March 14,
2011 this number had increased to $51.0 million.
Health and Safety
-- The Company completed calendar year 2010 with the lowest accident
frequency in the Province of Ontario in the Large Mines category.
OUTLOOK
The production forecast for fiscal 2011 has been reduced to 80,000 to 85,000 ounces of gold because of the issues outlined above. Higher grades are expected in the fourth quarter and attaining those higher grades is essential to meeting this forecast.
The Company's expansion activities will continue to take priority, and the available resources will be managed accordingly. The tonnage of ore to be hoisted and mined will be managed to meet these targets, provided higher priority activities are not hindered. The Company will continue to prioritize the work and investment required to meet our goals of attaining five million ounces in total gold reserves and resources and of reaching a profitable production rate of 180,000 to 200,000 ounces of gold per year by November 2011.
The expected completion date of the current expansion project remains November 2011, and that is the first month in the current plan in which production is expected to exceed the 1,200 ton per day threshold. The Company is currently reviewing its plans as part of the 2012 fiscal year budgeting exercise, but that target date still appears feasible with some re-arrangement of activities and schedules. Production is planned to be in the range between 1,200 to 1,400 tons of ore per day after November 2011. Planning and engineering studies related to a potential further production expansion will continue with no decision expected until the latter part of fiscal year 2012.
There are some risks to the expansion project timeline that the Company will attempt to manage, but which are not totally within its control. These include risks related to:
1. late delivery of equipment from suppliers;
2. delays in commissioning equipment due to problems experienced by
suppliers or outside installers; and
3. recruiting and retaining skilled labour as activity in the mining
industry continues to pick up and competition for skilled, experienced,
and qualified workers and staff increases.
These issues may or may not act to extend the expansion project timeline, but they will not affect the ultimate completion of the project. The near term impact of these problems to date has been to reduce production while slowing overall spending and lowering operating costs.
'Despite the delays with our hoisting capacity project resulting in our annual guidance being reduced to 80,000 to 85,000 ounces, the long term plan of reaching a profitable production rate of 180,000 to 200,000 ounces remains the Company's higher priority and is on track to be completed by November 2011. Fiscal 2012 production guidance is forecast to be 120,000 to 140,000 ounces of gold,' concluded Mr. Dobson.
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION & REVIEW OF OVERALL PERFORMANCE
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Financial Highlights Three months ended,
(All amounts in 000's of Canadian --------------------------------------
Dollars, except shares Jan 31, 2011 Oct 31, 2010 Jan 31, 2010
and per share figures) (restated)
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Gold Sales (ounces) 18,280 23,392 5,803
Average Price (per ounce) 1,391 1,300 1,064
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Revenue 25,426 30,418 6,177
Operating Expenses 17,998 20,536 8,977
Exploration Expenditure 2,709 1,792 1,261
Net Income (loss) 4,206 8,565 (4,896)
Per share (basic and diluted) 0.06 0.13 (0.08)
Cash Flow from (used in)
operating activities 6,169 16,046 (6,292)
Cash Flow from financing activities 5,655 2,379 817
Cash Flow from (used in)
investing activities (953) (5,635) 11,184
Net increase in cash 10,871 12,790 5,709
Cash at end of period 37,033 26,162 10,198
Short-term investments 10,381 25,347 25,228
Total cash resources 47,415 51,509 35,427
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Total Assets 191,675 179,809 128,848
Total Liabilities 22,340 20,367 13,740
Working Capital 41,049 45,147 34,291
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Weighted average number of
shares outstanding 68,116,420 67,763,116 63,415,452
Dividends per share NIL NIL NIL
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About Kirkland Lake Gold Inc.
Kirkland Lake Gold Inc. is an operating and exploration gold mining company located in Ontario, Canada. It purchased the Macassa Mine and the 1,500 ton per day mill along with four former producing gold properties - Kirkland Lake, Teck-Hughes, Lake Shore and Wright Hargreaves - in December 2001. These properties, which have historically produced some 22 million ounces of gold, extend over seven kilometres between the Macassa Mine on the west and Wright Hargreaves on the east and, for the first time, are being developed and explored under one owner. This camp is located in the Southern Abitibi Greenstone Belt of Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada. The Company's corporate goal is to expand its gold reserves and reduce its operating costs to become a profitable gold producer.
The Company's common shares trade on the TSX (Toronto Stock Exchange) and on the AIM (Alternative Investment Market) of the London Stock Exchange.
The Company's senior management and Board of Directors have extensive experience in the natural resource and mining sectors that include exploration, mining and marketing, as well as experience in the legal and corporate finance areas.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This Press Release may contain statements which constitute 'forward-looking statements' including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company. The words 'may', 'would', 'could', 'will', 'intend', 'plan', 'anticipate', 'believe', 'estimate', 'expect' and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities or performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Such risks, uncertainties and factors are described in the Company's periodic filings with he Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including the Company's Annual Information Form and quarterly and annual Management's Discussion & Analysis, which may be viewed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements.
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange has reviewed and neither accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Contacts:
Kirkland Lake Gold Inc.
Brian Hinchcliffe
President
1 705 567 5208
1 705 568 6444 (FAX)
bhinchcliffe@klgold.com
Kirkland Lake Gold Inc.
Lindsay Carpenter
Director of Investor Relations
1 416 840 7884
1 705 568 6444 (FAX)
lcarpenter@klgold.com
www.klgold.com
Pelham Bell Pottinger
Philippe Polman
44 (0) 20 7861 3921
ppolman@pelhambellpottinger.co.uk
Ocean Equities Ltd.
Guy Wilkes
44 (0) 207 786 4370
guy.wilkes@oceanequities.co.uk
NOMAD: Panmure Gordon (UK) Ltd.
Katherine Roe / Callum Stewart
44 (0) 20 7459 5744
katherine.roe@panmure.com